His band now numbering and even dozen, would be a formidable gang in almost any situation, committing almost any crime. However, Case was not dumb enough to think they could ride into any town and simply take it over. Too many men in these places had fought in the war, against Indians, as well as other outlaws like his men, and were hardly going to kowtow to a bunch toughs without a bloody fight.
Big Flat had been different, Whitefish had been different. They slowly took over those towns. He no longer had the time to waste easing into anything. Now it was strike hard and fast! In and out quickly, when it involved a town. Rustling was another matter altogether. Perhaps easier that a bank in that there might be one or two riders to deal with instead of a whole town where even the women could shoot.
Toole was still his top lieutenant, and he had contacted some of other men he had met along the way and felt he could trust. That was before he'd been forced out of Big Flat, but he sensed it coming and the would pick them up along the way north. Men on the dodge met men on the dodge, even if Case was free to go wherever he wanted, he had a knack for finding hard men. Once they connected the group would number some fifteen desperadoes. It made Case smile.
Boyer's Crossing was just that, where two trails intersected and Hiram Boyer thought to establish a saloon with rooms where travelers might spend the night. Hopeful too that the stage-lines might also use the spot to change horses, which would be lucrative for him. That never came to fruition.
The saloon enjoyed a brief success when a small silver strike caused a sort of boom, but it petered out faster than a bottle between two drunks. Waiting for one Case Steelgrave was Walt Shannon, Charlie Whitmore, and Johnny Knox. Three more men to add to the gang but these three were specialists, it there was such a thing. They took banks at night! Although Shannon and Knox were killers, Whitmore could be homicidal at the drop of a hat.
Perhaps Case might have decided against those three at one time, but men who took banks at night, that was all but unheard of, and those assets would add to the men that already rode with him. So, they waited, and Case and company rode toward them as fast as they could.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
The folks in Kalispell were going on about their daily lives completely unaware of the storm that was brewing and headed their way, not necessarily their town, although one could never be sure of what Case Steelgrave might do at any given time.
The storm that was headed north was one of criminal intent, of robbing, rustling, killing, mayhem in general. These men were ready to take on the territory as they had not done before, but on a much larger scale. Oh they had stolen cattle, but they had yet to hit a bank, or rob a stage, both these things were on the gangs agenda, now in Cases mental planning stage. Yes, there were a number of smaller towns, plenty of smaller ranches, and of course, there were stagecoach's traversing the territory that would be easy prey.
Of course there was the military, which meant payrolls. The Army presented something of a challenge, but only when they took a payroll from them, rustling, robberies of any kind, all that would be left to the local law. Civilian matters at best, they would say. Not that the military might not intervene if called upon, but as Steelgrave saw it, Guyer was the 'he dog' to be dealt with, him, and his deputy Pike. Though it was certain he had not overlooked Quentin Cantrell or any of the Lost Lake bunch, even if Shade Thornton was out of the current picture.
Lost Lake had cattle, and they had horses, ripe for the taking, Case knew that, but he also knew he could not go at them from his fathers spread without starting a range war, which would defeat his purpose of rustling for profit. he might even go after some Evergreen stock, just to throw off the law, that is if they became a factor. Then again everyone knew, or should have, that Evergreen hands where gunman first and ranch hands second. So that might be something of an unnecessary risk.
Trouble was coming, as sure as the winter follows fall.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Boyer's Crossing...Mid-day
The tall breed stood at the bat-wings, waiting for the riders they knew would be coming, just not when. His given name was Charles Eugene Price, but everyone called him 'Injun Charlie.' A tall man, distinctive features of his Sioux heritage, long black hair and a top hat acquired somewhere down his back trail, one littered with dead.
Sitting at a table where he could watch the door, Wallace Carl Jordan, better known as Wally. A nasty, murderous, individual known as a back shooter, 'Injun Charlie, however, liked to use his Sharps to take down enemies, and everyone was, from a safe distance.
But Wally was truly a man of value, he was the powder man, 'the cracker,' often called the 'peterman', and you can't blow a safe without a competent powder man. Blowing the safe was simply a term. Wally perfected a way to set small charges at the hinges, cover the door with a mattress, or something of that nature, and light the fuse. The noise was minimal. Loud enough to possibly alert people nearby, but not so loud it awoke the whole town.
At a table away from the door sat Walt Shannon, the leader of the gang of three. Probably the least sane and most dangerous of them, he would kill anyone for anything without a second thought. Much like Guthrie and blade-man Dyer Howe, among others in Cases lot. It could be said he had no conscience, and that would be accurate. Of course the idea of the quick money from the midnight bank raids kept him from just shooting up the place. However, once they had emptied the safe, rode out of the town the hightailed it along a route he had already laid out from investigation, without riding into town, so he nor the others were ever seen, then they would lie in ambush for any posse that followed. Few seldom did.
"Riders comin'!" Charlie stated without taking his eyes off of the mounted group. "Maybe a dozen."
Walt got up slowly and walked to the bat-wing doors looking out at the cavalcade of rides that approached Boyer's Saloon. 'Injun Charlie' had been accurate, there were a dozen men with Case Steelgrave in the lead, just as he had expected.
He looked at them a long moment, horses nervously moving about, men watching the doorway. Walt Shannon stepped forward, pushing the doors open enough to be seen. "Case, be a long time" He said looking up from under his hat brim, head bowed just a bit.
"Walt." Steelgrave responded.
"Why don't you boys step down and come on in, you an' me, Case, we got somethings to talk over." Walt stepped back letting the door go, but taking the lead with the meeting.
Case stepped down, tied his horse to the hitch rail, one of two, the men waiting a moment then following suit. They streamed into the saloon and sauntered up to the bar where Boyer himself, waited bottle in hand as Shannon had directed earlier.
"You boys drink up. Case, over here, I got us a table and a bottle." Shannon offered. "You know my boys, right? 'Injun Charlie' and Wally."
"Yeah, I do." Case said, as they moved to the table and took their seats across from one another. "Glad to have you boys."
"Sounds like you've a bank 'er two in mind."
"Among other things."
"So, how's the split? I mean I'm sure these other things are profitable."
"I take twenty percent, and then a full share to every man."
"Sounds about right. Cattle, stages that sort of thing."
"That brings us to you three, what'll it cost me?" Case asked bluntly.
Walt Shannon sat back for a moment, then leaned forward looking at Case, "You see, we're kind of a specialty. What I mean is, sure you boys could hit a bank in broad daylight, like them Dalton boys, sure. Maybe somebody gets killed, yours, theirs, you know, risks you take." He paused. "Now us, well, we case the place, slip in, pop the box, and we're on our way. No shooting, no posse, well, sometimes, but we take care of that."
"And?" Case asked.
"Fifteen percent. Five apiece."
"Ten." Case countered.
The men at the bar were stirring, trying to hear what was being said. 'Injun Charlie' and Wally were getting a bit nervous when Walt replied to Cases counter offer, "Ten? Ten percent for the men that do the job, make the get away, handle any problems that might arise, for three percent? You're gonna take twenty, and then give each of these guys a full share, for what? Nothin', that's what." Walt smiled which may or may not be a good sign. "If we hit the bank on our own, well, we keep a hundred percent. And Case, there's a lot of banks in the territory." Once again, Walt leaned back in the chair.
"Now, we' ain't lookin' for no trouble mind you, just a fair shake, Case." Walt began, still sitting back in the chair, "There's a bank up in Polson, Wally here cased the place, opened an account, he did. So, we thought if we could work this out then we'd ride up and take it. If not, well, we'd ride up and take it." He gave a pause, "Up to you, Case. No hard feelin's, just business."
Case looked at the man across from him, he felt his anger rising. Who was this fool, didn't Walt know who he was? he was out gunned, yet he sat there as if he hadn't a worry in the world.
"Oh, I 'spose you could just shoot us and be done with it. And the bank in Polson'd be twenty dollars richer. You boys could take it if you''re a mind too." He said easily, his voice low, even, non-threatening. Just the way Walt Shannon did business. "Be easier all around with us on board. But that's up to you, ain't like we're holdin' you up at gunpoint."
Case gave himself pause as he thought about what the man said. Case had wanted him in the gang because of their talent for robbing banks and getting away without a lot of gun play. "Five percent a piece, huh? Guess we can make that work, considering what you three bring to the table. And you say we have to do nothing?"
"Just wait on us to get back with the loot. Easy money. In fact, Case, we'll let you count it up and divvy it up when we get back. Hows that sound?"
Case smiled. "Sounds fair enough, guess we should trust one another. But I need to ask, you mind if I send a man along?"
"Nope, not at all. He can come along, right into the bank an' see how it's done. We don't mind, just don't care to have a bunch, being a few is the secret to our success." Shannon replied.
"Now you know, there'll be no stashing money to pick up later on. That just wouldn't be fair, now, would it?" Case advised.
"Hell Case, we'll be high-tailin' it outta there. Stashin' money? Means either they'd find it, them that was after us, or we'd get killed 'er caught comin' back for it. Shit! We ain't stupid! Maybe that's how you work, ain't how we do things. We either do the job and make the split, or we do it alone and keep the money. Makes no difference to us. Just easier to keep it all." Shannon snapped. "Fact is, it's up to you how this goes. We come prepared to do business."
"Easy Walt. Just makin' sure we were making the same plans." Case insisted. "'side, I could blow you outta that chair, and boys take your two and we'd be done with it!" He was beginning to get angry.
There was the unmistakable double click of a hammer being drawn pack. "Maybe so. Not the best way to begin a partnership. So maybe, we just ride on, or maybe we all take our chances here and now." It was at that moment that Walt Shannon smiled, and his eyes seemed to dance. "Your call."
Case Steelgrave went cold. Walt Shannon had the drop on him, at a distance of three feet, a pistol slug would cut his spine in half, regardless of the advantage his men had, he would not see the end of it.
"This isn't what I want, Walt. Not at all." Case said firmly. "You got me alright, maybe the boys take care of the three of you, but wait, wait just a damned minute."
Oh hell Case, I'm waitin', but you tell the man with that pig sticker, he pulls it, you're dead. The rest need to get their paws away from them guns. Anybody flinches and you're out of the game. Get me?"
"Dyer! Do it! The rest of you, move them hands!" Case ordered.
"Have them turn around and put their hands on the bar, while we decide how this is gonna go, cuz you got no choice." 'Injun' Charley cocked his Sharps, Oldham drew and cocked both pistols. "I guess we best be independents, wouldn't you say? I mean, what with all this gun play about to happen, doubt there'd be much trust amongst us." He slipped out of the chair, a second pistol in his other hand. "Tell ya what Case, we could kill most all of you before any of you got a shot off, and I like those odds. But, we'll just ease out the door and you boys can go on about your business." The three side stepped toward the door.
"Wait!" Case said, raising a hand to stop his men behind him. "Wait, so maybe you don't ride with us, maybe we come to an agreement. One where you and your men heist the banks, take your share and leave the rest somewhere for us, or meet with one man and make the exchange."
"Well then Case, your boys need to head on back to the bar, wouldn't want a wrong move to get you killed, 'cuz anyone of 'em moves on us, and I'll kill you first. No matter what happens next, you die first." Walt's voice was even, and low, almost cordial. But his eyes told Case all he needed to know. "Need everyone's hands out and away from their hardware, right now, including you Case."
"We got off on the wrong foot here Walt," Case said complying with the order, "but maybe we can still salvage this to both of our advantages." Case added, also evenly, he was not concerned, but Shannon's threats, they were part and parcel of the situation. Not that he had wanted it to go that way, but he had to try and apply dominance over the deal, now that was out the window. What he was looking at were three hardened killers, with nothing to lose.
"We're all ears here, Case," Walt said. "Tell me just how this is supposed to work, we take the banks and make the split with you. That sounds real interestin', yep, real interestin' indeed."
"I've a list of banks.-"
"I'm sure you do." Walt cut in.
"I give you the list, you just work your way down the list, too much at stake here to fight over it."
"If you have it on you, where on you? You get it out real careful like. Lay it on the table, then back away. anybody flinches, you miss the rest. Clear?"
Case was stunned by the demand. But looking into Walt Shannon's eyes convinced him he had met his match. The three bank robbers were willing to shoot it out right then and there, regardless of the outcome. He doubted that many of his men were prepared to die that day. Oh they would answer the call for sure, but, was it worth it?
"Look Walt let's us all put the hardware away and get down to brass tacks on this deal." Case said. "Let's come to an agreement on a plan, then you boys take the list and head on out."
"Agreement? What would be the terms of this agreement Case? Just how's this supposed to work if we can't trust one another? And, at the moment, I don't see a lot of trust being built here. You seem to think your boys all lined up there scare us. Hate to break it to you, they don't." Shannon brought both pistols into view. "We ain't figurin' on livin' forever, so if it happens today, well, it was a hell of a ride. If not, we move on with it. You lay that list here on the table and we'll have a look, but I'd say the cost has gone up some."
The was a long pause, neither man moved until Case reached inside his coat and withdrew the paper the list was on, then laid it on the table. "What now Shannon?" He asked.
Walt set down one of his guns and picked up the list, sticking it in his coat pocket without so much as a glance at it. He picked up the gun and got to his feet, the three slowly moved toward the door. Four maybe five would fall immediately if they tried anything, a high cost for Case Steelgrave.
At the door Walt smiled. "You know the list, we'll deliver two miles toward the next one." He said sharply. Wally and Injun Charlie mounted and kept their guns on the door. "Twenty-five percent!" Walt dashed to his horse, holstered his guns and mounted pony express style as they galloped off, rounding the saloon to block any chance of a shots coming their way.