As he rode out of the yard he was smiling, some things never change, but they can and do get better. It would seem that he and his father were getting along again, but then he was the only offspring he had left that was willing to come around, and actually he was both glad and perturbed about that. Those boys owed their father, owed him plenty.
But his family was a bit northeast of the ruins of Whitefish, well, as the crow flies, that is. It was not easy to get to, there was a single entrance to the valley and oft times it was chocked with deadfall. Some naturally, some by human had, all set up to be moved aside to allow procured cattle and other livestock to be driven through. It was a sweet setup.
Generally the trail in was swept clear of tracks, but for the present there was no need, no one was looking for stolen livestock, at least not yet. But that would not last too long, the boys were out scouting possible herds to procure some or all of. No sense depleting the available stock all at once.
And then there was Walt Shannon and his men that should be coming along shortly. They had a map to the hide out, but there was really no telling where they were, or what they were up too. However he felt sure that it would not be too long before they were all together and laying out plans, one of which would include Lost Lake.
He made his way through the canyon which was mostly hidden from sight, though anyone that actually stumbled onto it, the appearance of it being blocked usually turned them away. Of course thew was a second opening which was harder to find than the first, it sat off just a bit and had a camouflaged gate that needed attention on occasion as the fresh cut limbs and brush attached to it died and needed replacing.
He rode into the valley thinking all the work of the gate could be eliminated, as no one had even come close to locating this valley since the man that built the original cabin, and that one fellow that Robbins had shot a good while back The valley, such as it was, was beautiful.There was a good running stream for water, and the hidden cabins behind the hill provided all the shelter and storage they would need.
He didn't see Pecos with the Winchester watching him, but then he was not supposed to. A guard that was seen would be disposed of. That would alert the camp, but it would also cost a man, and good ones like Pecos were hard to come by. The guard would use a mirror to signal the lookout back at the camp of anyone riding in, but there was a code for 'friendlies' so they didn't get shot.
For case, it was good to be home.
"Welcome back Boss, we found that while we was in Big Flat more small outfits have moved in and they're thriving, which is good for us." Toole reported.
"Any word on Shannon?" Case asked, "Figured he'd be here by now."
"Nary a word, Case. Maybe they're casing banks in the area, or maybe a posse caught up with them." Was Toole's thoughts on the matter. "I know they was good at what they did, but maybe something went wrong along the way, you that does happen now and again..
Case nodded, "So what was found out? You know with scouting the outfits."
"We had a look-see at several, and like Toole said, they have cattle, and a lot of 'em. Prime to be hit." Guthrie spoke up.
"And we had a look at you Pa's spread, could be easy pickin's like the rest." Sloan offered, unawares that Father and son had plans which excluded the rustling of his stock.
"Well now, Pa and I came to some agreements, so we'll leave his herds alone for now. Our plan is to take the Lost Lake, lock stock and barrel." The room fell silent. "My Pa has had his eye on that spread for a long time, and with Shade Thornton out of the picture it seems prime for the taking." He was smiling as he spoke.
"Well, me an' a couple of the boys here checked on Lost Lake an saw a good sized herd over ta Broken Finger Lake, they call it. But heard gun shots an' lit out. Didn't figger it'd be worth it ta start a fight without you sayin' it was okay." Dyer Howe spoke up.
"That was Pa's man and one of the Lost Lake riders." Case divulged. So there might already be trouble. Not sure how many men the Lost Lake has, Pa's got plenty and with us throwin' in with 'em, well, we can sure ride rough-shod of 'em. But we'll see. Probably need to know how many men we're up against."
"There was maybe three to five men with the herd we saw, so that's a start." Howe added.
"So, that means we need a real good look at the place and get us a proper head count, it's a big spread, but not a lot of flat ground for grazin'. So we lay low for a bit. I'll need a man to ride into town and see what's what."
"I'll go, they don't know me there. Never been in this part of the country." Boone volunteered. Let me know what you want to know and I'll find out for you. Boone was new, he had joined up with a couple others, Whit and Blackie down in Big Flat.
"You do that. Find out what's going on, how the law is, I know that Pike's away, but no idea for how long, just get me an idea of how welcome I might be." Case said, "An' we'll go from there. Take your time, buy supplies, take a pack animal if you like, just don't ride out the way you ride in."
"Good. Fact is, I might not be all that welcome by any of them, but that remains to be seen. As for Guyer, well, he for sure won't be glad to see me, but he's not about to start anything after he lost in court. Besides, he's one of those that don't seem to hold a grudge." Case related.
"I'll get it done." Boone stated with assurance, it was a simple scouting mission, find out things that had transpired while Case was away. Which sounded much different than it actually was. What Case wanted to know was if he would be welcome in town, which was the first move in taking it over. Of course, that plan was one that would take time, not as simply as his move on Whitefish which had been almost handed to him.
"I'm counting on that Boone. There might be a good deal at stake here, depending on what you find out." Case smiled, there was a lot going on, raiding of ranches, the plot to take Lost Lake, which included working with his father rather than against him as he had originally planned. And that might pay dividends he had not foreseen. "Like I said, you take whatever time you need. You know where we are."
Boone nodded and left the room to get his horse and be on his way. He would ride out and around, come into Kalispell from the south and then leave to the north. He knew also that he would become known in town, folks would know which way he came in, then which way he rode out, but not his destination. So he would take the pack animal.
Once Boone was gone, Case went to his cabin, he had some thing to consider. Plans to be made, maybe not right then, but they would need to be made, and soon. Of course, cattle needed to be taken, that was for sure. Yes, he had money, and more on the way, but more was always better, and well paid men were always happy.
If fact, he too was happy since he and his father were on good terms again, for how long? Hard to tell what either of them might do if and when the plan to take over the Lost Lake ranch was over, and Elias was 'King of the hill.' For he surely would be, and then there would be some major changes in Flathead valley.
The only fly in the honey was his sister, and whatever plans his father had for her. But he had said it plain enough for the old man to understand, nothing was to happen to her, not a hair on her head was to be touched, and he would kill any man that dared try to hurt her. The hospital, he could care less about it, they could do what they pleased about it, though he did understand the value of it.
Value. It may have value to the town, and the surrounding area, but Whitefish had been destroyed and nothing had been done toward rebuilding it, and that should have happened. And for that he blamed Kalispell and his father. Yet the value of a hospital was enormous for everyone concerned from the Thorntons, to the Steelgraves, to the people of Flathead Valley. But try to get his father to see that may be a chore too big for anyone, least of all his sister.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Boone Dawson, been on the outlaw trail since he was a kid. His father, Bill Dawson was an outlaw and passed on his trade to his son. The killing came naturally to Boone, and the robbing, trains, banks, homesteads, it mattered not. Rape, arson, kidnapping, Boone had done it all at one time or another. He was a dangerous man, but also a man that knew how to play his part of any deal, violent or otherwise.
He had played the traveling cowboy riding the grub line many a time to set up a job. He knew how to elicit information that he needed with and without use of force, and that did not take into consideration gender. Man or woman would face the same in his quest for information. This trip would not be like that. No this would be collecting the thoughts of those in town about Case Steelgrave, the political climate in so far as the law was concerned. It was an easy operation where he was not at risk, and neither was anyone else.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
The route to reach Kalispell from the south was wide and long. Dawson saw no one, cattle in the distance, but no human beings, which was just as well. If no one saw him, there would be no one to remember he had been there.
He would run into the western-eastern trail and use it run into the north-south which would send him toward Kalispell. It was necessary, he understood that, though he didn't much care if he was seen at a distance, in fact e didn't much care if he was seen by anyone because he had nothing to be concerned about, it just was to throw off any one.
It took nearly a another hour to reach the trail to Kalispell, no matter Boone liked to ride anyway and seemed that time had no bearing, time might cause him to find a place to stay and some place to to eat, but that didn't seem to bother him at all. He was looking to forward to a drink.
He had stepped down and tied the horse and pack horse. He stretched, then stepped up onto the board walk, time to start learning how things were in this town. He pushed trough the bat wing doors and crossed the floor to the bar.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Crossing to the bar he missed nothing that was going on, nor any that looked at him. Which was normal when a stranger walked into the place. Boone Dawson worn a serape over his vest and shirt, uncommon north of the border territories, but not all that unusual. It did tend to draw attention, of that, he didn't mind.
There were several who looked to be possible trouble, but then every watering hole he'd ever been in had those, just some more than others. Several stood at the long mahogany bar so he found room, nodded and smiled as the bartender came toward him, "Beer."
Ralph had just finished filling a couple of beer glasses for two thirsty cowpokes when another customer bellied up to the bar, a man he'd never seen before. That wasn't that unusual though, all part of the business. Men passing thru wanting to get a drink, common enough.
He didn't even need to ask, the man gave his order, "Beer."
"Sure, one beer comin' up," Ralph nodded and it took but a moment to place a foaming glass of the golden liquid in front of the fellow.
"That'll be a nickel."
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Nice place ya got here." Boone said. "Quiet little place looks like. I suppose it does get a mite rowdy at times though." He said, he had plenty of time, and plenty of nickles as he laid on on the bar. I'll tell ya this here is some real pretty country up here. Might lite a spell." He paused, "Hard to find a place ta stay?"
There was plenty of time to see what was what, and who was who, no sense pushing the issue. He drained his glass. "Have me another, I believe. Yes siree, right nice country." He produced another nickle.