Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Blog

Blogathon 2006: Chapter 11.

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Brand was a talker. Dove found himself with little to do but listen; this was fine by him. It was his habit, keeping his ear to the ground to hear hoofbeats and keeping his mouth shut to hear news.

The newspaper office had come as a bit of a surprise, and at first Dove thought it had been ransacked. He was informed the general mess was normal, the sign of a successful newsman; Brand was adamant on this point. Papers and ink were everywhere, the smell of news had Dove's nose twitching for the door out of fear he might end up in print. High lonesome didn't take to frontpage and headlines, he knew that for certain.

"They say the pen is mightier than the sword. In the west, you could say mightier than the gun though my pen has a lot of respect for guns with the liklihood of aiming in my direction. And that brings me to Solitaire."

Dove nodded and Brand went on.

"Let's see...Solitaire came to town 'bout two years ago with six other fellows. The called themselves the 'Regulators'."

"Where's the other six?"

"Lousy bit of regulating they did, though just by breathing they far surpassed anything Bowdrie could pull off. The six basically made good use of our pine boxes and that's about it."

"Locally made?"

"The best. Big John Lonigan not only swings a mean blacksmithin' hammer but is mighty handy with the woodworking."

"I heard that he was."

"Lonigan's family's been eatin' right fine since Solitaire came to town, and not just because of the six. The demand for pine boxes has never been higher."

"That so."

"Can't say the same for Preacher, though. He's been run ragged and losin' faith on a daily basis. I imagine word's come to him that you're in town and he's probably about ready to burn the church."

Dove nodded, Brand needing little more encouragement to continue.

"Can't say that I know much about Solitaire, where he came from. Heard stories in the saloon about John Saxon's gun not being buried for long. Mind you, I don't particularly want to write about all the things I've learned on Solitaire or his ilk."

Dove had heard of the rancher Saxon; he was legend in his pursuit of an outlaw, finally achieving success and literally putting his guns away in favor of peace. Dove had often wondered on that. If Solitaire was the outlaw, then the guns were put down for nothing. Peace could never be made when only one party wanted it; that's why there were peacemakers and why he kept one at his hip.

"I thought you newsmen were hard-pressed not to reveal all."

"True, there's a lot I could've written but I look across the street and see the sheriff's office and think, comparatively speaking, that I'm not doin' so bad writing what I do and what I don't."

"Living comparatively's no way to live."

Brand shook his head. "Actually, it's the only way to live here. Otherwise, you die."

"So what's Solitaire's interest in Crossfire Trail?" Dove asked. Brand just smiled.

"It's the oldest story of the west," he said. "Four letters."

Dove knew where this was headed. He'd been there before.

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Labels: blogathon