Well, that too. Whether Mose has some experience in this matter or they drag her off to Doc MacCauley, I wanted to bring things to a head, so Belle doesn’t go on feeling like crap.
ivylass, I figure Belle is recovered mentally now, but she probably needs more physical recovery, as her mental state took a toll on her health. Mose or Doc McCaulley should be able to do something for that.
Cool idea with the name, Lute! I think I see some things coming together.
I think, at the funeral, I’ll have someone unexpected show up.
Lute, you mentioned something about a misfire in your post. I take that to mean Hastings was not the target.
In my post, Prairie Dex seemed to think there was a connections between Nichols and Hastings. I don’t know where you were going, but I didn’t want to steer things awry if you had something in mind. Perhaps the target was Mrs. Hastings? In any event, I think I left things vague enough that even if Dex leapt to the wrong conclusion, we can still sew everything up in the end.
I’m getting the idea there’s some Mafia-type business going on, and that May was the unknowing and unwilling hitman.
I’m really enjoying how this is going! Things seem to be flowing smoothly so far.
Hastings dying words too, what did they mean? It could all tie in!
Before anyone asks, Capt. Tuttle (:)) is related to Martha. I figure he’s recently been discharged to help out at the Triple-A.
I was searching for this thread to ask that very question! 
And does he have auburn hair and green eyes? Is he a reformed Druid? 
(I do have that reference right, don’t I?)
You know, I left Goldstone’s death open. He could have collapsed with a heart attack. It’s interesting how you guys ran with it. 
Now, do we send Mose and Belle off to find Jesse (the Parkers’ stock needs tending, now that it’s morning) or is Belle still recovering? Or is Zeke pissed enough at MacTavish that he’ll go himself?
Yep, that’s the one. 6’4", 190 pound Capt. Johnathan S. Tuttle.
Classic mystery plot. Have someone kill off a prime suspect.
Oh, I just realized!
Sam Nichols is headed to the saloon, May is headed toward the Sheriff!
Any chance they can bump into each other?
OK, just getting things straight. May is looking for the sheriff, who has taken off after Capt. Tuttle and Sam Nichols. Caroline has gone to see Mrs. Hastings, after inviting Danny to do some stock work for the Parkers. Mose had gone to see the doctor. Charley is where? Jesse is still being held by the bad guys, and a knife-throwing member of Prairie Dexter’s troupe was last seen heading for them.
So, who killed Sam Goldstone, and why? Who messed with May Fenno’s crossbow? Was the bridge vandalism solely aimed at Jesse? I have my doubts about that one, it seems more likely that there was something bigger afoot, but John Starling could also act against Jesse as a byproduct. Is McTavish corrupt, and if he is why couldn’t Zeke have more of a sense of it? He’s no fool. What is the nature of the former connection between May and Sam Nichols?
Former characters we haven’t seen yet, Will Santini, Rev. Gray( and what is his first name?), and Hank Poole. Are they still around? If it’s summer, school is probably out for now, maybe will is traveling on horse business. The others could have several reasons for not appearing yet, but as the Hasting’s seemed to have attended Rev. Gray’s church, and the funeral should be in a couple of days at the most, he should be at least mentioned.
Ya know, I researched lethal laudanum doses in the first Western, hypothermia in the second, and rigor mortis for this one. Seems I’m developing a mortuary cast of mind!
CSI : Wild Wild West
I thought Caroline dropped Charley off at the sheriff’s. Maybe he hung around after Zeke left?
I don’t think MacTavish is corrupt. I think he might be in over his head.
It’s just that I figured Charley left the sheriff’s office after telling about Jesse, because when May went looking for Zeke she found that Al McReynolds was the only person there.
He tagged along when Zeke and Dave went to Goldstone’s. I didn’t think it important enough to specify.
ivylass, how did Danny get out to see Sally? Hadn’t Caroline said she’d give him a lift? Or since Mose is already there, is Caroline about to come in too?
I think Danny hoofed it. Charley and Caroline, being a bit more prosperous, can take the wagon to town.
Caroline was going to take Danny out for supper. So I assumed he would be working a few hours on the chores, then go back to the smithy, then Caroline would pick him up when they were going home.
Hey, he’s a young, healthy man. The exercise will do him good.
As for time, I figure it’s about mid-morning. May was going to have breakfast, but then she ran from Dex to find the sheriff.
Baker mentioned a way to tie the villians together. Is Tuttle a bad guy? I kind of got that feeling. We need to know who wanted Slim dead and why, how JB is involved in the bridge sabotage, and May and Nichol’s history. What could Nichol’s have over Dex that would make him hire May?
My idea is that Tuttle has already been involved at a distance. He will in all likelihood tie in with the deaths. Probably wants to take over, kind of like Boss Connell. I’d thought that JB would be an independent bad guy, but now I’m thinking he an Tuttle may be connected as well, the how of it remains to be worked out. Maybe he will do for Tuttle, if Tuttle backs him up on his revenge on the Parkers. I think Tuttle saw an opportunity when his aunt contacted him, to move in in a big way. His aunt is not the type to be a schemer.
Hank Poole is back! Yahooo!!!