Chapter 2: Uproar

Conversations were heated as the members of the town council, along with a few other farmers from Walnut Grove packed the schoolhouse full. An emergency town meeting had been called after people heard the news about the Silver Coin Saloon.

"This is an outrage!" Harriet yelled over the crowd, still furious after seeing the saloon's sign that morning. "I won't have it! There is no way we can let a saloon open in our town!"

"How on earth did some city slicker get permission to build a saloon here anyhow?" One of the farmers asked and a cheer from others followed up his question.

Bill Anderson, the current town banker, stepped to the front of the room to address the townsfolk. "Believe me, everyone. I had no idea that Mr. Brady was planning to build a saloon when he came to secure his purchase of the land."

"Who's he working for, Anderson?" Another farmer asked, with everyone still assuming a large corporation was behind the construction.

"I don't know if he's working with anyone. All the papers were signed under his name."

"Is there any way we can protest the construction of the building before it even gets a chance to open its doors?" Charles cut in, wanting to get down to business and get the saloon out of his town as soon as possible.

"I'm not sure." Mr. Anderson said with a shake of his head. "We maybe can try going to Redwood Falls and express our concerns to the governor. But from what I can tell, Mr. Brady legally bought that land and he has the right to do whatever he wants with it."

"I will not have a saloon in this town!" Harriet spoke out again in a heated rage. "Saloons bring nothing but drunks and gamblers. It's a disgrace to even have that sign hanging up over there. We can't let that kind of crowd even be tempted to set foot in Walnut Grove!"

"Harriet, will you please calm down." Nels stepped up against his wife, hoping to diffuse some of the tension so that they might be able to get something accomplished. "Screaming about this will get us nowhere. Now, why don't we all do what Bill Anderson suggested and get a petition together to go to Redwood Falls?"

"It might take more than a petition to get rid of an establishment like that." Joe Kagan said, while standing in the back.

"Joe might be right." Doctor Baker agreed with the man. "With the investment this Mr. Brady has put into that saloon already, he'll most likely fight to keep it around. And if it's really backed by a big corporation, it might be more than we can handle."

"What Mr. Brady has in money, we have in numbers." Charles stated. "We can fight to get that saloon out of our town. We have to."

"Everyone please." Reverend Alden interjected in a calm tone, although inside very nervous after hearing the intense anger of the townspeople. "I understand how strongly you all feel about this issue. I don't like the idea of a saloon coming to Walnut Grove either, but please be careful. I don't want to see this situation devolving into violence."

"Has Brady even been back into town since he bought up the land?" Jonathan asked.

"I haven't seen him since that first day when he came to secure the land purchase." Mr. Anderson answered. "But, I have seen one or two men in particular frequenting the building. They seem to be in charge of the construction. Maybe they might know when Mr. Brady is coming back."

"We'll need someone to go into the saloon to figure out, so when he can serve Brady as soon as he arrives." Nels said.

"I will." Joe offered up. "Charles, you wanna come with me?"

"No." Charles quickly answered with an attitude. "I'm not taking a single step inside that place."

"Garvey, how about you?"

Jonathan nodded his head. "Sure, I'll go in with ya', Joe."

"It's decided." Nels retook charge of the crowd. "I'll write up a petition, saying that the people of Walnut Grove do not want a saloon in their town and everyone here can sign it. We'll ride out to Redwood Falls by the end of the week. Then, when Brady comes back, we'll serve him and get him and his saloon out of our town."

"Yeah!" Everyone in the schoolhouse cheered, as if their plan was going to work.

The following day, Jonathan and Joe walked together across town, not taking their eyes off of the Silver Coin. Their mission was clear: find Brady's whereabouts and warn him about the disdain the people of Walnut Grove have for his saloon.

"Jonathan." Joe said as the two slowly approached the building. "I have a hunch that our protests won't do any good in getting rid of this saloon."

Garvey nodded in agreement, thinking back to the plan Nels had come up with the previous night. "That's what I've been figuring, but it can't hurt to try."

The two men walked up the front steps and went to the entrance. Stepping inside the saloon, they were greeted by a grand site. The Silver Coin was not some typical rugged frontier saloon. Detailed woodwork and red patterned paper covered the walls. A stamped tin ceiling reflected the light of the many oil lamps hanging from the posts and sitting on the tables. The dozen sets of tables and chairs looked to be solid, hand crafted wood.

The bar itself was even more of a sight to behold. A long counter surrounded by padded stools stood in front of an expansive wall of many liquors and a polished mirror that made the room feel twice as big. A player piano sat next to an elevated platform across from the bar that looked like it could be used as a stage. To tie the whole place together, a grand staircase went up to a balcony that overlooked the main room of the saloon and led back to a number of other doors, marking at least four upstairs rooms.

Jonathan and Joe gazed around the elegant establishment in awe.

"This is one of the nicest saloons I've ever been in." Joe commented, his eyes still wondering. "And I've been in my fair share over the years."

"Why on earth would they put a place as fancy as this out here in Walnut Grove?" Jonathan added. "Places like this belong in the big cities. It's even fancier than the ones they have in Sleepy Eye and Mankato."

Jonathan and Joe walked to the bar top and were quickly greeted by the bartender, who was organizing the wide variety of liquor bottles. "What can I do for you two gentlemen?"

"We're looking for the man who runs this place: Mr. Brady." Joe got straight to the point.

The bartender, a younger man dressed very sophisticatedly to match the interior of the saloon, smirked. "Well, Mr. Brady isn't going to be passing back through here for a few more days. I'm in charge for the time being. John Pierce. Now, what can I do for ya'?"

"Nothing, unless you're willing to get out of this town." Joe snapped back at the bartender, not liking the slight tone this Pierce used with him.

"Let me guess." Pierce tilted his head. "The town residents? I've heard the talk that folks here are hesitant about having a saloon in their town."

"Hesitant is a nice way of putting it." Jonathan jumped in, keeping a stoic manner about him. "Some of us are down right furious that some city slicker decided he could build a saloon in our town."

Pierce cocked his head to the side. His boss had warned him about something like this happening, but what kind of a threat could a bunch of dumb farmer really purpose. "Mr. Brady is an excellent businessman. He knows a good opportunity when he sees one. You probably won't believe me, but a place like this can really help your town."

"Help us?" Joe Kagan chuckled sarcastically. "By bringing in drunks."

Pierce rested his hands down on the counter top. "By boosting your economy. Come back when we officially open and have yourselves a drink on me. Good day, gentlemen."

Outside, the school children had finally been let out for the day and started to make their ways home. "Laura?"

The young girl turned around to see Albert and Carrie heading towards Plum Creek together.

"Where are you going?" Albert asked her after noticing his sister was walking off in another direction.

"I'm gonna stop by the Feed 'n' Seed." Laura answered without giving away too much information of what she was doing. "I won't be long. You two head on home."

Laura parted ways with her younger siblings and walked over to the Feed 'n' Seed, looking around to see if the person she wanted to talk to was even there.

"Hey, Beth."

She turned around to see Almanzo coming up to her. Laura smiled, trying to contain the feelings she had for him. "Hi, Manly. I'm assuming you heard about the saloon?"

The older man nodded and sighed. "How could I not? The whole town is fuming. Just doesn't make sense to me why someone would want to build a saloon in Walnut Grove."

"My pa told me that at the town council meeting yesterday, they all decided to sign a petition to get rid of the saloon. Are you going to sign it?"

"Sure enough. I'm afraid of what trouble that place might bring once it opens its doors." Almanzo explained, thinking back to his younger days before he moved in with Eliza Jane. Sure he was never a wild drunk, but he did have his own set of experiences in saloons he would rather leave in the past.

"Yeah." She agreed with him, as she continued to stare up into his eyes. "A place like that doesn't belong in Walnut Grove. Well, I better be getting home to help my ma with supper. I'll see ya' around."

"Sure thing." Almanzo smiled down at her. "Have a good night, Beth."

Laura's emotions were swirling at the way Almanzo smiled at her. "Goodnight, Manly."

As she left the Feed 'n' Seed, Laura strolled by the Silver Coin, with men still buzzing around trying to finish up the last of the construction. She shook her head in disdain. Everyone in the town already hated that saloon with a passion, especially her pa. It could only bring trouble. The Silver Coin had no place being in Walnut Grove and the townsfolk were preparing to make sure it would not have to stay around for too long.