Author's note: Yes, there was a Lieutenant Samuel Peeples at Gettysburg, in Battery I of the 5th US Artillery, although I don't know whether he was a relative of Lancer's creator.
"That's a wonderful story, Mr Lancer," said Scott's visitor. "So your grandfather actually shot the Loch Ness Monster?"
"Indeed he did, Lieutenant Peeples," Murdoch Lancer replied. "Didn't kill it, of course. It would take more than a shot from a blunderbuss to kill a monster that size. But he scared it off, back under the water, and saved my grandmother's life."
"He must have been a brave man," said Lieutenant Peeples. "Courage seems to run in your family," he added, with a grin at Scott. Johnny looked across at his brother's friend.
"Have you got some stories about when you and Scott were in the cavalry?" he asked.
"We weren't in the same regiment, Johnny," the lieutenant told him. "I was in the artillery, not as dashing and daring as the cavalry."
"That didn't keep you from some dashing and daring exploits at Gettysburg, Sam," Scott retorted, with a grin of his own.
"Well, you proved an infantryman can be dashing and daring too, at Vicksburg."
"It sounds like there are a lot more stories to be told," said Teresa.
"I think there's always another tale to be told, Miss Teresa." Sam Peeples smiled at his young hostess.
"I hope we get to hear them," said Johnny. "I like the idea of having a brother with plenty of stories behind him."
"To hear him talk, you'd think there were no stories told about Johnny Madrid!" Jelly put in.
"Johnny Madrid?" Lieutenant Peeples' eyes widened. He looked from Johnny to Scott, then as the brothers both nodded, back to Johnny again. "Now there's a tale I can pass on to my descendants right there - that I've actually met Johnny Madrid."
"Well, Murdoch can give you instructions on how to tell stories to your descendants, if that's what you plan on doing," said Johnny. "He's sure told us enough about his grandfather. I feel like I know old Iain Lancer, even though he was gone long before I was born."
"I'm glad to hear you say that, Johnny." There was a deep satisfaction in Murdoch's voice. "That's one of the reasons I like to tell you about him - to keep him alive and real to you and Scott."
Johnny nodded.
"Yeah, I understand." He paused, then added:
"I guess no-one is ever really gone, so long as the stories are still told."