Star Crossed
There was an air of bustling activity in the town of Sweetwater. After an unseasonal period of wet weather, the citizens of the town busied themselves with re-stocking supplies and acquiring materials for any repairs necessary, due to the damage caused by high winds and torrential downpours.
The employees of the Pony Express, which was stationed on the outskirts of the town, were no exception. Four of the riders were busy loading the buckboard with a variety of boxes, sacks and lengths of wood.
"Beginning to wish I'd agreed to swap runs with Cody," griped Jimmy, as he carried another plank of wood out of Tompkins' store.
"The going's gonna be pretty rough out there. All the rain will of made Jenson's Creek impassable and it's gonna be slow gettin' through with all the mud," grunted Kid, as he hefted out a sack of grain and hoisted it off his shoulder to lie on the flatbed of the wagon.
Ike's hands were a flurry of activity as he signed something and grinned.
"Ike says he hopes all the mud will stick Cody's mouth shut so's we can all get some peace when he gets back," Buck chuckled, as he placed a hand on his mute friend's shoulder and shared the laughter.
"I just hope Lou's okay," Kid added in a low voice, trying not to sound too overly concerned.
"She'll be just fine, Kid. Lou can look after herself," Jimmy replied, sliding another piece of wood into the buckboard, giving him a look of irritation.
Kid was grateful when Sam Cain, the town's marshal, came over, diverting the other rider's attention from his over protective outburst.
"Afternoon, Emma," Sam said awkwardly, as the slim, red headed woman came out of the store with a basket hooked over her arm.
"Sam," came Emma's clipped response, in greeting. "Town seems busy," she commented, casting her eye down the street.
"Nothin' I can't handle," he replied, puffing out his chest slightly. Catching the smirks and knowing looks of the boys, as they loaded the wagon, he countered with a more stern expression, adding, "It's been pretty quiet at night at least."
This was greeted with an outburst of stifled giggles. Emma frowned at her charges, lifted her chin, gave him a challenging smile and calmly continued, "Quiet enough to join us for supper tonight?"
"I reckon I might be able to do that. It'd have to get real busy to stop me enjoying some of your good home cooking," he said, giving a broad smile. Emma gave him a nod of acceptance.
"That's the last of it," Jimmy informed the station mistress, dropping the final sack onto the buckboard.
"Thank you, Jimmy," Emma answered. "Well, until this evening, Marshal Cain," she continued, pulling on her gloves.
Sam was just holding out his hand, to help her up onto the front seat of the buckboard, when a shout was heard.
"Marshal Cain, you're needed at the saloon. Someone's gone and pulled a gun on Bart!"
Sam's jaw clenched and he let out a murmur of exasperation. "Be right with you," he called, tipping his hat to Emma.
"Need a little back up, Marshal?" Jimmy inquired. "Never can be too careful," he added cockily.
Sam sighed. "Just follow my lead and don't do nothin' foolish. I'll let you know if I need ya," he told them, "and keep them guns in their holsters unless I tell ya," he added pointedly at Jimmy.
As Sam and Jimmy started down the street towards the saloon, Buck and Ike glanced at each other and looked at Emma imploringly.
"Go on then, but be careful," she told them brusquely, shaking her head. "You'd better go with them and make sure Hickok doesn't do nothin' stupid," she said, turning to Kid, who scurried off quickly to join the others.
O-O-O-O-O
The airless, mustiness of the interior of the saloon was a great contrast to the fresh, newly washed, earthiness the recent rains had brought to the streets of Sweetwater. Normally at this time of day there would be a general clatter of chatter in the saloon but as Sam entered he was met with a stilled hush. A dozen or so patrons were sat at tables and a small handful was standing to one side of the bar. All attention was focussed on the two figures stood behind the bar. Bart was pressed back against the shelves, which held the bottles and glasses, his eyes wide with trepidation. In front of him was a smaller, saddle tramp of a figure, dressed in mud stained pants and jacket, hat pulled low over the eyes, holding a revolver tight to Bart's rounded belly. A slight tinkling of glass against glass could be heard as the red faced man trembled, shaking the shelves against which he was pressed.
"Now I'm gonna ask you one more time nicely," the assailant said, in a low voice. "Give me a god damned drink," they followed, with a yell.
Bart swallowed, his eyes darting with relief in the Sam's direction. "You might want to take that up with the town marshal," he croaked.
"You got exactly five seconds to let go of him or you're gonna have ta answer to me," Sam warned, as he came to stand a few feet behind the pair.
Sam saw the stranger's shoulders tense at his words. "Just put the gun down," he instructed. He was aware of the Hickok boy moving up closer behind him, while the other three fanned themselves quickly and quietly around the room.
This movement was also detected by the ruffian holding Bart, who was getting increasingly nervous, the tell tale signs of sweat beginning to trickle down his forehead.
"You got two seconds, mister," Sam persisted. The room was still and hushed.
An audible click of the hammer of a gun being released was heard and the stranger let the gun drop from its close proximity to Bart's stomach, letting it hang from limp fingers. Sam quickly re-holstered his own weapon and moved swiftly forward, looming tall above the much shorter gunman. In one well-practiced movement, Sam reached over to take the weapon and, grabbing the protagonist's shoulder with his free hand, spun them round to face him.
As their eyes met both let out a gasp.
"S-S- Sam?"
Sam looked at the pale, drawn face before him- his eyes widening in surprise when suddenly he felt them sag in his hold, as their knees buckled and eyes rolled back. He took a firmer hold as they began to sink to the floor.
"Dee Dee?" he exclaimed, holding the girl's limp body in his arms.
O-O-O-O-O
The riders and the saloon patrons watched as Sam swept the girl up into his arms and wordlessly carried her out through the parting crowd.
"What's goin' on, Sam?" Jimmy queried, as the marshal made his way to the door.
"She needs a doctor," came the mumbled response, as he shouldered his way passed, dislodging her hat, allowing a wave of fair hair to tumble out.
"Who is she?" Kid asked but his question was ignored as Sam strode purposefully out of the saloon and down the boardwalk towards Doc. Barnes'.
The buzz of conversation returned to the saloon, with the shaken but unharmed Bart holding court, pouring everyone drinks on the house, exclaiming, "If there's one thing more dangerous than a man with a gun - it's a woman with a gun!"
Ike scooped up the hat, which had fallen from the girl's head and followed the other riders out, eager to see what would happen next, only to find Teaspoon and Emma waiting.
"Mind tellin' me what just happened in there?" asked the stationmaster, hooking his thumbs in his suspenders and cocking his head to one side, while Emma gazed down the street after Sam.
"That girl Sam's carryin' was holdin' a gun on Bart. When Sam grabbed her she just fainted away. Seems Sam knows her." Kid informed him.
"Yeah, Sam's got a real way with women, that's for sure!" Jimmy added wryly.
Emma scowled at him momentarily then pasted a blank expression of indifference on her face. "Well, we can't stand around here all day. You all got chores to do back at the station and I need to get supper on or Cody won't be happy when he gets back from his run and finds there ain't no food."
"I'll just stay a while longer to make sure Sam don't need no more help," Teaspoon said flippantly, taking the girl's hat from Ike. "I'll give this back at the same time," he added, as he as he sidled away.
"Mr. Spoon …" Emma started to say but the older man had already beat his retreat.
The boys all smirked knowingly at one another.
"Thought I told you lot ta get moving," Emma snapped irritably, making them jump in response and move to their horses. Emma took one last look towards the doctor's office and made her way back to the buckboard, where Ike was waiting to help her on board.