Good Luck Charm

Disclaimer: Just taking our friends out to play, will put them back when I'm done!

PT.1
Good Luck Charm

Cool, whipping gusts of wind, blowing down Front Street, whistling through the buildings in the early morning hours. It was early October. Fall was here. Old Mister Elliot was pushing his rickety old milk cart down the street. Wasn't much else you could hear.

Mr. Jonas was beginning to open up for business. Sam was opening up and sweeping out from the night before's crowd. Kitty had let him leave early. Friday's crowd of rowdy cowboys kept Sam on his toes.

Louie Pheeter's stumbling along hoping for some work to make enough for a drink or two.

"Mornin' Louie."

"Ahhh! Mornin', Sam. Maybe I can help ya out a bit today, Sam?"

Shaking his head and smiling. "Sure, Louie. Come on inside. I have some bottles that need to go to the cellar."

"OHHHH, thanks, Sam."

Festus, bumbling along, humming a tune, collar tucked up tight around his neck. "Mornin', Sam!"

"Mornin', Festus, what'cha doing out here so early?"

"Well ya see, me and Ol' Matthew is a gonna go on out ta Jake's place. He has himself some trouble with them new drovers camping they selves out by his place. Me and Matthew's gonna ride are self out yonder and take care of it."

Smiling at Festus, Sam added, "And maybe a shot or beer, for the long ride, will help?"

Eyes wide, "Now, Sam, that there is a plum dandy ideer!"

Sam just broke into a laugh. "Come on in."

"Ya had yerself's a ruckus in here, did ya?"

Shaking his head, "A few rowdy cowboys playin' poker." Sam answered.

"Nobody hurt?"

"No, Festus, but Miss Kitty's not happy with the broken furniture. Marshal Dillon had to throw them out but he made them pay up. With all these new drovers coming through, we go through more furniture…"

Just then, Kitty came across the upstairs landing, finishing Sam's sentence. "At this rate, I'll be refurnishing this place again, or go broke. Good morning, Festus."

"Morning, Miz Kitty."

"What on earth are you doing out this early, Festus?"

"Just tellin' Sam, here, me and Ol' Matthew is a gonna ride out to Jake's place. He's a havin' some trouble with them new drovers."

"Oh, ya don't say, huh? Well, I hope you two have better luck than I did. When you leaving?"

"Directly."

"Sam, I'll be right back."

"Sure, Miss Kitty. Oh, Miss Kitty?"

"Yeah?"

"It's a bit chilly out there."

"I'll be fine." Hurrying across Front Street and into Matt's office, startling him. "KITTY?"

"Morning to you too. Cowboy."

"You scared me."

"Oh thanks."

"What are you doing out without a…"

"What are you, my father? Festus says you're going out to Jake's?"

Twisting his face. "Yeah, Kit. Seems he's having a bit of a problem with the new drovers camping just east of his ranch. Jake's a reasonable man, so something must have pushed his buttons."

"Matt? Be…"

Throwing up his hand, "I know, Kit, I know. I'll be careful. How about we have supper when I get back?"

"You got yourself a date there, Cowboy."

As she turned to leave, "Wait, Kit. I'll walk you back." Putting his coat around her shoulders.

"Cowboy, I'll make us supper. Ok, with you?"

With his usual boyish grin, "Fine by me, Ma'am.

The two walked closely, shielding each other from the brisk wind back to the Long Branch.

TBC