Family Business

I don't own these characters. I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.

Set in Season 8

AN: I have to give a ton of thanks to MissLizzyJ for helping me plot this and putting up my endless "What do you think" pm's. Thank you!

I haven't abandoned, Unshown moments. I just have this little story that's been begging to get out.

FAMILYFAMILYFAMILYFAMILYFAMILY

"Give me two." The dusty cowpoke with a week's growth of beard on his sun dried face tossed two cards face down on the table. He had been steadily losing hand after hand since he'd sat down at the table, but he wasn't quitting. He was just positive that the next hand would be a winning one.

Kitty deftly dealt two cards to him and looked to the gray haired farmer next to him. "Ben?"

Ben looked at his hand and then shook his head. "I'll stand on these, Miss Kitty."

The third man, well dressed and corpulent, watch chain snaking out of his pocket and across his barreled chest, silently tossed three cards, face down on the table and Kitty dealt three more to replace them. Looking at her own hand, her expression never changed as she threw one card down and dealt another to herself.

While the bets were made and the game progressed, Sam kept a protective eye on his employer. She was perhaps the best poker, faro, checker and pool player he'd ever seen and one of the most honest. But not everyone believed that and occasionally, when she'd won some foolish drunks last dime, it became dangerous for her.

Sam felt it his responsibility to keep her safe if he could. His relationship with his employer was difficult to explain. At times she was like a daughter to him, other times his superior but always, his friend and he cared deeply for those he called friend.

"Bartender, a beer if you would." Sam looked up from the glass he was polishing, to see a young man at the end of the bar waiting patiently. Early twenties with reddish blonde hair and blue eyes, his unlined face looked vaguely familiar to Sam but he couldn't immediately place it.

Silently drawing the drink, Sam placed the beer on the bar top in front of him. "That'll be 5 cents."

Throwing a coin onto the bar, the young man looked around the saloon, his eyes lighting up when he saw the poker table where Kitty sat, raking in her latest winnings. "Who is that woman, barkeep?" He asked, nodding to where she sat.

"That's Miss Russell." Sam answered. "She owns this place."

"She does, huh?" He took a deep draught of his drink. "She deals here too?"

"Not usually." Sam shrugged. "The dealers out with the ague and she's just filling in."

The young man nodded. "Looks like she's filling up her coffers as well."

Sam frowned at that comment, unsure of what the boy could mean by that. But before he could ask, the kid took his beer and sauntered over to the table just as Kitty pushed back with a sigh.

"Well, gents, I am going to take myself a little break." Giving the men a smile, she got to her feet, grabbed her winnings and headed to the bar before they could protest or try to stop her.

"I heard you were good." The young man suddenly spoke up causing Kitty to stop and look at him curiously. "I guess what I heard was right."

"Oh?" She asked with an arched brow. "Uh, just exactly what did you hear? And just exactly who are you?"

Stepping up to her, the boy reached out and politely took her hand, kissing the back of it. "Let me introduce myself." He gave her a curt bow. "My name is Wade Russell. I am your brother."

TBC