Carry Me Home

Chapter 2 – Two Kings and a Queen

Bret was right; it was much easier on the train. Leastways the train didn't bounce on the tracks, throwing its passengers to and fro. And there was no dirt and dust blowing inside, coating everything with a thick layer of grime. It hadn't been an easy night; after three days of constant bruising and bracing yourself against the next bump, Bart was sore everywhere. Bret didn't feel a lot better but he wasn't physically damaged to begin with.

As was their usual habit when traveling by train, the two brothers were playing poker. They alternated cheating depending on who was dealing the cards. It was a long standing tradition in the Maverick family. There was no 'gentlemen's gaming car' on this train so they were stuck with each other to while away the time.

"Did you remember to wire Sam?" Bart finally asked during one of the hands Bret dealt.

"You asked me that already."

"I did?"

"Yes. And yes, I wired Sam. She'll be there." Bret tried to determine why Bart sounded so anxious. He'd been to Dry Springs before, and to Santé Fe plenty of times. But he hadn't been there since – 'That's right,' Bret thought to himself. 'Bart hasn't been to the ranch since Caroline.' "Glad we got out of Montana when we did. There's got to be snow in the mountains by now."

"Yep, I'm sure there is. But it seems strange to be heading south and not looking out the window at it." Bart's answer was wistful. As if he missed it.

"Are you missing snow, Texas boy?" his brother asked.

Bart took his time answering. "No, not snow. People."

Bret kind of chuckled. "We could have stayed, ya know."

"No." The answer was immediate and firm. "I couldn't stay. Not one more minute."

It made perfect sense. Why would you want to remain in a place where you'd been beaten within an inch or your life AND almost hung? "We don't have to go visit Sam."

"I know." Bart sat quietly, contemplating the four queens his brother had dealt him. He knew that Bret was probably holding four kings. He threw his cards down. "Fold."

'What's bothering you?" Bret knew his brother would never have folded holding the four queens he'd been dealt if he didn't have something else on his mind.

"Huh? Nothing's bothering me. Why?"

"Because you folded with four queens in your hand."

"Gee, I wonder why. I don't suppose you had four kings in yours, did you?"

His feelings were hurt. He'd never be that obvious. "No, I didn't." Bart didn't even question that statement, so Bret volunteered, "I had four aces." Bart didn't pick up the deck of cards, rather turned and looked out the train window. It was a few minutes before he spoke.

"Am I just replacing one set of bad memories with another?"

Bret started shuffling the deck automatically. "I don't know, Bart. You're the only one who can answer that."

Bart let out a long, excruciating sigh. "I could use a drink about now."

Bret froze. Neither of them drank hard liquor. "You what?"

The younger gambler looked at his brother, startled. "I meant coffee. What did you think I meant?"

A nervous laugh. "I thought – oh, never mind what I thought. I'll see if there's some on board anywhere."

"Thanks, Bret. I think I could stand a nap."

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Late afternoon. The sun was warm for early winter but the days were short; it had already started to darken by the time the train pulled into the station in Santé Fe. Two days of riding the train was enough; both brothers were ready to reach Dry Springs and be done. Another overnight stay before tomorrow morning's coach.

They reached the hotel and checked in, again sharing a room. The rest of the evening closely paralleled their night in Denver, without Clarence around. Again Bret wired Samantha, telling her they'd arrive tomorrow. Bart was restless and didn't want to spend another night sitting in a hotel room, so he and Bret found a saloon. A nice, friendly little poker game with small table stakes, just something to while away the evening. Bret played and Bart nursed, as usual, several cups of black coffee. Unbeknownst to them there was a younger man in the bar who paid close attention to the brothers; but particularly to Bart. He observed the rather fragile physical state the gambler was in; just as well he was still in the midst of planning a bit of revenge in the future and not right now. His name was Donnie Monroe.

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Back to a day's worth of bouncing and bumping around in a stage coach – the only difference was no dirty and dusty wind. Bart hadn't slept well at all in Santé Fe and he was thoroughly worn out by the time they arrived in Dry Springs. Once again Bret got them off and out and settled all the bags on the sidewalk. Samantha Crawford was there in a moment, exiting the stage line office where she'd been waiting for a short while. She hesitated to throw her arms around Bart and kiss him, although that's what her first instinct was. He looked so frail and fragile. And thin! She made herself settle for a gentle, warm hug and a soft whisper in his ear, "Welcome home." Bret got no such restraint, she threw her arms around him and kissed him full on the lips. "Brother Bret, welcome back to Dry Springs." Bret hugged her back just as robustly.

"Miss Samantha. Charming as ever. Glad to finally be here."

Sam hugged Bret again and pulled his ear closer to her lips. "What in heaven's name have you done to this man? He looks like an old, tired-out skeleton," she whispered to him. He held her at arm's length and laughed as if sharing a joke.

"I tried to warn you," he told her through his laughter. "Didn't I?"

She laughed right along with him and returned to Bart, putting her arm through his on the side without the cane. "Come with me, child. The buckboard is right over here." She led him across the street while Bret gathered the bags. He carried them to the buckboard and set them down in the back to help Samantha get Bart in, then he helped her up. Last of all he got himself in. "Are we ready?" she asked to no one in particular as she urged the horses into a nice, easy canter.

The trip to the ranch was shorter than Bart recollected. It was funny, the little things you remembered. There was a new front door and the porch swing was gone. All of the beautiful flowers had disappeared and there were little scrub bushes in their place. The corral had been expanded and there were horses running free inside it. Jess was still there, leaning on the fence and waiting for their arrival. He was smiling as he took the reins from Samantha and tied them to the hitching post. "Mr. Bart! Mr. Bret. So happy to see both of you. I'll get the bags. Welcome back." Bret climbed down and shook Jess's hand, then helped Samantha and Bart out of the buckboard. Jess threw his arms around Bart in a bear hug and got a startled look on his face when he realized just how little of Bart there was under the coat. Bret helped Jess with the bags and followed Sam inside. Bart stopped on the porch for a minute and looked around. Everything was the same, yet everything was different. This was Samantha's home now, not Caroline's.

Inside was different, too. The stone fireplace was still there but there were three large, comfortable looking chairs in front of it and a settee had been added along the far wall. The dining table was different, too. Smaller and more intimate. There was a rug covering the place on the floor where Caroline bled and died.

Bret and Jess carried the bags upstairs and left them in the main hall. Samantha led Bart over to the chairs in front of the fireplace and made him sit down.

"You stay here, Bart, Jess made a fresh pot of coffee for us. I'll go and get it."

Bret followed Samantha into the kitchen area. "For God's sake, Bret Maverick, what did you do to that boy?" She turned on Bret with a fury. "In all the years I've known the two of you he's never looked like that!"

"Not now, Sam. We'll talk tonight."

"You bet we will." She took the coffee pot and three cups with her, back to the fireplace. She poured Bart a cup and handed it to him, then one for Bret. She could only pour herself half a cup; she walked over to the table and filled the remainder of the cup with whiskey. She needed it right now, after getting a good look at Bart and realizing what poor shape he was really in. She took a big swallow and turned back to her two friends.

"So what's new, boys?"