SEE CHAPTER 1 FOR WARNINGS AND DISCLOSURES
CHAPTER 7
Earlier in the day:
"Judge," Chris entered the saloon and approached the table where Judge Travis was sitting. The older man appeared to be lost in thought, contemplating the beer on the table in front of him. He started at the sound of his name and looked up to see the black-clad gunman approaching.
"Inez, would you bring me a beer?" Chris asked as he sat down. The two man sat companionably for a few minutes before Judge Travis spoke.
"Can I assume that since you've come tracking me down you have some information regarding the young lady?"
"Yes, sir, I do." Chris proceeded to relate Sammy's story to the Judge.
When Chris finished his tale, the judge shook his head in disbelief. "That poor child. No wonder she was scared out of her wits earlier."
Chris nodded his agreement. "I cain't decide which she feels stronger, fear or a thirst for revenge. If she ain't careful, she's gonna end up gettin' herself killed. She didn't confirm her age, but she cain't be any older than sixteen, and is probably younger than that."
Judge Travis took a drink of his beer and contemplated what he was about to say. "She's too young to be on her own. She'll need to have a guardian appointed for her." He looked pointedly at Chris.
"You can't be seriously considering me for the job?" Chris was surprised. "She and I haven't exactly gotten off to a smooth start. What about Vin or even Ezra?" He knew the judge was right about Sammy needing a guardian, but he didn't particularly want the job.
Judge Travis smiled. He'd been thinking about this very topic when Chris had walked into the saloon. He knew about Chris' past – the loss of his wife and child. He also knew how good Chris was with Billy and the other children in town. The man was stern and didn't put up with much foolishness from anyone, regardless of their age, but he also had a softer side. Given the girl's history, Chris Larabee was just the person to bring her through what was bound to be a very rough patch.
"Vin is still a wanted man. Although we're working on getting his name cleared, until that happens somebody could show up here at any time to haul him back to Texas for trial. That girl needs more stability than that." Judge Travis leaned back in his chair and looked at Chris. "Josiah is too busy fighting his own demons. Ezra can't be trusted not to put together some scheme in which he'd use her to earn money." Judge Travis gave a short laugh at the surprised expression on Chris' face. "He wouldn't intentionally hurt her, but that wouldn't stop him from trying to earn a dollar if the opportunity presented itself. Buck is too busy chasing women to take on the responsibility of a young girl. J.D. is too young." He paused a moment before continuing. "Do I need to go on?"
"No, I get your point," Chris conceded. "I just never expected to become a father again – especially to an angry and hurting teenage girl."
Judge Travis picked up his beer and took another drink. "Good. Because my only other choice was to send her to an orphanage until she turns eighteen." He really didn't have any intention of sending Sammy to an orphanage, but he knew that Chris' sense of honor and fair play wouldn't allow that to happen if there was another alternative. Judge Travis was not above manipulating someone to get his way when it was necessary.
Anger flitted across Chris' face. He knew exactly what the Judge was doing. "You're not sending that girl to an orphanage. I said I'd do it."
"I heard what you said, Chris," the judge replied. "The matter is settled. Now all we have to do is hold the hearing. I'd like to get her testimony against those two men who are occupying your jail cell. If necessary, we can hang them in the morning, along with Jed Slater."
The two men continued to discuss the appropriate place for holding Sammy's custody hearing and Macon and Lefty's trial. The Grain Exchange, where court was typically held, was not available that afternoon. Inez overheard their conversation as she delivered another beer to both men and offered the back room of the saloon. It was decided that the proceedings would begin in an hour, and Chris left to inform everyone what would be happening.
* * * * * * *
Chris led Sammy out of the bathhouse and toward the saloon. Vin stayed behind to thank Nettie and Casey for helping out with the girl's bath. Nettie sent Casey to retrieve Sammy's clothes and told Vin she would return them after they had been washed. Vin nodded and turned to follow Chris and Sammy out of the bathhouse and to round up the others, but Nettie stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"Have patience with her, Vin. That girl's hurtin' and don't yet know how to handle it. You wait and see -- she'll come around."
Vin smiled and patted Nettie's hand. "Thanks, Nettie. I don't know what me and the boys would do without you."
Nettie nodded and removed her hand from Vin's arm. "You'd figure out some way to manage. You tell Mr. Larabee what I said."
With that they went their own way. Vin went to tell the other peacekeepers that Sammy's hearing was going to take place shortly so that those who were not guarding the prisoners could attend if they wanted to.
Chris led Sammy over to the saloon. He stopped outside the door and turned her to face him. "As you know, I spoke with Judge Travis. I told him what you told us in the clinic."
Sammy drew back and tried to pull her arm out of his grasp. "You didn't have any right to do that."
Chris tightened his grip. "That may be, but I did, so there's nothing that can be done that it. Judge Travis is fair man. He wants to do what's best for you, and that's to appoint a guardian for you until you come of age."
"I don't need a guardian. I can take care of myself." Sammy again tried to loose Chris' grip on her arm.
Not wanting to struggle and draw more attention to her than was necessary, Chris pulled her over inside the saloon and pushed her down into a chair just inside the door. He leaned forward to brace his hands on the chair arms, effectively trapping her in place. The position also put his face with inches of her, so he kept his voice low.
"This ain't about what you want, it's about keeping you safe. Letting you wander around on your own, especially with a chip the size of Texas on your shoulder and Bart Slater on the loose, is about as far from safe as you can get." He paused to look in Sammy's eyes. The belligerence, which had seemed to abate some after Vin spanked her, was returning. Chris sighed. "Besides, Judge Travis wants to hear your testimony about Macon and Lefty."
Sammy started to argue, but Chris put a finger over her lips to stop her from speaking. "I don't want to hear any arguments about it. You don't have a choice in the matter." He straighten to stand in front of her. "Now, I expect you to be respectful to Judge Travis. I know you've already been tanned once today, but I'm givin' you fair warning. You say anything rude or disrespectful in there, and I'll give you a hiding that make the one Vin gave you seem like nothin' in comparison. Do you understand me."
Sammy glared at Chris for as long as she dared before answering. "Yes, sir. But, I still don't think this is necessary."
Chris pulled Sammy to her feet. "I don't care what you think is necessary or not. You just remember my warning." He began guiding her through the saloon to the back room, where Judge Travis was waiting.
A few minutes later, Judge Travis, along with Chris, Sammy and the other members of the seven, except for Nathan and J.D., who were taking their turns guarding the prisoners, were assembled in the make-shift courtroom. Judge Travis pounded his gavel on the table that was serving as his bench to open the proceedings.
"We are here this afternoon to discuss the custody of one Samantha Browning, an unmarried infant."
Sammy jumped to her feet. "I'm not a baby, and don't you dare call me one." Chris instantly stood and gripped Sammy's arm, intending to haul her into the kitchen to blister her backside.
"Sit down, both of you," Judge Travis ordered. Chris stared at the judge, not believing what he just heard. "You heard me. Sit."
"Judge," Chris started to interrupt.
"Mr. Larabee, I will handle this matter." Both Sammy and Chris plopped down into their seats, both disgruntled at the judge's words, but for vastly different reasons.
Judge Travis turned his gaze to Sammy and a tense silence filled the air for the next several seconds as he leveled a hard stare at the girl. "Young lady, I understand your emotions are running high at this moment. That is the sole reason I stopped Mr. Larabee from hauling you out of here. This is your one and only warning. If there is another outburst out of you, I will allow Mr. Larabee to do as he wishes. That is if I don't turn you over my own knee. Do you understand me?"
Sammy returned the judge's stare. She debated whether or not to risk pushing this man. Deciding it was a battle worth waging, Sammy reluctantly replied, "yes, sir."
Judge Travis nodded, ignoring the searing look sent his way by Chris. "Good girl. I typically do not explain myself, but I will make an exception in this instance. I did not call you a baby." He smiled, hoping to put the girl more at ease. "Rather, 'infant' is the legal term for someone under the age of eighteen." Sammy started to speak, but stopped when the judge held up his hand. "Before you tell me that you are eighteen years old, and, therefore, do not need a guardian appointed for you, let me warn you that I will not tolerate being lied to. I suggest you do not even try."
With that, Judge Travis placed Sammy under oath and ordered her to relate the story she had told the members of the seven earlier that day. The tale she told matched the facts that Chris had relayed to him during their earlier meeting. When she was finished, he asked her detailed questions about her involvement in the bank robbery in Silver Springs and her scheme to get Jed Slater captured.
Finally, the judge decided he had all of the information he needed. It was time to bring this matter to a close with one final question.
"Samantha, how old are you?" He hoped the abrupt change of topic would take the girl by surprise enough that she would automatically answer without stopping to think. His ploy worked.
"I turned sixteen two months ago." Judge Travis smiled at the stunned look on the girl's face. Obviously, she hadn't intended to reveal that information.
He motioned for Sammy to stand in front of his bench. Sensing that she was reluctant to move, Chris stood and pulled her to her feet. He guided her to stand in front of Judge Travis, and gave her hand a quick squeeze of encouragement before moving to lean against the table where they had been sitting. He already knew how the judge was going to rule, but had felt Sammy growing more and more nervous as the judge's interrogation progressed.
"Samantha Browning, I hereby find that you have no criminal liability for your participation in the Silver Springs bank robbery. You were given no choice but to take part in that crime. Nor am I going to hold you criminally liable for your false allegations that the general store was being robbed." Sammy exhaled the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. However, Judge Travis wasn't finished. His voice turned hard and he pointed his gavel at her. "But if you ever do anything like that again, I'm going to put you under the jail house. Am I understood?"
"Yes, sir," Samantha quickly answered.
"Now," Judge Travis leaned back in his chair. "The age of majority in this territory is eighteen. You just confirmed to me that you only recently turned sixteen. That means you are still a minor. Under the circumstances, even if you weren't underage, I'm not so sure I would let you go out on your own." Judge Travis straightened back up in his chair and waved his hand as if attempting to erase something out of the air. "Regardless, I have two choices here. I can appoint a guardian for you until you turn eighteen or I can send you to an orphanage." He ignored the sounds of movement from the other men in the room and kept his eyes locked with Sammy's, not missing the momentary look of panic that passed over her face. "Personally, I don't consider sending you to an orphanage to even be an option in this matter. Therefore, I am appointing Chris Larabee as your legal guardian in loco parentis until such time as you have reached your eighteenth birthday or until such other time as determined by this court. Court is hereby adjourned."
Judge Travis stood and rounded the table that had served as his bench. Sammy had not moved from her position in front of the table. Despite her earlier nap and meal, she was emotionally and physically exhausted. She knew a large part of it was having to relive the last two years for the second time that day. She wanted to argue with the older man and tell him that she would be just fine on her own, that she didn't need to have Chris Larabee appointed as her legal guardian. But, she was just did not have the energy. Instead, she stood where she was, her head down in defeat.
Judge Travis approached the girl and placed his hands on her shoulders. Looking over her head, he sent a silent message to Chris to give them a minute or two. Understanding the judge's intentions, Chris moved to stand with the other men and proceeded to discuss how they would handle bringing Macon and Lefty over from the jail for their trial while keeping Sammy close at hand.
"Young lady," Judge Travis he placed his finger under her chin and tilted her head up until he could look into her eyes. He could see the exhaustion in her face, as well as the emotions that she was trying, not completely successfully, to keep hidden. "I know that you and Chris have gotten off to a rocky start, but he's a good man. He'll keep you safe and help you get through this, if you'll just give him a chance." He saw her skepticism at his statement and chuckled low under his breath. He wanted very much to pull this wounded girl into his arms and give her a comforting hug, but he knew she would not willingly accept any comfort from him. Instead, he settled for giving her shoulders a quick squeeze before releasing her. He gestured for her to precede him as they moved to join the members of the seven.
It was quickly decided that Sammy would remain in the front room of the saloon in the company of Ezra and Buck while the other men stood guard in the make-shift courtroom during the trial for Macon and Lefty. As Sammy moved to leave the room in the company of her babysitters, Chris stopped her.
"I guess I don't need to tell you to behave." He'd noticed the change in her demeanor and was concerned. Suddenly, the girl appeared defeated. He wasn't sure if it meant she had given up all hope or had merely decided to accept the situation. "I'll have Inez bring you something to drink. After we take care of this, I'll take you over to the boarding house and get you set up in a room. You can lay down and rest."
Samantha nodded and turned to leave the room.
"Sammy, everything will be okay. I promise." Chris just hoped he'd be able to keep that promise.
TBC
