Chapter 3

A week had passed and Lou was settling into her new surroundings. Sam had given her some old clothes to wear since both were close to the same size. Lou had stored the pouch, her revolver and her clothing in the closet in the bedroom that Sam had given to her to use. In one week Lou had learned how to use the kitchen appliances, the television and the computer. She figured if she ever did get back to her time that no one would believe that she went to the future. The future was beyond anything she have ever dreamed up. She heard of the telegraph and the steam engine and that seemed fantastical to her but living in the future made those inventions seem obsolete. Lou found herself getting very comfortable in the future. She liked pizza and found food was plentiful. She could get ice cold water right out of a door in the kitchen. The modern appliances were akin to a gift for Lou. Everything was so easy to use. All she had to do was turn a knob or press a button. She didn't need to stoke a fire to cook. If she wanted coffee she just pressed a button. It was nearly heavenly to the young rider.

Sporting tan slacks and a white button down shirt, Lou stood before the microwave waiting for her cup of coffee to re-heat. She missed the other riders and the home she felt in the station house but she also was appreciated the convenience the modern society. Deep down inside she wished she could bring those appliance with her back home. The microwave beeped indicating her coffee was ready. She retrieved her mug and then took a sip of the coffee as she leaned against the kitchen counter.

Sam walked into the kitchen carrying a box. "I found it!" She walked by Lou and into the living room as Lou followed. She sat the box down on the table, "Old family photos." she declared. She opened a vintage photo album. "This is from my dad's side. He traced it all the way back to the 1800's. My forth great grandfather was a congressman. I was named after my grandfather who was named after him. So, I guess I was named after him too in a way." She opened the photo album. "Here they are. Samuel and Emma Cain."

Lou placed her cup down and grasped the album. She could believe her eyes, "Sam and Emma are your kin."

"You know them?" she asked surprised.

"In Sweetwater." Lou nodded. "Emma ran the station house and Sam was the Sherriff. They moved to Washington when Sam got elected to congress." She looked at Sam, "You are Emma's granddaughter." The discovery warmed Lou's heart and made her feel as if she found family.

"What were they like?" Sam asked looking at the photo.

Lou recalled, "Emma treated the riders like her own and Sam, he was always there for us too. Riders are orphans. But with Emma, we weren't." She looked to Sam, "You must get that from her. You treat me like family. You opened your home to me, fed me, taught me how to use the kitchen and all these…things…" she motioned around the room. "You stopped when I got thrown from my horse and came right to me. Not many would do that."

"Any decent human being would do that, Lou." she assured her. "Oh, speaking of your horse. I called the horse rescue place and got them to release your horse to my friend who has stables. She will let us board her there. She lets me ride one of her horses and maybe we can go riding together. I was thinking maybe we can re-trace your route and see if anything sticks out at us. Maybe we can find some clues as to how you got here."

"That sounds like an idea." Lou agreed. "I do miss home. I like it here too but I do miss Kid and the boys."

"Who is Kid?" she asked with a grin.

Lou paused for a moment, "He's a boy I know."

"Is he cute?" she asked nearly teasing.

Lou blushed, "He's very handsome."

"He one of the riders?" she asked.

"Yes," she nodded slyly. Feeling a bit embarrassed she decided to change the subject. "Show me the rest of your photographs."

Sam dug through the box and retrieved another photo album. "This one is from my mother." She started to flip through the images. "She started tracing her family tree when my dad was doing his. I hadn't really looked at this one yet." She continued to flip through pages, "Uncles, aunts, great grandparents…"

She flipped to another page and then paused as one photo caught her eye. Wearing a wedding dress stood Lou in one of the photos beside a young, handsome man.

Lou spotted the photo of herself, "That's me and that's Kid." She grabbed the album and brought it closer, "We get married!" She read the note aloud, "4th great grandparents Louise and Marion Spielman." She paused and squinted in thought, "No wonder he never told anyone his name."

"John Wayne's real name was Marion." Sam mentioned. "Was he Jewish?" she wondered.

"No," she shook her head. She looked at the name, "He's Christian." She then wondered for Kid didn't seem very religious to her. "I'm sure he's Christian." She then declared, "It wouldn't matter even if he was though. Though, I'm Christian." She then asked, "Are you Jewish or Christian?"

"Oh' I'm new age." she told her.

"What is that?" Lou wondered.

Sam explained, "I kind of believe in a mix of some Christianity, some Hindu, some Buddhist, reincarnation and some Native American."

"No there is no such religion as that." Lou declared. "You are fooling me."

"I took what I like from a bunch of different ones and made up my own." she declared.

"We're Christian!" Lou told her.

"That's your thing. I do my thing." she rebutted. "I'm an emergency room surgeon. I've seen things that will give most people nightmares. I cut people open and pull them back from the edge of death. Sometimes, it's too late nothing I do makes a difference. I do what I have to do to keep my sanity."

"I guess when you put that way I can understand it." Lou admitted. "But Kid never did anything or say anything to indicate he's Jewish."

"Kid's beliefs are between him and God and not him and us." she figured. "So, what's he like other than being cute and having an issue with his name?"

Lou replied, "Lot like you in some ways. Kind of does his own thing. You have his nose. Did you know that?"

"Oh, so that's where I get this ugly thing from." she miffed.

"I meant that as a compliment." she assured her.

"Thanks," she remarked. She sat back on the sofa and looked at the time on her phone. "Let's go get some lunch."

"You have food here." Lou mentioned as she motioned towards the kitchen.

"But I feel like a burger, fires and a shake." she told her.

"A what?" Lou asked.

She grinned, "I got the perfect place."

Short Time Later

Lou and Sam sat outside to eat on the bright sunny day. Lou found much of the food was wrapped in paper. She found a cheeseburger, french fries and a chocolate milkshake before her. She figured the burger was some kind of sandwich. She picked it up and took a bite. She gave a nod and swallowed. "Like a steak on bread with cheese."

Sam sat amused as Lou tried the foods.

Lou went to the french fries next. "It's a potato cut into a stick." She nibbled at it. "Salty." she concluded.

"Now try the shake," Sam grinned.

Lou figured she had to suck through the straw to get the drink. She found she had to suck hard and then her taste buds were hit with a creamy, sweet, chocolaty cold concoction. She paused and debated what sensations she felt. "I had something kind of like this before. Teaspoon made us ice cream once. It took all day but it was good."

"That's basically chocolate ice cream blended with milk." Sam told her.

"It's good." Lou agreed. She then heard a squeal as a hot rod went screaming down the road. She looked to Sam.

"Kids," she shrugged.

Lou mentioned, "I've gone a whole week and never put on my gun belt here."

"You can wear it but you might get some funny looks in town. Out in this area you see people wearing guns when they are out in the wilderness and sometimes on horse back. Rock Creek is a small town. We don't get shoot outs and such. Some of the big cities do because of the drug gangs and all."

"Drug gangs?" she asked.

"Cocaine is illegal along with a marijuana and other drugs. Gangs sell it on the streets and get in fights and stuff." she tried to explain.

"Then just make it legal." Lou told her. "Cocaine and cannabis is in cough syrup." she rebutted.

"It's addictive so it was banned." Sam told her. "We have other medications to use."

"But if you ban something, you just make folks want it more." Lou understood. "That's just silly."

"I know." she agreed. She then mentioned, "I've never shot a gun. I don't know anything about them but to be honest, I would like to have something with me when we go riding. Can you teach me how to use one?"

"Sure," Lou agreed. "You can get one."

"There is a gun shop in town but I have never been to it." she admitted.

"Why not?" Lou asked licking her fingers.

"I don't know nothing about it and I don't want to go in there and act foolish." she informed. "I have a friend who is a cop and he offered to take me but he's always working."

"I'll take ya." Lou confirmed. "Let's go there next. Can I make a request?"

"Sure," she nodded.

"Can I see what Walmart is?" she wondered.

Sam winced, "If you want too."