Chapter 16

Upon loading up the back of the Subaru with clothing and food they were back on the road with Lou at the wheel.

Jimmy stated, "It's getting hot in here." He looked at the controls on the door, "How do you open the window?"

"Just a minute," Lou stated and then simply turned on the air conditioning. "It will cool off in a minute."

Teaspoon put his hand up to the vent, "Cold air."

"Something called A/C." she nodded. "Sam had it on all the time."

"We still getting something to eat at that Bernie place, Lou?" Kid asked.

"I was thinking pizza." she replied.

Kid asked, "Pee what?"

"You'll see," she grinned.

Rock Creek - Past

Two days had passed since Teaspoon left with the riders to look for Ike and so far no sign of their return. Sam was called into town as the deputy had been shot the night before as he tried to break up a fight in the local saloon. She treated the chest would but his recovery would be long and slow.

Rachel, Buck, Noah and Sam all gathered in the Marshal's office wondering what to do next for the town lacked any law enforcement at the moment. Sam sat at Teaspoon's desk holding a badge. She fiddled with it knowing they needed to choose someone to fill in for Teaspoon.

Rachel figured Buck's injured arm was reason for him not to take up the position and she wasn't sure if Noah would even want it. She deemed, "We need to find a new Marshal to fill in until Teaspoon gets back with the riders."

Sam volunteered, "I'll do it."

Noah shook his head, "You're the town's only doctor."

Buck added, "And the town won't like having a woman as the Marshal." He looked at Noah and stated, "Or you and me."

Sam stood up, "Well…they will just have to get used to us then." She handed each a deputy badge including Rachel.

Rachel gasped, "I can't be a deputy marshal."

"Why not?" she asked.

"Well…the town won't like it." she assumed.

Sam motioned, "I don't see a line of volunteers out there so, I don't think they care nearly all that much." She pinned the badge on her coat, "We just have to look the part to keep the peace."

Rachel held the badge in her hand unsure if it was the right thing to do. She asked, "You really think I could be a deputy? I don't know anything about it. How do I get them rowdy men to pay attention to me?"

Sam assured, "They will pay attention to you. Just treat'em like you are the parent and they are a child. That's basically what cops do with drunks in the E.R."

"This is the town, not a hospital, Doc." she rebutted.

"It's all in how you present yourself. If you come across as unsure and nervous no one will let ya touch them but if you are competent you can get them to cooperate." she assured. "Just treat them the way you treat the boys and they will respect you."

"I hope you are right." she reluctantly agreed.

Noah stood unsure, "You think the town will pay attention to me? I'm colored."

"One of the top doctors that I work with in the hospital is a black man. He's just as smart as you, Noah. Most of his patients are white and Hispanic. The staff loves him." she informed. "As I said, it's how you present yourself, not the color of your skin that counts. Same with you, Buck. You act like a professional and they will respect it. Act like someone who doesn't know what they are doing and you will get nowhere."

Noah and Buck traded glances. They both put on the badges as they agreed to help Sam police the town.

Buck stated, "We'll need side arms."

"You and Noah can wear your side arm." she figured. "Me and Rachel will carry if we find trouble."

Rachel placed the badge on her blouse, "Not sure how well this work but it's worth a try." She had to agree, "I don't see any volunteers outside."

"It will work!" Sam assured her.

In short time the four stepped out of the Marshal's office unsure how the town's people would react. As best to Rachel's knowledge no woman had ever placed on a badge and policed the town before. Policing was a man's job and she was just a cook. She expected to be disrespected immediately and her day as a deputy would end with the town's rejection. She soon came across the Mayor who was on his way to the office to see who was in charge.

Mayor Orbaker was a stout man with a handlebar mustache and wore a fine gray suit with a derby style hat. He spied Rachel and the Doctor. He noticed the badges and wasn't sure what had happened. "Rachel, Doctor McCloud." He then spied to two riders. He was about to called them boys when he saw the badges. "Fellas," he greeted Buck and Noah. "I heard the deputy was shot last night at the saloon. Is he alright?"

Sam replied, "He needs rest. He will survive but it's a bad wound."

"When will Marshall Hunter be back?" he asked.

"I wish I knew." Rachel told him. "Soon, I hope."

He asked, "Are you four filling in as deputies?"

Sam stated, "I'm filling in for Teaspoon and I deputized them." She took total responsibility for the actions. "This is a stop gap effort on my part. Once Teaspoon and the riders return things will return to the normal."

"You are in charge, Doctor McCloud." The mayor had not figured out that Sam was a girl for she wore trousers and a coat and thus must be a male. He seemed more than willing to accept the good doctor's recommendations.

"I am." she nodded confidently.

"Well, thank you sir for stepping up. I wasn't sure when we would get another deputy or how long before a new Marshal could be placed." He offered a handshake.

Sam bit her lip as she figured the town thought she was a male and thus accepting her as Marshal. She shook her head suppressing her disappointment. "Thank you, Mayor Orbaker."

Rachel soon realized just what power Sam held. The town assumed she was a male doctor who had stepped up and took on the position of Marshal in an emergency. As long as they thought Sam was a man, then whoever Sam appointed as a deputy was just fine with the town. She looked at Noah and Buck for a moment as the pair quickly realized the same.

The Mayor pointed to Rachel, "A woman deputy. Why did you do that, Doctor McCloud?"

"To deal with women suspects." she replied rather annoyed.

"Ah," he nodded thinking of the implications. "That's a brilliant move, Doctor McCloud. You are a genius." He smiled brightly and found his stress was eased. "Have a good day Doctor…I mean Marshal." He walked away beaming for he figured the town was in good hands.

Rachel looked at Sam, "You cannot tell anyone your not a man. If you do we won't be able to keep the peace."

"Great…" she winced.

Rock Creek - Present Day

Lou pulled into the driveway and parked the car. She was getting more use to driving but found it took some concentration and other drivers could get on her nerves.

Kid sat in the back holding a big flat box on his lap. The pizza smelled tantalizing. Jimmy kept trying to open the box to pick at the food and Kid kept holding it tight and swatting his hand away. He looked at Jimmy annoyed, "Stop it."

"It smells good." he insisted. "I just want to try it."

"I know it smells good. My mouth has been watering the entire time and this box is hot." he stated. "Now open the door so I can get out."

Jimmy found the handle after a brief look, opened the door and stepped outside. He looked about as the neighbors were riding the lawn mowers about and tending to the homes. A neighbor to the right of Sam's home called from his driveway.

"Hi Lou!" he waved at her as she emerged from the car. He wore a pink shirt and white shorts and had brown thinning hair.

Lou waved back, "Hi Dave."

He asked, "Where is Sam?"

"She's visiting some friends." she informed.

"You house setting." he figured. "Who are your friends?"

Lou gave a quick introduction, "That's Jimmy, Billy, Kid and this is Teaspoon." She came up with a cover, "Teaspoon is our uncle."

Dave looked close as Billy, Jimmy and Kid. He found Billy and Jimmy looked very familiar but could not place them. Kid looked a bit like Sam so he asked, "You Sam's cousin too, Kid?"

He glanced at Lou who nodded.

"I am." he went with the cover.

"Ah," he looked at Jimmy and Billy again, "Have I seen you two before?"

Jimmy replied, "We never met before."

"You look familiar." he told him.

Teaspoon recalled Sam saying the Jimmy and Billy were legends. He made up an excuse, "Billy is a descendant of William F. Cody and Jimmy is a descendant of James Butler Hickok. They do…" he looked to Lou for help.

"Re-enactments." she smiled.

Dave stood beside himself, "You two are related to Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody?"

"Buffalo?" Billy wondered why he got that name.

Teaspoon nodded, "They are direct descendants."

"Oh' wow!" he grinned and came closer and offered a hand, "Pleasure meeting both of you."

Jimmy shook his head, "Pleasure is mine, sir."

"Gosh, you look just like him but without the mustache." Dave told him. He got a good look at Billy, "You look just like Buffalo Bill but without the facial hair."

The pair stood a bit dumbstruck by the man's reaction.

Lou stated, "It's genetic."

Dave stood giddy, "It's like looking into the eyes of the real thing. Wow!" He looked to Lou, "I'm having a pool party and cookout tomorrow. Why don't you all come over?"

Teaspoon stated, "That's might kind of you, sir."

"Great," he cheered. "Bring a suit. I got hamburgs and hotdogs." He stepped back to return to his chores. "See you later, Lou." he waved and was still giddy, "They look just like the real thing." He tended to his lawn.

Teaspoon stated, "Let's get this stuff inside, boys."

Upon entering the home Kid placed the box of pizza on the table. He asked, "What's a pool party?"

"Dave has a pool in the backyard and he would invite Sam and me over on the weekend to go swimming and have a cookout." she then added, "Dave is divorced, has two kids and I think he likes Sam."

Jimmy placed the bags down on the sofa and went for a slice of pizza. He wasn't sure how to eat it but it smelled so delicious. He figured as he picked at the pie, "It sounds like fun."

Lou placed a slice on a plate and handed it to him so he would stop picking at the food. She shook her head, "We can't go. You need a bathing suit."

Kid asked, "Where do you find the bathing suits?"

"Walmart." she replied. "But bathing suits here are more revealing. Men were just bottoms. No shirts."

Billy figured, "I can wear that." He went to the rear window wondering if he could see the pool but could not.

"I can't." Lou miffed.

Teaspoon asked, "Why not son?"

"Um…" she winced and looked Kid, Jimmy and Billy for help.

Kid stated, "I think we're gonna have to tell him, Lou."

He came to attention, "Tell me what?"