Chapter 17
Lou figured she might as well disclose everything to Teaspoon. She gathered the box of old photos from Sam's home office and brought them to the sofa in the living room. She placed the box down on the coffee table before her housemates. "This belongs to Sam. It's her family tree. She was showing it to me when I was here the first time. In this book are pictures from her father's side of the family. She's Sam and Emma's 4th great granddaughter. And in this book are pictures from her mother's side of the family." She sat down and placed the album before the group. She opened it to the page with the photo of her and Kid. She looked to Teaspoon, "I suppose someday you find out anyways. I'm a girl." She handed him the photo with she, Kid and Teaspoon as he officiated the wedding.
He looked at the photo, squinting slightly. His lip curled in thought, "Now why didn't I see that before?" he asked himself. It suddenly made sense. How Kid was so close to Lou and how the boys seemed to shelter her at times.
She suggested, "Maybe you didn't want to see it. Everyone sees it here."
"Why would I not want to see it?" he pondered.
"Because you will have to fire me." she figured.
He cocked an eyebrow, "Now why would I do something like that?"
"Because I'm a girl." she reminded him.
"True but you can shoot as straight as the other boys, ride just as hard and you have proven yourself." he told her.
"You mean, you are not gonna fire me?" she asked surprised.
"I see no reason to fire ya." he assured. He looked at the wedding photo, "You and Kid, huh."
Kid sat beside himself as it was suddenly clear. "Wait! I'm Sam's 4th great grandfather?"
Lou looked at him and nodded with a smirk.
"No wonder everyone kept saying we look alike." he scratched his head.
Lou stated amused, "She's your granddaughter."
"So that's what you meant when you said if I knew who she was I wouldn't want her on a run either." he concluded.
Jimmy asked, "You only now figured out she's your kin, Kid?"
"Did you know?" he asked.
He admitted, "I figured it out."
He asked, "And you still fancy her?"
He smiled at him knowing that alone would irritate the young man. "She's a lot like Lou after all."
Lou disagreed, "Sam is more like Kid."
Billy stated, "She's like the two of you." He stepped by the back sliding glass door which led to a porch in the backyard. He asked, "How does this here door open."
"It slides." Lou told him.
He fiddled a bit, "I got it." He slid open the door and stepped out on the porch. He found a grill, chairs and big square box with a cover sitting in the corner. "Hey Lou! What's that thing over there?"
She rose to her feet with Jimmy, Kid and Teaspoon in tow. She looked outside, "That's a hot tub."
He wondered, "What does it do?"
"There is water inside with seats and you get in, turn it on and water massages you." she explained. "Sam would get in it after a long day at work. It's nice."
Billy lifted the corner of the cover and peeked inside, "Let's try it."
"You don't have a bathing suit." she told him. "Sam gave me one of hers to use."
He grinned, "It's a tub. Who says you need…suits?"
She declared, "I'm not going in there with no clothes on and the three of you."
Jimmy came to the tub and suggested, "Wear one of them there bathing suits then, Lou." He had to admit it looked inviting.
Teaspoon figured, "We will have to go back to Walmart to get them bathing suits if we are going to the pool party."
"Maybe not?" Lou grinned for she hated the idea of driving again. "I bet I can order some online and have it delivered."
"Online?" Jimmy asked. "What is this online?"
"It's like a catalog but it's not a book. It's on the computer. I'll show you." She led the boys to the desk top computer in the living room. She took a seat at the desk and turned the contraption on. "Sam taught me to use it when I was here. She has a Wal-Mart account. I think I can get the suits delivered before the pool party." She logged into the computer and brought up the website.
Teaspoon squinted at the screen, "We should have used this thing before. The roads here can be…tricky…" he figured.
Lou typed in the item and a page of male models wearing swim trunks appeared. "What style do you all like?"
Jimmy stated, "Not that flashy one."
"Why are these swimming shorts all so bright?" Kid wondered.
Lou shrugged and guessed, "To see you better in water."
The explanation made sense to Teaspoon. "I'll take that bright yellow one."
Kid stated, "I'll go with the green."
Billy stated, "Red."
Jimmy miffed, "Nothing in black."
Teaspoon asked, "Why black Hickok?"
"Makes ya look better." he explained.
Lou placed an order for a multicolored pair of trunks for Jimmy.
"Why did you pick those?" he asked her.
She asked him, "When was the last time you let the sun on your back?"
"Been a while." he admitted.
"When I was here with Sam we would sit out on the back porch in them bathing suits and get some sun. My skin was rather pale. So will be yours and you are going to a pool party with strangers." she replied.
He figured, "Dave will be too busy telling everyone how I am related to myself for folks to notice how pale I am."
Rock Creek - Past
It was late afternoon and a fight had broken out in the Saloon once more. Sam was dispatched to the Saloon with Buck who stayed with her at the Marshal's office for he didn't wish to leaver her alone as Noah had to tend to chores at the station house with Rachel.
They walked into the saloon and found a full blown brawl taking place. Chairs and tables were over turned. Two large men were in a fist fight in the middle of the room as they had a dispute over a card game.
Buck drew his revolver and kept it at his side in case he needed to shoot. Sam was unarmed and stood in the door looking peeved. She whistled loudly using her fingers. The patrons suddenly came to attention as well at the two men in the fight. All eyes fell on Sam and Buck.
Sam spoke, "Alright! This is the second fight here in less than 24 hours. Out! Time to disperse and this place is shutting for the night."
The bartender pinched his lips for he didn't like being shut down but also knew he needed time to clean up the saloon.
On man from the audience stated, "You can't just walk in here and shut down the whole damn place, Doc."
"Yes I can and on two fronts. It's a public health hazard and Deputy Paul was shot here last night. Until this place gets cleaned up, I'm shutting it down." she declared. "Now go home!" she stepped sideways and pointed out the door.
One of the men, a tall burly fellow with a mustache huffed, "Make us, Doc."
Buck leveled his revolver on him, "Doc said go home. I suggest you go home."
He swallowed his pride when face with the barrel of a gun. He didn't say a word and simply stormed out giving a dirty look to Sam. Other men followed but not all seemed upset. A few gave a nod and wink for they knew Teaspoon would have done the same. After the saloon was empty of patrons Sam and Buck approached the bartender.
Sam asked, "How often do you get fights in here?"
"A few times a week." he replied.
"Maybe you should toss out the trouble makers." she suggested.
"Lots of trouble makers." he told her. "I wouldn't have anyone left to sell whisky too."
She countered, "Or maybe you would get more customers that are local who will respect you and your establishment. Folks won't come here if they know it's full of rough-tough guys like that."
"You want me to turn away paying customers?" he asked her in disbelief.
She pointed to the broken furniture, "How much in repairs are they costing you? Seems to me that are eating up your profits if they are breaking everything."
He couldn't argue with the damage, "If I turn them away I won't have anyone coming. Ladies won't come here and families certainly will not be here. This is for the gentleman to unwind and have a game of cards."
She pondered what to say for a moment. "There is place where I come from. It's a city that caters to gambling of all kinds. It's really well know and families come from all over just to see it. They have more than just card games. There are big lights and put on real shows with singers and dancers. They have a huge tourist industry and even families come there. It's up to you but I bet ya that if you turn this place into something less…depressing…you will get better customers who will not destroy your furniture and have shoot each other."
He asked, "How much you wanna bet?" He took her bet seriously.
"It was figure of speech." she informed. "Not a real bet."
"Tell ya what Doc, I'll try some of your ideas and if they work I will use them and if they don't, you don't shut me down for the night." he told her. "I got girls with no men to entertain tonight and they need to pay rent for their rooms upstairs." He motioned towards the prostitutes watching from the walkway above.
Sam looked up at a half dozen women who had been watching the events unfold.
She stated, "While I am Marshal of this town, for those girls to work, they each need physicals to check for disease and medical issues." Se figured that demand would slow the prostitution business in hopes she could help them find less dangerous work.
"You are the towns only doctor." he stated.
"That's right," she nodded.
He smirked, "Want to preview the inventory yourself, huh Doc."
She squinted annoyed, "Send them one at a time to the station house. Rachel will be acting as my nurse."
He told her, "I better get the girls back."
"As long as they are healthy and cannot spread disease." she agreed.