Chapter 6

Teaspoon had sent out Bill Cody and Ike to search for Buck hoping they would come back with answers soon. In the meantime, he still had a station to run and a town to police for he worked two jobs. He decided he was going to tell Mr. Tompkins that Pip allowed the search and they found nothing in regards to the missing purse. He led the remaining riders and Pip into the store to talk with Mr. Tompkins.

As they entered the store they found a young blonde haired mother wearing a light blue dress standing before Mr. Tompkins holding in one arm a young girl about three years of age and a tattered silk blue purse with a pearl closure. The young mother profusely apologized, "I have no idea how she got it, Mr. Tompkins. I found this in her bed this morning. I'm so sorry, she spilt milk on it and I tried to clean it…" she sobbed.

His eyes settled on Teaspoon and the riders as they walked through the door. In his hand laid the stained purse which he could no longer sell. He never though a small child would take the little purse assuming it was a toy. He felt horrible for how he treated Lou and Pip.

Teaspoon spied the purse as he approached, "Is this the missing purse?" he asked knowing it was.

The young mother dried her tears as she held the child who cried for the purse. The little girl kept reaching for the purse for she liked the colors and the little pearl that seemed ever so magical to her. "I'm sorry for the all trouble, Marshal Hunter. My daughter grabbed the purse thinking it was a toy and I didn't see her do it or find it until this morning." she explained. She looked to Mr. Tompkins, "I know it's damaged but I don't have a dollar and fifty cents to pay for it."

Teaspoon held out a hand, "May I see the purse."

Bill Tompkins placed it in his hand. Teaspoon looked it over and sure enough the silk was stained and the little purse looked worse for wear. He gave a heavy sigh, "Can you sell it at a discount, Bill?"

He shook his head, "I won't get half of what I paid for it."

Pip spoke up, "You have merchant insurance?"

"I can't afford that!" he rebutted. "Especially way out here…" he knew insurance would have covered the loss but he simply did not have insurance.

Pip asked, "How much did the purse cost you?" she noticed the little girl wanted the purse and seemed agitated.

"It cost me a dollar and twenty five cents plus the cost of freight." he told her. "I was only gonna make ten cents on that purse."

Pip dug into her pocket and handed him a silver dollar and a fifty cents piece. She stated, "I'll buy it!"

Teaspoon beamed as he handed her the little purse. He was ever so proud of her dignity and charity in the awkward situation. Pip in turn handed the purse to the little girl, "I think this is yours now."

The mother gasped, "You didn't have to do that!"

"She likes it," she smiled at the child who eagerly grabbed the expensive purse.

"I can never repay you." the mother stated.

"I didn't ask you too." she shrugged.

"Thank you," she nearly cried. She spoke to Mr. Tompkins, "This won't happen again." She addressed Teaspoon, "Thank you, Marshal."

"It's alright Mrs. Jones." he assured her.

She then left the store grateful that Pip settled the loss and with her dignity intact.

Mr. Tompkins looked at Pip, "Why did you do that?"

"Kid's got good taste." she shrugged.

Teaspoon grinned, "Well now that…That is taken care of…" he spoke to Mr. Tompkins, "I want to officially introduce you to my daughter, Bill."

His eyes settled on Pip, "You're his daughter?"

She nodded, "My name is Agnes Hunter and I'm an accountant for Russell, Majors and Waddell. They let me come here to meet my father since we were separated when I was a baby."

He gasped, "You are an accountant and not a rider?"

She nodded, "They let me ride out here though."

"Agnes has a degree in accounting and grew up in New York City." he beamed. "She's also going back to college soon to get another degree."

Tompkins asked, "In accounting?"

She smirked, "I was going to go for engineering but after what happened last night, I'm thinking law now."

Teaspoon figured, "A lawyer in the family might be an asset."

She asked, "Are Lou and I allowed back in your store now, Mr. Tompkins?"

"Yes…you two are," he gave a nod rather embarrassed.

Pip glanced at Lou and then stated, "We appreciate it. We're gonna look around now." she told him and stepped away from the counter to browse with Lou.

Tompkins kept his voice low, "You think your daughter would be willing to help me go over my books. There is an error someplace but I can't find it."

"I'm sure she will help ya out." he soothed.

Tompkins asked, "So…Um…does she have any lady's clothing with her?"

"Nope," he shook his head. "She didn't bring much with her."

Jimmy Hickok kept glancing up to where Pip and Lou were browsing about the store. He liked Pip more than he would like to admit. She reminded him of Lou in a way. She had spunk and wouldn't take any nonsense from him. He liked a strong and independent woman and Agnes Hunter was as independent as he. Feeling awkward he tried to approach her. She was smart and educated but he was illiterate. However, he wasn't about to let a little thing like illiteracy keep him from acting suave around Teaspoon's daughter. He came to the pile of book and picked up a book from the pile, stood in eyesight of Pip and Lou and acted as if he was interested in the book that he could not read.

Lou glanced over at Jimmy and did a double take. He stood flipping through the pages of a book as if he could read it. She rolled her eyes and muttered, "It's doesn't have pictures, Jimmy."

Pip was busy sniffing the perfume bottles for she loved the different scents. She heard Lou say something about Jimmy. She glanced over at Jimmy reading a companion book to the Bible and then looked at Lou, "I didn't think he was that religious."

She whispered back, "He can't read. He's faking it."

Pip wondered, "Why is he doing that?"

"Because you can read." she told her.

She stood pondering the assertion that Jimmy was illiterate. She then wondered, "How many of the riders can't read?"

Lou assured her, "I can read! Kid can read. Billy can't read. Ike can read some but not write…"

Pip figured, "Maybe they can learn."

"Billy signs his name with an X," she shook her head.

"I'm gonna teach Billy, Ike and Jimmy to read." she declared.

Lou winced in near pain as she imagined the circus of a school that would occure.

Pip walked away from the perfume bottles and to Jimmy. She looked over the stack of books searching for an easy and yet interesting read. She had taught the newsies in New York City to read and got their attention by reading a book to the boys in the afternoon. She figured she employ the same tactic with the riders. She found a novel named Moby-Dick and she knew it was a good read. She picked up the book and smiled brightly, "This is a good story."

Jimmy glanced at the book but could not read the title. He nodded, "So is this one." He tried to sound smooth and well educated around Pip but in reality he came across as foolish to his friends.

She agreed, "The Bible's Companion is a nice book. You go to church regularly?" she asked wondering what he was say for Jimmy just didn't come across as someone who went to church and Lou said he didn't go.

"Um," he soon figured the book was a biblical companion read and he likely looked silly to his friends for Jimmy refused to go to church. "It's not bad." he placed the book back down.

Pip smiled, "I'm gonna buy this!" She then walked with Jimmy to Mr. Tompkins, "I would like to buy this book."

"That will be fifty cents," he told her.

She handed him the money pleased she found the book way out in the west.

Teaspoon glanced at the title, "Moby-Dick! What's that book about?"

"A wale!" she told him. "I read it to the newsies on our lunch break. They loved it."

Tompkins asked, "What's a newsie?"

"Boys who deliver the newspapers in the city." she explained.

He told her, "I carry the local newspaper. It's monthly. It runs the first of every month. I can save ya a copy…" he offered. He felt bad for falsely accusing her and wanted to show some gratitude with a favor.

"I would love to read it," she smiled. She glanced at the boys nearby, "I can read this tonight if you all are interested in it. It's a tale about a great white whale and the captain of a ship trying to find it."

Kid replied, "Sounds boring!"

She gasped at him, "It is not!"