Chapter 15: Triggering the Trap
It was the middle of the day when Andrew walked out of the post office in town, one of the few places Jonathan and Alice would let him go alone after learning about his trips to the Silver Coin. A rift had developed between him and his parents after they found out about their son's deception, but it was that same building that caught his eye and stopped him from leaving town to go home. He was not completely done with the saloon just yet. He needed to get one thing off his chest before swearing off the place for good.
Andrew glanced around town as he quickly made his way over to the Silver Coin. Inside, he immediately saw the person he was looking for.
"Hi, Sarah." Andrew called out to the girl before she could retreat from the main room of the saloon.
"Andrew! I'm surprised to see you here and in the middle of the day no less." Sarah walked over to him, trying to deny to herself that she was glad to see him again.
"Yeah, I know. I've been dealing with some things at home and I don't think I'll be able to come around here anymore."
"I figured as much." Sarah nodded in understanding, having pieced the puzzle together for herself.
"Look, I-" Andrew stopped himself, unsure if he really was going to be able to say what he was thinking. "I'm not the smartest person in the world, but I do know the only reason why you were being so nice to me was because you wanted us to keep coming back to the saloon. But I just wanted to let you know that I did really start to like you, Sarah."
She was taken back by what he said. Sarah did not want to admit that she had grown to like him too. "Andrew, it may have been like that in the beginning, but I genuinely enjoyed when you and your friends would come around. You guys were a lot more fun than the rest of the drunks that frequent here. I'm going to miss seeing you."
Andrew smiled, finding it hard not to get his hopes up too high. "Well, I mean I still live in town. Maybe we'll see each other around once and awhile."
"Yeah." She smiled back. "I'd like that."
He nodded his head, not wanting to leave the saloon, or rather not wanting to say goodbye to her. "I best be getting home. Wouldn't want my parents knowing I was here after the falling out we had."
Just as Andrew began to step away for the exit, Sarah reached out to grab his arm and stop him from leaving. "Wait, I want to give you something. Take it as a goodbye encase we don't see each other for awhile."
"I'm not in the mood for a drink right now."
"Not that." Sarah leaned in and kissed Andrew. It was a long kiss that deepened when the two wrapped their arms around each other. All the alcohol or drugs in the world could not beat a feeling like this. Then, Sarah slowly pulled back. "Bye, Andrew."
"Bye." Andrew sighed, then finally walked out of the Silver Coin for what he believed to be the last time. The first girl he ever really liked, he lost the chance to be with because he did not speak up about his feelings. Now he was losing another, not because he was too afraid to say anything, but because he took things too far and got into trouble.
"Afternoon, Andrew."
He jolted back at the voice that came from beside him. Andrew glanced over his shoulder and saw Pierce standing outside the saloon, smirking at him. "I was never here, Pierce."
As Andrew immediately walked away, Pierce shook his head. When he took this job three years ago, he never imagined he would get to watch this much drama unfold in such a small country town. And now he had his boss' permission to stir the pot. After finishing up the last of his work, Pierce decided to take a stroll around town to see if he could find the person he needed to have a talk with. Normally whenever he went around town, the women was scoff at him and the men would pretend to not notice him. How many people could he get in trouble if he listed everyone from Walnut Grove who came to the Silver Coin?
Of course if he did that, then he would lose business.
It did not take long for Pierce to find the person he was looking for leaving the schoolhouse.
"Albert!" Pierce walked up to the boy, checking over his shoulder to see if anyone was watching them.
"Hi, Pierce." Albert was surprised to see the man walking around town and wanted to get some distance from him.
"Hey, I'm glad I ran into you." The man lowered his voice, knowing the boy still was worried about people finding out about his trips to the saloon. "I've got a tip about a big poker game coming up and thought you might want in on it?"
"What do you mean?"
"I know how much of a skilled gambler you are, but these drifters you've been winning ain't nothing compared to the players of the big tables from high class society. I figured since you've got the skills for it, you might be interested in going for a big pot. I've got some wealthy clients passing through town on a trip out to Dakota territory. Why not see if you can make some nice cash off of them?"
Albert was not sure if he really did have what it took to go against big time players. "You really think I could win 'em?"
"Sure you could. I've seen you play plenty of times before and I know for sure that they won't expect to get blindsided by some country boy."
He thought for a moment. The only money Albert had to put up was supposed to go to Bret for the morphine. But then again, even if he put up a fraction, he would still have some cash left over. Maybe if he played his cards right, Albert could win enough and still have some money left over to rebuy the textbooks he pawned off after he paid Bret. It would be a high stakes, maybe the highest in his life, but the reward was too enticing to ignore. "Alright. I'll think about it. When's it happening?"
"End of the week. It'll be a late game and make sure to bring your friends. See ya' then." Pierce nodded his head and walked away from Albert, trying to force back his smirk after seeing that his bait had been taken.
On his way home, Albert's mind was running in a thousand different directions. If this was really turning out to be the biggest game of his life, he would need someone to back him up. Lucky for him, Albert spotted Andy walking on the road in front of him.
"Hey, Andy! Wait up!" Albert ran faster to catch up with his friend. "I need to talk to you about something."
"What is it?" Andrew asked.
"I've got this big poker game coming up at the Silver Coin and I need you to be there."
"Not a chance." Andrew huffed and started to walk away, knowing he already made his final visit to that saloon.
"Come on, Andrew." Albert grabbed Andrew shoulder to stop him from leaving. "There's real big money wrapped up in this game and I need someone there to have my back."
"Willie can have your back. I'm not allowed to leave my house by myself except to go to the damn post office." Andrew yelled out in frustration.
It was then Albert thought back to when he was in town earlier that day and saw Andrew at another place besides the post office. "Then why'd I see you in the saloon this afternoon?"
"What!" Andrew stopped himself, not wanting to incriminate himself any further. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I saw you walk out of the front doors of the Silver Coin earlier today. I didn't know you were such an alcoholic that you needed to drink in the middle of the day."
"You're one to talk! How much morphine have you got on you right now?"
Albert sighed. The two of them were supposed to be best friends. He believed that Andrew and Willie would always be there for him, but seemed like now Albert had to take things in another direction to get what he needed. "Andy, don't make me do this."
"Do what?" After seeing Albert's expression to his question, Andrew came up with the answer on his own. "Are you seriously going to try and blackmail me into coming with you? I thought we were friends!"
"Right now, I need my friends. I need you and Willie. Andy, please! Just one more night!"
"And what if I get caught at the saloon with you? Am I allowed to take you down with me this time, because I didn't say a word to my pa about you or Willie when he found out about me going there?"
"Yes! But they're never gonna find out! It's a late game. Just sneak out the same like you always do."
"Albert." Andrew could not argue with Albert's apparent threat in play. "This is the last time and if anything goes wrong, I'm taking it out on you."
Albert stepped back, seeing the annoyance in Andrew's eyes that would always lead to someone getting shoved to the ground. "You would, wouldn't you. Fine, but there's one more thing I need from you."
"What now?"
"Does your pa own a revolver?"
