Part 4 - Thank the ever-musical Bunny for the added song. Sets it off, I think :)

**

The next morning, Tommy walked into the Lair as Merton was buttoning his shirt.

"Almost ready, man?"

"Yeah, just gimme a sec... Wanna grab somethin' to eat on the way?"

"Always." Tommy said, lounging on the old-fashioned desktop.

With the click of heeled shoes Becky came downstairs. He swore it was like one of those slow-motion montage moments that Lori deemed "cheesy", where the wind swept the girl's hair every which-way, and there was this back light illuminating her, "Suzy Q" or something playing in the background...

"What?" he asked, startled, as her voice broke into her thoughts.

"I asked if you guys would mind giving me a ride to school," she repeated with a little smile. "Daddy had to head to work early."

"Sure." Tommy smiled widely, making Merton give him a funny look.

Becky returned the smile a bit shyly.

"Oh, yeah, Mert; Ma called from London. She says to tell 'her little man' hi and that she loves you gobs."

"Mummy called! Why didn't you yell for me!" he whined before catching Tommy's eye. "Not that I'm a Mama's Boy . . . Yeah, so, ready for school?"

Becky shook her head and left as Tommy followed her every movement.

"Hey!"

His head whipped around to see Merton standing there with a suspicious face.

"You aren't a solider, I'm not brave, and you are not getting it on with my sister in this life."

"I was just . . . appreciating the way she did her hair today. Uh, wavy."

"Uh-huh. Let's go to school, Tommy."

**

"Nervous?"

"That I might get sucked back in time again? Just a smidge," Tommy answered Merton as they stood in front of the little shop Madam Goolee operated from.

"Maybe it will be my turn this time," Merton said brightly. Tommy just grabbed him collar and pulled him along.

"Hello?" Tommy called out as he walked through the open door into the small, dimly lit room. He'd been waiting all day for answers, unable to concentrate on anything close to schoolwork and trying not to utter two little words by accident.

"You may come in," Madam Goolee beckoned. They followed her voice through the beaded curtain and spotted her sitting at her table as she had been days ago.

"I want answers," Tommy demanded before the beads stopped swinging.

She seemed pretty self satisfied with his order, knowing he had experienced something even with his skeptical ways.

"And what do you seek?"

"Who is Lucard?"

"The past will repeat itself. Your past, your present."

"Riddles, not so much a help. Complete sentences would be very much appreciated," Merton smiled.

The fortuneteller sighed in aggravation, "He was part of your past, he is part of your present. It's not that difficult."

"Ah," Merton said, slightly embarrassed.

"And Becky?"

"The young woman? I see we both are aware of the answer to that."

"I believe what he's asking is if this Lucard will be coming after her. Being she's my little sister - as cruel a twist that might be - I'd like to know too."

"I can not tell you that."

"Doesn't it say fortuneteller on the lawn?"

"Fortune, not *all knowing* future."

"We need to know," Tommy said firmly.

"Look to the days gone by. They hold the clues to your future. The more you learn the better you will understand."

"That's it?" Merton complained.

"That is all I have seen."

"Are you sure you didn't just give us acid?"

Tommy sighed and turned on heel, leaving vague details and a fortuneteller whom knew less than he did behind.

**

He was worn down, his mind tired along with his body and when he hit the couch comfort sunk into him. Tommy shut his eyes and lay back, his headphones on. He was starting to drift as the soothing sounds of Kenny Rogers wrapped around his weary brain...

******************** Everyone considered him

the coward of the county.

He never stood one single time

to prove the county wrong.

His mama called him Tommy,

but folks just called him 'yella'.

Somethin' always told me,

they were readin' Tommy wrong.

********************

Tommy twitched a bit as that part came out, but he was still all sleepy and content...

********************

Now, he was only 10-years-old,

when his Daddy died in prison.

And I took care of Tommy,

because he was my brother's son.

I still recall the final words

my brother said to Tommy.

'Son, my life is over,

but, yours has just begun.'

********************

Tommy snored softly as the song lulled him into sleep while pulling him in.

********************

Promise me, son,

not to do the things I've done.

Walk away from trouble if ya can.

Now, it don't mean you're weak,

if you turn the other cheek.

And, I hope you're old enough

to understand.

Son, you don't hafta fight

to be a man.

********************

Tommy was starting to relax more in his sleep, looking more content...

********************

Well, there's someone for everyone,

and, Tommy's love was Becky.

In her arms he didn't have to prove

he was a man.

One day while he was workin',

the Gatlin boys came callin'.

And, they took turns at Becky,

and, there were three of them.

********************

Tommy growled a bit in his sleep now, starting to squirm and toss.

********************

When Tommy opened up the door,

and saw his Becky cryin',

the torn dress and shattered look

was more than he could stand.

He reached above the fireplace,

took down his Daddy's picture.

And, as the tears fell

on his Daddy's face,

I heard these words again.

********************

Tommy was starting to form paws at this point...

********************

Promise me son,

not to do the things I've done.

Walk away from trouble if ya can.

Now it don't mean you're weak,

if you turn the other cheek.

And, I hope you're old enough

to undersand.

Son, you don't hafta fight

to be a man.

********************

Tommy was now fully wolfed, but obviously locked into his song-induced nightmare...

********************

The Gatlin boys just laughed at him,

when he walked into the barroom.

One of them got up and hit him

halfway 'cross the floor.

When Tommy turned around,

they said, 'Hey look, old yella's leavin.'

But, you couldda heard

a pin drop, when Tommy

stopped and locked the door.

Twenty years of crawlin',

was bottled up inside him.

He wasn't holdin' nothin' back,

he let 'em have it all.

When Tommy left the barroom,

not a Gatlin boy was standin'.

He said, 'This one's for Becky'

as he watched the last one fall.

********************

Tommy now wore a feral grin despite the fact that he was still asleep and his eyes tightly shut...

********************

And, I heard him say,

'I promised you, Dad,

not to do the things you'd done.

I'll walk away from trouble if I can.

Now, please don't think I'm weak;

I couldn't turn the other cheek.

Papa, I sure hope you understand.

Sometimes ya gotta fight

when you're a man'.

Everyone considered him,

the coward of the county...

********************

In the warm, fuzzy mood that settled over his oblivious state he didn't hear his own voice when his wolf mode fell away and he whispered.

"Return me."

He broke the surface of the water and gasped for a breath.

Looking around quickly he spotted the sign hanging over the entrance proclaiming 'Bath House'. He shook his head, the droplets of water flying as he scrubbed a hand over his face.

"Come on, Gentlemen, we can move the pace up a bit," a voice said. He turned to the middle-aged woman to see her nod. "That includes you too, Trapper Munroe."

Tommy nodded and waited until she left before he stood, reaching for his clothes off to the side, smelling the soap they had just been laundered with. He pulled them on along with his boots and got up to stretch. It had been a long week or traveling and he was happy to be passing through familiar territory. This was the third time he had visited this little town and he liked it more and more.

Now he had a bath, fresh clothing, and a need for other things they provided in this fine upstanding stop.

Whisky and women.

Maybe that same blonde was still there.

He adjusted his hat as he walked towards the saloon and saw Mer--- no, Marvin, wasn't it? Yes, Marvin the bartender... His mother ran the establishment...

"Hey, gimme a bottle of your best?"

"Got in a new shipment of sippin' 'shine." he whispered. "Don't spread it around and I'll let'cha have a bit of that."

Tommy smiled and Marvin handed him the plain brown bottle.

"Want the same room, Trapper?"

"Yeah, it's open?"

Marvin handed him the key and Tommy tipped his hat before walking up the stairs. When he got up there, he saw a vision in white-and-pink trimmed summer-cotton dress. She was dusting out the curtains, and, from her dress, was *not* one of the "working girls"...

"From this valley they say you are goin'. We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile. But remember the Red River Valley. And, the cowgirl you loved for a while."

Tommy smiled as he let her sweet voice wrap around him...

"From this valley they say you are leavin'. Do not hasten to bid me "adieu". But, remember the Red River Valley, and the one girl who loved you so true..."

"That was great!" he enthused, startling her.

"Oh, I... didn't know anyone was there..." she blushed, flustered. "Look, Mr.---"

"Trapper. Just call me Trapper."

"Trapper, right... Look, I'm not... umm..."

"What?" he asked as he stepped closer. She almost looked as if she was blushing but, surely, working here would have cured her of any need to blush.

"I was supposed to have these rooms done by now. You see, I'm not a, that is to say, I don't work as a . . ."

Tommy gave an easy laugh and stepped back. "Don't worry, I sort of figured that out. You aren't . . . dressed for it."

Becky smiled a bit relieved.

"No, no I am not... My mother... she owns the place."

"You're Valerie's daughter?" Tommy asked in shock.

Well, it shouldn't've surprised him--- why *else* would someone as obviously classy as her be *working* in a place like *this* as a maid?

"Yes... I'm not pretty like her, I know; people don't even who come in here don't usually see me around..." she admitted.

"I don't see why--"

"My mother . . . she doesn't really want me in the business so she tries to keep me away from it. I think she feels guilty."

"I meant why don't you think you're pretty. You're beautiful."

Trapper knew that statement was a little trite, he had used it himself a million times, but she blushed heavily.

"Really?"

"Really..." he breathed, moving a bit closer.

"I..." she backed away as he bent down to kiss her.

"What?"

"You came to a *saloon*, Mr... Trapper... and... you don't even know my *name*, but you want to kiss me?"

"Okay, what's your name?"

"Her name is Bess and if you touch her you're out on your ass, Munroe," a soft but thickly accented voice informed him from behind...

"Hello, Val--"

"Not a word. That's my daughter you're looming over so I suggest you back up." Her British tone held a hint of trouble as she spoke.

"Nothing happened," Bess said to her mother, moving to her side.

"I saw," she said with an appraisal of Tommy before turning to Bess. "You go downstairs, my perfect girl, I bought you some more books, Marvin has them."

"Thanks, Mama," Bess said softly, looking at Tommy before leaving the room. Valerie waited until her daughter had gone before spoke again.

"Listen, Munroe, I don't think you're a bad guy, really, but you won't put a finger on my daughter. I'll not have her meeting perspective husbands in a saloon or have you spouting out promises you don't intend to keep. She's a smart girl, she's a true lady, and I won't have her falling into my old mistakes."

"Valerie, I wasn't intending on doing anything."

"I've seen a lot of good-for-nothings try. She seems so innocent and she is, and I want to keep her that way."

"I didn't--"

"I saw you lean into kiss her!"

"But I didn't and if I did it would have been just that, a kiss."

She eyed him critically before she nodded. "Alright, Munroe, I believe you, but if I see you come near her again . . ."

She didn't finish because she seemed to grow angry and Tommy nodded in understanding.

"Good. You can come downstairs soon and pick out a girl, since Bess was cleaning the rooms, well; you can choose downstairs . . . Remember what I said. Any other time she'd yell or push someone away if they tried anything, with you she didn't. If you take advantage of that I'll kill you."

With that she shut the door.

Tommy shook his head and laughed a little. She was being irrational, Bess was beautiful and seemed sweet, sure, but why would he want someone sweet when he had a whole floor of women to chose from downstairs?

Checking his appearance in the mirror her straightened his shirt and left the room.

When he got down, he saw a familiar-looking redhead and blonde standing together...

"Hey, stranger..."

"Sue Ellen... Loretta..."

"Double your pleasure like last time?" the blonde cooed in his ear.

Tommy blushed a bit but smiled at her, then his eye flicked over to the petite brunette, leafing through her books at the bar while her brother was helping the regular bartender straighten up.

"So, what'll it be, Trapper?" the redhead purred.

"I... tired? Long ride up? May... maybe tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" the blonde asked, stamping her foot.

"We wore special things just for you," Sue Ellen said, moving forward to play with his collar.

"Come on, Trapper. I won't even charge," Loretta winked.

"And you'll get both," Sue Ellen smiled.

"Bessie, get up here, I don't want you out there around that," Valerie's voice called down. Bess looked up and sighed, shutting her book and walking upstairs.

"What'll it be, Trapper?" the eager redhead asked, both pointedly ignoring the fact his attention had been momentarily elsewhere. They were tired of that little annoyance anyway, she never filled the water basins when she was supposed to. As Bess met the top steps they could hear Valere reminding her that she had said to retrieve her books, not stick around down there once she got them.

"Are we going to have fun tonight?" Loretta said with a wink.

Tommy sighed. Gently, but firmly he looked at the girls.

"Tomorrow, all right? I'm not in the mood," he said, walking back upstairs, ignoring their pouts and protests...

He walked past the big suite, which none of the men were allowed in--- this was where Valerie and her children stayed. He saw Bess seated near the window, day dreaming it seemed, while Valerie stood desk, writing a letter of some sort...

He started to feel guilty, until she caught his eye and hers widened.

Fortunately for him, she didn't make a sound.

"Come for a walk?" he mouthed to her will making his fingers take a tiny trek over his palm.

She pointed to her mother and shook her head, holding up her hands helplessly.

"Tonight. Dinner," he mouthed carefully with the help of more hand gestures.

She shook her head once more. He held his hands together and mouthed "Please?" making her smile at his efforts and nod, giving him a little sweet smile of surrender ...

He pointed down to the main room and she nodded, vowing to slip away as soon as he could. Tommy grinned broadly and gave a little wave before heading to his room.

He closed the door and looked around, there were some daises there, in a little vase, but he didn't think that would be very nice. She had probably put them there after all.

He looked out his window and slipped back downstairs past the now-closed door, finding some lovely bluebells and daffodils to make a bouquet out of. When she finally managed to come down almost an hour later she spotted him by the door before trying to follow his grinning self out the door discreetly. He smiled doing away with his hat in the presence of a lady and proudly presented her his gift.

"Awww... that's so sweet..." she murmured, breathing in the sweet perfumed scent of the flowers.

"You won't get into trouble, right?"

"Mama's... busy? And, Marvin... he's playing piano tonight."

Trapper smiled and gallantly offered her his arm.

She took it and they went for a bit of a walk.

It seemed like mere minutes, but soon they were facing the dawn...

"We can't've been talking all *night*..." she whispered in a bit of a squeak.

"Yeah, I think so..." he winced a bit apologetically. "I'll walk ya back..."

"Mama would shoot you," she smirked. "Just... I'll make up a good fib, okay?"

"Are you sure?"

"Promise, don't worry."

Tommy nodded and bent down to kiss her gently. She was stiff for a mere second, but then her hands came slowly up to knot in his naturally curly hair. It wasn't fair he hadn't met her before tonight, it wasn't fair that the last two times he had stopped in this town she had been away visiting relatives . . .

"I'll see you tomorrow night, Trapper," she smiled, blowing him a kiss as she ran off...

Tommy watched her, smiling, as the landscape suddenly melted back into his living room again, and was *very* startled to see his brother standing where Bess had been running!

"Did you change my show? Geez, I leave the room for fifteen minutes to go to the bathroom and . . . Hey, lil' bro. What's going on?"

". . . I have no idea."

To be Continued .