Idle hands ~ Chapter 6

Sam made a half hearted attempt at making herself look descent for their trip to town. She was not at all in the humour for seeing people but Janet and Ronald had been through the mill lately and she knew they needed a treat. And so she tied up her hair neatly with a scarlet ribbon and doused toilet water on her neck and deemed herself presentable.

~o~

"Janet come in here, let me look at you" She called out. Janet came in wearing her best dress.

"Janet, your hair," Sam tutted "come here."

She put the child sitting in front of her and Sam began taking down her braids.

"You have the most beautiful hair Jan, it's like silk," she smiled brushing out her fine locks.

"When can I wear it up in a ribbon like yours," Janet asked, taking Sam's fine hand mirror and gazing at her reflection.

"When you're older," Sam told her.

"When I'm thirteen?" Janet asked.

"More like sixteen, young lady. Don't be in such a hurry, being grown up isn't all it's cracked up to be you know."

"You and Adam do alright," she mumbled, still fiddling with the mirror.

"Do we?" Sam asked sadly, staring into the distance.

"He loves you," Janet shrugged.

"Is that enough?" Sam wondered to herself.

"I think so," Janet spoke innocently.

Sam looked down at the little face in front of her then as if she was seeing it for the first time.

"Sam, what are you looking at?" Janet asked turning her head curiously.

"You, I'm looking at you Janet." She said and she wrapped the child in a hug, kissing the top of her head.

They both looked up then and laughed as Ronald had got himself in the face with Sam's powder puff and was coughing and sneezing, his face pure white with powder.

~o~

They went to the mercantile later and Sam bought Ronald some carved wooden men and a little stage coach. She bought Janet ribbons and the latest book of fancy paper to add to her collection. Part of her felt bad, it was like she was using gifts to make up for all that went on but what else could she do. She just wanted their happiness.

She was so caught up in her thoughts she nearly ran head long into Annie.

"Excuse me," she nodded curtly as she passed her.

"Sam, please. Don't be like this."

"Don't be like this, you know me and Adam have split up don't you."

"Yes I heard and I'm very sorry, more sorry than you'll ever know but Sam I didn't do it. I didn't tell a soul."

Sam turned to Janet realising this wasn't a fitting conversation for her to hear.

"Janet buy some candy for you and Ronald," she told her putting coins into her hand.

"Do you want me to take Ronald with me ma'am?" Janet asked.

"No, I'll keep him with me, just...go!"

Janet sauntered off in the direction of the new chocolate and pastry store.

Sam turned on Annie then.

"How dare you bring this up out here. Have you no shame? Get back to your sewing circle friends. We have nothing more to say to each other." Sam told her.

Annie looked deeply upset as she turned and scampered across the dirt path to the other side of the street.

As she watched her go Sam had the first tendrils of doubt about this whole situation. Annie looked so wounded by the accusations. Sam bit her lip thinking hard.

"Are you alright my dear," a gentle hand was placed on her shoulder.

"Oh yes, yes thank you. I'm fine," Sam smiled at the kindly stranger.

Angela Manning moved off then with a smug smile to herself.

~o~

Janet bought a big bag of chocolate peppermints. She'd give Ronald a few she decided but not many as he was a baby and it wouldn't be good for him. Yep she best eat a good few herself.

She stopped, catching sight of a familiar face. She entered the saloon warily watching the barman to see if he would object. He continued polishing his glasses just staring back at her, so she wandered in. She rounded a corner and stood leaning against the side of the booth, watching the two men talk.

"Well hello there," Charlie took her hand, bringing her to the table beside himself and Adam.

"Aren't you looking pretty," Charlie told her. "You're getting bigger every day. I might have to steal you away."

Janet blushed red under all these compliments.

"Adam, I'll go talk to them, see if we can make some kind of deal today."

Charlie got up and put Janet sitting in his seat. "Now you take care of this fella, he needs a lady to look after him," Charlie told her.

"I will sir," she smiled up at him.

~o~

Once he was gone Adam reached over and dug his hand into her bag of candy.

"What are these?" He asked.

"They're chocolate peppermints," she told him "from the new chocolate shop."

"Umm" Adam nodded approval.

Adam called a saloon girl over.

"Could you give me a cup of coffee and a lemonade for the lady please," he told her.

"So how's things," Adam asked. "Did you finish your school project?"

"Yep, Sam helped, we made a volcano, I came third in the class."

"Third is good," he nodded. "Third is respectable."

There was silence between them.

The saloon girl returned placing a steaming cup of black coffee and a tall glass of lemonade on the table. Adam paid and nodded his thanks.

"Janet...how's Sam," He asked.

"She's ok, she gets a bit nervous at night."

"She gets nervous at night?" Adam repeated.

"Yes sir, she goes down and checks the locks a lot." Janet told him, taking a sip of the bitter lemon drink.

"How often do you hear her doing that of a night?" He asked

"Hear her? She has me and Ronald in the bed beside her. I think she gets lonely."

Adam was beginning to think it was time they put an end to this nonsense.

"When ye comin home Adam, oh I know. I shouldn't be concerning myself with adult concerns." She rattled off.

"No." He took her hand in his. " of course you want to know that. It's ok to ask. Just trust me for now Jan. Me and Sam have some things we need to work out but I'll be home soon."

"Good," Janet smiled "cause I don't want to share with Ronald no more, he's started to wet the bed again." She grimaced.

Adam frowned at that.

~o~

"There you are," Sam spotted them and came up to the booth.

"I've been looking for you everywhere," she told Janet crossly.

"Take Ronald and wait for me outside."

"But Sam..."

"Don't 'but Sam' me. I thought you were kidnapped by gypsies. Now go and wait outside. I've a good mind to take that candy from you," Sam scolded her.

Janet frowned deeply as she grabbed poor Ronald and marched him to the front of the Saloon. Ronald wanted to sit on Adams lap when he saw him and he began to howl.

"So this is where you spend your days while I'm keeping the household running. Well, it's well for some."

"I met Charlie here, the Forman for the timber contract. It's more private here during the day. Everyone can overhear you at the restaurant. Besides what do you care. You threw me out remember?" Adam told her, anger creeping into his voice.

"I did not throw you out, slight exaggeration. You left of your own accord."

"I did not leave, you threw me out. You told me to go,"

Janet shook her head, as she watched the buggies and buckboards lumber along the muddy road in front of her.

"They're off again Ronald," she told him, letting him dig his hand into the bag of candy.

~o~

The crowd gathered on the verge laughed heartily as the old lady put her umbrella to good use hitting the big man on the shoulder with it. Hoss deflected as best he could while holding the lady in case she should fall.

"Oh Miss Emily, be careful now. You're goin ta do yourself a mischief taking on like that," Hoss told her.

"Hoss Cartwright, I tell you I don't need no help crossing no street and if I did it wouldn't be from you," she grumbled, giving him a few more swipes.

Sheriff Coffee came over smiling all over his face.

"Miss Emily, is this man bothering you," he asked.

"Sheriff, glad you're here. Now I was crossing the street here, minding my own business when this big oaf takes hold of me and bout near walks me to death."

"Sheriff there was a large coach comin straight at her," Hoss pleaded.

Sheriff Coffee put a hand up to quiet Hoss.

"Now Miss Emily, what say we let him off with a stern warning this time," Sheriff Coffee asked.

"Well," Miss Emily eyed Hoss with not too friendly a gaze.

"He did fix my porch door last month. Ok, but I'm watching you Hoss Cartwright. I'll tell your pa, see if I don't."

"Yes Miss Emily," Hoss tipped his hat to her.

Miss Emily walked off with Sheriff Coffee then bending his ear about dogs barking outside her house.

~o~

"Narrow squeak for you I think," she smiled brightly at him.

Hoss had carried on loading supplies on to the buckboard and he turned now to the lady addressing him. She was beautiful in the extreme. Hoss immediately removed his hat.

She moved forward and held out a tiny gloved hand to him.

"Angela Manning," she smiled.

"Hoss Cartwright, nice to meet you ma'am."

She looked up at the sky then, "ugh it's such a hot day, do you know of anywhere a person could acquire some lemonade?" She asked.

"Yes Ma'am over at the restaurant, they have ice too, makes the lemonade nice an cool," he smiled.

"Oh how wonderful, would you be good enough to escort me," she smiled demurely at him.

Hoss immediately gave her his arm and they made their way over to the restaurant.

Angela smiled to herself. This would be easier than she thought.