Lou

All week, Sam hadn't left his father by a foot! Even though he was working in the barn, Sam was behind him watching him! Scott kept reassuring her, telling her how much he loved her and promising that the time he would be away would pass quickly, and he hugged her as much as possible.

On Sunday evening, Scott had taken off his shirt which he had worn all evening, for her, and gave it to her, as promised.

"Oh thank you, Daddy! You haven't forgotten!"

"Of course not! I love you, Samantha!"

"I love you, Dad! Come back soon!"

At dawn Monday morning, the diligence took Scott and Evi on their trip.

It took three days of being on the stagecoach and two nights in a stopover hotel to get to the train that would take them to Denver.

The first day was fine, but the next day a lady with a little girl about Sam's age, disrespectful and rude came on. Scott didn't say anything for a while, then he couldn't take it anymore!

"Ma'am, is that your daughter?"

"God, no! I'm transferring Lou to the orphaning in Santa Fe, she was expelled from the previous one!"

"I wonder why?" Scott said ironically.

"If you will allow me, I would like to have a word with her about her behavior? You know what I mean?"

"Yes! Please, sir!" The lady looked relieved!

When the stagecoach stopped for lunch, Scott walked away with the child.

"Don't worry Madam, my husband is a good and fair man, I promise you!"

"Yes, he looks like it. My name is Stella Wood," she said, reaching out to Evi.

"Evi Lancer and my husband's name is Scott."

"Lancer? Like the Lancer company for the sale of horses and cattle?"

"Yes, he is the eldest son."

"The reputation of your family is well established! I have complete confidence!"

"Look at me, Lou!" Scott said sternly. "I'm tired of hearing you answer disrespectfully! Your behavior stops now!"

"What if I refuse? You're not my father!" She replied defiantly.

"No, lucky for you! if you keep going, I'm going to lift your dress to give you a good spanking! Am I being clear enough little girl?"

Lou's eyes widened. "You can not do that!"

"Oh yes! I can! So? Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

"Good!, let's go back to lunch. I want you to apologize to everyone."

"Sorry," Lou whispered. She said it softly, but she had said it. Scott would be satisfied.

Mrs. Wood could not believe it!

The rest of the afternoon was going well enough, Lou had only answered back once. As she had behaved so far, Scott had just put her nose "in the corner" against the side of the stage. He had fixed her between his knees so that the little girl did not fall out the window.

That evening, while they were having dinner at the stopover hotel table, Lou slapped Mrs. Wood with her little hand, "I told you, no!" Said the child.

"Okay! This time it's a spanking! Come here!" Scott growled. And the man carried the child to her room, closing the door.

"Why am I spanking you Sa ... Lou?"

"You know why."

"Yes, but if you don't want to lose your panties too, you'll answer my questions!"

"Because I hit Mrs. Wood."

"Yes, this behavior is never acceptable!"

Scott lifted and set the little girl face down on his knees, he lifted her dress, raised his hand, and let it fall six times on the panty covered upturned ass. He didn't put in a lot of force, much like with Sam the first time, but enough to make it sting tonight. Then he turned the child on his knees and hugged her.

Lou melted into the hug, she needed it, both the spanking and the hug, Scott knew that from the start. Her demeanor should improve significantly now.

"Who is Sa…? Your daughter?"

"Yes, Sam, she's eight, like you, isn't she?"

" I am seven years old ,don't you want another little girl then? " She asked.

Scott's heart broke.

"Lou, if you behave, you're gonna find a family to adopt you, but stop the nonsense, okay?"

"Yes ..., you know I have a big brother."

"Is that so? Is he an adult? Scott asked, thinking he could find the solution!

"No, he's ten years old. He's my half-brother, we have the same Mom but not the same Dad. That's why we were separated, as we didn't have the same name, no one didn't make the connection, I don't know where he is."

"I'm sure you'll find him one day! You have to believe it! Go to bed little girl! It's late!"

The last day was going well, Scott had Lou busy on his knees telling her Indian and Cowboy stories as he watched the scenery.

Finally, the stagecoach trip ended. Farewell had been difficult.

"Come here Lou," Scott said walking away with the child. "Be wise, and I promise that someone will adopt you. Hey, this is my card, you have my name and my address, learn it by heart, if you need anything, even as an adult, you come to see me! Promise?"

"Yes!" she said, throwing herself into his arms.

"Goodbye, Lou!" The man replied, hugging her tight.

And each took its route.

Before boarding the train, Scott telegrammed Sam, telling her that he missed her, he thought of her every second, he loved her, and that they were getting on the train to Denver.

Sitting on the train, Scott was sad.

"Are you thinking of Lou?"

"Yes, how do you know that?"

"I know you! Don't you think we could have taken her?"

"No, we cannot adopt all orphaned children!"

"Why not?"

"Stop, we already have Sam, we're going to have your little brother and our future children!"

"Does one more make a big difference?"

"Stop Evi! I said no! I don't want you to talk about it anymore! Am I clear?" Scott growled.

"Okay Scott, sorry." Excused Evi,

"Oh come here, sweetheart," he said hugging her, "I didn't mean to scold you, excuse me."

It took four days by train to reach Denver. Scott booked a room in a fancy hotel in town. It was expensive, but they might as well just treat themselves after the long trip!

"Evi, love me! I need it! Scott asked.

"Me too my love! "

They loved each other until they fell from exhaustion.

Meanwhile at Lancer, Murdoch, and Johnny were doing their best to entertain Sam, playing with her, going for a walk. But in the evening the child was sobbing into her father's shirt, oversized for her. Murdoch surprised her and walked quietly into his room.

"Oh Sam ... don't cry, it will pass quickly!" The man hugged his little girl tightly.

"I miss him so much! I'm nothing without him! What if something happened to him, an accident like my parents had?"

"It won't happen, sweetheart! But if it did, you would stay here, with me, forever. I have an idea! What would you say if I allowed you to use their rooms? With your bathroom? You could play being a princess in her castle!"

"Really Grandfather?"

"Really! Do you want to sleep in your Daddy's bed until he comes back?"

"Oh yes! Thank you, Grandpa!" It looked like the man had won her the moon!

The following days, Sam had behaved, she spent a lot of time in her parents' room, and one evening at dinner the child was wearing in addition to his oversized shirt, her father's hat, and huge boots. Everyone burst out laughing!

"You're going to fall my dear! Be careful!" Murdoch informed.

"Yes, Grandfather."

But the man didn't scold her, he knew that was the child's way of exteriorizing her father's absence.

"You're already at half the time honey, soon daddy will be here!"

Every night Sam reread her father's letters over and over again, telling her that he missed her and that he loved her, snuggling up in the man's bed, she fell asleep crying.