A Loss So Great
By Leighann
This is a piece of fiction. No beta so any mistakes are mine. I don't own the rights to the characters, nor do I make any profit just taking them off the dusty shelf for a bit.
~READER DISCRETION ADVISED MAJOR CHARACTER DEATH.~
~Chapter 1~
Sam picked up the bar towel and quietly hummed to himself as he polished the last of the glasses.
"Good Morning, Sam." Kitty called down, smiling at Sam as she walked across the landing to the stairs.
"Morning, Miss Kitty." Sam greeted as he watched his boss descend the stairs. He was pretty sure her early appearance downstairs was the result of the Marshal's absence from town.
Sam set to work at wiping down the well-worn bar as Kitty reached the coffee service that Sam had laid out on the end of the bar. "It's going to be a scorcher out there today," he commented as Kitty picked up one of the blue and white china cups pouring coffee into it.
"It won't be long before the first of the early morning customers will be coming in to satisfy their thirsts with a cold beer." Kitty remarked as she set the coffee pot back down on the bar.
"I brought up an extra beer keg from the cellar already, Miss Kitty." Sam informed her.
"Good thinking Sam." Kitty picked up her coffee cup and smiled at Sam. "I'm going to balance last night's tally before going over the inventory. Let me know if you need anything Sam."
Sam nodded his head and gave Kitty a warm smile. "Of course, Miss Kitty."
Kitty turned, with her coffee in hand, and walked through the door marked office. Sam watched her until the door closed and then he started the task of stocking the bar for the day.
An hour later, the bar was fully stocked, the glasses all polished and ready, and the floor was swept clean. Sam stood behind the bar prepared for what he knew would be a very busy day. Sam moved tirelessly the next few hours from one end of the bar to the other, serving cold beers to the stream of customers that came in from the late summer heat.
Kitty walked out of the back hall from her office and joined Sam behind the bar. "Time for you to take your lunch break Sam." Kitty could sense that Sam was eager to get away as she watched him remove his apron.
"Alright, Miss Kitty."
As Sam grabbed his lunch, Kitty took him by the arm and walked him to the end of the bar by the office door. "You've been working hard all morning, Sam, so take as much time as you like." She told him as she patted him on the arm.
Sam gave Kitty a grateful smile, "Miss Kitty, you're too kind. I'll be out back on the delivery dock if you need anything."
Kitty smiled warmly at Sam, "Ok Sam."
As Sam left through the back office door he heard Kitty call after him. "Remember no rush." Making Sam chuckled as he walked towards the back door. He knew from the first day Miss Kitty hired him that he was blessed with such a caring employer.