The Two Sams

by F. M. Worden

  Young Sam and Charlie helped Sam with the horses and mules. Both these boys became good hands for Sam. Jack preferred to work with Walter and the cattle. A mule had kicked him and he refused to work around them any longer.

  Charlie Bird had two sisters. One was ten or so, the other older, maybe eighteen or nineteen, her name was Blue Bird a very handsome Indian Girl. She liked to come with Charlie to help with the horses. She was a good rider and took a liking too young Sam right away. Many times the three rode the wagon roads and trails of the Choctaw together.

  One afternoon on the road above a creek the three stopped to watch a young Indian man and girl down in the bushes by the creek. Sam asked if they were fighting. Charlie and Blue both laughed and rode on.

  Back at the corrals Sam asked again about the two they had seen by the creek. Blue told him they were making a papoose. “I’ll show you how it’s done if you want?” Sam didn’t know what to say. He let it pass. It was never mentioned again for a long time.

  A fever came on the people of the Choctaw. Many people began to die of high temperatures. No doctor could break the fever or stop the dying. There seemed to be no cure.

  Liz was the first to come down with it, then Sam. Both lay in an unconscious state for some time. Young Sam prayed to God to save his Ma and Pa. All to no avail, they both passed on the same night. Sam was heart broken. He loved them both so much. It was almost more than he could endure.

  He cussed God for death of his folks. “I’ll never ask for any thing from God again,” he vowed. He came down with the fever a few days after his folks were buried. He lay unconscious for days, his body was burning with fever, he was expected to die at any time.

  An old medicine man came to the agency. He said he was curing the people of the Choctaw, he could save this boy. Walter told him to try. The medicine man filled a horse trough with cold water and lifted Sam gently into the water, only his head remained above the surface. He then shook gourds and danced around the trough singing a chant. This went on for three days and three nights.

  Sam slowly gained consciousness. Soon he picked himself out of the trough, the fever was broken. The medicine man said he had many people lay in the creeks in the cold water, he had saved them with his chants and dancing.

  “The great sprit came and told me what I should do.” The old Indian believed he had cured the people.

  The Choctaw returned to normal. The fever had lifted thru out the nation.

  It took several weeks for Sam to regain his strength completely.

  As the next years passed, Sam and Charlie trained many horses together. One afternoon Blue Bird came to the horse pens and asked to go with Sam for a ride along the creek trails. She asked Charlie not to go. “You stay at the pens,” she insisted.

  Blue and Sam rode the trail by the creek. She asked if he was ready to see how to make a papoose? He laughed and told her he was ready for her to show him. She turned her horse into some willows along the creek bank, dismounted and began to disrobe. Her beautiful naked bronzed body lit a fire in Sam he had never encountered. She lay on the leaves and beckoned him to come to her. The sight of her slim bronzed naked body, her long black hair, braided in two strands pulled across her full rounded breasts, would invite the natural instinct in any young man. Sam slipped down beside her and kissed her full waiting lips. The two enjoyed each other for some time that afternoon. This was only the first of several afternoons they spent together down by the creek.

  The word got around the agency like wild fire and soon Walter asked Sam about the rumor. “Was it true, was Blue Bird and you having girl boy relations by the creek?”

  Sam told him that it was true. Walter was devastated and mad as a hornet. “You’ll have to leave the agency. The council and Chiefs are mad that you would take advantage of one of their young girls.”

  Jane came in and said, “The Chief wants Sam whipped as no white boy can violate their women. Sam you will have to leave the agency.” She started to cry.

  Walter told him he would have to leave. “Don’t you know Blue is a blabber mouth? She has told everyone on the Choctaw about your relations. You’re so dumb.”

  That night Walter told Sam he must leave the very next morning. “I can’t promise your safety. I know your Pa and Ma would want you to go and make good at something. He talked of a gun maker in St Louis he had worked for. A Jake Hawkin. “He made the rifle your Pa treasured so much. You like guns, you might like to make them, I’ll have a letter for you to give him when you get there, we’ll give you twenty dollars and your Pa’s pistol, we’ll keep his rifle here, if you or Jack ever want it, it’ll be here.”

  Sam packed his few belongings in a feed sack. Jane fixed a food sack and next morning, along with many tears, Jack, Jane and Walter bid young Sam goodbye. Sam started his journey to St Louis and into manhood, he would be sixteen years old his next birthday, in December. He would never see Jack his brother again who was killed at the battle of Shiloh, fighting for the Southern cause, nor would see his Aunt Jane or Uncle Walter again. They would both die at the agency.

  He walked and hitched a few rides on freight wagons all the way to Ft Smith. There he got a job with a freight company hauling cotton bales to the Mississippi River for shipment north. His main job was to yoke the oxen team each morning and unyoke and tend to them as they grazed in the evening. There were seven teams he had to take care of.

  At the Mississippi River they crossed on a ferry boat. The teamster paid him a five-dollar gold coin for his labor.

  In Memphis Sam looked for his Grandpa Moore. He found him working on the docks. His Grandpa was delighted to see him. He knew both his daughter and Sam were gone. Jane had sent word the year before. The girl’s mother had also died and Grandpa Moore had remarried a lady twenty years his junior. Grandpa was sorry the way he had treated Sam’s Pa. “I wish I had that time to do over,” he told him. “Things might have turned out different. I want you to live with me and my wife.”

  Sam’s Step Grandma didn’t cotton to him at all and she let him know in no uncertain terms. He wasn’t welcome to stay. She told him in private, “I don’t want any young-ns around. I ain’t gonna do for you.” She asks him not to tell his Grandpa her feelings. His staying might interfere with the relations with her and the old man. Sam told her he would leave.

  “I’ll cause you no trouble,” he told her.

  Sam told his Grandpa he would like to go on to St Louis. “I want-a learn about gun making like my Pa did.” He said nothing of his Grandpa’s wife’s feelings toward him.

  His Grandpa saw it was no use trying to get him to stay. He told him he knew all the captains of river boats and could get him passage in a few days to go upriver, he did. On a livestock boat going north the next day captained by a Captain Black. Sam signed on to work as a stock feeder, A job he could do well.

  Sam was on his way to St Louis. He had trouble with thieves on the boat and had to show them his pistol several times to keep them away from his sack of belongings.

  When the docks of St Louis came in sight, Sam was ready to quit the river. He bid Captain Black goodbye and walked from the boat down the gang-plank to solid ground and up the street.

  He was in awe of such a town, there were more people than he had ever seen before. Memphis was big but nothing like St Louis. There were carriages and buggies going ever where, wagons pulled by oxen teams moved thru the streets. Men on horse back seemed to be going in all directions. Sam was impressed with this gate way to the west. Now all he needed was to find the Hawkin gun shop.

  He stopped the first man he met to ask for directions. Before he said anything, the man turned on him. “Get the hell away from me boy, I don’t give money to bums.”

  This made Sam mad. “You son-of-a- bitch, I wouldn’t ask you for the time of day.”

  The man shrugged his shoulders and walked away. The next person he met was a lady and before he could say a word she said, “Get away boy.”

  He said to her, “Nice friendly town
you got here.” He gave her a high sign and went on his way looking for the Hawkin gun shop.

  Sam the Son

  Chapter 5

  On His Own

  Sam walked to the first street that paralleled the river and turned right, passed a blacksmith shop, a dry goods store, a well lit café, several small shops. He stopped at a sign that read “JAKE HAWKIN GUN MAKER.” He opened the door. A bell on the door announced his arrival.

  A man who looked to be in his thirties asked, “What can I do for you boy?”

  “You Jake Hawkin?”

  “Yes, what can I do for you boy?”

  “Sir,” Sam said, “I have this here letter fer you.” He handed him the letter.

  As the man read the letter, ever once in awhile he would look over his eyeglasses at Sam as he read. Then he asked, “You Sam Duncan’s boy?”

  “Yes sir, I am.”

  “How is your Pa?”

  “My Pa passed some years ago.” Sam looked down so as not to show his feelings.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Jake said as he wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “Your Pa was one fine fella. I thought as much of him as one of my own. So you’s want a job with us? Just like your Pa. Well son if -n you’re as good as him, you’ll be a good one.”

  “My Pa told me he worked stocks. I’d like to try that.”

  “We can always use another stock man. You’s can start now, if-n you’s a want-n to. Come meet my brother. His name is Sam too. I want you to meet the rest of our workers.”

  All the men were corrigible to Sam. Jake showed him a small room in the back of the shop. “Your Pa had this room when he was here. It was a long time ago.” He wiped his nose as he spoke. Sam thought he saw a tear in this mans eyes. “You can stay here now in the same room that your Pa had.” Sam was pleased to be in a place where his Pa had been.

  Sam settled in and was shown how to rough out wood stocks. After work, everyone had gone home, he investigated the area behind the shop. A dirt road or more like an alley passed by the rear of the building. Across the way was a stable where Jake and Sam kept their buggies and horses while at the shop.

  To the north of the stables was a gun range. Farther back ran a levy that kept the Mississippi in her banks. Most evenings Sam walked or sat on the levy and watched the river boats pass. It was his only entertainment.

  A most enjoyable year passed. He was a good student of rifle manufacturing and repair. Sam would soon be eighteen. Jake let Sam test fire the new rifles as they were finished. Sam liked that duty the best and it showed. He became a crack shot.

  Jake told everyone Sam was one of the best shots he had ever seen. “His Pa was good but this boy is the best. I believe I ain’t never saw a better shot than this boy.”

  Sam had been fixing his own meals and was getting tired of eating his own cook-en. On a warm summer Sunday evening walk, he passed the café that was a few doors south of the gun shop and decided to stop in. The smell was just too inviting. He knocked on the back door. A black man opened an asked, “What do you want? We don’t let bums in here.”

  “I ain’t no bum, I got money. I work at the gun shop down the street. I’m in need of a good meal. Can I come in and get one here?”

  “I done see-d you walking the levy many times. Come on in and set at our kitchen table. I-za fix you some-um right’s now.”

  Sam had almost finished his meal, when a door at the top of some stairs that came down to the kitchen, opened and a pretty lady came out and came slowly down the stairs. Her long blond hair fell over her left shoulder all the way to her waist. Her long silver dress fit tight and exposed an hour glass body. She was a big full breasted lady, it looked like the two were fighting to get out of that tight dress. She appeared to be in her twenties. When she reached the bottom of the stairs she said to the black man, “Who let this bum in our kitchen? George, what’s this bum doing in our kitchen?”

  “He ain’t no bum Miss Sarah. He’s a paying man.”

  She sidled over to the table. Sam stood up. He was a head taller than this pretty lady. “Where you from?” She asked in a sexy voice and a big smile.

  “I work at the Hawkin gun shop down the street.”

  George chimed in, “He’s, he’s the one been walking the levy, you know Miss Sarah the one you’s been a watch-en.”

  “Shut up George, I’m a talking to this man.” She asked Sam to turn around. He did in a complete circle. When he turned back around, she looked up at his face and said, “My, my, you are a good-looking man. How old are you?”

  Sam lied, “I’ll be nineteen soon.”

  “George he’ll have dessert up in my apartment. She motioned to Sam and said, “You come with me mister gun maker.”

  She turned and went up the stairs, Sam followed. Her hips swung from side to side as she climbed the stairs. He enjoyed watching the way she moved and looked. An old feeling swelled up inside of him, the one that Blue Bird gave him back on the Choctaw.

  At the top stairs, he turned to look down at the men in the kitchen. All were looking up at him. They all gave him a high sign with their thumbs.

  He followed her into the room, the most beautiful place he had ever seen. An eating table and chairs was just in side the door, a candle chandelier hung from the ceiling, a setting parlor was at the other end of the room. Thru a door toward the front he could see the largest four poster bed he had ever seen. All the walls were covered with colorful flowered paper, a most pleasing and exciting place to be.

  Soon a knock on the door, she called for George to come in. He set a large plate of apple pie on the table with a pot of coffee and went back out, not saying a word.

  The lady came over and said, “Eat your pie.” She bent over to pour a cup of coffee. Her big beautiful bosoms exposed themselves to him. He had to take a peek. Never had he seen such a sight in his life.

  She smiled and said, “You are one handsome young man, finish your pie and come set with me on the settee.”

  She went and sat down. He went over and stood before her. For the first time she asked his name.

  “Sam Duncan.”

  “My name is Sarah Mackay,” she said with a smile. “Please Sam, unbutton and take my shoes off.”

  He lifted her feet one at a time and did as she asked.

  Then she asked him, “Come set beside me.”

  She told him again as she put a arm around him, “You are a very good looking young man. Tell me true, have you ever had a woman?”

  Sam looked away and said “Yes I have.” He had a sheepish grin on his face.

  “I don’t want to hear about it, I’m lonely and full of love, would you like to make love to me?” she asked in a little girls way.

  Sam hesitated, then said, “Yes, you are one very handsome lady. I’d shore be pleased to make love to you anytime.”

  She got up and took his hand and led him into the bed room and unbuttoned her dress and let it drop to the floor. Next came her bloomers, then her top. She stood before him a beautiful fully naked adult woman. He pulled her to him and kissed her on the lips.

  “You are one good-looking woman,” he whispered. He undressed and they both got into her bed, for a night of sexual satisfaction to both parties.

  Morning came. Sam opened his eyes. It was getting light. Sarah had a leg on him, he pushed it off and jumped up. Told her, “I gotta get to work.” He hurried and dressed.

  Sarah sat up in the bed asked, “Where you going?”

  “To work, I have a job to do.”

  “You don’t have to work any more, stay with me.” She seemed to be begging.

  “Sarah,” he said, “I have to work, I can’t lay around here.” He sat down on the bed, pulled her to him, kissed and thanked her. “See you later. You beautiful hunk of woman.” And left.

  At the shop he unlocked the back door and built fires in all the stoves, then went about his usual chores. Soon Jake and brother Sam came thru the door. “Slept late did you Sam?” Jake asked. “It’s not ver
y warm in here.” Sam smiled and continued about his work.

  Later that day Jake came and opened the big doors in the rear of the shop. It was a warm day. Who came strolling by but Sarah. She stopped out side the door. Looking in she asked in a loud voice. “Is this where the guns are made?” She hiked up her dress and stepped into the shop.

  Jake saw her first, he took off his glasses and hurried to meet her. “Miss Sarah,” he said, “How good of you to bring such beauty into this old shop.”

  “I’ve never been in a gun shop before,” she said. “It smells of fresh-cut wood, oil and gun powder, kinda smells good to me. Smell’s like men should.”

  Jake said, “Come I’ll show you around.” He took her by an arm and to each working station to show her how the guns were made.

  Hal the lock maker leaned over to Sam and said, “Ain’t that the God damn best looking woman you ever seen?”

  Sam said, “Mighty pretty.”

  She could hear them, turned and smiled. Jake walked her to the door, every eye in that shop was on her until she left. Jake turned to his workers and said, “Hope she don’t come back, her presence could destroy this shop.”

  That evening most of Hawkins workers were eating at Miss Sarah’s Café. She was at the shop with a tray of food for Sam. They sat at his bench and talked as he ate the meal. She asked him to come to her apartment. He refused. Said he had work to finish.

  “I’ll come up soon, soon as I get rested.” They both had a good laugh. She took the tray and left. He followed her out the door and watched until she entered the back door of her café, he returned to his work.

  The next day a man came to the shop. He was well dressed, with a well-groomed beard, looked to be in his fifties. He had a younger slightly built man with him.

  Jake asked the workers to come look at the guns this man had brought with him. On the counter lay several revolver pistols. The man introduced him self as Colonel Sam Colt owner of the new Colt firearm’s company. “This pistol is our latest make, an 1847 model .44 caliber Colts Army Revolver. I’m on a trip looking for dealers for these fine pistols. Mr Hawkin would you be interested to be a dealer for me? We sell them for 28 dollars a piece, in a case with accessories delivered to your shop, we have orders for one thousand from the Government. Soon we’ll have another model we call the Dragoon. How about it Mr. Hawkin?”