by F. M. Worden
As he passed the kitchen, Dolores called to him, “Sam, we wondered when you would come alive. Everyone looked in on you, you were dead to the world. You must have really been tired.”
“Can I have a cup of coffee?”
“It’s already poured.”
She handed him a cup, as he drank it he told her, “I‘ve gotta go get a shave and bath, see you later.” He headed for the barber shop.
Walking in the shop Bob greeted him with, “Here’s our Apache fighter.”
He put up both hands. “I don’t want to talk about it,” Sam pleaded.
“Hell, it’s all over town, the soldiers have been in town telling all about it. I guess there’s one Lieutenant got a lesson, huh Sam?”
“I don’t want to talk about it, not now or never, I’m not proud of killing. I need a shave and bath, okay with you Bob?”
Bob could see Sam was in no mood to be trifled with. He dusted off his chair and said, “Set Marshal.” He called to a boy in the back room to get a hot bath ready. As he shaved Sam he made small talk, he told him the last match races will be run this Sunday. “You know I’m the starter,” Bob said proudly. “You should try to come.”
“I will come, I’d like to see some good horse races.”
“You will, there’s gonna be some good ones, there always is the last few race days. We start nine in the morning and go till there’s none left.”
“I’ll come for sure.”
Bob gave him a sack for his dirty clothes. He took his bath, paid Bob, and told him, “I’ll see you at the races.”
As he walked home, ladies gave him smiles, men stepped off the walk to let him pass, some tried to shake his hand. He pushed them away and said to himself, “I can’t understand people making such a fuss over killing, even if they’re Indians.”
Reaching the house he went to his room, took off his boots, lay on the bed, went fast asleep.
Right away he dreamed he was back on the plains with the three Indian braves he had killed on the trail near the Mormon train. They rode at him screaming their war cry, he dreamed and remembered the way the painted warrior looked when the bullet hit him in the chest. The most surprised look on a person he had ever seen, just a young boy, he fell right at his horse’s feet. It was the first time he killed. As he rode away he had the most sickening feeling he ever had, he felt like throwing up.
Sam sat up in bed. He had the same sick feeling. The only thing that kept him from tossing, was a knock on the door. “Who is it?” he called.
“It’s Louise,” she spoke loud enough that he could hear her. “Can I come in?”
“The door’s open.”
She slowly opened the door. “Are you OK Sam? We heard you calling.”
“I had a bad dream. I’m okay.”
“You look terrible.” She sat on the bed and took his hand in hers. “Are you sure you’re feel-n alright?”
“I’m fine, just need some food, let’s go eat.”
She pulled him up and put her arm around his waist. They walked to the eating room and as they entered the room, the folks stood and started clapping.
Sam told them, “Please, I’m not proud of what I do. Please, let it pass.”
Louise could see he was hurting. “Everyone, let’s eat and let Sam eat he’s very hungry.” She pleaded with them.
After supper Dolores served coffee on the patio. Sam sat and smoked his pipe, it was the quietest group. No one spoke, a blind man could see Sam was hurting. Darkness had taken over the patio when Sam stood and said, “I must go to bed. I’m real tired.”
Both Louise and Rosa came to hug him. Sam thanked them all for understanding. He went into his room, undressed, washed and went to bed.
He was up before sunrise, too hot to sleep, he opened the door to the patio, saw people were sleeping on cots. He hurried back in, got dressed, returned to the patio and sat in the tub chair waiting for the sunrise. A cool breeze came over the back wall making it pleasant to be there.
As the sun peeked over the wall, the people began to stir. Louise was the first to see him sitting there, she called in a hushed voice, “Come here Sam, I want to see you.”
He moved to her cot, kneeled down, looking her in the eyes he said, “Did you know you’re very pretty in the morning? Your long hair reminds me of my mother’s. Only she had light colored hair.”
Louise pulled him close saying, “Any man who compares another woman to his mother must be after something or in love, which is it Sam?”
“I mean it Louise, you are a very pretty woman, would you give me a morning kiss?”
She pulled his face close with both hands, kissed him on the lips. “I wish it were love Sam.”
He returned her words with a smile and said, “Thank you for the kiss, you’re a great kisser, did you know that? What are you doin today?”
“Noth-n, I’m gonna lay around and do noth-n. How about you, Sam?”
“I’m going for a ride by the river, I have to keep these old bones loose, maybe we could take a buggy ride this evening?”
“Let’s do, now you get and let me go to my room to dress.”
“Can I come and watch?” he asked laughing.
“Sam, you never ask a woman that.”
As he walked away, he said, “Louise I’ve never even seen your ankle let alone a leg.”
She threw the cover off and pulled her night gown up over her knee. “Now you have.”
He laughed and went down to the kitchen looking for a cup of coffee, Dolores had coffee and breakfast ready. She told Sam to go set, she’d bring it now. As she set the food on the table Sam asked, “Where’s that girl Rosa, this morning?”
“She’s up and gone to ride, before sun up, Sam. She’s in love with your horse.”
“If I hurry, maybe I can see her ride my horse.” He finished eating and hurried to Manuel’s. He saddled and rode the Dunn along the trail by the Rio Santa Cruz looking for the girl and horse.
Sam rode several miles south along the river bank, he stopped to rest. Looking across the river and some distance to the south he saw the girl and horse emerge from a group of mesquite trees farther down the trail. They followed the trail some distance and turned into another group of trees. He urged the Dunn into a lope. Looking for a way to cross over, he had to go quite a ways to find a spot, he jumped the horse down a small bank and splashed across and up the other bank, he rode north up the trail.
His black horse and Rosa soon appeared on the trail ahead. She saw him and rode hard and stopped beside him horses head to tail.
“You look-n for me Sam?”
“I wanted to see if my horse still had four legs?”
She reined back and around, pushed the horse up beside him saying. “He’s the most wonderful horse I’ve ever ridden, he does anything I ask and he’s so fast my eyes water when we run, Sam, I love this horse.”
“We must go back to the barn, it’s past noon.”
As they rode Rosa asked many questions about the horse, Sam told her the story of how he got him.
“Have you ever been in love with a woman?” Rosa wanted to know.
“Yes, it was a long time ago.”
“Was she the one who made the leather things you have?”
“Yes.” That’s all he would say.
“Where is she now?”
“She died a long time ago.”
“Was she pretty?”
“Very pretty.”
They rode awhile longer. She had to ask, “Can you love a woman again, Sam?”
“A man can love many times and many things, Rosa.” When she heard his answer, she spurred her horse into a lope, he followed, they crossed the river and into the barn.
Riding in Manuel remarked, “See you found the girl and horse, is she doin okay, Sam?”
“Much better than I could ever of hoped for.” His answer was very positive. Rosa lit up with the biggest smile she could make.
Manuel asked, “Will you go to the races with us tomorrow? I’m
taking a wagon, we have plenty of room.”
“What time Manuel?”
“Around eight in the morning.”
“Can I come too?” asked Rosa.
“Sure ,why not?” Sam told her, he liked the idea of Rosa coming along.
“See you then Manuel.” Sam and Rosa walked up the hill home.
Entering the house Dolores, came out of the kitchen and said, “Go in and set, I’ll bring some food.”
In the eating room Louise was finishing her lunch. Sam asked, “Still doin noth-n, Louise?”
Dolores brought their food, Sam told her she was going to go broke feeding us all the time.
“I like to see my boarders eat well, when you all finish go to the patio, I have iced tea today, we will have ice delivery two times a week now that the railroad is bringing it from El Paso.”
“That’s wonderful!” Louise was excited about the ice.
Everyone went to the patio, sat in chairs, Dolores came with the tea, everyone said how great it is to have ice. A lazy afternoon was enjoyed by all. Louise told Sam she had a letter from Washington D.C. for him, she had it in her room.
“I just forgot to give it to you yesterday, I’ll go get it!” She hurried to her room and returned, handing it to Sam she said, “I’m sorry I forgot to give it to you.”
“I’ll make you pay.” Laughing, he opened the envelope saying, “I don’t get many letters.” Sam read with some concern on his face.
“What is it?” They all wanted to know.
“Seems I must go to the town of Tombstone and find and commission a Deputy Marshal, they have named several men who are acceptable.”
“May I see the letter?” Louise asked.
He handed it to her, she read it and said, “This is dated two weeks ago, he will be under the same authority as you, Judge Henricks, they want you to go right away and telegraph the confirmation as soon as you can, I know they have a lot of trouble there, you should go right away.”
“I’ll plan to go early next week.” She asked not to go for a buggy ride as it was getting late. She wanted to help Dolores fix supper.
“Some other time Louise.”
All three women went to the kitchen and soon called to come and eat. Afterward Dolores asked everyone to go to the patio for coffee. The talk was about tomorrow, it would be Sunday.
Louise told them, “Miss Anthony will talk in the afternoon, would anyone like to go?” Dolores and Hilda both said they would like to go.
Rosa said, “I want to go to the races with Sam, Momma, we must go to early mass so I can go.”
As darkness came to the patio, Ben came in with his girl, she had accepted his proposal of marriage. A happier man could not be found in all of Arizona Territory that evening.
“When is the happy day?” Sam asked.
“As soon as we can,” the girl just beamed. “I love him so.”
Ben grinned and hugged her so hard she had to ask him to stop. He said, “Everyone is invited to the wedding.” All the people agreed to be there.
Sam said, “I want to kiss the bride, I wouldn’t miss it.” He winked at Louise.
Ben told him, “Why wait?”
Sam moved over and kissed her on the forehead, she looked disappointed. They all talked awhile longer, Rosa announced she was going to bed.
Dolores asked Sam if he needed a cot?
“No. Ma’am.”
Everyone said good night and went to their rooms.
As Sam turned in, he said to himself, “One of the better days I’ve ever had!”
Sam woke Sunday morning, Checked his watch, six a.m, voices from the patio could be heard. He hurried to the open doors, looking out he could see Dolores and Rosa were engaged in a heated conversation. They were late for six o’clock Mass, Rosa wanted to go on to church, Dolores wanted to wait for the next, Rosa won, they went on out thru the back gate.
Louise saw Sam from her cot and called, “Sam come here.”
He walked over and asked, “Are you ready for a morning kiss?”
She raised both arms as to say, yes, he fell in and kissed her hard on the lips. He told her, “You’re very pretty in the mornings.”
“Go back to your room and let me get dressed and I’ll fix your breakfast.”
“Best deal I’ve had this morning.” He said laughing and returned to his room, he pulled on his boots, put on his vest and carried the gun belt with him to the kitchen, he stoked the stove and started to make coffee.
Louise entered the kitchen. “Sit down and let me make your breakfast.”
“Don’t let me stop you.”
As she prepared the meal they talked. She told him she was the new Sunday school teacher for the children in her church.
“That’s good, I’ve never been very religious, I don’t think God cares much about me.”
“Sam,” she said very curtly. “God cares for everyone. Do you ever talk to him?”
“No! Louise, I’ve cussed him several times for the things he’s done to me.” He was trying to constrain his real feelings.
“Have you ever read the bible?”
“My Ma read to us when I was small, I never have.”
“You never asked God for anything?” She tried to be as gentle as she could.
“Only once, when my Pa and Ma died. I asked him to save them, he didn’t help. From then on I always figured I can take care of myself.” He started to say more, but Dolores and Rosa entered the kitchen.
Dolores asked, “How are you two doing?”
“Fine, this lady fixes a great meal.”
Louise started to go saying, “I have to get dressed, my ride will be here soon.” She turned to Sam, “We have a lot to talk about, you can’t be as bad as you put on.” She shook a finger at him.
Rosa chimed in, “I have to change, we’re going to see the races.” She left the kitchen to change her clothes.
Dolores said, “I have a lot of cleaning to do.”
“Don’t you know yer supposed to rest on the Sabbath?” Sam said.
“Look who’s talk-n.” Saying that, Louise went out of the kitchen and to her room.
Rosa came back dressed in brown pants, white shirt, black boots and red bandana holding back her long black shiny hair. The way she was dressed made her look a lot older than she was. “Is it time for Manuel to come, Sam?” she asked.
He looked at his watch. “Any time now, lets go out and wait.”
They had just stepped out of the front door when Manuel pulled up with his wagon and family. The two climbed on board, off they went, down to Congress St, left across the tracks then across the wooden bridge, past the pavilion to the foot of the pointed mountain.
The crowd was already gathering, town people, Cowboys, Mexican Vaquero’s, ranchers, the Casino people and a group of Yaqui Indians. All had brought their horses to race. Bob, Dr. Fenn, Sheriff Bell, gamblers and the women of the night, were all there, ready to bet and watch the races.
The first match had been made, Dr. Fenn’s job was to hold the purses, Bob the starter was explaining the rules.
“Take your horses down to the pole across the track and get side by side, try to hold that position, wait for the flag to drop. If you cheat you’ll forfeit the race, the winner is the first to break the string across the track, No if ands or buts, do you all understand?” he yelled.
No one objected. The first match was on the way!
A cowboy won the first, the screaming and hollering was deafening, great fun for the spectators. Rosa was jumping and yelling at the top of her voice, “I love it, I love it.”
Sam had to get hold of her afraid she might fall out of the wagon, anyone watching could see she was really enjoying the races!
Sheriff Bell came to talk to Sam, “Clint my deputy has been bad mouth-n you, Sam. I can’t control that boy, I’m look-n for someone to replace him and will soon as I can find someone.”
Sam asked about the City Marshal Henry. Sheriff Bell told him he’ll be back on the job soon, s
o Doc Fenn says. The race horse matches continued.
Most of the people had brought food. Manuel’s wife had a nice lunch for them, while they ate, they watched and enjoyed the races, the horses and the people.
The last race was over and all the money paid.
A tall Mexican, standing in a French Carriage called to the crowd, he was saying in Spanish, he was willing to match anyone for one thousand American dollars to his horse, EL ROJO FUEGO.
Manuel told Sam about this man. “He’s a rich rancher in Mexico, he takes this horse all over Mexico and California, matches him all the time, he’s never been beaten. See the Senorita with him? She’s French, stayed when the French left, she’s very rich also.”
Sam remarked, “What a beauty she is.”
Manuel poked him, “You like, huh?”
“No, she’s not my type.”
Rosa grabbed Sam’s arm saying, “Match him with our black one, Sam.”
“No Rosa I don’t have a rider and besides he isn’t ready yet.”
“I’ll ride,” she was almost begging. “I know he can win, I know I can ride him and win, he will do anything I ask of him, do you have a thousand dollars to bet?”
Manuel said, “They look good Sam, I believe Rosa and the black can beat him if anyone can.”
Looking at Rosa and Manuel Sam shook his head, “NO.” But their demeanor was so positive, he gave it a second though. “Oh, okay, let’s give it a try.”
Rosa was jumping up and down saying loudly, “He can win, he can win, I know he can win.”
“Calm down Rosa.” He asked Manuel to come. “Tell me what to say.”
They walked on the track and told Bob, “We’ll give it a go, tell the Senor to come on.”
The word was relayed to the Mexican. The man stepped from the carriage and onto the track, with his hand extended to Sam saying in Spanish, “I am Don Diego Romero Reyes of Santa Cruz, Mexico. I have the fastest horse in all the land, maybe in all the world.”
Sam shook his hand and told Manuel, “Tell him to stop the small talk, let’s get down to business, tell him we must go get my horse and money, will he wait?”
Manuel relayed the words to the Senor. He would wait, saying with a big smile, “Plenty time, I have for you Senor.”