by F. M. Worden
Sam, Rosa and Manuel drove the wagon back to the house, Sam dropped off to get his money. Manuel and Rosa went for the horse and saddle. They returned and picked up Sam. He and Rosa sat on the tail gate leading the black horse, he jogged along behind.
Rosa had misgivings. “I’m sorry I got you into this, maybe I’m not a good enough rider, maybe he’s not ready, maybe we...”
Sam stopped her short. “Maybe, maybe, maybe... Damn it girl, we’re in it now don’t let me down, I know you can do it.”
He put an arm around her, looked her in the eyes and told her, “You can do anything you want, if you try.” He reached over and kissed her gently on the cheek. “Let’s give it a good try, Okay?”
“Okay Sam.” She had tears in her eyes. “I’ll do my best.”
By then they were back at the track, the Senor had his horse and rider on the track waiting. As Manuel and Sam saddled the black horse, Sam told the two of them, “We have the advantage, that horse has been standing in the shade all day, our horse has been warmed up coming over, looks to me like he’s ready.”
Rosa watched and said, “We will win, I know he will win.”
Sam went to Bob, gave him the money. Bob asked the Senor for his and turned it over to Dr. Fenn, the race was on!
Rosa mounted and rode the black stallion onto the track, both girl and horse had the look of a winner. Both horses danced and pranced, the Mexican rider rode close and told Rosa, “No baby girl gonna beat me.”
The red horse looked magnificent, shiny, stout, big and muscular. The young Mexican rider had his cap on backwards, riding a light race saddle. Bob told them to get to the post. Both horses trotted down the track, Rosa and the black led the way.
Bob cried to the crowd, “Get your bets made, we’re about to start!”
The two reached the post and turned to face the finish line and the crowd. The people moved on to the track to get a better look at the two racers, Bob demanded all the people to get back. “Lets have a fair and good race, now get back all of you,” he shouted. Bob was showing his anger, he was out on the track waving his arms making the people move back.
Both horses knew their job by now, both danced and plunged at the bit and reared both front feet off the ground, both ready to run, ready to give it their all.
The riders’ jaws were set, Rosa had an impish smile on her face as she watched the other rider. Both had their bodies leaning over on to the neck of their horse, both were ready for the start.
Bob held the flag high, waved, then dropped the flag. The black had turned slightly to the right, he was beaten at the start by a good length, the red one driving away had an easy lead. The girl’s horse dove into the bit, ears pinned, nostrils flaring, driving his hooves into the ground with every jump. She was leaning over the neck, driving with both hands, screaming in his ear “go-go- go.”
Down the track they came, both riders urging their mounts to give every thing they had. Both horses, muscles straining, responded to their riders. Down the track they flew, dust swirled at their feet.
The crowd was going crazy, such noise that mountain had never heard, the wildlife came alive. Deer pricked their ears looking in that direction, a big cat came to attention, turned his nose up to get a better smell. Ground squirrels scrambled for cover, rattler mommies pushed their babies farther under the rocks. A huge sound resonated throughout the mountain. Down on the streets in town, people stopped to listen.
At the track the race went on, both horses and riders giving their all. The black came head to hip, then head to shoulder, head to neck, on they came. Both riders driving their mounts hard, leg to leg, then head to head.
The boy went to the whip, driving it hard into his horse’s flank. The girl using her body and hands, in motion with the horse, screaming in his ear all the time, “GO- GO- GO.” He responded with all he had, he gave a mighty surge. The finish loomed ahead, the black horse and girl a clear winner.
Both horses took awhile to slow to a stop, the red first, he turned back to the crowd. Rosa and the black stopped and turned back. Slowly they trotted to Sam and Manuel. A loud cheer came from the crowd for both riders and their steeds.
Her look told all. Sam told her, “You were just magnificent, I never doubted you for a minute.”
Rosa collapsed off the horse into his arms, she was a spent little girl. Sam carried her to the wagon tail gate, gently set her down, praising her as he did. He returned to Bob, Dr. Fenn and the Senor.
“A very good race,” the Senor said in Spanish. “We must match again soon.”
Sam thanked everyone, he saw the French woman, standing in the carriage, smiling and she waved to him as he collected his winnings.
All the way home people waved and cheered. Rosa sat on the tail gate, proud, knowing she had made Sam happy.
At the house Sam carried Rosa in. Dolores asked, “Is she hurt?”
“No,” Sam told her, “just one tired, spent little girl, a bath and food is all she needs.”
He set her in a chair and returned to Manuel and the wagon. At the barn the horse got a bucket bath and a full bucket of oats, Sam gave Manuel one hundred dollars, shook his hand and thanked him for all his help.
All the time the races were going, Louise spent the afternoon with the professor and Christine. She confided in them, she had fallen in love with Sam. “What should I do?” She didn’t know, her health was not good enough to be a good wife. “What should I do?” she asked again.
“Take life as it comes, if you love him, tell him, let him make the decision. Many people have your sickness and live full lives, don’t be afraid to tell him. If he loves you what difference does it make? Tell him Louise.” They both agreed she should.
They drove her home, supper was on the table. The talk was of nothing but the afternoon horse race. The evening was spent on the patio, Sam drinking coffee, smoking his pipe. Rosa told the race over and over. Dolores finally told her, “We all have heard, please talk of something else.”
Rosa said, “I am so happy to have helped Sam, I don’t want to stop telling about it, but I will.” She pulled a chair over next to Sam, Louise had been sitting on the other side of him. Sam told Rosa how much he appreciated her for what she had done and took her hand in his.
“I’m going to give you some of the winning money. You earned it.”
He turned to Louise and asked about her day. She told him she had a lovely day talking to the professor and Christine.
“What about?” he asked.
“I’ll tell you when we are alone.”
He announced he was going to bed. The group broke up and they all said good night!
The sun was well over the back wall when Sam got up from a good nights sleep. A cool breeze came thru the big doors. He dressed, then hurried to the kitchen. Dolores had breakfast waiting. Louise was finishing hers.
“Another Monday,” she said.
“Are you feeling alright?” asked Sam.
“Why do you ask?” She turned to face him. “Do I look that bad?”
“No, no. You look good to me, but your eyes are red.”
“I didn’t sleep very well last night, I rolled and tumbled all night.”
Dolores asked, “Are you feeling sick?”
“Oh no, I just have a lot on my mind. It’s all your fault Sam Duncan.” Louise looked hard at Sam as she spoke.
Sam hardly knew what to say. “If I did anything to make you unhappy, tell me, I’ll do my best to fix it.” Sam was almost pleading.
“We will talk another time, I have to go to work now, people will be waiting.”
She turned to leave, he took her by the arm saying. “Hold on I’ll get my things and walk with you.”
They took their time walking to the court house. At the office she reminded him of the letter telling him he must go to Tombstone. “I’ll go get a ticket and go down in the morning, I’m looking forward to meeting some of the folks in Tombstone. Some of these men are real famous lawmen.”
Sam s
eemed to her to be interested in the men in Tombstone. Louise told him she would send someone to get his ticket. “You must go see Sheriff Bell, he can tell you all about the people in Tombstone. You have several summons to serve, I have them ready for you.” She handed him the papers.
“I’ll get right to it.” He left to do his work, he had to walk to serve the summons.
On the way he stopped to get a shave and jaw with the barber shop boys. He asked about the folks down in Tombstone, most had little to say. Bob told him to see Sheriff Bell. “He knows everyone there.” Sam said he would take his advice.
He walked west on Congress St. As he approached the Saloon, Cowboys Hangout, Deputy Clint and two young men were struggling with a young Mexican girl on the board sidewalk, they had pulled her out of the swinging doors. Two of them had her by each arm. Clint was behind her and had his arms around her, he had her picked up, she was kicking, cussing and screaming at them in Spanish.
Sam hurried to confront the three men and asked, “What the hell’s goin’ on here?”
A few people had gathered to see what the commotion was about. A bystander told Sam, “This gal done nothing, these old boys just want to take her down to the jail so they can rape her, I done see’d them do it to gals before.”
Sam in a loud voice told Clint to let her go, Clint and the two boys turned to face Sam. The three let her go, she dashed back in the saloon.
Facing Sam, Clint said, “You old bastard, you’ve interfered with me for the last time.”
Sam could see he had a new colt 45 on his hip. “I’ve seen men like you before.” Sam was visibly mad. “None of your kind is worth two dead flies. If you’re gonna make a play, do it now.” He held his right hand out just touching the Schofield with his fingers, ready to take it in hand.
One boy backed- off yelling, “I ain’t armed.” He faded into the crowd.
The other one had a pistol stuck in his belt, he put up his hands saying, “This ain’t my fight Clint, leave me out.” He backed into the crowd, turned and ran as fast as he could down the side walk.
Sam moved to within arm’s length of Clint saying, “It’s your play boy, do it now or hightail it.”
He could see the fear in this boy’s eyes. He had seen this many times in better men than Clint, he was giving him a way out.
Clint began to shake uncontrollably, Sam motioned with his hand to leave. Clint backed off, turned and sprinted west down the side walk. Someone in the crowd yelled, “You yellow coward, come back and fight.”
Sam turned and with fire in his words spoke to the crowd, “Who said that?”
The big mouth was silent. Sam told them, “Go on about your business, there’s noth-n here fer ya to see.” He gave them a hard look, turned away and headed for Sheriff Bell’s office.
At the Sheriff’s office, Bell was sitting with his feet on a desk. “Come on in. How the hell are ya? Come set, let’s talk, I ain’t seen nobody all day.”
Sam sat down and asked, “Tell me what you know about the folks in Tombstone, I have to go there on government business.”
“I heard you did, you’re a mighty brave man to go down there, the whole damn place is a firecracker. It’s gonna blow any time, don’t get in the middle. There’s them Earps, they have a lot of friends on their side. Then there’s them cowboys, they have a bunch on their side. Where the law is, I kin’t tell ya. There’s a few loose cannons who won’t take sides with nobody. Sam, be careful, its gonna get hot down there, get in and out as fast as you can, that’s my advice to you. I’ll tell you who to see, John Clum. He has the newspaper, the Tombstone Epitaph. He knows everybody and everyone, he’s the best man to see, I can telegraph him if you want, to let him know you’re coming.”
“That would be fine, I hoped you would do that for me.” Sam was glad to have his help and thanked him. He asked about Deputy Clint, had he been there?
The sheriff told him, “Clint ain’t been around all day.” Bell asked why he was asking.
Sam told him he might have to get a new deputy. “This boy has had it, you’ll hear soon enough.” He thanked him for the information, he’d see him when he got back.
He walked on over to the Shu-Fly to get something to eat.
At the Shu-Fly Ben was there eating. “Come set with me,” he called to Sam.
“Have you ever seen a happier man than me? I’m getting married the first of June, I’m so happy I can’t hardly do my work.”
Sam told him, “Ben, you take care of that girl, don’t let no one stand in the way, I’ve never seen any one more in love than you two, God Bless you both, that’s something I’ve never told anyone before.” He admired Ben. Ben thanked him. They finished their meal and went on their different ways.
At the house Sam took a long nap. Got up just in time for supper. Spent the evening with Louise, Rosa, Dolores and Hilda on the patio drinking coffee and smoking his pipe. He listened to the women talk about their day. Just after dark he said good night. Went to his room, packed a bag for the trip to Tombstone. He washed up and went to bed.
Chapter 15
Tombstone
Sam woke up early, washed, dressed and went down to the eating room. Louise was there in a beautiful pink dress, all dolled up.
“My, my,” Sam said. “How can you look so good in the mornings?”
Dolores with a big smile said, “I think she does just for you Sam.”
“I doubt that Dolores.”
Louise said nothing, she finished eating, excused herself and left the room. Sam finished and told Dolores, “I’ve got to hurry, gonna catch the nine o’clock east bound to Benson.”
He hurried to his room and returned fully dressed and carrying a carpet bag. “Tell Rosa I’ll see her when I get back, I left some money on my dresser for her.” He went out the front door.
There was Louise, with a bag, smiling saying, “I’m going with you, you may need me, okay Sam?”
Sam was delighted to have her come along, he took her bag and said, “I never will figure you out, that’s what makes you so damn interesting.” She just smiled.
On the train it was so crowded they had to sit apart. At Benson they took a stage to Tombstone, the stage was packed. Again they could do very little talking. Arriving in Tombstone, John Clum was there to meet them. He introduced himself and seeing Louise said, “Didn’t know you were bringing a lady friend, does she need a room too?”
“Yes,” Sam said. “Can we get her one?”
“O yeah, Tombstone will never be the same with this beautiful lady here, she may need a bodyguard.”
Sam put his arm around her and said, “That’s my job.” Louise gave a big smile.
“This fair lady is Judge Henrick’s secretary, Miss Louise Talmidge. A New Yorker by birth, an Arizonan by choice. She’s here to help me if needed. I’m told you’re a news paper man.”
Mr. Clum replied, “Not only a newsman, I’m the Post Master too. I have rooms for you at the Cosmopolitan Hotel just up the street. I know you would like to clean up after your trip. I would like to treat you two to dinner, if you like.”
“Sounds good to us, you can give me some low down on these people live-n here.”
“Come with me, I’ll take you to the hotel.” He told them on the way, with some pride. “We have the finest hotels and restaurants west of the Mississippi.”
Entering the lobby, one could see it was indeed a beautiful place, thick flowered carpet covered the floor, plush settees and chairs were plentiful. The walls were covered with beautiful flowered paper and pictures of fancy ladies hung around the room. A man was lighting gas burner lights as it was getting dark. John Clum told them all the rooms, restaurants and stores have gas burners.
“The town has put in gas burners in the streets, it’s very well lighted at night.”
He turned them over to the desk man. They registered and went to their separate rooms. They cleaned up and both returned to the lobby at the same time. They sat in the lobby to wait for John Clum. Louise
and Sam talked for a few minutes. She was asking Sam if he could fall in love again. Before he could answer, John came and took them into the Maison Doree restaurant. John said it was the best in all of Arizona. While waiting for their food, John started telling them about the people in town.
“The Earp brothers and Doc Holiday have had big trouble with some of the cowboy element, the people here began taking sides.”
“Who are the cowboys?” Sam asked.
John named names. “Curly Bill Brouis, he seems to be the main trouble. Wyatt Earp and Curly Bill got into it right away, Bill was drunk and accidently killed Deputy City Marshal White. Wyatt laid a pistol barrel on Bill’s head. He had to spend some time in the Tucson jail while the whole thing was sorted out. Bill didn’t take kindly to getting his head busted, Bill is just a big old kid, wears two guns and can use either with both hands, he’s a dead shot. He can be nice as hell and then mean as hell. He’ll take no bullshit from anyone, excuse my French ma’am.” He looked at Louise.
She frowned and shook her head.
He continued. “Then there’s old man Clanton and his sons Ike and Billy, they’re in strong with Frank and Tom McLawery. Those boys are mostly cow and horse thieves. John Ringo, Pete Spencer and his sidekick Frank Stillwell, all can handle a six-shooter. Joe Hill fits some where with all these people. Sheriff of Cochise County, John Behan and his deputy Bill Breakenridge try to stay out of the way. Seems they’re on one side then the other, I never know which.”
After finishing supper, Louise told them she was tired and wanted to go to bed. Both John and Sam excused her, she went up to her room. John and Sam decided to take a walk to observe Tombstone night life.
John told him, “Dance hall girls have come to Tombstone from every part of the country, just name it and there’s one that’s been there or comes from there. Girls of the night have flooded the market, I believe there must be several hundred, most of them work pretty cheap. Allen Street goes day and night, the saloons never close.”
They walked the south side of Allen to the Birdcage Theater, crossed over, walked the north side, past the saloons and dance halls. Music and laughter drifted out thru the swinging doors. At one saloon a young woman came bursting out of the swinging doors, a cowboy hot on her heels. He caught her, picked her up and headed back into the saloon, all the time they were both laughing their heads off. The walks were so crowded with miners and cowboys, they had to push their way thru.