by F. M. Worden
“This looks like Saturday night in Dodge City,” Sam remarked.
They stopped at the Oriental Saloon and went inside and stepped to the bar. John talked in low tones. “See the man dealing Faro? That’s Wyatt, he’s a good gambler, he owns the table, all the Earps hang out here.”
The bar keep came and asked what they would have? “Two beers.”
John ordered for them, he went on, “See the man at the last table? That’s Doc Holiday. The woman hanging on him is Mary Haroney, she’s known as big nose Kate, some say he can’t make a move without her, he has TB bad, he plays poker here every day and all night, day in and day out, nobody dares cross him. He don’t give a damn if he lives or dies, is he on your list?” John asked.
“No the three Earps and Luke Short are the ones I have to choose from.”
“Short’s not here, the other Earps are probably in the back room playing pool, do you want to meet them now?”
“Not tonight, I’m gonna turn in.”
“Hells bells, they all know what you’re here for, fact is the whole damn town knows, how they found out I can’t tell you, I sure as hell told no one.” John had apology in his voice.
“These things leak out, I don’t give a shit how they know, I’ll do my job and go on back to Tucson.”
John and Sam walked to the hotel. Sam thanked him and bid him good night. Sam went up to his room to go to bed, his room was on the street side, it was a hot night, he had to raise the window. The noise was so bad it was impossible to sleep, he sat and watched the goings on and thought to himself, “glad I’m not the law in this town.” Around midnight he lay down and fell asleep.
Sam opened his eyes, someone was knocking on his door.
“Who is it?” he hollered.
“Sam, it’s Louise, you gonna sleep all day, it’s nine o’clock, I’ve had breakfast. Are you awake?”
“Hold on Louise, let me put my pants on.” He slipped out of bed and pulled his pants on and opened the door.
“Louise how can you look so good this morning. Come on in.”
“O, no,” she said. “I’ll wait in the lobby, I’ve never watched a man dress, John is waiting in the lobby for you to come down. Hurry up!” She turned and went down the hall.
Sam was in the lobby in ten minutes. “Sorry to keep you two waiting, I really passed out this morning, I can’t ever remember sleeping this late, must be getting old.” Sam shook his head as he spoke.
John chimed in, “I just got here a few minutes ago, let’s go get some breakfast, if this pretty lady will join us.”
Louise excused herself, she wanted to do some shopping. “There are such beautiful things here, much more than in Tucson, I just have to go look.”
The two men went on to breakfast. Afterwards Sam told John he had to get a shave. They entered the hotel barber shop and both men had a morning shave.
After being shaved, John took Sam to meet the Sheriff of Cochise county, John Beham was at his office. Beham was very friendly, greeting Sam with, “I’ve been looking forward to meet-n you, I understand you’ll be commissioning a new Deputy U.S. Marshal for this district and Tombstone, have you made a choice yet?”
“I haven’t met any prospects yet, just got to town yesterday, it’ll take some time, do you have any suggestions?”
He was goading Beham to see his reaction. Beham started giving a list of several plus himself. Sam put up his hands saying, “I have plenty of names, I just have to talk to them, I’d like to get this done today or tomorrow, thanks just the same.”
Sam and John bid the sheriff good by and walked up Tuffnut street, on to third down to Allen street. On the way John asked why Marshal Drake hadn’t come down from Prescott for this job. Sam told him he didn’t know.
“Maybe he didn’t want to come this far, it’s a long trip from Prescott, I kinda wish he had, I don’t like this kind of job and I don’t get a dime to do it, trouble is it’s hell if you do and hell if you don’t.” Sam talked like he could cash the whole damn thing and get on back to Tucson.
“I want to talk to you plain Sam, this Earp bunch really stick together, if one don’t like you the whole bunch won’t, but if they like you, they’ll all back your play.”
“I don’t give a big rat’s ass one way or the other, let’s go meet these people, I’ll do my best to keep you out of the mix.”
Walking into the Oriental Saloon John and Sam approached Wyatt Earp. He stood drinking at the bar. He was talking with several other men. When he saw the two men he greeted them with, “Well if it ain’t the man about town John Clum. Is this the Marshal we’ve been hearing about?” John shook his head yes.
“Meet Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Duncan.”
Sam sized Earp up, big man six feet tall with heavy dark hair and a heavy handle bar moustache, well built, can handle himself.
Earp put his hand out saying, “Glad to meet you Sam.”
“Same here, I’ve been told you’re a good law man.”
“Have an eye opener,” Earp said handing Sam a shot glass.
“No thanks, I’m not much of a drinker, I thank you kindly just the same.”
“That’s Okay,” Earp said, “I’ll have one for ya. Come set at my table, I want you to meet my brothers.” He turned to the bartender and told him, “Go get Morg and Virg, bring Old Doc. too.”
Earp made some small talk as they sat down. “See you carry a Scohfield, I’ve carried one for several years myself.” He patted his coat pocket. “Had a special leather lined pocket in my coat made just for her, don’t ever carry a holster.”
Sam motioned with his hand to the pistol at his side, “She’s never let me down.”
Two men approached the table, Wyatt made the introductions. “This is my older brother, Virgil, one of the finest pistol shots you’ll ever meet, an all round good guy. This other handsome devil is my brother Morgan, a real lady killer.”
They all laughed at the remark. Virgil had the look of a gun man, Morgan looked like a lady killer should. Both men shook Sam’s hand.
“Set boys, let’s talk.”
Anyone could see Wyatt was their leader. Only a few words were spoken when a tall thin man approached the table. Wyatt got to his feet and rushed to steady the man saying, “This here man is my good buddy Doc Holiday, he always has too much to drink.”
Sam could see this man had cold steel for eyes that looked right thru ya. Sam put out his hand, Holiday pulled his hand away saying, “I ain’t meeting no son-of-a-bitch this morning, unless he wants to play poker.”
Sam could see this man was drunk on his feet. Wyatt told Doc in a kind way for him to go on to bed as he had been up all night, drinking and playing poker. “Hell yes,” Doc replied. “Where the hell is my old woman, I ain’t seen her all night.” He almost fell, Wyatt grabbed him and pushed him into a chair.
Wyatt reached in and pulled a pearl handled colt pistol from his shoulder holster saying, “You’re too damn drunk to have this, some hick gonna shoot your ass off. Set there and wait for Kate to come get ya.”
He motioned for the bartender to get going. Holiday slumped in the chair, dropped his head and fell fast asleep. Only a few words were said when a well dressed woman came thru the doors with the bartender. She was very attractive and went straight to Holiday. She shook him awake saying, “Come on Doc, let’s get you to bed.”
She looked to the men saying, “I don’t know what to do for this man, he drinks way too much, I wish you could help him Wyatt.”
“Hell Kate, he feels no pain when he’s drinking, I can’t stop him, wouldn’t if I could, he’s trying to get the most out of life, at least what he has left.” Wyatt asked the bartender to help Kate take Doc to his room.
As they left, a tall well built man in a buckskin coat came thru the door and looked over at the men at the table. He went to the bar, pounding it with his fist, demanding whiskey. Wyatt told Sam in a low voice, “That’s Buckskin Frank Leslie, he’s one hell of a woman beater. I’m gonna clean his plow
one of these days, just because he needs it.”
The other men all agreed. Leslie downed his drink and left the saloon, adjusting his gun belt as he went, looking over his shoulder and smiling at the men at the table.
Wyatt suggested to Sam, “Why don’t we all have supper at the hotel this evening? My woman’d like to meet ya, I understand you brought a fine look-n lady with you, I’d like to meet her too.”
The other Earps shook their heads in agreement. “I’m sure all the girls would like to meet her.”
Sam agreed to the dinner, John told them it was a good idea. He’d bring his wife and would arrange for a private room. All agreed to meet at seven this evening.
Sam and John bid them goodbye and walked to the hotel. They met Louise and had lunch, John went on to his office.
Louise wanted Sam to go shopping with her. He declined saying he didn’t feel too good, he wanted to take a nap. He told her John had made a dinner date for them this evening at seven, with the Earps and their women. She went on to shop, he went to his room, lay down and napped.
Again Louise had to wake him. “It’s six o’clock, if we’re a-goin to meet these people at seven, you best hurry, I’ll wait in my room.”
In a few minutes Sam was knocking on her door. She opened it, told him he could come in. He took her in his arms and kissed her on the lips hard, she pulled away saying, “You’re messing my hair and make up.”
He pulled her back again and kissed her even harder. Letting her go, he said to her, “You’re the best look-n woman in all of Tombstone, I ain’t seen none better.”
She pulled away and said he was just a flatterer.
“Well I haven’t seen any better, that’s the honest truth.”
“Let’s go eat,” She said. “Kiss me again Sam, I like it.” He did and they went on down to the Café.
Waiting there was the Earp brothers and their women. John Clum and his wife came in behind Sam and Louise. The room was well lighted and the table set and ready for the meal, Doc Holiday and his Kate were the last to enter, John sat at the head of the table with the Earps and their women to his right, his wife, Sam and Louise to his left, with Doc and Kate on down the table. Doc looked as if he had just got out of bed. Kate was pampering him like a small child. He kept telling her to let him be, he slumped in his chair, pulled a pint out and took a big swig. Wyatt sitting across from Sam told Doc to try to make this a nice party, Doc never said a word.
The conversation turned to questioning Sam about his commission, had he made a choice for the Deputy. He shook his head, no and he asked Wyatt if he was going to run for the county sheriff’s office. Wyatt with his elbows on the table, hands under his chin looked straight at Sam and in a demanding voice asked, “Where did you hear that from? Who started that rumor?”
“We visited Sheriff Behan and he hinted the same.”
“I got no intention to run for sheriff.” He asked Sam how he became a U.S. Marshal.
Sam told them all he had been a deputy at Ft. Smith and had been recommended by some people he had met and worked for.
Doc in a loud voice said, “Tell us who these top people are who made you a Marshal.”
Sam with his hands and arms folded on the table, looked down at Doc and said, “President Cleveland, General Grant, the commander of the Texas Rangers and a few others.”
Doc dropped his head, slumped back in his chair and didn’t say anything else.
John Clum took over the conversation. Talking mostly to the ladies, about their times in Tombstone and if they liked the town.
The meal was served, it was roast beef, chicken, fish, gravy, steamed vegetables, hot baked bread and hot apple pie for dessert. As they were finishing the pie, Sheriff Behan came in with a very attractive lady on his arm. He introduced her as Josephine Marcus. Not one in the Earp party turned toward them except Wyatt. He rose and said, “We don’t need the sheriff of Cochise at this party!”
“No offense intended, just wanted to tell you Johnny Ringo is in town, he’s looking pretty mean. He’s drinking and talking about gun play, I’ll say no more.”
He turned and pulled the lady with him. She smiled at Wyatt and gave him a come hither look. He smiled back and shook his head yes. Sam caught the looks that went between the two of them.
The party broke up about ten pm. They all said good night and left the dining room.
Sam told Louise on the way to their rooms, “There’s trouble brewing in this town and it ain’t cowboys doing the brewing.”
Louise said, “I’m not follow-n you, Sam, what are you talk-n about?”
“Looks to me as if Wyatt has something goin with the sheriff’s lady friend.”
“Oh, I think you’re just looking for trouble.” Louise seemed perplexed at Sam’s words.
He told her, “We’re leave-n in the morning, the stage leaves for Bisbee at eight, be ready, it’s time for us to leave.” He couldn’t have made it more plain.
“I have something to ask you, I’ll get to it on the stage.”
He escorted her to her room, at her door he pulled her close and kissed her hard on the lips. He opened the door and said, “Good night my beautiful, lovely lady.” He turned and hurried away.
Next morning Sam was up early and headed to the Earp boy’s saloon, where he found Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan. Sam asked Virgil to come with him. In a small room off the bar, Sam asked if he would be a Deputy Marshal. Virgil was agreeable and Sam swore in the new Marshal, Virgil Earp. Sam pinned the badge on his vest and handed him his signed commission papers. They returned to the main bar, seeing the badge, there were hurrahs all over the place. Sam shook hands with the Earps and said, “Nice to meet you boys.”
He hurried back to the hotel. John Clum was waiting in the lobby.
“Got it done Sam?” he asked.
“Yep! The new Deputy is Virgil Earp.”
John told him it was as good a choice as he could make. Sam told John how much he and Louise appreciated his friendship and help. “When you come to Tucson be sure to look us up. You would be more than welcome. We’re take-n the stage to Bisbee this morn-n, I just have to see the town for myself.”
Louise was in the lobby with their bags. She had sent a boy to fetch John to tell him they were leaving. John said he would see them both soon. “I have enjoyed meet-n you both, I love good looking women.” He smiled at Louise as he spoke.
The stage clattered to a halt outside the hotel. Sam and Louise bid John goodbye and seated themselves inside. The stage pulled out for Bisbee, with two other passengers, on their way from Tombstone to Bisbee in the Arizona Territory.
Chapter 16
Louise-Rosa-Sam
As the stage rumbled down the hill toward the San Pedro River, Sam pulled Louise close and whispered in her ear, “I’m glad to leave that town, never have I felt like an explosion was about to happen as I did in that town. Mark my word there’s gonna be lots of trouble in a short time.”
Louise replied, “I didn’t feel it at all, I liked all those people.”
“Couldn’t you feel the tension in the air at supper last night, when the Sheriff came in?”
“No Sam, I think you are just looking for trouble. Let’s drop the whole thing, I thought you had something to ask me?”
“I will ask when we’re alone.”
Sam nodded to the other people. “Okay we’ll talk some other time.”
The older man passenger spoke at this time. “My name is Ezek Bronski, from St Louis, I sell hardware.” He was distinguished looking, a short gent with a long grey beard wearing a black derby.
Sam told him, “I know the town well, I spent a few years there.”
The lady spoke up and said, “I’m on my way to marry an old beau, I haven’t seen him in ten years, he lives in Bisbee.”
Louise said, “That’s wonderful, you have got to tell us about it. It’s a great story don’t you think so Sam?”
“You bet I just can’t wait.” Sam winked at the man.
Louise said, “Tell us please.”
“Well,” said the lady, “My name is Lois Applegate, I’m from Pennsylvania. My man is Douglas Walker. He’s a mining engineer. He came west to find his fortune. He wrote and said he has and sent for me. It’s been ten years since I’ve seen him. In just a few hours we will be together again.”
Louise said, “How great it will be for you to see him again.”
Louise then motioned for the man to move so she could sit next to Lois. He moved to the seat by Sam. He pulled a pint from his pocket and offered a sip to Sam, Sam shook his head no. The man took a swig and lay back and went to sleep. Sam did the same.
In a few hours the stage stopped at the Hereford way station to change horses and let the passengers stretch and get a quick meal. The people there had a lunch of frijoles, dried meat, a flour tortilla and coffee for the passengers.
Back on the road everyone tried to sleep. After the meal and the rocking of the coach, it was hard not to. When Sam woke Louise had her head on his chest. He asked if she was awake. She shook her head yes and said, “Un huh.”
Sam said in a low voice, “How about you and me get-n hitched in Bisbee?”
She sat up, looked Sam in the eye and with eyes tearing up, “I never thought you were gonna ask. I was about to ask the same thing. Sam, you know I’m not real well. If you really want me, I’m ready.”
Sam told her he didn’t see any thing wrong with her. “Louise, I love you and I’ll take you just as you are, okay?”
Louise asked, “When are we going to do it?”
“As soon as we get to Bisbee.”
“Fine with me.”
Louise pulled Sam to her and kissed him over and over, tears ran freely down her cheeks.
Sam said, “Give me some air lady, save some for later.”