Renegades Rebels and Rogues

Lou smiled as she looked around the dancehall. Everyone was there and no one seemed to suspect that the marshal's niece was the smallest of the Express riders. She had shared dances with Kid and Teaspoon and was currently standing next to Rachel while her friend introduced her to some of the ladies and their daughters. Two had been very friendly, Priscilla and Josephine.

Prissy and Jo, as the girls had introduced themselves after their mothers had moved on with Rachel to see the reverend's new baby, invited her to join them and their friends by the refreshments. As the three new friends joined the other girls, Lou heard one of them say, "I'm telling you nothing more than what my parents have said that the Express hires nothing but renegades, rebels and rogues. And that none of those boys could get a decent job if they tried. Why my pa says that they purposely look for fellas that no one will care about if something happens to them."

"Come on, Lucinda, there has to be something good about them since the marshal trusts them enough to hire them when he needs help," another girl argued.

"You go right ahead and think what you will, Clementine Adams, but I wouldn't be caught dead dancing with any of them," the one called Lucinda replied.

Lou looked the girl over while her two new friends blushed at the way the other girl was acting. Lucinda was pretty, Lou decided begrudgingly, but it was all on the outside. Lucinda had on the latest fashion and her hair was styled just so. Lou was a bit envious but only because the girl's stylish dress made her calico look so plain.

Jo leaned over and whispered to Lou, "Pay her no mind. I'm sure they are good men. Lucinda is just uppity since her father owns the new hotel. She thinks she's better than the rest of us."

Lou decided right then and there to put the girl in her place. "I know what you mean about them being a bit rough," she said, "but they can be very gentlemanly when they want."

Lucinda gaped at being interrupted by the newcomer and she was about to put the girl in her place when Prissy introduced Lou. "I'd like ya'll to meet the marshal's niece, Louise. She's visiting for a few days."

Lucinda turned red, from anger or embarrassment Lou wasn't sure. The girl Lucinda had called Clementine asked, "Can they really be gentlemen? Lucy's parents have told the marshal they don't even want their kind in the hotel."

Lou saw red and was ready to attack the smug girl. Then reason took over and she remembered that girls didn't fight with their fists, they liked to use words. It took a moment for her to plot the best revenge. She hoped the boys would forgive her. "Well, Jimmy there was kind enough to escort me to dinner a few months back when he accompanied Uncle Aloysius on a visit. Why he took me to dinner and for a dance and not once did he try anything….well you know. Though there was that time….." Lou paused like she'd seen Teaspoon do when he was making a point to make sure her audience was listening. "Oh, I'm too embarrassed to admit it, but…."she looked Prissy in the eye, "I let him kiss me good-bye when they left."

Prissy couldn't help herself as she asked shyly, "Is he a good kisser?"

"Well….um…all I can say," Lou replied as she thought about the kiss she and Jimmy had shared when they took Elias Mills to hang, "kisses like that sure could cause a girl to forget herself."

Clementine stepped up to Lou's side and asked quietly, "What about Mr. Cody? He sure is poplar with many of the ladies."

"Why, Cody is every inch the gentleman. He is so sweet when he wants to be, and so funny sometimes. You do know that he made friends with a bear once." Lou waited for the disbelief and giggles to stops. "He has such a soft spot for God's creatures, you just wouldn't believe. He can write, too. Such pretty words you wouldn't believe, and even had a dime novel published not long ago. I'm sure Mr. Tompkins has a few copies left if you're interested."

By now all the young ladies were listening very attentively to Lou's opinions of the men they all found very handsome. Lou was relishing every minute of their attention. She found it funny that it was so easy to sway the ladies into giving her fellow riders a chance.

Jo caught her attention with her question next. "What about the Indian, Buck, is he as wild as some folks say?"

Lou had to fight back the urge to snap at the pretty young woman. "No, not at all," she replied as she thought of a way to get the girl to give Buck a chance. "He's so sweet and prays every day. He's a loyal friend, too. He taught Ike….the young man that was killed not long ago….Indian sign so he could talk to people. Buck grieved Ike something awful, said it was like losing a brother. There was that time too that he saved Jimmy and then not long after he came to my rescue, too. He wouldn't even take any thanks for it; he said he did it because he was my friend. He's such a gentleman."

Lou could tell she had not only Jo's attention now but the others as well. "And he's an excellent rider. The way he rides is enough to make a girl swoon; he looks so fine with his hair blowing out behind him." Lou smiled with satisfaction when she saw Jo smile shyly at Buck.

Lucinda listened raptly to the way Lou described each of the riders but wanted to know more about the one they called Kid. Finally she couldn't resist any longer. "What about the rebel?" she asked with a slight sneer to hide her interest. But it didn't fool Lou for a moment.

Looking the other girl in the eye she replied, "Kid is very special. A true gentleman and always looking to do what is right. He's kind and very….," Lou couldn't believe she was about to say this, "protective of those he loves." Turning from Lucinda, Lou caught Kid's eye from across the room and returned the smile he gave her. As he started toward her she added over her shoulder, "And he's mine, ladies. Excuse me."

With that she left several young ladies very eager to dance with the handsome Pony Express riders….and one very disappointed hotel owner's daughter.

Good Run of Bad Luck

"Somethin' else?" the bartender asked as Lou walked away.

Jimmy replied with the first thing that came to mind. "Whiskey."

The bartender poured him a glass and walked away. Flipping a coin onto the bar, Jimmy took a sip as he turned back to watch Lou flirt with the cowboy that had called her over. But his hand rested on his gun as he saw the man try to pull Lou closer. She wagged her finger at him as she pulled her hand away, then he saw her smile that devastating smile of hers. As he turned back to the bar, he heard a giggle come from her direction. "Damn," he said to no one in particular.

"Sir?" the bartender asked.

Jimmy shook his head and waved the man away. He watched Lou in the mirror behind the bar. When had she gotten so beautiful? She'd been pretty when Emma arranged the tea party but she was downright beautiful not just pretty. How had he missed it, he wondered. He shook his head, none of the reasons, including that she fancied Kid over any of the rest of them, made sense that he could miss how beautiful she'd become. And not just on the outside. Lou had a strength about her and such a big heart, it just made her more special.

Seeing a poker game in the corner, he wandered over and sat down facing where Lou was working. He figured a few hands of poker would keep his mind off of Lou, but it didn't work. Every so often she'd wander up and run her hand along his shoulder and peek at his cards, then sashay off to wait on another customer.

He lost track of his cards and the game as he watched her walk away and lost another hand.

As another cowboy tried to pull her into his lap, she giggled and pushed the man's hands away. She said something that had the dirty cowboy laughing and toasting her the next minute. She smiled sweetly at the man and headed over to another table with a drink. He'd been right, she had missed her calling. But he wondered, as he lost yet another hand, would she be the Lou he knew if she'd worked in a place like this.

He knew the answer as he watched her walk toward him with a bottle in her hand and glasses for the men at the table. And he knew what he wanted and what he was going to do.

When she reached the table Lou sat the glasses down and poured them all a drink saying, "The owner said the bottle is on the house." She sat the bottle on the table and walked around to Jimmy's side. Looking over his shoulder she asked, "How ya doin', cowboy?"

Jimmy knew he was going to regretting what he was about to do but didn't…couldn't… stop himself. "Not to good, darlin'," he said trying to imitate Teaspoon. "Why don't you sit here with me and bring me some luck?" With that his arm snaked around her waist and he pulled her close, as he showed her his cards.

He was surprised when Lou didn't struggle or push him away as she had other men all night. She never let any of them get closer than arms' length but here she was practically sitting on his lap. She leaned against him as she pointed to two cards. Silently taking her advice he threw the two cards on the table and waited as the dealer dealt him two more. Picking up the cards he smiled seeing they were what he need for a straight. He smiled up at Lou, as he placed his bet.

"See I told you you'd bring me luck, sugar," Jimmy said with a slight grin. Impulsively, he gently brushed her cheek with his lips causing a blush to color Lou's cheeks a brighter red than the rouge she had on.

Maverick

"You know that last dress would be perfect for the dance," Lou said as she and Rachel walked down the street. She had just a few days off and Rachel had talked her into pretending to be Teaspoon's niece who was visiting town for a few days. Which was fine with her until Kid had talked her into going to the dance in town as Louise, instead of Lou. Now she and Rachel had just a day to find her a dress for the dance. The pink one was fine but Lou wanted something more grown up.

"It did look nice on you. Blue definitely suits you, though, I wish you had tried on the green one," Rachel replied with a smile.

Lou blushed. She didn't want Rachel to know that she didn't want Jimmy remembering the last time she wore a green dress. She could just see him and Kid getting into a fight over the marshal's niece and getting thrown out of the dance. "I know but it was cut a bit too low," Lou replied sounding less then convincing to Rachel.

"Nothing we couldn't have fi…" Rachel trailed off as she peeked in the door of the hotel and caught sight of the gentleman standing at the desk. "What in blazes is he doing here?" she asked out loud. Then before Lou could reply Rachel headed back toward the station, in almost a run.

"Rachel are you ok? Lou asked as she followed Rachel back down the boardwalk. Looking back over her shoulder she saw a handsome man standing at the desk in the hotel.

"I'm fine," Rachel replied but she knew Lou wasn't going to buy that her lie.

"Rachel, who is he?" Lou asked as she pulled her friend to a stop in front of the dress shop they had just left.

"No one," Rachel tried to convince Lou. She could tell by the look on Lou's face that she wasn't accepting that answer either. Seeing the man walk out of the hotel, she pulled Lou into the dress shop. "You know, now that I think about it you're right that blue dress is very nice. Let's get it and head back to the station."

"Fine," Lou agreed exasperated with Rachel for not telling her the truth. Pulling out of Rachel grasp Lou stomped into over to the counter to wait on the owner to finish with another customer.

"Louise…." Rachel pleaded trying to get Lou to calm down. She could tell Lou was angry and couldn't blame her. Rachel knew she owed Lou an explanation, and walked over to her friend to explain.

Catching up with Lou in the back of the shop where she was looking at shoes and gloves to go with the dress she'd chose, Rachel said, "I knew him from when I was on the river…gambling. It was on a riverboat after Roger ran out on me that first time. I was lonely and had been on that boat for more than a week, trying to reach St Louis. But the river was high and the going real slow." Rachel's eyes took on a dreamy look as she remembered. "I'd been up most of the night at the tables and had done fairly well but I wanted to see Vicksburg in the daylight, I'd heard so much about the city. I woke up early, dressed and was getting ready to go a shore for a moment when I spotted him coming up the gang plank.

"Lou, he was such a handsome sight. Fine black suit and a crisp white shirt, his tie tied just so. I couldn't take my eyes off him as I looked down from the railing. He must have sensed me watching him because the next thing I know he'd taken off his hat and was smiling up at me. I wasn't sure if it was me at first and looked around for the person he was smiling at and when I realized it was me, my heart just about pounded out of my chest.

"I didn't catch sight of him the rest of the day. That evening during dinner the captain introduced us. His name is Bret Maverick. He's a gentleman gambler," Rachel said with a smile. "Oh, Lou, I don't want him to see me like this," Rachel said picking at her skirt.

Lou wasn't sure what to think. She had thought that Rachel was the most confident person she knew, next to Cody that is. "I'm sure he'd just be happy to see you," Lou offered. Seeing that that didn't calm Rachel, Lou came up with a plan. "We could buy you a dress, too."

"I don't…"

"Consider it a present from a friend," Lou said as she pulled Rachel toward the dressing room. "I got just the right dress in mind."

"Not that green one!" Rachel exclaimed.

Lou giggled, "No, I'm considering getting that one, too. How about this one?" she said holding up a pretty mauve and cream striped dress in the latest fashion.

Rachel nodded but her curiosity was up over the green dress. "I told you my secret now you have to tell me yours," Rachel told her friend.

Shaking her head, Lou replied, "Later after we meet your friend."

"Louise..."

Don't Mess Around With Me

Sam watched the grizzled man ride down the street. He didn’t look like much but he could tell from the way his gun was tied down to his leg the man knew how to use it.

He didn’t figure the man was much older than he was but Sam could tell from the way he sat his horse that the man had seen more of life than he had. Sam watched him ride past without even looking in his direction. He’d seen men like this before and knew that it could mean trouble for his town.

He began following the man down the street, and smirked when he pulled the rather fine looking horse he road to a stop in front of the saloon. After sliding out of the saddle like he was weary to the bone, the man tied his horse to the hitching post. As he stretched the stranger looked around the town, and when he spotted Sam watching him, touched his hat and stood up a bit straighter. After a moment he turned and headed for the door of the saloon.

Sam had looked the man over from the moment he climbed off of his horse. An old Mexican poncho, that looked as if it had seen better days covered the upper half of the man’s body and the low slung gun tied to his leg said that he had—and probably still did—let his gun do his talking. He wore an old bowler hat with leather sewn around the outer edge of the brim that looked as if it had seen any and all kinds of weather. Sam sighed and headed across the street to the saloon to see what the man was up to.

Entering the saloon Sam spotted the man standing at the bar. He was leaning against it with a shot glass in one hand and a bottle of whiskey on the bar in front of him. The man took a drink and poured another. Sam signaled the bartender—Harry was his name—to bring him his usual, a beer. After he sat the beer in front of Sam, Harry went back to the stranger asking, “You need anything else, mister?”

The stranger held his drink in front of his mouth and looked the bartender over as if gauging whether or not he wanted to reply to Harry’s question. After a moment he sat his glass down on the bar and asked Harry, “You know where I might find the Shannon Place?”

Harry paled a bit as Sam stood up straight and cleared his throat. “What do you want out at the Shannon place?” Sam’s tone was sharper than he intended but it got his point across.

The stranger slowly turned toward Sam a slight smile on his face. “Wellllll….if it’s any of your business…” the stranger said his voice even with only a hint of animosity to it as he took in the badge on Sam’s chest. “…Marshal, I’m the new station master for the Pony Express.”

“That new outfit that Russell, Majors, and Waddell are startin’ up,” Sam replied looking the man over again trying to judge if he could trust the man alone with Emma Shannon at her place.

“That be the one,” the man said grinning.

“Hunter!” another man called from a table by the window. “How can you show your face in decent society after ridin’ with that bunch that called themselves lawmen?”

Sam watched the man turn and look across the room at the man sitting at the table. The stranger didn’t show a bit of emotion or real interest in the drunk as he said, “Same as you I suppose. If you can call a saloon decent society.”

“You know what I mean,” the drunk slurred. Sam started to interfere then changed his mind deciding to see how the stranger would handle the drunk.

The stranger picked up the bottle and his glass and headed toward the table where the drunk was sitting. As he drew closer the stranger seemed to recognize the man at the table. “Well, Augustus, seems we both rode with that bunch for quite a while. Seems neither one of us is fit right now for decent society.” The stranger poured the drunk a drink and said, “Here’s to the captain and Houston, two of the finest men to ride for the Rangers.”

Sam watched the drunk raise his glass with the stranger. He’d seen the drunk around town for the last few months. He’d been doing odd jobs around town and spending his free time in the saloon. He then heard the stranger say, “Gus, why don’t you head on back to Texas and start that ranch you were talkin’ about with Woodrow?”

Gus threw back his drink saying, “Guess, I could do that. I just…I just thought…hic…I’d have caught up with Clara and Charlie by now. She and Charlie got married and moved up this way, but I haven’t been able to find her.”

“Woodrow make an honest woman of Maggie yet and give that boy of theirs his name.”

“Nope,” the drunk said throwing back a drink.

“Don’t you think you should get on back to Texas and help him see the error of his ways,” the stranger said.

“Yep,” the drunk said sitting down his drink and standing—albeit a bit wobbly. As he headed toward the door the drunk turned saying, “Marshal, Miss Emma will be safe with Teaspoon here. A better man you won’t find, he’s a good friend and a great Ranger.”

Sam nodded at the man. He’d only thrown the man in jail once when he was drunk, and he’d earned his way. Now trusting the other one with Emma’s safety was something else. He walked over and sat down beside the stranger. “Sam Cain,” he said holding out his hand.

“Teaspoon Hunter,” the stranger replied taking his hand. After a moment he said, “Somethin’ I can do for you Marshal Cain?”

“Before I tell you where the Shannon place is, I want to know just who’s askin’ in a saloon where she lives,” Sam replied in a serious manner.

Teaspoon stretch out in his chair and propped his feet up on the chair on the other side of him. “Well, Marshal, I’m the station master for the Pony Express—told ya that. Russell, Majors, and Waddell trust me to set up and run a station, guess you could trust me to help out Miss Shannon.”

“They might but I don’t know you from Adam and I’m not willin’ to risk Em…Miss Shannon’s reputation on some Easterner’s decision to hire you.” Sam stayed tense and reaching for the bottle and the empty glass on the table poured himself a drink.

Teaspoon kept his face straight even though he wanted to smile at the marshal. “Marshal, I’ve been many things. I ain’t wanted—that I know of—in any state…or territory.” Teaspoon grinned and turned to face the marshal, “’Cept maybe by a few husbands.” Teaspoon assessed the man sitting next to him and said, “Guess you and Miss Shannon are on…um…friendly terms. Marshal, I ain’t the kind of man that would take advantage of a woman….well, unless she wanted me to. And seein’ hows she’s going to be cookin’…she is a good cook ain’t she?”

Sam grinned and nodded at Teaspoon’s anxious expression. “Very good.”

“Then guess I best stay on her good side since then. And to answer your question, I’ve been a Ranger for the last several years, and…well, I’m gettin’ a bit old to be chasin’ outlaws across the countryside. A nice, quiet job watchin’ over an Express station sounds right nice.” Teaspoon leaned back in his chair and sipped the whiskey in his glass.

“What about those riders the Express is hirin’, they going to give Emma any problems,” Sam asked. He knew Emma would skin him alive when she found out he was questioning the new station master about things. She was extremely independent and didn’t like it when he tried to help out unless she’d asked him to.

“Not while I’m around they won’t. And if Miss Shannon is anything like I believe she is they won’t have any choice but to respect her,” Teaspoon said his voice serious.

Sam smiled. “We can head out to her place when we finish this drink, Mr Hunter.”

“It’s Teaspoon, Marshal,” Teaspoon said smiling back.

“Then it’s Sam. Think you can handle that bunch of boys they’ve hired for you?”

“Ain’t a matter of handling ’em, Mars…Sam, as it is teaching ‘em who the boss is. Once I get that straight with ‘em there shouldn’t be any problems.”

Sam laughed; he’d seen a couple of the young men that the Express had hired in the saloon a couple of days earlier. If they were any indication of what the riders would be like, Teaspoon would have his hands full. “Well, Teaspoon,” Sam said as he pointed out the window to where two young men stood talking across the street, “those are two of your riders.”

Teaspoon looked across the street to where Sam pointed as he poured himself another drink. Picking it up he tossed the shot back then said, “Good Lord Almighty.”

To Sam the phrase had the sound of a prayer.

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