“Where is that no
good, two-timing lower than a snake’s belly of a man?!” the whirling
dervish better known as Polly demanded as she blew into the sheriffs
office startling Jimmy who was sitting with his feet up on the desk
sleeping and causing Buck to drop the book that was perched on his lap
as he napped in the empty cell.
“I, ah…guess you must be lookin’ for Teaspoon?” Jimmy ventured, glad he wasn’t in the old man’s shoes by the look on Polly’s face and the gleam in her eye as she rounded on him.
“Who else do you suppose I’d be in here looking for other than that low down dog?” she responded, making Jimmy sink lower into his seat.
Buck who was glad to be in the cell and out of the woman’s line of sight, gulped as he asked, “What’s Teaspoon gone and done to make you so mad Polly?”
Narrowing her eyes she looked from him to Jimmy and back again before stating, “And I suppose you two know nothing about the Widow Gentry?” Polly stood tapping her toe with her arms crossed in front of her chest, clearly agitated.
“Well?” she demanded. Jimmy and Buck looked at each other, not knowing what Polly was talking about.
“What about the Widow Gentry and what’s it got to do with Teaspoon?” Jimmy asked clearly confused.
“You mean to tell me, you two have no idea what he’s been up too?” she looked at both men, surprised to see a blank look reflected on both men’s faces.
Stomping back and forth across the small room’s floor, hands flying about, Polly enlightened them as to their boss’s goings on.
“I have it on good authority, that ol’ Sugarlips has been seen keeping company with the Widow Gentry. In fact, just last night he was seen entering her home in the early evening and didn’t leave until after dark!”
Buck gave Jimmy an ‘uh-oh, someone’s in trouble’ look as Polly mumbled something about ‘looking for the snake’ later.
Buck sat shaking his head as Polly was seen going past the window of the jail heading towards her saloon.
“You think we should warn Teaspoon?” Buck asked his friend as he walked to the door and stood watching as Polly disappeared inside the Lucky Slipper Saloon.
“Naw, he’ll find out that she’s mad soon enough without us telling him,” Jimmy said with a devilish grin. “Besides, I’d like to see how he gets out of this mess!”
Buck grinned also, thinking how fun it would be to see their old stationmaster be the one squirming for once.
“I think I’ll just wander over to the Lucky Slipper and see that everything is nice and quiet like it should be,” Teaspoon told his deputies as they were leaving for the evening, having worked the afternoon shift.
“Ya know, I think that sounds like a might fine idea you have there Teaspoon. How about you Buck?” Jimmy asked, a sparkle of expectation in his eye, “You up for a drink or two with me?”
Grabbing his hat from the peg near the door, Buck replied, “Sounds good to me, Jimmy.”
The two men nudged each other in the side as the followed behind the unsuspecting Teaspoon, looking forward to the fireworks they were about to see.
Upon entering the Lucky Slipper, Jimmy and Buck took up watch at the end of the bar nearest the entrance. It afforded them a front row view of the show that was about to begin and kept them far enough away out of the line of fire.
“What can I get you two?” Kelly James asked the men as they leaned forward to see Teaspoon walk up to Polly, who was drying glasses behind the bar.
“Just give us two sarsaparillas,” Jimmy automatically said, not minding as the bartender shook his head in amazement.
“You know, now that the Pony Express has shut down, you can order a whiskey if you want too,” Kelly suggested.
“No, thanks,” the men replied at the same time, grins spreading across their face as Teaspoon began to talk to Polly.
“Well, hello there darlin’,” he winked; hooking his thumbs in his faded red suspenders, stretching them as he did when pleased with himself.
Polly’s eyes narrowed a fraction as she set down the glass she was holding with a loud thump on the bar top.
Teaspoon’s eyebrows shot up, sensing something wasn’t quite right. “Anything wrong, Polly?” “Wrong?” she ground out, trying to keep her cool. “What could be wrong?”
Scratching his head, Teaspoon offered, “That’s what I was wonderin’ seein’ hows you seem a bit upset is ‘n all…”
“Upset?” she said loudly, causing heads to turn their way. Paying the customers no mind, she continued, much to Buck and Jimmy’s delight.
“Upset? Why, you low-down, two-timing snake! You haven’t even seen me get upset yet!”
As Polly came from behind the bar to stand in front of him, Teaspoon took a step back.
“What on earth are you talking about woman?” he practically yelled.
“You and the Widow Gentry, that’s what!” Polly scowled, swatting him on the arm with the bar towel in her hand.
“Let me explain…” the old man hesitated when she swatted him again with the towel.
“Oh, no you don’t! I don’t want to hear any of your silvery words, you snake! Go, on. Get out of here!” she snapped, pointing towards the door. “Leave, now!” she demanded when he opened his mouth to speak.
Shoulders drooped, Teaspoon turned towards the door. As he opened it, he turned and looked back at Polly but kept silent when she pointed her finger, motioning for him to leave again.
With a huff, Polly looked around the bar and called out, “Show’s over folks,” and pasted a tight smile upon her face.
Down at the end of the bar, Jimmy, Buck and Kelly were trying not to laugh out loud at Teaspoon’s expression as Polly showed him the door.
“All right, boys. That’s enough for tonight,” Polly said, anger still tingeing her voice as she brought over a bottle of whiskey and a shot glass.
Kelly wandered away to pour a drink for another customer as Polly poured herself a shot.
“The nerve of that man!” she said, throwing back the liquid.
“You want us to tell him anything for you?” Buck asked, hoping that she didn’t have a message for the poor man.
Shaking her brunette locks, Polly put the bottle under the bar top. “No, you boys don’t need to get in the middle of our problems. I’ll take care of everything,” she said cryptically, making them wonder what she was planning for Teaspoon now.
The next morning a sullen Teaspoon entered the office, baggy-eyed and rumpled.
“Tough night?” Jimmy enquired, snickering.
“Be quiet, Hickok!” his boss spat, sinking down into his chair.
Try as he might, Jimmy couldn’t keep himself from laughing at the man’s sorry countenance.
Teaspoon threw an empty cup from the desk at the young man, who moved out of the way and made for the door as Teaspoon hollered, “Oh, why don’t you just get out of here. Leave me alone, would ya?”
Jimmy smirked as he rounded the door, bumping into the Widow Gentry on his way out.
“Pardon me ma ‘am,” he murmured, tipping the brim of his hat and moving out of her way.
“Oh, that’s all right, dear,” the widow told him, patting him on the arm. “Is the marshal in?” she inquired.
“Yes, ma ‘am, he is. I’m sure he’d love a visit from you right about now,” Jimmy told her causing her to twitter.
He turned towards the Lucky Slipper just in time to see Polly stomp back inside in a hurry.
“I do believe that things are about to heat up,” he said out loud, wondering where Buck might be to give him an update on Teaspoon’s woman troubles.
“Looks like I’m just going to have to fight fire with fire,” Polly muttered, checking her appearance in the mirror one more time. Adjusting her bosom in the low cut neckline, she declared herself ready and headed out the door.
Teaspoon had just locked a drunk in the cell and was placing the ring of keys on a peg on the wall near the desk when the front door to the jail opened, hitting the wall with a loud bang.
Nearly jumping out of his skin, he turned to see who the intruder was. Seeing Polly dressed to the nines made his breath catch and he put a hand to his chest and tapped his fingers.
Keeping his distance, Teaspoon eyed her with some misgivings, stemming from their last encounter.
“My, my, my. Don’t you look like a cool drink of water on a hot day…” was all he could think to say, not sure if Polly had come to attack him with her purse since she wasn’t carrying a bar towel.
With a smile playing across her red lips, Polly sashayed across the room until she stood in front of him. “Hello, Sugarlips,” she practically purred, causing Teaspoon to fall back into his chair at the desk.
Trailing a finger across his shoulders as she walked around the back of the chair, Polly pouted, “I’ve been missing you Sugarlips. I thought I’d come by and see if I could interest you in coming back to my place for a little something sweet?”
Teaspoon cleared his throat. “I, ah…hmmm…just give me a minute to find Buck and I’ll be right with you,” he croaked, springing from the chair and going through the back door of the jailhouse faster than Polly had ever seen him move.
Laughing, she twirled her purse around her wrist and sat down in the vacated chair to wait.
Within minutes, she could hear voices raised outside the back door, arguing.
“But Teaspoon, it’s my day off. I got plans and they don’t include working your shift!” Buck said adamantly. “Go ask Jimmy.”
“I would if he was in town, Buck, but he rode over to Seneca last night and won’t be back ‘til tomorrow.”
Standing with arms across his chest, Buck was taking pleasure in seeing Teaspoon beg him to let him go off with Polly, but he hid it well. So well, in fact that Teaspoon was becoming desperate and offered the first thing he could think of.
“If you do this for me, you can have the next four weekends off and every Wednesday too!”
Cocking an eyebrow, Buck appeared to be thinking over Teaspoon’s offer. “Every Wednesday too, huh?” he hemmed and hawed until Teaspoon looked like he was about to pop a blood vessel and put the man out of his misery.
“Oh, all right. You talked me into it. Just remember, every Saturday and Sunday off for a month AND every Wednesday.”
Polly was laughing to herself, imagining Buck shaking hands with Teaspoon to seal the deal. ‘Good thinking, Buck. Keep him dangling until he ups the offer,’ Polly thought, standing and straightening her skirt.
Teaspoon came through the door first, rubbing his hands together like a kid in a candy store about to get a treat. Buck followed behind, grinning at Polly over his shoulder.
“Buck,” she acknowledged as Teaspoon swept her along with him towards the door.
“Good day to you too, Polly. Have a nice afternoon you two,” he teased, as Polly winked at him going out the door.
“Anything happen while I was gone?” Jimmy asked breezing through the back door of the jail the next morning.
“Nothing much,” Buck said offhandedly, adding nonchalantly, “Polly stopped by.”
“What?” Jimmy said hand stopping mid-air as he was pouring a cup of coffee.
“What happened?” he quizzed, all his attention focused on what Buck had to say.
“I got to tell ya Jimmy, I had Teaspoon jumping through hoops! You should have seen the way Polly was dressed. I swear I was blushing just looking at her.”
“No, way!” Jimmy said in disbelief drooping into an empty chair. “Go on,” he urged, wanting to hear all the details.
Relishing in telling his tale, Buck took his time, setting Jimmy on tenterhooks. “Appears Polly invited him over to her place, at least that’s where they headed. He was like a kid on Christmas morning, I tell ya Jimmy, all excited and having a hard time waiting to open his present,” he laughed remembering the look on Teaspoon’s face when the marshal said that Polly was waiting inside.
“Ok, I get the picture Buck. But what happened?” Jimmy said in exasperation.
Sitting back in his chair, Buck answered honestly, “After promising my every weekend and Wednesday for the next month, I have no idea…”
“What?!” Jimmy yelled, standing up so fast, knocking over the chair he had been sitting in.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“Just that. I haven’t seen Teaspoon since yesterday when they left.”
And with a knowing look, he suggested, “You might try over at Polly’s if you’re so interested.”
Giving Buck a sour look, Jimmy said dryly, “Yeah, right!”
A bundle of wanted posters arrived by messenger a short time later and the two men were thumbing through them when there was a knock on the door.
Turning to see who it could be, both men just looked at each other when the Widow Gentry stepped into the room.
“I’m sorry to disturb you gentlemen. I was wondering if I might have a moment to speak to Mr. Hunter if possible?” she asked, a bit shyly.
“He’s not here at the moment, Mrs. Gentry. We’re not sure when he will be in this morning. Would you like to leave him a message and we’ll see that he gets it as soon as he arrives?” Buck asked leading her towards the desk, in case she would like to leave Teaspoon a note.
“No, no. That’s all right. Please tell Mr. Hunter that I need to talk to him about, well he’ll know about what. I won’t be home for a few days, so I’ll just have to speak to him after church on Sunday.”
Walking her to the door, Buck promised to pass along the message.
The two men watched as the Widow Gentry walked down the boardwalk and went into the mercantile.
“What do you think that was all about?” Jimmy uttered, wondering what it was with Teaspoon and women.
“Haven’t a clue, but I bet Polly won’t like it none.”
Both men just shook their heads, glad that they weren’t the one who Polly would be coming after if she found out.
Sunday morning dawned overcast and dreary. The citizens of Rock Creek hurried through the streets to the little church down the street from the jail as the rain began to fall.
It wasn’t often that Teaspoon allowed Polly to drag him to church, but this Sunday he didn’t put up a fight, having some important business with the Widow Gentry to take care of.
The hour and a half service finally ended, much to Teaspoon’s relief just as the downpour that had started shortly after the service began also passed over.
The streets were left muddy and dotted with puddles, causing churchgoers to linger outside the little white structure conversing.
Jimmy watched from his perch outside the dry goods store, spotting the Widow Gentry making a beeline for Teaspoon while Polly was occupied with the reverend.
Nudging Buck, who reluctantly agreed to have breakfast with him on his day off and watch to see what happened between the trio, turned from where he was busy eyeing the new school teacher as she walked by, smiling at him and batting her eyelashes.
“This had better be good, Hickok. I think Miss Manning may just be interested!”
“Ha! You wish. Look,” he said to his friend, pointing to where the widow and Teaspoon were standing talking.
Polly’s attention was drawn to the Widow Gentry, hurrying past the other parishioners, not talking to anyone, heading straight for her Sugarlips.
When the Widow laid a hand on Teaspoon’s arm, in what looked like an intimate caress, Polly excused herself from talking to the reverend and made a dash for the couple.
“Sure looks like Polly’s mad,” Buck offered, standing straighter to get a better view.
“Come on. Let’s get closer. Maybe we can hear what’s being said,” Jimmy suggested, pulling Buck by the arm towards the church.
“Why you home wrecker! How dare you!” Polly sputtered, yanking the widow’s hand off Teaspoon’s arm.
“Polly? What’s going on?” Teaspoon asked, surprised at the way she was treating the Widow Gentry.
Pointing a finger in his face, she ordered, “You stay out of this. This is between me and the Widow Gentry!”
Turning back towards the stunned widow, Polly ranted, “Why if I wasn’t a lady, I’d…” she left the sentence unfinished, she was so furious.
Taking offense at the way she was being treated, for no known reason, the Widow Gentry’s back stiffened and her eyes narrowed, “You’d what?”
“Polly, I can explain…” Teaspoon started to say and was cut off by a dirty look from her as Jimmy and Buck came to stand next to him.
“What’s going on Teaspoon?” Jimmy asked.
“I haven’t a clue, Hickok.”
The two women had tuned out all others, intent on having it out then and there.
“I said, you’d what?” the Widow Gentry repeated, fist clenching.
As Polly lunged at the woman, she lost her balance in the mud, sending the women sprawling.
Struggling to rise from the muck, the Widow Gentry wasn’t fast enough to move out of the way when Polly reached out for her, pushing her back into the watery mess.
Spitting mud out of her mouth, the Widow launched her own attack on the woman, causing Polly to land face first in the mud.
Concerned for both of the women’s safety, Buck asked, “Shouldn’t we stop them or something Teaspoon?”
Standing with arms across his chest, Teaspoon shook his head.
“Why not?” Buck asked as Polly threw Widow Gentry back into the puddle, slipping in the mud again herself.
“It ain’t every day you see two woman fighting in the mud, now is it?” was all the old man would say, enjoying watching the wrestling match.
Cocking his head, Jimmy looked at the man in wonder. “What is it about you Teaspoon, that’d make grown women fight over you like that?”
Hooking his thumbs in his suspenders, Teaspoon grinned, “Well, I was married to six women Jimmy,” he said as if that explained everything.
Gasps and “oh, my!” could be heard from the crowd that had gathered to watch the two women.
The sheriff and his deputies didn’t try to break up the brawl until the reverend approached, begging that they “stop the horrible display.”
Sighing, Teaspoon pointed to the women, and said, “Jimmy, Buck, each of you grab one of them and let’s get this over with.”
Noticing that Teaspoon wasn’t going to help separate the two filthy women, Jimmy and Buck grudgingly went to do as he bid.
Both deputies were covered with mud by the time they got the women to stop hitting each other. The men had both been knocked down at least twice trying to dodge a flying fist and now, each held a squirming woman, who added to the filth.
Clearing his throat, Teaspoon took over the handling of the situation. “Now, would one of you two please explain what just happened here?”
“You seen her, she attacked me!” the Widow Gentry shrieked, pointing a finger at Polly.
“And I’d do it again, you home wrecker!” Polly shouted back.
Raising his hands for silence, Teaspoon closed his eyes, wondering why he was always saddled with such headstrong women in his life.
“Why do you think the Widow Gentry is a home wrecker, Polly?” he asked, disregarding the glaring look he received from her at the question.
“You know why,” she spat, trying to shake free of the hold Buck had on her.
“No, I don’t. That’s why I asked you the question. Would you please answer it?” Teaspoon asked her.
“As if you didn’t know. Why with all the time the two of you have been spending together…like I would never have found out!”
The Widow Gentry’s eyes opened wide at Polly’s innuendo. She started to laugh which only made Polly angrier.
Teaspoon clapped his hands, not sure if he understood Polly right. ‘Why, she’s jealous,’ he thought.
“You mean to tell me, that you thought that the Widow Gentry and I were running around behind your back?”
“Do you deny it?” Polly asked, starting to feel a bit foolish standing in front of half the town, covered in mud.
“I sure do!” exclaimed the Widow Gentry. “Mr. Hunter may be a fine gentleman, but I can assure you that there was nothing romantic in our arrangement.”
Polly’s back straightened at the mention of arrangement.
“What arrangement?” chimed Polly, Buck and Jimmy at the same time.
“Yes, what arrangement?” the reverend inquired, curious to get to the bottom of such unlady like behavior from two of his female parishioners.
Looking disappointed, Teaspoon threw the Widow Gentry a sad look and turned to explain. “Now that her husband has passed on, the Widow Gentry has decided to move back to Chicago where her daughter lives with her family. She had heard I might be in the market for a house and invited me to dinner to discuss the matter.”
Seeing that more of an explanation was needed, he continued, “I wanted the house to be a surprise, for you, Polly.”
“For me?” she squeaked, not sure why he’d buy her a house.
“I was going to give it to you as a wedding present when we got married.”
A stunned audience listened in quiet as Polly said, “But you never asked me to marry you Sugarlips…”
“I had planned on doing it once I had a house to take you home too!” Teaspoon told her as Buck let go of the arm he had been holding so that she could go to him.
Throwing her arms around Teaspoon’s neck, she looked him in the eye and murmured, “Oh, Sugarlips!” and then proceeded to kiss him soundly.
“I would guess that means ‘Yes,’” the reverend stated turning to motion the crowd away from the small group.
Stepping out of Teaspoon’s embrace, Polly turned to the Widow Gentry sheepishly and apologized.
“I’m so sorry about the misunderstanding. It’s all my fault. I should have known that ol’ Sugarlips here is all mine!”