IN
THE FAMILY WAYIN
THE FAMILY WAY
The Silver Spur Saloon was bustling with activity. Buck and Cody could hear it was one of the more popular spots in town even before they walked in. They stopped just inside the door to have a look around. The bar was occupied with either half drunk customers or ladies waiting to serve the customers, in more ways than one, they figured.
Cody set his sights on a pretty blonde girl who gave him the once over, liked what she saw and smiled an enticing greeting. Cody smiled back, making the girl think she was going to get lucky when her shift of waiting tables was over.
Buck looked past the full poker tables and saw the smaller tables by the front window that Lou had mentioned for them to sit at. He tapped Cody's arm to get his attention but when he didn't respond by the third attempt, Buck finally noticed what had Cody's attention. He also noticed the tall woman standing next to Cody's desire. From Lou's description, he realized that had to be Charlotte.
"Cody, come on!" Buck didn't wait for a response, instead making his way to the tables up front.
Cody gave the girl one last look then followed Buck.
The blonde girl watched him walk toward her tables. "He's all mine, Charlotte, and I can't wait to get my hands on him," she said and pursed her lips in anticipation.
Charlotte watched her getting all excited and shook her head. Try doing it for seven years straight and see how much you look forward to it, she thought wryly. Charlotte turned back toward the blonde man and had to smile as she saw him join his friend at her station.
"Oh, it's just not fair! You always wind up with the young ones, Charlotte."
"Sally, just because he's sitting at my station doesn't mean he'll be visiting me next door later on. Besides he's not alone."
"Maybe you could put in a good word for me, you know, let him know I'll be in my room by the time he finishes eating. Just in case he gets lonely," Sally said, pleading with Charlotte with her eyes. She really wanted this one.
Charlotte smiled. "I'll see what I can do." She walked over to the two young men, knowing they weren't her type but she'd still put on the charm. "Evening, Gents, what are two fine looking young men like yourselves doing in a place like this? Food, drink or female companionship? If it's the third, you might want to try next door or you could always wait until someone finishes their shift here, since it is almost over." She looked at Cody then indicated Sally with her eyes.
Cody still couldn't take his eyes off the blonde. "Well, the third does sound real good, Ma'am, but right now, we'll just take the first two. How about two chilis and a couple sarsaparillas."
Buck was watching Charlotte. "Actually, a mutual friend of ours suggested we come check this place out," he told her.
"Now I know I've never seen you two before because I surely would have remembered so I really don't think we have any friends in common," Charlotte said then turned to head toward the bar with their order.
"Louise McCloud."
She stopped short, getting nervous. She paused to collect herself then slowly turned back to Buck. "I'm sorry, I don't know anyone by that name."
Buck wouldn't take his eyes off her. "Well, she knows you, Miss Rowan." He emphasized her name for effect. "We just spent the last hour talking to her at the livery. We need help getting her out of here and after what we've heard, I'd say you owe her."
Charlotte couldn't look at either of them, knowing they were right; she did owe Louise. She slightly nodded her head. "Let me get your food and drinks so no one gets suspicious. I'll be right back, I swear."
Cody nodded then they watched as she returned to the bar and talked to the bartender. She waited with their drinks until he gave her two bowls then she returned to their table.
Charlotte slowly set their food out, giving them time to talk. "How are you acquainted with Louise?"
"We ride for the Pony Express," Cody explained. "She's like family to us."
Charlotte looked away. "To me, too, only I let her down. I didn't take care of her the way you're supposed to look after and help a family member."
Buck could see she was hurting. "Miss Rowan, from what Lou told us, you saved her life the first time he attacked her."
"I did what I could. I only gave her that money because I thought Wicks owed her. He came to the conclusion himself that she stole it so it wouldn't have done any good to confess to it myself. I never thought she'd come back to St. Joe - I forgot about her brother and sister being nearby."
"You can make it up to her now," Buck told her. "We gotta get Lou out of here but we can't do it alone."
"I'll do whatever you need me to do," Charlotte assured him. "I just want Louise and that baby she's carrying to be safe." She started to feel better, thinking that maybe she could help Louise after all. "You need me to figure out a way to keep Wicks away from her, don't you?"
Cody nodded. "We have to get the others from Rock Creek to help out. Our best chance to get her is when she visits the livery like she did tonight. We'll take care of those two shadows of hers no problem but how do we stop Wicks from visiting her place like he does each night?"
Charlotte glanced around to make sure no one was nearby to hear them. "The only thing that'll keep Wicks in this saloon until all hours of the night is a good card game. One where there's lots of money on the table and it's real interesting, meaning, the winning goes back and forth but mainly winds up in his pocket."
"Are you sure that's all it'll take?" Cody asked. He thought it just sounded too easy.
"Trust me, I've seen it before. Also, make sure the drinks keep coming. Wicks won't refuse if someone else is buying."
"That shouldn't be a problem," Buck assured her. "If one of us comes here beforehand, is there anyway you can let Lou know to be ready? In her condition, I don't think we should be surprising her with this."
"You ask for me personally, either here or next door and I'll see to it Louise is ready." She turned to leave then thought of something. "Is that young man she calls the Kid going to be coming?"
Cody grinned at Buck and said, "Trust us, nothin' will keep him away where she's concerned."
"I don't know what she told you but she's still madly in love with him. She needs him and I just hope he doesn't let her down. She's had enough heartache as of late. I know I've been the cause of a lot of it but it would really break her if he wasn't there for her."
"Believe me, he will be. It's pretty safe to say he still loves her, too," Buck told her. He saw a tall, well dressed man come from upstairs and start talking to a man at the bar, all the while surveying the goings on around the saloon. "Is that Wicks?"
Charlotte picked up her tray, followed Buck's eyes and, as she started walking away, whispered, nervously, "Yes, it is."
Buck and Cody tried not to stare at the man who had done the unthinkable to Lou. They watched him walk up to Charlotte, take her arm not too gently, and whisper something in her ear. They saw the man Wicks had been talking to finish his drink, look at Wicks then leave. Charlotte then put down her tray and followed after him; obviously her night of waiting tables was over.
Buck and Cody got up to leave. "Hey, Buck, how do we tell Kid about Lou?"
"I'm hoping the ride home will give us some ideas 'cause right now, I don't have any." He walked out of the saloon.
Cody followed after him, sighing heavily. "I was afraid you were gonna say that. I'm not looking forward to this."
