Samantha Crawford, "Sam" to those who actually knew her, rolled over in bed when she heard the knock at her door. She'd been in the middle of a beautiful dream, of running through lilac fields at sunset, all alone and free.
"Samantha?" came a sweet southern voice.
Sam sat up, immmediately recognizing the voice of the one person on earth who refused to address her informally.
"Maude?" she replied, getting out of bed and padding to the door in her bare feet to unlock and open it.
On the other side of the door, wearing a big smile, was Maude Standish, Sam's employer and occasionally mother figure. When Maude could find the time for mothering, that was.
Rushing into the room, Maude set an elaborately wrapped box on the bed, went to the windows and threw open the curtains.
"Happy Birthday darlin!" she exclaimed, letting the sun shine into the room.
Still a little dazed, Sam rubbed her eyes, but smiled. It was official, the whole damn Standish family was insane. In a good way, but still insane.
Maude indicated the package as she tied the curtains open. "Well, child, don't hold back. Open it!"
Sam unwrapped the box with slight anxiety. Lord only knew what Maude had up her sleeve.
Inside the box was a beautiful new dress, in a rich, deep shade of blue. It was the prettiest dress Sam had ever seen, and especially owned.
"Maude," she breathed, "Its beautiful. Thank you so much! You didn't have to-" She threw her arms around the older woman.
But Maude cut her off with a chuckle. "Nonsense, darlin. Its not every day a girl turns eighteen. You should feel like the most beautiful woman in the world today of all days. I had Catherine and her girls make it especially for you. Come now, try it on."
As Maude closed the door to the room, Sam smiled at the sweetness of this woman, who sometimes came off as cold as marble. She began to change from her nightgown into the blue dress.
Maude rambled on happily. "And of course, once every woman in this town gets a look at you in it, they'll all rush to the dress shoppe for their own once-in-a-million creations."
Sam rolled her eyes, of course Maude had an alterior motive. But she really didnt care. Secretly, Sam had been fearing no one would remember her birthday, what with all the craziness in the town. It seemed at least someone had.
Sam emerged to join Ezra four minutes before the coach was to arrive, feeling radiant and like a new woman. Her hair was pulled back with her endless curls flowing over her shoulders. She imagined she was the most beautiful she'd ever been. Adding to that was the fact that Ezra's eyes widened when he saw her, and he bowed theatrically to kiss her hand.
"Truly, you are comparable to the moon and stars this morning," he drawled, with that irresistable sparkle playing in his green eyes. He meant it. She was always beyond beautiful, every man in town couldn't help miss that, but today's radiance showcased her looks perfectly. His mother was a genius at fashion.
She laughed out loud at him. "Isn't that a little overdoing it?"
Ezra shook his head, sincerely. "Not a bit. Happy Birthday, Sam."
"Why, thank you sir," she replied, in her most overdrawn proper act. He chuckled.
"Morning Sam, Ezra," Chris Larabee tipped his hat to the ubiquitous duo as he passed.
"Good morning Chris," Sam replied. Though they'd never been close, she felt safer knowing he was residing in the town.
"Mr. Larabee," Ezra nodded in acknowledgment.
Continuing on his way, Chris joined Buck Wilmington and Josiah Sanchez, who were chatting as they sat in front of the jail.
"Boys," he greeted. "Hey Buck, you seen Sam today?"
Buck shook his head. He'd been deliberately trying to avoid Sam for a long time now. Today was her birthday, and he felt terrible about not talking to her for the past few months.
Chris looked at Josiah. "I swear, she's about the prettiest thing I ever seen." Josiah knew what Chris was trying to facilitate, and jumped in fully.
Josiah nodded, staring off into the street. "Amen, brother."
Buck glared at the two of them. "Look, I know its her dang birthday! What do you want me to do?"
"Apologize," Chris stated flatly.
Leaping out of his chair, Bucks temper flared. "For what?"
"For whatever you're still holding against her," Chris replied, face to face with the man. "Whatever that is. You and Mary are the only ones who haven't been able to forgive yet, and for the life of me I can't reckon why."
Buck glared at him. Chris, knowing he was making no progress, walked away.
Sam heard a ruckus in the lobby while she was checking a sweet older couple into the hotel. She excused herself immediately and saw Mr. Carpenter, a red-faced Irishman, obviouly drunk and staggering around the lobby, singing loudly and causing the guests to scatter.
"Mr. Carpenter," she approached him, looking around and noticing that Ezra was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Melanie, neither was Maude. Perfect.
"Oh, my dearie, will ya dance with me, lass?" Mr. Carpenter asked, then proceeded to stumble over his feet and almost fall. Sam managed to catch him.
"I dont think you'd be able to do much dancin'," she said. "I'll help you to your room, though."
He nodded. "Prob'ly a good idea, lassie."
Maude came in just in time to see this exchange, and the smoothness with which Sam managed to calm the man and start him up the stairs. Maude immediately set to work calming the disturbed guests and helping the old couple find their room.
After much struggle, Sam managed to get Mr. Carpenter into room and onto his bed. She caught a look at herself in the mirror as she left his room. Her hair was rumpled, and all the birthday polish was gone, replaced by a worn looking western woman once again.
She left Mr. Carpenters room and closed the door behind her, leaning against it.
"Well," Maude strode up the stairs. "I'm glad he's taken care of. A drunk like that should be thrown out in the street."
Sam nodded, not willing or able to argue. Maude approached her.
"We have another problem. It seems there is a stray cat roaming this hotel," Maude informed Sam. "Melanie saw it, I saw it, and some of the guests thought they had seen it until I managed to convince them it was the heat. You best catch it before some guest trips over the damn thing. I will not have my hotel ruined by some flea-ridden creature. Now, If you'll excuse me, I need to see to the dress shoppe."
She turned and floated out of the hotel.
Sam leaned against the wall. To think the day had started out so well.
Luckily, most of the guests were occupied outside of the hotel. Sam gave Edmund the afternoon off, and went in search of the feline guest, hoping it would be an easy search and rescue.
She whistled a little, then stopped. Nothing. She moved a few more steps.
A tiny meow caught her ear. Immediately, she looked up. In the middle of the lobby, stradding the chandelier, was an orange cat.
Sam rolled her eyes and addressed it. "You would have to be up there. You couldn't be somewhere I could possibly reach you. Oh no, that would be far too easy."
A ladder. She needed a ladder. She was too short to reach the chandelier, and in fact, so was everyone else she knew.
So out into the street she went, wondering where she was supposed to get a ladder from?
A tall man, with blonde hair, strode confidently down the street.
"Chris!" she called, seeing someone familiar.
He tipped his hat and came toward her. "Something wrong, Sam?"
She shook her head. "You don't know where I could get a ladder, do you?"
"A ladder?" he asked, confused.
Sam laughed, ironically. "There is a stray cat stuck on the chandelier in the lobby. Everyone else is gone for the day, and Im the lucky one who has to get it down."
Chris smiled. "Some birthday, huh?"
"Between this damn cat and the drunk I just had to corrall, I'm about ready to go back to bed," she admitted.
He nodded. "I can understand that. You go keep an eye on the cat, I'll see if I can scare up a ladder."
"Are you sure?" she asked. "I know you're busy, I don't want to bother you."
Chris gave her a look. "You're not bothering me, you're rescuing me. I was on my way to have dinner with Buck, where he'll spend the whole time sulking. Believe me, trying to find a ladder sounds like the best idea I can think of."
"Thank you," she said, meaning it deeply. It was nice to know that Chris was willing to help her. Maybe the ill will the town had held against her was fading away.
Sam went back into the hotel and toward the chandelier. The cat, looking terrified, still sat on the swinging light.
"Now why would you do such a thing as to climb up there?" she asked it.
The Cat looked at her and meowed helplessly.
"Don't worry," Sam said, "Helps on its way."
She realized she was talking to a cat. Her birthday, and she was a mess, tired, and talking to a cat. The high point of her birthday was going to be that Chris would appear with a ladder. How had she come to this? She didn't care. She was just looking forward to the cat being down from the chandelier and the chance to retire to the office with a good book and relax.
"Someone call for a ladder?"
Sam turned around at the familiar voice, and there stood Buck, complete with ladder.
She nodded. "Yeah, I did..." That moment, she realized how terrible she looked and was somehow incredibly embarrassed about the fact that he was seeing her like this. She'd been trying to give the impression of perfection, so that he wouldn't know anything was wrong.
Buck gave her a smile. "I heard about your little problem. Figured I'd come see if I could take care of it for you."
It was amazing that he was there, talking to her. "Well," she said as she pointed to the cat. "Theres my problem."
Buck looked up at the feline guest of the hotel and laughed. "How do you reckon he got up there?"
"No idea," she replied. "I was thinking magic."
"Sounds about right," Buck replied, setting up the ladder. He climbed up it, and within a minute was handing the cat down to Sam. For a moment, the cat seemed to look at her with appreciation, as if it was grateful to her for saving it, then it leapt from her arms and scampered away, and out the door.
Buck climbed back down the ladder.
"Thanks," she said, meaning it fully. "I really appreciate it."
"No trouble at all," he replied. "I kinda wanted to talk to you anyway."
Sam indicated the hotel. "Well, we're the only ones here. Can I get you a drink?"
He grinned. "You like runnin' this place?"
Shrugging, she went toward the bar. Buck followed. As she replied, she set him up with whiskey like a pro. "Its nice to be treated like a woman and not a little girl. The only bad part is that I miss everyone outside of this place. I never get to see Rain, or you." Subtly, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, to gauge his reaction.
Buck took a drink and shook his head. "I haven't been the best father lately."
"Don't blame yourself," she said, taking his hand across the bar. "I'm not exactly winning any daughter of the year awards."
He took both her hands in his. "You reckon its about time we put aside our prides?"
Sam came around the bar and stood next to him. "I reckon it was time about two months ago."
Buck wrapped his arms around her, feeling happy for the first time in a while. "Damn, I missed you."
She kissed his cheek. "Not more than I missed you, I bet."
Ezra walked into the hotel right then, in time to catch the two in their happy embrace. He smiled, thank god that was over.
"Well well well," he came toward them. "Unless my eyes are decieving me, the two most stubborn people I have ever known have made amends."
Buck sighed. "You are so full of hot air, Eza."
The twinkle appeared in the southerners eye, like Sam knew it always did before he fired a witty retort. "Perhaps that's true, Buck. But in my own defense, at least I have learned to breathe through my nose."
"Good to know some things never change," Buck replied, getting up from his stool at the bar. "Now, I just want you to know that if this wasn't Sam's birthday, I'd be pounding you right now." It was all said with a smile, which Ezra and Sam both returned to him.
Sam jumped in. "Oh, don't beat him up. If you do, he might not be willing to let me have the evening off."
Ezra could tell a hint when he heard one. He stepped toward Sam, took her hand and kissed it again, and indicated the doorway. "Go forth and conquer, my dear. And take your heathen father with you."
Just as he spoke, the orange cat streaked over his feet and ran upstairs. All three watched it go.
"Looks like we have a new resident," Ezra said, giving up. "Go enjoy the rest of today. I will handle our feline associate."
Buck threw an arm around Sam's shoulders and they walked out of the hotel. The whole town buzzed with the news in moments: The Wilmingtons were a duo once again. They went to the restaurant for dinner, just the two of them. They caught up on the events of the past few months, and it was the best time Sam could have imagined.
He was determined to write a poem for her. She wouldn't be expecting it at all, and if anyone in the world could use a good surprise, it was Sam.
What was Sam always talking about? What did she want more than anything in the world? What could he give her?
Safety. Protection.
Immediately, he knew what to write.
Happier than she'd been in years, Sam returned to the hotel, where she found Ezra and Catherine playing with the orange cat on the steps. The cat was purring happily in Catherine's lap.
"We're naming him Boots," Catherine informed Sam. "Ezra caught him trying to hide in one."
Sam went up to her room and took off her coat. She stood in front of her mirror and let her hair loose. As it billowed over her shoulders, something caught her eye in the reflection. Turning around, she saw flowers on her pillow. As she went toward them, her mind raced with ideas.
They were beautiful yellow blossoms, freshly picked. She held them to her face and inhaled, the scent was intoxicating.
Along with them was a folded piece of paper. She picked it up and read what it said.
Sun sets on the horizon
coyotes start to howl
stars shine up in the sky.
Far as I can see the world is the same
except for one woman's eyes
which used to look like stars
and now are black as night.
And I wonder if she knows
I'm watching her, keeping her safe
from the wolves in the dark.
It was signed simply "Vin."
Sam couldn't believe it. Her heart stopped, the words were so beautiful and heartfelt. She'd never known Vin to be a poet, of all the men he was the last she'd have expected this from. To create something so gorgeous...
Her window was open to let in the early summer breeze. There were voices below on the street, as always. Going toward the window, she pulled the curtain aside and peered out. Before she even realized Vin wasn't there, she was amazed to find herself hoping he would be.
Unbeknownst to Sam, Vin was watching. From the window table of the saloon where Buck had been watching the hotel for weeks, he saw her peek out the curtains and look around, the flowers and poem in hand. She was looking for him. A smile crossed his normally serious face, something that didn't go unnoticed by his comrades at the table with him.
"Good hand, Vin?" Nathan asked. They were all involved in a big game of poker.
Back to reality, Vin still smiled. He looked at his cards and laughed.
"Hell no." Tossing the cards onto the table, he leaned back in his chair. "I fold."
He was still smiling.