Chapter One-The First Time 1850 – Texas Hill Country Teaspoon Hunter studied the ground before him carefully. The tracks he’d been following for the last week lead into a small valley. The valley offered good cover to that no-good back-shooting scum, Dirty Steve Jackson. It also provided a shortcut from San Antonio to Cherry Springs. Teaspoon knew that Dirty Steve had family in Cherry Springs. He decided to make his way around the valley and see if he could pick up the trail on the other side. This one was his – he wasn’t giving up until he’d seen Jackson hung. It wasn’t some stranger he’d gunned down in the street like a dog; it was Teaspoon’s best friend and captain. He wasn’t going back to San Antonio without Dirty Steve Jackson – dead or alive – didn’t matter to him which way. Teaspoon sighed and mounted his horse. He studied the terrain for the best path and then headed out. There was no way he was following this dirt bag into a perfect ambush. Let him think he had gotten away and then surprise him. That was the plan. Hunter turned his mount back the way he’d come and rode until the valley was out of sight and away from any watching eyes. He made camp for the night. When morning dawned, it found his carefully setup campsite deserted, and Texas Ranger, Teaspoon Hunter halfway to Cherry Springs. He’d been riding hard for the best part of the day, but it had paid off. He could finally see the town up ahead. A few miles outside the settlement was a small farmhouse. Teaspoon stopped. “Excuse me. Could you tell me where I might find a Mr. Emil Jackson?” The farmer looked up at the man on the horse. He noticed the badge right away. He glanced at his barn before answering, “You’d best hide that badge if you’re going into town. Senor Jackson, he owns everything and everybody there, and the law ain’t welcome.” Teaspoon noticed the way the man kept glancing nervously at the barn. He threw a casual look that way but didn’t see anything out of place. He nodded, “Thanks for the advice. Where can I find Senor Jackson?” The man swallowed nervously and again looked at the barn. “Most likely at his business establishment. It’s in the center or town. Big, limestone house. Has lots of girls sitting on the porch. You really can’t miss it,” the farmer replied. The longer he sat there and chatted, the more Teaspoon felt this man was trying to give him a different message – a warning of some type. He was about to ask the man what was wrong when two shots rang out. Teaspoon saw the farmer drop to the ground, dead where he stood, as he felt the bullet tear into his side and he too fell like a rock. When he woke, he noticed several things: it was dark, his side hurt, and he was no longer on the ground. He stood and walked to the window. It appeared he was inside the farmhouse. He saw his horse tied to the fence. He turned and searched the room for his shirt. As he was putting it on, a beautiful young Mexican girl entered the room. “You should be in bed,” she said. “I need to get into town and get the law out here to search for the killer,” said Teaspoon. The girl laughed a cold, hard laugh. “Why would they care about finding the killer of an old Mexican farmer?” she asked. “Besides it won’t do any good. The law was here. Who do you think did the shooting?” He stared at her. “Why?” “Because Senor Emil Jackson said to,” she spat out the words as if they were distasteful. Teaspoon took in this information. The room was beginning to spin. He carefully made his way back to the bed and sat. The girl was at his side in an instant. “You should be in bed,” she repeated. Teaspoon let her assist him back into the bed. “Where am I?” he managed to ask as the pain began to overtake him. “You are in the house of my grandmother, Anna Maria Lopez. She would be here tending you, but it was her son that was killed by the man who also shot you,” the girl explained. As she said this, Teaspoon remember the farmer lying dead before him. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to get anybody hurt.” Again, the girl laughed the cold hard laugh. “It’s not your fault,” she said. “He would have been killed anyway. He refused to give Senor Jackson what he wanted.” Teaspoon had finally managed to get comfortable in the bed. The girl showed him a bowl of broth. He nodded and she began to feed him. He ate a little and thought about what she had just told him. “What was it that Senor Jackson wanted so badly?” he asked as he finished his meal. She gave him a sad smile and wiped his chin. “Me,” she answered dejectedly as she prepared to leave the room. “For what?” Teaspoon asked. “He owed him money. I am to be payment. I am to work at Senor Jackson’s casa and help entertain his guests until the debt is paid. I was supposed to start this morning, but I refused. My grandmother did not wish it. I must start next week,” she said. She put down the tray and turned to face Teaspoon. When she continued, the tone of her voice had hardened. She spat out the words with a hatred Teaspoon could almost feel. “I am being allowed to stay and assist my grandmother as she buries her last child. She is old and weak, but does Senor Jackson care? No! If I do not go to work next Monday, he will come, destroy her home, and make her work for him too. He will make her his property. She is too weak. So, I go and work for him, but he will be sorry for this. I will make him pay.” Teaspoon watched the fire in her eyes and realized he was glad she wasn’t after him. Something told him that Mr. Emil Jackson, father to Dirty Steve Jackson, was in for a rough time. He knew the answer before he asked, but decided he had to try, “Why don’t you both just leave? I could take you back to San Antonio with me.” “This is my grandmother’s home,” she answered. “The only one she has ever known. Her husband and her two children are buried here. No, I will go to his house so she can stay here, but he will pay for what he has done to her. He has caused her much pain, and he will be sorry. I will see to it.” She turned and left the room. Teaspoon almost felt sorry for the elder Mr. Jackson. This girl had spunk. It might be worth it to hang around a few days and watch her work. He thought about this as he drifted off to sleep. The days past, and Maria Consuelo Lopez continued to nurse Teaspoon back to health. He had the pleasure of meeting Anna Maria Lopez just once. She was an elderly lady; quiet and sad after dealing with the blows life had handed her. It was evident that she had lived a hard life. She too had no love for the Jackson family. “He has killed both my children,” she said. “I know this one wants revenge, but I wish her to leave. Can’t you take her with you?” Teaspoon shook his head. “I already offered. She refuses to leave you, and I don’t want to force her to do something she doesn’t want.” “Maybe if I wasn’t here,” the older lady said. “Where would you go?” Teaspoon asked. Anna shrugged. “I have no place,” she sighed. “My family is all here.” Teaspoon nodded. He had grown to love Maria like a little sister. “Maybe I can come back with some help and we can arrest Mr. Jackson and take him elsewhere for trial. I’m sure he has done something wrong that will put him away. I promise I’ll get her away from here. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll get her away from here and him.” Anna smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “Now I can rest easy knowing she has someone to look out for her. Thank you.” The day finally came for him to leave. Maria put him on his horse, handed him a sack of food, and told him, “Go back to San Antonio. Dirty Steve Jackson was gunned down by an unknown assailant last night.” She glanced at the house as she said this and Teaspoon noticed Anna sitting in the porch swing watching the road as if she expected company. “Was it you?” Teaspoon asked. Maria shook her head, “No. I was here with you last evening.” Teaspoon looked at the swing again, “You mean. . .” Maria nodded. “I heard her come in and watched as she put away the shotgun. I do not think they will find her. She is good at what she does, but you must go just in case they do come. If they find you here, we will be in much trouble. They think we buried you next to my uncle.” Teaspoon nodded. “There was a reward. I’ll be sure you get it.” Again, she shook her head, “No. We cannot all of a sudden have money. Senor Jackson will want to know where we got it. He owns the bank and will know that it comes. Please, he was killed by an unknown assailant. Leave it at that.” Teaspoon nodded. “I’ll think of some way to help you both. I promise.” She smiled at him. “I know you will try. Please, be careful on your way back to San Antonio.” “I will. Thank you for all your help, and I will come back to get you both. If you need anything before I’m able to get here, please let me know. I will do whatever I can. I owe you my life,” Teaspoon said. He waved at Anna and left. He had every intention of returning shortly with a whole squad of Rangers to bring the notorious Emil Jackson to justice. Things just didn’t work out that way. Chapter Two-The Second Time 1860 – Sweetwater, Nebraska Territory Cody rode into the station, “Teaspoon,” he hollered as he dismounted and tied his horse to the fence. “Teaspoon!” “He’s in the barn,” said Emma coming out onto the bunkhouse porch. “Thanks, Emma. Dinner smells wonderful,” said Cody and headed towards the barn. He entered and saw Teaspoon back in the tack room where he slept. Cody crossed the barn and knocked gently on the door. “Teaspoon, you in here?” “Yes, Cody. What can I do for you?” Teaspoon asked as he put away his writing supplies. “There was a letter for you in town,” Cody said. “I brought it to you.” He handed Teaspoon a letter and turned to go clean up for dinner. “Thank you,” said Teaspoon as he opened the letter and quickly read its contents. “Damn,” he mumbled. “Everything alright?” Cody asked as he heard the response. “No,” said Teaspoon. “Seems I have a friend in trouble. A friend I owe my life too. You busy the next few days?” “Nope,” Cody said with a grin. “I’m off for a few days.” “Good,” said Teaspoon. “I need someone to go with me who’s a good shot at distances.” “Why?” asked Cody intrigued by the mysterious way Teaspoon was acting. “Could be dangerous,” said Teaspoon. “I’ll explain later. Right now, you need to get cleaned up for dinner and I need to see if I can find Lou.” “Lou? Why?” “Need someone good with kids,” said Teaspoon. “Seeing as how he’s got two younger siblings; I figure he might know how to keep one busy a few days. Again, I’ll explain it all later,” Teaspoon replied as he left to search for Lou. At dinner, Teaspoon announced that the three of them would be going on a trip for a few days. “I expect you to all pitch in and make sure everything gets done that needs to get done,” he told the others. “We’ll be leaving as soon as we finish up.” “You sure you don’t want to wait until morning, Mr. Spoon?” Emma asked as she began to clear the table. “You won’t get much past Blue Creek leaving this late in the day.” Teaspoon nodded. “I realize that, but it’s that much closer to Willow City. The sooner we leave the sooner we get there. It’s important I get there as quickly as possible. It took much too long the last time. She’s too special for me to let her down that way again.” As they traveled there wasn’t much talking. Teaspoon was lost in his thoughts, and Lou was worried that somehow Teaspoon had discovered her secret so Cody had no one to talk to. A few miles past Blue Creek, they made camp. As the beans were warming over the fire, Cody decided he’d waited long enough. “Who are we going to help?” he asked. Teaspoon stirred the beans and looked up at Cody, “Her name is Maria Consuelo Lopez. She saved my live once, and I repaid her by letting the man who tried to kill me put her to work in his brothel.” Lou looked up in surprise, “What!” “I really couldn’t do much at the time,” Teaspoon explained. “I was still recovering and unable to face the man and his hired guns alone. I always meant to get back to her, but I kept getting pulled into other things. I needed assistance to be able to help her. One man wasn’t enough, even if he was a Texas Ranger.” Teaspoon chuckled at little at this. He sighed, “I did manage to keep in touch with her, and a few years ago she wrote asking for help. I went as quickly as I could.” He paused remembering. “So, what happened?” Cody asked as he took the plate of beans Lou handed him and passed it over to Teaspoon. Teaspoon took the plate and let his thoughts drift back to his last encounter with Maria Consuelo Lopez. “I got to Cherry Springs and went into town pretending to be a drifter. I made it to the brothel where I hung around until I found her. She had changed. The fire in her eyes was almost gone. I managed to get her alone and she told me what had happened to her since I had left. This man had managed to mistreat her in everyway he could think of. Whenever a costumer who liked to get rough came in, she was the girl he sent for. Of course, at first, she caused him some problems. A couple of those fellas didn’t leave all in one piece; at least one of them didn’t leave on his own. She was winning small battles, but she was losing the war.” Teaspoon took a bite and continued, “She and her grandmother had managed to hang on to the family homestead up until her grandmother’s death a couple of years before. She had been forced to sell the place because she couldn’t keep it up since her boss would never allow her to leave the brothel. She sold it to a young man who wanted to get started in the area. She warned him that it would mean trouble, but he didn’t care. As they worked out the details of the sale, they grew to care for each other. He would come into the establishment and offer to pay extra only if he got her. They made plans on how to get her away from Mr. Emil Jackson. She had already worked off the original debt that had landed her there, but since Jackson owned the town, no one dared stand up to him on her behalf. This young man finally did.” Teaspoon stopped and closed his eyes willing himself to not break down as he told this part. He took a deep breath and continued, “Jackson had some of his men ride out to Maria’s old place, capture the man, burn the place, and drag the man back into town where he was beaten to death while Maria was forced to watch. His body was left in the town square as a warning to anyone getting ideas. That’s when she wrote me. “She told me that she had proof that Jackson had cheated some influential people in the territory. I was to come to the brothel and talk about how I liked to beat my women to make them know who was boss. I did just that, and she was ordered to entertain me for the evening. We went to her room and planned what to do. We used her evidence of wrongdoing and some of my money to pay off her debt.” “What happened then?” asked Lou. “I took her to Willow City where she got a job at a dress shop owned by Susannah Harper, a friend of mine. We told everybody that Maria was my recently widowed niece. I was barely able to care for myself so there was no way I could care for her and her soon to be born baby. It wasn’t a hard story to sell. To the people of Willow City, I was a crazy old coot. She settled in nicely. No one appeared to have followed us. She had the baby. I’ve actually had the pleasure of seeing Joseph on a regular basis until a couple of years ago when I moved out here.” He paused in his story telling. He collected his thoughts and continued, “Things there were safe enough. It had been over three years, and no one had caused her any problems. This job came open, so I left. I write when I can and send money along to help with the baby.” “So, why are we rushing there all of a sudden?” asked Cody. “Seems something has happened to upset things. I need to find out what it is. Thought I could use some help. So, here we are.” Cody nodded and continued eating. Lou asked, “What’s the plan?” Teaspoon flashed a smile, “Don’t have one. I need to get to Willow City and find out what the problem is. All the letter said was ‘Need your help as soon as possible.’ Once I know what’s causing the trouble, I can make a plan.” Lou nodded. “Guess we should get to bed then so we can get an early start in the morning.” “Sounds good,” said Teaspoon. Chapter Three-The Third Time 1860 – Texas Hill Country A few days later, the three of them tied their horses in front of the Willow City Hotel. “You boys go get us a room and start getting washed up,” Teaspoon said. “I’m going to go see if I can find Maria.” Lou and Cody nodded and entered the hotel. Teaspoon found the dress shop and slowly pushed open the door. Maria looked up from the dress she was working on. When she saw him, she dropped her work to the floor and ran to him. “I’m so glad you’re here. I don’t know what to do. They’re going to find out the truth.” She sobbed. He hugged her to him, “What do you mean?” “He died,” she said, trying to compose herself. “Who? Jospeh?” Teaspoon asked in horror. “No, no,” she said. “Senor Jackson. He died.” “That should be good news,” said Teaspoon, confusion and relief overwhelming him. He was greatly relieved that Maria’s son was alright, but completely confused as to why she would care what had happened to Senor Emil Jackson. “He left me everything,” she said. “What?” “He left me everything. He left me the business, his money, all his other properties. When I go to claim it, the truth will come out. I’ll have ruined Susannah’s business. Joseph will learn the truth about me. How can I face everyone?” Maria said as the sobbing overtook her again. “Oh,” Teaspoon said. “Don’t worry, we’ll think of something. When do you have to claim your property? Or what happens if you don’t claim it?” Maria dried her eyes. She looked even more defeated than when he’d taken her away from Cherry Springs and Emil Jackson. “I have until the end of the month. If I don’t claim it by then, it all goes to Joseph. That’s why I have to claim it. He mustn’t know.” Teaspoon gave her another hug. “That’s time enough to come up with something. You go ahead and finish up here. I’m going to go get cleaned up. I brought a couple of my Pony Express riders along in case I needed help; I’ll bring the boys back with me around closing time. Then we can all go to your place and plan.” When Maria hugged Teaspoon before returning to her work, he was pleased to see that there was a spark of hope in her eyes. Maybe he could still save her. He needed to find a way to get her past this without giving away her secret. It would destroy her if others knew the truth not because she had done anything wrong, but because they would allow it to change the way the thought about her, the way they treated her and Joseph. He left her to her sewing and went back to the hotel for a warm bath and a think. Susannah had insisted she be allowed to help so she, Maria, Teaspoon, Cody, and Lou had gathered at Maria and Susannah’s home. That evening, over a wonderful dinner, the five of them planned. “Why not pretend you are looking out for Teaspoon’s interest?” asked Cody around a mouthful of food. “What do you mean?” asked Maria. Cody swallowed, “Everyone here thinks Teaspoon is your uncle, right?” Maria nodded. “They also think he’s crazy. I mean he made them think that before, to explain why you would come here to live with Susannah instead of him. Does anyone else here know him?” “No, just the two of us,” said Susannah. “And we always tell people he’s a crazy old man.” She smiled. Teaspoon grinned at them all. “Right,” said Cody with a grin of his own. “I’m still not sure I understand,” said Maria. “It’s simple,” Cody said. “If anyone here asks about it, the letter from the lawyer was informing you that an old friend of your uncle’s has left him some property. You need to go with him to check out what exactly it is and make sure the lawyers don’t take advantage of an addled old man.” Teaspoon continued to watch with his lopsided grin. “Cody, that just might work,” he said. “It will definitely satisfy the people here who are nosy enough to be asking questions that shouldn’t be asked.” Lou looked up at Teaspoon and then glanced at Cody. He was beaming. It wasn’t often the older man gave him any praise. It was a welcome change. The next morning, Teaspoon and Maria left for Cherry Springs to check into this mysterious property that had been bequeathed to him. Cody and Lou stayed with Joseph and Susannah. “Remember,” Teaspoon said, “if we’re not back in a week, Lou takes Joseph to Sweetwater and sends reinforcements. Cody comes to Cherry Springs to check out the situation so when the others arrive you know exactly what has happened and what is going on with Maria and myself.” “We got it,” said Lou. “Now get going so you can get back.” “Alright. You boys behave now,” Teaspoon said as he climbed up next to Maria who sat waiting on the buckboard. Early the next morning, the two of them stood outside an old, two-story stone house, waiting for the man in charge of the estate to show them around. Maria trembled. She looked at the letter the elder Mr. Jackson had written her the day she left. It was left with instructions to be delivered to her upon his death. She read it one last time: Maria, my pet, I leave it all to you. How do you explain to “the boy” why you own a whorehouse? “The boy” who took you from me will know what you really are and what he really is. He will turn against you as you did me. “The boy” you gave your life for will tell you the same thing I always did – The world would be a better place if you had never been born. He will hate you as you hate me. Your friends will turn their backs on you; they will hate you for your dishonesty and your past. You will be alone in the world and I will win. There is nothing you can do. I will win. Sincerely, Emil Jackson, Esq. (your doting father) As the lawyer approached, she crumbled the letter in her hands. “You won’t win,” she said to herself. “I’ll find a way to beat you yet. I have to for Joseph’s sake.” She squared her shoulders and went to meet the man in charge. “Miss Lopez?” he asked. “Yes, I am Maria Consuelo Lopez,” she said. “Do you have the papers?” “Of course, I have the proper papers,” she said as she handed them to him. Teaspoon noted that a bit of her spunk was returning. She did not like the way this man was acting, and she was about ready to let him know it. “Would you like to see the property?” “Yes, please unlock the door. By the way, where are the employees? I was a bit surprised to find it locked and empty.” “They are currently staying at the hotel,” the lawyer answered. “They are to be here later this afternoon to meet with the new management.” “Thank you,” she said. “Can I look around on my own, or must you be with me?” “You may look on your own, Ma’am. You may take as long as you wish. I will wait out here on the porch. Just let me know when you are ready, and we can go to my office to take care of the paperwork.” “Thank you. I shall do that,” said Maria. Teaspoon pushed open the front door. “Want me to come along?” “No, I want to do this alone,” she said the spark leaving her eyes. She walked past Teaspoon and into the house that haunted her nightmares and threatened yet again to ruin her life. She wandered aimlessly through the rooms until she came to stand outside the one that had been her cell. It had been almost five years since she left here, and now, once again she stood in the doorway looking over the room that used to be hers. The once beautiful lace curtain now hung in tatters, but strangely enough, her grandmother’s quilt remained, still neatly folded on the corner of her headboard. She crossed the room and gently fingered it – afraid it will turn to dust with her touch. Surprisingly, it didn’t. She picked it up and put it to her cheek; the coolness was a pleasant unexpected gift. She let it comfort her as she sat and let the memories wash over her. She could almost believe she didn’t use to work here. She could almost believe her other life is the only one she’d ever had. She would have been able to convince herself of this if it wasn’t for “the boy.” If he didn’t exist, she could forget her previous life completely. Of course, if he didn’t exist, it wouldn’t be her past life; it would be her current life. If he didn’t exist, she’d still be here. A knock at the door brought her back to the present. “You alright?” Teaspoon asked concern filling his voice. She nodded not yet trusting her voice to keep from betraying her. “Explain to me again, how this,” he paused and let his hand sweep the room, “is all yours.” She sighed. “The man who owned it,” she started. “The man you saved me from,” she paused again collecting herself to keep the tears from falling. He crossed the room and sat next to her on the bed. He put his hand gently on top of hers. “I remember,” he said. “I would have killed him if you’d have let me. He deserved to die for what he did.” She looked at him and smiled, sadly. “I know, but I couldn’t. He, he was my father,” she sobbed. “My mother was one of his girls. He usually broke them in himself. She ended up with me. He was so angry that he beat her hoping to make her lose the baby. She didn’t, but she did die in childbirth. He gave me to my grandmother to raise. Surprisingly he did right by us as far as making sure we had food and clothing. Still, I hated him. When he brought me here, I wanted to get away more than anything in the world, but I couldn’t let you kill him. If I had, you’d always be the man who killed my father.” The sobbing gave way to a flood of tears. She was no longer able to hide her shame and pain. He pulled her to him and held her until she cried herself out. Then, he gently turned her face to make her look at him. “Now I understand,” he said. “If I killed him, you couldn’t leave with me and then you wouldn’t have been able to get away in time. But why? You didn’t leave on good terms. Why would he leave his business and money to you?” She grinned a half-heartedly. “To punish me,” she explained. “He wanted to make sure that wherever I ended up eventually people would know where I came from. If I own the business, I can’t pretend I didn’t know him. Even in his death he’s punishing me for being born.” She dropped her head and mumbled, “Maybe he was right all along; maybe the world would have been better off without me.” He stood. “No!” he said sternly. “Don’t ever say that. The world is a much better place because of you.” She looked up at him and smiled forlornly. “That’s nice of you to say, but also not true. I’ve done nothing of importance.” “Now I’m offended,” he said. “If you hadn’t been born, I’d never have met you. I’d most likely be dead by now; you saved me, remember? And, since I matter to the world it is much better off because of you.” He laughed. She smiled a genuine smile this time. “That’s true. You have touched the life of so many people. I guess that’s why I came to you after all these years. I knew you’d help be again.” She sighed as the smile faded. She slowly looked around the room, “What do I do with this place?” He sat next to her again. “Run it.” “What?” she gasped in horror at the idea. “I can’t! My son can’t be brought up here. You know what happens to boys who grow up in whorehouses. He’s the reason I finally left. I won’t allow him to be brought here!” A fire sparked in her eyes for the first time in weeks. He grinned. Glad to see she still has some spunk in her. “So, make it something else,” he said calmly. “A hotel, a boarding house, a restaurant, a dress shop, a stable. . .” “Something else? How?” she asked. “Dunno,” he replied. “That will depend on what you want it to be. I suggest you go talk to the girls. See if they have any ideas. Start there, see where it leads you.” “What if they don’t want to change?” she asked. “Tell them to go find work somewhere else then, because this is no longer that type of establishment. It’s going to become something respectable or get closed for good,” he answered. “This could take some time to get finished. What do I do with Joseph while I sort things out? I really don’t want him here until we get things settled,” she stated realizing that she wanted to do this. If she took this horrid business, and turned it into something else that becomes successful, she will have won. She could take his money and do some good with it. She can make a difference in the world. She could prove him wrong once and for all – she should have been born. Teaspoon stood, “He can come visit his good old Grandpa Teaspoon and learn all about the Pony Express. I’m sure Emma and the boys won’t mind. Besides, it will only be for a few weeks. Maybe a couple of months.” She stood and took his hand. “Let’s go,” she said as she turned her back to the dirty window and left the room that had tried to destroy her so many years ago. Drop me a note and let me know what you thought!