Glory: WHN by PatriciaG

Word Count 2,674

Beta: SheriB

Written for the Lancer Writer ‘55^th Anniversary Episode Tag Celebration’

Three very tired Lancer men rode up to the barn. The adrenaline rush from the late night gun battle in town had finally dissipated, leaving them … tired. Scott smiled, though. The after effects from kissing an incredibly beautiful woman hadn’t waned. All they wanted was rest, but first Johnny needed to know if Glory had told the truth about not taking the money. Scott held their horses while Murdoch and Johnny checked for it in the bucket inside the door . The two smiled as they exited the barn. Murdoch tossed the bag up and down in his hand before flipping it to Scott.

“She didn’t lie. The money was right where she said it would be!” Johnny exclaimed.

“Come on, boys. Let’s try to catch a few hours of sleep. Oh and Scott, why don’t you wait another day before you go to Stockton. I think that bull will wait for you.” Murdoch knew his suggestion to sleep late would probably go unheeded.

Scott chuckled. Johnny wrapped an arm around his brother’s shoulders as they walked into the house together.

Morning arrived and found Murdoch just settling in at the kitchen table. He’d slept a little later than usual since they’d been up so late the night before. Maria set a cup of coffee in front of him as she continued cooking breakfast.

“Morning, Murdoch,” Johnny greeted his old man as he entered the kitchen. He’d been working in the barn with a few-week-old foal this morning.

“Morning, my son. Have you seen your brother this morning?”

Johnny shook his head. “Do you want me to go rouse him?” Johnny grinned, thinking of many devious ways to do that.

“Patron, Señor Scott left earlier this morning,” Maria chimed in.

“Johnny, you don’t think he went to buy that bull?”

“When my brother gets something in his head …”

*****

The stage driver flew into Stockton like someone was chasing them, only to rein the horses to an abrupt stop in from of the depot. I swear, one of these days these stage rides will rattle my teeth right out of my head, Scott thought. He arched his back and stretched his shoulders while he waited for his luggage to be tossed off the coach. He nodded his appreciation to the driver before strolling toward the hotel. Once he’d settled into his room, Scott sat back on the bed to begin planning the rest of his day. Since he’d left Morro Coyo on the earliest stage, he had arrived in Stockton with plenty of time to visit the Diamond J today, if he wanted to. No time like the present.

Scott ventured out to the livery stable to rent a horse. The ranch was located only an hour outside of town so he could be there, buy the bull, and be back before nightfall. He glanced at the inviting looking saloon as he rode by. It wouldn’t hurt to stop in for a quick drink before I hit the road.

“What’ll you have, mister?” the barkeep asked as Scott strolled up to the the bar.

“Beer.”

Once he’d swallowed a good portion of his drink, Scott turned to lean again the bar, scanning the other patrons. There were the usual cowboys at the bar, a few sitting with ‘ladies’ on their laps, and a poker game in the corner. Someone at the game looked and sounded familiar.

“Collier,” Scott muttered. If Glory’s grandfather was here, she must be somewhere nearby. He slammed back the rest of his beer and threw some coins on the bar top. He straighten and purposefully walked out of the establishment. His brain said, “That’s a pair I don’t ever want to see again,” but his heart wanted to spend some more time with Glory.

Glory strolled down the boardwalk with her parasol shading her from the sun. She froze when she saw Scott exiting the saloon, then she ducked into a store to avoid being seen. The young woman stood by the window where she could watch Scott ride out of town. Glory held her hand over her heart. It felt like it would pound out of her chest. She wasn’t sure if it was fear or exhilaration that made her heart beat so fast.

Scott and Murdoch had met Frank Johnson at a Cattle Growers Association meeting, but he had never been to the Diamond J. It was an impressive ranch, but only a quarter of the size of Lancer. Mr. Johnson, a widower, and his three teenage sons ran the ranch. They hoped someday to be a large rival ranch and Murdoch always enjoyed helping smaller ranches to thrive, especially if they had prize winning bulls. Hence, the reason why Scott was there.

Mr. Johnson and his sons spent the next few hours showing Scott around the ranch. He couldn’t decide if the rancher was more proud of his ranch or his sons. It made him wonder if this is what it would’ve been like if he and Johnny had been raised at Lancer. The tour finished at the holding pen where the bull Murdoch was interested in was housed. Scott looked the animal over, using his best poker face to hide his interest. The two ranchers haggled over the price. Since Scott agree to take care of transporting the bull, Mr. Johnson agreed to drop the price to four hundred eighty-five dollars. Scott, proud of his business acumen, shook Mr. Johnson’s hand in agreement. They invited him to stay at the Diamond J for the night, but Scott begged off, explaining he already had a hotel room in Stockton.

Dusk had just fallen as Scott rode back into town. His stomach grumbled as he left his horse at the livery. He suddenly remembered that hadn’t eaten since he left home that morning. He quick-stepped it to the hotel dining room. Scott glanced around the crowded room looking for an empty table. His eyes stumbled upon two friends of his.

“Do you mind if I join you?” Scott’s quiet voice surprised them.

“Scott.” Glory stared at him. “Grandfather, this is Scott Lancer. He and his family … helped us … with Mr. Hatcher.”

“Lancer, you say. Oh, yes, Mr. Lancer. Please, won’t you join us?”

Scott settled himself in an empty chair as he told the waitress he’d have the same meal.

“What brings you to Stockton, Mr. Lancer?” Garretson Collier asked.

“Did you come to buy your ‘prized bull’, Scott?” Glory interrupted.

Scott raised an eyebrow, wondering how she knew about his plans. They had never mentioned this buying trip in front of her. Maybe that’s how she knew about the money that she’d stolen from his bedside table.

“Yes. Thankfully you did leave me enough to make my purchase.” Scott subtly reminded her that she had gotten away with one hundred dollars. “How long have you been in town?” Long enough to fleece someone else.

“Only a day,” Glory answered.

“Has it been profitable?” Scott’s cool gaze traveled from Grandfather to Glory. He remembered thinking, I would have handed you the world and been thankful for the privilege. Instead she continued scheming with her grandfather.

The waitress paused the conversation as she placed their plates in front of them. Several bites were taken before Collier answered Scott’s earlier question. “Can’t complain. The cards haven’t been too hard on me.”

“Have you been able to sell your friend’s ranch in San Jose?” Scott pushed.

“Scott, you know that’s not possible,” Glory replied. “We’re only waiting here until we can catch the train back to St. Louis.”

Scott took another bite of his roast beef. “Yes, the white house with marble columns set high on a hill with a rose garden and Black Heart hickory — ”

“I do believe you’re mocking me, Mr. Lancer,” Glory huffed. “You said that you spent a ‘considerable amount of time’ in St. Louis. What would you be doing there?”

“Business on my grandfather’s behalf. It was a pleasant city,” Scott commented as he gazed at the lovely young woman.

Grandfather placed his napkin on the table as he stood up. “I think I’ll leave you young people to entertain yourselves for the evening as I’m quite tired and ready to turn in.” Grandfather winked at Glory before turning toward Scott. “Good evening, Mr. Lancer. And if I don’t see you tomorrow … well goodbye, then.”

“Good evening to you too, sir.”

After leaving the dining room, Grandfather changed his mind and veered from the stairs to the front desk.

“Have you had a pleasant stay, sir?” the night desk clerk asked.

“Yes, especially since we ran into an old friend, Mr. Lancer.” Grandfather pointed toward the dining room where Scott had just leaned toward Glory to whisper something that made her laugh.

“Oh, Scott Lancer. Yes, he’s a loyal customer.”

“Yes, well, I’m glad to know that. I have a small problem, unfortunately. I forgot to get cash from the bank today before it closed, and since we will be leaving early in the morning to catch a train, I was wondering if the hotel could cash a bank draft for me?”

“I don’t have the authority to do that, but I could get the manager.” The clerk scurried to the back office and returned with the manager.

“What is your name, sir?”

“Garretson Collier of St. Louis.”

“Mr. Collier, we don’t usually do this, but since Frank,” the manager pointed to the clerk, “said you are friends of Mr. Lancer … I’ll approve it. How much do you need?”

“Five hundred dollars should be sufficient.”

*****

After a rather surprisingly pleasant evening, Scott escorted Glory to her room. She turned to face him before putting the key in the lock. He tilted her chin up for a goodnight kiss. She in turn placed her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

“I guess you’re not so hard to get to know after all.” Glory smiled before disappearing into her room.

A grinning Scott strolled down the hall to his room, wishing he knew how to whistle and looking forward to seeing Glory again.

The next morning, Scott knocked on the Collier’s door, hoping to take them to breakfast. He knocked several times with no reply. They must have left already, as Mr. Collier had stated last night. With Glory gone, there wasn’t any reason to prolong his stay in Stockton. He returned to his room, grabbed his saddle bags and proceeded to the front desk to check out.

The day clerk had just started his duty, but the night clerk hadn’t left yet.

“Has Mr. Collier and his granddaughter checked out?” Scott asked to confirm his theory.

“Yes. They said they had to catch an early train,” the night clerk butted in.

Scott sighed. “Could I have my bill, please?”

The day clerk placed it on the counter as the night clerk turned to leave. Scott picked it up with a puzzled look on his face that turned to anger.

“Is there a problem, Mr. Lancer?”

“It seems to be quite a bit higher than I’d expected.”

Again the night clerk had to return to the desk. He explained, “Mr. Collier said that you offered to pay their bill. Is that not correct, sir?”

Scott grimaced and shook his head before he pulled only enough money from his wallet to pay his own bill and dropped it on the counter.

“What time did they leave?”

The day clerk looked to the night clerk who volunteered, “Not long ago. While I was still on shift.

Scott dropped his saddlebags on the counter. “Damn it,” he muttered quietly to himself. Sighing, he turned and said over his shoulder, “I’ll be back.” He rushed to the train station and found the two con artists seated inside.

“Scott! What are you doing here?” Glory happily asked as she remembered how the previous evening had ended.

“You seem to have left without paying your hotel bill. It was, unfortunately, added to my bill by mistake,” Scott replied.

“What? I don’t understand.” Confused, Glory looked between her grandfather and Scott.

“I think we need to return to the hotel and get this straightened out,” Scott suggested.

Collier didn’t know if Scott had any inkling of the bank draft situation, but cursed himself for being greedy and having Scott pay his hotel bill. If only he’d paid it with bank draft money, they’d be in the clear.

“Quite right, my boy. It was presumptive of me to add our expenses to your bill. I shall make reparations immediately.” He pulled out his wallet. “How much do I owe you?”

“Nothing. I didn’t pay your bill, but I’d be happy to escort you back to the hotel so you can take care of it.” Scott took Glory’s arm and tucked it onto his elbow.

“We might miss our train.” Collier tried one more trick. “I’d be happy to pay you to take care of this for me.”

Scott continued to walk Glory toward the hotel. She didn’t know about the bank draft the hotel had cashed for her grandfather, so she enjoyed the stroll with Scott.

When they arrived at the hotel, Mr. Collier explained to the desk clerk, “Somehow our bill must have gotten put on Mr. Lancer’s by mistake.” The clerk show him the bill and Collier placed enough money to cover it on the counter. “Glory, we need to be going now. We don’t want to miss our train.”

“Oh, Mr. Collier, I didn’t know you’d still be here,” the manager stated as he returned to his office from the dining room. “The bank is open now, so we can get the bank draft cashed and you can refund the hotel its money.”

Glory thought fast. “Grandfather, I thought you told me that you weren’t going to cash that draft until you reached San Francisco.”

“You are correct, my dear. Why don’t I give you back your money and you can return the bank draft?”

Once the manager had counted out the refund, Collier realized he had very little money left, definitely not enough for two tickets to St. Louis.

“Grandfather, I think we need to leave now if we’re going to make our train.”

“Yes, Glory, my dear, you’re right … again.” He turned to Scott and put out his hand, “Mr. Lancer, it’s been a … pleasure seeing you again.”

Instead of shaking the older gentleman’s hand, Scott returned Glory’s hand to crook of his arm. “I’ll be happy to escort you to the train, Mr. Collier.”

When they arrived at the train station, Glory angrily pulled her hand away from Scott.

“You know we don’t have enough money to buy two train tickets.” She stomped her foot in disgust.

“All aboard,” the conductor announced.

“I’ll be happy to purchase two tickets … to St. Louis.” Scott smiled.

“Glory, I think it’s time for us to go home. Thank you, Mr. Lancer. We’ll take you up on your kind offer. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope we don’t run into each other again any time soon.”

“I wholeheartedly agree.”

When Mr. Collier left to retrieve their luggage, Scott turned his attention to Glory. “Although, I wouldn’t mind seeing you again.” He leaned down to plant a kiss to her upturned lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

As he helped Glory onto the train platform, she turned and said, “Keep your eyes open, cowboy. You never know when we’ll meet again.” He continued to stare long after she’d followed her grandfather into the train car.

Scott had a sudden thought and quickly pulled his wallet out of his jacket pocket. He sighed with relief as he realized his money was still there. As he walked toward the livery stable he mumbled, “I would have given you the world and felt priviledged to do it, but you probably would’ve stolen it before I had the opportunity.”

The End
September 2023

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