Billy woke in foul mood. All he could think of, was “How am I getting out of this one and where is Cochise when you need him”?
It was early in the evening when they rode into Wichita and Jim took him Jake Sterwell’s office.
In the office Billy’s eyes adjusted to see a portly man dressed in a vested suit with a gold fob chain hanging from its rightful place.
Jim said “We found this one trying to steel our food on the trail. Jack took a cook pot off the side of his head before we could get this she-cat under control.
Jake Sterwell rose from behind his desk, pulled the chewed cigar from his lips and as he rounded the corner of his desk spoke as if he had just bought a prize stallion at the auction. “Well now; looks like we have a conundrum here. Let her go or find a good use for her”.
As the man walked around Billy he could smell the stale cigar and sweat from the man and it disgusted him.
“I have it! Two years back, the low life Walter Worthington set me up in New Orleans after a night of drinking and all I can remember is waking up with a hangover and everyone but me knowing what happened. He owns several wash houses in San Francisco. If she is the hell cat you claim her to be we will take her over to Megs place tonight and have the girls bathe her and then ship her out on the morning stage to Walter.
Billy did not like this man and as he looked him in the eyes said “Nchaa Gochi” which meant “large pig”.
“This ought to be a hoot! Nobody; I repeat; Nobody is to touch her”!
Billy walked across the boards that lead to the saloon. The sounds of boots echoing on the boardwalk echoed in his ears. He thought to himself “Anywhere but here” as he came to the window that read “MEG’S PLACE” and saw his reflection in the glass.
He saw what in the beginning was a proud and vibrant Apache Maiden looking back at him. She looked bedraggled and worn. The past several days had taken their toll.
Billy looked at her reach up and run her fingers down the side of her face as if she was giving in to defeat.
Jim tugged at his arm and said “Let’s go”.
They walked through the saloon doors to a packed house.
Everybody turned and Jim yelled; “Hey Meg, special delivery from Mr. Sterwell. He wants a couple of your girls to bathe her and get her ready for the morning stage”.
Billy felt everyone staring at him as the noise died down.
As they made their way past the tables Billy heard a familiar voice “Hey Missy, come back for more”.
Billy looked past Meg to see Snuffy with his knees spread apart and patting his lap as if to say “right here” and Billy moaned.
Snuffy announced “Hey fellers; this is the squaw I told y’all about and she has come back for more”!
Billy had been accused of a lot of things in his life but a “slow thinker” was not one of them.
As they came to the table with the old miner Billy slid sideways as if he was going to take the old man up on his request.
As he turned to settle in, He steadied himself with his left hand on the table while sweeping up the full mug of beer on the table then downing it all but a mouthful and coming to his feet; all in one motion.
Billy faced Snuffy, looked down at him then poured the remaining mouthful of beer on his head and dropped the empty mug on Snuffy’s lap.
The bar erupted in laughter.
Snuffy started to come out of his chair all the while stating “Why you Heathen Squaw, that was my last beer”!
Jim pushed him back into his seat and Meg said “You’re lucky, you old fool that she only lifted your beer instead of your hair; Oh wait, you don’t have any”
The crowd erupted once more and Meg yelled to the bartender ‘MACK, GIVE HIM A BEER; ON THE HOUSE”.
They proceeded up the stairs to a room and Meg had two of her girls, (Sandi and Misty) get busy making her bath water.
Meg looked at Jim and said “You need to leave” and he replied “Uh, uh, you ever seen a cat put into a tub, this should be fun to see”.
Meg grabbed the cow puncher by the shoulders and guided him to the door under protest.
Billy was sitting in a chair and she looked down at him and said; ”Look Honey; we can do this the hard way or the easy way; now take off those buckskins”.
She stood him up and with the help of Sandi and Misty peeled off Billy’s clothes.
He was embarrassed to say the least and when they guided him to the tub, he climbed in and settled into place to Meg’s astonishment.
Poor dear ain’t seen a bath “in a coon’s age” Okay girls; get her clean”!
Everything was going great until Meg picked up Billy’s clothes and started to make her way to a small trash can by the desk.
Billy thrashed to and fro and tried to come out of the tub to rescue the only pieces of what was left of the life he had lived before Cochise had dragged him into this nightmare.
He shouted (DAH) which meant “no” in Apache and Meg knew just what Billy was upset about. She put the clothes right back on the chair where she had picked them up from.
In the commotion Sandi had caught a face full of soapy water and Misty was pointing and laughing at her.
Billy took a handful of soapy water and splashed Misty in the face to make them even.
Both women took their hands, put them on top of Billy’s head and pushed him under.