Young Saturday Angel^^^

One Shot from: The Golden Angel

The Golden Angel saloon was packed for a Friday morning. The warm San Jose wind blew in through the swinging doors. Professional gamblers, hired gun slingers, and dovers milling around the the main floor were getting a early start on their weekend.

The long mahogany bar was full as well, the saloon girls weaved their way around the room passing out drinks and flirting. The noise of clinking glasses and shuffling chips was interrupted by a wild indian war cry.

Not many stoped in their games or drinking as a small wet and naked indian boy came tearing down the main staircase of the saloon. This was not a unusual site for the regular's of the Golden Angel. Mostly the crowd just chuckled as the boy raced across room.

His thin body weaved acrossed the room black hair flying out behind him like a battle flag. He ducked under tables and slipped out the swinging doors in the blink of a eye. Miss Kitty Angel stood at the top of the stairs watching him slip away. Her flustered face told the rest of the story about the failed bath attempt.

She slowly assented the stairs holding her red satin dress up to avoid the wet footprints left behind by the boy. She made her way to the end of the bar where her favorite french tea things were laid out. Tony the bartender came up and poured her a steaming cup of coffee.

"Looks like you could use this." He commented as he topped off the cup with the imported brandy that was on hand for her use only.

"Thank you, Tony" Kitty sipped from the cup as she watched the old man in the corner of the room slowly get to his feet. With cane in hand he made his way to the doors. It was once again the old man's job to bring back his wayward adopted grandson.

Kitty thought back to the time when the three lost souls become a family.

In New York Kitty Angel was one of the most popular saloon entertainers in the state. She had beauty, the body, and the greatest singing voice. With the over crowding in New York Kitty made a decision to follow the advice of Mr. John B. L. Soule.

"Go west, young man" He wrote in an article in the Terre Haute Express. Kitty like many made this trip across the country by wagon train. The only problem she could forsee was trying to hide the fact that she didn't have the best reputation.

Many upstanding women didn't like their men around saloon girls. They considered a woman like herself as low class and trouble. As well as a treat to their men.

For sure one well placed look or smile would bring men running from miles around. Of course Kitty wanted nothing to do with these men. She learned long ago that all men were not good.

After she left home there were many men who wanted to help her make a fresh start. She was not willing to give up her self respect. She was lucky to find a saloon owner who liked the way she sing.

Once on the wagon train she came under fire for being a saloon girl when a cowboy remember she from the Flying Dutchman. Then she had to fight to stay on the train.

It wasn't until that the scout came across a Indian baby abandoned in the bad lands that she found a way to stay on the train. No other woman would take the child because he was a filthy indian. Many had heard of the indian rades, and wanted nothing to do with him.

She took the child with the condition that she could stay. The wagon master agreed to let her car for the little boy. To her amazement a nice woman named Cathy offer to help her. Also a wonderful older man called Obadiah.

Obadiah took over driving her wagon so she could keep the baby. He collected milk, helped find cloth for dippers. Cathy was a good friend and told her how to get the baby to take the milk.

Cathy lost her only child to small pox some years back. Her husband and her were making their way west to start a new life in California. Cathy become pregnant with a child on the trip. She had a good hart and was glad to help Kitty.

On the first night Kitty was frantically trying to get the baby to sleep. Obadiah and Cathy were there with her.

"Hold him closer. Baby's need to feel that are wanted." Cathy smiled at Kitty's unsure face.

"Little thing like that has a hard start. I recon' he would need a good bit o' holdin'" Obadiah pulled on his long gray whiskers.

"I don't know anything about babies. I going to need alot of help." Kitty keep the baby close to her as she sway from side to side.

"We'll help all we can." Cathy patted her arm. "You need to think of a name for him."

"True, can't going around callin' him baby." Obadiah laughed

"It needs to sound indian, you know. What's today?" Kitty asked.

"Why it's Saturday. Why?" Cathy looked confused.

"Saturday, yeah that's a good name." She look into the sleeping face of the child in her arms.

"Indeed, Saturday Angel. Now that a fine name for the little scamp." Obadiah nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Saturday Angel. That's what you are my Saturday Angel." Kitty cooed at the baby.

That's the way it all started. Obadiah had made it his mission to help Kitty raise Saturday. He told the boy of the great cheifs and how they fought for their people. Nether Obadiah or Kitty keep his indian roots from Saturday.

They made sure that he had everything a boy could want for. The best schooling, find clothes, and as much food as a growing boy could put away. Though Saturday only wanted to ride his pony and go hunting with Obadiah.

Obadiah stoped briefly by one of the girls to take the thick shawl she was holding out to him. Kitty gave a little gasp as the old man stumbled at the door. He was getting to old to run after the little boy.

Kitty feared that Obadiah would not be with them for much longer. She was thankful that the saloon did such a good business. Money was not going to be a problem. She true sorrow came from the knowledge that Obadiah was dying.

Not long ago he had a bad spell, and the doc in town told her it was Obadiah's heart. The old man had lived more that 80 years. He said that the last eleven years were the best of his life, and when he died he would be a happy man.

When he was gone Kitty would have to raise Saturday alone. It wasn't that she was not a good mother, she would miss the old man dearly. She knew that Saturday would be hart broken at the loss of the old man.

That's why she denied eather of them nothing. Nothing would stop her from spoiling her little family. She was determined to raise Saturday to be a strong and brave man with a hart of gold like Obadiah's.

She would move heaven and earth to make that happen. No matter what the cost. Her family came first.