With it being mid-morning, the fairly small stretch between the Hays Family Ranch and the nearest town was a living nightmare. With the sun already beating with its intense rays, Sam already began to feel the sunburn that they would both have by the end of the day. Luckily for him, he often rode in the wagon itself, as Mary preferred to be the one riding the horse at the front. It wasn't exactly professional, but she didn't care. 

It wasn't like anyone in the Hays family could separate her from the white horse that had long since become her companion. Sam was almost positive that she would just take off the reigns one of these days and rode off into the sunset. Sometimes, he wished she would. "People in this town don't seem to ever stop talkin'," Mary began and Sam peered out of the dark, dusty corners of the wagon. He let out a cough from some kicked up sand before continuing, "Yeah.."

Business was booming as usual and it wasn't surprise, considering it was the nearest town for ranches, farms, miners and priests for miles around. It was also the only place that a young'un could find socialization for themselves. Though, that was more Mary's field and she was very proud of it. "Looks like they're gossipin' again."

"Well, Mary, it ain't none of your business anyway." He had a point, but at the same time, he knew that wouldn't stop his older sister. Especially since Mary was often the talk of the town, mostly in a negative fashion. In the frontier, everyone had to work together to survive -- Mary didn't seem to enjoy playing by these rules. So, Sam was almost thrown from the wagon when stopped abruptly in front of one of the nearby shops and hopped off to hitch her horse.

"Now you stay here, darlin'," she pat the horse on the head who already buried its nose into the water basin below. She looked up to her brother who was climbing out of the wagon, "..And you can do whatever," she said non-nonchalantly while approaching a nearby couple and joining in on their conversation, "Howdy. Got any fine gossip for the mornin'?"

Meanwhile, Sam stepped out of the wagon, landing in the sand below. There were other wagons unloading, likely to prepare to sell. He and Mary were expected to sell, but their crops weren't growing well due to recent drought in their area. Some of their cattle and chickens had gotten sick due to lack of water and proper food as well. It was becoming harder and harder to pay for the property.

 Which, leaving Sam as the man of the family, begged the question: how would they handle being in drought and in debt?

[i]He didn't know.[/i]