Sam noticed something like a twinge of panic in Irene’s demeanor after she muttered something which was unintelligible to him.  He wondered what it was about but didn’t ask.  She was entitled to her private thoughts without him playing the interrogator-general.   It was curious though that it seemed to follow almost immediately after his comment on telling the children about how they’d met.  Perhaps she’d not thought of having any or didn’t want to have them.  They’d never talked about them.  They could sort that out later . . . on a public walk outside a public office, was not the place.<br/><br/>Sam focused on what Irene was saying about the odd little man who managed the public and civic  records for the Oasis Township and the surrounding territory.  He didn’t have a very clear impression of how much territory that was and where its boundaries were set.  His frame of reference was the Court Circuit for which he worked.<br/><br/>“Thanks darlin’ . . . I’ll do the talkin’ if that will make you more comfortable.  You’ll be along more  like a witness . . . that set with you?”<br/><br/>His mind drifted back to his previous thoughts as she seemed to be looking him over. He’d never given having children any thought . . . as he’d never been in position for it to have been an issue.  He kinda thought they came as part of the deal, and wasn’t too sure how they wouldn’t come along except for some folks not being able to have them.  He’d leave that to Irene . . . it was her body after all.  Sam did his own muttering as he walked through the door that Irene was holding for him on the inside of the office.<br/><br/>“Damn . . . a mighty fine one too!”<br/><br/>He grinned as he realized that he was probably just as anxious to get this part over with quickly, even if not for the same reasoning.  He decided to do the best part first.  He walked to the counter and rang the little bell on the pad.  A little man with very pale skin and in very proper attire came out of a back office and walked up behind the counter.<br/><br/>He nodded at Sam and Irene with a hint of a smile.<br/><br/>“Hello . . . I’m Joseph Hardy, the township clerk, how may I help you?”<br/><br/>“Well Mr. Hardy . . . I’m Sam Markham and this is Misses Irene O’Rourke and we have three pieces of business we’d like to conduct with you.  The first is a personal matter.  We’d like to apply for a marriage license . . . an open-ended one.  Secondly, in my official capacity as an agent of the circuit court . . . ”  He showed the man his badge.  “And as you are the recorder and keeper of deeds and such, there are some records I need to see at the direction of the Court.”  Sam pulled a signed order from the Judge out of his inner vest pocket and laid it out unfolded on the counter for the man to read if he had a mind to. “And lastly, the Marshal tells me that you do renderings of suspects for posters and such and Misses O’Rourke had an encounter with a ner-do-well and very likely a villainous scoundrel that the Judge would like apprehended.  So sir . . . where shall we start?”<br/><br/>“Well sir . . . I’m pleased to be of service to you on all three matters.  If you can tell me the documents that you wish to see my assistant can start gathering them for you.  While she’s doing that I can sit with Misses O’Rourke and draw a likeness for you.  We can save the pleasant task of the marriage license for the end.  Misses O’Rourke . . . if you’ll have a seat by the window I’ll get my pad.  Agent Markham . . . if you can write down or think of the documents you wish to start with . . . Misses Cruz can start collecting them for you.  Excuse me sir . . . I’ll be just a minute.”<br/><br/>Sam turned to Irene and smiled as he gently squeezed her hand.<br/><br/>“I’ll be right here with you darlin’ so don’t fret none about having him getting the drawing right for you.”  He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “I’m truly going to like being married to you darlin’ . . . I truly am Irene.”<br/><br/>He turned his attention back to the counter when an older woman of Hispanic origin announced her presence by clearing her throat.  “How may I help you sir?”<br/><br/>“I’d like to see all the documents you have on file related to what was the O’Rourke ranch.  Thank you.”<br/><br/>Sam smiled at the woman as she wrote down what he’d said on a printed form.  He could see that she was a very attractive and stately woman and he thought that she must have been a real beauty in her younger years.<br/><br/>“Agent Markham . . . can you please sign this for our files and then I’ll be happy to find what you’re looking for.”<br/><br/>Sam signed the paper and Misses Cruz smiled and left him at the counter.  Mr. Hardy arrived on her heels and sat in a chair very close to Irene.  Sam took note that he’d positioned himself so he was sitting very close to Irene with the sunlight illuminating his drawing pad.<br/><br/>“So Misses O’Rourke . . . why don’t you begin by giving me a general description of this man. How was he built?  Short?  Tall? Plump? Skinny? You know . . . characteristics such as that and we’ll move on from there.”<br/><br/>Sam stood leaning back against the counter, less than three feet from Irene, directly opposite her.  He loved looking at her.  She had the most beautiful face and it distressed seeing her apparent pain in her expression.  He listened closely as Mr. Hardy did an excellent job drawing her impressions and recollections of the man out before he began to draw anything.   Mr. Hardy clearly knew what he needed and was very patient and reserved in how he got it.  It was nice to know how talented he seemed to be.  In Sam’s line of work you never knew whose talents and abilities you might need one day.