"In Japan, such businesses would immediately go to the eldest son," Shintaro responds. "If none are available then the owner's brother or his eldest son. Or the head of the family or clan will decide."
It was always possible a daughter may inherit but only till she married then it would be taken over by her husband. Shintaro doubted Boyd had children and even if he did, they would likely want nothing to do with anything touched by that man.
"I definitely do not have the qualifications to become a pharmacist, though I do know a little traditional medicine all samurai are taught. Wound treatment and the like, not typically for illness or disease."
"I'll go and talk with the bank and see what can be arranged," Shintaro decided. He couldn't do anothing about the pharmacy itself, but he certainly could arrange for leasing the living area. Otherwise the building wouldn't be making any money for anybody just sitting there.
"I should be going to see to my accommodations," Shintaro says, bowing low to the Marshal. "Thank you for putting your trust me to serve as Deputy."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Good idea. And finding men to take the job is one of the hardest things to come by out here; the hardest thing is finding men who will do the job. I believe that you will do the job for the town, as they are really who we work for. They count on us to be there for them when the chips are down, or there's trouble."
Finding men starting with him and two good deputies in Pike and Charlie had been more than just good luck, they had come to him wanting the chance. Now it appeared that Charlie would have a shot at working the day shift with Caine. With Shintaro breaking in on nights. The door was opening for his exit from the town Marshal's job. Shintaro, he believed, would be a good fit regardless of his race, he was smart, and that would be really helpful in dealing with the residents of the town, both the good and the bad.
"You're gonna do just fine, just fine. It's a good chance for folks to be exposed to a man from a different country than they might be used to. Most folks in this country are from somewhere else or related to people from another country. Good hunting for a place. You might see if that Land Office is open yet, fella by the name of Dawson Farley was going to open it up."
