A
Father’s TaleA
Father’s Taleafter a story line idea by Nesciri
Disclaimer: The characters of The Young Riders were created for television by Ed Spielman. The series aired on ABC TELEVISION from 1989 - 1992.
As soon as he opened the door, Buck knew he had made a mistake. As he started to apologize to Mrs. Jenkins, he heard Thompkins yelling from across the room.
"What did you do now, Boy?"
Buck glanced up, he felt the anger inside him start to surface. He fought back the urge to tell Thompkins off, and turned back to the elderly lady by his side.
"I'm terribly sorry, M'am. Let me help you with this. I'll be happy to pay for anything I damaged."
"Don't be silly," the lady responded. "It was my fault as much as it was yours. You just help me gather this up and keep me from blowin' away outside, and we'll call it even."
Buck smiled. "Thank you," he whispered as he bent to help Mrs. Jenkins gather her spilled supplies.
Thompkins decided he wasn't getting the response he wanted so he made his way over to where Buck and Mrs. Jenkins were busy gathering her items.
"I'll take care of her," Thompkins said pushing Buck out of his way. "If anything needs to be replaced, I'll just charge Miss Shannon."
Buck caught himself as he started to fall from Thompkins' push, and stood up.
"No," he said. "If anything needs to be replaced, I'll pay for it. Not Emma."
Thompkins glared at Buck. "Fine. I'll send word on what you owe me. Now, get out of my store. I've told you before I don't want your kind in here."
Buck swallowed his answer and his anger. He knew it would do no good to argue
with the man. Thompkins' hatred for Indians was strong and ran deep. Buck turned
to Mrs. Jenkins."I'm really sorry." He then turned to make his way
over to where Lou was gathering supplies for the station.
"The door's behind you," said Thompkins. "Be careful not to hit anyone else as you leave."
Buck sighed and left the store. He contemplated waiting for Mrs. Jenkins and helping her as she left the store, but decided he didn't want Thompkins to have an excuse to cause a bigger scene. Being reprimanded for something that was an accident was something Buck had grown accustom to, but it still hurt that people always assumed it was his fault when things went wrong. Buck made his way back to his horse, mounted, and rode to where Jimmy and Cody sat with the buck board.
"You get Lou?" asked Jimmy.
Buck shook his head no. It was too windy to sit here and explain everything, besides which Buck really just wanted to leave. "Thompkins wouldn't let me past the door," he replied and rode on out of town. He headed towards the river and the place he'd found that was secluded enough for him to set up a prayer area. maybe a bath and a prayer would make him feel better.
The two men watched as Buck rode by. They thought about robbing him just to have something to do, but decided it wasn't worth the effort. The only thing he appeared to have of value was his horse, and it he was from around these parts it would be recognized. They didn't want to draw attention to themselves, or they'd never be able to finish their business here. No, they'd just wait quietly here outside of town like they'd been instructed. Hopefully their boss would return soon. It was getting a bit cool and the wind wasn't helping any. "If he don't get here before dark, I'm headin' into town," said Jasper. His surly companion nodded his agreement.
"Not a bad idea," said Cutler as he rode into camp. "A hot bath,
meal, and a soft bed are just what we need. Tomorrow we can get supplies and
be on our way."
The other two quickly mounted and the threesome headed into Sweetwater. After visiting the hotel and cleaning up the three met at the saloon to eat and go over their plans. They found a corner in the back where no one would bother them, quickly ate their meal, and then Cutler cleared the table and produced a map for the others to study.
"Jasper, go get us some beer," Cutler told his companion. "Me and Wilson here will see what we can figure out since you don't know these parts and we do."
Jasper unfolded tall frame from the chair and ambled over to the bar. Wilson scooted his chair over so he could get a better look at the map. "Damn," he said as he looked it over.
"So, what'd ya learn?" asked Jasper as he put the beers down on the table.
"Seems we have a small problem," said Cutler.
"What's that?" asked Jasper.
"Seems my good friend Everett failed to mention that his map showed us a buried treasure in the middle of Kiowa sacred land. Gonna be tricky gettin' it outta there," explained Cutler.
"You serious?" asked Jasper.
"About what?" inquired Wilson.
"'Bout trying to take somethin' outta Kiowa land?" responded Jasper.
"Yep," said Cutler while Wilson nodded his agreement. "Jest need a better plan, that's all. It's not gonna be a simple matter of following the map and digging. We need to think of a way to get into the place that won't draw attention. Let's get some sleep and meet at the general store in the mornin'. We can get supplies to set up camp in the area so we can scout it out. Then we can decide what we're gonna do."
"Whatever you say, Boss," said Jasper, "But you should know, Kiowas ain't ones to mess with when it comes to sacred stuff."
"They can't be any worse then the rest of them," said Wilson.
"Right," agreed Cutler.
The sun rose on a clear, cold day. Buck sat quietly at the table eating his
breakfast. The experience yesterday afternoon was still bothering him. He'd
decided that when he finished his chores here, he'd ride over to the Jenkins'
place and see if there was anything he could do to make up for the trouble he'd
cause Mrs. Jenkins.
Teaspoon Hunter sat at the end of the table looking at "his boys"
as he liked to think of them. Lou had filled them in about what has occurred
at Thompkins' place yesterday, but Buck still hadn't mentioned it. He'd apologized
to Emma for not completing the job she'd given him, but offered no explanations
or excuses as to why. Teaspoon decided that it was time he had a talk with Thompkins
about the way he treated these boys, especially Buck. After all, the boys were
providing him a service. They were doing something neither of the older men
could, and deserved to be treated with something at least approaching respect.
He'd go there as soon as breakfast was done and the boys had started on their
chores.
Emma Shannon stood surveying her new family. She suspected that Buck might want to set things straight with Mrs. Jenkins even though he really had done nothing wrong from what she could tell. She'd only known the boy for a few months, but she'd learned that he was nothing if not dependable and honest. He had told Mrs. Jenkins he would help her and hadn't been allowed to keep that promise. She wiped her hands on her apron and worked her way to his end of the table.
He stiffened slightly as she laid her hand on his shoulder, "You have
a run today?"
"No, M'am," replied Buck.
"Good. I need you to run an errand for me," Emma smiled.
"You sure you want me to?" asked Buck. "I haven't been very
good at completing errands for you lately."
"It has to be you," said Emma. " I promised Abigail Jenkins
I'd send over a fresh starter bread next time I had one ready. Should be ready
about the time you finish up your chores around here. You wouldn't mind running
it over to her, would you? Shouldn't take long."
"That would be fine," replied Buck with a slight smile. He wondered
how Emma knew he wanted to go to the Jenkins' place.
Emma smiled back, "Good." She turned and headed back to the stove.
She stopped when she reached the other end of the table and Teaspoon. "Mr.
Spoon," she said quietly. "Could you be so kind as to get my package
from Thompkins' store? It seems to have been forgotten what with all the confusion
yesterday."
"I'd be happy to, Emma," replied Teaspoon. "Fact I'll leave
right now. I've been wanting to have a talk with Thompkins about our shopping
arrangements anyway."
"Teaspoon," said Buck.
"Yes, Son," replied Teaspoon.
"Could you find out what I owe him?"
"I'd say you don't really owe him anything, but I'll check and see what
he says. Let you know this evening."
"Thank you," replied Buck.
Teaspoon just smiled as he gathered his coat and hat and headed out the door.
As he entered the store, Teaspoon glanced around. He'd carefully planned out
what he was going to say on the ride in. He was glad no one was around. He headed
over to the corner where Thompkins had some coffee. It was cold and windy and
he needed to warm up. He helped himself to a cup and headed over to where Thompkins
was busy stocking shelves.
"Heard you had a bit of excitement here yesterday," said Teaspoon.
"Only because that half-breed of yours can't follow orders," snapped
Thompkins. "By the way, he owes me six bits."
"I'll tell him," said Teaspoon as he sipped on his coffee. "Don't
suppose it occurred to you that he was trying to do you a favor?"
"How? By killing my customers?"
"No. By keeping your front door attached to your building. He was trying
to slip in without letting the wind carry it away," explained Teaspoon.
"He shouldn't be coming in here at all," said Thompkins. "He's
been told he ain't welcome."
"Fine," said Teaspoon. "When you get a chance, figure out how
much we owe you. We'll be taking our business over to the store it Willow Creek."
"Now, Teaspoon," began Thompkins.
"If Buck's not allowed in here, none of us are shopping here. It's hard
enough remembering who's were on the runs these boys take without having to
remember that when it's Buck's turn to do the shopping I need to send someone
extra because you won't let him in. I can't afford to be sending him one place
and the rest somewhere else," said Teaspoon.
"That's blackmail," said Thompins glaring at Teaspoon.
"True," said Teaspoon, "but it's also what will happen. You haven't given the boy a chance. You decided he's not worth trusting simply because he's part Kiowa.
Did you realize it was his father who was white?"
"What difference does that make?" asked Thompkins.
"Means," replied Teaspoon, "it was an act of violence by the
people you hold as better that brought him into being. His mother was taken
against her will by a white man who had acted as a friend to the people in her
tribe.
"Considering how the boy's been treated by the people in his village growing
up, and people like you since he's left I'm surprised that he didn't just let
the wind destroy your place yesterday when he left. He could of, just like he
could of allowed the Kiowas to make war on the Pony Express and Sweetwater a
while back. He chose to stand up to his older half-brother and get him to stop.
"He's one of my best riders. He's polite, dependable, and hard working.
I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't make him quit because you had a bad experience
with some Indians in your past. He wasn't responsible for whatever it is that
happened to you. Stop making him pay for someone else's mistakes."
The two men had been so engrossed in their conversation that they hadn't noticed
the three men enter the store, or the interest they paid to the mention of the
Kiowa half-breed.
Teaspoon continued, "Buck don't talk much about his past, but between
him and Ike we've learned that both of them were pretty miserable at the mission
until they met up. Ike's also explained that from what he can tell everywhere
Buck goes people seem to blame him for anything that goes wrong. I don't want
that to be repeated here. Just try giving him a chance. Else we'll have to establish
a business agreement elsewhere. Understood?"
Thompkins looked at Teaspoon and then he noticed the men, "I'll think
about it," he told Teaspoon. "Tell him he don't owe me nothing."
"Thanks," said Teaspoon. as he turned to leave. "Morning, Gentlemen."
Thompkins made his way over to the men,"How can I help you?"
"We're looking to buy some supplies," answered Cutler. "We want enough to be able to stay out about a month doing some trapping and hunting."
