“What happened?” he asked exhausted. Jimmy and Cody looked at each other, but as always it was Cody who managed to get his mouth going first.

“We didn’t mean to…”

“To what? Ruin one month worth of grain?”

“You told us to fix the roof,” Jimmy reminded him.

“Fix the roof yes. Not pouring tar all over the supplies!”

“It was an accident, Teaspoon,” Cody said defensively.

Teaspoon was not in a mood to listen. He had enough worries on his mind. He hadn’t seen Buck or Rawnie for some time and it worried him and together with the letter from Mason, he was getting a headache. The obvious carelessness from Jimmy and Cody that might very well cost them a good sum of money was just the last drop. He closed his eyes, trying to shut out the different explanations coming from the two riders.

“That’s enough!” he shouted, causing both Jimmy and Cody to step back. “Now, I want to see this place cleaned up within one hour and then you can start cleaning up outside, starting with the woodpile and then the bunkhouse. Now git!”

“But…,” Cody begun as Jimmy held him back.

“Not now, Cody,” he whispered.

“Not another word, son,” Teaspoon warned and walked outside. Behind him he could here Cody’s whining voice.

“It ain’t fair, Jimmy, anybody could see it was an accident…”

Teaspoon squinted against the light as he stepped outside; shielding his eyes from the sun with is hand. He had a splitting headache and if he hadn’t been so worried over what might happen he would have headed over to his shed for a nap. Right now he needed to know the whereabouts of his niece and nephew. He saw Ike pulling a wheelbarrow before him crossing the yard.

“Ike!”

The boy stopped and looked as Teaspoon approached him. Ike just had to take one look at the older man to see he was angry and he smiled weakly at him.

“Where’s Buck?” Teaspoon asked.

Ike stared wide-eyed at him. *He finished his chores,* he begun.

“I didn’t ask if he had finished his chores, Ike, I asked where he is,” Teaspoon pointed out irritably.

*I don’t know,* Ike signed quickly.

Teaspoon eyed him suspiciously but he didn’t continue his questioning. Buck would show up sooner or later and it was a waste of time worrying before anything had happen. Teaspoon felt tired. Vaguely, he had a feeling he was doing everything wrong but as always, when it had come to his younger brother, and in this case, his brother’s children, he seemed to let his heart rule over his head. He closed his eyes. Right now he desperately needed something for his headache or at least a cup of coffee.

With that intention, he headed towards the bunkhouse. If Emma had been home, he would have asked her for some lemonade, but she had enlisted Kid for some business in town and wouldn’t be back for another hour. He would have to settle with coffee.

***

He still had a slight headache when he, an hour later, emerged from his bunk where he’d been taking a nap. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he sighed audibly and reached for his hat. Slowly walking outside, he pulled up his suspenders.

A dust cloud emerging from the open door of the bunkhouse told him Jimmy and Cody were busy carrying out his order and he smiled contently. They really weren’t bad boys and if they did a good job, he might even consider apologizing to them. Ike was outside preparing his horse for the next run. He turned towards town, but there was no sight of Emma yet.

He was just about to walk over to Ike for a last minute advice to the boy, when the wagon caught his eye. It must have arrived as he emerged from his shed, but instead of driving it up to the house the two youngsters had stayed slightly behind the barn, hidden from the others eyes.

“Thanks for the trip,” Rawnie said as she accepted Buck’s hand before climbing down.

“It was nothing,” he mumbled back as Rawnie took the last step onto the ground.

“It was for me,” she said with a smile and pressed his hand gently. “I really needed to get away.”

“I just hope you feel better,” Buck replied with a slightly embarrassed shrug.

Still neither of them had let go of the others’ hand. Somehow it just felt right. It felt safe and comfortable, but both of them knew that in a second or two it would feel embarrassing. Buck was the first to try and break the unexpected bond, when Rawnie leaned forward, her face mere inches from his.

“Thanks,” she whispered and for a second Buck feared she would kiss him.

Rawnie might have had that intention but in the last second she turned and simply gave him a peck on the cheek. She quickly withdrew her hand and with blushing cheeks she turned and briskly walked towards the house.

A bit stunned Buck remained where he was until one of the horses’ tail hit him on the chest as if to remind him they were still hitched to the wagon. It brought him out of his petrified state and he slowly began unhitching the animals.