hapter 20

Winnie was sleeping when they returned and Rachel met them.

"Well, I suppose it was a bit too much for her," she smiled when she saw Winnie asleep in Lou's lap. Lou helped her get Winnie back in bed while Kid saw to the horses.

"So how did it go?" Rachel asked as they silently closed the door. Lou shook her head.

"It didn't work at all. At first I thought Buck was happy to see Winnie, but then he yelled at Kid, and Kid yelled back, and I honestly don't know if it's the same or if it's worse."

Rachel placed an arm around Lou.

"Don't worry, it will be all right. They'll sort it out sooner or later. Maybe you should leave'em alone?"

"Probably, but it's eating at Kid. I know he doesn't show it, but he really cares about all of us, us sticking together as a family. I think that's why he wanted to stop Buck from going."

"I know, Lou. But still there's nothing you can do."

"But he hates it when he's having an argument with one of the boys. He feels bad about it even when he's right! And I love him too much not to care."

Rachel sighed.

"They will work it out, Lou."

"And if they don't? What's gonna happen then, Rachel? If Buck goes back to the Kiowa, Kid will feel as if he forced him to go, but then Kid might feel that he should leave, and---"
"Take it easy, Lou!" Rachel looked at the girl. "I think you're rushing away here. So there has been one, and only one, setback in getting them to speak with each other. Right?"

"Sorry, Rachel. It's just that everything changed since--" Lou blushed slightly. "Since Kid and I, you know---"

"I know. I hope it isn't a bad change?" she asked suddenly feeling responsible. After all, she was the one Lou had talked to at that time.

"No, it's not a bad change, it's just that now I really know that he's the one, and it's if I can feel, no, know what's he's feeling. I can't remember knowing that before."

She looked over to the barn.

"I better go and help him with the horses," she added. "I don't know if I ever thanked you for your advice back then, did I?"

"You're welcome," Rachel smiled and hugged her. Suddenly remembering her own situation, she couldn't help but smile. I'm the right one to give advice, she thought. From the look of things, I'm the one needing advice.

The rest of the day passed slowly by. Lou was supposed to take the run when Jimmy returned, but apparently Jimmy was running a bit late. This had happened before so it was nothing to be worried about, at least not yet. Winnie seemed to be a lot better and after she had slept, Rachel allowed her to sit on the veranda. Rachel rather enjoyed sitting there with here, naming out different objects in English for her. Some things were familiar to Winnie and she returned the favour by trying to teach Rachel the Kiowa name for the same thing. Rachel did her best to try and pronounce them, but at the least it was a difficult language, and several times she managed to get the girl to keel over with laughter. As the day went by, Jimmy's absence became more obvious and the riders began to feel worried. Ike came back from his run. At four o'clock there was still no sign of Jimmy.

"Something's happen to him", Noah stated as he and Kid looked at the horizon for the umpteenth time with no result.

Something had indeed happen to Jimmy. He had been making rather good time on his run out, and there was no mail to carry on the return, so he was in no hurry. Seeing as the others didn't expect him to be back so soon, he'd decided to check the place where they found the tracks just one more time. Maybe he could find some clue to the thieves' whereabouts. When he reached the place where they had turned back the day before, he noticed that the sky had turned grey at the horizon and he frowned at the sight. If there was to be rain every trace would be erased, and so would their chances of catching the thieves. Staring at it, he made a decision.. If he could secure more of the tracks before they were obliterated, then their chances might not be completely gone. He was slightly aware that he might be disobeying Teaspoon's order, but he figured this was important enough for them to be set aside. Cautiously he slowly moved forward, following the tracks, only now and then stop to get his directions straight. He needed to find this place again, so it was important he got all the landmarks right. He'd been following them for some time, when he suddenly topped. From what he could tell the trail suddenly disappeared. He got off his horse and carefully searched the ground, and then he found it - traces heading back in the same direction as he had came from. Too late he realised that the trail had been false. Cursing himself for his own stupidity and for not listening to Teaspoon, he prepared to mount up, when a sound made him turn around. Around him, standing in a circle covering him from every direction , stood a group of Indians with their guns ready. From the look on their faces they weren't too friendly. Realising that resistance was futile and would only get him killed, he raised his hands to show he meant no harm. Immediately the one of the warriors urge his horse forward and before Jimmy could react he was struck down with the but end of the spear. The blow sent him sprawling to the ground, and somewhat dizzy he tried to get to his feet. The warrior turned his horse and leaped off it, drawing his knife. None of the other riders moved. In the corner of his eye Jimmy saw the warrior return and he desperately tried to get to his feet, only to be a second to late and he felt the warrior's hand clasp around his hair pulling his head backwards. He caught a glimpse of the knife aimed at his throat. Teaspoon never gonna forgive me for this, he thought as the knife moved down, when a shout was heard from the leader and the knife froze in its path. Still somewhat dizzy Jimmy was forced to his feet and his hands tied behind his back. His guns were taken from him. One of the warriors took care of his horse and he was forced to walk in front of them. Cursing himself for his stupidity he slowly started to walk, urged forward by the sharp points of the spears. Occasionally some warrior pushed harder and Jimmy could feel the point stab him in the back, causing a wound from which the blood flooded. But there was nothing he could do. He thought it took them an eternity to reach a large glade in which the village was situated. He was forced into the camp as the leader called out something in Kiowa. Jimmy had no idea what he was saying, but he could imagine that it wasn't good news for him. Exhausted he was dragged to something that looked like a ladder, raised against two poles, keeping it almost upright. His hands were freed only to be retied to the top of the ladder. He could feel the strain in his arms as they were forced above his head. He tried to lean back his head only to find that the sun was shining straight into his eyes, almost hurting them. He saw an older Indian approach the leader of the group and a new discussion was started. Trying to keep his eyes away from the sun he vaguely wondered what was going on.

"What is this?" Black Hawk approached the young warrior.

"I found him on our sacred grounds," Yellow Fox exclaimed, "and tonight he will die! Where's Red Bear?"

"He is out on a hunt. You can not kill this boy."

"Why not? He desecrated our sacred land!"

"The spirits have been good to us, we do not want to upset them. They sent us a buffalo herd."

"They are good to us because we caught him!" Yellow Fox pointed angrily at Jimmy.

"We should let the council decide."

"He should die!"

"There might be dangers that you don't see clearly. Let the council decide."

Yellow Fox looked angrily at Black Hawk, but he knew the older man was right and he couldn't go on questioning his decision. Black Hawk was one of the older in the council and to go against his words would not be in his favour if he ever wanted to become chief.

"I'll wait for the council's decision," Yellow Fox nodded, sure that the council could be convinced of the necessity of killing this white for what he had done. "How soon can the council meet?"

"We have to wait for Red Bear."

"They might not be back until tomorrow!"

"We'll wait."

"So be it. But he stays there." Yellow Fox pointed at Jimmy.

"I don't understand this. Jimmy should have been back ages ago." Kid said as the riders gathered on the porch of the bunkhouse. Nobody answered him, feeling the same thing. A dust cloud made them look up only to see that it was from the wrong direction. This was someone approaching from Sweetwater.

"Wonder who that can be?" Lou said and rose to see better. "It's a wagon," she added with a frown and then she sank down. "It's the supplies from the stable," she stated.

"It's late," Noah added.

"Yeah," Lou confirmed disinterested.

Kid sat in silence looking thoughtfully at the horizon.

"What are you thinking about?" Lou asked as she watched Rachel tell the men from the stable where the goods should be.

"I just thought --no, not even Jimmy would do something like that."

"Do what?" Noah turned to them.

"Well, I ain't sure, but Jimmy was very disappointed when Teaspoon told us to turn back yesterday. I thought he might have gone back."

"Why should he do that? Teaspoon told us not to do it." Lou said with a frown.

"But still--"

"Jimmy wouldn't do that!" Lou explained.

"I ain't so sure, Lou," Noah said thoughtfully. "It might be just something Jimmy could do."

"Oh no, you're not seriously saying that you think that he went back? Why should he go back?"

"To find more tracks or to secure those we found." Kid said.

"Or to get the horse thieves," Noah added.

"You're nice friends--" Lou begun when the stable hands approached them.

"Mrs. Dunne said we could help us to some coffee?" one of them asked and Lou pointed inside the bunkhouse.

"It's on the stove, help yourself."

"Thanks."

When the two was inside Lou turned to the others again.

"You know that Jimmy wouldn't disobey Teaspoon!"

"Unless he had a damn good reason," Noah said. "You might be right, Kid."

"Then why hasn't he come back?" Lou insisted.

Noah and Kid looked at each other.

"What?" Lou demanded.

"You heard what Teaspoon said about sacred grounds out there. If Jimmy continued, he might have gone straight into them." Kid said slowly, letting the words sank in.

"You think he might have got into trouble?"

"I don't think the Kiowa takes lightly on people desecrating their sacred land," Noah said grimly.

"You don't think -- he'd been killed?"

"We don't know that Lou," Kid said comforting. "They might just have taken him captive."

"I ain't so sure I'd prefer that to killing," Noah said and shook his head. "Well, we can't find out anything by sitting here. I say we go and have a look. Maybe he never went back."

"You're right. Lou, you're coming?"

Yeah, I'll just let Rachel know what we're doing."

Kid sighed as he rose from the ground.

"He was here, all right."

"Damn," Noah mumbled and looked at the tracks on the ground. "He must have continued."

"Looks like it."

"What was he thinking?" Kid said out loud.

"Should we continue?" Lou looked at the others.

"If Jimmy went that way, and he ain't back yet - hell if I know," Noah said. "It might be that none of us return."

"One of us should return and tell Teaspoon. The others can see if we can find him." Kid suggested.

"I ain't turning back." Lou's reply came instantly.

"I didn't say that," Kid objected.

"Hush," Noah said sharply, then continued, "I think we all should return, and that now."

"What?" Kid asked.

"Over the hill to the left, just behind that rock," Noah said.

Kid searched the area.

"An Indian?"

"Looks like it."

"Then we have to go back."

"Yeah, and I don't think we should wait too long," Noah concluded and mounted his horse. They others followed and they rode out of the dangerous area. Safely out of reach they slowed down.

"I don't think we need to doubt what happened to Jimmy," Kid said slowly.

"The question is if they killed him or if he's still alive," Noah stated.

"You think he might be alive?" Lou asked.

"He might, but I don't know Lou. Never been around Indians that much."

"We have to tell Teaspoon."

"He's not back until tomorrow." Kid said with a sigh.

"Well, there ain't much we can do on our own."

Buck woke up from the sound of voices. Margaret had opened the window earlier in the evening to let in some fresh air, but Buck was unaccustomed to the sounds of the town and found himself waking up when people passed by on the street outside. He sighed and tried to get back to sleep when a word caught his attention and he strained to listen to the conversation.

"I told you I heard it with my own ears. One of the Express Riders!"

"You're crazy, there haven't been any Indian trouble along the Express routes for some time now."

"Well, who's to say it ain't started. I heard the riders discuss it when I delivered some merchandise out there."

"What did they say?"

"That one of them were missing and that he probably been taken by Indians!"

"What Indians would that be?"

"The Kiowa of course, they're the ones that wont sign that treaty."

"I don't know, Jake - you're sure you heard right?"

"As sure as I' standing here - I'm telling you, with'em raids around Blue Creek and that at Henderson's place and now this - it's time we called in the army!"

"I thought Henderson already sent them a rapport."

"Not Henderson - I mean the town should ---"

The voices trailed off, leaving a bewildered Buck. He sank back into the bed, thoughts whirling in his mind. What had happened at the station? Who could be missing? And why did the riders think that he'd been taken by Indians? He decided that he had to find out. He had to get back. Now. Fighting a slight feeling of nausea he sat up again, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. He rose and was forced to lean on one of the bedposts for support. His leg felt a bit funny, but he supposed it was because of the wound. His head swirled and he had to fight the dizziness. Soon he started to feel better and he got dressed. Still fighting the nausea and the tiredness he sneaked out of the house and over to the stable. When he looked around he remembered that his horse still was at the station. Well, I don't have much choice, he thought, grabbing the reins of the nearest horse. He'd to explain to the owner later.

Chapter 21

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