Chapter 16

Jimmy opened the door of the Rock Creek marshal's office and paused before he took a step further, causing Charlie, who was close on his heels, to bump into him at the sudden halt of movement.  The ex-rider silently chuckled as he noticed an all too familiar sight behind the desk.

Charlie followed Jimmy's eyes and quickly pulled on the other deputy's arm.  An older man was leaning back in a chair with his feet resting on the desk and his hat pulled low over his eyes.

"He's sleeping,"  Charlie whispered, tugging at Jimmy's arm again.  "Maybe we oughta come back."

This made Jimmy laugh out loud.  He shook his head.  "Trust me, he ain't sleepin'"

"How did you get so smart, Hickok?"

Charlie looked at Jimmy, totally confused.  The voice came from the direction of the sleeping man, yet he hadn't changed his position and Charlie could swear his mouth hadn't moved.

Smiling, Jimmy answered,  "It seems this wise man I recently worked for taught me everything he knows."

"Well, tried to teach ya.  The jury's still out on whether he succeeded or not."  A finger raised the brim of the hat just enough so a squinty eye could peer out, accompanied by a lopsided grin.

"How ya doin', Teaspoon?"  Jimmy asked as he walked into the room.

"Better now that I see you back in town where you belong,"  Teaspoon said as he got to his feet.

Jimmy heard the warmth in the man's voice.  It felt good to know someone had missed him.  He wanted so bad to say how much he had missed the company of everyone at the station but wanted to wait to see how he was received first.

"Teaspoon, this here is Charlie Willis.  He also works for Sam."

Charlie eagerly stretched his hand forward.  He'd heard a lot of good things about the older man before him.  "It's a real pleasure to meet you, Marshal Hunter."

Teaspoon returned the greeting.  "Charlie."

"So what you been doing with yourself now that the Express has stopped?"  Jimmy asked as he and Charlie took the offered cups of coffee and sat down.

"Same old, same old,"  Teaspoon replied, returning to his desk with a fresh cup of coffee.  "Keepin' the peace.  Just like you, I see."  He pointed to the star pinned to Jimmy's jacket.

Jimmy's hand automatically went to the mentioned object.  "You seen me in one of these dozens of times,"  he reminded Teaspoon.

"Yeah, I have but this is the first one I didn't pin on you.  'Sides, it's for real, no more playing around, helping an old man out."

"You never let us play and you know it,"  Jimmy said, smiling.

Teaspoon leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms against his chest.  "Now how did I know you'd be comin' through my door any time now."

Jimmy played along.  He looked up at the ceiling, searching for an answer.  "Um, let me see.  Could it be that Sam sent you a telegram, addressed to me?"

"Didn't I say he was smart?"  Teaspoon asked Charlie, who shook his head at the pair before him.  They sure knew each other so well - Charlie wished he could have that sort of camaraderie with someone one of these days.

Teaspoon held the telegram out to his former employee.  Jimmy took it, read what it had to say then handed it back.  He nodded at Teaspoon's questioning look.

"The Flemington gang, huh?"  Teaspoon asked, once he'd read it.  He handed it back to Jimmy, who passed it along to Charlie.  "He's got a good size gang with him but it sounds like Sam might have an edge.  Always helps to have an injured member of the gang slowing their escape down."

"I think Sam's got us headin' in the right direction to catch up with them,"  Jimmy said.  "I thought we could use some extra help on this one,"  he added quietly, not looking at the man across the desk from him.

"Who'd you have in mind?"  Teaspoon asked.  He saw the change in Jimmy's expression.  It was almost hesitant now, cautious.

"Well, I figured another tracker wouldn't hurt, especially the best in the territory."

"Buck ain't too busy.  I'm sure he'd be willin',"  Teaspoon informed him.  "That all you need?"

"Well, I figured it also wouldn't hurt to have someone around who's one of the best at handling a gun."  Jimmy paused then looked up at the man whose opinion meant more to him than anyone.  "That is if he's still around or even talking to me."

"He's still in town, not goin' anywhere.  He'll talk to you, and he'll listen to what you have to say, long as you do the same,"  Teaspoon assured him.  He now understood the real reason Jimmy had come back to Rock Creek.  He was proud of this man he thought of as a son;  it takes a lot for a man to admit he might have jumped the gun and been too hasty in his judgment.  Now all that was needed was for the Kid to admit the same.  He just hoped that once the two former Express riders got to talking that their hot tempers wouldn't take over once again.  "You're makin' an effort, Jimmy, it won't go unnoticed."

Jimmy shrugged.  "I had to try something.  None of this is sittin' right with me.  I miss Kid, Teaspoon, miss both of them,"  he admitted.  "I miss his friendship, the shooting matches out behind the barn, hell, even him telling me how to do things,"  he chuckled.  "I thought I didn't need anyone - guess I was wrong.  It just ain't the same without him around.  It's as simple as that." 

"Sounds simple enough to me, as long as you don't read more into it than one friend tryin' to help another out.  Now, I can't speak for them but I'd say the feelin's mutual.  They got a lot on their plate right now but there's always room for family."  Teaspoon stood once again.  "You two look beat.  Why not go out to the station.  Rachel should have supper on the table soon and it looks like you could use a soft bunk to bed down in."

"Could we ever,"  Charlie agreed.

"Are Kid and Lou still out there?"  Jimmy asked.  He felt a twinge of guilt that he didn't know anything about the life of the two people he'd always thought of as his best friends.

"If they ain't when you get there, they will be come suppertime.  We still eat as a family around here."

Jimmy watched Charlie make his way to the door.  He slowly followed.  "Well, I guess it's time to get it over with." 

"You're doin' the right thing, son."

Jimmy grinned.  "That's just what Emma told me before riding out."

"Always knew she was a smart lady,"  Teaspoon said.  "Go on, get out of here, let me get back to work."  He waited until the door closed behind the two young men then went to resume his position behind the desk.  He slowly pulled his hat back over his eyes at the same time his boots hit the surface of the desk.  He let out a satisfied sigh as he leaned back.