Chapter 32

"Dammit, Sam, I could have shot you!" Jimmy yelled as he roughly placed his weapon back in its holster.

"No you wouldn't 'cause you were hopin' my voice was different and that I was the Kid," Sam told him.

Jimmy looked at him then turned away, trying to resume his searching.

Sam ran his hands over his weary face as he watched the young deputy in front of him. He’d given his prisoners to some of his other men to watch over so he could come see what was going on with the Kid. He'd been close enough to hear the conversations and realized they couldn't find him. Guilt overtook him, just like it did each and any time one of the men in his employ ended up wounded or worse. This time it felt different though, this was one of Emma's boys missing and hurt.

"Did you hear what I said, Jimmy?" Sam asked, talking to Jimmy's back as he peered over every rock he came across.

"I don't think I heard you clearly 'cause it sounded like you said I was leavin' without the Kid and we all know that just ain't happenin'."

"That's exactly what I said, Jimmy," Sam confirmed, his hands on his hips. He hated being the heavy here, the one forced to make all the rules but even though it was his job, someone had to remain with a clear head. And that certainly was not Hickok at the moment. "You have a job to do."

"You mean take those good for nothing prisoners back to jail?" Jimmy asked indignantly. "Take care of them while who knows what is happenin' to the Kid as we speak?" He shook his head. "If that's what you expect me to do then I quit."

"That's right, Jimmy, abandon everything you've worked for. You couldn't handle the fact that you might be wrong and your friends were right so instead of listening to them, you ran and stayed away. It seemed to me like you'd done a lot of thinking and maybe some growing up. Isn't that why you went back to Rock Creek in the first place? Huh? To tell them you realize it's alright to start listening to what people have to say. Well I thought from the looks of things, how you all were getting along, that some sorrys were passed around and you could admit they know you pretty well." Sam paused, having Jimmy's full attention now, even though the younger man looked ready to spit fire.

"Well I think you know me well enough to know that I am not talking about bringing back some prisoners," Sam stated. "As their close friend, as family, you have an obligation to the Kid and to Lou. You think I don't want him found? Hell, he's like family to me, too, but the fact of the matter is that he's missing. And he obviously is not around here or you would have found him by now." He walked closer to Jimmy before continuing, "Jimmy, I'm not abandoning him, I would never do that. All I'm saying is leave it to Buck; let him start tracking the man. Charlie can help him."

Jimmy firmly shook his head. "No, Charlie can go back with you, I have to stay and find Kid."

"You're not listening to me ..."

"And you're not listening to me!” Jimmy paused, breathing heavy. "I promised Lou that I would bring him back with me and there is no way in hell that I'm going back on that promise. Not to her. THAT is my obligation to her. I owe it to them to be together as their baby comes into this world."

"You owe it to Lou to tell her about her husband, not for her to hear it from someone else but from a close friend. I have no choice but to bring the prisoners to Rock Creek, since it's the closest town. You think she won't find out about it and assume it means her husband is back also?"

Jimmy looked at Sam. He knew Sam made sense but how could he abandon Kid? "I can't."

"Yes, you can, Jimmy, you aren’t abandoning him," Buck spoke for the first time. "I'll find him, if it's the last thing I do, I'll find him. Look, we're wasting time. He's here somewhere, I know it and you know it. I just have to go back and start all over again. I had to have missed something.”

Jimmy looked at Buck; he felt so confused. He wanted to believe Buck that he was the one who should be looking for Kid. He wanted to believe Sam that he himself was the one who should let Lou know what was going on. It’s just that it wasn’t in his nature to abandon a situation, no matter the reason. But did that logic apply here? He knew he’d eventually be able to convince Sam he needed to stay here but he was finding it harder thanks to what Buck was saying.

“Rock Creek's barely a full days ride from here - go back, talk to Lou, then get your butt back here so we can bring our friend home to his wife."

"How can I leave?" Jimmy asked Buck quietly, feeling lost. Why couldn't he just stay?

Buck moved until he was talking to Jimmy and no one else. "Do it for Lou. You and I both know he's hurt bad and the longer he's out there, the worse it is for him. She doesn't need any surprises, only honesty. It'll hurt but she'll be glad you didn't try to keep it from her."

Jimmy looked away, taking deep breaths as he looked around himself. It was time to start believing that Buck, as well as Sam, was right. If anyone could find the Kid in this confusing mess of a valley, it was Buck. He finally nodded as his eyes met Buck's.

"You just find him, so I can kick his butt for getting shot in the first place and scarin' us all to death," Jimmy said as he turned to follow Sam up the slope. "Don't let me down, Charlie," he called over his shoulder, pointing a finger at his partner.

"Not a chance," Charlie called after him. He glanced at Buck who started walking away.

Jimmy paused at the top of the slope, watching as the two men got on their horses and rode them toward the valley floor. "I'm sorry, Kid," he whispered. "Just hold on, alright? Help's comin'. It's comin'." He took one last look then disappeared over the top of the hill.