Come What May
By, Katie and Jewelz
Chapter One
On a hill on the east side of Saint Joseph, Missouri a young man stood looking out over the town. This town was situated on the Missouri River. It was a stop for cattle drives, wagon trains and people going west, north, or south. There were saloons, hotels, general stores, seamstresses, a livery, a blacksmith, a school and a church. It was also home of the Pony Express. He slowly headed down the hill towards the livery, which is located on the side of town.
This young man was known as The Kid. Kid had curly light brown hair, blue eyes, and was a bit shorter then most young men his age. Kid was a very well off person. When his parents had died they had left Kid a large sum of money. He had it in the bank. He also had money on him. He was heading for the Pony Express building. He didn�t want to live off his parents� money alone so instead he was going to try and get a job. He went in the livery first planning to buy a horse if one was for sale. To his amazement he saw a paint mare standing tied to a post. The sunlight was shooting across the mare�s head and touching her forelegs. She stood tall with long muscular forelegs. Kid, engrossed with the mare�s looks walked over to her.
�Git away from there,� the livery man said.
�Just lookin I ain�t meanin no harm,� Kid said.
�Nice, ain�t she?� the older man said.
�Sure is,� Kid answered running a hand over the mare�s neck and legs.
�Ya can have her for twenty-five dollars. Not like you�ll ever see that much money,� the man offered.
Kid nodded and took twenty-five dollars out of his pocket. The man�s mouth opened then closed surprised but took the money and walked off.
He went into the saddle room and brought out a saddle, bridle and saddle bag. He saddled the mare and handed the halter and lead rope to Kid. He also handed him the reins. Kid nodded his thanks and led the mare outside. He mounted up and rode over to the clothes store where they sold clothes. He dismounted, tied up Katy, the mare�s new name, and walked inside the building, which had weathered looking wood. He went to the seamstress and got fitted for a shirt, a jacket, and jeans. He also picked out a new hat and boots. They told him to come back the next day and he left. He went over to the Pony Express�s main building, leaving Katy tied and saw a sign which asked for young teenage boys, strong and orphaned for the Sweetwater branch of the Pony Express. He went inside to the front desk.
�Yes,� a man at the desk said.
�The sign out there,� Kid said.
�You want the job?� the man asked.
�Yes.�
�Any living relatives that you know about?�
�No sir.�
�The job is yers. Day after tomorrow go to the main corral behind the livery. You�ll meet your fellow riders and the man who�ll be your station master.�
�Thank you sir.� Kid walked out of the office and down to the hotel to rent a room. There was one room and he got it for the next two nights. He went outside and over to a general store. He chose a Colt Revolver and a gun belt and paid for them. He left and took Katy over to the livery and paid for the mare�s keep for two nights. He found a Palomino mare in a corral outside the barn. He went into the corral and walked towards the mare while he studied the mare�s movements. She came over to him and he rubbed his hand along the mare�s strong nose. She had a long flowing mane and tail. She looked as though someone looked after her real well. He went into the corral and looked the mare up and down.
�Why you in there with my horse?� A young male voice asked. He turned and saw a young man, a bit older then himself watching him. He had on a long tan tweed coat, black pants, a gray ten-gallon hat, a Colt Revolver, and black boots.
�Sorry I was just lookin at her. She�s a nice lookin mare,� Kid replied giving the mare a last look before heading out of the corral.
�I�m James B. Hickok, call me Jimmy though. Your name?� The fellow asked.
�Everyone calls me Kid,� Kid answered.
�Well nice to meet ya. I saw that paint mare in the barn and livery man said she belonged to ya. Are ya joining the Pony Express with her?� Jimmy asked.
�Yup, are ya?� Kid replied.
�Yea, I need a decent days work with good pay and something to eat in the evenings,� Jimmy answered.
�Ya got a place to stay tonight and tomorrow night?� Kid asked.
�Nope.�
�Ya could stay with me at the hotel if ya like, ya could sleep on the floor.�
�That�d be great, thanks.�
The two boys walked off together talking and getting to know each other better. That evening after they�d had dinner at the hotel restaurant they retired to the room. Kid looked at Jimmy.
�Where are they sending ya?� Kid asked him.
�To Sweetwater,� Jimmy answered.
�Same,� Kid answered.
�Well, don�t know about ya but I�m ready to sleep,� Jimmy said.
Kid nodded and grabbed some extra bedding and a pillow for his new friend. They fixed a makeshift bed on the floor and soon they were both fast asleep.
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Two mornings later Kid and Jimmy with their horses headed towards the main corral at the livery. They found four other boys about their age. One looked like a half-blood Indian, one had no hair, one was really short with a hat covering his face and the other had blond hair. They all were strong looking fellows. Kid and Jimmy tied Katy and the Palomino, who was called Blaze, beside five other horses, a sturdy looking bay filly, a black mare with a stripe, a chestnut colt, a black colt, and a light bay filly. They walked over to where the others were standing. The six boys stood and waited and waited. Suddenly bubbles from the horse trough started coming up and the water moved. A man sat up and grabbed the bay filly�s tail. He rubbed his face on it.
�That felt good. I�m Teaspoon Hunter, ya�ll boys must be the Pony Express fellows fer Sweetwater. I�m yer boss and yus better listen to everything I tell ya. You�ll be ridin thousand miles. You�ll go through Indian Territory, unsettled country and through bad towns. There�ll be thieves, and Injuns watchin yer every move but the bag�s gotta get through,� the man said. He stopped for a breath and looked at them. �Names and ages, starting with that smallest one over there,� Teaspoon finished up.
�Lou Jones and I�m 15,� came the reply.
Kid was next. �Kid, 15,� he said.
�James B. Hickok, call me Jimmy and I�m 16,� Jimmy said.
�William F. Cody, call me Billy and I�m 16,� said the next person.
�I ain�t callin ya Billy, I�ll call ya as I please, Cody,� Teaspoon said.
�I�m Buck McDaniels and I�m 17,� the Indian said.
�A half-blood?� Teaspoon asked bringing some arrows over. He picked one out. �Who?�
�Kiowa,� Buck answered.
�This,� Teaspoon choosing another.
�Comanche.�
�And this?�
�Apache.�
�Ok. Next?� Teaspoon said.
�He can�t talk,� Buck said.
�Well what�s his name?� Teaspoon said.
�Ike Johnston, and he�s 17,� Buck answered.
�Ok boys if you have everything that belongs to ya with yer horse let�s go. We�ll start going to Sweetwater. Emma Shannon, and Rachel Dunne will be doing the washin, cookin, and cleanin, ya boys will do what they tell ya with no excuses otherwise I�ll have ya cookin fer a few days,� Teaspoon said.
The six nodded and headed over to where their horses were tied. Kid took Katy�s reins and mounted up. On one side Jimmy mounted Blaze and on the other Lou mounted a black filly. Teaspoon got the stocky bay filly and mounted her. A wagon came around the corner of the barn pulled by two gray colts. A young woman stepped out of the wagon. She had blond wavy hair and light blue eyes. She wore a long calico work dress with a light flower print on it. In one of the pockets was a golden pocket watch, on a black rope-string.
�I�m Emma Shannon and I�ll be lookin after yer well being,� the lady said. �Let�s git goin. Rachel Dunne, who is already in Sweetwater will also be lookin after you,� Emma finished.
The boys turned their horses to the edge of town. Emma led the way with Teaspoon right behind her. Buck and Ike followed closely, then Cody and Lou and last was Jimmy and the Kid. Kid rode silently beside his friend thinking about his new life with these people, all with different pasts but together with one common thing; for a decent job, money, a place to sleep and meals; to feel as part of a family. These were to be his new friends, and family. He would have to put his past life behind him. Teaspoon rode over to Kid and Jimmy.
�Where are you boys from?� Teaspoon asked.
�I�m from Virginia,� Kid said.
�New York,� Jimmy answered.
�A Southern boy you for slavery?� Teaspoon asked Kid.
�It�s part of my way of life, my father always owned slaves. I don�t know though,� Kid answered.
�And Jimmy, you against it?� Teaspoon asked Jimmy.
�A little because everyone deserves the right to their freedom. After all America is supposed to be a free country,� Jimmy said.
Teaspoon nodded and rode up to Lou and Cody. �Where you two come from?� He asked them.
�Iowa,� Cody answered.
�No where special,� Lou said.
Teaspoon looked at Lou for a moment and then rode forward. �And Buck, where you and Ike from?� Teaspoon asked the remaining two.
�I�m from a Kiowa village and Ike has never been able to tell me where he�s from. He uses Indian Sign Language, which I�m teaching him but he can hear perfectly fine,� Buck answered.
�You teach it to the rest of us, sometime so we can understand, Ike but until then you gotta translate what he�s sayin to us,� Teaspoon said.
�Yes, Mr. Hunter,� Buck said.
�Don�t call me Mr. Hunter, we�re family now you call me Teaspoon,� Teaspoon told him.
He rode back to the front and the rode in silence.
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Chapter Two
A few weeks later they had settled into their new life. They were all good friends and looked out for each other. They were all learning Indian Sign Language for Ike. But there were separate friendships such as Ike�s and Buck�s, Cody�s and Jimmy�s and Lou�s and Kid�s. Kid and Jimmy were still very good friends. Their days consisted of riding, going into town, eating Emma�s meals, getting into trouble in Sweetwater and doing chores around the farm. One afternoon it was their day off and they were hanging around the farm. Jimmy had found a rattlesnake and was playing with it. Buck was making something with wood. Ike was breaking a horse. Lou was watching Ike. Cody was sitting on the porch on the bunkhouse trying to nap and Kid was washing Katy off. The mare was very dusty and needed cleaned.
Lou watched as Ike led the young chestnut filly for the first time. He rubbed her muzzle as he walked her.
�How do you do it, Ike?� Lou asked him with a smile.
Ike smiled and shrugged. �I don�t know, I just do,� he signed to Lou.
�Could I try?� Lou asked.
Ike nodded and Lou came into the corral. He handed the rope tied to the filly�s halter. Instantly the filly pulled back at the different person holding her rope. Lou handed the rope back to Ike and the filly calmed. Ike smiled and Lou left the corral and went over to where Kid was finishing up with Katy. Kid nodded a hello and untied the mare. Lou walked beside him as he put the in for the night.
�I saw ya try to led that filly. She�s a tough one made to be a wild horse not ridden. Ike�s good with her,� Kid said.
�Yea, but I like to try sometimes. Maggie is easy to handle. I bought her as soon as I left the place where I was living,� Lou said, speaking of the black mare that he owned.
�Yea well, lets go see what Jimmy�s up to,� Kid said, walking to where Buck sat and Cody joined them from the porch. �What�s he doing?� Kid asked them.
�Messing with that rattler over there,� Buck answered.
�Who�s got first ride tomorrow?� Cody asked.
�You,� Lou answered.
�I hate havin the first ride in the mornin. I prefer the mid-day ride,� Cody groaned.
�I�ve got the next ride after you and then Jimmy,� Kid said to him.
�I�ve got a ride the next day after Buck and then Ike,� Lou said.
Buck suddenly picked up his tomahawk and threw it at the rattler. The snake had been ready to strike Jimmy. It hit the rattler and sent it through the air. Jimmy glanced over and came towards them. He sat down beside Kid and looked towards Ike.
�How�d he get so good at that?� Jimmy asked.
�He�s just a natural I suppose,� Kid answered.
�Oh Kid you wanna go into town tomorrow? I need to pick up something from the store, before our rides?� Jimmy asked.
�Sure, I ordered something and was told to pick it up then,� Kid replied.
�Can I come?� Lou asked.
�Of course, let�s see what trouble we can get ourselves in,� Jimmy kidded. In Sweetwater they were always getting into trouble. It was one thing after another. So Jimmy�s remark was half teasing, half serious.
�Boys, lunch,� Emma called.
They all stood and walked over to the bunkhouse, which served as kitchen and a bedroom the six boys shared. It consisted of three bunks, a kitchen table, a wood stove, and places for them to keep their things and racks for their hats, gun belts, and coats. They all sat down in their usual places; Jimmy, Kid and Lou on one side and Buck, Ike, and Cody on the other. Teaspoon sat at the head and Emma and Rachel at the other end of the table. Teaspoon came in and joined them.
�Rides, are switched tomorrow, Kid you go first, Ike you next and then Buck. Cody, you, Lou, and Jimmy the day after tomorrow,� Teaspoon said.
�Teaspoon but I need to go to town,� Kid said.
�I�ll get whatever it is you need,� Jimmy offered.
�Just go the general store and ask for my package, it�s under my name,� Kid said.
�That�s cool, Lou you and Cody can come with me,� Jimmy said.
They all finished their meal slowly. Kid was staring at his plate. He finished and left the table. The others watched as he walked outside. Cody shrugged his shoulders.
�What�s got into him?� Cody asked.
�I dunno. He seems angry at somethin that he�s holding inside,� Jimmy said. �When we first became friends he was happy with no anger towards anything.�
�I don�t want him riding tomorrow, so it�ll have to be Ike, then Buck and Lou last. Is that ok?� Teaspoon said changing plans.
�Sure, Teaspoon, but is there another horse I can ride other than mine. He�s got a bit of heat in his left foreleg. I want give him a few days rest,� Buck said.
�You can use my bay mare or the gray filly that we sometimes use,� Teaspoon answered.
�Ok,� Buck said.
�I�ll be back,� Lou said. �I�m gonna go see what�s wrong with Kid,� Lou finished.
�Ok, but don�t push him if he doesn�t want to tell you anything then don�t force it,� Teaspoon said.
Lou nodded and walked outside. He found Kid sitting on the corral fence rubbing Katy�s cheek. He headed over there. Kid heard him and turned around. Kid grinned briefly then turned back to Katy. Lou climbed up beside him on the fence.
�Kid, what�s wrong?� Lou asked him.
�Nothin, I�m fine,� Kid answered puzzled.
�Somethin�s wrong, you can tell me,� Lou persisted.
�Well, I just get angry when I can�t do something as well as Jimmy, or be as good with the horses as Ike. I�ve never been good at something and I�ve always been teased by fellow friends, but because I�m so kind and caring I never fight back yet I hurt. I�m hurt now,� Kid said.
�Hurt by what? That you�re not as strong as the others and you feel put down?� Lou said.
�Yes, I feel very put down,� Kid said. He jumped down from the fence and into the corral he mounted Katy without a bridle or saddle. �This is when I feel like I can do anything. I feel as one with Katy,� Kid finished. He turned Katy and trotted around the corral. Lou turned and walked back to the bunkhouse. Inside he sat down beside Jimmy.
�Find out anything?� Buck asked.
�He seems angry at the world but he won�t go into details,� Lou said.
�There�s not much we can do for him. Just give him some space and see if he�s ok,� Teaspoon said.
Everyone nodded. Teaspoon stood up and walked outside. Emma cleared the dishes and washed them. Rachel helped Emma before heading out to get the sheets off the line. The boys were tired. They�d been up since six that morning. They�d been in town, come home and worked on different things. Emma left and the boys got ready to lie down. Teaspoon came back in with Kid following quietly. He looked sad and depressed. Teaspoon came over and pulled a chair out. He sat on it. Kid unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it off. Then he pulled his boots off. He took his hat off. He�d left his jacket when he�d gone outside. He walked over and sat on Lou�s bunk, which was under Kid�s.
�Boys I want you to know something, you can come to me for anything. I�ll try my best to help you with your problems and if I can�t there�s Emma, Sam, or Rachel and you�ve also got each other. I don�t want us keeping everything secrets,� Teaspoon said.
�Thanks, Teaspoon,� Ike signed from his top bunk above Buck�s. The other bunk was Cody on top of Jimmy.
Kid nodded and looked at Teaspoon. �Teaspoon, thanks for everything,� Kid said.
�No need to thank me. Why I think of you boys as my sons,� he said shyly. �Now you boys get your sleep,� he finished standing up. He put his chair back under the table and left the room.
Kid climbed into his bunk and lay down. Jimmy came over to him. �You ok, Kid?� Jimmy asked him.
�I�m fine jus tired. I�ll tell you more tomorrow,� Kid said. Jimmy nodded and went back to his bunk. Cody looked at Jimmy and shrugged. Lou finished getting ready for bed and looked up to Kid.
�You sure, you�re ok, Kid?� Lou asked.
�I�ll tell ya sometime tomorrow,� Kid answered. He looked down and smiled at him. Lou nodded and ducked back to the bed under Kid.
Ike was signing something to Buck. �Ike says be quiet he�s got first ride in the mornin and he needs his rest. Kid nodded and Lou got up and went to blow out the lamp. He went and lay back down.
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Chapter Three
When Kid woke up in the morning Ike was getting ready for his ride. Cody was sitting up in his bed rubbing his eyes. Jimmy was heading out the door. Lou was buttoning his shirt and Buck was pulling his boots on. Kid sat up. �Why didn�t anyone wake me up?� He asked.
�Morning Kid we thought we�d let you sleep this morning,� Cody said.
Kid nodded and hopped out of his bed. He grabbed his pants and pulled them on. He slipped into his shirt and buttoned it up. He grabbed his hat, while slipping on his gun belt. Kid pulled his coat on and went outside, placing the hat on his head. He went into the corral and cut Ike�s horse from the rest and led the colt out and tied him up. He went into the barn and got the horse�s saddle and bridle and brought them back out. He quickly saddled the colt. As he was tightening the girth the rider from Ft. Laramie galloped around the corner. He finished quickly.
�Ike, yer up!� He called walking the horse to the bunkhouse. Ike flew out and mounted up. �Take care,� Kid said. Ike nodded and rode forward.
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Later on that afternoon Kid, Jimmy and Cody sat in the saloon having a drink when Buck came in. They greeted him and finished their drink. �What�s with Lou? I was trying to tell him somethin but he just grabbed the mail and left. There were some Comanche and Kiowa out there. They might go after him,� Buck said getting a drink from the bartender.
�I�ll go find him,� Kid said running out the door. He untied Katy and mounted up. He headed out of town towards Lou�s route. Katy galloped quickly heading towards the place where her friend, Maggie was headed.
Kid raced down the trail hopping to find Lou still on his horse. The worst happened Lou�s horse galloped the bend but Lou wasn�t in the saddle. The mail pouch was still attached to the saddle horn, flapping in the wind. Kid trotted Katy beside Maggie until the black mare walked and halted. Kid grabbed the reins and led the mare back the way she came. Kid finally found Lou laying the dirt. There was a wound in his right side near his chest. Kid halted and dismounted. He picked Lou up and placed him on Maggie. He remounted and turned back riding at a walk, leading Maggie. He reached a cabin, which he�d passed on the way and stopped. He dismounted and helped Lou off of Maggie. He carried Lou inside and laid down on one of the beds. He started to unbutton the shirt and Lou tried to fight him off but he couldn�t. Kid looked down then and saw somethin.
�What�s wrong Kid, never seen a girl before?� Lou asked.
�Why didn�t you tell me? This is no place for a girl,� Kid said.
�I couldn�t, I need the money to get my brother, Jeremiah, and my sister, Theresa. I didn�t have much choice,� Lou explained.
�Well, what am I supposed to do?� Kid asked.
�Don�t tell anyone, please,� Lou said. �If Teaspoon finds out he�ll have to fire me.�
�He wouldn�t,� Kid said.
�He�d have to,� Lou said.
�I won�t tell but now�s the time for you to get some rest,� Kid said. He pulled a blanket up over her.
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Chapter Four
The next morning, they heard hoof beats and Kid went to the window. It was Ike, Buck, Jimmy, and Cody. Kid looked towards Lou then walked outside, she watched him.
�Lou ok, Kid?� Jimmy asked.
�I�m fine, Jimmy,� Lou said coming outside.
�Well we found the people who tried to kill ya. They�re on their way here,� Cody said.
�Well lets go find em,� Lou said.
�I�ll stay and wait for them, the rest of you ride on ahead,� Kid said taking the big rifle out of the holster on Katy�s saddle.
�I�ll stay with you,� Lou said.
�No! Go, with them it�s too dangerous,� Kid said looking in her eyes.
�Lou, can stay if he wants,� Cody said.
Kid nodded and Lou grabbed the rifle from her bag. The others turned and galloped off. Kid looked at Lou. �Why�d you want to stay?� Kid asked.
�You need help and I can help you,� Lou said looking towards a place where the ground went into a valley. There were fifteen to twenty men heading that way on many types of horses. Kid and Lou ran to their horses and hid them behind some bushes. Then, they went and watched them. The men reached the cabin looking carefully around them. Two dismounted and went inside. Another man watched the valley seeming to expect someone to come along any minute. Kid mentioned to Lou and they walked back to the horses careful not to tread on any leaves or stones. They led the horses away and mounted up once they were a safe distance from the men. Katy and Maggie took off at a gallop in the direction Ike and the others had gone. The men looked up and started shooting at them but missed. Two of them pointed in the direction they were going and the others came outside. They mounted and followed Kid and Lou. Katy whinnied sharply and pulled her head up, knowing the way she raced through bushes and places where it would be hard for riders to track them. Maggie followed closely behind Kid and Katy. The rounded a bend and galloped down a slope. Kid and Lou looked back and didn�t see the men. They galloped until they saw Buck, Cody, Jimmy, and Ike. They slowed beside them. Ike looked over.
�What happened?� He signed.
�Those men were chasing us as we came this way,� Lou answered.
�They were shooting at us,� Kid added.
�Let�s go we should reach Sweetwater by night fall,� Cody said. They turned their mounts and headed home. Katy and Maggie, worn out followed the other horses quietly. Kid noticed after a few minutes that something was wrong with Katy�s foreleg.
�Hold up, a sec,� Kid said halting Katy and dismounting. He picked up the left hoof that felt all wrong and looked at, cleaning dirt out with his finger.
�Well, what�s wrong?� Jimmy asked, resting his hand on Blaze�s neck.
�I�m not sure,� Kid said, putting the hoof down. He checked the mare�s shoulder and found a wound from a bullet. �She�s been shot,� Kid said.
�Well hop on up behind, me and we�ll lead her back,� Jimmy said. Kid nodded and walked over to Blaze. Jimmy gave him the stirrup to use and he mounted up, holding Katy�s reins. They set off again. It took them an extra hour to get home due to the slow pace that Katy set. The came to a halt in front of the house and Kid dismounted from behind Jimmy. He led Katy slowly over to the corral fence, his head hanging low. Lou walked up beside him, tying Maggie beside Katy. Katy gave a small wicker but she was too tired and injured to take notice. Teaspoon came outside and walked over to them. Exhaustion hit Kid smack in the face.
�What�s wrong with Katy?� Teaspoon asked.
�She got shot,� Kid answered removing the mare�s tack.
�Well let�s get it out,� Teaspoon said. The mare obliviously exhausted laid down when Kid untied her from the fence.
Teaspoon nodded and went to the mare�s shoulder. He got a fire going, and put pressure on the area. He pulled a knife out of his pouch and used it to pull out the bullet while he held a burning piece of wood against it. The mare nickered and stood up.
�Thanks, Teaspoon,� Kid said walking the mare into the barn. He put her in the second stall, on the left side of the barn. In the stall beside Katy was the mare who had a young foal. Kid patted the mare�s neck and took off her halter. He put it on a hook outside the stall and shut the door. He turned and left the barn for some hay. He went back into the barn and put some hay in the wooden box in the stall. Kid took the water bucket from the stall and filled it at the tap outside. He took it into the stall and hung it up. He relatched the stall door. Katy nuzzled him and gave a soft wicker. He rubbed the paint�s nose and scratched her ears. He left after a moment and went outside. Lou came over to him.
�How�s Katy?� Lou asked.
�She�ll be ok in the morning,� Kid said.
�Oh, Kid, I�m sorry, why don�t you come in and have dinner?� Lou asked.
�I�m coming,� Kid said, pulling the barn door closed. Together they walked up to the bunkhouse. Kid walked in first and took his hat and jacket off. He put them over the rack and went to sit down beside Jimmy. Lou sat on his other side. Teaspoon watched him from the head of the table.
�How�s the mare?� He asked.
�She�s ok but a bit uncomfortable. I put her beside the mare and foal,� Kid said. Emma came around and put some food on his plate.
�This is what we�re gonna have to do. You�ll have to ride in pairs tomorrow. That means, Lou, Ike and Buck, you�ll have an extra ride tomorrow. Lou you�ll ride with Kid. Jimmy you�ll ride with Cody and Ike you and Buck will ride together. Anyone want to switch any of these rides around?� Teaspoon said. �I�ve also written to the headquarters in Saint Joseph, for more help.
�Why, are we doing this?� Ike signed.
�Those men might attack you, because your all apart of the Pony Express and they might try and get the bags,� Teaspoon answered. �No matter what happens them bags gotta get through. It�s also come to where we need extra riders. I asked for two or three.�
�Ok,� Kid said. �Can we take those big six-shooter rifles with us?�
�Yep, one of you from each ride will carry one of them rifles. I suggest Kid you carry it, Buck you carry it and Cody cause you�re the better long shot then Jimmy,� Teaspoon said.
�Well I�ll go and have my shower. Then I�m going to bed,� Kid said standing up.
�Ok,� Teaspoon said. Kid walked out and over to the shower house. It consisted of a single shower stall, with a huge water barrel up top and when you pulled a rope handle the water would come out. After he finished and dressed in clean clothes he went to Emma with his clothes. Emma looked at him.
�Want something?� She asked.
�Could you wash these tomorrow?� Kid asked.
�Sure, I wish those other boys were like you, staying clean all the time,� Emma said.
Kid nodded. �Could I talk to you about something?� He asked.
�Sure, go ahead,� Emma said.
�Well it�s like this, I found out somethin about one of the boys and I gave my word I wouldn�t tell Teaspoon but I feel bad about keeping it from him. What do you think I should do?� Kid asked.
�Well if you think that Teaspoon really outta know then you should tell him. What�s yer heart tellin ya?� Emma said.
�I�m confused because I want to do what�s right but I don�t lose my friend�s trust,� Kid answered.
�Well follow yer heart it�ll tell ya what to do in the end,� Emma said.
�Thanks,� Kid said.
�Good night, Kid and if you want to talk about it again, just come n see me,� Emma said.
�Night, Emma, see ya in the mornin,� Kid answered. He turned and went into the bunkhouse. Lou came over to him as he was taking off his clean jacket, and shirt. He pulled his gun belt off and hooked it over his bed post.
�What was you talking about with Emma?� She asked him.
�Nothing just having a casual talk,� Kid answered taking off his brown hat.
�Come outside for a minute,� Lou said.
�Ok,� he answered. He followed her out of the bunk. �What�s wrong?� Kid asked.
�Nothing but I just want to thank you for keeping my secret today with the boys,� Lou said.
�It�s not easy, especially Jimmy. He was my very first friend in this world. Other then you he�s me best friend,� Kid admitted.
�I understand, and I will tell them all,� Lou started. �Not yet though. I still feel like I�ve gotta prove myself to them. I�ve never done anything good in my life until now. I couldn�t even keep Jeremiah, my brother, Theresa, my sister and myself together. I worked for a brothel doing the laundry, and got attacked by the owner, Wicks. My only friend, Charlotte, helped me buy a train ticket to St. Joseph,� Lou finished.
�I�m sorry Lou, but I�ve had pretty rough as well,� Kid said.
�Tell me,� Lou encouraged.
�Well my parents died when I was very little and I was sent to a foster home. My brother was sent to another one. They were mean to me, treating me like a slave. They made me work in the fields with their slaves. When I was almost 15 I ran away from them. I tried to find my brother, but by then he�d left his home. I wandered around without a horse to ride, without a place to sleep or proper food. When I arrived in St. Joseph I looked terrible. I received money from my parents but I didn�t want to use it. I was trying to persuade myself that I could and can do things on my own. Then I met Jimmy, through some sort of luck,� Kid said.
�That�s not terrible, but it is pretty bad. We�ve all had tough pasts but I hope those times are over,� Lou said.
�Well, lets go in and get some sleep tomorrow�s going to a tough day,� Kid said. Lou nodded and they walked into the bunk.
-----------------------------------------------------
Chapter Five
The next day, Buck was on the early ride, much to Teaspoon�s objections for him to ride alone, and first. On the way, he heard lots of gunshots in a small town to his left. Curious, he turned to see what was the problem. In the middle of the town, a young boy with dark shoulder-length hair was shooting at a gang of outlaws from behind the corner of a building. With him was a trembling little girl of about five years old. The boy had an arm around her as if he was protecting her.
More curious than ever, Buck asked a bystander what was going on.
� You new around here, huh?� said the man standing next to him.
� Yeah, I�m just ridin through doing my Pony Express job,� Buck replied.
� Well, those outlaws were attackin that poor lil girl over there. So, that other boy stepped in and told �em to leave her alone. And the rest of the story you can see.�
� Oh. He�s sure puttin up a good fight,� said Buck.
Then suddenly, while the boy was still reloading, one of the gangsters fired a shot that got the boy in his shoulder. Then the fight got very ugly as the gang began to try and corner them. The injured boy picked up the little girl and ran, the wound bleeding heavily, staining the ground. The boy placed the girl on the back of a sleek black horse with a white star on its forehead. Then he mounted himself, urging the horse into a gallop away from the attackers. Buck followed on his own horse.
The boy, whose name was Dani, was growing steadily weaker. Then, without warning, Dani became unconscious, and fell from his horse. Buck quickly caught the boy�s horse and slowed. He lifted Dani back onto his horse and the two horses galloped back to the station.
� Hey, Jimmy!� Buck hollered.
� What?� Jimmy yelled back.
� Injured boy for you ta take care of while I take this girl back to where she came from. Ike, take his horse to the barn, okay?� said Buck. Ike nodded, and took the black horse�s reins from Buck. � I�ll tell ya the whole story later.� Then Buck rode off, his horse kicking up clouds of dust.
Jimmy took Dani�s limp body inside the bunkhouse and laid her on one of the bottom bunks. Dani was still unconscious, as Jimmy had to unfasten Dani�s shirt to have a better look at the bullet wound. It was at this moment that Dani�s eyes fluttered open to meet Jimmy�s. Then Dani colored up to his forehead. Or rather, HER forehead, when Jimmy looked. Jimmy�s mouth dropped open. Literally. Dani then reached out a hand to shut his hanging jaw.
� Yer gonna choke on a fly if you don�t shut that trap o� yours,� Dani said. � Now, quit gawking at me and check the wound will ya?�
� Oh yeah, sure,� babbled Jimmy as he examined the bloody hole in her flesh. The bullet wasn�t in too deep because he could see the dull gray metal embedded inside. � Hey, could you just wait a moment? I think I can get that bugger out with a small knife that Emma�s got in the kitchen.�
� Please yerself,� replied Dani, and Jimmy ran out of the room, glad to leave. He had never felt so nervous in his life.
While Jimmy was gone, Dani looked around but there wasn�t much to look at, so she closed her eyes. Then her eyes snapped open again. What had happened to the little girl? She could remember getting shot, then mounting Bright Star and riding off, and then she had blacked out�Dani gasped, and tried to get up, but she was still weak from losing all that blood. She was also dreadfully pale. A while later, Jimmy was back, with a small but hot knife.
� Okay, this is gonna hurt�a lot, so get ready,� said Jimmy, reaching for the bullet with the end of the knife.
� Argh!� yelled Dani, the knife hot, very hot on her flesh. With one quick movement, Jimmy snatched the bullet and drew the knife quickly out, tossing it somewhere. Then he bandaged her wound with a strip of cloth. � Thanks. Yer pretty good at this,� said Dani, re-buttoning her shirt.
� Not really. You should thank Buck instead. He was the one who brought you back here,� said Jimmy.
� Buck, huh? Oh, well then, what�s yer name?� asked Dani.
� James. B. Hickok, but you can call me Jimmy, ma�am,� answered Jimmy.
� Dani, and don�t call me ma�am. If word gets out I�m a girl; I�ll get fired. And if I do, I�ll kick ya till you can�t sit down no more,� snarled Dani. � Now, where�s my horse and where�s that lil girl I was with?�
� Your horse is in the barn with Ike Johnston, a good friend of mine. And Buck is takin that little girl back to wherever �tis she came from.�
� That�s good, I was worried. But I hope Buck knows that gang ain�t gonna be friendly when he goes back with Rebecca,� said Dani.
� He�ll be fine. Would you like somethin ta eat?� asked Jimmy.
�Yea sure,� Dani answered.
Jimmy nodded and walked outside. Teaspoon walked in after he left.
�Hey, there Dani. Jimmy told me yer name. Can ya ride good?� Teaspoon asked.
�Yea, I can ride,� Dani answered.
�You need a job?� Teaspoon said.
�Sure, I could use one,� Dani replied sitting up weakly. � I�m gonna get fired from my old one anyhow. I think I scared my boss�s regular customers outta their wits.�
�Ya can join us here as a Pony Express rider. We need the help. Ya can start as soon as yer wound has healed,� Teaspoon offered. �I�m Teaspoon by the way,� Teaspoon finished up.
�Thanks, that�d be wonderful. Now I�d like to get some sleep,� Dani finished.
Teaspoon nodded, got up and left.
Meanwhile Kid was outside working on the corral fence when he heard hoof beats. He looked up and saw a bay horse coming on fast. �Someone�s comein fast! And they�re not on schedule!� Kid hollered.
The other boys raced out the bunkhouse, barn and other places, guns ready. Teaspoon came out hands on his hips. The rider pulled his horse to a halt and looked down. �Is this the Sweetwater Pony Express station?� He asked.
�Sure is,� Cody answered.
�Well I�m Rae, the headquarters sent me here for a job. I�m to ride with ya,� the rider answered dismounting. �This is Young Thunder. Will there be any problem that I�m Native American?� Rae finished.
�Nope, Buck here is Native American and so is our other new rider, Dani,� Jimmy said.
�Gotta bed fer me?� Rae asked, leading Thunder over to the corral where he tied the colt up and began un-saddling him.
�You can go into the second bunkhouse with Dani. Lou I�m gunna move you in there as well,� Teaspoon said. �Kid, you as well. That�s so we�ve got four in each bunkhouse instead of six and then two,� the older man finished.
Kid nodded and went to get his things out the other bunk. He put his clothes, second pair of boots, bedding and everything else into his wooden trunk, which each of them had been given when reaching Sweetwater, picked it up and carried it off into the next bunkhouse. Lou followed him in with her own things.
�What�s this all about? How come we get two new riders in one day?� Lou asked him looking in his eyes.
�I dunno, but I think that�s a good thing,� answered Kid, putting his things away and Lou did the same.
�Hey, Kid, do you notice anythin strange �bout those new riders? They don�t seem much like guys, y�know,� said Lou.
�Like you, y�mean?� asked Kid.
�Well, maybe,� said Lou, a faint flush of red staining her cheeks.
�We�ll probably never know, anyhow. And they probably are men. They�re just thinner than the guys �round here. Don�t worry �bout it,� said Kid.
�Sure, whatever ya say,� said Lou. But to herself, she was still thinking it.
Later, Emma called everyone in for lunch, and all the Pony Express riders got to meet their two new riders.
�Hi. Who�re you?� asked Rae.
�Dani, one of the new riders. You must be Rae. Teaspoon already told me you were here. Pleasure,� said Dani, grinning.
�The pleasure�s all mine, Dani,� said Rae, smiling back. �Which tribe?�
�Apache, well, half anyway,� answered Dani. �How�d ya know?�
�I can tell. Kiowa and Paiute,� said Rae.
�Good ta see ya gettin acquainted,� said Emma. �Dani, help me set the table. You too, Rae. Rachel�s still gettin the sheets off the line.�
�Sure,� said Dani, and the two of them went into the kitchen. Meanwhile, the rest of the riders came in.
�So his name�s Dani, huh?� said Buck, listening to Jimmy.
�Yup. I think Dani would like ta thank ya for savin his life,� said Jimmy. Dani and Rae came back in, carrying plates of food for everyone. While Dani was laying the plates on the table, she glanced at Buck, who glanced back.
�Are you alright? I�m Buck McDaniels,� said Buck.
�Fine, thanks. How�s Rebecca?� asked Dani.
�She�s alright. I took her home an� her mother wants ta thank ya fer savin her little girl,� answered Buck.
�She�s awful welcome. I�ll drop by ta see her tomorrow,� said Dani.
�No, ya ain�t. Yer still hurt. You ain�t goin nowhere,� Jimmy interrupted, his frown deepening.
�Why can�t he? He ain�t no girl,� Buck said. Jimmy opened his mouth, but after a poisonous look from Dani, he shut up.
�Stop talkin so much and start eatin,� said Teaspoon, settling into his seat. �Save the chatter fer later.�
Everyone fell silent and started to dig into their food. Lou kept glancing suspiciously at Rae and Dani, who were silent. They were both slim, with dark hair and eyes. Dani had dark skin, but Rae�s was a bit darker. Dani�s arm was in a sling, so she had to eat with her left hand. Dani had also tied back her hair into a short ponytail. Ike was also watching the new riders as well. But what really caught his glance was Dani. It was like Dani was familiar somehow, like he had met Dani before. Then Ike shook his head, telling himself silently that was impossible.
When everyone had finished, Teaspoon made everyone get acquainted.
�Dani, him over there is Kit Saunders, call him Kid. Next to him is Lou Jones. You of course already know Emma and Rachel. That�s William. F. Cody, call him Cody. Rae, these two here�s Jimmy and Buck. And this is Ike Johnson. He can�t talk, but he�s great with horses. Now, I�ll leave yer all ta talk while I take care o� some business,� said Teaspoon, opening the door and leaving briskly.
�So, do you have any family?� signed Ike to Dani.
�Only a sister, but she�s being raised by another family until I�m of age to take care of her,� Dani signed back.
�I can hear,� signed Ike.
�I know, but I like signing,� Dani signed back. Ike smiled. While they �talked�, the rest of them were having a conversation with Rae.
That night, when they had all changed into longjohns, they began to settle into their bunks.
�Top bunk�s mine,� said Dani, climbing up quickly, despite her injured arm.
�Hey, I wanted top bunk,� Kid said going over to the other top bunk, above Lou.
�Pity, Kid, pity,� said Dani, smiling.
�Are ya sure yer arm is hurt? How can ya climb that fast?� laughed Kid.
�I git injured everyday of my life, Kid. I�ve even been shot in the butt. Twice,� said Dani.
�Did ya just have to share that with us?� said Rae.
�Just proving a point, Rae. Don�t git yerself in a knot,� said Dani.
�Excuse me, but I�m tryin ta get some sleep here,� Lou said from her bunk.
�Sorry, Lou,� said Kid, Rae and Dani in unison.
�Just a moment. Who�s got first ride in the mornin?� asked Kid.
�I do,� said Rae. �G�night.�
Kid sat down on Lou�s bunk and looked at her. She wasn�t yet sleeping and opened her eyes to look at him. She sat up. �I think yer right, there is somethin strange about them,� Kid whispered.
�I think they�re girls, but we can�t ask them,� Lou whispered back.
�Why? Maybe Jimmy knows if Dani�s a girl,� Kid whispered. �I�ll go ask him.�
Lou followed Kid outside. Dani and Rae watched as they left. They stepped into the other bunk. They were all still awake and talking. Jimmy looked up at them when they entered.
�What�s up?� Jimmy greeted them.
�Could we talk with you?� Lou asked.
�Sure,� Jimmy answered. He stood up and followed them outside. �Yea?� He asked after they�d sat down on the porch step.
�What do you know about Dani?� Kid asked.
�Not much,� Jimmy answered nervously. �Why? What�s wrong?�
�Tell us please,� Lou pleaded.
�I�ve got nothin to say,� Jimmy snapped going into his bunk, slamming the door behind him.
Kid pointed to the barn and Lou nodded. They walked out there. Kid wanted to check on Katy after what had happened to the mare a couple of days or so ago. She had been shot on the day Kid found out about Lou.
�What do you think?� Lou asked.
�I really believe you now, Jimmy�s never been like that around me. Normally we�re really close. I mean we�ve known each other since before we started this job. Do ya think he knows? He did, after all, remove that bullet,� Kid said.
�How did you know that? I thought Buck removed it, but obviously Jimmy knows something,� Lou answered.
�Well, I�m just guessing cause I saw Buck leave to take that lil girl back to that town. That reminds me what town do you think it is? We know everything about this Territory. We should go and check it out tomorrow after we come back from our rides. I�ve still gotta go into town for my package from Sweetwater,� Kid finished watching her carefully.
�I guess we could,� Lou said her cheeks turning red with the warm look Kid was giving her.
�Well should we keep askin him?� Kid asked giving her a very warm smile. He loved making her feel embarrassed. It was fun watching her start blushing. It was funny because she always tried to look away from him so he wouldn�t see her turn red.
�Stop smiling like that!� Lou exclaimed.
�Like what?� Kid teased with a bigger smile.
�You know, very well what I�m talking about.�
�No, Lou I don�t know, why don�t you give me an example.�
�Like the way you are smiling right now.�
�Let�s go to bed.�
�Ok.�
Meanwhile in the room Dani and Rae were talking quietly.
�Why do ya think they left?� Dani asked.
�Do ya think Lou�s a girl?� Rae asked not answering Dani�s question.
�Well those two act like they know each other better then friends could ever know each other,� Dani answered.
�Maybe, I think they went to talk with Ike and the others. After all it was just the six of them until we both came on the same day,� Rae stopped for a minute. �Maybe they�re having trouble acceptin new people into the tight knit family that they seem to have. Teaspoon treats em like sons, and Emma and Rachel treat them like their boys. What do you think?� Rae finished.
�I dunno. But I think that Lou is very much so a girl. And so are you,� Dani said.
�Well I know you are,� Rae answered not giving a straight answer.
�And so?� replied Dani.
�Wouldn�t Kid feel funny, if he found out he was sharin a bunkhouse with three girls. Then again it doesn�t bother him that he�s sharin a bunk with one girl. He seems to like it�Ya know?�
�I know. It�s plain as day,� said Dani. �When do ya think they�ll tell everyone the good news?�
�What good news?�
�Don�t play dumb, Rae. You know perfectly well what I mean.�
�And if I do?�
�Since ya do, say somethin bout it.�
�Tell me, now!�
�Tell you what?�
�What yer talkin bout!�
�Kid and Lou who else?�
�What on earth are you talkin bout? You think the want to get marri�� Suddenly the door opens making Rae stop in the middle of the word
�What�s goin on here, we thought you�d both be sleepin,� said Kid.
�You outta be sleepin too, in case ya haven�t noticed,� Dani replied.
�Well our rides are later, not first and besides, Kid, Buck, Ike, Jimmy, Cody and myself have been known to go into town around this time and get ourselves big trouble. We never go to sleep when Teaspoon says,� Lou retorted.
�So why should we? Even though Rae has first ride, I don�t, so why shouldn�t I be up?� Dani said.
Lou opened her mouth to make a smart remark but Kid laid a restraining hand on her arm. She shut up and sent him a deadly look. �What?� She asked innocently.
�I know what yer about to say. Don�t say it!� Kid told her sternly.
�Say what Lou?� asked Rae.
�Umm, please Kid let me say it!� Lou pleaded.
�Oh, go ahead and get yourself in trouble,� Kid replied.
�Well the new ones hardly ever stay up late cause they are very lazy,� Lou said not telling the whole truth.
�That�s all?� Kid asked incredulously, raising his eyebrows, surprised.
�That�s all?� echoed Dani, her own eyebrows rising.
Lou turns and goes back outside, slamming the door on her way. She went to Maggie, her horse, put a bridle on and mounted up. Kid, gave Dani a dirty look and walked out. He grabbed Katy, put the bridle on and mounted up. Lou, however, was trying to get away from the station. Kid, galloped at the corral fence, and Katy, listening to her owner, tried to get over it. She tripped and fell on the other side, landing on Kid. Lou turns back and galloped Maggie to him. Running to him she yelled �Teaspoon, hurry quick, Kid and Katy are very badly injured!�
Ride on to.....
Chapter 6...
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