Ó Starbright 1999

Chapter 14

Jimmy woke by soft hands washing his face with a damp cloth. Groaning he opened his right eye, the left was aching violently and refusing to obey his orders. A girl was washing his face, looking worriedly at him as he moaned. Blinking in surprise he recognized Lindsay. Before he could ask what she was doing here she put a finger to her lips, signing for him to keep quiet. Then she raised her hands and showed him that they were was loosely tied together. Jimmy moaned anew. The man had gotten another hostage, what was this all about?

"Lindsay, did he hurt you?" Jimmy whispered.

The girl looked behind her shoulder before she leaned in to whisper in his ear. "No, he took me to care for you, said he'd let me live if I tended to you. Don't make any trouble or he'll kill us both. I'll get us away somehow."

"Where are we?"

"Hush!" Lindsay threw another scared glance over her shoulder, "I don't know, I was blindfolded and tied up. He took me as I went to check on the horses. We rode for at least half an hour, that's all I know."

"Then they'll start lookin' for you?"

"Of course they will," Lindsay whispered, "just keep still, you need to rest, that eye looks dreadful. He's right outside keepin' watch. Please don't try anything or he'll kill us both!" Her tear-filled eyes were begging him. He nodded and laid back. If the girl had gone missing they'd look for her. He groaned thinking about Kid and Lou, he hoped they had survived the night. If Kid felt half as bad as he did he wouldn't be walking to Sweetwater, neither would Lou with that knee of hers. They'd start looking for them too. And when they'd find Kid and Lou they'd know something was wrong. He just wished they'd be here in time. Lying tied up without the possibility to do a thing was the worst kind of situation one could find oneself in. And Jimmy had no other option right now, there was an other life at stake here and not only his own. That made the whole ordeal so much harsher. He wriggled his toes, wondering why somebody had taken his shoes?

Teaspoon steeled himself as Cody and the Pastor rode up. He hated telling people about loved ones having died. A brutal killing only worsened the case. The Pastor was pale as he stepped down from the carriage and steered weary steps in Teaspoon's direction. Teaspoon steeled himself to spill the beans when the Pastor raisec his hand to stop him.

The Pastor already knew about the girl, seemed there was a witness to the killing. Teaspoon still couldn't believe Jimmy was behind it all. But what was there to say if Lindsay had seen it all happen.

"How is she?" Teaspoon asked, referring to the girl that had locked herself inside the Pastors study and refused to come out. Only communicating through a locked door.

"Scared to death," Cody remarked bitterly. "We have to gather a posse, Teaspoon. Just because it's Jimmy we just can't let him go."

Teaspoon shot the blond rider a warning glance. "First I wanna hear the story, what were the girls doing out in the middle of the night?"

The Pastor looked down on his shoes. Clearing his throat he peeked under his brow at Teaspoon before answering. "Went to the outhouse," he said in a low voice.

Teaspoon felt like he had asked about something indecent. "I see," he mumbled.

"Then they heard a horse come towards them and they thought one had escaped so they went to check it out. Mamie was running and Lindsay followed. The she stumbled and fell and was left behind. She heard a man holler and she got so scared she hid in the grass. She says the man smacked Mamie around and did even worse things to her. Lindsay says she was so scared she couldn't move. Then there was a shot and Jimmy came running laughing insanely. He passed by real close and then he disappeared in the woods. Lindsay ran to hide herself in the barn. There's where Cynthia found her this morning, trembling and sobbing. She wouldn't let anybody touch her, she was hysterical. One of the girls finally succeeded to calm her down. But not before she had locked herself in the study. She won't let anybody in."

Teaspoon listened carefully to Cody's explanation. It could probably have happened just like the girls said. It seemed plausible, only thing was that the man accused was Jimmy and that seemed everything but right. If he was half as beat up as the Kid was he wouldn't have been running. And the Jimmy he knew would not have left his gun behind. It was just to obvious, it had to be an entrapment. But who was after Jimmy and why? Who was involved and why?

"Seen any strangers around the place," he asked the Pastor.

"No," the man sadly shook his head, "I just can't believe it was James, he was around the place helping us. Doesn't seem right, I can't believe it was him."

"Lindsay saw him," Cody pointed out, "and I found the gun! He's..was my friend, I don't wanna believe it either but what about the proof. Teaspoon, the longer we wait, the further he'll get away!"

Teaspoon looked at the young man standing aside him. He obviously was convinced his friend was a murderer, a man that violated women and then shot them, leaving his gun behind. In Teaspoon's eyes it was just too obvious, his years as a Texas Ranger had thought him not to take anything at face value. At least not when the evidence seemed to jump at you. In Teaspoon's experience that always meant there was more to the ordeal than what met the eye. But the people in the town had started talking. Having gotten wind of what happened it only took the good folks of Sweetwater half a second to condemn James Butler Hickok for murder. The trial had been short, in everybody's mind there was only one possibility. A sweet girl said Jimmy was the murderer so that was the case, he was to be hung. He had already had several offers of eager executioners.

"What do you intend to do Marshal?" The Pastor looked at him.

"I've sent Buck out to look for signs, when he's back we'll know in what direction Jimmy went and if there were more men around. I intend to wait for him and find out everything I can before I go shooting my mouth off to who did what."

"Buck?" Pastor Allen looked at Teaspoon, "your deputy?"

"The best tracker this town has to offer," Teaspoon informed him.

"He's half Kiowa," Cody said, "he can find the track of a rattler after a week of heavy rain."

"A half-breed?" Pastor Allen whispered, "I don't think that's suitable, I mean he'll be searching the homestead and the girls..." His voice trailed off at Teaspoon's bewildered stare.

"Buck's alright," Cody comforted the man, "he won't do anything to the girls. He ain't like the rest of..."

Teaspoons disgusted smirk cut him short. Then the older man let his head sink, he couldn't blame Cody, the boy was so young and innocent, he hadn't had the time to see everything Teaspoon had. He wished he would never have to either. Least of all he wanted him to see his friend lynched by the townsfolk, only to find out he was innocent. But that was unmistakably the course the events were taking. And the Pastor wasn't helping anybody with his obvious prejudice, a prejudice he shared with so many. When that kind of words came out of a man of the Church it always saddened Teaspoon, and now Cody seemed under the man's spell too.

"There's another girl missing," Pastor Allen said in a trembling voice, "and it's all my fault, I wasn't thinking."

"Who?" Teaspoon asked.

"Louise, she came to us just three days ago and then yesterday I did something very stupid and she ran away. Jumped a window in fact. I've been out looking for her but there's no sign of her."

Teaspoon leaned in on the man, grateful he had brought up the issue, but still surprised he had. If the Pastor had made advancements against the girl he'd better have a darn good explanation or he'd be put into the cell straight away. "What happened?"

"Nobody told me she had been violated, I would never have done what I did if I knew! I thought she was running away from her violent beau!"

Teaspoon's eyes narrowed, what was this man talking about, was he really talking about their Lou?

"She was so tired, I could tell. Then she went to fold the linen and I offered her to rest in my study. The girls often go in there because it's kind of an unwritten rule that if you're in there you should be left alone. Louise had been working all day, everything was new to her and she needed some time to herself so I offered to show her my study. She must have thought I had other plans because she threw herself out of the window. I would have acted different if I'd know she'd been violated. I had no idea. Now she's probably walking around on the plains, scared to death. Marshal, you've gotta find her! I'll talk to her and try to make her understand I acted the way I acted because I had no clue, now that I know she won't have to fear me making that mistake again!"

Teaspoon did not know what to tell the man. Violent beau? Assaults? He desperately needed to have a talk with both Lou and the Kid. What was going around at the waystation? He rose to put a comforting hand on the pastor's shoulder, having the feeling the man was being honest he needed to calm him. His Louise was safe. "We found the girl, she's resting. I'll talk to her and sort things out."

"Don't let that violent man near her again, Marshal, please help her! I don't know who he is, but you, Billy, ought to know. She said not to tell you she was there because you'd force her to marry this man. Billy, don't do it, keep her away from him!"

Both Cody and Teaspoon glanced bewildered at each other, who was this man talking about. What on earth had Lou told the pastor. And why?

Ike softly shook Lou's shoulder, the girl was lying in the house, covered with blankets so only her nose was visible. She stirred and moved under the blankets. Ike drew the blanket from her face. Lou blinked and looked confused.

How are you? Ike signed.

"Oh God!" Lou rose to a sitting position, "you find Jimmy?"

No, Ike signed, Buck's just returned but Noah's still out looking for tracks. We will know where to look as he returns. Rachel sent me to wake you up because it's time for dinner.

"Dinner?" Lou moaned, "how long have I been asleep?"

Had a though night didn't you? Ike smiled at her, Teaspoon told me.

"Yeah," Lou confirmed wearily, "guess t'was."

Glad you're back. Ike hugged her. It wouldn't have been the same without you.

Lou leaned her head on Ike's broad shoulder, sighing in contentment. Yes, this was without doubt 'home'. Her eyes fell on a lump on the couch. "We better wake the Kid." She smiled back at Ike as she looked at his happy face.

Rachel told me to stay clear of him. Says he wasn't too happy last night. Ike grinned even wider.

Lou chuckled at the thought. Kid had been beyond furious when he stepped out of the Doc's office. Even Teaspoon had stayed clear of him. He had looked ready to kill anybody that got less than five feet away from him. Sitting on the buckboard going home Lou had heard him curse the Doc, Jimmy and probably even the rest of the world, no doubt including her. His nose filled with cotton made it difficult to make the words out, but the underlying meaning was clear as daylight. Casting murdering glances at both her and Rachel he had muttered angrily as they forced him inside the house. When Rachel informed him about the Doc's orders to put a cold towel on the sore part he looked ready to draw on them. It took Teaspoon and Cody to hold him down.

"I'll wake him up," Lou said and threw her legs over the side of the bed.

I better get Rachel, Ike signed with a smirk. Teaspoon went and picked up your clothes this morning. He pointed to the chair where her old Pony Express outfit laid nicely folded. I'll keep Cody from finishing off dinner before you get there, Ike grinned at her before he vanished out the door.

"Thanks Ike." She felt sore all over as she rose to get into the familiar clothes. It felt good to be one of the boys again. The door opened and Rachel stepped in. "You okay Lou?"

"I'm fine," Lou assured the housekeeper, "it's nice to be back home."

"Maybe you won't be sayin' that when this one gets up," Rachel grinned and leaned in over the Kid. "Ya think it's safe to wake him up?"

"Just don't touch his nose," Lou chuckled.

"You wanna do the honors? I don't think he'll be as mad at you."

Lou threw an incredulous glance in Rachel's direction before she extended a hand to Kid's shoulder. "Kid, wake up!" There was no reaction whatsoever. Lou shook his shoulder slightly, "Kid, it's dinner time, you gotta be hungry!" The response was a slight moan. "Kid, it's time to get up!" He opened two bloodshot eyes and frowned. The face he made had him whining. "You better get up Kid, it's late already. Gotta eat something! Oh God, Kid you look awful." As Kid lowered the quilt from his face Lou cringed at the sight of his nose.

Kid shot her an irritated glance.

"You can rest after dinner," Rachel promised him.

"Djimmy?" Kid snorted and Lou and Rachel dared not look at each other for the fear of falling into hysterical giggle at the sound of his voice.

"Noah is out looking for him, don't worry 'bout that right now," Rachel told him and tried to turn his face to have a better look at him. Kid moved away from her like she was a rattler ready to attach. "Kid, stay still, I just wanna see...."

"Hjust ddontt tutsh de ouse," Kid grunted.

The two at his side giggled helplessly and Kid glared. He didn't find this hilarious at all. He watched Lou trying to cover her merriment. "Itts dnot vunny!"

"Tell you what Kid, I'll let you choose. Who do you want to do it, me or Lou?" With a broad grin Rachel held the wet towel up in the air.

"Nobboddy fthank yu!" Kid said as he rose to a sitting position, moaning as the rest of his body seemed just as sore as the nose. "I ddo ith myseff."

Lou took the wet towel from Rachel's hand; "Kid, I'd never forget myself if you ended up with a crooked nose, what would the girls say?"

"Be nice, or I'll go get Cody and Teaspoon," Rachel teased.

"They won't be as careful as I will," Lou informed him.

Kid looked doubtfully at the girl standing at his side, an amused smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. His eyes were begging her to leave his nose alone. Lou smiled comfortingly at him. "It'll just hurt a little bit," she promised as she moved the towel to his nose.

Kid's hand stopped her. "Yor reelly endjoyin thizz ent'ya?"

"Oh, this is just the beginning Kid, Doc says the cotton inside your nose has to be changed tomorrow. That might hurt."

Kid fell back onto the bed.