Teaspoon sent Kid and Cody out just as the sky was lightening to scout the area. He had decided during the night that they would be better off getting Buck to a doctor as soon as possible, and he knew that it couldn’t be a doctor near by. They would be better off taking him to one along the Pony Express route, with Rock Creek being the safest. He just hoped Buck would make it that far.

He knew there was no way he would take the boy to Sweetwater where the doctor knew him, even though that was the closest doctor Teaspoon knew of. He was sure the doc would treat him, but the Army had taken over the town, and to take him there would mean an immediate arrest for the young man.

They started out late in the morning. Kid and Cody continued to scout ahead, while Jimmy and Noah hung back, watching for anyone approaching from the rear. The travois was attached to Lou’s horse and they headed off.

~*~*~

Teaspoon stopped as he heard horses approach from behind. Both he and Lou pulled their guns, but put them away when they realized it was Jimmy and Noah.

"Army’s approaching Teaspoon. We’ve got maybe ten minutes." Jimmy yelled as he jumped of his horse.

"Okay. You know what to do." Teaspoon and Lou dismounted. Noah helped Teaspoon pick Buck and the buffalo robes up, carrying him off into a patch of tall grass. They made sure that the grasses covered their unconscious companion before returning to the horses.

Lou, in the mean time, had taken out some of Buck’s bloody bandages and Jimmy helped her tie them around her forehead. Removing her glasses, she handed them to Jimmy, and crawled onto the travois covering up with blankets. Teaspoon and Noah rejoined them. By the time the soldiers met up with them, they looked like travelers with an injured companion, taking a break,

Teaspoon stood from where he was helping Lou take a drink from a canteen. She convincingly collapsed back on to the travois, appearing exhausted.

"Afternoon gentlemen," Teaspoon said as he stood up, handing the canteen to Noah. "I’m Marshall Teaspoon Hunter from Rock Creek."

"Marshall Hunter. What brings you out this way?" The Lieutenant in charge asked.

"My men and I were tracking some bank robbers. But I’m afraid we lost them."

"Is your man seriously hurt?"

"Him? No, not bad. Hit his head when his horse spooked. Keeps getting dizzy when he sits up, but he’s much better than he was." Lou had closed her eyes, feigning sleep.

"Have you had any trouble with Indians? Seen any at all?"

"Indians? Nope, haven’t seen any. But we did see some smoke last night, just south and a little west of here. Don’t know if it was Indians or a homestead."

"We’ll check it out. Thank you for the information." The officer tipped his hat. "Marshall, gentlemen."

They waited a good ten minutes after the soldiers left before doing anything. Jimmy and Noah carefully followed them, making sure the soldiers were indeed moving off. Teaspoon hurried up to check on Buck. The young man hadn’t moved. Teaspoon took the opportunity to give Buck some water, studying the boy’s face for any sign of awakening.

"Buck, this is all my fault. If I hadn’t sent you to your brother, you’d still be in Rock Creek, safe and unharmed." Teaspoon told him quietly. Buck showed no reaction to Teaspoon’s words. Teaspoon sat with him until Jimmy and Noah returned. Then they returned Buck to the travois and moved on.

On to Chapter Thirteen