DARK INTRUDER
DARK INTRUDER© nesciri
Part 7
"There." Rosemary pointed towards the place where she had killed Tad Brown. Teaspoon approached the place and dismounted. So far Rosemary's story had turned out to be true. There was a body of a man at the place and the sign of two horses. But there was no way Teaspoon could tell if one of the tracks had belonged to Buck's horse or not. Jimmy rode up and joined him, leaving Rosemary to watch them from a distance. He looked at the man that had killed David.
"He doesn't look like a killer," he admitted to Teaspoon.
"Well, you never know what a killer look like," Teaspoon muttered. At least he must have been in contact with David. I found some more of those papers."
"That's proof enough that Rosemary's telling the truth," Jimmy stated.
Teaspoon looked over to where the woman was sitting waiting for them to finish their examination of the site. Then he looked over at Jimmy.
"What's the story between you two?" he asked silently.
Jimmy looked at him. "I love her," he said simply.
"And she loves you?"
"I hope so."
"But you don't know?"
"It ain't that easy, Teaspoon. She's recently lost her husband. I don't expect her to love me right away."
"But she has invited you to her bed, hasn't she?"
Jimmy's face flushed with anger. "That's none of your business, Teaspoon!"
"Just remember to keep a clear head, Jimmy. Whether a man is at war or in love, he's got nothin' to fear as long as he's got his wits with'im," Teaspoon advised, before turning to the matter at hand. "I guess that's all we'll find here. We better head back and send somebody out here to take care of the body."
"You think Buck run into this Tad fellow?"
"I ain't sure of what to think. Let's just hope that Kid and the others have better luck than we had."
Baruk watched the men work. He knew that the older man was suspicious of the events, but that was what he had expected. "I should have killed you a long time ago, old man," he muttered to himself. "Bet you still got those scars I gave you with the knife. You better remember them, old man, because this time you ain't gonna be so lucky. This time you're gonna die." Baruk was after revenge and killing Teaspoon was only part of hit. He was content with what had happened so far. His only disappointment so far was that Rosemary had panicked and left before he could watch the Indian die. But it didn't matter. He had feared the Indian, as he still was uncertain of the powers of the natives to this world. He had no problems dealing with the white people as he knew them of old. He had traveled in Europe for many years and found the white inhabitants in this world similar to the Europeans he encountered before. But now the Indian was dead and he had actually seen his Louise. Baruk smiled at the memory, seeing her sitting by the table. She appeared even stronger than last time he had seen him, probably because the strong bond of love he had detected between her and the man sitting next to him. Baruk remembered him as well. There had been a bond of love between them last time as well, and it was with a hint of disappointment he had realized that the bond had grown stronger. It wouldn't be so easy to break that bond, but he had a plan on how to do it. Baruk was growing restless as he watched the men continue with their search. It was high time for another killing. The death of the Indians from last night had not eased his craving for new souls. He had not dared taking their souls as he yet had to learn about their protective spirits. Someone else had to die and Baruk pondered who would be next. The old man or the new comer, the blond rider, he pondered. Or maybe the woman, Rachel. She was strong and it would disturb the harmony, making it easier for him to get to Louise. Yes, Rachel was the perfect choice. Baruk smiled to himself as a new plan formed in his head.
Rosemary rose from where she had been sitting and approached Jimmy and Teaspoon. Jimmy met her before she reached the place from where one could see the body.
"You're alright?" he asked tenderly.
"I got this terrible headache," Rosemary replied. "I think it's better I get back home."
"Wait a minute and I'll take you," Jimmy replied and turned around to tell Teaspoon when Rosemary held him back.
"You got work to do here, Jimmy. I'll be fine, I promise."
"You're sure?"
"Yes." She gently caressed his arm. "May I see you tonight? Please?"
"I'll be there," he promised and watched her walk away, before returning to Teaspoon.
Rosemary turned around to make sure she was clear of the two men by the murder site. She held her horse until she was certain that they had believed that she was heading home. First then did she turn her horse towards the Rock Creek Way station.
Kid crouched on the ground allowing his hand to sweep through the short grass in hope of finding something - anything. But there was nothing. Nothing at all. He slowly rose to face the others.
"You're sure this is the place where you found the knife?" he asked Cody. The blonde rider nodded.
"Positive. Although I must admit that the surroundings looked quite differently last night." Cody laughed, slightly embarrassed. "For a few moments then I was inclined to admit of being afraid of ghosts."
"Ghosts?" Lou wondered as she aimlessly wandered around the area.
Cody shrugged. "My horse refused to go pass this area - ended up with me going around it."
"Did you feel anything - unusual?" Lou peered at him with a slight worry in her eyes. Cody stared back at her, somewhat confused.
"What do you mean - unusual?"
"Stop that, Lou," Kid pleaded. "There's nothing unusual out here." Lou frowned at him.
Cody looked from one to another. "What's going on?"
"Lou's been having these nightmares lately and now they've gotten to her mind," Kid replied teasingly as he threw his wife a loving look.
"It's not that at all," Lou replied. "Buck knew there was something wrong as well - that's probably why he left to pray. If he was here he could tell you that it's nothing to make jokes about!"
Kid silenced and looked at her. "I'm sorry, Lou, but you must admit that this is all confusing. Even if something did happen to Buck last night, you couldn't have heard him. You just heard something, an owl maybe." He looked at her. "What's wrong, Lou? You don't normally behave like this?"
"I don't know," Lou murmured. Maybe Kid was right. Maybe there was something wrong with her. "I think I should head back."
"Lou?"
"It's alright. I'll head back and get some rest. You're right, it's probably just me being tired and worried."
"You don't wont us to go back with you?" Kid asked concerned. Lou did look tired.
"No, you better stay and try to find Buck, just in case something has happened to him. I'll be fine. I'll see you tonight?"
Kid nodded and walked her over to her horse. "We'll be back in time for supper - and we'll find Buck. He'll probably tell us off for following him as well." He kissed her on her cheek. "Take care now."
"I will. I'll probably feel better after a rest."
"You're sure, Lou?" Kid asked as she mounted Lightning. "I mean, Cody and me could see you back and then return to look for Buck."
"I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me - I'm sure it's only me being too worried over everything."
"Alright, Lou. Ride safe!"
"What was all that about?" Cody wondered when Kid returned to him.
"I don't know," Kid admitted. "Lou've been acting real strange lately, scared of everything and getting upset." The worry caused him to frown. "I just don't know Cody."
Cody gazed after the small rider. "You know," he started thoughtfully," I've heard that some women get real strange when they're - you know, when they're expecting. You and Lou ain't getting little ones are you?"
Kid looked stunned at Cody. Children? Lou couldn't be…could she? The thought of a baby had never entered his mind and for a minute he was at a loss of words. A baby. Could that really be the solution to Lou's acting - that she was expecting? Kid turned to look after her but Lou had already disappeared behind the hill. Suddenly he felt a need to go after her, to be close to her, but he shrugged, dismissing the feeling. He had promised Lou that they would find Buck and that was what he was going to do.
Lou wasn't in a hurry to get back. There was a lot on her mind and she needed time to think. Maybe there was something wrong with her after all? Maybe it was as the others told her - that nothing had happened to Buck and that everything was just her imagination. But the more she thought about it the more she knew she was right. Something was wrong. If she only could figure out what. She sighed and decided to increase the speed. She really wanted to talk to Rachel. Sometimes a woman understood these things better than a man, she pondered. She could talk to Rachel about it. And perhaps ask her if they had disturbed her during the night, she smiled to herself. They really should do something about that bed.
The sun stood high on the sky when she reached the station. She held in her horse as she looked out over the station. She didn't see Rachel anywhere and assumed that she was either in the house or maybe just down the street, doing some shopping. She wasn't too worried, if Rachel was out she probably would be back within an hour. In some ways it was better that the station was located in the outskirts of the town instead as in Sweetwater, out on the trail, far from the small town. It sure made getting supplies a lot easier, not to mention that they were safer closer to town. She urged Lightning forward. As she came closer, she began to feel hesitant. There was something eerie over the station. A window was open in the house and the curtain fluttered easily in the breeze. But nothing else moved. There were no horses in the corral. The bunkhouse was dark, as was the house. But it wasn't that that scared her. It was the absence of life. There was nothing. No birds, no sounds from horses. An uncanny silence had settled over the station. Lou felt her mouth go dry. Then she threw all cautions overboard and urged Lightning into a canter. When she reached the house she quickly dismounted and rushed up the stairs to the front door.
"Rachel!" she yelled as she burst through the door. "Rachel!"
