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Part 15 Lou yawned as she sat watching the land. The sun has almost reached its highest position and she better thought about what she should do next. She couldn't leave Buck, no matter what he said. She had to finds a place where he could heal up and from where she could get in contact with the others. Which wasn't the easiest thing to find, she pondered. But she had to find it before nightfall so she had to think of something soon. Buck was still sleeping and she hadn't bothered waking him up. He could use the rest. Stretching her legs she slowly put down the rifle. When she moved her right leg she noticed that she had been still for too long as her leg was numb. She sighed and placed the rifle on the floor. Standing up she shifted her weight to her right leg, hoping that her leg would "wake up". When circulation had returned she walked over to the bed to check on Buck. One look confirmed what she had suspected all the time. The wound had given him a slight fever. She gently placed her hand on his brow and to her relief the fever wasn't too high. But it was enough to cause them some trouble. Buck would be better of staying here but it was out of the question. Sooner or later those men might come back looking for them and the houses were too obvious for them to miss. She left Buck and looked around the room again. On the table next to the bed lay Buck's shirt and she picked it up. It was a large tear in it were the bullet had entered and the large bloodstain had dried in. That was nothing Buck could use, she pondered and walked over to the wardrobe. Absentminded she looked through the few clothes that were there. The clothes were dusty but she couldn't find anything else wrong with them. Nothing that a good airing wouldn't help. I might as well hang one of them out, she pondered, as she picked at a shirt. It was probably too large for Buck, but it would have to do. She took the shirt out when something caught her eye. She dropped the shirt on a chair and picked out the other item. It was a long skirt. Shaking it to get rid from the worst dust, she then held it up before her. It was the right length although it looked like it was too wide in the waist. Well, she could fix that with a belt. She decided to hang out that as well, as it might come in handy. She quickly slipped out of the door and soon the two garments were hanging from part of the fence outside. Content with that she returned inside and her place by the window, where she resumed thinking about what to do next. She hadn't been sitting there for many minutes when a light moan from he bed told her that Buck had wakened up. She rose and walked over to where Buck struggled to get into a sitting position. "How you're doing?" she asked lightly, seeing how he grimaced as he tenderly touched his side. "I'm gonna be all right," Buck replied as he straightened his face. Lou, who immediately realised that he was trying to lead her on and probably was going to suggest that she returned to the station, simply smiled. "Good," she said, "then you're ready to leave this place. I've decided we should continue north-east." By the startled look in Buck's face, Lou could see that she had taken him by surprise. "Lou--," he started, uncertain on how to continue. "I know," Lou sighed, still feigning that she didn't understood what he was aiming at, "but I figured that direction was as good as anything else." The two of them, Buck in the borrowed shirt after Lou had hid his old one in the well, continued for what seemed like an eternity for Buck, who felt a good deal worse than what he had led Lou to believe. This was an area none of them were very familiar with, none of the runs passed the area although Lou was quite sure that she read that a stagecoach line run in that direction. So she kept her eyes open for anything that might look like a road. She would have preferred turning back, but not knowing what was happening in Sweetwater, she decided to that it was better to be safe than sorry. If they only could find a hiding place, and a way to contact the others, it wouldn't be so bad. Lou looked over her shoulder at Buck who was sagging slightly in his saddle. She turned back again with a worried frown in her face. They had been riding the whole day and darkness would be approaching soon. And she hadn't seen anything that could give them some shelter for the night. It looked like they would have to spend the night under the sky. Finally Lou admitted to herself that they wouldn't find any shelter and she stopped her horse. "We should make camp," she suggested and dismounted. Buck looked up. "Where are we?" he asked still feeling weak. "Your guess is as good as mine," Lou said lightly. "How are you feeling?" "Been better." Buck clumsily dismounted. He had finally given in to the fact that he wouldn't be able to rid himself of Lou. Lou grinned at him as she took out the blankets and spread them on the ground. "You get some rest while I get some kindling for the fire."
"All right, here what's we gonna do." It was the morning after Lou and Buck had escaped the posse and Teaspoon had gathered the remaining riders at the office. Ike had been forced to take a run and was not present. "Jimmy, you'll have to continue to talk to the boy. There must be more to this than meets the eye. Maybe he was mistaken. Remember he never really said he saw the killing. Talk to him, but don't press him. Kid, you're the best tracker after Buck. I want you to look for tracks around where this murder took place." Kid shook his head. "There'll be millions of tracks there by now, Teaspoon." "I don't want you to look exactly there. Look for tracks entering into that wood from the opposite direction of the house. Any one out there for trouble would not have gone near the house, and I can't find a reason for a normal visitor to come through the wood when there's a road." Kid nodded. "Cody, I want you to start asking round to see if you can find anybody that can verify where Ambrose Every where on that night. Noah, you'll find Emery for me and tell him I need to talk to him." "It'll be my pleasure," Noah grinned. He was well aware of Emery's animosity towards any one that wasn't white, although his hatred was most obvious when it came to Indians. To bring the man to the Marshall's office was something he looked forward to. "That's all?" Jimmy asked and Kid seemed to agree. "What about Buck and Lou?" "We can't leave them out there on their own," Kid added. "Well, until we solved some things here they can't return, so they're better off on their own right now. I'm sure they're fine," Teaspoon assured the two boys as a knock by the door made him turn around. Outside stood an army officer. "Marshall Hunter? Captain Lewis. I'm here to investigate some Indian trouble."
Teaspoon poured the Captain a cup of coffee. He had sent the boys off on their errands and now he had to convince the captain that there was no Indian trouble to worry about. He briefly told the Captain the story. All that he felt necessary that the Captain knew and nothing more. "Well, you see Captain. We can't be sure it was Indians out there and now the man who reported it have been killed." "By Indians?" "No, this has nothing to do with Indians. I think that the horses might have gotten out by themselves and for the murder, well, that investigation is still going on." "So what are you suggesting?" "I wouldn't keep you from your duties, Captain, but I must say that I don't believe there's anything here for you to do." The Captain sipped the hot coffee. "Well, the way you describe I think you're right. But since my orders were to investigate the whole matter I think it's better I stick around. Should there be any trouble we'll be in place." Teaspoon felt a twinge of disappointment. He had enough on his hands than to keep an eye on an ambitious army captain. "If that is what you feel you have to do then it's that what you're gonna do," he stated philosophically. "What did you have in mind?" "Is there an Indian tribe near here?" "Yes. Kiowa. They hadn't caused any trouble for along time though." "Where are they?" "Well, the Kiowa land starts just beyond Red Mesa, so I guess that there village is somewhere beyond that." "And they've not started any trouble?" "Not for a long time." "But they have." Yes," Teaspoon admitted reluctantly. "All right. I'll have my men check out that farm from where the horses were allegedly stolen and then I'll get back to you, Marshall." The Captain drank the last of his coffee and rose. "Until later then, Marshall," he said and extended his hand. Teaspoon shook it and watched the man leave the office before he sank down behind his desk. He wasn't too worried about the army - as long as the man didn't get in the way in his investigation about Craven's murder he could do whatever he liked. He stayed behind his desk deeply in thought for another ten minutes when a noise from the back door brought him to his feet. When he got over there the door was opened and Noah dragged a unwilling Ambrose Emery into the office. "Any trouble?" Teaspoon asked the black rider. "Nae," Noah shook his head. " He just needed some persuasion that's all. You want me to stay, Teaspoon?" "Might be a good idea," Teaspoon said as he pulled forward a chair for Emery. "Sit down, Emery. I've got a few questions for you." "What about?" Emery replied sullenly as he glanced hostile at Noah who seated himself on the other desk. "Craven's murder." "Why are you asking me about that?" Emery sneezed. "Everybody already knew who did that. That half breed rider of yours. He's the one you should ask questions." "I've got a witness that says you were out by Craven's farm on the night he was killed." "So? You've got any witnesses saying they saw me kill Craven?" Teaspoon ignored the question. "What were you doing that night?" "I don't remember." "What do you mean you don't remember?" "I was playing cards in the saloon, I got drunk." Emery looked coldly at Teaspoon. "You can prove that I had anything to do with his murder, Hunter. Your Indian gonna hang for it, you'll see." Teaspoon tried to push the man but Emery kept avoiding answering his questions. Finally he was forced to let the man go. Noah watched thoughtfully after him. "That man reek of trouble, Teaspoon." "I know. But there's not much I can do about him." "You could have locked him up for starting the posse?" Noah suggested. Teaspoon shook his head. "Nope. Not one of the men involved would admit to being into that, never the less admit to Emery being the instigator." "I still feel that we would all be a lot safer with him behind bars." "Couldn't agree more with, son. Couldn't agree more. See if you can find the Cody. Maybe he has found anything." An hour later Cody and Noah join Teaspoon at the office and one look on their faces told Teaspoon that they hadn't found anything that would clear Buck. Their only hope now stood to Jimmy and the boy. Teaspoon sent Cody and Noah back to the station to help Rachel out with the chores. He himself decided to stay at the office in case there would be any news. He was enjoying his fourth cup of coffee for the day when Thompkins arrived. "Marshall Hunter," he greeted as he steeped in. Teaspoon noticed that he wasn't white apron he usually wore in the store. This was no ordinary visit. "Something on your mind, Thompkins." "The town council have had a meeting about the recent events." "A meeting, he? And why wasn't I invited?" Teaspoon asked suspiciously. "We didn't think it necessary. We understand that the Craven boy have pointed out the murderer." "Emery told you I bet." "It's all over town, Hunter. It's hard not to avoid it." "And what have the distinguished members of the town council decided?" "We're concerned," Thompkins started only to be interrupted when Kid and Jimmy walked through the door. He gave them a glance before he continued, "we're concerned over how our Marshall is handling this case." "What do you mean by that?" Teaspoon rose and frowned at the man. "Considering that you know who the murderer is and he has not yet been arrested, we think that maybe your judgement is not the best right now, seeing that the murderer is one of your riders." "Now, listen here Thompkins. So far all we got is a boy's testimony that he heard Buck argue with his father. He never saw the murder." "There was no one else there, was there Marshall?" Teaspoon looked at the others and shook his head. "So now what?" he asked Thompkins. "You're here to tell me that the town council will be looking for a replacement?" "No, we wouldn't go that far." "Then what have you done?" The frown on Teaspoon's face deepened. "We have taken measure to ensure the capture of the murderer. After the meeting we went to the printer and ordered these." Thompkins handed over a large document. Teaspoon unfolded it as Jimmy and Kid walked over to see what it was. It was a wanted-poster, offering $300 for the capture of Buck along with a brief description. But the addition on the bottom made Kid gasp. It was an additional sum of $100 for the capture of an accomplice, a Lou McCloud. "What the hell is this, Thompkins?" Teaspoon asked angrily. "The town's decision. Craven was a family man, with a wife and two children to support. We can't ignore that." "Craven was a no-good trouble-maker," Jimmy voiced his opinion. "What did he do, Thompkins - paid cash in your store?" "He was a father of two," Thompkins replied icily. "We need to state that this town does not tolerate violence, especially against farmers." "What about McCloud?" Kid found his voice. "From what I understand McCloud assisted Cross in getting away. The town decided to make an example out of him - to prevent others from doing the same folly." The implication was obvious - the riders were not to interfere. "You just sent those two to the death, Thompkins," Teaspoon argued. "With that amount of money every bounty hunter in the territory will be looking for them." "There's no "wanted dead-or-alive-poster". We expect them to be brought back alive for the trial." "You know as well as me that that's no guarantee," Teaspoon replied. "You plan to send these out?" "They were sent with the stage that left here an hour ago." "What? Without asking me?" Teaspoon raised his voice. "As I explained," Thompkins replied in a rather strained voice, "we were not sure of your loyalties." "Get out of here, Thompkins," Teaspoon requested quietly. Thompkins abide without hesitation. Kid and Jimmy turned to Teaspoon. "What do we do now?" Kid asked worried. "Lou doesn't know about this. If she gets into a town trying to get a message through to us, she'll be in trouble." "That goes for both of them," Jimmy added seriously. "I think it's about time we started looking for them." "I don't agree. So far they're not in any real danger - those posters haven't reach too many yet. But I agree with you, we must find them. Let's get back to the station and discuss this with the others. There's nothing we can until tomorrow anyway." Reluctantly Jimmy and Kid nodded and with Teaspoon they left the office.
Lou stretched her arms above her head. It hadn't been the most comfortable of nights and she was pleased it was over. Buck seemed to have the same experience, since he sat up as soon as he heard that she was awake. When she looked at him he grinned at her and shook his head. Lou grimaced back. "I hope we don't have to spend another night like this," she said. "I feel as if I've been sleeping on sharp rocks." "We probably have," Buck muttered. Lou shook the water canteen and realised that it was almost empty. She took one sip before handing it to Buck. "We better find a town today or we'll be in trouble," she stated as Buck allowed the last drop of water trickle down his throat. He carefully closed the water canteen and handed it back to Lou. "We might find some water," he said. "We haven't found any so far," Lou objected. Buck shrugged. "Maybe today we will," Lou admitted and rose. "We might as well get going." A few hours later they found the first traces of civilisation - a road. And best of all, a spring. After satisfying their thirst, Lou scanned the area around them. Not far from the spring was a rather thick shrubbery, far enough from the road not be seen by travellers and yet close enough to the spring. "What?" Buck asked as he looked up at her. "I think that would do as a hiding place." "Hiding place? For what?" "For you." Buck looked suspiciously at her. "What are you thinking about?" "Well, this road must lead to something, probably a town. For obvious reason you can't go there, well, not until we know that's it's safe. And we need some food and some new bandages for your wound, so I thought I'd go alone." "Sure that's smart?" "Got any other idea?" Buck shook his head. It bare him against to let Lou head into an unknown town on her own, but she was right. If word had gotten around that a half-breed had killed a farmer it was safer for both of them if stayed in hiding until Lou came back. "You're going now?" "I just need a few minutes rest, then I'll be on my way," Lou replied as she walked over to the shrubbery. |
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