The Ties That Bind

Author's Note: I want to say a special "Aho" to Melanie-otherwise known as "Wind in His Braids" or "Lover of the Bald-Mute Wearing Suspenders"-for all her help in the creation and writing of this story. May all of your wildest TYR dreams come true!

The air was thick with tension as Noah entered town. He immediately understood why Buck had sent him back alone. Half of Rock Creek was gathered in the street in front of Teaspoon's jail fuming with suspicion and boiling with prejudice. No surprise to Noah, Tomkins was the loudest.

"Teaspoon, we demand to know just where our mail is. I heard about what happened to those other express riders. I bet this one was murdered by Indians, too!"

"Hold yer horses Tomkins," Teaspoon ordered. "No one knows just what happened, as yet. I'm sorry for any inconvenience caused to anyone expectin' mail from the Pony Express, but these things do happen from time to time."

"Bein' bushwhacked and scalped by Indians happens all right," Tomkins replied acidly. "But it is your sworn duty to protect us from those heathens! Or has that half-breed of yours made you soft?"

Teaspoon clenched his teeth. "Buck ain't got nothin' to do with this, Tompkins."

"I for one know that he's part Kiowa," Tompkins shot out. "And it was the Kiowa that stole Jeb Jarrit's horses and have been digging up half the farmland from here to Blue Creek! Stealin' wasn't enough for 'em. Now, they're out for blood!"

Teaspoon only half-heard the shopkeeper-his mind on what kind of Nirvana Rock Creek would be if that man had had his tongue cut out. But the roar of the crowd soon brought him back to his senses.

"Tomkins, if I was you, I'd shut yer trap before I jail you for inciting the town to riot." The Marshal turned to the crowd. "I want you all to disperse. Now!" With no positive response to that order forthcoming, Teaspoon casually fired his gun into the air. "Listen up! No one said any rider had been killed. We're at this very minute findin' out what happened, and the second I know somethin', I will fulfill my sworn duty and tell you all. I can say right now that Rock Creek ain't in no danger of Indian attacks. Now go about yer business-all of you!"

With that, the crowd reluctantly broke up. Thank God for Teaspoon! Noah thought as he tied up his horse. But he knew it was only a matter of time before the townsfolk grew restless again. Noah was experienced enough with that kind of hate to know the only thing that would appease it was a good hanging. He hated to think who's neck would be chosen to fill the noose.

"Noah!" Kid burst out, bringing the rider back to his senses. "Did you find anything?"

Noah glanced around himself uneasily. "We best go into the jail to talk."

"Well?" Teaspoon demanded.

"We found him. Shot in the back with enough arrows through him to make a porcupine jealous."

Jimmy glanced past Noah and out the door. "Where's Buck?"

"He decided to stop by the way station at South Pass before dark." Noah scanned the room cautiously. "Seems like from what's been happening here, that's the best decision he ever made. You all find anything helpful from the army?"

"Not particularly," Kid said as he leaned up against the jail bars. "Except that they've been expecting some important information about some kind of shipment coming through that's headed for Saint Joe. If that has anything to do with these murders, it might be that we're looking for a band of thieves. But that's all just a guess. Captain Jacobs wasn't real interested in talking all that much."

Noah frowned. "From what we found, it definitely looked like Indians that did it. But even Buck wasn't sure."

Jimmy snorted incredulously. "Wasn't sure? The man is covered with arrows and Buck, our expert scout, ain't sure?" He paused for a moment, then ventured his own theory. "I don't think Buck's doin' right by us."

"What are you sayin', Jimmy?" Teaspoon warned.

"I ain't sayin' nothin'-just that we ought to watch our backs, is all. Teaspoon, you're the one always remindin' us how Buck's split down the middle between two worlds. Well, that's a dangerous place to be. Who knows which side he's gonna choose?"

"Now Jimmy," Kid started, but his words were checked by the crack of gunfire.

"Teaspoon Hunter!" a voice cried out from the street.

Teaspoon rolled his eyes. "What now?"

"Teaspoon Aloysius Hunter, you parasite lovin' varmint! I'm callin' you out!"

"Ok, boys," Teaspoon warned as he eyed them each in turn. And even though he knew he was wasting his precious breath, he ordered them to stay inside the jail. "I'll take care of this myself."

As he stepped out, the setting sun blinded his eyes for a moment. Then, he made out the silhouette of a man standing only a few paces before him in the street. As his eyes adjusted, the shadowed figure began to develop some features.

He stood tall and lean with a long face, well tanned from about forty good years of weather. His short brown hair was dusty from miles of hard travel. Teaspoon saw that though his Indian buckskins had seen their day, the color was richly mellowed with age. He wore a pair of boots that had just about given up the ghost and his hat wasn't far behind. But around his neck hung a native treasure-a leather necklace. Bedecked with intricate beadwork, its beauty was painfully out of place with the rest of the costume. At its center lay a polished stone, which, Teaspoon thought, could have been some sort of magical jewel. It shone in the red glow of the evening like a miniature sun; its liquid hues radiated with a mix of deep golden and blood-red tones.

Teaspoon glanced up at the man's face once more. The stranger's chilly green eyes suddenly thawed as a smile dawned on his mouth. "Hell," he said, "when they told me at Blue Creek that the great Teaspoon Hunter was Marshalin' out here, I could hardly believe the old dog was still kickin'. And now I have my proof. Well, I guess I can just lay down and die right here-bein' witness to a miracle!" He laughed at the wooden expression of surprise etched into Teaspoon's face.

A few moments passed before Teaspoon found his feet and approached the stranger, openmouthed. "Jake Michaels? Is that really you or just a sorry ghost I see before me?"

"In the flesh," he answered.

The two embraced as only old comrades in crime could. "What in hell are you doin' out here?" Teaspoon was nearly at a loss for words, which made the riders, who had followed the Marshall outside, almost dumbstruck themselves.

"Teaspoon, who is that guy?" Jimmy asked as he finally removed his hand from his gun--realizing there was no need for concern.

Teaspoon reached out and grabbed Michaels by the shoulder, then turned proudly towards his friends. "Boys, I'd like you to meet one of my dearest friends from back in my Kansas law days-Mr. Jake Michaels."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Michaels." Kid stretched out a welcoming hand.

Michaels smiled. "Call me Jake."

Teaspoon introduced them all in turn, then faced his friend. "You still ain't answered my question. Why are you in these parts anyways?"

"Well, after keepin' the peace in about a dozen or so no-name towns, I finally decided to move on. I'm gonna head out to Oregon Territory and live off the land. Figured it was about time I settled down."

"Settle down!" Teaspoon laughed. "Well then, I musta mistaken you fer someone else. You can't be the Michaels I know."

"Well, Teaspoon, at one point or another, a man's just gotta grow up. Some of us sooner-some later."

"How long you plan on stayin' in town?" Noah asked.

"I was figurin' on staying a few days to load up on supplies and then take a rest while there's still some civilization in sight. Then I'll head out."

"By yourself?" Kid inquired, and Jake nodded. "Isn't that a little dangerous? There's a lot of restless Indians out there."

"Oh, I think I can get by all right," Jake answered with a certain glint in his eye that Kid couldn't quite make out.

"Don't you worry none about this joker," Teaspoon gushed. "Jake here's been courtin' death as long as I've ever known him and he always manages to keep it from reelin' him in." Teaspoon glanced around him, realizing that darkness had fully set in. "Where you stayin' while you're in town?"

"Oh, I thought I might luxuriate and spend a night at the hotel, then camp out."

"How's about you come to the Pony Express station with us and bunk out there?" the Marshall asked.

"If you don't mind Jimmy's snoring," Noah put in.

Teaspoon continued, undaunted. "Then you can learn a little more about my other occupation and meet the rest of the boys. 'Sides, we got a lot of catching up to do." Teaspoon's eyes were bright with anticipation at the thought of being able to tell a few good whoppers.

"If it isn't any trouble." Jake smiled as he sized up the eager Teaspoon. The old man was as ready as ever to accept a friend with open arms. "I'd be happy to."