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!

"Rachel, that was the most delicious breakfast I have ever eaten." Jake Michaels pushed his plate away and sat back with a satisfied grin.

Rachel flashed a broad smile as she began clearing the table. "Well, that's awful kind of you to say, Mr. Michaels."

"Rachel is the finest cook there is," Teaspoon boasted. "The roof may leak and the horses may act onry, but Rachel's cookin' never fails to bring a little slice of heaven right where it counts."

Michaels laughed and turned to the others with a mischievous grin. "Well you all may have had the great fortune of enjoying the finest cookin' in all the world, but I for one have had to endure the culinary terror that is Mr. Teaspoon Hunter. And frankly, I can't believe I've lived to tell about it!"

"I feel a story comin' on," Noah predicted.

"Now hold it right there, Jake," Teaspoon ordered. But it was too late. Everyone in the room had already taken the bait.

"Well? What happened?" an impatient Lou asked.

Savoring the moment, Jake stole a glance at his old partner's humiliated face before he began. "If you must know, we were out chasing a couple of outlaws who were threatening Deadwood some years back, and we had to spend a night out on the prairie. Well, you can imagine how hungry huntin' renegades can make a man. Teaspoon, great thinker that he is, decided that the beans we brought with us would heat faster if we cooked 'em in the can."

"It is a proven fact," a defensive Teaspoon interjected, "that when you apply heat to a can of beans, they warm up faster than if you open 'em up and cook 'em in the pot. Has somethin' to do with what they call the physicals of heat an' energy." He glanced hopefully at seven disbelieving faces. "I read about it. . .somewhere. . ."

Jake grinned as the Marshal's face went red with shame. "Yeah, well I don't know all about the 'physicals' behind it, but its most definitely a proven fact that when you heat up beans in an unopened can-they explode! You all should've seen it. Pow! Beans everywhere-dripping from Teaspoon's face-now I'll never forget that look on your face, Teaspoon. The explosion spooked off our horses. We spent the rest of the night trying to get hold of 'em. By morning, we were too dog tired to blink let alone run down outlaws. Yep. It surely was one of your finest moments, Teaspoon."

An awkward silence filled the room. Then suddenly, an anonymous snort ignited a chorus of laughter.

"All right. All right. You all go on-get yer jollies." Teaspoon's face was solemn, but his eyes betrayed a certain satisfaction that Michaels' teasing never failed to bring to his heart-even if it was at his own expense.

"Boy, Teaspoon, looks like even Jimmy beats you out at cookin'," Cody grinned at a humiliated Hickock.

Rachel's maternal eyes suddenly clouded over with concern. "I wonder where Buck is. I bet he hasn't eaten anything since yesterday's breakfast."

"Buck can take care of himself all right," the Marshal reassured.

"Teaspoon's right," Noah added. "He probably spent the night at the way station at South Pass. He didn't set out for there until it was pretty late."

Noticing Rachel's unshaken worry, Teaspoon continued, "But just to be sure, if he ain't back by lunchtime, I'll send someone out to hunt fer him." He sighed thoughtfully. "I hope the boy found somethin' helpful. This Indian trouble ain't just hurtin' the Pony Express."

Cody stole a look at Jake's necklace. "You have much experience with Indians, Jake?"

"Oh, a little," he replied. "Spent some of my earlier years as a trader back in Kansas Territory. Mostly dealt with the Sioux. In fact, that's how I picked up this necklace."

"Sure is beautiful," Rachel admitted.

Jake passed his hand over the polished stone that adorned his prize. "Its been my good luck charm for goin' on fifteen years now."

"Hard to think anyone would want to part with it," Kid said.

"Yeah, well, when you're desperate enough, you'd be willin' to part with just about anything, I suppose," Jake replied. "The Indians I traded with were really hurtin' for goods at the time. I was lucky. I only had to fork over a rifle and an old hunting knife to get it. The Indian who wore it before me swore it had the powers of the spirits in it. Now, I don't know about all that, but I can't deny that I've been one lucky man since I started wearing it."

"I don't doubt that," Teaspoon agreed. "You've cheated death more times than I can count."

Noah laughed. "Your fiasco with the beans bein' just one of those many times, I'm sure."

Jake brightened. "You know, that reminds me of the time Teaspoon got so drunk that he became convinced he wasn't cut out to be a law man and decided to start a new career at the saloon. 'Course I never thought you was the bar maid type myself, Teaspoon, but with that dress on, I swear. . ."

"Now hold on just one minute!" Teaspoon glared metallically at his friend. "First, that never happened." Michaels opened his mouth to object, but Teaspoon cut him off. "An' I don't care what you got to say otherwise! Second, breakfast has been officially over for a good fifteen minutes now, and its time fer you boys to start earnin' yer keep. There's chores to be done."

Several loud cries of dissent rang out, but Teaspoon remained firm. "Now you all git."

Reluctantly, the crowd broke up and they went their separate ways. When the room finally cleared, Teaspoon turned to Michaels. "You are one low down, double crossin', dirty rat, you know that?" He smiled. "You could never rib this old man enough, could ya son?"

"I couldn't miss the chance to torture you just one more time, Teaspoon-you oughta know that."

Teaspoon's gaze fell to his hands. "So you're really headed out West, huh?"

"Yep," Jake answered plainly. He saw Teaspoon's expression harden as he clenched his jaw tight. For a moment, the Marshal looked as if he was about to speak. But then, he seemed to think better of his words before he raised his head and stared with a cool eye at his old friend.

"I gotta head to town and take care of some business at the jail," Teaspoon said finally. "Why don't you come along and we can catch up on old times?"

"I'd love to, Teaspoon," Jake answered enthusiastically. "But first, I've got some chores of my own to do. Gotta stop by the general store and the livery. . .but let's say I'll meet you at the jail in a couple of hours. How's that?"

"Sounds just fine to me, son." Teaspoon stood, and Jake followed suit. Then, together, they headed outside.