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!

Jake Michaels steadied his horse and looked down into the small valley below him. The old Marcus homestead limped into view-the corroding lean-to as silent as the grave. From his pocket, Michaels produced a small mirror. Instinctively, he glanced around himself before giving the sign. Three flashes of light hit a scrub of bushes near the backside of the house. A moment passed before the signal was returned, and Jake cautiously entered the property. As he approached the dilapidated house, they all began to creep out from the woodwork.

There were eleven men in all-hard as nails and twice as tough. Their battered clothing told a tale of long hard rides and uncountable fisticuffs. One of them, who's shirt was splattered with the dried blood of some unfortunate foe, stepped forward as Jake dismounted. He wore a battered broad brimmed hat that rode low on his head-casting a shadow about his eyes.

Jake glanced around himself once more before eyeing the front man. "What'd you find?" he asked with authority.

"There wasn't nothin' in that mail bag, Jake. An' I'm gonna be the first to talk for the boys when I say it's a damned waste of time lookin' for it."

Jake gritted his teeth and sized up each man in turn. Then he smiled roguishly. "Well boys, I think our luck's about to pick up. Jonesie back in Blue Creek was right. Teaspoon Hunter is the Sheriff of Rock Creek now. And, to top it all off, he's also in charge of the Rock Creek Pony Express station."

The front man's eyes flickered with suspicion. "How the hell is buddying up to a Marshal gonna help us get at that money? I thought we'd planned to keep away from the law."

"Plan's changed, Jarvis. Teaspoon Hunter's our ace in the hole. The man's a sucker for an old friend-always has been. We know that the army's got a shipment headed out to Saint Joe-its all just a matter of when. The Pony Express is always handlin' the army's business. Now we got an inside line to tell us just where to be when the army decides to use the Express's services again. I can get Hunter to tell me anything." He flashed a self-satisfied grin. "Hell, I can get him to do just about anything I want."

Jarvis remained unconvinced. "Last heist we pulled was more'n three months ago, Jake. Its just takin' too damn long." Several others grumbled in agreement.

Jake sighed. "Ok. You all can go off half-cocked and rob a pitiful little bank. Get yer jollies and about a hundred dollars. Or you can stay with me and rake in a couple thousand in pure U.S. prime army gold. Last shipment we got was peanuts compared to this one. With the war comin', that gold is headed back East faster than ever. You need money to fight a war, boys. An' this is our chance to take ourselves a cut before its all wasted on uniforms." Jake paused for a moment to let his words do their work. It didn't take long before he could feel the mighty flame of greed flare up and seduce his comrades once more. He continued, "Good things always take a little time to materialize. But, I swear, it'll be well worth the wait. An' I don't think we'll be needing to worry much about getting caught. I know for a fact that Teaspoon and all of Rock Creek think the Kiowa killed that rider-and all the others, too."

Jake smiled broadly to himself as the play perfectly unfolded before his eyes. It was most certainly turning into a thing of beauty. Now it was time for act two to begin.

"I gotta get back to town and see what I can get out of old Teaspoon." Jake glanced up at the edge of the horizon. "I think its safe for you all to move around a little. Too many men in one place draws suspicion. But be careful. We don't need no stupid stunts ruining our game." His eyes picked over his men. "Jackson, Matthews and McDaniels-you all follow me back to town. But I want you to act like you never seen me before. If trouble stirs, I may need you-so keep close by. The rest of you stay 'round here and lay low. I'll be back tonight about midnight with the low-down. Ok?"

They all nodded in silent acceptance.

Jake mounted his horse and smiled. "It won't be too long now, boys." He savored the moment as a wave of exhilaration flew through his spine-setting his whole being on fire. Nothing was going to stop him now.