CHOICESCHOICES
The riders had just finished drawing straws and it was decided that Ike and
Buck would accompany Kid and Jimmy on their search for Lou. They were discussing
places to go search for Lou, when Jesse rushed into the open barn door. Instinctively
the group of men turned at the sound of footsteps approaching. Jimmy's
guns were just beginning to clear their holsters, when he spotted Jesse. Kid
barely caught sight of Jesse's enraged face, before Jesse's fist connected with
his
jaw. The blow caught Kid off-guard, throwing him backward into Jimmy, who stood
a few inches behind. Jimmy's hands flung out as he tried to keep himself
from falling, but was propelled backwards as Kid plowed into him. The other
riders burst out laughing as Kid and Jimmy landed on top of one another onto
the
pile of soiled hay that had been removed from the stalls the evening before.
"Get up, Kid! Get up! You're nothing but a lowdown dirty polecat that
deserves a good licking! Lou's gone and it's all you're fault! She's tough and
pretty and
smart and she wouldn't of left Rock Creek if it wasn't for you!" Jesse
screamed as he stood over the two riders, his hands balled into fists in front
of him.
There was a dangerous glint in Jimmy's eyes as he and Kid struggled to disengage
themselves from each other and stand up. "I suggest you clear out of my
sight
before I get to my feet or I'm not going to be responsible for what I do to
you!"
"Ooh, I'm scared! What are you going to do Jimmy, shoot me? I don't care! You got this coming!" Jesse taunted him.
"What the hell has gotten into you boy!" Teaspoon shouted, striding
towards Jesse. He grabbed a hold of Jesse's shirt and yanked him backward, just
as Jimmy
got to his feet and lunged forward. Kid's arms shot out to restrain Jimmy.
"I know you're upset Jesse, but you got no call hitting me or talking to Jimmy like that!" Kid said angrily.
Jesse struggled in Teaspoon's grasp. "I wouldn't hold myself to be much
of a man, if I didn't stand up for Lou! Accepting the fact that I'd miss Lou
something
fierce, I hope you don't find her! Maybe she'll be able to find a man who will
care for her, defend her and make her happy! Obviously she ain't going to be
happy with the likes of either of you! I'm thinking that the barn's a good place
for both of you! At least then you would be bunkin' with the rest of the animals,
especially the jackasses!"
Jimmy broke out of Kid's grip and started toward Teaspoon and Jesse. "You
smart mouth little weasel! Wait till I get my hands on you! I'll teach you what
it's like to be a man!"
The laughter drained out of the other riders' faces as Jimmy advanced towards where Teaspoon held Jesse. They shot each other uneasy glances, before each of them placed themselves strategically around Jesse and Teaspoon. The smoldering look that Jimmy shot each of them would have burned them to a crisp, if they had been pieces of wood.
"Get out of my way!" Jimmy growled through clenched teeth. "It's
time somebody taught that boy what it takes to be a man! If he has the guts
to pick a fight,
then he better be ready to back up his claim!"
"Jimmy, he's upset! He's got every reason to defend Lou! Any other time
or any other person and you'd be shaking his hand right now! You're just mad
that the
person he chose to defend Lou against is you!" Kid told him.
Everyone held their breath as they waited to see how Jimmy would respond to
what Kid had said. Kid braced himself in case Jimmy decided to take his anger
at
Jesse out on him. Jimmy's eyes moved back and forth between Kid and Jesse. Just
as sudden as the anger had filled him, it was gone. A wry laugh echoed through
the barn.
"You're right, Kid. I can't drill it into his head to stick up for himself
and his friends to everyone else and not expect him to do the same to me. Just
don't go
getting to full of yourself!" Jimmy said, grinning at Jesse.
Jesse let out a sigh of relief. As mad as he had been at Kid and Hickok when
he had entered the barn a short time ago, it had fled from him the moment Jimmy
had stood up. Fear had filled him instead and he had fought the urge to bolt
out of Teaspoon's arms. Instead he had stood and faced Jimmy. He had to admit
that if it hadn't been for the fact that Teaspoon and the other riders' had
been between him and Jimmy, he would have surely passed out from fair.
"Come on boys, let's go see if Rachel's got breakfast ready. All of this excitement has made me work up an appetite!" Teaspoon exclaimed.
