WHEN
YOU SEE MEWHEN
YOU SEE MEby Nesciri
CHAPTER 7
Kid placed Katy in the small stable next to Thompkins store. He was happy that the storekeeper let him use it, since Katy was the only thing of value he had, and everyone in town knew of the bond between the horse and the boy. Kid had worked hard to be able to buy the horse from a local horse trader and Thompkins was one of those who had helped him by giving him a job. Kid would always be grateful for that, and despite the fact that he didn't always agree with the storekeeper, Kid respected the man. He had been through a lot, losing his family in an Indian raid almost six years earlier, which explained his outright hatred for Indians. Kid didn't take Thompkins ramblings over Indians seriously, since he didn't believe that the man would act upon it, but he could well understand it. He would hate it if anybody tore up his family and he wasn't sure he would forget something like that easily.
"Morning, Mr. Thompkins," he greeted the storekeeper as he entered the not yet open store.
"Good, you're early," Thompkins replied. "It was real nice of you to help me out, Kid."
"It's my pleasure, Mr. Thompkins. What do you want me to do?"
"I got two late shipment in last night and I need that sorted out and placed in the warehouse. Carl and Brett have already started, but I need one of them in the store. Somebody got drunk last night and destroyed a few windows. To tell you the truth, son, I hate paydays. There's always trouble when all those hired hands come into to spend what little they have on women and booze."
"Talking about pay, Mr. Thompkins?" Kid smiled.
"You never forget the important, do you Kid?" Thompkins smiled amiable back at him. "Don't worry, you'll get the usual amount. What is it this time? Not another horse I hope?"
"No," Kid looked slightly embarrassed. He didn't like being in the center of attention but with in a small town like Sweetwater rumors spread faster than grassfire. He was certain that Mr. Thompkins already knew about his upcoming date with Laura.
"She's a good girl, Laura," Thompkins continued with a smile, confirming to Kid that the gossip already was out over town. All he could do was nod and hope that he could get the job started. He wasn't in the mood to discuss Laura, especially since there was this nagging feeling that he was doing the wrong thing every time he thought of her. He tried to shake off the feeling.
"I better start working then," he stated, interrupting Thompkins tirade of hard it was to run a store when deliveries were late.
"Thanks for doing this, Kid," Thompkins called out after him as he prepared to open the store for the day. Relieved to get away from Thompkins, Kid hurried over to the store.
"Poor Ike," Lou said, "having to take that run to the head-office. The office ain't gonna take those news happily."
"Well, at least Teaspoon cancelled all the other runs," Jimmy said as he dismounted.
"I ain't so sure that's a god thing," Cody said as he hitched the horse to the pole. He picked up a list from his pocket. "It's much more in my style to ride out, facing danger, than doing the weekly shopping."
"You wouldn't say that if you were caught by Indians, my friend," Jimmy snickered.
"Who said I would get caught?"
Lou and Jimmy glared at Cody, who threw his arms up in the air.
"Alright, alright, it's a good thing." Then he smiled. "But if they call in the army I wouldn't mind help them out. That could be a real adventure."
"It's nothing of the sort," Buck muttered next to him as they let a wagon pass them of the street. "There ain't no glory or adventure in killing each other."
"You've ever been in that - raids I mean?" Cody asked as Jimmy hit the hat of his hat.
"Cut that out!" Cody complained as he turned to pick it up.
"When you learn to think before you open your mouth," Jimmy retorted.
"I was just askin'! Cody muttered but didn't pursue the matter. Buck just shook his head, while Lou smiled at Jimmy.
"You know, Jimmy, if you intend to do that, I guess you just got yourself a full-time job!"
Cody muttered something inaudible as his eyes fastened on a young girl heading home. Quickly brushing off his hat, he saluted her as the wagon passed, pleased to see her blush.
"Ahh!" he sighed. "It only takes a couple of minute to fall in love..."
"And half that time for you to mess it up," Jimmy interrupted and grabbed Cody by the sleeve to catch up with the other two who already crossed the street.
(Author's note: The following sequence is copied from "Home Of The Brave" and not created by the author, with the exceptions of Lou's thoughts and some of her actions.)
"And some nails 15 cent...that's three dollars forty cent."
"That's a lot more than last week," Mr. Crawford replied with a frown.
"Supply and demand," Thompkins replied. "That shots selling for a lot more than sugar." His voice died off as he looked up when the door opened and the riders entered. Seeing that Thompkins were busy, Cody, Jimmy and Buck slowly strolled into the store, while Lou snatched the list from Cody and walked up to the counter.
"Well, I got a family to protect, so I ain't got much choice," Mr. Crawford said.
"Well, I'm sure glad to see you spending it on something worth while," Thompkins continued, raising his voice to make sure the riders heard him, "killing Indians." Lou threw a glance over at Buck and she swore she could see him stiffen slightly. Since there was nothing she could do, she tightened her lips and waited for Thompkins to finish his business with Mr. Crawford.
Mr. Crawford frowned at the storekeeper.
"You're sound like you're happy about this Indian scare," he stated.
"I'm just like everyone else," Thompkins objected. "I miss the old days, when you could by them for a jug of whiskey and a handful of beans. But I guess even Indians change these days. Hell, those boys even manages to train a half-breed to hold down a regular job."
Lou turned around and looked at the others. Buck had looked away and was aimlessly picking at some gloves. However, both Cody and Jimmy looked upset.
"Name's Buck and he's a friend," Jimmy stated.
"Well, I wouldn't go around bragging about it, son," Thompkins retorted as Mr. and Mrs. Crawford left the shop. "Furthermore, I don't want his kind in my store, so go on and get him out of here."
"And if he don't want to leave?" Cody asked.
"Carl! Brett" Thompkins called out and Carl appeared from the back where he had been repairing the window. At the same time Brett appeared from the storeroom. "Come on out here and meet some smart mouth Indian lovers," Thompkins sneered.
"Sir, we didn't come looking for no trouble," Lou said, trying to defuse the situation, now and then casting an eye on Buck. She could only imagine how he felt about the whole situation and she couldn't understand why he didn't look angry. She would have been.
"No, sir, we didn't come looking for it --- but," Cody continued as he approached the three men.
"Hey Cody, these boys don't want to get into a fight over nothing," Jimmy interrupted, as he walked around one of the display tables. "Especially nothing like a couple of smart mouth Indian lovers. Do we boys?" he snickered as he approached them. "Now -" Jimmy continued as he picked up one of the knives that was on display and deliberately sliced it through a sack of seed, " - on the other hand. That might just be what those larch brains need for a fight."
(End of sequence from "Home Of The Brave".)
Kid stumbled under the heavy sack before dumping it in the store. He rose and wiped the sweat from his face with his handkerchief when he heard the voices from the store. From the half-opened door he saw the back of Mr. Thompkins and two of the Express riders. From their faces he gathered that they were not involved in a pleasant conversation. Frowning at the boys' behavior he was about to continue working when Hickok sliced a knife through a sack of grain. Stunned, Kid could just stare as the seeds poured from the sac onto the floor. Then anger got hold of him. Those seed were valuable for every farmer around and by allowing them to pour onto the floor, Hickok had just rendered them useless. The deliberate destruction of something that could mean everything for a farmer really irritated him. Forgetting about the job, he threw of the working gloves and entered the store, where the fight already had started.
As Kid entered the room, he found Carl and Brett already fighting with Jimmy and Cody as Thompkins tried to stop it, not so much for the damage the fighters did to themselves as for the damage they caused the store. Brett already had the blond rider in a firm grip over the neck and was pushing his face down into a broken sack of flour. Carl was worse off as Jimmy hit him over the face with a spade and Kid decided to intervene, when he saw Lou head over to help Cody. He hadn't seen her there, and in fear that she might be hurt, he grabbed her by the arm, only to duck a moments later as she swung her fist in his directions. He was just about to tell her to calm down, when somebody spun him around.
Buck had watched the word exchange with discomfort. He didn't want to cause any trouble, but he didn't know how he would stop Jimmy and Cody. The two of them were so intent on a fight that there was nothing he could do to stop them. But he wouldn't take any part in it - he knew only too well who'd get the blame afterwards. Instead he nudged himself closer to the door and was just about to let himself out when Kid intervened. When Buck saw Kid grab Lou, he changed his mind. He was still trying to deal with the fact that Lou was a girl, but he wouldn't let Lou get beaten because of him. With two brisk steps he reached Kid and swung him around, forcing him to let go of Lou. Lou stumbled backwards into the counter, knocking down several plates in the process.
Buck's fist hit Kid straight in the face and Kid felt his nose starting to bleed. He quickly rose his left arm to protect him as he struck out with the right. But Buck was no longer there. Instead he had moved around Kid and Kid received another punch in his side. Turning around he managed to grab Buck by the collar of his jacket and managed to hit him just above the eye. It was a hard punch that broke the young Indian's eyebrow. Blood ran freely down his face and into his eye, temporarily impairing his site. Knowing that Kid would get another hit on him if they remained where they were, Buck kicked Kid on his leg, forcing him to let go. Angry, Kid throw himself at Buck, knocking them both to the floor.
On the other side, Cody had managed to get out of Brett's grip and just smashed a plate in his face and Jimmy knocked Carl through the window of the door.
"Hold it boys!" Thompkins yelled and approached them only to be met with frypan, that Lou conveniently hit him with. Thompkins was knocked backwards, when the door was opened.
"Stop this!" Sam bellowed and at the sound of his voice everything ceased. Slowly the fighters entangled themselves from each other and rose. Kid helped Thompkins to his feet as Sam eyed them.
"What the hell happened here?" he asked harshly, eyeing the riders suspiciously.
"Those damn riders ruined my store," Thompkins yelled as he pressed his hand onto what would be a large bruise on his forehead. Cody couldn't hide a smile at the sight, which quickly faded as Thompkins continued. "And it's all his fault!" the storekeeper yelled and pointed at Buck, who just lowered his head.
"Buck?" Sam asked, when Cody intervened.
"We didn't start anything, Sam - they did!"
Sam stared at them with a frown on his face. Knowing the strong bonds among the riders and Thompkins aversion towards Indians, he wasn't sure he could put much faith in either's words. Finally he saw someone that normally carried a clear head on his shoulders and it was with surprise he realized that he too had been fighting. Kid normally had more sense that getting dragged into fistfights.
"Kid? You wanna tell me what happened here?"
Well aware that all eyes were on him, Kid stopped batting his nose with his sleeve.
"I just know what I saw, Sam," he begun reluctantly. He didn't want to get Lou in trouble, but he wasn't sure how to avoid it either.
"And what did you see?"
"There was some kinda argument and then he -" Kid nodded over to where Jimmy was standing holding his hand over his eye where a bruise just was beginning to show, " - deliberately destroyed some of the seeds." He pointed to the sac on the floor and it was first now he realized the destruction of the store. There were broken plates everywhere and the floor was filled with grain, seeds and flour. The window to the front door was broken and some of the fabrics were laying on the floor, covered in flour.
Sam sighed. "Alright. Get out of here. I want to see you in my office in one minute. Is that clear?" he asked the riders.
"It wasn't our fault," Jimmy muttered, but silenced under Sam's hard stare.
"My office," he clarified as the riders filed out the door under silence.
"You should have all of them arrested," Thompkins told Sam as the door closed behind them.
"Calm down, Mr. Thompkins. I'll talk to them."
"Talk to them? Look around, marshal - they'll have to pay for the damage they've done - and a night in a cell might be just was those bastards need."
"What exactly was that argument about?" Sam asked.
"I told them to get to leave my store, that's what happened," Thompkins muttered and Kid looked up with surprise. Thompkins seldom refused anybody into his store, especially when they were there to spend money.
"You asked them to leave?" Sam questioned with a surprised frown on his face.
"Well, to be more specific, I asked the half-breed to leave. With all the Indian trouble around here, his presence is bad for business."
Sam suspected that Thompkins hadn't been very polite in his demands, but knowing the man, he also realized that he wouldn't get a man like Thompkins to change his mind. In his mind he couldn't help feeling that the boys had done exactly what he would have done in that situation. The only thing that surprised him was Kid's involvement. He didn't think that the boy would have defended the storekeeper's opinions.
"You better get over to Doc to let him have a look on that nose - make sure it ain't broken," Sam suggested. Kid nodded. It was difficult to talk, since the nose wouldn't stop bleeding. "I'll talk to you later," were Sam's departing words as he joined Kid on the porch outside.
"Well?" he asked as they stopped out on the street.
"I didn't know what the argument was about, Sam. And they shouldn't have destroyed them sacks. You know how much that is worth for a farmer..."
"It's alright. Kid. I know. I ain't blaming you. But I rather thought that you'd been the one trying to stop it, rather than getting into it?"
Kid frowned. It had been his intention to stop it, but when he had seen Lou there, his first thought had been to get her out. But he couldn't tell Sam that.
"I guess I let the anger get the best of me," he mumbled.
"Well, I don't want to see you in trouble again," Sam said before he headed over to the office.
It was a miserable bunch that met Sam in his office. Sam tossed his hat on the table and seated himself in the chair. He looked sternly at the riders.
"Alright. Who's gonna tell me what happened?"
The riders looked tentatively at each other, none of them willing to speak up. Finally Jimmy couldn't stand it.
"Thompkins said some low things about Buck," he said defensively. "We couldn't let that just pass now, could we? I mean, Buck's our friend."
"So you decided to destroy the store?"
"We didn't start it," Cody objected. "Thompkins called in those thugs to throw us out!"
"Buck, Lou? You've got something to add to this?" Sam asked turning to the two riders.
"It's my fault, Sam," Buck replied silently. "Thompkins told me to leave."
"Are you crazy?" Cody leaned forward to watch his friend. "You would have Thompkins threw you out?"
"It's his choice ain't it?" Buck replied rather harshly.
"So we got into a fight for nothing?" Jimmy stated. "Hell, we fought for you! Doesn't that mean anything?"
"You fought because he called you an Indian lover," Buck replied coldly, barely able to control his anger; anger over the fact that he had been dragged into the fight and the reasons behind it.
"Take it easy," Sam intervened. "I'm holding all of you responsible for this. You'll have to pay the damages to Thompkins off your salaries." When the riders objected, he continued. "And give him your apologies."
"No way, Sam," Jimmy stated. "I ain't giving him nothing!" The other looked liked they agreed. Especially Buck looked uncomfortable at the aspect of having to apologize to the man, and Lou felt her anger return.
"We didn't come looking for no trouble, Sam. Honest we didn't!" She was so angry, she felt as if she could explode. All they had done was trying to do Emma's shopping. And it wasn't Buck's fault. Nobody should have to hear what Thompkins had called him. And she had noticed that Buck had tried to leave. She knew that he had returned because he thought that she had been in trouble. And Buck had been right - Jimmy and Cody didn't fight because of Buck, they had fought because Thompkins had called them smart mouth Indian lovers. And she suspected that Jimmy would have fought no matter what. If it was one thing Jimmy couldn't stand it was other people looking down at him. Whatever Thompkins would have called him would have been enough to set him off.
"It doesn't matter, Lou. You deliberately destroyed that store." Sam shook his head. "You know what this will mean for Emma?"
The riders shook their head, embarrassed over the fact that they might have got Emma in trouble.
"Thompkins may take away her credit. So you better head on over to the station, and I'll see you here tomorrow, ready to help clean up the mess you made and to apologize. Is that clear?"
The riders nodded.
"Good, I'll talk to Thompkins about Emma's credit. Now, get on out of here. And Buck, let Doc have a look at that wound - looks like it could use a few stitches. Then you head straight home - that's an order."
The riders left the office, both angry and disappointed.
"Of course Sam would take their side," Jimmy muttered.
"Sam was right," Lou objected. "We did start it."
The others looked surprised at her.
"What are you talking about, Lou?" Cody asked angrily. "You said it yourself - we weren't looking for no trouble!"
"We didn't try and find a way around it either," Lou mumbled. "And if Thompkins cuts off Emma's credit---"
The others didn't reply. They didn't have too. Thompkins was the only store in town and the next closest was in Blue Creek.
"Guess we have to apologize then," Cody muttered as he grabbed the reins of his horse.
"Hell no," Jimmy muttered stubbornly. "I ain't doing nothing, and I sure as hell won't apologize. There must be another way."
Lou looked doubtfully at him, when she saw Buck reach for the reins to his horse.
"Sam was right," she said turning to him. "Doc should have a look at that."
"I'm fine," Buck muttered.
"I'll walk with you," Lou replied and stared at him. The wound was still bleeding and she wouldn't let him head out without seeing Doc.
"No need, Lou," Buck said as he re-hitched his horse.
"No problem," she replied.
Cody and Jimmy said their good-byes and headed out of town, not looking forward to how they should explain Jimmy's black eye and Cody's split lip to Emma.
Buck and Lou slowly walked down the street over to Doc's office.
"You know," Lou said finally. "You didn't had to join the fight just for me."
Buck shrugged.
"What where you doing, by the way? I saw you by the door."
"I was leaving, it wasn't my fight."
"Why?"
"You know why. Jimmy and Cody had their reasons to fight. I figured I hadn't any. And maybe if I left, they'd stop fighting - me out of there was what Thompkins wanted."
"Stopped? It's Jimmy and Cody we're talking about here," Lou reminded him, pleased to see a faint smile on his lips. She wanted to ask him if he wasn't upset over Thompkins' words, but something told her not to ask, so she choose a different subject. "But I meant what I said - just because you know I'm a girl, that doesn't mean I can't take care of myself."
Buck glared at her.
"On a run, or breaking a horse, yes. In a fight, no."
"Come on, Buck, I've been in fights before."
"Yeah, where?"
Lou hesitated. "At the orphanage," she shrugged.
"That's not the same thing," Buck objected. "That's children's fights."
"Well, I know how to fight and I don't want you helping me out."
Buck shook his head at the stubborn girl by his side.
"That fellow, Kid, would have broken your jaw." He tenderly touched his eyebrow. Lou wanted to object that Kid wouldn't have hit her at all, but she wasn't ready to confess to Buck that Kid knew about her. She was afraid that just saying his name would be enough for Buck to know how she felt. And that was something she would keep to herself.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, changing the subject. Buck grimaced at her.
"He knows how to fight," Buck admitted as they reached Doc's. They walked up the steps just as the door opened and Kid stepped out.
Lou felt as if her heart stopped, seeing his blue eyes looking straight at her, before they reached her companion. She could almost see the anger in them as Kid looked at Buck. For a moment they just stood there staring at each other, and Lou could feel the tension between the two men. Then Kid nodded and passed them on the narrow stair, bumping unnecessarily into Buck on his way. Lou could have sworn he did it on purpose, and she frowned with anger. Buck saw it and quietly told her to not be bothered.
"You better let Doc see to that wound," Lou said between gritted teeth. "I'll get the horses."
"Don't do anything stupid, Lou!" Buck called after her before entering Doc's office.
Lou caught up with Kid in the alley behind Thompkins, where he was making Katy ready for going home.
"Why the hell did you do that?" Lou fumed as she blocked his path.
"Did what?" Kid muttered back.
"Bumped into Buck like that."
"It was an accident."
"Accident, my foot. You did that deliberately!"
"So if I did - what's that got to do with you?"
"Buck is one of my best friends."
"You're sure that's all he is?"
"What are you talking about?" Lou asked perplexed.
"Nothing," Kid muttered. He couldn't really explain why he was angry with Buck. He was sure now that Buck knew that Lou was a girl. Buck was the one that had rushed to Lou's defense in the store and seeing them together outside Doc had just upset him. He had no reason to be upset, at least he thought so, and the sudden anger he felt was unexplained. At least for Kid. And Lou's quick defense of Buck didn't make things any better.
"That's all you have to say? You don't even gonna apologize?"
"Look here, Lou - Louise. I didn't start the fight in the store. Your 'friend' attacked me without any reason. I wasn't fighting - I was trying to get you out of there."
"Well, first of all there was no way Buck could know that and second of all I can take of myself! I don't need anyone 'rescuing' me!" Lou was so upset she didn't know what to do.
"Excuse me for being mistaken - apparently you're use to fighting with men," Kid sneered. He had not meant to sound so harsh, but he couldn't stop himself. He was feeling guilty for being in the fight after he had learned the reason for it and he was sorry for hitting Buck, but he couldn't admit that for Lou - not now.
Lou gritted her teeth. How could anyone be so obnoxious? she pondered. She had thought he was special, but he was no different than the rest. Jimmy had been right all along. Kid did look down on them for who they were. How she ever could have fallen for him was a mystery. Well, now she knew and she was glad they never had a chance of being together. That would have been a huge mistake.
"Well, you're nothing but a - a low life son-of-a-bitch!" Lou exclaimed and turned on her heel. She quickly walked over to the horses and grabbing both her and Buck's over to the Doc. She hid her head between the horses, hoping that no one noticed the tears that were streaming down her cheeks.