When
Words FailWhen
Words Failby Jill
© 2000
"There are times when silence has the loudest voice."
- Leroy Brownlow
Today Is Mine
"Cody!"
The blonde rider looks around in surprise as the four voices shout his name.
"What?" he asks in feigned innocence. "All I did was ask Ike if he was gonna eat the rest a his stew. No need in it goin' ta waste if he ain't gonna eat it. What's wrong with that, huh?"
"Maybe the fact that you just asked me an' Jimmy an' Lou the same question and we all said you couldn't have ours," Buck points out.
"Ya see, Cody ain't exactly one ta catch on real quick like, Buck," Jimmy says with a grin. Cody glares at Jimmy as the rest of the riders laugh.
"A man's got a right ta eat enough food 'til he's full, ain't he?" Cody states in defense.
"Cody, there ain't enough food 'round here for you ta do that," Lou joins in the conversation, causing another volley of snorts and laughter from the riders at the table.
Ike McSwain glances around at the others sitting there. They have only been together for a month and although they are still sorting out how to live with one another, Ike can tell this is going to work. Oh, it won't go smoothly, that's for sure, but the best things in life rarely do. Ike smiles again to himself as he thinks that with Cody around, how could anything go smoothly!
"Well, Ike?" Cody asks, doggedly returning to his first question, as Lou, Kid, Buck, and Jimmy all roll their eyes.
<Well what? > Ike signs jokingly back, unable to stop a huge grin from splitting his face.
Cody heaves a dramatic sigh and rolls his eyes as he answers. "You know what! Are ya gonna eat yer stew er not?"
Cody really looks pleading now, but Ike can't resist toying with him for a few more seconds. He conjures up his most thoughtful expression and plants it on his face as he slowly strokes his chin, pretending to be pondering deeply about it. Once again the room erupts in laughter.
"Ike!" Cody whines.
Ike grins and pushes the rest of his stew across the table to Cody. He really didn't want it anyway, he just couldn't resist giving his friend a hard time.
"Better not make a habit a that, Ike, er Cody'll start eatin' yer meals without askin' first," Jimmy warns. Cody reaches out and smacks him good-naturedly as he stands up from the table. The rest of the riders also rise to go back outside, leaving Cody to finish his lunch alone. As they are leaving, they pass Emma coming in the bunkhouse to clean up.
"Well Cody, since you seem to be the last one eatin' an' it looks like you've eaten more 'n the rest of 'em put together, ya wouldn't mind helpin' me with these dishes now would ya?"
"Aw Emma!" The riders hear Cody protest as they put on their hats and leave the porch.
Ike hits Buck on the arm to get his attention. <Now I'm glad I didn't finish the stew,> he tells him, smiling. Buck chuckles loudly, but the other riders only look confused. They are trying hard to learn Ike's language, but they have only known him for a month and there are still many times they aren't quite sure what he is saying. Ike was at first amazed that they even wanted to learn. He's never encountered anyone else who was willing to learn how to communicate with him, except for Buck of course, and now there are six others trying. Every day they get a little better at it, and Ike doesn't mind being patient.
"What'd he say, Buck?" Kid asks for all of them as they walk toward the barn.
"He said he's glad he decided not to finish the stew himself," Buck interprets, laughing again as the others join him.
"Poor Cody," Kid says between snorts.
They are still laughing as they approach the old, grey, weathered barn, and Teaspoon who has just emerged from it.
"You shoulda got back from town sooner, Teaspoon. There ain't any lunch left now," Buck tells him.
"Guess I'll just hafta git Emma ta fix me a meal all fer myself, now won't I, boys?" Teaspoon says as he hooks his thumbs through the pair of pink suspenders he is never without, looking very smug.
"Make sure Cody ain't around or you might end up sharin' that meal after all," Kid tells him.
"Don't you boys have some chores er something ta do?" Teaspoon inquires in a playful growl.
The boys and Lou, grumbling slightly, turn and head into the barn.
"Ike, Jimmy, wait a minute. I need ta talk ta ya," Teaspoon calls before they disappear with the rest.
"Whadja do now, Ike?" Buck teases.
Ike just shrugs his shoulders, a puzzled look on his face. He playfully pushes his friend into the barn before turning to follow Jimmy and Teaspoon over to the coral. He really can't think of a reason why Teaspoon would want to talk to him and Jimmy. Him and Buck maybe, but him and Jimmy? Hum.......
Teaspoon is leaning against the rails of the coral, holding a paper in his hands. His teasing countenance has been replaced by one that is all business. Jimmy and Ike stand solemnly before him, sensing that this is not a time for jokes.
"This here is an important document that the army needs delivered ta Ft. Laramie ASAP. They know my boys is faster and better than any stage in the territory so's they asked me ta get one a you to take it. I said ya would."
"What is it, Teaspoon?" Jimmy asks.
"I ain't quite sure. The captain wouldn't tell me. Just said that it was vital that it gets to the fort soon. Ike, yer up fer the next run so you get to take it, okay?" Teaspoon looks at Ike and raises an eyebrow, waiting for a response.
Ike nods his head in agreement.
"What ya need me for then, Teaspoon?" Jimmy wonders.
" I want ya to go with him," Teaspoon replies.
Ike looks up sharply, a protesting look written all over his face. Everyone is always assuming that just because he can't talk he isn't capable of doing things on his own! He hates that! He raises his hands to sign, but Teaspoon stops him.
"I know what yer gonna say, son, but just listen ta me. I know ya could do this fine on yer own, I ain't doubtin' yer ability, but yer gonna be ridin' straight acrost Souix land. They been threatin' to go on the warpath for some time and I jist want a second gun on this one. Jimmy ain't got a ride fer a couple days, so he gets the job. Alright?" Teaspoon looks at Jimmy.
"Yeah," Jimmy says with a shrug.
"Ike?" Teaspoon asks, giving the young man a hard look.
Ike nods okay. It's not that he has anything against Jimmy, (although he sometimes suspects that Jimmy sees him as weaker), he just wants to be able to prove that he is as good as any of the riders. Besides, without Buck there, Ike is going to have a hard time making Jimmy understand him.
"Good. Go get yer things, I want ya ta head out now. There's still plenty a daylight left, no need ta waste it," Teaspoon says as he claps both Jimmy and Ike on the back and turns them toward the bunkhouse. A few minutes later, Ike and Jimmy are both heading back to the barn, bedrolls and saddle bags in hand.
"At least we get outa doin' dishes fer a few days," Jimmy says to Ike, thinking of Cody still being held captive by Emma at the washbasin.
<Yeah, but we also have to eat your cooking,> Ike signs with a slight frown, after shifting his stuff so that one hand is free.
"There ain't nothin' wrong with my cookin'," Jimmy defends.
<If you're dead,> Ike gestures quickly, smiling as they enter the barn.
"What'd you say, Ike?" Jimmy growls, but Ike just shrugs his shoulders. "Oh I know ya said somethin', I saw ya. I ain't exactly sure what but I can tell from the look on yer face I should probable dunk ya for it," Jimmy teases Ike.
Shaking his head with silent laughter, Ike walks over to his horse and starts to saddle it. He looks up when he hears someone next to him.
"Where are you two goin'?" Buck asks him, puzzled.
<Teaspoon's sending us on a special ride to Ft. Laramie for the army,> Ike stops saddling his horse to tell him. He his friend's face darken with worry and sighs. <I'll be alright, Buck. Don't worry. It's not any different than any other run.>
"If it's just any run, why's he sendin' Jimmy with ya? Why not send me?"
<Teaspoon just said he wants another gun along, okay. And you got a ride tomorrow so you can't come with me!>
"What if something goes wrong and you need to tell Jimmy somethin'? He ain't exactly fluent in sign yet," Buck asks despite the glare Ike gives him.
<Buck, you can't be with me everywhere I go! I'll be fine! I can take care of myself, and I'll find a way to make Jimmy understand me!> This over-protectiveness is nothing new coming from Buck, but it still annoys Ike to no end!
"Well, be careful, alright. I just got a bad feeling about this. And don't take too long. I don't wanna do yer chores and mine for too long," Buck says, trying to be supportive, but the sudden sinking feeling in his gut is making it difficult. Ike nods and turns back to saddling his horse.
"You ready, Ike?" Jimmy calls from the door.
Ike signals that he is coming and finishes attaching his bedroll. He then walks with Buck out of the barn and leads his horse over to where Jimmy is waiting with Teaspoon, Emma, and the rest of the riders.
<Emma finally let you go, huh, Cody?> Ike signs teasingly at Cody.
"She finally let me go?" Cody repeats back to Ike, making sure he understood. Ike nods 'yes'. "Yeah, she let me go. I ain't sure yer stew was worth it, though." Everyone laughs at his melodramatic presentation.
"Well boys, ya ready?" Teaspoon asks them as he walks forward to Jimmy and Ike standing by their horses. They both nod. "Good. Ike, here's the letter. The army's countin' on you boys so be careful! I don't want neither of ya takin' no unnecessary risks," Teaspoon says this to both of them but he is eyeing Jimmy.
"We'll be fine, Teaspoon," Jimmy states.
<Don't worry, Teaspoon,> Ike signs from behind Jimmy, <I'll keep him out of trouble!> The other riders laugh, and Jimmy turns around to Ike, who's wearing his perpetual grin again. "Whadja say this time?" he glares at Ike.
Ike puts a smug look on his face and signs, <That's for me to know and you to guess,> and Buck nearly falls over laughing. Jimmy looks at him for interpretation, hopelessly lost.
Buck finally gets enough breath back to talk. "He said that is for him ta know and you ta guess."
"This is gonna be a long ride," Jimmy grumbles with a crooked smile as he mounts his horse. Ike follows suit, and they turn to ride off across the empty plains.
"Ride safe," Emma calls as they kick their horses into a gallop, and the rest of the riders echo her.
