Mr.
& Mrs. CodyMr.
& Mrs. Cody
Chapter 7
"That's it Teaspoon, I'm going out to look for them. They've been gone way too long and you know it." Jimmy was barely containing his anger he was aiming towards his 'father'.
"I know son, but leaving now in the dark isn't going to do you a lick of good. You could pass them on the trail and not even know it. Wait until morning and you can head out at first light. Do you want me to send someone with you?"
"I'll go." All the boys spoke up at once.
"Now we've all been down this road before, you cain't all go. I'll send one of you with Jimmy and one only, ya hear? I'm worried about Lou and Cody, too, but they got a good head on their shoulders and can take care of themselves. If you all were thinking straight you'd realize that, too. It's up to all of you who's going with him." Teaspoon motioned to Jimmy. "Just let me know what you all decide." With that Teaspoon left the bunkhouse.
It was finally decided that Kid would go with him because he would be the most likely to be able to keep Jimmy under control. Even though in the past the Kid was the one that most often provoked Jimmy's temper, he also knew how to cool him down…at least most of the time.
It wasn't quite dawn yet and Jimmy was readying his gear. Kid got up and followed suit. Jimmy hadn't slept a wink, he was too worried about Lou. 'If something's happened to her and I lose her I don't know what I'll do. We've only just found one another, I'm not ready to lose her…not ever.'
Without saying a word the two riders made their way out to the barn to saddle up Sundance and Katy.
Rachel and Emma hadn't slept much the night before either and spent much of the night in the kitchen over coffee, talking. Seeing the light on, Teaspoon had joined them. The each spoke of their concerns over their 'children', trying to reassure each other that they were both alright. But Emma was having a bad feeling and Teaspoon knew to trust the former stationmistress' intuition when it came to her 'children'.
Knowing his boys as he did, Teaspoon knew they wouldn't wait for the sun to clear to horizon before they set off. He looked out the window and saw his instincts were correct when he spied Kid and Jimmy leading their horses out of the barn.
Emma and Rachel, each holding a cup of coffee, went out to the boys and handed them a cup of the steaming brew.
"Thanks Rachel, Emma." They each said and quickly drank from the cups.
"Do you boys want to eat something before you leave?" Rachel asked, already knowing what their answer would be.
"No. Got to get going." Jimmy stated.
Kid agreed.
They handed the cups back and mounted up.
Teaspoon approached them. "Boys, be careful out there. If you need help, send word back here and you'll get it." Looking at Jimmy, he said, "You bring that girl back here, I've got a wedding to perform for you two."
Jimmy just nodded, he was too full of emotion to speak.
"Ride safe, boys." Teaspoon slapped Sundance on the rump and the best friends were off in search of the one girl that they both loved.
Kid and Jimmy arrived at the first relay station and saw Lou and Cody's horses in the barn. They asked about the two riders and were informed they'd been through almost two weeks ago and hadn't returned yet. They changed their horses and quickly rode on to the next waystation, receiving the same information. When they arrived in Willow Springs they were told the same story. But as they were switching their horses yet again, one of the younger riders started telling them about the bank robbery in town the day before and how they had a man and his wife to thank for killing one of the bank robbers. He was so animated in his story telling, Kid and Jimmy thought they were listening to a younger version of Cody.
"Ya shoulda seen it. He pushed his wife down behind the pickle barrel and strode out into the street in his fringe buckskins just as cocky as you please and BAMM, shot the outlaw dead. Course the fella got shot hisself by the other robber. Sheriff's out with his posse lookin' for him now. I'm gonna get me a pair of them buckskins they looked so dandy." The young kid said proudly.
Jimmy turned to Kid and muttered, "Great another Cody in the making."
Kid thanked him for the information and the pair rode on. At each station they were told the same story - they'd been through a couple weeks ago but hadn't been seen since.
When it was time to make camp for the night, Jimmy's nerves were stretched tighter than a hangman's noose on judgment day.
Kid tried to lighten the mood by accusing Jimmy of turning into him, worrying so much.
Jimmy glared at him hard.
Kid tried another tactic. "Maybe they had to stay over in Ft. Laramie for some reason. Who knows with the Army. Hey, we might even meet them tomorrow on the trail." Kid handed him a piece of jerky and started eating one himself.
"We're going to be married in almost a week. There's no way she'd willingly stay in Ft. Laramie. 'Sides Jeremiah and Teresa should be arriving on the stage back in Sweetwater any day now, she wouldn't want to miss seeing her own brother and sister." Jimmy sat silent for awhile and Kid didn't know what to say to him. He'd never seen his friend in such a state before. Of course the Kid knew from experience that Lou could do that to a person. Still, it wasn't like Jimmy to let his emotions show through.
Finally Jimmy said, "I just know something's wrong. I can feel it."
"Listen, if we ride hard again tomorrow, we should reach Ft. Laramie early the next morning. We're going to find them Jimmy." Kid couldn't believe that he was the one giving Jimmy encouragement to try and cheer up. It usually worked the other way around.
Kid laid down on his bedroll and told Jimmy to try and get some sleep. He knew his friend didn't hear him because Jimmy just sat staring into the fire deep in thought. Kid sighed and rolled over, but sleep was a long time coming. Despite everything he had told Jimmy, he was just as worried, but knew at least one of them had to keep a level head about them.
Some time in the night Jimmy finally drifted off to sleep. He dreamt of Lou being captured by Indians and she screamed Jimmy's name over and over. The scene then switched to Cody walking out into the open and shooting as many of the Indians he could, his buckskin fringe flying in the open breeze and then an arrow catching him right in the chest, killing him instantly. The Indians laughed and carried Lou off with them, disappearing from sight.
Jimmy awoke with a jerk, his clothes soaked in sweat and his breathing ragged. 'Get ahold of yourself, Hickok, it was only a dream.' He told himself. But something about the dream kept nagging him in the back of his mind. He just couldn't put his finger on it.
Seeing it was almost daybreak, Jimmy headed toward the stream they had camped by and splashed cold water on his face and neck, trying to wash away the remnants of his dream. When he made it back to camp, Kid was already awake and tying their bedrolls to the horses. Kid tossed him a day old biscuit and they both mounted up, both preferring to eat in the saddle and be on their way.
When they reached Glen Rock station, Jimmy knew his suspicions were correct. The stationmaster related that yes, he'd seen both Lou and Cody a couple weeks ago riding like the devil was on their tail. They had quickly informed him of some men who were chasing them, but they had outrun them. Kid thanked him as Jimmy took off racing to the next station.
When they arrived at the Deer Creek express station they finally got the information they were needing. John Weber, the stationmaster, confirmed that Cody had been there needing some Army documents to get through to Ft. Laramie, but his partner had been hurt and was laid up at the doc's for a couple weeks. He said he sent three of his boys to the fort with the documents and had been dogged the whole way there by some men shooting at them. Fortunately, his boys had made it back safe.
Jimmy listened impatiently and shifted from foot to foot through the whole tale. Kid noticed Jimmy's agitation so he spoke up first before Jimmy could lose his temper. "What exactly happened to Cody's partner?"
"Well he said his horse was shot out from under him just outside town and was unconscious so he took him to the doc. Don't really know if he was shot or not. William didn't say. He was really kind of vague about the whole thing, except that the doc said he needed to stay in bed."
Kid extended his hand out to shake the stationmaster's hand. "Thanks for the information, Mr. Weber."
"No problem, son. I hope you find your friends. Check down at the doc's office, I'm sure he'll be able to tell you more." Mr. Weber gave them directions to the doctor's office and they headed off that way.
Jimmy was silent, too silent. Kid didn't say a word, thinking it better to leave Jimmy alone until they found out more.
They arrived at the doctor's office, but no one was there. The door was unlocked so they went in, looking in each room as they went, calling out if anyone was there. They found nothing. Jimmy decided to head over to the sheriff's to see if he knew anything.
They sheriff wasn't there, but a deputy was. He turned out to be the most uncooperative person they'd encountered yet. His red-rimmed eyes and haggard appearance gave away his hung-over condition. No, he hadn't seen any Pony Express riders come through fitting Lou and Cody's description. No, he didn't know about any patient the doctor had. No, he didn't know where the doc was. No, he wasn't going to answer any more questions. He threatened to lock them up for disturbing "his" peace with all their questions. Jimmy looked ready to draw on the deputy so Kid quickly ushered him outside.
"Jimmy killing him isn't going to solve anything. He's just being a horse's ass. We'll just keep asking around, somebody's bound to know something. Let's check over at the livery."
Jimmy reluctantly agreed to let the deputy off the hook and followed Kid toward the livery. It was then that he heard someone calling out to him. He turned around and saw a young boy about 10 motioning to him.
"I heard what you was asking about those friends of yours. The one I saw last week. He stopped by asking for the sheriff, but he wasn't here, still ain't around. That deputy is a no-good drunk. Anyways your friend asked for the doc, had somebody thrown over his saddle, looked like a girl in boy's clothes to me. He looked awfully worried. They stayed at the doc's for awhile but left here a few days ago. He put her in the back of a wagon and took off headed West. I heard doc telling someone they was married and trying to get back to Sweetwater."
"Do you know where the doc is now?" Jimmy asked.
"Yeah, had a baby to deliver a few miles outside of town." Came the reply.
"Thanks kid." Jimmy handed him a coin.
"Gee, thanks, mister." The kid grinned.
Jimmy headed over to the livery and met Kid coming back from there. They both started talking at once.
Anxious to hear what Kid had found out, Jimmy let him go first.
"He was here, Jimmy. The man at the livery said he took a buckboard out a few days ago. Said he had to get his wife back to Sweetwater. If it's really Cody and Lou, how'd we miss them, Jimmy?"
Jimmy told Kid everything he'd learned from the boy outside the sheriff's.
Then Kid voiced a thought he dreaded bringing up. "Jimmy, not once did anyone say Cody's "wife" was alive." Jimmy gave him a sharp look. "Why would he need a wagon to get her home? She can ride, Jimmy." Kid had unshed tears in his eyes.
Jimmy grabbed the Kid roughly by the shirt. He yelled at him, "Shut up! Just shut up! She ain't dead, do you hear me? Don't you think someone would have noticed if it was dead person Cody was putting in the wagon? Huh? Geez, no wonder you ran Lou off! You always jump to the worst conclusion." Jimmy let go of Kid and pushed him out of his way, disgusted with himself, the Kid, and the whole situation.
Jimmy stomped off to his horse, mounted up and took off toward Sweetwater.
Still hurt by Jimmy's words of running Lou off, Kid got on his horse and followed behind Jimmy.
After running his horse into a lather, Jimmy knew it was time to stop and rest the horse, plus he needed to stop and come up with a plan for finding Lou and Cody. About 10 minutes later Kid rode in and dropped down next to Jimmy.
"Jimmy, I'm sorry 'bout what I said. I was just so worried. You were right what you said about me chasing off Lou. I just…"
Jimmy cut him off. "Kid, listen I'm sorry for what I said. I had no right to be so mean to you. We've just got to think this thing through and figure out where they are."
Suddenly a thought popped into Jimmy's head. "Kid, you remember back in Willow Springs and that rider at the station was telling us about the fringed buckskinned man that shot the bank robber?"
"Yeah, but what…" Then it dawned on him. "You think that was Cody?"
"Sounds like something he'd do. Hell, sounds like something we'd all do."
"But Jimmy plenty of people out here wear buckskins. I've got 'em, too, remember?"
"Yeah, but the kid said something about his wife being with him, too. What if that was Lou?"
"Coulda been. She does wear dresses sometimes when she's in another town." Kid said. "What I can't figure out though is why they'd say they were married." Kid started laughing. "Can you picture Lou and Cody married?"
Jimmy shot him a warning glance and Kid instantly sobered. "Okay, maybe it's not that funny." Then Kid had another ominous thought. "Uh, Jimmy, didn't that kid say the buckskinned man was shot?"
"That's it! That's why we didn't pass them on the trail. They're back at Willow Springs and Cody's holed up at the doc's. And to think we were just there yesterday and didn't know. Come on, Kid, we've got some serious riding ahead of us." Jimmy jumped on his horse and was kicking up dust in a matter of seconds.
Kid followed after Jimmy, wondering if he had acted the same way when it came to Lou. The answer hit him…of course he did.