Many times on the show I saw Ike write in his journal. This is my way of putting it all together.

Buck sat heavy hearted, and misty eyed on the bench at the table in the bunkhouse. He was dreading this task but knew it had to be done. Ike was gone, forever to soar with eagles. Now Buck had to go through his brother's belongings. The trunk sat in front of him on the floor. His palms were sweaty and his hands were shaking as he opened the lid. He pulled out a few shirts and pants and set them aside. He pulled out an old cigar box and took a deep breath as he opened the lid. He pulled out the pocket watch, holding it by its chain, watching it spin before sitting it down in the lid of the box. It must have belonged to Ike's father. He picked up the cameo on a chain and smiled at the image before laying it beside the watch. He thumbed through the old faded letters, before noticing the folded piece of paper at the bottom. He opened it and read the word WANTED across the top. He remembered the day Ike had told him about the men that had killed his family. Buck refolded the paper and laid everything back into the box and closed the lid.

He wiped his arm across his eyes and was thankful the other rider's were at Rachel's giving him space to do this. He looked back into the trunk and saw the corner of the leather bound book sticking out from under a shirt. He reached a shaky hand down into the clothing and pulled out the book. He ran his fingers over the cover and closed his eyes. "Oh, Ike." He could remember many times when he had seen his brother scribbling away in the book that he held in his hands. He opened his eyes and opened the cover; a small smile creased his lips as he read the words on the first page.

"Today Buck and I stood along a fence line with four other boys. All of us different as the day is long, but we all had somethin' in common. We were orphans. Now I only knew one person there and that was Buck. We all stood there waiting on the station master to show up. Little did we know that he was already there; lying in the horse trough. He sat up and then used a horse's tail as a towel to dry himself with."

Buck chuckled at the memory and kept reading, "He tried to trick Buck with some arrows but Buck knew them all. The next boy in line was Jimmy Hickok. He looked like he enjoyed the company of danger. He was a bit cocky. When Teaspoon got to me I thought for sure he'd tell me to leave. He knocked my hat off my head and told me to speak up. That's when Buck spoke up for me. He did that a lot and I don't think I ever thanked him for doing it, but I will next time."

Buck had to stop reading. He knew Ike had been grateful for his help. He thumbed through the pages and saw the book was nearly full. He couldn't wait to read the writings and get into his friends thoughts. He went back to reading the description of that day.

"Beside me on the other side was William F. Cody. He was a great shot with his Hawkins and a he is a huge clown. He has the appetite of a horse. Beside him was a puny boy I thought was a bout thirteen, but he sure could ride. There is somethin' about that boy though I can't quite put my finger on it. I may need to talk to Buck about him. Then there was Kid. That is what he wants to be called. I bet somebody will find out his real name."

Buck closed his eyes and thought back to that day. They were a scattered tribe of kindred spirits meeting and becoming a family. They had learned that family wasn't a birthright, it was a treasure gained through laughter and tears. Buck closed the lid of the trunk and turned himself around on the bench; he sat the journal on the table and continued reading.

"That first week was pretty exhausting with all the stuff Teaspoon was teachin' us and I think that exhaustion got the better of me when I was in the barn with the horses. I was brushin' down the new Mustang and I turned my back get a different brushed and he kicked me in the head. I don't remember walking back to the bunkhouse but I do remember the look of concern on Buck's face. Jimmy said he was gonna put the Mustang down, but I begged him not to. I had been my fault after all. Jimmy sat back down as Emma, the woman that I had overheard say that as long as she was around; we weren't orphans, took me into her arms and bandaged my head as she hummed a lullaby. I hadn't felt comforting arms like that around me since my parents died. I think I might like it here."

Buck smiled at the thought of what Emma's kindness had meant to Ike and to the rest of them. He had sent her a letter telling her about Ike's death; it was the hardest letter he had ever written. He had received a tear stained one in return from her. The letter filled with hers and Sam's condolences and wonderful memories.

Buck was lost in thought and hadn't heard the bunkhouse door open, or footsteps that led Teaspoon to his side. When the older man placed a hand on buck's shoulder he jumped.

"You okay, Son?" The older man asked with eyes full of concern.

Buck looked up at the man that had become a father to him and the others and nodded. "I was reading Ike's journal, about the first week we all met."

Teaspoon smiled at the memory, "You all sure have come a long ways since that first week."

Buck looked down at the journal then back up at Teaspoon. "I never thought this…" he held up the worn leather book, "…would be all I had left of him." He said trying not to let his mentor see the tears that glistened in his eyes.

Teaspoon sat down on the bench beside the man that was once a shy boy that had only Ike to lean on. "You have more than that book…" Teaspoon tapped the book with his fingers, "…You have his memory and when a person we love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure," he said the words with certainty.

Buck nodded and smiled his crooked grin. "There's a page about you in here," he said trying to sound brave.

"Really? Let me see that," Teaspoon smiled as Buck turned to the page that had Ike's words about Teaspoon on them. Then slid the book over to the man who began reading….

A/N: Stay tuned for the next chapter to see what Ike wrote about Teaspoon...