This is the sequel to Fire and Brimstone. You may want to read that one first if you have not already. Thank you.
Teaspoon looked at the letter he held in his hand. His named eloquently written across the front of it. He opened it and read the words that seemed to walk across the page.
Mr. Hunter,
I am Ruth Sinclair, Margaret and David's aunt. My husband, Robert and I would like to ask if the children could visit you again for a short time. Robert has important business that needs his undivided attention and I must go along. The children would be a distraction. If it is possible for them to come for a visit please respond promptly as this meeting can not be put on hold.
Thank you in advance,
Sincerely,
Ruth Sinclair.
Teaspoon read the letter aloud and watched as the smiles spread across the bunkhouse breakfast table.
"If it is okay with you boys, they can stay in Emma's guest room. They'll be here for a month. I'm pretty sure we can keep an eye on them this time." Teaspoon said jokingly serious.
Kid nodded "What can possibly happen in a month, Teaspoon?"
Teaspoon said "That's right, you weren't here last time our lil visitors were."
The others laughed at the look on Kids face and Buck told the story of the fire in the school house.
The heat inside the coach was stifling as Maggie fanned herself with a thin piece of paper. Davey slept peacefully beside her, his cowboy hat perched precariously over his eyes, she smiled at the thought that the boy could sleep through anything. The older couple across from them looked like they were sitting on hot coals; the sweat beading on their faces told her they were as miserable as she was. She heard a loud crack as the stage coach jerked suddenly and she heard the driver say a word that she was glad Davey hadn't heard.
The coach shifted as the heavy set driver jumped down and examined the back wheel. He took his hat off and wiped his arm across his brow "Damn, This will cost us some time." He blew out a big puff of air as he walked around the coach to the door. Opening the wooden door, he explained, "Sorry ladies and gentlemen but we have a broken wheel. It may take a while to fix. But I need you all to step out of the coach please." Maggie woke Davey up as the driver helped the older couple out of the coach. Davey grumbled at being woken up. "Are we there?" he asked rubbing his hands over his eyes. "No the coach is broken, Come on let's stretch our legs."
Davey stood up, straightening his hat, and the driver grabbed him under the arms and swung him down to the ground. Then he stuck his hand out to Maggie and helped her down the coach steps. Davey took off running with all the energy a five year old has. He ran past the older couple tipping his hat to the woman as he sped by. Maggie felt the need to apologize for her overly hyper brother. "I am sorry if he bothered you." she said kindly to couple.
"Nonsense, he is all boy. We raised five of them and three daughters, just as pretty as you." The woman complimented with a smile making Maggie blush. "That's where we're headed to visit our youngest daughter for her birthday." The older woman finished wiping a kerchief across her forehead. Maggie introduced herself and Davey. The woman smiled a weak smile "I am Alberta Miller and this gruff is my husband Frank." Maggie smiled at them then looked for her brother
Maggie watched her brother run into the nearby trees, the shade from the trees was very inviting. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath, inhaling the pure, clean country air, the city air always smelled like factories. Davey ran back to her with a stick in his hand "Ya think we'll see any Indians?" He asked looking up at her squinting one eye shut and tilting his head.
"Well, I doubt it, I think the only Indian we will see on this trip will be Buck, and at this rate there's no tellin' when we'll get there."
Davey looked at her and said "You know this is Indian country and bandits ride through here too."
Maggie shook her head, she was going to have a talk with Cody when she got to Sweetwater, ever since he had read to Davey from those dime store novels that is all the boy wants to hear about. "Davey, please be realistic, this is the wide open prairie, ain't nuttin' out here but rattle snakes and ornery little boys." she said with a wink in his direction.
He ran off into the trees making shooting sounds as he used the stick as a gun aiming it at the trees. Maggie rolled her eyes at his imagination and sat down against a tree. She leaned her head back against the hard bark and closed her eyes. She was thankful to be out of the city and even more thankful to be going back to Sweetwater to visit their friends. The last time they were there she almost lost Davey in a fire that her older brother had started in the school. But Buck and Ike had pulled them out of the flames and smoke and Marshal Cain had helped Davey breath again. Her older brother Augustus had been killed when he drew his gun on Jimmy as he was leaving the burning school. She didn't hold any grudges against Jimmy; she held a lot of mixed feelings about Augustus though. Her thoughts were interrupted by Davey's scream. She opened her eyes when she heard Davey call her name.
She saw the boy standing as still as a statue. She jumped to her feet and ran to him. Stopping suddenly as she saw the coiled up rattle snake mere inches from the boy. "See Davey, Ornery lil boys and rattle snakes. Now real slowly step back away from it." She spoke quietly as to not get Davey excited.
A strong voice behind them suddenly spoke up before Davey could move. "Stay still, Boy."
The snake twitched its head and flicked out its forked tongue. The sounds of its rattle seemed to echo through the trees. Maggie watched as the stage coach driver slowly walked around her and approached the snake from behind. The snake's eyes followed the man as he slowly pulled the gun out of his holster. The driver watched the snake turn its head in his direction and kept walking until the snake was looking away from Davey. "Go to your sister, Boy." He said calmly. Davey didn't hesitate and ran into Maggie's waiting arms; she covered his ears as she watched the driver aim the gun at the snake, and then closed her eyes tightly. The shot echoed loudly. She opened her eyes as the driver approached them, "Thank you." She said in a thankful voice.
The man nodded and said "Stay close to the coach." Maggie didn't have to be told twice She grabbed Davey's hand and walked him back up toward the coach, he pulled against her, "Mags, I wanna see it." he begged.
Flustered she turned and grabbed him by the shoulders. She used his full name to get his attention. "David Edward Sinclair, I have had about enough of your shenanigans today. Do you understand me?"
He nodded and poked out his bottom lip. She looked into his blue eyes and shook her head, she rarely got onto the cherub and he used that fact to grab a hold of her heart when she did get onto him. She lowered him down next to the tree she had leaned against earlier. "Just rest." He leaned against her and took a deep breath.
From a distance the stage coach looked like easy pickings to the three men that sat on the bluff watching it.
"Are you sure that's the right one, Carl?" The younger man asked
Carl closed his eyes; He hated being question, especially by his own man. "Yes Homer, I am sure. Now if you can stay quiet long enough we will get the gold and leave." Carl said pulling the bandana up and over his mouth and nose. Homer and the other man Chester both did the same. Carl nodded to the younger men and kicked his horse into a run, heading straight for the stage coach. They pulled their guns and shot straight into the air getting the attention of people at the coach.
Maggie jumped up at the sound of the gunshots and pulled Davey close to her as she ducked behind the tree. She could barely see the stage coach but she didn't dare make herself or her brother visible. She watched two of the men jump off their horses and pushed the older couple to the ground before the third man pushed the driver against the coach. She couldn't hear the words that were being said.
Carl pushed the barrel of his gun under the driver's chin. "Where is it?" He asked in a gruff voice.
The driver's hands were raised above his head as he looked the bandit square in the face. "Under the coachman's seat." he stated trying to make the lie believable. The man let go of the driver and began to climb up to the coachman's seat. That gave the driver enough time to pull his gun out of its holster turn and aim it at the bandit. Before he could pull the trigger Homer saw the man "Carl." He aimed at the driver and fired. The driver fell to the ground. "Damn it, Homer. Nobody was supposed to get hurt." Chester called out to him.
"He drew on Carl, what was I supposed to do" Carl asked panicked.
Carl heard them arguing as he raised the coachman's seat and shuffled through the food and the personal effects. "It's not here. That lying sonofabitch." He turned around and jumped off the coach. He pushed Homer against the coach. "The gold isn't there. Now that you shot the man search him." he let go of Carl's shirt and watched as he bent down and thoroughly searched the man.
"Chester, search them." Chester obediently searched the older couple as Carl climbed on the top of the coach and opened every bag. He tossed the clothing everywhere then stood up and kicked a case onto the ground. Had his information been wrong?
"Carl, this lady don't look so good." Chester said kneeling over the elderly woman.
"Leave her; the heat will finish her off." Carl said as he climbed back onto his horse. Chester and Homer followed Carl as they rode back up the bluff.
Maggie watched as the men rode up the hill on the horses. She wiped the tears off her cheeks and looked at Davey "Stay close and stay down, They may come back." Maggie stayed low and walked to the coach. She saw the older couple lying on the ground. Maggie peaked around the coach and no signs of the bandits. She ran to the older couple. The man was trying to help the woman up and Maggie helped him lean her up against the coach. She was pale and breathing funny. Maggie wasn't sure what to do. She saw Davey over by the driver, the man was alive, she could see his hand moving. She saw the woman's husband tending to her so she ran to Davey.
The driver was trying to talk to him. "Seat… in the… coach" He pointed with his finger. Maggie stared at the man then stood and ran to the door of the coach. After climbing inside she lifted up the seat her and Davey had sat on. It was empty. She turned and lifted the other seat and saw a small pouch. She grabbed it and ran back to the driver. She handed it to him. "No. Keep… it away… from bandits…" The man said with his last breath. Maggie watched as the man's body went limp and her heart broke. This was supposed to be a simple trip to go see friends.
Maggie stood up. "That's it. Sweetwater can't be far from here. When the coach doesn't show up on time, they'll come looking for us." She smiled with all the hope she had left. Davey smiled at her words. "Will Marshal Cain come too?" He asked smiling. "Maybe." She reached down and grabbed the man's gun, walked back to the older couple and checked on the woman. "How is she doin'" she asked the husband who now was looking pale, worry etched across his face.
"Not too well" the man said gruffly. Maggie could see the sun setting and the temperature would start to cool a bit. "It'll be cooler soon." She promised touching the woman's hand.
"Hey Mags, look at this." Davey's voice got her attention and she looked up to where his voice was coming from. The top of the coach. "David, get down." She said sternly.
Davey grabbed a few things from the top of the coach and shimmied down the side of it. He walked to Maggie showing her what he had found. A few stray snacks their Aunt had packed for them. Davey smiled and handed the older couple each a piece of jerky and stuck the hard candy into his mouth, handing Maggie an apple.
Maggie had to hide the pouch in case the bandits came back. She ran into the woods to the tree her and Davey had hidden behind. She found a stick and stabbed it into the dirt. She kept an eye on Davey and could hear his motor mouth telling the old couple about cowboys and Indians. When the hole was deep enough she laid the pouch in it and covered it with dirt.
Teaspoon stared at the clock on Sam's wall. "That coach should have been here two hours ago Sam." He said with concern.
Sam agreed. "It'll be dark within the hour Teaspoon, Get the boys ready at first light and we'll go look. If they arrive before then, I will personally bring them out to Emma's"
Teaspoon took a deep breath and even though he knew the dangers of the open country he knew they had no way of finding them in the dark.
Maggie pulled Davey closer as the sounds of the night seemed to surround them. Maggie had no way of making a fire and honestly didn't know how. She kept the driver's gun in her lap as she scooted closer to the Miller's as they had all introduced them selves earlier. Maggie kept an ear open for the bandits to return. The quiet of the night was interrupted by Mrs. Miller complaining her chest hurt. Maggie helped to lay her on the ground and slid a folded up shirt under her head. The woman looked at Maggie and held her hand "Thank you for your kindness." The woman whispered and released Maggie's hand to reach for her husbands face. Maggie slid closer to Davey and gave the couple their last moments together. Maggie felt a tear roll down her cheek as the woman's hand slid down her husband's cheek and landed on her chest. The man laid his head on his wife's chest and sobbed.
Davey wasn't sure what was happening so he kept quiet. He took his hat off and sat it on the ground and laid his head in his sister's lap. Maggie ran her fingers through his curls and knew he would be asleep before too long. She watched Mr. Miller fold his wife's hands over her chest then sit back against the stage coach.
Teaspoon stood by the corral staring out into the darkness. The distant sound of a coyote had his thoughts focusing on the two children that had won his heart. He was lost in thought and hadn't heard the bunkhouse door open of the foot steps that approached him. He barely noticed as Buck leaned over the porch rail. "I'm willin' to look for them tonight. They can't be too far from town." He spoke softly.
Teaspoon looked at his rider and said, "I may take you up on that Buck. There's no tellin' what they are going through out there."
Buck nodded. "I'll saddle up." Buck turned to head to the barn. Teaspoon's voice stopped him. "Buck, I don't know what is wrong, stay with them until we get there in the mornin." Teaspoon never stopped staring out into the darkness.
Buck rode into the desert in the direction the stage would be. He prayed it was a simple break down and he could help them fix it then make camp for the night. He had ridden for more then and hour when he saw the moon light reflecting off of what he hoped was the stage coach. He wasn't sure if there was a problem so he approached slowly.
Maggie heard the horse as it approached and reached for the gun that lay next to her. She had never fired a gun; it was heavy in her shaky hand as she aimed it into the darkness. She quietly slid out from under Davey's sleeping head, laying him carefully on the ground. She saw that the old man was sleeping; at least she hoped he was only sleeping. She stood up and walked to the back of the coach and peeked around the corner of it. A solitary rider was approaching. She readied the gun and hoped she could keep it steady with her sweaty palms.
Buck dismounted when he saw the stage driver's lifeless body on the ground. He pulled his gun preparing for any danger that may be lurking in the shadows. He saw clothing and personal items scattered on the ground and slowly walked with his back against the coach, he turned and aimed his gun into the empty coach. He slowly walked to the edge corner of the coach and paused when he heard the movement behind it. He took a deep breath and slid around the side of the coach and came face to face with a familiar set of blue eyes. He lowered his gun as he realized she was crying. "Maggie, it's okay. " She dropped the gun and wrapped her shaking arms around him. "What happened?" he asked trying to calm her down.
She finally released her grip on him and told him what happened. He knelt over the deceased body of Mrs. Miller and gave his heart felt apology to Mr. Miller. Buck leaned over Davey and pushed a curl off of his forehead. "How is he takin' it all" Buck asked
"He thinks he's on one of those Wild West adventures out of one of Cody's books." Maggie said wrapping her arms yourself.
Buck laughed and asked "you wanna show me where you buried the pouch?" She nodded and Buck followed her to the tree. "Get some sticks and I'll start a fire." Maggie obeyed while Buck retrieved the pouch. It was too dark to see what was in it so he carried it to his horse and slid it into the saddle bag. He went back to the group and started a small fire.
"Get some sleep Maggie the others will be here at first light." Buck said.
Maggie laid beside Davey as the boy started to stir. The popping fire got the boys attention; he turned to look at his sister. "You started a fire, Maggie?"
His sister smiled and said. "Nope, He did" She pointed at Buck and Davey quickly turned to see his old friend. "BUCK." He stood and ran into Buck's open arms.
"Where's the others?" he asked as he sat beside his friend.
"They will be here in the morning." Buck said watching the darkness. He could feel eyes on them and that made him uneasy. He told Davey to lay back down and sleep, as he stood up and walked the perimeter of the coach. He found some more clothing and a small blanket; he wadded up the close and walked to Mr. Miller. "Sir, Put this behind her head." The man barely moved. Buck could see the man blinking in the flickering light of the fire and even saw the tears that pooled on his aged face. In Kiowa traditions, older members were cherished for their wisdom and they never died alone. Buck sat the shirt next to the man and placed a tender hand on his shoulder. Buck checked on his horse then settled in to keep watch for the night.
Carl sat beside his horse and watched as the fire flickered near the coach. They had to find the gold and he would bet anything those kids had it. Morning would come soon enough and then they would make there move. One man, two old people and a couple of kid would be easy to control.