Prologue

(Sept 1861- Rock Creek, Nebraska Territory)

It was a quiet night. Teaspoon Hunter walked the boardwalk one last time and turned back to his office. He didn't really need to be patrolling, one of his deputies could have done it, but he was restless. It was an unusual condition for him. Usually at night he'd lay down and sleep would claim him as soon as he hit his pillow. There were always things to worry on, but he had lived long enough to know problems had a way of working out if you just bided your time and were patient. He was having trouble sleeping lately though, the events of the last several weeks were troubles on a scale the likes of which he had never experienced. It was tearing his family in two and no matter how he thought on it, he couldn't figure out a way to stop it.

With a heavy sigh he sat at his desk in his office. He stared at his table top for a moment, ran his fingers through his long silver hair and rested his head in his hands. Well, he wasn't going to be sleeping anytime soon, he might as well write an overdue letter to another member of his makeshift family, would do him some good to get it all down on paper anyway.

My dear Amanda,

I hope this letter finds you well and in good spirits. You have always had spunk my girl and I'm glad of it in these days. I've got some stories to tell you so I hope you've got some time for a long letter.

The first of it is Noah. I know you remember him. He died a month ago, killed in a skirmish with Pierson's raiders. You may have read about it in the papers. It was a senseless death and it's hurt us all terribly. He wanted to join the Union and fight for his people's freedom, but they wouldn't let him join on count of his color. Well, he managed to die trying to do right by his people anyway. Amanda you know this coming war and all it means hasn't been easy on my boys and Noah's death was the final straw.

Jesse has left with his brother Frank for the Southern cause. I had so much hope in him, that he was comin around, that he'd know we was just as much family as his brother only we could care for him so he'd still be a boy for just a little bit longer. Now he is lost to us, don't know if he'll ever come back. Cody joined the Union as a scout just before Noah's death. Mostly he's still the same ol Cody. He comes in and out of town and sometimes those bright eyes of his seem a little dimmer and his face a little harder. I didn't want him to join, still don't agree with him being in, but he's got a head harder than a goat, he didn't listen to no one.

I s'pose before I go any further I should tell you the express will end in a few weeks. Telegraph is breathin down our necks. I'll keep on marshalling here. I know I told you before I had thoughts of going back to Texas should she need defending. I still don't agree with Washington bureaucrats telling folk how to live their lives, but Noah dying... well that took the fight right out of me. I have seen too much killing, enough for several lifetimes and truth be told I just can't stomach negros being property no more, not after Noah, not after seeing the lynch mobs goin after runaways, doing unspeakable things. Home is here now, I have a place defending this town.

I surely wish Kid felt the same. You know Kid and Lou was planning on gettin married, well that happened right before Noah died. I wish you had been able to make it. It was the last truly happy moment we've had around here. Kid though, he's been going around this place like a caged animal. I don't know what he'll do once the Express is done. He won't have a job no more and he'll have one less reason to stay put instead of following into the fires his fool notion that he owes Virginia something. Yes I know I felt that way about Texas, I've fought for her before, but Kid he was just a boy last time he was there, he aint got no property or family to defend... just memories he's got put up on some pedestal. Lou ain't having it. They've been fighting nearly every day since the funeral. I don't think she realized how serious he was thinking bout goin back, and that he still wanted to go after Noah died? Bout knocked her off her feet. In her heart she's for the North, she always has been, Virginia isn't home to her, it's a place where Noah would have been in chains. Their last fight out in the barn was so loud near half the town heard them.

Jimmy's not helping either. Him and Kid they've got into it real bad several times. If they weren't best friends and like brothers I don't know if they wouldn't have killed each other by now. Rosemary Burke is making it worse. She's Isaiah Burke's widow. Suppose you've read about him too. He was the kind of abolitionist that probably harmed more than he helped, well Rosemary is a pretty little filly, not much older than the boys. She is trouble and everyone can see it but Jimmy right now. It was her doings that helped Noah get killed in the first place. Oh it weren't on purpose, but I think that's just her way and Kid blames her most of all and wants her to ride on out of town. Hell, we all do, but not if Jimmy goes with her. His grief is angry and I don't know what fool thing he'll get into if he joins up with her cause.

So now Lou, she's made it pretty clear, shouted it even that she's not going to Virginia, she knows she's got a home here. She's got siblings she wants to bring home from the orphanage and it pleases my heart to hear her say she'll stay, I just don't know what it will mean for this young marriage. Sometimes I wonder if they ain't just too young, stubborn, figurin out who they is to be man and wife. I know matrimony is a mistake I've made with the wrong person well, more than once. I thought they was so sweet on each other they could weather most anything, but I'm not so sure anymore, this fight brewin ain't like anything this country's seen before, brother against brother and now even man against wife.

I haven't forgot to tell you bout Buck. My dear, he might be the one I'm worried bout most, sides Lou. He took Ike's death so hard and now that Noah's gone that haunted look is back in his eyes. Maybe he needs this family most, being too white to be with the Kiowa, too Indian to be with the whites. He knows with us he's just Buck. I can feel the worry growin in the boy. He wants no part of this white man's war, he knows it's gonna spell trouble for the Indians, but how can he help them? These boys are my sons and you and Lou, you're my daughters, even if it ain't by blood. Maybe knowin that will be enough to get Buck to stay. I mean to offer him a deputy spot, even if it can only be part time. Lord knows I've deputized him more times than he can count as it is.

I've got another thought, just now as I write to you at this late hour. I'm going to have to ponder on it, but you might be getting another letter from me soon as there just may be a way you can play a part on it. It's a long shot, but maybe it just might be enough to keep some of us together. Oh and Rachel sends her regards. That's something else I've been meaning to tell ya. That a woman as beautiful and good as Rachel now considers me her beau is a blessing I'm still puzzling over. I don't understand it but I'm not going to look the gift horse in the mouth too much.

Until next time,

Your Teaspoon

He signed the letter with a flourish, addressed it and set the letter up neatly to be mailed in the morning. Even though it was late and he was dog tired, there was a spring in his step as he made his way over to Rachel's. He had the beginnings of a plan and something else, though he hardly dared to feel it... hope.