Chapter II
Buck tossed and turned as he found himself surrounded by angry faces. They were yelling at him, throwing things at him; he didn't quite understand what he had done to any of these people to receive this harsh treatment. They wanted to hang him for some crime he didn't do. He tried to run from the crowd, but several pairs of hands grabbed him. Someone bound his hands behind his back with thick rope and gave him a hard shove toward the marshal's office.
Despite Buck's protests and an empty office, he was shoved into a jail cell rather harshly. Stumbling, Buck collapsed near the cot before regaining his footing. Turning to glare at the crowd, Buck noticed everyone had gone silent. He soon saw why. As the crowd parted to allow a tall man to approach jail, Buck caught fleeting glimpses of familiar pearly white hand guns.
Soon, Buck was staring into the familiar face of James Butler Hickok, or "Jimmy". Buck felt tears form in his eyes at the sight of his old friend. "It's been a long time since the last we saw each other, hasn't it, Buck?" Jimmy stated. To Buck, his voice sounded odd, but still familiar. "I always wondered what happened to you after the Pony Express ended and how you'd survive the Civil War."
Buck was shocked to see Jimmy in Dodge City. He didn't think he'd ever see the hot-tempered man again. Buck was sure Jimmy would have been killed by some equally hot headed man with a fast gun. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again," Buck told him. "But I always figured somebody would gun you down."
Jimmy let out a joyous laugh, even though it still sounded far away, it made Buck relax a little bit. "No, nothing like that happened to me yet. But this young town did need me and my guns."
Buck glanced at Jimmy again. "So they made you law man?" When Jimmy nodded, Buck continued, "Then why am I being arrested for something I didn't do?"
"You're not under arrest, but it is for your protection, since Dodge City is such a young town." Jimmy informed him. "There have been troubles with the local tribe. But know this-as long as I'm the law here-you will not have trouble from anyone. I promise you!"
Buck had to strain to hear Jimmy's last words as Jimmy and everything faded before his eyes, but not before he caught a glanced at beautiful redheaded young woman with shining cat green eyes. When Buck stood up from the cot, he discovered his hands were no longer tied behind his back. Spinning around quickly several times, things were confusing for Buck. Buck noted again, the cot was gone, his hands weren't bound, he wasn't surrounded by iron bars, and yet though he couldn't see Jimmy any longer he could hear his voice-"No one will bother you here in Dodge City while I'm here."
Buck jolted out of his sleep and for a moment didn't know where he was, then he remembered coming to Dodge City, Kansas. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Buck leaned back against the head board. His thoughts returned to the dream and briefly wondered if Jimmy really was here alive. "If Jimmy is here, then the Spirits must have been referring to him," Buck told himself. "But who could be the woman?" He let out a long breath and got out of bed, uncertain of the new day.
