The sun heated the earth below as the last of the smoldering embers were being shoveled off the desert floor. "Dunno, Marshal Cain. I saw the flames from my place and by the time I got here it was like this." The old man said as he shoveled another scoop of debris into the old wagon.
"Did you see anybody hangin' around that shouldn't a been?" Sam looked at the haggard old man and waited for an answer.
The old man bulled an old bandana out of his pocket and wiped it across his brow. He stared up at the sky like he was lost in thought. "Come to think on it, there was them three boys up this way yesterday. Sayin' they's was looking for work."
Sam needed a description, "Can you remember what they looked like?"
The old man nodded his head. "The older one was scrawny and seemed to be the leader, them other two was scared of him. "
That wasn't much of a description but Sam appreciated the information. "Thank you, Mr. Smith. You sure you don't need any help with the clean up?" He asked sadly.
"James Tucker had been my neighbor for goin' on fourteen years now. He'd be doin' the same thing for me. It's a shame he's dead. I hope you catch them boys, Marshal."
Sam agreed Mr. Tucker was a fine man who would have helped anyone. His kindness had probably gotten him killed. Sam tipped his hat to the old man and nudged his horse back in the direction of town.
Maggie sat on the bunkhouse porch watching Davey climb on the corral fence with Ike's help, she liked hearing him giggle. She couldn't help but think of her Pa and how much he would love it here. A solitary tear rolled down her cheek at the memory. She didn't hear the door open behind her.
Teaspoon heard the laughter and walked outside to see Ike leaning against the corral with a supporting arm around Davey as he pointed at the horses. His chest swelled with pride as he watched the exchange and heard the boy laugh. He saw Maggie sitting on the edge of the porch watching the same scene. As he walked closer to her he saw the tear on her cheek and took a deep breath as he sat down against the porch rail across from her.
"Davey looks much better." He said with a smile. "It's amazin' what good food and a little sunshine can do to a boy" he finished.
Maggie nodded "He really likes Ike."
Teaspoon's smile got a bit bigger "I think Ike likes him too." He looked at the girl and knew she had a heavy heart.
"That ain't a happy tear is it?" he asked.
Maggie shook her head no and looked at the man that reminded her a lot of her father. "My Pa would have liked it here. He liked horses." She took a deep breath and pushed back the rest of the tears. Teaspoon placed a fatherly had on the girls shoulder "When did your Pa pass on?" He asked.
Maggie folded her hands in her lap and said "He died about a year ago. Ma died when Davey was born."
Teaspoon put a fatherly hand on her shoulder with a smile and said "When someone becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure."
Maggie agreed and knew that tthe memories of her parents were treasures that she could share with Davey.
He heard Davey call Maggie's name and turned to see the boy running full out to get to his sister. "Hey, you two. What do you say we take a ride into town to meet a friend of ours."
Teaspoon stepped into the Marshal's office and saw Sam sitting at his desk. "Mornin' Sam"
Sam looked up to see his friend and two guests. "Are these two new rider's Teaspoon? They look a bit young" He joked as he got to his feet.
Teaspoon smiled and said "Just some friends that are passin' through. Maggie. Davey. This is Marshal Sam Cain." Maggie waved and Davey stared wide eyed. Sam waved back at Maggie then smiled at the boy and knelt down to his level. "Are you keepin' them boys at the station in line?"
The boy nodded and pointed to Sam's badge. "Is that real?" He asked in his small cherub like voice.
Sam chuckled and looked at the badge on his chest before looking back at the boy. "I sure hope it is" Sam stood up.
"You look tired Sam. Been busy already this mornin'?" Teaspoon asked
"James Tucker, died this mornin' in a fire at his place. The only information I got is that three young men were there yesterday. One of them kinda scrawny, the other two scared of him." Sam said watching Davey run in circles around Maggie. Maggie however seemed really interested in what Sam was saying.
James was a fine man. Why would anyone want to hurt him?" Teaspoon asked.
Sam shook his head "I dunno. Josiah says the young men were lookin' for work." Sam continued
"James would have given them work." Teaspoon stated
Maggie watched as her little brother ran in and out of the jail cell. She listened to the men talk and knew that the men they were talking about had to Augustus. Davey stopped his running and stood beside Sam, looking up at him. Sam knelt down to the boy and pointed back at Teaspoon. "You better keep an eye on that one there, he's onery." Davey covered his mouth with his hands and giggled as Sam rustled his brown curls.
"Come on Youngens Let's get back before Emma and the boys send out a search party." Teaspoon said.
Maggie grabbed Davey's hand and led him toward the door.
"Hey Teaspoon, before ya leave I was wonderin' if you could spare lil Davey there for a second?" Sam asked.
Davey pulled his hand out of Maggie's and ran back to Sam, who knelt down in front of the boy. He held out a deputy badge and said "Here" he pinned it to the boy's shirt "You are an official deputy. Make sure you keep those boys outta trouble"
Davey looked at the Marshal with hero worship and smiled "Yes sir" Davey smiled and ran back to his sister.
Ike truly enjoyed having Davey around, today was no exception, and he had a special surprise for the little tyke. Ike sat the bucket of bubbles on the ground. He saw Maggie and Davey sitting on the porch with Buck, Teaspoon and Emma. He walked over to them and squatted down in front of Davey. The boys blue eyes were mesmerizing when he looked at Ike. Ike smiled and looked at Maggie then pointed back toward the bucket.
Maggie looked at Ike as he stood up and reached his hand out for Davey. The boy didn't hesitate and grabbed Ike's hand. Ike looked back at Maggie and waved her to come along. She took a deep breath and followed them to where the bucket sat. Ike smiled as Davey dipped his hands into the mixture. Ike reached for a piece of wire that lay on the ground. He held it out for Davey and Maggie to see it. Their eyes were glued to his every move as bent the end of the wire into a circle and twisted it together. He looked into the puzzled faces of the two children and held up the wire. He then dipped the circle shaped end into the soap mixture then pulled it out. Davey saw the sticky rainbow that was in the circle. Ike put the wire close to his lips and blew into it causing a big bubble to form. Davey squealed and jumped up and down as the bubble floated toward him and popped when it touched his nose. Maggie couldn't help but laugh. Ike handed the bubble blower to Davey and watched as the boy dipped it into the mixture and blew an even bigger bubble then he had.
Emma watched the bubbles float across the yard. "It's gonna be hard lettin' them two go." She said sadly.
That night after dinner, Ike sat on Emma's porchswing with Davey in his lap. The boy rested his head on Ike's shoulder and stared out at teh stars. He rubbed his eyes and knew it was almost time for bed. He sat up and looked at his new best friend. He knew Ike couldn't talk so he decided to tell him a story. "Ya wanna hear a story,Ike?"
Ike smiled and nodded.
Davey turned himself to face Ike. "Along time ago. When I was three..." He held up three little fingers." My house went on fire and my Pa died in the fire." the boy looked sadly into Ike's green eyes. "Me and Mags were sleepin' and she woked up and got me out the house." He took a breath " You know who we saw outside?" Ike shook his head no. "Gus." Davey looked out into the darkness of the night so Ike wouldn't see the little tears that rolled down his cheeks. Ike touched the boys shoulder and Davey turned back to look at him. Ike wiped the tears off the boys cheek. "Gus made the fire that night. He doesn't like us. Maggie said he was mad at our Pa." Davey laid his head on Ike's chest and finished his story. "Gus makes lots of fires." Ike wrapped his arms around the boy and pushed the swing gently. "Ike, do you know who Gus is?" Again Ike nodded his head. "Gus is my brudder." Davey took a deep breath and Ike watched a tiny hand rud against blue eyes.
Ike knew that the boy was tired. He carried him into the house and sat him down on the floor. He went in search of Emma. Davey stood in the middle of Emma's parlor when he saw Maggie run by the window. He ran to the window and watched her run off toward town. He had to catch up with her. She had promised never to leave him. He ran to the front door and out into the dark night chasing his sister.
A/N: In the early 1800's a man named Andrew pears invented the art of 'blowing bubbles'. Many children ahve enjoyed blowing the 'sticky rainbow'. That is what my 3 yr old calls them. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter.