Teaspoon sat on Emma's porch with his hat over his eyes and his feet propped up on the porch rail. Ike and Lou walked out of the barn after finishing up their chores as Ike pointed in the distance at two riders coming in. "Rider's comin'" Lou said as she watched Kid and Jimmy slowed to a stop in front of the bunk house.
Teaspoon straightened his hat and stood up as Emma came out of the house. "Them boys look tired and hungry" Emma said wiping her hands on a towel.
Lou couldn't help but laugh as Kid slid out of his saddle onto the ground. "Laugh it up Lou, I'm too tired to care." Ike grabbed Katy's and Sundance's reins with a smile on his face and led them into the barn. Lou followed him to help.
Jimmy walked up the porch pulling his gloves off his hands and said. "Frank lost the horses in a poker game. Buck's horse just happened to be in the corral at the station. I'm going to bed." He turned and proceeded down the porch steps.
Teaspoon yelled after him, "You wanna take the Kid there with ya?"
Kid was leaning against the fence post snoring. Jimmy bumped him with his shoulder and said "Come on, 'cause I ain't carryin' ya " He watched as Kid took several steps toward the bunkhouse and actually made it up the steps and in the door before collapsing onto his bunk. Jimmy sat on his bunk and tried to reach down to take his boots off but didn't have the strength. He laid his head back on his pillow and was asleep before he closed his eyes.
Teaspoon thought about the information Jimmy had given him. "Why would Frank wager company horses in a poker game?"
Ike and Lou looked at each other and Ike signed "Maybe he was losing and had nothin' else to bet"
"Maybe Ike but why the horses, why not his gun or something else. I think there is more goin on here." Teaspoon said
"I wonder if Buck found his horse" Ike signed
"I hope Sam can keep Buck's head in the right place." Teaspoon was worried.
Sam looked at the sun setting on the horizon. He knew everyone was tired and they needed to make camp. "All right boys lets make camp here."
Buck and Cody proceeded to set up camp as Sam dragged Ace out of the saddle and tied his hands behind him as he sat him near the fire Buck had just started. He then did the same to Wayne placing him on the other side of the fire. After all the bed rolls and food was unpacked, Buck stared at Ace as he pulled his knife out of its sheath. Never taking his eyes off of the cowering man he reached for the can of beans and opened it with the knife.
Sam felt the tension around the fire and knew that he would have to stay on guard tonight to keep the Barkley's from running off and to keep Buck from killing them. Cody heated the beans and gave Buck and Sam a plate.
Wayne decided he was hungry at that moment. "Hey where's ours?"
Sam only said, "When we're finished and can watch you, then you'll eat."
And true to his word as soon as he was finished he untied the brothers and handed them each a plate. Cody slid his rifle to where it sat nicely in his lap and Buck held his pistol in his hand. Sam smiled as he sat back down and knew nobody was getting any sleep tonight.
