Rachel looked out the window for what felt like the hundredth time that evening and sighed wearily. They'd all been on edge since Malone called out Jimmy. So far Teaspoon had been unable to get any information on Malone or where he came from out of the sheriff of Marysville or any other towns to the east. And while that was bad enough, it had only managed to get worse.
As she stirred the chicken and dumplings, her mind went over the events of the previous week. First was Malone. Two days later, it was Tommy Jenkins. Everyone knew Tommy was trouble, but he'd always stuck to merely being a nuisance before. And when he tried to draw down on Jimmy, they never got a chance to ask him why.
Jimmy had been rather stoic about it all until the Timmons incident. It had been easy to face down the men coming after him. It was almost comfortable after so many years of men trying to chase the legend of Wild Bill. But then Timmons showed up and went after Lou. He'd tried to get her when she went to town one morning, but as with most men, he'd underestimated her grit and her riding ability. She'd ridden into Sweetwater like her life depended on it, even though Timmons had fallen from his mount after she returned fire.
Buck, Teaspoon, and Jimmy decided to take turns staying at the house with the women. The fact that Lou accepted this with no arguments spoke to how concerned she was. Strangers seemed to be coming out of the woodwork, and all of them up to no good. Yesterday Buck came across a drifter who seemed a little too interested in watching the school. Buck dragged the man to a cell so Teaspoon could question him. He didn't want to talk... Until Jimmy applied a little "friendly persuasion" to the situation. Teaspoon hadn't been pleased at his methods, but couldn't complain about the results.
Once Jimmy released the drifter's throat and the man could breathe again, he quickly supplied them with all the information he had. Someone had put a price on both Lou and Jimmy's heads. The last offer was $150 each, dead. If someone managed to bring either of them in alive it was worth twice that much. The drifter had reluctantly confessed that he'd planned to snatch Theresa from school and use her to draw Lou and Jimmy.
Setting the pan of biscuits on the table, Rachel shook herself from her reverie. It had been two days since anyone attempted to collect on the bounty on her friends. Part of Rachel wanted to relax and hope it was over, but she knew very well that this would only stop when they found out who was behind such a despicable plan.
Stepping out to call everyone in for dinner, Rachel came face to face with Teaspoon. His grim expression stopped her in her tracks. "What's happened now? Where's Jimmy?" She could feel herself growing frantic.
Teaspoon's face softened. "Everyone's fine right now. Jimmy's in the barn." He placed a reassuring hand on her arm. "I got a wire from Cody is all." As if anticipating her questions, he shook his head. "Call everyone together fer supper, and I'll tell 'em all at the same time."
Minutes later Rachel was looking at the concerned faces of her family. Theresa chewed her lip nervously. Buck absentmindedly gripped his medicine pouch. While Jimmy's posture appeared relaxed, his eyes revealed his inner torment. Rachel found herself fiddling with her napkin, folding and unfolding it over and over. She glanced at Lou and found her friend looked pale as she rubbed her hands over her face. They were all so weary after everything that had happened the past few days, but Lou really seemed the worse for wear.
Teaspoon cleared his throat. It had not escaped Rachel's notice that the usually colorful and verbose lawman had become subdued as well. "I decided to try and get a message to Cody about the goin's on we've had. It never hurts to have another ear to the ground, 'specially since we've had no luck with our other attempts." He coughed, as if embarrassed that his fellow lawmen had as yet provided no leads. "As I was sayin', I sent Cody a message, and today finally got his response."
To: Teaspoon Hunter
From: William Cody
Heard through some associates about a price on Jimmy and Lou. Found out it's the Garrett clan. The five had three more brothers who want revenge for Fenton. On my way to Rock Creek now.
Rachel felt a sigh of relief bubble up within her. Cody's information brought them all great distress, but she couldn't help but feel that they would be stronger once they were together again. Having Cody back to help would almost feel like old times, and she hoped he would still be as witty as ever. They could all use a smile now. Jimmy's voice brought her back to her current surroundings.
"Dammit! The Garretts? But that was more than three years ago." Despite his angry tone, he was unconvinced by his own argument.
"Yeah, and are you plannin' to have tea with someone who kills your family?" Lou's voice was quiet. "It don't matter how many years pass. If anything, it can make the hate all that much stronger."
Buck nodded in agreement. "Revenge is like a powerful drug. Once you start to seek it, it consumes you. Nothing will satisfy you until you achieve it, but even then you will never gain what you truly seek."
"I don't understand," began Theresa. "Who are the Garretts, and what happened in Fenton? Why are they doin' this?"
Jimmy tried to explain. "The Garretts were five brothers who terrorized the town of Fenton every time supplies came in. They killed a friend of ours, Matt Rawlins. I called one of 'em out. Then the town begged me to help 'em, 'cause they knew the others would be ridin' in soon and would take revenge on the whole town."
Lou picked up the story. "I was over in Seneca at the time and saw the rest of the Garretts gettin' ready to head for Fenton, so I rode over to warn Jimmy. We found ourselves fightin' against the Garretts when they rode into town the next day. It was a fierce battle, but we won thanks to Emmett's help. He took over as sheriff when we left." Her tone was one of resignation, as if she were giving up the fight and accepting her fate. This didn't sit well with Rachel.
"Lou, you and JImmy were doin' the right thing. You don't deserve what's happenin' now." She could tell both Jimmy and Lou were having trouble accepting that truth.
"Maybe not, but I do know that none of you deserve this either." Lou stood and walked to the door. Darkness had fallen, making the land beyond the well-lit kitchen appear inky black and impenetrable. "If someone already planned to take Theresa, how long until they try again? And how long until they come after one of you?"
Teaspoon and Rachel exchanged glances, neither one liking the direction of Lou's thoughts. Teaspoon cleared his throat and spoke, "So what's your point, sweetheart? 'Cause if yer thinkin' of leavin,' you better think again."
Buck picked up Teaspoon's argument. "Teaspoon's right, Lou. We're stronger together. And you're family."
"And family always sticks together." Lou turned back to smile grimly. "I just hope that someone don't have to inscribe that on all our tombstones."
Jimmy reached his hand out, drawing Lou back to the warm circle of the table. "Lord knows I'd usually be the first one to run, but I got a lot that's worth fightin' for now. And I know I'm gonna need help. As much as it pains me to admit it."
Lou gave a genuine smile at his rueful admission. "I will confess that as much as I hate the reason fer it, I'll be right glad to see Cody again. And I do feel stronger with my family around me." She faltered. "It's just that..."
Rachel smiled encouragingly, "It's just what, Louise?"
"It's just that when it's only me, I... I don't feel like I got as much to lose. I ain't never been nothin' special, but you all... You all mean the world to me. I don't know what I'd do without any one of you." Her eyes had dropped to the table top with her admission.
"Dammit, Lou!" Theresa's vehemence surprised them all, even herself. "When are you gonna stop tellin' yerself that nonsense? You've always been special. You were like a ma to me before we went to the orphanage. And then you came to save us when Boggs took me and 'Miah, like some sort of guardian angel. You've always taken care of me and 'Miah, no matter what you had to go through. So you've always been special to me."
Rachel kept her voice soothing, "Theresa's right, Louise. You've always been special to each one of us. Once we got our initial, ahem, differences settled, you've always been a good friend to me. I told ya once that if I had a daughter, I'd want her to be like you. Nothing's changed."
"You've been a sister to me as well, T'daun. There aren't many women who would share their home and table with me, but you always have. And what's more, you've shared your heart and friendship with me." Buck's voice was soft, but urgent. He watched her reaction carefully, hoping their words were getting through to the stubborn woman.
Lou quickly dashed a tear from her cheek with her hand before looking up. Her expression was that of one duly chastened. "I reckon I gotta remember that I ain't alone. Sometimes it's hard not to forget that I've truly got family willin' and able to share my load. Sorry, Theresa, everyone."
Teaspoon sniffled, clearly affected by the conversation as well. "Well, I'm glad we got that settled. We're all here for Jimmy and Lou, and Lou understands that some of us see her like a daughter. And those people couldn't be prouder of the woman she's become."
"And those people just might be named Teaspoon, right, Teaspoon?" Jimmy chuckled as he watched his mentor blush. Lou walked around the table to hug the marshal, both of them laughing.
"I think everyone knows how I feel about Lou," began Jimmy. "But I just gotta say, I..."
"Fire," muttered Lou, her eyes focused on the window.
"What?!" A deafening cacophony of chairs scraping across the kitchen floor sounded as everyone scrambled to their feet.
"Fire! The barn's on fire!"