Ch 16
Jimmy startled himself awake a few hours later. He groaned as he sat up on the bed. He looked around the small room. Small and simple. He pulled on his shirt and stepped out the room. He found Edison in his kitchen in the back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be out so long. I got to see to my horse. I feel ashamed for leaving him there."
"No need. The owner of the saloon told me which one he saw you ride in on. He is at the livery being taken care of as we speak."
"Thanks. I don't know what to say."
"Nothing to say. Let's find us something to eat."
Jimmy had now been staying with Edison for a little over a week. He surprisingly had become fast friends with him. He helped him out around his office and ran errands for him. He picked up supplies for him from other towns in exchange for room and board. Edison spoke with him on a daily basis about changing his way of life. Jimmy told him about who he truly was. What had happened to him and why he didn't think his life would ever change. He felt like he was damned. Edison just nodded his head and never mentioned it again. Edison knew this man needed help and he was going to provide it as long as he could. He was indeed different from others.
Mick rode into Cohen's Bluff. He needed a place to crash overnight so he went to the livery to put his horse up for the night. As he walked his horse inside, he noticed a palomino in the corral outside. He knew that horse. It was Hickok's horse. What luck he had. He could use five hundred dollars. He spoke with the owner and put his horse up for the night then went to get a room. He would rest for a few and walk the town later. Hickok had to be near.
Noah stopped in for a quick bite in Cohen's Bluff on his way back home. They usually didn't travel this route. He was eating when he saw that bounty hunter. He put his fork down. He was walking and looking all over. He was acting odd. He would let Teaspoon know as soon as he got back. He finished his meal and rode on toward Sweetwater.
Jimmy improved with every passing day and was starting to feel like himself. He knew he couldn't stay here for long but he was still unsure of his next move. He felt the warm sun on his face as he walked across to the mail office to see if the doc had any. He kept his hair pulled back and tied thinking he might not be noticed right away.
Mick saw him leave the doctor's office and head toward the mail. It hadn't been that long since he had seen him. It was him alright. He pulled the wanted poster from his pocket. He didn't want to take him in town. He would lay low and watch him.
Noah made it back to Sweetwater and waited until everyone was seated at the supper table. Kid and Lou had returned after three weeks of nothing in Willow Springs. Teaspoon was the last to be seated.
"Teaspoon I stopped in Cohen's Bluff today for a quick lunch. I saw someone of interest."
"Really?"
"I saw that bounty hunter."
Teaspoon stopped eating and everyone else's forks fell onto their plates.
"Are ya sure?"
"Damn sure. He was walkin and lookin around. He was lookin for someone."
"Any idea that our boy might be there?"
"No. Just ate and left before he saw me."
"Think we should check it out?" Asked Emma full of hope.
"Anything is worth a look. Any of you he wouldn't know?"
"He saw us that night."
"He didn't see me." Said Lou
"Or me." Said Emma
Teaspoon looked at his food.
"I don't think we should send y'all." Said Kid
"I can do anything that you can do, Kid. Besides, we are just going to look around and see if he is there."
"And no one will suspect two women. Ain't that right Lou?"
"Right." Said Lou smiling.
"Then it's settled. Cody will escort y'all almost to town then he will back off and wait for word."