Chapter 19

Teaspoon looked at Emma while they all got their horses ready. She kept silently wiping tears from her face. She went over to Kid and pulled him aside one last time to check him over before he left. He looked good but she feared that he was still weak. She felt like her heart was in her chest.

"We'll be back, Emma. Try not to worry. Be ready for us. We don't know what we will come back with." Said Teaspoon giving her a hug.

"You know I will be. Just watch yourselves and get our boys."

"Do you have any idea where this Cody might have taken them? It would be best to find them before nightfall." Said Frederick.

"Buck?" Asked Teaspoon.

"I can't track with no tracks. I would think it would be somewhere away from it all."

"I think we should split up and cover more ground." Said Kid.

"No, I don't think that's wise. We will need everyone there. When I try to get her, you will need to get your friends." Answered Frederick.

"Where should we start?" Asked Lou.

"Maybe the lake then the hills." Said Buck.

They all agreed and set out.

Ike listened to Jimmy cough throughout the afternoon. He heard him sneeze and clear his throat. He looked over to see Cody snoring softly. Ike threw a piece of dirt at Jimmy. He turned his head toward Ike.

'You are sick?'

"I'm just stopped up and my throat hurts. Probably from being in the rain the other night. I'm fine, Ike."

Cody stirred when he heard Jimmy's voice. He pushed his hat back on his head.

"Quiet over there."

Jimmy coughed and wrapped his arms around himself. Cody stood and walked a little closer.

"My, my, someone has got himself a cold. Well at least you won't have to suffer with it long."

Jimmy coughed and grunted.

"Come a little closer and I'll show you how much I'm suffering."

Cody laughed and walked closer into Jimmy's area. He laughed as Jimmy climbed clumsily to his feet. He jumped back when Jimmy ran at him. He stumbled back close to Ike. He grabbed Cody from behind. Jimmy yelled as Ike struggled with Cody. He walked over as far as he could until the chain around his neck held him back. He kept yelling as Ike fought. Cody elbowed Ike in his stomach again and again until Ike fell back gasping. Cody pushed him down and started kicking him relentlessly. Jimmy yelled until his voice was hoarse. Cody stopped out of breath and turned to glare at Jimmy.

"Fuck you Cody!"

Cody stopped and reached down in his pocket. He pulled out a small stone. He flipped it over in his hand. The stone was faintly glowing. Cody flashed black eyes at Jimmy. He started walking over toward him. Jimmy tried to step away.

"Cody!" He yelled out.

Cody smirked as he pushed Jimmy to the ground and sat across his chest. He grabbed his shirt collar as Jimmy struggled to fight back. Cody hit him in the face several times. He finally stopped and looked down at his old friend. He released his shirt and watched as his head fell back on the dirt. Cody stood up and adjusted his hat. He walked back over to his tree and sat down holding the pretty blue stone in his hand. He smiled and stared at it.

"Peace and quiet." He said as he leaned back.

Teaspoon and the others pulled to a stop. They had been searching for most of the afternoon. They looked to each other knowing dusk would soon be falling.

"I don't know what to do." Said Teaspoon quietly.

The others just looked down at their horses with nothing left to say.

"I was hoping we would find them before nightfall but as this was not the case, she will show herself tonight. We will see where they are. It will just be harder for me to contain her. I will not fill you with empty promises. This will be difficult."

"So what do we do now?" Asked Kid.

"We make camp." Answered Buck.

Ike rolled over and gasped at the sudden pain. He felt as if he couldn't breathe. He slowly turned and moved until he pushed himself up next to the tree. He breathed in and out slowly. He saw Jimmy laying on his back on the ground. He wasn't moving. Ike looked around and didn't see Cody. The sun was beginning to set. He held his breath and crawled over dragging his chain in his hand as far as he could reach toward Jimmy. He picked up some clumps of dirt and tossed them at him but he didn't move. His face was bloody. He sat down to gather himself when he heard it. He froze. The sun was going down. She was coming. Ike looked around in fear. He saw a small stick next to the tree. He crawled back over and snatched it off the ground. He crawled back to Jimmy. He strained against the chain as he reached the stick out. He poked Jimmy in the shoulder but he didn't move. It wailed again.

Jimmy felt something faintly sticking his arm and shoulder. He moaned and tried to open his eyes. He could open one but the other he couldn't. He rolled his head toward Ike who looked scared to death. Jimmy rolled onto his side and slowly pushed himself up to sit. He wiped his nose on his arm. He frowned at the pain. He looked at Ike.

"You ok?" Jimmy wheezed.

'Not really but I'll live. Your nose is busted.' Ike signed laying back down on his side gasping.

"Yeah." Sighed Jimmy.

'Your eye is swollen.'

Jimmy coughed and spit blood from his mouth. He looked to the sky. They both jumped when they heard it. Ike sat back up. Jimmy half smiled at Ike.

"I'm sorry I can't get us out of this. I wish it were different."

Ike nodded and watched the distance as it wailed again. The moon had started to rise high in the sky when they both fell over in pain. The moon on their backs smoldering. They grabbed at their backs as they rolled in pain. They knew then that she was coming for them.

Frederick stood and looked out toward the hills. He saw the light.

"We must go. There she is."

They jumped on their horses and raced off toward the hills in the bright moonlight.

Jimmy and Ike watched as Cody walked through the trees with the glowing stone. The specter floated behind him. The wind blew as she came closer. Ike felt like he couldn't move. Jimmy was frozen in place also. She floated down in the center of them. They stared back at her flowing gray hair. She closed in on Ike first leaning close to his face. She released the smoke. She turned and did the same to Jimmy. Cody smiled as their eyes turned black. They stood still. Cody waited as she made each one float over to a spot. He smiled as he willingly walked to his spot. She floated down to the center of them. The stone glowed brighter.