Chapter 9

Jimmy laid flat on his back on the hard floor staring up into nothing. Cody sat back against the bars. It was so dark that they couldn't see their hands in front of them. Jeremy and Mark had come down right at sunset to feed them. Now the darkness surrounded them. Jimmy lay still trying not to move. Every movement sent pain down that damn leg.

"Jimmy, you awake?" Cody whispered.

"Yeah. What?"

"I'm going to make a move tomorrow. I got some toothpicks. I think I can pick the lock without making any noise."

"Cody, I can't help you. I can't move like that."

"Don't worry. I'll help you."

"No, if you get out, you run like hell. Go get help."

"If I do that, you ain't gonna be here when I get back. You know that."

"I'll help you with him." Said Lloyd.

"See it's all settled."

"This is a mistake. Just leave and come back for me. I'll slow y'all down." Said Jimmy.

"You're going with us and that's that. Tomorrow."

"Yeah, tomorrow."

Leanne rode into town the next day. She tied her horse in front of the saloon. She didn't even look around as she made her way to the back of the alley beside it. Kid was sitting near the window of the saloon when she rode up. He noticed right off that she was on Cody's horse. He stood and walked over to grab Teaspoon and Buck. Teaspoon was coming from the gunsmith's. Buck from the livery.

"That's her." Said Teaspoon.

"Yeah, she's on Cody's horse." Said Kid.

"We gonna follow her?" Asked Buck.

"No, I don't think so. I do think, we will follow her tracks later today. We don't want her to know that we are here."

Kid and Buck nodded.

Jimmy sat propped up against the back wall of his so called cell. Cody sat looking up at the light coming through the cracks in the floorboards above them. He heard footsteps coming. He closed his eyes as dirt fell from the cracks above. He had come to realize that they were under the hall next to the back of the house where Jeremy's office was. They always came from behind him when they brought food so they must have a trap door in his office. He had tried to pick his lock last night but had no luck. He was trying again tonight. He looked back over to Jimmy. He hadn't been saying much.

"Jimmy?"

"Hmmm?"

"You ok?"

Jimmy nodded. He pushed himself away from the wall and scooted back flat. He groaned as he laid back down.

"What's going on, Jimmy? What aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing. I'm good just keep working on getting us out."

"Don't lie to me. What's going on?"

"I said don't worry about me. Get us out."

Cody shook his head and went back over to the lock. He pulled out the sliver of wood. He tried his lock over and over again. He stopped and fell back when the door opened. Jeremy and Leanne walked down with some fat man. The man walked down the aisle as if he was shopping in a store.

"I'll take those two." He said pointing to two young men.

"Six for the pair." Said Jeremy.

"Five."

"Five fifty."

"Deal."

"Deal. I normally don't negotiate but I need to move them quick and get them off the property for the time being."

"Works in my favor then." The man said as he walked down the walkway between the cells looking. "What's wrong with that one?" He said pointing to Jimmy.

"Broke his leg. He's a good strong young man and will be right as rain in another month or so."

"I'll make you a fair deal. Hundred for him."

"He's worth more than that, Quinton. In a month or so, he'll be worth five by himself."

"I'll give you a hundred. That's it. He might not make it or get over it. I'm taking a gamble here."

"Deal. He's been nothing but trouble from day one anyway."

Cody felt like the life was draining out of him. The asshole had just sold Jimmy.

"Pickup?" Quinton asked.

"Tonight is fine. You know the way it goes. Let other buyers know that I'm willing to make a quick deal. Get the word out."

Cody listened as they walked out still talking. Leanne closed the door behind them. He went over next to the bars that separated him and Jimmy.

"You hear that?"

"Yeah. I heard."

"What's wrong with you? That's all you got to say? We got to get out tonight before that man

gets here. Jimmy, we got to move."

"I don't know if I can."

"Tell me what's wrong?"

Jimmy wiped his face. He took a deep breath.

"I don't know." He mumbled.

"What's going on?" Asked Lloyd coming to the other side.

"Somethings wrong and he ain't saying." Said Cody.

"If I knew what was wrong, I'd fucking tell ya." Growled Jimmy.

"We got to make our move tonight." Said Cody.

"I'm with you. That's my son that he just sold along with your friend." Replied Lloyd.

Teaspoon and the others watched the homestead. Jimmy's palomino was out in the corral. This was the right place.

"They all seem to be over on the porch of the main house. The big man is leaving. He just shook hands." Said Kid.

"I'm going down to see what I can. I'll be back shortly." Said Buck as he made his way closer.

"If they are still here, we need to know exactly where. We can't risk them getting caught in the crossfire." Said Teaspoon.

"What should we do?"

"Wait for Buck."

The two watched for almost two hours before Buck made his way back to them. The sun was starting to set.

"I didn't see them. That house is huge. Lots of doors. I did find an old wrecked stagecoach locked in that old shed to the back. That's all. There's not many people down there. They seem like they have nothing to fear." Said Buck.

"You see in the barn?"

"Nobody is in there. They have to be somewhere in the main house but I didn't see them inside."

"Damn. We need to know where they are before we go rushing in." Said Teaspoon.

"We watch and wait then." Said Kid.

"This place is wide open. Let's move back a ways. No fire tonight boys."