Chapter 12

Teaspoon drove the wagon while the boys rode ahead looking. He looked ahead. His mind was swimming. There was so much going on at this moment. Jimmy was somewhere out here. He felt sick just thinking about what kind of shape that he could find him in. Lou had been beaten and almost dare he say, raped. Buck was being hunted like some dog by some Indian hating gang who felt justified in their actions. And several young men around town had just disappeared and the only clues that he had was a few feathers here and there which again pointed fingers at the tribes in the area. The world had fallen apart at some point and he hadn't seen it coming. He looked up as they rode.

"Here." He called out.

The boys pulled their horses around to face him.

"This is where she said that they had the run in. Look everywhere."

Teaspoon eased down off the wagon to walk along the trail. He looked at the edge of the trail. There wasn't many signs of a confrontation. He walked slowly studying the ground when Cody called out. He looked up as he walked back up the slight edge of the ravine.

"Find something?!" Teaspoon yelled.

"Lou's hat! It was stuck in some brush right over the edge."

He walked over to where Kid was helping pull Cody back up the hill. He handed Teaspoon the hat.

"Think they tossed it over?" Asked Kid.

"The trail here is too clean. It's like they really took their time before leaving to cover up any tracks. If I had something to get rid of, I'd toss it over." Said Buck looking down the steep hill.

"Buck's got a point. They made sure there weren't anything left laying around. We need to get down that hill." Said Teaspoon.

"You don't think they tossed Jimmy over? Do ya?" Asked Cody.

"At this point, yeah I do."

All five of them looked down at the mess of tangled brush and small trees on the way down.

"I'll skirt around. There has to be a way to get to the bottom." Said Buck.

"Ike, go with him. I don't want him out there alone. If something comes up, fire a shot."

Ike nodded and ran to his horse. The remaining three looked down.

"I'm going back down." Said Cody

"Watch your footin."

Cody started making his way back down the hill. Kid and Teaspoon waited as an hour or so passed. They soon saw Cody trying to make his way back up. He got closer and they reached out to pull him up. He fell to his knees out of breath. Teaspoon looked at all the stuff that he had carried back up. He reached under his shirt and dumped more on the ground.

"Lordy Lord."

"That's Lou's pants, boots, and gun." Said Kid.

"And one of Jimmy's guns and his hat." Cody said pulling the hat off the top of his own.

"The pouch." Said Teaspoon.

"Yep. I didn't see his other gun. I needed a break. It ain't an easy climb."

"So they threw it all away." Said Kid.

"Damn. They didn't want anything that could be found to tie them to this. Damn, damn. He has got to be down there." Stated Teaspoon upset.

"Take a break, Cody. I'm going. We need to hurry and find him before it's too late." Said Kid as he started making his way back down.

Buck and Ike rode along the edge looking down the ravine. They rode until they came down the hill onto the plain. Buck turned to Ike.

"It has to have a way in somewhere out here. The water has to flow out."

Ike nodded as he followed Buck around looking for a way in. They rode until they saw where the water slowly flowed out. They pulled to a stop next to the small waterfall.

"Ike, I'm going in there. Be back."

Ike held Buck's horse as he climbed up to stand on his saddle. He climbed up onto the large rock before disappearing out of sight into the brush. Ike sat watching the plain as he waited for Buck to return.

Buck walked and walked scanning the area. He walked until he saw rocks sliding down from up above. He looked up.

"Kid?! That you?!"

"Yeah, Buck!"

"Nothing?!"

"No!"

"Ok, I'm gonna back track!"

Buck scanned around and walked back along stomping through some of the heavier brush at the edge of the wall. He kicked at the brush when he thought he saw something ahead. He stopped and looked again. It was a hand. He ran over to pull the brush up. He tossed it away to finally see Jimmy laying in a heap.

"Here! He's here!" Buck screamed as he continued to push the brush away.

He looked over as he heard a loud thump. Kid had let go and slid down the hill to land on his back. He groaned before jumping to his feet and running over. He reached for Jimmy. He looked up in shock at Buck as he laid his hands on Jimmy's cold skin.