Chapter 17

Teaspoon made his way back into town. He sighed as he saw the crowd waiting on him outside his office. He rode his horse up to the rail and pushed through them. He turned weary eyes back around to face all of the people.

"We need something, Teaspoon. News. Just anything." Said Thompkins.

"I ain't got nothing new. Just know that I'm working on it."

"You've been working on it and ain't done shit. Now my boy is missing. He went out to the far pasture to check the cows and didn't return. Found his horse and this." Brent said holding up a feather.

"It's them damn Indians. They picking us off one by one. First our sons, then the men. What are ya gonna do when the women go missing?!" Yelled another man.

"I'm telling ya, that I'm trying to figure all this out! Go home! I ain't got time to deal with all y'all's bitchin and fix this at the same time! I'm tired and I ain't listening to anymore of it tonight. Excuse me."

Teaspoon pushed back through the crowd and walked over to the doctor's. He turned to make sure that the town's folk was starting to wander off before going in the door. Cody was the only one sitting in a chair. Teaspoon walked in and flopped down beside him. He crossed his arms.

"Well?"

"Doc said it could have been worse. He was drug behind the horse for a good ways. He's really cut up and bruised but Doc said it looks like he only got a dislocated shoulder. They beat him but for some reason, I think they left before finishing the job. They didn't seem to take as much time."

"He awake?"

"Not yet."

"I need you to ride out to old Jack's cabin. Let Buck know."

"Sure thing but before I go, you need to hear what Rachel and Kid saw out at the Baker's. Don't leave without talking to them first."

Teaspoon nodded as Cody got his rifle. He watched him leave. He looked toward the back of the small house. He stood and made his way back. He stepped in the kitchen to find Kid and Rachel sitting in chairs talking. They both looked up when they heard him walk in.

"Any improvement?" He said nodding toward Jimmy.

"I wish there was." Rachel said sadly.

"He's a little worse this afternoon. The fever is up and he seems to be struggling." Said Kid as Rachel looked down at her lap.

"Louise?"

"She seems to be getting there. Still really sore. Exhausted more than anything else." Said Rachel.

Teaspoon made his way over to where Lou was asleep. He looked down at her still bruised face. He lightly touched her hand before easing closer to Jimmy. Rachel had placed cool rags on his face and forehead so he brushed them away. Some of the swelling seemed to be subsiding but he could feel the heat on his skin. He frowned before moving away.

"Cody said that you had an interestin visit."

"Something is very wrong there, Teaspoon." Said Rachel.

"Go on."

"Lucille was very stand offish to say the least. I asked for the recipe but she acted like she didn't know anything about that house. Like she was some stranger in there. I followed her inside and there was not a single sign of the Bakers. When I asked, she claimed that Maxine was asleep."

"And how about Clarke?"

"Said that he went to visit his brother but we all know that his brother died years ago."

"I looked around outside and there was a lot of activity around the barn. Also, the cellar was locked with a chain. I agree, something ain't right there. We need to go back. See what she is hiding."

"We go tonight then. Buck and I found where they are camped."

"Maybe we should hit them head on." Said Kid.

"Kid, truthfully that ain't no gang out there. It's an army and they think they are doing the right thing. We counted around twenty or so men. We got to find the truth before we confront them. I feel that once some of them know what they have been doing, that they will come to their senses and leave. What's left, we'll handle."

"But look at what they are doing. Look at what they have done."

"Like I said, when Lou points out the men that hurt her, we will handle them. We wait for Cody, then we go see what we can find tonight."

Kid reluctantly nodded as he went to move closer to Louise. Teaspoon went to stand beside Rachel when Doc walked in. He stopped to acknowledge Teaspoon before walking to check Louise. He spoke quietly with Kid before he moved over to Jimmy. He pulled the quilts back to check him over. He nodded for Teaspoon to follow him into the other room.

"Teaspoon, he isn't doing good. I'm not sure that he will pull through. I just wanted to prepare you for the worst that could happen. His bones will heal but the damage to the head and inside may just be too hard for someone in his current state to overcome."

Teaspoon listened quietly as Dan spoke but it seemed the words just drowned themselves out on his ears. He felt that same familiar haze come over him that had been following him the last week. He looked in Dan's face and cleared his throat.

"Do what you can. He is a tough one. He ain't gonna give up too easy. I truly believe that. What about Ike?"

"He was lucky if you could say that but compared to the other beating, he is. Missing some skin on his arms and legs from being pulled on the ground but truthfully, the worst that he got was a dislocated shoulder. Whoever did this didn't take it as far as the other. Luck was on his side."

"Or they realized something else. At least, that's a bit of good news. I'm heading on back to the Marshal's Office. Tell Kid to meet me there in ten."

"I will. Watch yourself, Teaspoon."