Chapter 9

Lou slept soundly in her oilcloth bedroll despite the cold night air. As the sun crested the horizon she opened her brown eyes and glanced around the campsite. She found Kid still sleeping very close to her and across from the fire pit she spied Pip cuddled in Jimmy's arms as she shared his oilcloth bedroll. Her eyes settled on Jimmy's peaceful face as he snuggled closer. For a moment she thought of Jimmy and how difficult his relationships were. He was not an easy man to get along with and his reputation preceded him quite often. But Pip seemed to counter his rudeness with her own New York style. Lou loved Jimmy but she loved Kid more and simply wanted Jimmy to be happy and find someone to love and who could love him in return.

Pip took a deep breath and yawned as she woke up. Her eyes fluttered open as she worked the sleepiness from her mind. She glanced over and spied Lou awake and looking in her direction. She gave a half smile to her. She yawned again and rolled to her back and glanced up at Jimmy's face. He woke as a result of her movement. He cocked one eye open as he was jostled awake.

"Morning," she whispered.

"Morning Agnes," he softly replied still sleepy. He closed his eye and tried to rest.

For Pip once she woke up she was ready to go after the day. Pip was a morning person who just couldn't stay in bed. She untied the bedroll and sat up.

Jimmy was suddenly hit with cold air. He complained, "Agnes!"

"I gotta pee." she told him as she scooted out of the bedroll. She slipped on her nearby boots and grabbed her coat off the log. She stood up and then walked just out of camp to the temporary latrine.

Jimmy complained, "Damn it! Now I'm freezing."

Lou lay grinning rather amused.

He shot her a look, "What's so funny, Lou?"

"You and Pip are a calamity together." she chuckled.

"Calamity huh?" he huffed sitting up. He figured he might as well get himself up and moving as well.

Kid woke from the commotion. He yawned and wondered, "What's going on?"

Jimmy spouted, "Calamity Agnes had to go pee."

He untied his bedroll and sat up, "What?" he asked looking about wondering if there was trouble.

Pip came back into campsite as she returned from the latrine. She had her boots tied and her coat buttoned up. She rubbed her hands together, "Boy it's cold this morning. I'll get the fire stoked."

Kid glanced over at Jimmy who seemed rather grumpy. He asked, "Calamity Agnes?"

Jimmy defended, "She is a calamity!"

Pip squinted, "Calamity! Me!" She rolled her eyes.

Lou knew she came up with the nickname inadvertently and didn't want Agnes Hunter to get stuck with yet another terrible name. She tried to nix the new name, "Calamity Agnes doesn't sound right to me." She too had sat up and begind to gather her boots and coat.

Jimmy smirked at Pip, "Calamity Pipsqueak."

Pip was used to getting all sorts of pet names from different people over her life. She mentioned, "My middle name is Jane. Agnes Jane Hunter. If ya are gonna call me calamity something than just use Jane."

Jimmy gave a wicked grin to her, "Calamity Jane it is!"

Her head rolled back for the new name sounded ever so smooth of the tongue. That would stick for sure. "Oh no." she complained. She then glared back at him, "I heard about the dime novel written about you. Wild Bill Hickok! If I get stuck with Calamity Jane then I'm telling everyone we're married and I'm your sidekick."

Kid reminded her, "I'm not sure how Teaspoon will feel about that."

"My father's nickname is Teaspoon. You know what kind of dime novel that I could write with all this?" she asked him. "And you…Kid!" She started to stoke the fire as her mind conjured, "We need a good nickname for Billy in this dime novel. He wears those buffalo skins. I know!" she grinned, "Buffalo Bill Cody."

Jimmy shook his head, "That sounds ridiculous." He muttered as he gathered the mess kit, "Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok. Whole thing sounds absolutely ridiculous."

Pip shook her head grinning back, "That sounds like the making of legends." She looked to Lou, "Just need a name for Lou!"

She sat wide-eyed as she put her boots back on, "Me!"

Kid joined in on the banter, "She's a good shot."

Pip smirked in jest, "Little Miss Sure Shot!"

Lou sternly replied, "No!"

Carson City

The four riders arrived in Carson City after two days travel. They had yet to find any sign of their missing friends. The city was bustling with horses, carriages and cowboys from nearby ranches. As they rode through the dusty streets they spotted saloons, a hotel, merchant shops, stables and a sheriff's office. They soon arrive at the local sheriff to inquire about the missing riders.

They dismounted the horses and tied them off on a post at a nearby trough. Jimmy led them up the steps to the boardwalk and into the door of the office. Inside the sheriff's office was a stove, a desk and a gun rack. Sitting behind the desk was a man in a dark suit. He sported a red velvet vest and a white shirt with black bolo tie. His hair was dark and he had a thick mustache. He sat up at attention as the riders entered his office. He asked, "Can I help you boys?"

Jimmy started, "We're riders for the Pony Express. We're missing three riders…"

As Jimmy started a young dark haired boy about twelve years old came bursting in through the door. He wore gray trousers and white shirt and nice pair of boots that were just his size. He called out, "Uncle Walt! There's…" he suddenly realized four Pony Express riders were before him. He came to a sudden stop.

"I'm busy Wyatt." the sheriff scolded him. "Now, take a seat until I'm through." he motioned for the boy to sit in a nearby chair.

"Yes Uncle," he sighed and then took a seat still staring at the riders.

"If you all will excuse my nephew's outburst; he's visiting from Iowa for the time and gets a bit ahead of himself." He stood up, "Now what can I help you with?"

Kid stated, "We have three riders that have gone missing."

"I'm not aware of any missing riders." he informed.

Jimmy stated, "We already checked the home station and they never arrived. All three were last seen ten miles outside of town. We just went through the pass and we found nothing."

The boy popped up, "That's Devils Pass! People go missing there."

Walter scorned, "Wyatt! Do not speak out of turn."

"Sorry Uncle, Walter." he muttered.

The door to the sheriff's office suddenly busted open once more as a man entered in a rush. He was dressed in full cattle wrangling gear complete with leg chaps and a whip. He wore a blue shirt and oversize white cowboy hat that was dirty. "Sherriff Earp!" he called out.

"Malcolm," he replied.

"I found more rustlers on my ranch! I got cattle missing." he declared.

The sheriff was a bit overwhelmed. He looked at the riders, "I suggest you go back to Devil's Pass a look around. There's a mine not far. Maybe your friends fell into a shaft." He walked to the door, "Alright Malcolm! Let's go find the cattle thieves." He walked out the door leaving the nephew and the riders behind.

Kid winced, "Not very helpful."

Wyatt Earp hopped off his chair, "I'm his deputy!" he proclaimed. "I can help ya."

The riders all traded glances. A twelve year old boy claimed he was the deputy and could help them. "Um…" Kid winced.

He nearly begged, "I know the area. Please, let me come with you. I can help. Uncle Walt has been dealing with these wrestlers and doesn't have the time."

Pip smiled, "If you know the area that's a good thing. You can come with us."

Jimmy did a double take as he looked at her, "He's a child."

"He can still help us." she figured.

"Great!" the boy grinned, "I'll get my rifle and hat." he ran out the door to go back to his room to gather his things.

Jimmy rolled his head back, "He's a kid."

"He's looks about twelve." Pip rebutted. "He's old enough to help and he offered more help to us than his uncle did."

"Fine," he sighed.