Chapter 10

Young Wyatt Earp rode with the Pony Express riders outside of town to Devil's Crossing. Along the way the boy chatted about his family.

"So, my ma and pa let me come out to Carson City to stay with Uncle Walt. Ma wouldn't let my brothers Morgan and Virgil come cause she says they are too young." he explained.

Jimmy gave a heavy sigh for the boy talked nonstop.

Pip liked Wyatt and rode beside him. She smiled, "You got two brothers?"

"I got five brothers. James and Newton! Warren is the baby. My sisters help ma take care of him." he replied. He went somber, "My pa just lost the farm and…" he tailed off and let out a heavy sigh.

Pip assured, "You don't have to talk about it if you don't wanna."

Wyatt looked over at her and asked, "Why are dressed like a boy?"

She laughed for the boy was quick to pick up on the disguise.

He wasn't sure why she was laughing but continued, "You and Lou are sisters?" he wondered. "

"Nope," she shook her head glancing back at Lou who blushed. "Lou is an orphan trying to make money and I'm an account. I came out West to meet some family members." she left the excuse at that.

Jimmy mentioned, "Smart kid."

Kid added, "Talks a bit too much."

Lou giggled, "So do you at time, Kid."

Pip asked, "What's you gonna be when you grow up, Wyatt?"

"I'm gonna be a lawman!" he insisted. He looked at Jimmy, "He looks familiar." He then cocked an eyebrow, "Wait a minute. I saw a picture of you someplace, mister."

Jimmy rolled his eyes annoyed for he figured it was from the dime novel. He replied, "Can't always believe what ya read kid."

Pip grinned, "There is a dime novel based on Jimmy Hickok but the author named him Wild Bill Hickok."

Wyatt gasped, "He's Wild Bill Hickok!?" He looked back to Jimmy who scowled annoyed at Pip for telling the boy. He would rather Wyatt did not know of his alter ego.

"Thanks Agnes," Jimmy grumbled as he rode.

Devil's Crossing consisted of two huge rock cliffs with the trail in the middle. Surrounding the area was a flat, dry land with tumbleweeds and stunted brush. The riders and Wyatt soon approached the area.

Wyatt noticed something strange about the ground. "Hey, looks like track." The boy motioned towards the back of the pass.

Jimmy agreed, "Horseback riders."

Pip asked, "You think it's our missing riders?"

Jimmy shook his head, "These tracks are coming from the other direction."

Kid nodded, "These tracks go into the trail." He glanced about, "They head off that way." He pointed west.

Lou suggested, "We should follow them. It could lead us to something."

Wyatt mentioned, "There are a few ranchers in that direction."

Jimmy smirked at the boy, "Let's go see if any of the ranchers saw anything." He started to lead his friends as the followed the tracks.

As they rode across the land Wyatt was still talking with Pip. He rode beside her behind Jimmy and Kid. Lou brought up the rear looking for any signs that were missed. She could hear Wyatt and Pip's conversation.

Wyatt asked her, "You and Jimmy are courting?"

She gave a half smile and asked, "Why did you ask me that, Wyatt?"

He shrugged, "I just thought you two were courting. You seem kind of close to me."

"I like Jimmy," was all she would reply.

Wyatt glanced back to Lou, "You and Kid…" he started.

She glared at him, "That's none of your business, Wyatt Earp!"

He turned back around and muttered, "I was just wondering."

Pip spoke low, "They are!"

Lou grew upset and called her out, "Pip! It's no one's business."

"Sorry," she called back to Lou.

Wyatt asked, "What do they call you 'Pip', Agnes?"

She confessed, "It's short for Pipsqueak. I picked that name up when I was a newsie in New York City."

"Newsie?" he asked befuddled.

"We sold newspapers." she explained. "It wasn't bad money but a lot of hard work and hauling around those big stacks of paper…" she shook in recollection. "The boys called me 'Pipsqueak' and it kind of stuck."

The boy understood, "Newspaper boys! I get it now." He glanced up at Jimmy and Kid. He asked, "Is the Kid a gunfighter like Jimmy?"

Lou spoke up from behind, "He's as fast as Jimmy."

Pip agreed, "A few days ago we were heading into the mountain pass and I was outside of camp and came across this cougar. It came after me and they both shot it at once."

Wyatt asked, "So they gave a gun to hold onto after that." He assumed the gun was a last minute addition to her outfit for she had no holster.

She shook her head, "No I had it with me."

He cocked his head, "Then why didn't you shoot it? Ya a bad shot or something?"

"Actually, I'm a very good shot!" she proclaimed. She then admitted, "I went blank in the head and just didn't think of it. Ya, know something, Wyatt…We all like to think that we can take on anything that comes at us but sometimes ya don't. You just go numb and can't think of what you are supposed to do and then you just run."

Jimmy called back, "The trick Wyatt is to overcome your instinct to run and stand your ground."

Kid added, "And still be able to think it all through." He turned slightly, "You have to look at the whole situation from every angle and take the advantages. Ya know what I mean?"

"I think so," the boy pondered.

Lou called, "Listen to Kid, Wyatt! He saved Jimmy's behind a few times."

Jimmy huffed, "Not that much!" He glanced to Kid who merely smiled at him in agreement with Lou.

Jimmy insisted, "I saved your behind a few times."

"Ya did!" Kid agreed.

Wyatt absorbed what was said to him like a sponge. He knew someday he would face his own enemies as a lawman and would find himself in gunfights. It was destiny for the boy.

The riders soon came across a sprawling ranch as they looked down from a small cliff. The area was dusty and dry. They could not see any cattle anywhere. Down below they spied a white painted homestead and a barn. It was a distance to see any details.

Wyatt squinted trying to get a clearer picture, "I don't see anyone."

A figure emerged from the house and walked across the area to the barn. It was so far away they could not get a good look at the man.

Pip reached into her bag and removed a small leather case. She opened the case and retrieved a monocular that she acquired in NY City. She pulled the eyepiece and expanded the spy glass.

Wyatt asked, "Where did you get the glass from, Agnes?" He didn't wish to call her Pip knowing the name was short for an insult.

She replied, "I used it to watch the ships coming and going from the harbor." She focused on the barn door hoping to get a good look at the man who walked inside.

The door opened and out walked the man with another man dressed in buck skins. He had his hands bound behind his back. She got a good look at the face under the hat.

Kid squinted, "That looks like Billy." He turned back towards Pip and the spyglass.

She nodded, "It is him." She handed the monocular off to Lou.

Lou placed the piece to her eye and reported, "It's Billy! His hands are tied behind his back." She then handed the scope to Kid ahead of her.

Kid took the glass wondering, "Where is Ike and Buck?"

Jimmy figured, "In the barn!"

"Why would anyone hold them in a barn?" he asked baffled.

Jimmy smirked, "Let's go find out." He tugged the reigns and started down the trail towards the cattle-less ranch below.