Chapter 12

Teaspoon Hunter tended to his duties as the town marshal while waiting for the other riders to return. As he wrote in the office log book a new rider with darker skin, Noah Dixon stood before him in his white trousers with matching shirt and tan vest. He insisted, "I can look for them!"

Teaspoon looked up from his work, "Noah! I need someone here to ride. I'm sure Hickok and Kid can handle it. Besides, if you go out looking them just who am I supposed to saddle up? Jesse!"

"He could do it," he shrugged.

The door swung open and in ran a young blonde haired boy, Jessie James. He shouted, "The riders are coming Teaspoon! They are headed right for town. They got prisoners too!"

Teaspoon placed down his pencil and rose to his feet. He grabbed his hat and headed for the door with Jessie and Noah behind him. As he stepped outside his eyes squinted in the sunlight. Coming down Main Street of town were his missing riders, his daughter Agnes two prisoners and a boy that he never saw before.

Noah asked, "Is that your daughter riding next to Jimmy?"

He gave a nod, "That's Agnes."

Jessie wondered, "Who is the other kid?"

"I have no idea." he admitted.

Jimmy led the group and the two prisoners towards the Marshal's office. He spied Teaspoon and his friends waiting for him.

Pip asked him, "Who is the guy in white and that other kid?"

"That's Noah," he explained. "He was on a run when you came. That kid is Jesse. He's a local who hangs out with us when he's not in school."

"Ah," she gave a nod.

The group of riders rode to the office hitching post and dismounted the horses. Kid and Billy made sure the two prisoners slid down from the mounts without any problems.

Jimmy started, "We got two prisoners for ya, Teaspoon. The old guy is Floyd Hepburn. The hired hand is named Buford but apparently he goes by 'Biff'."

Teaspoon noticed the old man was well dressed. He asked, "And what happened out there?"

Jimmy looked to Pip to explain, "You wanna explain that stupid railroad idea?"

Pip started, "Mr. Hepburn is an associate of Russell, Majors and Waddell. He was attempting to stop the riders from making the designated routes on time so our bosses would lose the contract with the Army and the Pony Express would be forced into bankruptcy. He then wanted the land to sell to the railroad companies for the Western expansion projects. He was trying to sabotage the Pony Express to get the land. Mr. Hepburn and his hired hand would stake out a narrow pass and when a rider came near they would stop him and kidnap him to hold up the mail pouch. They had captured Buck first and then got Ike and Billy when they went looking. Since they messed up the timing of the riders they weren't expecting us so soon."

Teaspoon looked at the boy, "And him?"

"That's Mister Wyatt Earp. His uncle is the sheriff just outside the ranch that Floyd was using for his scheme. Sheriff Earp suggested we bring Mr. Hepburn and his associate here since you would have more jurisdictions in the matter." she explained. "Wyatt helped us find the riders."

Wyatt greeted pleased with himself, "Marshal Hunter!"

Jimmy added, "He's kind of handy…A bit of a pain but handy."

Teaspoon replied to the boy, "Well, Mr. Earp…we have an extra bunk you can use in the bunkhouse for the night." He then looked at the two prisoners, "I have first class accommodations for you, Mr. Hepburn."

Floyd looked to Pip, "You know this won't stick, Agnes."

"Better save your breath," she suggested. "Kidnapping is a capital offense."

Billy stated, "This way!" as he led the two men into the office to secure them in the jail cells.

Teaspoon smiled at his daughter, "I'm glad you are okay and you are back." He gave her a welcoming embrace as he spoke.

She replied softly, "Me too."

Jesse introduced himself to Wyatt as they were both the same age. "I'm Jesse! I can show ya around town and to the bunkhouse, Wyatt. How long will you be in town for?"

"Not sure yet but I would like to see the town." he replied. He then motioned towards the dark brown horse, "There a stable nearby?"

Teaspoon offered, "You can use the station's stables, Wyatt. Jesse will show ya the way, son."

"This way," Jesse stated and began to lead Wyatt and his horse to the nearby Pony Express station.

Lou smiled to herself, "Look at that, Jesse has a new friend that's his own age. I think those two will get along great."

Kid did a double take and mentioned, "Jesse's brother ain't exactly a choirboy and Jesse has knack for trouble."

"So do you, Kid." she smirked.

He let out a sigh and gathered his horse, "Come on girl." He tugged for the horse to follow to the stables and Lou followed leading her horse as well.

Pip gave a smile to her father, "I'll put my ride away." She walked before him following Kid and Lou.

Noah stood flabbergasted as he watched Pip walk the horse to the stable. She had the prettiest eyes he ever saw. He liked her looks, her walk and her talk. He gazed upon her until she was out of sight. He mentioned, "You have a very pretty daughter, Teaspoon."

Jimmy cocked an eyebrow as he looked over at Noah. He agreed with the statement but didn't like how it sounded coming from another man.

Teaspoon beamed, "Yes she is!"

Bunkhouse, Later that Evening

With full bellies and a sound mind the riders had settled down for the evening. Young Wyatt Earp was given the bunk above Jessie James. He liked Jessie and could even consider him a friend but at the same time he saw a recklessness bubbling inside the other boy. It was if their fates lay on different paths and somehow Wyatt could sense his friendship with Jessie would be short lived.

Out of the two boys Pip adored Wyatt Earp more than Jessie. He reminded her of the boys from home and there was something about him that struck her as a spark that would surely ignite a legacy that would become legendary in time.

Wyatt made a point to study Jimmy as for in his young eyes Jimmy Hickok was a real gunfighter and someone he could learn a trick or two from. He also studied Kid equally for the pair seemed to be the fastest to his estimation.

Noah tried not to stare at Agnes Hunter as he readied himself for a goodnights sleep but she caught his eye and he found her hard to resist. He simply fancied her upon first meeting her without know much at all about her.

Jimmy noticed the constant glances from Noah towards Pip. He found it irritating at best and enraging at worst. He didn't like the attention Noah seemed to give to Pip not one bit. He ensured to place himself in his bunk to block Noah's view of Pip.

Kid didn't notice the trouble brewing between Jimmy and Noah and was rather obvious. He asked Pip as he settled in for the night. "You think Hepburn will get away with this, Pip?"

She tucked herself in and sighed, "He will try. He's got money and friends in high places." She paused and closed her eyes for just a minute as she thought of what would likely happen. "He will hire the best lawyer and walk away with misdemeanor while his hired hand will get the gallows."

Lou spoke up, "But you said kidnapping is a capital offense."

"It is but if you got resources you can get away with murder." she replied. "He will cut a deal with the prosecutor and walk."

Billy sounded, "You think Hepburn will walk after all this?"

"Probably," she agreed.

Wyatt asked, "What about all that talk when you told Hepburn that he wasn't gonna get away with it."

She admitted, "I was mad and I really don't want him to get away with it but it was more wishful thinking than anything else. Maybe the prosecutor will throw the book at him but…" she sighed, "I really doubt it and he will walk free and go back to New York."

Noah tried to sooth her fear. "You don't know that for sure. He will stand trial and he will be convicted. This isn't New York City out here, Miss."

"I hope you are right, Noah. I really do." She slid down and rested her head on her pillow. She closed her eyes trying to not think of just how easily Floyd Hepburn could skate the charges.

Wyatt agreed, "He will swing from a rope for what he did." He settled down in his bunk assured it was the end of Floyd Hepburn.