This is the section never posted the fan because I couldn't figure out the paragraph thing...enjoy
I got my chance to get the guns and knife that night. When they were asleep, I made my way over to the hook and took all the guns. Buck's knife was still with him so I crept into their room. I covered my ears against the noise they all created. It was enough to listen to my own father snoring but three of them were too much. I got the knife without too much trouble, I was always very good at sneaking, and got out of there as quickly as possible. I hid the weapons where I was sure my sisters would never find them, and in one place I was sure the three men would never look.
They may have ignored my previous tricks, but they certainly wouldn't ignore this one. I had a plan. I was going to give them their weapons back as soon as they promised to leave. I was young and I didn't realize how much trouble this could cause. I will make no excuses though, I am responsible for what happened next.
Of all the times for bandits to show up, they had to choose that night. It probably would have been a simple matter. My sisters and I had three gunmen to watch over us after all, but without their guns they were no better off than my baby sister. Wait, wait, wait! I am getting ahead of myself here. Let me start again. It was about 2 hours before dawn when I heard some strange noises from out front. I was just sitting up when Cody burst into my room.
"Don't scream! Take your sisters and hide out in the barn, don't ask why, just do it."
I did as I was told and took my sisters out back. I didn't remember about the guns 'til it was too late. I watched helplessly from the barn what happened next. The bandits had no problem getting into the house. They led Buck outside at gunpoint. I hadn't heard any gunshots, so I assumed the others were still inside. The man hit Buck across the face with his gun and then tied Buck's hands to the banister on the porch. The bandit seemed to be watching the road and not his prisoner though. I told Emma to stay in the barn and watch Rachel. I snuck around the back of the house and retrieved Buck's knife. I peered into the window and listened to the men inside.
"Where are they?"
"Who?" Jimmy asked.
"I want the McCloud children, their father owes us."
"We don't know who you are talking about," Cody answered. This earned him a punch in the stomach.
I gasped, luckily the bandits didn't hear me, Jimmy did though. He snuck a glance at me out the window. I ducked under his look, I was certain that he was mad at me, in fact I was mad at myself. This was my fault and I was going to get them out of it. I watched the man guarding Buck until he was a few steps away from the porch. I made my way up onto the porch and cut Buck loose. I guess he had heard me coming because he wasn't the least bit startled. He took his knife from me without a second look and threw it silently into the bandits back. I sat there in shock as I had never seen anyone die before. I don't remember how, but I made it back to the barn and held onto my sisters. For a few seconds I heard gunshots and then silence. A little while later Cody came to the barn to get me and my sisters. I told Emma where the men's guns were hidden and snuck out before Cody got there. I knew what I had done, I had put not only my life in danger, but my sisters and the men who tried to protect us. I left the barn that day certain that my sisters were in better hands.
I'm sure that you can all figure out what happened after this, I was nine years old remember? No matter how old I pretended to be. I had left without a horse or food or water. I didn't know where I was going or how I was going to get there. Soon I heard horses approaching. I ducked behind some bushes but they knew exactly where I was. Buck turned back immediately, but Hickok dismounted. I could tell he knew where I was so I stood up and moved to continue down the road.
"Wait." Hickok called to me.
"I can take care of myself you know." I said as I forgot my vow never to speak to THEM.
"We know that, you already showed us. We want you to come back."
"Why? I wanted you to leave all this time. I got you in trouble. It's all my fault."
"Yes, but your sisters will miss you, besides I hate changing diapers."
He knew exactly what to say, I had never really wanted to leave anyway. I giggled at his joke and ran into his arms. He seemed surprised at first but soon returned my hug. He lifted me onto his horse and we rode back to the ranch.
After that, things were still awkward for me, I felt that I needed to apologize somehow but none of them would accept it. They treated me like an adult, giving me responsibility to take care of my sisters and cook some of the meals. When they stepped away to have a grown up discussion sometimes they even included me. I think they knew exactly what they were doing.
Uncle Buck taught me and Emma some things about his tribe, and told me about an uncle called Ike who had died before I was born. He explained that Ike had used Indian sign language to communicate. Uncle Buck taught me some of that too. Cody took my sister on many rides, she seemed to love riding horses. Cody said that my mother loves riding too, but I had hardly ever seen her ride. She usually just rode in the buckboard. All three seemed surprised by how little my sister and I knew about our parents. They were full of stories for us.
It was kinda strange really. I had never thought of my mother and father meeting and falling in love. They had seemed old from the moment I was old enough to know them. If half of Uncle Cody's stories were true, they had certainly led an interesting life. Cody even told me some stories about Uncle Jimmy. I loved hearing heroic stories about him for a change. What he told me seemed a whole lot more like the man I knew than the one in the dime novels. I still wonder why my parents never told me about their express adventures, maybe I had been to busy growing up to ask. I swore that when they got back I would try.
It was really a strange few weeks for me. I spent more time playing than working. I loved to watch Uncle Jimmy and Uncle Cody fight. They were never really angry, but they just seemed to disagree about everything.
"You were supposed to clean out the stables."
"NO it was supposed to be your turn."
"Buck!" They cried out simultaneously.
"Leave me out if this, I cleaned them yesterday."
I found that Buck really was a peacekeeper. Despite his rather quick temper he seemed to know when it was appropriate to use it. He told me that the best warriors are the ones who know when not to fight.
The strangest thing of all didn't happen until my parents returned. They had stayed with my aunt until my mother had her own baby. It was a little boy. They named him James after my uncle. I had finally decided that I was proud to call them my uncles even if technically we weren't related.
Very soon after that my uncles had to leave, they had been away from their lives too long already. Besides I don't think any of them would have been happy staying in such a small place. My heart was broken when Jimmy told me he was leaving. It was like losing a father really, he told me he would come back and see us at Christmas but that wasn't enough. I cried myself to sleep the night before he left. I thought back to how much I had wanted them to leave and now how much I would have given to have them stay. It was almost funny how quickly someone can become an important part of your life.
The next morning everyone got up early to see them off. Cody left first. He had a train to catch. He was going to New York. Then Buck left, he had located his brother's tribe. Jimmy didn't leave 'til later that afternoon. I tried giving him every reason that I could think of to stay.
"I have to leave now, but I promise I will come back. I will always be looking out for you."
I ran into his arms and cried on his shoulder, and he picked me up and turned to my father.
"Kid. You better get a bigger shotgun, you are gonna need it with this one before long."
Suddenly I got a great idea and let go of Jimmy and ran back inside the house, I grabbed something off my bed and ran back outside just as Jimmy was about to mount his horse. "Wait!" I shouted.
"What is it now, is your shoe untied?"
"NO, I can tie my own shoes, I wanted to give you this," I held out Annabelle Mumblepuss.
Jimmy smiled, "I can't take this, you need her to take care of you."
"No, you need taking care of more than I do, this way you wont forget me."
"Oh I could never forget you, any of you," he finished, looking over my shoulder at my parents and my siblings.
"Here," I said as I put the doll in his hands. I wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"She's as stubborn as you Lou. Ok, for now she can ride up front." He got on his horse and put the doll in front of him on the saddle, and he rode out just like that. I watched him until he disappeared out of sight. Thinking back I can just imagine what anyone else would have thought of a gunman with a rag doll in his saddle bag. I know he kept it though.
A few months later we got a telegram from a friend of his. My mother told me what it said. It broke my heart, I didn't understand, who would shoot a man like that. My parents went to the town and picked up his things from the man at the hotel, and sure enough my doll was there, he had kept it. I was sure I would never get over his loss, but like my mother told me, I got to try to remember all the good times we had.
Not long after, Buck came back with a new wife, and a baby girl. They lived in Sweetwater with us. Buck bought half the ranch from my father. Soon I had 5 cousins to watch out for, not including my cousin in NY. Yes, Cody finally found a woman who loved him as much as he loves himself.
I eventually grew up of course, as all children do. I married a rancher from the next town over. My father told me Jimmy was right about the shotgun. It was the best compliment he had ever given me. My brother, Little James, as everyone called him, grew up to be more like Cody than his name sake, except he was perfectly content to stay and take care of the ranch. In fact it was his idea for me to write this story down. He said I had been telling him the story since he was old enough to understand. He said it was about time I found a bigger audience. Oh I forgot to mention, I received a letter from Jimmy two days before we found out he was gone.
Dear Hope McCloud,
I want you to know I am writing this with some help, but don't worry the words are all mine. I want to thank you for all you have given me. Not just little Annabelle here, but the chance to see what it would be like to have a daughter. You are a very special girl. You are just like your mother, and even if you may not see it always that IS a compliment. I am certain that you will grow into a fine young woman and will find a wonderful husband someday. Just make sure you warn him not to come in the kitchen while you are cooking. I want you to know I think of you and your family every day. Say hello to your father for me and give your mom a kiss for me when your dad's not looking. I miss you very much and look forward to seeing you all again very soon. Remember I will always be there when you need me even if you can't see me.
Always,
Uncle Jimmy
