Ch 1
Ike sat on the steps of the bunkhouse watching Jimmy and Cody bicker over by the corral. It wasn't anything important just a usual day with them two. Ike watched as they argued one minute and laughed the next. He saw Buck talking with Noah while putting shoes on one of the express horses. He listened. He just wished that he could hear his own voice. Just once.
"Rider comin!" Yelled Rachel.
Ike jumped up and onto his horse. He turned and took the pouch. He heard his friends yell ride safe. He waved back at them. Ike made his run rather quickly. It was just a short run with an overnight stop at Johnson's station. He handed the pouch off and walked his horse toward the barn. A new rider that he didn't know was sitting beside the fence.
"How ya doin?" The new man asked.
Ike nodded and waved at him. The man looked at him oddly. Ike tied his horse in the barn and started to unsaddle him. The man walked inside.
"Name's Gabe."
Ike looked at him and nodded.
"Why the fuck you ain't talking to me? You better than me or something?"
Ike looked up at the man. He shook his head no. He looked down at his feet.
"Then say something."
Ike just shook his head. He didn't know how to make this man understand.
"You're one of them smart ass riders that think they ain't gotta talk to me. Like I'm dirt cause I'm new around here. I ain't having it no more." Gabe walked up to stand in Ike's face.
"Leave him be Gabe. He's a good boy just can't talk. You're such an ass. I bet a dollar you don't have this job long." Clark said as he stepped out from the back.
"What you mean, he can't make a sound?" Smiled Gabe.
"That's right and Ike's a good rider. Go on inside before you start something you can't finish."
Gabe shook his head laughing as he walked away. Clark walked over to Ike.
"Sorry Ike. He's new and a complete asshole. He ain't gonna last long."
Ike was embarrassed that people always had to take up for him. He never could defend his own self or tell his side of the story.
'I'm going. I'll sleep on the plain.' signed Ike.
"I don't understand. I'm sorry."
Ike shook his head as he walked his horse back outside.
"You ain't gotta leave Ike. He won't cause anymore problems."
Ike just looked down at Clark as he mounted up and raced back onto the plains for the night. Ike made camp and woke early the next morning. He rode back home and was there by lunchtime. He settled his horse and walked into the bunkhouse. He laid down for a few. He went back outside. He walked and stood with Buck while watching Kid try to break a new horse. He smiled and watched the show. He heard Cody egging Jimmy on inside the barn.
"Buck did! He taught me how to throw a knife. I can throw just as good as him." Said Cody.
"Please Cody. Just shut up. Ya can't do it and that's that. I don't believe a word that comes out of your mouth."
"Well then. Let's have a friendly competition."
"No."
"Scared Hickok?"
"Hell no. I just ain't gonna get into any more trouble with you."
"Chicken!"
"Shut up! I don't really care if ya can or can't throw a damn knife!"
"Well I can. And waaaaayyy better than you."
"Whatever."
"Hey guys. Hickok is scared to throw a knife!"
Buck and Kid laughed at the way Cody was rattling Jimmy. They could tell he was getting under his skin.
"Come on Jimmy, just admit that I'm better at something than you."
"I'll show you."
"Heck yeah! Buck get your knives!"
"This should be good." Said Kid.
"Very." Smiled Buck looking at Ike.
Cody went and got some of Ike's drawing paper. He drew a circle in the middle of it then proceeded to nail in on the wall of the bunkhouse.
"Now since I'm such a good sport, I'm going to let the amateur go first." Said Cody.
Buck and Kid laughed. Ike shook his head smiling. Buck held two knives in his hand.
"Go ahead, Jimmy. Pick your weapon." Smiled Cody.
"It don't matter. I'll hit it with either one." Smirked Jimmy.
Jimmy took a knife and Cody took the other. Buck stepped up and drew a line in the dirt.
"Remember, hold it by the tip and just let it slide out the fingers." Said Buck.
"I'm a good student Buck. I got this."
"Well then go ahead Cody. Show me how it's done." Said Jimmy.
"No you go first. I insist."
Jimmy shook his head and stepped up to the line. He tossed the knife. It flew forward to hit the bunkhouse wall and flip into the dirt. Jimmy grunted as he stepped back.
"Amateur. Now watch." Teased Cody.
Cody threw his knife forward. It flew through the air but didn't make it to the wall. It fell short sticking in the dirt. Jimmy doubled over laughing.
"At least I got the damn wall!"
"That was just a warm up. You'll see."
Buck ran and brought the knives back. He looked at Kid who was laughing. Jimmy threw his again. This time it stuck in the wall more than a foot away from his target. He stepped back. Cody tossed his knife falling a foot below the target.
"I think this is gonna take awhile." Whispered Kid to Ike.
Ike smiled. 'It's interesting though.'
Jimmy and Cody threw at least five more times. No one had hit their target yet.
"See Cody, ya ain't no better than me. I'm done with this."
"One last try. I'm going to hit it this time."
Jimmy groaned but stepped forward again. He went to throw his knife. He didn't have a good grip on the blade. The knife flew backwards sticking in the dirt at Buck's feet. Jimmy slowly turned around. The others looked stunned.
"Sorry Buck." Jimmy said trying not to smile.
"I think that's enough. Don't you?" Said Buck staring at the knife at his feet.
"I still got another try though." Said Cody.
He stepped forward and threw his knife. It went wide and straight through the bunkhouse window. Cody stopped and turned around with his eyes closed.
"Whoops."
"Get it Cody. Fast." Said Jimmy.
"I can't! Teaspoon's coming!"
They all looked at each other. Teaspoon was walking in from town. He saw them all standing in a huddle looking dumbfounded.
"What's going on here?"
"Nothing. Just talking." Said Cody.
Buck, Kid, and Ike looked at each other. Jimmy looked away from Teaspoon.
"Everything ok, Jimmy?"
"Fine." He said not looking at him.
"Cody?"
"What brings you here?" Asked Cody.
Teaspoon looked at him frowning.
"I live here."
"Well we best be gettin back to our chores. Right fellas?" Said Cody.
They all turned to leave.
"Wait!" Yelled Teaspoon.
"What's going on?" Teaspoon asked again.
"Just talking about breaking the new horse." Supplied Kid.
"I see."
They all quickly turned back to the barn. Teaspoon turned around to walk away. He saw the pieces of paper and nicks in the wall of the bunkhouse. He squinted his eyes. He saw the broken window.
"Stop!"
The boys froze.
"What in heaven's name were y'all doin? Why is that there paper nailed to the wall of the bunkhouse and why is the window broke?"
They all turned very slowly. He looked at their faces. Two of them looked guilty. He knew exactly which two.
"It was an accident." Said Kid.
"It was Teaspoon. We will fix it." Said Buck.
"Cody? Jimmy? Y'all have guilt written all over your faces. Care to explain."
"We was just havin a little competition. We didn't mean for it to get broke." Said Cody.
"We! You threw that knife! I didn't break it! Ain't no we in that one!" Exclaimed Jimmy.
"Threw a knife?" Asked Teaspoon.
"Mine." Said Buck looking down.
"Go on boys." Said Teaspoon.
"Like I said we will fix the window." Said Cody.
"Ain't no we, you broke it." Said Jimmy.
Teaspoon watched as the two went back and forth with each other.
"Enough!" Yelled Teaspoon.
"Let's see. Buck? Kid? Who broke the window?"
"Cody." They both said.
Teaspoon looked back to the two. Jimmy was smirking at Cody.
"Ike say something! Help me out here!" Said Cody.
"Cody." Grumbled Teaspoon.
"Come on Ike! Say something!"
"Cody you know damn good and well that I didn't do it. So shut up! Your pushing Ike and he can't even make a sound!" Yelled Jimmy.
Ike looked at him losing his smile.
"I'm sorry Ike. I didn't mean it that way."
Ike shook his head and walked into the barn with Buck running behind.
"Well now. Cody you will pay to fix the window." Teaspoon said as Cody groaned.
"Jimmy you will do Ike's chores for the entire week since you can't say anything nice."
"Teaspoon, I swear I didn't mean it like that. It just came out!"
"Don't matter. Get to work."
Jimmy and Cody walked off sulking into the bunkhouse to find the missing knife.