Ch 5
Walt and his gang sat on their horses just a few miles outside of Rock Creek.
"Boys. Head on in. Get what I told you to. We will make camp out here. Don't have too much fun. For now." Smiled Walt.
"We'll be right back. I'll keep em in line." Said Clint.
Clint and two other men headed into Rock Creek. Walt and the remaining six went about making camp for the night. Walt looked at the remaining men.
"There's an Express station in town. I'm gonna go see what I can. I think we can benefit from knowing who the riders are."
"How so?" One of the men asked.
"I got a friend that will let me know if they are carrying anything important. Trust me, it will be good to know." Walt said as he mounted his horse to go watch the station.
It was Lou's day with Ike. Ike wanted some time by the pond to draw so Lou agreed to head that way with him for a few. She felt she needed some time to herself also. They started walking as Jimmy took the pouch and set off on his run. They waved to him as he thundered out the yard. Kid and Cody were heading into town with Rachel for supplies. Rachel walked over to catch them.
"Ike, you need anything from town? I'd be glad to pick it up for you. I know it's hard being stuck here all day."
'I don't think so.'
"Sure?"
Ike nodded.
"We'll be at the pond for a few." Said Lou.
"Be careful Louise. We'll be back shortly." Said Rachel as she climbed in the buckboard.
Ike and Lou continued on their way. Ike liked having Lou's company. She never asked him any questions nor tried to pry anything out of him. He felt like she understood him in some way. He tried to hide the fact that he couldn't talk and she tried to hide the fact that she was a girl. They finally made it to the pond. Ike sat and started sketching the scene. Lou laid back on the grass watching the clouds. Ike touched Lou's shoulder to get her attention.
'You ok?'
"Yeah I guess. Bout like always."
'You seem bothered by something.'
"That obvious." Laughed Lou.
Ike smiled and nodded.
"I got a lot on my mind. Stupid girl stuff."
'I ain't got nowhere to go.'
"I don't know where to even begin."
'I'm a good listener.' Ike shrugged.
Louise looked at Ike and laughed.
"I would guess so. Hmmm. Well where do I start? Kid drives me insane. He asked me to marry him and I said no. Now he loves me and hates me at the same time. Now he thinks I'm in love with everyone else in the world. I just want to rip his head off. What else? Oh yeah, I want to go to the dance next week in a dress but I can't. I just want to wear a beautiful dress and fix my hair. I want to smile and look pretty. Just a little. I want to be like a girl. I want pretty things. It's stupid. I know. I told ya. Stupid girl stuff."
'Kid can be an ass.'
Lou fell over and laughed.
"You have no idea."
'As for the girl stuff. Get you some. Why can't you dress up?'
"I just don't feel comfortable."
'I know. I want to be able to hear myself just once. I don't ever feel comfortable anywhere.'
"Oh Ike. I know I have it easy compared to you. I'm sorry for going on and on."
'No. Everyone needs someone to listen sometimes.'
"Thanks for hearing me out. I don't usually pry but have you been ok lately?"
Ike shook his head.
"You need someone to listen to you sometimes too ya know."
Ike smiled and looked at the water. He turned toward Lou.
'All this mess made me think of someone. I had a brother. He died long ago. It brought back his memories.'
"I never knew Ike. I'm so sorry."
'It was a long time ago.'
"Still. I'm sorry to hear."
'It's ok.'
Lou leaned back in the tall grass as Ike went to finish his picture.
Cody and Kid walked over to the saloon while they waited for Rachel to finish at the dressmaker's shop. They were laughing when three men walked through the saloon doors. Kid saw them in the mirror above the bar. Cody didn't seem to notice as he was laughing with the man next to him. Kid watched them as they made their way over to the bar. He had never seen them before. They didn't look none too friendly at that.
"Whiskey." One of them said.
Kid drank his sasparilla as he watched them. He nudged Cody to get his attention.
"What Kid?"
"See those men. Ain't never seen them here before."
"Me neither."
They drank their drinks and listened.
"We'll be taking five bottles with us." Said the man.
"Five?" Asked Steve the bartender.
"Problem with that?" The man said as he slid money across the counter.
"No sir. I'll get them for you."
The men grabbed their bottles and walked back out after finishing their own drinks.
"Must be planning on a good drunk tonight." Said Cody.
"That or there are more of them out there."
"Makes sense."
"Let's tell Teaspoon just so he is aware." Said Kid.
They paid for their drinks and went down to his office. Once they told him, Teaspoon walked out to get a good look at them as they rode out of town.
"Well boys. Let's watch them. They might just be passing through. Keep your eyes open."
Jimmy made his way back to Rock Creek the following day. He rode along at a steady pace. He slowed his mount as he made his way through the canyons where the trail narrowed. He rode along whistling. He stopped. He thought he heard a horse nicker off to the side. He listened. He didn't hear anything else so he urged his horse on in silence. He heard it again. Then he heard more. He turned his horse off the trail and dipped down a narrow shortcut next to the canyon's edge. He heard a voice call out behind him.
"It would ever be so pleasant if you stopped right there." The man said as he cocked his gun.
Jimmy contemplated the odds of running. He pulled his horse to a stop. The men were behind him so no one was in front.
"Now. Toss them guns and put your hands up. What are you carrying there?"
"Mail." Said Jimmy not moving.
"Hard to believe that's it."
"Well it is." Jimmy said slightly looking over his shoulder to get a glimpse of the man talking.
"You must of not heard me. I asked you nicely to throw those guns down."
Jimmy kicked his horse into a dead run while leaning low on the horse's back. Shots rang out but missed him a mile wide. He focused on the narrow path since he had left the trail behind. He slowed his horse as he came dangerously close to the edge of the canyon. The men behind were moving slow being unfamiliar with the landscape. Jimmy pulled his horse and slid down to another smaller trail trying to lose his pursuers. He looked up as rocks and pebbles were falling down onto him. He looked around and saw no one. He kept pushing forward. He felt it before he heard it. He fell forward on his horse's neck causing the horse to become unsettled with its unbalanced rider. The horse reared next to the ledge throwing Jimmy from his back. He fell and rolled down the canyon wall hitting rocks along the way. He came to a stop on the canyon floor. Walt made his way slowly down to Jimmy's horse. He pulled the pouch off the saddle. He thumbed through the mail while ripping open letters.
"Here we go boys!" He whooped while holding the piece of paper.
"What did ya find?" Asked Clint.
"A bank schedule. There will be a shipment coming in three days. This here says it will be coming early."
"We gonna hit them."
"You know it. The bank here will still be expecting it in a week. They will never know until it doesn't show up and we will be long gone by then."
"Let me go check that one. Make sure he's dead."
Walt and Clint peered over the steep incline looking down at the body laying below.
"Ain't worth it. He ain't moving. Sides he'll be dead before anyone finds him."
Walt and the others turned making their way carefully back up the canyon leaving Jimmy laying in a heap at the bottom.