Ch 9
Cody was just saddling his horse when Ike rode back into the station. Cody watched as he rode up to the barn and walked inside. Cody went in behind him.
"Ike, you ok? Kid was just upset over Lou. He doesn't doubt ya one bit."
Ike looked at Cody and shook his head. He turned back to his task.
"Let me get your horse. The least I can do."
Ike nodded and walked outside. Cody watched as he stood and looked at all the buildings. He just stood there for a while.
"Ike?"
He didn't turn around so Cody tapped his shoulder to get his attention.
"You hear me? You sure you are good?"
Ike nodded and walked over to the bunkhouse. He stepped into the dimly lit house. He looked around but no one was in there. He stepped back on the porch. Cody was coming across now.
"Ya want to go check in on Jimmy and Lou? They were awake a little while ago. Might make ya feel better."
Ike pointed at Cody.
"Ya want me to go? I guess I can for a few."
Ike followed Cody over into Rachel's house. They went to look in on Jimmy. He was sleeping. They looked in on Lou next. Kid was asleep with his head laying beside her on the bed. She was sleeping also. Ike looked around at them before walking back outside.
"They should be right as rain next few weeks." Cody said patting Ike on the shoulder.
Cody walked back over to the bunkhouse while Ike walked aimlessly around the station yard.
Buck rode in hard the next morning. Teaspoon met him at the barn grabbing his reins.
"Buck."
"Spoke to the station master in Kearney. He said the army sent a letter over to the bank here. He helped me track someone down. Seems the army will be sending a big payroll through here for a layover at our bank. Seems he sent word that it would be coming earlier than expected. I let him know that our rider was robbed and left for dead. He is holding the shipment. He sent this to you." Buck said holding out a letter for Teaspoon.
"Nice work Buck."
Teaspoon opened the letter and read it twice. He folded it back up and put it in his shirt pocket.
"How's Jimmy?"
"He's hanging in there. Got a long way to go. Also while you were gone, another stage was robbed. Only this time, Lou was caught in the middle of it. She is at the house too."
"She alright?"
"Got a broke leg and badly bruised ribs. Kid's over with her now. She said she saw Ike. Says she saw him plain as day."
"It couldn't be. He would never do that, sides, he was here right."
"He was sitting with Hickok during the time of the holdup. Rachel can vouch for it."
"I just don't understand Teaspoon."
"Me either. Hopefully we will get to the bottom of this soon. I'll get your horse. Go wash up."
Buck handed his reins over and walked away. Teaspoon saw Ike looking around the barn.
"You ok Ike? Lose something?"
Ike shook his head and walked the other way. Teaspoon watched him walk off. Ike acted like he was hiding something lately. He would mention it to Buck. See if he could find out anything. He went on and got Buck's horse settled.
Teaspoon sat at the supper table that night wondering on his next move. He looked to the boys that he had left. Kid sat barely eating. Buck was watching Ike. Cody was the only one eating. Rachel fixed two plates and put them aside to take over for Jimmy and Lou. She sat to eat.
"Boys, Buck found out that Jimmy was carrying a letter from the army to the bank. Seems a big payload was coming this way."
"How would they know that he had something like that?" Asked Kid.
"Either they had a hunch or they just got lucky. But their luck ran out, Buck told them what happened and they are going to send it a different way. The other will be a decoy."
"I have a sinking feeling things are about to get complicated for us." Mumbled Cody.
"Yeah, this can't be good." Said Kid.
"Boys, they are going to send the wagon out as planned in a few days but the money won't be on it. They wrote me a letter since I'm the law here. I am to send two riders to pick it up."
"That don't make sense Teaspoon. If we take it to the bank, they could still rob it or us." Said Buck.
"Well it ain't going to the bank. We will hide it here for a few days then we will take it over to the next town. More army men will meet us there to take delivery. They will take it the rest of the way."
"And where will we put all this money?" Asked Cody.
"In the cellar."
"This don't sound too easy." Said Kid.
"As long as they still think it is coming by means of the army, then it should go quietly. But as always, we just never know. Kid and Buck, it will be you two. Cody and Ike will be here ready when y'all get here to hide it as quickly as possible."
"Something just doesn't feel right about all this." Said Buck.
"I know. Watch your backs. You leave in the morning. I'll have extra deputies in town so I'll be here also."
"Here we go." Mumbled Kid looking at Buck.