Ch 11
Kid and Buck arrived in Kearney in record time. They checked in and watched as the wagon was loaded with the fake payload. They ate and turned in early. Early the next morning, Buck and Kid watched as the wagon left the fort with four soldiers riding next to it. The Lieutenant came and let them know it would soon be time. Kid and Buck readied their horses. They threw the pouches over their saddles and slung the satchels over their shoulders before mounting.
"Boys, the army is depending on you to get this through. May God be with you both." Said the Lieutenant.
Buck and Kid nodded. They kicked their horses out the back of the fort going the long way around.
Cody sat on Rachel's porch with his rifle propped up behind him. Rachel came out and brought him a sandwich with some lemonade.
"Teaspoon should be here shortly. It's getting close to time." Said Rachel looking out in the distance.
"He just had to get his deputies in line. Won't be long now."
"Where's Ike?"
"He was in the barn, why?"
"He ain't been saying much lately. He seems more troubled."
"Figured like Teaspoon said, I'd give him his space until the shipment gets here. We'll need him then."
"There's Teaspoon now."
Teaspoon walked in from town and stood on Rachel's porch looking out.
"I have to admit, I'm getting antsy. Getting about time to see em coming in." Said Teaspoon.
"Me too." Said Cody.
"The wagon make it?"
"Never did. They got ambushed a few miles out of town. No survivors."
"So they know they didn't have the money." Said Cody.
"I figured Buck and Kid will wait til bout dark afore they come in. I don't rightly know from which direction they will come. Just be ready."
"I am."
Rachel looked out at the horizon again before walking back inside. Ike made his way out from the barn.
"What he doing out there?" Asked Teaspoon.
"I don't know. He's been acting jumpy. I figured like you said, I'd give him time to get himself ready before I need his help."
"He been in there all day?"
"In and out."
"He just doesn't know what to think about all this." Teaspoon scanned the horizon.
"Here they come, coming in from the north." Said Cody.
"Showtime."
Kid and Buck slid up to the door of the cellar. Ike ran over as Cody started throwing the satchels inside. Teaspoon was down at the bottom hiding the money behind barrels. Ike and Cody made quick work. Teaspoon came back up. He closed the doors quietly and locked it with two locks. Kid and Buck had walked their horses over to the barn. They met Teaspoon on the porch.
"Well supper is on, boys. Let's go eat." He said.
They all walked in and acted like it was a normal day at the station. The night was quiet. The following day was as well. The boys did their chores as if nothing was wrong. Cody sat on the porch with his arm in sling keeping watch. His arm had long been healed, but Teaspoon used it as an excuse to be able to sit around and watch. Ike walked over and nodded at Cody as he walked inside. He went over to where Lou and Jimmy were. Jimmy looked up as he entered. Lou was sleeping quietly. Jimmy went to push himself up a little but groaned as he struggled. Ike ran over and pulled him up.
"Thanks Ike."
Ike signed something.
"I'm sorry, I didn't understand."
Ike shrugged. He turned and walked out. Jimmy watched him go frowning. What did he do now and what was that kind of sign?
The next morning as Buck walked around the station, he saw a black bird fly overhead. He watched it circle before flying off. He jumped as he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You good Buck? You seem distracted." Said Teaspoon.
"Ain't sure. I had this feeling come over me that I can't explain then I saw the black bird."
"Ya think something is gonna happen?"
"My people say that birds that are black are a sign of things to come."
"We just have to get through tonight. We take it away in the morning. I'll tell the others to be extra careful."
Ike sat at the barn and watched Teaspoon talking with Buck. He saw Kid come out of Rachel's house. Cody still sat on the porch. He took one last look and went back to his thoughts.
After supper, Teaspoon went back to his room in the barn. Kid and Buck went to the bunkhouse. Buck sat at the table unable to sleep. Ike sat on the porch taking first watch. Cody left Rachel's porch and went in to lay on her couch.
An hour after midnight, Teaspoon thought he heard steps in the barn. He sat up in his bed. He reached for his gun as a cloth pressed firmly over his face. An arm wrapped around his neck choking him. Teaspoon struggled to pull the cloth off his face. The man carefully laid him back onto his bed.
Kid was sleeping on his bunk while Buck still sat at the table. He heard steps on the porch. He walked to the door and eased his way outside with his gun ready.
"Ike?" He whispered.
He looked around and no one was on the porch. He eased down the steps onto the ground. Suddenly someone grabbed him from behind. He fought as a rag was held over his mouth. He dropped his gun to the ground trying to fight the person on his back. He thought he saw Ike tied up next to the corral, his eyes wide with fear. Buck felt himself slipping. The man behind him lowered him to the ground silently.
The man slowly opened the door to the bunkhouse. He looked around. Kid was not on his bed. He silently closed the door. Kid hit him in the back of his head and he fell to the floor. Kid heard more voices outside. He opened the window and jumped down. He ran full out for Rachel's.