Ch 12
Cody jumped awake when Kid came crashing through the front door.
"What the hell?!" Yelled Cody.
"They're here. They got Buck. I can only guess Ike and Teaspoon too."
Rachel came racing down the stairs while tying her robe around her after hearing Cody yell.
"Boys?"
"Get in the room with Lou and Jimmy. Lock the door." Said Cody.
Rachel fled into the room, her face full of worry.
Kid and Cody took up positions in the front parlor. No one made a move. The darkness was too quiet. There was no further movement.
"Where are they?" Whispered Cody.
"I ain't sure. I don't know how many either." Replied Kid.
Cody saw someone running up to the porch. He aimed but realized it was Ike.
"It's Ike!" Yelled Cody.
Kid opened the door and let him in. He fell against the wall out of breath. Kid cut his hands loose and handed him a gun.
"Ike, did you see Teaspoon?" Asked Kid.
Ike shook his head.
"I'm going to check the back of the house." Said Kid moving into the back.
Ike looked at Cody. He was watching the darkness. Cody felt someone stand behind him. He went to look over his shoulder when his world went dark. Cody fell to the floor with a thud. Kid heard the noise and came running back to the front. He saw Ike standing over Cody.
"Ike?!"
Ike turned and fired his gun. Kid fell back against the wall clutching his chest. He slowly buckled and fell. Ike walked and opened the front door. Eight more men spilled into the house. Ike pointed to the door to the room that the others were in.
Rachel and Lou looked over nervously at Jimmy propped up in the bed. He had his hand on his pistol. They heard someone kick the door. Rachel tried not to scream. The door burst open. Three men ran into the room. Jimmy and Lou fired killing two. More men ran in. Jimmy yelled as one man grabbed Rachel and another grabbed Louise. They put the women in front of them for cover. The man holding Louise was struggling to hold her up with her broken leg. Lou fought him. She lost her balance and fell, pulling him down with her. Jimmy aimed and fired. Hitting the man in his neck. Lou tried to crawl away as Rachel was screaming. Jimmy turned toward Rachel as a shot rang out from the doorway. The shot hit Jimmy in his shoulder pushing him back against the wall. Three men ran over and held him down. He reached for his other gun as a man kicked Louise on the side of her head. She fell unconscious.
"No! Stop! Don't hurt them!" Yelled Jimmy as he watched the other man slap Rachel.
The man punched Jimmy in his injured side drawing fresh blood. Jimmy gasped and tried to fight. Rachel clawed at the man holding her. The men pushed Jimmy back down on the bed and held him down. His eyes got wide as he saw Ike walk over with a knife.
"Ike! Stop! What's wrong with you?!"
"Shut up!" Yelled the men.
Ike smiled as he bent over Jimmy. He took the knife and made a long slow slice down Jimmy's side. Jimmy grunted in pain as Ike ripped the bandages off. Ike pulled the key out the bloody mess and handed it to the man behind him. Jimmy stared in Ike's face breathing heavy. Rachel screamed for them to let him go. Jimmy saw the man grab her around her neck and throw her against the wall. He hit her in the face and choked her until she passed out. He stepped over her as he made his way out. Jimmy looked at Ike who was watching him smiling.
"Ike, why?" Jimmy rasped.
"Sorry ole buddy. This is the way it has to be." Ike said as he watched Jimmy slip into darkness.
Lou was laying still with her eyes closed listening. Ike stepped over and motioned the men outside. The remaining six men went out to the cellar. They loaded up their horses and rushed out the station yard into the darkness of the early morning.