Ch 13
Teaspoon opened his eyes. He was still in his bed. The sun was shining down through the only window. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. He had one hell of a headache. He jumped to his feet. The money and his family. He ran outside to see Buck trying to sit up beside the bunkhouse. He ran over and helped him to his feet.
"Teaspoon? What the hell?"
Teaspoon picked up a white cloth from the ground. He faintly sniffed it.
"Ether. They got me too. Where's everyone else?"
Teaspoon steadied Buck as he regained his senses. They heard a scream come from the house. They both ran as fast as they could. They burst through the front door. Teaspoon saw Cody moaning on the floor by the window. Kid was laid slumped over against the far wall. Teaspoon ran over to him as Buck went to Cody.
"Cody?"
"Help them." Murmured Cody.
"Kid's been shot! I ain't sure how bad!" Yelled Teaspoon.
Buck heard Rachel scream for help again. Buck rushed into the room. Lou was laying on her stomach on the floor crying. Rachel was bent over Jimmy who was a bloody mess. Buck ran to Louise. He slowly helped her turn over. He then got her under her shoulders and pulled her as easy as he could up on the bed. She cried out from the movement. He sat her there and made sure she was ok. She had blood running down the side of her face.
"I'm ok Buck. See to the others. I'm ok now."
Buck went and pulled Rachel off Jimmy. He took in her swollen eye and busted nose. She was crying.
"Rachel, it's ok now." He said as he hugged her.
"It's not, it's not Buck. They killed him."
Buck released Rachel and sat her on the bed with Lou. Buck went to Jimmy just as Teaspoon was coming through the door. He came up beside Buck. Jimmy's torso and chest were covered in blood. Buck felt his chest. His heart was beating. Buck looked to Teaspoon.
"He's alive."
"Kid is barely hanging in there. I'm going for help."
Teaspoon ran out the door and into town. Buck turned to a crying Lou and Rachel.
"It's going to be ok. Where's Ike?"
Lou looked at Buck and started crying harder.
"He did this." She sobbed.
Buck didn't know what to say. Teaspoon came back in with the doctor. He helped him as much as he could. Rachel and Buck as well. The doctor took the two worst ones and left the others for last. Teaspoon and Rachel cleaned Cody's head wound while the doctor was finishing up. The doctor came out and took over helping Cody.
"Teaspoon something bad happened here, didn't it."
"I was hiding something for the army. Somehow it was found out. I just don't know how."
"Kid is in a bad way. The bullet appears to have nicked his lung. There ain't nothing I can do for it. He may make it or he might not. He is having a hard time of it. I'd say if he makes it through the next two days, then he stands a chance."
"My Lord."
"Jimmy. Where do I start. He took a shot to his shoulder. It was close and went straight through. They reopened the shot to his side. I couldn't stitch it back due to the tearing of the skin. I'll just have to treat it openly. The cut to his stomach was deep but at least it was a clean slice. I stitched it. Good news, he should be fine just a long time to recover."
"Cody?"
"I got Cody's head clean and stitched. He more than likely has a concussion. He may have some bouts of dizziness and nausea but he should be fine in a few days. Lou's leg still looks good despite being thrown around. She should be fine just in pain for a few. They broke Rachel's nose. She should heal just fine in time."
"Thanks Doc."
"Y'all always keep me on my toes that's for sure."
The doctor gathered his things and left. Rachel walked around looking at all the damage to her house. Cody and Buck sat beside each other in chairs. Kid was laying on the couch. Teaspoon walked to stand in the center of the room.
"I have to ask. I need everyone's side of what happened."
"I didn't see anyone except Ike. He was tied next to the corral." Said Buck.
"Ike came running over to the house. We let him in. His hands were tied so Kid cut him loose, gave him a gun. Kid went to check the back of the house. Someone hit me from behind. I didn't see who it was or what happened to Ike." Said Cody.
"Damn."
"They kicked open the door to the bedroom. I remember screaming. These three men ran in. Jimmy and Lou fired. They killed two. Another grabbed us. I remember Jimmy screaming for them to leave us alone. They kicked Louise. They had shot Jimmy sometime during it all. They walked over and hit him. Then...oh my God." Rachel started crying.
"Rachel? Can you go on?"
"Ike walked over to Jimmy. He pulled a knife and ran it down his stomach. He ripped off the wrappings and got the key." She put her hand over her mouth crying.
"It's true." Lou called from the other room.
Teaspoon walked to the doorway.
"She's right. Only thing is, Ike spoke." Lou said.
"He spoke?"
"He did as he left. They took their dead with them. There were three."
"Ike. Our Ike?"
"None other."
"He couldn't be linked to these other robberies, Lou. He was here with us." Argued Buck.
"Buck, I saw him." Said Lou.
"I did too." Said Rachel.
Teaspoon looked at all his injured family.
"It was him."
Teaspoon spun around to see Jimmy slightly awake. He walked closer to him.
"Jimmy?"
Jimmy swallowed and slowed his breathing.
"It was him. He said this is the way it was going to be." Jimmy said shakily.
"Take it easy son."
"He was nose to nose with me. It was Ike."
Teaspoon sighed looking at Jimmy as he closed his eyes. He walked back in the other room.
"Who's up to ride?"
"I am." Said Buck.
"I will." Said Cody.
"It will be three against six."
"Not too bad odds." Said Cody.
"We leave in the morning."