Ch 6
Jimmy rode back in the following morning. He threw the pouch to Kid and watched him ride off. He pulled his horse up to the barn. He walked inside and began to unsaddle his horse. Noah walked up next to him. He leaned back and crossed his arms.
"What's wrong? What did I miss?" Asked Jimmy looking at Noah.
"I went to wash yesterday and stepped on a damn snake in the wash house."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I fell out the door naked in front of everyone including Rachel and Lou. I ain't lived it down yet."
"Why were they back there to begin with?"
"I screamed."
Jimmy couldn't help himself. He started laughing.
"Go ahead Hickok. Wait til it's you."
"Why? Why would you say that?" Said Jimmy still laughing.
"Cause I think Cody knows."
"How would he know? He wouldn't."
"I'm just sayin."
"Snake was probably just looking for water."
"Sure. I'm just tellin ya to watch yourself."
Jimmy watched Noah walk off shaking his head.
Jimmy finished and walked into the bunkhouse. He tossed his coat on his bunk and slipped out to wash up. Cody was laying on his bunk reading. Ike and Lou were talking in the corner. They got up and walked out still talking. Cody looked around. He walked over and picked up Jimmy's coat. Buck walked in and saw Cody.
"What are you doing?"
"Just picking up Hickok's coat. It fell off his bunk on the floor." Cody said as he tossed it back on the bunk. He laid back down to finish his reading.
Buck watched him start with the book again. He got his things and left. Cody smiled after he walked outside.
The riders followed Rachel and Teaspoon into town for supplies. Cody rode behind Jimmy. He watched as he laughed with Lou and Buck. Noah rode beside Cody. They were just getting into town when Cody saw the spider make its way out of Jimmy's pocket. Noah had ridden up beside Buck just in time. It made its way up his back to his shirt collar. It was all Cody could do not to laugh.
Jimmy felt something tickle his neck. He reached back but felt nothing. They rode closer to town. The spider crawled around Jimmy's collar and onto his throat. By now he knew something was on him. He rubbed his throat and knocked the spider into his lap. He started yelling and slapping at himself. His horse spooked to the side hitting Buck's. Buck's horse side stepped nervously. Jimmy kept hitting at his lap as his horse started to panic. His horse reared up and ran. He threw Jimmy onto his back in the dirt. The horse ran down the trail through the middle of town. Buck got his horse under control and ran after it. Rachel and Teaspoon pulled the wagon to a stop and looked over their shoulders in confusion. Jimmy ripped his coat and shirt off. He threw them on the dirt and crawled away from them still swatting at himself.
"Well." Murmured Teaspoon.
"That's odd." Said Rachel.
"Jimmy. Son, what the hell is going on?"
"Spider! Big ass spider was on me!" He yelled.
Kid got off his horse and walked over. He untangled Jimmy's clothes on the ground. He saw it and stepped on it.
"I got it!" He said.
Jimmy just laid on his back in the dirt, shirtless and panting. Lou went over to him.
"You ok?"
"I hate spiders." He said as Teaspoon walked over.
Cody was slowly dying. It was better than he thought. Teaspoon knelt down beside Jimmy.
"Alright, it's gone. You can dress now. Seems you got a crowd."
Jimmy looked over and saw Buck leading his horse back. He saw people standing in the street looking. He closed his eyes. Jimmy sat up as Kid handed him his shirt. Jimmy looked at it trying to decide whether to put it back on.
"Jimmy, the big bad spider is dead. Put your shirt on." Teaspoon smiled as he walked back to the wagon.
The others started to laugh. Jimmy slipped his shirt back on and glared at Cody who was dying. The asshole knew. Revenge would be sweet.