Ch 10

Teaspoon and the others helped the volunteers clean up after the dance. He escorted Rachel home and went back to town to check in on Jimmy. He made his way over to the jail. Barnett was laying on the floor.

"Barnett?!" Yelled Teaspoon as he knelt to shake him.

"Teaspoon?" Mumbled Barnett.

"What the hell happened and where is Jimmy?"

"I don't know." Barnett said rubbing his head.

Teaspoon looked around then he heard yelling. He ran out to look. The saloon was in a full blown brawl. He ran over shooting his gun in the air. Barnett coming behind. He hit the doors and started pushing men apart. An hour later, he had everyone under control and cleared out.

"Tom, what the hell went on here tonight?"

"That rider of yours. Hickok. He started snatching drinks from everyone and laughing. The men started fighting and before I knew it, they had all gone mad."

"I don't see him. Where is he now?"

"I lost him in the crowd. I don't know but I ain't never seen him carry on like that."

Tom shook his head and started trying to clean the mess. Teaspoon walked over to Barnett who was helping turn the tables back over.

"How could you lose him Barnett? You had one thing to do. I knew I should have done it myself."

"It ain't my fault! There was something wrong with him. He didn't act right. It ain't my fault." Stated Barnett.

"No, it's mine. I should have brought him here and got to the bottom of it but instead I tried to calm the people down at the dance. I thought he'd be alright."

"I'm sorry."

"It's ok Barnett. Just now, we got to find him."

Buck watched Cody pace around the bunkhouse when they got back. He hadn't even bothered to change. He had been seeing them go back and forth. Cody had something to do with tonight but getting him to admit it wouldn't be easy.

"You alright Cody?" Asked Buck.

"Fine."

"Y'all act like the dance was a bust. I miss something?" Asked Noah sitting up in his bunk.

The door opened. Kid and Lou walked in already changed. Kid looked at Noah.

"You could say that. The dance was almost over when Jimmy started acting strange."

"Strange?" Asked Noah staring at Cody who wouldn't look at him.

"Yeah, he knocked tables over and caused a big scene. Barnett had to drag him out." Said Lou.

"Why would he do that? That ain't like him." Asked Noah.

"He didn't act like himself." Said Buck staring at Cody.

"Why are all y'all staring at me?!"

"Cody, did you try to pull something tonight?" Asked Noah.

"No, what are you talking about?"

"Please. We all know about this thing y'all had going back and forth." Said Lou crossing her arms.

"Hell, I was even part of it at first. Time to come clean." Said Noah.

"Well I didn't do nothing. Not this time."

"You always take things too far Cody. What did you do?" Asked Kid.

"It wasn't me!"

"Then why are you actin like that?!" Yelled Lou as all the riders circled Cody.

Just then the door burst open, Teaspoon walked in.

"I know it's late but we got a problem."

They all turned to look at him with worry in their faces.

"Jimmy is missing."

"Missing?"

"Seems he pushed Barnett, I'd say by accident, but he hit his head on my desk. Jimmy just walked out."

"We'll go help you look." Said Kid. " He has to be in town."

"Wait. There's something else."

They all stopped to listen.

"There was a fight at the saloon. Tom says Jimmy started it. Also..."

"What, Teaspoon?" Asked Cody nervously.

"I got a dead saloon girl. She was strangled."

"Oh my God." Said Lou.

"She had Jimmy's shirt in her hand."