Ch 12
Buck looked around the livery for a few before setting off to see if they could follow the tracks. The tracks were all over the place. Buck looked to Noah.
"Whoever was on this horse, sure can't ride straight. This is crazy."
They rode on for a few more hours until they came to the valley.
"Look." said Noah pointing. A horse was grazing right over the hill.
Buck and Noah pulled their guns. They eased around. They didn't see anyone. They got closer. Noah looked to Buck in shock as they put their guns away. Jimmy was laying on his side in the grass. They walked up to him. He was snoring.
"What the hell?" Whispered Noah as they stood over him.
Jimmy had no shirt on. He had blood smeared on his arms and chest.
"Look at his hands." Said Buck.
Noah leaned down and nudged Jimmy but he didn't wake up. Noah lifted his hand and turned it over. He had really deep cuts on his palms that were still trying to bleed. Buck got on the other side of him. He had scratches down his arms that looked to be from fingernails.
"What are we gonna do now?" Asked Buck.
"I just don't think he would have done this."
"It looks bad Noah. His hands are cut, he has scratches down his arms, and he is on the missing horse."
"We should talk to Teaspoon. See what he wants us to do."
"I'll go. You stay with Jimmy. I'll ride back out when I'm done. I'll bring some clothes."
Noah nodded and watched Buck ride off. He sat waiting on Jimmy to wake.
Buck rode into town to find a crowd gathered around Teaspoon's office. He sat on his horse in the back listening to Teaspoon talk.
"They all saw that Hickok boy with that girl in the saloon last night!"
"Calm down. I'm working on finding out what happened!"
"He killed Matilda in a drunken rage! That's what happened!"
"We all know Jimmy and we know he doesn't drink! I just need y'all to go home and give me some time!"
"Where is he then? He's running! That's what he is doing!"
The crowd started pushing forward. Teaspoon fired his gun in the air.
"Go home or I'll lock all y'all up!" He screamed.
The crowd slowly walked away fussing. Teaspoon finally saw Buck. He saw the look on his face. They walked inside and locked the door.
"Where's Noah?"
"With Jimmy."
"You found him? He ok?" Asked Kid.
"We found him in the valley. It don't look good."
"Let me guess, he was on the horse."
"Yeah and that's not the worst. His palms are all cut up and he has blood on him. He also has scratches on his arms from fingernails."
"Lordy Lord. What did he have to say?"
"Nothing. He was snoring."
"Asleep?!" Asked Kid.
"Yeah. He didn't even know we were there. What should we do Teaspoon?"
"If I bring him in town, they are gonna want to string him up. In their minds, they have already decided his fate. Ride back out. Keep him out there somewhere safe til I can piece this together."
"I have to take him some clothes anyway."
Teaspoon nodded as Buck hurried out. Lou came riding up. She walked into the jail.
"They found Jimmy." Said Kid quietly.
"And?"
"It all points to him." Said Kid.
"He wouldn't do this! We know him!"
"Well we ain't got nothing else to go on right now."
"You need to talk to Jesse." Said Lou to Teaspoon.
"Jesse?"
"Yeah. He knows something. I think Cody was trying to get back at Jimmy and it went horribly wrong."
"You got to be kidding me."
"She isn't. I knew about this thing going on. I should have put a stop to it before it got out of hand." Said Kid.
"Where's Jesse?"
"The barn. He wouldn't talk to me." Said Lou.
"Kid, watch things here. I'll be right back as quick as I can."
Teaspoon mounted his horse and headed home.