Ch 19

The doctor came out and motioned for Teaspoon to come inside. He eased in the door. Jimmy was laid up in the bed.

"How's he doing?"

"He should be ok. The blade missed the ribs and came close to the lung. He lost a lot of blood while waiting for you to get up there to him but he's young. He'll recover."

"Thanks Doc. How bout keep this tween us for now. I got a selective few that I want to know."

"Sure Teaspoon. Something wrong?"

"No nothing's wrong. Just got a point I need to make."

"I see. Any visitors?"

"Not right now."

"Ok Teaspoon, I'll talk to you later."

Teaspoon walked outside and sighed. The others stood up. Cody walked up to face him.

"Teaspoon?"

"It ain't good. Doc says he ain't sure. Might know something in a coupla days."

Cody looked down and walked off. Jesse followed a little ways behind. Teaspoon looked at the others.

"Y'all sit for a minute. Won't take long." He said as he watched Cody and Jesse walk away.

"Jimmy's gonna be fine. Don't say a word."

The others nodded as they began to walk back home. Teaspoon went to the jail to keep watch on the prisoner.

Teaspoon had sent word to Benton that he had the man responsible for the murders. He got word back to extradite him to their jail for the circuit judge. The sheriff and two deputies came to pick him up. Teaspoon handed him over and walked over to Jimmy before going home. He walked up and inside. Jimmy was sitting in a chair looking out.

"Ready to go huh?"

"Yeah but Doc says I can't leave for another day. Ain't sure why."

"Best listen to him. Jimmy about what happened. Part of this is your fault for egging Cody on."

"I know it's my fault. The whole thing is my fault. I ain't denying that. I learned my lesson. I'll never do anything like that again. Next time, I'll just beat the shit out of him."

"Now that sounds like a plan. I best be heading in."

"Ok."

"I'll come get ya tomorrow."

Jimmy nodded and went back to looking outside.

Teaspoon walked over to the bunkhouse for supper. He took his seat at the head of the table.

"Teaspoon?"

"Yeah Lou?"

"You ever find out the whole story about what happened. I mean, how did that girl have Jimmy's shirt?"

"Well from what I understand, she had pulled him upstairs when that man met them in the hallway. He pushed the girl inside the room. She tried to get Jimmy to help her but he couldn't in his present state. She grabbed a hold of his shirt. The man threw her inside. Jimmy tried to get out of her hold and turned around. She pulled the shirt off. Then the man killed her."

"What about the others?" Asked Noah.

"Truth be told, I ain't sure everywhere Jimmy made his presence known that night but he caused a lot of complaints. I do know that he ended up thrown out the saloon. He saw the same man with the Matthews girl. Larry said the girl screamed and Jimmy tried to help. They all got pushed inside the livery. The girl must have grabbed his arms as he tried to pull her away. She scratched him. The man in the aisle probably heard the noise and ran in. At some point Jimmy passed out which more than likely saved his life. And the rest is old news."

"Why was he actin that way to start with?" Asked Buck.

"Go ahead Cody. Let them know." Teaspoon said staring.

"Well I kind of put something in his food and drink. I didn't know this would happen. I just wanted him to make an ass out of himself. That's all."

Teaspoon put his fork down and looked in all their faces.

"Speaking of that, I got a notice today."

"A notice of what?" Asked Kid.

"Of Hickok's immediate dismissal from the company."

"You can't be serious?" Asked Cody in shock.

"As a matter of fact, I am dead serious. He is to be fired immediately."

Cody jumped up.

"Why? They can't fire him."

"Yeah, son, they can. Seems to say that he brings unwanted attention to the company and sides that, his injury is gonna take a while to heal. They want me to hire an immediate replacement."

"Teaspoon, you can't!"

"What am I gonna tell them son?"

"I ain't quite sure. Excuse me." Cody left the table without finishing his food.

"You gonna let them do this?" Asked Jesse.

"Got no choice. It's out of my hands."

Jesse stood and left as well. Teaspoon looked at the others.

"How long you gonna let them sit?" Asked Noah.

"Ain't sure."

Cody woke before everyone the next morning. He saddled his horse and left before dawn.

Teaspoon picked Jimmy up the next day and brought him home. He carefully made his way into the bunkhouse. Jesse ran over and held the door for him. Jimmy glared as he walked by. Teaspoon had told him what had happened. Jimmy had been mad as hell at first that they almost got him killed over something so stupid but he finally agreed with Teaspoon's plan. Jesse ran over and pulled the chair out for him. Teaspoon walked in behind.

"Y'all seen Cody?"

"I haven't since last night." Said Jesse.

"Wonder where he went?"

"Maybe he just needed to think."

"Maybe. Jimmy, I know your still laid up and all but you need to get your things together. You can stay tonight. I'll help you to the hotel in the morning."

Jimmy nodded and looked around.

"Didn't realize that I would miss this place so much."

Jesse looked at his feet. Jimmy went to pull his boots off. Jesse ran over to help.

"I got this, Jesse. I'll be on my own after today anyway."

"I will go with you. I'll do whatever you need."

"You have responsibilities here. I'll figure something out."

Jesse looked like he was about to cry. He excused himself and left. Supper that night, everyone gathered at the table. Jesse helped Jimmy to sit. They began talking a little when Cody stumbled in. He looked like he was about to die.

"Where ya been son?"

"I want you to know that I rode all the way to St. Joe to beg for Hickok's job only to make an ass of myself. They didn't know anything about it."

"All the way there, huh." Said Teaspoon.

"Yeah, I busted in and begged for them to give Jimmy another go. They said he wasn't even fired. He was a good rider. They looked at me like I was stupid."

Jimmy looked around at Cody and then Jesse.

"Jimmy ain't been fired and there weren't no notice." Muttered Teaspoon.

"Why would you do that Teaspoon?! I ain't slept in days! That ain't right to mess with people like that!"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah that's just wrong! Oh, wait. I see what you're doing."

"You mean it ain't true?" Asked Jesse.

"Not a word."

"I cried Teaspoon." Mumbled Jesse looking at his food.

"Well now. The lesson here is you can't go meddling with people's lives. A simple laugh here or there is good for the soul but nothing like this ever again. Life is precious and you don't want to take that away from anybody. Got me."

"I'm sorry I let it get out of hand." Said Cody.

"Well now you see how your actions can cause reactions in people's lives. Think before you do. There is usually some sort of consequence."

"Well if I had to realize the consequences of what I done by riding nonstop to make an ass out of myself begging for my friend, then how did Jimmy get away with no lesson. Answer me that?"

"I think he learned his lesson when he was almost hung at the saloon. Don't ya think?"

"Makes sense." Said Cody looking down.

"I love you boys and girl. Don't let anything like this happen again. I ought to fire the both of ya. Now let's eat."

Jimmy stared at Cody across the table. Cody looked back at Hickok. They smiled.

The End.