Ch 3
"Sorry Mr. Teaspoon, the army has a check point set up about ten miles out there. They are searching all the wagons for some missing crate. It looked pretty serious. They had rifles pointed at all the wagons as they searched them. I think they're looking for somebody."
"Who knows with those people. The government is so secretive." Teaspoon adds as the rider gets down and walks to the water trough.
The day was almost over when Cody and Buck come walking back up to the station.
"Where y'all been boys? I was looking for y'all two."
"Is there something we could oblige you with, Teaspoon? Everything seems to be in order." Cody says looking around. "Our chores are done. The wood is chopped and the barn has been cleaned."
"Well no, but I need to know where y'all was is all." Teaspoon said.
"Here we are, Teaspoon." Buck says patting him on the back walking by.
The boys walk in the bunkhouse to find their beds had been separated by the guest rider. He was sitting on Buck's bunk when they walked in. Cody politely asked him to remove himself from Buck's bunk.
"You can sleep there. He won't need it anymore." Cody says.
The boy moves over not wanting to stir any ruckus. Lou watches as Buck and Cody slide his bunk back next to Cody's. She wonders what Cody meant by Jimmy not needing his bunk anymore. Cody and Buck sit down and stare off into space ignoring the small talk by the new rider . She decided to walk out the bunkhouse and make her way over to Rachel.
That night Cody and Buck did not eat much. They drank their water and asked to be dismissed. Lou laid still pretending to be asleep. Shortly after everyone become motionless, Cody and Buck walked out the front door. Lou snuck her way to the window to find both of them standing in the station yard looking up to the sky. Fearful for what she might see next, she climbed back into her bunk and laid still. The boys never came back inside . Teaspoon was waiting on Jimmy the next morning.
"He is two hours late." Rachel informed the already aware increasingly worried Teaspoon.
"I'm going to find him." Cody and Buck were no where to be found so he turned to Lou for her help. They saddle up and set out.
"Teaspoon, you think Jimmy's ok?" She asked.
"Yeah Lou. I'm sure he is." He replied.
They rode almost all the way to Willow Springs before they saw his horse standing off the trail.
They ride over to find Jimmy curled up on the ground. They jump down and roll him over. Lou screams in horror as Teaspoon jumps back.
"His face!" Lou yells as tears flow uncontrollably down her cheeks.
"Jimmy, can you hear me son?" Teaspoon gags from the wretched smell. Jimmy has defecated himself laying in the dirt. "Son, can you hear me?" Teaspoon called as tears start to well in his eyes.
Lou screams in sorrow and fright as Jimmy opens his mouth.
"We got to get him to a doctor. Lou can you go to Willow Springs? Bring help and a wagon."
Lou can barely see through her own eyes to ride a straight line to Willow Springs. Teaspoon tries to comfort Jimmy the best he can not knowing what to do. He's never seen someone in this kind of condition. All of Jimmy's hair was on the ground. His face was drawn in. His eyes had sunk back deep in his skull. Jimmy moved his arm in an unhuman like manner. Helpless, Teaspoon watched as black sludge oozed out of Jimmy's mouth. He managed to cough getting little speckles on Teaspoon's hand unaware to him. The speckles soak into Teaspoon's skin before he noticed. He leans in to speak to Jimmy as he takes his last breath on Earth. Before Lou could get back, Teaspoon was squalling like a baby at the sight of Jimmy's demise. Lou jumped down and ran over to Jimmy, who was already deceased and departed from this world.
She screamed at the sight of Teaspoon sobbing with sorrow over his son.
Teaspoon stood up and attempted to comfort Lou. He placed his hands on her face and told her that Jimmy was in a better place. He was not suffering anymore. They stood and squalled as the other men looked at the wretched sight and condition of Jimmy's deformed body. The men loaded Jimmy's stiff body in the wagon and left Lou and Teaspoon to grieve amongst one another.
They tied their horses to the wagon and headed back home. Pulling back into the station yard, they were met by Rachel, Kid, and Ike. The whole family broke down in sorrow. Rachel screamed and cursed but that wasn't going to bring Jimmy back. Cody and Buck walked over and stood next to the body of Jimmy. They showed no emotion staring at the deformed figure that was once a loved young man.