Ch 16
The next day everyone is up and stirring. Jimmy and Buck go downstairs to have some warm eggs and grits. Logan comes down and has a seat.
"Well." Jimmy says. "What you think about that pussy boy?"
With out missing a beat Logan says, "Jimmy them girls blew my mind. I never knew what I was missing."
Buck laughs and leans back in his chair.
"Logan, it's the best stuff on the planet."
Jimmy looks at Buck snacking on his eggs.
"You got that right."
The girl6 soon walk downstairs and sit with the men.
"Morning." they said sitting on each side of Logan.
"Morning to y'all." the boys all said.
After they eat their eggs and grits, they all walk outside to sit to talk.
"So where y'all going to go ladies?",Jimmy asked.
"Kyra and I have decided to head south. We want to go to Florida and start a new life there." Kay said.
"Wow that sounds great." Buck says.
"What y'all going to do there?" Logan asked.
"Well, we want to open a seafood diner." Kay says looking at Kyra.
"Jimmy, Buck. We can't thank y'all both enough for saving us. We're leaving today on the 3-10 to Bryson City, North Carolina. It should only take a few days to reach Florida, that is if you still going to help us."
"We sure do intend on doing just that." Jimmy hands each girl a sealed envelope.
"This is what we said we would give each of you. We are men of our word." Jimmy says looking at Logan.
"If you can't take a man at his word, then that man is no good, do you understand Logan? Your word is more valuable than money to me. Buck and I both believe in this. We want you to do the same as long as your with us. Understand?"
"Yes I do Jimmy." Logan says shaking his head.
Kyra and Kay stand to hug Jimmy and Buck. They thank them again as they walk away with tears in their eyes.
"Well boy. It's us now. Let's go to the general store to round up the supplies we are going to need to make the trip back." Jimmy says. "Buck, we need two duffle bags we can wear on our shoulders. Maybe we can sell the last few rifles we have and lose that big ol box. We need a shovel too."
"What we need a shovel for?" Logan asked.
"You will see later." Buck says looking at Jimmy.
They spend most of the morning getting all their affairs in order.
"Logan, will you go grab the horses an bring them to the boarding house please?" Buck asked. Buck and Jimmy sit down to talk.
" Well Buck we did it." Jimmy said.
"Yeah we did. Now we just got to find the money and make our way to Montana. Jimmy I can't wait. I never dreamed I would ever live the life I wanted. Just think in a few short months, we can be riding on our own land."
Logan walked the horses over and tied them off. Logan, are you ready to leave the east coast behind?" Jimmy asked.
"You damn right I am. I never been past the mountains before. I want to see some big sky country he says." Jimmy and Buck laugh.
"Well you will brother, in just a few days." replied Buck.
They pack their horses, double checking everything. Jimmy looks at Buck.
"You ready? Brother, let's head home ."
The next few days go by fast. The weather was great for riding. They make their way to the chain of mountains where the cabin was located.
"Y'all going to tell me way we looking for this cabin?" Logan asked.
Jimmy looks back and smiles.
"Nope not yet."
"We're close, look. I see a mark on that tree."
Jimmy rides up.
"Hell yeah, we are close."
They ride about five more miles before they see the burnt down cabin.
"Damn." Logan says. "Someone burned down y'all's cabin."
Jimmy laughs.
"Logan get the shovel man."
Buck goes and finds the center of the cabin.
"Give me that shovel, Jimmy." Buck says.
"Logan, go get the duffle bags an bring them over here." Logan runs to the horses and runs back.
"What? What's down there Jimmy?" He asked.
Buck digs and digs until finally they hear a thump.
"That's it Jimmy." Buck says.
Logan watches as Buck cleans the dirt off the top of a cloth. Buck flips the cloth back and Logan sees gun belts and two boxes. Buck hands Jimmy the gun belts and he passes them to Logan. Buck digs some more and pulls the first box out. Then the second. Buck climbs out the hole and stands by Jimmy. They look down at the boxes with so much anticipation.
" What is in there?" Logan yells.
Jimmy and Buck kneel down to open both boxes. Logan falls to his knees.
"I never seen so much money." Logan said.
"There's almost forty thousand dollars in cash money in here Logan. We are going to Montana to start a huge cattle ranch. Give me the bags." Jimmy says.
Buck and Jimmy start filling the bags with cash.
"Logan, put the guns on your horse an let's get ready to head out." Jimmy says.
Seven days later, Jimmy, Buck and Logan find their way to Sweetwater, Nebraska. The boys ride to town making their way to the Pony Express station. They pull up to Rachel's house to find Teaspoon and Rachel walking out the door.
"Buck, Jimmy!" Rachel screams out loud.
She busted off the porch faster than lightning. The boys dismount with smiles. Rachel goes straight for her Indian man.
"Buck, it's so good to see you." she said as she kisses him on the lips.
Lou comes running out the house wide ass open. She dives on Jimmy's neck.
"Jimmy ! Jimmy! I'm so glad your back! Oh I've missed you so much!" Lou kisses Jimmy on the lips and hugs him.
Rachel walks over and kisses Jimmy on the face and hugs him. Teaspoon walks over and greets the men.
"How y'all been? Good I hope."
"Yes."Jimmy says. "Teaspoon, this is Logan. He is our friend."
"Nice to meet you son." Tespoon shakes his hand.
"It's an honor to meet you Mr. Teaspoon."
"Y'all come on in and sit down. Let's talk." Teaspoon says.
"Where's Cody?" Jimmy asked.
"He left. He said there were other things in life for him. Ike should be back in a few hours. Y'all get settled down and we'll get you on schedule."
"Ain't no need in that, Teaspoon. Me and Buck have come to the decision that we don't want to ride for the Express anymore." Jimmy says.
"Is that right?" Teaspoon says looking at Buck.
"Yes, that's right Teaspoon. Me and Jimmy got things we want to do in life."
"As a matter of fact, we came to get Rachel and Lou." Buck says.
Jimmy turns to Lou.
"I want to head west to Montana. Me an Buck got plans to get into cattle there."
"I'll go pack." She says as she jumps up from the table.
"Wait one minute now!" Teaspoon yells as he stands up waving his hands.
"Lou, you going to leave just like that?"
"I'm going to." Rachel announces. "Me an Ashley."
"What come on now! What are y'all doing?"
"Who is Ashley?" Jimmy asked.
Rachel stands up and walked to the kitchen. She returns with a dark haired girl with green eyes. Logan's mouth fell open.
"She is my sister's daughter from Texas."
"Teaspoon, things change. All good things come to an end." Rachel says.
"I'm staying." Teaspoon yells.
Jimmy stands up, "Well that's up to you but suit yourself. We leave soon as Ike gets back."
"I ain't going." Teaspoon yelled as he stormed out the door.
Rachel looks at Jimmy and Buck.
"What about Kid?"
"He is dead."Jimmy says pulling Lou in close to smell her hair.
"Lou, Rachel. We need to talk. Logan, can you keep Miss Ashley company for me?" Jimmy asked .
The four of them walk out to the bunkhouse.
"Jimmy before you say anything," Lou says, "me and Rachel have had lots of time to talk about this. We both want y'all to know what ever happened out there is behind y'all. Don't bring it here. We want to start over fresh like y'all never left."
"That's a relief ." Jimmy says. "I was a bad boy."
Lou cut her eyes at Jimmy. "Don't make me cut you boy."
They all laugh.
"Girls, there is something y'all need to know." Buck says.
"We came across two men one morning on the trail. We ended up killing both of them. They were pulling pack mules loaded with four boxes. Two of the boxes were full of cash, a total of forty thousand dollars." Jimmy and Buck opened the duffle bags they had hanging around their neck. Both the girls gasp for air. Rachel jumps up.
"I'm going to pack." She runs out the door.
Lou looks at Jimmy with tears in her eyes and a smile you couldn't slap off with a frying pan.
"Lou, I want to buy land an cattle. I want to live the rest of my life in the Rocky mountains with you darling."
"Oh Jimmy, I can't wait to see it."
A few hours later, Ike rides in and Buck catches him up on what the plan is.
"Ike says he is coming with us Jimmy."
"Sounds good. Tell him we leave in the morning."