Ch 17
Early the next morning, Jimmy, Buck, Logan, Ike, Rachel, Ashley and Lou are packed and ready to start their trip to Montana.
"I think we should ride north until we get to South Dakota. We can cross into Montana and go from there." Jimmy tells Buck.
They set out with two covered wagons and three horses tied to each wagon. Jimmy, Buck, Logan, and Ike ride their horses. Rachel and Ashley were on the second wagon. Lou drove the lead wagon. They left Sweetwater before eight o'clock. Teaspoon never came back.
"So Jimmy, where we going to call home?" Buck asked.
"Buck, I was thinking about a place called Garfield, Montana. There's lots of water and good land for grazing. That should be a good place to start looking. If we buy five thousand acres an maybe five or six hundred cattle, we should triple our herd in three years. From there the sky is the limit."
"Wow." Logan chimes in. "That sure sounds nice."
"Logan, we are going to need a good cattle boss, you know. He will have to make sure all the rest of the men are doing their jobs and doing them right. I'm thinking that's going to be you." Jimmy says.
Logan looks at Jimmy and Buck
"You shitting me ,Jimmy, really?"
"Hell yes."
"I can handle that. You wait and see!" Logan yells.
"I say we ride up to Deadwood, South Dakota." Buck says while looking at the map. "We can work our way north from there an cross right into Barkes, Montana. We can ride into town and see what's for sale. Jimmy, it's all going to work out man."
Buck and Jimmy daydream for hours as they ride about land and cattle. Having money and making an honest living. Jimmy looks back to find Logan and sure enough he is about five foot from Rachel's wagon.
"Look at him Buck. The boy is love drunk."
Buck looks over his shoulder to find Logan and Ashley smiling at each other.
"Yep. iit's love Jimmy. Must be that addiction you was talkin about." Buck says laughing.
"It won't long before dark sets in. Let's make camp. I'll let everyone know." Jimmy says.
Jimmy drops back and lets the girls know to stop and make camp for the night. Lou brings her wagon to a slow stop. She locks the wheel brake and steps down from the buckboard.
"Come here to me boy!" She reaches up an drags Jimmy off his horse. She laid a big wet kiss right on his lips. "Oh that's good." She says and takes another one.
"Well I don't mind it myself." Jimmy says laughing.
"Logan!" Buck called. "Help me gather up some firewood."
Ike helped Lou and Rachel get the cooking pans out and set up. It wasn't long before the smell of chicken and red beans filled the air. Jimmy and Buck stepped away to look at the camp.
"Look at them, Jimmy. I think we are going to be just fine in Montana."
"I think so too." Jimmy tells Buck as he puts his arm over his shoulder. "Let's go eat brother.
That night after they eat, Lou and Jimmy lay in the back of the wagon.
"Jimmy, I missed you when you were gone. I could not stop thinking about you."
Jimmy smiles at Lou.
"It's not funny, Jimmy. I could not sleep at night thinking about your face and your hands. Uou got sexy hands. I wanted to lay by your side an feel your heart beating." She leans in and kisses his lips. "Jimmy, I don't want to ever be without you again. You hear me boy."
"Yes ma'am, I'll work on that."
The sun rises the next day to bring warmth to the cool morning. The riders get packed and head north. They ride for five or six hours before stopping at a small creek to water the horses. Lou finds her way over by Jimmy and steals her a kiss.
"Damn Jimmy. That girl's on you like stink in cow shit boy." Buck says laughing.
"Hey Lou. Can I ride with you when we leave?" Ashley asked.
"Sure. It's fine with me." Lou says. "As long as Ratchel is ok with it." Ashley runs back to find Rachel lip locked with Buck behind the wagon.
"Aunt Rachel, can I ride with Lou please?"
"Go ahead baby, it's fine." She runs back and jumped on Lou's buckboard.
"Well you ready little lady."
"Let's head out." Jimmy yells back as Lou pulls her wagon back on the trail.
"We should be about half way to Deadwood." Buck says looking at the map.
"Good deal."Jimmy says looking back at Lou.
"Is he your man?" Ashley asked.
Lou looked over at Ashley. "Well, I'll put it to you like this. We are going to Montana and he came all the way to Sweetwater to get me. So yes, he is my man now." Ashley got quiet.
"Has Jimmy ever killed a man?" Lou looked at Ashley.
"Why are you asking me that question?"
"Well, he looks like a badass." Ashley says as Lou Laughed.
"Yes he does, don't he. Yes he has killed men before. He would do it again if it meant keeping me an you safe."
"Is Buck and Jimmy best friends Lou?"
"Yeah, I think they are very close. When men grow up the way they to have, they tend to stick close to a real friend." Lou explains.
As the day goes on, Logan would go from Ashley to Jimmy, never riding in one spot long.
"Logan, when we stop for camp tonight, will you take first watch?" Jimmy asked.
"Hell yeah, I got you Jimmy."
They ride close to Deadwood and set camp up about two miles from town.
"We are going to camp out here. There are trouble makers in Deadwood." Jimmy says. "Logan will take first watch. Go up to the big tree over there. I could see everything from there. It should be a good spot to keep a eye out."
Logan gets his belly full of Rachel's chili and biscuits. He walks over to his horse and draws his rifle out it's holster and looks back at Ashley.
"Logan be careful up there in the dark." Ashley says.
" I will don't worry." He says smiling like a stud.
"Jimmy, that boy acts just like you." Lou says. "Where did you find him?"
"Well he kinda found us. Me an Buck was in Virginia at a saloon having drinks. He walked up an wanted to sit with us. He been with us ever since. I do like the little shit, I bought him that hat and coat to match me and Buck."
"I have to say, Ashley sure has feelings for him. I bet he finds about as much trouble as you do." Lou said as she elbowed Jimmy.
Jimmy laughed. "Yes you can say that.
The boy6s been on his own for a bit. His parents got killed in Tennessee . I want to look after him. I got plans for him if he chooses to stay around."
"Shit Jimmy, you couldn't beat that boy off you with a broom handle if you tried." Lou told Jimmy giving him a squeeze.
"I'm going to take the next watch then Ike, Buck will pull the last watch." Jimmy tells Lou kissing her.
"Buck, you good with that brother?"
"Yeah, I'm good with that. I'm going to turn in and get some rest."
"Aunt Rachel? I can't sleep. Can I walk around the campfire for a few? I'll be right back I promise."
Soon as Ashley's feet hit the dirt, she walked over to the big tree. She looked around but can't find Logan. Just then, he jumped out the tree and almost knocked Ashley down.
"Logan!" she screamed. "You scared the tar out of me boy. What was you doing up there?"
"Better question is, what you doing all the way out here in the dark where no one can see you Ashley?" Logan steps in close to her.
"I just wanted to, hmmmm. I wanted to check on you is all." she says.
"What if them Lakota Indians was to get ya?" He asked.
"You would save me wouldn't you Logan?"
"Hell Ashley, who is going to save you from me. Come here girl." Logan pulls her in tight and kisses her on the lips
"Logan no! Hmmm, don't stop. Kiss me again."
"Am I interrupting?" Jimmy asked best he could without laughing. Ashley pulls her lips off Logan's so fast, Jimmy heard the lip smack from ten feet away.
"No sir, Mr. Jimmy." Ashley says. "I just wanted to check on Logan. Bye now." She says as she takes off.
"Well Logan, she sure tracked you down boy."
Logan looks at Jimmy. "Yeah she knows a man when she sees one."
Jimmy slaps Logan on the back. "Go get some rest stud. We got some ground to cover tomorrow."
"Hey Jimmy. Will you ride to Deadwood with me? I want an ammo sling for my rifle."
" Yeah little brother, I'll be glad to ride with you." Jimmy says proudly.
Jimmy takes second watch from the hill top by the big tree. He watches the moon rise. He waits til the moon is right over head before walking back to get Ike. Jimmy starts to stand up and sees a shadow in the grass moving it's way to the wagons. What the hell is that he wonders. Jimmy looks hard. He can't make out what it is. He crawls low. He gets closer and closer. The shadow stops. Jimmy's about twenty feet away. He can't make out what it is, it's so dark. Jimmy sits and watches. He has his gun in his hand. His heart was beating fast. Is that a dog? Jimmy whistles. A dog jumps up out the grass and runs over to Jimmy.
"Boy, I was going to kill you.," Jimmy says as he stands up. "Come on." Jimmy walks to camp and wakes Ike. Ike gets up and pats the dog and heads to the tree. The dog follows him. Jimmy goes from spot to spot checking on all his family. Finally he lays down next to Lou and goes to sleep.