Ch 18
The next morning, Jimmy wakes up before the sun comes up. He gets up and puts his boots on. After stoking the fire, he walks up to the tree and sits down by Buck.
"Hey brother. Is everything good?" Buck looks at Jimmy.
"It's great, Jimmy. I'm so ready to get to Montana". Jimmy laughed.
"Me too brother, me too."
They sit there and watch the sun come up.
"That sure is pretty." Buck says. "Well Jimmy, let's get the show on the road. What you say."
"Let's go." Jimmy says standing up. "Let's go shoot our guns and wake everyone up."
"Oh man, that's going to be funny as fuck."
They hauled ass down to the camp and got right by the wagons. Jimmy and Buck could barely hold it together from the anticipation of scaring the shit out everybody. They pull their guns and fire off. Boom! Boom! Boom! Everyone runs out of the wagons screaming and yelling. They find Jimmy and Buck rolling in the dirt from laughter.
"Jimmy your an ass!" Lou yells out.
Jimmy can barely speak from laughing so hard. He points at Logan still hauling ass across the trail while laughing and laughing and laughing.
"Look at that Buck!" he barely manages to get out.
Rachel, Ashley, and Lou did not find it as funny as Buck and Jimmy. Logan gets back and found it funny as hell.
"That was good." Logan said.
"Logan, you are just as bad as they are." Lou says. "Let's get ready!" she yells smiling at Jimmy.
"Buck, Me and Logan is going to ride to Deadwood an go to the gunsmith shop. We will be right back."
"Buck you coming?" Logan asked.
"I'll stay with Ike an finish getting packed."
"Okay, we will catch up on the trail."
Jimmy and Logan ride into town and head over to the gunsmith.
"Morning. How can I help you two?"
"I need me an ammo belt for my .44 caliber rifle." Logan says
"Yeah, I got four of them. Let me grab one sir."
"I want three please. I want to get one for my two brothers."
"Yes sir. Will you be needing anything else today?"
"I want a double barrel shotgun with a hundred rounds."
"Okay. I got what you need young man." He puts the gun on the counter. "I got a new in twelve gauge. It's a Colt 1855 revolving action."
"Yeah," Jimmy says, "Let's have a look then."
Jimmy holds the Colt like a new toy.
"But I don't think I need it." He puts it back.
"That will be ten dollars please."
They pay and make their way to the door. A tall weathered blonde haired man walks in.
"Hickok, how the fuck you been boy?" Logan looks at Jimmy.
"I been good Dale." He says shaking the man's hand.
"What the hell you doing in these parts ol boy?"
"Well Dale, I'm looking to put roots down in Montana."
"Montana? Damn man it's cold up there you know."
" I know but that's were I want to hang my hat."
"Who's this little shit?"
"Names Logan mister. I ain't no little shit you hear." Logan fires off glaring at the tall man.
"Easy boy, a friend of Jimmy's is a friend of mine. Damn Jimmy, he acts just like you did at that age." Jimmy and Dale laugh.
"Dale we're getting out of here. If you ever want to get into cattle or ranch work come see me. I'm headed to a place called Garfield." Jimmy says.
"Thanks Jimmy, maybe one day I'll see you again."
Jimmy and Logan walk out the door. Logan looks over at Jimmy as he swings up in his saddle.
"Jimmy, what's your whole name?"
Jimmy looks over at Logan. "My name is James Butler Hickok."
"Holy shit, your wild Bill!"
"Shhhh boy. That name only brings trouble. I want to leave it behind me, you understand?"
"Okay Jimmy, I got ya."
"Good. Let's ride."
They catch up with Buck and the wagons. Ike is riding out front. The dog from last night is at his side .
"We should be close to the state line in about ten hours." Buck says looking at the map.
"Good, let's tighten up an put some road behind us." Jimmy said. "Hey, I saw Dale Evans in town. Told him to come find me if he ever needs work."
"Really?" Buck says.
"I always liked ol Dale." He added.
They ride about five hours before stopping to rest the teams of horses. They all gather at the back of Lou's wagon.
"It's going to get colder as we go up north so we need to have all the clothes that we think we are going to need. If not, we can get them in the next town we come to." Jimmy says. "Rachel get a list of blankets, coats, and some long drawers if we need more."
"Rachel will you and Lou get what y'all think we need?" Jimmy hands them one hundred dollars.
"Let's get ready to roll." Jimmy says. "Logan, you to go with the ladies an watch out for them now."
Logan looks at Ashley. "I sure will Jimmy."
"Looks like Buffalo will be the last place before we cross over Jimmy." Buck says.
"Good. We should be there soon." Buck says.
As the girls ride in to town, Jimmy and Logan wait with the wagons. Buck and Ike ride with Rachel.
"Hey Rachel, will you do me a favor? I want you to pick up a new black coat an a hat to match."
" Ohh Buck, is that for Ike? That's so sweet. I sure will." She says blowing him a kiss.
They ride into town and go to the general store. Ike and Buck walk over to the gun shop to look around. Ike sees a nice holster he likes but he walks on by. Buck looks at Ike as he walks by and picks it up one more time. He sits it down and walks on by. Buck knows that they never had much money working at the station. Ike looks at few knives and walks out the shop. Buck pays for the holster and hides it in his saddle bags.
Buck finds Ike looking at a pen full of cows and walks over.
"Ike, you ready for Montana?"
Ike turns with the biggest smile on his face and signs that he is ready.
"Good deal buddy." Buck slaps Ike on the back.
"Hey here comes the three shoppers."
They load up and head out of town. Back at the wagons, Jimmy and Logan were checking the horses shoes and looking at all the rigging.
"The second wagon looks good, Jimmy."
"Good so does the first one." Jimmy sees Rachel and the crew coming back.
"Hey let's hide Logan!"
"Ok, let's go." Jimmy and Logan cover themselves up in the back of Lou's wagon and lay still. They giggle as they hear the horses ride up.
"Hey!" Buck says. "Jimmy, where ya at boy?" Logan giggles again.
"Shhhh!" Jimmy hears Lou.
"Jimmy, Logan?!"
"You think someone got them?" Ashley cries.
"No," Rachel snapped, "if they did they would bring those pests back."
"Take it easy Ashley." Buck knowing Jimmy all too well, starts looking for tracks.
"Jimmy!" Lou yells. "Jimmy if you ain't dead, I'm going to kill ya!"
Jimmy giggles. He can't help himself.
"Shhhhh... Lou look here." Buck waves for her to come to the back of the wagon. Lou holds her hands up.
"What is it Buck?"
"Shhhhhhh. Call Jimmy again." Buck whispers.
"Jimmy, where ya at now?"
Logan snorts trying not to laugh. Lou looks in the back and sees two lumps under the blankets that they have been sleeping on.
"Jimmy? Jimmy? Where are you?"
Jimmy giggles. Lou waves Rachel over.
"Nice an slow." She says with her lips.
Rachel looks in the back and smiles. She sends Ashley to get two big tree limbs that had fallen down. Lou steps off a few steps.
"Oh no, where could they be? Jimmy!" she yells as Ashley returned with the big limbs.
"Jimmy!" Buck yells. "Logan! Where are ya?"
Lou and Rachel draw the limbs back and start swinging. They whipped Jimmy and Logan's ass something good. The boys bailed out the wagon still laughing at the prank. The girls swing til their arms give out.
"Y'all thought that was funny?" Lou asked.
"Umm yep."
"We had y'all going." Logan chimes in.
"See here, Jimmy can find trouble without your help young man. Don't egg him on."
Jimmy was still laughing.
"Okay, okay. Let's go."
"Wait." Buck says. "We got something for you Ike."
Ike jerked his head around. Me? He said by the look on his face.
"Oh yes you." Buck says waving him over.
Rachel grabs a box and hands it to Ike.
"Go on open it."
Ike opens the box and steps back. He pulled a brand new black coat and hat out of the box.
"Well, look at that." Jimmy says.
"Put it now. Let's have a look at ya." Buck says.
Ike puts his hat and coat on so fast, it would make your head spin. Ike hugged Jimmy. He turned to Buck and signed, 'I don't have the words to tell you what this means to me.'
Buck walks over any hugs Ike.
"Now come over here."
Ike and Buck walk over to his horse where Jimmy was standing. Buck opens his saddle bag and pulls out a new holster. Ike puts his hands over his face. Buck hugged him again and said, "Ike I wanted you to have this from me to you." Ike had tears in his eyes as he held the holster.
"I love you brother. I know you like it so go ahead and strap it on buddy."
Ike wipes his eyes and laces it to his waist. He puts his gun in his holster and throws his coat back.
"Yes sir, you looking good boy." Logan says.
"Hell, let's go make camp a few more miles down the road." Buck said.
Ike swings up in his saddle and takes the lead with his dog right beside him.