Ch 2

Jimmy woke up on a cot. The sun was shining on his face. His head was hurting and he felt like hell. He looked to the window. The sun was high in the sky. He sat upright groaning. He slowly got his bearings and looked around. He was in a jail cell. He saw the Marshal watching him. He groaned again. He saw another man in the cell with him as well as a few more in the one next to him.

"Morning." Said the Marshal.

"Yeah, morning." Jimmy said holding the side of his head. He looked at his hand, he had sticky blood all over it.

"Looks like you had a tough time last night." Said the Marshal as he stood up and walked over to the cell.

"What time is it?"

"Well it's almost noon."

Jimmy moaned again.

"I'm a Pony Express rider. I had a ride this morning." Jimmy tried to explain.

"Well from what I hear, you ain't supposed to be drinking. I doubt that your employer is gonna be happy bout this."

"There's another rider with me. Bout my height, long blonde hair, got on buckskins. You seen him?"

"Nope. What ya see here is what I got."

Just as Jimmy was about to ask if he could go, the door opened and Cody walked in. Jimmy looked at him with hatred in his eyes. All Cody had was a small bruise next to his eye. He looked at Jimmy and actually smiled.

"Marshal, name's William F. Cody. I'm a rider for the Pony Express. That there's another rider with me. Anyway I can get him out? We are running a bit late."

"Well your friend there had a little too much fun at the saloon last night but I guess he didn't really do anything. Just had to lock him up so he could sleep it off."

"I wasn't drinking." Jimmy stated. He had enough of this bull.

"Sure son." Smiled the Marshal.

"Well he is a good rider, can we just keep this to ourselves? We need him to stay on and they would sure fire him since he went against policy." Said Cody.

"You just keep him out of trouble from here on out. I doubt he does this again." The Marshal said laughing.

"I bet he won't." Cody laughed as well.

Jimmy watched the two go back and forth frowning. He was going to kill Cody. The Marshal got his keys and opened the cell. Jimmy went to stand and swayed, sitting back down on the cot. Cody went in and got his arm.

"Ya best get him to the doc's before y'all set out. He got hit with a bottle and that gash looks kinda of nasty." Said the Marshal.

"Yes sir, don't worry. We are heading there right now."

Cody helped Hickok walk out into the sun. They walked down the street. People stopped and stared at Jimmy which only made him mad as hell.

"Where were you Cody?" Growled Jimmy.

"Sorry Jimmy. I woke up in Alana's room this morning. I guess she put me there."

"As soon as I get myself together, I'm going to kill you."

"Look. I said I'm sorry. Let's just get this taken care of. We are so late."

"Because of you. I told you."

"I know. I'm sorry ok."

Cody opened the door to the doctor's office and helped Jimmy inside. Cody waited while Jimmy was in the back. Soon the door opened and Jimmy walked out looking a little better. He really was a sorry sight. His nose was busted and he walked stiffly.

"Well?"

"Shut up." Jimmy said as he walked past Cody out the door.

Cody saw Jimmy sit on a bench outside. He saw the doctor come out.

"Is everything ok? He ain't really talking to me at this point."

"Yeah, he will be fine. I had to dig some glass out of his head and face. I was able to stitch the cut just fine. He will just be sore as hell."

"Thanks." Cody paid the doctor since this was his fault.

He went out and sat beside Jimmy. Jimmy just watched the people go by.

"Well." Said Cody.

Jimmy didn't say anything.

"You're not going to talk to me? At all?"

Jimmy just looked past him.

"I see. Well I'm going to get the pouch and our things. We are late after all." Cody stood up and walked off.

Jimmy stared daggers at his back.

Cody got everything and got their horses ready. He led them out the livery. He looked down the street. Jimmy was still sitting with his arms crossed in the same place.

"Man. This is gonna be hell to pay." Cody mumbled as he walked leading the horses in his direction. He did feel a little sorry for him after all. He smiled. It was still kind of funny though.

Cody came to stand in front of Jimmy. Jimmy looked the other way.

"You didn't want to wash up and change before we leave?" Cody said taking in his blood smeared face. His hair was matted and sticky. His shirt had blood splattered on it.

Jimmy didn't answer him. He stood and walked carefully to his horse. He held his breath as he mounted up. He kicked his horse out of town. Cody watched him go. He was going to kill him. Cody knew it. He just had to be on his toes was all. Cody smiled. It was still funny.

Cody followed Jimmy's lead. He rode without stopping. He didn't ride fast but he rode steady. The station came into view just as dusk was falling. Teaspoon and Buck saw them coming. Ike mounted and met Cody to take the pouch. He did a double take as he rode by Jimmy.

"We was starting to get worried. What was the hold..." Teaspoon started to ask but fell short when Jimmy got closer.

"What happened to him?" Whispered Buck.

"That's a damn good question."

Jimmy pulled to a stop. Cody came up behind him. Jimmy sat on his horse. Teaspoon and Buck looked on in amazement. Cody got down and went to help Jimmy. Jimmy kicked him away before slowly sliding down.

"Look Jimmy, I said I'm sorry. Can't you just let it go."

Teaspoon and Buck just watched.

"Let it go! I'll show you how I'll let it go!" Jimmy yelled as he jumped on Cody knocking him to the ground. He grabbed Cody around his neck.

"Jimmy! Stop! I can't breathe!" Cody gasped kicking his legs.

"I'm going to beat the living hell outta you!"

Teaspoon and Buck tried to pull Jimmy off but he wouldn't let go. Cody was able to get a knee under him as the others pulled his shoulders. He kneed him in his sore ribs. Jimmy let go and fell back grasping his midsection. Cody jumped to his feet.

"Y'all see that! He tried to kill me!" Said Cody.

"Cody! Shut up!" Yelled Teaspoon.

"You ok Jimmy?" Asked Buck trying to help him.

"Fuck no, I ain't ok!"

Emma heard the commotion and came outside. She saw the boys and walked over. She saw Teaspoon talking to Cody. She looked to Jimmy. The poor thing looked horrible.

"What exactly is going on out here?" She asked.

Noah and Kid came outside by now. They took in Jimmy's state and saw Cody trying his best to get out of whatever it was.

"He just tried to kill me Emma. They saw it."

"Kill you, I ain't done with you yet!"

"Hush now, all of ya! Someone explain this to me." Said Emma.

"Boys, calm down. Let's hear it." Said Teaspoon.

"Well we went out last night and ended up having too much fun. That's it."

"Fun. You call this fun! I ain't riding with him no more Teaspoon! This is all his fault!" Jimmy made a move to get up but fell back feeling unsteady.

"I swear Teaspoon. This wasn't my fault. It just happened."

"I doubt that Cody. Jimmy what you got to say?" Asked Teaspoon.

"Cody and his stupid ideas. I wanted to sleep but he had to go out. He started this fight in the saloon. I tried to help."

"Cody?" Asked Teaspoon.

"Well I did want to go to the saloon but I wasn't the one to spill my drink on that man so it wasn't my fault."

"If you would have listened to me, this wouldn't have happened!"

"Well at least, I wasn't the one locked up for public drunkenness."

"I wasn't the one drinking you bastard!" Jimmy jumped up and went at Cody.

Cody saw him and tried to run. Jimmy grabbed his jacket. Cody spun around accidentally hitting Jimmy in his busted nose. Jimmy stumbled back holding his face, blood pouring out between his fingers.

"Now look what you did." Said Cody

Jimmy began making a deep rumbling sound as he launched at Cody. Cody dodged him and ran a short distance away, Jimmy running behind. Kid and Buck caught Jimmy and pushed him to the ground. He grunted as he fell. Teaspoon and Noah went to Cody.

"Cody, why don't you go clean up. I'll be by to talk with ya later." Said Teaspoon.

Cody nodded and walked toward the bunkhouse.

Teaspoon walked over to Jimmy sitting cross legged on the ground. Emma was beside him holding a towel on his nose.

"Let's take a moment son. I got a feeling this wasn't your fault. Let's get you cleaned up, get that blood off ya. Then we'll talk." Said Teaspoon.

"Kid? Care to help me out?" Asked Emma.

"Sure."

Kid and Teaspoon helped Jimmy to his feet. Kid got under his arm.

"Noah can you get my tub and get some water?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Buck, you see to their horses and let Cody know that his supper is gonna be late." Said Teaspoon.

"I got them and I will."

Teaspoon walked with Emma back toward her house. Kid eased Jimmy in one of Emma's chairs then went to help Noah bring water for the tub. Emma brought a towel. She closed the door to the kitchen as he got in. Teaspoon was coming in the door with Jimmy's clean clothes from his bunk.

"Never a boring moment." Said Emma.

"You got that right."

"What the hell happened? Was Jimmy really arrested?"

"Sounds like it. The way Cody was talking, this more than likely is his fault. I'll talk to Jimmy once he washes up before I get Cody's half. I'll get the truth first."

"Poor Jimmy was probably just caught in the middle of Cody's mess."

"Yep. I'm already thinking of a proper punishment." Smiled Teaspoon.

Teaspoon waited with Emma while Jimmy washed up. Finally the door opened and Jimmy walked out buttoning his shirt. He saw Teaspoon and Emma waiting. Teaspoon pointed at the chair across from them. He stiffly walked over and sat.

"Well I want your side first." Said Teaspoon.

"Cody wanted to go out to the saloon. I went. I shouldn't have."

"And?"

"He was talking to this girl. I told him I was ready to go but he wouldn't leave. I knocked a drink out of his hand and it wet the man next to him at the bar. Some other girl had come up to me. Another man was causing trouble because of her. It just went from there."

"Cody drinking?"

Jimmy didn't know how to answer. He wanted to kill Cody but not get him fired.

"Maybe."

"I got ya. And?"

"The man grabbed Cody cause he smarted off. I swear I tried to just leave. The man missed Cody and hit me. I hit him back. The saloon started fighting. I ain't sure what all happened. I heard the Marshal and left through a broken window. Next thing I know, I wake up in the jail."

"And where did Mr. Cody go during all this?"

"I lost him. He said he woke in that girl's room."

"How nice."

"Yeah."

"You ok Jimmy?"

"I'm fine. I had the doc there look at me before I left. He sewed me up."

"Let me see ya." Said Emma.

"I'm fine Emma. Really."

"Just for my piece of mind then." She said as she walked over to him.

Emma looked at his head satisfied that it looked clean enough. She pulled his face up and looked at his busted nose. She stood back.

"Pull up that shirt."

"That's ok. I'm good."

"Well son, if it looks too bad, then Cody just might be doing your chores for the next few weeks." Said Teaspoon.

Jimmy unbuttoned his shirt. Emma came and pulled it open. She looked at his chest and back.

"Jimmy, you got bruises all over."

"I had a few others swing at me then I fell in the floor. I couldn't get right back up."

"The doctor look at these too?"

"He did. Just said I'd be sore and I damn sure am."

Emma put her hands on her hips as Jimmy buttoned his shirt back up. She then placed a plate of leftovers in front of him.

"Eat here while I take Cody a sandwich." Smiled Emma.

Jimmy ate his food. Teaspoon sat across from him.

"Don't kill Cody just yet. I'm going to handle him. He'll probably wish you had killed him by the time he does all his chores and yours. Not to mention, taking all your runs for three weeks."

"Three weeks? Really?" Smiled Jimmy.

"Yep. Three weeks sounds fair. We'll see. Might turn into a month." Smiled Teaspoon.

The two sat and laughed.