Ch 4

Cody came smiling into the bunkhouse. Jimmy was laying on his bunk with his hat over his face. Lou and Kid were sitting at the table talking with Noah. Buck and Ike must be outside. Not a soul looked Cody's way so he slammed the door behind him. Jimmy jumped up and all the others looked at Cody oddly. Cody smiled.

"What the hell?!" Said Jimmy

"Think you could make any more noise Cody?" Asked Noah.

"I am in such a great mood right now. I just couldn't help myself."

"I think I could help you shut up." Mumbled Jimmy.

"What's got you so happy Cody?" Asked Kid.

"Oh my Lord. Why did you have to ask?" Whispered Lou.

"I think I'm in love." Said Cody triumphantly.

Jimmy groaned and rolled his eyes as he fell back on his bunk.

"Again?" Asked Noah.

Kid and Lou laughed.

"Make fun all ya want but this time it's true! She is the most beautiful woman I ever seen and to top it off, she just moved here for good!"

"Really, then what's her name?" Asked Lou.

"Shannon." Cody said dreamily.

"And her last name?" Asked Lou.

"Well truth be told, I don't know."

"You are in love with a girl and ya don't even know her last name." Said Kid smiling.

"I don't know it... yet. But I will."

"Same ole Cody." Mumbled Jimmy from under his hat.

"You're just jealous Hickok. Y'all will see. I'm going to meet her tomorrow and help them move into the old Creech house."

"Them?" Asked Noah.

"Yeah. Shannon and her sister Ellen. Also some old woman with them."

"You don't know who she is?" Asked Lou.

"I know her name is Dorothy. She is a little scary but it ain't her I want to know more about." Smiled Cody.

"Scary. Ha, ha, Cody is scared of some old woman." Laughed Jimmy.

Kid, Lou, and Noah all laughed at Cody's expense.

"Go ahead and laugh. Just wait to you see her."

"I think we will just go ahead and laugh." Said Kid laughing.

Cody grunted and went back outside.

"I think we should follow Cody into town tomorrow. Get a gander at this new love." Said Noah.

"Sounds good to me." Said Lou smiling.

"Jimmy? Want to go?" Asked Kid.

"You know it. I can never pass up a chance to get under Cody's skin."

The next morning as Buck and Ike left for a few weeks off, the others smiled watching Cody primping in the mirror. He finally stood back and smiled. He got his hat and went to the barn to get his horse. Jimmy smiled at the others as he got his hat and followed Cody. Kid and Lou got up as well. Cody made his way into the barn and found Noah getting his horse ready for his ride.

"Up early Cody." Said Noah.

"Got a big day." Smiled Cody.

Noah snickered as the others came in the barn and started saddling their horses. Cody didn't even notice at first. He finally turned and saw them leading their horses out.

"Where do y'all think y'all are going?" He asked.

"To town. We got a hot date." Smiled Jimmy.

"No, no. Y'all ain't gonna ruin this for me."

"Ruin it Cody? We just wanna see this love of yours." Said Kid.

"That's right. Coming Noah?" Asked Lou.

"You know it. My ride isn't until later. I wouldn't miss this."

"I can't believe y'all." Cody mounted up and took off trying to leave them behind.

Jimmy looked at everyone else smiling.

"Like we don't know the way."

They laughed as they mounted up and set off behind Cody. Cody was already waiting outside the hotel when the others rode in. They tied their horses in front of the saloon and made their way down the boardwalk. As they were walking, a tall slender woman with long dark hair came out the hotel and gladly greeted Cody. The others stopped a few feet away.

"Well I'll be damned." Said Noah.

"She is pretty." Said Lou.

"He doesn't stand a chance." Said Jimmy.

Soon after another older large heavy set woman made her way out. She looked like mountain man stuck in a dress. They saw her spit tobacco on the ground.

"That must be the scary one." Said Kid.

"She looks kinda rough. Wonder why she is with her?" Asked Lou.

Cody helped Shannon into the waiting wagon. The others watched as he attempted to help the older woman but she pushed him away. This caused the group to laugh. Another girl slowly walked out and climbed in the waiting wagon. She was dressed in a long brown dress with a big bonnet. They couldn't see her face as she walked with her head down. Cody just stood as she climbed up. He didn't even offer to help.

"Well that's odd?" Said Noah.

"Wonder what's going on?" Asked Lou.

"I don't know. Never seen nothing like it." Said Kid.

"Looks to me like Cody has his hands full. Makes me curious though." Said Jimmy.

"Let's go meet em." Smiled Lou.

They walked up to the wagon just as Cody was placing their last trunk in the back. He looked up and saw them standing there. He tried to walk around them.

"Ain't ya gonna introduce us, Cody?" Asked Kid.

Cody groaned. Shannon looked to Cody waiting.

"Miss Shannon, these are the other riders from the station. This is Noah, Lou, Kid, and Jimmy."

"How nice to meet all of you. You work with Mr. Cody?"

"You could say that, what little he does." Smirked Jimmy.

Cody stared him down.

"Well we best be on our way." Said Cody.

"Maybe once y'all get settled, you can come to supper at the station." Said Kid.

"We'd love to get to know you better, what with you being new to town." Said Lou as she watched Cody squirm.

Shannon locked her eyes on Jimmy and stared. Jimmy noticed and turned toward Lou.

"I think we would just love that." She said staring at Jimmy.

Jimmy suddenly felt uncomfortable. All the teasing and fun gone. Cody didn't seem to even notice as he mounted his horse.

"Ladies ready?" Cody asked.

Shannon finally stopped staring and turned in Cody's direction.

"Most certainly."

The wagon pulled off with Cody riding alongside.

"Well she did seem nice." Said Lou.

"Odd family though." Said Kid frowning.

"Jimmy you ok?" Asked Noah.

"I'm fine. They just seemed weird."

"Ain't we all." Smiled Lou.

"Just a little." Smiled Kid.

Jimmy watched the wagon head out of town.