Ch 7

The next two weeks flew by with Cody steady courting Shannon. Jimmy had found at least four more surprises, both at the station and on his horse in town. He had began stashing the things in his trunk. He had even more candy, a new shirt, and his newest was a small baked cake. Lou walked into the bunkhouse to find him bent over the trunk, shoving the shirt in.

"Jimmy? What are you doing?"

He jumped and spun around.

"Thank God, it's you."

"What's going on now?"

"Come here."

Lou walked over and looked in the trunk.

"My Lord, Jimmy. This is crazy."

"I still don't have a clue where they are coming from but I'm telling you, this is starting to piss me off. I can't keep hiding all this dumb shit."

"Maybe you should ask the others."

"Why? So they can laugh at me? I don't think so." Jimmy said rubbing his face.

"This has been going on for over a month now. Besides you can't hide a cake in there."

"What the hell else can I do with it?"

Jimmy and Lou were on their knees bent over the trunk. Lou leaned in front of Jimmy to look at all the stuff. The door opened as Kid walked in. He saw Lou knelt down in front of Jimmy. Jimmy had reached around her to show her something so it looked like his arm was around her.

"What the fuck is this?" Yelled Kid.

Jimmy and Lou both jumped up. Lou still had the cake in her hands. Kid looked at the cake then back up to them.

"It ain't what you think." Said Jimmy.

"Ain't what I think. Y'all have been whispering to each other for weeks now then I find y'all like this! What, you giving her gifts now Jimmy!"

"No Kid, it ain't like that really. It just looks that way. I mean, ain't nothing going on!" Said Jimmy.

"Kid, let us explain." Said Lou.

Before Lou could say another word, Kid hit Jimmy in the face. He fell back against the wall holding his jaw.

"Kid stop!" Yelled Lou.

Jimmy just put up his hands trying to show Kid that he wasn't going to fight.

"Why Lou?! He thinks he can do this and get away with it?!" Kid said as he hit Jimmy again.

"Kid listen to her!" Yelled Jimmy.

Kid went to hit him again.

"These things are Jimmy's! Not mine!"

Kid stopped and looked at Jimmy.

"What do you mean?"

"She means that someone has been secretly giving me these things for over a month." Said Jimmy.

Kid let Jimmy go and put his arm down. He looked at Louise.

"I don't understand." Said Kid.

"I was with Jimmy in town when he found the first gift. He asked me not to say anything so I didn't. Now he has gotten all this." She said pointing to Jimmy's trunk.

Kid walked and peered inside. It was full of stuff. He looked at the small cake that Lou held.

"I'm so sorry. I just freaked out." Said Kid.

"It's ok. I would have to. I know what it must have looked like." Said Jimmy.

"Here Jimmy." Said Kid handing him a rag for his lip.

"Thanks."

"Where did all this come from?"

"We wish we knew. Jimmy doesn't know anymore than we do. It is getting crazy though."

"I'd say so. What are you gonna do about it?"

"Nothing til I find out who."

"No one else knows? It ain't Cody playing a trick on ya?"

"He hasn't been here when these things showed up. No one has been." Said Lou.

"Kid, don't tell the others." Said Jimmy.

Kid looked over to Lou who was silently asking for his help. He went to speak when the door opened again and Emma walked in to start dinner, causing them all to jump.

"My goodness, that cake looks yummy. Where did ya get it?"

Jimmy didn't know what to say as he drew a blank. Kid quickly jumped in.

"I had Mrs. Tripp bake it for Lou as a surprise."

"How sweet of you Kid."

Jimmy took his foot and slowly pushed his trunk back under the bed trying not to draw attention to himself. Lou spun around with the cake bumping into Kid. The cake fell on the floor.

"Goodness! What a shame! We could have had that for dessert." Said Emma.

"It's ok. I'm so clumsy today. I'll clean it up." Said Lou.

"Let me get this dinner started. Jimmy, care to help me peel potatoes?"

"I guess I can."

"Kid?"

"Yes ma'am, I'd be glad to."

"Louise, can you help me tidy up after cleaning that? Cody has guests coming again tonight."

Jimmy groaned. Lou made a face and looked over at him.

"Something wrong Jimmy?" Asked Emma.

"Um, no ma'am. Just more potatoes to have to peel."

"Best be gettin to it then." Winked Emma smiling.

Soon it was time for dinner. The riders had gathered around to eat as Cody pulled up with Shannon. He helped her down and opened the door for her. She gracefully walked in and sat across from Jimmy. He looked down at his plate. Teaspoon was the last to make his way in.

"Nice to see you again." He spoke to Shannon.

"It's nice to be invited and welcomed into your family."

"Where's Dorothy this afternoon?" Asked Noah.

"She decided to stay home with Ellen. Ellen was being a little hard to handle today."

Noah nodded. Emma placed the food on the table. Teaspoon said grace and they all began to eat. Shannon looked over at Jimmy. He looked down at his food.

"Well I have asked Shannon to the dance this Saturday and she said yes." Beamed Cody.

"That's wonderful Cody." Said Emma.

"I am so excited." Said Shannon.

"If I do say so myself, our little town puts on a mean shindig." Said Teaspoon.

Kid smiled over at Lou whom he was taking.

"I asked Mary from town and she said she would go with me." Said Noah.

"Goodness Noah, that's great. Look at you." Said Emma.

Shannon watched all them smiling.

"How about you?" Asked Shannon in Jimmy's direction.

"I don't do dances." He said.

"You don't do dances? What does that mean?"

"He doesn't go." Said Lou.

"Oh, I thought it meant that he couldn't dance." Said Shannon.

"That too." Laughed Cody.

"Maybe you will change your mind." Said Shannon looking at Jimmy.

Jimmy looked around. No one seemed to notice the odd stare but him. Then he saw Teaspoon watching her expression.

"I doubt it." Said Cody.

Jimmy finished eating and excused himself from the table saying he had to see to things before bed. The others made small talk until it was time for Cody to see Shannon home. Jimmy watched as they left. He breathed a sigh of relief. Something was strange with that girl, could she be the one giving him those odd gifts. Possibly.