Ch 8

Buck woke at dawn on the third day. He saddled his horse and rode on. He should be home by lunch if he played his cards right. He rode as hard as his horse could handle for the next four hours. He saw it. He saw the windmill. He spurred his horse on as the station came into view. He rode into the station yard hooping and hollering. Cody and Emma ran outside followed by Kid.

"Mr. Spoon!" Yelled Emma as she ran off the porch.

Teaspoon came from the barn as Buck was sliding to a stop.

"What in tarnation?" Exclaimed Teaspoon.

"Help! They all need help!" Screamed Buck.

"Slow down Buck, catch yer breath. Then tell us what's going on."

"Noah, Lou, and Jimmy vanished. I can't find them."

"What the hell you mean they vanished?"

"I can't find them Teaspoon! They are gone! Something ain't right!"

"I knew she should have stayed!" Yelled Kid.

"Now Kid, we don't know the whole story. Buck, let's go inside, get you something to drink and hear it all."

Buck tied his horse at the water trough and followed Teaspoon inside. He told them of the saloon. The meeting of Josiah. How he asked questions that Buck didn't think anything of at the time. He told Teaspoon that Josiah had met with some men there. How they walked through the tables when they left. He told him that he felt that something was very wrong with them but he didn't say anything. He told them of the dance. Noah had met a nice lady. He left with her and neither of them saw him since. He told them all how he went to find Jimmy and Lou. He finally ended up at the livery. He saw where two people had been dragged out back. He then left in a panic for help.

"We gonna go, right Teaspoon?" Asked Cody

"I'm gonna kill Jimmy! How could he just take her around with him like that! People know his reputation!" Yelled Kid.

"Kid, now Jimmy is Lou's best friend. You know this. You keep telling her who she can be around and you are gonna push her away. Now is not the time for your petty jealousy!" Exclaimed Emma.

Kid was taken back at Emma's outburst so he kept his mouth shut. They looked back to Teaspoon.

"When's Ike due back?" Teaspoon asked.

"In the morning. I'm up next." Said Cody.

"Kid run over to Johnson's station. Tell them I need riders to cover us for about two weeks. We got something important to see to. I will pay him."

"Yes sir." Kid jumped up and went outside.

"Cody, go to town. Get what we will need for at least three days on the trail."

Cody left.

"Where you going Emma?"

"To get my things ready. I'm going with you."

"You sure bout all this."

"My kids are missing. I'm damn sure." She turned and walked out.

Teaspoon rubbed his face as he looked at Buck.

"We leave as soon as Ike gets back. Go get some rest. I'm going to take care of your horse."

Buck nodded.

Morning came as it does. Noah and Lou jumped at the sound of gunfire. Jimmy was already awake.

"Get up you sons of bitches! Time to get working!"

Noah helped Jimmy to his feet. He slowly stood upright working the stiffness out.

"Think you are going to be ok?" Asked Lou.

"I'll be fine Lou."

"You shouldn't have done that."

"I'd do anything for you. I will do anything for you."

Lou looked down as they lined up. At the gate, the guards put their chains on. The guard put his arm up to block Noah.

"Y'all ain't going on the axes today. Ya going in the mine."

He moved his arm and motioned them over to another ugly looking rascal.

"Come on boys, we's gonna have a good time." He smirked with rotten teeth.

They joined another group covered in dirt. They walked with them down the hill toward the mine. They came to a stop at the entrance.

"You, yeah the tall black fella."

The guard walked up and looked at Noah. He turned to Jimmy.

"You too. Come on, y'all are hauling cars. You the puny fella. You get to shovel rocks."

"I can pull cars with them."

"Did I tell you to talk?" He said as he backhanded Lou. She managed to not fall.

Jimmy went to move forward, hatred in his eyes but Noah reached and touched his arm.

Lou stood back up. The man threw a shovel in her hands. The other men walked away, dragging Lou with them

"How the fuck are we gonna watch Lou now?" Asked Jimmy.

Before Noah could answer, a guard walked over and jabbed Jimmy in the gut with a long cane pole. Jimmy doubled over.

"No one told you to talk! Stand up and get to work hauling that car!" The man yelled.

Jimmy stood back up. One of the men came and chained Noah to one side of the small rail car then chained Jimmy to the other.

"Nows this is how ya goin to do this. Ya take take this cart back and forth down this rail. It gets loaded and you haul it back up. You fall and it won't work out well for ya. I ain't as nice as the axe line. Get your fuckin asses goin!"

Noah began to push the car down the incline while Jimmy put his back against it to keep it from rolling away. They were sweating by the time they made it to the bottom. Jimmy and Noah fell to their knees. A man walked by and hit Noah across the back with his cane pole.

"Git your worthless ass up! You stay standing or I will beat the living hell out of you!" Screamed the man.

Jimmy stood before he got to him. He was still sore from his beating yesterday. The car was loaded by other workers. They all looked to be sick. Half of them coughing. Jimmy turned and looked at Noah across the rail car. Noah shook his head. This was not going to be good as they watched rocks being loaded in the car. Jimmy looked around for Lou. He saw her in the far corner shoveling small rocks. She quickly looked back at him before getting back to work.

"What you fuckin waiting for! Get the fuck up that hill!" Screamed the guard in Jimmy's face.

Jimmy put his shoulder against the car and started pushing. Noah grabbed the chains hooked to the front and started pulling. They made it up. They got a small rest as it was unloaded then made their way back down. After three more trips, the guard stopped them for the day. Noah felt like he was dying so he didn't know how Jimmy was even standing after yesterday. They were taken back to the holding area. Noah saw Lou just a few men behind them. The guard unhooked Noah's chains and pushed him inside. He came to Jimmy.

"I see you made it through the day. I think you've learned your place." He said as he pushed him inside. It was all Jimmy could do not to pound his face. Lou was pushed in a few men after.

They made it over to their spot. Noah sat while Jimmy collapsed onto his chest in the dirt. Lou ran over to him.

"Jimmy?"

"I'm fine Lou. Just let me lay here for a few." Mumbled Jimmy.

"They should be on the way by now." Said Noah.

"They are coming. I can feel it." Replied Lou.

They looked down at Jimmy. He was sound asleep laying in the dirt.