Ch 15

Lou led Teaspoon and her family to the outside of the mine camp. They sat and waited.

"Over there are the cages. Jimmy has been in one for days. If I had to guess, Noah got put in one last night." Lou whispered.

"What are cages?" Asked Cody.

"They put the men in them that won't back down. I've seen men die there."

"If'n that's where our boys should be. Don't blow that spot up."

"The big tree fence thing is the overnight holding area. That is where we slept for the night. There's the mine opening and the rock line. The tents over yonder is where Mr. Evans stays."

"Let's stay away from where the prisoners are. Who holds the keys?"

"Trevor."

"Who is he?" Asked Kid

"That one there." She said as he came out of a tent.

"That's the man from town." Said Buck.

"Yep. He has a man that picks out passers through. He tells Trevor and he gets them here."

'What are they doing?' signed Ike

"Looks to me like they are packing up." Said Kid

"He knows I'm gone." Said Lou.

They watched as men opened the big gate and the prisoners lined up to have chains on their ankles. The workers were pushed into a big herd.

"Something's wrong Teaspoon. We have to go now! I think they are going to kill them!" Said Lou.

"Cody, Kid go towards the tents. Buck and Ike, go to the other side. Emma, Lou, y'all ready?"

"Your damn right." Said Emma.

"Alright boys, time to light em up."

The men stood all around the herd of prisoners. Some of the captives had begun to shake. They knew what was happening. The guards laughed at them as they raised their guns. Just as they were about to pull the trigger, an explosion hit near the mine. They jumped and turned in that direction. Another one went off beside the tents. Trevor ran for Gerald as explosions were going off everywhere. He grabbed him and pulled him down onto the ground next to the wagon.

"Stay down! They are here!" Trevor yelled.

"Don't let them get away!" Yelled Gerald as gunshots started raining down.

Trevor looked as some of his men fell. He saw strange men running in the chaos. One grabbed a pick axe and hit the main chain holding the prisoners together. They began to scatter and run. Trevor aimed his gun at the blonde man's back and fired. Cody felt a stab in his right shoulder as he fell forward. Kid grabbed Cody and pulled him out of the line of fire.

"Cody! You ok?"

"I'm fine, just go help!" Yelled Cody as he got behind a nearby tree. He fired at guards running nearby.

Kid ran back into the chaos trying to help the sick to safety. Lou and Teaspoon came into the fight. She had to clear a way to the cages.

"We need to get you out of here now Gerald!" Said Trevor.

"She's here. Go kill him. Kill him now and let her see I'm a man of my word!"

"Sir I think you should just run! Let them be!"

"I told you to kill him and kill him now!"

Trevor nodded and ran over to the cages.

Noah saw everything unfolding. He tried to rouse Jimmy. He couldn't reach him through the bars.

"Jimmy! Jimmy! They are here! Jimmy, I need you to get up!"

Jimmy made no move. Noah saw Teaspoon running nearby.

"Teaspoon! Teaspoon!"

Teaspoon stopped and looked. He then saw Noah and ran to him. He looked at the lock.

"I've got to find the keys, Noah." Teaspoon looked around and saw ten more cages with men in them.

"You ok son?"

"Sore and my arm hurts like hell but Jimmy isn't answering."

Teaspoon stepped over to Jimmy. He looked like death itself. The smell almost gagged him.

"Noah, I got to get the damn keys!"

"Drop your gun and put your hands up!"

Teaspoon did as he was asked.

"Turn around."

He turned slowly. He saw the man aiming one of Jimmy's guns at him. He saw the keys and a set of cuffs in his other hand. He threw the cuffs at Teaspoon.

"Put them on and chain yourself to that cage."

Teaspoon stared him down. Trevor pulled the hammer back and aimed right at Noah's head. Teaspoon did as he asked. Trevor went over to Jimmy's cage and opened it. He reached in and grabbed one of Jimmy's arms. He pulled him out and watched as he fell to the ground. He kicked him and Jimmy moaned weakly.

"Leave him be." Said Teaspoon.

"Can't do that. She should make her over in a few. Got to be ready."

Jimmy couldn't stand. Another man came running over and helped Trevor hold him up and chain his arms over his head to the top of the cage. He was just hanging there half conscious. Soon Teaspoon spotted Lou making her way over. Noah was stuck he couldn't get out. Teaspoon was chained. Lou froze when she saw the scene in front of her.

"I, my love, are a man of my word." Said Gerald as he stepped out from behind.

"You are a horrible cruel man." Said Lou.

"You shall see what your choices have caused. No woman should lower her standards for scum like this! I would have given you everything!"

"You would have just had another prisoner."

"Kill him." Said Gerald.

Noah lunged against the bars and Teaspoon pulled at his restraints. Lou found she couldn't move. Trevor raised one of Jimmy's guns and took aim. Trevor suddenly flinched and looked stunned. He fell to the ground. Emma stood behind Lou, her gun still smoking. The other man there ran and threw Lou to the ground. Emma ran trying to find a safe position. Gerald picked up the gun Trevor had dropped. Buck and Ike came upon the scene followed by Kid.

"I will show you who makes the law around here!" Yelled Gerald as he pulled the trigger.

His bullet slammed into Jimmy as Kid, Ike, and Buck all fired at the same time. Gerald jerked around as all three bullets found their mark. He fell to the ground dead. Lou started screaming. Kid tried to go to Lou but she slapped him away. Buck went to Trevor and got the keys. He unlocked Jimmy and he fell in a heap. He got Teaspoon and Noah free. He ran to open the rest as Teaspoon went and grabbed Lou in a hug. Emma ran to Jimmy along with Ike. Cody made his way over holding his arm.

"Teaspoon! The bullet barely clipped him in the chest! He is still with us!"

Teaspoon and Lou ran over. Teaspoon looked at his boy. He stood and looked around at all the sick. They needed help here. There were too many to try to move. Buck made his way around unlocking all the shackles. Kid looked at Lou crying over Jimmy. He turned and walked away, checking all the dead guards. Noah went over to Trevor. He knelt over him and unfastened Jimmy's guns. He pulled them off and held them to his chest.

"What are we gonna do Teaspoon? All these people need help."

"I'll go into Laramie and get the sheriff. I'll send the doctor out. Then I'll go to every town close and send help out." Said Kid.

"I'll help you." Said Buck.

They went to get their horses to leave.

Teaspoon, Ike, and Emma hurried over to the tents. Emma threw back the flaps. There were eight large tents. This would do fine.

"Let's put the worse off together. The others we will house here until they can leave."

"Once they are all settled, I'll get their names. Take a list into town and send word to other towns. Maybe family can come for some of them." Said Teaspoon.

"Let's start sorting this out. Bring in the worse. I'll tend them." Declared Emma.

Teaspoon gathered Ike and the wagon. They went back to Lou as she was holding Jimmy's hand. Noah was sitting beside them as well.

"Let's get him loaded. Emma is at the tent waiting on him. Let us get him Lou."

Lou shook her head and wouldn't let go.

"We have to help him darling or he will pass on." Said Teaspoon softly.

She moved over as Teaspoon and Ike placed him in the wagon.

"Noah ya comin?"

"No I'm not that bad. I'm going to check the others. Get them some help."

Teaspoon led the horse pulling the wagon over to the tent. They unloaded Jimmy. He caught Lou's arm.

"Lou, honey we need you to help us with the others here. Emma will see to him."

"I can't leave him."

"You can't be in the way either. Come help us please."

She looked at Ike who nodded at her. She finally agreed. Soon almost all the tents were full. Two full of injured, one full of the worst, and the other five just men waiting to be fed and find their way home. Kid rode in first that afternoon. He had the sheriff and two doctors with him. They immediately went to the worst as Emma talked with them. The sheriff spoke with Teaspoon.

"Marshal." Said Teaspoon.

"I can't believe that this has been happening here right under my nose. I just can't get over it."

"Well most of these men weren't locals. They were just stopping by for a few. There is a man local to you. First name is Josiah. He was the one to point out the men to be picked up."

"I know Joe. I can't believe he would stoop to this. I'll pick him up as soon as I get back in town. He'll hang for it."

The sheriff looked around at all the poor captives. He looked into the sick tent. These were on the border of death.

"The ones responsible are over here."

Teaspoon led him to the wagon. Evans, Trevor, and all the guards were piled in back.

"No survivors."

"No. They put them all in a group and were going to gun then down. Evans and Trevor were going to kill my boys. We had to act."

"None of them deserved to live if you ask me. Self defense seems bout right."

Teaspoon nodded.

"This is a list of all the names of men here. Can you see if you can find any family?"

"I'm heading back into town now. I'll send the word out. A wagon of supplies should be here soon. I'll arrange another when I get back."

"Much appreciated."

The sheriff shook hands with Teaspoon and left. He went over to the tent with Jimmy. Emma was outside crying.

"Emma?"

"He doesn't think he will make it."

"Where's Lou?"

"Tending some of the others. Don't tell her right now Teaspoon. I have faith that our Jimmy will get through this regardless of what they say."

"What are we looking at?"

"Some of the cuts from his beating are badly infected. He is swollen from it in places. He hasn't had food or water in days. They say he can't fight it off. He also told me that the bullet wound will kill him. That his body is too weak but I don't believe it one minute. He is gonna make it." Emma wiped her eyes and went back inside. Teaspoon looked up at the moon coming up in the sky, tears clouding his view.