Chapter 8

"You reckon we're gettin' closer?" Kid asked, not for the first time that day. "They can't be movin' that fast, what with Buck probably bein' tied, an all."

"Hard to tell," Teaspoon replied, keeping his response vague.

It was beginning to worry him that they hadn't caught up with the bounty hunter yet. Like Kid, he thought they'd be moving at the faster rate and should be closing in by now. They'd had to stop to study the trail a few times and perhaps wasted valuable minutes trying to locate the tracks, but even so he'd hoped they would have caught up with them. It had crossed his mind that they should just head straight to Omaha, increase speed and hope they were on the right trail but that was way too risky. It did worry him that Brody was covering this much ground when Buck was more than likely tied up. It also worried him that he was so adept at concealing his tracks. He was obviously an experienced tracker, being able to keep up the pace and hide his trail so well. It was sure to be taking a toll on the boy.

"Hell, we're not even sure we're followin' the right tracks!" Jimmy exclaimed angrily. He was beginning to feel they were riding blindly and might not find Buck before it was too late.

"I'm pretty sure we're on the right trail, Jimmy," Kid responded with some positivity, although there was nervousness in his response. He looked at Teaspoon, as if for reassurance.

"Boys, we're just gonna have to hope we're goin' the right way. Ain't nothin' else we can do – save prayin' a little."

Both Kid and Jimmy looked stunned at the older man's words. They had expected reassurance from him but it seemed he shared their anxiety.

"We will find Buck won't we?" The question was asked in a way appropriate to the young man's name. Teaspoon regarded Kid's wide-eyed expression. Instinctively he reached out and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Course we will," he assured him with a smile. Kid responded with a nod and then looked down at the ground, uncomfortable with his own insecurities.

"Then let's get moving," he said sombrely, as he gathered Katy's reins in his hand and swung up into the saddle.

Teaspoon took his own horse's reins, casting a look of concern in Jimmy's direction. The boy was too quiet for his liking. A brooding Hickok could be a dangerous thing, especially when he felt a sense of culpability. He'd have to keep a close watch on him and make sure he didn't do anything irrational.

The threesome rode on until mid afternoon, following an intermittent trail, until they came across the remnants of a campfire. They dismounted and began to check out the area.

"Looks like someone slept here," called Kid, from near to the charred remains of the fire.

Teaspoon stood looking down at the ground a little way off, with Jimmy squatting down by his side, giving a closer inspection.

"What you reckon?" Jimmy asked looking up at him.

Teaspoon's experienced eye told him someone had lain there and by the amount of scuffmarks, that person had struggled some.

"I reckon this is where Buck spent the night," came his impassive answer. "And from what I can make out it don't look like it were too comfortable."

Unwilling to think about what Buck had endured he walked away, leaving Jimmy to consider the marks on his own. There were some deep indentations but they were set in a fairly small area, in comparison to Buck's size. He frowned, contemplating what this could tell him.

"We need to get moving," Teaspoon called, remounting his horse. Kid and Jimmy moved to join him and couldn't help but notice his glum expression.

"What is it, Teaspoon?" Kid ventured.

Running a hand across his mouth, Teaspoon sighed. "I'm beginning to think all that I've heard about Brody is true and that Buck's runnin' out of time. We need to get to that boy before … before Brody lives up to his reputation."

"Which is?" Jimmy prompted.

Licking his lips and avoiding eye contact with either boy, Teaspoon inhaled, let out a slow breath and quietly said, "Most of the men he brings in don't make it to trial on account that they ain't in no fit state."

"Meaning?" Jimmy pushed, already knowing the answer.

"Most of 'em are dead." Teaspoon tried to keep his tone flat but his voice was gruff with emotion.

"Let's get movin' then," Kid said resolutely, digging his heels sharply into Katy's sides.

The motion of the horse made Buck's head loll backwards and forwards as he slipped into an exhausted stupor. The small amount of sleep he had managed, only a minimum amount of water and no food, was beginning to tell and he struggled to stay alert. He fought the temptation to simply close his eyes and drift off but knew he was likely to fall from the saddle and besides, he needed to stay vigilant in case an opportunity arose for him to try and get away. The ever vigilant Brody made him think the chance of that happening was unlikely and as time passed the likelihood of Jimmy turning up to help him out became less probable.

Buck was suddenly aware that the horse had stopped. Brody had half turned his horse and was looking back on their trail, frowning. He took a cheroot from his pocket and lit it, as he appeared to contemplate something. Buck glanced at him through the strands of his hair, which hung about his face and wondered what Brody was looking for. He felt a fleeting moment of elation in the hope that Jimmy was perhaps catching them up, although he hadn't noticed anything. He was usually the first one to know if he was being followed but he hadn't sensed any movement but that could be down to his weakened state.

After a couple more drags on his cheroot, Brody shook his head and turned his attention back to Buck. The boy was looking weaker but not as much as he had anticipated. He had to concede this Indian was proving pretty resilient but they had a way to go yet and another long, hard day in the saddle should prove enough.

Brody unhooked his canteen from his saddle horn and took a long drink while Buck sat placidly, consciously averting his eyes from the tempting sight. Noticing the gesture Brody had to admire the quiet dignity with which the Indian bore the harsh treatment he had doled out.

"Here," he said, thrusting the canteen in Buck's direction, a little taken aback by his own uncharacteristic show of consideration. Buck's eyes grew wide with surprise as he looked at the container with open distrust.

Brody lifted the canteen to Buck's lips and nodded his head. "Go ahead before I changed my mind," he said gruffly.

Unsure as to whether Brody was just taunting him some more, Buck made no attempt to drink but merely eyed the canteen with suspicion. When it was thrust further under his nose he tentatively opened his mouth a little until Brody tipped the canteen so as the water flowed out, rushing into his mouth and running over his chin, spilling down his front. Buck gulped at the water eagerly, swallowing as much as he could before Brody took it away.

"That'll do, injun. Should be enough to keep you alive until Neville can kill you," he said callously.

Buck sucked the last drops of moisture from his lips, glaring at the bounty hunter. Time was running out and he needed to act soon if he was going to get out of this fix. Brody had possibly made his first mistake, in giving him some water. At least he would be able to keep focused a little longer. He was a long way from giving up yet, knowing that if he was going to get out of this, it would probably be solely down to him.

They moved off once more, Brody keeping up the incessant pace, pushing the horses as fast as he dared, covering as much ground as was possible before the sun went down. The sooner they got to their destination, the sooner he got paid and could move on to the next job.

As they crossed the plain, dark clouds began to gather behind the nearby mountains. A breeze kicked up, giving a refreshing blast of cool air but this was soon followed by a sharp downfall of persistent rain. Brody cursed loudly. He didn't need this; it would slow them up. Buck didn't need it either. The rain seeped through his thin jacket and soaked his shirt, making it cling to his body in a bitter grip, plastering his hair to his head, leaving him at the mercy of the elements. Brody, however tugged his duster from behind the saddle and slipped it over his shoulders, pulled his collar up and his hat down.

They rode on, through the steadily falling rain for another hour or so, until Brody called a stop, near to a rocky out crop. The horses had been slipping, due to the sodden conditions and the going was getting precarious. The rocks offered some protection from the rain and Brody brought them in close before dismounting.

He scanned around for the most sheltered spot and then told Buck to get down. It took Buck a moment or two to gather the energy to slide himself down from his horse, in his chilled state, with slow and awkward movements. As his feet hit the ground he stood catching his breath, with his head resting on the side of his saddle.

"Get over here, injun," Brody called curtly.

Drawing a deep breath, Buck pushed himself up with his head and stumbled over to Brody, too tired to put up any resistance. Brody pointed to a place on the ground and waited but Buck didn't respond.

"I ain't gonna wait all night, injun. Now, get on your knees," he said impatiently.

Lifting dark, pleading eyes to his captor, Buck took a chance. "Please, I can't do another night tied like I was. Can't I have my hands in front?"

Brody looked about, considering his words and options for a few moments.

"Alright," Brody replied, taking his knife from its sheath while Buck looked on in astonishment. He hadn't thought the bounty hunter would comply so readily.

Buck let out a groan as Brody sliced through the bindings about his wrists, as his shoulders rolled forward and the muscles in his arms and back tightened in protest at the sudden change of position. Slowly he brought his hands to the front and stretched his fingers.

Just as he was getting some feeling back in his arms Brody grabbed them and looped a piece of rope about his already raw wrists, pulling it tight with a slip knot. He gave Buck a sly grin then pushed him a full steps backwards and looked up. Buck followed his gaze and looked up to see a branch protruding from the rock face.

With a confident movement Brody threw the loose end of the rope over the branch, pulling it down until Buck's arms were above his head and secured the end of the rope around a rock, leaving Buck standing in the drizzling rain.

"Your hands in front of you enough now, injun?" Brody smirked.

Buck swallowed down the anger, which welled inside, unable to do little else, strung up like a carcass, as he was. With a deep, throaty laugh Brody walked off and went about setting up for the night, collecting what little dry wood he could find to fix a fire. Due to the enclosed area in which they were camping, Brody set the fire fairly close to Buck and he was grateful for the small amount of warmth it gave out. It had stopped raining but his damp clothes clung to him, chilling him to the bone but the fire did at least go some way to drying them out a little. His arms ached and his legs felt weak with fatigue and threatened to give way at anytime but Buck knew this meant his arms would have to bear the weight of his body so he struggled to stay standing. He'd been strung up like this before, that time when he'd been tied in a water tower, to stop Ike testifying against a murderer and he'd survived that time, thanks to his friends. He was determined to do it again, even without back up.

Buck's situation seemed to offer some amusement to Brody who sporadically looked his way, between mouthfuls of his supper, with a toothy grin. The boy was doing well and putting up a good fight but he wouldn't be able to stay on his feet all night and by morning he'd be nice and quiet.

After he had eaten, Brody sat back with a cup of coffee, into which he had poured a liberal amount of whiskey. He sipped it and let an appreciative sigh and looked over at Buck. The boy was still hanging on in there - literally. He didn't seem to be able to gain anything by physically taunting him so perhaps it was time to start working on wearing him down mentally. It was too early to turn in just yet anyway.

"Bet about now you're wishin' you'd thought twice about killin' that man, ain't you, injun? Mind you, a half-breed like you ain't gonna have much of a life is he? If you're livin' as a white man I reckon your tribe didn't want you and can't be many decent folk want you around neither. Perhaps I'm doin' you a favour takin' you to Neville. He'll be only too glad to put you out of your misery." Brody chuckled at his own malicious whit and poured himself a little more whiskey.

Keeping his head down, to hide his face from his tormentor, Buck screwed his eyes closed, trying to block out the bounty hunters words. The thought that he'd been rejected, by the Kiowa, still stung and hit deep but over the years he'd managed to come to terms with it as it meant he had found his new family, through the Pony Express. He knew that he had no regrets about killing Neville and would do the same again – for Ike, and for the real decent folk who had accepted him as part of the family. Come to think of it, he probably had more folk that cared about him than Brody ever would and had too much to live for, to let this sorry excuse of a man try and take it away from him. Steadying his breathing and keeping it shallow, Buck prepared himself to endure the night and be ready to face the next day.