Chapter 2
Lou looked around the table at her family. Jimmy had gone into town with Teaspoon as part of her distraction so she could have this meeting. He would keep him busy for a while. They all looked at their hands waiting for Lou to speak.
"You know why we are here. Jimmy has taken this news hard same as I have. I wanted to have this meeting to let you know that I fear he will go off on his own. He is trying to act like everything is fine now, but I can tell that he is hiding something."
"Maybe he is working it all out." Tate suggested.
"I don't think so. I think he is planning his great escape."
"You think he will just up and leave?" Lucas asked.
"I don't think. I know."
"We will just have to stay close to him. Keep an eye out. He doesn't need to go it alone." Buck said.
"I'm so scared." Lou said trying not to cry. "I'm so scared that I will lose them both."
Jimmy fought Teaspoon in town for almost two hours before heading back home. He had this sinking suspicion that he was delaying him on purpose. He growled under his breath while Teaspoon chatted away. He was thinking about the problem he was about to face head on when he felt a sharp pain in his shin.
"Damnit, Teaspoon!"
"I was talking to you."
"What?"
"I was letting you know that Eli needs some more hay for his goats."
"Just bought him some." Jimmy grumbled.
"Thing is, those goats sure can eat."
"Well maybe, it's high time we ate them." Jimmy snapped.
Teaspoon rolled his eyes and looked at the homestead coming into view as silence fell around them. Jimmy stared ahead. Teaspoon sighed.
"You can't do it."
"What?"
"Do it alone."
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"I ain't some old fool, Jimmy. I know you are planning to go see if you can find him." Teaspoon paused before continuing. "But it seems a fine mess that boy has got himself into, and you can't do it alone."
"I'm not going anywhere. To hell with him."
Teaspoon turned to glare at him. Jimmy stared straight ahead.
"You think I believe that lie. You think you can find him, make him see the error of his ways, and bring him home the way he used to be. What you ain't thinking about is the situation that you'll be riding into. You ain't thinking about what you are leaving behind. Your other kids, your grandkids. Wife, family. You go this alone, and you may not make it back home. Do you understand that?"
"Like I said, to hell with him. I'm done."
"Jimmy, please. I'm begging ya."
"And I told you that I ain't going so leave it be!"
Teaspoon sighed and shook his head. He knew better. They were going to have to be on their toes. He didn't know what else to do.