Chapter 3
Jimmy walked around the following week. He spied Tate out the corner of his eye. They thought they were so clever. Noah in town, the girls watching, the boys silently following him. Hell, even Buck had his eyes glued to him. He looked down at his still healing hand from he and Luke's last escapade. He was just biding his time. Waiting for the right chance to make his escape. Luke was still sore and healing as well, so he knew now would be a good time to make his move. Penny would not let Luke follow in his current state. He grabbed a metal bucket and moved farther into the shed. He walked past Eli laying in the field with his goats. He saw Tate follow. He waited until Tate was in the shed before suddenly bending over in the back if the barn. He started coughing.
Tate followed Jimmy at a distance. He heard coughing and saw him bent over in the back of the barn. He ran over to him.
"Jimmy, you ok?" He asked bending down beside him.
Jimmy swung up quickly with the bucket. It hit Tate in the face sending him sprawling backwards into the dirt. Jimmy knelt down beside him. After making sure that he was out, he led his horse out which was already saddled.
"Sorry Tate."
He galloped out the back of the barn on his horse.
Buck and Luke paced the kitchen while Lori held a cool rag on Tate's face.
"I'm sorry everyone. He was bent over coughing. I thought something was wrong when he decked me with the bucket. I screwed up."
"Hold still. Don't fret over it. Dad's a jackass." Lori said gabbing his chin.
"She's right. It isn't your fault. I knew he'd find a way." Lou said looking glum.
"I'll go after him." Luke said.
"The hell you will. Your ribs ain't fit for riding. You will not go anywhere." Penny said while holding Garrett.
"No, I'll go. I'm the best tracker. I will get him." Buck said.
"Buck, you know what he's riding into. You have Dakota and the girls to think about." Lou said.
"He's right, Louise. If anyone can find him, Buck can." Dakota chimed in.
"Then it's settled." Buck said. "I'll get my things ready."
"Buck, son, if half what you said is true, then you know what is waiting out there." Teaspoon said quietly.
"I know, I'm one step ahead. I've already sent for some help."
Jimmy rode until it was too dark to safely continue. He sat around his small fire holding the newspaper that he had picked up in the last town that he had passed through. He read the headline again. McKay gang kills nine. He knew Hunter hated him. He had tried to hide his past. Did he truly think that he could just make it disappear? That he could just disappear? His child ended up paying the price. This was punishment for everything that he had done, only it wasn't just him suffering. The men that he had killed. Hell, even what he had done to Kid. This was it.