Chapter 4

Buck followed Jimmy's tracks as he headed west. As he pulled up in the small town of High Falls, he made his way to the only place to eat. He looked to his companion as they tied their horses.

"This where you expect him to be?" Noah asked.

"Would you expect him to be anywhere else?" Buck smiled.

The two laughed as they made their way inside. They laughed harder when they saw Cody sitting at the corner table with a plate full of food as well as a plate full of pie.

"Told ya." Buck laughed.

Cody jumped up when he saw his family.

"Buck! Noah!"

The three embraced before sitting.

"I couldn't believe my eyes when I got your telegram. It's good to see y'all even with the circumstances." Cody said.

"I was just hoping that you got it and could help." Buck said.

"How bad we talking here?" Cody asked pulling his napkin out his shirt and tossing it on the table.

"Bad." Noah replied.

"What's he after?"

"Hunter."

"Exactly where is Hunter?"

"I'll let Buck fill you in on this one." Noah said leaning back.

"I got some news as I was heading this way. Heard that a Hickok had taken up with this McKay gang. They got every lawman in the country after them. Pinkertons included."

"You've got to be kidding. The McKays?"

"What have you heard?"

"Nothing good. Thieving sons of bitches. They even kill the children, Buck. The kids." Cody emphasized.

"Well Jimmy is heading straight for em."

"If he gets to them before we can catch him, he won't be breathing for long."

"We know." Noah inserted.

"Why the hell would Hunter take up with them?"

"We don't know."

"Let me ask a few of my friends on the inside. Give me a few hours before we head out."

"Friends on the inside, Cody?" Noah asked skeptically.

"I can't say anymore but, a guy like me has to make friends. If I don't, I die."

Noah looked to Buck worriedly as Cody excused himself.

"What the hell kind of stuff is Cody involved with?"

"Army is all I know, but we know Cody, he can weasel himself into anything."

Jimmy rode out the next town. He held the wanted posters in his hand that he had collected from the local marshal there. He flipped through. Jared McKay. Isabella Stanton. Ray Stevenson. He stopped on the next one. This was the third or fourth time that he had looked at it, but it still made him feel like he was choking. He looked down at his younger reflection. He read the name. That dreaded last name. Again, and again. Hunter Hickok. Hickok. Murder. He shoved it in his jacket pocket. He kicked his horse.

Buck and Noah finished gathering some supplies while they waited on Cody. Their patience was wearing thin as precious time was ticking away. The longer they waited, the closer Jimmy would get to the gang and Hunter. Finally, Cody came running up.

"I got what I was looking for!"

"Which is?"

"Let's head out of town first. I can't let anyone hear what I have to tell you."

Buck and Noah cut their eyes at each other. They mounted and pulled up their horses when they were out of town. They watched Cody skirt around making sure no one had followed.

"Really Cody? Is all this necessary?" Noah asked.

"You don't know the half of it."

"Spit it out then." Buck said.

"I sent a message to a friend of mine."

"And?"

"Well, this friend has a friend. Let's just say that this friend of a friend is a Pinkerton. Well, this Pinkerton said that Hunter was working with them to bust up the gang when he went off the map. No word, nothing."

"Hunter is undercover? That's what you are saying?"

"He was. But now it looks like he is one of them."