Chapter 14
Life flowed peacefully in Rock Creek for the former Pony Express couriers, despite the war disrupting the daily lives of many families due to the loss of men in the field.
Buck, Noah, Ike and Kid were happy that they managed to avoid joining the army, especially now that they were or were about to become fathers of families.
One day a very distinguished gentleman arrived in the city, well dressed and loaded with luggage. He had a black man with him who helped him carry them and as soon as he got off the stagecoach, he said to his servant: "Quick, unload the bags and take them to the hotel, I have no time to waste!"
"Immediately Mr. Higgins", replied the boy.
The man straightened his suit and while the boy carried his bags to the hotel, he went to Teaspoon's office.
"Good morning marshal, I'm Mr. Higgins"
"Good morning Mr. Higgins, what can I do for you?"
"I am a wealthy businessman and I intend to open a proper ranch in this city"
"Oh well Mr. Higgins I think you'll have to change your plans, there's already a very successful ranch here in Rock Creek, I don't think it's a good idea to build another one if you want to keep making good money", replied Teaspoon peevishly from the man's attitude.
"I have heard of this ranch and know that it is run by people of dubious experience: a half Indian, a Negro, a boy who until recently was mute, and a Southern man who didn't have the courage to fight for his homeland. I really think I'll have no problem competing with these people."
"Mr. Higgins, I know those guys personally and they are hard workers. They are also worth more than all those people who spit venom at them. They have worked hard to earn everyone's respect and to keep their business going, I won't let you harm them in any way."
"Excuse me for allowing myself marshal, but you certainly can't stop me from opening a business in the city. It will then be the people here who choose where to buy their horses and who to do business with. Have a nice day" and left without giving Teaspoon a chance to reply.
Teaspoon clenched his fists and went immediately to the ranch where he found Buck corralling some horses he and Noah had just bought.
"Buck, as soon as you're done, join me at my house, I need to talk to you right away"
"What's up Teaspoon, are there any problems?" asked Buck worried by the expression on Teaspoon's face.
"I'm afraid so"
Moments later, the boys had all gathered at Teaspoon and Rachel's.
"What's up Teaspoon?" Ike asked as soon as everyone was seated.
"A new man in town came to my office this morning, his name is Higgins. He announced to me that he wants to open a ranch. I told him you already have one, but he started insulting you and said he'd have no problem getting lucky in his business. I don't like that man and I'm afraid he is willing to do anything to be successful. We have to be careful and keep an eye on him", Teaspoon explained.
"Damn, we didn't want to, we've worked hard to achieve some peace of mind and we can't allow some braggart to frustrate all our work", said Kid slamming his fist on the table.
"Calm down Kid, let's see what he does and we'll react accordingly", Noah offered.
"I think it's better not to say anything to the women for now, let's avoid making them worry, especially Lou who is close to giving birth", Buck proposed.
"I agree. Let's wait to see what happens but stay alert", agreed Teaspoon.
The boys went back to work and Teaspoon returned to his office.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened for the next few days, but soon word of a new ranch started circulating around town.
Cassie heard about it in the laundry and asked Noah about it that evening.
"We have not told you anything so as not to worry you, but Teaspoon warned us a few days ago of this Higgins' intention to open a new ranch. It seems he's determined to make us fail", Noah explained, not wanting to hide anything from his wife anymore.
"Oh my God, what are we going to do?" Cassie asked concerned.
"Don't get upset about anything, we'll see what happens and we'll evaluate what to do. Please don't mention it to the other girls, I think it's time to warn them but it's up to their husbands and we mustn't worry Lou too much, she's due in a few days.
Cassie nodded in concern.
The next day at the ranch Noah warned friends that it was time to inform their women of Higgins' intentions
"Guys, Cassie found out at the dry cleaners and I had to tell her everything. I think it's time to be honest with them before they know it from others."
"Let's all gather with Lou and I tonight and we'll let them know", Kid suggested and everyone agreed.
They informed their women of the evening at Lou and the Kid's and when they were all gathered after dinner (they had preferred to avoid tiring Lou too much by forcing her to cook for everyone), Teaspoon spoke up: "Ladies, we have gathered you here because we have to inform you of a possible problem with the ranch"
Teaspoon explained the whole situation and the women became very worried, so much so that Lou, shocked by the news, despite the men trying to reassure them, had contractions.
The women helped her upstairs and Noah went to get the doctor.
Two hours later she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl: Margaret.
Over the next few days, the women took turns helping Lou with the baby and the men tried to pay attention to Higgins, but for the moment things seemed calm, until one day a loyal customer showed up and told them that Higgins was discrediting their ranch and many people who had never looked favorably on the management of Buck and Noah had begun to frequent his ranch.
"Thanks Robinson for letting us know, you are a very honest person", Buck said.
"But you think, I never liked bad guys like Higgins" and shook Buck's hand.
He told the others about it and Teaspoon decided to go to Higgins' ranch to see for himself what was happening.
When he arrived, he heard with his own ears that the man was speaking badly of his boys and in particular of Buck, saying that they were not honest and that they were selling them nags to reserve the best horses for the Indians who were preparing an attack on the city.
"Do you hear the nonsense you're saying Higgins? Anyone here in Rock Creek knows that Buck and the boys have always done an honest job and anyone who has bought horses from them has never had a single complaint. As for the Indians, we haven't had any problems with them since the war and in any case Buck has always been an excellent broker. I advise you to stop this nonsense or you don't want to get yourself a big libel suit", threatened Teaspoon.
"In fact, we've never had a problem with the boys' ranch, we've always had a good time", confirmed the man Higgins was talking to.
"If you think their work is better, feel free to leave, but you will regret it", Higgins retorted.
"Is that a threat?" asked Teaspoon.
"No, a simple consideration marshal and as for your threat to report, I'm only expressing my professional opinion"
"There is nothing professional in your statements. I warned you: if I still hear offensive words against my boys, I will sue you"
Higgins replied with a contemptuous grin.
For a few days things were quiet and Jinny took the opportunity one evening to talk to Buck. He was sitting on the sofa with Sam in his arms and was making him play. Buck was a wonderful father, as soon as he had some free time and Sam was awake he loved to play and cuddle him and often all three of them found themselves playing like children. Jinny loved it and felt so lucky.
"Buck honey, it's time to put Sam to bed. Then you want to go outside and sit on the porch?"
"Sure love, I'll go put Sam to bed, then I'll join you"
A few minutes later he was back. Sam was a big sleeper and this made life much easier for Jinny and Buck.
He sat next to her and said: "We have a wonderful child, if they were all like this we could make an army of them"
Jinny smiled: she was always amazed at the harmony she and Buck had.
"Speaking of this treasure, I really think we are on the right track…"
"What? Are you expecting another baby?"
Jinny nodded and then replied: "It shouldn't surprise you too much, considering how much time we spend in the bedroom and…elsewhere…."
Buck hugged her and kissed her passionately, then said: "I love you Jinny, you have made me the happiest man in the world with your presence and with your love. I just hope things with Higgins don't go downhill."
"Don't worry Buck, Teaspoon won't allow it."
They kissed and then went to their room to celebrate the good news.
A few days later they informed the rest of the family of the news and they all celebrated the happy event together.
Buck took Teaspoon aside and asked him: "Do you think Higgins has given up on discrediting us? I don't care if there's another ranch in town competing with us, as long as it's fair competition and Higgins sure isn't."
"I don't know son, it seems strange to me that he gave up so soon. Tomorrow I'll go for a ride in those parts but don't worry, you have to think about your new baby on the way"
"I'm so happy Teaspoon, I never thought I could actually build a family of my own. Meeting Jinny was the greatest luck I could ever have"
"I know son and I'm so proud of you"
"Thank you Teaspoon" and they embraced.
The next day Teaspoon, with the excuse of having to check some files, went to Higgins' ranch and caught him red-handed: a new buyer had arrived in town who needed horses and Higgins had been informed by his henchmen. When Teaspoon caught up with him, he was just bringing the boys' ranch into disrepute.
"Well, Higgins, I see my words last time had no effect. These accusations you are making are slander, so I really think you will get a good complaint and if I were in your shoes", he said to the man who was talking to Higgins, "I wouldn't dare testify falsely".
"You can't denounce me marshal", Higgins sneered.
"No, but I can do it", said Kid arriving suddenly. He had noticed that Buck and Teaspoon had talked privately the night before and he had become intrigued. He had guessed that the speech might be about Higgins and when Teaspoon headed for his ranch, he followed him.
"There you are served. I'm arresting you for libel, you must come with me to my cell to await trial", Teaspoon declared solemnly.
"You can't do that". the furious man objected.
"Of course I can", replied Teaspoon triumphantly.
Higgins was taken to the cell and the trial was held a few days later. Kid reported what he had heard from Higgins and the man who was with Higgins at the time of the arrest and some others whom Teaspoon had questioned and persuaded to denounce the man's words were called as witnesses.
The judge sentenced Higgins to pay a heavy fine to the boys and ordered him not to repeat the slanders against the ranch of Buck and the boys again, under penalty of imprisonment.
Higgins tried to protest but the judge threatened to have him arrested. He paid the fine instantly but told the boys: "It doesn't end here"
He went away meditating revenge.
The boys and their wives went home satisfied but a little worried by Higgins' threat.
The latter already had in mind how to definitively solve the problem. He waited a few weeks not to arouse too much suspicion, then sent a man hired for that purpose, who was not from his circle of henchmen, to take a look at the structure of the ranch and asked him to locate Buck's house in particular.
The man approached the boys' ranch and saw both Buck and Jinny going in and out of Rachel and Teaspoon's house several times, convincing himself that it was theirs.
Actually that day Rachel had decided to tidy up the house and had asked Buck to help her move some furniture and take away some old things that she no longer needed. Jinny was helping out but not making any effort given her condition.
The man returned to Higgins, informed him of the structure of the ranch and what Buck's home was to be.
"Well, great job. Do you still want to earn a nice nest egg? But then you'll have to get out of Rock Creek."
The man nodded and Higgins explained the plan.
That same night, Rachel couldn't sleep. They had had a dinner at their house to celebrate Buck and Jinny's baby and also Noah and Cassie's: they had broken the news a couple of days earlier. They had eaten so much that Rachel's stomach was full. She decided to go out for a walk. She caught a glimpse of a shadow but assumed it was a figment of her imagination. She made her way to the stable but suddenly heard the smell of burning and Teaspoon yelling for help.
She ran back and saw Teaspoon chasing a man and the boys who were putting out the start of a fire at the fence and at her house.
Sh rushed to help them as she saw Kid go to help Teaspoon.
Luckily the latter, not finding Rachel in bed, had gone down to see where she was and had smelled something burning. He was out just in time to see the man set fire to his house as well. He immediately yelled and set off in pursuit of the offender.
He and Kid managed to immobilize him, while the others managed to put out the two fires, limiting the damage as much as possible.
"Now you bastard will tell us who sent you", hissed Teaspoon as he led the man to the others.
They took him to the stable and were joined by Buck, while the women were trying to clean Rachel's house and close the corral to prevent the horses from escaping. Rachel then went to ask for help from Noah who had gone to pick up Ike before reaching the others.
"So who sent you?" asked Teaspoon.
The man did not speak.
"You'd better talk or I'll leave you to Buck who will use all his Indian knowledge to get you to talk", threatened Teaspoon.
The man remained silent but when he saw Buck draw the knife, approach him and pull his hair, terrified that Buck would scalp him, he said: "All right, but don't leave me in his clutches"
Buck returned the knife to its place.
'So who sent you?' teased Teaspoon.
"Higgins. He sent me first to see the ranch structure and ordered me to burn the fence and the Indian's house."
"But that's not my house bastard, you misinformed", Buck hissed furiously.
"I saw you and your wife walking back and forth from there and assumed it was your home"
"It must have been when you helped Rachel tidy up the house", Teaspoon said.
"If you want to avoid a worse sentence, you will have to repeat every single word in front of the judge, you will be indicted for attempted murder", Kid informed him.
The man asked: "And Higgins?"
"Don't worry about him, he will serve the right sentence", replied Traspoon and took him to his cell, keeping watch all night.
Buck, Ike, Noah and Kid worked all night to fix the fence and Rachel was hosted by Ike and Emily while waiting for the house to be repaired.
The following days, the boys worked hard to put what had been destroyed by the fire back on their feet and to restart their business and soon the trial against Higgins, who had been arrested the same night of the fire, and against his accomplice started. The judge was implacable, as Higgins had already recently been convicted of slander. Both were moved to Fort Laramie and his ranch was closed. He was told not to return to the city when, having served his long sentence, he would be released from prison.
The citizens of Rock Creek strongly condemned Higgins' action and showed all solidarity with the boys, so much so that their business even improved.
In the following months, Jinny and Cassie gave birth to two girls named Abigail and Sally (Noah had wanted to honor his old nurse) and life passed peacefully at the ranch. Cody and Jimmy came back less and less: after the war Cody had organized the Wild West Show with which he toured the world while Jimmy had moved to Deadwood. One day the news of his death arrived which saddened the whole family.
Buck and Jinny had three more children, Ike and Emily and Lou and Kid another each.
The years passed peacefully for everyone until old age.
Over the years, Jinny and Buck, now with their silver hair often in a braid, were often surrounded by their grandchildren who loved to sit around them and listen to the Kiowa traditions and stories that Buck told them, exactly as he had seen that long gone day in the sweat lodge.
After all, native visions are never wrong.