THE ROCK CREEK
ADVENTUROUS TALES, PART 1
Rachel and Louise are busying themselves around the kitchen cooking supper for the family. Louise is taking the last dish out to the dining room table.
Teresa is staying at the kitchen table with the four children that live on the homestead. She is serving up their plates while they all scream at her that they are hungry.
Abigail, who is four years old, is quietly watching the chaos that the other three small children are causing. She is Kid and Louise's older daughter. She looks like her mother with the dark brown hair, brown eyes that melt her daddy's heart, and small dimples on her creamy white skin. She is petite in every way. Even her tiny voice is not loud when she yells, but instead it is rather soft.
"Addison please sit down and start eating your supper," Rachel begged her older son.
"Rachel go on out in the dining room with the others. I can take care of the children just fine," Teresa spoke calmly to a distraught Rachel.
A crash of a plate falling to the floor causes Rachel to jump half out of her skin. Both women turn around to see Louise and Kid's younger daughter Emma picking her food up off the floor and placing it in her mouth.
Rachel rushes to the toddler's side. "Emma no honey. Let Grandma Rachel fix you another plate.
Rachel fixes another plate for the little girl with locks of honey brown and slightly curly just like her father's. Her warm brown eyes tell Rachel that she is sorry about the mess she has made. Her mouth turns into a frown about ready to explode with tears. Teresa picks the toddler up in her arms to let her know that everyone is capable of having an accident.
Teresa hugs Emma and places the child back at the table. Rachel sits a fresh plate in front of the little girl.
"Now will you please go out to the dining room. I will eat my supper in here with the children.
Rachel hugs Teresa. "You have been such a savior with these children today while Louise and I prepared supper. Thank-you."
"Thank-you. Now get yourself out there before there's nothing left for you."
Rachel strolls out into the dining room with a bowl of gravy. She places it at the table and seats herself on Teaspoon's right side. Buck sits on Teaspoon's left side. Next to Rachel is Louise and then Kid. Jimmy is sitting next to Buck, and Jeremiah is seated at the other end of the table across from Teaspoon.
"Could someone pass me the potatoes," Jimmy asked.
"Louise needs to say grace first Jimmy," Rachel spoke quietly to the young man.
"Bless this food lord that we are about to partake upon. Keep our family safe from harm. Amen."
"Amen." The entire family spoke in unison.
"Thank the lord that you kept it short. I'm starving," Jimmy spoke comically.
Buck notices that everyone at the table seems a little amused by Jimmy's statement, except Kid. His obvious disapproval of Jimmy's remark is well written all over his face. Buck knows the real reason behind Kid's anguished appearance.
"Rachel and Louise, it was a real nice gesture getting Jimmy to come back home to help poor Buck and Kid with the extra work load around here," Jeremiah spoke with amusement glistening in his eyes.
Buck and Kid's eyes meet from across the table. Neither one has touched the food on their plate. Here comes the humiliation they both have been dreading. Teaspoon stops chewing to look at Buck and then Kid and back at Buck again. The dining room had had a relaxed atmosphere just a few moments ago. Jeremiah's supposedly innocent remark as left the room filled with tension as thick as pea soup.
"Jeremiah, I'm sure Buck and Kid appreciate the relief from the marshal duties. The ranch has a lot of repairs that need to be done. You could offer to fix the fence around this here house tomorrow," Teaspoon spoke to the point putting Jeremiah in his place and easing the tension in the room a notch or two.
"Yes sir," Jeremiah spoke disheartened that his remark didn't get Buck and Kid fuming mad.
The people sitting around the table that Jimmy remembers as a tight-knit family have suddenly become extremely quiet. So quiet in fact, that Jimmy can hear everyone chewing the delicious food that Rachel and Louise had spent all day preparing. Jimmy glances around the table at everyone. He sees the past before his eyes. Teaspoon is registering the mood that all his family members are in. There was always one of the riders having troubles with someone or having a problem that needed solving. During these times Teaspoon often witnessed tempers rising. Buck is picking at the food on his plate. Touchy situations and townsfolk with attitude problems could easily cause Buck to lose his appetite. Some things never change. Louise glances around the table at her family as she eats her dinner quietly. Afraid to start a conversation, but more than willing to jump in after someone else has shoved their foot in their mouth. Rachel has stopped eating. Her expression is still of motherly concern. These boys and one girl have been like her own children for years. Time and separations have not stopped her motherly feelings and concerns for any of her children. Kid's eyes are set on Jimmy. As Pony Express riders, years before, the two boys locked eyes often mostly over Louise. Jimmy watches Kid place his fork on his plate. Kid looks back up at him wanting to speak, but hesitating at first in search of the right words.
"Jimmy, you'll have to excuse all of us. We're all just a bit on edge lately," Kid spoke calmly not wanting his remarks to send Jimmy's temper into a rage.
"I understand Kid. I'll stay as long as my family needs me. I ain't fixin on going anywhere. I've really missed all of you. Truth be told, I'm glad I was close by to be able to help out," Jimmy spoke from the heart. He wants all of them to know just how much they all mean to him even if he has been away from them for a few years.
Jimmy's sincere words bring smiles to everyone at the table. Teaspoon's smile in particular is the most obvious. He's just downright happy to have another son home, even if he did have to break his leg to get him home.
"I'll still help you out over at the marshal's office Jimmy," Buck spoke.
"No need to worry about Rock Creek Buck. You and Kid will need all your time for the ranch."
"All right, but if you need me to help out don't hesitate to ride out here and get me," Buck spoke with concern for Jimmy. After what he and Kid went through as marshal and deputy, Buck's a bit concerned about Jimmy being able to handle the townsfolk by himself.
"Just wait till you have a run in with Miss Cooper and her walking cane," Kid spoke smiling broadly.
Buck lets out a quiet laugh over Kid's remark about Miss Cooper. The two men hadn't really talked to anyone about the trouble they had had in town.
Teaspoon's eyes look up from his plate to focus on Buck and Kid. "What's wrong with Miss Cooper? You two been picking on that poor little old lady?"
"Little old lady!" That little old lady damn near killed Kid and I with that cane of hers!" Buck spoke seriously his amused expression wiped from his face.
"Well, you and Kid must have done something to provoke her. Miss Cooper is the sweetest lady in town," Teaspoon protested stubbornly refusing to believe that Miss Cooper is capable of such violence.
"Sweet! She obviously hasn't attacked you with her walking cane yet Teaspoon," Kid spoke no longer in a happy mood.
Every one of the family members at the table are a bit taken back by Buck and Kid's story about Miss Cooper striking a Marshal and Deputy with her cane. Louise and Rachel are taking turns glancing at Buck and Kid. Both women are wondering if the two men are over-exaggerating just a bit. They are both having difficulties stifling their laughter at Buck and Kid's expense.
Jimmy decides it's his turn to add insult to injury. "Perhaps it was a brilliant idea you women had to send me a telegram asking for my assistance with the marshaling duties. Buck and Kid here seem a little exhausted and overwhelmed with the work load that has been placed on them," Jimmy spoke in a teasing tone that doesn't get a smile from Buck or Kid, but gets a few chuckles from everyone else seated at the table.
Teaspoon isn't sharing in on all the laughter. He's starting to sense hostility brewing amongst his boys. He watches all of them closely with each well thought word they speak. He's certain all this funning that Jimmy is having is aimed more at Kid then it is at Buck. Jimmy was always able to get under the Kid's skin real easily.
Louise notices the peevish appearance on Buck and Kid's face. The two have been working hard and not complaining about it. Perhaps they feel it's a slap in the face that everyone is acting like Jimmy has come to the rescue. "I'm sure everyone here is thankful you could help out Jimmy," Louise spoke apprehensively not wanting to upset her husband by complementing Jimmy's arrival too much.
"Thank-you Louise."
"Did you have any problems in town today on your first day as marshal?" Louise asked being bold with the conversation with Jimmy, but at the same time taking some pressure off of Buck and Kid by changing the subject away from the troubles they had had in Rock Creek.
"Not so far. The town seems pretty quiet. I don't understand all the concern about the townsfolk. They have always seemed fairly orderly to me. Even back when we were all riding for the Pony Express, the towns people didn't cause too much trouble, it was always the outsiders," Jimmy replied looking only at Louise.
"Like the people who wanted to burn down Sweetwater because they thought we had a Cholera epidemic spreading through town," Louise spoke with caution in her tone.
"What about Neville? I'm sure you remember the problems Neville caused here Buck," Jimmy spoke turning his attention to Buck.
Buck looks as if someone just punched him in the gut. The memories of that fatal day are something he tries to forget. Not only did Neville kill Ike, his best friend. But, then he turned around and killed Neville in cold blood. That is something he's had to live with every day, and not very proudly.
Teaspoon is waiting for Buck to lash out at Jimmy. Under any other circumstances Buck would stand up for what he believes is right. Ike's untimely death and the circumstances surrounding Ike's death still manage to keep Buck unusually quiet as if he's still in shock over the entire incident. Teaspoon sighs heavily in relief. Because of Buck's quietness a quarrel amongst his boys seems highly unlikely.
Kid sees the hurt expression on Buck's face. He's upset that Jimmy had to bring
up a part of Buck's past that has left him with so many of scars.
"I'm sure you'll have some problems to deal with soon. Rock Creek has become
a larger town since you were last here Jimmy. We have a few more people, which
usually means a few more outbreaks of arguments, fist fights, and gunfights,"
Kid commented harshly trying to take the conversation away from Ike and Neville.
Kid knows how much that day still ways heavily in Buck's heart.
Louise turns her attention to her husband. "You sound as if you want Jimmy to endure unmanageable residents and predicaments he has trouble getting out of." Louise's silverware rattles against her dinner plate as she impolitely drops them. She is astounded by Kid's statement. She waits patiently with her arms folded across her chest for her husband's response.
Kid gazes around the table. Everyone, except Buck, is looking back at Kid waiting eagerly for his answer to Louise's question.
"I think what Kid meant…" Buck tries to bale out Kid the way Kid had just guided the conversation away from Ike and Neville.
Kid's eyes meet with Buck's. They are best friends. They are always looking
out and standing up for each other when someone is accusing one of them of doing
wrong. Even though most of the time Buck and Kid are only trying to make life
better for their family, and the residents of Rock Creek, they often are asked
to explain their views and actions.
"Buck. It's all right. I can explain what I meant." Kid makes his
family wait a moment longer while he gathers his thoughts together. He certainly
doesn't want to be misunderstood a second time. "What I meant to say is
that Buck and I had dilemmas everyday with the people of Rock Creek. I don't
think those problems are going to cease to exist just because Jimmy is taking
over as marshal. The problems are still going to be there."
"Perhaps the problems will still be there Kid, but maybe I'll just handle those problems better than what you did," Jimmy spoke in an over-confident manner about his abilities.
Kid's face becomes flush with anger. Jimmy has a quick response for everything Kid or anyone else throws at him. Kid knows he shouldn't let Jimmy annoy him so much. Unfortunately through the years, Jimmy has been a bit of a thorn in Kid's otherwise happy life. Everyone at the table takes notice to Kid's quiet temper about ready to explode.
Teaspoon clears his throat. "I think it's time to call it a night. We all need a good night's sleep. The ranch, Rock Creek and even my old broken leg will look much brighter in the morning," Teaspoon spoke to his family with calm reassurance.
"Jimmy you can stay over at my house. There's plenty of room," Buck muttered to his friend.
Jimmy keeps his eyes fixed on Kid. "Ok. That way I can keep you informed about what's going on in town."
Buck stood up from the table and walked over to place a kiss on Rachel's cheek. "Thanks for dinner Rachel. It was good. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Buck." Rachel watches Jimmy get up from the table. "Goodnight Jimmy."
"Goodnight Rachel." He glances over at Louise. "Goodnight Louise, Kid."
"Goodnight Jimmy. See you tomorrow," Louise spoke softly not wanting to give in to Kid's temper, but also not wanting to fuel the fire between the two men anymore tonight.
Buck and Jimmy leave the Hunter home. They venture out into the cool night air. Both men walk in silence for a moment before Jimmy senses that Buck is just a bit upset with him.
"I'm sorry. It just seems like we are all back riding for the Pony Express. Nothing has changed between Kid and I."
"They are married and have a family. Please don't come between them," Buck stated angrily.
Jimmy halted his walking towards Buck's home. He latches onto Buck's arm to get Buck to stand still. "Is that what you think I'm doing? You think I came back to break them up?" Jimmy spoke with anger and resentment in his eyes.
"Not intentionally. But we both know you care for Louise," Buck spoke quietly.
"You love her too," Jimmy spoke defensively.
"Yeah. I do love her, as family. You, on the other hand, care for Louise in a much deeper way. We all observed your feelings for Louise when we rode for the Pony Express. You didn't shelter your feelings for her very well. Kid knew it as well."
"I guess if Kid died tomorrow, I would make sure I was close by to comfort Louise," Jimmy stated unemotionally at the thought of Kid's death.
"I don't want to hear this. I want you to promise me that you won't come between them."
"It isn't my fault Buck if Kid has become distant with his wife."
"He hasn't become distant with her. He loves her. He always has and he always will. Louise loves Kid too," Buck spoke bluntly getting somewhat worked up over the situation between Kid and Jimmy.
Jimmy slaps Buck on the back. They start walking again. "I can see this is upsetting you. If you want me to promise that I won't come between them, well then, I promise I won't come between them. But, don't ask me to stay away from being a friend to Louise just because Kid can't handle any other man being around his wife."
Jimmy doesn't try to hide his reckless smile from Buck. He walks away from Buck's side leaving his friend to fret over what he may or may not do. Buck watches after Jimmy as Jimmy walks away from him. He is downright worried that Jimmy could ruin Kid and Louise's life together as husband and wife. Louise always had a soft spot in her heart for Jimmy. By her actions tonight, Buck senses that that soft spot is still in her heart. He slowly moves towards his home. Perhaps Teaspoon is right. Of course he's right. Teaspoon is always right. Tomorrow Kid will forget about Jimmy's cocky attitude. Louise will be much clearer on the love she has for Kid. Jimmy…well Jimmy will be Jimmy.
