ROCK CREEK ADVENTUROUS TALES
PART 2

GHOSTS FROM THE PAST

by Debra © 2001

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Jack Morgan dismounts from his dark gray mare with an old grunt and groan. He has become tired of late searching for any outlaw he can just to put a few dollars in his pocket. A good night of sleep in a hotel with a solid bed and a fancy woman to wait on his every beckon call is like a dream these past few months. He has chosen to hunt down one of the most elusive outlaws to pass through this territory during his lifetime.

Jack had started his adulthood life out as a trapper. His heart just wasn't into doing an honest man's work. Truth be known, if he hadn't have encountered bounty hunting when he did, Jack may have ended up on the same side of the law as Jesse James!

Jack Morgan pulls his rifle from it's resting place on his horse. He is loaded with another gun in its holster attached to his right hand side. He carries the rifle powerfully as he slowly walks up to the white picket fence around the home. His heavy footsteps echo through the mid-day quietness. He walks assertively onto the stone walk leading up to the house. Just about everyone who lives at the ranch is gone for the day. They all needed a day of rest and relaxation.

Jack in an older man. He looks to be close in age to Teaspoon Hunter. His hair is a lighter shade of gray then the mare he rode into the ranch on. He keeps it short and straight. Only a small amount of gray can be seen from under his black cowboy hat. He could be a handsome man if it weren't for the outdoors causing his skin to look older than what it should be. The brutal sun in the summer, the chilly winds of autumn, the blasting snows of winter, and the dampness of spring all add up to a face made of leather. It doesn't much matter to him though. He wouldn't enjoy life if he were tied to a woman's apron strings and had four or five children running around a farmhouse calling him Pa. He shudders at the thought of his life being locked up in a cell. That's what married life could end up being like if you weren't real careful about the maiden you married. For Jack, it is much more enjoyable to call on a woman of profession when he needs a woman to satisfy his hunger. They require a pocket full of cold cash, but they will and can do anything you ask for.

He stands six foot tall with a strong, muscular build. There is no slouching in his posture or his life's work. He is a man that lives off the land, and has survived very well in doing so. He has spent most of his life hunting down and killing outlaws that disrupt the monotonous lives of the farmers, ranchers, bankers, and marshals. Some people will question his line of work, but those same people are grateful when they have to tolerate one less outlaw. He laughs inside at the joy of his thankless job. Someone has to bring those outlaws to justice, or to an early death. Jack thanks the lord above for giving him this thankless job.

Jack's harsh pounding on the front door is earthshaking enough to wake up the dead! He doesn't wait for an answer. His fist is clinched together, and it hits the door repeatedly until before him stands a vision of loveliness. He is flabbergasted at her beauty. He removes his hat like the gentleman he isn't, but her presence requires respect. He can see that in her cautious eyes and in the strength of her stanch in the doorframe of her home. Her loved ones reside inside this home. There is no way a stranger will enter unless she allows it. No harm will come to this woman's family unless it is over her dead body!

"Good afternoon ma'ma. My name is Jack Morgan. The marshal in Rock Creek told me, that I could find Teaspoon Hunter here at this ranch. Could you direct me to the home he lives in?" Jack asked politely.

Rachel looks the man over. She isn't too sure that her husband would know such a man. It is obvious to Rachel that this Jack fellow is a bounty hunter. She can see that by the weapons he carries with him.

"What would you want with Teaspoon?"

"We're old friends from a long time ago."

"Rachel, who's at the door?" Teaspoon bellowed as he appears behind Rachel. He gazes at Jack is if he's viewing another ghost from his past. Unlike the first ghost, Teaspoon isn't too sure he's happy to see this one.

"Jack, is that you?" Teaspoon questioned as he moves in front of Rachel. "It is you! Well I'll be damned!"

"Good to see you Teaspoon," Jack spoke calmly.

The two men shake hands and embrace. When Jack stands back to admire Teaspoon's life, Teaspoon hops out onto the porch with his crutches.

"Rachel, would you bring Jack and I each a cup of coffee?" Teaspoon asked his lovely wife. "Lets sit out here on the porch. It is stifling hot inside today.

Rachel hesitates for a moment as she continues to keep her eyes on Jack Morgan. First Jesse arrived with all of his baggage, and now Jack Morgan. Could Jesse's arrival on their doorstep have something to do with Jack Morgan's sudden impulse to visit an old friend? She's laying odds that Teaspoon hasn't seen or heard from Jack Morgan in over twenty years. She closes the door to her home.

Jack and Teaspoon make themselves comfortable on the porch of the Hunter home.

"I see you've changed occupations Jack," Teaspoon stated bluntly.

"I heard from the young marshal in town that you are actually Rock Creek's marshal. I guess the young man is filling in for you due to the nastiness of that there leg of yours," Jack spoke powerfully.

"What brings you here? I haven't seen you in twenty some years. That's a long time for you to just get an itch that you want to see an old friend of yours," Teaspoon questioned dreading Jack's answer.

"I heard that you were around these parts, but I wasn't too sure I'd be welcome after what happened when we parted. So I stayed away. But, business has finally brought me here. I have been wanting to talk with you for a long time, but life just had a way of keeping me away from here."

"Until now? Why?"

"Jesse James and The James Gang. Ever hear of them Teaspoon?" Jack spoke demandingly.

"I've heard of them. Their wanted posters are posted all over the territory," Teaspoon replied somberly.

"That gang is a heartless bunch of men. Their last bank robbery was just a few weeks ago in Plum Creek. Got away with twenty thousand dollars. Now with that kind of money you would think the idiots would have left the territory."

Teaspoon is taken back by what Jack is saying. Jesse arrived at the ranch just a few weeks ago. He hadn't been keeping himself abreast of the latest news concerning robberies and other violations of the law since he's been disabled. Jesse must have been getting a good laugh over his shallowness. He wanted to believe Jesse would change. Jesse only came to Teaspoon to keep the law from pursuing him. What a fool he has been.

"You all right Teaspoon? You look a little pale," Jack asked.

Rachel walks out of the house with the cups of coffee in her hands for the two men.

"Jack, I'd like you to meet my wife Rachel. Rachel this here is an old friend of mine from way back."

"Pleased to meet you Jack," Rachel spoke shaking the man's powerful hand.

"It's a pleasure meeting you. I didn't think Teaspoon had it in him to marry a white woman. Seemed to me Teaspoon you were always living with an Indian woman."

"That was a long time ago Jack. My life has had a lot of changes in it since those days."

"I'm sure it has."

"Well if you two men will excuse me, I have cooking to do. Jack, would you like to stay for dinner?" Rachel asked politely.

"I've been eating off the land for quite some time now. A good home cooked meal sure sounds good right about now."

"Then it's settled. Dinner will be around six. We'll be expecting you," Rachel spoke. She leaves the two men to finish discussing their business.

"So Jack, what are your plans concerning The James Gang? You planning on trying to capture them all by yourself?" Teaspoon asked desperately trying to find out how he will be able to protect Jesse from Jack Morgan.

Teaspoon remembers Jack Morgan as being a ruthless man who never showed much concern for another human beings welfare. To call him a friend is just a statement. Jack Morgan is more like an acquaintance that takes what he needs from you and vanishes from your life until the next time he needs something from you.

"I plan on bringing the gang in. Their wanted posters say dead or alive. So I don't have to bring them in alive to get the bounty money. To be truthful, it's a whole lot easier to bring an outlaw in dead," Jack spoke amusingly.

Teaspoon isn't amused. He stares at Jack with a quiet rage. He doesn't want Jack to wise about the fact that Teaspoon knows Jesse James on a personal level. The fact that bounty hunters are just killers in their own way, has always nauseated Teaspoon.

Jack sees the turbulence written on Teaspoon's face. The marshal is hiding something from him. Perhaps Teaspoon has already had a run in with The James Gang. Jack knows The James Gang is a brutal bunch. Maybe the paleness on Teaspoon's face has to do with a loved one being murdered by the gang. He won't ask Teaspoon just yet with what is bothering him. They'll have plenty of time to exchange ideas about Jesse and Frank James. Jack also knows he has to make time to tell Teaspoon about a secret. A secret that Jack has known concerning Teaspoon's life for the past twenty-five years!

Kid is basking in the warm sun with his head lying in Louise's lap. He is twirling a piece of grass around in his mouth. He can hear the pleasant sounds of his daughters trying to chase down a butterfly to examine it more carefully.

Louise suddenly grabs the piece of grass sticking from out of his mouth.
She awakens Kid from his half-asleep daze.

"Okay. I'm sorry. I know I'm suppose to be a doting husband today, but I can never resist a warm lap and a sunny day to ease all my tensions away," Kid spoke softly.

"I have other plans for all your tension," Louise spoke mischievously.

Kid sits up and faces her. He gets a playful smile across his face. "Did you get a chance to talk with Charlene this morning before we left the ranch?"

"Why are you asking?" Louise asked. She already knows what happened last night with Jane and Buck. Charlene couldn't wait to cry on her shoulders about it this morning before her picnic with Kid.

"Did Charlene tell you about Jane and Buck?"

"Yes she did. Why are we discussing Buck on our picnic?" Louise asked in a teasing manner.

"Are you still jealous of Buck?"

"I never said I was jealous of Buck!" Louise spoke embarrassed at her feelings. Maybe Rachel had clued Kid in on the fact that Louise is having a difficult time dealing with Kid's time spent with Buck. No. Rachel had promised that she wouldn't. Of course Kid has been assuming for quite sometime now that she is jealous of Buck. That has to be it. I suppose now whenever Kid mentions Buck's name in conversation, she'll have to act like their time spent together working the ranch doesn't annoy her.

"Louise, I just wanted your opinion about the two women in Buck's life."

"Honestly, I just hope Buck marries one of them," Louise spoke more gruffly to Kid then she had intended to.

"It wouldn't matter which one he marries to you?" Kid asked with a teasing smile.

"All right Kid. Charlene is a deceitful woman who really only cares about what she can get out of someone. I mean she's been nice enough to me, but I think it's only because I know Buck. Jane, on the other hand, is a passionate woman about many things in her life. She loves to teach, she enjoys being around friends, and she's already falling in love with Buck even though I don't think she realizes it yet. Charlene needs Buck to give her a life. She would be dependent on Buck for everything. Not to mention that Charlene can't cook, doesn't really want children of her own, and only looks at Buck at what he can give her. Jane doesn't need Buck to give her a life of her own. She already has her own life. She's independent, loves children, and probably wants a house full of her own children someday. She doesn't look at Buck for what she can get from him. Instead, at least by watching the way her eyes roam all over him, she's anticipating anxiously I might add, at how she can please him."

"I guess Jane is the right woman for Buck, "Kid spoke softly.

"Now that that is settled can we get back to you and I. Remind me again about what you have planned for us after the girls are tucked in bed for the night," Louise spoke with a devilish smirk.

Kid puts his arms around his wife and begins to kiss her awaiting lips. He lays her gently onto the blanket they are sitting on that covers the ground. He quickly takes a peek at where his daughters are still chasing the same butterfly. He smiles warmly at the family he loves dearly and never wants to lose.

Louise turns his face back to her, and kisses him passionately. His hands roam freely down her body. Her soft moans intensive the pressure of his roaming hands. The pleasure Kid brings her with his hands is causing her flesh to heat up under his touch. She can't stand it any longer. She starts to unbutton his shirt! His hands suddenly grasp Louise's hands to stop their lovemaking!

"I think in our over-indulgence we have forgotten about our two little girls and the questions they will have if they come back from their butterfly chase before we finish making love," Kid spoke breathlessly.

Louise leaves out a sigh. She is trying to get her breathing under control. Her skin is flushed and hot from his touches. She fans herself with her hands trying to cope with the extra heat of the day! "Is there any chance of the butterfly tiring them enough to make their bedtime a little earlier tonight? I simply can't wait until eight o'clock to have you devour me," Louise spoke her voice shaky with passion.

Kid kisses his wife tenderly. "I think the butterfly might be able to manage that."

"Thank god for small favors," Louise spoke boldly.

Kid laughs tenderly at his insatiable wife. This is a good sign. They had talked about Buck, but Jimmy's name had not been brought into their conversation at all today. And now, all Louise wants is to rush home, and make mad passionate love with him!

Buck pulls up on the reins of the buckboard as they come to the spot where he wants Jane to see. He had told her what had happened to Ike, and she really wanted to see the place where they had had Ike's funeral ceremony.

Buck jumps off the buckboard and walks briskly over to the other side. He lifts his arms up to Jane. She allows him to help her down. Buck gently places her feet on the ground. They walk hand in hand away from the horses and buckboard.

Jane looks around the area before saying anything to Buck. "This is a beautiful place. I'm sure Ike's spirit is free."

"It doesn't seem like he's been gone for six years," Buck spoke sadly.

Jane senses the sadness in him. She doesn't want Buck to feel sad about Ike's death. She knows for the most part Buck has accepted Ike's death, but their still remains sadness in Buck's heart that may always be there. "You still miss Ike, don't you?" Jane asked softly.

"I still find myself thinking about what ifs. It's hard for me not to think about what might have been if Ike were still alive. I'm sure him and Emily would be married and they would probably have at least a half a dozen kids by now," Buck spoke his voice creaking with emotion.

Jane touches Buck's face tenderly. She gently tucks a loose strand of his soft, ebony hair behind his ear. He searches her eyes and sees in her eyes the same thing he is feeling. Buck bends his head down to kiss her sweet lips that constantly are inviting him to kiss them. His hands wrap gently around her back, and they roam up to the nape of her neck where he plays with her soft locks.

Jane reaches her arms up around his neck and tangles her soft fingers in his dark hair. She loves the length of his hair. It enables her hands to have something to play with while her thoughts are wishing she could have her hands on other places of his body! She deepens their kiss as she pulls him closer to her. She arches her body up to Buck to make him totally aware of how much she wants him!

Buck moans deeply with every assault Jane's body makes on his! His body aches with desire for this woman! He isn't sure how much more of this tantalizing caressing and embracing he can tolerate. His body is screaming out to make this woman his, but his mind and heart are telling him to wait. Buck hears Jane's soft moans begging him to make passionate love to her!

Jane senses that this episode of lovemaking is going to end the same way the sofa episode ended. She won't let it. Her heart is over flowing with love for this man. She wants to show Buck how much she loves him. If he won't make the first move with the removal of their clothing, then she will have to be bold enough to make the first move.

Jane brings her hands from around his neck and rests them on his chest. Her hands are trembling with so much desire that she can barely get the buttons of his shirt to come undone. Once she has accomplished the buttons, she pulls his shirt from out of his trousers. Buck groans deeply anticipating what Jane will do next. Jane takes her quivering hands that yearn to touch his flesh, and she places them on Buck's bare chest.

Buck pulls her closer to him. Jane wraps her heated hands around his back. He attacks the flesh of her neck and shoulders with a heated trail of smoldering kisses! Jane bends her neck slightly backwards to allow Buck easy access to her bare skin. He nibbles breathlessly at the tender part of flesh behind her ears. The only sounds Buck hears are the soft continuous moans coming from Jane pleading with him to make love to her right here, right now!

Surrounded by woods the naked clearing would make an excellent place to make endless love to the woman you love. It also makes an excellent hiding place for The James Gang! Jesse smiles with evilness at the young couple that is seconds from showing each other the love they are feeling for the other. He raises his gun and fires a shot at the couple!

Buck's keen senses of alertness slowly start to come back to him as he pulls Jane to the ground! He is so over-wrought with unsatisfied passion that he is having trouble thinking straight. Another shot fires out close to them!

Buck quickly gets Jane to her feet and rushes with her to take cover behind the buckboard. He takes his gun out of its holster and aims at the endless forest. His eyes are searching for a clue as to where the intruder of their lovemaking is hiding out. He thought his mind had been sensing the men that he can't see. The density of the forest keeping their faces well hidden, but somehow before his eyes Buck sees the laughing faces of Jesse James and his gang!

Jesse and Frank laugh silently together. This is only the beginning of what is to come.

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