ROCK CREEK ADVENTUROUS TALES
PART 2

GHOSTS FROM THE PAST

by Debra © 2001

CHAPTER TWENTY

Early the next morning, everyone at the ranch had received word that there had been yet another murder. The young male body had been discovered by two of Cody's outstanding army soldiers that were assigned to guard the town from just such an incident.

Everyone from the ranch is congregating inside the walls of the jailhouse. There is an over abundance of citizens from Rock Creek assembled together outside the walls of the jailhouse, impatiently waiting for justice to be served to an innocent man who has spent a few nights in jail because of one army soldier's ignorance.

"You have no right holding Buck prisoner now that there has been another murder! Buck didn't do it. He was being held captive by you at the time of the murder last evening!" Teaspoon bellowed directly into Cody's face.

Cody holds firm to his stance in front of Rock Creek's marshal. His stone like appearance transmits to his Pony Express family that he no longer is a part of them. His concern for their welfare has dimmed just as Jesse's has. The only difference being that Cody is doing his best to avoid bloodshed, while Jesse is causing it.

"What about my witness?" Cody spoke back brashly to Teaspoon.

"What about your witness son? Seems to me he has forgotten to show up for three days now. Buck is not spending one more night in jail!" Teaspoon spoke harshly.

"Cody, either you let Buck out of jail or I'm going to let him out of jail, and then I'm going to lock you and all your soldiers up in the same cell.
That would make for some honest togetherness for you and your new family of idiots," Jimmy spoke calmly.

Cody glances over at Jimmy who is leaning against Buck's cell with Buck on the inside of the cell, but standing close to Jimmy. One by one Cody glances over his family from his past. During the six years that have passed since any of them road for The Pony Express, they have stayed together fighting for the same causes; truth, justice, love and family. He looks at these people and sees before him a group of strangers. He has been fighting for justice, but somehow truth turned into dishonesty all in the name of love. The love he feels for a woman that doesn't return his feelings.

The last person in the room his eyes meet up with are Jane's pleading eyes. She moves to stand in front of him, and he gazes down at the beautiful woman she has become. He remembers Jane from seven years ago as if it were just yesterday. Her figure hadn't yet matured into the young woman that stands before him now. She had reminded him of a tomboy, one that he thought would never turn into the raving beauty that stands before him. Jane certainly fooled him and probably Buck too. But, perhaps Jane never had Buck fooled. Cody thinks back seven years and at the way Buck had looked at Jane then. Cody smiles at the image forming in his mind. Jane held a special place in Buck's heart even then.

"Cody, it isn't right of you to keep Buck locked up with no legitimate reason. Your witness has refused to come forward to state what he actually witnessed at the scene of the crime. Without that witness you have no case against Buck," Jane spoke softly.

"I understand what you are all saying, but try and put yourself in my boots, army boots at that. My men and I must live by austere rules and regulations. I just can't allow my family to decide whether Buck is innocent or guilty," Cody spoke callously. It is not plausible to his family from the past that Buck would have anything at all to do with the killings that he is investigating.

"Your evidence against Buck is nothing but obscure, which makes your investigation irresponsible from your end of it," Jane spoke using a teacher's knowledge of words to bring Cody to his knees.

Cody stands with his mouth wind open. He can't believe that his grand plan is biting him in the butt! He should have remembered what an ingenious bunch his family can be. There isn't one of them standing in the jailhouse that ever had faith in his story about a witness identifying Buck as the killer.

Jane's smile says it all. She has shamed Cody into absolving Buck from the crimes that he has claimed Buck committed. He has to set Buck free from his imprisonment, but he will never be able to share with any of them the fallaciousness of his own crimes toward Buck.

Cody lets out a breath of air that he had been holding in. He takes the key to Buck's cell out of his front trouser pocket as he ambulates lethargically across the office to the cell that sustains Buck from his freedom.

Teaspoon is about losing his patient while observing Cody's deliberate avoidance to release Buck from his cell. "Cody, you certainly are quite the procrastinator."

Cody turns away from the cell to gaze at Teaspoon. "What exactly is that suppose to mean?"

"Remember when you boys were all riding for The Pony Express, but when it wasn't your day to ride you all had certain chores to do around the waystation?"

"I vaguely remember having chores to do," Cody replied with a broad grin.

"Remember how you always used to put off your chores until the next day, and then you had twice as many chores to do. Your next attempt at not getting your chores done would be to persuade one of the other riders to do your chores for you, if you took an extra ride that week for them."

"Yeah, I do remember that," Cody spoke boisterously.

"That my son is a procrastinator, and you are an expert at it," Teaspoon spoke matter a fact.

"Is that a compliment?" Cody asked blithely.

"Sounds more like an insult to me Cody," Jimmy stated flatly.

"In the meantime, while you are all procrastinating whether to let me out of jail or not, Kid is out searching for Jesse and the James Gang by himself," Buck spoke harshly at his family.

Cody's eyes meet with Teaspoon's eyes. Teaspoon's unyielding gaze stares back overwhelmingly at Cody. Teaspoon doesn't have to be vocal. His stance and expression are telling Cody that he must disenthrall Buck from imprisonment.

Cody gets a look of defeat on his face. Buck's grin of accomplishment is making Cody just a tiny bit nervous. He feels beads of sweat pouring from his glands. Cody slips the key back into the lock on the cell door.

"Cody, I've seen tortoise on a rainy day that move faster then what you're moving on a dry day inside a building. If you can't unlock the door, how about handing those keys over to me?" Jimmy spoke with an impatient tone.

The energy that Buck has saved up inside of him for the past three days wants to explode onto Cody. The moment Cody unlocks the door, Buck is pushing it outward, and Cody is backing up from the door with eyes wide open with fright!

Jane starts to rush toward Buck to keep him from dismembering Cody's limbs. Buck is just a little faster then Jane, and he almost gets his hands on Cody, but Teaspoon and Jimmy intercept, and ward off any pursuit that Buck had in mind.

"Buck! You're free now! Don't mess it up by going after Cody," Teaspoon bellowed as he tries to hold Buck back from killing Cody.

"Why can't all of you just let Cody and I alone for five minutes. I promise that when the five minutes are up I'll stop beating on him," Buck spoke angrily.

Buck tries to get himself free of the strong hold that Teaspoon and Jimmy have on him. Cody keeps backing up until he is about sitting on Teaspoon's desk.

"Can't you do something about the way he's behaving?" Cody asked his voice hoarse from fright.

"Your upset with my behavior! Cody, who locked me up in jail for three days and practically threw away the key, is upset with the way I'm behaving. What about your behavior, Cody?" Buck asked coldly.

"Let me warn you Buck. If you insist on assaulting an army soldier, it will give me a reason to lock you back up in that there cell you just came out of," Cody sputtered.

"You can't lock me up if you're laying on the floor unconscious, now can you?"

"Buck, can we please just go back to the ranch and wait for Kid's return home?" Jane pleaded. She places her warm hands on his chest to stop him from advancing any further onto Cody. Jane stands in Buck's way of getting to Cody knowing that Buck would never do anything to physically hurt her.

Buck gazes into her compassionate eyes. He can't understand how she can absolve all that Cody has done to him, but Jane has a benevolent heart. That is one of the many reasons that Buck loves her as deeply as he does. Buck releases the tenacious grip he has on his emotions to give Cody a lesson or two on sensibility and exactly what it means to be a part of a family.

Together Teaspoon and Jimmy feel Buck's body relax. They slowly release the strong hold that they had to enforce upon Buck to keep him from pulverizing Cody.

They all have watchful eyes on Buck as he and Jane walk up to Cody. Cody reaches out and places his hand on Jane's forearm. She looks into his eyes hoping he won't try and stop Buck from leaving the jailhouse.

"I just wanted to let you know that I had an enjoyable evening with you over dinner last evening," Cody remarked insidiously. He is trying everything he can possibly think of to get under Buck's skin.

"I only hope that I made my intensions clear to you," Jane spoke as she feels the torment of Buck's heart lying out on the floor for her to step on and crush if she should wish to do so.

Jane takes Buck's hand, and leads him out of the jailhouse. They get on the buckboard that she had brought into town from the ranch.

Jimmy walks over and slaps Cody on the back in a friendly manner. "Don't you feel better now that you've released an innocent man from the clutches of the judicial system?"

"I feel like I'm going to be doing a lot of groveling to my superior officers to keep my job," Cody whined.

"I'm sure your commanding officers won't think you botched this entire investigation up. In fact, I'm willing to bet that you carry a lot of clout with those relics," Teaspoon surmised as he walked past Cody and on out of the jailhouse. He has a need for some fresh air. The air in the jailhouse had become wretched from Cody's desecration of the family ties they all once had to each other.

Buck had taken the reins of the horses from Jane the moment they lost sight of the jailhouse. Until that moment she had not fully trusted him not to turn back, and humiliate Cody in front of his men. Jane just wanted to escape Cody's apparent lapse in memory concerning their dinner date.

The silence between them was growing unbearable. Buck wants to ask Jane about her date with Cody, but he's worried that Jane may take it like he is meddling into her private life. After all, there has been no promise between him and Jane, he has only allowed himself to assume that they are together as a couple.

"I know you want to ask about my date with Cody. My concern is why it is taking you so long to inquire about it," Jane spoke strongly.

"Did you have a good time?" Buck asked with sarcasm.

A tiny smile of accomplishment creeps from the corners of Jane's mouth. She had hoped to witness a little jealously from Buck. With all the passionate moments the two of them have shared together, they have had very little time to discuss how they feel about each other. Jane is realizing that she has deep feelings for the Kiowa, beside the lust that she intensely feels for him. Her most unfulfilled need right now is to know if Buck has feelings for her other than the undisguised lust he has for her.

"I had a wonderful time, thank-you for asking."

"How could you possibly have a wonderful time with a pompous, dim-witted man like Cody?" Buck asked fiercely.

At this time, Jane must cover her obvious grin of pleasure with her hand. She wouldn't want Buck thinking she is trying to make him jealous.

"Now I understand why you hadn't been to the jail to visit with me in two days. You were spending all Cody's free time with him," Buck spoke pathetically. He generally doesn't make it a point to feel sorry for himself, but he has fallen in love with the woman that sits next to him on the buckboard. Perhaps he had been impulsive in thinking that Jane had also fallen in love with him.

Jane can't control the laughter that is about to bust out from all corners of her mouth. She wraps her arm into Buck's and leans her head onto his shoulder. He can feel the trembling coming from within her. He looks down at the woman who has completely taken over his senses.

"You think you are so cute, don't you?" Buck asked demanding gently that she own up to her trickery.

"You have to admit I had you going there for a minute."

"You enjoy doing that to me just a little too much," Buck spoke softly.

"There's a lot more I would enjoy doing to you, if only you'd allow me to do it," Jane spoke seductively.

Buck pulls the reins to the horses causing them to take a break in the middle of the road. He looks down at Jane with the look of a man that has his mind racing with all sorts of impure thoughts. He lets go of the reins and places both his hands at the nape of Jane's neck gently forcing her to look up at him.

"Don't talk to me like that or I'll have you in the back of this buckboard so fast that neither one of us will be able to stop what will happen," Buck spoke his voice husky with desire.

Jane decides she wants to be a bit daring with Buck. She wants him to make love to her, and at this moment Jane doesn't really care if he does it to her on the cold, hard ground! She places her hand on his left knee, as she licks her lips in a slow sensuous manner. Her lips remain parted after she renders him physically consumed with desire!

He tilts his head and lowers his lips to meet with her full tantalizing lips. Buck brushes his tongue lightly against her lips before giving in to his desire and kisses Jane breathless! She boldly caresses his inner left thigh with her hand. Buck moans deeply in respond to Jane's unrestrained touching of his inner thighs!

Jane isn't going to let up on her assault of his senses this time. She wants Buck so badly that she won't even allow herself to imagine their desire for each other going unsatisfied this time. Both her hands are feverishly caressing his thighs! She is explicitly satisfied with the deep continuous moans that are escaping from Buck. She needs to make sure that she stimulates Buck to the point where he simply can't and won't abandon their lovemaking. When she feels the trembling of his inner thighs, she concludes that he has reached the point where he couldn't possibly halt the passion between them!

Jane pulls away from their kiss to catch her breath. Buck doesn't want to stop kissing her! He lowers his lips to kiss her neck and the back of her ears. He places a trail of searing kisses down her throat. He nudges her blouse off her shoulders with his shaky hands, and proceeds to kiss and nip at her flesh causing Jane a moment of lost concentration on her part to make Buck so full of need for her that he can't think straight until that need is satisfied!

She compels Buck to halt his assault on her flesh when she straightens up to unbutton his shirt. Jane manages only a couple of the buttons when Buck places his hand on her shaky hands. She gazes into his darkened eyes that look like endless pools of emotion.

"We can't do this right now," Buck spoke his voice shaky with desire.

Jane acts as if she doesn't hear him. She moves forward with the unbuttoning of his shirt until she can see his bare chest. She places her heated hands onto his bare flesh and rakes her nails over his nipples. The deep moan she receives for her effort causes her passion to take control of her again. She pulls his shirt from his trousers. Her lips seek out Buck's, and she kisses him, but she can feel that Buck is trying desperately to control his body and his passion. Buck pulls away from their kiss.

"Buck, please make love to me."

Buck raises his hands to cup her face in them. He kisses her lips tenderly, and then once again separates his lips from her swollen, red lips. "You have to know that all I ever think about anymore is making love to you."

"Then why don't you?"

"At this very moment Teaspoon and Jimmy are probably right behind us. I know Teaspoon is just as anxious as I am to hear from Kid on how his tracking the James Gang went. I don't think you really want them catching us right in the middle of anything."

"To be honest, I really don't care who catches us anymore!" Jane spoke her voice husky with desire. She leans into Buck and kisses him with much need and want. At first, Jane doesn't feel him responding. He can certainly be a stubborn man at times. She runs her tongue over his lips to fuel the flames of desire in him again. It doesn't take too long before she is satisfied when she hears deep moans coming from Buck.

Buck can't allow the two of them to let their unsatisfied need to become one, interfere with a job that he must do. As much as he wants to carry Jane off into the woods and set up a romantic camp for just the two of them so they can finally be alone. He has to help Kid find the horse thieves first. Buck halts their kiss by jumping off the bench of the buckboard, and onto the ground.

Jane is startled by the realization that Buck's heated body is no longer against hers. She looks down at him with a bewildered gaze. She watches him as he paces the length of the buckboard all while he runs his fingers through his long dark hair trying to calm his body from trembling. He tries with trembling hands to button his shirt back up. In the distance Jane hears the sound of horses making their way toward them.

"You might as well give up on the mission you are trying to conquer. I think from the sound of those hooves, that Teaspoon and Jimmy are almost upon us," Jane snickered softly.

"I'm glad you find my discomfort so amusing," Buck spoke his voice husky. He walks to the other side of the buckboard. Perhaps he can hide his embarrassment from Jimmy if he stays behind the buckboard.

Jane follows Buck's every movement. She does feel a little sorry for him. After all, it was her unrelenting passion for him that wouldn't allow her to ease up on him, and it eventually led to his body responding to her in a very attentive way!

"Perhaps I should refrain from rubbing the inside of your thighs," Jane spoke softly.

Buck runs his fingers nervously through his long hair once again. "Do we have to discuss this right now?"

"Maybe the next time I start arousing you, just to make sure there is no way you will want to stop yourself from making love to me, I should try undoing your trousers."

Buck looks back on the road in the direction in which he and Jane had just come from. He can visualize Teaspoon and Jimmy on their horses about a half of a mile away from them. It certainly wouldn't be enough time for the two of them to engage in any passionate activity. He turns his attention back to Jane.

"Jane, please don't torment me like this right now."

She bends down from the buckboard to place a heated kiss on his parted lips. She can't help herself but to tease him into a passionate frenzy again. He won't allow it. Not with Teaspoon, and especially Jimmy approaching them. Buck stops their kiss, but he soon wishes that he would let Jane continue to kiss him. Her vocal torment is driving him near the edge of insanity.

"Perhaps after I succeed with the removal of your trousers, I should proceed with some stroking of the flesh that is giving you such discomfort at this very moment," Jane spoke her voice husky from all the teasing she is giving Buck.

"Jane please," Buck pleaded.

"Please what?"

"Please stop talking to me like that before I explode."

"Why don't you come back up here, and sit with me. Jimmy won't notice your…uh…your plight if you're sitting next to me."

"Jimmy will notice anything that gives him a good laugh and causes me great humiliation at the same time."

Teaspoon and Jimmy stop their horses alongside the buckboard. Jimmy is grinning from ear to ear. He is already aware of what the problem is with Buck and Jane.

"Is there a problem Buck?" Teaspoon asked seriously.

"Uh Teaspoon, there's a problem, but I think we should just let Buck and Jane take care of it," Jimmy spoke with amusement.

"Thanks a lot Jimmy," Buck spoke humiliated.

"I see," Teaspoon spoke still confused.

"We'll see both of you back at the ranch," Jimmy spoke teasingly as he and Teaspoon ride away from the buckboard.

Jane smiles warmly at the man she loves so much. Buck just looks defeated.

Kid raises his arms up to Louise. She allows her body to slide into Kid's from her position on the horse. With a boot in her hand, Louise allows Kid to carry her to the front porch of their home. She hears the sound of horses coming toward their home. Both Kid and Louise glance up to see whoever it is that is entering the ranch. She is only hoping that whoever it is, they don't bring more trouble to them.

Jimmy and Teaspoon approach Kid and Louise as if a fire had been lit under their horse's rump. They come to a dead stop directly in front of Kid who is crouched down examining Louise's ankle.

Jimmy and Teaspoon both descend from their horse. Teaspoon's dismount is much slower than what Jimmy's is. Jimmy walks over and crouches down next to Kid.

"What seems to be the problem?" Jimmy asked concerned for Louise.

Kid won't even glance over at Jimmy. He is handling Louise's ankle with his benign touch. Louise grimaces every time Kid twists the ankle slightly in a different direction.

"Louise isn't any of your concern, Jimmy," Kid spoke cantankerously.

"Are you turning grouchy on me again Kid?" Jimmy asked in an amusing tone.

Louise must stifle a grin when Kid peers at her in a disapproving manner.

"You don't need to encourage him," Kid spoke in a moody tone to his wife.

"You don't need to tell me what I can say and do or what I shouldn't say and shouldn't do," Louise spoke astutely.

Teaspoon casually strolls up to the three huddled together obviously in the midst of a deep discussion. A discussion that in Teaspoon's eyes seems to be garnering a bit on the unfriendly side.

"Kid, what happened to Louise?" Teaspoon asked heedfully.

"She lost her footing when she dismounted from her horse on rocky terrain," Kid spoke prudently.

Jimmy straightens up and stands back from Kid, Louise and Teaspoon. All of a sudden he feels like he isn't a part of this family anymore. Kid won't even acknowledge his presence. When Louise vocally takes his side, Kid disparages her in front of everyone. Jimmy has a difficult time keeping his mouth shut over the disrespect Kid shows toward Louise. Teaspoon is constantly coming between him and Kid, Cody and Buck, Jesse and everybody, just to keep peace in his family. He starts to wonder again if he should pack up and move out. He left them six years ago, and he missed them a little more with everyday that passed. This time he figures it would damn near kill him to leave them. He loves them all, but they sure are a stubborn bunch, just like they've always been.

Rachel shoves her way though Jimmy and Teaspoon to get to Louise.
"What happened to you?" Rachel spoke her voice filled with concern for the young woman. She sits down next to Louise on the porch steps.

"Kid thinks I twisted my ankle."

"Shouldn't we get her over to town for Doc Barnes to examine her ankle?" Rachel asked the men calmly.

Before any of them can reply with an intelligent answer, Buck and Jane ride up in the buckboard. Buck halts the horses next to Teaspoon and Jimmy's horses.

Jimmy walks on over to the buckboard. "You get control of your problem Buck?"

"You certainly are more observant then you've ever been Jimmy," Buck replied his face hot with embarrassment.

Jane and Jimmy are both grinning uncontrollably at the Kiowa. Buck just wants to hide from the both of them, but instead he gets down from the buckboard, and walks on over to Kid and Louise without uttering a word to either Jane or Jimmy. He figures the best way to abandon his humiliation is to bury himself with Kid and Louise's situation.

Jimmy and Jane stare after the Kiowa thinking that he is upset with both of them due to their taunting. Their grins are rapidly wiped from their faces when Buck ignores both of them.

Buck crouches down to take a closer look at Louise's foot and ankle. "Her ankle is becoming quite swollen, and painful to touch," Buck remarked as he touches her ankle and presses on it lightly to determine how badly swollen it has become.

"Buck can you get her into the back of the buckboard? Jane and I will take her into town to see Doc Barnes while you men decide what you're going to do about Jesse," Rachel asked coherently.

Louise feels enervated as Buck lifts her into his arms, and proceeds to carry her to the buckboard that he and Jane had just arrived at the ranch on. Kid follows close behind as Buck places Louise in the back of the buckboard.

"Kid, Louise will need a blanket to prop her foot on," Rachel spoke taking total control of the situation.

"Sure thing Rachel. I'll be right back," Kid spoke hurriedly as he starts toward the house.

Teaspoon takes turns walking and limping to the back of the buckboard where Rachel is attending to Louise.

"I told you that nothing good would come from Jesse coming back into our lives," Rachel spoke in a harsh tone.

"I know. I plan on rectifying our situation with Jesse immediately," Teaspoon spoke disheartened.

"How do you plan on accomplishing that feat?" Rachel asked overwrought with anger aimed at Jesse and his unlawful gang.

"I plan on helping Kid and Buck track Jesse and his gang down. They've done enough damage to our lives because I allowed it to happen."

"I don't think it's a good idea that you go along Teaspoon. You just started walking without the crutches, and Doc Barnes didn't want you riding yet. You just decided on your own that you are riding whether the doc likes it or not," Buck stated sensibly.

"Buck is right Teaspoon. You shouldn't jeopardize the healing of your leg. You could end up breaking it again," Louise spoke in between bouts of pain coming from her ankle.

"I'm going, and that is final!" Teaspoon spoke harshly to his family.

Kid runs out of the house with a blanket for Louise. He hands it to Rachel as he arrives at the back of the buckboard.

Buck walks around to the other side of the buckboard where Jane is still seated.

"Is Louise alright?" Jane asked with concern for Louise.

"Yeah. It appears to be a twisted ankle. The doc will probably just bandage it up and send her back home. Do you mind helping Rachel attend to taking Louise into town?"

"I think I can manage that. What about the children?"

"I'll have Jimmy retrieve Charlene for those duties. If Charlene's going to inhabit on this ranch, then she's going to have to make herself useful. It won't hurt Charlene to do something other than sit in front of her vanity trying to beautify herself," Buck spoke harshly.

"What are you going to do?" Jane asked worriment showing on her face.

"Kid and I will be searching for Jesse."

"So you won't be here when we get back from town?"

"We need to leave right away."

"I see," Jane spoke barely above a whisper.

"What's wrong?"

"Please be careful. They're already taken shots at you in the clearing that day."

"We haven't been able to prove that those shots were fired by The James Gang."

"It seems to me that Jesse and his gang are the only outlaws near here that are causing problems," Jane spoke worried about Buck's safety.

He reaches up to Jane, and places a tender kiss on her lips. He doesn't allow this show of his love for her to get out of hand. "I'll be fine."

Rachel pulls herself up onto the bench of the buckboard next to Jane.
"Are we all set to go?"

"Lets go," Jane replied.

Rachel guides the horses to turn around and then she heads them in the direction of Rock Creek. Jane looks back at Buck as long as she can until he is no longer in her sight.

When the buckboard is out of their sight. Buck once again turns his attention to Teaspoon.

"I don't want you going along," Buck stated wearily.

"And why not?" Teaspoon asked grudgingly. He is becoming more than slightly annoyed with Buck and his campaign to keep him at home. He knows Buck's reasons are much more deep then the fact that he doesn't want him to cause more injury to his leg. Teaspoon turns his attention to Kid and Jimmy who are standing close by, not saying a word, but keeping a watchful eye on what goes on between him and Buck. "Jimmy, could you get Charlene to help with the children until the women get back from Doc Barnes?"

"Uh…sure thing Teaspoon," Jimmy spoke hesitatingly. He isn't real sure he wants to leave Teaspoon and Buck alone, but he won't disrespect Teaspoon's wish to speak with Buck alone. He walks backwards for a second while still watching Buck and Teaspoon, but when Teaspoon gives him an annoying nudge with his eyes, Jimmy turns his attention to Buck's house and secures his thoughts on Charlene.

Teaspoon turns his eyes on Kid next. "I suppose you could start attending to the horses for our ride," Teaspoon spoke in a commanding manner.

Kid glances at Buck, and only gets a nod of agreement from his partner.
"I suppose I can manage the horses." He walks away from the two hoping that Buck can take care of himself. They all know when Teaspoon has his mind made up; there is nothing that stops him from doing what he wants.

Teaspoon turns his attention back to Buck. "Besides my getting hurt, what is the real reason you don't want me along on this journey?"

"You know the reason. Why do I have to spell it out for you?" Buck spoke defeated.

"Because, so I can scold you for it," Teaspoon spoke with a grin meant to help Buck relax under fire.

"I don't want you anywhere near if we should find Jesse, and guns are drawn," Buck spoke disheartened.

"It has taken me some bit of time to get it through my thick skull that Jesse is not the fifteen year old boy I once tried to shelter from life's cruel ways. I don't want to believe that he would shoot any one of us, but I ain't gonna assume that he wouldn't."

"You know it will take Jesse or one of his gang to fire first before a gunfight will break out," Buck spoke assuring Teaspoon that he doesn't plan on a gunfight.

"Can you make me that promise? Can you promise me that our side will not initiate a gunfight with The James Gang?"

"I can make that promise. It's Jimmy you might have to worry about."

Jimmy makes his way back to Teaspoon and Buck with Charlene slowly scampering behind him. "What are you worried about me for?"

"Never mind. Lets just get on out of here," Teaspoon replied

Kid hurries out of the barn with a horse for him and Buck. As he approaches his family, a horseman races onto the ranch and halts his horse to a dead stop right in front of Teaspoon Hunter.

Jack Morgan dismounts in one swift stride from his horse with a rifle buried beneath his armpit. "You didn't think I'd let you ride on out of here in search of Jesse James without my accompanying you, now did you Teaspoon?"

"I sure was hoping," Teaspoon spoke defeated.

"I saw your ladies in town. You certainly have a smart wife, Teaspoon. She wants to make sure you don't go and get yourself killed."

"There isn't anything I can say that will keep you from tagging along?" Teaspoon asked hopefully.

Jack shakes his head negatively. He wants Jesse just as bad as Teaspoon does. He figures it isn't his fault that they want the boy to end up two different ways. Jack would prefer that Jesse and his gang hang for all their law-breaking acts. Jack knows Teaspoon would prefer the boy just ride on out of this territory and never look back. "You didn't think I came all this way just to reminisce about our past, did you?"

"No, I suppose not."

Jack Morgan mounts his horse without another word spoken between him and his friend from the past. Kid and Buck, who had both been listening to the conversation intently, mount their horses and take the lead around the corrals of their ranch.

"There isn't much daylight left. We should get some distance between the womenfolk of this ranch and ourselves. I understand they've had to save their men a time or two. We wouldn't want then attempting to follow us," Jack spoke amusingly.

There isn't one man that lives at The Kid & Buck Ranch that finds any humor in Jack's proclamation. Jack is the only man riding away from the ranch with a wide grin spread across his face.

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