ROCK CREEK ADVENTUROUS TALES
PART 2

GHOSTS FROM THE PAST

by Debra © 2001

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Buck awoke early the next morning to find Jack Morgan still watching over the camp. Buck didn't like the man much, but he had to admit it is much better that he is on their side, and not Jesse's. Buck smells the fresh pot of coffee steaming on the open fire. He gets up from his bedroll, and makes his way over to the coffee.

Jack has noticed that the Kiowa is the first one awake. Did he really doubt that he wouldn't be? The young man seems to sleep very lightly. He watches as Buck pours himself a cup of his coffee, and not the stuff that Teaspoon had made the night before claiming that it was coffee.

"You're up early," Jack spoke as he takes a long drink from his cup. He doesn't look at Buck. He figures he'll give the Kiowa a taste of his own medicine.

"We need to break up camp, and move on," Buck stated taking a sip of the hot liquid he had just poured, and not really looking Jack's way.

It doesn't bother Buck, the way it had got underneath his skin last night, that Buck doesn't acknowledge his presence when they speak. "You said that last night. Have you given any thought to the fact that Jesse may be thinking the same way?"

Buck has finished slipping on his boots. "I don't much care how Jesse thinks, but I'm sure he wouldn't make his men travel through the night. It isn't like they know they're being chased by the law," Buck spoke thinking back to the words Rachel had spoken to all of them on more then one occasion. 'Only bad things can come from Jesse being near.' Could Rachel be right? Buck hadn't really thought that Jesse would turn against Teaspoon. He really thought that Jesse still cared about the marshal even though he purposely came to Rock Creek to use Teaspoon and his authority as a lawman.

Buck shakes Kid awake. Kid looks around in half a daze. His eyes won't adjust to the morning dusk just before sunrise. "Buck, it's still dark out."

"I know that, but we need to bring the distance between Jesse and ourselves closer together."

"Yeah. All right. Just let me gather my wits first," Kid spoke as he tries to get up from his bedroll, but his body tells him to stay down.

By mid-morning Buck and Kid are off their horses and crouched down on the ground inspecting very fresh tracks that are from The James Gang's horses. The tracks are near the water's edge of a swallow creek.

"They didn't cross here. We'll ride up a bit further," Buck spoke to Kid.

"How far away do you think they are now?"

"I'd guess not more than a few hours."

Kid stands up and motions for the others to follow. "They didn't cross here."

Buck and Kid both mount their horse. The five men continue riding further down stream.

Cody made his way into the schoolhouse dodging in and out amongst the over-anxious children that are racing to get out of the schoolhouse.
He walks in and finds Jane sitting behind her desk probably going over the children's homework.

"Did you give them the rest of the day off for good behavior?"

Cody's voice startles Jane at first, but then she realizes that it is Cody the voice belongs to. Jane gives Cody a friendly smile.

"It's so nice outside. I just thought they would enjoy eating their lunch out at the picnic tables. What are you doing here?"

Cody walks in a little closer until he is standing in front of Jane's desk. "I thought perhaps you'd like to have dinner with me…just with Buck being out of town and all?"

Jane feels a slight panic attack coming on. She had thought Cody understood that their relationship is purely friendship. She wonders if he might be up to something. It seems to her that Cody always has a plan brewing in that head of his. Jane gets up from her desk chair, and walks around the desk to stand in front of Cody.

"I thought I made myself clear about our friendship," Jane spoke softly.

"You did. I was just asking cause I'm worried about you being alone with Buck out of town," Cody spoke actually sounding sincere.

"Charlene is at Buck's house."

"Oh. Now there's some great company for you," Cody spoke with sarcasm.

"You seem to think so," Jane spoke quizzically.

"I don't like Charlene in a romantic way, Jane."

"I didn't say that. I saw her visiting with you here in town yesterday. You both seemed very intense about your conversation, and with each other."

"I didn't think you cared who I spent time with," Cody asked a bold grin spreading across his face.

"I just don't want to see you get caught up in Charlene's lies, and her deceitful plots. The woman can't be trusted."

"I think I can take care of myself. Now how about that dinner that is just between friends?"

Jane shakes her head wondering if Cody will ever let her and Buck have a life together without constantly interrupting. Not to mention the fact that eventually Buck is going to throw a fit about all the dinner dates she accepts with the blonde haired man.

The sun becomes a hot demon again in the sky. Its unrelenting beams are torturing the men down below who are riding horseback in open territory with now tress around for shade.

Buck and Kid, with the others following close behind, are traveling on a dirt road. They are approaching a stretch in the road where both sides are surrounded by trees. They are very large trees that induce much needed shade from the blazing hot sun.

Kid is figuring they can ride through the shaded area slowly to get away from the scorching sun that has been beating down heavily on them for the past two days. Kid notices that Buck is watching intensely for any slight movement coming from the shaded part of the road up ahead.

Teaspoon and Jack aren't paying much attention to the surroundings up ahead of them. Instead, Teaspoon is making a nuisance out of himself in the same way that Jack had made himself a nuisance to Buck last night.

"What were you asking Buck about last night?"

Jack smiles at his old friend. "Were you eavesdropping my friend?"

"I don't particularly like my question being answered with a question. It is quite annoying, as you probably well know.

Jimmy rides up alongside Teaspoon. "Do you two ever do anything besides argue?"

Teaspoon or Jack hadn't noticed their surroundings as the bright sunlight had suddenly turned a few shades darker from the confines of the trees. There constant batter back and forth had caused them both to lose sight on the seriousness of the predicament that they have been in since the very moment they left the ranch.

Jimmy can only laugh at the two men that he is riding in-between. Two grown men who are arguing over god knows what.

Buck and Kid both lose their concentration on the task at hand. Both men in unison, rather aggravated by the commotion of jabbering and loud laughter behind them, look back at the three men who are riding side by side. None of them are paying attention to what could be in front of them.

Unexpectedly a warning shot rings out from behind a tree situated ahead of them! The sound vibrates through the trees and makes Buck, Kid and the other three soon realize that they are caught in a crossfire! The laughter that had invaded them just moments ago is now replaced with fear! Bullets are swiftly zinging alongside them and over their heads from both sides of the tress, and from in front of them!

The men manage to get their guns drawn to assert some kind of a counter attack! They fire back trying desperately to flush out their opposition from behind their vantage spots. Teaspoon watches his boys and Jack as every movement seems to be in slow motion! He sees Frank James cowardly try to escape further down the road. Only an unforeseen firing of a gun and Frank James dropping from his horse halts his progression!

Teaspoon struggles to see who it is, up ahead of them through the cloud of gun smoke! He vaguely witnesses Frank James being helped from the ground holding his right arm with his left hand. The sleeve of his shirt already soaked with his blood. He sees the retaliating expression on Simon's face as he carefully aims his gun and fires a shot directly toward Jack!

"Jack!"

Jack responds to Teaspoon's warning by lifting his gun to fire a shot only to have the gun drop to the ground as Simon's bullet penetrates Jack's right shoulder! The bleeding starts immediately.

The cloud of smoke had made it difficult for Buck to see who it is that got shot. All he knows is that Simon's aim is directly headed toward Teaspoon. He turns his head to look back at Teaspoon just to make sure that Teaspoon didn't receive the bullet that Simon had fired at them.

Teaspoon tries to gather the reins of Jack's horse up in his hands to steady the animal. The last thing Jack needs with a bullet wound is to be thrown from his horse.

"Teaspoon!"

Teaspoon hears his name being called out. He has a hard time seeing much in front of him. His eyes suddenly catch the young man unflinchingly sitting a top his horse in utter control of the situation! The gleam in his eyes can only be described as vengeance as he lifts his gun, aims, and fires! Teaspoon can see that the bullet isn't aimed to hit him. His eyes open wide with fear!

"Buck!"

Teaspoon's scream causes Buck to turn away from Teaspoon in time to take the bullet in the upper right chest! The unbeknownst of the bullet hitting his body, and the brut force of the bullet cause Buck to plummet to the ground! He crumples to the ground onto his ribs on the same side that he had just received the bullet!

Teaspoon, forgetting that he has a bad leg, jumps from his horse and rushes to Buck's side!

Kid and Jimmy continue to fire on the James Gang as the gang finally start to retreat!

Teaspoon gently places Buck's head in his lap. The smoke around the five men and their horses begins to clear. Teaspoon holds his hand down tightly over Buck's wound, hoping to cease the profuse bleeding.

Buck gazes up into Teaspoon's face, his eyes misted over from pain. "I'm sorry," Buck spoke weakly as his eyes close.

"Buck," Teaspoon sobbed quietly.

Kid and Jimmy crouch down near Buck and Teaspoon. Kid gently smoothes away Buck's hair that is in his face.

Teaspoon hears a single horse standing still and quiet just a ways ahead of them. He glances away from Buck to see Jesse watching the scene between him and Buck. A single tear slides down Teaspoon's cheek. Jesse feels no remorse for his actions today. All Teaspoon can feel right now is hatred for the outlaw.

Jesse is stunned by the contempt for him written on Teaspoon's face. He can't bear to see that look any longer coming from the only man in his life that he truly respects. Jesse turns from the emotion and fades away.

THE END

PRELUDE TO 'STANDING BETWEEN LOVE AND BETRAYAL'

1. Will Jesse's shooting of Buck close the book on Teaspoon's love for the boy once and for all?
2. Is Jesse's plans for revenge complete or does he have other plans of ruination for
his Rock Creek family?
3. Will Jane allow herself to fall in love with Cody? Or is her love for Buck too strong to let her fall in love with anyone else?
4. How will Jimmy deal with more betrayal from Hannah? Will Louise open her heart to Jimmy and betray the man she vowed to love till death do us part?
5. Jack Morgan possesses a secret that keeps tugging at his heart to be released. But, he isn't sure that it will bring happiness to everyone involved.
6. Charlene also has a secret. Will she continue to help Jesse, while building a life around lies and betrayal?
7. How will Kid contend with running the ranch, and keeping Jimmy away from his wife without Buck there to help him?

To be continued in the next part of Rock Creek Adventurous Tales!

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