Chapter VI
By Sherry Whitten
With a grin of his own, Buck followed Kid to Billy's bunk. Caitlin's head rested on the prone man's chest, his arm around her possessively. Kid slyly knelt beside his head, picking up a loose feather from the pillow to softly rake across his cheek.
Billy groaned in offense of the disturbance, wiping irritably at his cheek. When a finger poked against his shoulder in determined perseverance, he opened an eye to glare at the offender and found two curious faces perched beside his bed, both wearing a smirk of humor. He felt the warmth of the body still curled up in satisfaction against him.
"What are you two sneering at?!" he snapped at the duo in a mood kin to Jimmy's.
"Ya know, Buck," Kid needled, impish eyes twinkling merrily, "if I had a pretty girl all curled up beside me, I wouldn't wake up sore as a bear."
"I didn't get much sleep last night," Billy complained, sliding away from Caitlin carefully so as not to disturb her. Swinging around to sit on the side of the bunk, Billy dropped his pounding head in hands, feeling the similar after- effects of a three-day binge.
Caitlin whimpered in sleep, moving to the warmth Billy had just vacated. She stirred, tossing aside covers. Inhaling deeply, her chest rose and fell with the deliberate movement before settling once again, her breath returning soft and even in sleep.
Buck felt a sudden rise in temperature, felt his heart rate accelerate just a bit, his mouth go bone dry. He met Kid's gleaming eye and grinned, turning back to an irritable Billy. "Yeah, we kinda figured that."
"You can cut your shrewd remarks," Billy snapped to both in general, glaring with bloodshot eyes. "Nothing happened."
"Could be that's why he's sore as a bear," Kid murmured, snickering with Buck at their friend's expense.
Billy muttered his irritation. "Look, Caitlin came to me. She was afraid. I let her sleep with me because she knew she'd be safe..." then scoffed high- handedly, "...which is more than could be said for the lot of you." He pushed between them, rising to dress for the day.
As Kid moved, he bumped Billy's shoulder, his head dipping near his ear with taunting advice, "Better not let Emma know you slept with Caitlin."
Billy looked up with a glare, having just about had his fill of his so-called friends for one day - and it hadn't even started yet. He might just have to shoot somebody before the day was out. "Yeah, Kid…why is that?"
A grin cracked, a wink flashed. "She might just take a cane pole to your backside."
Seeing the image of Emma chasing him around the yard with a cane stick had Billy snorting a chuckle. His brow lifted in a cocky way. "I think you're jealous, Kid. In fact, I think you're all jealous."
Buck shot a glance toward the bed where Caitlin lay. "You got to admit, Billy, she makes a man ache."
"Oh, yeah." He agreed readily. "It's her tendency to strip a man's hide away with her vicious tongue that's the problem."
"Some men might not see that as a problem. They might consider it a challenge." Kid said, wondering why Billy didn't step forward. Jimmy might be disappointed at this point, but the longer Billy left things open the worse it would be for both of them. He didn't want to see to friends come to blows. "Oh…" he said as an afterthought, "…and I'd stay clear of Jimmy for awhile, just to be on the safe side."
Billy frowned in perplexity. "Why?"
His grin was taunting. "Just take my advice."
Kid moved across to wake Lou again, but she was already sitting on the side of her bunk, her eyes frosty and violent. Kid stopped short at the glare in her eyes. "Lou, what is it?"
She shrugged a shoulder. "Nothing."
"Don't tell me nothing. I should be bleeding now from all the arrows you're shooting at me."
"Are you, Kid?"
"Am I what?"
She couldn't face him, her eyes jerking away toward the far wall with a whispered mutter. "Jealous."
He sighed, sinking down on the bunk beside her. "You should know better than that, Lou."
She braved a glance into his face, and read the gentleness in his eyes. "Should I?"
"Yes, you should."
She smiled shyly, and he shook his head in exasperation. "Get dressed, Lou."
Retrieving his hat, Kid waited while Lou hurriedly prepared for the day, and together they walked across the yard.
A cloud of dust heralded the arrival of the horses. All riders were aback their own mounts, ready to intercept and usher the horses into the corral. Instantly the group was shrouded with the fine particles, moving their horses to guide them into the corral.
Teaspoon observed all the bustling activity from the ground. His trained eyes surveyed the lot and a swift glance, moving across to meet with Blue Eagle.
Inside the bunkhouse Caitlin awoke with a start. She heard the thunder of horses outside and for a moment felt the cold hand of terror and death clutched around her heart.
Oh, grief! They'd found her, sure as faith!
Instantly she tore off the bed, racing to the window. The sight before her, however, had her breath catching in her throat. She recognized Teaspoon and Buck beside three Indians while the others were busy ushering the last of the horses into the holding pen and securing the gate.
Without thought of her filmy attire, she threw open the door and darted outside, her eyes wide and full of wonder with thrilled excitement. A smile of incredulity beamed across her face as she raced barefoot across the yard.
Blue Eagle watched the picture in astounded fascination, his eyes unable to stray from the enchanted creature. Never had he seen hair the color of liquid fire and skin as pearly white as ivory. Indeed, he would be the envy of every tribe if he brought home such a prize!
As he spoke, Buck's head whipped around to Caitlin in dismay. "Oh, boy...we got trouble!" he murmured to Teaspoon.
"What is it?" Teaspoon scanned the area, tense and alert, expecting to see a band of Paiute sweeping down on them.
The brave stood tense in disapproval, deciding the chief must have taken a dip into the firewater before they'd left camp. He had also seen the woman with hair like fire, but any man with sense knew no woman was worth more than two ponies, three at the most - certainly not a fourth of the herd!
Tight-lipped, his gaze crossed to Caitlin and shuttered. It wasn't normal for a woman to be so colored. Obviously she was hexed. She'd certainly put a spell on his chief!
With acute displeasure, he spoke to Buck in clipped English. "Instead of two hundred dollars, we will take one fifty and the woman with fire hair."
Teaspoon rubbed at the stubble on his chin. "Oh, boy."
'Billy, you better get over here," Buck called to his friend standing nearby.
"What's the problem?" he asked, hastily gulping down a drink of lukewarm water to clear the dust from his throat. As he moved toward the group he raked the back of his hand across his mouth to dry the surplus water.
"Blue Eagle wants to trade some of the horses for Caitlin."
"What?" With a sharp laugh his eyes darted to the man in question. The chief's head lifted arrogantly, his gaze returning to the woman who was now almost to the corral. Billy's back stiffened in vexed annoyance, a sharp curse hissed from his lips. "What the blazes is she doing out here?"
Buck shrugged his innocence, black eyes shining. "Don't ask me! Maybe you should've tied her to the bed."
"That still may be an option." Billy murmured tightly, looking to the chief in icy disdain. "Tell him she's not for sale."
The warrior spoke in his native tongue to the chief, but the chief's reply was sharp and unwavering, his eyes glaring at Billy as he crossed arms across the wide expanse of chest in firm steadfastness.
The young Indian tersely informed the trio, "We will take only one hundred twenty-five and the woman."
"She's not for sale at any price." Billy snapped, glaring to the chief. "And tell him to get his eyes back in his head, or I'll put them there myself!"
Teaspoon caught his arm in warning. "Now, get a grip on yourself son, and don't upset the applecart. No one's taking anybody anywhere. Now, why don't you go on and let us handle this."
"Tell him, Buck!" he demanded, ignoring Teaspoon's incompetent advice as a raging inferno mushroomed at the thought of this man touching Caitlin. "Tell him she's already my woman."
Buck drew Billy aside, his voice low. "Look...maybe it'd help if you just got her out of sight."
Billy jerked his arm away, glaring at Buck. "Just handle it."
Blissfully oblivious to the upheaval her sudden appearance caused, Caitlin had only one destination in mind - to get to the horses. One particular mustang caught her eye as he snorted about the stables, outraged at being rounded up and confined.
His arrogance reminded her of Kip, and it was with a smile that she moved up to Jimmy. Climbing the corral fence, she itched to climb inside and mix with the vibrant energy from the horses within, a sunny grin alight on her face.
"I'll be bound, Jimmy...in all me livin' life, a more magnificent sight I've never set eyes on, sure as faith!"
Jimmy almost swallowed his tongue. The sight of her had his knees almost buckling. Her hair was tousled from sleep, the fiery, copper curls wild over her head and shoulders as if refusing any attempts to tame its freedom. Her face was fresh from sleep and alive with thrilled exhilaration.
Jimmy's basic instincts hummed in an uncomfortable way.
He concentrated on her words. It was best to leave other thoughts alone, his eyes moving to the prancing horses, his heart matching the pounding rhythm of their hooves. "Yes, ma'am, but it's best to give them room till they settle a bit."
She sighed wistfully. "I'd give me eyeteeth to be flyin' like a banshee on one of those devils."
Her eyes slid to the black mustang stud, his head proudly reared in arrogance. She laughed gaily, recognizing a little of her own stubbornness in him. "There'd be a fire in that one that won't be easily quenched."
"You know horses?'
"Aye," she nodded. "I've known a few in my time."
"What the blazes are you doing out here like that?!" an accusing voice snarled from behind.
In surprise at the grouchiness of his tone, Caitlin twisted around to see a glowering Billy. She stepped down and turned a cold face to him. The tip of her head barely reached his shoulders, but the fire in her eye more than made up for her lack of height. She squinted up at him against the flying dust in the breeze.
"Like what, I'd be wonderin'?"
"Like a harlot that wandered out of her brothel." His eyes took a pointed inspection, his voice dry. "Have you misplaced your clothes somewhere?" He made a deliberate point of sliding the slim, lacy shoulder strap back in place.
Caitlin glanced down and saw her bare, pink toes. Her exposed arms and shoulders glowed in the newly risen sunlight. She fought the urge to run fingers through her hair to tame the wild curls as hot stubbornness suddenly reared within.
From their talk the night before, Caitlin felt things would be better between them. Reading the fury now blazing from his eyes, she knew she'd been mistaken. Well…she was cursed if she'd give him the pleasure of seeing her flustered! Anyway, what was such the big deal...coming out to see the horses? "Not that I'd be aware of, Willie, though I suppose there'd be reason for your sour disposition on such a fine mornin'?"
"I'd say Blue Eagle demanding Teaspoon trade you for some of the horses reason enough," his shot back in temper. "He's fascinated with that hair of yours..." his eyes drifted down to her other attributes and the clinging cotton material practically transparent in the sunlight. "...And by more than that, I figure."
Her eyes moved crossly to find the chief's eyes burning upon her and scowled across the distance. "Well, I'd not be for sale...and more important, not likely interested!"
Billy glowered toward the discussion still in progress and had to bank the desire to go and punch the chief square in the face. "Don't worry. I told Buck to tell him your my woman."
"Your woman. 'Tis fairy drivel, sure as faith!" As if she needed some man to be her protector! "I'd be no man's woman! Nor am I a possession to be traded by the whim of such as though I haven't a brain workin' in me head!"
She raged at Billy, a pointed finger jabbing into his chest as anger burst out like a spewing fountain. "And I'll not be needin' you, or anyone else, to be speakin' on my behalf!"
How dare they be discussing her as if she were totally incompetent!
Caitlin whirled toward the chief. "By jakers, I'll be tellin' 'im meself!"
Billy grabbed an arm as she stormed by. "You're not going anywhere, except to the house to get some clothes on. And for pity's sake, keep your voice down!"
"Ye'll not be tellin' me what to do!" she shrieked in higher volume, jerking her arm away from his retaining hold. His woman indeed!
Kid strode up with a grin. "Hey, what's going on? We can hear you all the way to the house and back."
"You just be mindin' your own matters, Kid!" Caitlin glared at him now, mutiny rising against the whole lot of the male population.
Kid's eyes slid to Jimmy with a wounded disposition, "What'd I do?"
His lips twitched, "I don't think it's you personally, Kid. It seems Blue Eagle has taken a fancy to Caitlin's red hair and wants to make a trade."
Another round of fury simmered in her eyes again. "Aye...but I doubt he'll take such a fancy to the lump I'll be puttin' on his head if he so much as breathes on me!"
"I doubt there's a chance of that," Kid murmured in awe. How could eyes be spewing fire and glare chips of blue ice at the same time? "Your eyes would drop him long before he ever got that close."
"By jakers, I'll not be put on the block for the highest bidder!" she snapped, glaring at Jimmy now.
He held up a hand in defense. "Hey, I never said a word!"
Heaving temper simmered long seconds before Caitlin calmed by degrees, but knew it would erupt again at a moment's notice if the need arose. "I'd not be violent by nature, but by the saints, neither am I some simple female, inclined to the vapors either!"
"Maybe it'd help if sometimes you were!" Billy stormed with irritation, having his fill of her. He tossed his hands up in helpless finality. "Well, I'm done with it, Caitlin, do what you want. Stand out here naked for all I care! Blue Eagle is welcome to you...you and the dose of pity he'll be needing five minutes later." Dismissing her without another look, he stormed off to the barn.
"Aye, and 'tis a real sweetheart ye are, too, William Cody!" she snapped to his departing form.
He didn't turn back, his only response was the waving of his hand in dismissal, as if swatting away an annoying fly.
Men were such annoying creatures! Caitlin all but snorted in disgust.
As she turned back, Caitlin caught the explicit, meaningful glance between the riders, her brows narrowing in suspicion.
Jimmy stood, stumped for words, waiting impatiently for sudden inspiration from above. "Er - I - uh, I think Emma's got a fresh pot of coffee on. I could use a cup...how about you?"
Caitlin scoffed her opinion with a snappy, "Don't be treatin' me like an imbecile, Jimmy Hickok, for I'm not!" She heaved in a deep, cleansing breath, "Aye but for your sake and the rest, I'll put a rein on me tongue before I cause trouble between the express and the Indians."
She supposed it was a compliment, the important chief interested enough to take her in place of the valued money. And she supposed Billy was just trying to protect her. Here she was sniping at these two, and they were innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire of her tongue.
Caitlin realized she'd let her temper get the better of her once again, and her lips thinned in annoyance at her lack of self-control.
Abruptly she vowed to turn over a new leaf. She would take special care to curb her wayward temper in future. At least she would try. That was a start, wasn't it?
Her smile was syrupy sweet as she turned to the pair, causing them to have a moment of cautious unease. "A drink sounds fine, Jimmy, and I gladly accept...though I was just wonderin'...," she caught her bottom lip in enthusiastic anticipation, her eyes glittering diamonds as she looked up with youthful exuberance into his face, "...would ye be havin' a shot of Irish whiskey somewhere about the place?"
Jimmy laughed, relieved he wasn't about to be on the receiving end of one of her dreaded curses.
His own desire lurched as she stood before him. Her violet eyes glittered, turning his insides to mush. "I don't know about Irish, Caitlin, but we can raid the cupboard and see what American we can find."
Caitlin nodded shortly, her smile forced as she turned away. With a toss of her head toward the offending chief, Caitlin strode off regally, muttering about much needed blessings from the saints above in dealing with the domineering, thick-headed male population.
She marched toward the house with all the arrogance of a master- sergeant. Halfway there, however, she turned back. Jimmy still stood in his same tracks.
Hands moved sharply to her waist in a huff, her bewitching eyes now glaring their irritation at the delay. "Well...be comin' along, Jimmy...the day's fast wastin'."
"Ouch!" Kid caught Jimmy's gaze and flicked his hand as if burned. "I don't envy you, Jimmy, if you're thinking of taking that on."
"She's something, ain't she Kid?" His grin was one of pained resolution, his own eyes sliding to the woman still standing in the middle of the yard. He could almost feel the singeing heat across the distance. "I think I need my head examined."
"Your head...or your heart?" Kid returned.
With a shuttering grin, Jimmy followed Caitlin obediently to the house.
To be continued...Chapter VII
Copyright 1998-This work is not to be reproduced without the permission of the author
The Way Station
Campfire Tales
