Teaspoon was instantly awake 'What do you mean Jimmy's gone?' he probed trying to understand what had happened
'He's gone, his gear is still all here even his saddle, but Sundance is gone too' she explained through her tears, as she knelt at Teaspoon's side, this latest disappearance almost enough to tip her usually calm self into hysterics
'who woke him for his watch?' Teaspoon asked scanning his bleary eyed riders
'I did Teaspoon' Buck spoke 'I even sat with him for a while, I woke him with a coffee at about three am, we sat and talked for a while and then I went back to sleep'
'Did he seem okay to you?' teaspoon was still grappling with trying to understand what had occurred during the wee hours of the morning
'He was fine, he was worried about Kid, he asked a lot of questions about what would happen to him if he was a captive but he was okay'
'Buck can you have a look around for me, see if you can work out what went down' he waited until Buck nodded his head and rose, scanning their environment closely then turned his gaze on the others 'The rest of you get your gear together, when we work out what is going on we will have to move fast.' he turned and embraced the tiny sobbing woman at his side.
'Lets take a walk Lou' he spoke as he pulled her to her feet, what he wanted to say to her he didn't want the boys to hear.
'Lou' Teaspoon spoke as he guided Lou away from the camp "I want you to go back to the way station' he turned her to face him 'Look I know this is all hard on you, especially since it is Kid and Jimmy that's missing, and with all you have been through recently, but I can't do this with you here and like this, so I want you to go home'
'No Teaspoon' she shook her head, her bottom lip trembling, her chin jutting stubbornly forward
Knowing that she would do anything to stay with the others on their search he continued a little harshly "Then for God's sake girl get a grip on yourself. The boys can't cope with you being like this. Where has the Lou we all know gone?' he watched as she mentally came to terms with what Teaspoon was saying and he could almost see her standing taller, trying to get a grip on her emotions. Desperate to stay with her friends and find the men she loved.
'You must be feeling pretty pleased with yourself Buck' Noah spoke
'What are you talking about?' Buck frowned at Noah
'Why don't you tell the others how you really feel about Lou?' Noah continued
Buck had a feeling he knew where this was leading 'No I've got a better idea, why don't you tell me how I feel.'
'Remember when Lou thought she was betrothed to Buck?' Noah spoke watching the Ike closely as he nodded 'Somebody took things a little too seriously, what he feels for Lou is something a little more than brotherly love' Noah continued
Ike watched Buck in disbelief, knowing when he looked into his best friends eyes that what Noah was saying was the truth.
'How did you find out?' Buck asked quietly
'You need to be a little more careful when you pour you soul out in the barn' Noah spoke feeling a little sorry that he had hurt Buck, but he was much happier not having to carry the secret around any longer, he was glad it was out in the open.
'I had nothing to do with Kid or Jimmy disappearing' Buck turned angry eyes on Noah, hurt and angry that anyone would think that he could hurt two of his closest friends.
'I didn't say that you did, all I said was you must be feeling pleased that all the competition is out of the way now'
'Why! How could you even think that I would be pleased!' he spoke as he launched himself at Noah. Ike did his best to break them up, but without success, they were stilling rolling on the dusty earth throwing punches at each other when Lou and Teaspoon returned. Teaspoon and Ike pulled them from each other and held them apart as they continued to struggle to hit the other
'I Hope you two have a good reason for this, because I surely don't have time to be pulling you two apart while two of my boys are missing. Either you put this aside here and now or one of you will go home and wait for us to come back.' he looked at both boys, the anger in their eyes enough to see that whatever this fight was about, it was real and serious to both boys.
Buck pulled free of Ike's restraining arms and walked away from the others, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.
'Somebody want to tell me what this was all about?' Teaspoon asked as he released Noah, knowing that neither of his boys would be happy with turning home.
'It was just a misunderstanding Teaspoon' Noah spoke calmly his eyes watching Buck's every movement 'It won't happen again.'
'Buck, Is that true' Teaspoon looked to Buck for confirmation that there would be no repeat
'Yeah' Buck answered, they all knew that he was not happy with that answer, but he would not jeopardise his place with the others
'What did you find out?' Teaspoon asked Buck
'You're not going to like it' Buck spoke looking into Teaspoon's face
'Spit it out Buck' he stated
'There was riders here during the night Teaspoon. Four of them came in and five rode out' Buck stopped
'What aren't you telling me Buck?' Teaspoon questioned
'The four visitors were Indian.' Buck stated flatly watching as the others eyes all widened in fear.
On to Chapter Five
