Jimmy and Cody stood slackjawed as they watched the events that unfolded around them, at a complete loss to explain what they had just witnessed. Jimmy walked to Lou and tried to console her, not really understanding what was happening but she shrugged away from him not yet willing to face the others. Jimmy turned back to the others and stood his hands on his hips.
"Would someone like to tell me what the hell just happened here?' his voice cracking as he asked
"I don't particularly care what just happened, how are we going to save him' Cody asked as he walked over and knelt beside Lou, taking her hand in his he offered his silent support, not knowing why her heart was breaking but needing to help in whatever way he could, before he stood his ice blue eyes liquid.
'We can't just let them kill him' Cody spoke knowing that something deep had transpired prior to his arrival.
'Jimmy can you take us there again.' Teaspoon asked
'Sure' Jimmy spoke walking to his horse. Lou rose from the ground and trying to find some sort of composure, she wiped the tears from her face and crossed to Ike, embracing the silent young man tightly 'I won't let him die Ike' she murmured before she released him and walked back to Lightning's side, mounting up she waited until the others were all mounted. They rode hard trying to catch up with Buck and Curly and surprisingly found themselves riding back towards the waystation.
At the base of a large ravine, they were stopped in their tracks when confronted by Curly and his friends.
'running Buck has asked me to tell you not to follow him, he has asked that when my brother is sent out you are to take him to safety.'
'We won't leave him here' Teaspoon spoke
'We will not leave him. If we are unable to help him escape, we will end his misery.' Teaspoon nodded sagely, each of the riders knowing exactly what Curly meant.
"How close are we?' Cody asked a determined glint in his eye
'Their camp is just through the pass.' Curly pointed as Cody, Lou and Ike dismounted closely followed by the others, all now aware of what Cody was thinking.
'We're wasting time.' Cody spoke as he lifted his rifle and started walking toward the pass.
Buck swallowed convulsively as he rode slowly towards the encampment he could see dimly through the murky light ahead of him. He could see Kid staked to the ground, his skin pale, his shirt blood soaked. Buck prayed that he wasn't too late to save him. Lifting the rifle he had laid across his legs, he pointed it skyward and fired one shot. Certain that he now had the attention of Kid's captors, he slid from the horse and slipping his knife from his boot he quickly and efficiently sliced the bonds holding kid to the stakes, sheathing his knife he puled Kid shakily to his feet.
'Can you ride?' Buck asked as he realised he had half a dozen guns pointed at him
Kid nodded 'Don't do this Buck' Kid moaned as Buck helped him onto the horse.
'Lou needs you. I'll be fine. Get out of here while you can.' Buck spoke quietly
'Buck they'll kill you' Kid slumped forward across the horses neck.
'Kid go' Buck clasped Kid's hand resigned to his fate 'Please don't make this be for nothing' tears welled in Bucks eye 'Have a good life Kid. Look after her' he smiled 'Name you first child for me' he slapped the horse on the rump and watched as it carried Kid to safety
'Touching scene son' a loud voice spoke from behind him. Buck turned to face the man who spoke dropping the rifle to the ground beside him.
'He's right you know I will kill you' he stated 'Your brother has not endeared himself to me at all and frankly I am no fonder of you'
Buck looked disdainfully at the man who spoke. A tall muscular man who had an evil glint in his eye, but still he somehow looked familiar to him.
"Ah I see you recognise me' the man spoke casually as he swung the butt of the rifle he held at Buck. Not expecting the blow, it caught him squarely on the chin and knocked him sprawling to the ground. You were responsible for the death of my brother. so this is a doubly pleasurable experience for me' he savagely kicked Buck's torso several times before he clicked his fingers and almost instantly six Sioux warriors were at his side. Buck struggled painfully to a seated position as his attacker spoke casually to his charges.
"Have your fun with him. I don't want him killed just yet' he spoke as he turned his back. His men immediately kicking Buck back to the ground and savagely beating him.
Cody and Jimmy lay on their stomaches at the top of the ridge watching helplessly as Buck was beaten into insensibility by the Indians. They had watched in silence as Kid had passed by them several moments before, good fortune more than anything keeping him on his horse as he lay slumped semi conscious against its neck. As the agent had turned his back on Buck the six Indians had taken it upon themselves to use Buck as a punching bag. Unable to watch any longer they slid down the hill to where Kid was being reunited with the others.
'Kid Kid talk to me' Lou spoke almost frantically as she tried to get him to wake. Ike and Noah lifted him from the horses back and deposited him gently on the ground. They stood back and let Lou and Teaspoon tend to his wounds. Lou knelt on the ground beside him and cradled his head in her lap, tenderly washing the blood and dirt from his face with a damp cloth as Teaspoon tore the bloodied shirt from his chest, worried though relieved to find a bullet wound just below his armpit which appeared to have passed right through his body and as far as Teaspoon could tell no sign of infection was there. As gently as they could Lou and Teaspoon bandaged Kids chest, wincing as he moaned in pain. When they were finished Teaspoon squeezed Lou's hand in support and walked over to the other four boys.
"How is he?' Jimmy asked concern creasing his handsome features.
'I think he'll be fine, the bullet passed clean through, he's weak from losing so much blood, but he'll be okay' he paused looking into Jimmy and Cody's tortured features.
'How's Buck?' he asked gently
'they're killing him Teaspoon' Cody's eyes were liquid, he and Buck had had many disagreements since they had first met, but that didn't mean he didn't love him like a brother "I'm not leaving him here to die alone' he straightened and faced them as if he expected an argument.
'Neither am I' Kid spoke from behind them, leaning heavily against Lou
'You are going straight back to the waystation son' Teaspoon spoke
'I know exactly what they are planning Teaspoon, I'm not going anywhere.' Kid spoke
The others looked at Kid expectantly
"Out with it Kid' Noah spoke eagerly waiting to hear the whole story. Knowing that none of this would make sens until they did
'The agent is Marshall Schmidt's brother, his name is Elijah, he wants to make Buck pay for his brothers death. After he's had his fun with Buck, he is going to take him to Red Bear with a story that white's did it, and talk him into seeking revenge. Kid paused obviously in pain. The others waited almost patiently for him to continue
'He's just looking for an excuse to get the Kiowa moved to a reservation, their land is worth a fortune to him.'
'How many of them are there?' Teaspoon asked
'Six braves and Schmidt' Kid answered
'What happens at night?' Jimmy asked
'I don't know for sure but I think they all stay there, they only checked on me once each night.' Kid leaned his head against the tope of Lou's exhausted but not yet willing to give up on Buck.
'What's your plan Teaspoon?' Noah asked
'We'll hit them at midnight, Kid you can stay up here on the hill, back us up if we need it I don't want to have to worry about where you are. Lou do you think that you can get Buck loose? You shouldn't have to worry about the others we will be diverting their attention' he asked
Lou didn't trust her voice not to crack so she nodded her head furiously as Teaspoon continued.
'Jimmy, Cody, Noah, Ike, that leaves the five of us to take care of the seven of them. think we can do it?' he looked hopefully into their worried faces.
'Better odds then we usually have' Cody spoke trying to lighten the moment
'Hell that's almost even' Noah joked
'Get some rest, lay low, we'll try after dark.' Teaspoon stated as he helped Lou and Kid back to the shad of the tree they had been under. They all settled down to get a little rest, hoping that Buck could hold on long enough for them to save him.
Shortly after sunset unable to rest Jimmy and Cody were sitting on a tree branch checking and loading their weapons, when they were disturbed by a noise in the shrubbery near them. Lifting their weapons they pointed them into the darkness waiting for the next move to be made.
'It is me... Curly' a voice spoke from the darkness as he emerged from the shrubbery that surrounded him.
'Kid, he is safe?' Curly asked with a frown
'Yes, he is resting back there' Cody spoke indicating the shadows in which Kid lay resting.
'There are three of them left.' Curly spoke confidently
'What do you mean?' Jimmy asked confused "There was seven of them?'
'Four of them are now in a place of honour and respect.' Curly spoke
'What the hell does that mean?' Cody frowned
'He means that they have been scalped' Kid spoke with a smile from behind them, an ironic smile on his face.
On to Chapter Nine
