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Two gunshots rang out punctuating the still night air with their violence. The shots were so close that they woke the occupants of the bunkhouse with a start, it seemed almost like they were inside the bunkhouse they were so close.. They had only been together for a few weeks and had barely made their way from the polite stranger stage of their friendships. They all looked at each other in confusion, unsure exactly what had transpired while they were sleeping. Kid the natural and level headed leader of the group took mental stock of the occupants while trying to work out in his sleep befuddled mind just exactly what was wrong.

"Where’s Jimmy?’ he murmured as he slipped from his bunk and pulled on his trousers, the others already dressing.

"Where’s Ike?’ Buck spoke from the other side of the room

"They were both here when we went to sleep." Lou spoke trying to explain their last whereabouts to herself as much as the others.

A loud piercing scream silenced the occupants of the bunkhouse and caused them to grab their gunbelts and run to her aid.

"That’s Emma’ Cody spoke as he ran towards their beloved stationmistress.

What they saw as they entered the barn startled all of them, they stopped dead in their tracks and just stared at the scene that had unfolded before them. Two men lay on the straw strewn floor of the barn, quite obviously dead, their sightless eyes staring blankly skywards. Ike lay in a crumpled heap, nearer the door of the barn, nobody quite sure if he was alive or not. Emma in her nightgown was backed into the corner of the barn, her rifle hanging limply from her hands, but perhaps the most damning sight of all Jimmy stood in the middle of the stall that contained the two bodies, his beloved colt in his hand.

"What the hell’s going on in here?’ Teaspoon spoke as he walked into the barn, Sam Cain not far behind him, both leading their horses.

"Jimmy, what in God’s name have you done?’ he quickly took in the scene before him

"Nothing Teaspoon, I didn’t do a thing.’ he spoke looking deeply into Teaspoon’s eyes "I couldn’t sleep so I went for a ride and when I was coming back I heard shots, I drew my gun and came in here to see what was happening.’ His eyes searched those of his new family looking for understanding and maybe even acceptance of his story. Seeing only distrust, he lowered his head, knowing that if these people didn’t believe him, he was truly lost. He knew that they had only been together for a few weeks now, but they had moulded themselves into a family of sorts, and if his new family thought the worst of him, what was the sleepy little town of Sweetwater going to think when they found out about his predicament.

Buck struck dumb by the fact that any one of the boys could hurt the gentle caring Ike, moved to the side of his best friend, praying to all the Gods he knew that Ike was still alive. Kneeling, he carefully turned him over, wincing as he saw the large bleeding gash on his forehead. Emma knelt at his side and waving for the other boys, she pressed his bandanna to the side of his head as Kid and Cody lifted him and carried him towards the house. Buck his eyes almost black with his fury, lifted himself slowly to his feet and his back ramrod straight he stalked to stand directly in front of Jimmy. Lou had thought of him as a gentle soul since she had met him, watching him go out of his way to stay out of trouble and avoid fights but the look in his eye now truly frightened her, lo betide anyone who his fury was vented on.

"If I find that you have hurt him, no judge will be able to save you.’ he spat his face pressed almost against Jimmy’s

Jimmy, fully aware of the thoughts of the rest of the boys refused to even dignify the imagined guilt and returned to looking at the toes of his boots. Buck grunted in disgust and stalked out of the barn anxious to see his best friend.

"Teaspoon look at this’ Sam spoke, he had moved to the sides of the two fallen men, quickly realising that they were in fact the men that he and the wizened old station master had been tracking. Shaking his head in disbelief he rose and walked back to Jimmy’s side.

"son, I know this is hard but can you tell me exactly what happened’ he carefully lifted the gun from his hand and lifting it to his nose gently sniffed the barrel.

"This has been fired recently Jimmy’ he spoke almost accusingly

"I’ve just come in from a run, I had to fire on a couple of Indians that were chasing me’ he spoke calmly ‘I told Lou about them when I got back’ he answered

"That’s right he did" Lou answered gruffly as the two older men looked to her for confirmation

‘Go on son’ Teaspoon prodded gently, knowing how hard the obvious distrust of everyone he held dear was on the youngster

‘I couldn’t sleep tonight, probably because of the Indians, I took Sundancer out for a ride,’ Kid who had returned to the barn moved to where Jimmy’s horse stood unsaddled in the doorway.

‘He has been exercised’ Kid spoke, believing Jimmy and wanting to clear the name of the person that he was sure could be his closest friend if only they got the chance

‘What else happened Jimmy?’ Sam asked

"I don’t know Sam, I heard two shots and when I got back here, I found Ike in the doorway and the two of them there just like that’ Jimmy spoke quietly, I came over here to try and find out what had happened, but before I could even get near them Emma came in with her shotgun, then you all got here.’ he spoke his gaze returning to the toes of his boots, not wanting to see the disparaging looks of all of his friends.

‘Jimmy, I’m going to have to take you to the jailhouse.’ Sam spoke quietly as he walked closer to Jimmy

"What happens then Sam?’ Kid asked quietly standing behind Jimmy, asked the question that they were all thinking

"Unless I can find a witness Jimmy will have to be tried the next time the circuit Judge is in town.’ Sam spoke, not wanting to think of the outcome of any possible trial.

"When is that Sam?’ Teaspoon spoke not sure that he wanted to hear the answer

"Two days from tomorrow" Sam stated as he turned and walked back to his horse and took his handcuffs from the saddlebag

"You don’t have to use them do you Sam’ Teaspoon asked quietly as he walked back with him.

"Sorry Teaspoon, I have to" he spoke as Jimmy resigned to the fact that he would be jailed held his hands out to Sam. Kid, however, had different ideas he moved between Sam and Jimmy, trying to save the younger man the humiliation of being led through town in handcuffs even it was the middle of the night.

"Sam, if I give my word he won’t run and come with you, can’t you take him in without the handcuffs.’ Kid spoke quietly to him. Sam looked at the earnest young man in front of him and then into the shadowed eyes of the man he was trying to protect.

"Okay but if you give me any trouble" he pointed at Jimmy "You’ll both be in Jail by morning’ he watched as both of them nodded in understanding. Kid moved to go and saddle Katy and Jimmy’s horse. Sam and Teaspoon lifted both of the bodies over one of the station’s horses as Jimmy watched nervously trying to understand how he had gotten himself into so much trouble so quickly.

He didn’t know what had happened but he hoped that somebody would be able to help him, he hadn’t expected Buck’s raw fury or even Kid’s unquestioning loyalty, but as the nights events ran through his mind over and over, trying desperately to find a clue to what had happened before he entered the barn. He was startled as Sam’s firm hand clasped his shoulder, turning quickly, not sure what to expect.

"You’ll have to give me your gun Jimmy’ he spoke knowing how much Jimmy’s guns meant to him

Jimmy didn’t speak, just nodded his head and reached down to remove his gun belt, Lou who had been standing by the door watching the events transpire around her stepped forward speaking quickly as he handed the belt to Sam.

"I’ll look after it for you Jimmy" she spoke watching him nod as she extended her hand

"thanks son" Sam thanked her as he placed the gun belt in her hands. "C’mon fellas better get this over and done with" he waited for Kid and Jimmy to mount up, taking the reins of the pack horse from Teaspoon he spoke to him quietly

"See what you can find out Teaspoon, you know that the town doesn’t really care for your boys, I don’t know what will happen when the judge gets here.’ Sam face showed his concern for the young man he was arresting, he liked all of Emma’s boys and it hurt him to think that one of them could be punished for something that they apparently didn’t commit. "Get word to me when Ike wakes’ he paused thoughtfully ‘he may be the key to this whole situation." Sam pushed his hat back on his head and looked deeply into Teaspoons face "Tell Emma I said goodbye, I’ll be back out as soon as I can’ he mounted his horse, Teaspoon watched as the four horses disappeared out of sight on the trail back into Sweetwater.

Walking back towards the house, closely followed by Lou, he was not surprised to see the Doc Barnes horse tied to the hitching rail.

"Do you think he did it Teaspoon?’ Lou asked quietly

"I don’t know Lou, I don’t think so, but I really don’t know’ he watched Lou carefully "I might need you to ride to the Territorial Governor for me, will you?’

"If it would help Jimmy, I’d ride anywhere you wanted me to go" Lou spoke truthfully, Teaspoon saw the loyalty in Lou’s face and knew that Jimmy had two very loyal allies in Kid and Lou, he just hoped that their allegiances were not misplaced.

Lou and Teaspoon were stopped on the porch as Doc Barnes followed by the others walked outside.

"How is he Doc?" Teaspoon asked

"Hard to tell with head wounds, but he is a lucky boy, another inch and that bullet would surely have killed him’

"Bullet?" Lou frowned

"That’s definitely a bullet wound, somebody wanted him dead alright’ he spoke watching his news sink in "We just have to wait now for him to wake up. It could take an hour, it could take a week. Then we’ll see how he is" the Doctor spoke as he walked down the steps eager to get back to his warm bed..

"Kid just go home" Jimmy spoke bluntly as he flopped onto the bunk in the cell that Sam had locked him in.

"I can’t leave you here Jimmy" he stated his loyalty for his friend obvious in his voice

"Go home Kid, you can’t help me here, go and find out who killed them, and who hurt Ike" Jimmy stood leaned against the bars near his friend "I would never hurt one of you. Surely you know that."

Kid looked deeply into his friends eyes, gauging the truth of his words he nodded "I’ll be back sometime later today.’ He turned to leave the small Marshall’s office nodding to Sam as he passed by him.

"I want to know the minute that Ike wakes Kid" Sam called after him as Kid walked outside and mounted Katy. Kid nodded in understanding and wheeled Katy and Sundancer around to ride toward the station.

Buck sat by his prone friends side watching for some sign of recovery from him. The others had all drifted off back to bed to grab a few hours sleep before their hectic day began, especially since now they were two riders short. His own head tilting forward to rest against his chest, as he drifted wearily in and out of a weary trance, a hand touching his knee woke him sometime later.

Unaware of his surroundings for the first couple of seconds, he quickly remembered the events that had unfolded the night before, overjoyed to see Ike’s eyes open.

"Ike" he called him "You’re awake"

"Emma" He called as he fell to his knees beside the bunk they had set up in Emma’s living room, waking her where she slept on the sofa.

Emma woke and came to stand behind Buck and watch as he spoke with his friend.

"Who did this to you Ike? What do you know about the men in the barn?" he asked watching as his friends pain clouded eyes blinked. Lifting his hands, he signed a response explaining what had happened.

Buck understood what Ike was telling him and after clasping his friends hand tightly he rose to his feet.

"Emma can you look after him for me, there’s something I need to do.’ Buck looked into her knowing eyes and quickly walked out, surprising everyone by riding out of the station towards town.

Buck reined in his horse outside the Marshall’s office as sunrise cleared the small and sleepy town. Walking into the office he was surprised to see Sam still seated at his desk his feet propped on the desk and his chin resting against his chest in slumber. Jimmy sat wide-awake against the wall of the cell, his feet crossed at the ankles watching Buck warily.

"Sam, can I have a minute with Jimmy please?’ he asked quietly waiting while Sam woke

"You’re not doing anything foolish are you?’ Sam had heard Buck’s threat in the barn and didn’t want to give him the opportunity to get into trouble.

"No Marshall" he spoke, unfastening his gunbelt he handed it to Sam as he walked past him to leave the office." Teaspoon sent for you, he’s awake. Jimmy didn’t do it" Sam handed Buck the keys to Jimmy’s cell "Let him out of there"

"How’s Ike?" Jimmy asked softly

"He’s awake. I want to apologise to you. I should have trusted you, I’m sorry." Buck spoke with sincerity

"Did he tell you what happened?" Jimmy stood and walked to the bars

"He heard a noise, when he went to the barn to check, he found one of the men already dead the other one fired on him, and he shot back"

"I told you I didn’t hurt him" Jimmy stated flatly watching the guilt for mistrusting him on Buck’s face. Buck turned the key in the cell door and released Jimmy.

When they arrived back at the waystation, Kid and Lou met them on the porch and Lou hugged Jimmy tightly.

"Teaspoon wants to see you Jimmy" Kid spoke as he in turn hugged his friend "He’s inside."

The four of them entered Emma’s living room to find the rest of their little family and Sam seated around Ike’s cot trying to understand him as he signed the events that he had witnessed.

"Buck, can you help Sam with Ike’s statement please." Teaspoon spoke as he Cody and Emma stood to walk outside with the others to give them a little privacy.

"We’re sorry Jimmy" Emma spoke as she hugged the most volatile of her boys close to her

"It’s not your fault," Jimmy shrugged realising deep down that they had all known that he was innocent, they hadn’t really needed Ike’s story to find his innocence. "I probably would have done the same thing."

He cast his eyes around the people he was quickly coming to think of as his family and realised that no matter what they had thought he did, they were still willing to stand by him and support him through thick and thin.

THE END