Silent Threat

Ike McSwain sat on the stairs outside the hotel, sketchpad in hand. He concentrated, trying to capture the image of a sleeping dog. He worked so intensely that he never heard the person who came behind him, stopped, and then watched over his shoulder.

Buck Cross stood behind his friend and watched as he drew what seemed to be a dead pig, and managed to keep from laughing. Ike had just brought the sketchpad and was determined to learn to draw.

Finally, when Buck sensed Ike’s frustration, he placed a hand on Ike’s shoulder. “Good morning my friend.”

Ike jumped and turned to face Buck. His face showed relief as he signed You scared me.

Buck smirked. “You disappeared early this morning,” Buck stated. “It was you who scared me.”

Ike looked up at Buck, and they both laughed. Ike quickly closed his sketchpad and stood up. Do you think we can eat before we head back? he signed.

Buck looked up at the sun. “I believe so. We’re not due in until tonight.”

Ike nodded, and they made their way to the station.

“You have no choice, Julie.”

A group of five men stood around a single young woman. The woman, Julie, was only 18, yet she maintained maturity well beyond her years. The men surrounding her did not intimidate her.

The man who had spoken stepped forward and grabbed Julie’s shoulder. He wore grungies, and a bandana hung around his neck. “I took you and your brother in when your family died, raised you both, put food in your mouth, and this is how you repay me?!”

Julie pulled her arm away, and met eyes with her brother, Adam. Please Julie, he signed, We finally have a family and money.

Julie looked at her mute brother. He was only a year younger than her, but he seemed so much older. They both did. She had tried to provide for the two of them, but no one would give an eight year old girl and her younger “dumb” brother a chance.

Except for Wilson. Julie turned back to the older man. For ten years, he had cared for them, almost like a father. However, three years ago, that caring had turned to repayment. “It’s not right!” Julie stated.

“Nothing in the world is ever right,” Wilson replied. “We’re fighting to survive, to show the world that our kind isn’t dumb.”

Julie looked at the three other men and her brother, all of whom nodded at the words Wilson had spoke. Besides Wilson and herself, the other men were mute. They had all been orphans, who Wilson had rescued… then slowly manipulated into a life of crime.

“Will it ever end?” she asked, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

“One day,” Wilson replied. “Now hurry. Take the group to the saloon and make yourselves known. You know what to do afterwards.”

“Yes,” Julie replied, and started to the saloon, followed by two of the men. Another man, Julie’s brother, and Wilson waited until they had left, then went in the opposite direction.

Buck saw Ike’s reaction. “What is it?” he asked, quickly looking over his shoulder then back at Ike.

That group over there, Ike signed. One of them talked in sign.

Buck looked in the direction Ike had pointed. He quickly spotted Julie and the two men. The men talked in sign while Julie translated their order to the barmaid.

The girl caught Buck’s attention. She was younger than the men she sat with. Her face seemed to be a mask, trying to look happy but obviously not.

Ike touched Buck’s shoulder and he turned back. I want to talk to them, Ike signed.

At that moment, their food arrived. The smell of eggs and bacon overcame any thoughts the two had. After we eat, Ike added.

“After we eat,” Buck echoed, and the two started to eat.

Halfway though their meal, the sound of gunshots filled the air, followed by a man running into the saloon. “The bank’s just been robbed!” he shouted, then ran out.

Food and card games forgotten, the people in the saloon ran to the swinging doors, Buck and Ike included. The street was in chaos. People came running out of the bank. Women were crying as the men looked off at the horizon. In the street, a deputy was sprawled out, holding his side in pain. A doctor ran beside him with a bag, and a crowd gathered around.

After watching for a few minutes, the people started filing back into the saloon. Ike looked over to where Julie had been sitting. She and the other men were gone. Quickly, Ike pointed this out to Buck. They’re gone!

“That’s strange,” Buck replied. Ike shrugged his shoulders, then they went back to their meal.