They caught up with Buck about a mile outside of town. He had ridden his horse at a gallop as he left town, then slowed it down, realizing how tired the horse was. He knew Teaspoon and Ike had caught up to him, but he just kept riding silently, accepting that they were there but not wanting to talk. The two men fell in beside him, not saying a word.

Without realizing where he was heading, he found himself on a hill that overlooked the Express station. He got off his horse and sat down with his back against a tree. Teaspoon and Ike joined him. It was a long time before anyone spoke.

"Buck, you can't let this eat at you, son. Ike filled me in. I'm very sorry for your loss."

"I promised them justice in exchange for the girl."

"Sam will do his best."

"It may not be good enough." Buck replied softly.

"I know son. I know"

They were still on the hill top as the sun went down. Buck got up and went to his saddle bags, pulling out a leather wrapped bundle. He built a small fire and unwrapped the bundle, pulling out a clump of sage. He preferred to pray at dawn... and alone... but he felt the need to pray now and it was obvious the two men were not going to leave him alone. He knew Teaspoon would understand, having spent time amongst the Indians. And Ike would not interrupt, knowing his friend needed this type of solace.

Buck sat before the fire, passing the sage over it and breathing in the smoke. He began to chant, praying for wisdom and justice.

The judge arrived a week later and trial was set for the next day.

Elizabeth had been sent to stay with relatives, her father not able to care for her while in jail. Buck suspected that Cooper wanted her away from the trial, that the girl knew the truth and he was afraid that she might talk.

The trial did not go well. As Sam had said, the judge was not happy to find out that there was Indian involvement and even less happy about the lack of concrete evidence showing that it had been Cooper who had decapitated the three children. Cooper was free before lunch.

Teaspoon made sure that he sat next to Buck during the trial and both he and Sam watched the boy carefully as the case was dismissed and Cooper walked out of the room.

Buck showed little reaction, just a slight tightening of his jaw. He stood and walked out, followed by the other riders. They rode back to the Express station in silence.

The boys went about their chores, Buck included. They all tried to engage him in conversation, but he replied only when he had to and in as few words as necessary.

He was silent all through dinner, barely eating anything. Teaspoon watched him closely. After the dishes were cleared away Teaspoon went out onto the porch, the riders scattering to finish up chores or staying inside to read or play cards. Buck went out to the corral, hanging a lick and filling the trough with fresh water.

Teaspoon stopped him as he returned to the bunkhouse.

"Have a seat Buck. We need to talk a might."

Buck considered refusing, not feeling like talking and definitely not in the mood for one of Teaspoon's lectures. But Buck had a great deal of respect for Teaspoon and rarely went against an elder's wishes. He leaned up against the porch rail.

Cody came out of the barn about that time, but seeing Teaspoon and Buck on the porch, he turned around and went back inside.

"Buck, you're not thinking of doing anything crazy are ya?" Teaspoon started out, "Cuz, if ya was I'd do a bit more thinking on the matter."

Buck was silent, staring out into the darkness.

"I've always counted on you being the level headed one of this here bunch. You don't go off half cocked like Cody or Jimmy. I'd hate to think you might let this cause you to do something stupid. Something you might have a hard time living with."

"I'm not going to do anything stupid, Teaspoon."

"So you're saying that it would be safe for me to sleep in my own bed tonight instead of here on the porch?"

"Yes," Buck stood to go inside pausing only for a second when Teaspoon said "I wish I could believe that son."

Teaspoon didn't sleep much that night, keeping one ear tuned to the bunkhouse. But no noise had come from there or the barn. Teaspoon felt he would have heard if Buck had slipped out during the night. After all, he had heard the boy before, when he had gone to meet Red Bear a few months back.

Even so, he rose early, before the riders were up and checked Buck's horse. No sign that it had been ridden recently. As a precaution he checked the other horses. Buck could be crafty. He came to the same conclusion, none of these horses had gone anywhere during the night.

Still he wasn't surprised when Sam rode up that afternoon. Cooper had been found hanging in his barn.

Buck hadn't left all day, having been helping the other riders mend the corral. All but Lou that is, who had taken an Express run. He listened to the news with the other riders, showing no emotion, then returned to work on the corral, the other riders right behind him.

"I listened for him all night Sam," Teaspoon told the man quietly as they watched the boys walk away. "I never heard him leave and none of the horses have been ridden."

"Well. I'm assuming the man hung himself. I hope I'm not wrong."

"I hope you're not, too, Sam."

Buck went for a ride two days later. No one questioned his leaving.

He found his brother easily.

"The man is dead." Buck told him.

"I know. The spirits told me," was Red Bear's reply.

The two sat in silence for a time.

"White man's justice?" Red Bear finally asked.

Buck paused before answering, remembering his prayers at the top of the hill and the answer the spirits had given him. "No," he answered sadly, "Kiowa justice."