The trip to St. Joe was uneventful. Teaspoon and the boys checked in at the offices of Russell, Majors, and Waddell, leaving their horses at the stable down the street. The train to St. Louis would be leaving the next morning, so they took rooms at the Patee Hotel and headed into the restaurant for a hot meal. Over steak, fried potatoes and apple pie, they talked about the trip ahead.

"Either of you two boys ever been on a train ride?" Teaspoon asked them. When the shook their heads, he continued. "Well, you are in for an experience, let me tell you!" He continued on with stories of the times he had ridden on trains. One thing Teaspoon liked more than just about anything, was a good story, or two.

After supper they took a walk outside. They had all been to St. Joe at one point or another, on Pony Express business, so they were somewhat acquainted with the town. Teaspoon led them to a local saloon and bought a round---two sarsaparillas and a whiskey-to celebrate the trip. Teaspoon entered a conversation with several of the men there, while Buck and Ike wandered over to watch a card game.

As often happens in card games, tempers get a little testy when someone is winning a little too much and someone else is losing a little too much.

Buck was standing behind the loser. As the man threw down yet another losing hand, he stood, knocking his chair over and turned on Buck.

"You! You no good half-breed. I been losing ever since you came over here. You sending him signals? Huh, boy?" The man pulled a small gun from his pocket and waved it in Buck's face.

"I was just watchin', Mister. You can put that away and I'll move on."

"You tellin' me you wasn't helpin' him? You're lyin' boy. And I don't like liars anymore than I like cheats. And I really don't like lyin', cheatin', half-breeds."

Buck's eyes smoldered in controlled rage. He'd had to deal with prejudice his whole life, both in the Kiowa village and in the white world. But he didn't have to like it.

As Teaspoon made his way over to the table, Buck dropped down to the floor, using one leg to knock the man off his feet. It was a small matter, then, to grab the gun from his hand. Buck pointed it at the man.

"Now, as I told you, I was just watching. I'm not a liar or a cheat. As for being a half-breed, I'd much rather be a half-breed than a narrow minded bigot, that's bad at cards." Buck opened the chamber of the gun, emptying the bullets from it, then handed it back to the man. When Buck turned to walk away, the man scrambled to his feet and jumped him.

Buck swung back with his elbow, catching the man in the stomach, knocking the air out of him. As the man tried to recover, Buck turned, and holding the man's arms, dropped to the floor again and using his feet, and the momentum, tossed the man over his head, where he collided with a table, breaking the furniture into splinters. Buck was on his feet in seconds, but the man just lay on the floor, groaning. Teaspoon and Ike were immediately at his side.

"Well, that ought to teach him." Teaspoon said as he tipped his hat back on his head. "Perhaps it would be a good time to call it a night."

Buck bent over to retrieve his hat and followed Ike out the door, Teaspoon bringing up the rear. "Good night, all." he called as he walked out the door.

Early the next morning they boarded the train heading east, finding seats so Ike and Buck could look out the windows. The young men tried to hide their excitement, with only moderate success. The sight of an Indian on board caused a slight stir among the passengers, many of them whispering amongst themselves. Buck did his best to ignore them. When Ike 'talked' for the first time, they drew another round of stares.

How fast will this go? he asked.

"Faster than a horse could ever go. It'll cover more ground in a day than you ever will in the same amount of time with the Pony Express." Teaspoon answered.

Then why don't they build more of them?

"Oh, they will be. Someday soon you'll see a railroad go clear across these here United States."

"I don't think the Indians are going to like that." Buck said as the train began to move.

"No, I don't expect they will. I also suspect that there's not much they're going to be able to do about it. The western expansion is gonna happen, no matter what anybody out here wants, Indian or white."

The three men settled in to enjoy the trip. Buck watched the terrain flash by as they got up to full speed, amazed by the rocking of the train and the feel of the motion. He never felt as free as he did when he raced his horse at full speed, the wind rushing against his face. This was a whole different sensation. While he felt he could grow to enjoy it, he missed the horse beneath him, the feel of blending with the animal, moving as one.

They made several stops to pick up passengers across the state. At one stop, a vendor came aboard selling sandwiches and lemonade. Teaspoon bought them each one and they ate in silence as the train started up again.

All too soon, the ride came to an end as the train slowed for their destination. As it came to a stop, the men gathered up their satchels and waited in the line of people departing.

Buck and Ike couldn't help but stare as they stepped down onto the platform. And this was just the train station! Neither of them had seen so many people in such a hurry all at one time. They followed Teaspoon to the freight cars and supervised the unloading of their horses. The train began moving away from the station, giving the three men their first good view of the city.

"Boys," Teaspoon said. "Welcome to St. Louis."

Before them lay the biggest town either of the boys had ever seen. Neither could imagine that buildings could be built so high, or that so many people could live in one place. Or would want to.

And Teaspoon told them that there were cities even bigger than this. Like Chicago and New York and Boston. Buck tried not to stare, but the whole thing was a little overwhelming. They rode down the street in front of them, dodging carriages and wagons. Saloons were plentiful, as were burlesque shows and houses of ill repute. Ike's horse shied as a man was tossed out the door of one of the establishments. Buck noticed a change in the smell of the city the further in they went. Too many people, he thought.

They stopped and asked directions to their hotel. The scenery changed. Houses became larger. The streets became cleaner. The citizens were clothed in finer materials and the newest of fashions. Ladies carried parasols and men wore suits and nice hats. Everyone seemed to be in a hurry. But the riders still managed to draw eyes their way as they passed.

Teaspoon stopped in front of a hotel so fancy that Buck and Ike were immediately uncomfortable. Even Teaspoon seemed hesitant about entering. A man stood outside, opening doors. Another stood nearer the street. Both wore matching uniforms of red velvet jackets and black pants and boots. Teaspoon walked up to the man near the street.

"Excuse me sir, but we, my two companions and I, have reservations here and I was wondering where we might stable our horses?"

The man seemed ready to send Teaspoon on his way, not believing that these three men could possibly be staying at this hotel. But hotel protocol had him hold his tongue. Instead he offered to take the horses to the hotel stable around back. Teaspoon turned over his reins. Buck and Ike followed suit, but reluctantly. They picked up their bags and entered the hotel, the second uniformed man holding open the door and bowing as they entered.

Buck stopped dead inside. Ike walked forward slowly, his mouth open in wonder. Neither believed what they were seeing. The walls were covered in red fabric, the ceiling gold leafed. The floor was a rich wooden parquet, polished until it shone like glass. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their prisms refracting gaslight. The front desk was a rich mahogany. Two men in the same uniform as those out front, stood off to one side, while a man in a black suit eyed them from behind the desk.

Teaspoon nudged the two boys and walked up to him.

"Might I help you sir?" the man said suspiciously. He talked with a nasally voice.

"We should have a reservation. My name is Teaspoon Hunter and these are my companions Ike McSwain and Buck Cross. We are with the Pony Express."

"Yes sir, we have your reservation. But we have a small problem." The man seemed to look down his nose at them.

"And what would that be?"

The man leaned forward, motioning for Teaspoon to do the same.

"I'm sorry sir, but we do not allow Indians in this establishment." He said in a low whisper. Buck was already drawing the attention of several of the hotel patrons.

"Excuse me?" Teaspoon whispered back. "I don't see the problem. We are employees of Russell, Majors, and Waddell and the Pony Express. You have a reservation for us. Now what is the problem here?"

"Sir, one of the young men is an Indian."

"Well, he's half white, so give the room key to his white half."

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't think…"

"That's the problem. You don't think. Now perhaps you should get your supervisor, and he and I will discuss this."

Buck knew the quiet discussion was about him. The desk clerk kept glancing over Teaspoon's shoulder at him. Ike came over to stand beside him, showing in a subtle way his support. Buck was about to walk over to Teaspoon an offer to stay somewhere else, when a deep voice came from behind him.

"Is there a dilemma here Mr. Jarmin?"

"Mr. Majors! I was just explaining hotel policy to Mr., uh, Mr. …"

"Hunter. Teaspoon Hunter, Mr. Majors. From the Sweetwater station." Teaspoon extended his hand to the gentleman who had joined him at the desk.

"Mr. Hunter. I'm glad you and your men made it safely." Majors turned to the two riders, and extended his hand to them. "I'm Alexander Majors."

"Buck Cross, and this is Ike McSwain." They both shook the man's hand.

"Now, Mr. Jarmin, these men have traveled a long way to do me and my company a favor. They would like a chance to freshen up before joining me for supper. I'm assuming, of course, that you are willing to join me. Or have you made other plans?" he said turning to Teaspoon. When the man replied that they had no plans, Majors turned back to Jarmin. "So, will you get their key for them? Please?"

The man wasn't sure what to do. Finally he turned the registration book around for the three to sign. Ike smirked slightly at the man, then handed the pen to Buck. The desk clerk snapped his fingers and one of the men standing off to the side. He was handed a key, and turned to pick up their bags.

"You're in Suite 510, gentlemen."

"Would an hour be enough Mr. Hunter?" Majors asked as the bellhop proceeded to a cage-like contraption and stepped in to it.

"That would be fine Mr. Majors." Teaspoon replied.

"Then I'll meet you gentlemen in the hotel restaurant in an hour." Majors hung back as Teaspoon and the boys followed the bellhop. They stepped in to the cage and the bellhop pulled the door closed. When the man pushed a button and the cage began to rise. Both Buck and Ike grabbed the bars of the cage. Teaspoon tried to look composed and nonchalant, but failed.

By the time they stopped on the fifth floor, they had all gotten used to the movement, and the two riders were trying to figure out how the machine worked. When the doors opened and the bellhop stepped out and proceeded down the hall, Buck took a quick moment to look the machine over as Ike explored the outside of it.

"Boys!" Teaspoon called from in front of a door, as the bellhop inserted the key, making a production of opening it and handing Teaspoon the key. The man stepped aside as Teaspoon and the boys walked in then followed them inside. He proceeded to a door on the left of the room, opening it to reveal a bedroom, repeating the action at a door on the right side.

Buck walked through the main room, running his hand along the back of a velvet settee, his eyes taking in the pictures on the wall, the marble fireplace, the gas lamps sitting on fancy mahogany and oak tables. There was a fancy blue and white vase holding flowers on one table, and a silver tray holding crystal decanters of liquor and stemware were on another. Ike stuck his head in one of the bedrooms and excitedly motioned Buck over.

The bed frame was solid brass, with a fancy brocade cover over the mattress. More artwork hung on the papered walls, with sconces lighting the room positioned next to them. There was gold gilt trim along the top of the walls, and a large armoire sat along one wall and two overstuffed chairs sat near the window. Buck went over to the window, pulling back the heavy brocade curtains to see the view.

He had never seen anything quite like it. Dusk was setting in and lights were coming on all over the city. It was as if thousands of diamonds were sparkling in the gathering darkness. Ike came over and looked over his shoulder, signing a comment.

"Yeah, it's something all right." They stared out the window until they heard Teaspoon clear his throat. When they looked over their shoulder at him, he walked over to see what they were watching.

"Lordy, ain't that a pretty sight." He continued watching with them for a moment, then placed his hand on Ike's shoulder. "Well boys, we have less than an hour to get ready. Why don't you two pick what room you want and I'll take the other."

They kept the room they were in. Each bedroom had a separate, smaller room for washing. They cleaned up, changing into the suits Teaspoon had told them to bring. Buck pulled his hair back, tying it at the back of his head. He felt underdressed for the first time in his life after seeing the men downstairs in their fancy suits. Not that he wanted a suit like that. He just didn't like to stand out anymore than necessary.

When they were as ready as they thought they'd ever be, they went out to the parlor area to join Teaspoon.

"Gentlemen. You're looking quite nice this evening." Teaspoon was trying to act sophisticated.

"Teaspoon, I don't know about this." Buck expressed the concern both he and Ike had. "That restaurant is bound to be mighty fancy…"

"I know what you're gettin' at. My advice is to watch what Mr. Majors does. Fancy restaurants like this one usually has more silverware than you'd ever think necessary. And separate glasses for water and wine. Not to mention, particular plates for each dish. Just watch Mr. Majors. You'll know what to use and when. Now, shall we go?"

On to Chapter Four

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