Chapter 1: Wanted Man

Morning’s first light shone in through the windows of the Sagebrush Hotel. Morton Wellman pulled back one side of the red brocade curtain covering the window that looked out into the street. The Sagebrush, nestled along one of the busier corners of the growing town of Oak Bluff, Nebraska was right across from the local Sheriff’s office. That fact had been how Wellman knew what had happened the previous night. It was about midnight when the commotion had started. The Sheriff had apprehended a man that he claimed to be the infamous “Cold” Cole Caulder. Caulder had been eluding capture for months now, and was on a deadly spree, robbing coaches and wagons from Missouri to California. The difficult part was no one was exactly sure what he looked like. The man the Sherrif’s men had dragged in was screaming that he was not Caulder. Wellman wondered if it really was him, and if it was, if his gang would be planning some grand escape. It was going to be another hot September day. He hoped the weather would be the only thing to heat up Oak Bluff as the day progressed. He suddenly found himself wishing that his building were located elsewhere. If it really was Caulder, and his gang did come, Wellman would be right in the middle of it all. The door opening startled him. “Sorry Sir. Didn’t mean to scare you.” The young man smiled genuinely. Wellman was flustered, and thinking of the idea that Caulder’s ruthless gang could burst through that door at any minute didn’t help ease his mood any. “You’re Pony Express ain’t you?” He looked the young man over, spying the mailbag slung over his right shoulder. “Yessir.” He answered, handing over a small pile of letters. “That’s all?” Wellman rifled through the pile the kid had handed him. “That’s all of it.” The young man smiled again. “You expecting a letter?” “It should have been here over a month ago.” The clerk’s face soured. “Last boy didn’t have it either.” “Well maybe next time.” The kid’s optimism was beginning to get on Wellman’s nerves. “Have a good day.” The young man with the tousled brown hair and sky blue eyes turned to leave. “Get out.” Wellman grumbled, as the door closed behind the Express rider. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * “I still don’t see why I gotta fix this fence.” James Hickcok brooded. “It ain’t just Teaspoon.” He raised his voice so that the others could hear him better. “Now Jimmy...” Teaspoon started. “You knew it weren’t going to be fair. It was Kid’s job and he’s gone. We drew straws, did it as fair like as we could.” “Seemed fair ‘nuff to me!” Cody chimed in. If there was a way out of honest labor, Cody supported it. “Besides,” Teaspoon cast a glance over at Cody, “That ain’t the only chore Kid left behind.” All the humor dropped from Cody’s face. Teaspoon continued. “I believe the stable needs cleaning.” The other riders slowly started walking away. “Anyone want to help Cody with the stable?” Teaspoon called out. Noah and Buck ran for the Bunkhouse. “Sorry Teaspoon I promised Rachel I’d... umm well I got stuff to do.” Lou explained, backing away. “Well it’s decided then.” Teaspoon smiled a crooked grin. Cody sulked, “Aw Teaspoon. This ain’t right. How come my chores don’t get done when I’m on a run?” “Cody.” Teaspoon paused, sticking his thumbs under his bright red suspenders, he rocked on the heels of his boots. “Yer chores don’t get done even when you ain’t on a run. A little hard work ain’t killed no one yet.” Hickcok leaned into the handle of the big ax he had been using to cut the wood slats. “First for everything.” “I heard that.” Teaspoon wheeled around and looked at Jimmy, then at Cody. “You boys better mind them chores before I start finding more things needin’ to be done.” Teaspoon Hunter felt good about himself as he headed up to the main house for a mid afternoon snack. The smell of fresh baked apple pie tickled and teased the inside of his nose, as Teaspoon entered the kitchen. “Why Rachel I do believe that smells divine.” He smiled as she pulled the pastry from the stove and laid it out on the open windowsill. “Don’t you think you were a bit hard on the boys?” Rachel’s words caught Teaspoon off guard and he fumbled, almost knocking the pie over. “What do you mean hard on them?” Teaspoon’s mind wasn’t focused on the conversation. He positioned his fork over the steaming pastry. “Teaspoon Hunter!” Rachel shouted. This time the pie went over. Now she finally had his attention. “I just gave them a few chores to do.” She scowled at him like a mother scolding a child. “Little hard work ain’t never done a man wrong.” He justified. Rachel smiled. He smiled back, maybe she was beginning to see things his way. “I’m glad to hear you say that Teaspoon.” “Oh?” He was starting to get confused by her quick change of mood. Then again, he never could figure women. “Why a matter a fact I need some help bringing all that wood in. Can’t expect me to make these nice treats without wood for the stove.” “You been working in this hot kitchen all day Rachel. Why don’t you take a break, sit down.” Teaspoon offered, trying to find a way out of the kitchen. “I gotta get started on supper.” She pulled a gold pocket watch from the waist pocket of her apron. “Why it’s already quarter past three.” She looked over at the large pile of wood outside. “Buck! Noah!” Teaspoon bellowed. “Lou?” “Teaspoon Hunter.” Rachel said with disgust. “ All right, All right.” He conceded. As he headed out towards the woodpile he shot a look over at the window. “Damn” He thought to himself. The pie had fallen face down and broke open in the dirt. Teaspoon saw a figure riding towards them. “Rider comin!” He hollered, sulking off towards the pile of logs by the corral. “It’s Kid.” Jimmy yelled over to Cody as the rider drew closer. Cody beamed. “I didn’t think he was due back ‘till tomorrow.” He walked over to Jimmy who had laid the ax down. “But who are we to complain.” “Kid!” Lou came out from the house. “You’re back early.” “Yeah I ran into a bit of trouble, came straight back.” Kid slid down from the back of his large pinto mare. “What kinda trouble?” Teaspoon questioned. As Marshal of Rock Creek, and manager of the Express station, trouble happened to be his field of expertise. “First off I got robbed by a group of men just outside of Oak Bluff...” “Robbed?” Noah exclaimed. “Well not technically.” Kid explained. “They took some letters, made a mess of my supplies, but I recovered everything less than a mile off.” “Even the mail?” Cody was bewildered. “Yeah. That’s the strange thing... they didn’t really take anything. So I headed back to Oak Bluff and left my bag with the Sheriff.” Kid felt the need to explain further. “I know him a bit. He’s a good man, I trust him. I was afraid that these bandits would try again, maybe something spooked them. The mail always comes first.” He looked right at Teaspoon. “I thought it safest this way.” “I guess you’ll be going back to Oak Bluff.” Teaspoon simply stated the obvious. “Hickok.” Teaspoon turned to face Jimmy. “You better go along too. If there’s any trouble, Kid may need some assistance.” “That’s not all,” Kid continued. “While I was in Oak Bluff, they brought in a man they think is Cole Caulder..” “The Cole Caulder?” Teaspoon interrupted. “ Cold Cole Caulder?” Kid ignored him and continued. “He’s scheduled to hang next Friday.” “That’s less than a week away!” Buck was surprised. Justice was usually a lot slower. “There ain’t going to be a trial?” Teaspoon scratched his scraggly chin. “Nope, Sheriff didn’t feel there was call for one.” “Go figure.” Noah mumbled. “Folks there seem to have mixed feelings. Half the town wants to see him hang and the other half ain’t sure they got the right man.” “How ‘bout you Kid?” Teaspoon could tell Kid was grappling with an urgent sense of conflict. “You think it’s him?” “I don’t know.” Kid answered honestly. “One way to find out,” Cody cut in. “If the robbing stops after he’s hung then they got the right man.” “And if it don’t?” Buck posed the question back at Cody. “Then it weren’t him.” Cody shrugged. “Tell you what Kid.” Teaspoon knew if he didn’t let Kid do this, there’d be no dealing with him. “You take a few days, sort this thing out, and you come back by Friday, hanging or not.” Teaspoon walked over to his office and pulled two tin stars out of the top drawer of his desk. “Better take these along.” Chapter Two: Obligations The ride to Oak Bluff was long and exhausting. Jimmy and Kid rode without stopping for almost thirty hours before reaching the rocky overlook that gained the town it’s name. “When we get down there I’m gonna sleep for a week.” Jimmy was tired and saddle sore. “I’m gonna take a long bath.” Kid smiled, envisioning the steaming water filled tub. “Come on we better continue. Just a few more minutes.” Jimmy pulled Kid from his daydream. As the weary horses wound their way down the dirt path, Kid remembered the cranky clerk he had delivered the mail to a few days ago. “There’s a hotel across from the Sheriff’s office.” Jimmy raised an eyebrow “Sounds good to me.” The streets were surprisingly quiet. Townfolk and shop keepers peered out from their windows as the two horses trotted down the main road. “Do you get the feeling strangers ain’t welcome?” Jimmy commented sardonically. “Turn left here.” Kid motioned at the dress shop on the other side of the street. “Sagebrush Hotel.” Jimmy struggled with the writing on the large green painted sign. “We’ll check in first then go across the street.” Kid suggested. “Suits me fine.” All Jimmy cared about was a good soft bed. “You again.” The clerk sourly looked Kid over. “You bring my letter?” “Nope. But I have money and me and my partner need a room.” Wellman lost some of his bitterness, business had not been so good lately and he could use the money. “Two dollars even.” Jimmy thought to protest, but didn’t feel it was worth the effort. The faded red curtains and peeling wall paint told him this place was not worth as much as the clerk thought it was, but if it had beds, and quiet rooms, Jimmy would have gladly paid ten dollars. He slapped the coins on the counter. Kid, to Jimmy’s surprise dropped another dollar in front of the clerk. “I’m sorry you haven’t gotten your letter. There has been some trouble lately.” Kid looked at Jimmy then back at the clerk. “The other day as I left here I was robbed.” Kid explained. “Who would want to steal the mail?” The old man seemed truly shocked. “I don’t know. They didn’t take anything, but maybe I was just lucky.” Kid contemplated. “It’s Caulder’s gang I know it.” The clerk sounded determined. “What makes you think Caulder would want to steal people’s letters?” Jimmy asked. “What makes a man like Caulder do anything? Mr.” He looked down at the registry that Kid and Jimmy had just signed. “Hickok.” “Did you get a look at him when they brought him in?” Kid asked. “I might have.” Morton Wellman knew how to play these men. He had information they wanted and they had something he wanted. Kid dropped a few more coins on the counter. “It was real dark.” Wellman hoped for more money. The two Express riders stared hard at him. “Yeah okay, I got a pretty good look at him.” He knew when enough was enough. “He’s a good sized man. Blond maybe? Coulda been red hair. And a beard... a scraggly one.” Wellman paused, hearing the teakettle whistle. “Excuse me one moment.” He returned a few minutes later with a dainty teacup in hand. “He sure was putting up a fuss.” “Fuss?” Kid inquired. “Yeah kicking and screaming that they got the wrong guy.” Wellman sipped from the flower painted porcelain cup. “Thanks.” Kid finished they had pushed the clerk’s courtesy far enough. Jimmy still had one more question. “You saw it all. You think they got the right man?” Wellman thought for a moment. He had made himself so afraid of the whole situation; he wasn’t sure what was real anymore. “Hell yeah. Ain’t no doubt in my mind. He just looked evil.” “Where’s the nearest bath house?” Kid decided to make that his first priority. “Down the street to where the fruit stand is then you turn right and theres a barber. Can’t miss it he’s got a bright red sign.” Wellman didn’t mind offering a little friendly information. After all, he had just made a good profit off these two men. Jimmy and Kid headed up to their room. Each of them wondering in their minds what they were getting into here. Kid felt better after an hour’s soak in a tub. He returned to the room to find Jimmy still in jacket and boots, asleep on the bed. Kid knew that Jimmy needed the sleep, he did too, but first he would go talk to the Sheriff. As day turned to evening the heat finally subsided. Kid stepped out from the hotel and saw the Sheriff, Sid Mathers, sitting on a wooden chair on the walkway outside of his office. He saw Kid approach, and he rose to greet him. “Back so soon?” “Yeah you know what they say...” Kid mimicked a serious tone. “The mail must go through.” “I got your satchel, why don’t you come in and share a coffee.” The Sheriff offered. “Thanks.” Kid followed him into the building. That was when he first caught a glimpse of the “infamous” man in the jail cell. He was much less imposing than Kid had expected. Sheriff Mathers caught Kid looking at the man in the cell as he returned with two coffees in little tin cups. Kid turned to the Mathers and smiled. “Guess you’re some what of a local hero.” Mathers grinned. “Well I wouldn’t say hero, but I guess a lot of folks do feel safer now.” “Have you had any reports of holdups in this area?” Kid got right to the point. “All business.” Sid chuckled. “That’s the problem with you Kid.” “Speaking of business, any word on the men that jumped me outside of town?” “Nope. Sorry Kid.” Sheriff Mathers shook his head. “We’ve had some other strange happenings though.” “Like what?” Kid inquired. “Someone burned down the outhouse out back of the courthouse. And Father Brady, he runs the mission, on the north side of town, he said two men with their faces covered came in and took all his bibles out.” Mathers sipped his coffee. It was still too hot. “Anyway, good news is he recovered ‘em all about a mile away. Stacked up all nice and neat like. Weirdest thing he ever seen.” “That is strange.” Kid agreed. “Your prisoner here.” Kid motioned towards the cell. “How’d you happen upon him?” “Pure luck I’ll tell ya.” He sipped again, this time the coffee had cooled just enough. “We, Me and Deputy Mueller, were headed out to the widow Moran’s place.” He felt the need to explain more. “She’s been having some troubles with the upkeep of her land, and we’ve been helping her some ‘till the farm sells.” Kid took a slurp of the coffee Mathers had placed in front of him. It was bitter and strong, he choked it down. Kid listened as the Sheriff continued. “Just as we got up near the start of her land, we happened upon a stage that had veered off of the main path. The driver screaming about some gang of men that stole all their personal belongings. The passengers were pretty shaken up. One old man he had a heart attack right there, in the coach.” “He died?” Kid tried to understand. “Guess the ‘ol ticker couldn’t handle the scare.” Mathers confirmed. “That’s awful.” Kid commented. “So we followed the path up the way the driver said.” The Sheriff got right back to the story. “And there this guy was.” He pointed back to the prisoner who was now finally sleeping for the first time since they had dragged him in. “He had a few guns. One of them new Winchester rifles like the driver had said. His face was covered with a red scarf, and he had a whole pocket full of money.” “Sounds like he’s your man.” Kid mulled the evidence over in his mind. “ But what led you to think he’s Caulder?” Mathers smiled. “You’d be a great lawman Kid, you ever change your mind about the Express you come see me.” He swallowed the last of his now cold coffee. “ Caulder always wears them red scarves. And we know he gots the same fancy rifle. Caulder bragged to a bank teller in Lawton when he robbed them last week, and that’s less than a two day ride from here.” “Thought Caulder had a gang?” Kid asked. “Oh he does.” Mathers pondered briefly, “guess they hung him out to dry.” “I suppose” It was solid enough for Kid to believe it. “I’ll pick my bag up on my way out of town.” “You’re leaving in the morning?” Mathers asked. “Maybe.” Kid pushed the mug away as he stood. “Ain’t a whole lot else to do here, besides, the mail..” “Must go through.” Mathers smiled. “Well if you’re still here by Friday, you can watch the hangin’. Going to be quite the spectacle I gather.” “I imagine it would be.” Kid still wasn’t right with the idea of hanging a man, especially without a fair trail, but this was a cold-blooded killer. Jimmy was just waking as Kid came in the hotel room door. “Where you been?” “Had a bath and a cup of coffee. It’s late Jimmy, get some sleep.” “Okay.” Jimmy was sleepy and wasn’t going to argue. He rolled over and fell back into blissful slumber. Morning streaked in through dirty thin curtains. Kid grumbled and pulled his pillow over his head. “Rise and shine, sleepy head.” Jimmy mocked. He could tell Kid had been up most of the night. “I’m hungry. What’s say we try to hunt down some breakfast?” Jimmy thought the thought of food would stir Kid. He was wrong. “Okay suit yourself.” He said pulling the door behind shut behind him. As he stepped out into the street Jimmy realized Oak Bluff was a larger town than he had first thought. It was at least the size of Rock Creek, and was set up in a similar way. The people still didn’t seem very friendly, most scowled at Jimmy as he passed them. I suppose they were expecting trouble with a wanted man in their jail cell and his gang still on the loose. Jimmy figured that even Rock Creek wouldn’t be very receptive to strangers under the same circumstances. A sign caught Jimmy’s attention. Edith’s Eatery. Fresh baked home cooked meals. He pushed the restaurant door open and his senses were immediately flooded with lovely smells that reminded him of Rachel. The woman who came to serve him must be Edith, he thought. She was an older, portly woman, with a dirty apron and a tired look on her face. She tried her best to smile. “What can I gettcha.” When she spoke, Jimmy noticed that she was missing at least half of her teeth. “I’ll have three eggs, a stack of griddle cakes and some of that morning ham that goes so good with eggs.” “Anything else?” Edith looked uninterested. “Yeah a sourdough biscuit and a sasperilla.” Jimmy smiled. Edith walked back to the kitchen. “James?” A woman's voice called out to him. He didn’t see her until she got to his table. She was stunning. Her long red hair cascaded down her shoulders, pinned up on one side with an elegant jeweled hairpin. Her olive eyes smiled like she knew him. Did she know him? How could he not remember such a beautiful woman? “That’s me.” He was still trying to figure out where she could know him from. “James Hickok.” She looked down at him. “It’s been a long time. Mind if I sit?” Jimmy fumbled trying to stand up. He motioned to her to sit, as he banged his knee on the bottom of the table. “So what brings you to Oak Bluff?” She asked. “I’m an Express rider.” He explained. “Pony Express. Why I’m not at all surprised. You always did love adventure.” Edith came with a huge plate of food. “Obliged.” Jimmy nodded at her as she again disappeared into the kitchen. “So you came here on a mail run?” “Not exactly.” Jimmy wasn’t sure how to explain his visit. “Always secretive. You haven’t changed much since you were a kid.” That’s when it hit him. “Adele?” She punched him in the arm. It actually hurt. “James Hickok. You mean to tell me you’d forgotten me?” She tried to act offended but she was just so happy to see him. “So you never did tell me what you’re doing here?” She got right back to where they left off. Jimmy used the biscuit to sponge up some egg juice and he popped it in his mouth, chewed it and washed it down with a gulp of sasperilla before answering her. He didn’t know where to start, so he began with Kid riding back to Rock Creek a day before schedule. After he had finished he decided it was fair game to ask her the same question. After all, Oak Bluff was a far ways from the Dakotas. “I’m here to help my brother.” “Garrett?” Jimmy wracked his brain. He knew she had three older brothers but he couldn’t recall all their names. “No,” She corrected. “Gavin.” “What’s the matter with Gavin?” Jimmy asked sawing off a piece of dry ham. “They arrested him for murder! They think he’s some criminal that’s been going around shooting folks. James you’ve gotta help me clear his name!” She implored. Jimmy choked on the meat in his mouth. He grabbed for the glass of sasperilla to wash it down. “He’s the one they got in the jail?” “Yes. James please, you gotta help me clear his name.” Jimmy pushed his plate away, no longer hungry. Chapter Three: Reckoning. Teaspoon Hunter had done his share, helping out with the chores left over from being absent two riders. He couldn’t bare he thought of losing another pie. He helped Buck hold the last wooden slat in place as Noah drove in the nails. “There.” He looked proudly at the new fence they had worked on all afternoon. “That weren’t so bad with three of us doin’ it.” “Just in time for supper too.” Rachel smiled. Teaspoon was startled. He hadn’t seen her come up behind him. “I do believe that is my favorite time of day.” He never knew what to expect but he always left the table stuffed full. “Jesse! Cody!” Rachel hollered at the barn. The two came running. Supper seemed to be the one time of day that everyone enjoyed. There was seldom any bickering and complaining, Teaspoon believed that was due to Rachel’s superb culinary talents. The three riders, Teaspoon and Jesse sat around the table as Rachel came out with a bubbling pot of aromatic stew. “Too bad Lou had to miss this.” Cody commented. On the bright side, it meant there would be more for him. Cody smiled at this realization. As he lifted his bowl for Rachel to serve him, Cody noticed that there was some stew missing from the top of the pot. “Hey!” Rachel knew full well what Cody was objecting to. “You certainly don’t expect me to send Lou off on an empty stomach.” Rachel scowled at him. “You said yourself Lou shouldn’t miss this stew.” Cody knew Rachel was right and suddenly felt very guilty. “How come you never served me an early supper when I got a run?” He sulked. “Cody I swear I never seen you miss a meal, or even about to miss a meal in the whole time I known you.” She chuckled, serving him an extra half scoop. “You always leave after supper and are back just in time for the next.” She stretched the truth a bit. “He plans his runs around your suppers.” Buck joked. Jesse laughed. Cody just shrugged. What did he care? He got an extra half scoop of Rachel’s famous beef stew, and maybe there would be leftovers since Jimmy and Kid weren’t here. He ate faster. Rachel giggled as she brought the bowl back into the kitchen. “When are Jimmy and Kid back Teaspoon?” Noah asked, changing the subject. “Lessee.” He ran the two words together. “Today’s Thursday, and the hanging is posed to be Tomorrow, so I’d say they’d be back soon.” “Good. We can’t keep running short like this.” Buck was concerned. Double runs were hard for everyone to handle. “Kid’s got the calling.” Teaspoon justified. “Calling?” Cody asked, mouth full of stew. “Somethin’ important he feels he gotta do.” Teaspoon tried to explain. “Like seein’ if that man is a killer or not?” Cody asked. “Yeah.” Teaspoon smiled. He had got his point across. “But that ain’t Kid’s job.” Cody didn’t understand why Kid would want to get involved in something that wasn’t his business. “Isn’t that for the law to decide?” “Yes it is.” Teaspoon scratched at his scraggly white chin whiskers. “Sometimes a man gotta get involved and set things right where others won’t. If Kid has doubts that they got the right man, then he has to find out for himself one way or the other. If he don’t it’ll haunt him.” “That’s plumb ridiculous Teaspoon.” Cody held his plate out for Rachel to refill it. “If I don’t know the man I ain’t gonna care one way or another what happens to him.” “Someday that will change Cody.” Teaspoon smiled knowingly. “If you say so.” He shrugged again. This time she only gave him one small scoop. “Every man gets a reckoning, a calling. Gotta stand for what he believes, whether he end up right or wrong.” Teaspoon stabbed a gooey chunk of meat and swirled it in gravy before popping it into his mouth. Jimmy Hickok had forgotten all about time. It was nearly supper hour and he had spent the whole day with Adele. They had talked, and remembered good times, simpler times. It felt good to think about his younger years, and even better to be walking arm and arm through town square with a beautiful woman on his arm. It was a welcome change from the fence fixing and Teaspoon’s sarcasm that awaited him back at the station. He had thought Kid was crazy to come all the way out here to stick his nose in a matter that didn’t involve him. Mind you he did have to get his mailbag back. Then as Jimmy saw the fresh gallows protruding from behind the courthouse, he remembered who the man was that Kid had gotten them involved with. Adele saw Jimmy glance towards the courthouse. She burst into tears. “Oh James.” “It’s Okay.” He reassured her, pulling her close to him. “No it’s not!” She yelled, pushing away from him, causing some of the town folks to turn their heads. “We have to do something.” She looked up at him with teary green eyes. “What can we do?” Jimmy questioned. “Sheriff decided there’s not going to be a trial.” “Then we take matters into our own hands.” “Break him out?” Jimmy asked. “That’s a great idea!” She smiled and hugged Jimmy. “Oh James it feels so good to be back in your arms again. “Meet me back here at midnight.” She pointed at the clock tower in the town’s center square, she then blew him a kiss goodbye and headed off to her hotel room. Jimmy decided it was about time he headed back to his. He wondered what Kid had been doing all day. Kid and Sheriff Sid Mathers had just finished a filling supper at Edith’s that Kid was sure could rival some of Rachel’s best creations. “So what do you think?” Kid was excited about his idea. “Not bad. Not bad at all.” Sid smiled. “I think that we can once and for all prove that man in the cell is Cole Caulder, and catch his gang too while we’re at it.” “So when can we put this plan in motion?” Kid was anxious. He was now sure they had the right man in jail, and was bent on catching Caulder’s gang as well. Men like that should not be roaming free, he thought. “Meet me back in my office at midnight.” The Sheriff explained, “We will need to keep this to ourselves that’s very important.” Kid nodded. Sid continued. “Well I suppose it’s been a long day and I got matters need to be tended to. So I’ll see you then.” Neither Kid nor Jimmy could even entertain the thought of sleeping. Both were too wound up and waiting for midnight. Neither wanted the other one to know what he was waiting for. Kid rolled over in his bed. “You sleepin’ Jimmy?” “Nope.” “Where were you all day?” Kid looked over at the window. It was starting to get dark. It was maybe ten or ten thirty. “Went for a walk.” Jimmy didn’t feel the need to involve Kid in his personal dealings. “You?” “Yeah, same.” Kid decided it best that he not tell Jimmy about his talk with the Sheriff, after all Sid had explicitly mentioned that he should keep it to himself. Kid rolled over again feeling guilty for not letting Jimmy in on his plan. He couldn’t help but feel something wasn’t right as an anxious knot gnawed at his stomach. “I need some air.” Jimmy announced. He got up and closed the room door behind him. The hands on the clock tower met at the twelve with a whir. The cool night breeze blew through Adele’s hair. She wondered if James would meet her. Maybe he had changed his mind. She smiled and dismissed her doubts, as she saw him upon his palomino, headed towards the tower. “James.” She smiled, greeting him. “I’m glad you made it. I was beginning to wonder if...” He cut her off by pulling her close and kissing her firmly and passionately on the lips. “Come on. Let’s go get your brother.” They approached the jail on foot, leaving the horses a few buildings over. Adele peeked through the window. Good fortune was with them; the Sheriff was not in the office. Nor was a deputy. The prisoner was alone in his cell. Just then Jimmy heard a noise. He slipped his gun out and waited. Two men were headed towards the back of the building where Jimmy and Adele stood. It was dark. Jimmy couldn’t get a good look at either of them. “Oh no. What do we do?” Adele whispered. “Who goes there?” The first man hollered. Jimmy gripped the revolver in his hand firmly. The two men drew closer. The second man had a gun drawn, so Jimmy raised his at the man as they approached. Just then Jimmy got a look at the man he had his gun trained on. “Kid?” Jimmy was confused. “Jimmy? What are you doing here?” This story will be continued as an exclusive to The Rival Riders site. Drop LadyHawk a line and let her now what you think of the story so far!