A tense silence surrounded the somber group of men who stood outside the door of the room where the man who years before had become a father to them all lay at death's door. The summons to rush to Teaspoon's side came out of the blue to all of them. The old man's illness came on quickly, taking them all by surprise with its intensity on the person they had all considered indestructible. Jimmy asked Kid in a quiet tone, "Where's Lou?" when he did not see her with her husband. Kid looked dismayed as he told them all, "She refused to come. I think she feels that if she doesn't come to say good-bye, then Teaspoon won't leave..." His voice cracked with emotions that they were all feeling. "I tried to get her to come, but she wouldn't," Kid sighed as Rachel came up the stairs. The strain of the last few days showed on her face. She had dark smudges under her eyes and a wildness to her hair and clothing that came from not sleeping. "Now I don't want you to tire Teaspoon out. Each of you can talk for a few minutes but he needs to rest," she told the men as she opened the door to the room. Jimmy grabbed Kid by the arm and motioned him to hold back a moment. "Kid, if you don't mind, I'd like to go get Lou. If she don't come and say her final good-bye it's gonna kill her later. You know what Teaspoon's meant to her all these years..." Kid just nodded his acquiesce, "Hurry Jimmy" he told the man, as Jimmy rushed down the stairs and out of the house. Inside the room, Kid saw a shell of a man who once was a stranger, then a boss, a friend and a father to them all laying in the bed so stricken and wasted that he hardly recognized Teaspoon. Cody was kneeling next to Teaspoon talking quietly. They watched the sick man smile and reach over and pat Cody's hand. Cody stood up and leaned over the bed to kiss the old man on the head before moving so one of the others could have their turn. Cody stood with his arms wrapped around himself, trying to hold back the sorrow he was feeling when Rachel touched his arm. Cody looked down at her and grimaced. "I can't believe it Rachel. How could Teaspoon go so fast? Couldn't the doc do anything for him?" he whispered. Rachel shook her head 'no' and put her arm around the young man as his eyes filled with tears. She turned to watch Buck, who was laying a talisman that he fashioned for Teaspoon around the man's neck. Buck said a few words in his native language, Kiowa, and grasped the man's frail hand before giving him a hug and kiss. Kid took his turn after Buck, who went to converse with the other two at the foot of the bed. "What was that you said to him Buck?" Cody asked. "It was an old Kiowa prayer asking for a safe journey to the next life." "That was kind of you Buck," Rachel choked out before she had to turn and leave the room before Teaspoon saw her tears. Just as Rachel reached the bottom of the stair the front door opened letting in both Jimmy and Lou. Lou saw Rachel's tears and fear raced through her that she had come too late to bid Teaspoon farewell. "Rachel....Teaspoon, is he...?" Lou stammered grabbing Jimmy's hand in fear. "What? NO. No he isn't...go up, please..." Rachel told her as she wiped her tears. The couple rushed up the stairs. Buck and Kid had just left the room when they topped the stairs. "Lou! It's good you came. He's asking for you. You too, Jimmy. Go on in. We'll wait downstairs with Rachel." He squeezed Jimmy's arm and mouthed, "Thank you" as he passed. Cody looked up from the chair he sat in next to the bed. Nodding to them, he leaned over to tell Teaspoon that he was going to go downstairs but he'd be back soon. As he passed Lou and Jimmy, he grasped their arms in comfort and looked back at the bed before softly closing the door behind himself. Lou sank into the chair that Cody had just vacated. Her heart was breaking as she looked down at Teaspoon, who was turning rheumy eyes towards her. She leaned forward and grabbed his hand. "Oh Teaspoon..." she cried as tears streamed down her face. The frail hand reached up and wiped away a tear and cupped her cheek. She leaned her head into his hand gathering what comfort she could from the touch. "Don't go cryin' for me darlin'," Teaspoon mentioned bringing her eyes level with his. "I've lived a long life Lou. It's time for me to go...you need to be strong. You have to let me go..." he murmured then was wracked with a fit of coughing. Jimmy helped him sit up a bit more until the fit passed. He stayed sitting on the other side of the old man's bed with his hand on his shoulder. Emotions were welling up in him, making it hard to speak. This was the man who had turned his life around, the man who gave him a home and a family. It was tearing him up inside to see how frail and sick Teaspoon had become. By looking at the man, Jimmy could tell that his time on earth wasn't for much longer. "I just figured some angry husband would be the end of you Teaspoon, not this," Jimmy told him, trying to get a smile out of the man. He wasn't disappointed. Teaspoon grinned and commented, "You and me both Jimmy. You and me both." Jimmy and Lou looked at each other over the bed and started to reminisce about the good times they had had with Teaspoon. "Remember how you used to eat onions like they was apples? That's what I remember the most of when we all met ya Teaspoon. You and them onions!" Jimmy laughed. "They sure was good, wasn't they though?" Teaspoon grinned. "And I can't believe it took you so long to find out Lou was a girl." Jimmy said grinning. Lou blushed remembering how Teaspoon finally discovered she was not a he. Teaspoon chuckled. "I just about swallowed half the pond, you know. Ain't never been so surprised as I was that day, let me tell you." "I'm just glad you didn't fire me. I was so sure you would when you found out my secret." Lou confessed. "Now why would I do that? You is family, Lou, and family always sticks together..." Teaspoon told her patting her hand. "You're my daughter Lou, in my heart. I'd never have sent you or any of the others away." "Oh, Teaspoon! I love you." Lou told him hugging him. "I love you too," he said softly over her head. Looking over at Jimmy he grinned, "You too, Jimmy." Jimmy just about lost it when Teaspoon told him that he loved him. He barely choked out a heartfelt, "I love you too you old coot," when he noticed that the old man's grip on his hand slackened. He slid off the bed and knelt, reaching for Lou's hand with his free one. They gripped each other in their sorrow and pain as they watched their 'father' take his last breath. As his chest relaxed for the last time a peaceful and serene smile lit up Teaspoon's face. The two friends knelt holding hands with each other and Teaspoon as they let their tears flow freely. A sound outside the door alerted them to someone's approach. Jimmy turned to see Cody entering the room. He stopped as he noticed the look on Jimmy's face. His breath caught and he spun on his heel to call out to the others. They all rushed up the stairs and into the room. For a moment they stood in silence, each offering up a silent prayer for their friend and father who was now gone. "He went just a moment before Cody came in. I think he was happy to see all of us here once more," Jimmy stated as he stood up. Lou had been wrapped in Kid's embrace and was sobbing uncontrollably. Jimmy wished he could do the same but knew it would have to be in private. "I'll go get the doc" Buck told them wanting to do something other than be there at that moment. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Two days later, the service at the cemetery was attended by most of the town. Teaspoon had been Sheriff for many years before he passed away and had made many friends. All came to pay their respect to the man as he was laid to rest and to the family that he'd left behind. The last to leave the cemetery was Jimmy, who was having a hard time leaving his friend and father behind. "You saved me Teaspoon. I can never thank you enough for that. I know you saw some of yourself in me. I just hope I can be like the man you were." He dropped a daisy on the top of the wooden box. "Ride safe..." he whispered, as he turned to where Lou and Kid were waiting for him. Drop me a note and let me know what you thought!