CHAPTER FIFTEEN:  The Razing of Rock Creek Station

Noah was surprised by the lack of activity when he rode into the station.  Admittedly it was early, but usually there was somebody up and around getting ready for a ride or doing chores.  But Noah’s mind was really on the last two weeks he’d spent with Cassie Ellis.

Romantic interests for the black rider had been extremely limited.  Cassie had been the first black woman he’d seen since moving to Rock Creek.  Many might say Noah and Cassie getting together had more to do with lack of options than genuine feeling, but Noah’s feelings for Cassie were as real as the horse he was riding.  Noah snapped out of his reverie when he entered the barn and saw Jesse lying on the floor.

Racing up to the boy, Noah saw Jesse was bloody and beaten, covered with wicked bruises and nasty cuts.  As he knelt down to help the boy, the tack room door flew open and Rachel staggered out.  Her dress torn and face covered with bruises, she took a couple of unsteady steps before falling.  Noah rushed towards her to be met with a boot to the face.

“Keep away from that white woman, boy!”

Noah looked up to see a giant covered with hair, finishing fastening his pants.  Noah jumped to his feet and uncoiled his whip from his side.

Bobcat Banes guffawed.  “Well don’t that beat all.  A nigger using a whip!  How ‘bout you give it here boy and I’ll show you what it’s supposed to do.”

With a quick flick as his wrist, the whip cracked and the end snapped across Banes fingertips.  Bobcat yelped in pain, grasping his now throbbing fingers.  His shocked surprise quickly turned to hate filled rage.  He advanced menacingly at the black rider only to have the tightly woven leather slash across his face.  Noah kept this going using his whip like a circus lion tamer keeping a ferocious wild beast at bay.

Meanwhile, back in the bunkhouse, completely oblivious to the violent actions going on in the barn, Kid was trying to get used to the sensations of wearing clothes again.

“Well don’t get used to it,” Lou said coyly.  “Remember, we both got time off coming and you promised to come with me to St. Jo.  When we’re not with my brother and sister, I intend to make sure you take full advantage of me.”

“Darlin’,” Kid said with mock horror as he wrapped his arms around her slender waist.  “You can’t mean that.”  Lou wrapped her arms around her man’s neck as he nuzzled the junction between her throat and shoulder.  

Things would have gotten more serious if Kid hadn’t heard something bouncing on the floor.  He opened his eyes and saw a fist sized ball rolling along the floor.  Getting down to examine it more thoroughly, he saw a fuse.  Realizing instantly what it was, Kid cried, “Lou ru-”

Johnny Jinx, Bertie Blink and Dinah Mighty watched as the flimsy wooden structure was ripped apart like a child tearing open up a present on Christmas morning.  The walls were blasted outwards like so much kindling.  Without its support the roof dropped straight down, undoubtedly crushing anything underneath the blast hadn’t already obliterated.

“Astounding,” Jinx said admiringly.  “Absolutely astounding.  Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Blink?”

“Oh yes indeed.  Very impressive.”

All Dinah Mighty did was look down dejectedly at her notebook.  “It was supposed to go as soon as it hit the floor,” she said miserably.

“Oh come now,” Johnny said consoling.  “A few seconds here or there doesn’t make difference.  Results are always the same.  Aren’t they Mr. Blink?”

“Indeed, Mr. Jinx.”

“Quite, Mr. Blink.”

Hearing somebody rushing up behind them, Jinx and Blink quickly drew and fired, vaguely disappointed that it wasn’t Banes.  Two red stains sprouted on either side of Noah’s chest.  As the dusky rider dropped, Bobcat emerged from the barn and bellowed, “What the hell did you do that for?  I had him right where I wanted him.”

Observing the cuts and slashes on the big man’s face, Jinx said, “Yes, I can see.  But unfortunately we don’t have time for you to play.  Now be a good man beast and carry this” - indicating Noah - “ into the barn.”

Grumbling, Banes dumped Noah on to the filthy floor and gave him a kick for good measure to teach that uppity nigger his place.  As Dinah Mighty tossed a few firebombs into the hayloft, Banes saw Rachel crawling to where the boy was.  Bobcat grabbed a handful of her hair, yanked her to her feet and threw her over his shoulder.

“C’mon little lady,” he leered.  “You and me aren’t done yet.”

“No,” Rachel moaned painfully.  “Jesse … Noah … ”

Outside Jinx and Blink barred the doors to make sure nothing could get out.  Then everybody rode off, leaving Rock Creek to burn.

Teaspoon could see smoke on the horizon.  His blood going cold, he urged his horse to go faster.  When they arrived, they found Cody dragging Noah and Jesse from a burning barn.  The screams of trapped animals could also be heard.  Judge Blood and Nettie rushed inside and released as many as they could before smoke and flames blocked them.  Eventually there was nothing left to do but watch the fire consume the wooden structure.

“Cody,” Teaspoon said.  “What happened?”

“I don’t know.  When I got here, I found the barn on fire and the doors shut.  I could hear the animals so I ran to open the doors.  That’s where I found Noah and Jesse.”

“What about the others?” Teaspoon demanded urgently.  “Rachel, Lou and the Kid?”

“I don’t know,” Cody replied desperately.

“Uh, Hunter,” Nettie cut in.  “This may not be important, but where’s the bunkhouse?”

Where the bunkhouse should have been, there was nothing but a pile of kindling.  A hand appeared amongst the rubble.  It made a few feeble grabbing gestures before galvanizing the shocked onlookers.  They threw aside the charred timber and beams to find a battered and blackened Kid.  As they pulled him from the debris, he croaked, “Lou.”  Removing a few more beams they found an unconscious Louise.

“Don’t just stand there Coulter,” Teaspoon snapped.  “Make yerself useful and go get the doc in town!”

Not far off, the ones responsible for Rock Creek Station’s obliteration were making camp.  When Johnny Jinx suddenly noticed how fresh the air was he asked, “I say, has anyone seen our smelly colleague?”

On cue, Banes stepped out of the bushes, fixing his pant and dragging the former station mistress behind.  After throwing her down on his blanket, he said, “Get some rest, darlin’.  You got a busy night comin’.”

Jinx jumped to his feet and said indignantly, “You sir are an animal and a fool.  Aside from your vulgar, despicable and out and out indecent treatment of this woman, our employer expressly told us not to take any captives.”

Banes had never liked this scrawny pipsqueak and maybe today was the day the little fag would push him too far.  “I’ve been doing that freak’s dirty work for months and what’ve I got to show for it? Nothing, that’s what.  So if I wanna collect a little bit of hazard benefits, I figure I’m entitled to it.  Now why don’t you go back to your nag and leave me with my filly.”

That was the last straw.  This overgrown pile of fetid horse dung could insult him all he wanted, but besmirching Miss Mighty was going to far.  Jinx took off his glove and smacked Banes across the face with it.  Banes had never been so surprised in his life.  When the shock wore off, white-hot rage and hatred exploded from within.  

“I’m gonna pound you into a puddle of mush.”

“Fisticuffs it is then,” Jinx said primly.

He doubted somebody like Bobcat Banes understood any of the fine arts of dueling, but appearing to keep this civil would no doubt put Banes off balance.  Jinx took off his hat and coat and put up his dukes.  He danced around on tiptoe, swinging his fists comically in front of him, bouncing back and forth.  All the others could do was stare dumbstruck.  It appeared Mr. Jinx had gone insane.

“Are you familiar with the Revised London Prize Ring Rules?”

“Huh?”

“Hmm, thought not.  Ah well, it doesn’t matter.”  Jinx kicked Banes swiftly in the groin.  Bobcat shrieked in agony, clutching his injured vitals.  Sinking to his knees, Jinx socked him in the mouth.  “Neither am I.”

Back at the station, Rachel’s house had been turned into a makeshift hospital.  The doc arrived as soon as he could to treat the injuries.  Jesse had suffered many broken bones, a busted jaw and several cuts and bruises.  He wouldn’t recover any time soon.  After having the bullets taken out of his chest, Noah was recovering steadily but it would be a few days before he’d be one hundred percent.  Kid suffered burns on his neck and back, and a few broken bones.  Lou had suffered a concussion and a fractured skull.  Right now she was resting and Kid waited anxiously to see how she recovered.

Jake had wanted to set out immediately after the attackers to rescue Rachel, but once again time and nature was against him.  When they’d arrived, the sun was already setting and by the time an inventory of the wounded had been taken, it was dusk.  Presently Coulter was wandering the outskirts of the station.  Every fiber in his body burned to go after Rachel but he wouldn’t get half a mile before it was totally dark.

On the horizon, Coulter could see somebody walking towards the station.  Jake jogged to meet whoever it was.  The closer he got the more familiar the figure became.  It was Rachel.  Jake began running to meet up with her.  Rachel’s face was blackened from repeated beatings, her dress ripped to shreds (it looked like the only thing keeping it together was Rachel’s hand clutching the front).

When the bounty hunter reached for her, she screamed, “Don’t touch me!”

Eventually he managed to calm her down and get her into the house where the doc and Nettie looked after her.  She related how she’d managed to escape when Jinx and Banes started to fight.  Everybody was so concentrated on the battle, no one noticed her slip away.  

After seeing the state she was in and hearing what had happened to her, Teaspoon announced that as soon as they could see tomorrow morning, they would ride out after whoever was responsible for this and make them pay.