by Ms Raye
Part Three
Special pouch came through the next day. Papers detailing the newest treaty with the Paiute indians needed to be delivered to the tribe. Union soliders were unable to deliver it due to increased problems in the area. They were needed elsewhere. Buck was the obvious choice to go... and Kid was the only one not on the schedule the next few days.
The two set out within the hour and by the time they set up camp that evening, they were just a few hours away from the Paiute camp. Buck was strangely quiet that evening, 'It's not like he's usually the chatty type,' thought Kid, 'but if he gets anymore quiet, he's liable to disappear into thin air.'
Kid busied himself with a hastily put together supper and almost had to shove the plate into Buck's hands. "Buck, you okay?"
He looked over at his friend, concern written across the Kid's face, "Just thinkin' back to this morning."
Kid nodded and began eattin', "yeah, Jimmy's goin' to be hobblin' around for awhile. Seems like Rachel and Lou are both set on playin' nurse maids for a few days... Noah didn't seem too thrilled either." He had been sworn in in Jimmy's place for the time bein'.
Less than an hour later, the two had finished eating and were set to bed down for the night. "Buck, can you put out the fire? Buck?" His half-Kiowa friend was staring out into the stars, his mind lost in thought. Kid raked a hand through his hair as he considered what to do. Finally he resigned himself to the facts. His hand dropped down on his legs as he let out a huff of air.
"I guess I'll...," The fire flared up like a firecracker had been dropped in the middle. A blast of wind had fanned the flames and now they licked up the arm of Kid's shirt.
...the wind was hot and dry... the flames seemed hungry... ready to devour...
Buck lurched up from his seat and threw his own body on his friend. He covered the flames, beating them out with his blanket.
Kid's eyes were wide in shock... his breath was hard and ragged as he stared at his arm... even when the flames were out he seemed mesmerized by the blackened fabric.
Buck peeled back the fabric around the burn and was shocked to she that the skin was already blistered and would most likely cause an into an infection if not treated.
Kid looked flushed, his face glistening in the firelight, "It hurts Buck 'feels like my skin'll crack open if I move." Fear preyed on him.
...the voice swirled around them...
Kid felt fear flood through him as the fire lept up again. He shrank back from the flames.
...heat... and more heat... in the cool of the night they burned...
Kid groaned as the skin on his arms blistered... the pain was almost unbearable.
Buck looked about the campsite for a solution. There, beyond the rocks, a cactus whose juice ran green and thick. He reached out to grasp a stem and pulled his hand back as if a snake bit him. There beyond the glow of the fire was a man dressed in shadows, the man was pacing .... prowling ... he could not see the face of the man, but he could 'feel' him. Angry, gloating....
Behind him Kid moaned.
There was an unspoken challenge riding on the wind.
...the wind pushed on his back ... urging him to step away from the light...
Training his eyes on the figure in the darkness, Buck felt the voice in his ear,
...'step into the darkness'...
"No."
...'it's so easy.... you've already taken the first step'...
"NO!"
"Buck? Buck, who you talkin' to?"
A quick glance at his friend calmed his fears, Kid's face was more relaxed the pain seemed to have lessened.
When Buck looked back the man in shadows was gone. He retrieved the leaves he was looking for and broke one open. A thick yellow green sap slid out of the break in the leaf.
For an instant Kid turned as green as the sap, "What are you doin' with that?"
"I'm going to put this on the burn. It'll take some of the pain away."
After the first swipe Kid relaxed. He sat back and let Buck cover the burns with the healing sap. Mercifully for Buck... Kid closed his eyes and sat quietly. Buck was still bothered by the vision of man he saw outside the camp. He hadn't heard any horses coming up on them and the man seemed to appear from the night itself. He feared he was losing his mind. Ike would never...Ike. His friend was gone... and it seemed that Buck needed him now more than ever.
* * * * *
Rachel had left the waystation early the next morning and was waiting at the entrance to the store when Thompson arrived.
"How do you do, Rachel?" He let her enter first and followed her in.
"Fine, Mr. Thompkins," she was surprised at how nice he was being to her. "and you?"
"Fine, fine." He quietly went about opening the story and let her shop is peace.
Rachel was deep in thought while she gathered the items she needed. She was looking through the piles of fabric when Thompkins walked up behind her, "Uh Rachel?"
She jumped about a foot and nearly screamed, "Mr Thompkins! My you 'bout scared me right out of my shoes!" He looked a bit embarassed and he mumbled an apology, she wondered what he wanted, "Mr. Thompkins, is there something I can do for you."
He looked up quickly, "I just wanted to tell you again that I'm sorry about that boy, Ike." He took a step back, "It seems like a dark cloud's been followin' your boy's lately."
Rachel listened to his words thoughtfully, "Yeah I sure can see how it might look like that, but" she stopped and stepped to the side to peer past Thompkin's shoulder, "Who was that?"
Thompkins turned around and squinted out the window. He saw nothing. The street was deserted.
He turned around and looked at Rachel like she just grew a third head. "I don't see anybody."
She motioned at the window, "There was a man there. He was watching us through the window... he went around the corner before you tur-" She shook her head, "What's the use... can I just pay for these... I gotta get back to Kid and Jimmy." She absentmindedly paid for the supplies and said her 'goodbye's to Thompson as she left the store.
She was almost to the edge of the sidewalk when Thompkins looked down and saw that she left her purse on the counter. He grabbed it up in his hand and ran around the counter. He stopped just outside the door and called out to her.
"Rachel, Rachel you forgot your...." 'Thunder' came down the street, Thompson watched in horror as a runaway team of horses barrelled down the street straight at Rachel who was totally unaware of her own mortal danger.
_____
Teaspoon's office had been quiet all night... Noah had even gotten in a few minutes sleep... Buck had come in early to bring him some breakfast from Rachel and the two had eaten together. They both sat back enjoying the quiet of the early morning, not a soul was around.
Buck sat up as the wind filled his ears
...i've come back again, my 'friend'...
Buck stood up and looked around.
Noah put his plate down and looked around the office, "What's wrong?"
"Where are you? Show yourself!"
Noah put his hand on Buck's shoulder, "Hey man, I-"
...he can't help you... and you can't keep your friends safe...
Buck shrugged him off and walked to the window.
...you never know when someone's going to walk right into the path of trouble...
Buck looked down the street and saw Rachel comin' back from the store. He could hear horses thundering down the street. His heart slammed against his ribs, "The stage!"
...catch her if you can half-breed...
He ran outside, leaving a confused Noah, "What stage? There isn't a stage scheduled until tomorrow?" He took off after his friend.
_____
Rachel was so busy concentrating on her riders that she didn't hear anyone calling her name. She remembered she needed to give Noah a note from Teaspoon, she reached down for her purse. "Where is it? Oh no! I left it on the counter!"
She turned around to head back, "Oh my Lord!" A stage was headin' straight for her. Her legs seemed rooted to the ground and she couldn't breathe. A strange calm washed over her as she watched the horses pounding forward. She closed her eyes and waited for the impact.
She went flying to the side, her basket thrown up in the air.
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Copyright 2000