As Buck sat looking down on the awakening village he had recently left, he reflected upon the recent events that had brought him to this spot and caused him to go through the trials of these past few days ………………
"It looks like a nice enough town," said Buck, turning in his saddle to look back at Ike.
Ike shrugged.
"I know, " Buck agreed. "So did the others. " He drew a deep breath and let it out slowly, "You want me to go in and check it out?"
Ike shook his head no, and nudged his horse forward.
Buck joined him and the two of them rode into the quite town of Sweetwater. They tried not to pay attention to the stares they received. They rode slowly, eyes straight ahead, no talking. When they reached the marshal's office, Buck reined up and dismounted.
"Wait here. I'll go ask for directions. I won't take long." He glanced at Ike, nervously took off his hat and entered the building.
"How can I help you?" asked the man behind the desk.
"I need to know where to find Miss Emma Shannon's house, " Buck replied.
The man looked up, "Why?"
Buck swallowed, breathed deeply, "My friend and I want to join the pony express. We were told to go to her house and find a man name of Teaspoon Hunter," Buck calmly explained as he backed slowly towards the door.
"Head on through town. It's a couple of miles out. Big, white house. You can't miss it," said the man glancing out the window at Ike.
"Thank you, sir," said Buck as he turned to leave.
"Son," said the man.
"Yes, sir?" said Buck slowly turning around.
"You and your friend had best just keep on riding until you reach Miss Shannon's. Folks here are a might touchy about injuns on a count of the trouble we've been having."
"We will, sir, " replied Buck. "Thank you, sir."
"Don't mention it. See you around."
Buck left the building, quickly mounted his horse and filled Ike is as they continued their journey.
A few minutes later the two boys were sitting in the shade by the side of the road discussing their options. "I still think we should go in separate. If these folks are having trouble with Indians, it's possible they won't let me stay."
Ike shrugged. He looked at buck and shook his head. He pointed from himself to Buck and then down the road.
"No," said Buck standing quickly. "You need to stay with or without me. It's the perfect job for you. I don't want to ruin it for you."
Ike stood also. He took hold of Buck's arm and stared at him intensely. He again shook his head and pointed to himself then Buck.
Buck sighed. "Okay," he said. "We both go if one of us isn't chosen, but we go in separate so they don't throw us out without a try. Okay?"
Ike smiled and nodded.
"You go first."
Ike nodded again, quickly gathered his horse from where it was grazing nearby. He mounted and kicked his mount into a slow walk towards the house he hoped would become their new home.
Buck watched Ike ride off. As Ike disappeared around a bend in the road he collected his own mount, and followed. He too was hoping they had finally found a place to settle and feel at home.
As he rode in, Buck noticed Ike standing off by a smaller boy. That was a good sigh, the other boy hadn't decided to start trouble. Buck quietly dismounted and joined the group. He purposely kept his eyes down and avoided looking at Ike.
A few minutes later there were six boys all staring at an older man as he finished his bath in the water trough. Buck had been pleasantly surprised when the man form the marshal's office had sat up from under the water.
Teaspoon, the man from the water trough, was to be in charge of this outfit of riders. He was now talking to a young man named James Butler Hickok. Hickok was a cocky young man who had the potential of being very dangerous.
Buck had already completed his trial. Teaspoon hadn't seemed too concerned that Buck was half-indian. It fact, Buck had the distinct impression that Teaspoon had been expecting some "half-bloods."
The Hick boy was finishing up his riding task. Ike would be next. Buck glanced at him as Teaspoon walked up to him, "And what's your name?"
Ike looked at Teaspoon. His eyes widened in panic. They hadn't thought of this. How was he going to tell?
"Well, speak up, Son," said Teaspoon.
"His name's Ike McSwain," said Buck. "He can hear, but he can't talk."
"Speakin' don't matter," said Teaspoon looking back at Ike. "You any good with horses?"
Ike smiled and Buck relaxed. They both knew Ike was wonderful with animals. It was as if the animal understood what he was thinking. The horse seemed to become an extension of Ike. They became one being. Ike easily passed his riding trial.
Later that evening both boys were excited as they moved their few belongings into the bunkhouse they would share with the four other riders -- Jimmy Hick; Lou McCloud, the small boy; William F. Cody, another brash young man; and The Kid, a quite, confident young man from Virginia. It was nice to have a place to call home. They looked at each other and smiled as they settled in.
*I hope this doesn't change soon* signed Ike, *I like it here*
Buck nodded. "Me too."
It hadn't taken long for things to settle into a routine. It was never boring; however, as someone always had a way of finding some type of mischief. Cody and Jimmy were the usual culprits, but the others were never too busy to help out. Emma was hare pressed to keep them in line, but she was slowly changing them from competitive, argumentative, distrustful boys into a close knit family of respectable young men.
Buck had been quietly thinking about this one evening at mealtime when Ike suddenly stumbled into the bunkhouse.
"He's been horse kicked," someone shouted.
Emma quickly crossed the room and guided Ike to a place when could tend his wound. There had been a brief moment of tension when Jimmy wanted to put down the horse, but Ike had convinced him not to. The boys all settled back down and watched as Emma bandaged Ike's head and held him while she slowly rocked back and forth to help him relax and calm down. Buck had felt the genuine concern from the others for Ike, and it made him glad. It seemed they may have really found a place to fit in.
Things had continued to go well. That's why this new attitude had been so unexpected. Everyone had been aware of the indian trouble that was once again occurring, but no one had been prepared for the open hostility that was shown the riders by the people of Sweetwater.
"I'll pack as soon as I get back to Emma's," said Buck.
"Why?' asked Lou. "You haven't done anything wrong."
"The townspeople are targeting you because of me," Buck replied.
"No," disagreed Lou. "They don't really like any of us. The way they treat us is not your fault."
Buck stopped. Lou did also. "Okay. Tell me that what just happened would have happened if I wasn't here," said Buck.
Lou stared at him, but said nothing.
"I thought so," said Buck as he kicked his horse into a gallop and raced away from Lou just as Jimmy and Cody rode up.
Once back at the waystation Buck rode quickly into the barn. He dismounted hurriedly and turned to tend his horse. He stopped and walked away. He clenched his jaw, still angered by what had happened in town. He should have been prepared for the hostile attitudes, but he hadn't been. Damn them all! Why should it matter what they thought of him? But strangely it did.
"Buck," called Teaspoon.
Buck took a deep breath, and calmed himself. He quickly removed and put up his saddle and went to find Teaspoon.
"Sir?"
"You want to talk about what happened in town, Son?" the older man inquired.
"No," answered Buck.
"Will you tell me one thing?"
Buck nodded.
"Did the other boys start it, or did it just sort of happen?"
Buck sighed. "It just sort of happened," he explained. "Mr. Tompkins said some things Jimmy and Cody didn't like. They let him know and next thing he was calling his men and there was a fight."
"You okay?" quizzed Teaspoon.
"I'm fine," replied Buck. "I left before the fighting broke out." Buck looked at his feet.
"Smart," said Teaspoon.
Buck glanced up to see if Teaspoon was serious. He appeared to be, "No reason to get involved," Buck replied.
"I'm not sure the other boys would agree," ventured Teaspoon.
"They weren't fighting because of anything he said about me. They got upset about it, but they fought because he called them 'Indian lovers'," Buck said the anger slowly beginning to return.
Teaspoon noticed the change in Buck's demeanor. He quickly decided it was best to put out this fire before it grew.
"Now, Buck, you know as well as I do it's on a count of the trouble with the local tribes that everybody's jumpy. That's what got Tompkins talking."
Buck took a deep breath. He slowly brought his anger under control. He nodded at Teaspoon.
"Good," said Teaspoon. "Then you'll understand that the other riders are jumpy too. Y'all haven't known each other all that long and don't know each other all that well. They was trying to stick up for you. Just chose the wrong time in the conversation."
Buck smiled at Teaspoon. "I guess you're right."
"Of course I'm right," said Teaspoon. "You ever known me to not be? Don't answer that. Get yerself cleaned up and come eat."
"Yes, sir," replied Buck. "As soon as I finish tending my horse."
Buck turned to go back into the barn as Teaspoon headed back to the bunkhouse.
Buck quickly turned back to face Teaspoon, "Teaspoon?" he said.
"Yes, Son?"
"Thanks."
The old man nodded and continued on his way to the bunkhouse and food. Buck returned to the barn. He was just finishing up when Kid and Ike rode in. They had found a way station burned by Kiowas. This on its own was not going to help the current situation, but they had unknowingly brought a message from Buck's older half-brother, Red Bear. It seemed the Kiowa war chief wanted to see his younger half-brother. Buck decided he'd see what Red Bear wished of him before he told the others. No use bringing on extra trouble . . . . . . .
"Ready?" Kid asked.
Ike nodded. Buck stirred brought back from his musings to the present. If he'd only known then what he knew now, he would have done things a little differently. Then maybe he would have avoided having to rescue his best friend from his half-brother. Then again, if he'd done things differently he wouldn't have had this opportunity to prove himself a true Kiowa and discover how much his new friends - no family - meant to him.
