Gathering Clouds -- Part Two
SWEETWATER IS UNDER ATTACK. CAN IT SAVE ITSELF FROM THE HAWK...
Stiles, aka the Hawk, orders the hanging of the Kid. Jimmy watches nearby, ready to intervene. When asked to explain himself, Kid tells Stiles that Ben was actually sympathetic to the South and was helping them with information. Kid mentions the shipment of rifles that Lewis was expecting and gave the time and place. Stiles confirms these and releases the Kid, to Hickok's immense relief. Jimmy goes back to the station to tell Teaspoon.
After
Jimmy's lessons with Vera, Stiles tries to talk to him about the Hawk.
Jimmy says he supported the Hawk's beliefs. Stiles tells him he would like
to continue the discussion and arranges a meeting with Jimmy for that night.
In the bunkhouse, Ike brings Annie over for dinner. Though Lou is happy for her friend, she feels kind of envious of Ike's good fortune. She fears she won't see the Kid anymore. Jimmy arrives at the livery stables and Jeremy Stiles comes out but introduces himself as the Hawk. He leads Jimmy back to his camp and introduces him around. Aaron later calls the men together to tell them about the shipment of rifles they were going to steal from right the army's noses the next day. Kid and Jimmy are among the men chosen to go. Jeffrey once again proves his violent tendencies when he kills the owners of the house they were going to use as a trap for the army.
When the army arrives, a gun battle ensues and Jimmy and Kid are caught right in the middle. Kid tries to send a message to Captain Lewis about the Hawk but the soldier is killed by Jeffrey before he gets away. The raiders successfully steal the guns.
In town, Lewis makes more enemies when he posts a requisition for horses. All the horses in town are gathered and put together for the army's use. Then a wagon carrying the survivors of the Hawk's recent attack arrives and the townspeople begin to change their idea of the Hawk.
Vera and Jeremy -- who are actually married -- talk about their plans. Stiles intends to rob the bank because the South will need it to "build an army." Stiles and his men go to the bank but a little boy sees them and recognizes them and his mother begins to shout. The raiders get the army's payroll and run but Marshall Cain and Captain Lewis are already outside. They exchange gunfire while the raiders try to escape. Just when Lewis has a clear shot of Stiles, though, Vera comes between them and is shot by Lewis. The raiders get away. As Vera lies on her deathbed, Lewis questions her and she tells him that Stiles is a great man. She tells the captain that under different circumstances, Lewis would have liked him. After she dies, a soldier (who is actually in Stiles' employ) gives Lewis a note supposedly found among Vera's possessions about a planned attack by the raiders.
A grieving Stiles orders an attack on Sweetwater. Aaron tries to dissuade him but after losing his wife, Jeremy is irrational. The soldier arrives at Hawk's camp and tells him about Lewis's plan to try and capture the raiders at White's Bluff. Jeremy gathers his men and tells them that while Lewis is out "chasing ghosts", they will attack Sweetwater and steal the army's horses.
Back
at the station, Lou gives Ike a ring for Annie. It's a ring she bought
for the Kid (I think). She tells Ike that the way things are going, she
didn't think she'll be needing it. Ike tells her she should have told Kid
about her feelings for him.
Jimmy and the Kid escape and they meet the army on the way back to Sweetwater. The riders tell Lewis to go back because the Hawk was planning to attack the town but the captain won't listen. He puts Kid and Jimmy under arrest and sends them back to Sweetwater.
Teaspoon, Emma, Sam and the rest of the riders have lunch in town with Annie. Ike was planning to propose to Annie. But before he could do that, the man whom Annie was supposed to wed arrived. He didn't die at the mining camp as originally reported. Ike is devastated but shakes the man's hands.
Upon Jimmy and the Kid's arrival, the immediately tell Sam about the Hawk's plans. The Marshall takes control of the situation and orders the men of the town to pick up their guns because they couldn't count on the army to help them. Some of the soldier left behind help them out. Stiles and his men arrive and ride down the street, firing at the buildings. A gunfight ensues and neither side is winning until Cody comes up with a brilliant idea. He and Buck release the horses on the coming raiders. Confusion follows and Hawk's men become sitting ducks for the townspeople. Jimmy kills Jeffrey while Kid kills Stiles.
The army arrives after the battle to find a town full of dead raiders. Lewis tries to apologize and kills the traitorous solider when the latter tries to escape. Jackson and Annie leave for their new life and Ike goes out on a run. Life continues as usual in the Pony Express...
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