“This box don't seem as heavy as the others."

"How would you know? It's not like you ever helped carryin' the others."

"I do my fair share of work, Hickok-"

"Yeah, if your idea of work is sleeping. Cody-"

"Would you two stop it? You're giving me a headache. I swear between the two of you-"

"Can we please just get this thing to the station without saying another word? You can all kill each other later."

"Thank you, Noah!"

"You act like you're the boss or somethin'-"

"QUIET!"

All talking ceased as they reached the edge of the station property. Rachel stood before them, her arms folded over her chest indignantly. They all knew from the look on her face she was not pleased. Noah, Kid, Jimmy and Cody placed the long crate on the ground and gulped collectively.

"You know, I don't mind the four of you running off to town as long as you finish your chores first. Now, tell me what was so important that you couldn't fix the bottom step on the porch, muck out the horse stalls, and re-hang my laundry line."

The four riders exchanged guilty glances and looked for a spokesman among them. Jimmy kept his gaze trained on Cody and motioned with his head. Cody, for his part ignored Jimmy and glanced pointedly at the Kid, who kept his eyes on his shoes. Noah rolled his eyes heavenward and took a small step forward.

"You see Rachel, Josiah rode in here and told us the crate Teaspoon ordered was here, and-"

"And you just couldn't wait to open it. Well listen very carefully boys, you are to finish your chores before you even think of messin' around with whatever it is in that box. Pierre will be here on the afternoon stage, and I expect things to be in top shape. You just bring that godforsaken thing on up to the house first. And any more arguing, I might just have to pull out my bottle of castor oil!" And with that, she stormed away with a purposeful stride.

"I told you we should've done the chores first."

"Will you just shut up Kid? You wanted to see-"

"Oh quit squawking Cody."

"Nobody's talking to you, Hickok."

Noah sighed and bent to pick up one end of the crate. It was going to be a long day.

"What does he look like Rachel?"

"Oh..I don't hardly know Lou. I haven't seen him since he was a boy."

"How long ago was that?"

"Almost fifteen years ago, at his mama's funeral."

Rachel and Lou fell into a comfortable silence as the Stagecoach rolled into town, sending a cloud of dirt and dust into the air. The two women watched as an elderly couple descended the makeshift steps. They were followed by a young boy of no more than seven; no doubt the couple's grandchild. Lou sucked in her breath as a dapper young man emerged from the coach, taking a minute to stand on the top step. He had to be one of the most handsome men Lou had ever seen. He was dressed in a well-tailored gray suit that flattered his tall frame, with a frock coat slung over his arm, and his black shoes were polished to an almost blinding shine. His wavy black hair was combed back from his classic features, giving Lou a full view of his high cheekbones and full lips. She couldn't see what color his large eyes were, but she could tell they were dark.

Before Lou knew what was happening, Rachel breezed past her and approached the young man. "Pierre?"

The young man smiled so dazzlingly that he rivaled the sun. "Rachel?"

"Get down here boy and give your cousin Rachel a hug!"

Pierre all but flew down the steps and embraced Rachel in his arms, planting a firm kiss on her cheek. "You haven't changed one bit Rachel." He said in a cultured voice.

"Don't you try and flatter me Pierre Etienne Robillard." Rachel laughed as she pulled away to get a better look. "You must be the catch of three states! Look at how handsome you are."

"Now who's flattering who?"

"Oh, you hush now and come meet one of the riders," Rachel admonished as she took his proffered arm and led him to where Lou was standing.

"This is Lou McCloud, one of the best riders we have. Lou, this is Pierre."

Lou pushed her glasses further upon her nose and extended her hand. Pierre grasped her tiny hand in his and surprised her by bringing it to his lips. Lou snatched her hand away as if it'd been burned and looked around her furiously to see if anyone had noticed.

Pierre looked at Rachel in confusion, who was trying to stifle her laughter but failing miserably. "Oh Pierre.you've got a lot of learning to do. Come on, let's get back to the station so we can start your education."

“Teaspoon, what's this?" Kid asked as he held up what looked to be a face covering of some sort.

"This, is a face guard." Teaspoon responded as he plucked it from Kid's hand and tossed it to Jimmy. "Put it on Hickok."

"Why do I always gotta be the one to try out these crazy things?" Jimmy asked as he looked at the older man.

"You turning yellow, Jimmy?" Noah teased. Jimmy tossed him a dirty look and then placed the guard over his head.

"Whoo hoo Jimmy! Now that is an improvement. You wear that at the next dance and I guarantee you'll get at least one girl," Cody chuckled.

"I'm glad you like it Cody.now put this one on." Teaspoon said as he threw the other face guard to the young man.

"Awww Teaspoon-" But one look for the older man quelled his argument. He put the mask in place and looked at Teaspoon expectantly. "Now what?"

Teaspoon took Cody by the arm and led him to the front of the yard. He then placed Jimmy a few feet away from Cody and smiled at the two young men. "Now comes the fun part boys." Teaspoon chuckled as he walked back to the porch to retrieve two long pointed rods.

"What are those, Teaspoon?" Buck asked from his perch on the swing.

"These are lances. One for you Jimmy, and one for you Cody." Teaspoon explained as he put the weapons in their hands. Both Jimmy and Cody began to examine their lances. Cody touched the tip and bent it backwards, while Jimmy slapped it lightly against his knee. However, both looked at Teaspoon in askance. "What are we supposed to do with these Teaspoon, pick our teeth?" Jimmy asked sarcastically. "No Hickok, you're supposed to touch Cody with it. Each touch is one point. It's a new game I read about. Called fencing. I thought you boys might like to try it."

“Ow! Cody, watch what you're doin'!" Jimmy dropped the lance and looked at his arm. Blood trickled from where Cody had poked him.

"Come on Hickok!" Cody shouted. "I just touched ya like Teaspoon said!"

"You stabbed me!" Jimmy shouted back. "I'm bleeding!" He picked his lance back up and stabbed at Cody. The lance merely bounced off his skin. "Teaspoon!!" Jimmy stalked over to where the stationmaster was watching the porceedings with amusement. "Cody stabbed me!"

"I can see that son," Teaspoon said calmly. "Give me your lance." He took the lance which Jimmy handed over and examined the tip. "Cody, git over here," he commanded. Taking the other lance from Cody, he compared it with Jimmy's. "Mmm hmmm," he stated thoughtfully.

"What is it, Teaspoon? Why did Cody's lance cut me, but mine didn't even scratch him?" Jimmy demanded.

"I'm not exactly sure, but I think it has something to do with this," Teaspoom pointed to the button on the tip of Cody's lance.

"What's that?" Cody leaned in to peer at the tip.

"I don't know, but I think it protects the tip of the lance," Teaspoon reflected.

"Well, talk it off and let's get back to it," Jimmy picked up his lance and waited for Cody to do the same.

"Wait a minute Jimmy," Kid had pulled a book out of the box and was reading it. "It says here that the 'button' is supposed to stay on to protect the jouster," Buck burst out laughing as Kid read the word 'jouster', and Kid gave him a dirty look before continuing, "from nicks and cuts from the tip of the lance."

"So you're saying there's supposed to be another one of them 'buttons' around here somewheres?" Jimmy asked.

"It's not in here," Buck said, digging through the box. He pulled out four white one-piece suits. "Teaspoon? What are these?"

"Looks like some kind of uniform," Cody said, holding one up. "Like what the people on the front of the book are wearing."

"Kid, Noah, why don't you go try them on," Teaspoon suggested. "Cody, Jimmy and Buck, you three git back out in the yard and look for that button." He picked up the book. It seemed to be the rules to the art of fencing. He knew this because the book was titled "The Rules to the Art of Fencing." Inside were various rules and descriptions of the equipment, but it was the diagrams of the fencing positions that caught his interest. As the boys hurried off to do what he had said, Teaspoon settled back to read.

“Pierre, I'm so glad you're here," Rachel said for the hundredth time. She pulled the wagon into the station yard, and stopped in front of her house. "Wait until you meet all the b..." she stopped short at the sight that greeted them. Cody, Jimmy, and Buck were crawling around on their hands and knees, peering at the ground with determined attention. Two of the boys were dressed in tight, white suits. They had weird looking masks pulled over their heads, and the only thing that told them it was Kid and Noah was the fact that they had their hats on. Even more puzzling, if it was possible, were their actions. Each held a long, thin metal rod, and they were waving them around at each other. They were standing with one leg in front of the other with the knee bent, and their free hands were in the air. After about a minute of this action, they stopped and studied a book lying on the ground for a few seconds, then went back to waving the rods around. Through all this commotion, Teaspoon napped on the porch.

Lou and Rachel stared at each other in amazement. "What are they doing?" Lou whispered.

"I have no idea," Rachel whispered back, not taking her eyes off the scene.

"It's called fencing," Pierre said. "Or, at least that's what it's supposed to be. They don't look like they really know what they are doing though."

"I guess the boys opened the crate that came for Teaspoon," Rachel laughed. "Boys, get over here," she raised her voice. "I have someone I want you to meet."

The boys all walked over to where Rachel, Lou, and Pierre were standing, Kid and Noah taking off their masks as they gathered around.

"Boys, this is my cousin, Pierre," Rachel introduced them. "Pierre, this is Buck, Cody, Jimmy, Kid and Noah."

Teaspoon made his way across the yard, having awoken sometime during the introductions.

"What do we have here?" He asked as he pulled on his suspenders.

"Teaspoon, this is my cousin, Pierre."

"Pleasure to meet you son. Name's Teaspoon Hunter, the Marshal and station master of these here rowdy boys."

Pierre raised an eyebrow at the strange name, but he liked the look of the older man. He shook his hand vigorously and smiled as Teaspoon looked sideways at his charges. "Well boys, did you find that button yet?"

"Aw Teaspoon, we've been lookin' for almost an hour. Maybe they forgot to put it in with everything else." Cody said as he crossed his arms in resolve. His knees were aching and he wanted to give up the search for the damned thing.

Teaspoon was about to respond when Pierre suddenly bent down and retrieved something from the ground in front of him. He straightened and extended his hand, revealing the offending item. "Is this what you're looking for?"

"Hot damn!" Teaspoon exclaimed. One look from Rachel however, he cleared his throat and picked the cork up with his fingers. "Thank you, Pierre. Tell me son, you ever hear tell of a sport called fencing?"

Pierre chuckled slightly and nodded his head. "I had an instructor for almost ten years. I think I learned a few things."

Teaspoon laughed and looked at the boys. "Consider this your lucky day, boys. We have a bonafide fencer in our presence." Turning back to Pierre he smiled. "You think you can give these rowdys a lesson or two?"

"I'd be delighted." Pierre said enthusiastically. It had been a long while since he'd picked up a lance, but he guessed it was about time.

"Good. I've got to get back to town and make my rounds. Don't be too hard on them, now." He chuckled as he tipped his hat to Rachel and made his way into the heart of Rock Creek.

All at once, the boys began asking him questions but Pierre held up his hands laughingly. Rachel stepped in front of her guest and stopped the questions cold with one glance. "Boys, Pierre just got here. Maybe he'd like to rest first."

"It's quite all right Rachel. I think I'd like some exercise."

Rachel smiled and patted his shoulder. "All right. Come on and I'll show you where to put your bag. Could one of you boys take care of the wagon, please?"

“Damn you Hickok! Get off me!" Cody yelled in outrage as he tried to push the bigger rider away.

Kid and Buck were doubled over in laughter on the porch, and Pierre tried to hide a smile behind his hands. After an hour of instruction on the appropriate fencing positions, Jimmy and Cody had agreed to a practice match. Jimmy had begun to advance upon his friend, all the while feeling ridiculous with his hand in the air. He was concentrating so much on his feet positions that he hadn't seen Cody lunge until he felt the pressure of the lance against his chest. After the point had been called and the riders had returned to their marks, Cody was still laughing. Without warning, Hickok rushed his opponent, wielding his lance high above his head. Cody could only throw his hands outward as they tumbled to the ground.

"You're supposed to lunge, not charge, Jimmy." Kid said through his laughter.

Jimmy stood up with as much dignity as possible and smirked at his friends. "I forgot."

"Forgot my foot. You did that on purpose!"

Pierre stepped between the two young men before the argument could escalate any further. "Um, perhaps you'd be more comfortable without your holster, Mr. Hickok," Pierre suggested diplomatically.

"No, I don't think I would," Jimmy replied as he looked down at his white uniform. He thought his gun belt was the perfect accessory.

"But-"

"Listen Pierre, you really don't want to argue with him. Save yourself some time." Kid called from the top step.

Pierre shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "If you say so. Gentleman, please take your positions."

If Cody wouldn't have had the mask pulled over his face, they would have seen the devilish gleam in his eyes. As it was, Jimmy stared back at him innocently as he waited for the advance. He didn't have to wait very long.

With a high-pitched yell, Cody removed the button from the top of his lance and started running towards Hickok.

Jimmy frantically tried to remove the protective cap from his weapon, but it wouldn't budge. He threw the lance at Cody to slow his pace, and then ran in the other direction as fast as his legs could carry him.

"Cody, you're crazy! Put that thing down!" Jimmy yelled behind him.

Cody didn't respond, but started laughing maniacally. The others could only watch in awe as Cody chased Jimmy through the streets of Rock Creek. Many of the townspeople were used to the antics of the Express Riders, but everyone stopped in their tasks to watch the melee.

Jesse was stood in the doorway of Teaspoon's office and began to laugh hysterically. Even though he couldn't see their faces, he recognized Cody's bow-legged gait. And only one person he knew would wear his guns in an absurd get-up like that: Jimmy Hickok.

"Hey Teaspoon, you might want to come and take a look at this."

Teaspoon stood behind Jesse and craned his neck. Soon he was clutching at his side and trying to regain his breath. "Don't you think you should help Hickok, Teaspoon?" Jesse asked.

"Naw.. he probably deserves what's comin' to him."

Alright, perhaps we can continue the lesson in a calm and resonable manner?" Pierre stood before all the riders.

"Only if you don't pair Jimmy and Cody up again," Kid suggested. The two riders in question were sitting on opposite ends of the porch, glaring at each other. Cody had chased Jimmy through town, until Jimmy pulled his gun and fired at Cody's feet. At that point, Teaspoon had decided it might be wise to intervene, so he ordered the two back to the station. Now they were not talking to each other, but the other riders ignored them, knowing their childish behavior would soon pass.

"Yes, that might be wise," Pierre agreed. "Why don't you and Lou give it a try, Kid?"

"They already did, it didn't work out," Cody muttered under his breath, earning chuckles from Buck and Noah and glares of hatred from Lou and Kid.

Kid and Lou took their positions and began to joust. "Hey Kid," Buck called, knowing he was treading on dangerous ground but unable to resist the opportunity to tease the two. "You haven't done anything to make her mad at you lately, have you?" Even Jimmy had to laugh at that.

Kid turned to respond to Buck, taking his attention off Lou. She took advantage of the situation, and touched him on the shoulder with the tip of her lance. "Point!" she cried gleefully, her voice somewhat muffled by the face mask.

"Thanks a lot, Buck," Kid said good-naturedly. He turned back to face Lou, and the pair continued to joust. They both showed talent for the sport and soon even Jimmy and Cody forgot their argument and left the porch to watch the competition. Kid and Lou continued to joust until Rachel came out and announced supper.

"Well, I think we learned a lot today," Cody remarked, grabbing some chipped beef from the platter Lou was passing to Pierre.

"Yeah," Noah laughed. "I learned not to joust with Jimmy or Cody, 'cause I might get stabbed or my head blown off, and not to joust with Lou, 'cause I might be humiliated in front of all my friends by loosing to a girl, right Kid?"

Kid just laughed and put his arm around Lou. "I know better than to be mad at her winning, Noah. I'd like to keep that button on the lance, and all my blood inside me."

"And I don't think I want to joust with Buck," Noah continued. "He probably has some Indian fighting tricks up his sleeve."

"Yeah, I might have to use them to teach Cody a lesson about stealing food off of other people's plates," Buck snatched back the biscuit Cody had taken off his plate.

"So, if you won't joust with Cody or Jimmy, or Buck, or Kid or me," Lou looked at Noah, "who will you joust with?"

No one," Noah replied. "You know, I think I'll just stick to my whip for now."

"Probably not a bad idea," Cody agreed. "You know, speaking of whips, this whip once walked into a bar..."

"Cody!" They all groaned as he began yet another of his corny jokes.

"What?" He looked at them innocently. "I'm trying to tell a joke here. So, anyway, the whip walks up to the bar and says to the bartender..."

The End

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