"Rider comin'!" yelled Kid as a horse could be seen in the distance. Since no pouch was expected, it had to be Cody back from a special run for the army to Fort Bridger in Wyoming. It had been the furthest ride any of them had made out of the Sweetwater station to date. "Teaspoon! Somethin's wrong. Cody don't run his horse like that..." Lou called out from the bunkhouse porch. All the riders came out to watch Cody's approach and to find out what was wrong. Emma also came out from the house upon hearing all the yelling to see what was going on. Kid reached for the reins as Cody pulled the horse to a stop in front of Teaspoon. Cody tried to get a word out but seemed to have lost all capability to talk. He looked like he was scared which was very unusual for the young man. "Take your time son," Teaspoon gently told him as he lead him to the front porch where Cody sat on the top step, "why don't one of you boys get Cody here a drink of water to wash the dust from his throat and then maybe he can tell us what happened." Ike brought a cup to Cody who took it with shaking hands. Teaspoon raised an eyebrow at Emma who noticed the young man shaking also. After a few minutes, Cody seemed to have settled down so Teaspoon queried him once more about what happened. Shaking his head with disbelief he started rambling, "It was something huge...smelly...an abom...abom..." the young man looked at Teaspoon for help. "I think your trying to say abomination," the older man offered trying to make sense of what Cody was trying to tell them. "Start over Cody, this time try complete sentences so we can understand you." Cody slowed down and started over. "I had stopped my horse for some water and to rest. We were just past South Pass and in the mountains. I had left my saddle on the horse because I just got a feelin' that somethin' wasn't right. Didn't know what but it made me kind of nervous. The horse too. She kept tossing her head lookin' into the trees when all of a sudden, there was the most horrible smell. I was afraid that maybe it was a body that had been there for a while when all of a sudden there was a howl like nothin' I ever heard before Teaspoon. Scared about ten years off my life. The horse would have left me there with that thing, that abom...what Teaspoon said, if I hadn't grabbed the reins when I first smelled it." Cody paused for another sip of water. Kid, Jimmy and Lou looked at each other and shook their heads, each thinking, 'Another one of Cody's tales!' "I jumped on the horse and was about to take off when out of the tree line stepped this thing...it was at least ten to twelve feet tall, I swear. I ain't makin' this up. I know y'all think I am but it's true! The thing was covered with some kind of fur or hair that was real long, all over it's body. I couldn't see a face real good, but it had teeth that made me cringe when it opened its mouth to let out another howl. They were all yellow like and looked like some of its last meal was still in its teeth. The eyes, they are what got me movin' I tell ya. I ain't never seen eyes like that. They looked at me like I was gonna be it's next meal. I jumped on my horse and rode hell-bent-for-leather I tell ya. I could still hear that beast bellowing in my wake as we tore out of the hills." When Cody finished his tale, he looked around him at the others for there reaction. Kid, Lou, Jimmy and Ike sat shaking their heads and Emma had stood up with a sad smile on her face. "Cody, you and the stories you tell..." Emma stated turning to go into the bunkhouse to start fixing dinner. "Yeah, Cody. Ain't you got nothin' better to do than dream up things like monsters and such?" Jimmy accused, stepping off the porch with Lou and Ike behind him when Teaspoon's words stopped everyone in their tracks. "I wouldn't be dismissin' what Cody has been tellin' you boys so fast if'n I was you." Emma stopped in the doorway and turned to stare at the stationmaster with a look of disbelief on her face. "Surely you don't believe that story do you Mr. 'Spoon?" she inquired. Buck who had remained silent until then spoke up, "I agree with Teaspoon. My people and other tribes have stories of such a creature. It has been known to roam in the mountains for many years. My people stay away from any places it has been seen." "You're kidding, right Buck?" Kid asked him with some doubt that the rider was. "Buck's right," Teaspoon told them, "I've heard tales myself about such a creature, though I have to say I ain't never met anyone who's come across one before today. If'n my memory is correct, I believe it was called Sasquatch. Isn't that right Buck?" Buck grinned at the mans slaughtering of the pronunciation but agreed, "That is just one name I have heard it called. There are many others, but that is the most used." Cody looked relieved that there was not only one, but two people who believed him and what he had encountered. Leaning back against the step, Cody offered up, "That's the last time I offer to do a run for the army or anyone else in those mountains. I don't plan on being some monster's dinner." The others laughed nervously but agreed with him. No one wanted to meet up with Cody's creature! Email Lisa L. HOME