I couldn’t let this day go by without a snippet.
Sadly it’s not from long list! Lucky for you more snippets
James Hickok gave Doc a supscious look, but the scientist was not phased and continued to hold out the small gift.
With a sigh he reached out and took it from his hand. “It’s not my birthday, or christmas. And I thought we were past the stage of thanking me for taking care of Marty.”
Emmet gave him a bright smile. “I will always be thankful for you taking care of Marty, likely until our dying breathes which I’m hoping will be longer than I can even imagine.”
He lifted the small box shaking it slightly. “Then what’s this for?”
“Marty was showing me these really cool holidays. And I saw today was thank a mailman. Now I know you’re not a mailman, but you did ride for the Pony Express. And was exceptional from the what I saw at the races. So figured you deserved a gift for hauling mail across the rugged United States when it was pretty hospitable. Hell when I lived in Hill Valley getting mail was dodgy at best.” Doc shrugged slightly, then gestured to the gift. “I had Marty help me with it. I may still be in the grateful please don’t kill me stage of our relationship.”
Jimmy snorted softly. “Thanks. I get it more than I let on. It wasn’t easy meeting Noah when I did, let alone figuring out Mates.”
“It was 1860 I would expect that would be awkward.” Doc gave him a true smile. Though it had been over a decade since he was back, he still at times found it difficult to talk to others, but as much as Hickok scared the living shit out of him, he was easy to talk to. A man of his time and yet not. “Open it!”
Jimmy pulled off the ribbon and easily tore into the wrapping, then paused. It was a photo album, and it had a picture of the Express Riders. Not the modern version, but the one from 1860. Lou was tryign to be serious, Kid was staring at her. Buck and Ike were quiet in the background, while Cody dominated the main picture. He was towards the side, with Noah at his side. Teaspoon was sitting prominently in the middle of his boys.
“How did you find this?” He asked feeling the emotion overwhelming him. They had a few pictures, mostly after they reunited with everyone, which was after they lost Ike.
“Lots and lots of research, a few trips to many different historical societies. I got in touch with a historian who was an expert in the Pony Express, and asked about Sweetwater Station. He had lots to say, about the rumors about the placed and riders. When I went to visit, he showed me the photo, I got it scanned and printed. I hope you don’t mind.”
Jimmy shook his head, then a rare show of emotion he pulled Emmet into a hug. “Thank You.”
“I’m the one thank you!” He patted the gunslinger on the back and stepped back, noticing Noah had come into the room looking to kill something. “Hey I guess should thank you to, since it’s thank a mailman day!”
Noah looked between the two, then gave a small nod and smile. “Much easier to deliver mail today.”
“Well on that.” Emmet took the moment and fled the area, he hoped he didn’t upset Jimmy to much. Maybe he should’ve showed it to Marty first.
“Jimmy?” Noah stepped close to his Mate, slightly disturbed at the range of emotions. “What’s going on?”
He handed him the photo. “It was his thank you gift.”
Noah held the photo feeling his own shock of emotions. “Where we ever that young?”
Jimmy laughed. “I was Marty’s age and already felt old.”
Noah’s head snapped up and stared at his Mate in shock. “You were eighteen?”
“Yeah. Riders had to be young and orphans. I turned eighteen just before Speed showed up. Cody was nineteen, I think Lou was seventeen. Kid was the oldest of the group at twenty-one, Buck and Ike were the same age, never quite learned what it was, should ask him.”
“How the hell did I not know this?” Noah felt very old considering he was twenty-three.
“It’s not like it mattered.” Jimmy shrugged. “I had been on my own since fifteen, already seasoned so to speak by the time hit the Express.”
Noah still stared at him in shock, then looked at the photo. God they were. young and old all at the same time. “It’s a thoughtful gift.”
“We should get the scan send it to the rest. I think Buck would like a picture of Ike, now that he’s back.” Jimmy took the picture back and set it on the bookcase. “Since it’s thank a mailman day, anyway I can thank you.”
Noah laughed at the bad pick up line, but had a few ideas, pulling his Mate into his arms and kissed him passionately.