"Louise, you got a letter from Emma. Everything alright while we were gone?" Rachel asked the dark haired girl.

Lou took the letter and said, "Fine. I didn't see anyone all day. Good night, Rachel."

"Come on Rachel let's go in." Rachel's new husband led her into their house, but she turned to watch Lou walk slowly toward the bunkhouse. It was empty now. The Pony Express went out of business and the rest of the riders moved on to new jobs. Lou moved back into the bunkhouse when Rachel and Thomas got married two months ago.

"She waits everyday for word from him. Why doesn't he come or at least write? When I see him I'm going to.."

"Now Rachel, that's part of growing up. Let them work it out. Let Louise tell him what she wants. It's not our business."

"Yes it is. Louise is my responsibility until Kid returns."

"What if he doesn't come back? Will she stay after the baby comes? She seems to live in her own world."

"I don't think so. When she gets back on her feet after the baby arrives, I expect her to leave and find him. It's so unlike him to just disappear like this."

"It won't be easy, no matter what happens! Being separated this long and a new baby too will be hard. I don't know him, just what you've told me. Can they make it work?"

"I have to believe they will."

The letter was a surprise. Emma moved away when she and Sam married over a year ago. She had been the housekeeper for the riders before Rachel.

Lou sat at the table and stared at the paper in her hand. The tears ran down her cheeks as she realized how much she missed that woman. She loved Rachel as a friend but Emma was like the mother and confidant she never had.

"I wish you were here now to tell me what to do." Laying her head on the table the tears and sobs took over until she was all cried out. "Oh Kid where are you? Why haven't you come back? O Lord," she prayed, "please bring him home before his child comes. I miss him so!"

Being unable to do much in her eighth month of pregnancy, she went to bed early. Uncomfortable it was hard to go to sleep. It was if her body was telling her something was about to happen.

After a fitful night, she arose early and went for a short walk in the cool morning air. The baby was busy kicking and prevented her from breathing normally. Another long day looked to be ahead of her.

Maybe she would write to Emma and thank her for her letter. Or should she try to write to the Kid again? Why didn't he answer her letters?

"Good morning, Louise. You're sure up early today. It looks like a beautiful morning but by afternoon, I bet, it will be hotter than blazes again."

"Good morning, Thomas. I like this time of day."

"Do you want anything from town? I need to go back to Sweetwater for another load of feed."

"Thanks but there's really nothing I need. How soon are you leaving? I should write a letter to Emma."

"I need to do chores first, Lou. I'll check in with you before I leave and see if you have it finished."

The wagon came rocking dangerously as it approached at neck-breaking speed to the former way station. Thomas flew off the wagon and ran toward the bunkhouse. It was empty. His wife came running out of the white frame house.

"What happened, Thomas? What is wrong?"

"Where is Louise? I need to give her something I got in town."

"Isn't she in the bunkhouse?"

"I didn't see her in there. I've got some letters for her. I think they're from her man."

The couple looked into her house but it was empty. They went to the barn and checked all the stalls and the haymow.

"Where could she be, Rachel? She wouldn't leave here would she?"

"I have an idea. Ride down to the swimming hole. I'll wait here in case she returns before you find her."

"You don't think she went swimming do you? Not in her condition?"

"No, she might have gone there to think. You go look for her. Wait, there she is."

Thomas ran toward the expectant mother. "Lou, I've got something for you. It's a whole stack of letters."

"What did you say Thomas?"

"There was a mistake at the post office. After Rachel picked up your letter yesterday and I posted your letter today, they realized they had some mail addressed to a Lou McCloud. They were waiting for a man to pick up the letters."

"Oh my, they're from the Kid! They have been sitting in a post office all this time!"

She turned her back and quickly scanned through the stack of envelopes. There was no mistaking the hand writing. It was Kid's. Each had been writing to each other without ever receiving the other's letters. It didn't take long for her to discover the most recent letter. Impatiently she opened the precious envelope and removed the written page.

Today was the sixteenth. Was he on his way? Was he waiting for her to answer his letter? To add to her excitement the baby responded with its own activity time. A swift kick up into her rib cage made her laugh. Tenderly she massaged her sore side. "Yes little one. Your daddy's on his way back to get us. Oh how I have missed him."

"Is everything all right, Louise?" asked Rachel's husband. "It is good news, I hope."

"Oh, yes, Thomas. Kid should be here any day now. I've only read the most recent one. I've been waiting for these for so long, I don't want to rush through them but I can't wait to read them all."

"Will you be alright here? Do you want to walk back to the place with me or stay alone?"

"I'll be home later. It is a nice day. I'm ok. Go on home and tell Rachel not to worry. Everything will be alright."

Later that night as she prepared for bed she took out the latest letter one more time. Reading it in the lamp light she began to cry. Was this love? Was that why she was crying? There were so many unanswered questions that would have to wait until he came and they were able to discuss their futures together.

Laying in the hard bunk she stared at the bed above her head. Was it only a year ago, no really less than a year, that this place was alive with riders coming and going? How quickly it all could change; the express out of business, the rest of the riders gone, she about to become a mother. Gently she felt the bumps the baby made in her belly.

"Kid, I love you. We are waiting for you to return."

As she went to sleep, her thoughts were with the man she hadn't seen for many months. His thoughts were also about the woman he left behind. Had she changed since he left? What would their life together be? Would she finally consent to marry him and return to Jamestown with him? She had no doubt. There would be no life without the Kid as her husband.

The booming rumble of thunder woke Louise. It was not yet dawn, but the flashes of lighting lit up the dark sky. She had never been afraid of storms but she wanted this day to dawn perfect. Would the storm delay her man's arrival?

She sat up in the bunk and hugged the covers around herself tightly. All the doubts of the past few months washed over her. The normally busy baby was peacefully still. How would Kid react to the pending arrival? Would he judge her, deeming that she was a bad person?

A sharp pain across her back jerked her mind to the present. Lou crawled out of the covers and walked across the room but the annoying ache persisted. The flashing lightning, the loud thunder, the dark skies and the feeling of loneliness gave her a feeling of melancholy. If only she could go to Rachel but it would be foolish to run across the yard in the downpour.

Suddenly she realized what was happening. The baby would make its appearance this very day. She wasn't alone and it wouldn't do any of them good to mope. Rachel was sure to check on her if she didn't appear when the rain stopped. There was no reason for anyone to get wet.

What a surprise for Kid! Would he arrive before his child did?

"Louise, are you alright?" Rachel called into the bunkhouse. The rain stopped and the sun was shining. She worried when Lou didn't come over and went to investigate.

"Today is the day," Louise said from the bed. After walking around the room countless times, she tried resting but couldn't find a comfortable position.

"Yes, I know that is what those letters said, but don't get your hopes too high."

"No, Rachel, I mean the baby. It started this morning. I didn't want to get wet so I knew you'd be over to check on me."

"Are you alright?"

"I don't know. Sometimes it really hurts." She shut her eyes as another contraction held her body.

"Keep breathing deeply. I'll get everything ready. You'll do just fine. This will be no problem. There, that one is over. Don't you worry none."

The day progressed and Louise worried. Kid hadn't arrived but neither had the baby. Her body was in agony and her energy was exhausted. She drifted off to sleep.

Awaking an hour later, Louise realized the day was ending. A strong contraction overtook her thoughts and she knew it was time to have the baby. "Rachel," she cried out weakly. "Did he come? Oh, help me."

The other woman wiped the young girl's face with a small, damp rag. "Don't think about that, Louise. You have to work at something else. Let's get that baby delivered."

Fifteen minutes later, Rachel held the small boy. Carefully cleaning him, she wrapped him in a soft blanket and laid him beside his exhausted mother. She pulled the blanket up over the pair and sat down wearily. Looking over at the sleeping mother and child, she was filled with longing. She lost her baby when her first husband was murdered. All of the riders fulfilled her need to nurture and mother but now they were gone.

As the sun set, she heard an approaching rider. Was it Thomas returning or was it the Kid? She slowly opened the door and looked out into the twilight lit yard. The white and brown paint horse answered her questions.

"Kid, over here at the bunkhouse. It is so good to see you again."

"Hello Rachel. I didn't plan to be gone so long. Where is Lou?"

"She is in here but she's asleep. There is something you should know. Sit down and let me explain."

"What is wrong, Rachel?" the concerned man asked.

She took his hand and was about to speak when a wild cry from behind the door announced his presence.

Kid's eyes grew large as he tried to locate the source of the cry. "What is that?"

"That is your son. He was born about two hours ago."

"My son? I, we have a son, Lou and me?" he stammered.

"She tried to tell you before you left, but she was still blind. She didn't want to burden you with anything else."

"Why didn't she write and tell me to come back sooner?"

"She did write to you but never got any answers. She just got your letters, too late to write back. Go on in. You have a couple of people anxious to see you."

He slowly opened the door to the former bunkhouse and walked over to the two people laying in the corner bed. The woman in the bed looked up lovingly but yet fearfully.

"Hey, Kid."

"I hear you have been busy." He stood by her side nervously.

"Come sit here by us. Do you want to hold him? I just fed him." Her smile was wavering.

"I've missed you, Lou. I thought about you all this time; I just never thought about this."

"Kid, don't be scared of him. He is our son, yours and mine. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before you left but I was frightened. I guess I had a longer time to adjust to the fact we were about to be parents. I know he is a shock to you."

"Lou, I came back to get you. For us to get married. I don't know how the Goetesch's will feel. But that doesn't matter." He knelt down beside the young woman and took her hand.

"Louise McCloud, will you marry me?"

She pulled him to herself, the baby was left laying on the bed beside her. Her answer came between kisses. "Yes."