She felt her stomach lurch at the sudden stop that Lightning made, in response to Kid reining in Katie before the barn. It had been difficult for her to keep from crying out from the continuous pain she had been experiencing ever since they had made their earlier stop. Moisture had spread between the legs of her denims, and she found herself feeling oddly faint, as if at any moment she would keel over from weakness. Despite having been forced to come back against her will, Lou found herself eager to be off Lightning’s back and inside out of the heat where she could lie down. .
Kid dismounted, moved around Katie to Lightning’s side, and held up his hands to help Lou off the gelding’s back. Lou glared at Kid, but found herself unable to resist, feeling increasingly weaker by the moment. Her knees started to buckle when her boots touched the ground, and she felt Kid’s arms slide instinctively around waist to steady her. She leaned into their comforting embrace for a moment, enjoying the feel of Kid’s body so near, before anger filled her. Anger at herself for giving into her inner longings, and anger at Kid for everything, fueled her with enough energy to push him away from her.
“What in the blazes is going on here?” Teaspoon demanded his wizened face dark with barely controlled fury as he reached the trio of weary riders “Have the two of you completely lost the common sense in those hard heads of yours? What were you thinking trussing Lou up like a turkey in a
“Look, Teaspoon, you told us NOT to come back here without Lou, “Jimmy started defensively, as he turned to face the irate stationmaster. “Well, she wouldn’t come with us willingly…and she was acting so peculiar…she didn’t leave us any choice!’
“Save it, Jimmy! I don’t want to hear any excuses from you or Kid!” Teaspoon cut in, his angry blue eyes traveling past Jimmy to pierce Kid for a moment, before moving to settle on Lou’s diminutive figure.
He took in her pale, perspiring face, dark shadow rimmed doe eyes, and the unsteady way she seemed to be hanging onto Lightning’s saddle. “Dear God, Lou…”he exclaimed, moving to embrace the female rider. “You look like hell.”
“I feel like it too.” Lou mumbled against his chest, as he hugged her.
“No matter…we’ll get you feeling right as rain in a few days.” Teaspoon assured her as Rachel reached them.
“You two boys should be ashamed of yourselves! How could you treat her like she was some…some outlaw…when you both proclaim to love her?” Rachel’s green eyes flashed with anger, and her words dripped with venom that made both Kid and Jimmy wince.
“Rachel…” Kid started, but the housekeeper cut him off.
“Shut up…just shut up. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say Kid. Nothing you can say will justify what you’ve done to Lou! Nothing!”
Instead the housekeeper turned her attention onto the female rider, her eyes taking in the same sickly face that Teaspoon had earlier observed and felt her heart turn over with fear. Lou was clearly sick and despite her anger toward Kid and Jimmy for the way they had brought her home, she was glad Lou was back where she could be taken care of properly.
“Lou…. you look like you could do with some rest and good food.” She told the female rider, placing an arm around her.
Lou smiled wanly at her. “Reckon I could.”
“C’mon into the bunkhouse then and we’ll get you fixed up right away. Teaspoon can deal with Kid and Jimmy.” Rachel said, shooting the two male riders in question another venomous look as she started past them toward the bunkhouse.
“Okay…” Lou readily agreed, and released her hold on Lightning’s stirrup in order to walk with Rachel to the bunkhouse. She was relieved to have the other woman’s arm around her as it afforded her some support for her weakened body.
She didn’t know how far she had gotten, before she felt her knees buckle beneath her, and she found herself falling toward the ground despite Rachel’s arm around her waist. She felt her stomach contract with another sharp pain that made her vision blur and a cry to escape from her lips.
“Lou!” Rachel cried out, kneeling down beside the female rider as the others gathered anxiously around. “Lou, wake up.”
“She’s out cold.” Cody commented as Teaspoon crouched down beside the unconscious female rider and scooped her up into his arms. “I’ll go get Doc Danes.”
Teaspoon nodded and started toward the bunkhouse with Lou, as Rachel, Jesse, and the rest of the riders fell into step behind him.
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