By Kirsten Page
Copyright 1999
In the darkness, the two girls strained to see their way through the sagebrush. The sound of angry voices were growing in the night, and they knew that it was just a matter of time before Wayne would have found them had not left when they did. More than likely a posse would be on their tail by morning, that’s why every second had to be used to the fullest.
Lou stopped her steady-paced walk once the town was far enough away and they wouldn’t risk being heard. “Mount up on the back,” she ordered as she held tightly onto Lightning’s reins. She wondered how in the midst of the chaos, they had managed to get her horse back to town, but she wasn’t about to go asking questions...she was just glad he was there now.
Maddie seemed nervous as she hoisted herself up. Lou smiled weakly, remembering the first time that she had ever sat on a horse. She had been terrified out of her mind, and no doubt, the young woman with her was experiencing something of the same nature. “Okay, I’m up,” she said softly.
Lou then positioned herself in front of Maddie. Once they were both secure, she coaxed her horse into a slow walk. There would be no way they would risk riding hard on a black night like this. Maddie turned around and took one last look at the town that had been her life for two years. She never thought that she would be able to look back over her shoulder and bid farewell to the awful place. But now that she was, it became a dream come true.
Kid didn’t sleep well as the night wore on. The vicious chants of a posse rang through his mind, and he woke up several times to realize that it was a dream. Finally, by the third time that he had awakened, he decided to give up for the moment, and propped himself up. He still couldn’t shake the words from Lou’s journal. Inwardly he sighed as the thoughts continued to ring through his mind...one instance in particular confused him...and he knew that there was nothing he could do, yet still, he wondered who she had been talking about.
...It had to be one of the most confusing days of my life. That night, in front of the campfire, when we were taking the prisoner...Elias. Oh gosh, what did we do that night? It all seems so clear yet so confusing in my mind...
Obviously there had been an interruption, because Lou had never finished the sentence. There hadn’t been another entry until a couple of weeks later when things had started working out better between them. Deep down Kid wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what she had meant. Jimmy had been the only one with her...what if something had happened?
No, he wasn’t going to fret over it. There were more important things to focus on, and it was after all, her own personal writings. It could have meant anything...maybe.
Realizing that time was passing quickly, he laid back down and rested his head on Katy’s saddle. He closed his eyes tight and replayed the memories and words that had soothed him in this hard time. This instance, an entry from just two days before she had been killed filled his mind.
Yes, there had always been others to consider, but from where I’m sitting now, there is no other to consider. I’ve found the one that I love and want. Sure, times have been tough, but somehow we’ve always made it through it all...
Maddie and Louise rode solid through the night, until the early rays from the sun bid them good morning. Time passed so slowly, and it seemed as if they’d never reach any civilization at all.
“We have to press on,” Lou said, reading the thoughts of the woman behind her.
Maddie rested her head on Lou’s back, “I know.”
Louise touched her arm, and felt pain searing through it. She noticed that her bruises were starting to heal, which was a good sign that perhaps she might find end to the misery of her wounds.
Once it was light enough for them to see the trail ahead, Lou spurred Lightning on harder, causing Maddie’s grip around her sore ribs to grow tighter. Together, they rode east, both of them only wanting one thing...to get home.
We’re almost there, I know it! Lou’s heart raced at the thought of seeing everyone again. She could only imagine the worries and fears that they had been experiencing. What would happen when they saw her, alive, riding up to the station??
She only hoped that they wouldn’t want to shoot her for scaring them so horribly.
“Jimmy, did you get those supplies?” Teaspoon asked as he mounted and eased back into his saddle. It wasn’t very often these days that he had the opportunity to ride out. Most of his work could be tended to from the desk at his office.
Jimmy nodded, ready and anxious to get moving, “Everything that you asked for.”
“Good, then let’s get going. I want to get there before dark,” he replied. Teaspoon looked over his shoulder at Cole who sat scowling with his hands tied in front of him. “Looks like everybody’s ready. So unless you boys have any objections, let’s go get ourselves another killer.”
Buck was the last one to mount and he tossed the small food rations that they would be taking to Jimmy. “Let’s do it.”
Jimmy waited until the others had taken off before he brought up the rear. What they were doing just didn’t feel right. I mean sure, it was right to be bringing a man to justice, but deep down there was an inlaying feeling he couldn’t shake. Lou was dead, that’s what the evidence said, and it had been proven. Still, he wasn’t going to give up on his last bit of hope that there still might be a chance...
Kid arrived back at the station at a record speed. He thanked Jesse who graciously offered to take Katy. She’d been ridden hard, and it showed.
Racing up the steps Kid looked for any signs of Teaspoon or Jimmy. He wanted to find out the latest on that Cole fellow, but moreover he wanted to ask advice about what he thought was going on at the hotel he had previously visited. Something wasn’t right, and if law was needed, Teaspoon would be the man.
Rachel came out of the bunkhouse as he was entering it. He could tell by the dark circles under her eyes that she hadn’t been sleeping very much, yet she tried to conceal her weariness with a smile, “Kid, it’s nice to see you back. Did everything go well?”
Kid gently placed his hands on her shoulders, “Where’s Teaspoon?” He asked, ignoring her questions completely.
Rachel bit her lip, not sure if she was ready to tell him all that had been going on. Cole had confessed, and now they were out trying to catch his accomplice. “Kid, sit down,” she said as she set her basket on the step and waited until he sat beside her, “I don’t know what all is going on, but apparently they’ve found out who was involved with Lou’s murder.”
Surprisingly, she didn’t get the angry response that she expected. All of the events taking place must have finally taken their toll on Kid. He took the information calmly. “Then I better join them,” he said, rising to his feet.
She quickly grabbed his arm, “Kid, no. They can handle it. You’ve been through enough already. Take a break, get some rest. If they’re not back in a couple of days, then you can join them,” she added, hoping to lure him into staying on longer.
Kid shook his head, “No, I don’t have that long. I’m leaving the day after tomorrow. Teaspoon didn’t find a replacement, so I’m going to have to go ahead and leave.” He sensed her distress, “I’ve got to Rachel.”
She nodded, understanding how strong his convictions on this matter where. Staring into his eyes, she grew to respect him even more. “I know,” she whispered.
Cody and Noah stepped outside a few moments later. Their eyes still fuzzy from having just awakened. “Hey Kid,” Cody said, shocked to see him back.
“Hey.”
Rachel smiled at their morning greetings, but then looked off onto the horizon. Someone was riding in hard and fast. According to the schedule, nobody was due until later that day. She stood up and drew the attention of the boys. They all squinted as they stared in the direction of the approacher. “Noah, aren’t you supposed to leave this afternoon?”
“Yeah, and I meant to ask Kid about that. You still want me to take that letter for you?” Noah asked, not taking his eyes off of the oncoming visitor.
Kid stared off, barely hearing what was said to him, “Huh, oh, no. Actually I think I’ll take it there myself.” He stared a few moments longer, “Who is that? Any of you expecting someone?”
All of them shook their heads. The guest would obviously remain a mystery until he arrived in front of them. But who would be riding in that hard and that fast? They could only hope that trouble wasn’t about to throw itself at their doorstep.
On to Chapter Twenty-Two
