By Kirsten Page
Copyright 1999
Teaspoon lead the group in silence through the entire morning. It was a long journey, and no doubt by the time they reached their destination, they’d be exhausted.
Cole kept a careful watch on each one of them, hoping to see some mistake they might make that would further benefit his escape. Although he couldn’t help but feel some remorse for what had happened, deep down he wasn’t really all that sorry. He had to make his living too. It just so happened that his way of living went against all moral standards and principles...therefore he was demoted down to the ‘low-life’ category.
Jimmy studied their prisoner cautiously. He could tell that something was going on in that devious mind of his. They could only hope that he was really leading them on to the right place. He certainly wouldn’t stand anything to lose by taking them off the beaten path into some unknown territory.
Stealing a quick glance in Buck’s direction, he could tell from his stiff posture and watchful eye, that he was probably having very similar thoughts on the matter...
“Well, that ain’t a Pony Express rider. At least not riding cocky-wobble like that. Unless he’s been shot.” Noah observed as they all watched the riders drawing in closer.
As she stood there, Rachel felt all the blood rush from her face, and a strong tingling sensation passed through her. It was like trying to fight off being happy, or being extremely sick. “Boys...is that....?” She didn’t finish the thought, she couldn’t. It would be too cruel, and it was too ridiculous to even comprehend...yet still...
Kid stepped out further into the road and watched as the horse came clearly into view. “That’s Lightning,” he said, barely loud enough for everyone else to hear. “But...” He stopped dead in his tracks as he heard his name screamed.
“Kid!?” The voice was that of someone very familiar...very familiar indeed. But it wasn’t possible, she was dead.
He stood, frozen in his tracks, stiffened by the uncertainties and hindered with a fear...not of this person, but of his own foolishness in not believing what was appearing right before him. As hard as he wanted to think and trust that it was her, he could not. “Lou?” He whispered under his breath.
Cody, Noah, and Rachel stepped forward, also frightened with the reality of what they were seeing. It couldn’t be a ghost...or even someone that took on her identity.
The horse was drawing closer, and before any of them had realized what exactly was happening...Louise was there, in front of them and as alive as ever. Her face was swollen from previous wounds. She was covered in dirt which gave her skin a darker shade. Her fingers were stiff, and dried blood soiled her clothes. She sat on Lightning, looking down at her family, shocked that they wouldn’t recognize her, but not realizing the level of torment they had experienced.
What baffled her most of all, however, was when she looked into Kid’s eyes and found a sincere look of disbelief. It wasn’t exactly the open-armed welcome that she had expected.
And then, his next reaction was without a doubt what she had not anticipated. Kid, realizing that what he saw before him was not an illusion, found his head swarming and his eyes dampening with tears of relief. All that he had been through, the sorrow he had felt, the anticipation, pain, agony, and anxiety finally snapped. Doing something that he had never done before, Kid mumbled her name, and then felt his mind fill with blackness. His knees gave away, his heart felt as if it would stop, and before any of them knew what had happened...he fainted.
Everyone still standing was so shocked and completely at a loss that they didn’t know whether to run to Lou or help Kid. Lou dismounted, and went to Kid’s side, almost stumbling as she did so. She gently reached out and touched his face...almost not believing that it was all over and that she was finally home. “Kid, it’s fine. I’m here,” she whispered softly. Her eyes were filled with worry, not completely understanding his reaction. “What’s wrong with him?” She turned around and asked the onlookers.
Rachel finally mustered the strength to rush over to Lou and help her to her feet. She embraced her tightly while her tears washed her face. “Louise, we thought you were dead. We had a funeral and everything. Where have you been! You’ve terrified us all out of our minds,” she hugged the young woman tightly.
Finally releasing her iron grip on her, Rachel took one last look to make sure this wasn’t a dream before she went to Kid’s side as he began waking up. “You don’t know what he’s been through,” she said as she kneeled down beside him.
Cody and Noah smiled at Lou and took turns hugging her as well. “I had just about given up on you coming back,” Cody said as he lifted her off the ground and they spun around. Not wanting to spoil his excitement, Lou bit her lip in pain as her injuries protested the action.
She grinned as Noah came towards her with open arms. “I should’ve known you wouldn’t leave us alone with him,” he motioned towards Kid. “He just hasn’t been the same.”
Finally the reality that she was really back had taken effect. Their hearts were filled with joy and there wasn’t a single thing that could take away the happiness and thrill of the moment.
Lou gently released Noah and went over beside Rachel. Kid slowly sat up and his eyes opened fully. A smile formed on the corners of his mouth. She smiled back down at him, “Hey. You know, you aren’t supposed to go fainting when I come back,” she said, her voice full of affection. Lou fought back tears of joy...deciding that those could wait. She didn’t want anything blurring her vision or blocking her view of the man who was before her now.
He glanced briefly over at Cody and Noah who were leaning against each other in jest. In spite of his lightheadedness, he realized that he would never hear the end of his fainting spell. But at this moment, with Lou alive and well before him, he didn’t care. In a split second he was on his knees and had pulled her close, neither of them speaking a word...knowing that there would be plenty of time for explanations later. Right now all they wanted was the comfort and security of each other.
Rachel smiled at the scene that was so perfect and wonderful. She stood up and motioned for the boys to follow her inside...but then, a young woman whom she had not even noticed before caught her eye. Maddie mustered a weak “hi” before she carefully lowered herself from Lou’s horse.
Wayne lead his posse through the thick brush and dusty trail. Not one of them dared to tell him how much they wished he’d give up this chase and go back. Louise was gone, and there was no way that they would catch up with her. He just needed to let her go.
What they didn’t realize, however, was that there was more motivation behind his actions than just bringing a woman to justice...he wanted revenge.
On to Chapter Twenty-Three
