By Aimee
Copyright 1999
"Sorry son, I can't pay you anything."
"Please sir, I'll work for food and a place to sleep tonight."
"I already told ya, I got nothin' for ya to do. Now get out of here."
Lou sighed and walked away. I have to find some work soon, she thought dejectedly. For the last year she had been moving around working odd jobs for whatever she could get. Usually it was a meal and maybe some shelter for a night; rarely ever money. Life out here was hard, and most people could barely keep their families fed, much less afford to feed someone else. Lou couldn't imagine how much harder it would be for her if people knew she was a girl. She already knew how men could take advantage of a girl who was alone out here; but it also seemed like even those who wouldn't also wouldn't hire a girl for anything but scrubbing floors.
So Lou had cut off her hair and began dressing like a boy. She was entirely capable of handling all the jobs she took on, but if people knew who she really was, she would never even get the opportunity to prove how well she could do them.
Lou mounted her horse Lightning. "Well, boy," she said to him. "I guess we'd better move on. Doesn't look like there's any work left for us in this town." She was so thankful she hadn't had to sell Lightning yet. She had promised herself that no matter how bad things got for her, she would do everything she could to keep him. She smiled as she thought about how she had gotten him.
"Louise, I'm so sorry. But there's nothing I can do. The ranch is dead. I've lost all my money. Nora and I are leaving to go back east first thing tomorrow morning. I hope you can find a good job soon."
"I understand Mr. Jackson. I have no hard feelings about any of this."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. Maybe one of the neighboring ranches will hire me on for a while; just long enough for me to earn enough money to move on."
"What will you need?"
"Well, I don't have a horse. I'll have to earn enough to buy one so that I'll have a way to move."
"Let me help you. Take Lightning with you."
"I can't do that. You need all the money you can get so you can take Nora back to Pennsylvania."
"Nobody would be able to buy him, you know that. The ranches around here are all in the same position I am. You'd never get a job anyway; they're all firing hands right now." Mr. Jackson had quickly silenced the doubt in her eyes. "I want you to have him."
Lou impulsively hugged him. "Mr. Jackson, I'll never forget how much you've done for me. You believed that I could handle this job even though I'm a girl, and you let me probe myself."
"Which you have done well. I'm going to miss you, and I'm sure Nora will too. You've been a good friend to her."
Lou smiled at the memory. Henry Jackson and his daughter had been her family. She still missed them, even a year later.
Lou continued to drift around for a few more months. She managed to find enough work to survive, but barely. It was the middle of winter, her clothes were in rags, she was starving, and worst of all, it looked like she would have to sell Lightning. She had no idea what else to do.
One especially cold, dreary day she rode into a small town. She didn't even bother to wonder what the name of it was. It was just another small, nameless town in a long line of towns that she had drifted to, one after another.
"Well, boy," she said to Lightning. "I guess this is it. If I can't find work, I'm gonna have to sell you." She tried not to cry.
Lou walked around town, asking at all the stores, but nobody could give her a job. Dejected, she led Lightning toward the Livery stable. I hope I can get a good price for him, she thought.
As she walked into the stable a sign on the door caught her eye. It was an advertisement. She quickly read it and became excited.
"Lightning, this may be our chance." She reread the sign, taking note of all the details.
Attention all Horsemen!
Blue Creek Township Announces
The Founders' Day Race.
First Prize is $50!
Race starts at noon on Saturday.
All men ages 16-60 are eligible.
Sign up inside the Livery stable.
"Fifty dollars would sure be nice to have," she thought. Lou walked into the stable. An elderly man greeted her.
"How can I help you?"
"I'd like to sign up for the race," she said, deliberately lowering her voice.
The man looked at her critically. "You sure you can handle it?"
"I'm sure."
"You got a horse?"
Lou nodded.
"Sign up here then. Be there at 11:30 to register and get lined up."
Lou quickly signed her name, Lou Macloud. She noticed that about fifty other people had signed up. This wasn't going to be easy, but it was her only chance to keep Lightning.
Saturday morning was Lou's favorite kind of day; bright and sunny with a crisp coldness in the air. She saddled Lightning and headed toward the Livery. She passed all the townspeople celebrating Founders' Day. There was an air of celebration among them, and Lou couldn't help feeling it too.
At noon, she found herself lined up with the other contestants. She tried to judge the competition and began to feel more confident. It looked like there were a few good riders, but she was really good too. She was ready, and Lightning shot forward when the gun went off. At first she found herself in the middle of the group, but soon each horse and rider began falling further and further behind. Soon there were only two people ahead of her, then only one, a young man about her age. She caught up to him, and they rode neck and neck towards the finish line. She pushed Lightning harder, but the guy kept up with her. Just before they crossed the finish line, he pulled ahead. She had lost!
Lou tried to hide her disappointment as she congratulated the winner. She led Lightning toward the stable as he went to claim his prize. She would have to sell her beloved horse after all.
"Excuse me, sir?" Lou turned around to see a man addressing her.
"Yes?"
"I saw the race. That was some fine riding."
"Thanks." Lou wondered why the man was still standing there.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Mark Winters."
"Lou Macloud." Lou shook his outstretched hand.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Macloud. I work for a company called Russell, Majors, and Waddell. They have an interest in starting a mail service between St. Joseph, Missouri and Sacramento, California. Perhaps you've seen one of these posters?" He handed Lou a piece of paper and stood silently while she read it.
Pony Express
St. Joseph, Missouri to California
in 10 days or less.
WANTED
YOUNG, SKINNY, WIRY, FELLOWS
not over eighteen. Must be
expert riders, willing to risk death daily.
Orphans preferred.
Wages $25 per week.
APPLY PONY EXPRESS STABLES
St. JOSEPH, MISSOURI
Lou handed it back to him. "What's this got to do with me?"
"Well, you are a great rider. I would like to offer you a job with the company. The pay is $25 per week of course. You would be working out of the station at Sweetwater, a small town not too far from here. You interested?"
Lou nodded. This could be the opportunity she needed. A stable job and a place to live. "What about my horse?"
"If you want to use him in the Express, he will be housed at the station for free. If not, you will have to pay for his keep," he explained. "So do you want the job?"
"I sure do."
"Well, follow me. We'll make it official."
Lou followed Winters to the sheriff's office where she signed the contract and took the Pony Express rider's oath.
I do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors, & Waddell, that I will, under no circumstances, use profane language; that I will drink no intoxicating liquors; that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm, and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employers. So help me God.
"Okay," Winters said. "You are now a Pony Express rider. Here's your Bible and some supplies you'll need. You are to report to Sweetwater in three days, where you will begin training. Your immediate supervisor is Teaspoon Hunter. You know the rules; if you break them Teaspoon will have to fire you. Good luck son."
"Thank you Mr. Winters." Lou shook his hand and left the office.
Lou was excited. She had a real job at last. She would go to Sweetwater where a new life awaited her. All she could hope was that her disguise would not be found out, and she would finally have a place to live and enough food. She did not yet know all that her life there would bring to her; adventure, friends, family, and the love of the most wonderful man in the world. All she knew that this was her opportunity, and she was going to take it.
