©Becca

Chapter XIX

"So, that's the plan then," Teaspoon said, sipping at his coffee. He looked around at the room's other occupants. The male riders, his boys, were gathered around the same table where they'd shared so many meals, each listening intently as he and Sam outlined the plan they'd come up with. Rachel was in the house, putting Jeremiah and Theresa to bed. Sweetwater's marshal glanced over at the form he could barely see lying beneath the blankets on Kid's bunk. After a solemn dinner, Kid had put the Louise to bed, but not until they'd had a half-hearted but tender argument. He finally convinced her by pointing out that she was hurting both herself and the baby by not sleeping. Teaspoon couldn't believe that this girl ever thought she could pass as a man and he really couldn't believe that she was expecting another child. My first grandchild--or at least as close as I'll ever get, he thought wryly. Damn, Hunter, you're gettin' old.

As he'd expected, Kid was not at all happy with what they'd come up with but it was the best chance they had of getting Jon back quickly, and if what Buck said about the boy being sick proved true, then time could be of the essence. After hours of deliberation, they'd decided that the only course of action was to send Ike and Lou in with the money and papers first, like Madison wanted, to draw him out. The others, including Sam and his men were to be stationed in a semi-circle hidden in the copse of trees that shielded the shack in obscurity. When Madison came out, Lou would demand that he let Jon go first and Ike would get Jon away from the line of fire. Once Jon was safe, the posse would emerge and focus on getting Lou out of harm's way through sheer force of numbers. Twelve to two odds were enough to dissuade any but the most insane.

"Absolutely not!!" Kid shouted angrily. "I won't let you send her in to that madman and that's final. Sam, come on. Would you let Emma go into a situation like that when we don't know what could happen? There's another child here we need to be thinkin' about too ya know. Why can't we just go in ourselves?" The others moaned in frustration at his protests. "Just don't start you guys. I can't help it that I don't like the idea of usin' Lou as bait. I'm sorry, but it ain't your child she's carryin'. Teaspoon, please, is there any other way to do this?"

"Sorry, Kid," Sam said softly, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Teaspoon and I went over and over this. I understand where you're comin' from, believe me. If there were any other way to get that little boy out of there you know I'd do it in a heartbeat."

After a moment's silent deliberation, Kid sighed heavily and nodded relctantly.

"So, that settles it. You boys get a good night's sleep and we'll head out tomorrow mornin'," Teaspoon said.

Louise was riding across the open prairie like she had so many times before on her runs, a chill wind blowing her short hair around her face. Lightning's hooves pounded a steady and comforting thudding against the dirt and Louise leaned lower over the horse's neck. She had no idea where she was going but she knew she had to get there quickly. Suddenly, she was back in the house in St. Joseph, staring at the closed doors to the upstairs parlor. The doors flashed open in an instant and she stood face to face with Wicks, blood trickling from the bullet holes she'd put in his body. In the grisly visage's grasp lay Jon coughing and sobbing and straining to reach her. It seemed as if a mere six inches separated them but no matter how close she got, Louise could barely touch the tips of his little fingers.

"Mama!"

"I'm here, baby," Louise said. "It's okay. Mama's gonna help somehow."

Wicks laughed heartily at her efforts. "How are you gonna help him, Louise? You see what trying to change your fate has brought upon you? You kill me and run away to join the Express only to lose Charlotte, your son, and in the end yourself. What good did it do?"

"I can finally look at myself in the mirror in the morning and not want to kill myself," she yelled. "I'm doing the best I can for Jon and my family with what I got. I didn't want him to grow up in that whorehouse you called home, Simon. I don't want him to ever know he's your son you low-down, mealy-mouthed bastard!"

"You can tell the boy that that Southern cracker is his father but it'll never be the truth," Wicks replied. "Just like you can tell yourself you're a lady but you'll always be a whore carrying a bastard's child." As he spoke, he turned and passed the child to Madison who stood next to his undead partner. "Take him to a family who'll raise him in a good Christian home," Simon instructed sarcastically. Soundlessly, Madison turned and he and Jon left her sight, swallowed up in darkness, leaving Louise with only the sound of her son's terrified shrieks.

"Noo!" Lou shouted.

She woke with a start, her eyes flashing open suddenly to see the men gathered around the table. They were so involved in their discussion and planning that none of them noticed she was awake. Lou rolled over and feigned sleep as she listened to the men planning their strategy. She felt tears prick her eyes again as Kid voiced his fears for her safety. At one time, his protectiveness had signalled a disbelief in her ability to take care of herself as well as the male riders and it had angered her to no end. But now...now something had changed. Maybe it was just being pregnant, but Kid's worry didn't aggravate her. Now, all she heard in his voice and saw in his actions was the love he felt for her and his child. Since the understanding they'd achieved that morning, Kid had fussed over her not letting her far from his side, making sure she ate well, and convincing her to rest for the baby's sake. The attention was welcome in her wearied state but if she never heard the words "in your condition" again it'd be too soon!

Sam, Teaspoon, and the boys were planning on implementing the plan in the morning, but Louise couldn't help a sense of frustration at their dallience. She'd heard Buck say that Jon was coughing and that it didn't sound good. What were they waiting for? Why not go in tonight and surprise the men? I have to get Jon away from Madison, she thought desperately. And I'll have to do it myself. They don't know Madison like I do. He doesn't play games and I know if we try and double cross him, he'll kill Jon in a heartbeat. There's no other way than to give him what he wants...me. Anything to save my baby.

She heard Teaspoon and Sam leave as the riders checked their munitions one last time before undressing and settling in for the night. She heard bunks creaking and goodnights flew around the room. The darkness behind her eyelids darkned even more as the lamp was blown out. In the dimness lit only by the fire in the hearth, Lou cracked her eyes open and watched Kid undress for bed.

"Lou," he whispered, crouching down by the bunk. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Lou, you awake? Slide over sweetheart."

She slid over to the wall, giving him just enough room to climb beneath the covers next to her before she turned and snuggled along his side sleepily. He fell for her ruse and it wasn't long before his strong chest rose and fell rhythmically beneath her cheek. He was exhausted and she knew he slept deeper than usual. Kid would never wake as she slipped away. Lou waited another half an hour until she was sure they were all asleep. It wouldn't do to have Jimmy or Buck waking up and stopping her from doing what had to be done.

Slowly and carefully, she crept from Kid's arms and his bed. She dressed quickly and pulled the papers and cash from where she'd stashed them beneath her own mattress. Avoiding all the weak spots in the floor, Lou placed the letter she'd written Kid on the table where he'd be sure to see it the next morning. With a heavy heart, she looked down on him one last time as he slept peacefully oblivious of her. She'd always thought loving someone so much that it hurt was a fantastic and romantic notion, but one that was not realistic. Now I know it's true and it can happen to anyone, even a woman who's damaged goods.

Louise brought her hand up and kissed her fingertips before touching his face. She bit her lip as he automatically turned toward her hand in his sleep. Afraid of waking him, she withdrew her touch and, steeling herself she looked around the small bunkhouse, saying goodbye to the life and people she'd come to love. Even if through some miracle she managed to survive, Louise knew that life would never be the same. It was time to grow up for good, so she said goodbye to Lou McCloud, Pony Express rider and quietly walked out the door.

Kid was in the middle of a very sweet dream when he woke without warning. He and Lou had taken the gremlins for a picnic on a sunny Sunday afternoon. They'd all gone to the swimming hole he and Lou used to run off to to be alone together. The children were splashing and playing joyously as only children can while the two adults sat on a blanket on the bank watching. As Kid started awake, his fuzzy brain struggled to latch onto the rapidly fading images in vain. He groaned and turned over, his body automatically moving to cuddle up to Lou. However, there was nothing there; no warm body, no soft skin or quiet breathing, nothing. Kid's eyes opened to find himself alone in his bunk. He looked around the dim room, thinking she was probably just sitting in the rocking chair by the window again. Nope, the rocking chair was empty.

Maybe she's sick again, he thought. So, he crawled from beneath the warm covers and pulled on his clothes. Grabbing a blanket, he headed outside toward the outhouse. A couple times Lou had actually made it to the small structure before getting sick. "Lou, you okay?" he called, knocking on the door. There was no response and no sound from within. Opening the door cautiously, Kid found it empty and his heart began to pound in fear.

"She didn't. Please, God, tell me she didn't!" he moaned as he ran to the barn. Just as he feared, Lightning's stall was empty too. Kid ran to back to the bunkhouse to wake the others. "Everybody get up, hury!"

The riders all woke quickly, sitting up in their bunks as if they'd awakened from nightmares. Jimmy reached up to rub the sore head he'd banged on the bottom of Cody's bunk. "What the hell, Kid? It's still dark out," he growled.

"What's goin' on?" Noah mumbled from his bed.

Kid strapped the holster with its pistol around his hips, tying it in place. "Lou's gone after Madison by herself," he said.

"How do you know she ain't just out at the outhouse or somethin'?" Cody asked, pulling the blankets over his head.

"'Cause I just came from there and she wasn't there, Cody," Kid snapped as he yanked the blankets off the blonde rider, nearly throwing him off the bunk. "Lightnin's gone too."

With a vehement curse, Jimmy stood and dressed hurriedly, his eyes still closed. "You'd better hope Madison's killed her, Kid, 'cause if he hasn't, I will," he muttered, strapping on both Colts.

"Told ya ya shoulda tied her to the bed," Cody grumbled as they stumbled out the door.

Louise struggled against the strong arms that held her elbows behind her back as she stumbled into the shack, falling to her knees on the floor.

"Look who I found wandering around outside, Boss," Creeping Fox said.

Madison knelt and grasped Louise's chin hard, forcing her to raise her head and look at him. Instead of the cowed, defeated look he expected to see in her eyes, the dark eyes were proud, haughty, and flashed with a calm anger. He knew he had to be hurting her, bruising that pale, smooth skin but there was no fear in her eyes and that was what Madison wanted to see there. By God he'd put it there if he had to. This wench needed to learn that it was a man's world and she belonged to this particular man. "Mothers will do anything for their sons," he said viciously. "Even commit suicide."

"The others will be here at first light," she returned. "Let Jon go and I'm yours. I brought what you asked for, the documents and the money--what's left of it."

"It's the truth," the Indian confirmed, holding up the saddlebags. "I checked them myself."

Madison looked unimpressed. "A woman of your word. How nice. Too bad for you, I don't cotton to the same," he said menacingly. He grabbed Lou's arm and jerked her to her feet.

Like the last time she'd been with him, Louise only felt the pain of the first blow which extended and covered the pain of the blows that followed. Her earlier bravado was lost as she fell to the floor again, instinctively curling into a ball to protect the life inside her as much as possible.

Emma had arrived as the riders were making hasty preparations to go after Louise. She settled in quickly, volunteering to stay at the waystation with Jeremiah and Theresa while Rachel rode with the men so she could tend to Jon. The blonde housekeeper had briefly updated her predecessor on the situation including the one between Kid and Louise. As she'd supportively held Kid close, he'd vowed to her and--to himself, Emma thought--that he'd bring Lou back safe and sound. Emma didn't have the heart to warn the overly burdened young man of what Madison may have already done to Louise or the possibility that the baby she caried may not exist by the time they got back. However, she was determined to be as supportive as possible should the outcome not be as perfect as Kid desperately and naively hoped.

The worst part for Kid had been telling Jeremiah and Theresa what was going on. Jeremiah felt keenly responsible for what had happened at Thompkins' store, as only Kid could understand. He felt he should have, and could have, done more and longed to go with the men to set things right. Jeremiah had pleaded and begged to be allowed to go and as hard as it had been, Kid had refused his pleas. It finally took Sam to convince the boy that he was doing as important a job as the posse just by protecting Theresa and Emma at the waystation. He eventually hobbled out to stand with his sister and Emma on the porch and watched seriously as the posse began to ride out just as the sun was crossing the horizon.

"No heroics, now. You boys just bring that little girl and her baby back home, you hear?" Emma shouted at the men in her patented mother hen voice. In her heart, she didn't see a posse of men but of boys, her boys, led by the older man who was like an eccentric uncle and the man whom she'd married.

"Don't you worry, Missus Cain, we'll bring her back," Noah answered. "Or die tryin'," he added softly, knowing it to be the truth they all felt, but couldn't say.

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