Episode reference "Ghosts"
The old man sat down on his bed, sighed and ran his hands through his long gray hair. How could he have been so blind? Plain as the nose on his face but he didn't seen it. He should have realized a long time ago, the rest all knew.
The cool, shaded pond offered relief from the hot summer sun. Why should one person hog the waterhole, while the other boys sweltered waiting? He didn't see any reason to wait, the arguments ridiculous, that cool water refreshing. What was the boy afraid of? A good water fight on a hot summer day between friends was nothing to fear. He never expected the result of his alley-oop being the discovery of a girl in his crew. How could he mistake the slight figure to be a puny boy?
He wondered about the two riders being so close, so protective of each other. He saw the looks passing between them and thought it valuable the friendships forming between these orphans. Weren't the looks that passed between the shy 'boy' hiding behind wire framed glasses and the reserved Virginian those of two friends or should he have seen them for what they really were?
Taking all of the riders to the sweat lodge after his startling discovery, he hoped to resolve the problem. Lou was one of the best Express riders and she could shoot and hold her own in any fight thrown her way. With short brown hair and slight build, he figured Lou just hadn't hit full height yet, rather than a young woman hiding behind spectacles, oversized clothing and boyish mannerisms. Kid's protective arm encircling her shoulders revealed these two were more than just friends.
It must be hard, living in the bunkhouse, with the rest of the boys. When had they figured their bunkmate wasn't truly one of them? Who knew first? The answer to that was obvious, the Kid. He and Lou were close from almost the start, no, rather ever since Lou was ambushed at the way station where Katie was stolen. Kid must have discovered Lou's true gender treating the gunshot wound.
Surely Emma and Rachel knew the smallest rider's secret. Weren't women more tuned into personalities? Dang it all, they hid this secret well from him, the boss of the outfit. What would happen if the company found out, the top rider of the Sweetwater Station, wasn't what they thought? That discovery would certainly cost him, Rachel and the boys their jobs, but he wasn't about to share his recent knowledge with the officials in St. Joe. Lou was part of the family, and a family sticks together no matter what secrets come to light.
A girl, he should have known. The boy never went shirtless like the others, kept to himself, rather herself, when the boys went swimming. In fact, a few tears may have escaped those lovely brown eyes on occasion. What caused her to disguise her true self? What innocent beauty was hiding behind her boyish manners?
He smiled in the darkness. This family now included his boys and girl. She won a special place in his heart. Welcome to the family, Lou, he thought as he settled down for a peaceful slumber.
Note: Based on the television series "The Young Riders", created by Ed Spielman, produced by Ogiens/Kane in association with MGM/UA television. For entertainment purposes only, no infringement of copyright is intended.
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