Chapter XI
By Joanna
"Lou, we're here," a gentle voice prodded from somewhere in front of Lou's closed eyelids.
Slowly she opened them to find Buck's dark eyes boring into hers. He smiled at her when she squinted up at him.
"Huh?" She mumbled in confusion.
"We're here, in Washington. It's time to get off the train," Buck smiled again, finding her groggy disorientation amusing.
Jimmy stuck his head in the door, "Well, if it isn't the sleeping princess."
Lou groaned and attempted to pat her hair down, "More like Rip Van Winkle. I feel like I've been asleep for twenty years."
"Close. You've been out over twenty hours," Buck informed her.
Lou shook her head. She'd been exhausted for the last week and a half. Since the incident with Brewer's Raiders, she'd scarcely stood on her own. Even if she'd wanted to, the boys wouldn't have permitted it. They'd treated her like she was made of glass, especially those three days they'd waited for the locomotive to come and pull what remained of the train to the next station. Brewer and his men had gotten away on their horses, but the guns had been saved and they hadn't seen the bandits again. The rest of the journey had been uneventful, and Lou had been happy to rest for the last week.
"How are you feeling, Louise?" Dr. Witherspoon asked as he invited himself into their tiny room and set his bag down on the cushion beside Jimmy.
"Much, much better. I can't thank you enough for all your care these last days!" Lou smiled, holding her hand out to the older man, "You must let us repay you somehow."
"Nonsense, my dear. It was a pleasure to be in your company. You just take care of yourself and deliver a healthy child, and I'll consider that payment enough," Witherspoon smiled, squeezing her hand. With a sigh, he placed his hat on his head and then leaned down to kiss her cheek lightly, "You mind yourself out there."
"Yes sir," Lou smiled, and felt tears prick her eyes as he walked out of the room after shaking Jimmy and Buck's hands.
"You won't believe this!" Cody suddenly burst into the room and yanked open the shade on the window. Lou squinted as bright light filled the car. Cody rushed on, "This city is unbelievable! Have you ever seen so many people in your life? And look at the buildings! You can see the Capitol from here!"
"Calm down, Cody, before you hurt yourself," Teaspoon sighed, also appearing in the car, "All right, gather your things boys and girl, it is time to get off this train."
"Thank God for that!" Jimmy said, and stood up, stretching his arms above his head and hitting the top of the train before grabbing his and Lou's bags.
Within minutes they were out of the car and on the platform. Lou looked down at her borrowed dress and felt a bit intimidated by all the well-dressed women everywhere. Alana's light gray gown was just as pretty as any of the others, but it was also older than the designs Lou envied now, which looked to be fresh from Paris. Men, both in suits and uniforms rushed by them, one of them almost knocking Teaspoon down without even pausing to apologize. Lou suddenly felt very small.
"Welcome to the big city," Teaspoon grumbled, sending an irritated look in the man's direction, "Come on, let me hail us a carriage to get us to a hotel."
Cody, Buck, Lou, and even Jimmy were amazed by the sights and sounds during the short ride through the cobblestone streets of the city. Teaspoon smiled slightly at their wide eyes and exclamations. Their ride took them directly by the White House, and this was a cause of almost delirious excitement for Cody.
"I wonder if Mr. Lincoln is in there right now?" Cody breathed.
"I bet he is! I bet he's having his morning coffee!" Lou chimed in, her fingers curling over the side of the coach, "and I bet all sorts of important men are just waiting outside the door to get his approval for all kinds of things."
"War things!" Cody exclaimed, "Like what is Grant going to do in Mississippi, or were Robert E. Lee is right now!"
The hotel was grander than any place the young men and woman had ever stayed, and they met it with equally wide eyes. The marble floors were covered with thick Persian rugs, and fifteen-foot French windows were framed by silk tapestries. Men, dressed in sharp burgundy and gold trimmed livery, came to snatch their bags from their weary arms the moment they stepped in the door. The rooms too, were decorated in the finest carpets and bedspreads.
Once alone in her room, which was between the one Teaspoon and Buck shared and Jimmy and Cody's room, Lou stood by her window and stared forlornly out across the manicured lawn and garden.
It was so easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of the big city, but still impossible to forget why they'd traveled so many long, treacherous days to get there. Lou was anxious to see Kid with her own eyes, and knowing she was so close to him and that it could still be a few days or even a week before she saw him was torture.
Lou was instructed to rest while Teaspoon and the boys made some inquiries about Point Lookout and looked into buying a horse and wagon to get there. All thoughts of riding on horseback had been forgotten after Lou's scare with the baby, and though it would take longer, all of them were to travel by the slower, but safer wagon.
Lou spent most of the day soaking in a large tub of steaming water, with her eyes closed and her forehead wrinkled with bittersweet recollections. The primary image in her head was the one of Kid standing in her kitchen barefoot, looking scared out of his mind when she'd burst in with her gun aimed at him. She then thought of later that night when she'd drawn the sponge with warm soapy water across her husband's muscular back, and how he'd suddenly stood up, soapsuds and all, and swept her into his arms.
Lou wished with all her heart to open her eyes and find herself there, warm and safe in his embrace, looking into his intensely burning blue eyes under his damp, curling sandy hair. When she opened her eyes she was met with only the fine oil paintings on the light blue walls of her room. Miserably, she leaned her head against the tub and cried.
Later that night, a much more composed Lou opened her door and smiled at Jimmy and Cody, who were dressed nicely in their suits. Teaspoon had decided it would be good for all of them to enjoy a night in Washington after the long, cramped days on the train.
"Don't you look like a picture!" Teaspoon exclaimed at Lou when she appeared in his room.
The boys agreed. She wore a deep blue-green satin gown that came high behind her neck, then the neckline flared out into what almost looked to be a heart, ending low and accenting her now slightly fuller figure. She'd pulled her hair up which served to show off her graceful neck even more.
"A picture of a woman about to burst out of the seams of her dress," Lou murmured, her hand unconsciously touching her abdomen, where the material felt a bit tight. The full skirts easily concealed the roundness, but Lou still felt self-conscious, "I shouldn't even be out in public. It's not proper."
"Don't be ridiculous, Louise. First of all, you've never been more beautiful and there's no reason why you should hide yourself from anyone. Secondly, no one will be able to tell," Teaspoon grumbled, then muttered more to himself than anyone, "Never understood why folks insisted on stashing expecting women away. It's just a natural part of life, not like she's got small pox."
Lou enjoyed the night out very much in spite of herself. It was wonderful to stroll along the walk in Washington, and to be among happy, energetic people. There were men in uniforms everywhere, but the atmosphere was light and carefree. It almost felt as if there was no war at times. When Jimmy walked her back to her door while the others stayed in the hotel bar for a late night drink, Lou found herself smiling.
"Well, we've almost made it," Jimmy smiled as he opened her door for her and walked into the room behind her, making sure no one was in there waiting on her, a result of their dangerous express days, "In a few days, we'll see Kid."
Lou lit the oil lanterns and pulled her shoes off, "We've come so far! Oh, Jimmy, I can hardly stand it to be so close to him, and know we're right here, and yet he doesn't know it! He doesn't know why I haven't been able to write him! Oh, I hope he's all right!"
"He will be Lou. I know that much about Kid. He could survive anything, knowing that it meant being able to come home to you," Jimmy blushed suddenly at the earnestness in his voice, "Well, I guess I should be going. You need your sleep."
"I think I've had enough sleep to last me my lifetime!" Lou smiled, stifling a yawn, and sensing something was wrong with Jimmy. She walked to stand in front of him and studied him closely.
"Jimmy, are you alright?" Lou finally wondered.
Jimmy looked at her in surprise, giving himself away by doing so. He started to tell her that nothing was wrong, but her eyes were boring into his with a certainty that would not be denied.
"Lou," Jimmy began awkwardly, stumbling over several attempts to say what he was thinking, and finally coming out with, "You remember the night in the bunkhouse when Kid told us he was fighting for the South?"
A small, wry smile played on Lou's mouth as she said, "Yes, I think I remember that."
Jimmy just shook his head at the stupidity of his question, then hesitated again.
Lou quickly took his hand and led him to the sofa by the window and sat on it with him, "What about that night?"
"Well, you have to remember that was the last time I saw Kid. And I said a lot of things I thought I meant at the time."
"About you both being enemies when you met again," Lou supplied.
Jimmy nodded, "Yeah. Lou, I'm so angry at him still for fighting for the South, and for dragging you down there, and then leaving you! And I'm so mad at him for getting caught," he suddenly had tears sliding rapidly down his face, "but I never wanted him to get hurt, and I never hated him!"
Lou felt tears welling in her eyes. Jimmy openly sobbed. Lou went to him and wrapped her arms around him, bringing his head to her shoulder, "Oh, Jimmy, I know you love him! And I know he loves you! And that's all that matters, Jimmy. You can get past anything as long as you both realize that."
"Lou, I'm scared of seeing him again, of the look on his face. I don't know if he'll look at me as a friend or an enemy," Jimmy finally confessed the root of his terror, that he'd really convinced Kid they were enemies.
"Shhh, I know! Jimmy, I promise with all my heart that Kid loves you more than anyone in the world! He always has. You're his best friend, Jimmy, and even all this bloodshed hasn't been able to change that. Nothing will."
Jimmy held onto Lou tightly for another moment, thinking that if he ever admitted or acted on his feelings for Lou, that would certainly change Kid's idea of who his best friend was.
Finally, Jimmy stood up and sheepishly wiped at his tears, ashamed to have fallen apart like he had. He gathered his coat to go, but before he closed Lou's door he commented, "You're wrong, you know."
"I am not, Jimmy," Lou argued.
"Oh yeah, you are. Kid doesn't love me more than anyone in the world. Kid will never love anyone like he loves you. He won't even come close."
Lou's tears suddenly obscured her view of her dear friend as he closed the door.
Kid fought for consciousness, struggling to open his eyes and almost slipping back into darkness as he had so many times. The darkness was preferable to the light. Lou always danced before him in the darkness, smiling and laughing and stretching her graceful hands to him to join her. He never could reach her though, and it was exhausting to try and catch her.
"Kid?" the voice again sent Kid striving to open his eyes, "Kid!"
And finally he did open his eyes, allowing two streams of what seemed to be white hot light into his sensitive eyes.
Marty's dark brown eyes peered into his carefully when he finally forced them all the way open.
For a moment Kid lay there, his head aching and his vision blurring. Pain radiated through him, seeming to center in his chest and shoulder. Slowly he turned his head.
Nausea seized him when his eyes fell on the stump that had once been his right arm.
"No!" his shriek was piercing and it filled the whole tent and continued in several more screeches of terror.
"Kid! Kid!" Marty's voice was sharp and continued to try and quiet him, "Stop it! Kid, be quiet!"
Kid finally fell back against the dirt with his chest heaving and his eyes filled with tears. Sweat rolled down his face although it was frigid in the tent.
"Oh, God, when did they take it off?" Kid gasped, choking on a sob.
"What are you talking about Kid?" Marty asked, looking with concern at his friend and touching his forehead to see if his delirious fever was back.
"My arm! What happened?"
"Kid, you were having a nightmare. Your arm is right where you left it!"
"What?" Kid, clenched his teeth with dread and slowly turned his head again to see what he'd thought was a stump only moments ago. The pain was still there in his chest and shoulder, but so was his arm.
Kid drew a shaky breath of relief and felt himself start to tremble, "What happened?" he finally asked through chattering teeth, feeling the scratchy bandages on his chest, arm, and forehead.
"What do you remember?" Marty asked quietly.
Kid thought hard before saying, "There was a shot into the yard, and blood flew in my eyes. And then," Kid struggled to think of what had happened afterwards, but there was no recollection, "nothing. Darkness."
Marty nodded, and began the explanation, "The guards did fire into the crowd several times to try and break up the riot, but it was too late to save that guard. The first shot hit your bad shoulder, and," he paused and Kid tried to focus clearly on his face and saw tears in Marty's eyes, "the same shot hit my father fully in the back, and he was killed instantly."
"No," Kid whispered, feeling a world of grief and guilt rest on his chest, "If I hadn't started the riot he'd still be alive!"
Marty shook his head and wiped his tears, "You didn't kill him Kid, these bastards did. And don't you think otherwise. He was very fond of you, and I know that he'd be content knowing you survived."
Again, Kid was baffled and astounded at his friend's positive outlook on life. Marty continued with his account, "You were hurt badly, and they took you to the infirmary, and I didn't see or hear from you for a week. They patched you up, and by the way, you are lucky they didn't take your arm off…someone on the inside must have spoken up for you because in all cases they'd rather amputate than operate. Then, they carried you back out here. Your wound was sewed up, but you started running a high fever, and were delirious for days. You'd break the fever and sleep, but then your temperature would climb again."
"And you took care of me all this time," Kid finally said.
"Yeah. I couldn't stand to lose my father and my only friend in here," Marty's weary voice betrayed his slight smile.
Suddenly Kid's hand sought his neck, and he groped for his charm and wedding band. He wasn't shocked to find that both had been stolen from him. He felt a heavy weight in the pit of his stomach at the lost of the scared symbol of his love for Lou and the gift from her, but took satisfaction in knowing that they were just that, symbols. The guards couldn't take away his love for her.
"Marty, I owe you my life," Kid said quietly, "and we're gonna get out of here together. And when we do, I'm giving you half of my property out in Sweetwater. Don't argue. Me and Lou are going to raise horses, and we could use a partner. It's good land."
Marty shook his head and laughed, "Time enough for that later. Besides, how is your wife gonna feel about me sleeping between you two at night?"
Kid was able to laugh slightly at this image, and shook his head. His mind then returned to what Marty has said earlier about the fact his arm had not been amputated. He realized Marty was right when he said someone on the inside must have spoken up for him and given the order not to amputate.
His eyes narrowed as he looked out the entrance of the tent and towards the guard's barracks and the infirmary.
Who in there was watching out for me, he wondered, narrowing his eyes, who in there knows who I am?
"We're close," Jimmy murmured, slapping the reins across the back of the old horse Teaspoon had found to pull the wagon. Cody sat up from where he'd been stretched out in the back and straightened his uniform absently, his eyes searching the terrain. Lou gripped the side of the wagon until her knuckles were white, and felt as if she would be ill.
"You alright, Lou? Do I need to stop again?" Jimmy wondered, placing a hand across her shoulder and looking at her clammy face.
Lou shook her head, feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment as she thought of how she'd thrown up earlier that day. Her nerves were completely on edge and she didn't think she could stand to wait much longer to see Kid.
They'd been travelling with the wagon for two days, and had been stopped often by Union soldiers demanding traveling papers. Luckily Teaspoon had thought to secure some before he'd sent Jimmy, Cody, and Lou to Point Lookout. Teaspoon and Buck had stayed in Washington after Teaspoon learned his old comrade and friend Tommy Urbach was stationed as an advisor to Mr. Lincoln himself. Teaspoon hoped Tommy would be able to help their situation with Kid.
"There it is," Cody suddenly said quietly, as they broke out of a wooded area and topped a small hill.
There was deathly silence among the three friends as they gazed over the vast prison, and let the horror of the place seep into their hearts.
"Oh," Lou gasped stupidly as the full impact of their view finally sunk in.
The land dropped and then flattened, seeming to be level with the gray waters of the Chesapeake Bay. The prison occupied a large area, and was a mass of dreary fences and stone walls. Even from their considerable distance they could see the thousands and thousands of men in tattered rags who milled about in the yards, almost like cattle before auction. They were weak and emaciated. The ground was a mass of trenches, but they obviously did not serve their purpose guessing from the layer of slimy mud and water everywhere.
The sight wasn't as horrible as the smell. The wind shifted in their direction, and all three of them took a step back and turned their heads, as if they could avoid the stench of the thousands of unclean, ill men, the waste they produced, and the hundreds of bodies waiting to be buried.
Lou suddenly put her hand over her mouth, and ran a few steps, finding herself violently sick in the shrubbery. She stood there doubled over, even after the nausea had passed, and began sobbing violently as the full impact of the horror her husband had lived for over three months finally was driven home to her. She pressed her fists into her eyes as she tried to gain control of herself.
Two pairs of gentle hands were suddenly on her shoulders as Jimmy and Cody both went to embrace her.
"Come on, Lou," Cody finally said gently, "We'll get him away from here."
Jimmy nodded reassuringly, but when Lou bowed her head to wipe her eyes, Jimmy and Cody met gazes and asked each other the same question with their bewildered eyes, How do we get him out?
To Be Continued...Chapter XII
Copyright 1998-This work is not to be reproduced without the permission of the author
