By Joanna Phillips
Lou pressed her hand to the small of her back and winced. The long days of riding, even at the slow pace Teaspoon insisted they take, were starting to wear on her. Shaking her head, she walked to the edge of the creek and kneeled, bringing the sharply cold water to her face to rinse the dirt and grime. The worst of her morning sickness had passed, and now she just felt tired, and often disheartened. She couldn't shake the gloom that hung over her, and she hated the uncontrollable and violent mood swings that she experienced.
A few hours ago she'd been laughing hard at Cody, who got knocked off his horse because he was turned around, talking to them instead of looking out for a low hanging branch. Then, they stopped in a pretty meadow to make camp for the night, and Buck came over and offered to take care of her horse.
Lou's cheeks flamed as she remembered how she reacted.
She screamed at the poor man as if he'd asked to steal the horse instead. Her voice had been high pitched as she insisted she could do it herself. The look on Buck's face had stopped her in mid-sentence, and caused her to burst into tears.
To make matters worse, Teaspoon had come over to her, hugged her and chuckled, muttering "women…even more mysterious when expecting. Don't worry about it, sweetheart, it's just all the crazy chemicals talking, not you."
At his laughter, Lou had found herself smiling slightly, and apologizing to Buck, who just smiled cautiously, and told her not to worry about it. Within a five minute span she'd been furious, horrified, sad, happy, and apologetic. Lou shook her head and talked to her stomach, as she often did, "Some day I'm going to remind you of all that you put me through! The boys are never going to let me forget this."
She smiled slightly, in a rare moment of pleasure, as she looked down. She was almost three months along, and she was getting slightly rounded. Soon, her old pants wouldn't fit, and she'd have to wear the skirts instead. They'd be through with their journey by then though, and it would be unnecessary for her to dress as a man ever again.
"Don't forget to document how many hours of labor you have to go through when the time comes," Cody suddenly grinned, having walked up behind her and heard her speak to the child, "My mother used to love to remind me of that when I irritated her."
Lou smiled softly and giggled, "I was only six when my mother died, and I remember her using that one on me. Thirty-four hours."
Cody crouched and rinsed his hands before looking over at her and grinning, "Forty-one."
They laughed together. Lou glanced at Cody closely for a minute, studying him. He'd grown up a lot since the express ended, she suddenly realized. Although he still loved fun, and he was still a ham, there was soberness in his eyes that finally told of all he'd seen. There was also somewhat of a wisdom in his air that she'd only seen rare bits of in the past. Cody would always be a showman, Lou knew, but he'd turned into a man.
"What?" He demanded softly as he stood and reached a hand down to help her.
Lou blushed, not meaning to have stared so blatantly, "You just surprised me. You grew up."
He reached over to pull her hat over her eyes and she giggled when he said, "Don't count on it."
Kid sat on the sandy ground with his face turned upwards to the bright March sun. It was the first warm day since he'd been at Point Lookout, and it felt wonderful to be warmed all the way through. It hadn't rained in a while, and much of the standing water had been dried. For the first time in a long time, Kid felt a bit of a smile tug at his lips.
He reached down to pull from his dirty shirt the only thing of value he'd managed to keep hidden from the other prisoners and the guards, the chain with the St Christopher charm Lou had given him for Christmas, which now also held his wedding band.
"Who is she?" a voice suddenly asked from above him.
Kid squinted until a shadow moved between him and the sun. Marty sat himself down beside his friend.
"What?" Kid asked.
"Your wife? Who is she? Why didn't you ever tell me about her? Lord knows I've run my mouth enough about every sweet girl in Tennessee I ever knew. Now, it's your turn."
Kid smiled. He still found himself hesitant to open up to anyone, even Marty and Barney who'd been his companions since that horrible day a few weeks ago when he'd attacked the guard.
"Oh, come on, I won't steal her from you, promise…well, maybe not," Marty grinned, "How about her name? Can I at least know that? Or is she like you and doesn't have one?"
Kid laughed, and shook his head, "No, she has a name…Louise."
"She pretty?" Marty asked, knowing that Kid would open up after he saw the smile on his face at the mere mention of her name.
Kid cut his eyes at Marty, knowing good and well he was about to be conned into telling him about Lou whether he wanted to or not. "No, she's beautiful," Kid grinned, "beautiful auburn hair and big brown eyes, her eyes are my favorite I think. Those eyes say more than anything else. If she's angry they cloud up and flash, if she's laughing they laugh too," Kid suddenly turned red and cleared his throat, realizing how dreamy his voice had become.
Marty laughed, and pushed Kid for more, "How did you all meet?"
Kid laughed aloud and looked at the lanky man beside him, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
"Okay, we met while riding for the Pony Express."
"That doesn't sound so odd."
"No, you don't understand…she rode for the express too, not just me. And the truth is, she was better at it," Kid laughed at the look of amazement on Marty's face but before he could express his doubt, Kid continued, "It's true. She's the stubbornest, bravest, most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life. She used to drive me crazy, insisting she could take on any band of outlaws that was out there. Sad thing was, she really could, most of the time. I kept proposing to her, hoping she'd stop and settle down. It took me three times before she said yes."
Marty shook his head, "And so you got married. Got any kids, yet?"
Marty knew he'd said something wrong by the way Kid instantly straightened and shut himself off. He would have sworn he saw the flash of a tear in Kid's eye before he blinked and stood up.
"No, no kids. I think I'm gonna go get some water while there's still some left."
With that Kid walked away, leaving Marty to wonder exactly what had upset Kid so bad. He had a feeling it had to do with the letter he often caught him reading or the sadness in his friend's eyes.
He shook his head, feeling guilty for ruining Kid's obvious enjoyment of the sunshine.
"All aboard!"
"Where's Teaspoon?" Lou said hopelessly as Jimmy and Buck ushered her onto the car they were to be riding in.
"He'll be here. He probably is holding out for top dollar on those horses!"
"No one has top dollar anymore," Cody muttered, also concerned that Teaspoon would miss the train.
"There he is!" Buck suddenly cried, and waved his arms so Teaspoon could spot them among the milling people on the platform. Teaspoon came up with a huge grin on his face.
"Got a good price for the whole lot!" he said triumphantly, then he sobered, "Course, back east, horses are so scarce it'll probably take the whole bundle to get one."
"Let's cross that bridge when we get there," Jimmy reasoned.
They settled into their compartment and made themselves comfortable. The journey by train could take two weeks, or longer if the tracks had been damaged by the war.
Jimmy felt ready to jump out of his skin by the time the train chugged slowly away from the waving family members on the platform. He'd never been on a train before, and soon found that he liked his palomino infinitely better.
Cody, on the other hand, touched the fine velvet of his seat and folded his arms behind his head, "Now, this is the life!"
Buck rolled his eyes and turned to stare out the window, amazed at the speed they were picking up, "We should have taken these on our runs instead of horses."
"One day, this is how the mail will travel. Soon as they finish the transcontinental railroad, won't even be a need for messengers anymore. What can't go by telegraph will go by rail."
"That's progress!" Cody exclaimed, a big fan of anything technological, "One day, you'll just think of what you want to tell someone in California, and they'll just be able to read your mind."
"One day," Jimmy reminded him, rolling his eyes, "So don't strain yourself trying to get messages to anyone in Sacramento just yet, okay Billy?"
Cody shot him an irritated glare, "Wanna guess what I'm thinking right now, Hickok?"
The others laughed.
"Probably safer I don't," Jimmy responded, raising his eyebrows and turning to look out the window. He shifted restlessly.
"You just can't stand it, can you Jimmy? Can't you just sit back and relax? You're making me nervous!" Cody charged him.
"I'd rather be doing something," Jimmy admitted, "anything would be better than just watching the land roll by."
"Why don't you shine my boots, then?" Buck suggested drawing a scathing glare.
Teaspoon shook his head, "Patience, my boy. We'll get where we're going soon enough."
"Are we there yet?" Jimmy growled.
"Not quite," Lou reasoned.
"Well then you're wrong Teaspoon. It ain't soon enough."
"This is going to be a long trip," Cody noted, and the rest of them smiled.
Lou rolled her eyes, then laid her forehead against the glass, watching the miles roll by. Her eyelids grew heavy and soon, she was fast asleep.
Jimmy's mood worsened as the days went by. He was like a caged animal, and any time the train stopped he was the first to bolt out the door and the last to board the vehicle when the conductor called them back. No matter how long they were at the station, even if it was an overnight stay, he never left his feet, and walked nonstop to release his energy.
"You know, if I didn't know better, I'd swear you were pining for that horse of yours," Cody laughed at him from where he had his boots propped on his suitcase as they waited to change trains.
Jimmy glared at Cody, "If it was between travelling with you and the horse, trust me, the horse would win. He smells better."
The others laughed at this, but Teaspoon eyed Jimmy worriedly. He was like a stick of dynamite lying close to a fire, and it wouldn't take much to ignite his short fuse and set him off. Hickok was not the kind of man to travel in luxury. He was too restless, too used to being alert every second. Teaspoon hoped that the boy would relax before he snapped.
His eyes shifted to Lou, who he also worried about. She was fast asleep on Buck's shoulder. The girl had spent more time sleeping than awake, and he could only hope that was a good sign. She ate well, but stayed tired. Her coloring was a bit pale, and he was concerned for her although she insisted she felt fine when he inquired.
"Damn it," Jimmy growled when the snarling locomotive pulled past the window of the station and squealed to a halt, causing Lou and Buck both to jump awake and look around groggily.
"All aboard," Cody said cheerfully, and gathered his belongings, rushing out the door to get in line to board the train.
Jimmy glared at the train as if it were a hated foe, and hung back, watching to be sure Lou, Teaspoon, and Buck got on with no trouble. He stretched his arms high and shook his legs, looking down the platform. The train stretched on forever. They'd be on it for three days before stopping to change again.
His eyes narrowed as a movement far down the platform caught his eye. Several armed guards were loading something into the back of the train, then stepping into the car with it. Everything was done very quickly to draw as little attention as possible, but Jimmy's sharp eyes didn't miss much.
"Last call! Son, if you are coming, you'd better run!" The conductor called, and Jimmy jumped in surprise to see the train was rolling forward, and picking up speed quickly.
"Jimmy, what are you doing?" Buck yelled to him from beside the conductor, hanging out of the side door, "Come on!"
Jimmy started at a run with his bag, not knowing what he'd do if he missed the train. It felt good to move quickly and feel his blood run with excitement as he stretched his legs. Buck yelled for him and extended his hand, taking first Jimmy's bag, then his hand to help pull him on board.
"I know how disappointed you'd be to miss the train," Buck said in response to Jimmy's thanks, and led him back to the private compartment Teaspoon had secured for them.
It was nicer than the cramped seats on the previous trains, and Teaspoon looked at Jimmy with raised eyebrows, "Figured I'd better get us the next size compartment or your Cabin Fever would develop into full blown insanity."
Ignoring him, Jimmy lowered his voice, which was absurd given their private compartment, and leaned forward, "This train is carrying something big…gold or something maybe…there are several armed guards in the back!"
"Look at that, visions of adventure dancing in his head," Buck rolled his eyes.
"So what? There's no telling what it is. They send stuff by train all the time to the capitol, gold, ammunition, cannons. Some of the stuff is brought in through California and shipped across the land to avoid the Confederate ships."
"Well, all I'm saying is that when you load that many guns to guard a few crates, it probably means you are worried about something, or someone."
Lou groaned and rolled her eyes too, "Please, Jimmy, let's not be dramatic. Everyone's fighting the war. There is no one to be worried about."
Jimmy, seeing that the sentiment of excitement and apprehension was his alone, grew quiet, but twisted in his seat to try and see the back of the train out the window.
Teaspoon gave them all a look that suggested they let Jimmy brood over the danger if that kept him quiet and still.
"Come on, Jimmy, you might even enjoy it," Lou smiled over her shoulder as she led the tortured looking man through the narrow halls of the passenger cars and toward the front of the train.
Jimmy sighed and gave Lou a toothy grin, attempting to be a good sport. She giggled at him and turned back around to follow Buck through the train. Once her back was turned Jimmy sighed again. Teaspoon had insisted they go dine with the other guests in the dining car. He'd even made them dress nicely. Lou looked beautiful in one of Alana's dresses. It was dark blue satin, and cut low to reveal her attractive, and now, fuller, figure.
The dining car was set up beautifully, with twinkling crystal and candlelight, that Jimmy wasn't altogether confident about on the swaying train. He eyed the lace table cloths fearfully, but kept his mouth shut as they were seated by a window.
After the waiter took their orders, Cody's face absolutely beamed, "One day, I'm going to live like this all the time!"
"Except you'll be riding in the cargo cars," Jimmy agreed politely.
They broke into laughter, and Jimmy actually relaxed enough to enjoy his own joke. Lou smiled and picked up her crystal water glass, studying how the candlelight filtered through it. It reminded her of something…she smiled slightly as she remembered. Davenport, the night Kid had almost proposed to her, but had been stopped by the shoot out in town. That night had been so perfect up till that point. Lou closed her eyes and tilted her head back, almost feeling the whisper of the spring wind on her cheeks as she and Kid walked along arm in arm.
Suddenly, her eyes opened and clouded with sadness. If only Kid were safely with them now, she thought, if only she could finally know he was alive and well.
Teaspoon and Jimmy both noticed the far away and troubled look that crossed her face after her secret smile, and knew where her thoughts had gone. They glanced at each other, but there was nothing for either of them to say to make her feel any better.
Dinner came, and again Cody was tickled with the fancy food. The rest of them all picked at it, unsure of what exactly they were about to eat.
After the meal Lou was quiet, listening to the quiet hum of the conversation around the room, and feeling her eyes grow sleepy in the dim light.
"You ready for me to walk you back to our compartment, Lou?" Teaspoon smiled.
Lou hid a yawn, "I guess you better or you'll have to carry me back."
They started to stand up slowly when the train heaved and jolted, sending plates, candles, and people flying. Lou stumbled directly into Jimmy's chest.
Lou could remember looking up into his eyes in confusion, and finding his equally troubled eyes staring back at her. A split second later, the train leaned sharply to the left, sending them both stumbling in the opposite direction.
Suddenly, the horrible sound of twisting steel and squealing breaks filled the air, intermingling with the terrified screams of the passengers.
"We're derailing," Lou said quietly and with amazing clarity of what was happening as she and Jimmy both started to fall.
Jimmy could do nothing but try to wrap himself around Lou and absorb the impact with his own body as they tumbled helplessly for what seemed like forever.
(Note to Reader: If I was exceptionally cruel, I'd end the chapter here with the train suspended in midair as I planned to do, but Kirsten Page told me it would be mean to do this. So, carry on…)
Lou was aware of Jimmy's arms locked tightly around her the entire time they fell helplessly and she heard him groan in pain when they finally came to a sudden, violent halt. Then, as suddenly as there had been chaos, there was total, eerie silence.
Lou winced and felt warm blood on her temple, but wasn't sure if it was from her injuries or Jimmy's. She blinked and tried to make her dizzy vision focus, twisting her neck to free her face of Jimmy's hair and looking around.
The car was upside down and caved in on one side. The candles had caused a few fires, but they were burning low and no danger. People lay sprawled everywhere, most of them slowly moving now, attempting to pick themselves up.
"Everyone okay?" Lou heard Teaspoon's breathless voice ask, but couldn't see the man from where she was pinned underneath Jimmy.
"Jimmy?" She suddenly whispered fearfully as she fully regained her senses, remembering his cry of pain. She attempted to roll him off of her to where he'd be more comfortable. She was met with another groan of pain.
"Just give me a second, and I'll move, Lou," Jimmy moaned, trying to still the spinning of his head, "Just a second…"
"Are you hurt? What hurts?" Lou asked in a panic, realizing that except for a few small bumps and scrapes she was fine. He, on the other hand, had taken the brunt of the impact, and the blood covering her head came from a gaping wound in his forehead.
"Everything," Jimmy finally responded, and eased himself off of her and onto his back, bringing fingers up to gingerly trace the area that was throbbing on his forehead.
Cody, Buck, and Teaspoon, all sporting cuts and bumps on their faces, were soon leaning over Jimmy too.
"You alright, Jimmy?" Cody wondered, then looked at the others, "Wonder if he remembers who he is?"
Jimmy, hearing this, squinted up at Cody, "I know who I am. And I haven't forgotten you owe me two dollars still."
"Who was the third president of the United States?" Cody persisted, convinced his friend had suffered brain damage.
"Hell, Cody, I didn't know that before I bumped my head. Just help me up!" Jimmy growled, then glared at Teaspoon, "Yeah, eating here was a great idea."
"Oh, and being derailed in our compartment would have been so much more convenient," Buck pointed out.
"Least the seats are soft," Jimmy grumbled as he fought to pull himself to a sitting position and felt waves of dizziness wash over him.
"Lou, everything all right?" Jimmy suddenly asked with worry, his eyes searching for her, and trying to focus on her when he did find her general shape, "the baby?"
Lou felt tears prick her eyes, "thanks to you, I think so. Oh, Jimmy, you probably saved the baby!"
Jimmy smiled crookedly as Buck and Cody climbed unsteadily to their feet on the uneven surface of the car's ceiling and dragged Jimmy up by his arms.
Teaspoon and Lou stiffly climbed to their feet also.
"So what do we do now?" Buck wondered, looking around to make sure no one needed his assistance.
Teaspoon was about to answer that he didn't really have a back up plan when gunfire ripped through the night. A bullet struck the outside of the car and ricocheted off the side with a loud whine.
To have climbed up so slowly, the boys and Lou were quick to hit the floor again.
"Who the Hell is that?" Cody demanded.
"The same people that caused the train to derail, I have a feeling," Jimmy suddenly said, "And the same people who want whatever is in the back of this train."
"Well, let's just hope they get it and go away!" Buck said softly, "Or you may get more adventure than you planned on Jimmy."
Lou saw booted feet appear outside the broken window of the dining car.
"I don't think it's going to be that simple," she said softly, as they all pressed themselves flat against the car, and waited for the worst.
To Be Continued...Chapter X
Copyright 1998-This work is not to be reproduced without the permission of the author
The Way Station
Campfire Tales