Untainted Devotion

Anything, anything would have been better than Stacy standing there with no feeling in her facial expression. Her look was pale, neutral, and masked from whatever it was that she had churning inside. Lou didn't know if she should embrace her friend, or cry for her.

Kid seemed surprised by the news as he also looked to Stacy with concern. Even he couldn't believe that Jimmy would be that heartless. That's why he knew that there must be more to it. "What did he say, Lou?"

Stacy cast her eyes downward, almost as if the question didn't have any meaning to her. She was merely a being in that room. Never had she felt so alone, not even after her brother died.

Lou eased herself down into one of the chairs, and answered him in her softest voice. She hesitated telling Stacy all that Jimmy had said to her, so she carefully selected her wording. "He loves you, Stacy you have to believe that."

The young woman didn't acknowledge what she had just said, and continued to stare downwards.

Lou continued, "He said that with the life that he is being forced to lead, he can't marry you, because it wouldn't be fair to you."

Stacy's eyes now filled with tears, yet she still said nothing. The battle of tears verses her strong will clashed. All of her life she had remained strong. So many of the times in her life she refused to cry, so why did she begin to now? Stacy cleared her throat and wiped the remainder of liquid that had pooled in the corner of her eyes. "Why all of the sudden? Why did he lead me on like this, only to end it just like that?"

Kid looked to his wife for the answer, but knew it wouldn't be there, because even as well as she knew Jimmy, she didn't have the answer. "Jimmy has always been restless, Stacy," he began. "And if you ask me, he's foolish to go on without you."

She attempted a weak smile of thanks before she rose from the table and went upstairs to her room. "I'll get my stuff together."

Lou bit her trembling lip as she watched her friend walk away. Right now all she wanted was to ride out after Jimmy, and he just better pray that she didn't catch him. That wasn't a rational plan though..........Stacy needed her here. Besides, Lou had to go upstairs and convince her friend to stay.

As part of the agreement with the Pony Express, Kid would continue to take the few rides in which the army or government needed something delivered in person rather than by telegraph. Under these conditions, which they said would probably last another month, Kid would continue to get his usual salary for his work.

So it was on this early foggy morning that he saddled his faithful horse, and prepared for his overnight ride. Lou got up to see him off, and packed him something to eat. He loaded his gun, an object that he seldom wore these days, and was completely ready to go in record time.

"You be careful, Kid." Lou said as she kissed him before he mounted.

"I always am." He replied, squeezing her hand. "You and Stacy take care, I'll be back tomorrow night." Kid looked at the upstairs window which connected to the room that their guest was staying in. "It's almost been a week since he left. Do you think she's going to be all right?"

Lou also looked up. "I hope so, I really hope." She released his hand and motioned towards the trail. "You better be going."

He nodded and turned Katy, "I'll be back soon."

The man and his horse took off away from town. Lou stood and watched until she could no longer see the dust that Katy kicked up. She pulled her shawl tighter around her, and went back inside. It was times like this when she really missed Rachel. It had been so comforting to have a 'mother' around, especially when Kid rode off. Rachel was always there to tell Lou that he was going to be fine, just like always.

But Rachel was doing a good service with her teaching, and they certainly had needed another school teacher at the orphanage in Denver. The high position and pay were too good for her to pass up. As with Teaspoon though, she had stuck with the Express until the station was officially closed a few long weeks ago.

"Stacy?" Lou called softly as she walked back downstairs.

"In here, Lou." She replied, not lifting her head from the sewing project that she was working on.

Lou walked in and began looking around under and around the furniture for her missing shoe. Stacy glanced up long enough to see what she was doing, "I saw it over by the fireplace, on the other side the log pile."

Following directions, Lou smiled as she leaned over and found it. "Thank you." Sitting down, she began lacing it. "I'm going in to town to do some shopping, you want to come?"

Stacy rethreaded her needle, "No, I think I'll stay, but thank you." Sensing that Lou was distraught by her response, she smiled at her. "If I don't keep doing this, and set it aside, it'll never get done. You know I hate to sew." She paused. "I'll tell you what, I'll get this finished, and if you aren't back by the time I do, I'll come in and join you."

Louise buttoned her coat and grabbed her small handbag. "Okay, then, have fun and I'll be back soon.ely stitched leather wallet. "I will take this for him though."

She proceeded around the store, picking up the supplies that she needed for dinner, as well as collecting a few things that she didn't need.

As she was waiting for Tompkins to wrap up her purchases, a young boy came darting in holding a telegram in his hand. "Louise?" He knew her well, as she had often invited him over for freshly baked cookies when his uncle went away on business trips.

"Yes, is something wrong?" She asked in response to his excited tone.

He extended the note. "Is Stacy still staying with you, because this came for her."

Lou creased her brow. Who would even know that Stacy had been staying with her? "Thank you."

Her worry and curiosity kept her from being able to finish the rest of her shopping. Thanking Tompkins for the goods, she left the store and headed straight back home, where Stacy still sat working on her project.

"That was quick." She said, welcoming her friend.

"Well, I'm not finished yet, but I figured since this came for you, I better get it back over here as soon as possible." Lou held out the telegram and sat down next to Stacy, eager to see what it said.

Stacy opened the folded paper, not even being able to guess what its contents might be. They were both quite surprised though when they did.

Hickok doesn't know what he's done, nor is he a part of this.
That is why if you ever want to see him alive again,
I suggest you show up at Fort Hampton two days
after you receive this note. Don't disappoint us.

A friend

Lou looked at Stacy, and Stacy looked at Lou, neither one of them knowing quite what to say. Stacy stood up and paced the room once. "I've got to go." From the little bit of information that she could get out of the message, Jimmy would be killed for sure if she didn't show.

Kid will kill me for this decision that I'm about to make. Lou closed her eyes and hoped that when she opened them she'd find that she was safely tucked in her bed. Aside from Kid, Jimmy meant more to her than any other man she'd ever known. Stacy couldn't do this alone. What if these people were outlaws, or even worse, cold blooded killers? "We've got to go."

"No, Lou, I won't let you. You need to be here when Kid gets back. He'd never forgive me for dragging you into something again." Stacy pleaded.

"This doesn't have to do with Kid, Stacy. I won't let you do this alone." Without another word on the subject Lou left the room and headed upstairs to pack the things that she would need.

Stacy took a deep breath and did the same thing. She was more grateful than words could express that her friend would be so willing to help her. Her only prayer right now though, was that Jimmy would be safe and alive when she found him. Because once she did, she was never going to let him leave her behind again. "I need you James Hickok," she said aloud. "And I truly believe that you need me."

The two women were packed and ready to ride in record time. Lou went to the locked trunk, where she kept the last thing that she needed on their journey. "Kid, forgive me for this." She said as she opened the lock and searched for her gun. Shortly after they were married, Kid made her promise that she would never touch the weapon unless her life depended on it. In these unsettled times, anyone who held a gun was all the more likely to have someone challenge them about it. He didn't want to see that happen to her, therefore they had both taken vows to use them only when necessary.

"I definitely think this time it is necessary." Lou said as she fastened it around her waste.

"What?" Stacy asked as she came down the steps holding a small bag.

"Nothing, just talking to myself." Lou answered. "You ready?"

Stacy fastened on the gunbelt that Lou extended to her. "I don't know if I remember how to use one of these," she said as she loaded it with six shots.

"Just aim, and shoot."

The sun was beaming directly overhead as they mounted their horses and took off towards their destination. It would take several hours to get there, and they would stop to camp overnight half-way in-between.

Not many words were exchanged as the two rode along. Perhaps it was because of the anticipation, or perhaps it was the fear that welled inside both of them that caused them to remain silent. Neither one could imagine what it was that they were about to embark on. They could only pray that Jimmy was alright.

As they traveled on, and the daylight began to fade. Lou insisted that they stop and make camp for the night. "This looks like as good a place as any."

Stacy dismounted and took her small bedroll off of the saddle and began spreading it out. "I'm so tired I think I could fall asleep standing up."

"No kidding. I haven't ridden like this in a while." Lou added as she stretched her arms, and then began unfolding her blankets as well.

Taking out a pouch of some food that she had packed, Stacy extended some to her friend and they sat in silence side by side. Stacy felt so tired that she wasn't sure if she had the strength to go on like this. She knew that if they found Jimmy and he ran away from her again, she wouldn't be able to stand the heartbreak a second time.

Lou was sorry for her harsh parting words with Jimmy, yet she knew that she had meant it. If this was the kind of treatment that he was going to be dishing out from now on, she didn't want to have anything to do with him.

"Louise?" Stacy's words stopped her thoughts and she turned to face the woman beside her.

"Yes?" She smiled.

"Do you and Kid ever have hard times in your relationship? I mean have you ever wondered if he would just up and leave one day?"

The words pierced at Lou's heart, because she knew that she would probably never have to experience what her friend had gone through. No, she could never envision Kid leaving her, in fact with the few arguments that they did have, they almost always ended up laughing about it in the end.

"Stacy, I can't imagine it," she took her hand. "But if you really truly love someone, there's nothing that they can do that would cause you to stop loving them. Sure, I have days when I don't really like Kid, but I'll never stop loving him with all of my heart." Lou paused to let that sink in. "And you know, there isn't one couple alive that doesn't have problems. Just make sure that if something happens, you give them a second chance, and don't ever give up on them until you know for sure."

Stacy found herself speechless. What Lou had said was true, and she could only hope that once they were able to sit down and be together once again, that Jimmy would agree with it as well.

"Lou, you've been the best friend that I could ever hope to have," she hesitated. "And Kid is probably the luckiest guy in the world."

Wanting very much to change the subject, Lou cleared her throat. It wasn't that she didn't like talking about Kid, she just knew that the discussion couldn't be easy on her friend. "Can I see that telegram again?"

Stacy's look fell cold, "I....I don't have it, I thought you had it."

"I didn't have it! Where is it?" Lou responded, the panic rising in her voice.

"Oh no, Louise, it must still be sitting on the table."

"Great, just great." Lou grumbled. She had written Kid a note telling him that she and Stacy had gone out for a couple of days to spend some time together. She assured him that everything was well, and that she would miss him. And now, if he saw the threat that had come through, he'd know that she had lied to him......and that they might be heading into another dangerous situation.

The Next Day

Fort Hampton was dull and lifeless. Stacy and Lou made their way into the heart of it without passing more than a couple of people.

"This doesn't look like much of a spot to be keeping someone." Stacy commented as she looked around for any sign of their missing person. She was starting to have a bad feeling about the whole thing.

Lou must have been picking up on the same feelings because she looked around cautiously at the buildings and people. There was something that wasn't quite right. Why would they have chosen this place to keep a hostage? It didn't add up. Of course what kidnapping situation ever does? "No, it sure doesn't."

They stopped in front of one of the only open looking stores around. Stacy slid down from her saddle, a the two women exchanged shrugs. With no other plan, they proceeded up the short stairs to the front door. As they took the final step, a man came up from behind them. He was the sort of man that one would assume couldn't hurt a fly. Being well-dressed, and not carrying a gun that was visible, made him look all the more innocent.

"Excuse me," he started and waited for them to turn around. "Are you Stacy?"

Feeling Lou grab her arm, she nodded slowly. "Yes."

"Then I think that you want to come with me, right now." He said trying not to draw attention from the few people that were watching them. Motioning towards the other side of town, he waited for them to come back down the steps and follow him. He stopped and pointed to their guns, "Lose those."

With much reluctance, they did as instructed and followed him as he lead them across the town to a small shack that sat quite unnoticed.

"Oh, I hope this isn't a big mistake." Stacy whispered to Lou, who was still clinging to her arm.

As the man opened the door and forced them inside, they were shocked when they only saw one man sitting down inside the cramped room. There was no sign of Jimmy anywhere. Unmarked barrels filled all of the corners, and the gruff man offered them a seat on one of them.

"Thank you for showing up to my little party." He said grinning.

"Where's Jimmy?" Stacy spat, definitely not in the mood to be playing games. She came here for a purpose, and one purpose only. She and Lou had consumed their fair share of these types of men in their lives before.

"James Hickok?" The man raised his eyebrows, "He doesn't have anything to do with this. In fact, miss, I don't even know where he is."

The words echoed through the heads of the two women. Doesn't know where he is? This had been a wild goose chase once again? If they didn't have Jimmy, what could they possibly want from them?

"Good, then you won't mind if we just be on our way." Lou said as she began to rise. Quickly though, she regretted it, because the man who was standing beside her pushed her down roughly, and she mustered a faint, "Ouch!"

The man, also known as Charles McGuire rose to his feet and walked towards the now very frightened girls. "Let's cut the games, ladies. You both are responsible for the death of my friend over a year ago. I think that it's time that you start thinking about that serious mistake, and pay up."

"Look, mister," Stacy started, her face flushed. "We haven't killed anyone that didn't deserve it by trying to kill us."

McGuire reached up with one hand and slapped her across the face. "Don't play innocent angel with me! Did you or did you not take two men in to be hanged for the revenge of your brother's death!" He spat.

Fury now raged in Stacy, nobody ever struck her like that without paying for it dearly. She rose to her feet, all fear that once sat ingrained in her heart was gone. "Don't you EVER blame me for taking in the TWO men that killed Joseph! They deserved what they got, and my only regret was that I didn't get to see them hang!"

Lou swallowed around the lump that had now formed in her throat. Why is it that Stacy had to be so bold at times like this? "Stacy," Lou cautioned.

McGuire was now quite intrigued with the spit-fire woman that was now before him. She had spunk to be sure. "We'll just see about that," he motioned for his 'associate' to step forward. "Show these nice ladies to their spot, Cole."

Obligingly the man they now knew as 'Cole' forced them to the center of the room, and made them sit back to back as he tied their hands together.

"Leave Louise out of this!" Stacy pleaded as he tightened their ropes. Her pleas obviously meant nothing and Cole proceeded to tie their feet together as well.

"Sorry, miss can't let you go either." He said to Lou mockingly.

"That's Mrs.!" She shot back.

He smiled, "OK, darlin' if that's they way you want it."

Cole lit a match at McGuire's signal, and then he reached over and held it towards a fuse that they had just now noticed was attached to some flammable materials. Lou and Stacy both gasped at the same time, just waiting for him to light the fuse that would end their lives.

Cole held the flame in midair, deliberately tormenting them. Then as quickly as he had lit it, he blew it out, and laughed.

"Don't think this is the end, my dears." McGuire added with a evil glare. He stepped toward the door, his companion close behind. "We'll be back, and this time the fuse will be lit."

"Wait!" Lou called out in a last ditch effort. The men stopped in their tracks and turned to face her. "You wouldn't kill a pregnant woman, would you?"

McGuire looked as if he might be touched for just a fleeting moment, but then his contemplation turned into his nasty grin once again. Without a second glance they walked out of the small building......the slamming of the door rattled the walls.

"No, guess not." Lou added sarcastically.

Stacy tried to looked behind her to see her friend, but couldn't because they were back to back. "Louise, you're pregnant!"

Lou took a deep breath almost saddened by the truth, "No, but it sounded good."

Groaning in misery, discouragement, and frustration, Stacy sighed. "Thanks for the shock anyway." Why was it that nothing in her life could ever seem to sort out quite right? It started with her parents and had been progressively traveling downhill since, ending most recently with Jimmy. And the harder Stacy thought about it, the more she began twisting her wrists in the ropes.......oblivious to the pain, and not caring that the stiff horsehair was slicing her skin.

Giving her arm one last yank, Stacy threw her back with all the strength that she had and whammed her head into Lou's. "Ouch!"

"Sorry, Louise." Stacy offered through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, well I won't be sorry if you can get us out of here. Of course I guess I get to pick between a death of fiery flames, or a death of a horrid murder by the gun from an enraged husband." Lou also began pulling at the ropes and trying to wiggle herself out of them.

As they struggled, Lou couldn't help but smile at the thought of the last time she'd been tied up like this with Jimmy. The ropes, Jimmy, the ropes! She had yelled out at him. It's too bad that this can't be the same time. We got out of that one. Lou thought to herself.

They wiggled, and squiggled, in silence for a moment before Stacy realized that she was starting to feel the rope give. "Lou," she whispered. "I just might have it here if you'll....."

"If I'll what!?"

"Hang on, I've," the rope snapped and she pulled her arms free turning quickly to release Lou's hands as well. "Got it." She smiled at her handiwork.

Lou jumped up, resisting the urge to hug her friend. Because at the same time, she was quite mad at her that they were even in that situation in the first place. "Great, now let's get out of here."

Stacy grabbed her arm. "Wait, what if they are right outside the door?"

Mechanically they began searching around the small room, for any kind of weapon that could be used to aid them in their escape.

Home, it was always the best sight, especially after a long, hard, tiresome ride. Kid could taste the hot meal that Lou was fixing, and he realized that after this past month that the runs had been growing shorter he'd been less tolerant about eating out of cans.

Seeing to his horse, and gathering his gear that he slung across his shoulder, he proceeded inside. "Lou?" He called out. It was unusual that she hadn't greeted him before now, as she always did. "Stacy?" He tried.

The house was filled with unwelcomed silence, and he dropped his things on the floor near the door and began searching for any sign of them. "It's about time." He said as he reached for a piece of paper lying on the kitchen table. It had his name clearly written on it, and he tenderly unfolded it.

My dearest Kid,

By now you have discovered that Stacy and I are not around. Don't
worry though, we have taken a ride into St. Joseph to take care of
some things. We should be back tomorrow, hopefully at the latest.
I'm sorry that this came up so suddenly. Stacy needed to get out, and
I didn't want to let her go alone.

I miss you.
Love,
Louise

Very much at ease, and quite relieved, he went into the main room of the house and sat down to take his shoes off and prepare for a nice hot bath to get himself cleaned up. Of course, as good as a bath sounded, he wanted to take a few moments to sit down and prop his feet up. He could get buy with it this time because Lou wasn't there to tell him to take his dirty and filthy clothes off of her furniture. He smiled in satisfaction.

Slowly lifting his leg up, he was slightly surprised when his foot slipped as it came in contact with piece of paper. Not thinking much of it, he brushed it off of small tea stand with his foot and watched it fall to the ground. He rested his head back on the sofa and closed his eyes. As much as he missed Lou, maybe a couple of hours to himself wouldn't be so bad. After all, she would be perfectly safe traveling with Stacy on a short 'joy ride' together.

"Okay, on the count of three we're going to ram this, got it?" Lou went over the instructions for the third and final time. Stacy nodded, and picked up her end of the wooden beam. With a swift swinging motion, they pounded through the flimsy wall. The creak and crash caused the two men who were outside to quickly unlock the door and rush into the room.

"Where'd they go!" McGuire hollered, as if it were Cole's fault.

"Over there, they've broken out!" He replied.

The two men rushed out the same hole that the two girls and escaped from. Frantically they searched around the vicinity and found no traces of them. "You search over there, I'll check the main gate. They couldn't have gone far!" McGuire shouted.

Two young ladies slowly poked their heads out from behind some of the empty storage boxes. Carefully, they emerged and revealed themselves from their hiding position. "I think it's clear now." Stacy said as she helped her friend rise to her feet.

"You know Stacy," Lou began, "You've done some crazy things in your life, but this has got to be one of the wackiest ideas you've had yet!"

Stacy smiled as they carefully crept out the front door. "You're welcome."

Kid awakened with a start when someone knocked on the front door. He considered not answering it, but then thought better of it. So it was quite reluctantly that he got up onto his feet to answer it. It was the young boy who so often came around, especially when Lou baked cookies or some other such treat.

"Hi," the young man said.

"Hi," Kid replied. He was trying to be as polite as possible, but at the same time, he really hoped that this wouldn't be a serious conversation. He wanted the little boy to go back to whichever little mole hole it was that he came from and leave him to his nap.

"I was just wondering if everything worked out all right for Stacy." It was common knowledge that since Stacy had arrived, the messenger boy had been finding bigger and better excuses to come around more often.

Kid realized that he was falling asleep standing up, "Oh, well, she won't be back for a day or so, neither will Lou. Why don't you come back then?" It wasn't as though Kid didn't like having company, or that he didn't like younger people, he just believed that there was a time a place for everything. This just didn't happen to be the time for a social call, nor was his home the place that he wished to be disturbed in.

He started to close the door, but a hand reached in and stopped it. "I mean with Jimmy too."

Now slightly more awake, Kid was able to form his most confused look. "What are you talking about?"

"The message I brought yesterday. The one that said Jimmy was in trouble." He spoke slowly as he watched the face of the man in front of him. He was beginning to think that he had made a very serious mistake by coming over to ask such a question, and offering that information.

Kid's heart stopped and he threw open the door, grabbing a now terrified youth by the shoulders. "Where is it, and what did it say?"

"I don't know!" He pleaded, now becoming very afraid of the husband of his friend. Pushing away, he ran away from the house and headed back into town.

Kid slammed the door and began a desperate search for the note. He searched the upstairs and then came back down. Something told him to check the trunk which Lou had been keeping her gun, and his stomach became fluttered and sick when he saw that it was gone.

He was about to give up on finding it when he remembered his foot slipping on a paper object. Rushing into the other room, and not caring that he hit walls as he did, he came to a dead stop when he saw the message lying on the floor. The type was faded in some areas, but still clearly legible.

Kid finished reading and crumpled it with his hand. Anger seared through every pulse. He was mad and Lou for lying to him, he was enraged that Jimmy would once again be a part of something that might endanger Lou's life, and he was livid that Stacy might be the bottom line cause of the whole thing. "James Hickok.......Stacy Nelson, you better pray that I don't find you today, because when I do, you're going to regret that you even knew me."

To be continued…Chapter VI