Stunned into a moment's silence, both Kid and Jimmy continued to advance towards Lou, distressing her even further. Rachel soon realised the problem, quickly leaving the room she found Buck leaning tensely against the porch railing, listening intently to everything that happened.
'Buck can you come in here please?' Rachel asked quietly 'Lou needs you.'
'No Lou needs Kid and maybe Jimmy, she doesn't need me.' He stated calmly.
'Buck, she's confused right now, and if you can help her feel more at ease, you will.' Rachel stated firmly.
Buck continued to look out across the corral, then as if finding the answer in the horizon he turned and walked into the bunkhouse.
His gaze searching the worried and confused faces of Kid and Jimmy, he turned to see Lou gazing at him with the same look she usually reserved for Kid.
'Buck darling.' she called him to her side her voice full of her tears 'Why did you leave me alone with these strange men?'
Buck was confused by her words, but like any of the boys he was unable to let her cry without trying to stop her. He crossed to her side and sat on the bunk, gently enfolding her in his embrace, careful of her injured shoulder. Lou sank into his embrace and comforted merely by his presence calmed enough to sink into a healing sleep. Kid watched through bitter eyes, eventually unable to bear anymore he left the bunkhouse, Rachel looked at Jimmy whose tearglazed eyes focused sadly on Lou, then into the dark liquid eyes of Buck, and knew she would be the only one there whom Kid might possibly listen to. She left the bunkhouse and found Kid sitting leaning on the barn wall. His hat pulled low over his face, his arms folded over his knees he was the picture of desolation. Rachels tender heart broke for him.
'Kid please don't blame Buck, he is as confused as you.' Rachel spoke softly as she sat down beside him.
'Something must have happened between them for Lou to behave like that.'
'Her mind is probably confused, she's had a terrible knock on the head.' Rachel tried to explain Lou's subconscious actions.
'She doesn't even remember me Rachel.' he lifted his head to reveal his tearfilled crystal blue eyes.
'I know honey, and it breaks my heart to see it but we have to help her anyway we can.' she answered him.
They were disturbed by the sound of a wagon approaching. Thankful to see Doc Barnes climbing from his wagon they went quickly to the bunkhouse, just in time to join Jimmy and Buck on the porch.
'Doc made us come outside so he could check Lou out.' Jimmy spoke.
'Kid I'm sorry.' Buck spoke 'I don't know what Lou thinks is happening, but I'm sorry.'
Kid looked at Buck 'If I find you have done anything to her, you will pay.'
Buck nodded in understanding, knowing that Kid needed to vent his frustration at someone.
'We need to find the guy that is after her.' Buck stated.
'What guy?' Jimmy asked his face suddenly intent.
'That's why we were running back here, I told you before.' Buck grew angry with the others for not listening to him.
'Lou witnessed a murder in Blue Creek, I was in my hotel room, it was the middle of the night, Lou woke me pounding on the door, all her things with her. She said somebody was going to kill her and we had to leave right then.' he paused watching the pain this was causing Kid ' I didn't argue with her, she was frantic, we went to the livery, saddled our horses and left. About two miles out of town we knew that we were being followed. We tried to outrun him but about five miles outside of town we knew that if we stayed together and tried to outrun him, he would get her. The horses couldn't keep up that pace anymore. I couldn't let that happen. I took Lightning, if he was tracking us he would follow her horse and then he would have to deal with me.' Buck stood and walked away from them ' I should never have left her, when I got back here, she wasn't here. I went looking for her and found her on the trail. I don't know if he found her or not, I don't think so. I never should have left her.' he finished his guilt evident.
'Do you know anything about the fella?' Jimmy asked.
'Nothing Lou said she would fill me in when we got back here. We were too busy trying to get away from whoever it was.' Buck shrugged his shoulders
'When does Teaspoon get back from Fort Laramie?' Rachel asked softly.
'Not for another two days. Ike is on a run, Noah won't be back for another day or so. We are all Lou has to protect her.' Kid answered Rachel. 'If only we knew what the hell we were protecting her from.'
'Cody, go check around town and see if there are any strangers in town,' Kid directed him. 'All we can do is keep her out of sight and hope that whoever it is gives up.'
Conversation was brought to a halt when Doc Barnes opened the bunkhouse door and walked out.
'How is she Doc?' Kid was on his feet instantly.
'She'll be fine physically, but she has a severe case of amnesia.'
'She'll remember eventually won't she Doc?' Kid asked.
'Maybe, Maybe not. I've seen some cases where they never remember, but I must stress to all of you. Don't force her to remember, she must do it in her own time, in her own way. If you upset her too much she may never remember.' He climbed into his wagon.
'By the way Rachel, congratulations on fixing her shoulder, I couldn't have done it better myself,' he called as he drove his wagon back into town.
'I didn't do anything to her shoulder,' Rachel stated plainly.
'What did you do to her?' Kid wheeled back around his eyes full of fire and anger.
'It was dislocated, I had to fix that before I could bring her back here.' Buck stated.
'What are we going to do about this fella?' Rachel asked trying to steer them away from the fight she knew was brewing.
'I'm going to Blue Creek to see what I can find out.' Kid spoke.
'NO' Jimmy stated 'I'll go, Lou needs both you and Buck here. I'll go.'
Rachel shook her head watching as both Buck and Kid entered the bunkhouse to check on Lou. Jimmy went to the barn and saddled his big palomino, riding out of the barn he waved to Rachel and was on his way. Nobody needed to tell him that Lou needed everyone to work for her to try and help her stay alive. Deep in thought and desperately worried, he never even heard Rachel call Ride Safe as he spurred his horse to greater speed.
