The young man sat quietly in the marshal's office, staring out the window, with a dark expression on his face. From behind his desk, an older man studied him carefully for a long while before commenting.

"Kid, that glass is gonna melt if you keep blazing holes through it with your eyes."

Distractedly, Kid swung his head towards Teaspoon, his boss and friend, "What?"

Teaspoon met the young man's troubled blue gaze and wondered, "You been staring out that window like you're afraid the devil's gonna come through it if you blink!"

Kid attempted a smile, but it never reached his eyes, "Sorry, Teaspoon, I guess I ain't being real good company."

"What's on your mind son?" He wondered.

"A lot, really, but I can't really say much about it."

"Thinking about Lou again, I suppose. Have anything to do with that Wick's character that was shot today?" Teaspoon asked casually.

Kid shrugged evasively. Actually, as usual, Teaspoon was right on the money. The last few days had been hell on Lou. First, a friend from her past had showed up, troubling her with bad memories. Then, chasing behind her was a man named Wicks, who had driven the beautiful woman to kill herself. Wicks had then gone after Lou, convinced that she had the money Charlotte had stolen from him. Lou had gotten the upper hand during the struggle that followed, and pulled a gun on Wicks. Kid had ridden up just in time to stop her from killing him. Only after Wicks was brought into town and shot by the man in love with Charlotte did Kid know why Lou would have killed him.

Now, he wished he'd let her kill him. Hell, he thought furiously, I wish I'd killed him myself. "The doctor thinks he is going to make it?" Kid wondered suddenly through clenched teeth. After Wicks had been shot at point blank range, they'd assumed he was dead. When the undertaker had come to get the body, he'd had quite a scare when Wicks suddenly moaned.

Teaspoon nodded, "I'm guessing you are referring to Wicks. Yes, the bullet passed clean through. Amazing, he was shot just about the same spot as Ike, and from a much closer range, and he lived and Ike didn't. Not more than a few centimeters and Ike could still be with us."

Kid nodded sadly as tears filled the old man's wise eyes. He walked over to the rail by Teaspoon's desk and perched on it, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. Next to Buck, Teaspoon seemed to be taking the loss of one of them the hardest.

Kid's mind was too filled with the image of Lou as she sat on a hay bale across the aisle of the stable from him, telling him what she'd kept to herself for so very long to dwell on Ike at the moment.

"Kid, I was very young and very stupid, I had no idea what kind of a man he was. I tried so hard to fight him, but I wasn't strong enough. When fighting didn't work", her eyes had misted with tears, "when fighting didn't work I begged him. But he didn't stop."

Kid's stomach had lurched violently as rage bubbled to his throat. He'd leapt up from the hay bale to strike a wall in fury. Seeing Lou withdraw from his anger, he'd quickly gone to her and sat beside her. She'd avoided his eyes, her own were swimming in tears of shame. Sensing she'd pull away from an embrace, Kid had resisted the urge to pull her into his arms and instead had reached out to grab her hand. So finally he knew why she'd done it, why she'd hidden her beauty from the world and taken such a hard road. She'd been too scared to be who she was. And yet, she'd found her true self again with all of them.

"I would have killed him on the spot if I'd known Lou, Oh God, I can't believe I stopped you! You had every right!"

She'd shaken her head, and finally glanced up into his eyes, "You stopped me from murdering a man in cold blood. You saved me from hanging."

Kid had swung his head in irritation, still feeling guilty.

"He's dead now anyway, it doesn't matter that I didn't pull the trigger, Kid."

Kid had smiled at her gently, and put his arm around her shoulders carefully, pulling her to him in a protective embrace and saying "Yes, he's gone, and I swear no one will ever hurt you again. Not while there's breath in my body, Lou."

"Hey, Kid, if you don't mind, you are about to kill my shoulder here," Teaspoon's voice suddenly broke through the flashback playing in Kid's mind.

"Huh?" Kid suddenly realized he'd never released Teaspoon's shoulder and his fingers had clamped onto it as he thought about his rage.

"Lou left before we found out Wicks wasn't dead, Teaspoon," Kid suddenly said, withdrawing his death hold on Teaspoon's shoulder and playing with his hat instead, "You going to lock him up if he makes it?"

Teaspoon sighed, "Kid, I can't really hold him for anything. Charlotte shot herself, Lou won't tell me whatever it is that has her running scared and jumping at her own shadow, and unless she's willing to testify that he held her up in the woods, which I have a feeling she won't be, I can't keep him here. Even if she did testify, he didn't hurt her, Kid."

"He could have. He would have if she hadn't pulled the gun on him!" Kid insisted, "And he might try again!"

"Would have, did and might are very different cases, Kid," Teaspoon commented, squinting at him, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

Kid looked Teaspoon squarely in the eyes and considered telling him what he knew, but realized that Lou would see that as betrayal, even if it was for her own good. She just wasn't ready to let everyone in on her past, and Kid couldn't do it for her. "No, Teaspoon, there's nothing I want to tell you."

Teaspoon might have pushed him, but suddenly the doors flew open and a dust clad Hickok strode into the marshal's office, beating at his dirty clothes."Well nice of you to remember us Jimmy," Teaspoon drawled sarcastically, "Did you forget that we moved to Rock Creek, or just decide to take a little holiday?"

"Aw, come on Teaspoon," Jimmy groaned, "I've had a bad week."

"And how is that?" Teaspoon wondered, hiding a smile. Jimmy held a special place in his heart, and he enjoyed tormenting the boy, although admittedly it had been more fun in the beginning when Jimmy was such a hot head.

"I found an Indian brave that had been shot. I took care of him, and was going to leave him after that, but he was helpless. I did all I knew how to do, but we were attacked by a few Indians of an enemy tribe, and he was hurt worse. He died, and I took him into the mountains to his village,"

Jimmy sighed wearily. Teaspoon clapped Jimmy on the back, squinting as a cloud of dust rose and swirled about them, "I'm sorry son, but I'm proud of you for what you done."

"Just wish he would have made it," Jimmy mumbled. "I know, I know. You did the best you could, I'm sure," Teaspoon nodded reassuringly.

"So how's Rock Creek been since I left?" Jimmy wondered.

"Ask Kid over dinner," Teaspoon grinned and slapped Kid on the back too,

"You boys go get washed up for supper and tell Rachel I'll be along directly."

Teaspoon watched as his riders walked from the office, smiling when Jimmy turned to Kid and wondered, "So what's he talking about? What happened here?"

Kid shot Teaspoon a dirty look before he turned the corner. Chuckling, Teaspoon made his way out the door and to the doctor's house.

"Is he gonna live, Doc?" Teaspoon wondered once he stood on the Doctor's porch. It occurred to him that just few weeks ago he'd stood in front of the same man asking the same question about Ike. He only wished the answer could have been the same.

"Yeah, he'll make it. Be on his feet by tomorrow, might want to send a deputy to watch him and bring him to the jail tomorrow."

"Not holding him," Teaspoon shook his head, "Just have him stop by my office to collect his belongings," Teaspoon muttered. It was damn hard thing to wonder if things would be better if a man died, but there was something about this Wicks fellow that had Teaspoon ready to put a hole through his heart, and he certainly knew Kid wanted to do the same thing. If he couldn't put a bullet in him, though, he could sure put the fear of God there instead. At least Kid had some idea why Wicks was better off dead. Trying to extract an answer from Lou had been dangerous.for him, at least.

"I need someone to take my run tomorrow," Kid announced over his roast.

"Now, Kid, everyone's been out. You're the only rested rider here," Rachel pointed out.

Kid sighed and nodded his head, "I know, I know."

"Something wrong Kid? I mean, I guess I could go if it was an emergency," Jimmy volunteered, though he had to hide a grimace. Only because he had a feeling the Kid would do the same thing for him.

"This Wicks fellow going to keep you from doing your job?" Teaspoon asked quietly, eyeing Kid disapprovingly.

Sighing again, Kid shook his head, "Thanks Jimmy, but they are right. It's my turn, and you've just had a bad ride."

Jimmy nodded and asked for the hundredth time, "Who is this Wicks fellow?"

Rachel glanced at her plate, for she was the only other one who knew about what the man had done to Lou. "He's someone Lou knew once."

"And?" Jimmy pried.

"Someone that was responsible for the death of her friend Charlotte," Kid supplied through tightly pressed lips.

"Well, I for one think something else must have happened, I mean Lou knew the woman really shot herself," Cody blurted out, drawing warning glances from all the other riders, who thought the same thing but were smart enough to keep their mouths shut.

"Cody," Teaspoon warned quietly, daring to hope the boy might take a hint for once.

"What? All's I'm saying is that she was acting down right strange and real jumpy, and I think she knows more about this fellow than she is letting on!" Cody persisted around a mouth full of food.

"That's enough Cody, it's Lou's business," Noah finally spelled it out for him. Cody's brow wrinkled as he finally caught the nervous stares of the others.

"Oh," he said meekly, "Well, whatever. Still don't see what harm it does to wonder."

"Yeah, well, wonder about this!"

Buck smiled and tossed a biscuit for his head. Cody wasn't fast enough and it hit him square in the face. Before he could retaliate, a laughing Rachel held up her hands, "Billy! Don't even think about it!"

"Jimmy, can I talk to you for a second?" Kid asked later that night as he and his friend sat on the corral fence watching the sun set.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" Jimmy suddenly grinned, "No, wait, let me guess."

"It's Lou," Kid said, too worried to catch the humor.

"Now, I would have taken odds on that one," Jimmy laughed softly, "You finally going to spill it?"

"I can't tell you what all is going on, but there's more to all this than you think."

"Really?" Jimmy asked sarcastically, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

"I was just wondering if, well, if you'd look after Lou for the next couple of days or so while I'm gone," Kid didn't meet Jimmy's eyes, and Jimmy knew that it took a lot of swallowed pride for Kid to ask him that. Not so long ago, he'd been jealous of Jimmy for no good reason and had warned him to stay away.

Jimmy shifted uncomfortably at his friend's blind trust now. He had a feeling that he did care a little more about Lou than he should.

"Is she in some kind of trouble?" His eagle eyes pierced the Kid's.

"I don't know," Kid answered honestly, "Could be."

"You have to give me some idea what I'm up against, Kid," Jimmy reasoned.

"Please, just watch her," Kid pleaded, "I know she'll be safe if you keep an eye on her."

"Kid, it goes without saying that I'll look out for her, but what am I looking for?"

"A man named Wicks, and that's all I can tell you," Kid replied, walking away.

"A man named Wicks," Jimmy repeated softly when Kid was gone, "Thanks for not a whole lot, Kid."

"Teaspoon, is Wicks going to go free?"

Teaspoon jumped in surprise and spun to face the door of his office. Rachel was standing there, hands clasped in front of her nervously.

"You snuck up on me, Rachel," he said calmly.

"Well, is he?"

Teaspoon sighed. His decision, although lawful, sure didn't seem popular, "I don't have any charges to bring against him, none that will stand up in court. Wicks is a powerful man, Rachel. I can't just throw him in jail like a drunk."

Rachel walked into the office and poured Teaspoon a cup of coffee from the small stove. Handing it to him, she wondered, "Teaspoon, what do you think is best? To do something for somebody that isn't your place and make them mad, or to not do something even knowing there is a risk they could get hurt worse?"

"Seems like a simple enough answer to me. Avoid the greater evil. Protect that person even if they don't seem interested in protection."

"Well then, there is something I've got to tell you in the strictest confidence that can't leave this room," Rachel said, "But I feel like you need to be aware of what is going on."

"Fair enough," Teaspoon nodded, "So who is this fellow to Lou?"

Rachel smiled slightly, "Didn't think for a minute you'd not know who I was talking about."

"I'm a pretty smart man, you know," Teaspoon grinned, "All right, what do you know?"

Rachel sighed, "Just doesn't seem right telling you this, but okay. Wicks was Lou's boss. She worked in a brothel."

"What!" Teaspoon exclaimed, nearly tipping over backwards in his chair.

"No! Nothing like that! She did laundry!" Rachel exclaimed laughing nervously, "She was too young to even know what kind of a place it was when she started. Charlotte was one of the girls that didn't do laundry. She was also the only one that gave Lou the time of day. Seems like Wicks let Lou alone for about a year, but then she caught his eye, and he broke into her room and raped her.
"Can you imagine? She was so young, so innocent," Rachel's eyes were teary as Teaspoon glanced furiously, and sadly at the floor, "Anyway, Charlotte helped her get away from him. When Lou did get away, she was so scared of being hurt again that that's why she cut her hair and started acting like a boy."

Teaspoon sighed and nodded, "Always knew there was something that made her do that, and I figured it might be something along those lines. But it doesn't make it any easier knowing that the man who did it is here, and there is nothing I can do about it."

"I just thought you should know, now that Kid does. Teaspoon, I'm worried about how he'll react if he sees Wicks again, now that he knows. And if any of the others find out, then there will be no stopping them. They'll kill the man for sure."

"Can't say I'd blame them, but of course I can't let them do that. I'm sending Wicks packing tomorrow, and I plan to put the fear of God into the man! Hopefully, he'll be gone by the time Lou gets back, and I can keep Kid away until then. I don't think Wicks will have any reason to try to get at Lou after he leaves, as far as he's concerned, he's won. She's too afraid of him to turn him in, and he gets off crystal clear."

"I sure hope you're right," Rachel said softly.

"Been known to be," Teaspoon smiled at her, "Now, it's late, and you must be tired. I'll walk you home."

"Why don't you turn in too?" Rachel wondered, "You could use some sleep too."

"I'm gonna walk the streets awhile, make sure everything is calm," he said, but he knew that she knew he was lying. He had a lot on his mind, and he wanted some time to sort out how he was going to deal with this disgusting wretch of a man who'd dared lay hands on a girl, no a child. And that child had been Lou, who he admired more than any young woman he'd ever met.

The next morning, Teaspoon sat at his desk again, awaiting the arrival of Wicks. His boots were propped up on his desk, with his hat tipped low over his eyes. To a passerby he would appear oblivious to his surroundings, but Teaspoon's sharp ears didn't miss a thing.

He was deep in thought about Lou when Kid and Buck strolled in his office.

"Don't you have a run in the not too distant future Kid?" Teaspoon muttered, not looking up.

"Don't worry, Teaspoon, Katy's ready to go. I just thought I'd stop by here for a minute."

"Why for?" Teaspoon asked, pushing his hat back, "You ain't planning on causing any trouble now are you?"

"Course not," Kid said.

Just then Jesse burst through the door, his bright blue eyes wide with excitement.

"He's coming!" He exclaimed.

"Would you care to be more specific Jesse?" Teaspoon asked in irritation.

"Wicks!"

"And how do you know anything about him? Eavesdropping again, I'd suspect," Teaspoon reprimanded him. Jesse had the sense to look ashamed.

"Kid, I want you to go now, Buck, you too."

"Not a chance, Teaspoon, I'm staying around in case there's any trouble," Kid planted his feet.

"Just you don't go starting it!" Teaspoon warned and shook his head. This wasn't a good idea at all.

Just then the door opened and all four of them swung around. A tall man in a well-cut suit strolled in the door, arrogance radiating from him.

"Kid," Teaspoon warned almost before Kid bristled and pulled himself taller.

"Marshal, I've come to collect my things," Wicks said breezily.

"Not before you and I come to an understanding," Teaspoon said flatly.

"Now, Marshal, I've already been unjustly shot for no reason."

"You drove a woman to kill herself and held up one of my riders."

"Louise? I'd hardly call that a hold up. Louise and I go way back," He chuckled softly.

Something that resembled a growl escaped from Kid's throat, and before any one of them knew what had happened, Kid had rushed Wicks, and knocked him to the ground, swinging wildly at his face.

Teaspoon, though reluctant to do so, quickly grabbed Kid hard, and with Buck's help drug him off of the man.

"I'll kill you! I swear I will!" Kid screamed as he struggled against Buck and Teaspoon's hold.

"Get him out of here, now!" Teaspoon growled at Buck, and helped push Kid towards the door, "Go back to the station, and go on your run. I want you in control by the time you ride back into Rock Creek, understand?"

"You can't let him go, you don't know what he did!" Kid protested when Teaspoon finally released his shirt.

"I know more than you think, son. Trust me to take care of this."

"If anything happens to her, Teaspoon, I'll kill him with my bare hands."

Teaspoon sighed, knowing there really would be no stopping him. He shifted his gaze to Buck, "Go back with him, keep him there until he rides out."

Buck, though his brow was wrinkled in confusion, was nevertheless too unobtrusive to demand an explanation for Kid's outrageous behavior.

Teaspoon found Wicks picking himself up off the floor and wiping at his bloody nose and lip with a too-clean white handkerchief.

"You should learn to control your riders better, marshal. What kind of misfits do you keep around here? Gunfighters, half breeds, blacks, maniacs, girls?"

Teaspoon found his iron control slipping, and his fingers rested on his gun. Wick's gaze flicked to it nervously, which didn't escape Teaspoon's attention.

"When you raped that little girl a few years ago, you got away with it without so much as a slap on the hand," Teaspoon's voice was dangerously quiet. "But I'm here to tell you, if you ever lay eyes, much less hands, on Louise again there are five men, six counting myself that will make sure you start taking tea with the ladies. Do we have a perfectly clear understanding?"

"Why, is this a threat Marshal? I don't think you realize who I am," Wicks growled back, licking his lips nervously.

"I realize you are a poor excuse for a man who took a child's innocence and honor.

Yes, it is a threat and by God, it is also a fact written in stone," Teaspoon took a menacing step towards the man.

"Now Marshal, why would I want to touch that girl again? She was quite a pretty little girl, if I remember correctly," Wick's eyes were glowing with reckless madness, "But now, she doesn't really catch my fancy. Spoiled goods, you know?"

Knowing that this man was the reason that Lou didn't show the world what a little beauty she really was snapped the thread of control that Teaspoon had been able to maintain so far. Drawing his gun, Teaspoon jammed it under Wick's throat hard.

Wick's forehead broke out in a sweat, but he knew he succeeded in rattling the marshal and smiled, "Is she really worth hanging for, Marshal?"

"Yes, she is. And you'd be wise never to forget it. I'll cut off every limb protruding from your body if you come near her, Wicks. Don't think I won't. I'll hunt you down like a dog, mark my words! Get out of here!" He roared.

"As soon as you give me my guns," Wicks answered.

"Go!"

Wicks had the good sense to do just that, and was pale as he strolled into the winter morning. Teaspoon followed him out, making sure he headed for the livery stable.

Meanwhile, back in the Marshal's office, a very shocked, very white, Jesse moved out from the shadows. Not only had learning what had happened to Lou shocked him, but seeing Teaspoon become so unglued unsettled him greatly. Not sure what he should do with his newly acquired information, he slowly made his way back towards the bunkhouse.

"Rider Comin'!" Jimmy yelled out from the porch as he spotted Lou's big black horse, Lightning, coming fast.

"Kid, better mount up," Rachel said quietly from where she was washing windows.

"Give me a second to talk to her," Kid pleaded, looking at Lou.

"Kid, you know you are supposed to be out of here in a minute." Seeing the look on Kid's face stopped her cold, "Make it quick, Kid."

Lou scowled in confusion when she saw Kid lead Katy out to where they should have performed the hand-off. Wondering why Kid wasn't on Katy, she pulled Lightning up in a jolting, sliding stop.

"What's going on?" She wondered, stretching the mochila down at him.

"Lou, I gotta talk to you."

"Now?" Lou asked in amazement.

"Yeah, here, hop down," Kid told her, holding her blowing horse as she obediently slid to the ground and stood to face him.

Seeing her dirt streaked face, a face that should have been pale rather than sunburned, framed by flowing dark auburn hair rather than covered with a hat, reminded him of the sacrifice she'd made in order to protect herself. He didn't know how it was possible, but knowing her past had given him even more respect for Louise McCloud.

"What's wrong?" She asked, growing panicky at the look on his face, "Is it one of the boys or Teaspoon?"

"No, nothing like that. Lou.Wicks isn't dead."

The news hit her like a ton of bricks coming crashing down on her shoulders. For so long she'd carried such fear of the man, and when she thought he was dead, she had actually realized a chance for healing such an old wound.

"Where is he?" She whispered hoarsely, her eyes downcast.

"He's on his way back to St. Joe. Teaspoon couldn't hold him. He didn't know what I knew, and I just didn't think I should be the one to tell him."

Lou shook her head, "It wouldn't matter. It's been too long. And Wicks has way too many connections to stay anywhere for long."

"Kid!" Rachel warned him gently from across the station yard.

"Are you going to be all right? I'll be back tomorrow, and Jimmy's going to keep an eye on you."

"You told him?" Lou asked furiously.

"Of course not, I just told him to watch out for Wicks, that he was bad news. Nothing he didn't know all ready," Kid placed a hand on her cheek, "Will you be okay?"

"I'll be fine, Kid," Lou answered, but still didn't meet his eyes squarely. It was torture for Kid to gather Katy's reins and leap onto her, "Watch yourself, Lou."

"You too, Kid, see you tomorrow," Lou said quietly, stepping back as he kicked Katy into a gallop.

"Ride safe, Kid!" Cody and Jimmy chorused from the porch.

He lifted a hand to them as he moved towards the open country.

Lou stood very still for a long time, pondering the information Kid had just cast upon her. He was still alive. Damn you Wicks, she thought, and I'm still scared of you.

"Lou?" Jimmy called her name for the third time before she jumped and glanced at him.

"Hey Jimmy," She said softly, "What?"

"Want me to take care of Lightning for you?" He asked.

Lou sighed and shook her head, "No, I'll do it. Thanks."

Jimmy and Cody watched in confusion as she walked unsteadily towards the barn.

"Think she got thrown? She looks kind of weak in the knees." Noah asked, walking out in time to see Lou disappear into the barn.

Jimmy scowled, as he finished cleaning his gun. Whatever was going on was major, he thought.

Lou carried her saddle into the tack room slowly; eyes not really fixed on where she was going, and her mind not anywhere near what she was doing. That's probably why the hand that clamped on her arm surprised her so much.

"Don't scream!" A voice warned her, and a hand came down hard on her mouth, "Or I'll kill you right here."

The voice itself prevented her from screaming, for a lump of terror formed in the base of her throat. Even as the hands fell away from her mouth, she found herself unable to speak, to think, or to move.

"Why Louise, you look like you've seen a ghost!" Wicks hissed, "Is this any way to greet an old friend? I've come for my money Louise. I know Charlotte stole it, and I know she gave it to you. No whore is going to get my money. And after I get the money, you and I are going to talk about old times."

Suddenly, at the none-too subtle suggestion, Lou's body jumped to action and she whirled and darted from the tack room, dropping her saddle after realizing she was still holding it. A whimper came from her throat, but that was the only sound she was capable of.

She heard Wick's heavy footsteps from behind her, growing closer. Suddenly, her legs gave way, and the ground rose up to meet her hard. A soft cry of pain and fear escaped her, and she glanced up to see Wicks standing over her, pushing up his sleeves.

Just as he had the night he had attacked her so very long ago.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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