The rider mounted the crest of the hill and headed down into the valley towards the way station. He would exchange horses there for a fresh mount and be on his way home. This had been a long run and he'd been gone for over a week. It had seemed like ages since he'd been at the Sweetwater Station and seen his girlfriend.

He and Lou had an off and on again relationship. Right now things were definitely on and he didn't like being away from her for very long. There were too many things that seemed to interfere with the way he wanted their lives to go!

Riding into the station he saw his fresh mount saddled and waiting but it was tied up to the corral fence and not held by the station master. That was strange. Boss Twiggs always held the mounts for the riders so they would leave his station faster. He must be expecting a rider since the next mount was saddled and ready.

Kid rode into the yard of the station, dismounted and ran toward the new horse with the express pouch when the air exploded with gunfire. He quickly dove for the cover of a stack of fire wood, but was hit in the leg and side as he ran. He drew his pistol but the loss of blood made him weak.

The gunfire stopped but no one appeared. Swallowing hard, the Kid, light-headed, looked though hazy eyes for someone to show up. He knew he'd been hit bad and he would need help, but he also knew that whoever shot him was still out there. What did they want? Why had they ambushed him? He rose up slowly to look over the pile of wood when everything went black.

Lou rode west nearing the first of the stations on her run. She left the Sweetwater Station with a heavy heart. Kid had been gone over a week and she hoped he would return before she left on her run. Maybe she could see him if their paths crossed.

Riding into the station, she saw her new mount waiting for her by the fence. Quickly dismounting, she ran to the other horse. The pouch was thrown over the pommel and she put her foot into the stirrup. The horse was anxious to run and started to take off before her other leg was over its back.

Suddenly, the saddle shifted and Lou felt herself falling. The cinch broke and she hit the ground hard. The horse kept running but Lou was knocked out by the fall. She wasn't able to hear the pounding of another horse chasing her run-away mount or of the footsteps of someone approaching her.

"Here is some company for you, boy. The two of you can console each other. But this one won't be waking up for a while." The man's gruff voice startled the Kid. The bright sunlight that shown in the doorway was blinding after the total darkness of the closed hut.

Kid heard a thud as another body was dumped onto the dirt floor but he didn't have the strength to crawl over to it. He stopped the bleeding of his leg wound but his side kept oozing.

In the darkness, he could only rely on his sense of feel but he knew his life would be over soon if he didn't get some water. The hut heated up quickly in the afternoon sun. With no windows to exchange the heated air with the cooler air outside, the hut soon became an oven.

He sat in the darkness thinking about his short life. Joining the Pony Express was the best thing he had ever done. All those years of wandering and never belonging came to an end when he signed on and was sent to the Sweetwater Station. He and the other boys formed a family they could call their own.

Having Emma and then Rachel take care of them, and Teaspoon to look out for them and share his expertise was the best thing that ever happened to him. No, the best thing that happened to him was his discovery that Lou was really Louise.

Now he would never be able to talk to her again. By the time anyone would find him, his smelly, rotting body would be the clue to his location. It wasn't suppose to end like this. He'd been in scrapes before, but this one looked hopeless.

The other person in the hut began to regain consciousness and made moaning noises. Kid tried to crawl over to him, but was too weak. He hoped the other rider would have more energy than he and would be able to help them both somehow.

"Hello, where am I" came a voice out of the darkness.

"Lou, is that you?" Kid asked stunned.

"Kid?" came the reply weakly.

"Oh, my, Lou it is you." Her voice gave him the strength to slowly crawl over to the injured girl. "What did they do to you?"

"I fell off the horse. I think the cinch broke. My head hurts. Kid, are you ok?" She was gradually gaining full consciousness. "Is it dark in here or can't I see? Where are you Kid?"

"Over here Lou," came the reply weakly. "I've been shot."

"Oh my Lord." She took a deep breath and scrambled over to him. In the dark she couldn't see any thing and tripped over his leg.

He gasped, it was the injured leg.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know where you were. Is your leg hurt?" Lou carefully felt his leg and found the bandage. It was still dry. "Are you hurt some where else?"

"I also got shot here on my side, about the same place as when we rescued Amanda, but it's worse this time." His voice faded. It was an effort to move and talk.

Lou gingerly pulled up his shirt and tried to find his wound in the dark. She soon found the sticky dampness of partially dried blood. The packing the Kid used to stanch the bleeding was soaked.

Quickly removing her own shirt, she tore it into strips. Lou soon had the wound repacked and bound with the shirt. Kid fell asleep and barely moved as she lifted him to tie the bandage.

Sitting back she tried to take stock of their situation. It was then that she noticed that her pants were missing as were her boots. Her head ached where she had fallen as did her shoulder.

The room was stuffy and smelled of old hides. She got up to explore the prison that held them both, looking for anything that would make their existence better.

Counting to herself so she could return to Kid in the darkness, she slowly stepped off the room. The first wall was cooler and four steps long. It must be bermed on the outside. The next wall had some shelves built into it, but they were bare. It was six steps long. The next wall was very hot. That must be the south wall. She felt the outline of a window that had been filled in with more adobe bricks. In the corner she felt the rough wooden door. Its echo sounded like it was a very thick and heavy door. Four steps and she was back to where she left the Kid.

Lou got down on her hands and knees and explored the floor. She doubted she would find anything, but she had to give it a chance. Her hand soon struck a pail and it almost tipped over. Carefully she put her hand into it and felt water. It had a slime floating on top, but it would be better than nothing. She set the pail next to the wall so she wouldn't accidentally knock it over as she crawled around the room.

Next her explorations discovered some bones of a small animal. "Must be a dead rat." In the corner she found a small bottle, the kind that elixir was sold in. Kid began to stir, so she crawled back to him. He was feverish and chilled.

"I'm so hot, Lou. Thanks for bandaging me."

"Rest Kid. I don't know how we are going to get out of here. Our only hope is that someone misses you not showing up. But things were real busy around the station. We can't count on them."

"I'm sorry you're here but I'm also glad that it is you. I was afraid that I'd never see you again." Kid sighed. "This isn't like we planned at all."

"Here, suck on this." Lou placed a piece of her shirt that she had dampened in the pail on his lips. "Try to get some water out of this. I found a pail of water but it had been sitting a long time."

"Oh, it's good. What day was it when you rode in? I've lost track of time."

"It was Tuesday morning. I left Sweetwater just after breakfast. It wasn't noon yet when I rode down to this place."

"I rode in on Monday. I think it must be sometime Wednesday. The only way I can keep track of time is when this place heats up in the afternoon. At least it cools off at night."

"Kid, what are we going to do? I searched the entire place, walls and floors. I didn't find anything except that pail of water, a bottle, and the bones of a dead rat. There's a heavy door in one corner and a window that has been filled in. I couldn't even find a stick to try to dig a hole."

"Lou, come here. Here is the rag. Sit here by me. I feel stronger just knowing you're here. We'll find someway. It is cool now. Must be night. Let's rest."

"Alright, Kid."

"Lay here beside me. Hold me."

"Kid?"

"Yes Lou."

"What ever happens I'm glad we're together." She sighed. "I love you, Kid."

"I love you, too, Lou." he replied.

"The rider from the West should have been in several days ago, Teaspoon. Should we ride out and see?" Jimmy asked the grizzled Marshall who oversaw the Pony Express riders.

"I'm worried, too, Jimmy. That rider should have shown up late Monday. It ought ta been the Kid. But he's usually able to take care of himself."

"But his mind hasn't been on his runs lately, Teaspoon. Ever since we got back from that deal with Amanda, he's been preoccupied with other things." Jimmy didn't want to go into detail as to those other things.

Billy, another rider spoke up, "You don't suppose they met and well, got delayed, do you?"

"No, I don't. Those two do their work first. That's part of their problem. Maybe the pouch got held up before it got to Blue Creek."

"Rider coming" Rachel yelled from the clothes line. Billy grabbed his hat and ran to his horse. In stride with the incoming rider he took the mail pouch and was on his way. The rider dismounted and walked over to the boys.

"Tuesday's rider never showed up in Blue Creek. Wasn't there a pouch then?" he asked.

"Well," asked Teaspoon, "Lou left here Tuesday right on schedule. Monday's rider never showed up here. Who was sent out?"

"Kid left Blue Creek on Sunday night. I never saw sign of either one of them on the trail."

"It's mighty peculiar that two riders end up missing the same day, especially those two." Teaspoon was puzzled. "You didn't see anything strange on the way? The weather wasn't bad was it?"

"No, nothing out of the ordinary, well except Boss Twiggs wasn't at his station. There was nothing there. No horses or signs of life. I had to just ride on through. I didn't see any one there."

"That is strange. Boss never leaves his place without some one else there to relieve him. May be we ought to ride back over there and take a look see, see if he's alright."

"What's up?" asked Rachel, the way station housekeeper.

"We aren't sure yet but a station was unmanned and two riders are missing. Lou never showed up in Blue Creek. Kid should have gotten here by now, too." Teaspoon shook his head, "It ain't like those two to not finish their runs."

"I'm coming with you, Teaspoon. I have a feeling that something bad has happened to them both." Jimmy left to get his horse.

In the barn he walked by the Kid's horse, Katie. She whinnied softly at Jimmy but he shook his head. The fear he felt for his two friends was growing and he knew they couldn't waste time. Kid and Lou were in grave trouble if they weren't already in a grave.

"Lou, you awake?" Kid asked softly. He wanted to talk but he didn't want to wake her up if she was still resting. The water she found gave him new energy, but he knew she drank nothing. It was now gone. The hottest part of this day was over and the hut began to cool off. Kid knew that they didn't have much time left. It was a major effort just to sit up.

Lou stirred beside him and sensed that he was awake too. "How are you feeling Kid?" she asked tenderly.

"Lou, I don't think we have much time left. That pail of water is gone. I haven't heard any noise since we heard that horse ride through. It didn't sound like it stopped to change mounts. Lou, I ..."

"Don't talk Kid. Here." She put her arms around him and lowered him to the floor. Exploring his shirtless chest, she kissed him tenderly.

"Where's your shirt?" he asked.

"I used it to bind you. It's all in your packing." She kissed him again.

"Lou, no, wait."

"Wait for what, Kid. You're right. We are going to die soon. Why should we wait now?"

"If we got out would you marry me?" he asked.

"We should have done that a long time ago, Kid. I don't know why I was so scared."

He took her in his arms and they spent the last of their energy with each other.

"This place gives me the creeps, Teaspoon. What are we looking for?" Buck, the last rider, asked.

"Something is wrong here. Let's check out the cabin. Jimmy, go look in Boss's storage hut."

"Teaspoon, look, here are two pouches. The letters are all over the place."

"They must have found what they wanted and left Doesn't explain what happened to Twiggs and the riders, though."

Noah walked into the cabin and said," I found Twiggs. He's been shot and by the looks of it has been dead for several days."

"Oh no. Any sign of Kid or Lou?" Teaspoon asked.

Noah just shook his head. "Jimmy is still trying to get the door to that hut open. It's got three big locks on it. Are there any keys around here?"

Jimmy sensed what he would find behind the heavy wood door. "Please let them still be alive." he prayed silently. Two of the locks gave with the use of a crowbar but the third one wouldn't budge.

Noah came out of the cabin followed by the others. He had found a key on a string by the fireplace. Hopefully it was to the yet unopened lock. Jimmy put it into the hole and turned. In a second the lock sprung open. He swallowed hard before he shoved the stubborn door into the small sod structure.

It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the dark interior of the building, but gradually he saw what he feared would be in that place. It had become a tomb. They were laying on the floor in each other's arms, totally still. They didn't smell like corpses yet so there might be a chance. Kneeling down he felt Kid's face. He was still breathing. Lou was too. "They're in here and they're still alive." It was then he noticed that neither had much for clothing on and that Kid's belly and leg were wrapped with the remains of their clothes. Jimmy quickly took off his own shirt and laid it over Lou's body.

There wasn't room for all of them to come into the small space, so just Teaspoon came into the hut. "Jimmy, this is my worst nightmare. That something would happen to any of you boys. Let's get them out of here where there is some fresh air."

Jimmy nodded and said, "I'll take Lou. Noah and Buck can carry out the Kid."

"They don't look very good do they? How could anyone be so cruel to leave two people to starve and die of thirst? If I ever find out who did this I'll ..."

"Sorry Teaspoon, I'll have done it before you." Jimmy knelt down and picked up the unconscious girl. It was then that Teaspoon noticed that Jimmy was shirtless and his garment covered Lou.

He bent down to examine the Kid where the light from the doorway showed the bandaging made from torn clothing. He walked out of the hut so that the two younger men could go into the hut and remove their friend. Teaspoon survived wars, gunfights and many dangerous situations but he felt like a father to the riders assigned to his station. Seeing how two of his riders had been abused left him weak and sick to his stomach. It was a sight that he prayed he would never witness again.

After the two injured, unconscious riders were moved into the house, Jimmy washed Lou's face and arms. It was then that he noticed the dried blood on her head. It matted her hair. He saw the cut on her scalp that had crusted, "What happened to these two?"

Buck washed Kid and unwrapped his bandages. The leg wound looked good. It grazed his thigh and was already healing. The injury to Kid's side was another story. It was red and inflamed with a foul discharge. It needed some kind of treatment. Buck didn't have any of the herbs that would draw the poisons out of the wound so packed it with clean cloths and bound it.

Noah took a clean shirt in his saddlebag and gave it to Buck for Kid to wear. The injured man made no sound or movement since being discovered, but his chest continued to move up and down as he breathed. As Buck put the shirt on Kid he said, "Hang in there Kid. You can't give up now. Lou needs you."

After they finished tending the two, Teaspoon motioned for them to go outside. "Things don't look to good for those two, boys. It will be a miracle if Kid pulls. Lou probably has a better chance but they are both in tough shape. Noah, I want you to go back to the station and get the wagon. Bring Rachel back with you. Explain what's happened and she should know what to bring."

"Why the wagon, Teaspoon?" Jimmy inquired.

"We'll need it to haul them back. I would think that they would want to be buried back at the station near the family."

"Teaspoon, they aren't dead yet. We can't give up on them." Jimmy insisted.

"I don't mean to give up on them, but with what they've been through, well, they need water and we can't get them to drink if they are unconscious." Teaspoon responded. "Get going, Noah. And all of you don't forget to pray. They will need all the help they can get."

"Noah, where is everyone else? What has happened?" Rachel met the tired rider as he rode into the yard.

"Rachel, it's not good. We found them. Teaspoon sent me back for the wagon to bring them home."

"Noah, tell me the truth. How bad is it?" Her voice exposed of her fear.

"Rachel, Teaspoon said I was to bring you along. And he said you would know what to bring. They need clothes and well, they`re hurt real bad. Kid`s been shot twice and Lou's got a head wound. They were locked up in a sod hut, with no water and little fresh air."

"But they are still alive?"

"They were when I left but we may be bringing their bodies home. We had better get going. Boss Twiggs is dead."

"What happened there? Who did this?"

"We may never know, Rachel."

Teaspoon and Jimmy spent the day trying to drip water into the mouths of the injured and wiping Kid's feverish face. His body fought the infection but the high temperature depleted his body of necessary moisture.

Buck left to search for the plants that would draw the poison from the wound. He hoped to find something near the stream that followed the trail of the express. He didn't know all of the herbs that medicine men used to cure lacerations but he hoped he might recognize something that would help.

He dismounted near a swamp and searched the plant life. Eventually he found the specimen that he remembered. Pulling up several plants quickly, he remounted and sped back to the others.

"Boil some of these into a mash. I hope it will help him." Buck handed the plants to Teaspoon before dismounting. "After the mash has cooled we need to pack it into the wound. I couldn't find the other plant I know is used. Save the water that the plants cook in and use it to wash Lou's head. It should clean the cut on her head."

"I think she is getting stronger. It almost seemed like she was sucking on the cloth. Her eyes were moving under her lids." Teaspoon smiled as the prospect that one of them would survive.

"That's great. Don't let anyone drink the water from making the mash."

"The water is boiling." Jimmy hollered out from the house. "What do I do now?"

"Put these plants into the water. They need to cook for some time." Buck instructed him. "When the water starts to turn brown, it will be ready."

Before Noah had even stopped the wagon, Rachel was climbing out of it. "Teaspoon, how are they?" she yelled as she ran up to the cabin.

"Hold on, Rachel. Things are looking better. Come on in and see for yourself," he responded.

In the cabin, Rachel saw her two injured friends. "Lou's getting stronger. She even woke up for a few minutes, oh, about an hour ago. Got a good deal of water in her. They both need a lot more. Kid is not getting any worse."

"What is that on his chest? Is that brown stuff blood?" she questioned.

"No, Buck found some plants that work as a poltice. The gunshot wound in his belly is infected real bad. That stuff 'supposed to draw out the poison. Seems to be working. His fever has gone down."

Looking at the riders mentor, Rachel asked, "What happened here? Who did this? Oh, Teaspoon, why?"

He took her and held her tight as she sobbed. All the tension that she felt since Noah told her came out as she cried. As the sobs subsided, Teaspoon released her and said, "We may never know. If they get strong enough we'll take them home to recover. I'm sure Lou is going to make it, but if Kid doesn't, well, I don't know what that will do to her. They knew each other was there in the hut. Kid must have been alert part of the time. They were in each others arms when we found them. How much they are willing to fight will determine if they make it."

"Kid, are you there?" came a voice out of the darkness.

Rachel went to her side and said softly, "Louise, you're ok now."

"Rachel, is that you?"

"Yes dear. I'm here with you. Here you need to drink some water."

"Am I dreaming? Why can't I see you?"

"I'm here. Maybe that bump on your head is the reason you can't see yet. Give it some time."

"Kid. Where's the Kid?"

"Don't worry. He's over there sleeping. Teaspoon, Buck, Jimmy and Noah are here, too."

"Rachel it was awful. That place. We thought we were going to die. I couldn't do anything to help us get out."

"Hush. Drink some more of this water. You're out and you are safe. You will be back on runs in a short time. Rest now. It is night. Things will look better in the morning."

"How is Kid? How is he really?"

"He is hurt real bad. But he's getting better. We are all praying for him. Good night, Louise."

"Kid's going to make it!" Jimmy shouted at Noah. "He's come to."

The rest of the boys came running toward the cabin anxious to great their fellow rider.

"Is he alert? Can he talk?" asked Noah.

"He's real weak and didn't say much. He just asked for Lou. I think he recognized my voice. We got him to drink some water before he fell asleep." Rachel explained. "If he is stronger next time he wakes up, we may try to leave here. It is time to get back to the station."

"Is Lou any better?" The concern on Buck's face was genuine. "Can she see yet?"

"No," was Rachel's only reply to the question.

"I tried to talk to her, but she just stares out into the room." Jimmy said. "They must have had a really bad time of it."

Later that day they loaded the two wounded people into the wagon and left the relay station. It would take the rest of the day to reach home but the weather was good. Kid did not wake up again, but Teaspoon knew it was time to go home. All of the riders were quiet as they slowly rode back to the Sweetwater station.

Jimmy and Noah got restless and said to Teaspoon, "We are going to ride on. Do you want us to get the doctor out to the station?"

"Go on, boys. See if Doc Wheeler will come out. I don't plan to take these two any further than the station. Let the others know what happened," he replied.

Teaspoon watched as the two men rode off to the east. This was the hardest and slowest trip he had ever made. If only they could survive and recover at home!

During the next few weeks the two injured riders improved to a degree. Kid regained consciousness soon after returning to the way station. The wound on his side healed rapidly and his endurance strengthened daily.

His girlfriend's health was not as swift to return. She was awake and able to eat but unable to keep food down. Lou remained unable to see.

On to Part Two