A month after the tragedy, Teaspoon shared some more bad news. "Boys, just got a letter from the head office of Russells, Majors and Waddell. They have lost too much money running the Express and are cutting back. I have to let some of you go. Sorry. They decided who's gotta go."

"Who is it, Teaspoon?" asked Noah. He was the last hired at this station and expected to be the first to go.

"Well," the Marshall stalled, "I hate to do this. First let me ask you if any of you want to quit. I know some of you have been expecting this and been making other plans." He paused and looked at the faces of the six young men around him.

Jimmy stepped up and said, "Billy and I have been thinking of riding on. We knew that this wouldn't last for ever, and there is more out there for us to see."

"Jimmy's right," Billy added. "I guess you can count us out, if that helps any of these others keep a job for a while."

"Thanks boys. That helps. Of the seven of you, I have to let four of you go. They told me it was to be you, Kid, and Lou, too, since you've been hurt and not able to ride."

"I thought I would be able to ride real soon," Kid replied. He hadn't even considered another job. Lou became very distant and never mentioned what they decided locked in that hut. He still hoped that something would develop between them but Lou hurt from not being able to see. To take care of them both, if they were able to get married, he would need a good job. He did not want to get involved with the war going on back in the States.

"Sorry Kid, you and Lou were the first ones they listed as being out." Teaspoon dreaded telling his boys and letting them go. "I'll try to help you find another job. Do you want to tell Lou though? How do you think she will take it?"

"I'll tell her," was all that Kid said. He knew she would be crushed that they both lost their job with the Express.

"Lou, we've got to talk," Kid said to the girl sitting on the porch of Rachel's house. She looked very pale and was weak. Her face was not the bubbly beacon it once was. "Did you know Teaspoon had a meeting with the riders today?"

He took her hand as he spoke. She tried to pull it away but he wouldn't let her.

In her soft voice, she replied, "Kid, let me go. He fired me didn't he?"

"He didn't, the company did. They let me go too. Jimmy and Billy are going to get in the war." He told her.

"What are you going to do, Kid?" She turned her sightless face to him. He pulled her close and hugged her for a while before answering.

"I don't know, Lou. Teaspoon said we can stay living here 'til we get another job. I don't want to join the army or go back east to the war. I don't want to leave you either."

"Kid, I don't think..." She tried to say before he interrupted.

"Shhh. I know what we decided back there and I mean to do what we said."

"Kid, no, not any more."

"Sorry, I intend to hold you to your word."

"I can't"

"Why not?"

"Because I'm blind."

"What's that got to do with anything?"

"You are making this hard, Kid."

"Well, I want to hear what you mean."

"It won't work. I'll only be a burden to you. I can't get my strength back. I can't see Kid." She was getting mad.

"Lou, I love you. I love you if you are blind, if you are well, if you ride or if you only want to walk. I'll still love you. You're not going to get rid of me that easy. I'm going to find a job that I can support us both and then we'll get married." Kid lifted her face to his and kissed her lovingly.

"Rachel, have you seen the Kid? I need to talk to him right away." Teaspoon addressed the housekeeper as she was hanging sheets on the clothesline. He just rode in from Sweetwater and was covered with dust from the trail.

"He should be in the barn. I think he is trying to make something. He got my dresser fixed yesterday." She replied.

"He's quite handy with that hammer and saw, isn't he?"

"It's keeping him busy."

"I'd better go find him. Is Lou with him?"

"No, she is in the house. She still can't keep food down."

"What's the matter with that girl? She should be well by now. Can that sickness be blamed on her blindness? She should go see the doctor."

"She won't go. Most of the time food doesn't bother her, but she is so depressed most of the time. Kid and her argue a lot of the time. Something happened to those two in that hut, but they don't talk about it around me."

Teaspoon walked to the barn and found the young man he was looking for. "Kid, you're pretty good with that hammer and saw. Have you ever thought about getting a job using it?"

"Not really. Working like this is fun, not something I could earn a living at though. Were you looking for someone?" Kid kept busy planing the top of a table he was constructing.

"This is nice. Is it for someone? I was looking for you, we need to talk. I think I have found you a job."

"What kind of a job?" Kid looked up at his mentor interested in the job offer.

"Johann Goetesch, the carpenter, is looking for a helper. You bein' so good with your hands, I thought of you right away when he mentioned he was looking for someone. You'd have to move to Jamestown, though."

"Is it a good job, Teaspoon? Would I be able to earn enough for us to live on?"

"He's willing to pay good for the right man. I told him about what you've done around here. He sounded interested in you. He is still in Sweetwater and said he would meet with you at the hotel later this afternoon."

"What does he want me to do? Does he build buildings or what?"

"He has been building houses and barns around Jamestown. His sons helped him but they decided to go back east and join the army. They thought it would be noble to fight in a war." Teaspoon shook his head. All of the riders knew of his feelings toward war, any war.

"Where did you say I'd find him?"

"You interested?"

"Yeah, I gotta find something. Maybe if'n I left here for a while, well that is my problem." Kid quickly turned away and looked out of the door. His mind was racing. The job sounded great but to leave Lou now could be a mistake.

"Mr. Goetesch said he'd be at the hotel until around four. He's taking the stage on to Fort Laramie. Do you know him?"

"No, what does his look like?" Kid asked.

"He's about your height. He always wears red suspenders. He has a moustache that is long and well waxed. You shouldn't have any problem finding him."

"Thanks Teaspoon for thinking of me. I appreciate it. This past few weeks have been hard." Kid's face showed his exhaustion of the stress he had been experiencing.

"You all deserve better than what you've gotten. I want the best for you and I hope Lou starts getting better soon. Good luck, Kid." Teaspoon patted his back and left the barn.

Kid watched him leave and thought about the future. Maybe this was the new life they all needed. He decided to go to town and not tell Lou about the job offer until he was sure he had it. He wondered what she would think about him leaving and moving to Jamestown for a while. Would Rachel let her stay here until he could earn enough to send for her?

Lou had been learning how to cope with her blindness but her reoccurring illness bothered him. She seemed to retreat away from him when she was feeling ill. What could be the matter with her?

"Lou, I got a good job. I've got to move to Jamestown. I'll be working for a carpenter. When I've earned enough I'd like to send for you to come."

Lou sat at the table in Rachel's house and listened to Kid explain his new plans. Even though she couldn't see his face she knew him well enough to know what it would look like. She could sense his excitement and knew he was seeking her approval.

"Would that be alright, Lou?"

The mention of her name caught her attention. "Kid, I'm sorry. What did you say? You are leaving?"

"Yes, but I'll send for you when I can."

"Don't worry about me Kid. Go on. It sounds like something you'd enjoy and be great at."

"I don't want to leave you but don't you think you'd be lost? Wouldn't it be better to stay here with Rachel where you know where everything is?"

"Are you telling me what to do, Kid?"

"No, Lou. I just don't know what I'll find there. I'll have to work and won't be around to help you. I just thought you'd feel better staying here." Kid was trying to apologize. In the past he had tried to tell her what he wanted her to do. They broke up over it one time.

She smiled at him a rare smile and said, "When you have built a house, come and get me and show it to me. I'll look forward to seeing it."

"Lou I don't want to leave without you." Kid took her in his arms.

"Kid I'm better now. And I'll continue to get stronger. I'll be alright. Rachel will see to that. It sounds like a great job. You are lucky to have found it."

"I'll think of you every time I pound that hammer."

"I hope not that you are pounding me?"</[ "No," he laughed, "just that every nail brings me closer to the time we will be together forever."

"When do you leave?"

"Mr. Goetesch left last night for Fort Laramie. He said he'd be back to Jamestown in a couple of weeks. I'll be living with him and his wife to start with. He said he'd hired someone else in Blue Creek, too. I need to leave tomorrow. I need to be in Jamestown by Thursday. He said his wife would get us started on the next project."

"Careful Kid you'll be working for a woman." Lou said teasingly.

"Come on let's go for one last walk before I have to leave."

"Lou, it won't be long and I'll be back for you." Kid said as he held his horse and was ready to leave.

"Kid, before you go, I, ah, ah, I," she stammered, "I need to tell you something."

"What is it, Lou?"

Looking at the direction of his face, she said, "I love you."

"I love you forever, too." he said and held her close. "Lou, I've got to leave now or I never will be able to. Good-by." With that he mounted his mare and rode away.

Lou whispered, "But Kid you didn't let me tell you what is the matter with me."

"Did you tell him before he left, Lou?"

"What are you talking about, Rachel? Tell what?"

"Lou you didn't tell Kid, did you? Why not?"

"Rachel, I don't know what you are talking about. I'm glad he's gone, that he got a good job. I told him all that."

"Lou, that's not what I'm talking about. You didn't tell him about the baby did you?"

"What are you talking about, Rachel?"

"You know what I'm talking about. Come on. Sit down here." She set Lou into the swing on her porch. "Kid has the right to know. Why didn't you tell him?"

The dark haired girl took a deep breath and sighed, "I tried to tell him but he had to go. It was hard for him to leave. How long have you known?"

"Probably longer than you. I suspected it for a while but I didn't know for sure."

"I'm scared. I know I should have told him, but then he would worry about that too when he should be working. I was going to tell him but I couldn't."

The woman put her arm around the younger woman. "You will be alright. There is nothing to be worried about. I'll take care of you. We'll all take care of you."

"Well, boys, we should finish up this barn by this evening. I'll go get the glass for the windows from the wagon. You finish up with these door frames, Ezekeil, and Kid, you can finish the stalls inside."

"Yes sir," answered the two men. The sun was still high in the afternoon sky and it was good to be finishing another job.

By sunset the barn was finished and ready for the owner to fill with his livestock. All of their tools were packed and the three men left the small town to return to Jamestown, four miles away. They had spent some nights at the barn but with the job finished it was time to go home.

Zeke rode with Mr. Goetesch in the wagon and Kid followed along on his horse, Katie. "Ja, it will be good to get home again. You both can be proud of a job well done. Is that not a good feeling?"

"What do we do next, Mr. Goetesch?" Zeke asked the boss.

The older man smiled at his worker and replied, "That is what I like to hear. A man ready to start the next job as soon as the first one's done."

"Well, I was just wondering if we'd have a break or what."

"You got something else to do?"

"No," he answered in a low tone, "It's just that the Kid would like to go see his girlfriend, but I know he'll never ask about time off."

"He never has said anything to me about having a girlfriend."

"Oh, yeah. That's why he's saving all the money he can, so he can send for her to come here. They's supposed to get married."

"Why didn't she come here with him?" The old man's curiosity was aroused. Kid worked for him now close to five months. It had been the first he'd heard about the Kid having a girlfriend, let alone that he was engaged. "That must be why he doesn't join you at Mattie's on Saturdays. Ja?"

"Oh, Mr. Goetesch, I shouldn't have told you. It's just that winter will be here soon and we haven't had a break since we started in June. I know he's been writing to her, but he hasn't seen her since he came here."

"Vell, we'll have to see what happens, son. Thank you for telling me though. I won't say where I heard anything."

"Welcome home, Johann. Good to see you too, boys. I have supper waiting. Go get washed up." The robust woman hugged her husband and smiled, "I have missed you, Papa."

"Ja, Mama. Tis good to be home. I have much to tell you. First let's feed these fine young men."

After the evening meal the four people sat around the table relaxing. Kid and Zeke knew they didn't dare leave the table until Johann spoke thanks. Zeke didn't mind, he was still enjoying a third helping of dessert with his coffee. Kid tried to sit still so that his impatience to get back to his room wouldn't show. He saw some letters on the table when he threw in his gear but if he brought them to the table he would have to share them with the others.

After the prayer, Kid pushed back his chair and left the room. "What was his hurry? He didn't even want any dessert." Zeke said watching his roommate leave.

"He had something to do." Irma Goetesch answered. "Don't go yet, Zeke. Tell me about what you did."

"Sure ma'am. First we...."

"Mama, what was so important that you kept Zeke so Kid could be alone?"

"He was trying to be so patient during supper. I'm sure he saw a pile of letters in his room and Papa, they were all from the same person."

"How can you tell that? Did you open them?"

"No, Papa. I'd never do that. The same hand wrote the addresses. Is there something Kid hasn't told you?"

"Zeke told me on the way home that Kid wants some time off to go back to Sweetwater, that he has a girlfriend there. They are to get married when he had enough money to support them both."

"Oh, Papa a girlfriend. Well now will you let him go? What work do you have lined up? Isn't there another house before the snow flies?"

"Ja, but I could let him go for a week while I line up the lumber. But I am afraid that he will not return. What do you think?"

"He'll come back; he likes working with you. He will do well if he gets married. It will be nice."

"Nice! Where would they live? With Zeke? Maybe we are getting the cart in front of the horse. He will tell us in time. Good night, Mama."

"It is good to be home, Ja?" the moustached older man said to the two young men as they washed up for breakfast.

Zeke shook his head in agreement. "A real bed sure felt great last night, sir." He didn92t have much schooling but had caught on fast to his job and he liked Mr. Goetesch.

"How about you, Kid? Did you sleep well?"

Before the Kid could answer, Zeke spoke, "He didn't get much sleep. Most of the time he was out in the barn readin' his letters. Wish someone would write to me like that."

Blushing Kid looked away from these men he had lived and worked with for the last few months. Finally he turned around and spoke, "Those letters made up for any sleep I need."
"Ah, from a girl, no?"

Kid looked at Zeke as he replied to the older man ,"Yes, how did you know?"
"Young men get a smile that lightens up their whole self when they are thinking of a special woman. She is special, not just a sister?"

"You're a good reader of people, Mr. Goetesch. Yes she is someone special. And it was some very good news."

"You never mentioned a girlfriend. Why have you kept such a secret?"

"What's she like Kid? Is she pretty?" Zeke enjoyed seeing the Kid blush.

"Now stop the teasing," came a voice from the kitchen. "Breakfast is ready. Besides I've missed my boys and want to hear what you are talking about."

"Oh, Mama. Kid was talking about his letters. What was your good news?"

"Papa, it is none of our business. He only has to tell if he wants to."

Kid sat down at the table and smiling, looked down at his plate. After everyone else sat down, he looked at these friends he lived with for the last few months. It was time to tell them. Maybe now it would work to have Lou come.

"The letters were from a very good friend of mine. I wanted her to come when I moved here but she wasn't well. I left her behind but now, well," he paused for a second. Looking directly at Mr. Goetesch, Kid said, "Could I have some time off to go get her and bring her here?"

The older man was not smiling now. "Will you be married? Or do you plan to have her just move in with you?"

"Papa, how can you ask such a question?"

"That's alright, Mrs. Goetesch. I asked Lou to marry me a long time ago. But when we got hurt she didn't want to burden me. She was blind. I told her it didn't matter but I also knew that if I was going to make this job work, I wouldn't have the time to help her adjust. I couldn't just ask her to move here and then I leave her alone for long periods of time." The smile was gone from his face. "I've missed her every day that I have been here. Every nail I pounded I thought of her. She's better now. Most of her sight has returned. I like working for you, sir, but I need Lou too. We will be married. What happened in the past, happened. I can't go back and change that but I will quit if you won't allow me to work for you and have Lou here, too."

"Son, that is not what I meant. A wife would be good for you. This all is a surprise since you never shared your past with us. I know that some young people just live together and that is not right. But with marriage it is good." A look of pain crossed his face.

"Our youngest son is not married and was living with a woman before he went to war. Now she has their child but it is not to be our grandchild. It is not the way God decreed." The woman placed the platter of food on the table. "We would be pleased to welcome your wife into our home. You have been a good man. Something can be worked out for you. You both have been good for us. We want to keep you working with Johanns."

Extending his hand to the young man, Johanns said, "I92m sorry to lash out at your good news. Things change and some are harder to accept than others. We have another house to build before winter. Then we can finish it in the poor weather. I have to arrange for the lumber. How long will it take you to return home and get your wife?"

"She's not my wife yet. But I know she is waiting for me."

"Go today. Try to get back in a week or so. If you aren't back in two weeks I'll have to find someone else. Is that fair?"

"Sounds good. There is just one other thing. Could I get paid? There are a few things we'll need to get." Surprised at this good fortune, Kid waited patiently.

"I think that some could be arranged. I will go to the bank after breakfast. Come with me. You too Zeke. Do you need some time off too?"

"No, sir. Just a little cash will be good. Do I still get to go to town on Saturday?"

"Ja, boy. Talking is good. Mama and I will work out something for living arrangements. Is she particular?"

"Don't worry about Lou. She's comfortable where ever she is. Hopefully more so when we are together." Kid smiled and left to pack his saddlebag.

"He will make a good husband. I just hope his woman will make him happy." Mrs. Goetesch said as she cleared the table. "It is time for some happiness around here."

On to Part Three