"Darn it Buck! Would it be too much to ask to be able to get a decent night's sleep around here? I swear it's hard enough for a man to go to sleep with that loud buzzing sound Cody makes when he snores!" Jimmy shouted angrily as he pulled himself off of the floor. A chorus of protests echoed through the bunkhouse.
"Shut up, I'm trying to sleep." Noah said, placing his pillow over his head.
"Yeah, Buck! Some of us do have rides today!" Cody muttered sleepily.
"I'm going back to sleep." Kid told him, turning over.
Buck ignored their protests and approached the bunks that Lou and Kid occupied. Lou's bunk was empty, just as he had suspected.
"I'd hate to interrupt you boy's beauty sleep further, but do any of you know where Lou is?" he asked.
There was an immediate reaction to his question. "What the hell are you talking about Buck? Lou's right there in her-," Kid said, climbing out of his bunk. The rest of the sentence died on his lips as Kid realized that Lou wasn't in her bunk.
"Lou was there last night! I covered her up myself!" Kid exclaimed.
"Kid's right Buck. Lou was asleep when you left last night. She was still asleep when we went to bed last night." Noah added.
"Since none of us are going to get anymore sleep, someone light a lamp." Cody said.
Buck made his way over to the table and lit the lamp on it. Propped up against the basin of the lamp was a single sheet of paper. He picked up the piece of paper, barely able to make out the writing on it. He turned the flame up higher on the lamp and then glanced at the paper again. Clearly recognizing Lou's dainty writing he quickly read what was written. Shocked concern filled his voice as he turned towards the others.
"Lou's gone." He said quietly.
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