Chapter Eleven

Lou watched the family file in from her hiding spot at the back of the church. Closer to the Malones than she had been in almost two years, she feared that even with her disguise, they would identify her on sight. She had been in Denver for just over a week and her investigating yielded plenty of information. The Malones were a well-respected family, but they rarely socialized with the townspeople. The once gregarious family had closed itself off since Kiley’s death, the year before. The rare social exception was Sunday church.

Lou saw Liam and Shannon walk in first. The long days in the fresh air and sunshine gave them a healthy glow, but the tragedy seemed to have aged them. She didn’t remember Liam looking so old or Shannon looking so tired.

Shane Malone followed closely behind his parents with a pretty blonde girl on his arm. Lou strained to see the woman she knew was his new bride, Charlotte. Shane was also an exception to the Malone’s self-imposed exile. He’d set up his surgery in town and his office was always full of patients from all walks of life. Lou had watched him secretly from across the street and admired how he greeted everyone, from the prestigious mayor to the simple farm hand with the same warm handshake and kind smile. She remembered the care he gave her when he was only a medical student and knew he was now, undoubtedly, a wonderful doctor. She was proud to have been his first patient.

Fallon followed Shane and Charlotte down the aisle towards a pew nearer the front and Lou caught her first glimpse of the beautiful woman she had become. Almost twenty years old now, Fallon had a regal appearance. She carried herself with confidence and intelligence. A head of long, radiant auburn hair and deep green eyes complimented her pale skin. Many men turned to admire her, but they all knew they had no chance. Fallon only had eyes for the handsome man beside her, Connor O’Shea. Connor was the son of the original ranch owner and once he caught sight of Fallon he chose to stay in America, rather than return to Ireland. Working the ranch as the foreman, he and Fallon were to be married on New Year’s Day. Lou longed to call out to her, to run to the older sister that she missed nearly as much as her blood sister, but she held her tongue. How could she explain herself after so much time?

Lou heard Flynn Malone enter the church before she saw him. Tears welled in her eyes when his infectious laugh reached her ears. It was the very same laugh that greeted her at the orphanage when she was ten years old and the very same laugh he graced her with everyday they were together. She watched him walk to his seat with some boys who looked to be ranch hands from The Double K. Flynn looked like a man now. He had grown several inches and his lanky frame had filled out from the long days of hard labor. Yet, his red hair still curled at his collar and his green eyes still twinkled when he smiled, lighting up his face. Outwardly, Kiley’s death appeared to have had little effect on him, but knowing his heart like she did, she knew his pain was all inside.

Lou sat through the service and contemplated her approach. She didn’t want to ambush them by going right up to them and announcing her return. Yet at the same time, she had to be near them. Luck was on her side when she heard Mr. Malone talking with the other men after church. The Double K was looking to bring on a few hands for the lambing season and he was hoping they would send some men to see Connor about work. The situation sounded perfect to Lou. If she couldn’t bring herself to talk to them, at least she could be near them as she built her courage

The next day Connor hired Lou on sight. However, he was under the impression that he was hiring a young man named Lou Schmidt, not a girl named Louise McCloud. Connor thought the boy was a little on the small side, but he seemed willing to learn and almost desperate for the work. Lou expressed thanks for the bunk and the stall for Lightning and went right to work readying the rams and ewes for breeding.

“Fallon, I tell you the lad can’t be but five feet tall and no heavier than a sack of flour, but he’s working real hard. I wish I had ten more like him.”

Fallon leaned against the corral as Connor rubbed down his horse. The new hand just sounded too much like someone she knew. She had a nagging suspicion they’d met before, but didn’t want to alert Connor, yet. “What did you say his name was?”

“Lou, Lou Schmidt. Says he’s from Missouri and he’s working his way to California. Lad signed on for the whole season though so I guess he’s in no hurry.”

The nagging feeling was growing stronger and she knew she had to find this ‘Lou Schmidt’ and see for herself. “I should say a proper hello, don’t you think? I am almost the foreman’s wife and all. Do you know where he is?”

“Always thinking of the right thing, aren’t you?. He was in the barn with his horse when I brought King out here.”

“I’ll go on in and pay my regards.” With a quick kiss she hoped her father didn’t see, Fallon ran off to confirm her suspicions.

Lou never heard Fallon enter the stall. She was busy brushing Lighting and humming one of Pauline’s tunes. She nearly jumped through the roof when she heard Fallon’s voice.

“Louise McCloud! What on god’s green earth do you think you’re doing?”

Lou froze in place, completely unprepared to face her friend after so much time apart. Knowing she couldn’t avoid the confrontation, she slowly turned around and kept her head bent.

Fallon moved closer and removed the dusty hat so she could get a better look at the boy’s face. Knowing she was caught, Lou looked up at Fallon and watched the pure shock set in.

“Louise! It is you! How? What are you doing here?” Fallon pulled Lou into a crushing hug and continued to gush.

Grabbing the babbling girl by the arm, Lou pulled her into the dark recesses of Lightning’s stall. “Shhh…You have to keep your voice down. Connor and the others think I’m one of them and I can’t have you giving me away!”

Fallon lowered her voice to a whisper. “I don’t understand Louise. What are you doing dressed like that? And your hair? And your name? Why didn’t you come to the house, proper like?”

Lou didn’t know where to start, but she did know she had to get Fallon to agree to keep her secret. “You can’t tell anyone about me, Fallon. You have to swear.”

“Are you in trouble, Louise?”

“Not anymore. I just need you to swear you won’t tell.” After Fallon nodded in stunned agreement, Lou continued. “I really don’t know how to explain all this, but I just needed to see all of you. I was afraid that because I was out of touch for so long y’all wouldn’t want to talk to me.”

“That’s nonsense! Everyone will be so excited to see you!”

“Fallon, you just swore you wouldn’t tell anyone!”

“I didn’t think you meant it.”

Lou rolled her eyes. “Of course I meant it. You just have to let me do this at my own pace. So much has gone on since I last saw you that I can’t even explain it all right now. As soon as I figure out how to do it, I’ll tell everyone. Until then, I’m just Lou Schmidt.”

“Even Flynn? How can you not tell him?”

“Especially Flynn. I let him down and I just can’t face that, or him, yet.”

“He’ll figure you out, Louise. He’s a smart boy.”

“Not if I can avoid him. Connor’s got me riding the far north fence this week, so I won’t even be around.”

“That’s too dangerous, Louise! I’ll tell Connor to give you something different to do.”

“No! You can’t tell him to do nothing. I’m Lou now. I have been for a while and I have to be able to pull my own weight or they won’t respect me. No favors from the boss, understand?”

“This is so crazy, Louise. I mean, Lou. You can’t do this.”

“I have to Fallon. If you can’t keep my secret, I’ll have to move on. I don’t want to. I want to work here, for you and your family. One day I’ll tell everyone.”

“I’ll let you do this for now, but I won’t watch you get hurt. I lost one sister already and I won’t lose you too.”

Lou took Fallon’s hand between her own and held it, hoping she could convey her sympathy and sorrow with just a touch. “I know about Kiley and I’m so sorry.”

“She was the innocent victim of an evil man, but I know now that everything has it’s purpose. The move here was good for us. We’re back to what we know. Sheep was all we did in Ireland.”

“It’s a great ranch. Your ma and pa should be proud and so should Connor. I know it was O’Shea land first.”

Fallon smiled at the mention of her intended. “He is proud. That’s why he stayed.”

“Don’t kid yourself. He stayed for you.”

Connor must have known he was being talked about because he chose that exact moment to enter the stable and seek out Fallon. Calling to her, he was surprised to see her emerge from a far stall.

“Thank you, Lou. He’s a beautiful horse. I hope you’ll both like it here at The Double K.” She discretely winked. Waving, Fallon headed up the aisle and stopped before her curious fiancé.

“What was that all about, darling?”

“Oh nothing, I was just admiring his horse.” She locked her arms with his and headed outside into the warm fall afternoon. Bending her head towards him in a conspiratorial way, she lowered her voice. “You’re right. He is awful small.” Together the young couple laughed – Connor because Fallon shared his joke and Fallon because of her new secret.