The recognition only intensified Lou's struggle, but she'd learned at the tender age of fourteen that Wicks was stronger than she was, and that he never backed down.
"Are you done fighting me, Louise?" Wicks wore a wicked grin on his face that sent chills down her spine.
When she shook her head no, he clamped down tighter and let her thrash about, wasting precious energy.
Lou wanted to punch out at him, or land at least one strategic kick so she could break free, but the way Wicks had her pinned to the wall, there was no hope. She tried dropping the packages and her purse, hoping they would be left behind as a clue if he dragged her off, but Wicks knew what she was doing.
Forcing her to slide down the wall to crouch and pick them all up he sneered, "Can't have you leavin' anything behind, Louise. You might need these things while in my care."
As he said the words, it hit Lou's jumbled brain that this was more than an attack. Wicks really planned to kidnap her, to keep her again and the mere notion of this was enough to have her on the verge of fainting. She knew she couldn't; She had to stay aware of her surroundings; she had to pay attention to what he said and where he took her if she was to have hope that the Kid would find her. Would it be too late by then?
"Now, I'm gonna remove my hand, but if you dare call out or try and scream, I'll make you regret it."
Lou knew Wicks meant what he said, but as soon as her mouth was free she started to scream. That he slapped her wasn't shocking, but the vengeance behind it was. Tasting the metallic flavor of the blood from her split lip, she wisely stayed on the ground while Wicks ranted at her.
"It doesn't have to be like this, Louise! I don't want to get mad and hit you like last time, but if you're going to continue to disobey me, then I will! Your choice."
Looking up at him as she huddled on the hard dirt, Lou wondered what mad would feel like if he wasn't there yet. Her cheek throbbed and she could feel the blood trickling down her chin and onto her new dress. Yet, this time she didn't want to cower in the corner like a scared child, she wasn't ready to let Wicks win. As he reached for her, Lou mustered all her courage and spat, "You touch me and I swear I'll kill you."
"Really now?" Wicks was amused by her bravado. "And how do you plan to do that?"
Lou didn't have an answer, only a harsh glare. She knew he had the complete advantage, but she refused to show defeat. "What do you want from me?" With more questions she hoped to stall him or throw off his concentration so she could escape. How she wished she was still riding for the Express and dressed like a boy, with a gun strapped solidly to her hip.
Wicks threw his head back and laughed wildly at her question. Attention diverted he still didn't miss her start to crawl off and drew his gun. "Not so fast, Louise. We were just gettin' reacquainted." Waving the barrel at her, he motioned her back into the spot where she'd fallen. "As for your question, I just want what's rightfully mine."
Lou was dumbfounded. Could Wicks still think she owed him something? "I don't have anything of yours. I left with the clothes on my back."
"Clothes that I bought you, darlin'. And what's rightfully mine, is you. I gave you a job, food to eat and a roof over your head when everyone else was ready to throw you in jail or turn you out on the streets. And then, when I pick you, out of all those other girls to be special, to be mine, you leave. Nobody leaves me, Louise. Not unless I tell them to and I didn't tell you that you could leave."
Bile rose in Lou's throat at the sound of the sinister laugh and the sight of the gleam in Wicks' eye as he bent to haul her to her feet. This can't be happening, she thought as Wicks started to drag her back behind and between the closely built buildings. She couldn't tell where he was taking her, but she was pretty sure it was back to the saloon that she'd once called home.
Looking back over her shoulder before they turned at the end of the alley, Lou could see the glint of the late afternoon sun off the gold of her wedding band. Looking down at her naked finger, she could only hope Kid found it. It was the only clue she could leave him. He knew she'd never take it off willingly, he'd know instantly that something was wrong, but by then would it be too late?
Kid got back to the hotel at a quarter after five. Breathless from running up the stairs, his apology was on his lips before he was even through the door. "I swear I didn't mean to be late," he started as the door opened into the room. "But Lou, you'll never guess." Kid stopped talking immediately when he gazed about and found the room dark and empty.
"Lou?" he called out. There was no answer. "Lou?" he asked again as he opened the door to the adjoining washroom. It too, was empty. Stepping back into the main room he carefully scanned around for signs that Lou had already been and gone. He saw no purchases, no purse on the bed or bureau; in fact he saw no changes to the room at all.
"This is odd," he said out loud to the empty room. It wasn't like Lou to be late, especially when she'd reminded him what time to be back for supper. Hearing his stomach growl, he laughed and sat on the bed. "Probably bought out the whole town by now." Shaking his head he pulled off his boots and decided to rest his eyes for a few minutes while he waited for Lou to return. Looking at the clock before shutting his eyes, he saw it was only twenty past the hour. Too early to start worrying, he noted.
He woke with a start. Sitting straight up on the bed he looked around the room quickly, trying to orient himself. The room was nearly dark; the sun almost set, and still there was no sign of Lou. Rising and crossing to the mantle he stared at the clock. Half past six. He hadn't meant to fall into a deep sleep, just rest, but he had, and over an hour had passed and still Lou wasn't back. Kid looked at the door in hopes that a note had been unceremoniously shoved underneath, but the floor was clean. Now it was time to worry.
Kid stuffed his feet back into his well-worn boots and grabbing his hat and gun he hurried out the door. Reaching the hotel lobby he waited impatiently for the desk clerk to finish with a customer.
The clerk was new to the hotel and, much to Kid's dismay, no matter how much detail he used when he described Lou, the man behind the counter could claim no sightings of her at all. Kid turned to go back upstairs when the clerk called to him.
"Sir, did you say McCloud?"
Kid's heart surged. Maybe there was a forgotten note for him. "Yes. I'm Kid and my wife is Lou. Louise," he corrected himself. "Did you find a note for me?"
The clerk could hear the man's desperation in his voice. "Sorry, sir, there's no note, but you see all those packages there?"
Kid's eyes followed the pointed finger towards a large, but tidy pile of boxes and brown paper wrapped bundles.
"Those are yours, sir."
"Mine?" Kid didn't understand and started to walk towards them.
"Your Mrs. had the stores send 'em over. Don't know what they are. I ain't paid to look."
"When did they arrive?" Kid demanded without turning from the packages.
"Can't rightly say, but it wasn't long ago. I started workin' at five and the last of them arrived about then. You want those taken to your room?"
Kid didn't hear the clerk as he started to look through the first package. Tearing open the corner he found several types of brightly colored cloth and assumed they were dresses for Teresa. Poking through others he found clothes for him and Jeremiah, some small household goods, curtains, dishes - most of the things on Lou's list. In the last package was a pair of men's boots. Looking down at them, Kid was immediately ashamed. He knew she'd picked them up because she was sure he would avoid going to the mercantile. And he had. He wasn't in a shopping mood and she'd known it.
"Mr. McCloud," the clerk called again. "Do you want those things taken to your room or do you plan to open them all here in the lobby?"
Kid snapped back to the present. If all these packages were here, then where was Lou? "Sure, have them taken to my room. What time do all the shops close 'round here?" He hoped some were still open and Lou had just lost track of time.
"Usually around five, a few stay open 'til six, but not many. Why?"
Kid waved off the nosy clerk. "No reason." Suddenly Kid wanted to slap his forehead. Maybe Lou had gone to the restaurant and was waiting for him there. Kid darted towards the door. If she was sitting at a table waiting on him for supper, he was about to get an earful.
Kid returned to the hotel thirty minutes and four restaurants later. Not a one had seen or seated Lou to wait on his arrival. He'd looked at the shops as he walked back and didn't see a single one that was still open. It didn't make sense unless Lou was back in their room and they had somehow passed each other.
Taking the stairs two at a time, Kid thrust the door open and for a brief second he thought Lou had returned when by the light from the hallway he saw all the packages piled just inside the door. Turning up the lamp inside the room he was able to see that it was only the things he'd looked through earlier. Once again he walked to the clock on the mantle. Half past seven. An hour had passed since he'd woken. Lou was over two hours late and he was getting frantic.
The only idea that came to mind was to try and talk to the merchants, see if any could remember seeing Lou in their store, remember what time she'd been there, remember if they'd noticed anything wrong about her, but the stores were closed and in such a big city, he couldn't count on all the merchants having homes above their stores like they did in Sweetwater and Rock Creek. Sitting on the bed to try and slow his reeling mind, Kid bounced back up within seconds. The saloon! There were bound to be merchants out for an evening drink who would remember Lou. Relieved to finally have a plan, he reached for the door.
Something made him stop before walking out. Recalling his exasperating initial conversation with the hotel clerk, Kid knew it would take too much time to describe Lou over and over again as he searched. Finding his saddlebag, he dug in and pulled out the wedding picture he carried with him always. Showing people, rather than telling them, would be easier and more efficient.
Looking down at the picture, he raised one finger to gently touch Lou's face. She'd looked so beautiful on their wedding day, like an angel floating down the aisle to him. It was the happiest day in his entire life when they'd finally exchanged their rings and promised themselves to one another. But where was his beautiful bride now? The thought that something terrible had happened to her crossed his mind. It was only for a split second, but it was long enough to bring a sinking feeling to his gut. He shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut tight to rid himself of the thought. Opening them slowly, he looked back down at the black and white photo before putting it in his pocket. Staring at the image smiling up at him, he whispered, "I'm coming, Lou. Wherever you've gone to, I'll find you."