Kid looked at her stunned. His jaw dropped. "Lou… please… you can’t be serious. We love each other." His voice trembled as he spoke.
Lou’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Kid…" she started but stopped as she heard someone was coming down the stairs.
"I’ll pack some clothes." Kid said in a low voice and walked out, not before he kissed Emma’s head.
"Good morning, mama." She said happily.
Lou tried to smile but when she felt she could hold it no more she ran out of the house. She walked into the stables and into Katy’s stall. She hugged the mare’s neck and sobbed uncontrollably.
Kid tried to avoid the jail any way that he could. He went again to the Shuster’s place, although he didn’t really look for anything. He was sitting without aim on the porch when he saw someone coming and jumped to his feet once he recognized it was Lou.
She dismounted Lightning and walked up the steps to the porch. They stood silent for a couple of minutes, not able to look at each other.
"I want to see the place." Lou finally spoke.
"I’ve already checked everything." He said, the hurt clear in his voice. "Don’t you trust me that I did?"
She looked at the ground. "I want to see for myself."
"You left the kids alone again?" he asked.
Lou shook her head. "Buck’s watching them."
"He’s a murderer, Lou. I can’t believe you could be this stupid." He ran down the steps and mounted Katy. "Have fun." He said sarcastically.
Lou looked at him riding off until all that was left was dust, then she turned and walked into the house. She took a deep breath before opening the bedroom door. The smell of death was in the air. She saw the blood stain on the bed and she felt nauseous and looked for a chair to sit down. As she neared the rocking chair by the window, she got a glimpse of the small stable. She searched the small yard from the window. Melissa was so proud of her little garden by the porch. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of her friend. And now another friend of hers was in trouble and needed her help. She promised Buck she would find the proof for his innocence and the real murderer, yet she had no idea what or where to look for. Finally, she decided the stable would be as good a place as any.
She opened the heavy door and peeked in side. There were only three stalls in the small stable and only one was occupied. Lou recognized Storm, Melissa’s horse, and walked in the stall to pat his neck. "You wouldn’t know who it was, by any chance would you?" she asked aloud.
"What are you doing here?" a male voice asked from behind her.
Lou jumped and turned around. "I’m sorry, sir, I just thought I’d look for any clues." She told Melissa’s husband. She never liked him. He was rude, obnoxious, and full of self-appreciation. "I didn’t know anyone was here." She said.
"I stayed at the hotel last night." He said.
"I’m sorry for your loss." She said sincerely.
"Thank you." He said coldly. "Now would you please leave?"
"I want to find her murderer." Lou said.
"I’ve already found him! It’s that filthy Indian. Go see – in your husband office."
"Buck didn’t do it." Lou said.
"Oh, I understand you know him too. What a reunion. Maybe you helped him."
Lou shot him an angry glare. "Buck is one of the most gentle men I’ve ever known and I know he couldn’t have done this. I will find the proof for his innocence." She promised.
"Your husband believes he did it."
"I’ll do it without his help. I’m capable of doing this myself."
"And what about your precious little ones?" he asked arrogantly. "What kind of a mother are you to leave you kids alone while your trying to help an old lover?"
Lou’s lips trembled from the insult. "You did not deserve your wife. You a little, small-minded man, and I am a great mother who doesn’t want her kids to live in a place where innocent people are being charged for something they didn’t do just because their skin isn’t white!" Lou yelled and ran out of the stable, eager to get as far as possible from that man.
Lou was still shaken when she walked into Kid’s office. Everyone was startled to see her like that. "Are you okay, Lou?" Kid asked her as he tried to pull her into his arms.
She pushed him away and walked to stand near Buck. "Where are the kids?" she asked.
"I sent them home with Davis." Kid said. "He’s staying with them till you get back. And I don’t want you to bring them here again."
"Are you okay?" Lou asked Buck, not commenting on Kid’s words.
"Did you here what I said?" He asked, his tone higher than usual.
Lou looked at him with contempt. "Don’t order me, Kid!" she said. "These are my kids and I do as I want!"
"They’re my kids too, Lou. Don’t forget it. And I would like to see them at least once in a while."
"Then I’ll have to bring them here, won’t I?" Lou asked sarcastically.
Kid shook his head in frustration and walked to out to sit on the porch of the jail.
"What’s going on, Lou?" Buck asked.
"I told him to leave." Lou said quietly.
"Why would you do a stupid thing like that?" he asked incredulously.
"You’re the second man today to tell me I’m stupid. The first one was my husband." She said.
"I’m sorry, Lou, but why did you do that? Is it because of me?"
"Part of it." She said. She didn’t want to make him feel guilty, but she didn’t think it was fair to lie either. "We’ve been growing apart for some time now, Buck, so I guess it’s only natural. If it wasn’t that it would’ve been something else, but it was bound to happen."
"Are you sure, Lou, it looks like he still loves you. And I know you love him too. I can see that in your eyes. You’re angry at him, but you still love him."
Lou nodded. "I do still love him, and I’m scared I’d grow to hate him if things will stay the way they are. Please, Buck, I thought about it a lot and I’ve made up my mind."
Buck nodded. "Just remember it’s okay to admit you’ve made a mistake."
Lou nodded and changed the subject. "I’m afraid I didn’t find anything yet." She said remorsefully. "I tried, but then her husband came and told me to go."
"It’s not your fault, Lou. You’ve tried."
She shook her head. "I’ll go back there. Tomorrow. First thing n the morning, when he’ll be in town. I’ll get you free!" she promised. "I just wish Kid would help me." She said in a whisper.
Buck reached his hand to caress her cheek. "He has to do what he has to do." Buck sighed. "That’s his job, and all the proofs say I did it."
"That why I have to find other proofs." Lou said and backed away from the cell and Buck. "I’ll see you tomorrow." She promised and walked away, not even glancing at her husband on her way to Lightning.
Lou returned to the Shuster’s early the next morning. Her children were still sleeping and she left them a note explaining where she went and when she’ll be back. She left instructions as to what had to done and reminded them how much she and their father loved them.
The children still didn’t know their parents have separated and were not living together anymore. They were used to the fact that their father was coming home late after they went to bed, and leaving early in the morning before they woke up.
Lou arrived at the place and was relieved to find Shuster was already out. She dismounted Lightning and took him to the stable. She was surprised to see Buck’s horse there, since she hadn’t see it the day before. She smiled to herself when she thought of the horse that was one of Buck’s most treasured possessions. They were all much attached to their horses. Jimmy to his golden palomino and Kid to Katy… she patted Lightning on the neck and went to examine Buck’s horse. The horse wore no shoes and there was no sign for the use of saddle. She circled the horse, examining it thoroughly. When she was about to give up on finding a hint in the horse she saw a small blood stain on the horse’s neck. She thought of the wound on Buck’s forehead. They have thought it was from Shuster’s beatings, but now she thought maybe he was bitten, knocked out and brought there. She mounted Lightning quickly, eager to tell Kid what she found and get Buck free.
Kid was sitting at his desk going through some papers when Jed walked in. "What are you doing here?" he asked harsher than he intended.
The boy looked shameful. "I was trying to make some breakfast but we ran out of cornmeal, so I thought I’d buy some, but mama didn’t leave me any money, so I thought I’d ask you."
"You’re mother ain’t home?" Kid asked, starting out. He stopped when he saw Lou riding toward them. "Where were you?" he almost yelled at her.
She dismounted and only then saw Jed standing by his father. "Where are your sisters?" she asked, fear creeping into her voice.
"They’re home!" Kid shouted. "You were supposed to be there with them, but you had to go on this crusade. What about your family, Lou?"
People were staring at them now and Lou had to fight back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. She mounted Lightning again and galloped back home faster than she had ever before.
Jed looked at his father, tears rolling down his cheeks. It was the first time he has ever seen his father yelling at his mother and it scared him. Only then he noticed his father weary eyes and understood he didn’t come home that night. Silently he took Kid’s large hand in his small one and led him into his office. He sat him by the desk and hugged him. Kid couldn’t control it any longer and he let out all the frustration and anger that were building in him these last couple of days.
Buck watched his friend breaking down. He could not help but fell guilty for his friend’s separation. But he also knew the both of them were too stubborn to admit their mistakes.
On to Chapter Four
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