"Oh Jimmy, what did I do? What am I going to do?" Lou s sobbed as she buried her face in his jacket.

Jimmy just stood there holding Lou, stroking her hair and whispering soothing words. "Sssh, it’s okay, everything’s gonna be fine." But he was lying and he just hoped that Lou didn’t know that. How could The Kid do this to her? he asked himself.

Lou looked up at Jimmy, resembling a little girl at that moment. It wasn’t very often that she revealed the vulnerable side of herself, and Jimmy knew that she was in more pain than he thought. "Not only did he sleep with her, but he didn’t even know her! And do you wanna know what else?"

"What?"

Lou put her head down on Jimmy’s chest and started to sob again. "He didn’t even try to deny it!"

Jimmy thought that his own heart was going to break. He couldn’t stand to just sit there and watch Lou’s whole world, her whole existence, just crumble around her. He would deal with Kid later, but for now he had to take care of Lou. He continued to stroke her hair for a few more minutes until her sobs began to subside and she stopped shaking. Finally when he thought that she was calm, he spoke to her.

"Do you want to ride back with me tonight? There’s no reason for us to stay." Jimmy asked her.

Lou’s head jerked up, her brown eyes stained with red. "No way! Uh uh Jimmy. No way in hell am I leavin’ here!" she said forcefully.

"But why Lou? If you stay you’re only going to make yourself feel worse."

Lou looked into Jimmy’s eyes, and he thought that he had never seen a meaner look on anyone before. "If Kid wants her, fine. But I’m not going to run home like a kicked puppy."

Jimmy nodded. "I understand. But-"

He was interrupted by Cody, who had just walked into the room. "Hey? Aren’t you guys comin’ in?"

Jimmy turned to face Cody. "We’ll be there in a minute."

"No," Lou said, "We’re coming now. C’mon Jimmy." Lou walked past Jimmy and Cody and continued towards the back of the store with her back straight, head held high.

"I was awakened in the middle of the night by the sounds of footsteps in the hallway. I peeked outside my door and saw three strange men walking towards my parents’ room. One of them was already carrying my baby sister in his arms, unconscious and gagged." Tricia had to stop because the tears were starting to fall again.

Kid handed her a handkerchief and squeezed her hand. "It’s okay, go on."

Tricia took a deep breath and continued. "I watched the other two walk into my parents’ room and then came out a few minutes later with them both in their arms. They were unconscious and gagged as well. I closed my door and ran under my bed to hide. After what seemed like an eternity I heard my door open and two of the men came inside. They opened every drawer and chest, but didn’t look under the bed. I remember one of them saying to the other that I must be out of town because I sure as he-" Tricia looked down, "sure as hell wasn’t anywhere in the house. Then-"

She was interrupted by the sounds of approaching footsteps. Lou, followed by Cody and Jimmy walked into the room. She gave Kid a glaring look and then sat down across the room from him, Cody and Jimmy on either side of her on the sofa.

"It’s okay Tricia, please continue." Kid encouraged.

"Then the other guy said that Harrison was going to have to be happy with what he got, and that with a town full of slaves, what difference would one missing girl make."

"Harrison? Did you say Harrison?" Teaspoon interrupted, practically sitting on the edge of his seat.

Tricia nodded.

"Well I’ll be damned."

"What is it Teaspoon?" Cody asked.

Teaspoon leaned back in his chair and grunted. "If this is the same guy that I’m thinking of, his name is Lenny Harrison. I received word the other day that he’d gone and broke outta prison a couple of weeks ago."

"Yeah, but what would he be doing kidnappin’ a whole town full of people?" Kid asked, his face a mask of confusion.

"Son, I don’t know. But if this is Lenny Harrison, then we’re in for more than you think. This guy has a reputation bigger than Cody’s appetite." Teaspoon answered.

Jimmy looked at Teaspoon. "So what are we going to do?"

"Well, first thing’s first. We’re going to mount up and ride out of here right now. If any one of them gets wind that we’re in this town, you can bet your horse they’ll be back here in no time." Teaspoon turned towards Tricia. "Miss Llandry, if there is anything that you want to bring with you, I suggest you go and pack it now. We’re ridin’ out in thirty minutes."

Tricia nodded and stood up. "I’ll be ready in five." She turned towards Kid. "Can you come and help me please?"

Lou groaned, but was poked in the ribs by Jimmy. "Stop that," he whispered to her. "Show him that you’re better than that."

Kid glanced at Lou, but stood up and quickly followed Tricia out of the room.

Teaspoon looked from Jimmy to Lou. "Does one of you wanna explain to me just what in the hell has happened?"

As soon as Kid and Tricia entered Tricia’s room she spun around to face him. She looked at him for a brief second before slapping him hard across his cheek. His eyes widened and she slapped him again. She went to raise her arm a third time, but Kid caught her wrist just in time.

"How could you?" Tricia exclaimed. "HOW COULD YOU?!?"

On to Chapter Eight

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