By Jessica
Copyright 1999
Kid crouched down silently and looked down into the dense clearing where Lou and the others were still sleeping. The sun had yet to fully rise, but the humidity was already making the air thick and he knew it was going to be a hot day.
Again Kid found himself wondering why Lou had never told him of Ben, Charlie, or Sean. They had obviously been very close at one point and it slightly disturbed him that she had never mentioned them, let alone the fact that she had made an oath to track down and murder a man in cold blood.
Kid shook his head and reprimanded himself. He knew that if anything similar had happened to Teaspoon, he’d do the same thing. Deep down, Kid knew the real reason he was so upset with Lou. It wasn’t because she left when it was clearly against his wishes. It was because he was hurt that she didn’t feel she could trust him with her past.
Lou had always been quiet and reserved about her past, even in the beginning when he and the other boys thought she was a he. He had admired her back then and even felt a connection with her. Afterall, he hadn’t exactly been forthcoming with details about himself either. Hell, they still didn’t even know his real name.
“Mornin’ Kid.” Jimmy whispered as he sat beside his friend. “I figured you’d be here.”
“Yeah...I was just thinkin’ about some things.” Kid said absently.
“About Lou and why she never told you about any of this?” Jimmy asked.
Kid looked at Jimmy and wondered for a split second whether his friend had known all this before now. The thought of Lou confiding in Jimmy instead of him made his heart twist painfully in his chest. However, he recognized the look in Jimmy’s warm brown eyes because they knew they mirrored his; Betrayal.
“Yeah.” Kid reluctantly confirmed.
“Hell, I been wonderin’ the same thing myself. But you know Lou... if she don’t want you to know somethin’, then you won’t. But Kid, it ain’t ‘cause she don’t trust you.”
Yeah, and how do you know that?”
“If she didn’t trust you, then she never would have told you in the first place. It probably would have been easier for her just to slip out without sayin’ a word.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“ ‘Course I’m right... have I ever been wrong?”
Kid rolled his eyes and smiled lopsidedly at his friend. “Don’t even get me started Jimmy Hickok.”
Lou splashed some cool water from the small stream onto her face and sighed. Years of experience told her it was going to be a scorcher. She could already feel moisture beginning to pool in the middle of her back. She sat back on her haunches and closed her eyes. A feeling of dread had worked it’s way to the pit of her stomach.
They would reach Willow Springs long before night fall, even if they didn’t push the horses too hard. She wasn’t having second thoughts exactly, but she wasn’t so sure about the success of their mission. They hadn’t even discussed their plan of action once they reached Stall’s encampment. No one had even mentioned the man’s name since that afternoon in the saloon. That felt like it was ages ago, when in reality it was only two days before.
“Mornin’ Lou.”
Lou looked at Ben as he sat beside her and drank the fresh water from his cupped hands. “Mornin’ Ben.”
Neither was quite sure what to say to the other, so they sank into silence and looked ahead at the water. Finally Ben spoke, although he kept his gaze trained straight ahead.
“Did you tell your friends why you were leavin’?”
Lou was surprised by the question, but didn’t show it, “Yes, I told them.”
“And they let you come?” Ben asked incredulously
“What do you mean ‘let’? The last time I checked, I was fully capable of makin’ my own decisions.” Lou returned hotly.
“Just seems to me they should have tried to stop you from comin’.” Ben replied unfazed.
“What makes you think they didn’t?” Lou asked as she stood up. “If you were so against my involvement, then why did you even come to Sweetwater? You could have just went on without me.”
When he didn’t answer, Lou threw up her hands in frustration and walked back to wake the others. Ben had a way of infuriating her as only one other person could. Even when they were younger and Daniel was still alive, Ben had always been the one questioning Lou’s ability to take care of herself.
It amazed her that she could have survived so much, on her own no less, and still be thought incompetent. Well, not exactly incompetent, but close enough to make her furious. It seemed no matter how many times she proved herself, when it all came down to it, she was still seen as a helpless woman who needed protecting. The other boys thought so too, though they’d never admit it. Maybe they didn’t see her as completely helpless, but they definitely believed she needed to be protected.
She shook Charlie a bit more violently than she normally would have and he awoke with a start. “What is it woman?”
“It’s time to get up." Lou responded as she did the same to Sean.
“Where’s Ben?” Charlie asked as he stretched dramatically.
“How should I know?” Lou asked angrily as she stalked off to saddle Lightning.
“What in the hell was that all about?” Charlie asked
“I don’t know, but I bet it has somethin’ to do with him.” Sean responded quietly as Ben walked back into the camp, a dark frown marring his face.
“It’s too damned early for this!” Charlie groaned.
On to Chapter Four
