By Jessica
Copyright 1999
Lou was only vaguely aware of Ben falling to the floor in a jumbled heap. She was concentrated instead on the imposing man standing directly in front of her, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. Her nostrils were burning from the pungent odor he emitted. Cigar smoke mingled with cheap cologne used in place of regular bathing. She wrinkled her nose in distaste and suddenly the room was filled with booming laughter.
“I remember you now. You were one of Daniel’s punks. My how you’ve grown.” He said huskily as he lowered his gun. “If I had known you were a girl, I might have stayed around a little longer.”
Lou shook with fury at his entire attitude. He was obviously baiting her, but with arrogance believed she would do him no harm. After all, she was a female. In addition, his insinuations were becoming a bit uncomfortable. He looked at her as if he were undressing her with his eyes, and she knew that it would only be a few more minutes until he actually tried to. She shuddered inwardly as she remembered the stories of his brutality towards women that were exchanged in hushed tones among various ranch hands.
Lou’s eyes suddenly traveled to where Ben lay unconscious and bleeding profusely from his shoulder wound. His face was an alarming shade of white, and Lou was suddenly determined that she would not lose him as well. With a menacing flash in her eyes, she raised her gun, which seemed to weigh a ton in her shaking hands, and clicked back the hammer.
“That’s a dangerous toy Missy...don’t make me kill you too.” he said calmly, sneering at the wild trembling of her entire body.
“Don’t talk to me like that you coward! You murdered Daniel, and you’re going to pay.”
“Big words for a small gal like yourself. Now, if you put that gun down now, I won’t hurt you... too much.” he spoke as if she were a child. “Don’t underestimate me Stall...I’m going to kill you.” Lou replied, her voice dangerously low.
Maybe it was the tone of her voice, the look in her eyes, or the rigid way in which she held her body that made Stall consider her words seriously. She wasn’t shaking any longer and there was such anger and hate in her voice that it made him wince slightly. Suddenly she didn’t seem so small.
He knew he wouldn’t have time to shoot her and survive, and his mind worked furiously for a plan. Suddenly, he leapt at her, taking the girl by surprise. He struggled to get a grip on the gun, but she took advantage of her small size and evaded his hands with little effort. He encircled his large hands around her thin arms, trying to get a hold on her, but she suddenly brought her knee to his groin and he fell backwards, breathless.
Lou looked at him, sputtering incoherent exclamations of pain and felt a smile creep upon her face. He lay bent over for some time, clutching himself and cursing her to the High Heavens.
“Stand up.” Lou commanded fiercely. Stall complied with her order and stood glaring at her. “So, you’re going to murder me in cold blood girl?”
“That’s what you did to Daniel. Why did you have to kill him? He was one of the most decent men I’ve ever known. He worked hard for everything he had and you just murdered him...” Lou asked
“Daniel was weak. It’s survival of the fittest out here, you should know that by now girl.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. It’ll make it easier to kill you.” Lou said coldly as she raised the gun.
“You don’t have it in you. Think of what Daniel would have done.”
Before Lou could respond, a loud gunshot echoed in the small room and Stall fell to the hard floor with a thud. She looked at the gun in her hand in disbelief. She knew she hadn’t fired the shot, and it was then she spotted Ben, leaning on the wall, a grim look of satisfaction on his pale face. She immediately ran to his side and slung his arm around her shoulders for support.
“Lou--”
“Shh... it’s time to go home.” Lou interrupted gently. He looked at her, grateful that he didn’t have to speak.
Lou became aware of the eerie stillness of the house, and wondered how long the gunfire had been ceased. It seemed like an eternity since she had entered the house and found Charlie. Charlie. No one else knew of his fate yet, and she was determined to find out of the other boys were all right. There would be time later to tell Ben of their friend’s death.
She hobbled out of the room, barely able to support the much taller man, but her iron will kept them both upright as she walked through the darkened halls. She turned the corner and tears of relief and exhaustion sprang from her eyes as she saw Buck, Kid, Jimmy and Sean gathered in the center of the room, checking their foes for wounds. There weren’t may on Stall’s men left alive, but her boys were safe.
Kid was the first to notice Lou and Sean and he sprinted to her side, relieving her of her burden. “Lou-- what are you doin’ here?” he demanded.
“I couldn’t let you boys have all the fun, could I?” Lou replied, too tired to argue.
Kid smiled and pulled her to him, passing Ben off to Sean. “So, does this mean you’re not mad at us?” Kid whispered into her ear.
“Oh, I’m mad, but right now I’m just so happy that y’all weren’t hurt.” she replied, kissing him soundly on the lips.
“What about Stall?” Sean asked. “Dead.” Lou responded dully.
Kid looked at her in concern, but she waved him away. “Ben got him.” She explained simply. Her brows then knit in trepidation as she looked at the group. “Charlie... he didn’t make it.” she whispered sadly.
“We know-- we found him.” Buck explained gently.
“I suggest we get out of here before the rest of Stall’s men return.” Jimmy said gruffly, even as he touched Lou’s arm softly in sympathy.
The others nodded in agreement as they began to file out of the room. Jimmy and Buck guarding the prisoners in the front, Sean and Ben straggling behind them, and finally, Lou and Kid fingers tightly intertwined. Suddenly, Lou looked up at Kid.
“We can’t just leave Charlie.”
Kid nodded sadly and walked the short distance back to the house. He emerged a few moments later with Charlie cradled carefully in his strong arms. She exchanged weary smiles with Kid and the two joined the others. Lou knew something was wrong as soon as she saw the expression on Jimmy’s face.
“What is it?” She asked.
“Looks like we got company.” he said grimly. She walked past him and looked through the slats in the wood.
There had to be at least twenty men, and they were riding hell bent for leather. A feeling of dread formed in the pit of her stomach, and suddenly she felt they weren’t going to get out of there alive. Jimmy started spouting off orders to the others, but Lou wasn’t listening. Instead, she was concentrating on the lead rider and soon a wide smile spread across her tired face. She’d recognize the stocky man anywhere.
“It’s all right. It’s Teaspoon.” Lou said gleefully as she turned to the others.
Jimmy pushed past her and glanced at the riders again. He had the same expression on his face as Lou as he swung the heavy door open widely. It wasn’t long before their station master was before them, looking at them in a mixture of pride and relief.
“I thought you boys might need some help.”
Lou sat on the porch step, lazily reveling in the warmth of the golden sun as it reached it’s peak. It had only been a week since she had returned to the station, but it seemed like a hundred years. So much had happened to her in that short time. She felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and indeed maybe it had. For so long she had carried the guilt of not being able to bring the murderer of her friend to justice. Some might have argued that killing a man in cold blood wasn’t justice, but death was all a man like that deserved.
She heard footsteps behind her and glanced up at Ben. He didn’t seem so angry now and she suspected he felt the same way she did. He sat down beside her and smiled.
“Lou... I just want to apologize for the way I’ve treated you. It wasn’t fair and--”
“It’s all right Ben.” Lou said quietly. He looked into her warm brown eyes and knew that it was. He cleared his throat and looked around him, a bit uncomfortably. Lou watched him with a trace of amusement for a few moments before deciding to let him off the hook.
“So, where you headed after your shoulder gets all healed up?”
“I’m going out to California...I’m gonna start a ranch.”
“A ranch?? How are you goin’ to get the money for that?” Lou asked incredulous.
“I’ve saved up some money over the years, and Sean is coming along as my Partner. He can’t work in his father-in-law’s store forever. He’s got a family now.”
“Well that’s wonderful.” Lou smiled. “How long have you been planning all this?”
“Ever since Daniel told me that anything was possible.” Ben replied shyly. “Lou...are you happy here? What I mean is... you see...” he stopped his blustering and looked into her eyes. “Will you come out to California with us...with me?” Lou looked into his eyes, stunned. Never in a million years had she ever expected to receive a proposal like this, and from Ben no less. She sat speechless for a few moments before replying. “Ben...I love Kid, you know that.”
“I was afraid you were gonna say that. I wasn’t trying to come between you two...he’s a good man. It’s just that you never know until you ask.” he said sheepishly.
Lou leaned over and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. “You take care of yourself.”
“I promise.” He replied as he stood up and walked across the yard where Sean and Jimmy were testing their marksmanship.
Lou stood up and crossed her arms, leaning against one of the wooden support beams. She turned as the door opened and smiled as Kid approached her. His hands were stuffed into his pockets and his hair blew in the wind, making him look very boyish.
“So...am I goin’ to have to chase the two of you to California?” He said lightly, but Lou could see the anxiety in his eyes.
“Don’t be silly Kid... and how did you know he was going out to California?”
“He told me last night...and he told me he was going to ask you to go with him.”
“Kid! You know I love you.” Lou chided as she ran her hand down his smooth cheek.
“I know...but I don’t have anything to offer you and--”
“You have this.” Lou interrupted as she placed her small hand over his heart.
He looked at her, full of adoration before pulling her into an embrace. They stood like that for a few moments before Lou looked at him ruefully. “Maybe we should go inside. I think it would look funny to the townsfolk if they caught us.”
Kid started laughing and let her go. He turned to walk back into the house, but Lou caught his hand. “Kid, I just wanted to thank you for being there. I know you didn’t agree with what we were doin’--”
Kid silenced her words by bringing his finger to her lips. “Lou, I’ll always be there for you. No matter what.”
