By Kirsten Page
Jimmy stood in the door way and gently rested against the wall. The sentence he spoke clearly stated that it wasn't open for discussion, he was going.
Lou apparently wasn't surprised as she turned her attention back to Stacy. "Where should we start?"
The young woman looked at them both with appreciation spelled across her face. "Thank you, but I don't want either of you going. This is something that I should take care of. Besides, you have a responsibility here." Getting up, Stacy hoped that would be the end of the conversation. But of course it wasn't....which honestly didn't astonish her at all, Jimmy had proved to be just as strong-willed as her friend.
"All the more reason for us to go so we can hurry up and get back." Jimmy turned to leave. "I'll get the horses ready and tell Teaspoon."
"I guess we should start back where my brother was working." Stacy offered.
Lou grabbed her hat. "Okay, meet you outside in a few minutes then." Stacy nodded.
Just as Lou was closing the door behind her, she turned around quickly. "Um, you don't have some writing paper do you?" She fiddled with her hands slightly and then tucked them in her pockets.
There was a slight smile forming at the edges of Stacy's lips. It took her one brief second to figure out why she'd need it, then it hit her like ton of bricks. "Of course I do." She reached down into her bag and pulled out a book in which there was some nicely folded writing paper. Handing it to Lou she added, "Would you please put in there something short and sweet about how I'm sorry to drag you away like this." There was a slight pause. "Oh, and that I really am sorry about this morning!"
Trying to conceal her surprise she almost exclaimed. "How did you know!?"
Stacy put her hand on her hips. "How did I know what?"
Lou looked down at the sheet of paper that was now folded between her fingers. "Nothing."
She smiled before grabbing the few belongings that she was taking, and collected the things she would leave at the bunkhouse. Without another word she started to leave the room walking right past Lou. "Don't 'nothing' me...I'm not blind you know! I saw how you two looked at each other, I mean for crying out loud he was up saying goodbye to you this morning, and.....nevermind." She watched as Lou turned a bright shade of red.
They both laughed together once more. Lou chortled. "That's how you knew."
Stacy shrugged. "Well that was kind of a give-away. But I'd say you've done really well for yourself, at least from what I've seen so far!"
Lou somewhat hesitantly agreed. "Yeah, I guess. There's always others to consider." She had always been a bit confused about her relationship with Jimmy. Only a few weeks ago he had acted as if he was in love with her. If only he'd come right out and tell her!
The proceeded down the stairs. "If you're not sure, then that means I could have a go at it." Stacy turned to her friend with a evil, teasing smirk.
"Now wait a minute, I didn't say that....." Lou quickly added before Stacy cut her off by lightly grabbing her arm playfully.
"I was only teasing. Besides, Hickok seems kinda sweet too."
Lou agreed with a sigh. "That he is." She paused for a moment. "I'll meet you outside, I have something to write real quick."
Jimmy was waiting outside with their horses saddled and ready. He graciously took the few bags that Stacy was leaving behind and took them over to the bunkhouse.
He returned within only a few minutes of leaving. "Are you two about ready?" Looking over at Stacy, he noticed that she had made as much of a transformation as Lou could. She was now dressed in pants, and her hair was tucked up under her hat. Oh no, I never thought there'd be another Lou.... still, it's kind of a nice thought. Unaware, Jimmy cracked a smile, which brought a question to Stacy's mind, but before she could ask him about it, Lou approached.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Stacy answered, realizing several moments had passed before she had answered his inquiry. She mounted her midnight black stallion, who was anxious and ready to go.
Lou hoisted herself up onto Lightning. Still some doubts of what she was doing couldn't help but cross her mind. This is the right thing to do. "I have to stop by and give something to Rachel first."
They both nodded and followed right behind her. As they approached the station, Lou hopped down and quickly ran in to give Kid's letter to the one person she knew she could trust.
Being only gone a few moments, Lou ran back outside and jumped onto Lightning's back with amazing speed. "Let's go!"
Jimmy raised his hand. "Wait, where is it that we're going?" Funny, they hadn't even told him where he was going, and maybe that was odd to some people, but Hickok liked to at least have a little bit of an idea.
Lou looked over at Stacy who then looked over at Jimmy. "Kansas City."
The face that was once a healthy flesh-colored shade, turned ghostly pale. "Kansas City, as in Kansas....or Missouri?"
"Kansas. Well actually since they connect it'll probably be both. Like Lou said, let's go!" Stacy took off and headed out of town, not giving him a chance to argue.
Jimmy and Lou waited a few moments before following her. "She's kidding, right?" He could think of a million places he'd rather be than back in his home-state of Kansas. But a promise is a promise, and Jimmy did say that he'd go.
"You don't have to go." Lou took off after Stacy and didn't wait for Jimmy's reply. She knew his feelings about that place, but she also knew his loyaties....and had no doubt that she'd hear the rythmic sound of his horse's hoof beats behind.
He let out a heavy sigh and groan. "Yeah I do."
On to Chapter Seven