The morning dew had settled on the ground, which made Rachel's feet cold as she stepped down the stairs and into the street. "Noah, I thought I asked you to bring the supplies into the house, so I wouldn't have to go to the barn and get them." She mumbled to herself.
Turning towards the beautiful sunrise, she spotted a rider approaching fast from the horizon. She stopped and waited for the figure to grow closer so he could be identified. Finally, she saw the brown shimmer of their newest horse recently added to the lot. With a warm smile, she greeted Kid. "How'd she do?" She inquired.
"Great! "Almost as good as Katy, but then no horse in this territory can match her." He slid from the saddle.
Rachel lightly touched his shoulder. He won't be this happy once he finds out Lou's ridden out. She thought to herself. "Yeah, well let me take her for you. You look tired, and you've been riding all night."
He smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Rachel." Although they left one exhausted, night rides by the moonlight had always been one of Kid's favorite to make. It was a relaxing time to think without the pounding rays of the sun's heat.
"Oh Kid." Rachel called out as she turned back around.
He stopped and faced her. "Yeah?"
She thought about waiting to tell Kid about Lou's note, but realized what he'd do to her if she had delayed in telling him until later. "Lou, Jimmy, and Stacy had to ride off towards Kansas City. She wanted me to make sure and let you know that she'd written you a note explaining everything."
His look turned worried. "Was it something important?" After he said it, Kid realized that had been a semi-dumb question, they wouldn't have left if there hadn't been something important. "Where's the note?"
She pointed towards the house. "It's on the mantle over the fireplace."
Without a second thought, he took off towards the house and bounded up the steps. He opened the door and dashed over to where the letter was carefully propped between the small clock Rachel had treasured, and a flower vase. He gently reached up and pulled it down. Unfolding it, he began to read the neatly-written writings.
To my dearest Kid,
I trust that you've had a safe journey, and that the new horse Cody almost broke his back breaking in, ran like the wind. Katy always seems to miss you when you're gone.
By now Rachel's obviously told you that Jimmy, Stacy, and myself had to ride off towards Kansas City. I can't go into it now, but something happened with Stacy's brother, and now some men are trying to kill her. We have to find some documents that will clear her brother. I'm sorry that I can't be there to tell you this and explain. Please don't worry about us, Jimmy is here, and Stacy knows how to handle herself too. I sure do miss you already. We'll be back soon, and then you better take me to dinner like you keep promising!
All my love,
Louise
Kid clutched the letter tighter in his grip. He hesitated for a moment before going back outside and straight to the bunkhouse.
Rachel who had watched the scene followed him, trotting behind trying to catch up with his long strides. "Kid, don't do anything foolish like going after them. You know Lou meant what she said. They'll be fine out there. So go get some sleep."
He stopped only momentarily. "I can't stay here knowing they are out there. Don't ask me to do anything other than join them." With his firm tone (the one that was very rarely expressed from Kid), she knew better than to argue.
Nodding understandingly, she added. "I'll go get you some food to take."
"Ow, what was that!?" Stacy yelped slightly as she sprung from her blanket next to Lou's. She looked down to see her arm scratched and bleeding slightly.
Lou sounded worried, in spite of her grogginess. "What happened? Did something bite you?"
At their raised voices, Jimmy sat up straight. He shook his head as if trying to cast the sleepiness from his eyes. He hated being awakened rapidly by something like a squeal, or gunshot. "Is everything okay?"
Grabbing her friend's arm, Lou examined it carefully. Stacy struggled slightly trying to pull away. "I'll be fine, it's just a scratch."
"Looks like you might have been bitten. Oh my gosh Stacy, if it was a snake...." Lou cupped her hand over her mouth.
"Yeah, well if I'm going to die, it would be the first time anyone's ever died from a tumbleweed branch." She pointed down at her bed, where there were several prickly branches sprawled on her blanket. Lou sighed with relief. She didn't know what they would do had it been something poisonous.
Jimmy dusted off his hat before putting it back on his head. "You two sure know how to make a fuss about something important." He let the sarcastic tone of his voice ooze out.
Louise rose and began rummaging through her bags. "Well, I guess since nobody's going to die, we better have some breakfast and get goin'!"
Her two companions agreed quite readily. There wasn't much time for them to think about food, however, when that old familiar gruff voice from the men they had run into the previous day approached from all sides, surrounding them. "Mind if we join you?"
Jimmy couldn't help but moan. "Oh great. And before breakfast too."
On to Chapter Eight