They wound around the trail...the seemingly endless trail that spanned from the far West to the coastal East. Although they had been riding for most of the afternoon, Kid couldn’t help but feel as if they were no further than a few short miles from home. It was nice that the days were growing longer, and the sunlight stretched further into the evening. They would at least make better distance that way.

Marisa had wisely taken the “tongue-in-cheek” approach, and did not speak more than four words together. It was her way of convincing Kid that she really was the depressed and saddened widow, that she was not, and it also gave the perfect indication that she had no interest in him other than that of a friend. If all went well, she would make one of her more “seductive” approaches this time tomorrow.

“Those look like some pretty mean clouds up there,” Kid stated, wanting there to be some form of conversation, but yet trying to keep it on more neutral ground.

Marisa looked up in time to catch a flash of lighting tear across the sky. “How beautiful,” she exclaimed, listening to the thunder that followed nearly one second behind.

Kid remembered one of the few (if not only) valuable lessons that his father had taught him. He distinctly pictured sitting up his favorite tree when he heard an all-too familiar hollering from across the field. Instinctively he ducked, not wanting anyone to find him...at least not yet. It was one of the few places that he had to call his own.

“KID! KID!” The high pitch to his dad’s voice was supreme testimony to what kind of beating he would receive if he were not to climb down immediately and respond to the call.

“Over here, pa,” he remembered the tremble in his own voice as he responded, knowing that this would not be the end of his punishment.

With his long legs, Kid’s father had no trouble reaching his side in an instant. He waited for his son to touch the ground with both feet before he placed a hand on his shoulder and lead him back towards the house. “Son, I’ve tried to tell you this before. When you see lightening flash, and thunder right behind it, that means the storm is close....very close. You never sit in trees when that is happening, do you understand?”

Insecurely, he had nodded his head. “Yes pa, I understand.”

Kid was jarred back to the present when another streak crossed the sky, and a loud crackle ricocheted off of the air. “It may be beautiful, but it’s close...too close.” He darted his head around...looking for any type of shelter. “We’ve got to get out of this, now.”

Marisa thought briefly that she just might not have snagged such a good “catch” after all. Kid was starting to sound a little crazy her opinion, “What are you talking about?” She snapped before realizing that her tone was not the sensitive voice of the sweet girl she had been a few moments ago.

Her question was expeditiously answered when a bolt of lightening came down from the sky and struck the top of the only tree in the field. It spilt and burst with a loud explosion and Marisa’s eyes widened to twice their normal size. “I’ve...I’ve..I’ve never seen it do anything like that,” she stammered, afraid that she was really in for a lot more than she had bargained for.

Kid saw that she was stiff from fright and he jumped down from his horse and pulled her off of hers. “Yeah, well it looks a lot worse when it happens to people,” taking her by the hand, Kid found an area of the ground that was on a gradual slope. He pulled her down to the ground, forcing her to lay flat. “Stay down, and whatever you do, do not raise your head above the grass, you hear?”

Numb with terror, she nodded and swallowed hard. “What about the horses?” Marisa managed to whisper.

Looking over to were Katy and Marisa’s horse were standing, he brought his head back down. “They’ll be fine. There’s not much we can do about them anyway,” he said, trying to convince himself that his beloved horse would be better off on her own than having him try to tie her to something.

Two seconds later, another flash burst across the sky and crackled in rage at the same time. Marisa flinched and covered her ears with her hands. She was hating this with deeper passion than she had ever known. For the first time in her life, she was no longer in control...but was being told what to do by a force 300 times more powerful than herself.

The horses panicked as the second bolt blazed the sky and took off running in separate directions. Marisa started to scream in fear and rose to stop hers as it passed by, but Kid sensed her motion and jerked her back down towards the ground. “Stay down!” He ordered with a force stronger than he knew was possible.

She began sobbing into the ground, “We’re going to die! We’re going to die,” Marisa repeated over and over.

Something in her words sparked a memory from within Kid’s mind that he had long since chosen to forget. The vision of a young boy...his best friend, surfaced and the horrible event rehashed itself...almost as if he were watching it first-hand again.

“Hey Kid, look at this!” Twelve-year-old Dwayne had yelled in laughter from the their favorite tree. He flipped himself upside down and swung back and forth, all the while giggling at his own little feats. “Aw, come on Kid, don’t be a sissy! Climb up here and try it!”

Kid looked up to the sky, just as he had on that very afternoon. The sky was darker than dark...almost giving the appearance of night time. “I think we better get inside,” he had spoken, not afraid to admit his intimidation by the sinister weather.

Sunlight had become non-existent, and there was a foreboding silence before he had heard a rumble, bright flash of light, and his mind went fuzzy as he was knocked on his back.

Then, when it cleared, the sounds of Dwayne’s laughter had disappeared, instantaneously. Once Kid had been able to clear his mind long enough to think straight and sit up, he looked around frantically only to find that his friend had vanished without a trace.

The tree which had once stood tall and majestic had been torn from its roots and was tossed ten feet away from where it had previously been planted...stripped of all leaves, branches, and more horrifyingly, it had become void of a young boy who had sat upon it three short minutes ago....

“Mark, have you gone out of your wits!?” Lou exclaimed as he continued to drag her across the street and up the stairs to the hotel. She was concerned at what he was about to display to her...especially if it might be dreadful news having to do with Marisa. But how could he possibly know anything about her? “Mark, I mean it, you’re starting to worry me here!”

Not reacting to her pleas, he brought her to the top floor and pulled out the key to his room. Opening the door, he released her hand and allowed her to enter without being drug along behind. Without speaking, he tore into the pile of papers spread out across the bed.

Lou watched him with her mouth parted slightly. She didn’t think that she had ever seen so many different newspapers and periodicals in one confined area before. Gently, she stooped down and picked up the papers off of the floor as they fell in his scramble. All of the headlines that she saw had something to do with people...and/or major historical events.

Mark breathed a sigh of relief as he uncovered the one particular article that he had been searching for. He glanced over it just to make sure that the name was correct before he made any presumptions. “This ought to be enough evidence to stir up something,” he said, handing her the article.

Reaching for it with an onslaught of trembling fingers, Lou took it from his clutches. Fear gripped at her from all sides, although she knew not why until she read the last part where it mentioned a name...one that was strikingly similar to that of another young lady. In fact, it was the exact same...Hugh. “I don’t understand...how can this be, and what’s it got to do with Marisa?”

Mark took the paper back from her, “It says here her two daughters pleaded for her release. Louise, do you realize what this could mean? Marisa could easily be the daughter of an insane woman.”

Lou gasped at the revelation. What if her instincts had been right all along? What if there was a whole other realm of plots behind this? Worst of all, what if she was mad, like her mother, and had an ulterior motive for lying to Kid? The questions repeated over and over in her mind, and Lou knew that there was no way possible that anyone could tie her down from chasing after them.

After all, it had been hard enough before she knew something malignant might be about to occur...and now that there was even the slightest indication of trouble, she was going to use every means possible to put a stop to it all.

Looking up to Mark for support, she swallowed and placed her hand on her throat to help ward off the choking sensation. “Mark, I have to find a way to prove that there might be a connection...and then, I have to go after them.”

It came about exactly as he knew it would be from the moment he placed the paper in her hands. Mark came over and put his arm around her, hugging her tightly. She closed her eyes and sank into his embrace. “I know, Louise...I knew you would have to. But you aren’t going to do this alone, we’re in on this one together.”

Lou clutched on to him tighter, drawing strength from the sincerity of his friendship and love towards her. She knew that from here on in, she and Mark Twain were going to have to be a team in every step that they took. This was going to be an embarkment with unforeseen dangers and obstacles, some of which would be undoubtedly more terrifying than others.

But she had supreme reassurance of one thing...they would stick together no matter what.

Realizing she was nearing a desperate state of shock and fear, the young girl dismounted from her horse and frantically made her way up the steps. She closed her eyes and prayed that this was the right place...she couldn’t afford to be making a mistake, not now after traveling so far. And specifically not because of the impending danger directed towards those involved.

Clutching her fists tightly together, she mustered all the energy that remained inside of her and pounded on the door three times...hoping to rouse whomever might be inside.

She had to admit that it surprised her greatly when a woman dressed in fairly simple clothes answered the door with a bowl full of food. It was, after all, nearing 8 o’clock...an odd time to be eating dinner. Her other suspicion was the main factor that this was supposed to be a Pony Express station, not a residence. A feeling of sadness swept over her as she realized that perhaps this was not where she wanted to be after all.

“Excuse me,” she said calmly. “I’m looking for the Pony Express riders of Rock Creek. I must speak with one of the riders.”

Rachel wrinkled her brow and mechanically opened the door. “Won’t you come in.”

“Thank you,” the young girl replied. “Is this the station?”

Nodding in affirmation, Rachel ushered her into a room in which three other men sat at a table. The eldest one, she noticed, couldn’t possibly have been a Pony Express rider. He was much too old...and once she spotted the badge on his shirt, she figured that he was just an “overseer” of sorts.

“I’m sorry for this intrusion,” she spoke meekly, feeling insecure with so many eyes on her at once. It had seemed like ages since she had last carried on a normal conversation with anyone but her employer...and he didn’t count. Half of the time he wanted her company, he had been disgustingly drunk...and usually passed out on the floor before two words had been exchanged. It was not exactly her ideal basis for friendship.

“Is there something we can help you with, Miss....?” The Marshal asked, rising from his chair. Teaspoon found himself enamored by her outward charm. Her brown eyes were clearly troubled, and it pained him to see that such a young lady would be carrying so much distress...just in her expression.

Feeling a lump in her throat at kindness she had not experienced in two years at least, she blinked back tears. “Joann...Joann...actually, just plain Joann,” it was silly not to mention a last name, but with not knowing this people...or whom exactly she could trust, she chose to remain slightly more anonymous.

“I know this may sound strange coming from a complete stranger...”

Jimmy cut her off with a reassuring smile, “If you’ll tell us what’s troubling you, it might not sound as strange as you think.” Noah agreed and offered her a seat, which she gladly took.

“There was a rider that passed through the town where I’m from a few days ago. He was an Indian, I believe,” she paused, hoping that someone might say they knew who he was. Attentive eyes pressed her on and it was apparent in their faces that they knew who it was that she was referring to. “I know that you may not understand what I’m saying, but this gentleman was given a message from my employer. This message is one that carries a lot more to it than I can even begin to explain. But I must speak to your rider named “Kid”...this is a matter of life and death.”

Shocked faces and half-flabbergasted gazes almost made her want to flee the room. Joann thought about leaving, but the approach of two other visitors forced her to reconsider. A young woman with short hair and another gentleman...obviously her escort for the evening, entered the room.

“What’s going on here?” Louise asked as she stepped in and noticed the newcomer.

Rachel stood up, after being forced to seat herself at the news. She motioned towards the table, “This is Joann, she says that she needs to speak to Kid.”

“She’s not the only one,” Lou mumbled sarcastically under her breath, not trusting the girl for a second. This was not the sort of thing that she needed right now. As far as she was concerned the entire world was going to have to stop until she was on her way and had put and end to this mess.

“Lou,” Teaspoon started, not wanting to stir too much excitement at one time, “This young lady says that she has something important to tell Kid. It has to do with a message that he was sent a few days ago.”

Mark and Lou stiffened at the same time. “You mean the message from Seth?”

Joann shook her head. “No, actually it was not from Seth. That’s what they wanted him to believe.”

“Who?” Came three inquiries at the same time.

“My employer, and,” Joann lowered her head, ashamed about what she was about to confess. She had spent so many months denying who she was that it had almost caused her to convince herself that she was no longer the same person. “My sister,” she continued.

“Your sister?” Lou gasped. “But, I mean, you...wait, you mean you’re sister is Marisa!?” It seemed the only logical explanation...and was ingeniously, the correct one.

“Yes, Marisa Hugh is my sister.”

Mark took a seat and digested every piece of information. He was going to have this resolved, and solved before the evening was over. And, if he was correct in his assumptions, it was all going to fit together perfectly by the time he was finished. “Your name isn’t ‘Joann’, is it?”

Ashamed that she had taken on a new identity, she shook her head and could not bring herself to make eye contact. “No, it isn’t. My real name is Claire...Claire Hugh. So many things have happened, things I can’t explain. I had to make a new start for myself. Please, don’t tell anyone,” her soft eyes glazed with tears as she looked up at him for the first time. “Please,” she whispered.

He patted her hand, “There’s no reason to tell. Just answer me this...is your mother’s name Lydia?”

The name rang out like a gunshot in her ears. She froze, hoping never to be known as the daughter of a certified insane woman...and worst still a murderer. “Yes.”

Standing up, Mark walked over to Lou and stood before her face to face. Her gaze was fixed downward. So it was true...all of it. She had wished that it wouldn’t be...that Mark would be mistaken in his assumptions as well as her own. Kid wasn’t really out there with someone that could prove to be a criminal of sorts, nor was any of this information true validity. But it was, in the worst imaginable way.

Mark touched her cheek, reading her thoughts, “We’re riding out tomorrow, Louise. We have our proof, and we’re going to bring him home safely...I promise you.”

On to Chapter Eleven

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