By Beth Goodman
Copyright 1999
III. Poor, Unfortunate Souls
"We're in...all of us."
"Good," Teaspoon declared, feeling the warmth of pride sweep over him as he looked at the determined expressions of the Express riders that he had come to know and love as 'his boys'. "I was hopin' you'd say that," Teaspoon smiled.
"Now, we've gotta decide who's goin' to Fort Kearny to explain what happened to the army." Teaspoon's brief smile of satisfaction was replaced by the look showing he was all business.
Although the riders were all willing to help Teaspoon in this new predicament, they were none too eager to be riding out into the storm that continued to rage through Sweetwater and the surrounding territory. The rain was pelting the Earth like bullets with the violent sound of thunder crashing down around them. No one spoke for a while, as Lou and the boys just glanced at each other, wondering which poor, unfortunate souls among them would be sent out into the eye of the storm.
Teaspoon noticed the reluctance to volunteer within the group. "Don't all volunteer to go at once," Teaspoon stated sarcastically.
"I'll go," a voice called out.
Everyone turned to face Lou, who had so boldly stepped up to the challenge. No one was really surprised that she'd be one to accept such a task. She always felt the need to prove herself even though she had done so long ago. Still, they all could not help hoping that she would just stay back in Sweetwater until they get the information they needed to ride out and find the murders. Besides the weather, there was the added danger that the killers would be looking to shoot anything on a horse with the hopes of getting rid of the rider who witnessed the murders and the robbery of the army documents.
Everybody held their tongues and did their best not to reveal their worries. However, Kid couldn't help showing his frustration at her decision to go. And his body language made it apparent to all.
Lou saw that everyone was staring at her, not saying anything. She was beginning to get annoyed, realizing that her fellow riders were worried that she could not handle the ride under such turbulent conditions. "What? I've ridden in worse weather than this in runs further than Fort Kearny," Lou stated defensively.
Finally, Teaspoon broke the silence, trying to appease Lou. "We know that, Lou. And we don't question you're ability to ride like the best of us. It's just..." Teaspoon stopped himself mid-sentence, averting his eyes from the spirited young woman whose anger he knew he'd evoke if he went any further with this statement.
He recognized the fact that Lou knew all to well what he was leading to. He stroked his chin pensively as, suddenly, Teaspoon was at a loss for words. He did not want to tell Lou that she couldn't go because she's a girl, and, frankly, Teaspoon couldn't think of any other legitimate reason why she should not go.
"Just what, Teaspoon?" Lou asked, though she already knew the answer to the question. And it was something that she did not want to hear, not under any circumstance. Now Lou was even more determined to go.
"Uh, nothin', Lou," Teaspoon replied sheepishly. "You'll ride out first thing in the mornin'."
Kid seemed to be holding his breath when he heard Teaspoon say that Lou could ride to Fort Kearny. He would not be able to deal with anything bad happening to Lou. Kid was about to protest the decision when he was interrupted by Teaspoon.
"And I want Jimmy and Cody to go with ya. We might need a few more guns on this one, Lou, and I don't wanna take any chances in the message not goin' through."
Cody and Jimmy sighed heavily at the thought of having to go out in what appeared was fast turning into a monsoon, but for once, they did not voice any objection.
Lou glanced at Jimmy and Cody and nodded understandingly. "Alright, Teaspoon."
Kid released the breath he had been holding, feeling a little more assured and his mind a bit more at ease since he knew that Jimmy and Cody would be going with Lou. Kid knew that Jimmy would watch out for Lou, as he had often done. Plus, if there were anyone he'd want going with Lou other than himself, it would probably be Jimmy. Though he and Jimmy have had their differences, many of them involving Lou, Kid's trust in Jimmy remained strong. Besides, Cody would also be there. And as much as Cody liked to joke around and have his fun, he was capable of being serious and doing his duty when the times required it. Kid knew that Jimmy and Cody would do their utmost to see that nothing happened to Lou. He just prayed that it wouldn't even come to that.
IV. The Morning After
The sun failed to shine on the morning when the journey to Fort Kearny was to commence. The rain continued to fall from the sky relentlessly and with as much force as it had the day before. Nobody in the bunkhouse had gotten much sleep that night. Their minds raced with thoughts of Michael and the hell he had been put through as well as the potentially dangerous mission that they were all about to undertake. Furthermore, the deafening sound of thunder crashing in the distance did nothing to aid their escape into the world of dreams.
All the riders were out of bed exceptionally early that morning to see Jimmy, Cody, and Lou as they embarked on their trip to Fort Kearny. It was unusual that Kid, Ike, Buck, and Noah were awake at such an hour, especially without being dragged from their bunks, on a day when there was no delivery for them to make. But they all wanted to be up to wish their fellow Pony Express workers a safe ride. Everyone's hearts weighed heavy with apprehension and their thoughts were filled with trepidation as they watched the three riders prepare for the journey that would set the rest of the mission into action.
Jimmy, Cody, and Lou gathered the necessary gear in silence. Even Cody's typically jovial mood would not surface. They all realized how important their task was. They knew that they had to get to Fort Kearny as fast as they could to notify the army of the robbery. Then they would have to return to Sweetwater just as quickly to gather Teaspoon, Michael, and the rest of the riders so they could ride out after the horrible men who committed such a heinous crime. It was not easy having so much pressure hovering over them, knowing that if they failed, or were delayed too much because of the storm, it would be too late and justice might never be served.
Ike and Noah sat gloomily around the bunkhouse table barely touching their coffees while Kid and Buck were in the stables saddling up the horses for Lou, Cody, and Jimmy. Rachel was packing some food for the riders to take on their trip, and Teaspoon was writing a message to Lieutenant Davies at Fort Kearny explaining the situation.
Teaspoon completed the letter, folded it, and placed it in an envelope handing it to Lou. "I know I don't have to tell any of ya how important this is," he spoke solemnly. "Just make sure you give this to Lieutenant Davies. He knows me, and if anyone will believe you and help you, it'll be him."
Lou accepted the letter and secured it safely away in her leather saddle bag where it would remain unmarred by the rain. She looked over to Cody and Jimmy, who were making sure they had plenty of ammunition, and waited for acknowledgement that they were ready to begin the perilous trek.
"Let's go," Jimmy declared as he pulled on his coat followed by his black leather gloves.
All the bunkhouse occupants made their way outside and onto the covered porch where Buck and Kid met them with the horses.
"Please take care of yourselves," Rachel called out.
"We will, Rachel," Lou replied, enfolding Rachel into a quick embrace.
Teaspoon looked hard at his three riders, placing one arm on Jimmy's shoulder and the other on Lou's. "Boys...Lou...just remember, no matter what happens, at least one of ya's gotta get through to Fort Kearny to deliver the message. We're all countin' on ya." The three winced at the thought of something so bad occurring that they would have to leave another behind.
"Now, ride safe," were Teaspoon's final words.
Jimmy, Lou, and Cody mounted their trusty steeds, and with a slap of the reins, they were on their way to Fort Kearny. As the storm raged around them, they could barely make out the familiar cries of the other riders to "Ride safe."
Lou glanced back behind her as she rode out to see the rapidly shrinking figure of Kid obscured by the pouring rain and fading fast behind the horizon.
Lou admitted to herself that she was truly scared of what they might face on their endeavor. But she also knew that it was something she had to do, if not for herself, for Michael.
On to Part Three
