A Life Less Ordinary

Louise McCloud Brookfield could smell that her strawberry muffins were done. Rachel had taught her to use her nose to figure out when food was done in the cook stove, since Lou couldn’t keep the old stove at a constant temperature. Most of her first baking ventures had been disastrous, but she was steadily improving. As she carefully pulled the muffins out of the old stove, she could see they were absolutely perfect. She smiled with satisfaction.

At first, Lou was tempted to sample one of her creations, but that thought was pushed aside as a wave of nausea swept over her. At five months into her pregnancy, she had little desire to eat, and it was usually accompanied by an overreaction to smells. Louise often found herself vomiting at the drop of a hat, but she did her best to conceal it, knowing Kid would spend all his time worrying about her instead of the criminals he was supposed to apprehend and guard as Rock Creek’s deputy marshall.

She rushed through the tiny dwelling and opened all the windows, letting the fresh spring breeze in to clear out the smell. Once the muffins had cooled, she carefully placed them in a basket, walked out the door, and descended the stairs to the alley.

“Well if you don’t brighten up this sorry little place, I don’t know what will,” Teaspoon announced at Louise’s arrival at the jail.

“I brought you all somethin’,” she told Teaspoon and Kid. “Somethin’ I baked,” she added proudly.

Teaspoon’s eyes widened. Lou was not known for her cooking skills; rather her lack of skills in the kitchen. “Well, now...” the marshall was at a loss for words.

“Aw, Teaspoon, she’s been practicin’,” Kid told him. “You know how roly-poly the stray dogs around here are gettin’. That’s from Lou’s cookin’. Anything she thinks ain’t fit to eat she feeds to them,” he continued. Looking to Louise and smiling he said, “These must be good or you wouldn’ta brought ‘em.”

Kid helped himself to one of the muffins, taking a big bite out of the largest muffin he could find in the basket. Despite his confident words to Teaspoon, he was somewhat leery of what they might taste like, but he knew Lou had been working hard on her cooking, and he didn’t want to discourage her in any way. To his delight, the muffins were delicious.

“Mmm!” Kid mumbled, his mouth full. “They’re good, Teaspoon. Try ‘em!”

“Teaspoon, you’re gettin’ too conservative in your old age. Ya gotta live a little,” Kid prodded him.

“Naw, Kid. That’s what yer here for,” Teaspoon reminded him. “I done my livin’. Well, most of it. And I’d like to keep livin’, if ya know what I mean.”

“Well Kid ain’t keelin’ over dead, so they must be fine,” Lou said haughtily.

Walking over to the corner cell, she held out the basket of muffins to the man behind the bars. He was tall, she could tell. And muscular. He had a square jaw and eyes that were a brighter blue than Kid’s, if that was possible. His ebony hair was the darkest she’d ever seen, and he needed a shave.

There was a slight smile from the man as he reached through the bars for a muffin from the basket.

“Thanks,” he said with his mouth full. “They are good. Maybe you could give my sister lessons.” Lou heard a distinct Irish accent in his words.

“I think it’s a tad early for that,” Kid warned. “Lou, ‘member what we talked about?”

Ignoring her husband, who didn’t want her fraternizing with the inmates, Louise asked, “Who’s your sister?”

“Her name’s Margaret Macauley,” he answered. “Ya prob’ly ain’t seen her around ‘cause she’s out doin’, I don’t know, whatever she does,” he added with frustration.

“I’d love to meet her some time, Mr. Macauley,” Louise answered. “She about my age?” she asked hopefully.”

“I s’pose,” he answered. “She’s nearin’ eighteen, but ya wouldn’t know it seein’ the way she acts.”

“I’m eighteen,” Louise told him. “I’d love to meet her. We might end up bein’ friends.” After Noah and Cassie’s wedding the month before, they’d moved up north to Wisconsin, where they were helping former slaves start new lives in the free state, or aiding them in their continuing journey to freedom in Canada. Louise desperately missed the company of a woman her own age. Rachel was so busy with the school and her ranch and Kid was sometimes gone for days at a time or awakened in the middle of the night by some disturbance at the saloon. Lou longed for a friend she could spend time with, chatting away the hours.

“Does your sister know you’re here?” Louise suddenly asked suspiciously. Before hearing the answer, she turned to Kid and said, “What’s he in for, anyhow?”

“Public drunkenness,” Kid answered simply. “Started a brawl at the saloon, so we brought him here to sleep it off.”

“Well he looks perfectly sober to me,” she declared. “You should let him go before his sister finds out. If I know women, she’ll be madder than a hornet’s nest if she finds ‘im here.”

“That we don’t need,” Teaspoon declared. “One woman arguin’ for your release is about all I can handle today, Macauley.” He took the keys out from his drawer and walked over to the cell, unlocking and opening the door. Macauley was free to go.

“Ma’am,” he said, placing his hat on his head and tipping it to Lou as Kid handed him his gunbelt.

“Don’t be usin’ that thing, Patrick,” Kid advised. “We surely don’t want to upset your sister now do we?”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Patrick Macauley answered as he left the Rock Creek jail.

Without a prisoner to guard, Teaspoon encouraged Kid to take a break and spend some time with Louise. The young deputy would be leaving town as soon as the marshal from Falls City arrived with a prisoner that was being sent to Fort Kearney for hanging.

Kid and Louise walked along the boardwalk of Rock Creek, hand in hand, needing no words to express what they were feeling. Once the boardwalk ended, they continued walking, out onto the Nebraska prairie, where the bright spring sun caught the gold highlights in Lou’s auburn hair. Kid reached down and picked some wildflowers. He stopped Louise, and turning her to face him, carefully placed the delicate flowers in her hair near her ear. Lou giggled and turned away. Kid gently grabbed her arm, pulling her towards him. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her as she wrapped her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his sandy hair.

“It’s just, Teaspoon thinks I gotta have experience in ‘all aspects of the job’ before he’ll recommend me as his replacement to the territorial governor,” Kid continued.

“Kid?!” Lou answered incredulously. “I ain’t a child. I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can, honey, I just worry is all. ‘Specially with this little one comin’,” he told her, his hand stroking her rounded stomach. “You ain’t been eatin’ enough as it is.”

“That’s ‘cause I ain’t hungry, Kid,” Lou told him. “Me stayin’ with Rachel ain’t gonna change that. Nothin’ll happen, Kid. You can’t be worryin’ about me when you’re takin’ that murderer to Kearney.”

“I can’t help it, Lou. I love you. If anything bad happened to you, I don’t know what I’d do, ‘specially after what we already been through.”

Louise smiled. “You know, Kid, I never worry ‘cause I know you worry enough for the both of us.”

Kid laughed. “You’re prob’ly right. But you gotta promise me you’ll get your gun out and make sure it’s clean.”

Lou touched Kid’s nose with her finger. “Okay. I promise, you big ol’ worry wart.” Then suddenly she realized how truly lonely she would be while he was away. She buried her face in his chest, taking in the smell of him, never wanting to forget this moment. “You’ll be careful, won’t you, Kid?” she asked, not wanting him to see the fear in her eyes. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”

The Falls City marshal arrived shortly before supper. Kid wanted to get his journey over with as quickly as possible, so he wolfed down some beef stew before kissing Lou, mounting Katy, and leading the prisoner west towards Fort Kearney.

Louise waved as she watched him leave, a strange emptiness in her heart. She stroked her stomach, drawing comfort from the fact that a part of Kid was with her even when he was gone. She thought about walking out to Rachel’s, but it was already dusky and she decided it probably wasn’t the best idea. Remembering her earlier promise to Kid, she dug out her six-shooter from her Express days and began cleaning it.

After cleaning her gun and making sure it was easily accessible in the night stand next to the bed, Louise took a long, hot bubble bath to ease her aching muscles. She couldn’t imagine four more months of this. And then the labor. That was what scared her the most. She knew of women that died giving birth. She shuddered to think of it, so Lou let her thoughts wander to names for the baby. It was a given that if the child was a girl, she’d be named after both Kid and Louise’s mothers, Mary-Katherine, or Mary-Kate. Louise wanted to name her son after Kid, Jackson Lee Brookfield, but Kid wanted no part of that. He thought it was bad enough he had the name, much less passing it on to a helpless infant. Louise smiled as she remembered the conversation:

“Kid, for heaven’s sake, what’s so bad about it?” she’d wanted to know. “It’s a perfectly good name!”

“Well, for starters, it’s so, so, pretentious sounding,” he told her. “It might be okay in Virginia, where folks name their sons Ashley and Shelby, but in Rock Creek? I don’t want my son bein’ the butt of jokes at school just ‘cause we couldn’t think up a better name.”

“We could call him Jack,” Lou suggested. “There’s nothin’ pretentious about that! It’s a good, strong name. And no one would even have to know he’s named after you.”

“Ike was a nickname. It had to be,” Lou answered. “No one names their child plain old Ike. We don’t even know what Ike’s given name was anyhow. Why don’t you just name the poor thing after Teaspoon for goodness sakes!”

Kid had laughed at that thought. “Buck might know,” he said in response to her comment about Ike’s name.

“Fine then,” Louise replied. “You find out and get back to me. Otherwise this child’s gonna be No Name Brookfield. That won’t get him teased at school at all,” she added sarcastically. **

A knock at the door brought Louise out of her daydream. She rolled her eyes as she reached for her robe. Kid probably had Buck or Teaspoon checking up on her.

“Just a minute!” she called to whomever was at the door. Just to be safe, she grabbed her gun and stuck it in the belt of her robe behind her back.

Lou opened the door, expecting to see someone she knew; if not Buck or Teaspoon, then some other Rock Creek resident requiring the deputy marshal’s assistance. She was surprised to see a young black woman not much older than herself carrying a tiny bundle, what Louise assumed to be an infant. The girls clothes were tattered and Lou could see fear and desperation in her eyes.

“Pardon me, ma’am,” the girl said. “I’m looking for Miss Cassie. I can’t seem to find her no where and someone told me you was a friend of hers.”

The spring night was still chilly, and the girl on the landing looked so pathetic. Louise invited her in.

“You look hungry,” Lou told her. “I’ve got some beef stew. Would you care for some?”

“No, ma’am. I’m just fine,” the girl answered. “I don’t wanna be no bother.”

“It ain’t a bother,” Lou insisted, preparing a plate despite the girl’s protests. Trying to make conversation, she asked, “How old’s your baby?”

“That’s a nice name,” Lou replied. “It’s funny, I was just thinkin’ up names for mine.” She sat down next to the table across from the girl. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Louise Brookfield,” she said, extending her hand to the young mother.

The girl smiled tentatively. She seemed surprised at Lou’s friendliness. She reached her hand out and grasped Lou’s in a hearty shake. “I’m Flora,” she said.

“Flora,” Lou repeated. “That’s pretty. What’s your last name, Flora?”

Suddenly, Louise realized why Flora was so timid and tattered. She was a runaway slave and she’d been looking for Cassie. She silently wondered what Cassie and Noah were up to, but if it involved helping girls like Flora, she was bound and determined to help.

“Well, Flora,” Lou began, “I guess you should prob’ly know that Cassie’s not in Rock Creek anymore.”

“Don’t worry, though,” Louise said gently. “I’ll help you get to where she’s at now, in Wisconsin. If you don’t mind my askin’, where’re you comin’ from, Flora?”

“Virginia, originally,” Flora answered. “But I been in Tennessee and Arkansas and all over. I think it was Arkansas where me an’ Zeke got separated.”

“Zeke’s my husband,” Flora replied. “He don’t even know ‘bout Moses bein’ born. We were s’posed to meet at Cassie’s if we got split up, even though it’s sorta outta the way. I guess he ain’t been here if you don’t know him.”

Lou shook her head. “‘Fraid not.” She sat thoughtfully as Flora devoured the beef stew. Louise couldn’t imagine herself in Flora’s shoes, with a new baby, separated from Kid, not knowing where he was. It made her feel sick inside.

Louise scowled. “Every woman likes a good hot bubble bath, and you prob’ly haven’t had the chance to, I don’t know, relax and enjoy it. Go ahead,” she prodded. “I’ll look after Moses. It’ll be good practice.” Then she added, “And it’s Louise, or Lou, whichever you prefer. I keep lookin’ around for some old lady when you call me ma’am.”

Moses ended up joining Flora briefly in the bath Louise drew for the young woman. When she was done bathing her tiny son, Flora handed him off to Louise, who promptly swaddled him in some new blankets she had packed away in preparation for her own baby. Lou placed the infant in the middle of the big bed and went to work finding a suitable dress for Flora. Louise had so few herself, but anything would be better than the tattered clothing Flora arrived in.

As she dug through her bureau drawers, Lou realized Flora and Moses couldn’t stay in her little home. It was right in the middle of town, too close to the saloon and the hotel. There were too many prying eyes to keep them safe. There were rewards for runaway slaves, and Louise knew all too well that for some people in Rock Creek, turning in a slave would be like winning a raffle. She had to think of a safe place to take them, and she needed to move them while it was still dark.

Flora looked like a different person in Louise’s blue and white dress. The meal and bath had done her a world of good, and once Lou told her the plan for the night, she seemed up for the challenge. Louise was scared out of her wits, hoping her plan would work, but Flora appeared completely unfazed. She’s surely been through much worse than a little change of plans, Lou thought. No wonder this ain’t botherin’ her.

Louise dressed, put on her sturdy walking boots, and grabbed the small bag she’d packed. She made sure her gun was right on top, just in case. Flora and Moses looked ready to go, so Lou grabbed the lantern from the outside landing and lit it and then directed Flora out the door and down the stairs to the alley below.

To Lou’s relief, Rachel’s lights were still on. She would have hated to wake Rachel in the middle of the night, but there appeared to be some activity inside the house. To be on the safe side, Louise led Flora around to the back entrance and knocked softly.

Finally Rachel appeared at the door, still fully clothed, not in her nightdress and robe as Lou had expected.

“Did you walk out here? What are you doin’ at the back door anyway?” Rachel wanted to know.

“It ain’t that simple,” Lou said quietly. “You got guests or somethin’?”

“Unless it’s just Buck or Teaspoon, you better have ‘em leave,” Lou suggested.

“Louise, you tell me right now what is goin’ on and stop playin’ this little game with me,” Rachel answered, exasperated.

“Well,” Louise took a breath as she prepared to tell the tale, “Cassie musta been helpin’ folks who were tryin’ to get away from down south. ‘Cept she didn’t tell me that, and Flora here showed up tonight lookin’ for her, and I can’t keep her in town ‘cause there’s too many eyes, if ya know what I mean. I was hopin’ you could hide her and her baby ‘til her husband shows up.”

Rachel’s eyes grew wide in amazement as she noticed Flora in Lou’s blue dress. “Get in here you two! Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

After Lou had explained Flora’s predicament to Teaspoon, and then again to Buck, they all tried to brainstorm where the best place to hide Flora and Moses would be.

“I s’pose I should find out if you’s got anyone chasin’ you,” Teaspoon directed to Flora.

Flora nodded, hanging her head. “I think his name is Randall. Danforth Randall. He’s one o’ them bounty hunters the masta’ hired.”

“Back when me an’ Zeke got separated. I ain’t noticed him followin’ me, and if he’d a’ seen me, I wouldn’t be here now. He’s a real mean one, that one is,” Flora answered. “I seen him do real bad stuff to folks he finds. Makes ‘em wish they was dead. Iffin he finds me, I’ll kill myself and Moses ‘fore I let him lay his mitts on me!”

Louise sat listening as Flora described the atrocities she’d witnessed Randall inflict on captured slaves. Although she was horrified at thought the idea of killing her own child, she imagined that, in Flora’s position, it would be the only choice. Lou still couldn’t get over the realization of what slavery was like for most people. All because of the color of their skin. How easily she could have been born in Flora’s shoes!

Rachel, meanwhile, was enamored with baby Moses. Although the infant was young, he was bright-eyed and happy, his tiny stomach full for the first time in ages. “I’d love to keep you all here in the guest room,” Rachel said, “But it sounds like that Randall fella would find ya easy as pie.”

“What about the old Fransen place?” Buck suggested. “We could clean up the cellar and no one would even notice. It’s between here and the jail, so we could all check up on ‘em easy enough.”

“Stuck in a cellar all day alone?” Lou asked. “Don’t sound like much fun to me.”

“‘Cuse me for sayin’ this, ma’am, I mean, Miss Louise, but this whole trip hasn’t been a barrel o’ fun. If it’s safe, I don’t mind,” Flora announced.

“Well I’ll come visit ya then,” Lou decided aloud. “I get bored sittin’ around all day and we could keep each other company.”

“That ain’t gonna work, Lou, and you know it,” Buck gently told her. “Folks’ll see you goin’ back and forth and figure somethin’s up.”

“Look,” Teaspoon added, “The Kid’s gonna be worked up enough about all this anyways, Lou. Don’t be addin’ fuel to the fire.”

“Course he don’t know,” Lou answered. “Flora showed up after he left. ‘Sides, I do this anyhow. I don’t need his approval.”

“No one’s gettin’ in trouble,” Lou assured her. “Some people are just gonna have to learn to live with things.”

It was all Lou could do throughout the next week to stay away from the Fransen farm where Buck had carefully concealed Flora and baby Moses. She didn’t know exactly why she was so drawn to this young woman and her child. Lou had never thought much about slavery, except to know that talk of it had nearly torn apart the riders for good. Kid, Rachel, and Teaspoon all said they thought slavery was wrong, but thought the South had a right to fight the Federals for the right to live their lives the way they saw fit. There was the Rosemarys of the world, who were willing to shed blood to free the slaves. And as for Cody and Jesse, Louise was fully convinced that neither one of them were true believers in what they were fighting for - they were just fighting for the adventure of it. Truth be told, Lou didn’t know which category she fell in; maybe it was one of her own, a yet to be determined category. But she did know that Kid was not going to like this situation she’d gotten herself into. No, he wouldn’t like it one bit.

Without Kid’s company, Lou was going out of her mind cooped up alone in the little dwelling above the jail. Since it was a Saturday, she knew Rachel would be at the ranch catching up on chores that had piled up throughout the week. But she really wanted to speak to Buck, to find out how Flora and Moses were doing and to see if he’d made contact with Noah about their situation.

“Lou!” Rachel greeted warmly. “I wasn’t expectin’ to see you today!”

“I’m about bored to tears,” Louise explained. “I don’t think I can stand bein’ alone much longer.” Entering the familiar surroundings of Rachel’s kitchen, she quietly announced, “I really miss this place. I miss the boys. I miss...oh Lord, Rachel...” she felt her throat choke up and her eyes well with tears. She willed herself not to cry. She wouldn’t.

“Oh, honey,” Rachel comforted, “That’s just your missin’ Kid talkin’. Let me introduce you to someone.”

Louise hadn’t noticed Rachel had a guest. “Oh, Rachel. I didn’t realize!” she apologized.

“Don’t be silly, Louise,” Rachel admonished her. “In fact, you two’ll prob’ly get along famously. Louise Brookfield, meet Margaret Macauley.”

Louise held out her hand in greeting to the tall, dark-eyed beauty. Her dark hair was loose and free, wildly curly. She was dressed in a simple denim riding skirt and plain white blouse, but her elegance was evident despite her clothing.

“It’s nice to meet you, Margaret,” Lou greeted. “I think I met your brother a few days ago.”

“Maggie, please,” the young woman gently corrected, Louise noting the accent in her voice that was similar to her brother’s. “Ya prob’ly met him in jail, no doubt. Rachel was tellin’ me your husband’s the deputy.”

Lou nodded, affirming both statements. “You all have plans on stayin’ in Rock Creek?”

Maggie threw her head back in laughter. Her laugh was engaging and infectious, and both Louise and Rachel found themselves giggling, at what they weren’t sure.

“I don’t think Patrick can stand much more travelin’ with me,” Maggie finally answered. “If he had it his way I’d be back in Ireland, married to some wealthy nobleman while he’s havin’ his fun here in America.”

“Really?” Rachel asked, sounding intrigued. She’d met Maggie in Thompkins’ store earlier that day and invited the young woman to the ranch, hoping to make her feel welcome in town. She hadn’t yet had the chance to find out what brought Maggie and Patrick Macauley to Rock Creek.

“Well I can’t speak for Louise here, but I always love hearin’ a good story,” Rachel answered.

Margaret Macauley’s story was fascinating. She and her brother Patrick had been the only children of poor potato farmers in southern Ireland. Patrick had married, and a marriage was arranged for Maggie as well, one to the son of her parent’s wealthy landlord. Normally, a marriage between a common farm girl and a landowner’s son would have been out of the question, but Maggie was known as a beauty throughout the area, and the landlord had promised to lower the rent if Maggie would marry his wild son. Maggie wasn’t at all happy about the situation, but she felt obligated to help her parents, all the while trying to figure out how she’d get herself out of the arrangement.

When the elder Macauleys suddenly fell ill, Patrick had returned to his childhood home to help Maggie care for them, but their parent were so sick, a doctor had to be summoned, one they could not afford. Despite the doctor’s intervention, Patrick and Maggie’s parents died, leaving Patrick deep in debt as their only son. Although Patrick had been Maggie’s ally in avoiding the pre-arranged marriage, he now was determined to see it through so that he could partially repay some of the debt he’d inherited.

Trouble hit the family again when Patrick’s wife went into labor with their first child. She needed a doctor, but the local physician refused to come, citing Patrick’s still outstanding bill for treatment of his parents. Patrick’s wife and child both died.

Patrick was crushed, and decided that once Maggie was married off, he’d escape his debts by going to America. The day of the wedding came, and Maggie, having learned of her brother’s plan, stowed away in the ship he was set to sail on. Patrick barely escaped with his life once the wealthy landowner realized his uncontrollable son would still be without a bride.

Once Patrick discovered Maggie on the ship, he’d been furious with her. Maggie had finally convinced him it was all for the best and that they’d be able to explore America together. She promised to cook and clean for him as long as he promised not to force her into another arranged marriage. He’d agreed, and they eventually wound up in Rock Creek.

Louise was equally enthralled. In the matter of a few weeks, she’d met two young women, both near her own age, whose lives she couldn’t comprehend. She couldn’t imagine even the thought of an arranged marriage, much less stowing away on a ship for a vast, unknown country.

“I gotta get back,” Lou announced. “I didn’t realize it was gettin’ so late.” The sun was beginning to set on the Nebraska plains.

The two women walked in silence for a while before Maggie broke it by saying, “Somethin’ botherin’ you, Louise?”

“Nah. Not really. I...,” Lou replied, not really sure how to answer the question. Then she blurted out, “You’ve had a really interesting life, Maggie.”

“Me?” Maggie asked, laughing. “I don’t know how interestin’ it’s been. It’s just been my life. ‘Sides, what I told you and Rachel, that’s in the past now.” Maggie was reflective for a moment before saying, “Is that what’s botherin’ you, Louise? My life bein’ interestin’?”

Lou looked at her with surprise. When Maggie said it, out loud, it sounded ridiculous. But that was what was bothering her. How Flora and Maggie had such facsinating lives, and how her own seemed so ordinary.

“Louise, Rachel told me all about how you disguised yourself as a man, rode with the Pony Express, helped capture outlaws and outrode Indians. Your life’s been pretty interestin’, too, don’t you think? I mean, we all live our lives, and each person’s is interestin’ in its own way. You can’t think you can experience everythin’ in this world in your lifetime. Some things you don’t want to, anyhow,” Maggie told her.

“I know. It sounds silly. It’s just lately...” Lou began to explain. “Lately things have been, boring, I guess.”

“I s’pose. It’s just that after workin’ for the Express, I suddenly feel so useless,” Lou told her.

“I don’t ‘spect your husband would agree with that,” Maggie said. “Or your little one, neither,” she added.

Louise nodded. Maybe Maggie was right. Maybe she should enjoy the the good things she had...Kid, healthy after being shot, getting a job with Teaspoon; having a home; the baby on the way. Life could be worse. It could be much worse.

“Well,” Maggie said as they came to the boarding house, “This is where the line ends for me, least fer now anyhow. It was good walkin’ with ya, Louise. I hope we can be friends.”

Lou smiled. “I hope so...” Her voice left her as she caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye.

A man on a huge roan stallion. The man was wearing all black, and had a whip fastened to his saddle. There was a large scar across his cheek, and he had the most evil eyes Louise had ever seen. And he was pulling a black man in shakles behind him. The captive was exhausted and could barely walk. Occasionally he would fall down, but the horse would keep walking, dragging him along. Then somehow, he’d force himself up and stumble along behind the evil-eyed man. The prisoner was most likely an escaped slave, and Louise knew in her heart it was Flora’s Zeke. And the man in black was no doubt the notorious Danforth Randall.

Louise knew she had to find Teaspoon and warn him of Randall’s arrival in town. “I’m sorry, Maggie. I gotta go!” she called as she ran towards the jail.

Louise was so flustered, she didn’t even notice Katy tethered outside the jail. She burst through the door breathlessly. “Teaspoon! He’s here! Ya gotta warn Buck! I think he’s got Zeke! Ya gotta do somethin’!”

It was then she saw Kid in the corner of the jail, obviously upset about something.

“Ahem,” Teaspoon cleared his throat. How he was going to get through this situation without Kid and Louise killing one another was a mystery to him. “Who exactly do ya mean, Louise?” he asked, knowing full well she meant the slave bounty hunter.

“Teaspoon!” she yelled in exasperation. “Randall! It’s Danforth Randall!”

Louise was grateful he was home safe and sound, but it was plain that Teaspoon had given him the lowdown on Flora, Moses, and Zeke, and he wasn’t happy about it. But his anger was going to have to wait.

“Good to see you home, Kid,” she said, trying her best to avoid eye contact with him. He’d only break her resolve. “Teaspoon!” she said again. “Ain’t ya gonna do anything?”

“Well first off, I wanna make sure no one runs off outta here in a huff,” he said, thinking of the last blowout the two had and how Louise had wound up lost on the frozen Nebraska plains.

“There ain’t time for that!” Lou insisted. “He must know Flora’s here! We gotta get her outta town!”

“All right,” Marshal Hunter agreed. “Long as you two promise to talk this out, civil like.”

“You two both better be here when I get back,” Teaspoon said as he walked out the door. “And I don’t wanna see no blood or tears neither,” he added, knowing the passion and stubborness of each of his former riders.

“There ain’t nothin’ to explain. Teaspoon told me everything,” Kid answered.

“No he didn’t, Kid. He didn’t tell you why I’m doin’ this,” Lou replied.

“I know you, Louise. You’re used to bein’ in on the action. Doin’ something adventurous. Now your married and pregnant and stuck in three rooms above the jail with a two-bit lawman,” Kid told her.

“Is that what you think, Kid?” Lou wondered aloud. “Is that what you really think? Do you think I’m doin’ this to spice up my life?”

“Kid, please!” Lou begged him. She crossed the room and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his back. “Kid, I love you. I love bein’ with you. I love our baby. Sure it’s different for me now, but it’s bein’ with you that’s important to me.”

“Then why, Lou? Why’re you doin’ this? Why’re you gettin’ involved in somethin’ so dangerous?” Kid wanted to know.

“Kid, she showed up at our door. She was expectin’ help from Cassie. I couldn’t just turn her away!” Lou tried to explain. “And I can’t stop thinkin’ that I coulda been her. I coulda been the one runnin’, tryin’ to save my life, my baby’s life, tryin’ to find you. I had to help her, Kid!”

Kid turned to face his young bride. “Louise, a few months ago, we were ridin’ out for Virginia to fight in this war. Would you be doin’ this if I was gone? Gone fightin’?”

Louise was stunned. Kid felt betrayed by her helping Flora and Moses. She couldn’t find words to answer him. She turned away from him, running her fingers through her lengthening hair. Finally she said, “I wouldn’t be here, Kid. I’d be in Virginia. It wouldn’t be an issue.”

“Kid, please,” Louise tried to convince him. “You helped Noah free his teacher. You helped Isaiah Burke, for goodness sake. You’ve told me time and time again that slavery’s wrong. Are you tellin’ me now you don’t think that?”

“‘Cause it’s dangerous, Lou. You can’t, I can’t...” Lou heard his voice choke with emotion.

“I’m bein’ careful, darlin’. I am,” she tried to assure him. “Buck and Rachel and Teaspoon...we’re all bein’ careful. Buck’s been in contact with Noah. We were just waitin’ for Zeke to show up and Buck was gonna take ‘em through Missouri to the Mississippi. Noah’s s’posed to meet ‘em there with a boat to take ‘em up to Wisconsin. Kid, we’re bein’ careful,” she told him yet again.

“Then why’d you look like you’d seen a ghost when you came burstin’ in here?” Kid asked.

Louise felt tears well in her eyes. Of course it was dangerous now. But she was in deep. She couldn’t just turn her back on Flora and her family.

“Lou, you gotta let it go. It’s too dangerous. If this Randall fella is everything everyone says he is, you could get killed,” Kid countered.

“I’m sorry, Kid,” Lou said softly. “I won’t abandon them. They need my help. I can’t do this by myself, without your support.” She took a deep breath as she stonily said, “If you won’t help me, I’ll find someone who will.” With that, she turned and walked out of the jail, leaving Kid dazed and confused.

Louise stepped outside the jail and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She knew Kid would come around once he had time to let everything sink in, but she couldn’t wait for that right now.

Louise looked down the main street of Rock Creek. Teaspoon was apparently trying to have a civil conversation with Danforth Randall, but it was unlikely that the unseemly character could be civil. Townspeople began to congregate outside the shops and businesses of the town as the “conversation” grew more intense.

Somehow, Louise caught the eye of Ezekial, Flora’s husband. He looked at her as if he knew she was the only one who could help him, and Louise realized she was. There was no way to let Buck know that Randall had arrived in town without arousing suspicion. Louise didn’t know how to signal Zeke that she was helping Flora and would do her best to get them out of their horrific situation. So instead, she crossed the street and headed for the livery.

Patrick Macauley greeted Louise with a tip of his hat and his customary, “Ma’am.”

“Hello, Mr. Macauley,” she answered back. “I didn’t know you were workin’ here.”

“Please, ma’am. Call me Patrick,” he told her, both his accent and his eyes somehow finding their way under her skin.

“Only if you call me Louise, or Lou, whichever you prefer,” she replied, remembering she’d told Flora the same thing. Flora! That’s why she was here!

“This ain’t exactly a social call, Mr., er, uh, Patrick,” Louise explained. “I need to get my horse. The black one with the white markings. Lightning.”

“Pardon me for sayin’ so, Miss Louise, but do you think you oughtta be ridin’ in your condition?” Patrick questioned.

*Good grief*, Lou thought. First Kid, now a man she barely knew. “I gotta get somewhere in a hurry. I need my horse,” she insisted.

He turned without a word and walked into the stables. Louise kept looking over her shoulder to see how Teaspoon was managing with Randall. She tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for Macauley to saddle Lightning for her.

Instead, Lou was stunned to see Patrick astride her horse as he rode Lightning out into the street. “*What* are you doing?” she wanted to know.

“Come on,” he said, offering his arm. When she refused it, he repeated, “Come on. You said you was in a hurry.”

“Miss Louise, you either git up here in front of me on this animal or you can walk where ever it is you’re goin’,” Patrick answered. “We can ride fast but you’ll have me to hold onto if the horse hits any rough spots.”

“Well you mightn’t, but that child you’re expectin’ sure could,” he told her. Remembering what Maggie had told her about Patrick losing his wife in childbirth, Louise figured he probably knew more about the subject than she did. And she didn’t have any more time to waste arguing with him.

“Fine,” she finally said, reaching for his arm and sitting sidesaddle like in front of him.

Kid walked outside the Rock Creek jail and on to the boardwalk. He could hear things getting heated between Teaspoon and Danforth Randall.

“I know that girl’s here somewhere, and I’m gonna tear this town apart if I have to to find ‘er ,” Randall shouted.

“You’ll do no such thing,” Teaspoon argued. “Nebraska Territory’s free, so not only is the girl you think’s hidin’ here a free woman, but that man you got in chains oughtta be let go.”

“Him?” Randall asked, indicating Zeke. “He’s a fine specimen of a Negro, don’t you think? This here slave’s worth a lot o’ money to me and to his master. You gotta be crazy if you think I’m lettin’ him go just ‘cause some old coot thinks I should.”

“This here coot’s Marshal in this town, case ya don’t remember what a badge means,” Teaspoon answered, obviously irritated with Randall. “If I have to, I’ll take you into custody ‘til you can learn to respect the law in this here town.”

“You go right ahead, old man,” Randall dared him. “My men will wipe this town off the map. They’re waiting just outside town. You just go ahead and arrest me. I dare ya. No you tell me where I can find that girl, ‘cause I know she’s here somewhere!”

“You think you’re so smart, you find her yerself,” Teaspoon countered. “But don’t expect folks to cooperate with the likes o’ you.”

“They’ll cooperate,” Randall threatened. “They’ll cooperate, or they’ll wish they had.”

Kid knew now that Louise was in real danger. If Randall discovered her hiding Flora, she could end up dead. He headed straight for the livery, where he discovered Lightning missing. Just as he’d thought, Lou had headed out to save Flora on her own. He had to get out to Rachel’s to warn Buck. He just hoped he’d get there in time.

Louise was clinging to Patrick Macauley for dear life as Lightning galloped towards the abandoned Fransen farm. She found herself burying her head in his chest, and his scent reminded her of Kid when he rode for the Express. *Kid!* she thought. *Dammit, why wouldn’t you help me!*

When Lou and Patrick finally reached the farm, he helped her down from Lightning and then dismounted himself. He shooed the horse off, hoping that the “search party” wouldn’t discover the animal.

“I’m fine,” she answered. “We gotta find Flora. I ain’t been out here. I’m not sure where Buck’s got her at. He said somethin’ before about the cellar.”

“Then that’s the best place to start,” he said, pulling his gun from its holster and leading Louise inside the dilapidated shack of a house.

“Flora!” Lou called. “Flora, it’s me, Louise! We gotta get you outta here! Randall’s in town?”

“Down here!” Flora answered from beneath the floorboards. “I think you gotta move the table and rug to reach me!”

Patrick and Louise moved the furniture and rug covering the floorboards. Flora was holding up baby Moses, who Lou promptly lifted from her arms. Patrick pulled Flora out of her hiding place.

Lou nodded. She couldn’t bring herself to tell the young woman that she believed the slave hunter had captured Zeke as well. “Now you and Buck had a plan, didn’t you? I need to know what it is.”

“I’m s’posed to meet him in the little thicket between here and the ranch,” Flora related. “But that was only once Zeke got here and Buck sent word.”

Louise thought quickly on her feet. “Patrick, you’re gonna have to get them to Rachel’s since Buck ain’t here. I’ll stay here in case Randall shows up to try and throw him off.”

“Pretty sure ain’t gonna work, Patrick. I gotta know you can get Flora and Moses there safe!” Louise insisted.

“But what about Zeke?” Flora wanted to know. “I can’t leave town without ‘im! We was s’posed to meet here!”

“Zeke’s here, Flora,” Lou told her. “Don’t ask me how I know, but he’s here. First we gotta make sure you’re safe, then we’ll get Zeke.”

For the first time, Louise saw Flora’s eyes well with tears and they began to roll down her cheeks. “I can’t live without ‘im. I can’t!” Flora wailed.

“Flora, go with Patrick. We’ll get Zeke, too. We will,” Louise promised, hoping they could in fact rescue the man before Randall did anything rash. “Patrick, I’m gonna climb down into the cellar. You gotta cover the hole back up before you leave.”

Patrick grabbed Louise’s arm and pulled her to him. Looking into her eyes he whispered gruffly, “I won’t never forgive myself if somethin’ happens to you.” Then he wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his lips to hers, kissing her hard.

He easily lowered her into the hiding place, and Louise heard him cover the hole with the rug and table. The door closed on the little shack, and Lou found herself in a cold, dark, lonely hole, wondering what had just happened between her and Patrick Macauley.

Kid rode Katy like a bat out of hell towards Rachel’s. He saw Buck out in the corral, working on breaking a sorrel mare that was giving him a run for his money.

Buck could see something bad was happening from the way Kid was riding. He never pushed Katy that hard unless it was an absolute emergency.

“That Danforth fella’s in town. He’s threatenin’ to tear Rock Creek apart to find that slave girl you all are hidin’. I think Lou went out to get her,” Kid answered breathlessly.

So Kid knew what they were up to. But there was no time to think of that now. Flora and Louise could be in big trouble. “I gotta tell Rachel,” Buck answered hurriedly. “She’s part of the plan, only it wasn’t s’posed to go quite like this.”

Louise sat in the dark silence of the cellar, kicking herself for kissing Patrick Macauley. *What was I thinking, letting him get away with that? I shoulda slapped him so hard...! How could he have been so forward! I’m a married woman, for goodness sake, and pregnant to boot!* But Louise couldn’t blame the entire episode on Patrick. It was her doing as well. Had she done it spite Kid, or was it merely because of the intensity of the situation? It didn’t matter now anyway. It wouldn’t happen again. That she was sure of. In the meantime, there was nothing to do but wait and see if Randall’s and his men showed up. If they did, she’d have to do her best to stall them....

Teaspoon mounted his gelding, ready to ride out to Rachel’s and warn Buck about Randall and his men tearing through Rock Creek in search of Flora. He hoped it wasn’t too late. And Kid had disappeared, too. No doubt he and Louise had had words. He didn’t want to think about the trouble those two could get themselves into.

Teaspoon turned his horse around to find Maggie Macauley standing before him, out of breath. “‘Scuse me, Miss Macauley,” Teaspoon said, “I got an emergency here. I gotta get me out to Rachel’s ranch straight away. You best get back inside while these ruffians are here. Ain’t safe fer a purdy girl like you to be out.” Then he asked, “Where’s your brother? He know ‘bout the trouble?”

“That’s the thing, Marshal,” Maggie explained. “He ain’t at the livery. Somethin’s up, I just don’t know what it is. Let me come out to the ranch with you. Please?” she begged.

Never one to turn down a pretty woman, and realizing the danger Maggie faced staying in town alone, Teaspoon offered his arm to Maggie and pulled her up on the horse behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and they headed out towards Rachel’s.

“You sure you know wheres you’re goin”?” Flora questioned Patrick for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“Woman, I’m doin’ my best!” he answered, frustrated. It would have helped if the moon had been full rather than new. Trying to find The Way Station Ranch, a place he’d never been to, by way of the trees and rock outcroppings on the prairie wasn’t nearly as easy as he’d thought it would be. “You been there,” he said to Flora. “You mind helpin’?”

“Yes, you,” Patrick replied. “You’re the one that needs to get there.”

“We gots to follow the stars,” she told him. “They don’t teach you that over in that country you from?”

Patrick couldn’t help but laugh. “Never needed to know how, I guess.” Flora grabbed his hand and headed towards Rachel’s, hoping they could get there without being detected.

Louise heard the sound of hoof beats outside. She hoped it was Buck, but deep in her heart, she knew it wasn’t. *Breathe, Louise,* she thought to herself. *You gotta do this. Do it for Flora. For Flora and Moses and Zeke!*

Lou heard the front door open and footsteps overhead. “That Oglesby fella said this was the place,” she heard Randall say. She couldn’t tell how many men he had with him. “Find her, boys!” he directed.

Lou heard more footsteps enter the shack. “Sir, we found a horse. They gotta be here somewhere. They can’t get far on foot!”

Louise could hear the place being torn apart, doors being kicked in, shots being fired up the collapsing chimney. Then it happened - the table was tossed over and the rug covering the entrance to her hiding spot tossed aside.

Louise looked into the face of a young man not much older than Kid, but his eyes were full of hate and greed. “Boss, I got somethin’!” he called.

Randall rushed over to the hole in the floor. “Pull her outta there, boy!” he directed.

Although she kicked, squirmed, and hollered, Louise was no match for Randall’s man. Soon she was looking into the directly into the evil eyes of Danforth Randall himself.

“Where are they?” he demanded. “Why were you down there? You better answer me quick, woman!”

Randall backhanded Lou across her face. She stumbled, but managed to stay standing. Tears of pain welled in her eyes, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She had to keep him here as long as she could; long enough for Patrick to get Flora and Moses to Rachel’s.

“Tell me! I know you know! You been helpin’ that damn nigger girl!” Randall screamed at Louise. He was a full foot taller than her at least, and she cringed as he yelled in her face.

Randall grabbed her by the shoulders and began to shake her. “You tell me where she is, girl, or me an’ my men’ll make you sorry you was ever born!” he threatened.

Randall slammed her against the wall and she shook her head, stunned but still standing. He came towards her, grabbing her by the shoulders again.

Just then, Buck and Kid burst in, apparently having silently disarmed all of Randall’s other men. The man that had pulled Lou out of her hiding place drew his gun and raised it to fire, but Buck shot him before he had the chance.

Danforth Randall was no stupid man. He realized how important his newest captive was to these men. He turned Louise around in his arms and whipped out a vicious looking knife from his belt, holding it to her throat.

“Then you boys’ll tell me where I can find that nigger girl. We’ll do an even trade,” Randall suggested, his eyes gleaming maliciously.

When Teaspoon and Maggie rode up to The Way Station Ranch, Rachel was already waiting for them on the porch, lamps lighting up the house in the dark night.

“Teaspoon, you gotta get out to the Fransen place!” Rachel told him urgently. “Kid said somethin’ about Randall and his men tearin’ apart Rock Creek and then he headed out there with Buck!”

“Any sign of Louise and Flora?” Teaspoon asked as he helped Maggie to the ground.

“It looked like Randall had Flora’s husband with him, so if me an’ the boys can rescue him, they’ll need to be ready to ride,” Teaspoon informed her.

“Me and Maggie’ll get everythin’ ready. You ride safe, Teaspoon,” Rachel told him.

A cool breeze drifted across the prairie as Flora and Patrick crouched behind a mound of boulders.

“Should be jus’ south o’ here,” Flora explained. “Can’t be much further now.”

“What’s that, over there?” Patrick asked, pointing to an abundance of dim lights not far in the distance.

“Here, give me the baby,” Patrick offered. “Then we can make a run for it. It’s awful wide open out there. Do ya think you can run?”

Still holding the knife at Lou’s throat, Randall repeated his offer. “So we gonna trade or not?” he directed the question to Kid. “Your girl for the bounty on that no-good slave.”

Randall tightened his grip on Lou and held the knife closer to her throat. She could feel the cold, sharp blade against her skin. “Shut up, girl!” he threatened, “Or your boys won’t get a chance to decide. I’ll finish you off in a heartbeat!”

“Well then, you best decide in a hurry, ‘fore your lady ruins all our plans,” Danforth Randall answered maliciously.

Kid’s worried blue eyes met Lou’s frightened brown ones. *I just wanna hold you, Lou*, he tried to convey without words.

And Louise knew she’d never let another man, especially Patrick Macauley, pull at her heartstrings again. *Just get me outta this, Kid*, she thought as she looked back at him. *But you can’t tell him! Don’t tell him!*

“C’mon, boy,” Randall hollered. “I ain’t got all night! What’s it gonna be?”

Kid looked at Buck, hoping for some sort of Kiowa wisdom from his old friend. But Buck felt just as helpless. How would they save Lou without giving up Flora? Was it even possible?

Through the door of the ramshackle house, Kid saw some movement out of the corner of his eye. He prayed desperately that it was who he thought it was.

“Lou, we got no choice!” Kid told her, not looking at her but instead keeping eye contact with the depraved man holding her.

“Kid? You sure?” Buck questioned. Flora and Moses were gone, most likely to Rachel’s by now. They had a chance at sure freedom. But what else could Kid do?

“Let her go!” Kid demanded. “I told ya I’d tell ya where the girl’s at!”

Randall laughed like the lunatic he was. “Not so fast, boy,” he taunted Kid. “Who’s to say you’ll honor your part o’ the deal.”

“Your word?” Randall chuckled. “Your word ain’t worth cow pies to me! Now you tell me where the girl is, and I’ll let the little lady go.”

“Tell ya what,” Kid bargained. “We go outside so’s I know I can trust you. Then I’ll tell you where you can find your girl.”

Randall pondered the deal for a moment before agreeing. “Lead the way, boys,” he told them, once again tightening his grip on Louise, to the point that she squealed in pain.

Buck walked out the door, and Kid followed, his back turned to face Randall and make sure the man followed with an unhurt Louise. Buck tried not to show his surprise at seeing Teaspoon waiting on the other side, his gun risen, ready to strike Randall with a blow to the head.

Kid watched closely as Randall exited the dilapidated farmhouse. Teaspoon cracked the tall man at the base of his head and the crazed bounty hunter fell to the ground, unconscious.

Louise screamed and tumbled forward into Kid’s arms. She finally succumbed to the fear and dismay that had terrorized and she burst into sobs in her husband’s arms.

Meanwhile, Buck and Teaspoon hurried to release Zeke, who Randall had brought along for some unknown reason. Danforth Randall still had men in town, searching the attics and cellars of Rock Creek’s citizens. No doubt those men would be expecting their leader and the imprisoned slave back in town soon.

Ezekial uttered his first words to his rescuers. “Ya’ll know where my Flora is?”

“We know where she’s headed,” Teaspoon confirmed. “We’ll take ya there straight away.”

Tears of joy ran down Zeke’s face as he realized he’d finally see his beloved wife after months of separation. He wondered if their child had been born healthy. He couldn’t wait to hold them both.

Lou clung to Kid as she wept. “I’m so sorry, Kid! I shoulda listened. I’m so sorry ‘bout everything!”

“C’mon, Lou. You’re okay now. I got ya,” he whispered in her ear. His shirt felt wet from her tears. Kid pulled away from her to look into her eyes, barely visible in the darkness. Even in the dim night light, he could tell she was pale. It was then he noticed that her riding blouse was slashed, and the wetness was from her chest, not her tears. Randall had cut her with the knife as he fell. “Lou? You okay?” he asked. Kid felt his young wife go limp in his arms. Panic struck him head-on. “Lou? Louise? Oh my Lord!” he screamed.

“Kid?” Buck turned and ran to his friends. He saw both Lou and Kid covered in blood and felt sick to his stomach.

“Teaspoon, let’s get movin’!” he called. “Lou’s hurt! She’s hurt bad!”

Flora and Patrick were breathless when they finally reached Rachel’s house. Patrick knocked on the back door, which was opened by Rachel. She hesitated for a moment before she saw Flora, standing behind Patrick holding baby Moses.

“Thank you, Lord!” Rachel breathed quietly. “Flora, honey, you come on in,” she said warmly.

Rachel continued to look at Patrick Macauley, her ability to speak taken from her. She wasn’t sure exactly who he was or how he’d managed to deliver Flora and Moses to the ranch safely. Should she invite him in?

Maggie appeared behind her and gasped. “Patrick? What d’ ya think yer doin’?”

“I might be askin’ the same o’ you,” Patrick shot back at his younger sister. “Gettin’ in trouble again, no doubt.”

“Trouble?” Maggie answered. “I ain’t in any trouble ‘t all. I was merely helpin’ a friend, somethin’ you could learn to do yerself!”

“Well then where’s the rest o’ the men?” Maggie wanted to know. “And where’s Louise?”

“She’s throwin’ that Randall fella off our tales is all,” Patrick replied. “I’m sure they’ll all be back shortly.”

“I hope so,” Rachel said, concerned. “Buck’s gotta be ready to take Flora and her husband to meet Noah.”

“The wagon’s ready, Rachel.” Maggie announced. “I made sure there was extra hay and bags o’ feed in it, too. I still think...”

“Maggie, I don’t know,” Rachel cut her off. “It’ll be awful dangerous, ‘specially with Randall and his men lookin’ for ‘em now.”

“I’m tellin’ ya, Rachel! A married couple in a wagon’s a whole lot more convincin’ than just a man. An’ if you made it look like one o’ them covered wagons and put a few more supplies in it, you’d be foolin’ ‘im all the more,” Maggie explained.

“Are you insane, girl?” Patrick asked his sister, visibly upset by her suggestion. “You ain’t goin’ out there with some bounty hunter on yer trail. I didn’t come all this way to see ya filled with bullet holes!”

“No, Patrick,” Maggie retorted. “You’d rather I was in Ireland, married to a cad and pregnant with the child of a man who was sleepin’ with every girl within twenty miles o’ town! Least then you’d be outta debt an’ not worryin’ your pretty head ‘bout someone findin’ ya in America!”

“Why don’t ya just share it with everyone, Mags?” Patrick answered irritably.

“Rachel already knows the wrongs ya done me. And she thinks I’m mighty resourceful, too, doin’ what I did to get out o’ it!” Maggie said proudly.

“There’s no reason to stand out here arguin’, you all,” Rachel broke in. “You might as well come in and get somethin’ to eat. It might be a long night.”

“Randall’s men been here yet?” Patrick questioned as he entered the ranch house.

“Yes, and made a fine mess while they were at it. Especially the barn. Buck’s gonna have a fit when he sees it,” she answered.

Kid lifted a bloody, limp Louise and carried her towards Katy, whispering words of love and encouragement to his young wife the entire time. If he kept talking, he could control himself from breaking down. He carefully passed her to Buck, who cradled the tiny former rider as Kid mounted his horse. Buck lifted Louise into Kid’s waiting arms and sent him towards Rachel’s with a slap to Katy’s rump.

“How bad is she, son?” Teaspoon asked, leading Lightning over to Zeke, who mounted Lou’s reliable steed.

“I don’t know,” Buck answered quietly. “Couldn’t tell in this light, but it didn’t look good.”

“We best get movin’,” Buck suggested. “We got a long night ahead of us, Zeke.”

Kid spurred Katy again, pushing her to run faster. The horse could read his mind and was doing her best, and he still wanted more. He could feel the blood as it continued to seep from Louise’s wound. “C’mon, girl,” he urged the mare, then to his unconscious wife he said, “Hang on, Lou. We’re almost there. Rachel’ll fix you up in no time,” desperately hoping it was true. He wouldn’t even allow himself to think of their unborn child. All he could think about right now was making sure Lou would be okay. She had to be.

“Flora, you best head upstairs ‘til we know the coast is clear,” Rachel advised.

Flora nodded and hurried up the stairs to hide in the tiny closet Rachel had showed her earlier.

Rachel gave Maggie and Patrick a worried look before standing up from the table and rushing out the front door. “Kid? What is it? What’s goin’ on?”

“It’s Lou, Rachel,” Kid announced breathlessly. “She’s hurt. Randall sliced up her pretty good when Teaspoon took him down.”

“He got Flora here. He said Lou was stayin’ behind to throw Randall off their trail and buy ‘em some time,” Rachel told him.

Patrick exited the front door and descended the stairs, standing next to Rachel and waiting for some sort of explanation and instructions on why he was needed.

“Damn you!” Kid screamed at him, causing Rachel’s jaw to drop. “You coulda stayed there just as well! You helped her with this crazy scheme and now look what’s happened!”

“Kid, what on earth are you talkin’ about?” Rachel asked after a momentary stunned silence. “Hand her down to Patrick and we’ll get her inside.”

“Forget it!” Kid answered venomously. “I ain’t handin’ her over to him!” His blue eyes shot daggers at the dark-haired Irishman, who remained quiet.

Seeing Maggie on the porch, Rachel beckoned for her assistance. “Maggie, let’s get Louise off this horse so Kid can get her inside.”

Somewhat reluctantly, Kid handed Lou’s limp body over to the two women and he dismounted Katy. Both were horrified at the blood that enveloped the young rider’s torso and covered Kid’s jacket and hands.

“Kid, be reasonable,” Rachel advised as she and Maggie passed Lou back into her husband’s waiting arms.

“Katy can wait for a bit. Teaspoon or Buck’ll make sure she’s taken care of. *He* ain’t touchin’ her,” Kid said firmly as he carried his cherished wife into the house.

“Kid, maybe you should wait downstairs,” Rachel suggested, already knowing the advice was futile.

“Well at least make yerself useful,” Maggie told him. “Go get some clean rags and boil some water. She’s gonna have to be cleaned up ‘fore I can stitch her up.”

Kid and Rachel looked at Maggie in astoundment; Rachel for her gumption to speak to an emotional Kid the way she did, and Kid because this, this girl was talking about treating Louise the way he’d only heard a doctor speak before.

“Are you outta your mind?” Kid asked Maggie. “Do you even know what your doing? We gotta go for the doc.”

“We gotta stop the bleedin’ *now*. ‘Sides, I stitched up Patrick and my da dozens o’ times on the farm,” Maggie explained hastily. “Now get me that water and them rags, man!”

Rachel smiled at the young woman’s directness. Rising from the bed, she crossed the room and took Kid by the arm. “C’mon, Kid. Let’s get her what she needs.”

Kid looked at the feisty young woman with frustration. “Fine then. But is she gonna be okay?”

Her comment sent Kid scurrying out of the room and downstairs, Rachel hot on his heels.

Flora had joined Rachel and Maggie in the room, giving Maggie encouragement and support during the lengthy procedure. It turned out Flora had completed her share of the same process, often stitching up slaves who had been beaten by an over-zealous master or overseer.

“Hush, now, darlin’,” Flora cooed to Louise as she held the young woman’s head in place. “We’s almos’ done.”

“Rachel, ya got some whiskey?” Maggie asked as she stood up, her task completed. Louise would have a nasty scar from her shoulder blade, across her torso, and down to her upper abdomen. It would fade with time, but evidence of the ordeal would be with her the rest of her life.

“I try not to keep any around,” Rachel said, “But I might as well, ‘specially if we’re gonna be consistently playin’ doctor ‘round here. I swear, I never cease to be amazed at what goes on ‘round here.” She pulled the bottle from a wooden crate in the closet filled with extra bandages and other medical essentials she’d acquired while nursing Noah and Kid back from their gunshot wounds. “Do you think it’s okay for the baby?” Rachel questioned Maggie.

“‘t ain’t for the baby,” Maggie laughed, taking a swig of the spirits directly from the bottle. She then proceeded to carefully pour the alcohol on Louise’s wound. Her patient screamed in pain.

Kid burst through the door, desperate to help his injured wife. He’d been sitting outside on the top stair the whole time, not wanting to deal with Patrick Macauley quite yet. Right now, he felt like ripping the man limb from limb. “What’re ya doin’ to her?” Kid wanted to know.

“It’s over, Kid,” Rachel told him gently. “Maggie did a right fine job, too, from the looks of it.”

Kid stared at Lou’s injury and a flood of emotions came over him - hatred for Danforth Randall for doing this, anger at Patrick Macauley for allowing Louise to stay in the shack alone, frustration with himself for not being there for his wife, concern for his beloved wife, and fear for their unborn child. “What about the baby?” he asked softly.

“We’ll have to have a doc look her over once this all blows over, but the baby should be okay,” Rachel informed him. “Lou’s just gonna be real tired since she lost so much blood, though.”

Kid sank to his knees at Lou’s bedside. “Lou, honey? Louise? Please, Lou, look at me!” he pleaded gently.

Louise’s eyelashes fluttered, but her eyelids were too heavy to lift. She lifted her hand to where she heard Kid’s voice coming from. “Kid? Kid, I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean it!”

“Lou, darlin’, you’re gonna be fine!” Kid whispered to her, burying his face in her brown hair, drinking in the scent of it. He couldn’t remember ever being so thankful for anything in his whole life. He had been certain Randall would kill her, and the lunatic probably would have if Teaspoon hadn’t arrived when he did.

Flora finished bandaging Lou’s wound and began to dress the patient in a loose fitting blouse of Rachel’s. Looking at the damage inflicted on the young woman, Flora couldn’t help but breathe a silent prayer for the girl who’d nearly died to save her.

Maggie and Rachel left the room to clean themselves up, since they were both covered in Louise’s blood, but Flora couldn’t seem to pull herself away from the woman she viewed as her angel from Heaven. “I’ll stay with her, Mr. Kid,” she said softly. “She’s jus’ gonna sleep anyways.”

Kid was torn. How could he leave Lou when she needed him the most? But he couldn’t do anything for her now. She just needed rest - that was what Rachel had said. He really felt like having it out with Macauley, and the more he thought about it, looking at his scarred wife, the angrier he became.

“That’d be nice, Flora. Thanks,” he told her. “You’ll get me if she wakes up, won’t you?”

Kid couldn’t help but chuckle at the name Flora had pegged him with. “It’s just Kid, Flora,” he explained gently.

“But you’s wearin a badge,” Flora pointed out. “Don’t ya got a last name? Miss Louise never told me it.”

“Our’s is Brookfield,” Kid told her. “But I’m still just Kid.” He stood and turned to leave, but then turned back to address Flora. “Maybe you ought to think of a last name, now that you’re a free woman,” he suggested, smiling warmly.

Let the Author know what you think. Constructive criticism is always welcome.