There was no one in sight as the posse thundered into the small clearing housing the shack Anderson had told them about. They spread out over the clearing, the riders and horses breathing hard from the effort as the men dismounted. Guns drawn, they surrounded the structure and appraoched catiously. Just because it looked like no one was there didn't mean the place was truly abandoned.

Teaspoon gestured towards Ike and Noah, who'd had the misfourtune to be the closest ones to the front door, to proceed inside with caution. Soundlessly, Noah held up his hand and counted to three before he and Ike burst through the door brandishing their pistols before them. Behind them, the others rushed the house prepared for anything -- just like they'd done a hundred times before.
"It's clear!" Noah called from inside.

Ike poked his head around the door and signed, <Looks like she's gone and not long ago either.>
"Damn!" Teaspoon cursed in frustration. He looked at the others. "Alright, spread out and take a look around. You see anythin' funny, anythin' suspicious even in the least little bit, and I want you to speak up ya hear!"

The men nodded, a couple moving to help Noah and Ike search the inside of the shack Laura'd stayed at while others were combing the strand of trees and grounds around the cabin for any signs of what had happened.
"Danny, Jimmy," Kid called softly. The two men turned at his call and watched his worried and determined face as he approached. With a frustrated sigh, he reached a hand around the back of his neck to rub at the stubborn knot at the top of his spine that noamount of rubbing really took away. "I've got a favor to ask you two," he said.

The two men shared a look, each knowing the other had seen just how much this whole incident had worn down the Kid. Jimmy knew Kid better than his own brother and knew the man was trying to be the strong rock, the anchor for Lou in her troubled times. However, Lou's problems translated to Kid's problems even without the depth of involving the man's newfound baby and ex-fiancee. The flashes of guilt that seeped through Kid's carefully disguised expressions and glances, Jimmy knew, was only a fraction of what the man himself was experiencing.
"Sure, Kid. What d'ya need?" Jimmy asked, maintaining the other man's confidential tone.
Kid took a deep breath before plunging on. "I want you two to head back to the house and watch over Lou and the kids," he said.
"Not that I'm about to complain about bein' asked to head back and protect the womenfolk bein' that I'm much more of a lover than a fighter, but what about the posse?" Danny asked. "Hate to leave ya shorthanded."
"Why us?" Jimmy asked immediately after Danny posed his question. "Why not head back yourself like I know you want to?"
"'Cause if we need to split up, I'll be needed to help track her. And if we find her, I may be able to talk some sense into Laura," Kid admitted. Kid smiled ruefully. "And, although it's against my better judgment to tell ya so, you two are the best protection for them after me. You love them like your own and I know that you'll do everything humanly possible to make sure they're safe."
Danny had to grin at the praise as he glanced at Jimmy. "From what I hearda Hickok here, maybe some inhuman possibilites as well," he joked.

Struggling to maintain his stoney facade, Jimmy cuffed Danny lightly upside the head. "Shut up, Irish," he said gruffly.
"Well, don't let it go to yer head," Kid advised with a sad grin.
Hickok turned to Kid a moment later and it was easy to drop the levity at the sight of the weariness on his friend's face. "No problem, Kid. We'll head out now."
The three men headed to where their horses were tethered to low tree branches. Danny and Jimmy mounted quickly, ready to head out.

Before they left though, Jimmy leaned over his saddle, his eyes meeting Kid's troubled blue ones. "Nothing is gonna happen to them, Kid. Laura's gonna have to come through us to even get a glimpse of 'em," he vowed.
Kid nodded. "Just don't lose anythin' important you two," he said seriously. "Lou'll kill me if anythin' happened to you and if there's one thing worse than all this, it's the 'wrath of Lou'."

The two men chuckled even as they turned their mounts and headed out towards the old Pony Express station. Kid watched as they left praying silently for their safety as well as the safety of his family. When they were out of sight, he registered the presence of another next to him.

"Where they headed?" Teaspoon asked quietly. It never occurred to him to get ruffled at the fact that a deputy was technically usurping his position as the posse's leader. He knew the drain the whole situation had put on Kid -- that and the fact that he trusted the young man's instincts. At times he seemed born for law enforcement due to his easily troubled conscience.

Kid tuned to look at the man who was father, employer, and mentor to him with his knowing look and nearly blushed guiltily as he admitted, "I sent them back to the house to watch Lou and the kids."

The older man placed a weathered hand on Kid's shoulder as they walked back towards the cabin and chuckled despite the gravity of the situation they'd all found themselves in. "I was wonderin' how long it'd take you," Teaspoon replied as the younger man merely nodded.

"I know Lou can take care of herself well enough, but she's tired and it's not just her there. With Tessa and Rachel and the new baby around that's just more possible hostages if Laura's of a mind to play that way," Kid stated matter of factly.
"You're right, son," Teaspoon replied. "And seein' as we've already seen that she's pretty unpredictable it's best to be prepared for anythin'."

The grim look on Kid's face as they rejoined the others searching belied the measure of comfort he took in his mentor's praise. The woman they were searching for resembled nothing of the girl he thought he'd fallen for. What could possibly have happened that would so change her? How could the beautiful blonde lady -- the mayor's daughter, a seeming paragon of virtue -- become a murderer? And more importantly, thought Kid, how could they possibly see that justice was done without anyone else getting hurt?

The horses' hooves pounded against the ground, their rhythm matching the blood pounding through her head. She tried to lose herself in the rhythm, but the voices continued.
What in the name of God have you done now? her mother's voice said in horror. Why can't you just do what you're told like a good girl?
"I didn't do anything," Laura protested aloud. "I am a good girl!"
You killed him. You killed him, a darker voice chanted in accusation.
"I didn't! I didn't do anything. He made me do it. Everything would've been fine if he hadn't talked to the marshal and those Express riders," she said. "I didn't do anything."
You killed him, Devil Child. Murderer.
Devil Child.
Murderer.
You killed him.
Murderer.
You killed him.
Devil Child.
No hope.
Devil Child. Murderer. You killed him.
Laura began to whimper as the rhythm changed, the voices getting louder as they chanted.
MURDERER-DEVILCHILD-YOUKILLEDHIM!
YOUKILLEDHIM-NOHOPE-MURDERER-DEVILCHILD!
"Shut up, shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!" she screamed, her hands leaving the reins to tug at her hair. The horse beneath her stopped, nearly unseating her.
"Go away!" Laura closed her eyes, her breath gasping harshly in the sudden stillness. Moments passed and all she could hear was her rasping breath and the horse's shuffling nervously beneath her. Cautiously, Laura cracked her eyes open alert for long moments yet until she felt sure the voices were gone.
You poor thing, the dark voice soothed.
At the sound, Laura began to cry helplesly. Would she never be free of them?!
You fight so hard against what you are, the voice continued. Could it be that the Almighty's plan is for you to be exactly as you are -- a devil child?
"I am not a devil child! It's not my fault. They made me -- Louise and Maria and even Tommy. They betrayed me!"
And you repaid them as a devil child should -- with pain, cleansing pain. All but the McCloud witch. Kill her and it will all be over.
"No! No more killing, please. I can't hurt anyone else. I'll just rescue baby Lexi and we'll go far away," Laura pleaded.
IT WILL NEVER BE OVER UNTILL SHE'S DEAD!!
Laura covered her ears and whimpered as the voice yelled in her head.
The voice lowered several decibels until it was almost a soothing whisper now. He will never be yours until her spell over him is broken and it can only be broken one way, it advised. It's the only way, child.
Laura grabbed the reins and kicked the horse into a gallop. Maybe if she ran far enough, fast enough they'd all go away. I won't do it, she thought mutinously. I won't. I'm a good girl. No more killing. It's over.
It matters not, the voice said. Laura imagined it in her head as a dark shadowed man hovering around her, behind her, over her whispering in her ears. You can't get away from us. In the end, you'll do it, no matter how much you say no now. You always do sooner or later. It's the only way.
It's the only way, echoed in Laura's ears as she galloped closer and closer to the place where her destiny would play out -- the old Pony Express station.