Jimmy wasn't up to anything. At least
not as he saw it. When he had spotted the bounty hunter he had made
teh decision to follow him, if for nothing else to keep an eye on
him, and hopefully preventing him from hurting any of his friends.
But now he was beginning to think he'd made the wrong decision. Jake
Colter had made no hurry and had slowly headed over to where the posse
had tried to hang Buck. There he had dismounted and lingered around
for a while now and then searching the ground. Jimmy had remained
on his horse, prepared for any unexpected moves from Colter in an
attempt to get rid of his unwanted follower. But nothing had happened.
And after a rest where Colter had managed to cut his saddle-girth,
he had lost sight of him for several hours, until he found him late
in the evening, resting on a hill not far from the station, lazily
enjoying one of his cigars. "Is this how you do your bounty hunting?"
he asked suspiciously, leaning over the horse's neck. "So there you are," Colter replied
nonchalant. "I really thought I lost you - that loose saddle-girth
bothered you?" "Not at all," Jimmy sneered
and dismounted. "What are you doing here?" "Enjoying the view." Jimmy looked around him. There was nothing
special to see, in fact, apart from the station there was nothing
at all. "You're watching the station,"
he said finally. "Maybe, maybe not. Tell me, Hickok,
why are you doing this?" "Doing what?" "Following me." "Never seen a bounty hunter's work
before. Thought it might be interesting," Jimmy shrugged. "That Express rider a friend of yours?" "Maybe." "Bet he is," Colter grinned.
"And you're worried that I'll get to him, ain't you." "That's none of your business,"
Jimmy replied harshly. "Why are you doing it anyway?" "What do you mean - this hunt or
bounty hunting in general?" "Both, I guess." Jimmy turned
to face the man. "What is it that makes you kill a man in cold
blood for the money's sake, Colter? Colter grinned and blew a smoke ring into
the air. "You just said it, Hickok, the money. Besides, I'm good
at it, you just wait and see. Never was cut out for labouring the
earth or building me a business - much like yourself," he added
with a smirk. "Don't see you living off honest work either." "It ain't the same," Jimmy muttered,
not pleased with the direction the conversation was going. "Besides,
I got a job, I ride for he Express." "But for how long? You should be
thinking about your future, Hickok," Colter stated and rose gingerly
from his resting place. "What now?" Jimmy asked as Colter
prepared to mount up. "I believe that's your answer,"
Colter said and pointed to the station where a rider could be seen
leaving, heading north-west from the station. Even from the distance
Jimmy could distinguish the rider as Cody. "Just another mail run," he
said as he glared at Colter. "To you maybe," Colter replied
with a grin. "Do as you like, Hickok, but I think I'll head north-west."
The following day and night went slowly for Lou. Waiting for a word from Teaspoon and the others, she managed to make several mistakes at the saloon and it was with relief she returned to the boarding house. At least Buck seemed to be stable, he was no worse than before and Lou continued to give him the willow infusion. Millie helped her out occasionally, but the girl seemed more hesitant to be involved and Lou didn't blame her. After all, Buck was still wanted for murder
and she could see Millie's reasons for staying away. At least she
managed to stay away from Amelia, since the few encounters they had
clearly showed that Amelia was still upset of Lou's actions. And with
the help so close, Lou was more determined than ever not to draw attention
to herself. So it was with great joy she saw Cody appear in the doorway
the following evening, with his customary grin spread over his weary
face. She couldn't help but to smile back to him, ignoring Anna's
giggle behind her back. Indicating which tables that were hers, she
quickly approached him. "Glad to have you back," she
greeted him as she quickly wiped of the table. "Any news?" "Not much, except you'll have to
get use to having me around. Teaspoon wants me to stay close in case
of trouble and to keep an eye open for it." "That's fine with me," Lou said
readily, content with someone to share her burden with. "You've
must have ridden the whole day. Hungry?" "Starved." "I'll get you the best that the house
have," Lou grinned at him, "and a sarsaparilla to go with
it." "After all I've done? Don't you at
least think that I deserve a beer?" "Nope," she smiled and returned
to the bar in order to get Cody something to eat. When she returned to his table with a
steaming plate before her, Cody sighed with content. "Thanks, Lou," he said with
rendered him a hard stare from Lou. "Louise," she hissed and he
nodded. "Sorry, I forgot. Is everything all
right?" "Sort of. Buck's the same and I haven't
seen or heard anything unusual. But I can't talk now. Meet me tomorrow
outside the store. I have the day off and we can talk then. Where
are you staying?" "Haven't decided yet. I'll probably
stay at the small hotel over by the bank." Lou nodded. "Enjoy your meal," she added and then walked away to tend to another customer.
The next day after making sure that Buck
was as comfortable as possible, Lou quickly left the boarding house
to meet Cody. He was already waiting, leaning casually on the porch
pole outside the store when she arrived and he greeted her with a
smile. "I was beginning to think you stood
me up," he joked as he offered her his arm. "This ain't a date, Cody," Lou
reminded him, but gratefully accepted his arm. "What a pity," he mumbled teasingly
as they started to walk. "How's our friend doing?" "Impatient to get out of here, but
no better," Lou sighed. She didn't mention that there was something
else on Buck's mind too, but he wouldn't talk to her about it. She
had noticed the change ever since she had told him that Cody had been
in town, and Buck's recent brooding made her a bit worried. There
was something he wasn't telling her, but at the moment she saw no
reason to tell Cody. "That would mean that we would have
some trouble getting him out of here if there's trouble", Cody
mumbled, not at all pleased with the fact. "I know," Lou mumbled back as
she smiled a greeting to the store owner as they passed him. "We
should find somewhere where we can talk," she muttered, realising
how hard it was to carry on a conversation when you were afraid that
people might overhear you. Cody stopped and looked at her. "Do you think you can fix a picnic
basket of some sort?" he asked. "What for?" Lou asked. "Cody,
this ain't the time..." "If I take a young lady out for a
picnic, who would think twice about it?" Cody asked. "And
then we could talk without worrying about anybody overhearing us." "You're forgetting something,"
Lou objected. "Buck. If we leave town and there's trouble, we'll
have no way of helping him." "Forgot that," Cody muttered as they started walking again.
Two hours later Lou returned to the boarding house after passing the saloon and managed to get a few sandwiches from cook for Buck. She and Cody had spent most of their walk and the following lunch making up plans on how to proceed. They had even come up with an emergency plan that might work should anything go wrong. Cody would stay in town and they would continue to play a courting couple, while Cody kept an eye on the sheriff's office, and hopefully managed to make friends with the sheriff or his deputy. That would be the best way to pick up news of any trouble they had decided. Cody had suggested that he could act as if he was out of a job, but Lou thought it better if he said he had a few days off. If he was unemployed somebody might offer him a job and it would look strange if he turned it down. Feeling much better, she hummed lightly to herself as she walked up the stairs back to her room. Buck was awake when she walked in and
she smiled at him. He did seem to get better for each day and she
hoped that it would stay that way. "Got some sandwiches for you,"
she said and removed her shawl. Grabbing the packet she walked over
to the bed and sat down by the side. "Hope you're hungry," she continued
as she took a closer look. He definitely looked better she decided,
except for that brooding look in his eyes. "Have you slept anything
since I left?" she asked with a frown. "I'm fine." "Then what is it?" Lou demanded. "Nothing." Lou sighed and knowing that Buick wouldn't
tell her anything she rose and put on the kettle. The preparing of
a small lunch was quickly done and after she handed Buck the cup of
the infusion and unwrapped the sandwiches, she placed herself by the
and of the bed and stared at him. It only took a few minutes for Buck
to get tired and he rose his head to look at her. "I don't want to talk about it Lou,"
he sighed tiredly. "But there's something on your mind?"
"Yes." "Why can't you tell me?" Lou
wanted to know. "Is there something with your wound?" she
added nervously, knowing that Buck probably would try an hide if he
was beginning to feel worse. "You know as well as I that it ain't
healing as it should," Buck muttered. "But you feel better, don't you?" "Because of this -" he held
up the cup with the infusion - "I do. What happens when I stop
taking it?" "You ain't gonna get better brooding
over it anyway," Lou objected. "We'll deal with that problem
when we face it." She looked suspiciously at Buck. "But
that ain't it, is it?" Buck looked away and suddenly he felt
very tired. He knew how relentless Lou could be when something bothered
her and he feared that she wouldn't let him get away as easy as before
this time. Cody's presence had strengthened her and she was more observant
now than earlier. And he was too tired to hide his worries. "It has nothing to do with you,"
he mumbled. "Then you can tell me," Lou
insisted. Buck took a deep breath. He was hesitant
to tell her of his fears and worries but seeing no way around it,
he decided to tell her. She would find out sooner or later anyway. "I'm not sure I want to return,"
he said silently. Lou was taken aback by the sudden confession.
"What do you mean?" she asked. "Even if Teaspoon and the others
manage to clear me from the accusations, there will always be those
that will remember. I'm not sure that I want to stay in a town where
people will look at me as a presumed murderer, which they will." "Nobody will think that," Lou
objected. "No? How many of those accusing me
will feel sorry if they are wrong? How many will be willing to assume
that they wear right in thinking I was a murderer? After all who can
trust an Indian - or a half-breed." The bitterness that he had
hoped to keep hidden managed to voice itself in the last sentence
and angrily he turned away. Lou sat stunned by the end of the bed. "But what about us - your family?"
she finally managed to ask, not knowing what to say. "You'll always be in my heart,"
Buck admitted. "But I can't stay. You understand that, don't
you?" He turned to look at Lou. "No," she said impulsively and
shook her head. She didn't want to understand that. She refused to
believethat people could be so narrow
minded. People could change, and they would have to change. Besides,
what had Buck ever do to hurt them? Nothing. The townspeople would
have recognise that, and if they didn't she'd make sure they did.
"You're family," she continued and looked sharply at him.
"I'm not gonna let you give up and leave just because of a few
morons who don't know better." "You don't understand." "Yes, I do! You're running when you
have no reason to run. They have no right to make you leave! And if
you don't see that, then I'm sorry for you for you. But you're wrong,
Buck!" Lou leaned forward in her eagerness to change his mind.
"You belong there, with us! You've done nothing for them to treat
you like that and if they don't see that, then we'll make them. All
of us!" Buck stared at her as if he had a hard
time believing what she was saying and the truth behind her words.
But he had only to look at her to realise that she meant every word
that she spoke. He didn't know if it was the fever or his general
condition but he could feel tears building up in his eyes and he turned
away. But he was a bit late and Lou saw it too, and in a second she
was next to him, embracing him as tears showed in her eyes too. Embarrassed, Buck hugged her and pulled
her away from him. "Sorry, Lou," he mumbled as Lou wiped
her own tears away. "You're not leaving are you?"
she asked again, carefully looking at him. "You just can't leave
us, we're your family! We wouldn't be who we are without you there." He hadn't thought about it that way. That
his presence could have an impact on who the others were or would
become. He never had before. And although he felt an immense joy over
hearing Lou put her feelings about in words, there was that sting
of pain that those were words he once wished to have heard from someone
else - a long time ago. If Red Bear would have acted as Lou did at
that very moment, he would never have left the Kiowa and in his heart
he knew that he had wished for Red Bear to say that. But now it wasn't
Red Bear that offered him a home, a family and a place to stay - not
only for his sake, but for others as well. It was Lou. And how much
he feared and loathed having to meet his accusers and the people looking
down at him, he knew that there was just one answer he could give
Lou. "Since you insist, I won't leave,"
he mumbled, not sure of just how he should express himself. Lou smiled at him. "I'm glad,"
she said simply. "You didn't think I would let you just leave
now, did you? After all, I'm forced to 'date' Cody to keep up appearances,"
she added teasingly, pleased to see a smile in Buck's weary face.
"Now, you should finish those sandwiches. Maybe you'll get your
strength back when you start eating." "I'm not very hungry," he said
almost apologetically. "Well, eat 'em anyway," Lou
ordered, "or you'll never get your strength back. I need to get
over to the saloon. With any luck I shouldn't have to do this much
longer," she added with a soft sigh and she walked behind the
screen to change into her working clothes. "I'll tell you," she said with
a smile as she emerged from the screen, "that you boys have it
easy. If I was forced to work like this for any longer time, I'd be
permanently worn out. A mail run will be a piece of cake after this." Buck smiled at her and knowing that there would be nothing more for him to do than rest until she returned he sank down on the bed and closed his eyes. He more heard than saw Lou slip out the door and with a sigh he allowed himself to drift off to sleep.
Following their planned routine Cody arrived later in the evening for a late supper and a game of card. There weren't much else to do, so they hadn't seen any reason to change it. The card game would give Cody a reason to linger on and to keep an eye out for trouble at the same time. When possible, Lou stopped by in hope of exchanging a few words, but it wasn't really until she got off work for the night that they were able to talk. As they walked back to the boarding room, Cody told her that he hadn't managed to get any information from the sheriff, which was a disappointment to them. He had time to check out the meeting point he had agreed upon with Teaspoon but there were no messages or any news from Sweetwater, which too was discouraging. Cody was in a good mood about it, however, and tried his best to cheer up the more pessimistic Lou. Unfortunately for him. Lou wasn't easily cheered up. She had been hiding and worrying for a week and the realisation that they would have to wait even longer was not sitting well with her. She wanted to be home, and most of all she wanted her family back together again. Especially now. She knew in her heart how close she had come of losing one of them after listening to Buck's reasoning earlier and although she had managed to change his mind for now, she wasn't sure he would stay. She wasn't even sure she would in his place. But she had already made up her mind to convince him to stay and if it came to a battle of minds, she was determined to win. It would be a lot easier to argue with
Buck than with Kid, she pondered as she aimlessly listened to
Cody as they walked back. There was no complicated relationship
there, no confusing feelings or emotions. Buck was a friend, a brother
and Kid was...more than that, much more, although she wasn't sure
what to call him. Boyfriend seemed so small, and lover, well, they
certainly weren't that. He was more of a soul-mate. That was it -
a soul mate. "Lou? Lou!" Startled she returned from the present
as Cody shook her by the shoulder. He frowned at her. "Where were you?" he asked disappointed.
"Have you listened to anything I've said the last minutes?" "Of course I have," she defended
herself." "Then what was I talking about?" "The horses?" she asked weakly,
as she desperately tried to remember what he had said. Cody shook his head. "Far from it,"
he grunted discouraged. "Who was you thinking about anyway? Kid?" Despite herself, Lou felt herself blush,
which created a smile on Cody's face. "Should have known," he mumbled.
"Has it got anything to do with that letter he's been trying
to write for more than a week now?" The surprised look on Lou's face told
Cody that she had no idea of what he was talking about which strengthen
his belief that it indeed had been a letter to Lou. It had been a
long time since he had noticed Kid's efforts to write something but
he hadn't forgotten. And since he had nothing else to do, he might
as well try and find out what it was about. "What letter?" Lou asked, too
surprised to notice the satisfied grin on Cody. "The letter to you," he replied
casually as they reached the gate to the boarding house. Holding it
up for her, he continued lightly. "You
get some sleep. I'll head out to Ed tomorrow morning to see if he
might now something about the sheriff and I'll see you after lunch.
All right?" "Yes," Lou stuttered as Cody winked at her and left. "Wait," Lou called after him, "what letter..." but he was already out of reach, so disappointed she turned and walked over to the house. When she reached the room, Buck was sleeping so without wakening him she changed and folding a blanket around her she gently nudged him aside on the bed, as she had done since the night he had the fever. It might not have been properly, but neither of them cared. It was very uncomfortable sleeping on the floor and they both needed the sleep, so without saying they had accepted the situation for what it was and that was it. Turning her back to her sick friend, Lou stared out the window on the pale moonlight as she thought about what Cody had said, or rather, what he hadn't said, until sleep took over.
Both Lou and Buck slept late the following
day, and when Lou woke up, the sun was already high in the sky and
feeling thoroughly rested, Lou quickly got dressed and set about to
fix them both a simple breakfast on the small stove in the room. Her
administration soon woke up Buck, who managed to sit up only after
some effort. "Morning," Lou said cheerfully.
"How are you feeling?" Buck shook his head. They had decided
to cut down some on the willow infusion and to his disappointment
the headache seemed to return with renewed force. He didn't need to
say anything as Lou immediately understood. "Back to the willow bark than,"
she suggested. "I think that is better, at least
for the time being," Buck admitted reluctantly. "Had Cody
any news yesterday?" "No." "I don't understand it," Buck
mumbled. "Somebody must have seen something - or said something.
If Emery was involved he can't stay silent this long. He must have
said something to somebody." "Well, if he had, Teaspoon will find
it out," Lou stated confidently and handed him the cup with the
willow infusion. "I wish I knew what they were doing,"
Buck muttered. "When are you meeting Cody?" "After lunch, which would be any
time now," she said as she quickly poured herself some tea. "You
need anything?" Buck shook his head. "Apart from
getting out of here, no." "Don't worry, I'm sure they'll find something soon," Lou said faithfully. "I'll tell Cody you said hello," she stated and grabbed her shawl as she headed for the door. Locking it after her she quickly left the boarding house.
"Did Ed have anything to say?" Lou asked as she walked down the street with Cody, trying to ignore the friendly and meaningful smiles she got from the people they passed. Manasco was a small town and the courting couple walking down the street was a welcome change for its inhabitants. It also gave more attention to the two than Lou thought was comfortable but it was too late to do anything about that. They were still discussing what they should do, especially since Lou had told Cody of her worry that Buck wasn't getting any better, when Lou happened to gaze into a shop window. The reflection she saw there made her gasp and suddenly she turned around, half hearted listening to Cody who was expressing his concerns over Buck's condition. Knowing that the man she saw approaching would be able to hear him within the second, she could only found one way of stopping him. Not even thinking she leaned towards Cody and flung her arms around his neck. The surprise was enough to stop him talking but before he could express his surprise, Lou kissed him. |
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Part 22
