Chapter 3

Jimmy took a long time soaking in the tub, he was enjoying the quiet, Lou was right it aint often that it was this peaceful around here. He was also enjoying listening to Lou humming and talk to him through the door as she finished dinner.

"Jimmy, you know you have to help with the dishes" she hollered through the door.

"Don't worry Lou I won't let you do all the work."

"Jimmy?"

"Yes Lou"

"What a ya think of a walk or a ride after supper?"

"Lou I think that would be real nice."

"Jimmy?"

"Yes Lou" he said with just a little annoyance in his voice.

Lou laughed "Just telling you that I was headed to the bunkhouse and we will be ready to eat in about 20 minutes" Lou smiled as she walked across the yard. I don't know what this is I'm doing, but I like it. And damn it one of us has to at least try. Lou hummed as she got out her blue dress; the one Jimmy bought her in Willow Springs.

Jimmy walked into the kitchen and stopped, his breath caught in his throat. He leaned against the door and watched for a moment as Lou was taking food to the table, she was wearing the dress, the dress he had bought her in Willow Spring and his mind was flooded with the memories of that night. She looked beautiful that night in Willow Springs and he had been proud to have her on his arm, the envy of every man in town. But that night and what happened the next morning also made him promise to himself that no one would ever get that close to him again, it could only bring trouble for them and put their lives at risk. He still woke up at night, terrified by the memory of Lou with a noose around her neck.

"Lou you look beautiful" Jimmy said softly

"Thank you Jimmy" Lou spun around and he was rewarded with one of her sweet smiles "You ready to eat Jimmy."

"I could eat a horse" Jimmy said with a smile, walking to the table. Well it cain't hurt to be with her tonight, ain't nothing gonna happen to us here at home.

Medium Rare Steaks, perfectly cooked; there were roasted potatoes, carrots and parsnips, with just a little bit of fresh dill. Hot buttery rolls that were so light you'd swear they were going to float away, and Apple pie, Jimmy's favorite. Jimmy didn't know what to think, this was one of the best meals he'd had in a long time. And Lou cooked it, he was still having a hard time believing it.

"Lou where'd you learn to cook like this?" Jimmy asked taking the last bite of pie and washing it down with a sip of hot coffee.

"My Ma was a good cook; when we left my father we headed east and got as far as St Louis before our money ran out. Momma took a job cooking in a saloon at first, but her cooking was so good that a fine restaurant nearby hired her. We even lived in a room behind the kitchen, I spent most of my time there taking care of Jerimiah and Teresa but sometimes I got to help out in the kitchen. I remember having to stand in a chair just to reach the countertop" Lou smiled and looked at Jimmy "you think I'm 'puny' now."

Jimmy smiled back "How long were you in St Louis?" Jimmy didn't know much about Lou, hell none of them really did. What was it like for her to be so young and on her own? Kid had told the riders about Wicks and that he had hurt her but he didn't go into details, they were smart boys, they knew out what he was saying. But other than that no one knew where she had come from or what she lived through in the 5 years since she left the orphanage.

"About 2 years, that's when Momma got sick; after she died I managed to get my brother and Sister to the orphanage near St Jo, I was about 10 by then" Lou sighed "Stayed with 'em a couple of years and I did a lot of cooking there too, with all those kids to feed the sisters needed all the help they could get. But I preferred the stables, I spent more time there than in school or the kitchen. Eventually the sisters left me to do what I wanted and what I wanted was to take care of the horses and to ride."

"That sure paid off didn't it?" Jimmy said with a smile.

"Yea, yea it did, but not till about a year and a half or so after I left the orphanage. It wasn't until I started dressing like a boy that I got decent work and got to use those skills" Lou started to get up to clear the table.

Jimmy put his hand over hers; she felt the heat from Jimmy's hand, looked in his eyes and sat back down.

"How did you live all that time on your own?" Jimmy asked "You had to have been living like a boy for at least 2 years before you started riding with the express"

Lou sat back down "longer than that I guess" Lou looked up at Jimmy "you probably know about Wicks" Jimmy nodded and looked down at the table "Well I was there almost a year before…well..he…. "Lou shrugged""...and after I ran away from there I tried getting other work, there aint much out there for young girls, and at almost 14, I was too young and didn't have enough education to be a teacher and I lived in Wicks' whorehouse long enough to know I would do anything not to live like that. I moved around for a month or so and picked up a few jobs working in kitchens and by then I had made my way to Topeka…."

Jimmy interrupted "Kansas?" Jimmy was from KS and just for a moment wondered if they were there at the same time.

Lou nodded "Yea, There was a bar near the center of town and the barkeep was gonna hire me to help in the kitchen, the pay was barely enough to feed myself, but I needed to eat. He told me I could have the room in the back to sleep in. He took me back to show me where it was and he tried ta' .. well ya know" Lou paused and leaned her head against Jimmy's shoulder "Funny I ain't never told anyone about that, no one. I managed to get away and stole some clothes, boys clothes, cut my hair and headed further west. It felt safe to dress like that, to live like that and I got a good job working in a livery near Seneca and I lived there for a while. But I moved on after a few months, it was safer to keep moving too. Lord Jimmy I worked all over, I worked as a ranch hand in Texas for about 6 months or so, even worked a few cattle drives" Lou smiled "Someday I will tell you those stories Jimmy. You think Cody's stories are funny."

Jimmy's smile faded a bit "Running cattle from Texas, you must'a had it tough then. I saw the kind'a men that came through Kansas with their herds. They were a rough bunch."

"Well I'll say you boys are an easy lot to live with compared ta the hands I had to bunk with back then." Lou gave Jimmy a reassuring smile "Most of men I worked with were good folks and well I learned a lot. I just kept my head down and did my job."

"We even had a cook on one run didn't seem ta think too much of wearing clothes" Lou laughed at the memory of Chuck Wagon cooking in nothing but an apron and boots. "Being here with you boys is the longest I've lived anywhere since I left the orphanage. It's also the only place that felt like home since my Ma died."

Jimmy turned to face Lou and lifted her chin to look her in the eyes "Lou you know none of us would ever hurt you" Jimmy said. "Jimmy" Lou said in a strong but calm voice "I wouldn't have stayed if I'd thought different."

Lou stood up taking her plate "Let's get these dishes done so we take a walk before dark, Then you can tell me something's I don't know about James Hickok" Jimmy followed her with dishes in hand "Lou sometimes I think you know more about me than I do."