3
"No please. Wicks please stop, no!"
"Lou, wake up sweetheart."
"Not again."
"Shut up Cody." Jimmy growled.
"No Please."
Kid tried again. "Lou you have to wake up it's me Kid."
"Kid? I'm sorry."
"It's ok Lou I just want you to be ok. Do you want to talk?"
Lou thought for a minute about the last couple days and as she looked up she saw everyone's concerned faces on her again. Lou looked back to Kid and whispered. "Yes Kid. After breakfast ok?"
"Ok." Everyone got dressed and greeted Rachel, Teaspoon, and Jesse as they came in for breakfast. Breakfast went on like normal with all the noise. Once everyone was done, Teaspoon ordered everyone to get to their chores. Lou looked to Kid and mouthed 'barn" before leaving the bunkhouse. When Lou got to the barn she realized how nervous she was. She had to do this, she had to tell him. Midnight was saddled waiting for the boys to work with him. Lou decided to wait for Kid by him.
Kid made his way to the barn. He was so happy that Lou was finally going to talk to him. She is not the type to open up to anyone so he felt honored that she trusted him enough now to talk. The closer he got to the barn he started to get more nervous. What could be going on that would cause the nightmares he thought. What if I can't help her? No stop it, he said to himself. Lou needs me to be strong for her and that's what I'm going to be. Kid opened the door to see Lou by Midnight. "Careful Lou, he's still got a bit of a wild side." Lou didn't move. Kid placed a hand on her shoulder, "Lou?"
Lou jumped as she turned around. "Oh, I'm sorry Kid."
"Lou what's got you so jumpy?"
Lou sighed "Kid I…I don't know how…"
Kid stepped forward and embraced her. "It's ok Lou whatever it is, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere I just want to help you. You keep having these nightmares and they have gotten worse. Maybe if you tell me about them they will stop"
"Thank-you Kid." Lou said taking a step back.
"Just start slow, let's sit over here." Kid led her to a nearby hay bail. He could see she was trembling as she started to speak.
"Kid Charlotte and I know each other from St. Joe but we didn't meet in a dress shop. I met her while I was doing laundry for a man named W…W…Wicks."
"It's ok Lou take your time." He could see fear on her face now and he was worried.
"Well W…Wicks hired me to do laundry. At first I didn't know where I was. It didn't take me to long to realize I was in a whore house." Lou stopped and looked at Kid who had shock showing all over his face. "I can't do this!"
"What Lou?" Kid asked after he shook his head as if to awaken himself.
"I can't tell you this it's to hard. I see the look on your face." Lou said jumping up and making her way to Midnight.
"Lou please. I want to help you."
"No…no Kid I can't." Lou said as she grabbed Midnight's reigns and started out of the barn. Once she was out she mounted the horse and raced out of the yard at full speed.
"Lou please don't run. Lou come back!" Kid yelled after here as everyone came over to him.
"Kid where's Lou going?"
"I don't know Jesse; she got scared and just took off."
"She's on Midnight; maybe I should go after her."
"No Kid she'll be ok. She does know how to handle a horse." Jimmy said annoyed at the fact that Kid seemed to be doubting her capabilities again.
"Jimmy I'm not just worried about the horse."
"Kid what happened?"
"I don't know Buck. She told me that she met Charlotte while she was working for a man named Wicks. Said she did laundry in a whore house."
"Lou worked in a whore house?"
"Cody, she said she did laundry. She looked at me after saying it and that's when she panicked and took off."
"There has to be more to it than that. And who is Wicks?"
"She said he was her boss. I agree with you Noah but I don't know how to get her to tell me."
-Be patient with her Kid.-
"Ike's right, Kid she's trying. Whatever is on her mind has her all tied in knots. It's going to take time to undo them."
"I know Buck. I just don't like seeing her hurting like this."
"None of us do Kid." Jimmy said as they all turned to go in for lunch. As they approached the porch, they saw Teaspoon.
"Boys where is Lou?"
"She rode out for a break. Teaspoon, is something wrong?" Kid asked with worry in his voice as he looked at Teaspoon.
"I'm afraid so Kid. Boys, Charlotte was shot early this morning. She left this note for Lou and I need to talk to her about it."
-Who shot her?-
"I don't know Ike. I was going to have Buck here try to track him before I found this note." Teaspoon said looking and sounding very worried.
"Teaspoon, what does the note say?"
Teaspoon knew he couldn't keep it from him or any of them. They were all family and he was worried for one of them so he handed Kid the note.
