Emma was sitting on her porch swing when Jimmy and Maggie came back. Maggie climbed the steps to the porch and Jimmy took Sundance to the barn. Maggie sat on the swing beside Emma and looked at the woman that she knew she had disappointed. "I'm sorry Emma." The girl said sadly staring at her hands folded in her lap.
Emma grabbed one of Maggie's hands, reached over and cupped her chin in her hand turning the child to look at her. "I was worried when I went to check on you and you were gone. Last time that happened you and Davey were almost…" Emma stopped and took a deep breath. "When you sneak out and go meet boys, only trouble can happen from that. If a boy respects you and cares about you he will not ask you to meet him alone in the dark."
Emma wasn't sure what this child knew about the birds and the bees so she approached the subject carefully. "Have you been talked to about what happens between two people when they love each other?" Emma asked softly.
Maggie rolled her green eyes as her cheeks turned red. "Yes, my Ma told me when I asked her how babies were made when she was pregnant with Davey." Maggie smiled shyly.
Emma smiled and squeezed Maggie's hand for reassurance. "I know I ain't your Ma but I think it is important to save yourself for marriage. Joe may have a great smile and dazzling blue eyes but he may not be the one that you will marry and if he isn't the one then you would be givin' somethin' to him that should be for your husband." Emma stopped and saw the understanding in Maggie's eyes. "And it could make others think you are a loose woman and you may not find a decent man that will treat you properly." Emma finished her motherly talk and patted Maggie's hand as Maggie yawned. "Come on, let's get you to bed."
Carl sat near the edge of the property and thought of all the ways of grabbing those kids. He wanted that gold and he was going to get it. He had watched them for days and knew when they went on runs, and when they ate. The kids were always with an adult and they all had guns except the woman on the porch. He almost made his move to take the girl but watched as the two stood and walked into the house. "Damn it." He cursed as his opportunity slipped inside the house. He had observed all the riders and knew which ones they could over power and which ones to avoid. The Indian had good instincts and would for sure hear them. Their best chance of getting the kids together would be when they were with the small scrawny rider. Carl remounted his horse and rode into the darkness.
After breakfast the next morning, Emma was in a baking mood and decided a little help would be fun. She had gladly offered for Davey and Maggie to help her bake a cake and Lou had even volunteered to help. Lou carried in a chair from the table and slid it against the counter and patted the seat for Davey to climb up on it. Emma handed Lou an apron and she just looked at it like it was a rattle snake.
"Put it on." Emma said with a smile as she tied an apron around Davey.
Maggie tied hers on and asked "How can we help?"
Emma instructed her on where everything was. Maggie sat a mixing bowl on the counter in front of Davey and Lou poured the flour into it. Davey couldn't keep his hands out of the white powder. Emma smiled and added the sugar and baking powder. As Davey squished the powdery substance between his fingers, a small amount shot up onto Lou's face. The room got quiet, nobody moved. Lou pursed her lips together and slowly raised her hand to wipe the mixture off.
"Why you little!.." She reached into the bowl and grabbed a pinch of the powder and tossed it onto Davey's face. What happened next was just the beginning of the fun. Davey still had his hands in the mix, before anyone said a word; Davey had tossed a handful at Maggie who saw it coming and ducked. The flying powder hit Emma square in the face. Maggie and Lou gasped. Davey giggled and Emma got even. She reached into the bag of flour and pulled out a handful of flour. Maggie was still clean and made the perfect target. The next thing they knew flour was flying everywhere. In the middle of the flour war, Ike, Buck and Cody walked in followed by Teaspoon and Kid.
"Emma can…" Buck stopped in mid sentence as he saw the white powder cloud that lingered in the kitchen and tried to hold back the laughter. Emma, Maggie, Davey and Lou were covered in flour, as were the cabinets, the counter and the floor. The only thing that didn't have flour in it was the mixing bowl. The boys didn't know what to do so they all turned and walked back out the door, which made Emma and Lou start laughing.
"I thought we were supposed to be makin' a cake not a mess." Emma said trying to shake the flour out of her hair.
The clean up wasn't as much fun as making the mess but it got done and soon a chocolate cake was cooling on the counter. Emma thanked her help and told the younger one's to go play while she spoke with Lou.
Emma watched as Maggie and Davey left and looked at Lou. "If you get a free moment or two would you mind talking to Maggie about Joe? I think she may listen to you more then some ol' lady like me." She asked.
Lou nodded and said "You are not an old lady and yes I will talk to her."
Lou vowed revenge on the adult pranksters, with help from the junior prankster. She found Davey behind the bunkhouse throwing rocks at cans on the fence. She placed a hand on his shoulder and knelt beside and asked "Ya wanna help me with somethin'?" the boy smiled and nodded. She cupped her hand over his ear and whispered her dastardly plan into his ear. He put both hands over his mouth to cover the giggle. She pulled away from him and he turned toward her and nodded again.
Lou knew Buck was hard to trick, his instincts were too good. So she needed someone to distract him and she knew just who could help her. Jimmy had been tricked with the frog too and she knew he would help. She found Jimmy in the barn and told him her plan. She didn't the miss the smile on his face. "I don't think revenge is what you're after." He winked at her.
"What's that suppose to mean?" she playfully punched him on the shoulder.
Buck and Ike were in the bunkhouse. Ike was drawing at the table and Buck was reading. Davey ran in and could barely stand still as he stood beside Ike. "Can we go swimmin' PLEASE! You said we could." He looked from Ike to Buck with pleading eyes. Ike looked at Buck and nodded. Buck smiled "Come on Kiddo, let's go." He said laying his book down. Davey jumped up and down pulling on Ike's arm, until he finally sat his pencil down and closed his drawing pad.
The sun was warm for spring and the perfect weather for swimming. When they got to the swimming hole, Buck made the suggestion that since it was just them and no girls around, that swimming in the buff would be better, so they all stripped down to their birthday suits and ran full force for the water. Davey sat in the cool water and splashed Ike. The water felt good as Ike splashed down in the water next to Davey.
Buck saw movement near the path then saw Jimmy as he rounded the bushes.
"Come swimmin' with us Jimmy" Davey pleaded.
"Sorry Kiddo, not today, I need to talk to Buck for a minute." Jimmy said
Lou waited for Jimmy to pull Buck aside to keep him distracted just long enough for her to grab their clothes and leave. That was Lou's intention anyway until she caught a glimpse of the bronze god that stood mere feet from her. She parted the branches of the bush and leaned in just enough to see a bit more.
Thoughts of Kid popped into her head but were quickly replaced by the brown skin that glistened in the sun. Drops of water that slid down his back and rolled over the muscular roundness of his firm ass, made her hold her breath. She bit her bottom lip as a moan escaped her mouth. She sighed as she stared out across the water. So many unladylike thoughts danced in her mind, she was having a hard time focusing on the mission. Letting out a breath, she took her eyes off of Buck only long enough to see Jimmy's impatient look. She swallowed hard and quickly scooped up their clothes, leaving only Davey's clothes and their hats, she took one more glance back out across the lake then ran off down the path.
"What took you so long?" Jimmy asked already knowing the answer as he caught up with her.
Her blush gave her away causing Jimmy to roll his eyes.
"It is such a pretty day, I was admiring the scenery." She said with a smile.
"It musn't have been too pretty, you didn't see my scenery." Jimmy said with a laugh just before she slapped him on the shoulder.
Buck stepped out of the water and reached for his clothes, but only found Davey's. He said a word in Kiowa that Ike didn't know and asked "What did that mean?" Buck looked at Davey and said "I can't repeat it in front of Davey. They took our clothes." He said with an irritated smile.
"Not mine" Davey said jumping up to grab his clothes out of Buck's hand.
"Who? Ike signed.
Buck looked around the area, he remembered Jimmy talking to him and he thought he had felt eyes on him. "Lou." He said as he shook his head. "This was payback for the frog."
Ike smiled and reached for his hat. "She left our hats" He signed trying to keep a strait face. "And our boots"
Buck couldn't believe he had been tricked. Davey stood up and straightened his hat on his head. "She said you have never been tricked before."
Buck looked at the little instigator "You knew about this?"
Davey nodded with a smile and took off running down the path. Buck looked as if he could shoot daggers out of his eyes.
"Come on, Buck, you have to admit, she got us good." Ike signed as he saw the look on Buck's face.
Buck took a step toward the path and said "I don't have to admit anything and I never will."
Davey ran ahead giggling the entire time, but stayed close until they got within sight of the bunkhouse and Davey saw all the riders on the porch and took of running to them. Buck and Ike covered themselves with their hats as they got closer.
Jimmy covered Maggie's eyes and Kid covered Lou's eyes as their naked friends approached. Cody couldn't hold in his laughter so he didn't. His laughter sparked the others to laugh as well. Kid felt sorry for his friends and tossed them their clothes. Lou tried to look over Kid's hands as she heard the hats drop on the porch as they tried to catch their clothes. Laughter followed them into the bunkhouse.
Once the laughter stopped Lou smiled at Maggie "You wanna go for a walk and get away from all these crazy men?" Maggie nodded and stood up.
"You wanna go Davey?" Lou asked.
Davey jumped up and grabbed Lou's hand pulling her along. "I guess that's a yes." She smiled as they walked into the desert along a tree lined path.
Carl knew he would have to be quick and quiet. He had been watching this bunch all day and now was finally the time. Then he looked at his bumbling partners and almost thought twice about it. "Come on boys, we gotta be quick and quiet." The last word emphasized with a glare.
"Yeah, sure boss." Homer said. Chester just nodded.
They left their horses nearby and sat by the bushes waiting. They heard the voices and sat in wait.
Maggie walked next to Lou; she liked having women to talk too. She could tell them things that her Aunt and Uncle never would listen too. She watched as Davey ran ahead and picked up a stick and through it as far as his arm could throw it. Then he took off running to retrieve it.
Maggie looked at Lou. "Do you like working at the Pony Express?"
Lou smiled and said "Yeah, I really do." Changing the subject Lou asked "What about you and Joe?"
She watched Maggie's cheek get red as she studied the ground. Lou nudged with her shoulder. "I think he is a very handsome boy." Lou said with a smile.
Maggie smiled shyly "I like him. He's got a nice smile, and pretty eyes."
Lou knew how it was to fall for a nice smile but knew there was more to a relationship then a nice smile pretty smile. But she also remembered being fifteen and the thoughts and feelings that she had. She also knew how fifteen years old boys were and if she wanted to admit it all men were that way. They just never seem to grow up. "He is a good boy, just take it slow."
Davey kicked a rocked into the woods and ran after it. He didn't see or hear the men that were watching him so when Homer stood up and grabbed him from behind and quickly placed a hand over his mouth. "Get him to the horses quietly."
Maggie didn't hear Davey and looked down the path. "Davey!" She panicked when he didn't answer. "DAVID!" Her voice cracked. She looked at Lou and ran to where they had last seen him. Lou scanned the area and saw the bent twigs in the woods. "There" she pointed and they ran into the woods calling for Davey. Lou didn't see Carl as he stepped out of the trees behind her. She also didn't see the gun in his hand as he raised it to her head hitting her with it. She fell to the ground as Chester grabbed Maggie and covered her mouth before she could scream.
