Chapter Three
"Would you look at that?" Cody said in awe of the lovely vision walking toward them. She was tall, with shiny, dark brown hair, and light green eyes. Her simple clothing was not expensively made, or the latest fashion, but somehow it seemed to belong to her perfectly. "Kid, have you ever seen anything so beautiful in your entire life?" When Kid didn't answer, Cody turned toward him. "Kid? Kid!"
Kid turned toward Cody, startled. "Did you say something?"
"I was just pointing out the vision of loveliness that is heading our way, but I see my remarks were unnecessary."
"Shut up Cody," Kid said as the girl reached them.
"Excuse me, can one of you gentlemen point me to the hotel?" The beautiful woman spoke in soft southern accent. She set down the carpet bag she was carrying to adjust her gloves.
"Allow me to show you the way," Kid beat Cody in picking up the carpet bag.
"That would be kind of you, Mr.?"
"Oh, folks just call me Kid," Kid replied.
"Well, Kid, thank you. I'm Lily Marsten."
"It's nice to meet you Miss Marsten," Kid held the door to the hotel open for her to walk through.
"Hello, can I help you?" the clerk behind the desk looked up from the book he was reading.
"Yes, I need a room please," the young woman smiled.
"And how long will you be staying?"
"Indefinitely," she answered, signing the guest book and taking her key.
"Second door on the left, at the top of the stairs," the clerk told her, going back to his book.
"Well, Kid," she turned toward the express rider. "Thank you for carrying my bag."
"Thank you for allowing me the honor Miss Marsten," Kid smiled at her. "Perhaps, if you aren't busy later, I could show you around town?"
"Well, on one condition. That you call me Lily," Lily Marsten smiled a radiant smile, before turning to go up the stairs. Kid was so entranced by her smile, that he almost forgot to finalize their plans to walk around town later. He left, after promising to pick her up in a couple hours.
"Why hello, Marshal," Josiah Mosley greeted Lou. "What brings you to our store today?"
"I need to get some ammunition," Lou told him.
"Did you have a gun fight with the army?" Josiah teased. "I thought you just got a whole shipment of bullets from Ft. Laramie last week."
"Yeah, well, with a deputy like Barnett, let's just say I'm glad the town pays for my ammunition, not me."
"Do I want to know the story?" Josiah asked, wrapping up her purchase.
"Not really," Lou replied. "Let's just say I will never ask Barnett to pick up any supplies across the river again."
Josiah handed her the package of bullets. "Well, since there are no rivers between here and your office, I think they are safe."
Lou just laughed as she left the store. Over the past week, she had gotten to be pretty good friends with Anne Marie Mosley. Unlike the other girls her age in town, Anne Marie wasn't prissy or spoiled. She worked hard alongside her brother at the store, never complaining. And Lou found that she could carry on meaningful conversations, rather than just babbling on about which boy likes which girl and the latest fashions from Paris. The girls had gone on long horseback rides, and sometimes Josiah accompanied them. Both the Mosleys were accomplished equestrians. Lou had no doubt that Anne Marie would have made a good Pony Express rider, and the girl was thrilled when Lou told her that. She loved to hear Lou's stories from when she was an Express rider, and in turn would tell Lou about her life in St. Louis.
Having Anne Marie as her friend helped Lou get over her loneliness, and although she still missed Rachel, Teaspoon, and the boys, she wasn't so miserable anymore.