I do not own the Young Riders
Lou left Miss Mollies the same way she arrived, through the back door, and in the depth of the dark shadows.
She could hear the men, she now knew worked for Jacob Pike, laughing and hollering rude things to the girls that worked in the brothel.
She went over what Sally had said to her, and thought that she was right. The man that took her the other night didn't do it just to relieve himself. He did it because he could. He did it because he wanted to show her and the boys that he had more power than they did in that moment.
An arm suddenly pulled Lou in between two buildings. Lou started thrashing out against her captive, fear coursing through her veins that she was going to be raped again.
"Lou, Lou, stop your hurting me." A woman's voice cried out as quiet as she could.
Lou stopped hearing that the person that grabbed her was a woman. Lou looked towards the voice, which held her, taking just a minute to recognise her.
"Jane?"
"Yeah it is." Jane told her happy that Lou had remembered her. "What are you doing here Lou?" Jane asked. She had noticed Lou the moment she rode into town.
Jane had kept her distance seeing what it was Lou was up to, and also seeing if her favourite Kiowa was with her.
Why weren't the boys with her?
Lou just happy to find someone she knew broke down in tears. Jane seeing that Lou was in a bad way held onto her while she let it all out.
"Lou come with me, let's get you cleaned up." Jane suggested. Lou agreed and followed Jane to a small shack behind the blacksmith.
"I'm sorry for losing it back there," Lou told Jane, who handed Lou a mug of hot coffee.
"Don't sweat it." Jane told her as she sat down in front of a beaten and emotionally tattered Lou. "What are you doing here? This town is not what it appears." Jane told her.
The town hasn't been the same since Pike and his men showed up. Jane didn't think that it was too safe for Lou being here.
"Jane did you know that Jacob Pike was here and running these thugs?" Lou asked shocking Jane. How in the hell did she know that? Unless that is why she was here. Makes sense, after all they met on the ride back to Benton after what went down with the brothers at the Mission.
"I did Lou. When Jacob arrived with his men, they made their presence known. Most of the town folk have fled," Jane said sadly. "Pike's men killed a lot of the towns' men, powerful men. Their families didn't stick around after that, there was nothing keeping them here."
"Why doesn't someone show him where the money is? You can't tell me Amanda was the only one who knew of its where bouts?"
"I'll tell you now, you better not mention that name around folk you don't know. Pike wants that woman dead, and the towns people wouldn't care if he did kill her." Jane quickly told Lou, "Anyway how did you know about the money?"
"A woman at Miss Mollies told me." Jane laughed, Lou had only been here for a good part of a day and she had already found out a lot about what had been happening around Benton.
"She really did a number on everyone." Jane stated.
"Yeah I heard about that." Lou stated simply. Lou thought about all that has happened not just with her and her family, but with a whole town. "Jane, all this cannot be for money, surely."
"Sad thing is Lou I think it is. My father was killed because of it. I have to believe that it's all about the money."
"So he wants Amanda because she knows where the gold is hidden?"
"I think so, yes." Jane said, pretty sure that is the only reason he wants Amanda.
"Well what about Hack, where is he?"
"Lou Hack's dead."
"How did that happen?"
"About three months ago, I think. I'm not sure, but I know that Hack and the Marshal both went to have words with Jacob. Jacob was out with his family when they came across the Benton law. I know Jacob's men were not far behind, shots were fired and Jacob's son and wife were caught in the cross fire. Pike's men came riding into town with both the Marshal and Hack being dragged behind their horses. They cut them lose and left them on the street, dead, outside of the saloon. "
"Then this isn't just about money. Hack killed Jacob's family, Teaspoon and the boys killed his brothers this is Jacob destroying all that were involved. The money is just a sweetener on top."
"But why go after Amanda?"
"Hack and she were together." Lou told Jane. Surely Jane knew that.
"Are you sure? I mean I know they hung out a lot but I have seen him with plenty of women, and the day before he was killed, he was with the school mistress."
"But that doesn't make sense. Teaspoon heard from Amanda not long after what went down at the mission. She talked of her and Hack, Teaspoon said they were together."
"I don't know what to tell you. They may have been, and in fact I do remember seeing them ride into town together the day Jacob Pike arrived, but that is the last time I saw them near each other."
"If Amanda and Hack knew where to find the money, do you think maybe Amanda would set Hack up so she could claim the money herself?"
"Do you really believe that Amanda would be that ruthless? And I think what happened with Jacob's family was an unlucky accident."
"I know, you're right. But I also think with the right motivation she would do anything." Jane gave me a doubtful look, "Amanda is money orientated always has been always will be. I think that if she saw an opportunity to become sole owner of that money and gold, she wouldn't think twice about going for it."
"You know her better than me. I can only go by what you are saying." Jane thought about it for a minute, "But from the small amount of time I spent with Teaspoon and the boys, I couldn't see them trusting someone as conniving as that." Lou held her chest as a stab of pain struck her heart. They did trust Amanda, which is why they weren't with Lou.
"And from what I remember Kid was very protective of you, I always imagined he would follow you everywhere. Should I be preparing for another visitor?" The pain in Lou's heart just about near tore it in two.
"He's dead." Lou said coldly and tearfully, "And Noah." Lou looked up to Jane, "And the only clue we were given to why they were so brutally taken from us was Amanda." Lou wiped her eyes dry, "You see Jane I have every right to believe Amanda is up to no good, I just wish I knew what was so damn important that people I love were hurt." Lou told her sadly.
Jane looked to Lou and just like everyone else, she could see she had been in some kind of trouble. She also noticed that Lou was tired so decided to put an end to this conversation and show Lou to her bed.
"How 'bout you and I head into town tomorrow? I have a few things to get, we tell everyone we can that you are my cousin. It gives you a reason to be here if anyone asks questions."
"Jane I don't want to put you in any danger."
"You're not Lou. Let me do this for you."
"Thank you Jane."
"You're welcome, now let's turn in I have a feeling we got some big days ahead of us."
"I have to head back to Sweetwater and gather my things, I'll leave tomorrow night and hope to be back in two days."
Jane nodded and led Lou to her bed for the night. It wasn't much, but Lou didn't care she was just grateful for the pillow and the company.
Lou pulled out the photograph that she stole from the saloon and studied the faces of her family. She knew that there was never going to be another one taken with all of them together so Lou would treat it like gold.
She fell asleep that night with the Photograph tucked securely tucked under her pillow.
The next day the girls walked around town, letting Pikes men and what was left of the town's people see Lou's face.
Both the girls stopped in at the store needing a few things. Lou finished up first and let Jane know that she would meet her outside on the boardwalk.
Lou walked out of the door, smiling as the warm sun shone on her face, for some reason her mind went straight to Kid, especially their day at the pond, with the sun on their back, the soft sand between their toes and the warm water between their bodies. A content moan escaped Lou when she thought she could feel the soft touch of Kid's hands on her body.
Lou sighed as she opened her eyes. She wished she could daydream about Kid all day, but in the middle of the street it wasn't a good idea.
Lou looked to the shop window, walking along the outside of it admiring what the merchant had displayed.
Lou heard the sound of a door opening and looked up to see if it was Jane, but as she turned someone crashed into her, and crashed hard.
Lou looking to grab onto something before she hit the ground grabbed a hold of an arm.
She got her balance and looked up to see that a young fair headed man was staring at her hand that was attached to his arm.
"Oh gosh I'm so sorry," Lou cried as she let the man's arm go.
"Yes well perhaps you can watch where it is your going from now on." Lou looked up to the man taken back by his rudeness. She did not bump into him on purpose; in fact it was he that crashed into her.
"And maybe you should walk round with your eyes open, so you can watch where you're going."
The stranger was annoyed with the women who ploughed into him, then had the audacity to grab a hold of his arm and blame it all on him. But as she raised her face to look up at him, he saw the bruises, and the way her brown eyes were void of shine.
He knew that look all too well, hell he has caused that look often, but he knew that this was not the handy work of him or his men. He had warned them all about keeping their hands to themselves when it came to the women in this town.
"I hope you have a father, or a brother," the man said to Lou. She was confused to why he would say that, and the stranger must have seen the confusion as well as he went on to explain.
"Your face Miss," Lou reached up to touch her still tender face. "I hope that the man who did that got what was owing to him."
"He did," was all Lou said. She didn't know this man, so she wasn't going to go into it with him.
"What is your name? I have not seen you here before."
"Louise. My name is Louise. I arrived yesterday to stay with my cousin."
"Do I know your cousin?"
"I don't know, do you?" Lou sassed. Making the strangers lip tug in the corner giving her an almost smile.
"Are you purposely trying to be difficult?"
"No not at all. I just don't like giving strange men too much information about me. Who knows what kind of a creep you could be?"
"I'm starting to see how you got those bruises." Lou's smile faded, and so did the strangers. "I'm sorry Miss that was uncalled for, please forgive me." Lou was unsure what to think of this man. She had a feeling that he was one of Pike's men, but there was something about him that was drawing her in.
"Really I am sorry Louise. I'm just not use to people talking to me the way you are. The towns' people don't like me being here."
"Why who are you?"
"Are you telling me you don't know who I am?"
"It's exactly what I'm telling you. You could be James Buchanan for all I know." The man laughed out loud, catching Lou and passing witnesses of guard.
"Well I can promise you that I am not him."
"Well then I can only imagine who you are and what it is you do."
"I can see the wheels turning in that pretty little head of yours. But I like that you don't know me, and I like that I know you Louise."
"Ah but my name is just a very small part of me."
"Lou...ise?" Jane questioned coming out of the store she was in, shocked to see who Lou was talking with. Jane looked to Lou's new friend with distaste and abhorrence.
"I see that your cousin knows me." The man said as he looked at Jane.
"Louise do you know Mr Pike?" Jane asked carefully trying not to spark any more curiosity from Jacob.
Lou's eyes widened at Jane.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Lou curled her toes in her boots fighting the urge to lash out; of course when she looked back to Jacob she had to dig her finger nails into her palm to keep reminding her to stay in control.
With the sweetest voice ever she smiled up at Jacob and said, "I think we are even now Mr Pike."
"How's that?" Jacob asked looking to Jane noting that he hadn't seen her before either.
"Well we now both know each other's names."
"That we do Louise," Jacob smiled returning his gaze to Lou. "But I think that I would like to take you to dinner so we can get to know each other even better." Lou's nails retracted from her palm as she stared into Jacob's eyes.
"You think you want to take me to dinner?"
"Oh I know I want to take you to dinner. How are you placed tonight?" he smiled brightly, causing the butterflies in Lou's tummy dance.
"I would love to..."
"But"
"But I'm riding out for a few days."
"Where are you heading Louise?" What was it about this man that had Lou thinking she could tell him anything? This man was behind all of her pain, right alongside of Amanda. He shouldn't be having this kind of effect on her.
"Well that would be cheating Mr Pike. If I tell, you would be at an advantage on getting to know me better."
"Your right Louise. Well I shall call on you say four nights from today, just in case you get side tracked or you're tired from the ride."
"That would be fine."
"Well till then Louise, take care of yourself."
"Will do Mr Pike, and perhaps you could practice on that walking with your eyes open." Lou smiled sweetly.
"In deed." Jacob replied with just as big of a grin as Lou.
Jane pulled Lou's arm dragging her away from Jacob as quick as she could.
"How in the hell did you stay so calm talking with him? And were you flirting Lou?"
"No I was trying to play the part, you know keep your friends close and your enemies even closer," Lou lied. She couldn't deny that Jacob Pike had sparked something inside of her. This trip to Sweetwater was exactly what she needed to remind her of what she had lost and suffered.
