Winds of Change Chapter 6
"Lou, what were they gonna arrest you for?" Emily asked looking around the table, putting voice to what the others were thinking.
"Sweetheart, we ain't never known you to 'lay low'" Teaspoon smiled at his girl, she had never run from a fight.
Lou smiled back at Teaspoon, "The charges were 'aiding the enemy and harboring runaway slaves'. But I didn't 'aid the enemy' they helped me. About a month..… after Kid…..died I was on the mend but still pretty sick, some union soldiers came through and the company doctor tended to my arm, so I fed them, let them rest their horses and they stayed in the barn for a few days. Someone must have seen them they is all I can figure."
And well I did help some former slaves, and I don't regret it. Once I felt up to it I started thinking about coming home, but the fighting had gotten so bad and traveling with a baby, well I guess I was more than a little scared. But I had other worries; we were running low on food. What the soldiers hadn't taken had gone bad and what I had but up in the cellar was running out and I hadn't been able to do any hunting. One day I had gone to the barn to check on the stock and I heard a noise coming from the tack room,
I grabbed my gun and opened the tack room door, I was afraid it was soldiers again, but what I found surprised me. It was some Negros, two children and a man. I didn't know what to think at first and I'm pretty sure they were more scared than I was but I could see they were hungry and just needed food and water. They told me they were trying to get north or west, they were just running for their lives. I guess in some ways it was nice to have someone else around. And they helped in the house and with the stock, I needed that, my arm still wasn't 1oo % and the man did some hunting too so when they left a few days later I had something to tide us over.
"Thing is, after they left, and after Mr. Lincoln set that proclamation that freed the slaves, there were others that came through. Most of them were colored men, trying to reach the Union lines so they could join up. The Union was recruiting Negros from all over the south. But the southern slave owners just saw them as runaways. They would hunt them down like animals; they even hired bounty hunters, the most God awful men you could ever know. Makes Coulter, that bounty Hunter that tried to catch Jimmy, they make him look like a pussy cat. I just couldn't turn those folks away. Some only stayed a few hours, to rest and eat. Others would stay for a few days before moving on. I didn't have much but I could at least share my roof. I thought a lot about Ulysses then, you remember him, the runaway slave that came through Sweetwater. He saved Kids horse when the barn was on fire. He talked about the slaves moving from place to place trying to get to Canada; he called it the Underground Railroad. I thought a lot about Noah and how he would buy slaves and set them free. I thought about you too Cody, Noah dying in your arms and you joining the Union army. And Jimmy fighting for the vigilance group in Kansas but I thought about you most of all Teaspoon. Even though you thought like Kid did that the south had a right to make its own decisions, and you even went back to Texas for a while, you wouldn't have done any different than me, you would 'a helped 'em too." Teaspoon nodded slowly.
"But Louise, was it worth risking your life and Jaimie's too" Rachel asked deeply concerned.
"I didn't really think about it, they just came and I did what I could and then they left. I didn't see the harm until the bounty hunters showed up."
Mam' we're looking for nigra's, runaway slaves. We tracked some of them coming this way. It's a hanging offence Mam' to harbor runaways. You ain't seen any have ya?"
"No" I said holding my gun, in my right hand, not trying to hide it. "I ain't seen no one in nearly 2 months" Jaimie started crying from the house "I need to tend to my baby, you got any other questions?"
"Where's your husband?"
"Dead, buried behind the barn"
"Well ain't that a shame a woman here all by her lonesome, we going check out your barn and then we'll be having a look in your house"
"You can look in the barn all you like, but you ain't going in my house. The soldiers that came through and killed my husband, they tore up my home and took everything from me. You ain't going in; first one that crosses that porch dies. You might shoot me too, but I'll have the high ground and I'll take as many of you with me as I can." Lou looked at them, terrified of what they were capable of and of what they would do if they found the folks hiding in her basement; she raised her pistol and pointed it at the obvious leader of the group "Search the barn all you like and then get the hell off my property."
"They searched the barn and property then left. But they left a few men watching the roads leading to the farm. That night the folks that had been hiding in the cellar managed to get out, I always wondered if they made it and that night I started packing. I packed only what I could carry on Lightening; my plan was to leave in a few days. But Mr. Schuler, his wife is who helped me with Jaimie when my time came, he came riding up the next day and he had a basket of food and asked could he come in for some water. When he came in he told me that there were Confederate soldiers and the local law headed my way, they were going to arrest me for harboring not only runaways but Union soldiers as well. He offered to help us but I told him to leave he couldn't be seen helping me; they'd hang him on the spot. But it was his warning that saved us.
I grabbed the baby, my saddle bags and we took off. A few of the men tried to follow me, but the old mules they called horses were no match for Lightening. I rode him hard for hours before I felt like we had given them the slip. I nearly rode him to death before I got to Louisville, that took 3 weeks and then 'cause Jaimie was sick we stayed there for a while and well then we got Emma's and now I'm home." Lou smiled. "Hell they're probably still riding in circles looking for me."
"Well sweetheart we're all glad you're safe and real sorry you had to go through all that but you're right, you're home now" Teaspoon asked.
"Teaspoon I guess I need think about what to do, I have to find work and a place to live" Lou said a little unsure of where she stood with everyone. They had their lives, she didn't want to intrude and she needed to make her own way.
"Well Missy I think your first priority is to bring that baby home to meet her family" Rachel said putting her arm around Lou. "And you are going to live right here with us, with me and Teaspoon so we can spoil that grandbaby."
The room got quiet, Lou was talked out, she'd said all she intended to for now. "Rachel let me help you with the dishes" Lou stood up and starting gathering plates.
Buck stood too and offering Emily his hand, "Lou, we're happy you're here and sorry we need to leave, don't know if Rachel and Teaspoon told you but we have a son we need to get home to and another baby on the way."
"A son and another baby due so soon" Lou was so happy for them they looked perfect together.
"Well our son is actually only a few months older than Jaimie and his name is Ike"
"I'm confused if you were married a year ago then how is he almost 2, wait Emily is he Ike's baby."
Emily nodded "Yes, I hope you don't think too badly of me" Lou put her arm around her new sister "No I think is wonderful. We've all missed Ike and felt his loss, I think it's terrific that there is a part of him here and that you and Buck found each other" Lou looked at Buck "That means I'm an Aunt, where is little Ike? I want to meet him."
Lou followed Buck and Emily out and over to the Livery leaving the others to finish their coffee and talk.
"Teaspoon, if they really think Lou was harboring runaways and soldiers she's right they probably are still looking for her." Cody said "I'll see what I can find out when I can back to Fort Laramie"
"Son I wouldn't worry about it I doubt they have given her a second thought since she out ran them and even if they were looking they wouldn't look for her out here. I say we let it go, take this coffee out on the porch, enjoy the sunset and be thankful she survived."
Rachel picked up her cup and headed for the door "Cody are you leaving tomorrow or staying for a few more days?"
"I wish I could, but I need to get back." He said porch railing as Teaspoon and Rachel sat on the swing "But I wonder if you two think I should try to find Jimmy, let him know what's happened? Kid being killed, he'd want ta know."
"Yea see what you can find out, he should know he has a niece named after him too. And frankly I know Lou seemed ok but she was telling her story like she was reading it from a book, I'm worried about her. She ain't telling us everything and I think she needs to know her whole family is here for her. Find him if you can and then send us word"
'''''
"Cody I can't believe you have to leave, I ain't hardly had a chance to hear any of your stories. She hugged her bother "But I understand, please promise to take care of yourself"
Cody hugged Rachel and Emily and tried to shake Teaspoons hand but he got pulled into a big bear hug, Buck was holding Cody reins and as he mounted he turned to Lou "Lou honey I'd better have a niece here next time I come to visit, I'm anxious to meet her, I might have to see if I can't get over to Emma's to meet her if you don't bring her home soon" Lou looked stricken but she quickly smiled, "well if you do you can bring her home. You spending a week on the trail with a baby, I'd pay to see that."
"Ride safe Cody" they all shouted as he rode away.
"Well I guess I need to make plans to visit Emma and bring my daughter home." Lou said walking towards the house.
…
"What'll it be?"
"Cheese sandwich and a sarsaparilla"
"Well well well" said a slow, low voice "If it ain't Wild Bill"
Jimmy sighed not looking up at the man who sidled up next to him at the bar "Ain't wild Bill, you got the wrong man"
"Hickok, you mean you ain't 'The Wild Bill Hickok'"
"Jesus, Coulter what the hell do you want? I'm having a peaceful lunch and you show up" Jimmy looks over at the bounty hunter "and the sight of your face is making me lose my appetite" Jimmy reaches for his drink "What are you doing here?"
Coulter in his slow and deliberate voice "Well I go where the business takes me"
"And your 'business' brought you to Leavenworth? What poor soul are you tracking now, you gonna shoot 'em in the back"
"Well that ain't the plan, that ain't never the plan, does occasionally go that way though. And my business started in Tennessee"
"What the hell were you doing there?"
"Just making a delivery, a man known as Big Dave, killed 3 people in Memphis, I found him in Missouri. And while it is a fascinating story it ain't why I'm here. Actually Hickok I came looking for you."
That made Jimmy stand up, he faced Coulter and opened his coat to reveal his Navy Colt Revolver.
The bounty hunter put up his hands "Wait, now hold on, I just have a question 's all and maybe some information you might find interesting. I'm trying to do you a favor Hickok"
"What favor, what information?" jimmy asked turning back to his lunch.
"You know that little fella used to ride with the Express, bunked down in Sweetwater and Rock Creek, you two seemed close. I thought you might know where he was?"
Jimmy tried not to show any reaction, took a bite of his sandwich and wonder what the hell Coulter would want with Lou. "Ain't seen him since I left Rock Creek, what do you want with him. He was pretty harmless, he in some kinda trouble?"
"No, ain't him I was wondering about, not really" Coulter pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and began to unfold it "I just was wondering if he had a sister and if she lived in Virginia"
Jimmy glanced at the paper feeling panic start to rise up in him "I don't think he does, why you looking for her for Coulter."
"Well your friends name was McCloud and this woman" Coulter showed Jimmy the wanted poster "her name is McCloud too and she sure does look like him….."
Jimmy snatched the paper from Coulter while he was still talking "… I figured you two being so close you might want to get word to her, tell her to keep her head down."
Jimmy looked at him "I wouldn't know how to get word to her and how'd you know?"
"Hickok I ain't blind, I figured her for a girl early on. All you riders were close weren't you and that's her ain't it." He said tapping the likeness on the poster.
Jimmy nodded now felling terror sitting heavy in the pit of his stomach "Could be, names right. What she wanted for."
"Well poster just says harboring runaway slaves…." Of course she was, Jimmy thought sarcastically to his self "…..and aiding the enemy." Jimmy just shook his head and tried not to smile a little. That's his Lou the Queen of lost causes and seconds chances"…..I saw this poster at the marshal's in Memphis he said the Confederacy and the law out of Virginia were looking for her, so as long as she ain't in Virginia anymore she's probably Ok, problem is they put a $500 bounty on her head…"
"$500! Why so high?" Jimmy shouted"
Coulter nodded"….with a reward like that every bounty hunter, 'ceptin me of course, will be looking for her. The marshal in Memphis was a talkative fella he heard that she shot a couple of men while escaping and wants to make an example of her. They don't take kindly to folks stealing their slaves and that's how they see it. Let me tell you Hickok if she's still there in the south, well them bounty hunters are rough, makes me look like the pussy cat. I took the poster, figured I run into you eventually and then I saw you walking in, I knew you want to know." The bartender headed over but Coulter waved him away "How come you ain't with her?"
Jimmy just looked at him "Why would I be with her?"
"I said I ain't blind and being able to read folks is why I am so good at what I do" Coulter shrugged "You favored her." he pointed to the poster "keep it, get word to her, tell her to keep her head down, if I come across her I'll point her in your direction."
"How long ago was this?" Jimmy said still looking at the paper and Lou's picture.
"I guess they been looking for her mmm about 2 months now" Coulter heads for the door.
"Coulter" Jimmy calls as the two men turn to face one another "I owe ya one"
"Yea, ya do and you can count on me collecting."
Jimmy threw a few coins on the bar, grabbed the poster and headed for the telegraph office.
...
"Hey Teaspoon" Barnett said as he enter the jail "Afternoon Barnett how was your dinner?"
"Fine Teaspoon just fine" Barnett picked up a broom and started sweeping out the cell "Oh and you got a telegram, Mr. Boyle at the office wanted me to bring it to you" Barnett hands over the wire.
Teaspoon opens it and "Oh Lordy! Barnett keep an eye on things I 'll be back"
…
Yea Jimmy's back. I miss him when he's gone LOL. And I always liked Coulter… I know I'm weird. I hope your enjoying this little tale. It would appear that our darlin' Lou isn't out of trouble yet. And seriously what about the baby and we still don't know exactly what happened to Kid do we, seems she still has a few things to tell us. I'm sorry this is taking so long, and I really don't know whats coming up next. My sweet muse isn't giving my any clues or hints he just says "Sit down…..you write"