I do not own the Young Riders. I want to thank all of my loyal readers; you give me the courage to continue the story. A big thank you to Jenna and Leah without you this chapter would not be as good as it is. Thank you; )

Lou walked out of the church determined to help Jesse. Once the livery owner was paid she told him she would saddle Lightning.

She whispered, "Lightning, I will not be riding you home. Jesse will." Lightning neighed in a whining way, because she knew Lou wouldn't be riding her. "She's in trouble girl, we're going to help her out. So, be good to her and get her home to Teaspoon safe."

She took Lightning from the livery and rode her to the back alley behind Wick's establishment. "I'll see you in a couple of days, girl" she whispered to Lightning while patting her on the back.

Lou was fidgeting with her jacket as she approached the bar and took a deep breath, "It's show time as Cody would say."

The saloon wasn't that crowded yet, as Lou surveyed through the smoky room. She noticed Charlotte was working and took a seat at an empty table in her section.

"Charlotte, you're looking mighty fine this evening."

"Lou! Nice to see my favorite customer back so soon. What will it be?" Charlotte cooed wanting to keep up Lou's disguise.

"Whiskey, darling," Lou commanded giving Charlotte a wink. "Slow night?"

"Trust me, it will pick up," Charlotte threw over her shoulder walking to the bar.

Charlotte placed the whiskey in front of Lou.

"So, how are things going," Lou questioned trying to make it look like small talk?

"There's a new girl starting tonight. But other than that everything is clean just like her pussy," she answered as she raised her eyebrows to Lou. Charlotte knew that Lou was inquiring about Jesse.

"That's good to know," Lou said as she dropped the nickel down for the whiskey. "Who's winning the big poker game?"

"Mr. Wicks there's no one better," Charlotte sang to keep up the charade and walking over to one of her other tables.

As the night went on Wicks was winning, probably because he was cheating, Lou thought. The bar was getting busy and filling with cowboys, just like Charlotte said.

The game was left with Wicks and someone else. "Let's make this hand be all or nothing," Wicks stated. "Or are you too chicken?"

The other gambler just nodded yes. "But call me a chicken again and I'll just take you outside."

Due to the confrontation between the men no one saw the dealer switch the decks of cards.

"Everyone, this is the last hand, all or nothing hand." Wicks paused "and then I will introduce my new girl, 'Sweet Rose', and her first time will be up for sale," Wicks chuckled.

Lou called Charlotte over to her table.

"Another whiskey, darlin'," she requested looking desperately into her friend's eyes. She was scared and needed reassurance from Charlotte.

Lou wasn't surprised that Wicks won the card game.

"Jake, a round of drinks on the house for everyone," Wicks exclaimed to the bartender.

There were cheers and congratulations to Wicks. Many men patted him on the back in celebration.

No one noticed the man that slid into the bar. He pulled his jacket up over the collar he was wearing.

"Charlotte, go get Sweet Rose it's time she make her introduction," Wicks yelled as he threw back his glass of whiskey, with a smirk on his face.

Charlotte placed the shot of whiskey in front of Lou. Giving her a wink and placing her hand on her shoulder as Lou placed another nickel on the tray.

"I'll be right back," she sang.

Lou took a sip of whiskey, rolling her eyes as Wicks was continued to be congratulated.

After a few minutes passed by Wicks was watching everyone coming up to pay their respects and take advantage of the free drink. He noticed a young man sitting alone sipping his drink. He looks familiar. Where do I know him from?

Walking up to Lou's table, he uttered in a gruff "Mind if I have a seat!" His words were dripping with manners, but it wasn't a question. He does not ask for anything in his own establishment.

Oh my God, he knows who I am. What am I going to do? Where is Charlotte? She shrugged her shoulders, not want to make conversation with the man she had not seen in more than four years. She dug her fingernails into the palm of her hand trying to calm herself.

Wicks took the seat at the table.

"New in town?"

"Nope, just passing through," she said in her deepest tone of voice.

"You haven't congratulated me or thanked me for buying you a drink, yet," Wicks said narrowing his eyes on Lou.

"You're right I haven't," Lou stated plainly before adding in a growl that barely hid her anger, "I don't congratulate cheaters and I can afford my own drinks!"

Lou noticed Charlotte was pulling a frightened Jesse, whose eyes were filled with unshed tears, towards the stairs. Charlotte was plastering on her fake smile, to hid her disgust of what Wicks was doing to this young girl.

Wicks was about to have the insolent young man thrown out because he felt he was trouble, but then he saw Sweet Rose coming down the steps.

"Gentlemen, here comes my Sweet Rose now."

Everyone turned to the stairs and saw the young girl. She was wearing a deep purple corset dress that hung off her shoulders, with a low cut scoop and black lace barely covering her chest. The dress went to her knees, with black stockings and dress boots. Her sandy blonde hair was mostly pulled off her face in a barrette, with a few curls let down.

Hollers and hoots were heard throughout the establishment. Lou was thankful for the distraction that kept Wicks from giving too much effort to figuring out who she was. Lou's watching Jesse as Wicks met her at the bottom of the stairs. Her face was scared and barely holding back the tears. Lou tried to catch Jesse's eyes in hope that she could lend the girl some strength.

When Jesse caught sight of Lou a faint smile came across her features.

Lou watched as Wicks leaned into Charlotte and whispered something and then saw Charlotte and Jesse start circulating the room. Lou took a deep breath as her mind raced. Should I look at Jesse like I'm interested in being her first customer? Wicks is already suspicious of me! What should I do? Should I start bidding at the beginning? Or wait till it looks like the last bid and then bid? I should have thought this part of the plan through more.

"Gentlemen, we will start the bidding for Sweet Rose's first time, at five dollars," Wicks wickedly grinned.

"I got five dollars for the girl," one man said.

"I can do six," said another. Lou was sitting still at the table in the back, deciding to wait till the end to offer her bid, since Wicks was apprehensive about her.

The bid was soon up to twenty five dollars.

"Come on men," Wicks cajoled, "I've had my own share at popping young pussy like hers and I can tell you there is nothing better than being the girl's first before she becomes a whore," Wicks stated paused for effect before continuing his sales pitch. "She might even put up a fight but believe me that will just make the experience one you will never forget and compare all others to," as he pulled Sweet Rose by the arm closer to him and smacked her rear end.

The bidding climbed higher after that little soliloquy. Lou was sitting still at the table her mind drifted. "You are all grown up, Louise." His voice made her skin crawl as she remembered fighting Wicks and him over powering her and taking her against her will.

"Twenty seven dollars and sixty five cents going once," Wicks yelled.

Sweet Rose's eyes were teary, at the prospect of being sold to huge animal trapper in the front row.

"She's not worth that much," she heard another man yell. "She'll still be as good in an hour and her price will be five dollars."

"Going twice," Wicks yelled again with a happy smile on his face. This jostled Lou out of her dream.

"Two hundred fifty seven dollars," called a voice from back.

Lou started to make her way from the back of the bar, "but I get her for the whole night."

Sweet Rose let the tear drop fall when she saw Lou.

"Son you sure you have that kind of cash? You don't even look like you would know what to do with a virgin."

Lou pulled out a pile of bills and held up her hand. "Your question about the whore, whatever the hell I want.

Wicks turned his head around to the others in the bar.

"Two hundred fifty seven dollars, going once."

"No woman, pure or not, is worth that much," someone hollered.

"Going twice," Wicks looked at Lou contemplating whether or not he should complete the deal. But two hundred fifty dollars for a whore whole night! That is more money she'd make ever in a night, that's more money than three of my girls would make in a night. "Sold!"

Lou strode up to the bar and laid down two hundred and sixty dollars. "And a bottle of whiskey," she stated as she'd eyed Wicks.

The man who came in early trying to cover his collar, tried to walk back out without being noticed, but bumped into a working girl on the porch of the saloon.

"Father John," she said as he scampered away leaving her looking away in confusion.

"Sweet Rose, take care of him," Wicks said ordered almost reluctantly as he pushed her towards the steps. He watched as Lou followed with the bottle of whiskey.

As Lou and Sweet Rose walked upstairs, Wicks pulled Charlotte forcefully toward him.

"Who is he?"

"Old friend of mine," Charlotte smiled at him never once losing her well-practiced composure.

As she spoke she pulled her arm away and in her sugary tone "he's just passing thru he told me on his way to see family."

"He stopped in yesterday. He didn't know I worked here and we spent time catching up," she explained giving him a wink of the eye.

"Lou, I'm so glad to see you," Jesse exclaimed once inside the room farthest away from the bar.

"Quiet, we still have a lot to do before we can start celebrating."

Lou looked around frantically as if trying to put together all the pieces of a puzzle. There was so much to do and so much at stake. She turned her attention sharply back to the frightened girl at her side.

"Do have any other clothes hidden in here."

"No, I wasn't allowed out of Wicks' sight except to buy this outfit, which he picked out," Jesse said in disgust.

"We don't have any time to waste; I want you to have as much time on the trail as possible before anyone knows you're gone. Here, I want you to put my long johns on under that dress. They should help with the cold." Louise started to hand her the one piece long john.

"Louise, I can't help but worry about you when he finds out I'm not here. He's going to make you wish you were dead if he doesn't just kill you."

"Jesse, you have only one goal and that is to ride straight through Sweetwater. I can handle Wicks. I will meet you there in a day or two."

Lou knew Jesse was speaking the truth.

"Take my coat and hat as well. It will help with Lightning, my horse. My scent she'll know what to do." She threw her coat and hat to Jesse.

"I'm not going to be able to take you to Lightning. But see" as Lou points out the window, "the black mare stallion right there. That's Lightning."

"Do you think you can climb out the window and get down to Lightning without anyone noticing you?"

"Lou, I use to have to sneak out of my house, I can do it." Jesse assured Lou as she prepared to go out the window.

"Jesse, here take this just in case." Lou hands her gun and gun belt.

"Lou, I can't!"

"Yes, you can. Now, I'm going to check the door and then you'll go.

Lou checked the door and gave Jesse the all clear. Jesse headed out the window as Lou came to window. Lou's heart nearly jumped out of her chest when Jesse foot lost its grip because of the heel of her boot. But Jesse was able to get it back.

She made it to Lightning and took off looking like she'd been riding Lightning all her life.

"Ride Safe" Lou mouthed.