Theresa stood beside the barn, her intent to fetch her sister and Jimmy for dinner momentarily forgotten. While she desperately hoped otherwise, she knew she had overheard correctly. Someone wanted her sister dead. Her hand fluttered to her throat. She could feel panic wash over her in an icy wave. Whoever wanted her sister dead was also after Jimmy. This was nearly as bad as someone trying to kill Lou. Theresa knew that if Jimmy died, her sister would never recover.
She was so proud of how far her older sister had come since they moved to Rock Creek. Theresa remembered how bleak everything had been before. Kid may only have been dead for less than a year, but Lou had been mourning him since the day he left. Maybe even before that, when he took them all to Virginia. Now that her sister was finally realizing how much she was loved and accepted here in Rock Creek, someone was trying to take it all away.
Rousing herself from her dark thoughts, Theresa stepped around the corner of the barn. Seeing her sister wrapped in Jimmy's arms, she smiled and coughed politely. "Ahem. Dinner's on the table, you two."
She was pleased to notice that Jimmy kept an arm draped comfortably across her older sister's shoulders. They both smiled at her, and she soon found herself held with Jimmy's other arm. As they walked to the house in companionable silence, Theresa felt a moment of contentment. Despite the danger stalking her family, she was thankful for everything she had on that ranch: love, respect, freedom, and a second chance at life.
As they settled in to eat dinner, Theresa soon came to the realization that everyone else was holding back. They didn't want to discuss what happened in town and what it implied in front of her. Part of her wanted to fume over being treated like a child, but she realized that they were only trying to protect her. My sister doesn't know I'm stronger now. She's still worried about my heart being too weak to handle something so distressing. And aren't I just as bad? I haven't told her anything about using the teas Buck made. Maybe it was time for everyone to lay their cards on the table...
"Lou, could you please pass the roast?" She smiled serenely at her big sister. She accepted the platter and served herself another helping of pork, wondering how to broach the subject. "Thanks."
"Can I get ya anything else?" Lou inquired.
Theresa drew in a deep breath. "You can tell me what we're gonna do about someone wanting you and Jimmy dead."
Everyone froze, waiting to see how Lou would respond. Theresa knew she had shocked her sister, she'd seen the widening of her eyes and heard the slight gasp. It wasn't often that she ever got one over her sister, but this was too serious a circumstance to celebrate such a triumph. She watched her sister's eyes go from shock to concern.
"Now, Sugarbear, there ain't nothin'..." Lou's tone was one Theresa would have expected her to use on a frightened child who'd claimed to see a monster under his bed.
"Louise, stop. I overheard you and Jimmy talkin' earlier. You don't think this was an isolated event. You think someone's out to get ya. I'm old enough and strong enough to hear the truth." She covered her sister's hand with her own and continued earnestly. "You've always taken care of me, Lou, and I appreciate it. And I think it's time I confessed something to you."
Looking to Buck and Teaspoon for reassurance, she squared her shoulders and continued, "Shortly after we got here, I decided that I wasn't ready to let my heart give out and take me from ya. I asked Teaspoon fer some advice, and he took me to Buck." Lou's eyes seemed to grow larger with each word. Theresa's courage faltered. She looked to Buck again for help.
"I made your sister some teas based on the medicine of my people and some other tribes. There are plants known to strengthen the heart." Buck's quiet voice soothed Theresa's panicked nerves.
Lou's eyes were glassy with unshed tears. She looked from Teaspoon to Buck and then to Theresa. Emotion roughened her voice. "I don't understand. Why didn't ya tell me?"
"Please don't blame Buck and Teaspoon! I made 'em promise not to say anything." Theresa felt terrible for upsetting her sister, but still felt it had been the right decision. "I'd always just accepted what the doctors in Virginia said. But after we got here, I decided that I wanted to try whatever I could to live. I knew how hard it was losin' Miah and Kid, and I didn't want ya to lose me too... And I didn't wanna leave ya. But I also didn't wanna get yer hopes up, in case it didn't work." Her voice cracked and she looked to Buck for help.
"But Lou," began Buck, his voice also bearing witness to his emotions, "it is working. Your sister is a fighter, and now she has the heart of a fighter as well."
Lou's small hand covered her mouth, as if trying to stem the flood of words that surfaced on her tongue. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she finally managed to speak. "Really, Sugarbear? You're really gettin' better?" At her sister's nod, Lou laughed and grabbed her hand. Looking around the table, she spoke again, "I'm sure you won't be surprised to know that I hate bein' kept in the dark. But I can't thank ya enough for helpin' my baby sister get better."
Theresa smiled as everyone chattered happily about the good news. She was glad to be healthy again and doubly glad to have been able to give her sister the good news. But now there were serious issues that needed their attention. She'd already fought for her own life, and she wasn't about to sit idly by when someone was threatening Lou.
She cleared her throat, looking intently at her sister and Jimmy, "Now, what are we going to do about someone wanting the two of you dead?"
A hush fell over the table. Jimmy took Lou's hand in his, squeezed it, and spoke. "Well, Theresa, I know I speak for your sister when I say that I don't plan letting that someone have their way. And I promise you I'll do whatever it takes to keep 'er safe."
Theresa could see the conflicting play of emotions on her sister's face. She knew well that her sister was bristling at Jimmy's words, while still appreciating his feelings for her. Lou fought so hard to be independent and strong that she sometimes took protectiveness as a threat. Jimmy surely wouldn't try to act like the Kid, smothering Lou and thinking he knew what was best for her.
"But we'll face this together, with anyone who's willing to help us." Jimmy's words erased the tension from her sister's face, and Theresa felt her own heart lighten. He wouldn't try to pack Lou in cotton wool like Kid had.
Rachel, Buck, and Teaspoon immediately affirmed their intentions of standing beside Lou and Jimmy as they faced this trial. Teaspoon added, "I've already wired Marysville to see if the Sheriff there's ever heard of Malone before. In the meantime, we'd best keep our eyes peeled for anyone that seems outta place."
"And Lou, you best be sure you're armed," added Rachel. "Even around the house."
Jimmy agreed, "That's right. And what about you, Theresa? Do you know how to shoot?"
Nodding, Theresa answered, "Yep. Lou taught me back in Virginia. I ain't as good as her, but I can shoot."
Theresa listened as the conversation continued into the night. They never settled on who might be behind the attack or just how they could end the threat, but she listened with rapt attention to every theory. After a while, she noticed her sister seemed distracted. Once everyone decided to call it a night and head home, she saw Lou slip outside and head for the corral.
After nearly half an hour passed, Lou still hadn't come back inside. Theresa decided to join her sister at the fence. Her older sister sat on the top rail, watching the horses trot around the corral. Her expression was one of distraction and concern. Theresa simply sat quietly by her side, waiting for her sister to speak.
"This just ain't right. Why is somebody tryin' to hurt Jimmy?" Lou's voice sounded strained. "I don't think I can stand it if something happens to him... I mean, I just got you back... And now I might lose Jimmy."
Theresa reached her hand over to her sister's shoulder and squeezed in what she hoped was a reassuring way. "Lou, you won't lose Jimmy. Everyone will be watchin' out for him and he's the fastest draw around too."
Theresa was surprised to hear a broken sob. Sliding closer and pulling Lou into her arms, she found herself in the unusual position of trying to soothe the woman who had been a mother to her. Her sister had cared for her through illness, loss, sadness, and suffering. She had always been able to look to Lou for reassurance and strength. And now this same woman was falling apart in front of her for the very first time. She knew on one level this meant her sister was looking at her as more of an equal now, but it also meant she needed to be strong for her sister too.
"Lou, I just know Jimmy will be okay." She hugged her sister tightly and felt her own frame wracked by Lou's sobs.
Lou continued to cry for a few minutes, allowing Theresa to comfort her. Finally she drew in a shaky breath and whispered, "That ain't the only thing I'm worried about... I... I don't want to die either."
Theresa wasn't sure what she expected her sister to say, but it wasn't that. And Lou's voice practically dripped with shame. "Well of course you don't. No one would blame ya fer that."
Lou pulled away, embarrassed by her own words and show of emotion. "Forget it. Forget I said anything." She swiped at the tears on her cheeks.
"Louise McCloud, you stop right now! What're you talkin' about?" Theresa stared at her sister in confusion.
"It's just that... This is the first time in forever that I really care about livin.' It's not so much that I wanted to die before, but it would've been easier. The only thing that kept me hangin' on through so many trials was you and 'Miah. And now I can see that yer practically grown up. Ya don't need me like ya used to." She turned to look at the corral, as if afraid to face her younger sister. "I was so angry and scared and exhausted after Kid left. I knew I couldn't give up, but there were long, dark nights when I didn't think it would be so bad to escape... Even if it meant dyin'. And yet I kept on, healthy as damn horse. Then I watched 'Miah die. And I watched you come so close to death that I'd picked out yer funeral clothes."
Theresa listened in shock as Lou shared her darkest thoughts and confessions. She had been devastated when she overheard everything her sister had confessed to Jimmy that day on the porch, but this was somehow harder. What she heard before was merely a timeline of events, this was the raw emotion those events left behind. Her heart broke anew for all her sister had sacrificed for her sake. Before she could interrupt, Lou continued.
"When word came about Kid... Something in me finally broke. I laid on his grave every night, beggin' him to come back and cursin' him for leavin'. I'd always told myself that when he came back, everything would be better. So when he didn't come back... I just didn't see how it could ever get better. But now... Now life is startin' to look better than I ever thought was possible. And I just don't want to die and leave it."
Sorry it's been so long... I hope the next chapter comes much sooner :) And thanks to Kyrielslight for prodding me to get to this. It's always nice to know someone wants to read more!