Chapter XXVI
The cold December wind blew across the prairie, freezing everything around. It announced that winter was close by. Soon the fields that were now covered with a carpet of dead leaves and foliage would shelter soft and light flakes of white snow. Everything would be different but at the same time everything would be the same.
Across the prairie a horse and its rider could be distinguished, riding as a flash against the cold winter. No matter how foul the weather was, no matter that the cold made him completely numb, no matter that he had not rested one single minute; all that mattered was to get to his destination. The road seemed endless in this frantic run. However fast he was riding, the end seemed farther and farther.
The rider kept going and finally a smile appeared in his contorted face as in the distance he could see the windmill which announced the end of another safe ride. At this sight the rider spurred his mount faster, and both horse and man made their way to the station at full steam. When they finally pulled to a stop, Kid was grinning broadly, happy to be home and eager to fulfill his promise.
He tethered Katy to a post before the bunkhouse, and headed inside to leave his gear before going and seeing Louise. He opened the door slowly and let himself in. All the other riders were sitting round the table finishing breakfast as Rachel served them more coffee. They looked up to see Kid emerge covered in dust from the rough ride.
The Southerner greeted them warmly and went to his bunk. He would have a shower and get changed before heading to the house and then to town. When he had left on his ride, he had had a nasty fight with his fellow riders, but he didn't want to argue anymore. He was in a good mood, and nothing was going to spoil it. The ride was over, and he would have a couple of days off to try to clear Lou's name from all this business. And he would do it. He had no doubts about it. He had been in a terrible mood all the time he had been away, but now he was back.
"How was your ride, Kid?" Jimmy asked nonchalantly. All of them were wary about Kid's reaction when he learned the news about Lou's arrest. They had been talking about it during dinner the day before, and none was too eager to be the bearer of bad news. They were all aware that Kid would be anything but pleased to hear about it. He had been very nervous and angry when rumors about Lou's guilt had begun circulating, and now that she was arrested and waiting to be judged for murder he wouldn't be happy at all.
"Too long," Kid answered curtly.
"Kid ...uh...," Jimmy began uneasily. "There's something you should know."
At his friend's hesitant words Kid stopped and looked at him expectantly. He knew it was bad news; Jimmy never got that serious if it it did not mean there was something wrong. As he looked around the bunkhouse and noticed the other riders' expressions Kid started getting nervous.
Jimmy kept staring at Kid uneasily and tried to fumble for the right words but everything that crossed his mind seemed too inconvenient. At his hesitancy the Southerner got restless, and when he could not stand the suspense any longer he snapped out, "What is it, Jimmy?"
Kid's words urged Jimmy to talk and he began awkwardly. "Teaspoon found some new evidence yesterday ... and ... well, she's now in jail. Sorry, Kid, but..."
Jimmy had not finished talking when Kid had rushed out of the bunkhouse. He was in a hectic state and all he needed right now was to see her. How had all this happened? He had barely been away for one day, and now she was arrested in one of those cold cells in Teaspoon's office. She might probably have spent the night there all alone, and he had not been there for her as he had promised her he would. Why did he have to keep failing her again and again? He couldn't understand how anybody could believe that she might have done something so horrendous. She would now have to face a murder charge and seemingly, nobody was going to talk up on her behalf. But he would never allow that to happen. They would have to go over his dead body if they tried to do anything to Louise. He wouldn't allow her to be hanged as a common criminal for something she hadn't done. She wouldn't be the scapegoat in all this mess. She was innocent and Kid swore to himself that he'd die proving her innocence in this sordid matter.
As all those thoughts were scampering in Kid's head, he stalked purposely and decidedly towards the stables. First of all, he had to see her and talk to Teaspoon. How could they say they have evidence to accuse her? That was just senseless and nothing anybody could say would convince him otherwise.
He rushed inside the stables and hurriedly began to prepare another mount. Katy was too tired from their run and needed her deserved rest. He caught his saddle and as he was heading to the stall that housed one of the Pony Express' best horses, he dropped it as he spotted something at the very end of the barn. He approached slowly, and when he came nearby, he crouched before her. "Theresa?" Kid called softly.
The child was standing next to the stall of Samson, the tame and mild donkey. Theresa was very fond of the animal, and it wasn't odd to see her feeding it after coming from school. But today it was different. Theresa wasn't feeding the little donkey; she was just staring down at the floor and weeping softly, holding her favorite doll for dear life. As she heard Kid's voice, she looked up and forced a little smile. "They have taken Louise away," Theresa muttered in a cracking voice.
"I know," Kid answered between gritted teeth.
"Everybody is saying that my sister is a ... a ... a...," Theresa tried to continue, but her sobs drowned her voice and left her in hiccups.
Seeing how upset she was, Kid held her in a hug and waited for the girl to calm down. When he noticed her body relax, the rider lifted her head to him and wiped the last tears from her face.
"Listen to me, Tessie," Kid said, "nobody is gonna hurt Lou. I'm not gonna allow it. Sooner than you think we will have her back here again."
"Really?" the girl croaked.
"I promise."
The girl smiled broadly and in a sudden outburst she gave Kid a kiss on the cheek. She had been so sad since she had learned where her sister had been sent to and the reason behind it. The children at school had been very straightforward and at home she had confirmed the truth behind those cruel words. Rachel and her pa always tried to keep her in the dark about Louise, and in this case it hadn't been different. Rachel had tried to explain the situation to her and Jeremiah with soft words. Theresa was tired of everybody trying to hide the truth from her. She wasn't a fool and she could tell by her classmates' words what it meant that Louise was in jail. People who went to jail ended up hanged or sent away. She was very scared about her sister. She didn't understand why her father or Rachel didn't try to do anything to help Louise. She knew it was a mistake but the adults didn't think so. But now Kid's words had raised her spirits. Kid would help her sister and take her out of that place.
"Thank you," Theresa exclaimed, giggling at Kid's red face after her sudden outburst. "You know, she loves you as much as you love her."
Kid was baffled at the girl's words. Was he that obvious? Her first impulse was to deny it, but the certainty in the girl's eyes left him no other way round and he nodded slowly. It was the truth even though he tried to deny it every other day. It was as clear as running water, and now he would prove to her that he was trustworthy of her friendship. If he couldn't have her love, she would have his friendship, and he couldn't let her slip away of his life for a mistake.
The glass doors to the marshal's office burst out open with a racket, which made Teaspoon wake up from the peaceful slumber he had been enjoying on this calm Saturday morning. He jumped up so suddenly that he almost fell over. It took him a couple of seconds to compose himself and be aware of his surroundings.
"Golly, Kid!" Teaspoon exclaimed in irritation. "Nobody taught ya to respect your elders' time of rest?"
Kid didn't pay him any heed and went straight to the other end of the building where the cells were. At once she spotted her in one lonely cell, sitting very still on the bunk and looking at him with big eyes.
"Lou!" Kid called desperately and rushed towards her. "Are you all right? How do you feel? Do you need something? Please talk to me." Kid asked question after question in a row.
"I'm fine," Louise said sullenly. "You don't need to worry."
"How can I not worry?" Kid exclaimed loudly. "I come back and find out that you've been taken here and ..."
"It ain't so bad," Lou cut him off. "Really. It's like at the station or even better. The marshal is here, and many people come and go. It's kind of distracting."
"Are you really fine?" Kid insisted.
"Course she is fine," said Teaspoon, who had come closer to them, and patted Kid on the shoulder comfortingly. "I'm taking good care of her, ain't I, honey?" The marshal continued in a joyous way and winked at the girl.
Louise smiled at Teaspoon, but Kid kept a serious posture and jerked the marshal's hand off his shoulder. He wasn't in the mood to laugh at Teaspoon's wisecracks or endure his paternal tips.
"You don't need to worry," Lou hurried to say after noticing the rider's attitude. "Teaspoon here says that I might not be executed till the baby is born."
These words ignited Kid's ire even more, and he looked daggers at Teaspoon. "Oh how considerate of him!" he stated ironically. "But I guess that there must be a trial first or are you just going to skip that silly procedure?"
Teaspoon sighed audibly as he listened to the boy patiently. He could understand that Kid felt close to the girl and wanted to be there for her. Yet, the marshal could say that there wasn't much to be done as for Louise's innocence. All the evidence pointed her as the only and prime suspect, so he didn't see any reason to beat about the bush. In all probability she would be condemned, and the good news was that law would respect her pregnancy. The judge might even let her stay in Sweetwater till the time came.
"Kid," Teaspoon piped up, "the judge will arrive on Monday, and I'm afraid everythin' is against her."
The rider kept looking ahead at Louise between the cell bars and turned a deaf ear to Teaspoon's words. He just said with determination and without a single hint of hesitation. "She didn't do it, and I'm gonna prove it."
"Kid," Teaspoon said exasperated, "it's senseless to keep deludin' yourself when everything proves that she's as guilty as sin. It pains me terribly to tell you this, but let it go. There's nothin' else to do."
"She didn't do it," Kid repeated, even more resolutely." And that evidence you are talking about is all nothing."
Teaspoon was losing his patience; the boy's attitude dragging him down. Kid was always sensible and level-headed, and he thought everything over before acting, but now he had turned deaf and blind to reason. They had not found anything that might blame anybody else, and all the traces lead to believe that Louise was guilty of that horrendous crime. Nobody would have any doubts about it with all the evidence but this stubborn boy. "Kid, please, listen to reason, for goodness' sake," Teaspoon continued. "Firstly, this young lady here explicitly explained the morbid details of the victim's death… not once but twice in front of half the town. Secondly, she was seen roamin' round the scene of the crime. Thirdly, it ain't the first time she has been involved in such … activities. Remember the assault on your fiancée? And lastly and most importantly, she disappeared from the station the day that the murder took place and ..."
"Rachel accused her?" Kid cut off, astonished to hear what had eventually caused Lou's imprisonment.
Teaspoon nodded slowly and continued. "And we can't forget that her mental condition is damaged and ..." he tried to carry on but casting a glance at Louise he saw she was looking at him with fixed and sorrowful eyes. The sadness that he saw there made him speechless. He had been talking as if the girl wasn't present, and he hadn't been very nice in his words. He just said, "I'm sorry, honey." Teaspoon didn't know why, but she wasn't like any other prisoner he had ever had. It wasn't the fact that she was a woman or her condition. He had lived too long to have dealt with all kinds of people, but even though he knew all the details of the atrocious crime she had committed, he noticed that there was something special about this girl. Something strange that he couldn't put his finger on. Her presence was overwhelming and oddly enough, he felt beyond horrible for the way he had just been rambling about her.
Louise looked at him and just said, "It's all right, Teaspoon. It's your job, and I guess you are right."
With these words the room kept in silence for long minutes. During these instants Kid had come closer to the cell, and gripped the bars strongly. He kept looking at Lou and he smiled at her as he broke the silence with his words. "She didn't do it," he paused for a moment and then continued addressing her. "I swear I'll take you out of here as true as the sun shines in the sky."
Rising from the bank, Louise came closer to the bars, and smiled back. Kid was there for her and that was enough to lift some of her sorrow. Who cared if everybody else was against her? Kid was here with her, and although probability dictated that everything would come off worse, she didn't care. Life wasn't so bad after all.
Kid continued talking to her through the bars and smiling at her. "Now I have to go looking, and I'll be back as soon as I can. You take good care of yourself, all right?" he said, and brought his hand to her face and caressed her cheek softly. They kept smiling at each other and Kid reluctantly headed towards the door.
Teaspoon followed him and when they were both outside, the old marshal couldn't help blurting what he had in his mind. "You sure what you're doin'?" Teaspoon asked, but it seemed the rider had no intention to answer his question. "Kid, I..."
"Kid!" A call interrupting Teaspoon's words was heard, and both marshal and rider turned their attention towards the voice. It was then that they saw Patricia crossing the street and coming towards them with an ample smile on her pretty face. Kid looked down and sighed audibly as soon as he caught sight of her. He didn't feel like talking to her right now, but he didn't have any other alternative.
The girl came to them and after greeting Teaspoon politely she gave Kid a kiss and hugged him tightly. "I missed you so much," she said, grinning broadly. "I won't ever get used to this job of yours."
Kid disentangled himself from her hold and smiled at her uncomfortably. "It was just one day, Patricia."
"One day or a month," the girl insisted. "I miss you all the same. I love you."
Teaspoon smiled at the girl's spontaneous declaration of love, and Kid tried to divert the subject in another direction. He felt very uncomfortable when Patricia began talking like that. He couldn't respond her in the same tone as her and felt unable to lie. He was aware that she knew that he didn't match her feelings in the same eager spirit but she seemed to have chosen to look away. "What are you doing in town, Patricia?" Kid asked her, trying to move on to safer issues.
"Oh, I came to talk to the lawyer," she said matter-of-factly.
"What lawyer?" Kid asked again, his curiosity perked.
"You don't know?" Patricia answered and smiled even more broadly. "The Herrricks' lawyer. I've been called as a witness in the trial, you know. I don't like getting involved in this kind of thing, but I felt obliged to help and ensure that murderess won't cause any more havoc to this town."
Kid was baffled as he heard the girl. She was actually going to declare against Louise and her testimony wouldn't help things for her. "You can't do that," Kid said loudly.
"Why not?" Patricia asked, feigning naiveté.
"You can't be a witness. You didn't see a thing of what happened to that poor girl," Kid answered.
"She tried to kill me and that counts too," Patricia talked in the same loud tone as her fiancé.
Without thinking Kid took her strongly by her arms and talked to her energetically. "You can't do that, Patricia. You know she didn't try to kill you, it was just a scare. And she hasn't done anything this time either."
Patricia pulled away harshly, and she brawled, anger apparent in her demeanor, "Of course she did kill her and nobody will say otherwise."
"That's not true," Kid stated decisively. "I'll find the evidence to prove her innocence."
"For Christ's sake, Kid," Patricia exclaimed loudly and furiously. "Why are you always on her side and against me? I'm your fiancée, and you should be supporting me and not that hussy."
"Stop it, Patricia," the rider shushed her sternly. "I ain't gonna let you or anybody insult her. I'm not against you. I'm just trying to find out the truth."
Patricia looked at him scornfully . "Sometimes I hate you. Do whatever you want and I'll do whatever I have to. Come and see me after the trial. I guess you'll be busy in the meanwhile," she said sarcastically with the venom of a snake, and after uttering those words she turned around and stalked away at a quick pace as if the devil was after her.
Teaspoon and Kid stayed outside the jailhouse, looking after the fuming girl. The rider shook his head slowly and sullenly as he wondered how he had thought he could ever be happy with her. Yet, right now he didn't care about that. If he had to marry her and be doomed to an unhappy marriage, let it be. He couldn't have Louise, so he didn't care if he had to spend his life with Patricia Putman or with any other. As she disappeared from their angle of sight, Kid flopped into a bench nearby and closing his eyes he bumped his head against the wall behind him in frustration.
"Kid," Teaspoon called, "maybe it'd be better if you left things as they are. Don't make everythin' more complicated for ya."
The rider opened his eyes slowly and looked at the marshal with calmness and a serious stance. "What the hell is happening to all of you?" Kid asked in a firm and angered tone.
Teaspoon stared at him with questioning eyes and patted Kid on the shoulder as a way to calm him down, but the rider shoved his hand off and got up suddenly. He began to pace up and down for a few seconds, and then stopped before Teaspoon. "Why are you all so eager to toss her to the lions?" He asked angrily. "Why are you trying to get rid of her as if she were useless furniture?"
"That ain't ..." Teaspoon tried to cut him off, but Kid did not let him.
"Yes, it is, Teaspoon," the boy bellowed. "From the first moment we all learned about her existence, all I have heard are snide remarks, malicious jokes about her. And why? She hasn't done anything to any of you, but it's like her mere presence is bothering everybody. Ain't it enough to have her locked up all day long? Is it that Boggs' kindness has rubbed on all of you? She must feel great, no wonder," he talked sarcastically and angrily. Teaspoon decided not to interrupt him as the boy seemed to be in a hectic state and needed to let some steam out. "I wasn't surprised that the boys made all this fuss about her, but Rachel and you? It's as if I'm seeing you for the first time. You ain't the kind of people I thought you were. There was a time that we fought together and tried to help. But you have never tried to give Louise one single chance."
Teaspoon couldn't hold any longer and answered back. "That ain't true, Kid. I don't have anythin' against her but she killed a woman."
"She didn't do it!" Kid bellowed frustrated. "Can't you understand that?"
"You don't know that, son," Teaspoon cut him off.
"Yes, I do." Kid continued. "I know her. You should understand me. You didn't have any doubts about Jimmy's innocence when he was accused of killing that Downs fella or when Buck was arrested by the soldiers and..."
"It's different," Teaspoon said.
"No, it's not. And you didn't hesitate to help Amanda even though she had tried to kill you and..."
"She didn't ..."
"Teaspoon. Admit it. You did the same in the past as I'm trying to do now. I need to do this for Louise. She needs me, and I ain't planning to fail her," Kid concluded.
Teaspoon came closer to him and placed his hands on the rider's shoulders. "Kid," he began, this time in a calmer tone. "I ain't sayin' that you shouldn't help her. I'm just askin' you to think things over. The lady who's just left didn't sound very pleased with ya and I wonder if you shouldn't be supportin' the woman you love."
"That's what I'm trying to do!" the words were out of Kid's mouth before he had time to realize what he had said.
Teaspoon looked at him baffled and Kid lowered his head towards the floor. Then he lifted his eyes to the marshal slowly and said, "I love her, Teaspoon. I have loved her since the first day I met her. It sounds crazy and I had tried to deny it myself, but it's the truth."
Teaspoon kept looking at him speechless and completely astonished. He had never given it any thought to the boy's relationship with the banker's daughter. He had just assumed that Kid had given himself to a game between teenagers, but now Teaspoon realized that it wasn't so simple.
Kid felt embarrassed and uncomfortable as the station master kept looking at him with that expression, and he hastened to add, "How do you think she got pregnant? I didn't abuse or take advantage of her as everybody has been implying. I loved her. She's like no other woman I've ever met. She's a wonderful person. She's witty, kind, loving and has a golden heart. For me no woman can take the place Louise has in my heart. If it weren't for ..., "and with these words Kid's voice faltered and couldn't continue his tirade. He took a big inhale of air and after some moments he continued. "You see, I can't turn my back on her in all this. Helping her means the world to me. If you knew her as well as I do, you would understand that she wouldn't harm a fly, much less to commit that hideous crime."
After these words both Kid and Teaspoon remained in silence. The marshal was at a loss and couldn't find the right words to say. He could understand the boy better. He was right; Lou was all by herself in this situation; she didn't even have her family's support, but Teaspoon knew by experience that Kid's involvement wasn't such a good idea. It was clear that the rider was quite agitated, and the marshal feared that all this would lead him to more heartache.
"Kid, your position is dangerous. I think you ...," Teaspoon tried to say but the boy cut him short.
"I know what you are thinking, but you don't need to worry about me. I know how the world works and I ain't having any crazy ideas about her." Kid said, "But I owe her big, and it seems I'm the only one she has." He sighed and continued after a few seconds. "I wish things were different but ...," he shook his head and didn't find any more words to say. He came to take his coat from the peg next to the door. Teaspoon gripped him strongly by the shoulder. He looked up at the marshal who was staring at him silently and with a serious expression. They stayed like that for some moment till Teaspoon cracked up a smile and mumbled: "Good luck, son."
Kid returned the smile and just said. "Thank you" and with that he got on his horse and rode like hell, hoping that his quest would turn out the way he really wanted.