Chapter 25

Louise stopped her buggy, and jumped off it. After securing the wagon to a hitching post, she took the basket from the back and started down Rock Creek's main street. It was a bitter cold day and Louise wrapped her coat more tightly around her petite body. The howling wind increased the feeling of cold and managed to slip into any small gap that it found on its way. The air smelled of snow, and it would not come as a surprise if today the town welcomed the first flakes in the late autumn.

Lou directed her steps towards the general store with the intention of buying some provisions. Her larder was in dire need of being refilled, especially if she wanted to cook dinner for her husband tonight. Lou was not sure if her father would show up at all. Since the day Kid's co-workers had visited a couple of days ago, she had not seen her father again. Apparently, he was not in Rock Creek for social formalities, but the main reason of his visit was to wind down some business dealings whatever that meant. Lou did not care what he did, and in fact, she was glad that he was not around that much. His presence made her nervous, and the mere knowledge that he was in the city was enough to perturb her. Lou was so looking forward to seeing him leave, and only then would she recover the peace of mind she had enjoyed before his arrival.

"Louise!"

The sound of her name made Lou stop and look back. A few yards from where she was, Rachel was waving at her, and when Lou waved back, the station mistress ran to meet her. "Good morning, Louise," the station mistress greeted her warmly.

"How are you, Rachel?"

"Fine thanks," the woman replied. "I'm so glad to find you here. I was actually thinking of dropping by your farm to talk with you."

Louise frowned in wonder. "Talk with me?"

"Yes, that's right. First, I don't think I thanked you for such a nice dinner at your home the other day."

Lou gave a weak smile, which disappeared almost instantly, and lowered her eyes. "It was nothing… nothing. I'm well aware I can't manage too well in the kitchen."

"Don't say that!" Rachel exclaimed. "It was lovely! The soup was delicious, the meat so tender and tasty, and the dessert… that was something to die for."

"You're too kind," Lou replied, glancing up.

Rachel stared at the young woman, not understanding her reluctance to accept a well-deserved compliment. The words Rachel had uttered were not out of kindness. It was the truth, but she suspected that she could not convince Louise easily, and they could well be discussing the matter all day long. So she tried from another perspective. "That was why you were so quiet? Because you were nervous we didn't like your food?"

"Uh… I'm not really a very chatty person, but well… yes… I guess I was a bit jittery too," Lou admitted even though the reason for her demeanor that day was much more complex.

"When you get to know the boys and Teaspoon better, you'll realize there's no reason to feel nervous," Rachel remarked with a wide smile. Lou nodded slowly, and for a few seconds the two women kept quiet. Rachel then cleared her throat. Now it was her turn to get nervous, and after that silent pause, she mustered the courage to release what was bugging her. "I also wanted to talk to you about something else."

"Yes?"

"About… about your father," Rachel blurted out.

Lou's face suddenly looked very scared, and she stared at the station mistress in horror as if expecting the worst. "My father? What about my father? Did… something happen?" She did not want to imagine what Rachel might possibly want, and thinking of the possibilities made her tremble.

"Oh no! Nothing happened to him," Rachel hurried to soothe Louise. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I didn't think how my words sounded. Please forgive me."

Rachel did not manage to soothe Lou's fears. "What about my father?" Lou repeated in a voice that sounded too harsh.

The station mistress smiled again, and breathed in before she spoke up. "This is so awkward," she whispered almost to herself. "The other day at your place your father and I kind of hit it off. We… we talked… it was a nice conversation, and you can well imagine how lonely one feels when you don't have anybody who can understand you."

Lou nodded. Of course she knew how lonely it could actually get. She had first-hand experience, but it was true that loneliness came second in line when other matters took up your mind. Louise did not say a word about her musings and kept listening to Rachel.

"Yesterday… yesterday… he came over, we did some more talking, and … and he invited me to dinner… on Saturday."

"I see," Louise let out in obvious surprise. "You and my father."

"Don't get me wrong. There's nothing going on between us. We happen to have a similar background history, and we understand each other," Rachel explained. "But… but… I just knew I had to talk to you."

"My father's a grown man, and he can do as he pleases," Lou replied matter-of-factly. "He doesn't need my blessing."

"Yes… but I wouldn't feel good if you didn't approve of our friendship."

Lou hesitated. "It's… it's fine, but he's leaving in three days."

"Yes, I know," Rachel replied. "And believe me, we're just friends. I don't want you to get the wrong idea; that's why I wanted to clear the air with you." Louise nodded, and Rachel smiled, stretching her arm to give Lou's hand an affectionate squeeze. The station mistress really meant every word she had uttered. She was not interested in John or any man romantically, at least, what she now wanted was a wholesome friendship. Maybe in the future she might consider things from another perspective, and if that possibility might arise, she had better leave everything clear from the start. She liked Louise, and even though she couldn't tell they were friends, Rachel would hate to be at odds with her because of confusing half-truths.

The sound of hooves dangerously close startled Rachel, and as she looked up, Teaspoon appeared on his horse, and stopped before them. The marshal eased off his mount, and courteously tilted his head to the ladies. "Rachel, I was on my way to the station to let you know I'm headin' off."

"Where to?"

"Blue Creek," Teaspoon replied. "Remember what I told ya about the man who might lead us to Mr. X?" Rachel nodded, and the marshal continued, "I got a letter just now from Sheriff Martin. He's been murdered. Seems somebody got wind of our plans, and did him in before he could fess up."

"Oh I'm so sorry."

"Sheriff Martin's called a meetin'. I'll be back in a few days," Teaspoon explained. "Can you please fill me in at the station, and tell the boys to take turns to keep an eye on Barnett?"

"Sure. Don't worry," Rachel replied. "And please ride safe."

The marshal nodded to the ladies politely, taking his leave. He got on his horse, and spurred into a trot. Lou and Rachel kept watching the marshal and his mount disappear in the distance. The station mistress shook her head slowly as she muttered, "I don't know how my nerves can take all this worrying." She turned to look at Lou, and smiled. "You're lucky that at least your father ain't in danger's way continuously. Saves you a lot of headaches." The look that Louise gave her confused and intrigued Rachel, and she could not help but ask, "Anything wrong, Louise?"

"Uh… no… nothing, I… I … I think I better go now."

"Oh yes, please forgive me for holding you up," Rachel exclaimed, chuckling at her own clumsiness. After a rash goodbye, Lou almost ran away, and the station mistress remained on the spot deep in thought. She could understand what Kid had told her about his wife. Louise was actually an enigmatic character, and her behavior was baffling to say the least. Rachel wondered if Lou had been honest about not minding if her father pursued Rachel's friendship. Maybe in fact she did mind, and was upset and disapproving, or maybe there was nothing there. In any case, Rachel thought Louise was a strange girl… very strange, and who could know what was in her mind? Apparently, only her, because for the rest of the world she was totally, absolutely inscrutable.