Chapter 51

Later that night…

Lou eased out of bed and quietly dressed so as not to awaken Kid. She slipped out of the room and headed downstairs. She froze in place when the third step from the bottom creaked under her weight. The house was filled to overflowing with their company, and she listened for any sound that would indicate the creak had awakened anyone. When she heard nothing, she continued down the stairs.

Lou picked up her boots from the group lined along the wall, opened the door, and stepped out onto the porch. She closed the door behind her, pulled on her boots, and started across the yard in the direction that would lead her to the meadow.

"Lou?"

Lou let out a gasp and spun around. Her eyes darted around the inky blackness of night, searching for the person who had spoken her name. She heard the creak of the porch swing a moment before Hickok's frame emerged from the shadows.

"Damn it, Jimmy, you scared the hell out of me!"

"Sorry," Jimmy settled on the porch steps, "What are you doing traipsing around in the dark?"

Lou walked back to the porch and sat down on the steps next to him, "I couldn't sleep so I decided to go for a walk. What are you doing up?"

"Same as you, I couldn't sleep," Jimmy was quiet for a moment, "Lots of memories here."

"Yes, there are."

Silence fell between them as Lou stared off into the night, and Jimmy studied her. There had been a time when he could easily decipher her thoughts by the expressions that flitted around her face. Tonight though, he could not read them. He senses that Lou was uncomfortable in his presence, and he found it puzzling.

"Look Lou," he searched for the words he wanted to say to her, but stopped when Lou rose from the steps. She held her boots in one hand, "I'm going to bed now. Night, Jimmy."

"Night, Lou,"

Kid stirred when Lou slipped back into bed, but did not awaken. Lou breathed a sigh of relief as she settled in for the night.

Jimmy entered the house shortly after Lou. He locked the door behind him and crossed the room to the pallets of blankets he and his family were using as beds for the duration of their visit. He checked Jemma and Hunter to make sure they were covered up before stretching out beside Amanda.

"Everything alright?" Amanda inquired sleepily.

"Everything's fine," he assured her as he rolled over and wrapped his arm around her waist, "Just feeling a bit restless is all."

"Want me to stay up with you?" Amanda yawned.

Jimmy smiled in the darkness. He knew she would make a valiant effort to wake up if he needed her to, and he loved her for it.

"No, Darling, you go back to sleep."

Amanda settled back into slumber, but it was awhile before Jimmy went to sleep.

In the meadow where the crosses for Ike McSwain and Noah Dixon were, a lone figure sneered down at the bold writing on the crosses, which were illuminated by the glow of the moon.

"Damn shame I didn't have the chance to put a bullet in the both of you myself. Good riddance! The day will come soon when Lou McCloud and everyone else will pay for what they've done!"