Chapter 11

Lou slowly opened her eyes two days later. She moaned as she rolled her head to look at the room she was in. She heard someone calling her name and soothing her. She blinked again and her vision started clearing. She went to speak and felt sharp pain on her lips. She licked them and tasted the coppery taste that she knew all too well.

"Louise, it's ok. Take your time. Easy."

"Rachel, help."

"You are at Doc's in town. We got you, honey."

Lou blinked again and looked at the sunlight filtering through the window. She felt herself fully awakening. She went to push up in the bed and gasped.

"Louise, wait. I'll help you."

She looked over to Rachel. She saw her wipe her eyes. She took a slight breath.

"Jimmy. Did ya'll get him?"

"I'm sorry, Lou, they have been looking all over but they can't find him." Rachel cried.

"How long have I been here?"

"Two days."

Lou closed her eyes as the tears fell.

"You feel up to talking with Teaspoon?"

"I need to."

Rachel nodded and left. She came back with him a few minutes later. Lou had her head back with her eyes closed. She slowly opened them as they walked in.

"Louise?" He asked taking in her battered face.

"Teaspoon." She said breaking down.

He walked over and pulled her into a hug until she finished crying. She slowly pulled away.

"What happened Lou?" He asked softly.

"We were heading back when a man appeared in the trail. He was just standing there so we had to stop. Soon over a dozen was around us. He asked us about Buck just like they did Kid and Ike."

"They do this to you?"

"One of them recognized Jimmy from being with Buck in town before. They pulled us off our horses and..." she started crying.

"It's ok. Take your time."

"Jimmy needs you. You have to find him."

"First, I have to know more, honey."

"They started hitting him, me. He tried to reach for me but it all happened so fast. Some men threw me down and I lost sight of him in the crowd. One found out that I was a girl. I heard him yelling. I just couldn't think straight. They just kept hitting me." Lou mumbled as she cried. "I realized that he had pulled my clothes off. I remember screaming until my throat hurt."

"Did he?"

"He was hitting me and I was fighting when blood hit my face. I looked behind and saw Jimmy with a gun. He must have gotten one of the men's guns and shot him. I was so scared. I got away and ran while they were distracted. I just left him there, Teaspoon. I ran into the trees. I could hear them chasing me. I ran through thicket after thicket until I tripped then nothing. I woke up the next morning and started walking. I found a trail. That's all I remember."

"Where were you on the trail?"

"We had just passed through the narrow part by the ravine. We were stopped right where the trail widened. How could I leave him like that?" She cried.

"I'm sure that he told you to."

Someone knocked on the door. Rachel peeked outside then opened it to show Kid standing there with his hat in his hands. Rachel leaned close to his ear.

"They didn't."

Kid felt relief flood through him as his eyes watered. Teaspoon stood and left as the two hugged. He closed the door as he walked outside.

"I'm going out to find him. I'm taking all of them including Buck."

"Just be careful."

"We will. I'm, uh, gonna take the wagon."

Rachel let her tears fall as Teaspoon gave her a quick hug before leaving. His words alone showed that he didn't expect to find him alive. From what Louise had just told them to knowing how cold the nights had been, she couldn't feel any hope but she had to push that aside. They would find him and bring him home. She stood outside the door with her back against the wall and wept.

Kid looked down at Lou's bruised face. He held her hand tightly as she drifted off to sleep. He felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at Rachel as she smiled.

"Go. She is fine. I promise I won't leave her side."

Kid leaned down and whispered in Lou's ear. He kissed her on the forehead before leaving the room.

Jesse walked around town watching the people come and go. He sat his checker board down in Teaspoon's office as he walked back outside. He saw a man that he didn't know turn in the alley beside the store. He looked around and decided to follow. Maybe he could help Teaspoon find out more about the missing boys. He walked quietly along behind when he turned the corner and ran right into the man.

"Hey son. We need to talk."