Chapter 14

Buck and Jimmy followed the men's horse tracks including Katy's. They figured one of them must have knocked Kid out and put him across his horse. It just didn't make sense. Why hurt a man and his son who was just fishing. Then Jimmy remembered the fight the other night and the guy in the saloon that bumped into The Kid. Jimmy had broken up numerous fights since taking the job so didn't figure it would go beyond what happened at the saloon but perhaps the man wasn't over it.

Buck tracked the horses a few miles south of town. "Buck, isn't the Richardson place out these ways?"

"Yeah, I think that's where these tracks are taking us." Buck said looking down frequently as they rode along. "You know this guy Jimmy?"

"Kid got into a fight with him at the saloon the night of the dance."

They stopped at the edge of the property near a line of trees out of sight from anyone that would be inside the house. They saw no movement around the house, but they could not see inside. They chose to leave their horses and walk closer to get a better look.

Jimmy whispered to Buck "If they're here the horses will be in the barn. Let's check there first." Sure enough they found Katy in one of the stalls. She neighed at the sight of Jimmy and Buck. Buck got a closer look and pointed out "There's blood on the saddle." Jimmy just nodded. They already knew Kid had been hurt. He also knew it had to be bad to leave his son behind.

"I think it's time the friendly town marshal paid a visit. I'll go to the front and you head around back." He told Buck who nodded his understanding. Buck was not a lawman like Jimmy had come to be. Hell, these days he was just a rancher, but in situations like this he was brought back to their Pony Express days, where every day brought danger.

Jimmy knocked on the front door and hollered "It's Marshal Hickok, we need to talk!"

After a few seconds, Jimmy heard a noise from inside and then a shot rang out. Jimmy kicked the door open and with both guns drawn he looked for where the shot had come from. Across the room he saw Kid lying on the floor next to a broken chair with a gun to his head. Kid was conscious but just barely. He had been beaten pretty bad. Then Jimmy noticed a body on the floor. Jimmy could only assume that was the man that was with Richardson, as Richardson was the one holding the gun to Kid's head. "Drop the gun Richardson!"

"He killed my brother, you drop your gun or I'll kill him!" Jimmy realized then that Kid must have tried to escape when he heard me at the door and got a shot off at the brother but not before Richardson pulled a gun and got back in control. Richardson screamed again "I said drop the damn gun or I swear I'll do it!"

Just then Buck appeared right behind Richardson with a gun pressed to the back of Richardson's head. "I'd drop it if I were you." Richardson lowered his gun and looked like he was going to drop it, but at the last second he raised it again toward Kid and Jimmy shot him. The bullet hit him in the chest, killing him instantly. Jimmy went to check that both brothers were indeed dead and then joined Buck in checking on Kid.

Kid was trying to get up, but his feet had been tied to the chair that he knocked over in his attempt to escape. Buck untied him and helped him up. One of Kid's eyes was practically swollen shut and he was holding his side, probably due to a broken rib or two from the beating.

"Thanks Jimmy…you too Buck." Kid coughed out. "Did you find Jamie, is he okay?"

"We found him and Lou took him to the doctor. I think he's going to be alright, mostly just scared." Jimmy told him.

"Thank God" Kid said.

"Can you ride?" Buck asked

"Yeah I can ride. I need to see Jamie."

"Alright Buck, if you'll take Kid into town and have him checked out. I need to take care of things here. Also, if you'd send back my deputy I'd appreciate it.

"Will do Jimmy" Buck said as he and Kid headed out.

The sun had started to set by the time Jimmy made his way back into town. He went straight to the bunkhouse and was thankful to see that the doctor had released both Jamie and Kid. They were both sitting at the table with the rest of the family. Lou ran up to him and gave him a big hug. He held her tight for a minute resting his head on top of her and all the stress of the day melted away.

As they ate their supper, Kid told Jimmy what had happened to him and Jamie before he was taken at the creek. "Richardson grabbed Jamie before I even saw him. I pulled my gun, but then suddenly I got hit in the head by a rock or a boulder or something. It knocked me flat out. The next thing I remember I was tied to that chair in the house."

"Son, all this over that fight you two had in the saloon?" Teaspoon asked.

Kid figured it was time to fess up. "Well, it's more about what happened before that night."

"What do mean? What happened before? Jimmy asked.

Kid put his head down and spoke softly. "I took his wife to bed. She didn't say anything about having a husband."

"That's why you checked out of the hotel early. You were planning on leaving. You knew Richardson was going to seek revenge. You bastard! You risked Jamie's life! He could've…"but Lou didn't finish because Jamie was sitting there. She was furious but not because of her husband bedding another woman while they were officially still married but that he knew Richardson might come after him and he put Jamie in harm's way.

"Lou honey, I'm sorry." Kid started.

"Don't honey me! You don't get to honey me anymore! My son got hurt because…" She paused realizing once again that Jamie was listening and hanging on their every word.

Lou walked to the door and then said, "You…Me…OUT!" pointing at Kid and then outside.

Everyone else in the room exchanged looks. They were all remembering the young couple and their famous spats.

Once Kid and Lou moved their conversation outside, the cool air cooled off Lou's temper.

"Lou, I really am sorry."

"I know."

"You have to know I'd never want anything to happen to our son."

"I know Kid. I just got real scared. I thought first you had taken Jamie back to Virginia with you and then to see him lying in the mud bleeding, Oh Kid!" she cried out, leaning against his chest. Kid instantly put his arms around her. She pulled back after a minute and looked up at him.

"You really thought I'd take Jamie away? Kid asked.

"Kid, sometimes I don't think I know you at all. I never thought you'd leave me alone in a part of a country I didn't know or "dance" with other ladies after we took our vows. I thought I meant more to you than that, but I was wrong. You've hurt me Kid, time and time again, and I just can't trust you anymore."

Kid nodded his head in understanding and walked off toward the barn while Lou went back into the house. Kid rode out the next morning and the next day Lou received the finalized divorce papers. It definitely felt like the end of a long chapter in her life.