Chapter 6
The first rays of the morning sun fell over his eyes disturbingly, and after tossing for a few minutes in a vain attempt to continue sleeping, he opened them to a brand new day. Among grumbles Kid sat up and looked around. Louise was nowhere to be seen and her horse was gone too. He guessed that she must have left very early and so stealthily that the Southerner never heard her. Kid decided to get ready for another hard day ahead and with a bit of luck, he would reach Saint Joseph before the sun set. So after washing up in the nearby creek and tasting a cup of strong coffee he was back on the trail.
Half a day later he was entering the city. It was early in the evening, and the streets were now half empty of the usual hustle and bustle of its daily activity. The way station was in the middle of St Joseph and slowing Katy to a light canter, Kid led his beloved mare towards it. The next rider was already waiting for him and the exchange of mochillas was done smoothly; the act had become a ritual among the riders and after so many rides there was no secret in its correct realization. Kid slid off his horse and let one of the station hands take care of Katy. All he wanted now was to enjoy a nice meal and rest his weary body in a warm and soft bed. He would spend the night here and start back to Rock Creek first thing in the morning. At half-way to the main building, the station master intercepted him. "Hey, Kid, hard ride?"
"Not more than usual, Mitch," the Southerner replied, eyeing the man expectantly. He knew that Mitch wasn't just being polite, and surely there was something else coming behind his greeting. So the man's next words confirmed his suspicions.
"Kid, there's a special dispatch I need you to take back to Rock Creek."
"No problem," the young rider agreed straightaway.
"It hasn't arrived yet," the station master explained, "Should come tomorrow or the day after at the latest. So I'm afraid you're stuck here a bit longer than usual."
"It's fine, Mitch," he said as he continued his way towards the inside of the building, leaving the station master behind. Kid did not like staying in this way station very long since it was always hectic and bustling, and rest was practically a utopia. This was the central station and there was always a continuous flow of people coming and going. It definitely lacked the familiar atmosphere they enjoyed in Rock Creek, and the meals did not reach the standards of Rachel's cooking at all. For one moment Kid was tempted to find better accommodation at one of the city's hotels, but he was too tired to move his exhausted body, so instead he just dropped on the first bunk one of the other riders told him was free.
As the station master had rightly said, the dispatch did not arrive that day or the following morning. Kid was bored to death with being idle all day long while waiting for those important documents he had to deliver. It was almost lunch time, and he thought that he couldn't endure one more meal at the station. These riders were not as lucky to have a station mother to care for their needs; instead their domestic duties were carried out by the very riders, except for the laundry, which they sent to the hotel's laundry service. The night before the meal served at the crowded table had been absolutely tasteless to say the least, and today Kid did not dare go through the same experience once again, especially when he learned this morning who was in charge of the cooking today. So he decided to enjoy a good meal at one of the city's restaurants; it was a place he had already gone to a couple of times, and they served good food at a reasonable price.
A waiter greeted him politely as he stepped inside. Kid dawdled to the area where the tables were neatly scattered, and his eyes instantly spotted a familiar face in the half-empty restaurant. Louise was at one of the tables; she had changed out of her masculine clothes and was wearing a simple dress. Two children, who Kid assumed were her siblings, were with her; the young girl seemed to be in a cheerful and chatty mood while the boy looked sullen and bored. Without thinking twice about it, Kid directed his steps towards where the three siblings were, apparently in the middle of lunch. Louise had not noticed his presence yet, and it was when the two children lifted their eyes to the young man that she first saw him.
"Hey, Lou. We meet again," Kid greeted with a smile, removing his hat politely.
The girl did not seem pleased at all and simply muttered sarcastically, "I'm overjoyed."
Kid decided to turn a deaf ear to her usual weird manners and directed his attention to the two children, who were watching him with big eyes and apparent curiosity. "So you're Louise's brother and sister?"
The two siblings nodded their heads simultaneously, and it was Jeremiah who first broke the silence. "My name's Jeremiah. Are you one of those gunslingers, sir?" he asked as he stared at the gun attached to Kid's belt.
"Miah!" Lou scolded loudly, utterly shocked at her brother's blunt question. "Where are your manners?"
Kid laughed at the boy's remark and added, "I'm afraid I'm not, Jeremiah. My name's Kid, and I just ride for the Pony Express."
His answer did not seem to disappoint the young boy, but rather the opposite. "Wow! A real Pony Express rider, Theresa!" His sister exchanged a brief look, obviously not sharing the same enthusiasm as her brother. "And you're friends with Louise?" Jeremiah continued.
Kid looked sideways at Lou, who definitely wasn't thrilled at all with this new encounter, and said, "Yes, that's right. We're good friends." Louise lifted one eyebrow in surprise and stared at him skeptically, but decided not to say anything.
"Wow!" Jeremiah let out again, suddenly seeing his elder sister in a new light. It was really great that she had a Pony Express rider as a friend. All the boys at the orphanage talked about the riders as some kind of heroes and dreamed of becoming a rider themselves someday. Jeremiah thought pleased that he would now wake the envy of all those boys when he told them. Not only was Louise friends with one of those riders, but he, Jeremiah McCloud, was actually talking to him in person. The boy wondered why Louise hadn't mentioned something so important before; actually, Jeremiah silently pondered, his sister never talked about much of her life in Rock Creek. All she kept saying was that they should be good children and how she couldn't visit them more often because of her busy job. Maybe she had a fascinating life in that town where she probably had many interesting friends, and here he had thought till this very moment that she was just a boring older sister. "Would you like to join us, Kid?" Jeremiah asked the blue-eyed rider, praying that he would say yes.
Before he had time to reply, Lou cut in and said, "Jeremiah, I'm sure this... uh... Kid had better plans in mind than spend his lunch time with us." She did not look forward to bearing his presence once again. She thought he was an obnoxious man who had been pestering her with all those questions the day before, and apparently he didn't hold a better opinion of her. Besides, she already regretted telling him all those personal details; Louise was very particular about her privacy and her siblings were the most special part of her life. So she didn't like anybody taking part in her time with them.
"Actually I'm free," Kid replied, knowing full well that she was trying to get rid of him at all costs. In any other case, he would have politely excused himself, but strangely enough, he found he liked this silly game with her. It illogically amused him to see her spark with anger, and something within him pushed him to fight her and get the upper hand.
Louise glared at him silently as Kid pulled up the chair and sat at the table with the three of them. She just couldn't understand the nerve of him; she had made it clear to him that he was not welcomed, or at least not by her. To the contrary, Jeremiah had clapped his hands pleasantly as Kid had accepted his invitation and Theresa seemed to enjoy the new company as well. Yet, he should mind her and leave them alone. What was with him? Why did he keep pestering her? Lou silently cursed him for spoiling another moment and having to stand him once again.
"So what is your name, young lady?" Kid asked, addressing Theresa, who hadn't said one word since he had approached them.
The girl blushed at having the attention of the man and being called 'young lady'. "Theresa McCloud," she let out in a low tone.
"A beautiful name," Kid added, "just like its lovely owner."
The girl giggled, blushing and at the same time pleased with his flattering words. She thought she liked this friend of Louise's. He was handsome, charming and had a nice voice. Louise, though, kept looking at him silently; her irritation growing at his remark to Theresa. Obviously he was a sweet-talker, a quality she had always loathed, especially in men. If it weren't for her siblings' presence she would have already given him a piece of her mind.
Wanting to hog the rider's attention for himself, Jeremiah tugged at Kid's jacket sleeve and said, "Tell us about your rides, Kid."
The rider smiled, and without any delay he began telling the boy everything about the most interesting things that had happened to him while working for the Express. He really couldn't complain that his job lacked any excitement but rather the opposite. As he tasted the steak he had ordered for lunch, he told the boy about those times he had been chased by Indians, how he had befriended a Sioux Indian, who he had first believed to be a murderer or how all the riders were like a family and had put their lives on the line for each other at some point.
As he told story after story the two children stared at him wide-eyed, without losing a single detail of his accounts. They were obviously impressed and thrilled to listen to those stories, which contrasted with their eldest sister's demeanor. She heard him with a skeptical expression, clearly not completely believing everything he was telling. Kid had the urge to stop and face her; he hated when somebody doubted he was telling the truth, but eventually he decided not to pay her any heed as he didn't want to cause a scene in front of the two children.
"I want to be a Pony Express rider like you," Jeremiah remarked as Kid finished one of his stories.
"I'm afraid you're a bit too young for the job," the rider said, and in his mind silently added 'and your sister will skin me alive if I encourage you any further'.
Lou looked at him dangerously, feeling more and more furious by the minute. Jeremiah was already an untamed boy as it was, and it didn't help any if this young man filled his head with all that buck wash about the Pony Express and his noble deeds. It might be a game or simply a distraction for him to spend his idle time with a couple of children, but Louise knew that it would cause nothing but headaches. The nuns at the orphanage kept telling her that Theresa was simply a darling, but Jeremiah was a very difficult boy. He continuously got into fights with older boys and spent most of his time at school daydreaming. Louise could really understand the nuns' opinion because she could see that her brother wasn't the easiest boy to deal with whenever she came visiting. He was always in a glum mood, and even though she had tried to talk to him and asked him what the matter was, Jeremiah never talked. Lou just hoped that it was a temporary thing and he would snap out of it soon.
"Will you teach me how to ride?" Jeremiah asked Kid, his bright eyes pleading.
"From what I've seen your sister could do that fairly enough," Kid replied matter-of-factly.
The boy snorted at his suggestion and added, "She's just a girl."
Lou turned her eyes to her brother with a frown, obviously not very pleased at his words, but didn't say anything. Kid, though, had to make a great effort to smother the laugh trying to escape at the boy's remark, especially realizing that Louise wasn't amused at all. Jeremiah, oblivious to his sister's feelings, insisted on his request, "Please Kid. Please."
"Now?" Kid asked and the boy nodded energetically with a happy smile. The rider did not know what to say, uncomfortable under Louise's stern gaze. He really didn't want to overstay more than what he should, as he knew that Lou wasn't happy with his presence, and he really didn't want to cause any problems between the boy and his sister. "I dunno, Jeremiah. That's for your sister to say."
Straightaway the young boy turned to his eldest sister with the same pleading eyes he had used with Kid, "Please Louise. Say I can. Please."
"Honey, you can't learn to ride in just a few hours," Lou tried to reason with him. "And I'm sure ... uh... Kid has his own responsibilities."
"He won't mind, will you, Kid?" he replied and without waiting for an answer he continued, "And you know I already can ride, but I want him to show me some of his tricks." Jeremiah insisted stubbornly, "Please, Louise. I will be good."
She looked at her brother skeptically, strongly tempted to say no, but she had to admit that since this morning it was the first time the boy had shown some enthusiasm for something. Otherwise, he had been sulking and looking utterly miserable. "I'm not very sure if you deserve that treat, Jeremiah," she said, trying to sound serious but the truth was that it pleased her to see him cheerful for once. "You have been giving me and Theresa a hard time, young man."
"I promise I'll me good, honestly," Jeremiah repeated. "Please, please."
Louise paused for a moment as if considering what to say, and after a few seconds she said, "All right." The boy cheered loudly and this time Theresa joined in his joy, clapping her hands happily. "That is," Lou added, raising her voice over her siblings' enthusiasm, "If Kid doesn't mind."
Both children's eyes shot toward the rider straightaway and Jeremiah held his breath waiting for Kid to talk. The rider smiled widely and said, "It will be a pleasure. Just give me a few minutes to drop by the station and let them know where they can find me if need be."
About half an hour later the four of them reached a vast area next to a small forest on the outskirts of St Joseph. Jeremiah had been absolutely thrilled when he had first seen Kid's horse. He kept exclaiming that it was the most beautiful animal he had ever seen in his entire life. The rider couldn't help but chuckle at his eagerness, and he imagined he must have been as keen and full of energy as this boy at his age. In his most tender years back in Virginia his family couldn't afford to have a fine horse like the one he now had and simply owned an ugly poor animal, strong enough to work the small fields his family had. Yet, Kid vividly remembered the beautiful stallions his neighbors had, and they always let him ride one of them in particular, a magnificent white horse, as some kind of reward for the odd jobs he used to do for the couple. Thanks to these "treats" Kid had been able to learn how to ride and today he could make a living because of his good riding abilities.
For all those memories the Southerner felt moved and visibly pleased with the boy's eagerness and enthusiasm. The day had really turned out much better than Kid had anticipated; instead of a long, boring afternoon in a city where he had nothing to occupy his time, he was enjoying the company of the three siblings. Even Louise didn't seem so reluctant to bear his presence, which was really a change.
While Kid was showing Jeremiah some of his expertise, Louise rested her body against the frame of the buckboard which she had rented while in the city. Theresa sat by her side, playing with her doll and not really interested in what was going on between her brother and the rider. Louise kept watching Jeremiah and Kid intently and she had to admit that she was surprised that the boy was so keen on horses. This fondness was something that joined the two of them, unlike Theresa who had never shown any special interest in the matter.
Louise remembered that ever since she was very young, she had been told over and over again she should focus her attention on something more appropriate for a girl. Yet, she had always wanted to ride and have a horse of her own. The only good memories she had of her pa was when he had taught her basic riding skills, and with the time she had practically taught herself how to handle a horse. It was this undying love for horses what had made her such a natural and smooth rider, as good as any man or even better. Now that she was watching Jeremiah, she could see that he also had fine qualities. Louise thought ruefully that it was a shame that she wasn't a man or that Jeremiah hadn't been the first to be born. It would have been so much easier for them if their mother had had a boy first.
In that case, Louise would have been able to find a better job and eventually carry out her plans to have a place of her own and keep her family together. The best example of this was the young man with her brother, Kid. He had a job where he earned enough and would someday buy the ranch of his dreams for him and that fiancée of his. The thought filled her with bitterness; why was the world so unfair? She stared at Kid with a scowl and in that exact moment the Southerner happened to glance at her and noticing her bitter expression he frowned his forehead in confusion and looked away instantly.
Louise sighed, disappointed in herself and her own reactions. She had no right to pass judgment on this young man or blame him for the world's injustices; that was the way life was, and after all he had been awfully kind to want to spend his free time with a strange young boy and his two sisters. Lou had to admit that she had initially been quite against the idea of sharing this time with her siblings with this young man, but seeing Jeremiah beam happily she had to say that it hadn't been such a bad idea. Kid seemed to have a smooth way with children and never ran out of patience. Louise was pleasantly impressed that the rider was able to handle her brother so well since she knew that Jeremiah could be quite a handful, even to people he didn't know.
"Let's give Katy a break," Kid said, helping the boy slide off the horse. Jeremiah made a disappointed face, but didn't say anything as the rider handed him the canteen to have a swig.
After a few moments of silence the young boy exclaimed, "I'm having so much fun, Kid!"
"I'm glad to hear that," the rider replied with an ample smile.
"Do you have sisters?" Jeremiah asked out of the blue.
Kid shook his head. "I used to have an older brother but he died," he muttered gravelly, feeling a pressure in his chest, the usual sensation whenever he talked about Jed. It still weighed on his soul to think he could have done things differently and maybe his brother would still be alive. Yet, that was something that unfortunately he would never be able to find out.
"Sisters are such a drag!" the boy complained with a scowl. "I'd much rather have an older brother than Louise. She's always picking on me and nagging."
"Jeremiah, I'm sure she simply wants the best for you," Kid replied. "I think you're very lucky to have somebody who cares for you and your sister so much."
The twelve-year-old shrugged his shoulders, not really convinced by his new friend's words, and muttered, "I guess. But she promised that we'd live together out of the orphanage someday and it's not happening."
Kid decided not to say anything about Jeremiah's remark. Lou had told him that her dream and plans weren't likely to come true, but it wasn't his place to say anything. He didn't want to risk angering the girl more than she already was. For this reason Kid tried to change the direction of the conversation. "Jeremiah, there's a creek behind that copse of trees," he said, pointing in the direction of the place with his finger. "Why don't you take Katy and let her have some water?"
"All right," the boy replied promptly and taking the mare's reins he led her towards where Kid had motioned.
Meanwhile, the blue-eyed rider stomped to where the two girls were, and as soon as Lou saw him on his own, she asked in a serious tone, "Where's my brother?"
"He's watering Katy at the creek," he replied, flashing a smile at Theresa, who was grinning as well.
"Can I go with him, Louise? Can I?" Theresa asked, talking in an eager tone.
"All right, but..." Lou began and in a flash the young girl shot to find her brother before Louise could finish her sentence. "Watch out where you step, Tessa!" Louise shouted after her. "I don't want you to take a fall like last time!"
Theresa was already out of their sight and probably hadn't heard any of her sister's words. Louise sighed wearily, and as she lifted her eyes to Kid, he was grinning from ear to ear. "They're good children," the rider let out, daring to take a place next to her on the back of the wagon.
"Yes, they are," she mumbled as she averted her eyes from his. She remained silent for a few seconds and turning to him once again she added, "Thank you for doing this for Jeremiah."
Kid glanced at her surprised at the sincerity and soft tone of her words. "Is it just me or are you actually talking to me in a normal and polite way?" Kid asked teasingly, but as her eyes blazed in warning, he let out an apologetic "sorry", and giving her a sheepish smile he added, "It's fine. He's a good boy."
"I know, but he's so difficult to handle. He's always grumbling and complaining about everything. Nothing I ever do seems to please him," Louise said in a low tone as if talking to herself.
"He's at a difficult age. I imagine I wasn't much different at this age," Kid replied.
"I guess."
While Kid and Lou were in the middle of this conversation, the two children finished watering the mare and were on their way back. They were at a certain distance from the two adults and the trees were blocking their presence from being spotted. As soon as Theresa laid eyes on Kid and her sister talking together, she grabbed her brother's arm, making him stop his walking. "Jeremiah, hold on," she urged him in a low voice.
"What now, Tessa?" he asked with a frown. He was already annoyed that his little sister had joined him at the creek, and her continuous remarks were simply irksome for the young boy.
"Look!" she said, pointing at the two adults in the distance.
"What?" Jeremiah asked, not getting what the young girl was getting at.
"Louise and Kid," she let out matter-of-factly. "Don't you see them, there together?"
"And?" the boy asked again, as clueless about his sister's enigmatic words as before.
Theresa rolled her eyes at her brother's apparent obtuseness. "Kid and Louise!" she repeated again. "I think he's Louise's beau," she explained with a contented expression.
Jeremiah stared at his sister as if she had lost her mind and blurted out, "He's not her beau! Stop talking like a fool!"
"Why not?" she asked in a thin voice, hurt by the boy's cutting words.
"Why would a Pony Express rider who leads a dangerous interesting life need a girlfriend anyway, especially one like Louise?" Jeremiah remarked with a mocking smirk.
"Because he loves her, that's why!" Theresa exclaimed, utterly convinced of what she was saying.
The boy shook his head in amusement and added, "You should stop reading those stupid romantic stories of that book Amy lent you! It's just a lot of lies that only silly girls would believe!"
Theresa stuck her tongue out at her brother but didn't say one more word. She just kept looking at the two adults from their relative distance and for some strange reason, Jeremiah didn't move either and watched Kid and Louise, who were apparently in deep conversation. The boy didn't see what Theresa was so intent on watching; all he saw was his elder sister and Kid simply talking and nothing else. Theresa could sometimes have such crazy ideas and now she was making him waste his precious time that he could be spending with his friend with all that buck wash.
While the two children watched the two adults, in that moment they saw a rider on a horse appear and approaching Kid, he gave him something. Jeremiah heard Theresa grumbling, apparently not happy that this stranger had spoiled the moment between Kid and her sister. "Come on, Tessa," the boy urged the young girl and they walked to where the adults were.
The unknown rider rode off before they had reached the wagon and when Kid saw them, he said, "I'm afraid I have to go, children. The documents I was waiting for have arrived, and I need to be on my way to Rock Creek."
The faces of the two siblings expressed bitter disappointment and then Theresa asked in a miserable voice, "Will we see you again, Kid?"
The rider smiled and not sure how to answer he simply said, "I'd love to, but I can't tell you when."
"Don't you know he's busy doing important things like delivering the mail or helping the marshal get all the criminals, silly girl?" Jeremiah remarked in a chiding tone as if his sister had asked the stupidest question ever.
"Be nice, young man," Louise scolded the boy, and he simply mumbled a thin 'sorry', embarrassed at being told off in front of Kid.
The Southerner ruffled Jeremiah's hair and taking the reins from him, he jumped on top of his mare in a swift motion. From that position he looked down at the three siblings and said, "I've had a lovely afternoon." He shifted his eyes to Lou and added, "See you around?"
Louise didn't try to answer and lifting his hand as a goodbye Kid turned Katy round and spurred her into a gallop and in no time he was on the trail again, riding like the wind towards Rock Creek, towards home.