Chapter 3 April 1863,

Fremont Nebraska

"Where you headed?"

"Rock Creek"

"Well that's clear across the territory ain't it?"

"Yep"

"You one of them homesteaders? I Read about it in the papers, folks supposed to be coming out to the territories and all the way to Oregon they say. You gonna make yourself a new life out west are ya? I'm headed to Omaha myself"

"Nope, got family there"

"Well that's great. Ain't nothing like family. Are you taking the stage all the way? Ain't much tween here and there. How long since you saw your family?"

"A year and a half since I've been home and no not taking the stage, just waiting on my horse to be shod, then headed out"

The man was relentless. No matter how Lou tried to avoid him and his constant talking he kept on. He sat on the bench outside the stage office and Lou leaned against the post, she didn't want to talk and she sure as hell didn't want to listen. Where was Sam anyway? He should have been back by now.

"Lou you ready to go?" Sam came from behind the stage office, where the livery was, leading a fine black horse. Lou nodded and grabbed her coat.

"Boys at the livery says Lightening is good to go" Sam said, "but that you should take it easy on him between here and Rock Creek, I reminded them not to worry you being a Pony Express rider you would take good care of him" Lou smiled at Sam. Lightening had been at the livery while Lou was staying with Sam and Emma. He had ridden hard and carried them for well over 1000 miles, through the destruction of the war, through the rain and cold, over the snowy Appalachian Mountains and he rode fast and furious when they were chased by Union soldiers wanting the horse and anything else they could get. Lou didn't have much money to feed him well or care for him like he was used to and when the boys at the livery found out he was a former express horse they took real good care of him.

"You were a pony express rider?" the man looked Lou up and down "you kinda small ain't ya?

The stage headed to Omaha pulled up in front of the office of The Western Stagecoach Companyand the man stood up, grabbed his bag and turned to leave "Nice talking to ya son you have a safe journey."

Lou and Sam both laughed at him calling her 'son'.

"Well Lou looks like you can still fool folks with your disguise" Sam said with a smile "Emma ain't too happy about you having to dress like that again, but she understands." Sam hands her a saddle bag "Here's the food she packed you for the trail, you gonna take the old Express route?"

Lou threw her saddlebags on the horse "Yea, part of the way, its south of here, once I get to the trail it will be a lot will be faster. Thanks for everything Sam. You know where to reach me if anything happens, if she's too much trouble or anything."

Sam patted her on the arm, he wanted to give her a reassuring hug but it might give away her disguise. "It's going to be ok Lou, Jaimie is fine and you know Emma loves having her here so don't worry."

Lou reached her hand out, Sam took it in a firm handshake and winked, making Lou smile and say in her best 'man' voice "I guess I better be headed out, I'll send word when I get there."

Lou mounted up and turned to ride away "Ride Safe Lou" Sam called as he watched her ride away saying a little prayer for her safety.

Emma had promised she wouldn't send word to Teaspoon that Lou was coming; he hadn't made any such promise at all as he walked to the telegraph office.

…...

So many things have happened since she left Rock Creek, so many hard times. Lou didn't want to think of all that now, lord knows she had thought about it long enough and as she rode up on the outskirts of town she knew she would have lot of explaining to do and stories to tell later, but for now just seeing the little town of Rock Creek before her and the old Pony Express station on the edge of town, she was overcome with the feeling of home. She was finally home.

She wasn't sure how long she'd stay. She wasn't sure anyone was here except Teaspoon. Sam had told her that he was still the Marshal of Rock Creek, but neither he nor Emma knew where the boys had gone or where Rachel was. If staying wasn't an option she thought she might head farther west, Denver or even California maybe. She needed to get as far away from the war as possible and start making a new life for her family.

It had taken her almost 2 months to get here. Just getting out of Richmond had been a nightmare. They rode Lightening all the way and took only what he could carry. She fashioned a sling for Jaimie, so she could hold her close to her body and still keep her hands free. She wore one of Kid's old coats so it would cover them both. She had made it as far as Sam & Emma's when the money ran out but at least there she finally felt like she could stop running. She spent two weeks with them in Fremont and that time with Emma was the beginning of her healing. As the territorial Marshal Sam traveled a lot and Emma loved having Lou there for company. And since they had so much time alone she was able to tell Emma a lot of what happened in Virginia but not everything. She wasn't sure if she would ever tell anyone all of it. Some things just couldn't and shouldn't be talked about. Talking wouldn't change anything, not the things what happened and not the outcome, so why re-live the pain.

But now that home was in front of her she was wasn't sure what she could say to at all.

…...

Rachel came out of the old station house wiping her hands on her apron looking back towards town and watched Teaspoon as he walked home for lunch. She smiled and waved as she turned to go back in the house she noticed a rider sitting a few hundred yards away. Looking at the rider it took a moment to sink in then Rachel smiled as she recognized the small rider atop the black steed; she turned toward Teaspoon and with tears on her face she called "Rider coming."

…

Teaspoon and Rachel ran out to meet her, all Sam said in his wire was that Lou was headed their way and to keep an eye out for her. That had been almost a week ago. As they met her and Lightening in the yard by the barn, Rachel took the reins and Lou slide off her horse and Teaspoon gathered her up in a long awaited embrace. When Rachel came over to join in the hug Lou could no longer hold back the pain and the tears.

"Lou, Oh my god Louise!" Rachel says "we have missed you so much. All Sam said in his wire was that you were coming, we have been watching for you every day and starting to worry."

"Sam wired you, I asked them not too" why'd he do that, Lou wondered, what if she had changed her mind. Lou looked at the two people she loved so much both with tears in their eyes "I just wanted it to be a surprise" she lied as she wiped her eyes.

"Lou, sweetheart, come inside you can rest and then well I'm guessin' you have a lot to tell us" Teaspoon put his arm around her and guided her to the house and into the only happy home she had really every known.

…

A short one. It felt like it needed to stand alone from the chapter before and the doozie that is coming up next. I really miss Sam & Emma in the lives of our wonderful riders and considering what Lou has been through (patience grasshoppers) I think she needed a Momma before a sister. Oh and I appreciate if you spot any typos and such you'd let me know. Also I am always editing my stuff….always. I have a blog and I will go in and edit shit I wrote 2 years ago. Yea it's pathetic LOL. So if you spot something give me a shout I'll fix it And a big thank you to the reviews and the PM's.