Chapter 37
Darkness wrapped its thick black cloak around the sleeping town, only with the chirps of crickets and the howling of the gentle wind disturbing the stillness of the night. Silence dominated the world after the boisterous activity of the day. However, almost imperceptible sounds completed the picture in the black canvass of the night.
In a dark room the soft rustling of clothes and shuffling of feet broke the silence. Kid moved around the bedroom cautiously, trying to locate the saddle bags he had previously packed and hidden. After a few minutes, his eyes got used to the lack of light, but even so, it was a tricky task to find his way in the darkness. He did not dare light the lamp for fear that Albert and Theresa would notice and ruin his plans.
Kid intended to sneak Lou out and travel to Rock Creek under the protection of the night. Albert and Theresa had positioned themselves against his intentions to take Lou home just like she desired. Kid knew that nothing anybody said could prevent him from granting his wife her wishes.
Nobody could stop him. Albert Keller could not stop him. Kid would stand up to him any time, and wouldn't need to sneak out in the middle of the night like a thief. Yet, logic told him to avoid any further confrontations. After all, Theresa and Albert were family, and he would not do Lou or himself any favors if he did not try to avoid strain with his in-laws. Naturally, when they found him and Lou gone, Theresa and Albert would want to throttle him, but he would deal with them at the time. Right now what mattered to him was Lou, nothing or nobody else.
The almost full moon poured its light through the curtain-opened window, illuminating Lou's figure on the bed. Kid approached, and very gently he shifted her body. Louise moaned, and in a whisper he said, "Honey, I'm taking you home… to Rock Creek." The Southerner did not know if Lou could hear him, but after his words she stopped her moans. As carefully as possible he maneuvered her to put on a coat over her nightgown and covered her head with a hood. Then he bundled her up in a couple of thick blankets. It was cold outside, and every precaution was a must. Kid then slung the saddle bags over his shoulders, which contained what was strictly necessary. Trying not to raise suspicions last night, Kid could not take with him everything he had bought at the store, and had selected just a few things Lou would need during the ride.
"Lou, it's time. Let's try not to make any sounds," Kid whispered before he scooped her up in his arms.
Walking in the dark was tricky in itself, but carrying somebody in your arms made the task twice as difficult. Kid moved along the corridor slowly, and with every step he took the floorboards creaked under his weight. It was an almost imperceptible sound during the day, but in the silence of the night to Kid's ears it reverberated as stridently as an out-of-tune trumpet. The Southerner held his breath as he shuffled by the door behind which Theresa and Albert slept. For some reason his steps on the spot seemed to tap against the floor more loudly, and he was afraid he might wake up the couple, and as he got past without incident, relief coursed throughout him.
The corridor today looked longer than ever, and Kid felt the urge to run. Yet, he continued advancing at a slow pace. The more steps he took, the farther the end felt. Kid let out his held breath as he finally reached the beginning of the staircase. His steps sped up. He could not wait to leave the house.
Just as he and Lou had done a couple of weeks ago, Kid walked through the store on his way to exit the place. Had only two weeks gone by? Kid wondered. It felt much longer, but at the same time it also felt like yesterday that he and Lou had stormed inside this house, soaked to their bones and giggling happily. Where had those carefree days gone? Where was his Lou? The unmoving woman in his arms wasn't her. Who had stolen her vibrant soul? Who had poisoned her spirit?
Distracted by his black thoughts, Kid unexpectedly bumped against the table where the scales stood, much in the same way he had done weeks ago. The table staggered, the scales rattling, and to Kid's horror the iron weights and metal pans fell onto the floor raucously, the clacking echoing in the room and the rest of the house. Kid kept still, dreading to be discovered and what was to follow. He silently counted to ten. Nothing. He counted to twenty. Nothing.
"That was a close call, honey," he whispered. "Let's get you out of here before your clumsy husband wakes the whole town."
Without delay he walked across the room, and relief washed over him when he unlocked the door and finally stepped out into the cold, night air. "We're going home, Lou, just like you wanted."
The rumble and creaking of the elegant desk echoed in the room as its bright, mahogany legs shook, supporting the powerful impact of a punch against the shiny, wooden surface. Albert looked at his father with a fearful expression. "When did this happen?" Dr. Hill demanded to know.
"He… he must have snuck out in the middle of the night," Albert explained in a soft voice. "Yesterday he told us he wanted to take Louise to Rock Creek, but I thought…"
"For goodness' sake! Don't you know what this means for us, Albert?"
The young man's mouth curled down in a disregarding way. "She's too sick. She'll probably die before reaching the next town. We're good, father."
"Good! Good!" the doctor roared, thumbing both his fists on the table. "What if she doesn't die? What if her husband calls another doctor? The dumbest physician could tell what's really happening to her."
Albert paled, and his voice started trembling. "But… but you said it was safe."
"As long as she stayed in Seneca!" Dr. Hill exclaimed, rising to his feet. "You just had to make sure she wouldn't go anywhere. That wasn't too difficult, was it?"
"How could I imagine her husband would play that trick on us?" Albert snapped back as fury bubbled inside him. Sometimes his father treated him like a fool who could not do a thing right, exactly like he had done when Albert was a child. His strict, patronizing ways were too much for Albert, but he knew he couldn't rebel, or break ties from him. He was his father, and there were more reasons to stay together than blood connections.
"I told you from the beginning he would create problems… the bastard," Dr. Hill muttered as he started pacing up and down his office.
"And you were right… like always," Albert said between gritted teeth.
Dr. Hill stopped his pacing to look at his son curiously. "Do you think he suspects something?"
"I don't think so. How could he?" Albert muttered, and shaking his head, he added, "I really don't know. He looks like a fool, but he isn't one."
Dr. Hill came closer to Albert, and tapped him on the back. "Don't worry, son. Nothing's changed. This is just a little obstacle." The young man glanced at him expectantly, sure his father had a backup plan. His expectations had to be put off since Dr. Hill was curious about something else. "What has your wife said?"
"She's frantic with worry, and furious with Kid. As soon as we found them gone, she wanted to ride after them."
"She's a very clever woman. It's a shame she and I can't have a normal relationship as relatives. We'd get on very well."
"I doubt she'd appreciate you killing her brother, and planning to do to the same to her sister," Albert drawled pointedly.
Dr. Hill chuckled. "You sometimes surprise me, son. I didn't know you had a sense of humor." Albert remained stoically serious while his father added, "You know I'm not proud of this. I swore to save lives, not slash them short, but this is something different. We have no alternative."
Albert nodded. "What are we going to do now?"
"Do what your wife says. Follow them to Rock Creek. With a bit of luck, there won't be a Louise McCloud anymore. It's surprising she's still holding on."
"And if she's still alive? What if they find out the reason why she is so sick?"
"We'll stick to our initial plan," Dr. Hill stated thoughtfully. "If there are any suspicions, which I doubt, they should fall on the fella working at the store. You haven't tampered with anything else other than those tea leaves, have you?"
Albert shook his head. "This scares me," the young man muttered. "If they find the connection, we'll be lost."
"Nobody will find out anything."
Albert raked his fingers through his perfect brilliantine-laden hair as he exclaimed, "Oh Pa! I hope she's dead! I hope she dies soon! I was really fond of her, but now it's her or us. And I want her dead even if I have to kill her with my own hands."