Chapter Four

The time had come to meet the undertaker and they headed over to his place. When they got there, he was nowhere to be found. They waited around for awhile, but soon gave up and went back to the hotel.

When they entered Cody's room, Lou saw right away her saddle bags lying on the floor next to the bed.

"Cody, why are my things in here?"

"Oh, I had the clerk move your stuff in here. I thought we could just share the room. If that's alright. If it's not we can get your old room back. I'm, uh, not expectin' anything from ya', Lou. I just thought you might like it better in here instead of alone across the hall."

"Cody, you did fine." She planted a small kiss on his cheek and smiled.

"I've also been doing some thinkin'."

"Oh?"

"Well since it's no secret you're a woman around this town, then why not make the best of it? That is, I mean we can stop by the mercantile and see what kind of dresses they have. For awhile you can dress the way you want to."

She began to interrupt, but he stopped her.

"I'm not saying you don't dress the way you want now, but I saw how beautiful you looked the last time in a dress and I just want something special for you. If you want it that is."

"I'd be honored to go shopping with you, Mr. Cody."

And they did.

On their way to the mercantile they passed the dressmaker's shop and stopped there instead.

Cody helped her pick out a pale green dress that fit her perfectly, just as if it were made especially for her. When it came time to picking out the underpinnings, Cody turned a shade of red and quickly excused himself. Lou agreed to meet him in the mercantile when she was finished.

Twenty minutes and three packages later, Lou was set. She had changed into her new clothes at the dressmaker's and had her boy's clothes and boots wrapped up instead. In her boots' place, she wore a pair of dainty slippers that matched the dress.

She made the short walk to the mercantile without incident and when she walked in Cody barely recognized her. The dressmaker had helped her pin up her hair fashionably and she looked like a vision made in heaven to him. It made his own purchase for her all that more special.

"Um, Lou, I bought something for you."

"Butterscotch. My favorite. How'd you know?"

"Huh?"

"The candy." And she popped a piece in her mouth. "How'd you know this is my favorite?"

"Because it's my favorite, too. But that's not what I bought you. I mean you can have the candy, but I've also got something much better than candy. At least I hope you'll think so."

Before he could say more, the shopkeeper's wife came out from behind the curtain and said, "Ah, so this is the young lady you were talking about." She said to Cody. To Lou she remarked, "You are one lucky lady to have such a caring gentleman. You two will make a wonderful match."

Lou looked at Cody and wondered what he'd been telling the woman about the two of them.

"It's such a shame about the sheriff. Your young man here was just telling me about it. Such a tragedy. He was a really nice man. Not the most faithful man in the world, but real nice."

"What do you mean not the most faithful? Was he seeing someone else on the side?"

Her face instantly reddening, she said, "Oh, I shouldn't speak ill of the dead. And it was rumors only."

"It's alright. We're trying to find out what happened and any information you might have could be really helpful." Lou prompted the older woman.

"Well if it could help you, I guess it would be alright. There was talk that the sheriff had his eye on a certain saloon girl in another town. But we ain't never seen her 'round here so I really couldn't tell you if it was the truth or not. The only girl I've ever seen him with was his daughter, Glennis."

Lou practically choked on her candy. After her coughing fit subsided she asked, "Daughter? He had a daughter?"

"Oh, my yes. Are you alright, dear?" The shopkeeper asked.

When Lou nodded, she continued. "Yes, he had a daughter from his first wife. Poor dear died in a cholera outbreak, his first wife, not his daughter. Anyway, I'd say she's about your age. Darnedest thing you ever seen though, won't wear anything but pants. Couldn't get that girl in a dress if her life depended on it. Don't know what she's going to do now. She lived with her father and Edna, but Edna can't stand her. Poor dear. It makes no sense, a God-fearin' woman like Edna holding such a grievance against a poor girl like that. And all because she wears pants. Can't quite figure that one out."

"Mrs…uh, I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."

"Oh, dearie, you can just call me Mildred. Everybody does. And you're Louise." Mildred extended her hand and Lou shook it. "Your young Mr. Cody there has told me a lot about you."

Again Lou looked at Cody. He just non-committally shrugged his shoulders and turned to look at some merchandise on the shelves.

"Oh, you poor dear. Don't you worry none. He didn't say all that much really. Besides I won't tell a soul."

Lou just mentally shook her head. She seriously doubted this woman could keep a secret for any substantial length of time.

Ignoring whatever 'secrets' Cody may have inadvertently revealed to this woman, she continued with her questioning. "Do you know of any enemies the sheriff might have had? Anyone who would want to do him harm?"

"Well he had those outlaws he'd sent the posse after, but they never caught them."

"You mean the posse came back already?" Lou asked incredulously.

"Oh, dear, yes. Yesterday morning. Musta been before you two arrived."

"But where are his deputies at?"

"You must mean Cletus? Oh, the poor dear was shot dead chasing after those bank robbers." Mildred told her.

"So he only had the one deputy and he was killed. Then the same day the posse arrives back empty-handed the sheriff gets murdered. Interesting." Lou popped another candy into her mouth.

"Oh, dearie, if you don't mind my saying so, you're gonna ruin your supper eating those butterscotch candies." Then Mildred's expression became serious and she whispered, "Your young gentleman let it slip that he was planning on takin' you to the restaurant in town I told him about. It's not much, but it's a heap better than the hotel food. It's the restaurant where my dear husband takes me on the special occasions. Although they're becoming few and far between as of late." She frowned.

Whispering back, Lou told her, "Thank you. I won't let on that I know about it."

"You're such a sweet, sweet dear. I know I haven't known you long, but I'm a very good judge of character."

Lou believed her. What she had said about Edna Jackson seemed to be right on the money.

"Mildred, thank you so much for your help. If I think of any more questions I'll be sure to come back. But right now I think I better be off. Don't want to keep my, uh, Mr. Cody waiting."

Cody waved goodbye to Mildred and the pair took their leave.

Once outside on the boardwalk, Cody held out his arm for her to take and she looped her arm through his. "So 'my young Mr. Cody', where are we off to now?" She teased him.

"Well 'my poor dear' I've got a surprise or two up my sleeve."

She started to look up his sleeve and they both started laughing.

"C'mon, follow me. You'll just have to wait and see until we get there." He told her.

"Fair enough." She told him and smiled broadly.

"You already know where we're going don't you?"

She nodded. "I'm afraid Mildred isn't much at keeping secrets."

"Lucky for us. You got more information out of her than any of the others combined."

"Yes, she sure is a gossip and in this case it's not a bad thing." Lou said. Suddenly a thought popped into her mind. "Do you realize this town is completely without the law 'cept for the two of us?"

"Kind of scary, isn't it? Do you think we should get a message to Teaspoon and let him know what's goin' on?

"Yeah, I think we should. Maybe this is a little more than we can handle. After all we were only supposed to be here to help keep things in line, not solve a murder."

"Why don't we head over to the stables and check on the horses first and maybe we can find someone to take a message to Sweetwater. Sound good?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"Sure, I've got a lad that I could send ta' Sweetwater fer ya. He's old enough now ta' make that ride on 'is own. He can leave in the mornin' at dawn."

Cody wrote down a few sentences for Teaspoon and handed the missive over to the stableman and thanked him for his help.

"Glad to help out a man of the law. You two be stayin' on after all this is over? We'll be needin' a new sheriff."

"Well, uh, the truth is we've already got jobs back at Sweetwater." Lou told him.

When he looked over at Lou, he admitted aloud, "I have to say, missy, I darned thought you was a boy when ya' two rode in yesterday. I'm real sorry 'bout that, ma'am."

"It's alright. Happens all the time." She looked to Cody and smirked.

"Wish ya' both would reconsider takin' over the sheriff's job. Truth is there ain't anyone 'round here now that could hold down the job for very long. You both seem competent enough. Heard how you've been askin' 'round after the sheriff, trying to find his killer. After all, ya' two are just deputies back in Sweetwater. Here at least one of ya' could be sheriff."

Eager to get on with his surprise for Lou, Cody simply told the man, "We'll think about it." He tipped his hat and bid the man a good evening.

They walked to the restaurant in companionable silence. Each being left alone with their own thoughts.

When they entered the quaint restaurant, all eyes turned toward the couple. The owner greeted them at the door, all smiles. "Welcome, Mr. Cody, Miss McCloud. I'm honored to have you at my humble establishment. Forgive me, my name is Ethan Abernathy. I'm also the mayor of Lone Tree."

For the second time today, Lou almost choked. "Abernathy? You wouldn't by chance be related to a Miss Abigail Abernathy of Sweetwater, would you?"

Pride clearly shown on his face as he said, "Sure am, Miss McCloud. She's my niece, my brother's daughter. Do you know her?"

Trying to be tactful, something that wasn't her strong suit, she merely said, "I know of her. She's very pretty." Inwardly Lou felt she was slowly dying. All she needed was for Cody to get re-involved with the mayor's niece. She looked over at Cody and he looked as if he had swallowed a frog. His discomfort was clear and for his sake she tried to change the subject.

"Would there be a chance, sir, that we could ask you a few questions about the sheriff?"

"Later." Cody whispered in her ear. Clearly wanting to leave this man's company, a man that reminded him of his old ways and of Abigail Abernathy.

Figuring the newly arrived couple must be hungry, the mayor agreed to meet with them later and ask any questions they may have. "Let me show you to your table. We have one all set up for you over here in the corner, out of the way."

As they followed the mayor to their table, both had the feeling Mildred had somehow gotten word over to the restaurant that they were coming. It seemed too convenient that a table was already waiting for them in a private little corner of the cramped restaurant.

Cody pulled out Lou's chair and waited for her to be seated before he pushed her in and then he sat himself. He instantly felt the need to apologize to her.

"Lou, if I'd have had any idea that the restaurant was owned by Abby's uncle, I never would have brought you here."

"Cody, it's alright. You had no way of knowing. It's just that…well, Cody, are you sure it's me you want to be with? Abigail is everything I'm not. She's beautiful, feminine, the total opposite of me. And with her uncle being the mayor of this town, you could easily become the sheriff if you wanted. You could have darn near anything you wanted in this town. Do you realize that? The possibilities could be endless. If you played your cards right you could someday end up mayor of this town."

Cody knew he'd have to be careful in what he said next to Lou, knowing one slip of the tongue could mess up their relationship forever. He reached across the table and took her hand in his and looked her straight in the eye. "Lou, I don't ever want you to think I'd prefer her over you. Yeah, she's different than you, but it's you I want - not her. She had her chance and it just didn't work out. Now I know it didn't work out because it's you I'm supposed to be with. As for you thinking her beautiful, there's no one more beautiful in this world than you, Lou. I don't care if you're in a dress or pants, it doesn't change who you are inside. You're mine, Lou, and nothing's gonna to change that." He brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed it. When he looked up at her, he had tears glistening in his eyes. He was so afraid he was going to lose her and was also afraid that no amount of talking on his part was going to convince her of his devotion to her. But he was wrong.

Lou felt the sincerity in his words and was touched to her soul. Why he would choose her over the beautiful Abigail was beyond her, but choose her and the hoyden she was he had. She was sure of it now. And she'd never doubt him again. Nor would she bring up the subject of any other girl again. Not only was it too painful for her, it seemed to be something Cody didn't want to talk about either, as if he wanted to put his womanizing past behind him and get on with his life. A life that included her in it.

Inside Lou felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her. Her and Cody's relationship was still new and uncertain for her, but he had solidified it with his words making her relax inside a little.

Not knowing what to say to him, she simply squeezed his hand and smiled at him. Relief flooded his features and he grinned like a cat with a fresh bowl of cream.

Feeling that now was as a good time as ever for her surprise, Cody reached into his jacket pocket and removed a red velvet bag. He worked open the drawstrings and poured the contents into the palm of his hand.

Lou watched him attentively, wondering what Cody was hiding. It wasn't long before her curiosity was appeased.

Again he took her hand and slipped something cool on her finger. When he let go of her hand, she looked down and saw the ring he had put there. It glistened in the candlelight from the table.

"Cody, I…" She stammered.

"Before you say anything…I'd like it if you'd wear this ring, as a promise of what's to come. I know once we get back to Sweetwater and start riding again, it wouldn't look right if you were wearing a ring, so I bought a chain for you to put it on. That way you can keep it close to your heart."

"Cody, I'd be honored to wear your ring." She beamed at him. At a loss for what to say to him next she was almost relieved when their food arrived.

It wasn't long after they finished their meal that their conversation landed on the topic of the sheriff and trying to sort through the information they had gathered so far.

"Don't you think it's odd that the doc never mentioned anything about the sheriff's daughter, even though we specifically asked him if there were any children?"

Cody just shrugged, not quite knowing what to make of the doctor's lie. "I wonder what happened to the undertaker today. We were supposed to meet with him this afternoon and he wasn't there. Do you suppose he's avoiding us, not wantin' to answer any questions? He didn't seem like he wanted to cooperate in the first place. I get the feeling he knows a lot more than he's lettin' on."

"I think you're right, Cody. Maybe we better make a point of lookin' him up tomorrow and try to get him to open up to us. Although how we're gonna do that, I have no idea. Maybe the mayor will be able to fill us in on what's goin' on."

At the mention of the mayor, Cody cringed. He was still uncomfortable with the fact he was Abigail's uncle.

"You know, Cody, if you don't want to question him I can do it. Maybe you could go find the undertaker and question him instead of waiting until tomorrow."

Relieved, Cody agreed with Lou's plan. He rose from the table, kissing her on the cheek before he left. "I'll meet you back at the hotel." And with that he was gone.

Lou got up in search of the mayor, not only to ask him questions but to pay their bill as well.

When she found him and brought up the bill, the mayor smiled and said the meal was on him. He was glad to help out the local law enforcement, even if it was only to feed them.

"Miss McCloud, before we start with the questions, I just want to say I really admire you - a woman doing a man's job as a deputy. I have to say you do it very well from what I've heard. I also want to tell you there's no hard feelings on my part about Abby."

Taken back by the mayor's comments, Lou didn't know what to say.

"I see you weren't aware I knew about Mr. Cody and Abby. She wrote me several times about him. I also know that aside from being a deputy, Mr. Cody also is a Pony Express rider. And if I've missed my mark, I'm betting that you are as well."

When Lou's jaw dropped open, the mayor had the answer he was seeking.

"You don't have to worry though, you're secret's safe with me. I've seen a lot of things in my life and I know life isn't the easiest for an unmarried woman and they're forced to do what they have to in order to survive. I admire you for your choice of an occupation. Teaspoon is lucky to have such a smart lady working for him."

"You know Teaspoon?"

"Oh, yes. He and I go way back. I was a Texas Ranger for a spell, that's how I met him. And of course I knew he was in Sweetwater through Abby's letters." Ethan studied Lou for a moment and then commented, "You don't seem to be bothered overly much that I'm Abby's uncle or that she was once involved with your young man. I was under the impression earlier that it bothered you somewhat, but not anymore. If you don't mind my asking, what happened?

Feeling a bit uncomfortable talking to a stranger about her relationship with Cody, she merely said, "We came to an understanding about that. 'Sides I've got a job to do, can't let my personal feelings get in the way." She was twisting her ring around her finger throughout the conversation and Ethan couldn't help but notice it. Realization dawned on him them that the two must now be betrothed. He smiled to himself. Knowing Abby as he did, he knew Mr. Cody wasn't the right man for her. But this slip of a girl standing beside him would definitely be a good match for him. Just the type to settle him down.

Keeping his thoughts on Abby to himself, he asked, "So what can I do for you in regards to your investigation?"

Lou asked him her standard series of questions and he provided what information he could, but in the end it wasn't any more useful that any of the other facts she had already gathered.

She thanked him for his time, assuring him he had been very helpful, and took her leave. She hurried back to the dressmaker's to pick up her packages before heading back to the hotel.

On a whim, she decided to stop at the sheriff's office and look over his papers to see what kind of cases he had been working on before his death, other than the bank robbery. While she was there shifting through the paper work and wanted posters, a sharp bang on the door startled her. Thinking someone was simply knocking on the door, she went to it. But when she opened it, she was startled. The missing carving knife was lodged in the wood of the door with a note speared through it. Lou quickly scanned he area for anyone, but the street was empty. She then pulled out the knife out and read the note. It merely read, 'Leave now if you know what's good for you, hussy.'

Then suddenly in dawned on her, the sheriff's wife, Edna, had called her a hussy. Now she proof she had lied about the knife. It was clear to Lou now that Edna was hiding more than they had earlier suspected.

Glad that her new dress had a pocket to hold her gun, she relocked the sheriff's office and quickly made her way back to the hotel.

She was glad Cody was already there waiting for her.

Seeing the ashen look on her face, Cody took her in his arms and asked what was wrong. She sat on the bed and explained the incident at the sheriff's office, showing him the note and the knife.

"She was definitely lying to us, Cody. But why does she want us to leave so badly? You'd think she'd want to know who murdered her husband. Oh, my God. Cody, what if she had something to do with it? It would make sense she'd want us to leave."

"Lou, read the note again. It's not 'us' she wants to leave, it's you." He let that sink in before adding, "Remember how Mildred told us how Mrs. Jackson hated the sheriff's daughter simply because she wore pants, I think she's transferring her hatred from the daughter to you."

"But why?"

"Well it's pretty obvious the woman isn't in her right mind. Remember the undertaker first said she was a harridan and pestered her husband to quit his job, but then a little later he said she was the most sainted woman in town. Who knows why she does anything she does? Just promise me the next time you leave this room you'll be extra careful. I don't plan on letting you out of my sight 'til we leave here, but just in case keep an extra eye open."

"I can take care of myself, Cody, you know that."

"I'm not doubting your abilities, Lou, it's just I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you. You mean the world to me and I don't want to see you hurt."

"Cody, I understand how you feel 'cause I feel the same way about you. You're my future, my life. But I'll be damned if I'm gonna let some half-crazed woman get in my way. I know she's behind the note and the knife, but if she's somehow connected with the murder of her husband I'm gonna take her down. I promise you that."

As Lou began to calm down, she looked down at her feet. She bent down and took off her shoes and sighed in relief. "I don't know how other women do it, Cody. These shoes are killing my feet." And she tossed the offending foot-ware across the room. "Give me my comfortable boots any day."

Cody chuckled at her antics and took her feet into his hands and began rubbing them. Feeling the intimacy the act of a massage was creating, Lou began to squirm. Everytime he touched a certain spot on her foot…ah, there…a jolt of pleasure shot through her body.

"Oooh, right there. No, no, over just a little bit. Oh, now you've got it." She moaned.

Cody, seemingly oblivious to the true sensations he was creating within her, continued to massage her feet.

"Oh, Cody, have you any idea what you're doing to me?"

"Making you feel good?" He remarked innocently.

"You have no idea." Pleasure dripping from her voice.

"What'd you mean?"

"This is gonna sound strange, but every time you touch a spot on my foot…ah, there."

"There?" And he rubbed the spot again.

She arched her back and moaned in pleasure. Cody grinned from ear to ear.

"What about it?" He asked innocently.

But something in the tone of his voice alerted her. She sat straight up. "You know exactly what you're doing to me, Billy Cody." She mockingly accused him.

"It's called reflexology." He grabbed one of her feet and began massaging again. "The Chinese believe that parts of the foot are directly connected to other parts of the body. For instance, here's the spot you would rub if someone had a stomachache, here for a headache, here to relax the lower muscles of the back and here…" She moaned aloud. "Well I think you know what that does."

"Cody you are something else. Where on earth did you learn this?" She squirmed again, heat pooling in her nether regions.

"I read it in a book. I do read more than just dime novels, you know."

"Ah." She sighed. "I had no idea."

Switching feet he told her, "And before you ask, no, I've never done this to anyone before. I've been wanting to see if it worked, but the right person hadn't come along…until now."

As he began massaging up her ankle to her calf, Lou thought it prudent to say, "Um, Cody."

"Yeah, Lou?" He asked with hooded eyes.

"Um, I thought you wanted to, um, wait until we were married to, uh, you know."

"There are other things we can do. If you want."

Even more heat pooled between her legs at the mention of 'other things'. She nodded to him.

He rose from where he was sitting to the head of the bed where she was and he gently sat down. Caressing her cheek, he told her, "We don't have to do anything you don't want to, Lou. You know that don't you?" She nodded again.

He lowered his head to capture her lips in a brazen kiss and he began pulling the pins from her hair. As pin after pin dropped to the floor, their inhibitions began to melt away. He kissed his way down her neck and began working at the fastenings on the back of her dress.

Just as he released the third hook a knock sounded at the door. Groaning as if in pain, he drew back.

"Don't answer it." Lou whispered. "Maybe they'll go away." Another knock, more insistent this time.

"I can't do this knowin' there's someone on the other side of the door."

She kissed him quickly and let him go. She hastily ran her fingers through her hair in an attempt to tame it, giving it some kind of order so it wouldn't look like they were doing what they were about to do. She rose from the bed and Cody answered the door.

A boy wavered there on unsteady feet, battered and bruised. He collapsed into Cody's arms.

Cody brought him over to the bed and laid him down upon it. Lou began pouring water into a bowl and brought it and a cloth to the bedside table. As she washed the boy's injuries and the grime off his face she realized who this probably was.

"Cody, I think this is Glennis, the sheriff's daughter. Look. These features are too feminine to be a boy."

As Lou continued her ministrations, the girl moaned and began to awake. "Water?" Was all she said.

Cody poured a glass of water and brought it over to her. She unsteadily raised her head and drank from the glass and then slowly lowered herself back down.

"I'm Glennis Jackson, the sheriff's daughter." She croaked out. "I'm here to tell you my step-mother murdered my father." And with that, she passed out cold.