Chapter Seven

After traveling on the trail for about three hours, they met up with Teaspoon and Buck heading in the direction of Lone Tree.

"Headed back already?" Teaspoon asked.

Cody nodded and so did Lou, not saying a word.

Teaspoon instantly noticed the rigid set of Cody's jaw and knew something more had happened in Lone Tree than just the sheriff's murder. And it hadn't been good.

When the pair of weary riders rode right on past them, Teaspoon and Buck turned their horses around to catch up.

"Wanna talk about it, son?" Teaspoon asked Cody. Cody just shook his head. Steadfast in his expression, Cody did go on to explain the events that unfolded in their investigation of the sheriff's murder. Teaspoon and Buck listened attentively.

When the tale was finished, Buck commented, "Sounds like our Lou has turned into a real detective, Teaspoon."

She smiled weakly at him and turned to stare straight ahead.

As Cody and Lou plodded ahead, Buck and Teaspoon dropped back to have a conversation of their own.

"What happened to those two?" Buck asked, but not really expecting an answer.

"I suppose we'll find out in due time."

"She's wearing a ring, Teaspoon."

"Noticed that did ya'? And yet they're not talking to each other. Curious."

The four of them made camp just before sundown. Teaspoon and Buck pulled out some biscuits from their packs and shared them with Lou and Cody.

"Rachel made these this morning just before we left. Mmm, still melt in your mouth. Don't they, Cody?"

"Yeah." Was all he said.

Knowing Cody's penchant for food and hearing his one word remark about the biscuits concerned Teaspoon even more. But not wanting to press the boy, he let the matter drop. Besides, when they all got back to Sweetwater there'd be time enough to weasel the information out of him, even if he had to take him for a trip to the sweatlodge to do it.

When it came time to turn in for the night, Lou made her bed as far away from the others and still be safe. After she dozed off to sleep, Buck moved his bedroll closer to hers to keep an eye on her, but still afforded her the privacy she was seeking.

Just before dawn, Lou rose and started the coffee to brew. She wasn't much of a cook, but coffee she could make.

The smell of coffee brought the others awake and they dined on day-old biscuits and jerky.

They broke camp soon after and headed towards home. The silence stretched out before them making Buck silently wishing for one of Cody's off-key songs he was usually so ready to sing on a long ride. But there was no singing. Just silence and Cody's stony face. If he wasn't mistaken Cody looked even more serious than Jimmy did at times like this. He didn't think it was possible with Cody, who was always quick to crack a joke to try and lighten the mood. But in his place was a Cody who looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders and a don't-talk-to-me-attitude. This was even worse than Jimmy. At least when Jimmy was brooding about something you could still get him to make small talk with you. But with Cody there was nothing.

And Lou, she was just as bad as Cody, if not worse.

They arrived back home a little past noon. Rachel greeted them on the porch of the bunkhouse. "Supper's still warm. I'm sure ya'll are hungry."

"No, nothing for me, Rachel. Thanks anyway." Cody told her.

Rachel's jaw all but dropped to the floor. "Cody, you feelin' alright?"

"Yeah, fine." But his expression said otherwise. "Where is everybody?"

"Well Jimmy and Kid are out on a run. It's just Noah and Ike here, but I made plenty for everyone. You're sure you're not hungry?" She asked, concerned.

"No, really, I'm fine." After he placed his things on his bunk, he said, "Well guess there's chores to be done. I'll be out in the barn mucking out the stalls if anyone needs me."

Rachel was really concerned now. Cody not hungry and wanting to do chores? Something was definitely wrong.

She still hadn't seen Lou, but if her guess was right she was going to be in a mood similar to Cody's.

Rachel looked towards the barn and saw Cody walking in. A few moments later Lou walked out headed straight for the bunkhouse.

Lou washed up before she went inside to eat. She wasn't really hungry, but she hadn't a real meal since yesterday morning at the restaurant in Lone Tree. It seemed to her that a million years had passed since then and now. She had no idea how she was going to keep working side-by-side Cody without her heart breaking every time she saw him. Maybe she should leave. It'd be easier on both of them.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Rachel asked her, "So Lou, what happened between you and Cody? You both look miserable." And then she noticed something shiny. "Oh, Lou, what a pretty ring. Did Cody give it to you?"

Lou just nodded, not wanting to say anything because she was on the verge of tears again. Since when did she turn into a spring? Was crying going to be a daily occurrence for her now? She sure hoped not.

"Oh, sweetie, that's wonderful." When no answer was immediately forthcoming, Rachel added, "Isn't it?"

Lou shook her head. Rachel sat down next to her and put a sisterly arm around her. "Lou, I can tell you're hurting. Why don't you come over to the house and have a nice warm bath? That always helps me when life gets me down. Then maybe we could sit in the kitchen and have a little talk if you want."

Unable to look her in the eye, Lou nodded. She followed Rachel into the house after gathering some clean clothes to change into. She sighed, maybe a bath would help her think more clearly.

So far the bath hadn't helped one darned bit. She spent the entire time sitting there crying into the bath water. Miserable over the way she had treated Cody.

She still felt the only way to resolve the situation was for her to leave. She could start over somewhere, begin a new life…and let Cody get on with his. It wouldn't be easy at first, but she knew it would be for the best - for both of them.

She'd still disguise herself as a boy, but this time she wouldn't so careless as to let anyone find out different.

Working for the Express at some other station was out. It would remind her too much of Cody and of the family she would be leaving behind. Maybe she could get a job as a ranch hand up North at one of the ever-growing ranches up there. At least the chances of getting shot again and 'discovered' would be less if she were working on a ranch.

Having worked out a plan in her head made her feel better. Whether it would really work remained to be seen, but at least she had an idea and a plan.

She ducked her head under the water and sat back up, vigorously soaping her hair, trying to desperately wash away her past. She ducked under again to rinse the soap out. She emerged from the water feeling renewed. As the water dropped from her body, she imagined each droplet as a part of her past falling away.

Feeling renewed, she dressed and left the room.

See met Rachel in the kitchen and asked her for some string. When Rachel went to retrieve it, Lou looked down at her ring and smiled. This was one part of her past she would keep as a remembrance of what her and Cody almost had. It would sustain her on those long lonely nights that were sure to come. It would be a part of her forever and something she'd never forget as long as she lived, but it would also serve to remind her of what she couldn't have.

Rachel returned with the twine and handed it to her. Lou cut off the length she needed and carefully slipped the ring off her finger and threaded it onto the string, tying it off behind her neck.

"Honey, why'd you take off your ring?" Rachel asked, still concerned for Lou.

"Oh, it's what Cody and I agreed to. When we got back to the station I was gonna wear it 'round my neck. It wouldn't do for an Express rider to be seen wearing a dainty ring like this on 'his' finger. This way I'll always have it, but I can keep it hidden away from the rest of the world.

Seeing the logic in what she was saying, Rachel said no more about the ring. She noticed the change in Lou's mood and attributed it to her bath.

"So you want to sit down for awhile and talk? It seems there's a lot to catch up on since you and Cody left for Lone Tree."

"Oh, Rachel, could we do it some other time? I've got chores to do and I don't want the others to think I'm slacking off just because I'm a girl."

"Alright, Lou. But remember I'm here if you need to talk."

"I will. And don't worry, I feel much better after my bath." She reached over and gave her friend a quick hug, knowing it would probably be the last. "Thank you, Rachel, for everything."

Before Rachel could say anything, Lou left the room and walked out the front door.

It wasn't too much later that Teaspoon came knocking on Rachel's door.

"Did you get anything out of her about what happened?" He asked her.

Rachel shook her head no, but then added, "But she's in a much better mood now. Have you been able to get anything out of Cody?"

It was Teaspoon's turn to shake his head. "That boy's workin' harder than I've ever seen him work. He's trying to work out his demons, seen it too many times with the other boys. 'Sides, I find myself doing it from time to time. I'll let him go a couple days and if there's no change in him I'll take him for a visit to the sweatlodge."

Rachel wrinkled up her nose at that thought, thankful that all it took for a woman to feel better was a nice long bath.