Chapter 13

The Plan

Lou was up early as usual. She just couldn’t get use to sleeping in, even in this wonderfully large soft bed. She was so use to getting up with the sun and doing chores that sleeping in any longer wasn’t an option. "Oh well," she sighed. "I’m sure if Mrs. Beckworth has her way I’ll be leaving soon and there is no use getting comfortable."

Lou had decided that today would be the day. She was going to somehow get into Mrs. Beckworth’s room and find that painting of James. If she could find it easily she would bring Kid in and show him. The doctor said that maybe seeing the picture and having Lou tell him about his life would help him remember. She wasn’t sure this was a good idea, but it was the best one they had so far.

Lou helped Kid down the stairs, which really meant that she walked along side of him while he walked down the stairs. He was doing so much better that he didn’t really need her support any more. She kind of missed having Kid lean on her but was glad he was doing better. "Now if we could just get your memory back." She thought, "We could all go home."

It had been about 2 weeks since she had come here and she was really missing home. She knew deep down that Kid was missing home also. She knew he wasn’t sleeping well at night and often called out her name. He had even called out Cody’s name the other night in his sleep. "Must have been dreaming about fighting with Cody," She had thought then and smiled.

Even Jimmy had told her he was ready to go home. They had talked it over and if her plan didn’t work then as soon as the doctor said Lou could leave they were going to have to leave without Kid. That thought made Lou almost cry. How could she just leave him here; how could she just turn her back on him? The doctor had even agreed with them and told her that maybe leaving wouldn’t be a bad thing that it might just help Kid remember. But Lou wasn’t sure she wanted to take that chance.

Spending these last two weeks with Kid alone, without the prying eyes and comments, from the other boys had been wonderful. They had talked and read and walked in the garden. Just like they were courting and Lou had fallen in love with Kid all over again. How in the world could she just leave him here in this terrible house if he didn’t remember? She decided she would just have to cross that bridge when and if they came to it.

Mrs. Beckworth had already left by the time Kid and Lou entered the dinning room for breakfast that day. Kid smiled a wicked smile and Lou and said, "Since mother’s not here I think you should eat breakfast in here with me today. Or I could come in the kitchen with you."

Lou grinned at Kid, "I think the kitchen would be better." She laughed at his smile and they proceeded through to the kitchen.

Cookie was more than surprised when Lou and Kid walked through the door. "Well she smiled to what honor do I owe this surprise." Cookie had always been fond of James Beckworth and even though she knew this wasn’t Jamie, as she called the young man, he did resemble him and she had a small hope that he might stay. She also hoped he would get his memory back and get out of that depressing house.

Kid smiled at Cookie as he took a seat at the small table in the corner of the kitchen. "Well with mother gone I thought it would be easier to eat in here than in the dinning room."

Cookie laughed at this. She remembered how James would always come and eat in the kitchen with her when is mother was gone. She loved the idea that this young man would prefer her warm kitchen to that huge dinning room.

Kid and Lou spent a long time having breakfast with Cookie and Missy the maid. Everyone seemed more relaxed and enjoyed their meal much more with Mrs. Beckworth gone. Kid had Lou telling stories of the Pony Express to Cookie and Missy. Cookie had been watching and listening to Lou very intently when it dawned on her, "This young woman is in love with this young man. I wonder if she really knows who he is?"

After lunch Lou and Kid took a walk down to the stables taking Jimmy his breakfast. Then they walked back through the garden. Kid was slowing down as they neared the house. "Kid are you feeling OK?" Lou asked concerned.

"Yea, I feel fine. I’m just tired." Kid said, "I’ve not been sleeping to well."

"Well then lets get you upstairs and you can rest for a while before dinner."

Lou thought this would be perfect. Kid could rest for a while and she could go to Mrs. Beckworth’s rooms and see if she could find the painting. She figured it wouldn’t be hard to find a large painting. Lou got Kid settled in his room and then headed for the sitting room.

"If you need anything just call," she said as she pulled the door shut.

She left the sitting room and headed down the corridor towards the other end of the house. She had gotten use to the darkness of the halls with the dark wood and heavy drapes but she was surprised as she entered the left hall where Mrs. Beckworths rooms were and saw the pale greens and soft woods. "Oh," Lou said out loud covering her mouth. She wasn’t prepared for the lightness of this area. Even though the drapes were closed over the windows here also the walls were a much lighter wood and the floor covering such a soft green.

She opened the first door she came to and realized she was in a room much like her own except on a much larger scale. She new right away, upon looking around that this had to be Mrs. Beckworth’s room. The wood in this room was also light, like in the hall and everything was done in that soft green with large roses. It was a lovely room and Lou took a moment to just look around and enjoy the beauty.

Lou realized quickly though that the painting she was looking for was not in this room so she decided to go into what she assumed would be the sitting room. She realized that the room layouts were similar to the other wing except instead of two bedrooms there was only one large room and a sitting room.

The sitting room was also decorated with the same lightwood and soft green material with roses. But the biggest difference in this room was the large fireplace with a painting of a young man hanging over it. Lou saw the resemblance right away between this young man and Kid. She could understand why Mrs. Beckworth would want Kid to be her son.

Lou was in such a state of shock over seeing the painting that she was taken by surprise when Mrs. Beckworth said, "What are you doing here? You don’t belong in this part of the house."

Lou turned around startled, "Mrs. Beckworth! You’re back early. I’m sorry mam but I just couldn’t help myself. I just wanted to see this part of the house."

"YOU’RE LYING!" Mrs. Beckworth yelled. "Why are you here?"

Lou was hesitant at first then she noticed the gun Mrs. Beckworth was pointing at her shakily.

"Now Mrs. Beckworth," Lou started, "you really should put that thing down. I’m not going to hurt you and I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Really I wasn’t. Please just let me go and everything will be fine."

Lou started to take a step towards the older woman when she held the gun up higher. "I know why you’re here. You want to take my son away. But I’m not going to let you. Do you here me."