Chapter 3

The Search

The ride to Beckworth Falls had been pretty uneventful. Buck was able to pick up Katy’s trail easily and it was headed in the direction of Beckworth Falls. "Thank goodness Kid just put new shoes on Katy," Buck said, "It makes her a lot easier to track."

The boys and Lou went as far as possible that first night before making camp. Jimmy knew Lou was hurting for Kid. He’d never let on that he heard her crying in the barn several time, but he decided it was their business. Buck was caring for the horses while Jimmy, Cody and Lou got a fire going and some super started. Jimmy kept casting worried glances at Lou he knew she was more upset than she was letting on.

"Lou," He finally said, "Why don’t you rest we’ll finish up. You look tired." Jimmy knew he was going out on a line saying this. Lou always did her fair share of the work so it took him by surprise when she replied.

"Yea Jimmy, I think your right. Let me know if you need anything." And then she lay down on her bedroll.

Cody gave Jimmy a quizzical look none of them had ever seen Lou give up that easily. Usually she would have fought with Jimmy that she wasn’t tired. "Guess she really is more upset then she’s letting on." Cody decided with a shrug and finished getting super.

Jimmy started to tell Lou super was ready but realized the poor girl was sound asleep. Jimmy looked at his friends and said, "Well I guess we’ll let her sleep."

Lou heard Jimmy’s comment and was glad he didn’t bother her. She was ashamed of the tears running down her cheek but lately she couldn’t seem to help it. She loved Kid so much and he had turned his back on her. True it was her idea to take a break but she didn’t think he would start going out with the first pretty girl he saw. He’d told her he loved her guess that wasn’t true.

The next day it didn’t take too long for the riders to reach Beckworth Falls. Lou told Jimmy the first place they should go would be the doctor’s office. "If Kids hurt that bad maybe he was taken there."

"Good idea Lou," Jimmy said. So that’s where the riders headed.

Doc. Adams wasn’t sure why Mrs. Beckworth had him bring the young man to her home. He had been found about 2 miles outside of town with a bad gunshot wound to his side and leg. The doctor had followed her orders and taken the young man to her home. She had also made it clear that he was to tell no one about this young man "or else!" she had said.

Doc Adams new that Mrs. Beckworth had some very underhanded men working for her from time to time and he had warned her about them, but he also knew that "or else" could mean his life if he didn’t follow her orders. Even though the older woman was almost 70 she could still make his life very difficult if she had wanted.

Doc Adams had just come back from her house when he saw the four young men on horse back riding up to his office. "What’s this all about," He wondered. The four men didn’t look to threatening but he wasn’t sure he wanted to take any chances. "Best to keep them outside were there are witnesses," He decided just incase these men were sent by Mrs. Beckworth as a reminder.

"May I help you gents?" The doctor asked riding up to the office but not getting off his horse.

Jimmy looked the doctor over wearily. He wasn’t sure how much help this older man would be. "Yea, we’re looking for the doctor." Jimmy said.

"Then your in luck," Doc Adams said, you’ve found him.

"We were wondering if you might be able to help us we are looking for a friend of our. A Pony Express rider who left here about 3 days ago, his horse came home with a lot of blood on her but no rider." Jimmy concluded.

"Well I’m sorry to hear that," The doctor replied. So that’s who the young man was. "What’s your friends name?"

"Kid," Lou answered in her best boy voice.

The doctor glanced at Lou suspiciously, either he was loosing his eye site or that was a girl pretending to be a boy. "Kid huh," He replied looking back at Jimmy. "Sorry, no one by that names been in my office in the last couple of day." At least with that reply he wouldn’t really be lying. Kid hadn’t been in his office he was at Mrs. Beckworth’s and she was calling him James.

"Well thank you for your help," Jimmy said with a nod and he turned his horse towards the others. "Well should we go to the sheriff and see if anyone’s seen Kid?"

The others all agreed. They all thanked the doctor and turned towards the sheriff’s office.

Jimmy glanced back at the doctor with a worried look. "He knows something he’s not telling us," Jimmy thought, "I just wish I knew what it was or had the change to get him alone. Good idea staying outside doc."

Jimmy went into the sheriff’s office alone, he didn’t want to upset Lou anymore than necessary if there was bad news. The sheriff wasn’t much help either so the boys decided to head back towards home.