Chapter 5

Moving On?

Lou and the boys had been back for three days and Lou wasn’t sure how to go on. It had been almost a week since Kid had gone missing. Lou felt like she was on auto. She would get up in the morning, get dressed, do chores, eat and go on runs but she couldn’t seem to remember how she was doing any of this. She just kept moving. She knew that if she stopped moving she would probably die. She was still sure that Kid wasn’t dead but she wasn’t sure where he was.

Jimmy and the other boys kept a close eye on Lou. They made sure she ate and rested. But they all knew there was nothing they could really do. Jimmy found Lou brushing Katy in the stable one-day tears streaming down her cheek.

Jimmy reached out and wiped the tears off of Lou’s check. "He’s not dead," She said looking at him, "I know he’s not. I would feel it if he were."

Then she crumbled into Jimmy’s arms and sobbed. Jimmy held her tightly and comforted her the best he could. Jimmy loved this young woman and knew she was hurting bad. They had to find out what had happened to Kid so she would be able to move on.

"Lou," He said gently, "We’ll keep looking I promise. Well find something. Cody is in Beckworth Falls today and he said he would check with the doctor and the sheriff again. Maybe they will know something now."

Cody got back the next day from Beckworth Falls with a solemn face. He had checked with the sheriff who still didn’t know anything. The only interesting thing he’d brought back was a letter to Teaspoon from the doctor.

"It was weird Jimmy," Cody told his friend while he was taking care of his horse, "I asked the doctor about Kid and instead of answering me he just handed me this letter and said "I hope this might help", what do you think about that?"

Jimmy looked puzzled then said, "Well maybe we should go see Teaspoon and see what the letter was all about."

The two friends turned to leave the barn when they saw Teaspoon riding into the yard. "Jimmy, Cody," he yelled, "Where is everyone. Round them up and meet in the bunkhouse, make sure Lou is there also."

"What’s wrong Teaspoon," Jimmy asked.

"Just get everyone rounded up and I’ll explain," Teaspoon said heading towards Rachel’s house.

Jimmy and Cody rounded everyone up which wasn’t to hard since almost everyone was already in the bunkhouse and they were all sitting at the table waiting impatiently for Teaspoon and Rachel.

As soon as Teaspoon walked in, Jimmy pounced, "What’s going on Teaspoon. Cody told us that he brought back a letter from the doctor in Beckworth Falls. Does he know something about Kid?"

Teaspoon help up his hands, "Calm down Jimmy let me explain." Teaspoon told the boys, Rachel and Lou about Doc Adams and how he thinks the young man living at Mrs. Beckworths was Kid.

"Then lets go get him," Buck said jumping up.

"Not so fast Buck," Teaspoon said, "Kid doesn’t know who he is. Doc says Mrs. Beckworth could be dangerous and she has told Kid that he’s her son James."

<Then all the more reason to go get him> Ike signed

"I know Ike it is but Doc has an idea. He wants me to sent a young woman to act as Kids nurse, someone Kid would know and one of you boys to work in the stable that way there will be someone else there if they need help." Teaspoon said.

"What about Samantha," Lou asked, "Her and Kid were pretty close before he left I’m sure she would love to help."

"Lou," Rachel said quietly, "Samantha left town a couple of days before Kid left."

"What, why," Lou asked surprised. "Why didn’t anyone tell me?"

"Kid didn’t want us to tell you. He want to talk to you himself when he got back." Rachel stated matter-of-factly.

Lou lowered her head she felt bad that Samantha had left and she hadn’t known, but why didn’t Kid want her to know what was going on. Then she looked at Teaspoon and said, "I’ll do it. I’ll go as a nurse I’ve got some skills nursing and can help."

"Good girl," Teaspoon said, "I was hoping you’d say that. Now Jimmy," Teaspoon said turning to him, "I think you should go and be the stable boy. Lou and Kid will need someone who’s good with a gun if Mrs. Beckworth has friends who are as dangerous as Doc seems to think."

Jimmy gave a nod of understanding but didn’t say anything. He was proud of Lou for thinking of Samantha first and mad at Kid for not telling her that Samantha had left. Jimmy knew it took a lot of courage for Lou to suggest sending Samantha but he also knew that she was more than happy to go herself. "Maybe now those two will work things out and see how much they are meant for each other," He thought.