Chapter 6

Lou tried to turn over when suddenly her legs shot out from under her and hit something hard with a loud thud.  Her eyes flew wide open, trying to remember where she was and what she had been doing.  She was curled up on the sofa in the parlor with a quilt on her lap, her feet were now on the floor and next to them, the book she had evidently been trying to read, laying in a mess of crumpled pages.

She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as the memory came back to her.  She'd spent the day cleaning the floors in the kitchen and front hallway.  The bending and scrubbing had made her back hurt and took all the energy out of her body.  So she had quickly threw together some ingredients into a pot to start a stew for Rachel then sat down with a book to try and relax.  She wanted to meet Rachel when school got out, there was something she needed to take care of in town and didn't want to do it alone.  She must have quickly dozed off because she couldn't remember reading any of the novel she had chosen.

A smell made its way from the kitchen toward her and she wrinkled her nose at its aroma.  Well, she ruined that dinner again, she thought.  She got up and placed the quilt that had been on her lap onto the back of the sofa.  Now, she knew she hadn't pulled that on in her sleep, someone had to have noticed her there and covered her up.  Buck, more than likely, since he was the only one around.  Probably checking up on her again, she surmised.  She yawned as she looked at the mantle clock, shocked by the lateness of the hour - it was almost time for school to be dismissed.  Why did she still feel tired?  All she did was sleep and it never seemed to be enough.  Was that part of it?  she wondered, a small smile crossing her lips.  She'd have to find out.

She went into the kitchen to check on her stew.  It didn't look burnt but it sure smelled that way.  She took the pot off the stove then quickly glanced in the mirror by the front door to inspect the appearance of her hair.  It looked presentable enough and the dress she was wearing would have to do, there was no time to change.

Lou went out the door then hurried down the stairs, looking for Buck.  Hearing noise in the barn, she called out,  "Buck!  I have to go into town for a while, be back later." 

He came out of the shadows and asked,  "You want me to saddle Lightning for you?" 

"No thanks, I'll walk,"  she quickly answered as she hurried away.  He shook his head as he found her strange behavior getting stranger by the day.  Normally, she would have asked him if he wanted to accompany her or she would have saddled Lightning, looking for any excuse possible to ride her horse, even if her destination was within walking distance.  Come to think of it, she hasn't ridden Lightning in over two weeks, he realized.  Now that was very unlike Lou.

Lou approached the small schoolhouse in time to see the students leaving the building.  She smiled at their different reactions to being dismissed for the day:  the older girls slowly walked away from the building, busily talking to one another;  the younger children skipped or ran as fast as they could more than likely in the direction of their respective homes;  and the boys hung around, shooting marbles or tossing a ball around.

She watched as a small girl, who couldn't have been more than five years old, walked past her, trying desperately to catch up with a couple older kids.  Her siblings, no doubt, Lou assumed.  It was strange that just a few short months ago, she wouldn't have paid attention to a scene like that but now she observed it with open eyes, hoping to learn something about the way a small child behaves.

Lou quietly entered the building and noticed Rachel busily scrawling on sheet after sheet of paper, while her other hand shuffled the pages into a pile.  Lou smiled at how much Rachel appeared to be at home in this atmosphere.  She was a natural for the position, her love of children showing through with everything she did.

Not wanting to startle her, Lou loudly cleared her throat to get her friend's attention. 

Rachel looked up in surprise, knowing all her students had made a quick retreat out the door as soon as they were dismissed.  A smile formed on her face when she saw who was standing in front of her.  "Louise, what a nice surprise.  What brings you out here this time of day?"  She stood up, placing the pile of papers aside.

"You,"  Lou admitted, giggling as she approached the desk.  "I've been wanting to talk to you for a few days now but never seem to get the opportunity.  You're always so busy when you come home, what with dinner and homework to correct, so I go to my room to wait on you but I'm so tired I end up falling asleep earlier than usual.  And I don't seem to get up until after you leave.  So I figured I'd come to you instead."  She smiled nervously at her friend.  She knew Rachel would be excited to hear about Lou's suspicions but now that the time was here to say it out loud, Lou found herself getting scared as well as anxious.  Oh, well, better to just get it over with, she told herself, then she could start to enjoy the news.

Rachel saw the look on the young woman's face and instantly grew concerned.  "Lou, what's the matter?  Are you alright?"

"Oh, I'm fine,"  Lou assured her then started twisting her hands, feeling uneasy.  "It's just that, well, um, I know you're real busy but there's something I needed to take care of here in town and I kinda didn't want to do it alone."  She gave Rachel a look that said she really needed her company and Rachel noticed.

"Oh, Louise, I'm sorry I've been so wrapped up in this place and left the entire burden of the way station on your hands,"  Rachel began to appologize.

"I don't mind, really, it's kept me from thinkin' about Kid all the time,"  Lou said, slightly laughing.  "I want you to not worry about things there, it's taken care of."

"I know it is and I do appreciate it.  Now, whatever you need my help with, I'm here for you,"  Rachel offered, clapping her hands together, trying to show that her mind was off of school for the day and solely on Louise.  "What did you need to take care of?"

Lou started to feel more relaxed than when she first walked in but still didn't know how to come right out and say what she suspected so she faltered a little.  "Well, I was kinda hopin' you'd come with me to see Doc Barnes,"  she told her as bluntly as she could.

Instant concern became evident on Rachel's face.  "Doc Barnes?  You said you were fine, what's wrong then?  Are you hurt?  Did you have an accident at the station?"  Rachel quickly asked her, coming closer.

Lou help up her hands to stop her.  "No, no, it's nothin' like that.  I'm not sick and I'm not hurt."  She gave an innocent look as she let her friend ponder over what she was saying.

Rachel stood with her hands on her hips, thinking.  "If you're not sick and you're not hurt, then what other reason could you possibly have for needing to go see the doct ..."  All of a sudden, she noticed what was different about Lou.  She had seemed out of sorts when she'd walked into the room but now Rachel could see what it was.  Ever since Louise had started wearing dresses or blouses and skirts again, she was very careful to be as presentable as possible.  But standing before her now, Lou wore her usually tucked in yellow floral blouse hanging out over her waistband and the fabric seemed to be pulling across her chest.

Lou also stood there trying to bite back a smile and now that Rachel thought about it, the young woman has been awful tired as of late.  What else has she missed out on by spending so much time in this tiny room?  Rachel wondered.

"Louise."

"Yes."

"Are you ...?  I mean ... you are!"  Rachel exclaimed and covered her mouth in her excitement.

Lou laughed at the looks of shock then joy that crossed Rachel's face.  She nodded then quietly said,  "I think so.  I'm sure I am.  I'm gonna have a baby, Rachel."