TRAIL OF DREAMS
TRAIL OF DREAMS© Courtnee
The day broke cold and gray, with the threat of snow hanging heavy in the air.
Icy rain had fallen sometime before dawn, and a misty haze rose slowly to the
sky. Lou stood at the bedroom window arms wrapped tightly across her chest in
the attempt to ward off the cold seeping through the window. She watched as
the trees danced in the wind, their limbs, laden with ice, gently swept back
and forth lightly across the ground.
A soft glow of light filtered over the yard, alerting her that she was no longer
the only one awake. It would be Rachel, she was sure, beginning the preparation
of breakfast. Lou had just decided to join Rachel when she felt Kid come up
behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin atop her
head. She reached down to clasp his arms to her, and turned her head to one
side, her cheek pressing against his chest. Lord, how she'd missed this man.
He had become a part of her, one she couldn't live without.
"Mornin' Lou," he mumbled, his voice drowsy with sleep. Lou trembled
in his arms, and for a moment Kid thought she was crying. But, as he turned
her to towards him, he was blinded by the beautiful smile that filled her face.
"What…."
A giggle escaped her lips as her eyes met his. "Mornin'." Absently
she rubbed at the spot on her head where his breath had tickled her. "Noah
still sleepin'?"
"Yeah."
Noah had fallen asleep between them so they had allowed him to stay. Lou had
a feeling that was Kid's intention all along. She didn't mind, had in fact,
done the same before when loneliness had reared its ugly head. Peering over
his shoulder, Lou studied her son. "He spoke his first word, a few weeks
back."
"What'd he say?" Kid turned to observe him, as he waited for her
answer.
"Horse," she said. "Teaspoon picked up a wooden horse from Thompkins
a few months back, and Noah totes it around with him everywhere he goes. We'd
just sat down to lunch with Noah wailing and carrying on, 'cause I'd refused
to let him bring the dirty toy to the table. Coarse when he saw the food it
quieted him down, but as he sat their playin' in his food he opened his mouth
and said 'horse, plain as day."
Pride swelled in Kid's chest, threatening to pop a few buttons off his shirt.
As though on cue, Noah stirred and opened his eyes. A moment later he began
fussing. Kid walked over to him, Lou trailing right behind.
"Probably needs changed, Kid. You go on down and get washed up. I'll be
along shortly." She reached for Noah, but was cut off with a stubborn hand
on her shoulder.
"Let me." Kid said, as he reached for the child.
With out another word Kid proceeded to change the dirty diaper. Lou placed
a clean cloth and wet towel with in reach, and then quietly left the room. The
smell of brewing coffee reached her nose as she walked into the kitchen.
"Morning' Rachel, Teaspoon."
"Lou," they said in unison. Teaspoon sat in his usual spot, legs
propped up on the table, a lazy look in his eyes. Rachel gracefully moved about
the kitchen, doing, it seemed to Lou, an impossible number of things at one
time. She still couldn't cook anything fit to feed a dog; regardless of the
endless hours Rachel had spent trying to teach her.
"Where's Kid?"
Lou grabbed the pot of coffee and poured them all a cup before sitting down
across from Teaspoon. "Noah needed changin'."
Teaspoon smiled at the answer, before taking a cautious sip from his mug. A
second later Kid and Noah joined them. Breakfast was set out before them shortly
after.
As the family enjoyed the meal, they engaged in small talk. Centered mainly
on Noah. For they all loved the newest addition to the family, and found all
that he did, or attempted to do, as the cutest thing in the world.
Outside the wind picked up whipping around the house, and howling its fury.
The first faint flurries of snow had just begun to fall from the sky, when they
were interrupted by a brisk knock on the door. As one, Teaspoon, Rachel, and
Lou stood to see who could be calling so early in the morning, but Teaspoon
signaled them to sit back down.
A few moments later, a tall lanky fellow, hat in hands, stood just inside the
door. Immediately Rachel recognized him from the bank. He handled all the affairs
of Russell, Majors and Waddell. And from the look on his face as well as his
untimely arrival, she knew he'd brought bad news.
"Ladies. Sir," he began, with a nod of his head in their direction.
Teaspoon stood slightly in front of him his head cocked, features clear of any
emotion. "My name is Jonathon Wright, and I've come to inform you that
this station, as well as the surrounding land has been sold. Russell, Majors
and Waddell feel there is no more need of the Pony Express due to the invention
of the telegraph and the growing railroads."
A shocked silence filled the room, deafening in their ears. Rachel, Lou, and
Kid turned their questioning eyes towards Teaspoon, their breakfast and appetites
momentarily forgotten. Teaspoon calmly hooked his thumbs in his suspenders,
"How long 'afore we need to clear out, Mr. Wright."
"You got till the spring moves in, then you'll need to be gone. I have
here a letter from them, explaining it all." He left them reeling from
the news, not being a man comfortable in confrontations of any kind. But no
one even noticed his departure, wrapped up in problems his words had brought.
Teaspoon opened the note and summarized its contents out loud. "They left
a sum of 200 dollars 't be split b'tween us any way that I see fit. The rest
is apologizing and thanks giving." With a loud sigh he sat down at the
table, folding the letter up and tucking it inside his shirt.
Louise felt as if the air had been knocked from her. She had always pictured
their family living here, in their home. She blinked back the tears, so quick
to the surface these days, and bit her lip. Where would they go now? How would
they make a living in the midst of the war? She had seen many people, families
even, wandering into town with the same story. They hadn't found any work here,
or anywhere else. The reassuring touch of Kid's hand stilled the panic that
was fast upon her. He would know what to do.
Rachel stood from her seat and began clearing the table, anxious for something,
anything, to occupy her mind other then the crisis at hand. Her and Teaspoon
had talked about this, had in fact expected it to happen long ago. They had
been saving money for the last two years. But now that the time was here, she
worried that it hadn't been enough.
Teaspoon's mind ran along the same coarse. They hadn't told Lou what their
fears were because she already had too much bothering her. He had an idea, though;
he hadn't passed it by Rachel yet. With a practiced eye he studied his family.
He could see that Lou was barely holding it together. Kid was consoling her
as best he could. He decided it was best if he lay out his plan for them; let
them decide if it was what they wanted to do. "I been expectin' this ta
happen Lou, Kid. I got word a while back the company went bankrupt. They've
sold a few of the other stations already."
Lou turned accusing eyes in his direction, a frown tugging at the corners of
her mouth. "Teaspoon, why didn't you tell me any of this b'fore?"
"Now hold on there Lou. I didn't see a cause for you ta be worryin' about
what can't be helped. Me an' Rachel been bidin' our time and holdin' on to our
money so's to give us a better grip on a place of our own." Teaspoon slid
his cup toward Rachel, who was refilling their cups with fresh coffee. After
a swig of the stout liquid he barreled into his plan. "I gotta idea on
where that might be. I know I don't say this very much but I think yall know
how I feel towards yall. You're my family now. And I was hoping' to keep together.
We'd be best ta start out on the right foot, an' the way ta do it is ta put
all our resources t'gether."
Kid nodded his agreement. He didn't want to admit it but with his injured leg
he'd need their help. "Teaspoon, we'd like nothin' better than to keep
the family together. What exactly do you have in mind to do?"
"Well now, that's what I was comin' round to." He leaned back in
his chair, exhibiting an air of indifference. "Oregon."
Puzzled glances flickered across the table. Rachel, who had just taken a sip
from her mug, sputtered as the offending coffee stuck in her throat, cutting
off her supply of oxygen. In seconds Kid was pounding her back, with an exaggerated
amount of strength, and finally she was again able to breathe. Noah elapsed
into giggles at the comical pair, while Lou hid a smile behind her trembling
hands.
"Teaspoon! What on earth is flyin' around in that head of yours?"
Rachel demanded. "We can't move all the way to Oregon. Not with Noah. Hundreds
of children die on that trip, from diseases alone." She turned helpless
eyes on Lou. "What do you think?"
Lou studied her hands folded in her lap. A thousand thoughts raced through
her mind, vying to be acknowledged. The opportunity to begin anew, with a husband
and a child, a family, sunk its claws into her mind. It was also time she reclaim
her brother and sister, and give them the happiness and stability they need.
This would be an excellent chance. Not to mention, they could escape the war
and the pain it bred, for surely even that couldn't follow them. And the adventure,
it appealed to her now more than ever. For the last two years she'd led a pretty
domestic life, so she couldn't deny the appeal it had on her. But what if something
went wrong, as was prone to happen to her more often than not. 'No!' she decided,
'I ain't gonna think about that. I've made up my mind.' A quick glance around
the table found everyone staring at her, waiting for her opinion. "I'm
with Teaspoon."
Rachel shifted in her seat, a protest immediately on her lips, "Lou.."
"I've got my reasons, Rachel, and I think it's a good plan. 'Sides, I
aint heard any other ideas. And I ain't got any."
Kid shook his head unbelievingly. He had been sure she wouldn't be so crazy
as to agree with that foolish dream. What could she be thinking? They had a
son to think about. He had heard so many stories about the journey to Oregon:
disease, Indians, floods. Not to mention the constant traveling, the droughts,
and the snow. All of which took the lives of thousands of the emigrants every
season. And his beloved wife wished to risk all of their lives for some dangerous
idea. Suddenly the thought of losing any of them overwhelmed him. Emotions pummeled
him from every direction, until he just couldn't face his family any longer.
Without a word he disappeared into the morning fog.
Louise stared after husband, torn between the desire to race after him and
the pride that demanded she stay where she was. She knew without a doubt he
was angry at her opinion. They had been in this situation many times before,
only then they hadn't been married. And they hadn't a child. But how could she
not go to him, they loved each other. They would make the right decision, together.
Rachel stared after Lou. She understood exactly what was going on, though neither
had said anything. With a sigh she cleared the table, shoving Noah into Teaspoon's
surprised arms. "You caused all this, you can take care of Noah. Go on.
It's about that time for his bath." She leaned closer to him and drew in
a deep breath before adding, "And it wouldn't do you any harm to take one
yourself."
Teaspoon grimaced, realizing she was angry with him. With a shake of his head and a grunt, he mumbled under his breath, "Women."
"Kid?"
Lou squinted her eyes with the desire to penetrate the thick cloud, but to
no avail. The wind drove the snow in a whirlwind of pellets, stinging her nose
and biting her cheeks. Finally she reached the barn, sure Kid would be somewhere
near his horse.
She was not disappointed. He stood with his head against Katy's neck, lovingly
stroking her mane. "Kid?" She said it so softly that she feared he
hadn't heard her.
Slowly he lifted his head, but refused to meet her eyes. He regretted his brash
actions; she deserved to at least be given the chance to explain her answer.
"Lou, I…"
"Kid I don't expect us to always see eye to eye, so don't apologize. But,
we gotta work it out some way. We can't just avoid it anymore." She reached
his side, but made no move to touch him.
"I know Lou, I just lose sight of reason sometimes when it comes to you.
I don't want you or Noah to get hurt. I just got yall back."
Lou frantically looked around for something to occupy her hands. Her eyes lit
on a currycomb. Silently she bent to the task. "Kid, I can take care of
myself. And as for our son, I think with two parents who can ride and shoot
straighter than most men, Noah will have all the protection he'll need."
She was so determined, how could he deny her wish any longer. And yet he couldn't
shake the fear of losing her. The desire to protect her was strong. "Lou,
I know you can take care of your self. I know that. But that ain't the problem."
Kid had turned to face his wife.
"Well, what's the problem then?"
"Problem is my heart's the one that needs convincin'."
Lou paused in mid-motion, not knowing how to respond. "Well Kid, the way
I see it is we got two choices." She turned to gaze lovingly into his eyes.
"We can either stay here and wait for a dream to find us or we can go in
search of a dream. Maybe we'll find one maybe not, but at least we can say we
tried."
Kid felt the wall separating him from his wife begin to crumble. Kid pulled
her into his arms, the decision to follow her already reached. "Who needs
a dream, Lou, when I got you."
