She sat in the mud looking up at Lightning. She couldn't blame him for ending up in the mud, nor could she blame the rain storm last night that created it. No, she'd been distracted before that. She covered her face as the images appeared in her mind.
Buck covered in feathers and dirt, paint smeared on his face and body. She had watched him sneak into the barn then try and wash all of it off before anyone could see him. But he hadn't been successful in that, Teaspoon had come in. Buck said it was nothing but she, Ike too for that matter, knew better.
Lou had been in the loft and saw it all and heard everything Buck and Teaspoon had said. She'd only gone there to be alone and think. She'd wanted to get her feelings in order, to sort things out. She'd been confused since she found out that Ike and Buck were her friends from the orphanage.
Getting up she tried to shake some of the mud off and walked over to Lightning. After checking his legs and making sure he was ok, she patted his neck and apologized as she swung up on his back. She walked him a bit checking with each step to make sure he was ok. After a few strides she kicked him and he took off in his usual excited manner. Lightning loved to run and Lou loved the feeling it gave her when he did. But again her mind wandered to Buck.
Kathleen Devlin had led him on; Lou had no doubt about that. Now Kathleen acted as though Buck didn't even exist; unless, of course it was to make some snide comment about Indians and the station. Lou fumed as she remembered the devious young woman flirting with Cody at Tompkins' the other day. And right in front of Buck, too. At least Cody had the good sense to excuse himself and start talking to Abby Dunn the new seamstress. Of course later, Cody had snuck out to Miss Cora's, to see one of her girls.
Lou smiled and pulled Lightning to a sudden stop. "That's it," she said to the wind. "It'd be perfect and it might not be too hard to accomplish. No one will believe that nothing happened. No, as usual everyone will believe the worst." Laughing she urged Lightning back to his fast pace. The sooner she got back the sooner she could work out the details of her plan.
**********
Buck watched from the porch of the bunkhouse with Ike as Lou rode into the station and handed off the mochillia to Jimmy. She looked ready to drop as she led Lightning into the barn. Ike elbowed him to get his attention.
*You going to talk to her?* he signed as a grin spread across his face.
"Maybe," was Buck's quiet reply as he looked down at his hands.
Getting Buck's attention again Ike signed, *Better make it soon.* He point at Kid heading for the barn.
Lou came out of the barn just then wiping the mud off her face with a shirt she had balled up in her hand. She spoke a few words to Kid and headed for the bunkhouse.
Stepping up on the porch she smiled at her friends. "What?" she asked Ike when he kept staring.
* Nothing. You look tried.*
"Got caught in a rainstorm last night and fell off of Lightning this morning when he slipped in some mud. Would you mind takin' a look at him later? I think he's ok but want to be sure," Lou replied concerned for her favorite mount.
"Are you ok?" Buck asked with a frown as he started to rise.
"I'm a bit sore, mud-caked, and worn out but I'll be fine," she replied as she turned to enter the bunkhouse. Turning back she added with a shy smile, "Thanks for asking though."
**************
After a quick shower and a nap Lou awoke to the smell of dinner. She smiled at Emma as she hopped down from her bunk and offered to set the table.
A short time later, dinner became its usual noisy affair with all the riders but Jimmy at the station. Cody and Kid had gone to town while she was asleep to pick up some things for Emma and were relating all the latest news.
"Tompkins was tellin' us that Devlin sold the bank and is headed back east. Said Devlin told him the west just ain't civilized enough, yet," Cody said with a mouth full of food.
Lou could have punched him when she saw Buck's face fall and his eyes darken.
"Excuse me," Buck said to no one in particular as he excused himself from the table.
"Got somethin' to do, son?" Teaspoon asked concern in his voice.
"Lou asked us, Ike and me, to check on Lightning. He slipped in some mud this morning."
"Yeah, I asked them when I rode in," Lou offered, knowing that they had already done what she asked earlier.
Teaspoon nodded his ok as Buck left. Then all heck broke loose.
Ike started signing so fast and furious asking Cody why he'd mentioned the Devlins.
"I was just relatin' the news from town. Thought he'd be pleased she was goin'."
"Just cause she was pretendin' to care Cody doesn't mean that Buck was," Lou snapped.
Teaspoon excused himself to go check on Buck and Emma said after he'd left, "All right, boys and young lady, time to clean this mess up, there are chores to be done before you turn in."
With several grumbles the riders returned to their dinner and then headed out to do the evening chores.
*************
The next morning as Lou and Ike were finishing their morning chores, Lou pulled him aside. "I've got a plan," she whispered, "to get even with Kathleen Devlin for what she did to Buck. Wanta help?"
*Count me in, Magpie.* Ike signed.
"Come on I'll tell you about it on the way to town. This will beat what we did to Sister Rebecca in spades."
Ike shook his head at the memory of the poor nun in her nightgown standing on her cot with frogs covering her floor. The woman was deathly afraid of the creatures and the three of them had filled her room with them. Sister Rebecca had made the mistake of taking Lou's beloved Annabelle Mumblepuss away for a few days. Lord, had Lou ever gotten mad. Ike shook his head as he thought, 'And that is why I try never to make Lou mad at me.' Tapping Lou on the shoulder he asked, *Where did you tell Teaspoon we were going?*
"Emma asked me to take Sam some of the leftovers from last night for lunch and a pie. Of course that was fine with Teaspoon and it helps with my plan," Lou replied.
Ike followed her as she headed for the barn and the horses. He wondered just what she had in mind for Kathleen Devlin and if he really wanted to be a part of it. After saddling the horse they headed to town.
*****************
After reaching town and dropping off Sam's lunch at the marshal's office, they sneaked out behind Miss Cora's and in through the back door of her place. Lou didn't want anyone to see them entering the establishment.
As they entered the kitchen, Lou giggled when Ike blushed at the sight of one of Miss Cora's scantly clad ladies at the stove. She elbowed him to get him to pay attention.
"Excuse me, miss. We need to speak to Miss Cora," Lou said to another young girl working in the kitchen but fully dressed.
"Shoulda used the front door, she's entertainin' in the parlor," the girl replied.
"No, we need to….um…um," Lou started to become nervous just being back in a whorehouse and lost her train of thought.
*Deliver a letter personally to her* Ike signed and Lou told the girl what he said.
"Shoulda said so in the first place," the girl said as she propped her broom against the table. "I'll get her, you wait here."
A moment later the girl returned with Miss Cora, who looked like she had been attending a ball and not just entertaining in the parlor. "What can I do for you, gents?"
"We got a business proposition for you," Lou said hesitantly.
"We can take care of…." Miss Cora started.
"Oh, no, ma'am, not that kind of business….exactly. Just…uh…a…a young woman hurt a friend of ours recently and we need your help to get even with her," Lou blurted out.
"The Devlin girl. I heard she'd been seein' one of you….er…boys," she said looking directly at Lou. It hadn't taken her long to figure out Lou wasn't exactly what she seemed to be. "Must have been pretty bad for your friend if you boys are coming to see me. What do you want me to do?"
"We just need the use of one of your rooms for a night," Lou said innocently, then added, "'til about noon." Ike groaned at the look of mischief that came into Lou's eyes.
Miss Cora started to laugh as she realized what they were asking. When she thought about it she wouldn't mind taking the uppity banker's daughter down a peg or two herself. Kathleen Devlin had been less than polite to Miss Cora since she had arrived. The young woman had even convinced the Ladies Aid Society to turn down Miss Cora's donation to the school and her offer to have her cook Lenora fix the annual supper for the graduating class. Miss Cora might be a madam and her girls might be soiled-doves but they were still citizens of Sweetwater and didn't shirk their civic duties.
"We'll pay…" Lou started to say becoming desperate when she thought that were about to be turned down by Miss Cora.
"Your money's no good here. Last room by the stairs will be empty on Friday night. The town will be full of folks come Saturday morning," the madam said with a twinkle in her eye. The young woman in front of her had a lot of spunk. 'Thank god, she found a way to make it in this man's world besides on her back,' the madam thought looking a Lou.
Lou stood staring at Miss Cora not believing her ears. After a moment Ike signed their thanks and pulled Lou towards the door.
Reaching out to Lou, Miss Cora touched her arm to get her attention. "I'll keep your secret. Just be careful, dear, if anyone ever found out you could be in for real trouble, if you know what I mean."
"Yes, ma'am," Lou replied with a shudder, then backed out the door and ran into Ike.
*What'd she want?* he asked looking curiously at Miss Cora staring out the screen at them.
"Nothing, just said to be careful is all," Lou replied trying to appear calm. Inside she was shaking like a leaf. She wondered who besides Miss Cora had figured out she was really a girl.
*Now how do we get her to sleep deeply enough to get her over there?* Ike asked, as they headed back to the street, drawing Lou's mind back to the immediate problem they had.
"A sleeping powder," Lou replied with a shrug and a grin.
*And just how do we get her to take it?*
"We get someone to slip it into her drink at dinner or her coffee after dinner," Lou replied.
Ike rolled his eyes at Lou. He wasn't so sure about her plan anymore. It had sounded easy enough but now, he had his doubts. The Devlin girl did deserve to be embarrassed but he wasn't certain Lou's plan was the best way to do that.
Lou understood Ike was hesitant about her plan. She was too for that matter. "You don't have to help me, Ike. I'll understand. Thanks for going to Cora's with me."
They continued on down the street, with Ike mulling over Lou's idea. It seemed pretty risky and they could get in a lot of trouble if they got caught. But then he couldn't let Lou do it alone. *I'm still with you. But where are we going to get a sleeping powder?"
"Tompkins has some for sale or we could ask the doc for something," Lou replied as they walked down the street.
As they passed Tompkins' store they heard him saying, "That'll make you a right fine dress, Miss Devlin."
Kathleen exited the store not paying attention to where she was going and walked right into Ike. He stumbled back almost falling into the alley when Lou grabbed him. "He should watch where he's going," Kathleen sneered, looking at Ike like he was less than human.
"Ike can hear you just fine," Lou snapped. "You should watch where you're going. Come on Ike, I think Doc has what we need."
Ike started signing as Kathleen stuck her nose in the air and continued on her way. *She didn't even ask about Buck?*
"You really expected her to?," Lou asked him amazed. "Well, you do have a better heart than she does."
Ike smiled at her. *Guess not,* he replied as they continued on towards the doctor's office.
Reaching their destination Lou knocked on the door. Mrs. Barn, the doctor's wife, answered, inviting them in. "The doctor is out making his rounds at the moment. Can I help you, boys?" she asked.
"Um…Emma is having some trouble sleeping and asked us to stop by and see if the doc had something that might help," Lou said quickly.
"Well, he won't be back until late….um…let me see." Reaching into the cabinet she pulled out a small brown bottle. "This should do the trick. A spoonful in a glass of water just before bed will do. But no more than two spoonfuls at one time," she directed. "Actually, with two, Miss Shannon would probably want to sleep until noon, I know I do."
"Yes, ma'am," Lou replied as she took the bottle and hurried out with Ike close behind.
As they started down the street Ike began to sign, *How are we going to get that in something she drinks?*
"I got a plan," Lou replied. "Meet me back at the station."
Ike started to sign but Lou was already way ahead of him. Shaking his head at how she always had to do things her way, he began to make his way back to the livery where they'd left their horses knowing he'd get nowhere with Lou if he stayed.
**********
Lou didn't slow down. She had to finish her plan before she lost her nerve. Especially since the more she thought about it the more nervous she became. Doubts started creeping into her mind. 'What if they got caught? What if Kathleen woke up? What if she never woke up? What if…..' Hearing a woman's laugh, she looked up in time to see Kathleen surrounded by a few of the young men from town.
They were all acting like she was some sort of queen bee or something. Carrying her packages and one even just offered her a bag of candy. Lou rolled her eyes as her earlier doubts fled her mind. Yep, Kathleen needed to be taken down a few notches, and she was just the person to do it.
Lou rounded the corner and headed for the back door of the Devlins' hoping to convince their new maid to help her. As she approached the back of the house she spotted the young woman hanging up the morning wash. She was taken aback for a moment when the girl turned around.
"Sadie!" she called excitedly as she rushed up to her old friend.
"Excuse, me. Do I …." Sadie began as she held her arm up to stop Lou. Taking a moment she said, "Louise, is it really you?"
"Yep," then with a brilliant smile Lou added, "had to keep dressing up like a boy to get and keep my job with the Express. What on earth are you doin' here? Thought you were still back east with your parents."
Sadie's face fell as she replied, "Ma and Pa died last year in influenza outbreak. I'm just tryin' to get by without havin' to…"
"I know," Lou said quietly. "And don't you even consider that. I'll help you out if need be. How do you like working for the Devlins?"
"Honestly," Sadie said as she looked around to make sure no one else was near. "I hate it. Miss Devlin is kind of pushy and Mr. Devlin is very picky about everything. Nothing I do, no matter how hard I try is good enough for them. And those men that work for Mr. Devlin….well, they ain't very gentlemanly."
Lou's hand instantly went to her gun. Sadie and her parents had put her up for a while after she had ran from Wicks and had even kept her secret. They had even paid her enough to get to Sweetwater when she decided it was time to leave. They had never asked any questions or looked down on her for how she was dressed. And even though she was sure Mrs. Adams wanted to she'd never questioned Lou about how skittish she was around men. Sadie was like a sister to her, no man was going to mistreat her. "They ain't tried anything have they?"
"Oh, no…not yet," Sadie replied as she blushed crimson.
"Sadie, I know a lady that could use some help. Emma is a bit overwhelmed right now with tryin' to plan her wedding and all. How about you come out to the station and we'll see if she'll hire you?"
"You mean at the Express station, Lou? I don't know," Sadie replied. She really didn't like working for the Devlins but she wasn't so sure about working the Express station either. But just this morning Kathleen had put her down ever so bad, saying how she should be grateful to be working for them because it was unlikely she'd ever find a decent husband with her being an orphan and all.
Lou watched her friend's expressions change. "I promise it is work and honest work at that."
"I'll think about it, Louise," Sadie said with a sad little smile. "So what are you up to?"
Knowing Sadie would keep her secret as she always had Lou replied, "Just a bit of fun."
"Kind of like what we use to get into or….innocent fun?" Sadie asked a wicked smile on her face.
"A bit worse actually," Lou replied, and then went on to explain her plan to Sadie and why she was doing it.
"Oh, my," Sadie giggled her eyes twinkling. Lou noticed a bit of the girl returning to Sadie as they spoke. Then thoughtfully she asked, "Do you think this friend of yours would talk to me this afternoon? I have some free time after lunch. Besides if your plan works, looks like I'll be out of a job after tomorrow."
"I'm sure if you could come out to the station this afternoon she'd hire you. By the way do you cook as good as your ma?" Lou asked.
"Almost," Sadie said grinning. "Now how can I help you with your 'plan'?"
"Think you could put this in the coffee this evening?"
"Hum," Sadie giggled again. "Yep." She took the bottle from Lou and put it in her pocket as Lou explained just how much would be need to get Kathleen to sleep until midmorning. "This is better than the time we put that skunk in old man Bradley's place for mistreating his son."
Lou laughed, that had been an adventure. "He stunk for a month after that. This sure is going to be harder to pull off than that was."
"We'll get it pulled off without a hitch. Wait and see," Sadie encourage her friend. "We only got caught that time back home 'cause Luke and Abe were mad we won that bet and told on us."
"I'll wait for your signal that everyone is asleep over by the livery," Lou told her friend as they finished hanging up the clothes."
"Why don't you help me cook dinner and then we can head on out to see your friend," Sadie replied.
"Ok, I think I can remember some of what your ma taught me."
************
Later that evening, Lou anxiously waited for Sadie's signal by the livery. As soon as she heard Sadie whistle she ran for the back door of the Devlins'. "How'd they take the news you were quitting?" She asked between gasps of air when she reached the door.
"'Bout as expected. Mr. Devlin said he'd have to hold today's pay and Miss Kathleen said she thought it very ….how did she put it….. 'improper for a young woman such as myself to work at a place so full of men of questionable character,'" Sadie said doing a pretty good impression of Kathleen Devlin.
Sadie could tell from how red Lou's face changed when she told her what Kathleen had said that Lou was furious. "Humph, I can just imagine what she'd say about me then."
Lou was growing angrier by the minute thinking about what Kathleen had said. Any doubts she'd had earlier about what she was doing disappeared as her anger grew. "She out?"
"Like a light. She's sleeping like a baby," Sadie said as Lou followed her back inside.
***************
Lou was the first one up the next morning. She wanted to be in town when Kathleen was discovered in Miss Cora's.
As she was saddling Lightning, Ike tapped her on the shoulder. *Sorry, for deserting you yesterday.*
"It's ok, Ike. I got help from an old friend," Lou replied with a grin.
*You manage to pull it off?*
"So far. I'm on my way into town to see how things turn out. I wouldn't miss this for the world," Lou said as she finished saddling Lightning and led him out of the barn.
Buck and Kid approached Ike as Lou rode out headed for town. "Where's Lou off to so early?" Kid asked.
*Town, to see an old friend and the excitement,* Ike replied as he led Dakota over to saddle him.
"What excitement?" Buck asked knowing the friend was the young woman that Lou and Emma had introduced to them yesterday afternoon.
Ike smiled and shrugged his shoulders. Buck knew something was up by the way Ike was smiling. "Ike, what's Magpie gone and done this time?"
Ike turned and signed, *You remember the time Sister Rebecca took Lou's doll and wouldn't give it back we filled her room with frogs 'cause we knew she was scared of them. Well, it makes that look like kid stuff.*
About that time Cody came in from a run and as he handed off the pouch, Buck grabbed the reins of the nearest horse that was saddled and headed off toward town. "What the heck is he in such an all fire hurry for?" Cody asked.
"Lou in trouble, Ike?" Jimmy asked as he and Kid started to saddle their horses.
*Not yet.*
"Come on, Ike, what's she up to?" Kid asked as they all mounted up, even Cody.
*Nothing any of us would have ever thought to do.* Ike replied as they headed toward town.
************
When Buck reached the edge of town he searched the street for Lou. He spotted her leaning against a post talking to another young woman. They were laughing about something and Lou pointed towards Miss Cora's, but nothing looked out of the ordinary.
***************
Kathleen slowly woke stretching as she did. Sniffing, she wrinkled her nose at the musty odor. She noticed next that she was under a rough wool blanket instead of the soft cotton sheets and beautiful quilt she'd purchased in Paris. Sitting up she opened her eyes. Stunned she shut them quickly thinking she must be dreaming. This wasn't her room.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked around. 'Where am I?' she wondered. 'Have I been kidnapped?' She moved to get out of bed only to discover she didn't have a stitch on. Grabbing the rough smelly blanket from the bed she wrapped it around herself. Slowly she tiptoed toward the door of the room and tried the knob. Unexpectedly it turned.
Opening the door, she looked around still not sure where she was. As she walked to the edge of the balcony, she heard a loud whistle.
"Ooweee, Miss Cora, when did that pretty thing take up residence with you?" a man coming up the stairs asked looking at Kathleen.
Kathleen pushed past him and headed down the stairs as she heard Cora say, "Don't think she's one of mine. Maybe just she just wandered in off the street, Butch. Wait a minute, ain't you Kathleen Devlin, the banker's daughter?" Cora said as she made her way over to Kathleen. "Well, I'll be if it ain't the princess herself come to grace us with her presence. Lookin' for a bit of fun, miss? I don't have gentlemen here but I'm sure one of these fine fellas would be happy to pleasure you."
Cora was still laughing as Kathleen squealed and ran for the door with several of Miss Cora's girls and customers following.
Kathleen stopped when she reached the top of the steps leading to the street. She stood there a moment looking toward her home at the other end of town. How in heck was she going to get there without anyone else seeing her? Then it dawned on her she couldn't. Looking around at the amount of people in town, she suddenly realized what day it was. Saturday….and everyone came to town on Saturday to do the business they needed to for the week.
As she started to make her mad dash for home, she heard several catcalls and whistles. Looking down, she realized everyone could see her from the knees down not to mention her shoulders. She kept moving though just needing to get home.
"Kathleen!" she heard her father shout from somewhere in front of her.
Spotting him as he started toward her, she cried, "Daddy! Something terrible happened! I woke up in there!" she shouted pointing at Miss Cora's.
"How? Kathleen if this is another of your tricks….."
Buck watched the whole scene unfold from in front of the marshal's office. Sam had come out and stood by him when he heard the commotion. Kathleen looked so scared, furious, and embarrassed. And her father stood there growing angrier by the minute. He didn't know who looked funnier Kathleen clutching the blanket to cover herself or Devlin, who didn't know whether or not to believe his only daughter. Buck watched as Devlin led his daughter away from the gathering crowd and right past Lou.
He watched as Lou turned to Sadie and they both began to laugh. Two ladies from town walked by distracting him as they whispered about Kathleen and where she had spent the night. No decent lady would be caught dead in a place like that one said. The other agreed as they smiled greetings at him and Sam.
When Buck looked back at the store, Lou was handing her friend a bag and saying something that had both of them laughing like crazy again. Lou pointed at Cora's and said something that had her friend agreeing with her. He started toward them wondering what he was going to say to Lou when he got there.
Reaching the two of them he said the first thing he thought of, "Why, Lou?"
Lou was startled to see Buck. "Um…sorry, Buck, what was that?" She hoped she hadn't heard him right because it might mean he still cared for Kathleen. And she really hoped that wasn't the case.
"I asked why did you do it?"
"See ya back at the station, Lou," Sadie said as she hurried towards the Devlins to get her things.
"Cause," Lou replied looking down at her feet. Buck reached out and took Lou's arm steering her toward the back of the store where no one could see them.
"Cause why, Lou?" he asked again.
"She shouldn't have let them do that to you it wasn't right. She shouldn't put you in danger the way she did. Darn it, Buck, she just used you to get what she wanted, Rance out of the way. And those other two…." Lou said as she felt tears stinging her eyes.
"I took care of them," Buck stated flatly.
"How?" Lou asked looking down at the ground.
"Just a few spiders and some snakes is all, not nearly what I'm sure you have planned for them. How did you know? Teaspoon is the only one that saw me," Buck asked as he placed his fingers under her chin and tipped her face up to look at him.
"I was in the loft thinking and saw you when you first came in. I was so…." Lou had to swallow hard to fight the sob building in her throat, "…mad that someone would hurt you like that. They had no right."
Buck looked down at her saying, "I'm ok, Magpie."
Lou just shook her head as she wrapped her arms around him hugging him. "No one hurts my family. No one. Or they'll answer to me."
"Lord, help them then, cause no one else will be able to," Buck laughed. But inside he wasn't laughing at all. "Um…Lou, I know this ain't the right time but…um…" Looking down at her, Buck lost his train of thought. She was so pretty, even dressed as a boy. He looked around to make sure they were really alone, then leaned down and kissed her. To his surprised she returned his kiss eagerly.
"Lou, you know what's more protective than you?" When she shook her head he said, "A Kiowa brave protecting what's his." And he kissed her again.
The End….maybe