Where the Clues Lead
Part 2- The Main House; Late Morning
"You wanted to see me Rachel?" Lou said as she entered the parlor of the main house. Rachel was sitting on the couch drinking tea.
"Come on in Lou, sit down. Would you like some?" She offered as Lou sat down next to her. Lou shook her head. "Lou can I ask you somethin'?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"How long have you been sick?" Rachel tried to hide a tiny grin behind her cup.
"I've just been tired that's all. Been workin' and ridin' hard," Lou said getting defensive.
"I'm not saying you ain't. You work harder than most, because you feel you have to. But this morning, it wasn't like you. I'm concerned about you."
"I'm fine. Now if you 'scuse me, I got chores that need a doin." Lou got up and headed for the door. Rachel remained seated and waited until the door was open.
"Are you pregnant?"
Lou stopped cold in her tracks. "I don't know what you're talkin' about."
Rachel got up and shut the door. She gently took Lou's arm and led her back to the couch. "Lou..."
"I'm fine." Lou continued to stand. "Nothin a few days of rest ain't goin' to cure."
"Sick in the morning? Always tired? Lightheaded? Any of this sound familiar?" As Rachel's questions started to sink in, Lou sat on the couch and moaned. She buried her face in her hands, a gesture Rachel knew Lou did when she was nervous. "So it's possible?" Lou nodded, then shook her head, then nodded again.
"I really never kept track of stuff like that. I mean not since, I mean not since I..." Lou started to panic "Rachel what am I gonna do? I'll have to quit ridin' for sure."
"OK first thing first. We need to get you to a doctor. We..."
"I ain't goin' to the doc Rachel." Lou said vigorously shaking her head. The fear and panic she felt became apparent. "He don't even know that I'm..."
"Well then, we'll go some where else. There are other doctors in the territory. We can leave..."
"But I just got back. Teaspoon ain't gonna give me no time off. He..."
"Let me worry about Teaspoon and the boys. I'll tell 'em I need help with some errands in Blue Creek. Is that all right?" Lou nodded. "Ok go get your stuff. I'll leave word with the boys." Lou stood and headed again for the door. "And Lou?" Lou turned around "It's gonna be ok." Lou nodded and left towards the bunkhouse.
Rachel soon followed and went to prepare the horses. When she was done, she headed towards the corral. "Boys?" She called out as she interrupted their work "Lou's goin' to help me with some errands over in Blue Creek. Let Teaspoon and the others know. Lou shouldn't have any runs scheduled, and we should be back in a few days."
"But what you gotta do in Blue Creek that you can't do here, Rachel?" Cody asked sitting on the fence post slacking off his chores as usual.
"Now that's none of your business. Just finish on up here and make sure you let Teaspoon and Kid know." Just then Lou exited the bunkhouse with her pack. "Ready then?" Lou nodded, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone. "We'll see you boys later then." Rachel and Lou headed toward the wagon and Rachel got in the drivers seat.
The guys continued to watch them leave. "Man!" Cody exclaimed. "Now we have to do all Lou's chores too. It ain't fair I tell ya."
Buck looked at Cody exasperated. "We? Doesn't look like you're doin' much of your own chores."
Jimmy stopped hammering and chuckled. "Yeah, might do you some good, to help out for once. Looks like Lou really needed a break." He wiped the sweat from his brow and continued to hammer the board in place. "Well if you're just goin' sit there, at least hold this board steady."
Cody held the board close to where Jimmy was nailing it. "All this special treatment she's gettin', and I have to do work. Everyone actin' like she's fragile or something. Like she's 'spectin or somethin'." Jimmy accidentally hit Cody's hand when the hammer slipped.
"Ouch Jimmy watch what your doin'!"
Buck turned and glanced at Cody. "What did you say?"
"I said it's a wonder if she's pregnant the way she and Rachel just..." when his words sank in, he suddenly stopped talking, shaking his head. "No, Lou? She can't be... Is she? I mean..."
"We know what you mean," Jimmy replied. "I guess she could be, I mean look at breakfast this mornin'. Granted she's never had much appetite, but has any of you ever seen her turn green at the sight of eggs?"
"A baby," Cody said as he shook his head in amazement. "Boy things 'round here sure are goin' to change. A baby... Can you imagine it?"
Buck shook his head and looked towards the road. "Rider Comin'. It's Kid. Don't nobody say nothin'," Buck headed over towards Kid to help with Katy.
"Lou back?" Kid asked as he dismounted and headed towards the bunkhouse.
"She was."
"What'ya mean 'she was'? Where is she now?"
"She got in last night and then headed to Blue Creek this mornin' with Rachel."
"Why?"
"Didn't say."
"What are they gonna do?"
"Didn't say."
"Buck would you stop standin' there and tell me what's goin' on."
"Not gonna say." Buck smiled and walked away leading Katy towards the stables. Kid walked over towards Jimmy and Cody.
"Do either of you know what's goin' on? Why'd Lou take off? We haven't seen each other in almost a week. I had somethin' important I wanted to talk to her about."
Jimmy looked at the ground and muttered under his breath, "Seems like you two oughta be talkin' more often than anythin' else."
"What Jimmy?" Kid asked puzzled.
Jimmy looked up with a cocky grin. "Nothin' Kid, just talkin' to myself."
"Do you know where Rachel and Lou went off to?"
"They said to tell you that they went in to Blue Creek for a few days to do some errands." Cody replied.
"What's in Blue Creek that they can't do here?
"That's what I said." Kid shook his head frustrated and started to walk away. Cody placed his hand on Kid's arm to stop him. "Lou wasn't lookin' too good if you ask me."
"It's the heat; you know she doesn't handle it like the rest of us. She had a long hard ride; she's probably just goin' with Rachel to get a break. It'll do her some good."
"Kid," Jimmy said. "I think it's more than the heat that's done her in. You two been ah dancin' lately?"
Remembering his embarrassing conversation with Jimmy a couple of months ago, Kid blushed. "What's that got to do with why Lou's sick and they went in to Blue Creek?"
Cody couldn't help but rib the Kid. "It's got all to do with the sickness she's got. Maybe there Rachel could take her to see... a doctor. "
"Lou coulda seen Doc here in town. Why go to Blue Creek?"
"Maybe the kind of problem Lou has would puzzle the Doc here. Remember he don't know Lou's secret."
"So? If it's just the heat that's botherin' her..." Jimmy's words finally sunk in. Kid leaned on the fence rail as if needing its support to hold him up. "Are you sure? Did she say anything? Why wouldn't she..."
"They didn't say nothin'." Cody responded. "Lou got sick over breakfast this morning and Rachel called her up to the main house. Afterwards she came back, packed a pouch and they headed out all secret like."
"How long ago did they leave? Maybe I can..." Kid started heading towards the stable.
Cody hopped down off of the fence post and walked after him. "Kid, maybe Lou's feelin' this is something she's needin' to do on her own."
Kid stopped cold and turned to face Cody. "I'm just as responsible as she is Cody, don't stand there lecturin' me." Kid ran his fingers through his hair. "Why wouldn't she tell me? Why couldn't she talk to me about it, instead of runnin' off to Rachel? Or worse, tellin' you guys our business that you have no right knowin'. I thought I meant more than that."
By this time Jimmy and Buck had joined the group. Buck placed a calming hand on Kid's shoulder. "Lou didn't tell us nothin'. We figured it out by her behavior. Maybe she just wasn't sure how you'd react. Give her and Rachel this time Kid. She'll come talkin' when the time is right."
"I reckon' that just because you're right, doesn't mean I have to like it." Kid sighed and headed towards the bunkhouse.
Cody shook his head. "Yep, knew the Kid wouldn't like it."
Jimmy smiled. "Imagine, the Kid havin' a kid."
All three riders turned and headed back to their chores.