JULY 26, 1861

Lou shouted, "Rider Coming!"

Kid ran out of the bunkhouse and jumped on Katy. Grabbing the mochila from Ike, he took off for Westerville waystation. Lou watched as he disappeared. Ike watered Shyster and then put him up in the barn. As he walked to the bunkhouse, he saw Lou standing there with her head bowed and her hands in her pockets. Ike stopped in front of the porch. Lou looked up.

Ike smiled, but Lou didn't. "Ike, I think we need to talk." Ike's eyebrows arched. He wondered what Lou wanted to talk about. "I think Kid likes Jennifer. He hasn't come out and said it, but he has been seeing her. I just don't want you and Kid to get in a fight over her cause I know you like her, too. Maybe you should wait and see what happens with Jennifer and Kid before you step in.”

Ike knew Lou was right, but he thought Kid still liked Blythe, not Jennifer. He signed and told Lou that he wouldn't do anything to hurt Kid. Lou believed him and smiled. Ike climbed the steps and went inside the bunkhouse to get cleaned up from his ride.

Lou went to the barn and saddled Lightening. She rode over to StarShine Haven. As she knocked on the door, she kept her head bowed. When Jacy answered the door, Lou lifted her head a little and pushed up her glasses. "Good morning, ma'am, I'm here to see Cody. I'm Lou, I work for the Pony Express."

"Sure come on in." Jacy held the door open for Lou to step inside. "Right this way." Before she entered the kitchen, Jacy turned back and whispered to Lou, "He woke up later than usual this morning, so he's still having breakfast. I don't think he slept much last night." Lou nodded to show that she had heard her. "Cody you have company."

Cody looked up to see Lou. He smiled. "Good morning Lou."

"Good morning Cody." Lou stood across the table from him.

"I'll leave you two alone." Jacy could tell that Lou was the quiet, shy type, so she knew that Lou probably wanted to talk with Cody alone. Jacy left the kitchen to go upstairs to her room.

"What brings you here, Lou?" Cody asked right before he stuffed some pancakes into his mouth.

"I thought you should know that Lee lost her baby."

Cody had picked up some more of his pancakes with his fork, but he stopped it in midair as he heard Lou’s words. He knew how much Lee had been looking forward to having her child. Cody put his fork down because he was sad about the announcement. “How’s Jimmy taking it?”

“He’s alright. He’s being strong. He’s trying to help Lee through it as much as he can. Lee had Yellow Fever, but she’s all right now. They had the funeral last week.”

“Why didn’t someone tell me? Kid was just here yesterday, and he didn’t mention it.” Cody was a little angry that no one had told him about it sooner.

“Kid didn’t think it was the right time, but I thought that you should know that’s why I came.” Lou shuffled her feet not knowing what else to say. She knew that Kid had said that Cody wasn’t like his old self, so that’s why Kid hadn’t said anything, but Lou thought that Cody should know about the baby as soon as possible. She didn’t want him to get mad at them for not telling him.

Cody nodded and mumbled, “I just wish he would have told me. I wish I had known about the funeral. I could have at least sent flowers or something.” He pushed his plate aside. He had lost his appetite. “So is there anything else that I should know that nobody is telling me?”

Lou shook her head. “As far as I know, no. Other than that, everything is all right at the station. I’m sorry I’m the bearer of bad news.”

“That’s ok Lou. I’m glad you came and told me. Thanks. I just wish I could help Jimmy in some way.”

“I’ll tell him that you’re sorry about the baby, and that if he wants to talk that he can come over and see you. How’s that?” Lou inquired.

“That’s good. At least that’s all I can do for him now anyways. Just tell him that I’m here for him, and that I wish that I could be there for him.” Cody replied.

Lou nodded. “Well, I got to go.”

“Bye Lou.” He watched her leave the room wishing that he could just walk on out of here and over to the station to be there for Jimmy.