Lou stared after Tyson as he closed the door behind him, a dumbfounded look on her face. She clutched the pillow tightly against her, almost as a defense. How the hell did he know�who opened their big mouth? Lou didn't think that he was smart enough to pick up on it on his own, and she was instantly furious that someone had taken it upon themselves to rat on her!

Well, that was just great, now she would no longer be able to ride for the Pony Express once they found out she was in fact a girl. Who else knew about her disguise? Her heart echoed in her ears and her face flushed at the way he said her name, and she wanted to hear him say it again. Her eyes quickly darted in the direction of the closed door, praying silently that no one overheard his last words. Ike had been the last one to walk out, suppose he'd heard it and suppose it just fell like dominoes from there. No, she couldn't worry about that just yet. She must find out who the squealer was and she would make them pay dearly!

Lou jumped to her feet and swung the door open wide, immediately searching for anyone in sight. When she thought she was alone, she swiftly mounted Lightning and rode out to find Rachel, and then maybe she could help Lou find out who the culprit was. Lou hoped that she hadn't meddled for some reason, or by claiming to know Lou's secret crush on Tyson. No one knew yet and she wanted to keep it that way�maybe.

Halfway into town, Lou spotted Jesse and Rachel in the buckboard leaving the hotel. Intent on getting her attention, Lou goaded the horse into a faster run, knowing she was wearing the poor thing down already. She couldn't help it, she had to tell Rachel what had just happened and they
could go from there. "Rachel!" she shouted above the noise, "Wait, I gotta talk to ya."

Jesse tugged hard on the reins, confusion and worry in his bright, blue eyes. Rachel jumped down and ran over to Lou, dreading that something terrible had happened. Well, in Lou's world, it had but, then again, it wasn't.

"Lou? What is it?" she replied, scared to death.

"Yer not gonna believe what jus' happened. I need yer help, Rachel, and I didn't mean ta scare ya."

"Everything alright?" Jesse called to them, "Can I help, Lou?"

Lou shook her head and looked back at her trusted friend. Rachel told Jesse to go on without them, and they'd catch up later. She grabbed Lou's arm and swung up and onto the horse with her. "C'mon, let's go back to the station, and we can talk about it on the way."

Lou turned Lightning around, and headed back, filling Rachel in on everything Tyson said, leaving nothing out especially when he called her Louise.

Rachel gasped audibly and her mouth fell open. "But, Lou, who on earth would do such a thing? And, why?"

Lou shrugged. "Dunno, that's what I intend ta find out and I need you to help me, Rachel. I can't ride if they all know I'm a girl and you know it. I gotta put a stop to this once and for all!"

Rachel nodded and said she would get to the bottom of this somehow. Lou was right, she'd probably be fired for sure if her identity was discovered. She couldn't and wouldn't let that happen as long as she could help it.

"Tyson's gone anyway but that don't matter, what if he ain't the only one." Lou could still hear his voice and the way he called her name, as if he'd waited to say it aloud for years. She wished he'd say it again, and she wished he'd hung around long enough to answer her questions. He knew what he was doing and he most likely enjoyed upsetting her like that. The look that must've been on her face was reward enough, she concluded.

Wait! But, Tyson was leaving! Well, he couldn't go now, not when he knew the truth. And if he knew it all along, why did he wait 'til the last minute to say something? And the costume party wasn't far off. Would Tyson have asked me to go with him? It didn't matter now, did it? He's not here to ask me anything at all.

"Lou!" Rachel yelled, "You gittin' down off that horse or not?"

Lou quickly dismounted, her red face hidden under the brim of her hat. She went to the barn directly, avoiding any questions about why she hadn't heard what Rachel said. She had enough questions of her own and didn't need anything else to worry about.

She closed the door behind her and stamped her foot soundly when she realized no one was around to see. She folded her arms and grit her teeth, frustrated and angry that someone was trying to jeopardize her future. She was even angrier that Tyson left things the way he did. He could've said something before now. Lou wished strongly that he had said or done anything
to let her know that he was aware of her secret life. Maybe things would've worked out. Now, she'd never know for sure. Dang it, Tyson, ya just shoulda said somethin' sooner! I woulda gone to that stupid party if you'd only asked me!