Chapter XXVIII

The station was deserted as he pulled to a stop in front of the bunkhouse. He got off his horse slowly and tethered it to the nearby post. It was getting dark, which meant the end of a hard day for the riders. Kid made his way to the bunkhouse unhurriedly and unwillingly. He had had to leave Lou and cursed every single second. Why did he have to feel so responsible? He needed to check something in the station and of course he couldn’t leave everything to its own mercy. Why did he always have to do the right thing? And of course Teaspoon had reminded him of his duties as an employee of the honorable Pony Express. He cursed himself for everything that was happening; he needed to be by Lou’s side and not on this stupid call. Of course he knew that he couldn’t do anything to help her right now and Louise hadn’t complained at all, but he felt he deserted her by just staying away from her all this time. And on top of it all, he had to face Rachel, Boggs and the others. He was not pleased with the task and didn’t feel like having a conversation with them. They hadn’t done anything to help Louise, but on the contrary, it had been Rachel’s testimony what had caused Lou’s arrest.

He opened the door decidedly and crossed the room without even looking at any of them. The bunkhouse was quiet or rather had become quiet when Kid entered. Rachel and the riders were having dinner; Boggs had stayed in town, seemingly engaged in some business and the kids had gone to bed some minutes before.

But those still in the bunkhouse kept staring at Kid inquisitively, while he was gathering some clothes and items. He didn’t say one word or acknowledge the others’ presence. His head was already too crowded with Lou’s problem and a conversation, which would surely lead to a confrontation with the riders, wasn’t welcome right now. He was glad that, as the minutes passed by, no one in the room was disposed to say anything. For once they seemed to understand his need for silence and privacy. But his luck didn’t last too long as Cody’s voice resounded in the so far silent room.

“Hey, Kid, how was your day?” the blonde rider piped up, receiving murdering glances from around him. “What?” he asked, as he noticed his fellow riders’ expressions. “It's just a question.”

“A fabulous day, Cody,” Kid answered sarcastically. “How do you think it was? I came back from a terrible ride and found that Lou has been arrested. And nobody seems very willing to help her. How would you feel if the woman you …,” he paused a moment, realizing the blunder he was about to make. “… if the woman who is carrying your child is accused of a crime she didn’t commit?” Kid took a big inhale of air and then let it out in a way to calm down. “But now, what is important is to try to take her out of that mess and…” he tried to finish his sentence but he had no words to express the powerless sensation he felt.

There was nothing else to say and he stalked across the room again towards the door carrying his things. He needed to be in town as soon as possible, and the quicker he finished his business at the station,the better.

Jimmy had remained silent during the whole harangue but as he watched Kid intending to leave he couldn’t hold his tongue any more. “Where are you going, Kid?” he asked quietly but visibly annoyed.

“I’m going to spend the night there, in Teaspoon’s office,” Kid spoke curtly.

“What for?” Rachel finally dared to speak. She had tried to find her inner peace after Lou’s arrest but though she tried to convince herself that she had done the right thing, deep inside she didn’t feel any happier. John, the boys and Teaspoon had supported her and told her that she couldn’t have done otherwise. Their encouraging words had cheered her up somehow, but when she had seen Kid’s sullen expression, her mood had sunk again and till now she hadn’t dared to say one single word.

Kid turned his gaze towards Rachel and the station mistress could see a coldness in the rider’s usual warm eyes that she hadn’t seen before. She knew his anger was directed to her and she had to acknowledge that she understood how he felt.

“I will be there for her as her family has turned their backs on her,” Kid finally said, emphasizing the word intentionally.

“Well, … Kid…,” Rachel began clumsily.

“What, Rachel?” Kid cut the station mistress off. He was boiling with anger and couldn’t bear watching Rachel, looking as if butter didn’t melt in her mouth. “Nobody seems to care what happens to her, not one single visit, no inquiries for her health, nothing. I can’t pretend that everything is as fine as all of you seem to think. Sorry, I can’t do that. I will be there for her, no matter what happens. She is not alone in all this, and I’ll make sure that she knows.” He paused a moment to compose himself and then continued. “By the way, thank your kind husband for his half-hearted help,” Kid talked with a sarcastic smile imprinted on his face. “She just needs a lawyer for the trial but seemingly that’s too much expense for him.”

“What do you mean?” Rachel asked baffled.

“He refused, he won’t move a single finger to help her. He was very clear with Teaspoon,” Kid answered. “But you can well tell him he needn’t worry. We can do without his help, we’ll manage.”

“Kid, he may have his reasons,” Rachel added. She felt that she had to defend her husband. Sometimes he was difficult to understand, mainly if Louise was involved, but he had outwardly always proved to be right.

“What reasons, Rachel?” Kid bellowed heatedly. “He just seems determined to make her life miserable. We didn’t ask for his money, but for what rightly belongs to her, her inheritance.”

“What inheritance?” Rachel questioned again.

“Her mother’s.” Kid answered exasperated. “She bequeathed her $1,000. And what clever thing does your husband do? He intended to give away all that money, all her money to Patricia and me. What a kind soul!!!” he talked sarcastically. “He’s denying Louise something that rightly belongs to her. It’s not fair.”

“I didn’t know that,” Rachel said, really ashamed of her husband’s attitude. “I’ll talk to him tonight.”

“Don’t. You’ve already done enough,” Kid added with obvious bitterness and scorn. The events had clearly dragged on him, and although he had a right to be angry with Rachel, he knew that he shouldn’t be talking to her like that, he couldn’t help it.

“Don’t dare talk to Rachel in that tone,” Jimmy snapped and gripped him by the collar strongly. He was tired of the way Kid was behaving. He was making a fool of himself, trying to defend that girl so blindly. Jimmy could understand that his friend wished to help Louise, after all, she was carrying his child. But what annoyed him the most was that Kid seemed to believe the girl over everyone else. Just a fool could think she was innocent, all the evidence was against her and nobody else doubted who had murdered Marianne Herrick.

As Kid felt Jimmy’s grip, he struggled to set himself free. Kid gave his friend a strong push and the rider let go off him.

“Stop meddling in my business, Jimmy,” Kid blustered. “She shouldn’t be in jail in the first place.”

“Kid,” Jimmy bellowed infuriated. “Why can’t you be reasonable jut for once? That girl you are fervently defending has killed an innocent young woman. Nobody doubts that, just you.”

“She didn’t do it,” Kid muttered angrily.

“Kid,” Cody, who had been quiet, piped in. “Evidence is there. You can’t deny that.”

Kid kept silent, looking at the riders and Rachel around him. He felt so out of place right now. It was as if the whole world had turned against him and he was completely alone in all this matter. Everybody seemed to be so sure that Louise was guilty. But nobody could make him hesitate. Those charges were just senseless and it was astonishing that anybody could believe all that. But Kid feared that Lou’s mental condition could be enough to condemn her for something she hadn’t done, whereas the real culprit was somewhere enjoying life. It was utterly unfair and he couldn’t allow that.

Kid sighed audibly and let out his frustration. “She didn’t do it,” he repeated loudly, emphasizing each word.

The situation was not easy and Rachel could understand the difficult position that Kid was in. She didn’t feel very happy either even though she had been the ultimate cause for Louise's arrest. But she was sure, or at least she tried to convince herself, that she couldn’t have done anything else. Louise seemed to have reached a state that was practically uncontrollable. And though her being sent to prison wasn’t a satisfactory solution, Rachel thought that in a way it was worthwhile. She couldn’t allow anybody else to suffer such a fatal destiny and she couldn’t assure that it wouldn’t happen again if Lou remained in the station. John had said that Louise had never been a threat to anybody’s life before, but seemingly Lou’s condition was worsening and nobody should suffer for that.

The station mistress somehow felt terrible for what was happening and tried to think of a way to lessen Kid’s pain. She could understand why he felt the urge to defend Louise but in the long run it would only bring him more suffering. She cautiously came closer to the rider and spoke calmly.

“Kid, I know how you feel, but you know very well that I couldn’t have done otherwise. You were here and know that she went missing that day, the day that girl was murdered. I just told Teaspoon the truth and …”

“How long was she missing, Rachel?” Kid cut her off. His voice clearly indicated that he felt a terrible bitterness and he didn’t do anything to hide it. “One hour, two hours…?”

Rachel nodded hesitantly, not understanding what way Kid was leading with this question. “Yeah, maybe three hours.”

Kid tittered bitterly, which caused everybody to look at him astonished. “So you are telling me that Louise, yes, that girl that has only been in town, how many times? Three? Four at the most?” He continued ironically as Rachel nodded his answer. “So according to you, Louise left the station and headed to Sweetwater on foot. Of course she had this fixed idea of killing Marianne Herrick, as most people have heard her say or meant to assure that’s what she was trying to say. Evidence is there, isn’t it, Rachel? She wanted to kill Miss Herrick, who she had never seen or met. So she got to town and, well, she knew exactly where to find this girl. She must have thought of the Herrick’s place, maybe, or any other possible place Marianne might have been it right at that moment and that Lou obviously knew about. Let’s suppose she went to her place and you all know, the Herrick’s farm is 10 miles away from Sweetwater. But of course Louise walks so fast that it wouldn’t have been a problem. Then she meets the girl and she maliciously persuades this girl to go for a walk to the water hole at the other extreme of town. Very logical. And there Louise killed her, threw the body in the pond and finally returned here. And did that take her three hours? Really that long? Maybe she even had time to perpetrate something more that we don’t have knowledge of, didn’t she?” Kid spoke sarcastically throughout his entire tirade.

Rachel looked down, in a second she felt as if she had made the biggest mistake in her whole life. “I…” she tried to say but she seemed unable to articulate one single word.

“Thank you, Rachel,” Kid answered bitterly. “Thank you for sinking her in mud. Now there’s no way back. You’d better pray she can be rescued from all this mess, otherwise…”

Kid couldn’t finish his thoughts, he was tired. These were the last words that the group inside the bunkhouse heard as the rider left them speechless and at a complete loss. He had talked truly and though everything seemed to make sense, there was still a hint of doubt in their minds. Kid was right, the possibility that Louise had murdered that girl was almost null, but at the same time nobody could be sure of it. Louise was a foreigner in Sweetwater and though she had been at the station for several months by now, she hadn’t left it for more than a couple of times. Therefore, she couldn’t have met Marianne Herrick or found out about her surroundings. The notion that Louise was wrongly accused and that the real culprit was free now lay heavy on the riders and Rachel. The station mistress painfully wondered why in spite of the thinking she had done before reaching her decision, she had passed over those important facts. Maybe she had made a rush decision as she was convinced of Lou’s guilt but now it was too late to repair the harm done. Louise was now the target of accusations and only a judge could tell whether she was guilty or not. Everybody was against her and it wouldn’t be easy to prove Louise’s innocence. Her mental problems would be an important issue and the witnesses and her apparent crisis didn’t help her any. Rachel just hoped that it wouldn’t be too late; she would be the one to blame and couldn’t forgive herself for her contribution to Lou's imprisonment and probable condemnation. Kid was right. Everything was her fault.

Rachel looked around and noticed the riders’ stares on her. They were looking at her with pitiful eyes. They were well aware of what she was feeling. She felt terrible; she had never felt such desperation before in her life. But she didn’t deserve their pity, but rather their scorn. She wasn’t the one suffering false accusations nor was she locked in a cold and lonely cell, nor expecting to be judged and suffer a possible death sentence. No, her life would continue as usual but Lou’s would sink lower and lower. Why had she paid attention to her irrational fears? She knew Louise and knew how caring she was, but her liking had turned into fear and, somehow, disdain. And that was what had made her accuse her and be convinced of the girl’s guilt. Now the only thing she could do was wait and pray that things would turn for the best. Rachel was now convinced that Louise was not responsible of Marianne’s death and maybe the judge would have the same opinion. Things could change so fast. A minute ago she was mainly proud of her noble actions and had no doubts in claiming that Lou was clearly the main suspect in this matter and she deserved to some extent a hard punishment. But now, what she felt was a paralyzing fear, fear that her words would mean the death of an innocent and lovely girl, fear for Louise, fear for herself. Just fear.

Kid tethered his horse in front of the marshal’s office. The visit to the station hadn’t been like he had expected. He had wanted to have made a short call and hadn’t planned to have an argument with the other riders and Rachel. He knew that they were his friends and hadn’t meant any harm, but Kid couldn’t help feeling this unrestrainedly anger within him. He just prayed that this nightmare he was immersed in would be cleared out. Everything could be so simple, that’s how his life had been a few months before. He lived with no worries, just the responsibility of doing his job properly and making sure that the mail pouch would reach its destination. But everything had taken a sudden turn and he was now in a real mess: a woman he loved but wasn’t meant to be with, a child, a fiancée, a charge of murder, the opposition of the whole town, disappointment. Everything he had believed in seemed to crumble down under his feet. He could well forget about Louise and everything that she involved. He could settle down for a quiet life, no problems and everything would apparently turn back to normal. But he couldn’t turn his back on Lou; she didn’t deserve it and he was the only person she had now. Was he doing all this because of the baby? He wondered as he slowly made his way to Teaspoon’s office. No, he would be doing exactly the same if Lou weren’t carrying his baby, he couldn’t fool himself. He was well aware that long ago that girl had conquered his heart as nobody had ever done. Things were impossible between them but he couldn’t deny his feelings. He was in love with her in spite of all the inconveniences and he knew that he would do anything to ensure her well-being.

As he entered the small office, Kid’s eyes automatically turned toward the end of the room and saw Louise seated on the small bunk inside the cell; much in the same position he had left her. He smiled at her but she didn’t even acknowledge his presence. Her eyes were downcast and he could hardly see her expression, but he could imagine and feel her present mood. He hesitated if to say something or if he should approach the cell. In fact, he didn’t have much to tell her, especially nothing good. He felt like a useless idiot. He was proving to be inefficient in helping her. She didn’t need any comforting words; what she did need were results, a hope that this place wasn’t going to be the last one she would see in her life. But he couldn’t offer her any of that; he came with empty hands and he felt he couldn’t face her right now in spite of her kind words before.

Kid turned his attention to Teaspoon, who was about to gobble down his dinner. The marshal had a huge napkin hanging from his shirt’s collar and a look that almost made the rider let out a chuckle. But his mirth soon succumbed as his eyes fell upon a tray, untouched, on Teaspoon’s desk.

“She didn’t even have a bite,” Teaspoon said as he could wisely recognize the question behind Kid’s look.

The rider almost didn’t pay any attention the marshal and dashed to the cell where Louise remained seated. He dawdled along, hesitating about the way to approach her. Finally he came up to her and spoke in hushed tones. “I thought we had a deal,” Kid blustered referring to her obviously refusal to have dinner. “You need to eat and keep healthy”.

From her position Louise lifted her look to him, empty eyes, empty of any emotion, two big lifeless circles.

“What for?” Louise mused; her voice was only a thin sound, only loud enough for Kid to acknowledge it.

The desperation that the boy saw in her eyes and voice was such that it made him move back clumsily. He couldn’t unglue his eyes from hers but couldn’t stay by her either. Her stance frightened him and he realized that she was giving in. She was accepting the fact that she was lost. He had never seen her like this and Kid could recognize these eyes. He had seen the same look in his mother so many years before. She had fallen ill and Kid had seen how she had realized that she would die without seeing her husband again, that man that she had loved so intensely and who had been the cause of her suffering. Now Lou had that same look and he couldn’t allow her to give in. He would fight till the end and would show her that he was there for her.

He turned this attention to the tray, that tray that contained the untouched dinner. There was a bowl with some kind of tomato soup and a fairly big steak. The odor that it gave off could turn anybody’s stomach and made Kid move back and protect his nose from this ‘weird’ smell.

“Teaspoon, do you pretend Lou to eat this …this … er … this food?” Kid asked, half amused, half serious. “This is inedible. She is pregnant and not one of your usual prisoners.”

“It’s not that bad,” Teaspoon replied with an offended expression.

“Not that bad?” Kid exclaimed bursting out laughing. “I’m about to faint and you say it’s not that bad.”

Kid’s attitude was irritating the marshal. “The food wasn’t that great but nobody had complained about it before. Aren't you overacting a bit, you fool?” Teaspoon grumbled. “This is the marshal’s office and not a fine restaurant in Paris.”

Kid kept staring at Teaspoon in a reflexive mood. “You are right,” he said amusedly. “You are right.” He kept saying as he made his way out of the office.

“Where are you going?” Teaspoon enquired after him but the rider never heard him and disappeared before the marshal could say any further. The old man kept musing and with an expression of utter perplexity. “All these boys are really crazy.”
Fifteen minutes later Kid returned as unexpectedly as he had departed. He banged the door open carelessly, which almost made Teaspoon fall from the chair where he had been dozing. He was about to take hold of his old six-shooter when he saw Kid enter the small office clumsily and bump into everything he found on his way.
The rider was carrying a big hamper on his right hand and a big cloth on the left. The expression he had on his face was very different to the one just a few minutes before. He had a satisfactory smile on his face. Without one single word he strode straight till the end of the room, next to the cell where Lou was confined. The tumult Kid had caused at entering had aroused the girl's interest and she was watching the rider intensely.
After leaving the items he was carrying on the tiny table near the cell, Kid stopped, absorbed in his own thought. He looked around as if trying to locate something and when the object at issue appeared before his eyes he approached to take a hold of it. The smile on his face and his state of absorption came to an end when Teaspoon's hand stopped his intentions by holding him strongly by the hand and grasping the target of his interest tightly.
Both rider's and marshal's eyes met in what seemed a wordless fight. None said a word and kept staring at each other. Both men had a strong grip on the bunch of keys and none seemed eager to let go. Finally Teaspoon broke the silence and blustered:
"What the hell do you think you are doing, Kid?" He was miffed with all this matter and didn't feel like being tactful. He just blurted the first words that crossed his mind.
Teaspoon's hoarse words awoke Kid from his absorption and the rider realized what Teaspoon might be thinking and hurried to say: "Teaspoon, trust me. I don't intend to set anybody free. I just need to try something." Kid begged the old marshal.
Teaspoon looked at him warily and noticed the sincerity and a silent plead in the rider's eyes. The latest events in town had left an uneasy feeling and his frayed nerves made him burst. The marshal released his grip on the keys and silently walked towards the other side of the room and took a seat in the same position he had previously taken. From this location he peeped at the rider's movements curiously. He wondered what Kid had in his mind.
The rider had come closer to the cell and without hesitation he introduced the key into the lock and clicked it open. Slowly, ever so slowly, he began to open the creaking iron door before Lou's astonished eyes. She was curled up on the bed in one of the corners, staring at him with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. She wondered what Kid was trying to prove. Strangely she didn't feel any relief when the rider readied himself to come near her. In a way she had felt protected in that tiny barred cubicle. She was well aware what people outside thought about her. She was used to living apart from the real world and this cell wasn't much different to what she had known so far. The only thing she feared was that her baby's welfare might be at risk. Although Teaspoon had told her that if the worst came to the worst, her child wouldn't suffer any harm. Still, she couldn't feel safe.
While all these thoughts had absorbed her attention, she had missed Kid entering the cell and approaching her. Apprehensively she saw Kid coming closer and extending his arm to her. He was smiling sweetly and when he was sure he had her attention he spoke up:
"Can I have the honor of your company at dinner in the finest restaurant in town, Miss?" he asked smiling.
Louise was perplexed at his words and just muttered dumb-founded: "What?" She didn't understand what Kid pretended. She looked around and with no less surprise she saw that in the middle of the tiny cell a table had been placed, the very table which had previously been placed in the corner of the office. It was neatly arranged, with a simple embroidered tablecloth on top of which there laid shining cutlery, plates and even a single candlestick. Louise was really bewildered and wondered where Kid had got everything.
As she was in this state of puzzlement, she noticed or rather felt how Kid had come closer to her and was still stretching his arm, an open invitation for her to stand up and follow him. Lou threw a wary look at Kid's inviting hand. She felt afraid of touching him. Noticing her hesitation Kid took her by her hand softly and lifted her up from her position on the bed. Now their eyes met and just a few inches kept them apart. Louise felt shaken and nervous simply for his presence and closeness. She could feel the warmth of his hands and she could swear that he could feel how shaken she was.
He gazed at her smilingly and tenderly. In a way he felt happy to be next to her despite the circumstances. Now he had the opportunity to look at her closely and he couldn't stop gawking at her. She was so beautiful. In spite of the rings under her eyes, her pale complexion and her sad eyes she was still the loveliest woman he had ever seen. After these few minutes of torpor he tried to compose himself and offered her his arm.
She lowered her eyes and goggled at his arm as if it were a strange object. Shyly and hesitantly she took his arm, unsure of what she was doing.
"Don't be afraid, Miss," he said softly. "Come with me and I assure you won't repent." They had barely advanced a few steps and were already next to the table. Kid let go of her arm and courteously moved the chair for her to sit on. She was stunned at Kid's antics and felt kind of hypnotized, as if she was just being pushed by some sort of inertial force. Louise kept silent and motionless for a few minutes, staring intently at the hushed invitation to sit down. At her hesitation Kid cleared his throat and spurred her to sit down. Kid did the same on the chair opposite her.
Kid was racking his brains to find the correct words and not to spoil the moment.
"It's such a lovely night, isn't it?" He began, "A nice place, a warm atmosphere and..." he paused, "no better company," he smiled as his eyes fixed on hers.
She didn't know why, but she didn't refuse to play Kid's game. He was being foolish but strange enough she felt amused. It was clear that he wanted to raise her spirits. His presence unnerved her in a way. She didn't know how to act with him. When they had first met, everything had been so easy. She had felt so free around him. In reality she had never felt so carefree before and she had been able to express her true self. But since she had returned from the asylum, everything had been so different.
She looked at him and saw that she had taken a bottle and two glasses from the hamper. "Would you like some wine?" he asked her.
"What?" she stuttered between giggles.
He grinned and repeated the question, "I've asked you if you would like some wine." He poured some of the liquid into her glass.
"It's milk," she whispered amused as if he were out of his mind.
He turned to look at the label on the bottle and chuckled. "Milk? For God's sake, Lou," he answered teasingly. "I know it's not the best quality but it's not that bad. Taste it and feel the fruity flavor in your tongue.
Louise laughed at Kid’s antics and had a sip of the white liquid. Meanwhile, Kid had continued talking soothingly: “Can’t you feel its sweet bitterness? Look around us, Lou. If you look hard, you’ll notice what a lovely place we are in. Can’t you hear the soft music from the violins? Can’t you see the lively lights that make the place so cozy? Can’t you see the people coming and going?” At this point Kid stopped and looked her in the eyes. “Can’t you?”
She didn’t know if it was his words or the strange influence he had on her, but she felt transported far away from everything. At this moment there was no jail, no cell, nothing. All that had miraculously turned into something completely different. She felt immersed in this almost dream of his. In a way she had this carefree sensation and her past worries were forgotten. She looked back at him after a few seconds and whispered: “Yes, I can”.

She woke up very early and surprisingly for her she had a smile on her face. The night before had been completely different to what she had expected in a place like this. Her first night in jail and she had felt almost happy. Kid had been so sweet. He had made her eat everything he had brought to her. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this full. Strange enough she had felt like a normal person for the very first time in a very long time. They had shared that dinner in a cold cell and she had been so light-hearted and pleased. It had felt like if they had been courting. She wouldn’t have been so blissful if she had been in the best restaurant in Paris.
She sat up in her bed, still smiling and looked at the other end of the office. Kid was already awake and was looking at her. They kept looking at each other in silence. The magic of the moment was broken as Teaspoon, who was dozing on one chair, let out a deafening snore, which made them burst out laughing.
Their laughter woke the old marshal in time to see the Herricks enter the office. They had very sullen countenances. Teaspoon got up quickly and clumsily to greet them politely. Kid and Louise kept looking at the couple with serious faces. The girl went back a couple of steps in the cell. She didn’t want her presence to be as noticeable as it was. The Herricks hadn’t been very kind to her. She thought that their reaction was logical and normal given the present circumstances but she didn’t wish to be once again the target of their bitter words.
Mrs. Herrick acknowledged Teaspoon’s greeting with a single nod. She showed a cold and dignified attitude. She talked to Teaspoon curtly: “I’ve come to collect my daughter’s belongings. Doctor Higgins has told us that you have some of the things found in her ...".The woman couldn’t finish the sentence as tears drowned her voice. Her husband came to her and hugged her warmly. When she had calmed down, she turned to Teaspoon silently.
Without a single word the marshal took a small wooden box with the scarce belongings found with the dead girl. Mrs. Herrick rummaged among the things. There was a purse with included a handkerchief, a few coins and a small mirror. Apart from that the box contained the girl’s gloves and hat. Not pleased with what she had found Mrs. Herrick looked up and asked Teaspoon: “Where’s the locket?”
“Locket?” Teaspoon repeated.
“My daughter always wore a heart shaped locket with an inscription which we gave her for her eighteenth birthday last year. It was very special for her and it’s not here.”
“I’m sorry but I’m afraid this is all we found,” Teaspoon answered. “Probably the locket is on the bottom of that waterhole where we found her. I’m really sorry.”
At his words Mrs. Herrick started crying again. The marshal and her husband tried to comfort her as best as possible. Among the voices and the woman’s sobs a very feeble voice was heard at the end of the room. The three of them and also Kid looked inquiringly at the person who had uttered the words.
“What did you say?” Teaspoon inquired.
Louise hadn’t intended to talk but when seeing the woman’s distress she had felt obliged to speak up. Now that she had the four people’s attentions she felt her cheeks burning. She looked down on the floor and repeated the words: “He has it. ... The locket. He has it.”
Kid, who had been silent since the Herricks had appeared, was surprised at her words. He didn’t know what she was trying to say: “Who is he, Louise?” he asked.
This time Lou looked up and answered in a clear voice: “The man who murdered her.”