Silent Nights
Kid and Lou sat out on the porch together in the cold December air. Tonight was Christmas Eve and there had been a welcome break from their runs for the Pony Express.
The last strains of Silent Night had been floating down from the church and Lou had been humming along. When the song was over she sat staring off into space as if she was in her own world.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Kid said taking her hand.
"hmmm" Lou said waking from her reverie.
"Where were you just now?" He asked. "You definitely weren't here."
"No, no I wasn't." She said thoughtfully. "I was at home with Mama, Jeremiah, and Teresa. She was singin' Silent Night. It was her favorite song and she sounded like an angel. It was like heaven on earth."
"Sounds like it." Kid agreed.
"It will never be that way again." Lou said bitterly. A tear sprang to her eye.
Kid looked at her sympathetically. Things had been rough on Louu since Ike died. She took it to heart and in some way Kid did too. Ike had been like a brother to him.
"Things will change Lou, it's just that it's the first Christmas that Ike's not going to be here."
"He should have been, Silent Night was his favorite carol."
"How do you know that?" Kid asked incredulously.
"Last year we were sitting right where you and I are sittin right now and we heard the choir singing. I looked over at him and he had tears in his eyes. I asked him what was wrong and he said that his mother used to sing that song to him as a lullaby…." Lou's voice cracked and broke off as she began to sob. "It's not fair that he's gone, he shouldn't be gone Kid. Is what we do so important that we risk our lives for it."
"Sometimes I wonder myself Lou, but what we do is important and I know that above everything else is that why we do what we do."
Lou snuggled closer to him and he wrapped his arms around her.
"I wish you didn't have a run tomorrow." Lou sighed.
"I don't."
Lou pulled away from him. "What do you mean?"
"Teaspoon said we should all stay here for Christmas and got a replacement rider for me and Cody tomorrow."
"Really," Lou said smiling at him.
"Yep, I'm going to be here for the next three days and we can have a wonderful Christmas together."
"What?"
"Well, we're not going to sleep in the bunkhouse tonight for one."
"Where are we going to sleep then?"
"I've arranged for a room at the hotel for us and a fancy dinner as well."
"Kid, we can't do that here."
"Yes we can when the dinner is delivered to our room.After that a hot bath, and then whatever happens…."
"Oh Kid!" Lou gushed wrapping he arms around him.
Kid stood up and put his hand out to Lou, "So Ms. McCloud shall we."
Lou took his hand and smiled at him.
Rachel emerged from the house carrying a small brown satchel, she walked over to where the lovers stood. "This is for you, its just some things you'll need tonight."
"Thanks Rachel." Lou said hugging the older woman.
"Have fun."