READY TO LISTEN
AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER
This is my take on the Lou/Kid conversation at the end of "Good Night, Sweet Charlotte". Young Riders belongs to MGM Studios, Ogiens/Kane Company, and ABC.
"Kid?" Lou asked, coming up to me.
"Yeah?" I queried.
"I'm ready to talk," she said.
"I'm ready to listen," I told her, and we walked off to a more secluded spot of the barn.
"Well, you know Charlotte and I worked at the same place: Wicks Laundry," she began. I nodded, but I kept quiet. I didn't want to interrupt her in case it made her lose her nerve. "Well, I had only been there a little bit before I realized what the girls actual were," she said. She bit her lip. "Charlotte was the only one who was nice to me. She-took care of me, you know? Watched out for me." She blew out a breath, as if dreading what she was about to say. "She, uh-she wouldn't let Wicks get near me. She never left me alone." She exhaled. "Then, uh, when I turned thirteen. That night…he-he-came into my room…" Lou's breathing hitched and she let out a choked sob. I felt my heart drop. Raped? She-she was raped?
"Lou," I said, hearing the hitch in my voice. Man, I can't believe she survived that. How could she be so strong?
"An-anyway, after that, Charlotte helped me escape, and I came to Sweetwater," she finished as tears started to stream down her face.
"And that man? That was Wicks?" I asked her. With a small noise, she nodded. She sniffled and began to wipe the tears away.
"Hey," I said gently, beginning to touch her face. I stopped realizing what I was doing. How could I be such an idiot? This wasn't the time to touch her. It wouldn't be appropriate.
"It's okay, Kid. You can touch me," Lou told me. I put my fingers on her face and she leaned in to the touch. "Kid?"
"Yeah, Lou?"
"Would you-would you hold me?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I trust you." Hesitantly, I took her into my arms. Then, to my surprise, she hugged me tightly. I embraced her, hoping that she could feel my love for her. Though I can't understand what she went through, I know it probably took a lot of courage for her to admit to me. And any time she wanted to talk again, I'd be ready to listen.