Author's Note: I will be loosing Internet access this week, and I don't know when I'll get it back. This means I will be rushing to finish the series. Yes, I know they could be written better, but deal with it. Thanks for your support so far!

Disclaimer for Scandals books:

Thank you for taking interest in reading my newest Scandals book. The series is composed of fourteen interlocking stories. DO NOT read this story unless you have read the previous parts. Otherwise it will not make sense, because there is a lot going on in every part. The rating is for language, sexual references, mild violence, and adult themes. Some of these stories are based on things that actually happened in history, others are not. Please, enjoy the story, and look for the next part in the series!

The sun had barely started to rise, but Kid was already to the old oak where the rope was tired. He had readied himself to take his own life, but something stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Damn it!" He threw the chewed up rope in the dust. "Fucking squirrels. Always getting in my shit." Kid kicked at the dust, mounted Katy, and slowly started back to the ranch. As he neared the property, he tried to come up with an excuse for why he was out so early, but there wasn't one. Buck was already putting up a new fence panel, Ike was shoeing the horses, and Teaspoon was chopping wood. Kid slid down form Katy and put her away. Emma came out from inside.

"Kid," She yelled, "I need to talk to you." Kid trudged up the stairs of the porch, through the door, and into the house.

"You wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes, Kid."

"Well?"

"First of all, why were you out so early? Don't you lie to me, Kid."

"I was," he let out a deep breath, "I was going to kill myself. All of this is my fault, and I just want it to be over."

"Now you mustn't say that. Lou needs you now more than ever. And so do the rest of us. Besides, killing yourself won't make things better. I will only make them worse. Do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Okay, good. Now, how do you feel your relationship is with Lou?"

"What?" Kid cocked his eyebrow, uncertain of the question presented to him.

"Okay, how 'bout this: Do you see yourself marrying this woman?" He thought for a moment.

"Why does this matter?"

"Because, Kid, you're at a point in your life where you need to set priorities. And you need to decide if Lou's one of them."

"Well then, yes, I love her. One night, I had this dream. We were married and lived in a nice, big, white, farm house, like this one, and raised cattle and corn and a barn full of horses. And we had kids, lots of them. And we dressed them up every Sunday to go to church. And on holidays, we all sat around the fireplace and sang songs and laughed and played. And it was perfect."

"Well then don't let her go, Kid."

But I'm not sure how to deal with this, and everything… I just don't know what to do Emma, I just am lost."

"We can ride this out," she reached over and squeezed his hand, "together."

"Thanks Emma, I don't know what I would do without you."

"Well we can decide that later," Teaspoon opened the door, "Right now, we need to look for Cody and Jimmy. AND we need to ban liquor from the pony express. For good!" He turned to look out the door, "BUCK! IKE!" He yelled, "Go out and look for Jimmy and Cody!"

"Let's try not to yell so much, Mr. Teaspoon." Emma made fun of him.

"Oh just quit your sassin'." He glared at her, "I don't see you doing much of anything around here lately missy."

"Maybe that's cause you won't send someone to look for Lou, too…" Her voice trailed off as she walked to the kitchen.

"Boy," Teaspoon pointed at Kid, "Women ain't nothing but trouble. Big trouble."

TO BE CONTINUED…