A sequel to "The promise"
Chapter 1
The whistle of the train announcing their arrival at the station slowly woke Lou. She languidly opened her eyes. She didn't remember falling asleep at all. She was actually supposed to be on guard. Now she found herself with her head leaning against Kid's shoulder, her cheek against his chest.
She inhaled deeply. She would never get tired of his scent. She could feel the warmth of his skin seeping through the fabric of his longjonhs and shirt. His head was resting on top of hers and his arm was wrapped around her shoulder, holding her in a tight embrace. She could stay like this forever.
She looked down at his hand holding hers tightly. He always did that when he fell asleep on the train, as if it was a way to keep her safe. Every single time they both fell asleep, she woke up to find him holding her hand. That always made her smile.
She blinked, adjusting to the dim light inside the train's box car. They were sitting on the floor amongst the wooden boxes, their backs leaning against the car's wall. It was not the most comfortable way to travel, but it would have to do for the moment.
She tried to untangle her fingers from Kid's, which was never an easy task, that's how strongly he held her. Then she stroked his arm several times before she was able to wake him up.
He moaned. Lou was very concerned about how exhausting this trip must be for him. But he was desperate to get home. They both were.
Kid had needed eight weeks of bed rest for his leg to heal, and then another four to begin regaining his strength. Then there was the matter of learning how to walk around with crutches. The doctor told them it would take several months for Kid to be able to put any weight on his leg. He was supposed to take it easy with the crutches, but he was so determined and so eager to get out of bed and the wheelchair that in the blink of an eye he was moving all around the hospital.
Lou actually thought it was better to stay a little longer in Virginia, as bad as she wanted to go home. Kid was still weak and they faced a long and dangerous trip. What normally would have taken ten days or so, was now a four weeks journey, at least, to Rock Creek. But the moment the doctor discharged Kid, there was not a soul on earth that could keep him in the hospital, or in Virginia for that matter, a minute longer.
A trip across the country in the middle of a war was dangerous enough for a healthy person, let alone an injured Kid who could barely walk. But he wouldn't even hear about staying in Virginia.
"I need to get you out of here, Lou," he had said hoarsely when she mentioned the possibility of staying a little longer, waiting for him to get a little better. "I just need to get you out of here…"
Besides, he alleged they had already wasted enough of their money, and if they stayed longer, there would be nothing left for their ranch.
First there was the problem of getting out of the Confederacy. Although they had legitimate documents, Kid had discharge papers from the Army and Lou a travel pass as his wife, there was the matter of transportation. Kid could not possibly ride, which would have been the easiest thing for them to do. At this point, so deep into the war, all passenger service in the Confederacy had come to a standstill, and all trains were used for military purposes only. That left stagecoaches, which weren't really running most of the times. So they decided the best thing to do was sneak onto military trains and go as far north as they could into Maryland. Then they planned to buy a buckboard to cross the Mason Dixon line into the North. From there they would head home by train or stagecoach, whatever they could find.
And here they were. The last train station before crossing into the North.
She tried to move her head away without startling Kid, and then she stroked his hair a little harder trying to wake him up completely.
"Kid, we're here," she said softly.
He finally opened his eyes and smiled at her.
"Hey…," he said tiredly.
"C'mon," Lou said, standing up. "It's getting late and we still need to find a place to spend the night."
He frowned
"What do you mean? We still have plenty of time to find a buckboard and…"
Lou looked down at him. "Oh no, we're spending the night here, honey. You need to rest a little bit."
"I don't need to rest, Lou, I'm perfectly fine!" he protested.
Lou sighed. Why did he always have to be so stubborn? "Well, then I need to rest, all right? We're staying."
She reached down and helped him up. Then picked up his crutches, handed them to him, and tried to help him with them.
Kid protested again.
"Lou, I'm fine, really. I can do it by myself."
Lou sighed again and picked up their bag.
"Let's go," she said. She tossed a quick look outside to make sure no one was watching and jumped down, almost tripping on her own skirt. She liked skirts, but why did they have to be so darn uncomfortable? It was almost impossible to move around in those things. But it was much easier looking like a girl than explaining she was one, though, so she'd chosen to wear skirts in this journey.
She quickly turned around to help her husband down.
"Lou, I told you I'm fine, I got this," Kid said again.
This time she ignored him.
"Well, I just don't want you to break your neck getting down from that thing," she said holding him by the arm. "There you are."
"Thank you," he said softly.
They headed into town as fast as they could. Lou was amazed they hadn't had any sort of trouble so far. It seemed almost impossible, and yet they hadn't.
They started to look for a decent place to stay. Lou, as always, walked slowly right beside Kid, glancing at him every two seconds to make sure he was all right.
After a while Kid started to chuckle.
"What?" Lou asked.
He shook his head.
"Lou, I'm really fine! I got this handled. I ain't going to trip or anything! You don't need to keep checking on me, honey."
"I ain't checking on you!"
"Yes, you are," Kid said again, still smiling.
They finally found a little hotel on Main Street. They knew they were lucky to find a place actually open.
"Afternoon," Lou nodded to the clerk. "We would like a room, please." Then she looked sideways at Kid, and whispered, "For a couple of nights."
"Certainly, ma'am. We got plenty of room. We don't have a lot of travelers nowadays," the clerk answered, opening the registration book for her to sign it. "Mr. and Mrs.…" He looked at her questioningly.
"McCloud. Mr. and Mrs. McCloud," she quickly answered with a smile.
She loved that part. She loved being able to get a hotel room with Kid without blushing or lying, or ending up in separate rooms because they were not married. It was silly, she knew, but she never got tired of it.
"Here you go, ma'am," the man said handling her a key. "Room one, second floor".
"Thank you."
Lou turned to Kid, who was glancing at the stairs doubtfully. He looked at her and smiled.
"I think I'm gonna need help with this one, Lou."
"Sure!"
She practically threw their bag on the floor and rushed to help him up the stairs. The clerk was coming to help as well, but she stopped him.
"No, no, that's all right. I got him, thank you."
Kid tossed an embarrassed look at the clerk. So he simply picked up their bag and followed them upstairs.
The room was really small, but clean and cozy. A nice change after several nights of sleeping on a train floor. And Kid looked exhausted, even if he swore he wasn't.
He went straight to the bed and collapsed on it with a grunt.
"Let's see if I can find us something to eat," Lou said, rushing out again.
When she came back fifteen minutes later, empty handed as she expected, she found Kid sound asleep in the same position she had left him, with his legs dangling off the bed, fully clothed, with boots and hat still on.
With a sigh she took off her gun. A real revolver, her own, not those silly little toy guns some women carried in their purses. She had figured out a way to keep it concealed under her skirt, and wouldn't even think about walking around without it. She understood Jimmy much better, now.
She carefully took off Kid's boots and gently put his legs over the bed. Then she took off his hat and caressed him softly on the cheek. She was so worried for him. He looked so pale and tired. But what worried her the most was a strange shadow that had appeared in his eyes lately. And it was getting worse as the days passed, a sadness Lou couldn't quite put her finger on. Oddly he didn't seem depressed about his leg. On the contrary, he was determined to get better as fast as possible, and she had to be all over him all the time, reminding him to take it easy if he didn't wanted to hurt himself.
Anyway, there was no going back now. And it was not as if they had anything to go back for. At least she could force him to rest for a couple of days now.
She lay down beside him, curled up against him, and tried to get the rest she also desperately needed.
They had no problem buying a small cart at the town's livery. Lou was even able to get some food supplies. And, at an exorbitant price, they were lucky enough to buy, not a horse, they were all confiscated by the Army by now, but at least a mule.
So at dawn of the second day, after convincing Kid to stay one more night in town, they departed. They both were in a good mood, maybe because even if they still had a long way to go, they felt closer to home than ever.
Lou helped Kid on the cart and he immediately took the mule's reins.
"Let me drive, Kid," Lou protested, jumping up on the cart beside him and trying to take the reins from him.
"Nope," Kid said, moving the reins away and giving her a harsh look. "I'm perfectly capable of driving a cart pulled by a mule, Lou. I don't need my leg for that."
Lou got serious for a moment, but then she chuckled.
"What?" Kid asked, smiling sideways.
"Well, that's a pretty fancy mule you're talking about. I'm pretty sure he's more valuable than Katy!"
Kid laughed.
"Well yes, you're right. I really need to try not to offend him, then. I offer you my sincere apologies, mule," Kid said dramatically, directly addressing the animal.
They both busted into laughter and the rest of the day passed without incident. They tried to stay away from the main roads. An encounter with a military patrol, regardless of which side's, was not something they were looking forward to.
That evening they had one of the most beautiful sunsets Lou could ever remember. She turned to Kid, only to discover his gaze lost into the sky, filled with a sadness that made her heart shrink.
"Hey, you alright?" she asked softly, stroking his arm.
"I'm never coming back," he whispered, without taking his eyes off the horizon.
"Don't say that, Kid. This war won't last forever. We'll be back someday."
He turned to look her straight in the eyes and shook his head.
"I'm never coming back, Lou. There's nothing left for me here. Nothing."
She caressed his cheek with her hand and looked him in the eye for a few moments. This was so hard for him, she knew. The she smiled and threw her arms around his neck, holding him as tight as she could.
"I love you." It felt like the only thing she could say to him right now.
"I love you, too," Kid whispered against her hair, holding her with his free hand.
And then, looking over his shoulder, she saw in the distance what seemed to be an old and worn limestone block nestled on the ground.
"Kid, look!"" she said, pulling away from Kid and pointing out in the direction of the limestone.
Kid turned to watch and his face brightened up immediately. They had almost made it across the battle lines into the North.
"C'mon," Kid said, urging the mule. "We'll spend the night in Pennsylvania".
They made camp that night feeling their spirits lifted for the first time in months. Kid lit a small fire. Lou took care of the mule. They ate their frugal meal under the stars, sitting on a bedroll, laughing and chatting about nothing and everything. Kid suddenly seemed much better, Lou thought, as if a heavy burden had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders. He was much happier and talkative, and with lots of energy all of a sudden.
"You know, we should give this mule a name," Lou was saying. "Let's see, he's a pretty luxurious mule, we know that… all vain and sophisticated. I don't even think he knows he's a mule. Hmm, let's see, how about…"
"Cody!?" both exclaimed at the same time turning to look at each other and bursting into laughter.
Suddenly, in the middle of their laughter, Kid bent to kiss her, his lips a sweet assault on her mouth. Lou startled for a split second. She wasn't expecting it at all. But she recovered quickly and kissed him back.
Kid hadn't kissed her like that in a long time. It's not like they could kiss frequently during the two years they were in the Army, only a stolen kiss here and there. Then Kid got hurt and Lou was so concerned about nursing him back to health that she couldn't think about anything else.
But now he was kissing her so deeply and passionately that it made her feel light headed. When they had to break for air, he looked at her with pure happiness, with a naughty wonderful smile that made her heart skip a bit. And the shadow was gone. The deep and pure blue of his eyes was back.
"Hey," he whispered, putting his hand on her waist.
"Hey, yourself," Lou answered. She could feel her heart beating faster already, and was amazed to discover she was actually very nervous.
Kid closed his eyes and bent to kiss her again. She put her hands on his chest and started to slowly find the way toward his neck. But when he put one hand on the ground behind her and softly started to push her down to lie on the blanket, she pushed back. She steadied herself with one hand on the ground and the other on Kid's chest, holding him back.
"What are you doing, Kid?" she said, breathing rapidly already.
Kid looked puzzled but didn't lose his smile.
"Well, huh…" he stuttered.
"We can't do this," Lou protested seriously.
"Of course we can," he said, bending to kiss her again.
"No, we can't," she exclaimed, pushing him back and sitting up again.
This time he got serious and raised his eyebrows at her.
"Why not, Lou?" he asked softly, confused.
"Because I don't want to hurt you!" she blurted out.
He stood still in awe for a moment before he could react.
"What?" he finally asked, almost amused.
Lou realized that despite herself she was blushing to the bone. She looked away.
"You're not all right, Kid. You were wounded, badly wounded. You still haven't gained your strength back. And I'm afraid I might, you know, hurt you or something. Or you may even hurt yourself. It ain't worth it."
Kid stood silent for a moment. Lou just kept looking away, feeling her heart about to burst from her chest. It had been ages since he had kissed her like that, and even the touch of his hand on her waist was making her shiver. She missed him. She missed him so much that it actually made her skin ache. But she was also worried for him. He had nearly died right in her arms, and then there had been the terrible weeks that followed his surgery. He looked so pale, and thin, and weak.
"Lou, darling, look at me," Kid whispered taking her by her chin and turning her face to him.
"What?" she snapped, still blushing.
The sweet look in his eyes almost melted her.
"Lou, honey, I love that you care so much about me, I do. But, I'm alright, really."
"You ain't alright, Kid," she replied seriously.
"I am, thanks to you. I am. I swear," he said stroking her cheek with the back of his hand.
She closed her eyes. She wanted him so badly. But she was honestly concerned. Then he softly kissed her cheek, her forehead, her closed eyelids. Again putting both her hands on his chest, she sighed and opened her eyes.
"It ain't even safe here. A military patrol could show up at any minute."
"We're way off the main roads, Lou," Kid murmured as he continued to trail kisses down her neck. "Nobody's showing up. And if they do, we'll… we'll ask them to give us a moment."
Lou softly chuckled. This felt so incredible good. Angling her head to give him a better access, she whispered one last time: "Kid, are you sure 'bout this?"
This time it was Kid who chuckled and pulled back, shaking his head.
"What's so funny?" she frowned.
"Nothin'. I just… I just recall this being the other way 'round," he said, trying unsuccessfully to suppress a laugh.
"Hey!" Lou cried indignantly, slapping him in the chest. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing', nothing'…" he said still laughing. Then he looked at her so deeply that Lou felt her breath caught in her throat. "I'm just, I'm just so relieved, and happy, and…" he ran his fingers through her hair and stroked the back of her neck, bringing her close to him again. He gave her a light kiss and breathed against her lips: "I miss you so much, Lou. I miss making love to you so terribly. It's been too long. Just let me love you, baby."
Lou smiled, feeling shivers all over her body. How come this man always knew exactly the right thing to say?
So this time it was she who kissed him, and as she softly pushed him down, she realized that she had been aching for him every second of the past two years.
Thank you, dear Pilar, as always! And thank you to my dear friends on the Plus. Yes, that was the kissing scene that still makes me blush only by reading it. I´m such a prude... ;)
