Kid watched the woman as she passed by him and Cody as they walked toward the door of Thompkin's store. Raven curls bounced free from under the blue bonnet. Her blue eyes danced as she smiled radiantly in his direction. Her hands clasped in front of her. Watching her and not where he was going he stumbled through the door. Cody's laugh could be heard over the sound of the angels voice as she spoke to Thompkins. Cody grabbed Kid's arm to get his attention. "Kid, we gotta get these supplies back to Emma." Kid swallowed hard as he pulled his gaze off the woman.

"You're worse the Cody" Jimmy stated shaking his head as he saw Kid glance one more time into the store.

Kid slowly walked to Katy, untying her, than mounted her just as the raven haired angel walked out of Thompkin's store. A boyish smile spread across Kid's face as she made eye contact with him as she walked past him into the street. He turned in the saddle to watch her and nearly lost his balance, causing the others to laugh. Kid straightened in the saddle and looked at his laughing friends. "What?" He kicked Katy into a gallop and took off toward the way station so the others couldn't see his red cheeks.

As they all rode back to the way station with the buckboard full of supplies and Ike driving it, Buck looked fit to be tied. Ike saw the look on his friends face. Holding the reins in one hand, Ike patted his chest with his free hand to get Bucks attention. "What's wrong?" Ike signed when Buck looked at him. Buck just shook his head and looked at the other rider's around them. Ike got the message that he didn't want to talk about it with the others around. Ike nodded and left it alone for the moment. But he knew his friend well and knew it had something to do with Kid. Ike glanced at his friend again and saw the invisible daggers that Buck was shooting at Kid.

Buck knew Lou and Kid were broken up and it had been Lou's idea but that was a week ago and Kid was already looking at another woman. Buck had noticed that Kid had never looked at Lou the way he had that other woman, and that wasn't right. Lou deserved to be looked at with love and devotion. He had to shake his head to clear the thoughts. This wasn't his business.

After the buckboard had been unloaded and Cody's horse readied for his ride, Ike saw Buck standing near the corral leaning over the gate watching the new horses run, and walked to him, placing a hand on his friends shoulder to get his attention. Buck smiled his lopsided grin at Ike and saw the questioning look in his eyes and still found it amazing how he could understand Ike without a single word being spoken between them. Buck took a deep breath and said "The way Kid was looking at that woman at Thompkin's store, he has never looked at Lou like that." Ike smiled knowing how much his 'brother' cared about Lou. They had spoken many nights about Lou, talks that were spoken in complete trust and understanding. Ike smiled at his friend and signed "Now it is your turn to tell Lou how you feel about her."

Buck shook his head and turned his back to the corral fence. "I can't do that, Ike, she deserves better." The last part almost a whisper. Pushing himself off the fence and walking to the center of the yard as the sound of running hooves broke the silence of the moment. "Rider comin' " Jimmy yelled from the front porch.

Cody ran out the bunkhouse door and ran to his horse and mounted it easily in one swift motion. He caught the pouch as Lou tossed it to him. "Have a safe ride Cody" Lou yelled after him.

Buck grabbed Lightning's reins and smiled at Lou as she dismounted. "I'll take care of him Lou."

"Thanks Buck." She smiled that same smile that always melted his heart.

Emma called out that dinner was ready as Buck was finishing with Lou's horse. After stopping by the water pump to wash his hands he entered the bunkhouse to see that Ike had saved him a spot near the edge of the table but as he approached, Ike slid to the edge of the bench leaving the only spot available between himself and Lou. Buck was the only one that noticed this and slapped his friend on the back in a silent thank you. As the food was past from person to person and the conversation around the table began, Buck took in the smile on Lou's face at something Jimmy had said. She was pouring milk into her cup. Ike passed the bowl with the bread rolls in it to Buck who politely grabbed one and sat it on Lou's plate then sat one on his plate. Lou smiled at Buck for the sweet gesture.

Ike smiled as he watched the two and shook his head at the idea that neither of them knew how the other one felt about them. He saw things many people didn't. He saw the way Buck would care for Lou's horse, and the way he would hold doors open for her, even the small politeness of placing a roll on her plate because her hands were full. Ike bit into his roll with the certainty that he was going to have to snap these two out of this and have them realize how they felt for each other.

Lou sat at the table listening to the conversation around her. Kid was ignoring her and would only make idle comments in her direction. She knew the breakup was for the best. He was constantly trying to change her and control her. She didn't want that. She stared at the man across from her and knew that a part of her would always care for him but she needed to move on but how could she do that with him always there. Her eyes filled with sadness at the thought of being alone. She looked down at her plate as she felt the moisture gathering behind her eyes. She took a deep breath and fought back the tears.

Buck watched Lou's smile fade into a somber expression as she looked at Kid. He swore he saw the glisten in her eyes that said tears were going to fall. Damn Kid, for putting her through this. Buck watched Lou take a deep breath and the tears seemed to have disappeared. He was so proud of how brave she was to sit acroos the man who had broken her heart and not want to shoot him.