"I was startin' to think you got lost." Lou stood at the dressing table with her back to Kid as he entered. He could see her reflection in the tall mirror that hung over the table, and saw that she had evidently just finished washing her petticoat and was engaged in wringing it out over the basin. Her skirt and blouse were already draped over the curved, brass frame at the foot of the bed along with a pair of snowy white bloomers. Her dungarees and work shirt were draped over a low table next to the room's divan. Lou had changed into the nubby wool long johns that the riders wore under their work clothes and to bed every night. Observing her slim form in the underwear, tattletale gray from many washings and a bit droopy in the drawers, Kid thought she'd never been more alluring.
"Sorry. Took longer than I expected."
Lou folded the petticoat out flat on the table and turned around, and her face registered surprise at the sight of Kid standing before her with both hands behind his back. "Where's the food?"
"I decided we should go out after all."
Her eyebrows knit in consternation. "Huh? Kid, I can't go out. Everything I got to wear is damp."
"That's not a problem." Grinning, he pulled a large, flat box from behind his back and held it out to her.
"What's that?"
"Open it and see."
Uncertainly she took it from his hands and carried it over to the bed, where she sat down and set the box down next to her.
"Go ahead," Kid urged.
She untied the string that held it closed and pulled off the lid. The contents had been carefully wrapped in tissue paper, which she pushed aside. She stared into the box. Then she raised her eyes and stared at Kid. "What is this?"
He was too excited to notice the edge in her voice.
"Take it out and look at it."
She reached into the box and came up with a fistful of filmy, pink fabric. Now she glared at Kid with an expression black as a thundercloud. "Have you lost your ever-lovin' mind?"
Her would-be benefactor cringed a little under her blistering look. This was not the reaction he'd expected – though, suddenly recalling how she'd responded when he had moved her out of the bunkhouse back in Sweetwater, he realized he probably should have. Louise McCloud did not enjoy surprises.
"It's just a dress, Lou."
"Just a dress? There's enough cloth here to cover a wagon! Must've cost a week's wages!"
It had cost him nearly two, but he wasn't going to correct the point now.
Lou crammed the lid back on the box and pushed it toward Kid, who'd taken refuge behind her bloomers on the bed frame. "Take it back."
Kid looked down at the box. A pitiful little tuft of pink fabric stuck out from underneath a corner of the lid. Lou, still glowering, nudged the box toward him again.
Suddenly Kid was angry.
"No."
"No, what?"
He folded his arms defiantly across his chest and stepped out from behind the laundry. "No, I ain't takin' it back. I got it as a present for you, so it's yours now. You can throw it out the window or use it as a scrub rag, I don't care. But I'm not returning that dress."
She blinked back at him, apparently never having considered he might refuse. Then he saw her chin start to quiver and she cast her eyes down to the calico quilt. "I just don't know why you'd do such a thing," she said quietly. "I offered to go out in my old clothes. Are you ashamed to be seen with me out in public in pants?"
"No!" Kid protested. "That's not it at all." He moved around the bed and sat down next to her. "Honest, Lou, I just wanted to do something nice for you. Take you out for a good meal to take your mind off things for a little while."
She hesitated, as if trying to decide if he were making fun, but his evident distress must have convinced her of his sincerity. She mustered a shy smile. "That's awful sweet of ya, Kid. But a dress this fancy? When am I ever going to wear such a thing back in Rock Creek?"
"You talk like you're 75 years old and ready for a rockin' chair," Kid teased. "You've got all kinds of fancy parties and dinners ahead of you yet."
Lou gave him a skeptical look, but he picked up the box and set it in her lap. "Come on. Try it on at least." The twinkle in his blue eyes softened to a pleading expression. "Please?"
She rolled her eyes, but he could tell she was weakening. "You really are the most bull-headed cowboy …" Shaking her head, she opened the box again and lightly fingered the gauzy material. "All right. But I'll look mighty funny in this fancy thing with my long johns stickin' out the bottom."
"I – er – asked the sales lady to put in everything you might need," Kid stammered, feeling his ears grow hot. "I reckon there's … stuff… underneath the dress."
"Good lord," she grinned, then looked up at him expectantly. "Well?"
"What?"
She uttered an aggrieved sigh. "Obviously I'm not gonna change with you here gapin' at me. Get out in the hall."
"Aw, I won't peek."
Lou pointed imperiously toward the door. "Git."
Kid shrugged and beat a retreat into the corridor. He'd commenced to pacing back and forth in front of the closed door when a burly man exited a room a few doors down and walked toward him. Kid immediately stopped pacing and lounged against the wall with a deliberate casualness, as if he were just taking the air.
"Lover's quarrel?"
"Huh?" Kid looked at the stranger in surprise.
The man smirked and clapped Kid on the shoulder as he passed. "Don't worry, sonny. A handsome young buck like you will turn her around soon enough."
As soon as the man disappeared into the stairwell, Kid approached the door and knocked gently. "Lou? You about ready?"
"Just a minute!" came the muffled reply. Kid started counting, and when he reached 92 seconds, Lou called from behind the door. "All right. You can come in. Just don't you laugh!"
Kid opened the door … and beheld a vision from his dreams. Lou stood in the middle of the room, looking shy and hopeful and breathtakingly beautiful in her new gown. Made of pale, pink organdy, the dress had a wide neckline that skimmed the edge of her shoulders; a flounce of creamy lace accentuated her modest bosom. Below the fitted waist, the very full skirt cascaded in a series of five flounces, each trimmed with the same delicate tatting as the bodice.
"Do I – do I look all right?"
"All right? You're only the prettiest gal in this whole world."
She giggled bashfully. "You've got a silver tongue, cowboy." She completed a quick twirl, causing the skirt to billow and float with a light swishing sound. She laughed delightedly. "All this fabric and gew-gaws, and yet it's so light and cool, I almost feel buck naked." Turning to observe herself in the dressing table mirror, she appeared to be looking at a stranger. "I feel like a princess."
"You look like one, too."
At his ardent tone she ducked her head and ran a hand self-consciously through her hair – a familiar gesture Kid had always found irresistible. Her hair had grown out some since he'd first met her, but wasn't long enough yet to put up. So Lou had tucked the chin-length strands behind her ears, allowing the tresses to frame her heart-shaped face. Kid saw a sparkle on her finger as she smoothed her hair.
"You're wearing your mama's ring," he observed.
"I thought it would look nice with the dress," she answered self-consciously.
"It does. I think you're ma would be right proud of how you look."
Lou ducked her head in her self-conscious way, then turned back to Kid. "Well, where are we gonna eat?"
"You mean you'll go out with me after all?"
She pointedly arranged her expression to look put-upon. "After all the fuss I had climbing into this get-up, I should at least get a square meal out of it."
"I'd be right honored to accompany you, your highness," Kid said, tucking one arm behind his back as he bowed deeply.
"Good lord." Lou stepped forward and gave the back of his head a firm push toward the floor. "I still think you've gone crazy."
She swept past him, then paused at the door to glance over her shoulder. "But I kinda like it."