Chapter 19
Emma Cain stood with her hands on her hips, her mouth hanging open in shock, what had she just walked in on? Teaspoon had said there was a lot to talk about when he sent that telegram, but she was most definitely not expecting to find her Loulabelle taking a shower with Buck. What in the world would Kid do when he found out about this?
The two former riders blushed profusely, Lou attempting to hide herself behind Buck, Buck covering himself even though Emma could only see the tops of his shoulders. They were both extremely thankful that she had not arrived a few moments earlier. Emma was just glaring at them.
"Does someone want to tell me just what kinda shenanigans is going on here? Loulabelle you get on out of there and get dressed." Emma scolded ever the mother.
Lou slowly opened the door and snatched up her dress, slipping it on quickly before coming fully out of the shower. Emma gasped when she saw Lou's stomach, "I think I need to sit down." Emma breathed out, her hand going to her head.
"Emma we can explain." Buck said quickly as he pulled on his clothes in the shower. Lou moving to stand in front of Emma.
"Well somebody had better! What would Kid think!" Emma scolded loudly, not quite yelling.
"Emma, why don't we all go inside and have a little chat." Rachel said as she came around the corner, her eyes sparkling with laughter when she realized the situation Buck and Lou had been caught in.
Emma turned and followed the other woman leaving Buck and Lou alone for a minute. They looked at each other and started laughing, "Can you imagine what she'd have done if she had been just a little earlier?" Lou asked, tears rolling down her face.
Buck visibly shuddered, "I'd rather not even think about it."
Hand in hand, the two lovers walked inside the house, Teaspoon and Sam snickering as they came in. "Alright Mr. Spoon, start talking. You're telegram only said to come for a visit there was a lot to talk about." Emma said, her eyes leveling on the older man, hands on hips.
"Well 'bout that, Lou's pregnant." Teaspoon said casually.
"I can see that Mr. Spoon." Emma scoffed, her lips pursing, as she began tapping her foot.
"It's Kid's, cept he done split on her, months ago to go fight in that blasted war. Slipped out in the middle of the night, only leaving a letter freeing her from the marriage." Teaspoon explained.
Emma gasped, tears springing to her eyes, her poor Loulabelle, "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. But that don't explain what I just saw outside, you're still married to Kid."
"Actually, I'm not." Lou said.
"What?" Emma asked, her mind reeling, had Lou got a divorce?
"Turns out Emma, I messed up. Kid and Lou weren't ever legally married cause I put Kid down on the marriage license." Teaspoon told her.
Emma had to sit down, "Sweet merciful heavens."
She held her head in her hands for a moment as she thought on all that she'd been told, she sat back looking at the boy and girl she considered her children, "So Kid ain't in the picture no more?"
"No." Lou told her, taking Buck's hand.
Emma looked between the two, "So you two are together, together?"
"Yes," Buck answered smiling.
"This is a lot to take in," Emma murmured before looking at Buck, "Honey, I'm so sorry. I thought the worst of you just now, but I should have known better. You'd never betray a friend."
"It's alright Emma, I'm sure that was a shock for you." Buck said, only imagining just how shocked she could have been.
"A shock to be sure. I just gotta know one thing though… what does the town think about Lou having a baby seeing how she was never technically married." Emma asked, her eyes concerned.
"Well, they don't know that bit. We kinda let people believe that Kid had been killed in the war." Lou told her, her face blushing when Emma looked at her in shock and disappointment.
"Loulabelle, I don't think that was the best course of action. A lie is never the answer." Emma scolded gently.
"I lied to the whole town before when I pretended to be a girl." Lou pointed out.
"No, that was different, you never told the townsfolk you were a boy, you just let them assume you were." Emma said.
"What's the difference?" Lou asked.
"The difference is, you weren't hurting no one by pretending to be a boy. But straight out lying to the town saying Kid is dead, so people wouldn't know the marriage was never legal, so you can be with Buck, is just wrong and it can come back to bite you in the behind." Emma explained, clearly worried.
Buck had been incredibly silent, he hadn't wanted to lie to the town, but it had been Lou's decision. "It's a little too late now Emma, Tompkins made sure the word was spread."
"Not much we can do about that then, just hope that Kid never shows back up to cause problems." Emma said, "Now I want a hug from my girl and boy." Emma stood arms held out wide to them.
Lou rushed over to the woman squeezing her tightly, only to let go long enough for Buck to be pulled into the hug. "A baby… oh Loulabelle, I'm so happy for you. And Buck, you've grown into such a handsome young man… no wonder our Lou chose you." Emma teased, causing Buck to blush.
"Am I chopped liver over here? Where's my hug?" Sam complained a few minutes later.
Lou moved over to the lawman who swept her up in a big bear hug, "Girly, it's hard to believe I ever thought you were a boy. You're the prettiest little momma I've laid eyes on."
"And Buck," Sam said as he clasped Buck's hand and pulled him into a hug, slapping his back, "Seems you hit the jackpot."
"Yes, I did." Buck said his eyes lingering on Lou.
The group moved into the parlor, where Rachel served them all some cake, Buck and Lou cuddling together on the couch, Emma sitting next to them so she could pat Lou's knee occasionally. Sam sat on the settee near the fireplace, lighting up a cigar.
"So, the thing is, we didn't just come out here for a visit…" Sam started, blowing out a puff of smoke.
"You found something on that she-devil." Teaspoon broke in.
Sam grinned, "I most certainly did… and it's a dandy."
Buck and Lou shared a look, smiling triumphantly. "What did you find Sam?" Lou asked eagerly.
"It turns out that Ms. Devlin was disowned by her father, which is why she became a teacher, she's here because she thought no one would know her." Sam stated.
"But why would Devlin disown his own daughter?" Buck asked. True Kathleen's father had wanted Kathleen to marry Rance, but he had still loved her, even when she was going around with him, her father never threatened to disown her.
"Seems after the incident between you and Rance, Mr. Devlin did in fact send Ms. Devlin back to the finishing school in Paris… and this is where things get interesting." Sam said as he pulled a letter from his pocket, "This here is a letter from the director of said school."
"What's it say, Sam?" Lou asked.
"Ms. Devlin was expelled from the finishing school after she was caught in a compromising position with a fellow student." Sam said, his eyes looking over at the ladies not sure if they would be offended by the topic.
"Whoa, whoa, wait a minute here Sam." Rachel started, "Are you telling me that she-devil was caught having relations with a woman?"
"That seems to be the case. Needless to say, once her father found out he promptly disowned her." Sam told them.
"I'll be damn." Teaspoon muttered.
"Can I have that letter Sam?" Lou asked.
"Sure… but what are you going to do with it?" Sam asked as he handed it over to Lou.
Lou smirked, "I'm going to get rid of the tramp."
"Oh, there was one other thing." Emma spoke up then all eyes turned to her, "Sam is stepping down from his position in Omaha. Seems Rock Creek was in need of a new marshal."
"Emma! Sam! Y'all are moving here?" Lou exclaimed happily.
"Just gotta wrap up somethings back in Omaha, but we should be here permanently in month or so." Sam told the young girl.
Buck and Lou shared a smile, with each other and with Sam and Emma.
"This calls for some celebration!" Teaspoon exclaimed.
"Now Mr. Spoon, ain't no need for all that. Sides we got plenty of other things to celebrate. That baby being one of them." Emma told him.
The family spent the remainder of the day, just enjoying each other's company. Buck showing Sam around the ranch. Emma visiting with Lou and Rachel and her siblings. She was so glad that Buck had gone to fetch the children for Lou. Between Rachel and Lou, Emma had learned the whole story. She was glad, that Buck and Lou had found each other after everything they had been through, they both deserved happiness. She only hoped Kid would stay gone for Lou's sake.