Chapter 20

The next day Lou drove herself into town, much to Buck's dismay. He knew what she was up to, and wanted to see that devil woman get her come comeuppance, but Lou didn't want Buck to go anywhere near that she-devil.

Lou parked the buckboard in front of Tompkins store, she needed to pick some things up while she was in town, plus she was waiting for the school to let out. As soon as she saw the door to the school open and the children began filing out, she made her way over. It was time for Ms. Devlin to be taught a lesson.

Lou entered the school house, Kathleen was standing behind her desk with her head bowed, shuffling papers. Lou let the door shut behind her causing Kathleen to look up, her eyes narrowing as she took Lou in, an evil smirk going across her face.

"Ah, if it isn't the 'widow'," Kathleen sneered, "How convenient for you that your husband was killed."

Lou just stared at her, walking closer, she wasn't going to let Kathleen get to her. "Tell me has Buck jumped at the chance to marry you," Kathleen said pointedly looking at her ring finger, a smirk on her lips, "Guess not since there's no ring. Guess he doesn't want to be daddy to a whore's brat."

Lou just, smiled, her eyes gleaming. Kathleen losing some of her bravado at Lou's calm demeanor, "Why are you even here?"

"Seems I've found something interesting out Ms. Devlin." Lou said as she pulled the letter from her pocket, "I know why you're here. Daddy cut you off didn't he Kathleen?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Kathleen said folding her arms over her chest.

"Then I guess you don't know about being kicked out of that fancy Paris finishing school either … oh you know the one where you were caught bunking with another woman." Lou said, opening the letter and holding it out to show Kathleen.

Kathleen reached for the letter but Lou pulled it back before she could get it. "What will it take to keep this quiet?"

"I want you to leave. I want you to tell people the truth, that you made up all that horseshit at the dance." Lou told her.

"The town believed what I said because they already had doubts about you. What makes you think they would even believe me." Kathleen asked.

"You better make them, or I swear the whole town will know the truth about you Ms. Devlin." Lou promised.

"And you think they'd believe you, a woman of questionable character, over me a good little school teacher?" Kathleen asked leaning back.

"Maybe not, but they'd believe the Marshal who found this information out, they would believe Tompkins a man on the town council and looked up to by everyone." Lou reasoned.

"You're bluffing… you wouldn't dare." Kathleen said.

"You have no idea what I would do to protect Buck." Lou said getting closer to Kathleen, leaning into her face, Kathleen visibly shrank back at the look in Lou's eyes.

"Fine… I'll try to fix things. I can't promise they will believe me. Now can I have that letter?" Kathleen asked holding her hand out for it.

Lou laughed, "You think I'm an idiot? I give this to you and I have no leverage. No, I'm hanging on to this for now. I'll be watching Ms. Devlin."

Kathleen glared at Lou as she turned and walked out of the schoolhouse her head held high. Lou had won for now. But she still didn't have Buck, or so Kathleen thought. No ring, no promise, she still had a chance. She'd make things right for Louise and just maybe Buck would be grateful enough to thank her in person and then … well she could make sure he'd be hers then.

Lou left the schoolhouse and went over to the store, Tompkins standing at the window and watching her, as she walked across the road, he turned to look at her when she came in the door, "You sure seem happy, Lou… just what were you doing at the schoolhouse?"

"Dealing with a vermin problem." Lou said with a grin.

"Sam find out something did he?" Tompkins asked, the corner of his mouth lifting in a smirk.

"You could say that… and if Ms. Devlin wants to keep it quiet, she'll fix the mess she created." Lou told him.

"You want me to keep an ear to the ground, see if she's convincing the town?" Tompkins asked.

"I'd appreciate that… and if not, I'll need your help convincing the town the truth about her." Lou told him as she looked around the store, her eyes lingering on the display of rings inside.

Tompkins smiled when he saw what had caught Lou's attention, "You see one you like?"

Lou scanned the contents, her eyes lingering on a small silver band with a simple turquoise stone. But she didn't see any wedding bands in silver for Buck. No, she wanted a set that matched. She shook her head, but Tompkins had seen the one Lou was looking at.

"You know Lou, I can always order something special if you don't like anything." Tompkins told her, walking behind his counter to pull out a catalog.

"I dunno Tompkins … shouldn't Buck be the one to pick out the rings?" Lou asked, her eyes drifting back to the simple ring.

"I could always make a suggestion to him … maybe even make sure there's a matching band for him too." Tompkins suggested.

Lou smirked, "So, say Buck comes in sometime soon, perhaps you might suggest a simple silver band."

"Sure… I could do that." Tompkins said chuckling a little. "You need anything else Lou?"

"Rachel just needs a sack of flour, and I need to purchase some fabric to start making diapers." Lou told him as she went to study the fabrics.

A short time later Lou was headed back to the ranch with her purchases. She had not only gotten fabric for diapers, but she had found a gift for Buck. One that she hoped he would like.

Buck was waiting for her when she pulled into the yard, a worried expression on his face, but at her smile he relaxed. "Things go good?" Buck asked as he lifted her down from the buckboard, his thumbs brushing the sides of her breast, Lou shivering at his touch.

"I'm giving her a chance to fix things. If she doesn't the whole town will know exactly what kinda woman she really is." Lou told him, before she stood on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips.

"You're a better person than I am, I would have let the whole town know." Buck told her.

Lou laughed a little, "Buck Cross you and I both know, you'd do no such thing, you're too good. I was trying to be more like you."

"You may be right … but when it comes to you…I'd burn the town to the ground if it would protect you." Buck whispered, his eyes going dark with intensity.

"I love you Buck …" Lou told him, "I brought you something."

"You didn't have to get me anything, Lou." Buck told her, as he pulled her into his arms and began nibbling the side of her ear, "You want to slip up to the hayloft." He whispered his voice husky.

"So, tempting… but I promised I'd help Rachel with supper. I've already been gone too long… I'll make it up to you tonight." Lou teased, her fingers trailing down Buck's chest, until she squeezed him through his pants causing Buck to growl low in his throat.

"Tease..." He breathed out, his own hand trailing down her belly to touch her through her skirts.

"No … that's a promise." She said nipping his lower lip before she turned and pulled his present out of the box in the back of the buckboard. She turned back to him, and pressed it against his chest.

Buck looked down at the brand, new hat Lou had bought him, his jaw clenched as he swallowed hard. "Buck … are you alright? Do you not like it?" Lou asked, her brows furrowing.

"Lou … I … I can't take this." Buck whispered his voice breaking.

"But why? I don't understand Buck." Lou asked, looking at the hat in her hands to the one on his head, they were almost identical.

Buck reached up and took the one he was wearing off, it was worn in many spots, it was looking pretty shabby to be honest, he held it in his hands, looking at it, turning it around and around in his hands, not meeting Lou's eyes. "Lou … I know you meant well… but I … this was the first birthday gift I had ever received."

"Ike bought it for you, didn't he?" Lou asked understanding dawning on her. "I'm sorry, I should have known."

"No, Lou you didn't do anything wrong… I know I need a new one … I just can't say goodbye yet." Buck told her, his eyes moist with unshed tears.

"Buck, Ike is always with you. He's here." Lou told him placing her hand over his heart.

Buck reached towards Lou, the back of his fingers brushing her cheek, "I wish he was still with us. I miss him so much."

"I know Buck … I do too." Lou told him, her own eyes filling with tears.

The breeze sifting, stirring up a little dust that twirled like a dance between them, Buck's hat lifting in his fingers, to flap back down against his leg. The breeze swirling around them, like a caress, a silent laugh on the wind. Buck and Lou looked in each other's eyes and could have sworn that Ike was with them.

A/N: Thanks shauna for the beta. To the guest reviewer questioning why not just tell the town they got a divorce, you have to consider the time period. a divorce was scandalous. And Lou has caused enough of a scandal in town just by masquerading as a boy to work. She wants to be accepted by the town for Buck to be accepted, he has a hard enough time being accepted because of who he is... marrying a divorce woman would just make things worse. Granted they will be in a heap of trouble if Kid ever shows back up.