Chapter 21

Ike and Cody rode back in from town. They pulled to a stop. Cody got their reins while Ike ran over to Lou who was hanging laundry.

"What is it, Ike?"

'A letter. From Kid.' Ike signed waving the letter around.

Lou took the letter and held it in her hands. Rachel came up behind her as the girls went past them straight to Cody. He swooped both of them up and carried the giggling girls over to where Buck was handling a foal. Lou turned the letter in her hands.

"Go ahead. Open it." Said Rachel.

"I don't know if I want to."

"You've been waiting for this letter ever since he left so I think you should."

Lou tore open the paper. She paused before unfolding the letter. She read it and looked up at Ike and Rachel.

"Well?"

"He's coming home. Said he didn't want to be away any longer. He should be here next week."

"That's great news, Lou. We don't have to worry about him anymore."

"Yeah."

"Louise?"

She looked at Rachel with teary eyes.

"What about Jimmy?"

"What about him?"

Lou held out her hand and looked at the ring on her finger.

"I told Kid that we'd marry when he got back. I can't."

"Lou, honey. You don't have to. You can wait until you know for sure in your heart."

"He hates him."

"He's just holding anger. I'll have Teaspoon talk to him before he knows he's here."

Lou nodded and walked back inside. Rachel watched her go. Ike looked on worried.

Another few days had passed and Jimmy knew it was time. Every time Rachel brought those little girls in to see him, he could almost feel a rising of hope stirring within him. Lou. She had come to try to talk to him again. He couldn't help but love her. Damn it. It was time. He couldn't allow himself that happiness after what he had done and what he could still do by bringing his troubles down on them. Rachel came in that afternoon with his supper since he refused to come out and eat. He was gonna play this right. He pushed up in the bed.

"Your color is better tonight."

He kept quiet.

"I'll just leave this here. I'll come back for it in just a few."

He watched her go back out. He could hear their voices in the kitchen. He got up and went in the dresser. He pulled out his clothes. Rachel had washed and put them in there weeks ago. He quickly dressed. He pushed open the window and went to climb through. He lost his balance and fell out onto the ground. He laid there for a minute in the darkness but no one came. He walked as fast as he could into the barn. He laid his head on his horse after finally getting him saddled. He took a few breaths before climbing in the saddle. He rode out the back of the barn and away from town.

Rachel went in an hour later to get his plate. She opened the door and wept. He was gone.

Kid rode the next day heading back toward Rock Creek. He whistled as he came into the small town of Harper's Ridge. He rode up to the store and swung down to grab a few things for the last leg of his trip home. He tipped his hat as a woman passed. He walked out the store smiling when he looked across the street and stopped. He saw him. He was coming out the local doctor's cradling his hand. He walked oddly like he was sick but it was him. Kid watched him pull himself onto his horse. Two years. He hadn't seen that no good son of a bitch in two years. He balled his fists up as he remembered what Lou had went through because of him. The pregnancy. The looks and snide remarks from the women in town. The birth. Alone. He got his horse and followed him.

Jimmy rode on for a few hours until he came to the place where he stayed when over this way. He pulled his horse into the thick trees and slid down onto the ground. He was exhausted. His hand still throbbed and he didn't have good feeling in it. The doctor told him that was to be expected and that he was lucky to be alive. Lucky. Sure.

Kid rode over to the copse of trees. He left his horse on the plain as he crept in. Jimmy was sitting on the ground with his back to him.

"I told you that I'd kill you if I ever saw you again."

Jimmy heard the familiar voice. He didn't turn around.

"I know you hear me. Get up."

Jimmy nodded. He got to his feet. He turned to face his old friend. Kid had his gun pointed at him.

"I've waited a long time to see you again."

"Do it."

Kid watched his face as he spoke.

"Do it now. Kill me."

"You deserve to die."

"I do. Shoot me."

Kid yelled out as he threw the gun to the ground and launched himself on Jimmy. The two fell back on the ground. Kid punched Jimmy in his face. He hit him three more times and went to hit him again when he stopped. He let him go and stood up. He looked down at him as Jimmy gasped on the ground. Kid walked a short ways off. Jimmy got his bearings and got to his feet. Kid turned around out of breath. Jimmy managed to run at Kid.

Kid threw him onto the ground and kicked him. Jimmy tried to fight him with what little he had. He just had to make him mad enough. Kid kicked and punched him until he could hardly see. He grabbed Jimmy around his neck and started to choke him. Kid stared into his old friend's eyes as they started to close. He let go and fell away. He looked at his friend. He went over and put his head on his chest. He was still breathing. Kid got his gun and pointed it at him. He stood holding the gun for a while before dropping it back on the ground.