July 12, 1861
Fort Kearney, Nebraska
She slowly stood, watching the flames consume the sheet of paper that had caused such disruption in her life over the past few days. As she watched the list curl and disappear into ashes, Lou gradually became aware of the strong hand holding hers and heard Kid's voice urging her to let it burn. She thought about all the havoc over the past few days since he had ridden into the waystation with that book of love poems, a book that had led her to this moment. As Lou stood by the pond outside of Fort Kearney, watching the last shreds of paper disappear in the flames, she thought about everything that had led her to this point.
Leaving the remnants of the shipping schedule behind, she wandered aimlessly over to the edge of the pond and sat down on a fallen tree near its banks. Gazing out over the still water, she thought of the book of poems Kid had given her when he got back and how happy his gift made her feel. Of course that was followed by the lies about Margaret's true identity. She wasn't the old woman he told her about but someone beautiful and feminine and closer to her own age. After Margaret showed up at the bunkhouse, Lou had stormed off, feeling wounded by his deceit. They had only started making their way back together after his childhood friend, Doritha, died a few weeks ago and to hear him lie to her face stung. Granted, he did apologize for not being completely honest with her, but not until she had been shot at by Saunders and his outlaw friends while returning from her run to Lone Tree. Now Margaret was dead, Farnsworth was dead, and Saunders and his men were all dead and the shipping schedule that brought them all together was gone. This war was tearing everyone apart, even all the way out here. The country had been at war since early April, having broken out back east shortly after they moved from Sweetwater to Rock Creek. Now under the cloudy July sky, Lou felt she was being dragged into the middle of a war of which she wanted no part. To top it all off, rumors had started trickling in that the company was running out of money, meaning she and the rest of her express family would soon be out of a job. And, with the ever present war moving closer, she feared the lure of fighting for his home might prove to be too great, causing Kid to return to Virginia after all and ultimately leaving her behind.
Lost in her thoughts, her gaze settled on a pair of dragonflies skittering along the surface of the water. As they looped and danced around each other, Lou released a weary sigh. In the midst of everything, she felt the stress of the last few days settle upon her. Really, if she was honest with herself, the last two months since they had moved to Rock Creek combined with years of masquerading as a boy had led to this point. Lou allowed the crushing fatigue to descend upon her as she sat morosely upon the fallen tree. She felt tired. Tired of running. Tired of fighting. Tired of being alone. Heaving a sigh, she watched the two dragonflies continue their mid-flight dance and thought how she and Kid were so like those graceful insects, engaged in their own dance around the other, never really knowing where they were headed. Her eyes trailed the two dragonflies as they made one last swooping motion before gradually disappearing from view.
"When do you think Cody'll be back with the marshal," Jimmy asked his two companions. The three riders, Jimmy, Buck, and Kid, were congregated around a tree, in the middle of the carnage left behind from their botched attempt to get the shipping schedule. Buck surveyed the bodies strewn over the grassy land, before crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back against the tree with a sigh.
"He hasn't been gone that long. Maybe a half hour. He should just be getting to town about now. I'm sure he'll be back as soon as he can," Kid responded, turning to face his two friends. He had been observing Lou from his position with Jimmy and Buck as she sat motionless by the pond, her back straight and her head tilted slightly forward.
"Is she alright?" Buck asked, catching the glances Kid kept throwing over the other man's shoulder.
Kid shrugged his shoulders, before responding, "She said she was when I asked her a little while ago. But, I dunno." The three riders kept a careful watch over their "sister" as they continued discussing the afternoon's events.
About an hour later, Cody arrived with the marshal who quickly surveyed the scene. Having been apprised of the situation by Cody on the way out to the pond, he had no trouble getting the area cleared of the bodies of Farnsworth, Saunders, and the rest of his gang. Once the bodies were loaded into the wagon, the marshal bid the riders farewell and headed back to town.
"You wanna head out tonight," Jimmy asked, eyeing the low, gray clouds that had been rolling in over the course of the afternoon. "Or should we wait until the morning."
Buck was the first to respond, saying, "It looks like rain. Maybe we should spend the night in Fort Kearney and leave in the morning. I'd sure hate to have to ride back in the pouring rain."
"Well, if we aren't leaving til morning, maybe we can at least get a good supper tonight and breakfast tomorrow before we head back to Rock Creek," Cody recommended.
"Thanks, Cody, " Jimmy retorted, "Always thinking with your stomach."
"And a nice soft bed sounds much better than sleeping on the trail tonight. You know even if we left tonight, we wouldn't make it home until tomorrow anyway. We'd have to stop somewhere on the trail. That won't be easy in the rain. Might as well stay," Buck added.
Noticing their distracted friend, Jimmy asked, "Hey, Kid! What do you think? Head back now or wait till morning?"
Turning his head back from where he was staring at a motionless Lou, Kid grunted, "Huh?"
"What do you wanna do?" Buck prodded. He could tell the sandy-haired rider was worried about Lou. Buck had also been watching her surreptitiously while they waited for the marshal, and in all that time she remained motionless on her perch like a statue.
"Let me go ask Lou," Kid volunteered. He watched her brown hair softly blowing in the breeze and her stiff back. Something was wrong, although at that moment he had no idea what was bothering her. It was not like her to withdraw from their group, but that was just what she had done once Saunders and his men had been killed. Walking over to where she sat, Kid stood next to her softly greeting, "Hey."
As her gaze stayed fixed on some far off point across the pond, he slowly lowered his body until he was sitting next to her. Reaching over to her small gloved hands resting in her lap, he cradled her hand in his own larger one. Softly stroking the back of her hand, he tried again, "Lou, you alright?"
Lou was only vaguely aware that Kid had come over to join her in her reverie. Feeling his strong fingers stroking the back of her hand, she pulled her eyes away from the invisible trail of the dragon flies she had been watching as her mind swirled with a cacophony of thoughts. Glancing at her hand resting between Kid's larger ones, she gave her head an almost imperceptible nod. Feeling her hair ruffling in the growing breeze, Lou kept her gaze trained on her fingers intertwined with Kid's.
"You wanna head home tonight?" he asked softly, not taking his eyes off her solemn face. When she didn't react, Kid moved his hand to her cheek and gently guided her gaze until it met his own. Searching her eyes, no words were needed. Her strained, forlorn look told him all he needed to know. He nodded to her, soothing, "I'll tell them we'll stay tonight, alright?" He stood, their fingers still entwined as he started towards where their three friends were waiting. Lou finally let her fingers drop limply from his grasp as he moved further away from her, dropping her chin to her chest and closing her eyes, willing the tears to stay away.
Kid returned to where Jimmy, Buck, and Cody now stood around the buckboard Lou had rented earlier that morning. Behind them, the horses were getting restless, spurring the riders to get going. "I think it best if we stay here tonight," Kid informed the trio. "I'm worried about Lou. I don't think she's in any mood to travel tonight," he added, glancing back at her.
"Did anything happen before we found her with Saunders?" Jimmy cautiously queried aloud. "She seemed alright, well, considering the circumstances, anyway," he added.
"Maybe once she eats, she'll feel better," Cody quipped with a lopsided smile.
"Is that all you can think about, Cody?" Kid retorted, the annoyance clear in his voice. Jimmy elbowed the blonde rider in the ribs for his remark, irritated by his lack of empathy for the female rider.
"What?" Cody cried out, "A good meal always makes me feel better."
"Yeah but Lou ain't you, Cody," Buck reminded him with a smirk.
"Well, supper isn't a bad idea," Jimmy conceded, "I'm sure we can all use a good meal before we turn in. And this sky isn't looking too good. Looks like rain's comin' soon. Why don't we head back to town and see about getting some rooms for the night?"
As the four men nodded their approval, Kid kept his eyes trained on Lou. Resting his hands on his hips, he looked at Jimmy before asking, "Can you bring Katy back with you? I'm gonna bring Lou back on the buckboard." Having gained Jimmy's agreement, Kid trotted back to retrieve Lou from the log that seemed to become her temporary residence. Placing an arm around her shoulders and taking her hand in his own, he gently pulled her from her seat and led her over to the carriage to take her back to town.
Leaving Lou by the buckboard, Kid grabbed Katy's reins from where she had been tethered and walked them over to Jimmy, who waited mounted on Sundancer. Taking the reins from the Southern rider, he said, "See you two back in town," and kicked his mount off into a gallop. Cody followed closely behind Jimmy.
Buck paused a moment, to warn "Looks like rain isn't too far off, Kid. Might want to get going as soon as you can," before turning his horse in the direction of Fort Kearney and racing off.
Lou allowed Kid to help her into the wagon before resuming her stoic demeanor. She was barely felt of the seat bounce a bit as he settled himself beside her before grabbing the reins and slapping them against the horse to get them on their way. Slowly the carriage started moving in the direction of town. Feeling the warmth and strength of the man seated next to her, Lou slowly leaned into Kid's side, dropping her head onto his shoulder. Moving the reins to his left hand, Kid wrapped his arm around her slim shoulders, cradling her petite form against his side. As the wind whipped up around them, the two riders silently made their way back to town.
Having returned the rented buckboard to the livery station, Kid escorted a still silent Lou through the light rain back to the hotel where their three friends would be waiting for them. Guiding her into the hotel lobby, Kid quickly spied Jimmy, Buck, and Cody seated at a table in the far corner of the dining room. Lou glanced around the crowded dining room seeing the many patrons but not really noticing anything. She couldn't stop thinking about the events that had transpired since they left Rock Creek three days ago. Lou soon found herself seated at the table, barely aware of the four men seated around her.
"Hey, Lou," Jimmy started, "You hungry at all?"
Lou turned her somber face to her friend, a small smile playing with her features before she dropped her gaze to her hands in her lap. Jimmy and Kid exchanged a curious look before Cody interjected, "Kid, I hope you and Lou still have your rooms upstairs cause we got the last room. The hotel's all full up tonight."
Kid turned his worried gaze from the woman next to him to the pale-haired rider. "What do you mean you got the last room?" Kid asked.
"Something about a traveling theater group is in town and all the rooms are taken. Do you and Lou still have your rooms?" Buck explained.
"Yeah," Jimmy added, "Looks like we're gonna be sharing tonight."
Kid nodded his understanding while stealing furtive glances at Lou's still form. Soon a waitress appeared at their table to take their order. Since Lou still wasn't talking, Jimmy ended up ordering beef stew for everyone and sent the waitress on her way. The four male riders decided the sleeping arrangements for the evening as they waited for their food to arrive, all the while keeping their eyes on the uncharacteristically silent woman sitting with them. Within a few minutes, steaming bowls of fragrant stew were placed in front of them along with glasses of water, a platter of warm sourdough bread, and creamy butter. The boys quickly started on their meals, Cody especially happy for the hot meal on the rainy evening.
Meanwhile, Lou continued her reverie at the table. Since she was almost shot by Saunders this afternoon, a sort of numbness settled into her, making it difficult for her to escape the turbulent thoughts racing through her mind. Glancing at the table she now sat at, she wondered when their supper had arrived. Noticing the bowl of food before her, she tentatively reached for her spoon and taking it in her hand, she brought some of the warm broth to her lips. Feeling the warm liquid run down her throat made her increasingly aware of her surroundings and the pain she felt lodged in her heart. Throughout the afternoon, following the incident with Saunders' men, Lou began to reflect back upon the last few months of her life. The sense of belonging she felt with her express family, and they were really truly a family, made her feel like she wasn't alone as she had been when she left the orphanage all those years ago. But with the war between the states slowly creeping all the way out here, she worried that her makeshift family wasn't going to last. Soon they might all be scattered throughout the country, never to see each other again.
As she continued to sip the warm broth, Lou felt her throat tightening with each mouthful. Tears pricked her eyes, forcing her to squeeze her eyes tightly closed. Unable to ignore the painful lump in her chest, she knew she had to get out of here before her overwhelming feeling got the better of her. Taking a deep breath, Lou glanced at the familiar faces around her engaged in light conversation about what she had no idea. The words 'Saunders,' 'hotel,' and 'war' managed to break into her consciousness causing her to drop her spoon on the table with a clatter. She stood suddenly from her seat, mumbling, "I can't do this," surprising the four men seated with her before darting through the dining room. Quickly traversing the stairs to her room, she disappeared from view, leaving behind four very confused and worried young men.
Once she was safely ensconced in her room, Lou was unable to hold her tears back any longer. Leaning her body against the solid door, she allowed her grief and loneliness to overtake her. Her body wracked with sobs, she slowly slid down the door, collapsing in a heap on the floor, her hands covering her face in shame. Her mind continued its racing path. How could she have ended up here? Was she destined to be alone for the rest of her life? Why didn't she say yes? Why did she always push people away from her? Why did she always push him away from her? She knew she loved him, had always loved him and yet, they weren't together anymore, not really anyway. But the way he had changed since they had broken up all those months ago, brought on a fresh round of tears. When she had volunteered yesterday to be Margaret, while he had made his displeasure known, he ultimately trusted her to decide for herself. Lou knew he still worried about her, but he was trying to not bother her with his fretting. He was trying not to crowd her and give her the space she claimed she wanted. But after this afternoon with Saunders, Lou didn't want space anymore. She wanted him. She wanted him with her now, fretting and crowding her until she didn't feel this pain in her chest anymore. She wanted him with her forever. For the rest of her life, she wanted Kid by her side, facing their future together. The possibility of him getting hurt today made her heart ache for him. The thought of him leaving her to go fight for Virginia was unbearable. Clutching her sides, Lou dragged herself up and moved to sit on the far side of the bed, facing the window. Gulping down some fresh air blowing in from the open window, she sniffled trying to calm herself down so she could think more clearly.
"Lou!" Kid exclaimed as the object of his worry quickly left the dining room. Standing from his chair, Kid watched her disappear up the stairs to her room, his eyes wide with shock.
"You think she's gonna finish that?" Cody asked the rest of the group as Kid nearly knocked his chair over in his rush to follow her. Buck and Jimmy rolled their eyes at Cody's insensitivity.
"You think she'll let him in?" Buck asked Jimmy, dropping his voice and deciding to ignore Cody's remarks.
"I don't know," Jimmy shrugged, finishing the last of his meal. "But, if anyone can get through to her, it'd be him. He's got a better chance then the rest of us." Jimmy watched as his sandy-haired friend returned to the dining room and slumped into his seat, worry etched into his features.
"Hey, she'll be alright, Kid," Buck declared, trying to appease the troubled man beside him.
"I don't know, Buck. I've never seen her like this before," Kid replied, letting out the breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"Well, why don't you finish eating and then we'll call it a night," Jimmy suggested. It had been a long day for all of them and they wanted to head out early the next morning. "I know I'm getting tired, I'm sure Lou is too. Maybe she just wanted to go to sleep," he suggested to his worried friend, hoping he was right but knowing deep down that something was bothering her
Shrugging his shoulders, Kid continued to sit and brood while the other three finished their meal. He glanced over at Lou's uneaten meal and pushed the still full bowl over to Cody, saying, "It's all yours, Cody. I'll stop and ask if I can get something to bring up to her room." Rising from his chair, Kid made his way over to a waitress and asked for a plate of bread, cheese and fruit to bring up to Lou. He was determined to see to her welfare tonight, knowing that he wouldn't be able to sleep until he was assured of her well-being. The woman returned a few minutes later with the platter of food, which Kid promptly paid for then turned to head up the stairs to his room. Catching Jimmy's eye from his place on the stairs, Kid motioned for him to come up soon. Jimmy nodded his agreement, dropped some coins on the table and bid Buck and Cody goodnight.
Once in the room he was now sharing with Kid, Jimmy kicked off his boots, hung his gun belt over the chair in the room and carelessly tossed his hat onto the dresser where Kid had already deposited his own hat and gun. Seeing that his Southern friend was nowhere in sight, Jimmy pulled off his shirt and stretched out on the bed, folding his arms under his head, waiting for Kid's return.
Jimmy didn't have long to wait, as Kid soon barged through the door, kicking it closed behind him. He walked over and placed the platter of food on the dresser before dropping dejectedly on the other side of the bed.
"She not letting you in?" Jimmy asked.
"She won't even answer the door. Nothing. Not even a 'go away'," Kid announced. "It's like she's not even in there." Raking his hand through his sandy curls, Kid stood and started pacing around the room. "Jimmy, I don't understand. She said she was alright, but clearly she's not. What happened today? Did something happen that she didn't tell us about. ..tell me about?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know! Did they hurt her?"
"She looked alright, Kid. I don't think anything happened beside the bad exchange with that Farnsworth and everyone getting shot."
"Jimmy, I've tried to give her space like she wanted, but I…"
"Kid, you gonna pace here all night?" Jimmy interrupted, watching his friend's erratic movement across the room. "Cause nothin's gonna happen if you stay here." As Kid stopped by the foot of the bed, he glared at his friend comfortably reclined on the soft mattress. Noticing the slight frown on his friend's face, Jimmy continued, "Alls I'm saying is you need to be asking her these questions, not me."
"You think she'll let me in?" Kid asked softly, running his hand through his hair again.
"Lou's more likely to let you in than any of us," Jimmy reminded him. "She loves you."
"She loves all of you, too," Kid replied sadly.
"Yeah, like brothers. She don't look at you like you're her brother, Kid," Jimmy added, moving his arm to rest over his eyes. These two could be really stupid sometimes, he thought to himself with a sigh. Sensing Kid's inactivity at the foot of the bed, he added, "Who knows, maybe she left the door unlocked. Maybe she's hoping you'll come to her tonight."
His mind apparently made up, Kid grabbed the plate of food from the dresser and hurried to the door in search of his girl. Jimmy gave a chuckle before standing to shuck his pants and crawling into bed. We'll see what time he gets back, he thought to himself with a smile before rolling over and going to sleep.
Moving stealthily down the hallway, the platter of food clutched tightly in his hand, Kid quickly arrived at Lou's door. Knocking softly on the surface, he whispered, "Lou," hoping the girl would allow his entrance into her room. Through the door he strained to listen for any sign of movement inside. He was surprised to hear a soft, "Come in, Kid," coming from inside. Slowly turning the knob, Kid opened the door and slipped inside, shutting the door behind him.
In the dimly lit room, Kid could just make out her silhouette from the soft firelight seeping in the window from the street lanterns below. Walking carefully around the bed, he placed the platter he was carrying on the dresser before moving to stand before her. "Do you mind if I light the lamp," he asked softly. Lou gently shrugged her shoulders in response, keeping her head slumped down and avoiding his gaze. Kid moved to light the lamp on her bedside table casting some of the shadows from the room. He kept the light low so he wouldn't disturb her with the sudden brightness. Taking the seat beside her, Kid tentatively reached for her small hand with his own. "You want to talk about it?" he asked her softly. For a moment, she didn't seem to move. He could see her shoulders rising and falling with her breath, and reached his other hand over to touch her shoulder.
Lou sat motionless on her bed, relishing the feel of her hand in his. She heard him gently trying to get her to talk to him, but she knew if she opened her mouth, the tears would return and she would lose all control over her emotions. Taking a few deep breaths to steady her nerves, Lou finally whispered, "Do you have any regrets?" She could feel the tears starting to trace their familiar paths down her cheeks as she thought about how she would answer that question if someone asked her. As much as she hoped he couldn't tell she was crying, part of her didn't care anymore if he found out. She was tired of hiding things from him, tired of running away from him and her feelings for him. Feeling his hesitation beside her, Lou heaved a sigh and tried to disentangle her hand from his.
Sensing she was trying to pull away from him, Kid quickly got over his initial surprise from her odd question. He couldn't figure out where she was going with this, but knew he had to give her an answer. "I think everyone has regrets, Lou," he said softly. "Why?"
Pulling her hand back, Lou wrapped her arms around her middle before she tried to explain, "You ever wish you could go back and do something differently if you had the chance?" From the corner of her eyes, she saw his head nod in agreement. "I don't know how to explain this to you. Hell, I'm not sure if I can even explain it to myself," she mumbled just loud enough for him to hear.
"Explain what, Lou?" Kid asked. She wasn't making much sense right now, but he was willing to sit with her until he understood what she was saying. "Did something happen today with Saunders and his men?"
"No….Yes…" she started to explain before Kid interrupted her.
"What happened? Did they hurt you?" he demanded, jumping to his feet in alarm.
"No. Nothing like that, Kid," she explained, seeing the look of panic on his face. She knew he was thinking of what had happened with Wicks years ago and she needed to ease his mind about that. "It just got me thinking about everything."
"Thinking about what?" Kid asked softly, relief filling his voice when he realized she wasn't hurt today. He resumed his seat on her bed, watching her move towards the window, her back towards him.
"The war...everyone at the station... and you and us and...everything," she explained. "And then it just made me tired. I realized that I'm tired of everything." Turning from the window, Lou added, her voice barely above a whisper, "I can't do this anymore."
Kid was starting to get worried over her thoughts. "What do you mean? Can't do what anymore?" He was afraid she was tired of him and he already knew that he couldn't see a future for him that didn't include her.
"I can't keep doing what I've been doing. I can't keep..." she stopped and let the tears come as she left her sentence unfinished, thinking to herself, I can't keep pushing you away.
Kid moved off the bed and stood before her, taking her face in his hands. As the soft light from the lamp cast its warm glow upon her face he finally noticed the tears coursing down her cheeks. Wiping her tears away with his thumbs, Kid leaned in closer to her and whispered pleadingly, "Lou, tell me what's bothering you."
Silence filled the room as Lou contemplated how she wanted to answer. If she laid everything on the table, how would he react? But if she didn't, her misery would continue. Deciding that rejection was better than not knowing, she forged ahead before she could change her mind. "I love you," she softly whispered, her gaze fixed on her hands. "I love you so much, it scares me. I don't want you to go away. I want you to stay with me. I want you to stay with me forever, but I'm so afraid you'll leave anyway or you'll be taken away from me. I wish I could go back. I wish I could go back and say yes instead of no. I wanted to say yes, but I wasn't ready for all that yet. I just needed time, but now we're running out of time," she pronounced between sobs, her body slumping into the nearby chair. Burying her face in her hands, Lou allowed her tears to fall unheeded.
Pulling her hands from her tearstained face, Kid gently pulled her dejected form up closer to him and grasped both of her hands with his before he told her, "Lou, I love you, too. More than I could ever tell you. You know when Doritha died and I told you how alone I felt? You told me you weren't going anywhere. I hope you know that I'm not going anywhere either. At least not without you by my side."
"But what about the war. You said you would leave me to go fight, to fight for Virginia," she asked softly, her tears subsiding enough for her to speak.
"That was before I thought I had a chance to have you in my life. Lou, believe me when I say I'm not going to leave you, not unless you tell me to go away," he said, returning to the bed. He tentatively sat down, willing her to understand how he truly felt about her.
She thought about what he was saying to her for a minute, contemplating how she wanted to ask her next question. Deciding to just be direct, Lou dropped back into the chair and blurted, "What do you want, Kid?"
"What do you mean?" Kid asked, confusion evident on his face. He watched her continue to stare at him, clearly waiting for an answer.
Realizing he needed a little clarification as she wasn't making much sense with her thoughts tonight, Lou quietly asked, "What do you want with me?"
Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Kid crossed the small space between the bed and chair, dropping to one knee on the floor in front of the petite woman. She had opened her heart up to him tonight with her jumble of words that told him everything he had longed to hear from her. He knew this was hard for her, she had always been so guarded with her emotions, but tonight, Kid knew he had to do the same. He had to share what was in his heart as well or they might at well say goodbye to each other now. And, as far as he was concerned, leaving Lou was something he never wanted to experience again. Once was bad enough. Twice was unthinkable. So looking deep into her beautiful brown eyes, he replied huskily, "I think you know what I want Lou. I want you. I want you by my side for the rest of our lives. I want to be your husband and you my wife. I want to never be parted from you, sweetheart." Rising from the floor in front of her Kid gently pulled her up with him. Cradling her face in his hands, he leaned down and pressed his lips to her own.
The feeling of his soft lips caressing her own was her undoing. Moving her hands from where they hung limply by her sides, Lou felt the strong planes of his back beneath her palms as her hands grazed over his shirt. Pulling him closer to her she turned her head, allowing him to deepen their kiss. She felt his tongue running along the seam of her mouth, asking for entrance. Fusing her lips to his, her tongue darted into his mouth, stroking the inside of his mouth with her need. Lou felt his hands running down her sides before snaking their way around her back, holding her closer to him. With each kiss and caress, Lou could feel herself melting into his strong form.
Kid was becoming overcome with the feeling of the woman in his arms. Never in his wildest dreams did he think anything like this would actually happen tonight; that she would be willingly melding herself to him. But they had decided to go slow this time, not rush headfirst into trouble like the last time they were together. Feeling his conscience niggling at him, Kid moved his hands from her back and grasping her shoulders, pushed her slightly away from him and wrenching his lips from hers. Breathless, they stood watching each other for a moment. As she gaped at him in panic, her face crumpled with the realization of his rejection. Seeing the sorrow consume her delicate features, Kid realized he needed to explain. "Lou, you know we can't do this. I thought we were going to take it slow this time so we wouldn't make the same mistakes as before."
Hearing his words, Lou felt her body shaking with anger and sadness. He didn't want her? After all this time, his refusal was crushing. "You don't want me?" she asked as her vision became blinded with her angry tears. "Is this because you think it's not proper? Not proper for who? For other people or for us? Can't you think about what you want instead of what other people think you should do?" she yelled in frustration. Moving from his grasp, Lou moved around the dresser before kicking off her shoes and removing her cape and belt and carelessly tossing them on the floor. Walking over to the door, she turned to face him, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. "If this is gonna work between us, we have to do what's right for us without letting everyone out there interfere. We had enough of that the last time. It's time we figure this out together," Lou demanded a bit more forcefully than she intended. "Or," she challenged, "You can leave." As she stood watching him, her hand on the doorknob, she could see the internal battle going on in his head.
Kid stood stock still, rooted to the spot as his mind raced with thoughts of his future and Lou. She was standing here offering him everything he had ever wanted. He just needed to be brave enough to take it. But, he was raised to treat a woman properly and bedding her before marriage wasn't right. Even though he knew that, he also knew how much he wanted her in his life and if he was honest, in his bed too. Never in his entire life had he felt this way about another woman and now she was telling him she loved him with everything she had in her. Oh, how he wanted to show her how much he loved her back. Gazing into her luminous chocolate eyes, Kid slowly felt his feet carrying him closer to her. "We need to get one thing straight first," he stated as he closed the gap between them. "I'm not leaving." Stopping a breath away from her, he leaned close and murmured, "This is forever, Louise." The tension between their two bodies was palpable. Standing so close to the other, but not touching, Lou could feel her skin itching for his hands upon it. She held her gaze firmly in his blue orbs as she nodded her head and whispered, "Forever" moments before his lips crashed onto hers claiming her as his own.
When they had been together before, everything was tentative and unsure. As she felt his lips blending with her own, Lou realized those feelings of uncertainty were gone. Their hands flew into a frenzy, frantically pulling at buttons trying to get closer to the one they desired. Lou's blouse was pushed from her shoulders as she pulled at the blue shirt blocking her from her goal. Pulling back from her for a second, Kid drew his shirt over his head, tossing it on the floor to join her discarded garment. Finally having gained access to his bare chest, Lou smoothed her hands over the strong shoulders and taut belly of the man before her. His lips moved across her cheek, placing soft demanding kisses along the slim column of her neck.
As Kid found the sensitive skin in the curve of her neck he could feel her pulse thrumming rapidly under his lips. Teasing the silky skin with the tip of his tongue, he felt the skin under his hands prickle in response, despite the thin fabric of her camisole still covering her body. Reaching a hand up to tease the thin strap of her filmy garment, his fingers gently slid the ribbon over the curve of her soft shoulder, following with gentle kisses.
Lou's fingers found his wavy mass of sandy-colored hair as she melted under his tender ministrations. Her skin felt like it was on fire wherever he touched her and the more he touched her, the more she wanted. Holding his head close to her bosom, a soft moan escaped her lips as his fingers teased her tender flesh along the top edge of her corset. "Kid," she whispered breathlessly, "help me get this off."
Eager to comply with her wishes, Kid found the knots of her corset strings and began pulling at them, trying to untie them. Her more nimble fingers soon joined his to assist in undoing the knots. Realizing she would be much faster at untying, Kid drew his fingers lightly along the tops of her breasts peeking out from the top, eliciting a shiver from her. Feeling her hands once again moving along his sides, Kid quickly removed the laces of her corset, dropping the constricting garment to the floor and leaving a trail of kisses where the laces had been a minute ago. Moving his way back up her body, Kid wrapped his arms around the petite woman before him and pulled her close to him, bringing his lips back to join with hers. Relishing the feel of her thinly clad form pressed against his bare chest and her bare arms around his neck, he crushed her tightly to him and plundered her mouth with his own.
Lou was overcome with sensation as she felt her body being wrapped in Kid's embrace. No matter how closely he held her, she wanted to be closer still. Grabbing frantically at his back and shoulders, she tried to pull him closer. Tightening her hold around his neck, Lou felt her toes leave the floor as she was carried over to the side of the bed. His arm tightly around her ribs, Lou felt his fingers fumbling with the buttons of her skirt moments before the garment slid from her body. Finally free from the impediment, she brought her knees up to cradle his hips between them as he reached behind her to pull back the quilt before he lay her down on the soft bedding. She watched him as he gazed down at her with undisguised lust in his eyes before he came crashing down on top of her. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once: lightly skimming her sides; teasing the waistband of her drawers; pulling at the edges of her camisole. As his tongue continued to stroke her own, he reached between them and pulled the filmy camisole up her body, breaking the kiss long enough to pull the thin garment over her head. His lips found hers again before trailing kisses on her cheeks, down her neck, and over her collarbone before settling between her breasts. His hands soon found her soft mounds as he pressed needy kisses to the sensitive flesh around them. Taking a pert nipple into his mouth, he flicked his tongue over the delicate peak as his hands continued to tease her other breast. Feeling the nub pebbling beneath his tongue, his mouth moved to her other breast, nipping and sucking until she was moaning with pleasure. His hands continued to knead her breasts as Kid pressed soft kisses further down her smooth belly, stopping briefly to kiss her navel. Lou felt his hands slide down her torso until he reached the top of her drawers. Finding the ribbon that held them on, he slowly untied them, his fingers delving beneath the loosened edge and gently skimming the soft skin beneath. She could feel shivers along her spine as his fingers explored her skin. Suddenly, she felt a rush of cooler air as he stood before her and pulled the last garment from her body. "God, you're beautiful," he murmured to her, his gaze raking the naked contours of her body.
Pulling herself to a sitting position, Lou stripped off her stockings then reached for his waistband. Finding his belt still there, she pulled it off and quickly undid the buttons of his pants. Slipping the pants and long johns from his body, Kid moved her further up the bed before covering her body with his own.
Lou was soon lost in the sensations of his mouth ravishing her own while her skin came alive under his touch. Slowly rolling to her side, Kid slid his arm under her neck, cradling her to him as his other hand roamed freely down her slim body. She continued to taste him while his fingers skimmed her waist and the outside of her bare thighs. The sensations continued to grow as he slowly drew his fingers along her inner thighs, urging them to fall open for him. Unable to resist his caresses, Lou felt her legs turning to jelly as his fingers moved further up their length. He stopped kissing her, pressing his forehead to her own and looking deeply into her eyes, his fingers having reached the damp curls at the apex of her thighs. As he began his exploration of her most secret places, Lou moved her hands along the strong planes of his torso before finally settling on his swelling desire. Her slim fingers wrapped around his thick shaft as she felt him softly stroking the silken folds of her sex. Sliding his fingers between her nether lips, he could feel her desire pooling from her core. Finding the sensitive nub, Kid began teasing the delicate flesh, swirling circles over and over with his fingertips. Under his tender ministrations, Lou arched her back, the quivering in her core causing her to tighten her grasp on his manhood. "Lou," he whispered, looking deeply into her eyes, "if you keep that up, we'll be over before we start."
Understanding his meaning, she relaxed her grip on him as he plunged a finger into her womanly sheath, causing her to gasp in pleasure. Slowly he slid his finger out and returned to teasing her nub. As her breathing became more rapid, he slid another finger into her core. "Kid," she pleaded, feeling a fire building in her lower belly from his attention.
Positioning himself between her thighs, Kid paused a moment, silently asking her permission with his deep blue eyes. "Forever," he whispered as he slowly entered her, filling her completely. He stilled a moment, allowing her time to adjust to him. Watching her eyes full of love and passion for him, Kid could feel her walls clenching around him, threatening to drive him over the edge.
Closing his eyes for a moment to regain some sense of control over his body, he opened them again to hear her whispering, "Kid, make me yours forever." Slowly, he started to move within her.
Lou could feel the pressure building in her core as he began to move inside her. Locking her legs around his hips, she drew him deeper within her, squeezing him with her womanly sheath. She reached her arms up around his neck as he balanced his elbows on either side of her, trying to keep his weight off her. As she pulled him closer, Lou relished his arms coming around her, in surrender. Holding her close, he withdrew from her body before plunging back in, over and over again, bringing her to the heights of pleasure. As Kid continued to stroke her core, Lou could feel her release building from his tender assault. Filling her completely with his desire, she squeezed her inner muscles around him, begging for him to continue. He moved slightly away from her as he reached down between their slick bodies to gently rub circles on her tender nub, causing her to lose herself under his touch and her womanly sheath to contract around him. He paused momentarily, locking his blue gaze with her brown one, trying to withdraw from her welcoming body. As close as she was to her release, Lou recognized the same desire in the blue eyes staring at her. She knew he was going to pull away from her, but in that moment as their bodies moved ever closer to their mutual peak, Lou knew without a shred of a doubt that she never wanted him to elave her again. Tightening her hold on him, held him as close to her body as she could urging him to stay with her when she knew the words would not come. As she fell over the edge, her core rhythmically pulling him closer. Unable to pull himself from inside her as he had always done before, Kid crushed her to him, his seed exploding within her as her core still convuled around him. He continued moving within her until their bodies were sated and they had started to come down from the heights of their shared passion.
Pressing tender kisses to her face and neck, Kid breathed, "I love you," into her ear before sucking her lobe between his lips. Her breath was heavy in his ear as she felt boneless beneath him, her thighs trembling from the force of her release. Kid held her tightly against him as he felt himself softening within her. Hesitant to leave her, he slowly rolled to her side, cradling her against him and pressing more kisses to her temple. Lou shifted her gaze, seeking his deep blue eyes and the assurances they held. She could feel his fingers lightly trailing up and down her sides, and she relished the feel of his hands on her flushed body.
"You know, Lou, this is not what I planned when I came here tonight," Kid murmured into her hair, kissing her again.
"What did you have planned, then," she asked, suggestively, raising her brows in question.
"Not this," he replied drily, but upon seeing the scowl on her face, added, "I wanted to make sure you were alright after this afternoon. And, I brought you something to eat in case you got hungry."
"Yes, you certainly did," she giggled softly.
He eyed her with playful disdain at her rather suggestive comment, knowing she was in no way referring to the actual food he brought to her. Pressing another kiss to her forehead, Kid thought about everything that had transpired between the two of them tonight. "Did you really mean everything you said tonight, Lou?" Kid asked, tracing circles on her hip and navel.
"Uh huh. I think today made me finally realize some things," she quietly admitted.
"Like what?" he cautiously asked, turning his blue eyes to her brown ones.
"Like I don't want to live without you anymore. I tried that. It was awful. Every time one of us leaves on a run or one of Teaspoon's errands, I feel this hole in my chest, like my heart was taken from me. Today I realized that it's always been with you, Kid. You've had my heart, you should have the rest of me to go along with it," she pronounced softly, a tear falling from her eyes.
"Oh, sweetheart," Kid soothed, pressing his forehead to hers, gazing into her eyes, "I know how you feel, because I feel exactly the same way."
"What are we gonna do when we get back to Rock Creek?" Lou asked, pressing soft kisses to his lips and cheeks.
"I guess we'll figure it out," he replied, "But, tonight changes things a bit, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I think it does. I hope it makes things a bit easier, but it'll probably be harder once we have to face all the boys again," she said, realizing they would indeed have to return to the bunkhouse tomorrow and things would return to the way they were before this whole night happened. Dropping her gaze from his, she watched his fingers softly caressing her hips and belly.
Sensing her unease, Kid soothed, "I think the hardest thing will be keeping things private between us with so many prying eyes back home. But, that doesn't mean we can't be creative." Bringing his hand up under her chin, Kid directed her gaze back to his smiling face. "Right?" he asked. Lou watched his face imploring her to trust him with this as she nodded her agreement. "We'll just have to get away from the boys more often so we can be alone," he added.
After a few minutes of quiet introspection, Lou asked, "Will you stay with me tonight?"
"I'll stay with you forever, Lou," Kid replied, pulling her closer to him.
"But the boys? Won't Jimmy worry if you don't come back tonight?"
"Who cares about them," Kid replied. "Besides, I think Jimmy would be more surprised if I came back tonight instead of staying here," he added kissing her softly once again.
The grumbling of her stomach caused Lou to elicit a giggle. "You didn't eat tonight, sweetie," Kid reminded her, leaving the bed to retrieve the platter of food from the dresser. Bringing the morsels back to bed, he rejoined her placing the platter between where they now sat propped up against the headboard. Breaking off a bite of cheese, he placed it between her lips. As Lou satisfied her hunger with bits of bread and cheese as well as some grapes, she became aware of his gaze fixed on her. "What?" she asked as she popped a grape in her mouth.
"How did I get so lucky?" he asked, watching her adoringly, reaching up to brush an errant strand of auburn hair from her face.
"Well, you did answer that advertisement for orphan riders," she answered matter-of-factly, a silly grin spreading across her face.
Reaching over to tickle her ribs playfully, she started squirming under his nimble fingers. Pressing her back into the mattress, his body covering hers, he said, "You know what I meant." Dropping a light kiss on her lips, he pulled back to see her luminous face.
Giggling beneath him, Lou replied, "Maybe someone decided we should have some happiness in our lives after all our troubles."
"Happiness," Kid agreed, "that sounds good to me. Starting tonight." Kissing her again, they quickly forgot the remaining food as their passion consumed them anew.
Their bodies sated once again, Kid and Lou drifted off to sleep, nestled in each other's arms. For tonight, the rest of the world was forgotten. With the joining of their hearts and bodies, they became one with each other. Kid could smell the soft lavender perfume of her soap on her skin as he dreamt about their happy future together. He couldn't wait to make the woman in his arms his wife and hoped that when he did propose again, her answer would be much different from the last time.
The morning light was filtering in through the window, bringing with it the heat of the July sun. A loud knocking on the door jolted Kid from his slumber. Hesitant to leave the warm body pressed up against his, he dropped a soft kiss on her bare shoulder, running his hands over the soft curves of her body. With a groan he dragged himself from the bed, pulled his long john bottoms back on, and padded to the door to find out who in God's name was disturbing them this pleasant morning. Opening the door a crack, he was greeted by Jimmy's smiling face. "Have a nice night, Kid?" he asked with a knowing smirk on his face.
"Good morning to you, too, Jimmy. What do you want? What time is it?" Kid asked from the doorway. He was holding the door closed, trying to block Jimmy's view of Lou's room.
"Time to get up, sleepyhead. We got to leave. Cody's already downstairs for breakfast. If you don't hurry, he might eat everything," Jimmy teased.
"Give me a minute," Kid replied, before swiftly shutting the door in Jimmy's face.
Quickly donning his discarded clothing, Kid kissed Lou awake, warning her, "I'm going downstairs to grab us some breakfast. I'll be right back." Rolling over, Lou mumbled her understanding before closing her eyes and going back to sleep. Kid disappeared through the door, closing it quietly behind him.
Jimmy was still waiting for him in the hallway, a lop-sided grin plastered on his face. Smacking his friend on the chest, Kid started walking down the hall in search of food to break their fast. Seeing Buck and Cody in the dining room, their plates loaded with eggs, bacon, and toast, Kid nodded in their direction before finding a waitress to order some breakfast. Having placed an order, he started over to where his friends were busy eating. Jimmy had already been seated, his food having been served while he went in search of his missing roommate. He shot Buck and Cody a warning glance as Kid sauntered over to their table.
"Late night, Kid?" Cody asked, his mouth full of scrambled eggs. Jimmy and Buck rolled their eyes at the usual lack of tact that came from the blonde rider.
"Can't you ever keep your mouth shut?" Jimmy demanded, his ire rising over the ribbing he knew was headed towards his best friend this morning. While he hadn't told either Buck or Cody about Kid's sleeping arrangements last night, the two figured it out pretty quickly when they arrived at his door early this morning ready for breakfast before they hit the trail home. Jimmy cursed his lapse in judgment when he simply allowed the two riders entrance to his room while he finished getting ready. They obviously noticed his roommate's absence despite the fact that Kid's hat, gun and saddlebags were clearly visible in the room. He had hoped they wouldn't say anything to Kid or Lou once they were together again for breakfast. While Buck had kept his mouth shut despite a few chuckles under this breath, Cody, as usual, jumped right to the question at hand.
Kid grimaced over Cody's remark, and felt the color rising in his face clear to his hair. "Cody, I'm not going to justify that with an answer," Kid remarked tersely. As far as he was concerned, what happened between him and Lou was nobody's business but theirs.
Seizing the opportunity to tease Kid a little more, Cody added, "So where did you sleep last night, Kid?" Muttering under his breath, he added, "That is, if you managed to sleep at all last night."
Realizing exactly what his pale haired friend was insinuating, Kid felt his anger growing over Cody's inappropriate remarks. Leaning over to gain the man's attention, Kid shoved his face directly in front of Cody before he seethed, "You got no call making any of those comments, Cody. Whatever happened or didn't happen between me and Lou, stays between me and Lou." Turning to Jimmy and Buck he added, "Jimmy, I'll get my stuff from the room and see you guys later." Realizing the waitress had arrived with the breakfasts, Kid took the tray from her before turning on his heel and marching back to his room and the woman who held his heart.
Carefully balancing the breakfast tray, Kid quietly opened the door, not wanting to disturb Lou from her slumber. Closing the door softly behind him, Kid paused, taking in the peaceful sight before him. The morning's sun filtering through the open window cast a warm glow on the beautiful woman sleeping in their bed. The auburn highlights in her hair glinted coppery red in the sunlight as he allowed his eyes to roam over the expanse of bare skin on display. Sound asleep on her side facing away from him, the sheet was tucked loosely under her arm. It left her lithe back exposed in the sultry morning air, his hands longing to feel her soft skin once again. He thought back to their joining over the course of the night and relished the feel of her soft skin beneath his work roughened hands. He delighted in the remembrance of her trembling form beneath his body, crying out with unbridled passion as they became one. Feeling his traitorous body roaring to life with his vivid reminders of the previous evening, Kid shifted where he stood, hoping his passions might abate for a while.
Breaking his dangerous train of thoughts, Kid moved uncomfortably towards the dresser where he placed the tray before moving over to the side of the bed where Lou lay in peaceful slumber. He watched a small smile play over her gentle features and wondered what she was dreaming about. Sitting beside her, Kid leaned over her inert form and started peppering her jawline with feather light kisses. As she slowly roused from her slumber, Lou's eyes slowly fluttered open, taking in the sight of the man paying close attention to her neck. Rolling to her back and reaching her arms above her head, she gently entwined her arms around his neck, directing his mouth to fuse with hers. "Mmmmmm...Good morning, Kid," she murmured sleepily between kisses. "You know, I could get used to this," she pronounced breathlessly.
Pulling back from her, Kid looked into her eyes, saying, "Me too." Motioning to the dresser, he added, "I brought us breakfast so we could stay here a little longer."
Eyeing the platters of food on the far side of the room, Lou asked lazily, "What about the boys? Did you see them yet? How much time do we have before we have to leave?" Shifting up to balance on her elbows, Lou tucked the sheet over her bare breasts as she watched a myriad of emotions flit across Kid's face.
Kid leaned back with a sigh as he thought about the annoying comments from Cody once he made his way downstairs this morning. Noticing his obvious displeasure, Lou moved to sit completely up, clutching the sheet around her still naked body, and placed her hand on Kid's shoulder in support. "Did they say something about us this morning?" she asked cautiously, a hint of vexation lacing her voice.
"When do they not?" Kid asked rhetorically, knowing that Lou understood completely what he was referring to. Ever since they got together the first time, all the rest of the boys in the bunkhouse seemed to think their relationship was fair game for their entertainment.
"Let me guess. It had to be Cody," she queried. "How much does he know?"
"He knows I didn't sleep in Jimmy's room last night. He's just figuring that I must've come here," he said testily.
Noting the animosity in his voice, Lou ran her hand up and down his back trying to soothe him. "Well, you did, didn't you?" she asked playfully, a smile curling the corner of her mouth.
"Yeah, but I don't want them to know that," he replied with more force than was necessary.
"Does it really matter, Kid? They're all gonna know once we get back to Rock Creek later today. Besides, Cody and the rest of them don't know what happened in here, do they?" Lou gently reminded him.
Kid whipped his head around when he heard her last statement. "You don't think I told them anything about last night, do you?" he asked with alarm. "Cause you know I don't want them to know anything about us….well, except that maybe we're really back together," he added with a coy smile.
"Jimmy and Buck are pretty perceptive, Kid. They're bound to figure something out. I'm not sure how long we'll be able to keep the nature of our relationship a secret, but, I think if we don't pay them any mind then they'll back off. Sometimes I think they just like to get a reaction out of one of us. And, you have to admit, we've given them a pretty good show in the past, especially when we would argue around the bunkhouse. If we don't give them what they want, then they'll find someone else to bother," she reasoned. Peering around Kid to the food waiting on the dresser, she asked, "So, you gonna bring me some breakfast in bed this morning? You know, I've never had that before." As if right on cue, her stomach gave a loud rumble eliciting a chuckle from the pair.
"I guess we need to get you fed. You must be starving after skipping supper last night," Kid mused.
Lou raised a brow at his statement, before she gently teased, "Oh, I don't know. Someone made sure I was satisfied last night, and then some. I think I may have built up quite an appetite after our other activities last night."
On his way back from retrieving the tray of sustenance, Kid placed their breakfast between them on the center of the bed, joining her in their simple repast. Handing her a fork, he picked up his own utensil and started eating. Within a few minutes, both plates were empty or nearly so, leading Kid to return the tray back to the dresser. Piling the dish from last night on top, he turned around to find Lou kneeling seductively in the center of the bed, the sheet precariously draped over her curves. There was a sly smile on her face as she looked him up and down, her eyes devouring what she saw. "Do we have time for dessert?" Lou asked, desire darkening her chocolate orbs.
Immediately comprehending her real meaning, and drinking in the vision before him, Kid's jaw dropped at her blatant suggestion, his desire raging to life despite his best intentions. "Uh, Lou..." he stammered as a resounding knock echoed through the chamber. With an uncomfortable blush, Kid made it to the door in three long strides, throwing the portal partially open and barking, "What?" to the unwanted visitor on the other side. "Jimmy!" Kid announced loudly, "What is it?"
"Something wrong there Kid?" Jimmy asked, trying to peer around his friend who was blocking the view into the room. Judging by the tense look on Kid's face, Jimmy realized that his timing might not have been the best. "Uh, just wanted to let you know that Buck and Cody and I are almost ready to leave. Are you two almost ready?" Jimmy announced.
Giving his friend a pointed look, Kid heaved a sigh, declared, "Why don't you go on ahead without us. We'll follow as soon as we're ready...probably about an hour from now."
"I could probably convince them to wait if you'd rather," Jimmy remarked, then lowering his voice, he added, "Might be better if we came back as a group so the rest of the boys don't start gossiping."
Kid rolled his eyes, remembering how talkative the boys in the bunkhouse could be. They were as bad as the town ladies at the socials. Nodding in resignation that he and Lou would have to end their private time together, Kid agreed, "Alright. If you can wait an hour, Lou and I'll be there."
Nodding with a smile, Jimmy added, "We'll meet you by the livery…" Handing him his belongings from their room, Jimmy lowered his voice to just above a whisper and suggested, "You know, there's a lot you can accomplish in an hour there, Kid." With a smile and a waggle of his brows, Jimmy turned and loped his way down the hall before disappearing downstairs.
Shaking his head, both from embarrassment and disbelief that his friend would suggest such a thing, Kid shut the door and returned to the room. Lou had settled back on the bed, propped up on her elbows, the sheet still barely covering her bare skin. "Well?" she asked. "How much time do we have?"
"About an hour. But, Lou…" Kid stammered, getting flustered by her wantonness.
"I think we could manage to be there in an hour and still have time for other activities," she remarked amorously, tracing circles on the bed with her fingers and gently sliding the sheet off her naked body. Seeing the blatant desire in her dark eyes, Kid drew his shirt over his head and quickly rejoined her in the bed. Taking her in his arms and claiming her lips with his own, their passions quickly flamed into an inferno.
Exactly one hour later, Kid and Lou exited the hotel, slightly less than eager to have to join their friends. Garbed once again as a boy, Lou kept stealing furtive glances at the blue-eyed man walking by her side. She still felt the flush of their morning lovemaking, her skin still tingling from his gentle caresses and her legs weak and shaky. They had barely had enough time to dress and pack up their belongings following their morning tryst, not that she was complaining. In fact, LOu wanted nothing more at this moment than to grab Kid and drag him back to their recently deserted hotel room, locking them inside until Teaspoon rode out to find them. Knowing that really wan't an option, she took a deep breath, brushing her fingertips to her swollen lips, thinking back to the feel of his lips possessing her own. Glancing sideways at the man who less than an hour before had made her call his name in a lust-filled haze, Lou felt a blush spread over her tingling body. Her fingers longed to be joined with his as they walked across the street to the livery station where they noticed Jimmy, Buck, and Cody waiting outside, their mounts ready to go. "I figured you might want to have Katy and Lightning ready and waiting for you, so Buck and I saddled them ourselves," Jimmy called to them as they reached their destination.
Smiling at his friend's assistance, Kid said, "Thanks, Jimmy. Give us a minute to stow our gear and we'll get going." Looking aside to see Lou already flinging her saddle bags over Lightning's back, Kid watched as she quickly tied her bedroll on the back and climbed onto her stallion's back. Keeping her hat low over her brow, he could see the female rider averting her gaze to keep her flushed face hidden from view at least until they were on their way in an attempt to avoid any unwanted comments from the boys. The glow of her face as she called out his name this morning was etched into the center of his mind. His hands still ached to touch her once again and feel her soft skin moving against his body as they shared the same primitive rhythm of their love. Amidst visions of her pale skin, her glowing chocolate eyes, and her fluttering lashes, Kid remembered that each time they had made love over the last few hours, they had not been careful in any way. While it had been gloriously indescribable to feel her walls caressing him as he released himself into her, he couldn't help but worry slightly over what they had done. Kid knew he would have to talk to her about that later to see how she was feeling about their lack of care, and if he was really being honest with himself, he knew he wanted to stay with her like this each time they made love again in the future. As his mind pondered the possibility of them creating a child together, he realized the thought no longer scared him. He truly loved her with his whole heart and wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life showing her how much. Turning to his own mare with a knowing smile, Kid tied his bedroll and saddlebags onto his mount before climbing up. Glancing over to see if Lou was ready to go, he kicked Katy into a trot as he followed Jimmy, Buck, and Cody out of town. Lou, atop Lightning, was quickly by his side as they passed the town's limits and headed out onto the open prairie.
As the five riders turned in the direction of Rock Creek, Kid pulled Katy back a bit to stay behind the other riders, hoping Lou would understand his need to delay their return home, at least for a while. Seeing the paint mare slowing down, Lou pulled on Lightning's reins and soon was walking side by side with the sandy-haired young man. "You alright, Kid?" she asked.
Nodding, Kid reached over, grabbing Lightning's reins and pulling the mount closer to his own. "Just admiring the view," he announced, his eyes scanning her lithe form as he remembered the feeling of her naked in his arms less than an hour ago.
Peering beneath the brim of his hat, Lou could see the bright blue of his eyes, sparkling with a glint of mischief. "What?" she asked suspiciously, before she found her body being hoisted through the air, landing safely on Kid's lap.
Hearing a shriek behind them, Jimmy, Buck, and Cody abruptly stopped their mounts to turn back and discover what the trouble was. Fearing for the female rider's safety, they were surprised to find her snugly seated across Kid's lap, Their hats hanging behind them and their faces pressed together. As Jimmy turned Sundancer back towards Rock Creek, Cody yelled, "We're never gonna get home at the rate they're going."
"Eh, Cody, let 'em alone," Buck admonished. "I guess they weren't ready to go home yet."
"Should we wait for them?" Cody asked. "This might take all day, and I sure don't want to miss supper tonight," he moaned to the riders on either side.
Jimmy and Buck traded equal looks of annoyance regarding their friend's comments. "Cody, why don't we go on ahead. Something tells me they don't want us around right now," Jimmy explained. "I'm sure they can find their way back home without us," he added, not even trying to hide his grin over the reunion of his two best friends. Kicking his heels into Sundancer's sides, he galloped across the plains and headed for home.