The Ball
The day of the ball arrived and everyone at the way station was ready. Over the past two weeks, Rachel had been successful in teaching them the new dance steps and all of their new formal attire had arrived. The boys would all be dressed in their usual black dress pants and black jackets with new linen shirts and cravats. She had decided to order each of them a different color waistcoat to wear under their jackets so they didn't all look exactly alike. Rachel was sure they would all look exceptionally handsome at the ball this evening and couldn't wait to see each of them formally attired.
Despite her excitement over the five boys and Teaspoon, the thing that gave her the biggest thrill was how she was going to surprise Louise with her gown tonight. The invitation stated that unmarried young women must be attired in white or off-white, with very soft colors for the ladies that were spoken for but not yet married. The older women could wear whatever color they wanted. For Louise's gown, she had picked out the most beautiful shade of pale blue forget-me-nots. To complete the outfit, she had a matching silk ribbon for her neck as well as small pearl drop earrings and long white gloves. Rachel knew she would be the belle of the ball in it, she just had to get her ready. The gown had been hanging in her spare bedroom for a few days now, having taken longer than the boys' shirts and waistcoats to arrive. She thought fondly of this past Wednesday afternoon in which she brought Lou into the spare bedroom for a dress fitting. She kept her blindfolded during the entire process, trying her best to ensure she didn't see her gown until the night of the ball. Despite not wearing the appropriate undergarments when the young woman had slipped into the dress, it had fit perfectly and needed no last minute alterations. Closing the door to the bedroom, Rachel headed to the bunkhouse to remind them it was time to get ready.
Entering the bunkhouse with sandwiches for everyone, Rachel was surprised to find most of the boys practicing their dance steps for that evening. Kid and Lou sat huddled together on his bunk, their hands tightly linked and their heads bent close together in deep conversation. If she had to guess, their relationship seemed to progress rapidly over the last two weeks since they had returned from Fort Kearney. Judging by the closeness they seemed to have regained and their clear obliviousness to anything else in the room, Rachel had a sneaking suspicion they had spent the night together before they came home. While Lou had remained tight-lipped over what might have happened two weeks ago, Rachel had certainly offered to listen should she ever need to talk about anything. So far, however, the female rider seemed more content to share her thoughts with the object of her affection rather than the station mistress. Letting out a breath, she placed the platter of sandwiches on the worn wood table. Seeing the arrival of Rachel and lunch, the boys immediately stopped what they were doing and moved to the table in search of food.
"Boys, after lunch, you all need to get washed up before you can dress for the ball this evening. Please be finished by supper as we'll have to leave shortly after that," Rachel informed the group before her. "Louise, you will be coming with me as soon as you finish lunch." She handed her a small folded card with the smallest pencil she had ever seen dangling from it followed quickly by a bar of lavender scented soap.
"What is this, Rachel?" she asked, flipping the card around in her hand, the funny tassel-thing flopping around her wrist.
"That is your dance card," Rachel replied. Seeing the look of confusion on the girl's face, she added, "If some young man wants to dance with you, he has to write his name on that card. The tassel is to loop onto your wrist so you don't lose it."
"And if I do? What happens then?"
"Then anyone can fill it out. You may find yourself dancing with the same person all night," Rachel informed her, her face full of meaning.
Lou understood that to mean she could get stuck with some awful bore all night. Of course, if Kid were to take her dance card and fill it in, she wouldn't mind that so much, she thought, looking over to find familiar blue eyes staring at her intently. Falling into his gaze she missed what else Rachel was telling her. Blinking some awareness back into herself, Lou stammered, "What was that, Rachel?"
"I was saying that there is a bath waiting for you in my kitchen. I want you to use that soap until you smell like a woman again," she directed. Lou lifted the soap to her nose and inhaled the light floral scent. God, this was going to be nice to smell feminine again! How she missed being a girl sometimes.
From her side, Louise could see Kid gazing at her intently. Over on his bunk, he had confessed he couldn't wait for tonight, just so he could spend the whole night with her in public. It would almost feel normal and given her role as pony express rider, they had never really done normal. Despite her nervousness over appearing in public as a woman, she couldn't agree with him more. He knew she was nervous about going tonight, especially since she wouldn't be able to hide in the corner as was her usual habit during these events. He reassured her that no one would notice her, nor would they connect her with the missing express rider. The boys had all agreed to tell anyone who might comment on the smallest rider's absence tonight that he was out on an overnight ride, so she had nothing to worry about.
With lunch finished, Kid resumed his seat on his bunk, his eyes trained on the young woman who held his heart. She hurried around to gather the soap and dance card she had left on his bunk in her haste to eat lunch before her preparations for the ball could commence. Since she was about to depart for Rachel's house and her waiting bath, Lou decided to have a little fun with Kid before she left. Feeling particularly bold, she took the dance card that had been resting on his bunk while they all ate and handed it to him. "Hold on to that for me, Kid," she said saucily, lowering her lids slightly as she gazed at him. He took the offered card, their fingers barely touching, and tucked it into his pocket. He knew her message was clear, he better fill the whole thing in by the time they left for the ball. She had announced to the entire room that she was all his, not that any of the boys thought otherwise.
Louise had spent the entire afternoon under the primping of their house mistress. After her luxurious bath, from which she emerged with softly scented pink skin, she slipped into the silkiest and sheerest undergarment she had ever seen. The diaphanous chemise slid softly over her curves, the hem just skimming the tops of her knees, and felt like air on her skin. Rachel had handed her one of her robes to wear over the filmy garment while she pulled her hair onto the top of her head in a mass of curls, tucking tiny forget-me-knots between the strands. Happy with the result of her labors on the young woman's tresses, Rachel decided she best check on the boys to see how they were coming along. Before Rachel headed to the bunkhouse to feed the boys, she left two plates of food on her kitchen table for Louise and her to eat as soon as she returned.
In the bunkhouse, the boys were all clean and freshly shaven in time for Rachel to arrive with dinner. Upon her entrance into the bunkhouse, they all took note of her hair coiled in a fancy hairstyle on the top of her head. She looked so different from what they were used to.
"You are looking lovely this evening," Teaspoon commented to the station mistress as he rose from his seat to assist her.
"Where's Lou, Rachel? Isn't she eating dinner tonight?" Noah asked breaking the spell her appearance had cast over the rest of the riders. He knew that everyone was wondering where their sister had disappeared to all afternoon.
Catching Kid's eye along with the rest of the boys, Rachel replied, "She and I will be eating up at the house tonight. As soon as you've finished eating, you're all on dish duty tonight, so the sooner you get cleaned up, the sooner you can get dressed and we can all leave." Pausing to give them each the once over, she added, "Louise and I will need time to get dressed. Wait here until I come and get you." The boys and Teaspoon nodded their agreement to her final directive. Having given her instructions, Rachel turned and left the bunkhouse, bringing Teaspoon with her. The pair returned a few minutes later, bearing packages containing the evening's attire for each of the boys. Rachel, with Teaspoon's help, quickly distributed the parcels to their respective owners. They both watched as the boys unwrapped their new white dress shirts and richly colored vests. Rachel smiled as she saw Kid pull a deep blue vest out of its wrappings, pleased that it was a few shades darker than Lou's gown. The rest of the town should quickly figure out that they belonged together based on their clothing alone.
Back at her small house, the two women of the station settled for a quick supper. Once the two women had finished their evening meal and had cleaned up, Rachel had announced it was time to dress. Leading Louise to the spare bedroom, she showed her the rest of her outfit for tonight. "Rachel, it's so beautiful," Lou said, as her hand glided along the silky material of her gown, tears springing to her eyes.
"Kid won't be able to keep his eyes off you all night," Rachel whispered behind the girl. "Are you ready for this, Louise?" she asked.
Lou nodded her head, saying, "Thank you for all of this, Rachel. I think I may feel like a princess tonight."
"Well, you'll certainly look like one."
Rachel helped Lou slip the silk stockings on her legs and tie them with fancy ribbon garters around her lower thighs before adding the satin corset. After pulling the strings tightly on her back to cinch the younger woman's tiny waist, Rachel turned, allowing Louise to tighten her own corset. Next, she unbuttoned the tiny buttons that ran down the back of the soft blue gown and held it carefully while Lou stepped into it. Once the gown was in place, she fixed the long row of buttons up the back, closing the young woman into the dress. Rachel left the room for a few minutes to put her own deep burgundy gown on. She returned quickly to find Lou had already tied the silk ribbon around the slim column of her neck and added the tiny pearl earrings. All she had left were the gloves, which were waiting on Rachel's dressing table along with the older woman's pair.
Rachel pulled Lou over to the large mirror that stood in her bedroom. She knew the young woman needed to see how she looked before she left for the ball. When Lou caught her reflection in the mirror, she was speechless. This wasn't her, this had to be someone else, she thought. Rachel smiled at her reflection before announcing, "I'm going to check on the boys. They better be ready by now. Stay here until I come back for you." And with that she grabbed her gloves from the dressing table and left the room, leaving Lou to admire the beautiful woman staring back at her.
The boys had finished dressing a little while earlier and were milling around waiting for Rachel and Lou to arrive. Even Teaspoon had finished dressing in his new suit. Suddenly the door was open and all six men in the room jumped to their feet. Rachel entered the bunkhouse and saw six extremely handsome men standing before her. "You all look so handsome," she announced proudly. "The girls in town will be flocking to your sides tonight, boys," she added. The boys all beamed proudly under Rachel's praise, but they were anxious to get going.
"Ah, Rachel?" Teaspoon started. "Is my lovely niece ready yet?" he asked. He knew everyone was eager to get to the ball, and to see their bunkmate.
They heard her calling before she reached the bunkhouse, "Rachel!" Lou called from the porch. Throwing open the door, pulling one glove onto her slender arm, she ran into the bunkhouse to find six pairs of eyes glued to her. Still fiddling with her glove and oblivious to the gawking faces around her, Lou asked, "Rachel, I can't find my other glove. Did you take it by any chance?" she asked. Lou stopped suddenly when she realized everyone was staring at her, mesmerized.
Each of her bunkmates took note of the vision of femininity that stood before them. The soft blue gown that clung to her form. The sweeping neckline that allowed them all to see her feminine swells. Her lustrous hair piled into curls on her head, leaving her pale neck enticingly open. "What?" she asked as she took in their appreciative looks. They all seemed rooted to the spots they were standing on.
Rachel moved over to her before handing her the missing glove so she could pull it on her bare arm. She tried her best to block the young woman from the view of the others in the room, but she knew her attempts were futile. "Louise, you were supposed to wait at the house," she gently admonished.
Teaspoon was the first to recover his wits and announced, "Rachel, stop fretting over my niece. Boys, I think it's time we got to this ball." Teaspoon motioned for the door, waiting until the bunkhouse was nearly cleared of riders as he stepped forward to take Lou's arm in the crook of his elbow.
Kid, realizing that he was about to lose his chance, quickly stepped forward, imploring, "Teaspoon?"
Seeing the desperation in the young man's eyes, Teaspoon stepped out of the way, saying, "She's all yours, Kid," allowing Kid to offer his arm to Louise. Seeing that she was taken care of, Teaspoon returned to Rachel's side, his arm out to escort the woman to the ball. He leaned over to whisper to the golden-haired beauty on his arm to ask, "Something's different between those two, or are my eyes playing tricks on me?"
Rachel, keeping her head close to the marshal's, whispered, "I see it too. I would bet my last dollar they spent the night together at Fort Kearney, although if they spent the time talking or doing something else, I don't know."
"I would bet it was a good bit of both," Teaspoon agreed with a sly grin. He was glad to see his two riders back together and figuring things out between them. Ever since he found out that Lou was actually Louise, he had been sure those two would eventually find themselves standing before him pledging their lives to each other. When they had broken up all those months ago, the older man had felt their loss keenly, never losing hope that they would reconcile one day. During the time they were apart, he caught the longing looks they would each cast towards the other when they thought no one was watching them. He knew Rachel had seen it too, so when they had slowly started repairing their relationship, the two of them had mutually agreed not to meddle this time, only offering advice if it was solicited. Leading the station mistress down the street, Teaspoon left the young couple alone for a moment of privacy before they made their way to the hotel near the middle of town.
Having finally left the bunkhouse on the heels of the rest of their express family, Kid leaned over to Lou as they walked slowly and quite a distance behind the rest of the riders. "You look beautiful, Lou." He watched as a blush crept up her cheeks. She smiled coyly and leaned into his arm.
"You're not looking so bad yourself, Kid," she replied with a soft nudge and a coy smile.
The pair strolled slowly down the main street of town on their way to the hotel where the ball was to take place. The rest of the boys were scrambling ahead of them in their eagerness to arrive in time to claim the local girls for the first dance. Louise could see Teaspoon and Rachel a ways ahead of them. Probably trying to give us a little time alone before we get there, she mused to herself.
"So, Kid, I'm gonna need my dance card before we get there," Lou demurely reminded the man walking next to her.
"Yeah, about that...What if I don't have it anymore?" Kid responded cryptically.
Peering over at him, Lou stopped walking and stared at him. "What do you mean 'you don't have it anymore'? How could you lose it in a few hours? Do you know what could happen if I don't have that card?" she argued. Lou felt her panic rising at the thought of being manhandled by some of the single men in town.
Kid watched her as she disentangled her hand from his arm and started pacing back and forth in front of him. In her frantic movement, she failed to see the grin starting to spread across his tanned features. As Lou continued to walk in circles wringing her gloved hands, Kid moved to stand in front of her, effectively blocking her path. He gently grabbed her by her silk-clad shoulders and forced her to turn her brown eyes up to meet his blue ones. "Lou, I know perfectly well what will happen if you don't have your dance card. You get to spend the whole night with me, which happens to be exactly how I want it," he finished with a satisfied grin on his face. Momentarily releasing his hold on her, he reached one hand up to pat his breast pocket where her dance card was safely stowed away. Seeing where his hand had travelled, Lou cast a knowing glance his way, understanding that he hadn't lost the item at all.
"But what about all the other girls in town you usually dance with?" she said, her voice tight with barely concealed jealousy.
"You know I only dance with them to keep the townsfolk from talking about us riders too much." With her reluctant nod of agreement, Kid dropped his voice lower and continued, "You know I'd much rather dance with you." Leaning back slightly, Kid added, "Besides, tonight I plan on giving them something to talk about."
"Really," she retorted in disbelief. Lou knew that Kid hated to have anyone thinking or saying anything bad about him or anyone at the station. And here he was informing her that he planned to set all the locals' tongues a-wagging. "But you…"
"I know. I never do that," he interrupted her. Relaxing his grip on her shoulders as his hands trailed down her arms in search of her gloved hands, Kid explained, "Lou, you know what I want for us. If our trip to Fort Kearney two weeks ago was any indication, I think you want that too. I just don't want anyone else thinking they have a chance with either of us, when we both know they really don't. So if that means I get to spend all night with you and the townspeople talk because of it, I'm alright with that."
"Uh huh," Lou replied shyly.
"Are you alright with that? Cause I don't know of any other way, besides the obvious, which I'm pretty sure it's not quite the right time for that anyway, for me to make my intentions known," he whispered softly as he slid his hand around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He could feel her relaxing under his touch as he leaned in to gently kiss her cheek. Lou turned her face to meet his and pressed her soft lips to the gently probing lips of the man in front of her. They stood there for a moment, forehead leaning on forehead, and stared deeply into the other's eyes.
"I think that might be alright," she replied breathlessly. "Kid, I…" He closed his eyes and kissed her again, wrapping her securely in his arms, oblivious to the fact they stood in the middle of the street. "We shouldn't be doing this here," she whispered, pulling slightly away from his comforting arms. As if suddenly struck by the realization of where they were and where they were supposed to be going, Kid released her from his grasp, placed her hand back into the crook of his arm and turned them in the direction of the hotel.
"What were you about to say?" he asked, trying to sound less curious than he felt as they started walking towards their destination again.
"Huh?" she paused and looked over at him before she shook her head and finished, " I was going to… Oh, look! We're here!" The pair looked up at the hotel looming in front of them. It was perhaps the largest building in town, so it was naturally the best choice to hold the annual ball. The spell that had entranced them a few moments ago was broken with their arrival at the ball.
"Lou, what were you gonna say?" Kid tried one last time to get her to open up. He felt like she was about to tell him something important, something that could change everything. He watched her peer curiously through the doorway to the hotel before she looked back at him and maneuvered him to the far end of the hotel porch.
Lou figured now was as good a time as any to disclose what had been bothering her for months now. While she had hinted at it two weeks ago in her hotel room, she needed to share how much her feelings had changed. Once she knew they were safely away from prying eyes and ears, she took his larger hand in her smaller ones before she turned her soft doe eyes up to gaze into his eyes. "Kid, you don't know how much I regret saying no to you all those months ago. If I could take it back, you have to know that I would. I just didn't know how to make you understand how I felt back then. Everything is different now, although some of it still feels the same. I never doubted how much you loved me then but you wanted me to fit some ideal you had in your mind and that scared me. I knew that I could never be that woman but I was too afraid to tell you why. Afraid you would look at me differently."
"I do look at you differently," Kid gently interjected.
"I know," she continued. "But not in the way I thought you would. I was too used to keeping to myself and living in fear." Lou paused, stepping away from him to lean on the porch railing to look out over the town. "I don't want to live like that anymore," she whispered.
She felt familiar arms snake around her waist before his breath whispered into her ear, "You don't have to be alone anymore." Hearing those words from Kid caused a tumult of emotions to course through her. It was all so overwhelming and welcoming all at once. Unable to restrain herself, she felt a single tear slip down her cheek. "Louise, remember back in Fort Kearney when I told you I'm not going anywhere, at least not without you by my side? I meant it then and I mean it now," he implored her, his chin resting on her creamy shoulder. Straightening up, Kid turned her around to face him before he cautiously asked, "Lou, if I were to…"
"Ask me again?" she interrupted questioningly. "Would my answer be different?" Lou asked for him. Seeing his head nodding slightly, she leaned closer, her eyes boring into his before she replied, "I think you know what my answer would be this time. I know well enough now that I don't want to live without you again. I tried that. It wasn't pleasant, especially when I had to watch you with someone else. I don't think I could bear that again." Kid watched another silent tear slide down her cheek and brushed it away with his thumb.
"Hey! Are you two coming in or what?" Cody hollered from the doorway. Kid and Lou turned their heads in his direction, breaking the cocoon the two had created in their little corner of the hotel porch.
"Yeah, Cody, we'll be there in a minute," Kid barked, irritated at their friend's intrusion.
"The first dance is about to start. Gotta show off all those dance steps Rachel made us learn," Cody yelled back before disappearing back inside the hotel.
Kid returned his gaze to the beautiful woman in front of him as she stood struggling to stifle a very feminine giggle. Catching the look on her face, the duo burst out laughing. "I guess he's still trying to show off for the girls in town," Lou managed between snickers.
"Would you expect otherwise?" Kid asked, raising an eyebrow at her comment.
"Well, someone better warn them they're about to get their fancy slippers stepped on," Lou added. "He kept stepping on my feet and going in the wrong direction when Teaspoon and Rachel asked me to help him the other day."
"I didn't know that," Kid said flatly, stopping their laughter with his sudden seriousness. "When was this?"
"It was last week and you were off on a run. Anyway, you saw how he was when Rachel was teaching us all those fancy steps. It was either that or mucking out stalls. Can you blame me for choosing the dance lesson?" she tried to soothe him. He didn't seem to be mollified by her words, so she added, "Besides, about ten minutes into the lesson, I wished I had stuck with the stalls instead. I think my toes are still sore."
With a gleam in his eye, Kid replied suggestively, "Maybe I should look at them later, you know, to make sure they're all alright."
Lou leaned in closer to Kid as she whispered back, "I think that might be arranged." As they made their way to the hotel entrance, she added under her breath, "Maybe if you're lucky, I'll show you what I'm wearing underneath this gown. Let's just say, I didn't know they made fabric this sheer." Kid stopped in his tracks at her revelation and felt the color rise to his cheeks just as they entered the temporary ballroom, his pants growing uncomfortably tight as the blood that had been staining his cheeks suddenly rushed south. Upon entering the crowded makeshift ballroom, the vast amount of people gathered there made it easy for him to regain control of his rapidly inflaming desire for the woman on his arm.
The Founder's Day Ball was held in the hotel like it was every year. This being the first time the riders were invited, they were not entirely prepared for what awaited them inside. Following Cody's abrupt reminder to make haste, Kid and Lou were the last to arrive from the waystation, the scent of fresh flowers assaulting their senses as they entered the dining room-turned-ballroom. As they made their way into the floral-bedecked room, they noticed a small group of musicians situated along one wall. Formally dressed men and ladies flocked to the dance floor as the quintet tuned up their instruments. Kid and Lou could see their fellow riders starting to line up with some of the girls from town with Teaspoon and Rachel right alongside them. Rachel moved out of line quickly so she could make her way over to the newly arrived couple. "Kid, Louise, why don't you come join us over here. The boys can make room for you two with our group," she said, wiggling her way in between the two and looping her arms through each of theirs. Once they were lined up with the rest of the dancers, Rachel returned to her position opposite Teaspoon as the music started.
"What took you two so long," Jimmy asked under his breath, leaning over to Kid.
"We were talking out on the porch. I didn't see any reason to hurry in here," Kid replied, looking around the room. It looked as if the entire town was crammed into this one room. "God, it's crowded," Kid remarked.
"I think everyone from town is in here tonight," Jimmy added.
"Yeah, and it's hot, too, especially with all these layers on. I think Lou lucked out in all this with that dress she's wearing. She looks as cool as can be. Much cooler than us anyway," Noah added from Kid's other side, pulling at the cravat tied around his neck. As Kid looked to his right and left, he could see his fellow riders lined up on either side of him with Lou directly across from him.
"Kid, you gonna let any of us dance with her tonight, or did you fill that whole card out with only your name," Cody commented from Kid's left.
"I don't know, Cody. You'll have to ask her," Kid replied smugly, patting the breast pocket of his jacket. Jimmy and Noah traded a curious look from either side of their southern friend.
"Hey, Louise!" Cody shouted from his spot in line. Once she turned her attention in his direction, he loudly asked, "You gonna let the rest of us dance with you tonight? Or is your card filled with his name only?"
Lou smiled demurely and cast a flirtatious glance towards Kid before she answered Cody's loud query. "Cody, you might want to pay a little more attention to your partner than to what Kid and I are doing. But, if you must know, my dance card is full for the foreseeable future," she finished with a coy smile. With a flutter of her lashes, she turned her attention back to her dance partner and her fellow riders on either side of him. The looks Jimmy and Noah were throwing between the four of them made her eyes dance in merriment as she and Rachel broke out laughing.
The musicians started their first country dance tune, and Kid deftly held out his hand to receive her smaller one in his. Dancers on either side of them followed suit as they started a short promenade towards the ballroom entrance. "What did you mean by your dance card is filled for the foreseeable future," Kid whispered to her as they released hands, turned, and proceeded to promenade back to their starting positions.
"What do you think I meant by that?" she returned with a glimmer in her eye.
As they arrived in their original position, the dancers turned and faced each other once again. Lou reached out her gloved hand towards Noah to Kid's left and the pair walked in a circle before returning to their original spots. As Kid repeated the same move with Noah's partner, Cassie, to Lou's right, he tried again, "Define foreseeable future?" The corner of his mouth quirked up in a lopsided smile as they proceeded to walk towards each other and then around each other before they once again resumed their two lines.
As the dancers turned and created lines of four facing the musicians, Lou leaned towards her partner, saying, "Since we already agreed upon forever, I think I'll let you figure out how long that is." As he looked down at her face in confusion at all her noncommittal answers, he remembered the whispered utterances of forever before he claimed her as his own two weeks ago. Now, here she was flirting with him for the first time in public and he was enjoying this side of her probably as much as she was. She was radiant as he watched her glide across the dance floor and move to partner with Noah for the next steps while Kid was forced to dance with Noah's partner, Cassie.
"What's with you two tonight, Lou?" Noah asked as they danced together.
"Whatever do you mean, Noah?' she asked coyly. "Besides, I could ask you the same thing."
"What? About me and Cassie?" Noah spluttered.
"I'm glad you invited her tonight. She likes you, a lot," Lou added as Noah twirled her around.
"Kind of like you and Kid over there. You know, he hasn't taken his eyes off of you since you walked into the bunkhouse tonight," Noah mentioned before returning her back to Kid and welcoming Cassie into his arms.
As the song ended with a final flourish, the dancers bowed or curtseyed to their partners before everyone moved away from the structured dance lines, some in search of new partners, others in search of refreshment. Lou found her hand quickly engulfed by Kid's larger one as he led her off the dance floor. "What did Noah want with you?" Kid asked, moving closer to her as they maneuvered their way around the other ball guests.
"He was asking me about us," she responded as she allowed Kid to navigate around the mayor and his wife in search of one of the open windows on the side of the room.
"And?" Kid prompted.
"And what?" Lou asked nonchalantly.
"What did you tell him?"
"Nothing. I asked him about Cassie instead," she replied. "I told him she really likes him. I think that made him a bit uncomfortable cause he stopped asking me anything after that," Lou finished with a smirk. Kid continued to stare at her as she glanced around the room. She nodded in the direction of the musicians before she said, "Kid, the mayor. I think he's gonna say something." The musicians played a short little fanfare to get everyone's attention as the mayor of Rock Creek, Albert Ritchie, stepped onto the small platform to address the crowd.
"Good evening, fine citizens of Rock Creek! Isn't this a lovely little ball my wife and the ladies of Rock Creek put together for us this evening. Millie, here, tells me I have to explain some of the rules for tonight as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the town's founding. So in case any of you gentlemen are confused, all the ladies are color coded tonight. For those of you looking for a wife tonight, the unattached ladies are wearing white. Those ladies that are already married, are in the darker colors, while the young ladies that are spoken for, but not yet married, will be in the light colored gowns. Choose wisely, gents!" the mayor announced. His petite wife stood next to him in a deep emerald gown, tugging at his sleeve. He leaned over as the woman whispered something in his ear before he continued, "Oh, one more thing. Ladies, don't forget to use those dance cards. Don't want to forget who you're dancing with tonight. Well, it looks like the orchestra is ready for the next tune, a waltz I believe. So gents, go gather your lovely ladies!"
"Color coded, huh?" Kid repeated looking down at the soft blue of her gown. She was clearly not wearing white, so someone, probably Rachel had decided to make a statement to the town as well.
"Yeah, well, Rachel picked everything out. But she knows how much I like blue," Lou whispered with a smile, the underlying meaning clear to the man by her side.
"So I guess this means you're already taken?" he asked as the musicians raised their instruments to begin the next song. "He must be a lucky man to have won your heart," he commented with a grin.
"I think he's aware," she whispered back, a coy smile gracing her features.
Glancing briefly over at the people assembling on the dance floor, KId gazed down at her luminous brown eyes. "Ready?" he asked, his open hand raised, waiting to accept her diminutive one.
Lou smiled up at him before placing her palm in his, dropping into a coquettish curtsey. "Lead the way," she directed, pausing, then whispering as he led her out to the dance floor, "I'm all yours."
The corner of Kid's mouth quirked up in a lopsided smile as he heard her hushed avowal behind him. Twirling her around and pulling her into his arms, Kid gazed down into her eyes, imploring, "Promise?" Lou felt herself being pulled into his clear blue depths. As blue eyes bored into brown, the music started and Kid whirled the petite rider around the room. Caught up in the dancing, with eyes only for each other, the couple continued to waltz as if they were the only two people in the room.
"Who is she?" Delphine Ritchie whispered to her three friends, eyeing the stranger in Kid's arms maliciously.
"I don't know, Dellie, but she sure is pretty," replied Miranda Thome. Dellie continued her perusal of the petite brunette who seemed to command the attention of all the boys in the ballroom, effectively diverting their collective gaze away from the mayor's daughter. Delphine, or Dellie as her friends called her, was considered quite the catch in Rock Creek. With her golden curls and sharp green eyes, many a young man in the town had fallen under her spell at one time or another. The one person Dellie wanted most of all, however, seemed to not even notice her existence tonight. Usually, some of the riders from the express station would ask her to dance with them. While she enjoyed dancing with Billy Cody and Jimmy Hickock, Kid had quickly become her favorite. She always looked forward to the moment she caught his blue eyes searching her out for a dance. But tonight, he didn't take his eyes off the tiny girl in his arms. And, she was wearing a blue dress, which meant she was promised to someone. Well, serves him right to get his heart broken, Dellie thought to herself with malice.
"I have to find out who she is and why she's here," Dellie spat, her jealousy becoming evident to her circle of friends.
"Why don't you just leave her alone, Dellie? She hasn't done anything wrong," protested Clarissa Wolfe. Clarissa's father, Harvey, owned the bank in Rock Creek along with his cousins, Julian Thome and Nathan Tebbins. Their daughters, Miranda Thome and Rosalie Tebbins, were friends with both Clarissa and Dellie. The girls all knew how Dellie felt about the blue-eyed express rider, so this jealousy of hers came as no surprise to the three friends.
Trying to appease her irate friend, Rosalie added, "Besides, she seems to be promised to someone, if the color of her dress is any indication. Maybe she's just passing through town on her way to meet a fiancé or something."
"I don't know, Rosalie. I never saw Kid look at anyone the way he's looking at her. Not even Dellie," Miranda observed. "He seems to be really taken with her."
"I hope she breaks his heart," Dellie snarled.
"Be nice, Dellie," Clarissa warned. "No one will want to dance with you with that attitude."
"Why don't we go get some lemonade before the next dance? Maybe Kid'll be free by then," Rosalie suggested. "You know," she added, "Maybe she's promised to Kid. He doesn't seem to dance with anyone more than once at any of the dances and he tends to disappear halfway through the night anyway. Maybe this girl's the reason why. He certainly seems taken with her."
"Shut up, Rosalie," Dellie practically shouted before turning on her slippered heel and marching off towards the refreshment table on the other side of the hotel, Miranda and Rosalie following in her path. Only Clarissa stayed, watching the pretty girl in the pale blue gown carefully. As she searched the room for the remaining express riders, she found all but one of them. The smallest one was conspicuously absent tonight. Deciding to find out a little more about the new girl, Clarissa made her way over to Buck Cross, who she found to be devilishly handsome despite the disdain of her three friends. Clarissa once mentioned her opinion of the half-Kiowa rider to her friends only to find them judgemental and dismissive of her feelings. Instead of sharing any more with the three girls, Clarissa chose to keep her few meetings with the ebony-haired rider to herself.
"Hi, Buck," Clarissa said brightly. "Having fun?" Buck startled from his place by the ballroom window, not expecting anyone to really talk to him tonight.
"Oh, hi, Clarissa," Buck said, looking over at the tall young woman with cascading brown curls flowing down her back. "Yeah, I guess. How about you?"
"Oh, you know. It's alright."
"I bet your dance card is full up tonight," Buck assumed, smiling softly at the pretty girl next to him.
"Nope. But I guess when your father owns the bank, dance partners are either too greedy or too scared. Besides, I don't want to dance with any of the men my father approves of. They're all really old and just, not for me!" Clarissa explained with more than a bit of disgust in her voice.
"Where are your three friends tonight? I thought I saw Dellie, Miranda, and Rosalie here somewhere. Did they leave?"
"Oh they're here, but Dellie is in a tiff over Kid there. She thought she would be dancing with him all night, but he seems to be quite enamored with that girl there," Clarissa revealed.
"Yeah, I would say he is. This is the first time they have really been out in public together. I think he's rather enjoying it," Buck replied, searching his friends out on the dance floor.
"Are they, you know, together?" Clarissa asked
"You could say that. They've been dancing around each other for quite a while now. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up married someday. And probably sooner rather than later." Clarissa's jaw dropped open at Buck's revelation, causing him to chuckle at her shocked reaction. "I guess Dellie isn't going to take that so well when she finds out. Maybe it'd be best if you waited to tell her until after the ball is over," Buck suggested. Most people in town were fairly familiar with Dellie's outbursts as well as her father's coddling. Each of the boys had danced with her maybe once since they moved to Rock Creek from Sweetwater. It didn't take long for them to realize how much trouble she really was. He and Noah tended to steer clear of the mayor's daughter, with Jimmy, Cody, and Kid volunteering to dance with her just to appease her father. "Do you think I should warn Kid about her? You don't think she would do anything tonight, do you?" he asked the girl worriedly.
"It might not be a bad idea, Buck. Knowing Dellie like I do, Kid might want to keep his girl away from her. No telling what Dellie might do to her," Clarissa warned.
"I'd be more worried about Dellie. Lou there can take care of herself." Clarissa's eyes widened as she realized exactly where she had seen the girl before. She was the short express rider! Buck, immediately realizing what he had just revealed, watched Clarissa's face with a grimace. Closing his eyes and sighing, he begged, "Clarissa, you can't tell anyone."
"Tell anyone what?" Dellie asked as she appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
Buck's dark eyes bored into Clarissa's amber ones, imploring her not to tell her friend the truth she had just learned. Seizing the opportunity just presented to her, Clarissa grabbed Buck's arm and pulled him towards the dance floor. "That he asked me to dance. Don't tell my father!" she lied to her friend as she disappeared into the crowd of dancers with the slightly startled and very amused Buck.
"You know, you could've just asked, Clarissa, instead of dragging me out here," Buck chortled. Placing his hand on her waist and her palm in his outstretched hand, Buck started gliding the girl around the room. Glancing around, he noticed Kid and Lou nearby, still dancing around the crowded room.
"Want to dance?" she asked, looking at him with mirth in her eyes. At her comment, Buck threw back his head and laughed as Clarissa erupted in peals of laughter.
"Maybe I should go over there and warn Kid about Dellie while we're dancing," Buck suggested as he saw an opening in the crowd. Maneuvering them through the space, they were soon right next to the other couple.
"Don't even think about it, Buck. She's all mine tonight," Kid teased, tightening his grip on her waist, as Lou rolled her eyes at him.
Buck raised his brows in mock surprise before saying, "Don't worry, Kid, I've already got the prettiest girl in town here with me. But, you might want to watch out for Dellie tonight. Clarissa says she's in quite a bad mood over you."
Hearing his words, Lou turned a raised eyebrow towards Kid. "Wanna tell me what that's about, Kid," Lou asked, looking mildly perturbed.
Clarissa, seeing the other girl's face darkening, interjected, "Lou, Dellie wants him for herself. She's pretty angry that you're here tonight. I just wanted to warn you about her." Kid nodded at Buck and Clarissa before leading Lou away from the pair.
"Something between you and Dellie I should know about, Kid?" Lou prodded again. Deep down, she knew Kid only had eyes for her, but that didn't mean Dellie understood that fact. She had seen Kid dance with the mayor's spoiled daughter at more than one dance since they arrived in town and she was quite familiar with the boys' opinions on the tempestuous girl. 'Beautiful girl, horrible personality' was the consensus around the bunkhouse. To think that Delphine Ritchie had her eye on Kid was enough to inflame Lou's jealousy.
"Lou, you know why I dance with her. It doesn't mean anything. Besides, I've danced with you the whole night tonight and not once with her. If I had my way, I'd dance with only you for the rest of my life. So, Dellie Ritchie can go jump off a cliff," Kid pronounced.
As the music ended, Kid spied Dellie out of the corner of his eye. She was watching him and Lou with murderous intent as the waltz finished. After five songs, the musicians were about to take a break before resuming their selections for the evening. Seizing the moment to stake his claim on the woman in his arms, Kid leaned over and whispered into Lou's ear, "Dellie's watching us." Watching her eyes darting around the room in search of the offensive girl, Kid softly intoned, "I'm about to make her really mad." As he pulled his face back, he watched the confusion in Lou's eyes turn to surprise as she felt him tightening his grasp on her waist, bringing his body closer to her. Closing her eyes, she felt his soft lips press against her own and her insides started to turn to a warm liquid. She could feel the color rising in her cheeks as she felt Kid's large hand move to brush his knuckles against her cheek. His lips pressed another soft kiss to her pliant mouth before he slowly widened the space between them to a breath. Lou's lashes fluttered open as she gazed her besotted brown orbs into the waiting blue pools. A gentle smile spread across their faces as they remembered they were not alone.
Around them, guests started to gasp and twitter at the display the two riders had just put on. Clasping her hand in his, Kid moved through the crowd in search of refreshment. As they passed through the door into the hotel lobby, Mayor Ritchie slapped Kid on the back and bellowed, "You should marry this one as soon as possible, Kid. Don't let her get away."
Standing nearby, his wife, Millie, added, "You know, every good Jane Austen story ends with a marriage. What a perfect ending that would be to our ball, ending it with an engagement." She clapped her hands together in delight over the prospect of a Regency-esque romance.
"Oh, leave them alone Ritchie," Teaspoon hollered over the hullabaloo as he and Rachel made their way over to the couple.
"Ah, Teaspoon, I was just funning them. Quite a show they gave us back there," the mayor said unapologetically.
"Well, show's over," Teaspoon insisted as he pushed Kid and Lou ahead of him. Rachel and the boys followed on their heels as the trio headed to the refreshment table. Rachel handed out glasses of lemonade to everyone before settling next to Teaspoon.
"What was that all about?" she asked between sips. The grizzled marshall just shrugged his shoulders in reply. The rest of the riders eyed Kid curiously, each trying to decipher what would make the normally reserved rider kiss Lou in front of the entire town. Only Buck was perceptive enough to figure it out as he sidled over to Kid.
"Dellie Ritchie?" he queried.
Kid peered over his glass at Buck before giving a slight nod. Buck let out a chuckle before he left to find Clarissa before the music started up again. She had slipped him her dance card before the last waltz ended and she disappeared in search of her friends. Having found a pencil near the refreshment table, Buck quickly scrawled his name across the remaining dances on her card so he could claim her for the rest of the evening. As he disappeared into the throng, Cody announced, "Uh, Kid? Isn't that Dellie Ritchie heading this way?"
"She doesn't look too happy right now," Jimmy added, as they all watched the golden haired beauty stomp her way over to their group.
"Not happy?" Noah observed, "She looks like she's as angry as a charging bull. Kid, Lou, you better watch out."
Lou looked up at the clearly irate young woman charging towards her. Dellie stormed past Rachel, Teaspoon, and Cody before she planted herself firmly in front of Lou. "How DARE you!" she shrieked at the petite rider. Lou saw the feral gleam in the other woman's eye and raised her brow in surprise as Kid took her glass from her hand and placed the two glasses back on the table.
"Excuse me?" Lou asked with more patience than she actually felt. Her stomach started doing flips and jumps despite her outward calm. Kid stepped slightly in front of her in an attempt to act as a buffer between the woman he loved and this deranged girl, keeping one hand on the small of Lou's back. It pained him to break contact with her now that he had her all to himself tonight. Kid had hoped that he could show her how it could be between them when they were out as a couple, but now here Dellie was trying to make a mess of everything.
"How could you?" Dellie spat. "He is mine. I saw him first."
Kid opened his mouth to respond when he felt Lou's small hand press against his chest, "No, Kid. Let me." Turning to face Dellie, Lou knew she would win this battle of wits with this spoiled girl. "And when exactly did you first see him, Dellie?" Lou calmly intoned. Around her, the boys could hear the edge to her voice and knew Dellie was in for a tongue lashing from their 'sister.'
"May 24, 1861," she replied smugly, crossing her arms in apparent victory.
Lou stepped closer to the blonde girl, her hands clasped behind her back questioning, "Really?" At Dellie's nod, Lou continued, "Do you really think it's so simple as who saw him first? Don't you think Kid should have some say in this?"
"Well…" she stammered, beginning to feel the tightening of the figurative noose around her neck. "Of course, he should. But you should know, he is promised to me. Has been for the last two weeks," she announced, a sly grin on her face at the boldface lie she had just told everyone within hearing range of them.
Lou just watched her with slightly narrowed eyes as the girl before her dug her own grave. She stared at Dellie for a moment before shrugging her shoulders and turning slightly towards the man in question. Leaning closer to Kid, Lou stated, "Well, Dellie, if you are indeed promised to Kid, then who am I to stand in your way? He's all yours." Kid nearly choked at her words while Jimmy, Noah, and Cody did their best to stifle their laughter. As she passed her rival, catching the eye of Jimmy as she passed, Lou stopped the girl, with her outstretched hand. "But there's just one thing I'm curious about. Tell me, just when exactly did he propose to you? Was it before or after he told you his real name?"
"Oh it was after," Dellie proudly announced just as Miranda and Rosalie arrived at her side in support of their friend. But, hearing the outright lies spewing from Dellie's mouth made the two young women step back into the growing crowd.
"Alright, so what is it? Because don't you think a wife should know her husband's real name?" Lou baited. "You know. I'm surprised he was so forthcoming since he doesn't share that information with just anyone. In fact, Jimmy, Cody, do either of you know his real name?" Lou prodded further. The two men shook their heads and shrugged their shoulders in response.
"He tell you, Cody? Cause he didn't tell me and we've known him for over a year now," Jimmy added helpfully as he waved a finger between him and Cody. Lou rolled her eyes at Jimmy's assistance but continued on with her interrogation. Before she could ask, Cody piped up, asking, "So, ah, Dellie, when did you say he asked you?"
"Oh I remember that day. It was the day the school house burned down. He asked me earlier in the evening after we walked under the stars," she said dreamily as if it really happened. She was getting good at this lying thing, Dellie thought to herself. She just needed to get her father over here to hear all of this so he would force Kid to do the right thing and marry her. She was hoping her snare was working so she could once again get what she wanted.
Lou looked over at Kid who was trying to keep a straight face through her line of questioning. His earlier confusion gave way to clarity as he recalled he was off on an overnight run when the school house caught fire. Lou should be a lawyer, he thought to himself before reminding himself not to get on her bad side. He both loved and hated that she could argue him in circles if she wanted to. But it was so much fun making up afterwards he thought with a hint of a smile.
Lou walked over until she was standing toe to toe with Delphine Ritchie. "Dellie," she started, "Kid was out of town on a run in Seneca the night the school house burned down, so he couldn't possibly have been here then. Besides, I met Kid more than a year ago. So, according to your logic, I guess I win."
Louise crossed her arms defensively in front of her waiting for Dellie to react. She turned to look over her shoulder at Kid when she saw him quickly reach out, grabbing Dellie's wrist before it could connect with Lou's sunkissed cheek. The smug smile disappeared from Dellie's face as she realized she had gone too far. She could see the tic in Kid's cheek as he clenched his jaw in controlled anger. "Let's get one thing straight, Dellie. It has and will always be her. She's the one I love and she's the one I want to marry someday," Kid seethed. "In fact, all she has to do is name the day." He levelled one last angry glare at the girl before he turned to Lou and said, "C'mon , Louise. Let's get out of here." Gently grasping her gloved hand, Kid pulled her from the room and out of the hotel.
Rachel and Teaspoon glanced over at the defeated young woman, motioning her two friends over and informing them to take her home. Rosalie and Miranda linked their arms through Dellie's and escorted her out of the ball. "Teaspoon, boys," Rachel said tiredly, "Let's go home. I think we've had enough for one evening." Everyone nodded in agreement and headed for the door. Noah, taking Cassie's hand, led her towards the laundry and the small home she kept for herself and her younger brother. Kissing her hand, he whispered goodnight and watched as she disappeared up the stairs and into her home, before he turned and rejoined the rest of the riders as they headed back to the station.
"Rachel, I'm going to escort Clarissa home first, then I'll be home," Buck spoke softly, letting the station mistress know his intentions. Rachel nodded her assent on her way out of the hotel. Buck quickly returned to Clarissa's side, offering his arm so he could walk her home. "Ready to go, Clarissa?" he asked. She looked shyly up at her escort before threading her hand into the crook of his arm and nodding her approval. Buck smiled softly down at her as they departed the hotel and the ball.
Once they were out in the midsummer evening, Kid led Lou in the direction opposite the bunkhouse. "Kid, where are we going? The station is that way," she queried, confusion lacing her voice, as she pointed towards home.
"I just thought we might want to take the long way home. A walk under the stars might be nice. I'll have to thank Dellie for the idea," he replied with a chuckle.
Beside him, Lou gave a little snort at the mention of the other girl's name. "Can we please forget about her for the rest of the night?" she implored. "I think I've had enough of your girlfriends for a while."
"What girlfriends? I don't have…There's only one girl I want and she's with me right now. Anyone else with any plans for me shouldn't bother," Kid said confidently.
After several minutes of walking towards the other end of town, Lou stopped in the middle of the street forcing Kid to turn to wait for her. "Lou?" he asked curiously.
"These gloves are driving me crazy," she replied as she peeled her long gloves off. Not having any place to put them, she rolled them up and stuffed them into the front of her corset.
Kid raised his brow over her choice of glove placement and offered, "You know, I could've put them in my pocket. But that works too," as he casually nodded to her decolletage.
"Maybe I'll let you fish them out later," she suggested with a seductive glint in her soft brown eyes. Slipping her bare hand into Kid's, she leaned into his shoulder as they walked past the bank, then the land office, and finally reached the wide open space at the other end of town. As they rounded the last building on the edge of town to begin their walk back home, Lou murmured, "Despite Dellie, I had a wonderful time tonight, Kid." They had stopped walking again, this time so Kid could remove his jacket, vest, and cravat. He had had enough of the constricting garments in the late July heat and wanted to free himself of them. Taking the cravat and vest and stuffing them into his jacket pockets, he tossed the jacket over his shoulder. Meanwhile, Lou had been leaning against the back of the cabinetmaker's shop, watching him make himself more comfortable in the evening heat. Luckily, the moon was out and was providing enough light for them to see. "I wish tonight would never end," she admitted wistfully as Kid caught up to her.
"It doesn't have to, you know," Kid said softly, taking her hand in his again. "We could have more nights like this." She lowered her lashes as she thought about a lifetime of nights like this. Walking under the stars, dressed like a woman, being with this man who never gave up on her. He was different than he was a year ago. Where he was tentative and unsure a year ago, now he was self-assured and content. Well, maybe not quite content, she thought. She didn't think he would be truly content until she was his wife, but for now, this was enough. That he was willing to wait until she was ready, meant everything to her. And if she was really truthful with herself, Lou knew she was ready this time. She wanted to be his wife, to spend the rest of her life loving and caring for him and their eventual family. Looking up at his moonlit face, Lou knew she had found where she belonged. She leaned into his shoulder again, resting her head against his strong frame and allowing him to lead her home.
"Do we have to go back to the bunkhouse just yet?" she said gently.
Kid stopped walking to look at her. "We can do whatever you want, Lou."
Looking up at him with hooded eyes, she suggested, "How about a moonlight swim? The pond's not too far from here."
"Maybe we should go get one of the horses first," he suggested. "We'll get there faster than if we walk."
Seeing veiled desire in her eyes, Kid gently pulled her along towards the bunkhouse. As they hurried along behind the town buildings, they soon found themselves within view of their express home. Tucking her into the shadow of the school house, Kid melded her body into his as his mouth sought hers, kissing her with the full force of his passion. Lou twined her bare arms around his neck, urging him closer. Turning her head slightly she allowed his tongue to plunge into her mouth as his fingers teased the hair at the nape of her neck. His other hand roamed freely down her side, skimming the side of her breast before snaking around her waist to pull her closer. She could feel the warmth building at the apex of her legs as he continued to plunder her mouth. "Kid," she purred as his mouth moved to the sensitive skin below her ear. "Kid… not here," she moaned as he licked and sucked on the curve of her neck, sending shivers down her spine despite the heat of the summer evening. Her skin tingled as she fought to regain her composure despite the assault on her senses. Reason broke through one last time as she moaned his name, "Kid...get Katy… pond…"
A round of loud laughter escaped from the bunkhouse as one of their fellow riders entered their quarters, forcing Kid back to reality. Deep blue eyes penetrated brown as Kid drank in the sight of the beautiful woman in his arms. "Katy...right," he mumbled before kissing her one last time and disappearing into the barn.
With Kid gone, a shiver raced over Lou's skin as she missed his nearness. She wrapped her arms around her middle, wishing she could be rid of the corset she was wearing. Despite not being used to the constricting garment, Rachel had still tied it very tightly tonight. It was leaving her breathless, not to mention the added bonus of sore ribs to come tomorrow. And it was putting pressure on her breasts, making them tender as well. Lou had just started trying to fidget with the laces of the offending garment hidden beneath her pale blue gown when Kid came walking out of the barn, leading an unsaddled Katy behind him. Over her back he had thrown one of the quilts they kept in the barn for emergencies as well as a saddle bag. Slung over his shoulder was a canteen of fresh water. A lopsided smile was plastered on his face as he reached the one he sought. "Ready?" he asked before hopping up on Katy and, reaching an arm down, pulled Lou up behind him. Grabbing the reins, Kid kicked his heels into Katy's side and together, horse and riders raced off into the moonlight.