Lou
"Rider comin!" Lou heard as she rode into the station in Jimmy's familiar voice. She tossed the mochila to Buck and yelled, "Ride safe" as she watched him jump gracefully onto Starlights saddle. He sat a horse as though he were born on one she thought as she cantered Lightning to a trot then walk and eventually stopped at the rail by the corral.
Ike grabbed her reins as she slid off. "Thanks Ike" Lou said as she smacked at her dusty overcoat.
*good ride* Ike signed and grinned at her and then indicated all the dust rolling off of her.
"Fall in the west." Lou said "lovely time of year"
Ike's shoulders shook with silent laughter as he nodded. *I'll take care of him. You clean up and eat.*
"Thank you" Lou said with a lot more feeling this time as she grabbed her bedroll and pack.
Ike's eyebrow raised at the sight of a wrapped brown package but he didn't say anything. Lou headed toward the bunkhouse and began to put her stuff away, when the door pushed open.
"What's that?" Kid asked as he reached for the package Lou had left sitting on top of her bunk.
"None of your business." Lou said grabbing the package and putting it into her trunk.
"You get another dress Lou?" Kid asked feeling jealous
"It ain't none of your business Kid." Lou said as she shut the trunk lid.
"Let me see." Kid reached around Lou and tried to get to her trunk.
Lou pushed Kid away from her and the trunk. "I ain't your property Kid. You don't own me. I don't have to show you anything."
Noah stepped silently into the bunkhouse just in time to hear Lou yell at Kid and stepping to them said "You don't" and then stepped between them and stood next to Lou.
"Stay outta this Noah." Kid said. "You don't know the kinda trouble she can get herself into."
"She's smart. She want to get into trouble that's her choice."
"You made your choices Kid." Lou said "Leave me be." And then pushed past both men and out of the bunkhouse. Ike was still brushing down Lightning so she headed to the barn and grabbed Ivy, a young colt with too much energy that Cody had been putting through his passes between rides. Not even bothering to saddle him, Lou jumped on and holding onto the test bit and rein that they were using to train Ivy with Lou took off.
*What happened?* Ike asked coming up to the porch worried.
Noah pointed at Kid.
"I'm just trying to look out for her." He said angrily, "Someone's gotta. Tell Rachel I've gone after her."
*Don't* Ike said and placed his hands up in front of Kid and blocked him *you saw how she took out of here. Let her cool off. She needs to breathe.*
"She'll break her neck" Kid said and sat down heavily
"Yup." Said Noah and walked away
Several hours later Lou found herself at Rachel's back door. She knocked softly not sure if she wanted to talk to her friend or not.
"Lou." Rachel said as she opened the door. "Feeling better?" leading Lou into the kitchen and putting a pot on.
"Ike or Noah?" Lou asked as she sat at the table
"Both and Kid."
"Really. That must have been interesting."
"Well I got Kids side because Teaspoon nearly skinned him alive after I told him what Ike and Noah told me."
"What did the boys say?"
"Kid chased you into the bunkhouse the minute you got back from your run, yelled at you, and upset you so much you took off on Ivy bareback."
Lou gave a half-laugh and smiled slightly. "Well I guess that is sorta what happened."
"Want to tell me?" Rachel asked
Lou let out a deep breath and then said, "Before.." and waved with her hand "I ordered a shirt for Kid. It was supposed to be a present, but then…" Lou let off, looked down at the table, and absentmindedly traced a watermark. "When I was in Red River they told me my package was in. I'd forgotten all about it."
Rachel brought over two cups of tea and a plate of cookies. "What happened?"
"Kid did what Kid always does. Got in my business. Demanded to see the package. Tried to force me to give it to him. Noah stepped between us. I rode off." Lou said and looked down at her hands ashamed. "I was just so embarrassed and mad and….I don't even know what."
"I get it Lou." Rachel said and lightly touched the girls hand, when Lou looked up she added, "You're allowed to have secrets. You're allowed to move on from Kid. It's ok."