Chapter 8
With a full moon and a cloudless sky, it wasn't a bad night for a race, Kid decided to himself. He still wasn't sure exactly how he got talked into it, but if it made Louise happy, he figured it was worth it. Poor girl, I'm gonna beat the pants off of her. His thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Louise rounding the corner leading a fine looking dark brown horse. She wore a navy blue split skirt with a simple white blouse, and her hair was pulled back into a braid. Except for the wicked grin on her face, she looked just like a lady out for peaceful ride through the country.
"Ready to get beat by a girl?" she confidently challenged.
"I'm ready for that steak you're going to buy me, but enough talking already. Where are we racing to? Ladies choice, of course," he replied with equal confidence.
"How about the windmill on the ol' Thompson place outside of town?"
"Perfect. I'll even let you say go," he said, climbing up into the saddle.
Louise followed suit and looking him directly in the eyes, she spoke seriously, "Before we get started, I think I ought to tell you something."
"What's that?"
"Go!" she shouted, kicking her horse into action the moment the words left her lips.
After a few seconds delay, Kid realized that the race had started without him and urged his horse into action. However focused he was on the race, he couldn't help smiling to himself at the thought of how she had got the jump on him. As he neared the slim figure in front of him, he thought to himself, I'll show her.
Louise could hear the sounds of him approaching her and backed off ever so slightly so that he could catch up with her. She had no intention of letting him win, but she wanted to make sure that he couldn't complain about her slight head start. Besides, she would cherish seeing the look on his face as she inevitably pulled into the lead. Though she had briefly mentioned her love of horses, she had not disclosed her riding skills. Just as she had been a natural failure in all things womanly, she had been a natural success in riding a horse. Perhaps God had blessed her with riding ability to make up for her lack of domestic skill; in any case, she had always felt a sweet freedom as she flew across the prairies, escaping the realities of life. The other girls survived with their fantasies of Prince Charming – she survived with the release of a good, hard ride. She pushed these fleeting thoughts away as she realized he was almost even with her. Now was not the time to get distracted. She had a race to win.
Kid admired her riding skills as he gained on her. Sure, it hadn't been difficult to catch up with her, but he had to admit that she was a good rider, especially for a lady. I won't tease her too much after I win, he thought graciously, looking to the side to give her a smile. He awoke from his thoughts of grand gentlemanly gestures as she answered his smile with a wink, dug her heels into the side of her horse and shouted a decidedly unladylike "Hah!" as she pulled ahead.
Whether he was distracted by the wink or still focused on the race, he was past the windmill by a few strides before he realized two things: the race was over, and he had lost. To a girl. He pulled Katy to an abrupt halt and jumped to the ground, grudgingly turning his head toward Louise. As embarrassed as he was by the defeat, he could not help but smile at the look of merriment on her face. I suppose a little humiliation is worth making her happy. Just as long as the guys never find out about this.
"I hope the restaurant has a nice big steak ready for that dinner you're gonna buy me. You better get a salad or my dress won't fit you. You're already gonna need a mighty tight bustle to get into it!" Louise said, her laughter barely restrained.
"Okay, you won, I'll admit it. But you gotta let a fellow have some dignity," Kid replied, smiling in spite of himself.
Her face softened as she said, "You did ride a good race, and that's a mighty fine horse you have there. Where did you get her?"
"I bought her with the prize money I won in a fight."
"A fight? Now that sounds like a good story. Why don't you tell it to me on the way back to the saloon?"
"Yes ma'am!" he replied with a salute, secretly thanking her for changing the subject from his crushing defeat.
