Title: Aftershocks

Author: Cindy Ryan

Notes: See part one

Jimmy found Kid later that morning brushing one of the new horses in the barn.

"Kid."

Kid didn't turn from his tasks. "If you're here to thank me, don't."

Jimmy shook his head. "I wasn't. But I need you to hear me out."

"Why?"Kid asked bitterly his back still to Hickok.

"I promised Lou."

"We have nothing to talk about."

"Lou wants us to be friends."

Kid finally turned. "Too much has happened, Jimmy."

"I can't change that."

Kid threw the horse brush to the ground so hard it bounced. "Jimmy, she nearly died because she was your friend! People die around you."

As soon as the words were out Kid wanted to take them back.

A shadow of pain flickered across Jimmy's face. "I tried to protect her, Kid, like I always do. Things just happened way too fast. Next thing I knew Myers had his gun out and aimed at her. I couldn't move fast enough. I couldn't pull my gun fast enough. I'd rather die than see Lou in pain. You know that, Kid."

Kid nodded. "I know. I just don't know if we can do what Lou wants. I don't know if all of us can go back to the way we were."

Jimmy kicked the dirt with his boot before he spoke. "There's a War comin', Kid. If Teaspoon's right it'll tear this country apart before it ends. Hell, the Express might not exist this time next year. All of us could be split. Do you really want bad blood hangin' between us when that happens?"

Kid shook his head. "No. I can't say what happened to Lou is in the past. Because to me it isn't. It's still fresh, I can't forget it."

"I ain't askin' you too."Jimmy replied.

"But for Lou I will try to get things back to the way they were."Kid stated as he met Jimmy's gaze and extended his right hand.

Jimmy shook Kid's hand before letting it go. He opened his mouth to say something but Rachel's call for the noon meal interrupted.

"Let's go."Jimmy said with a smile. "Before Cody eats it all."

Kid returned his smile. "I think that was you last week that finished off the last of the pie."

They walked out of the barn just as an Express rider from another station rode in.

"Who's up?"Teaspoon called from Rachel's porch.

"I am."Buck replied as he grabbed his saddle bag and coat and jumped on his horse in time to take the mail satchel from the rider.

"Ride safe, Buck."Kid called as they watched Buck ride off.

"Who's hungry?"Rachel asked with a smile glad things were finally getting back to normal.

"Me."Cody piped up being first in like always.

Noah laughed. "Glad some things don't change around here."

Lou watched from the upstairs window smiling as she saw her family laughing and joking with one another again. She wrapped the light green quilt tighter around her shoulders and walked back to the bed and climbed in.

Almost instantly she was asleep.

end