-1The
weather was still warm, and the group all sat outside of the
bunkhouse, taking in the sounds of the town closing up for the night,
and the saloon's business really getting going. Teaspoon excused
himself and began his nightly rounds as Marshal.
"It sure is
pretty out here. It is so nice to be in that stage any longer."
Allison told them.
"I've never been to Virginia. What's it
like out there?" Jesse asked her.
"Oh, it's just
beautiful. Rolling green hills, and plantations and farms all along
the countryside. Where we live, there were more dirt farmers than
anything, so we didn't really have the type of life that most
northerners think southern farmers have. I have personally worked in
the fields, picking tobacco and cotton, and I have the scars on my
hands and arms to prove it.
I never did think that you should
make someone else do something unless you were willing to do it
yourself. Our whole family was like that. Stubborn, some called us.
They thought that we should have bought Slaves, but my daddy would
have no part in that. He said if we were gonna pay for help, we would
pay for people that wanted to work, not because they had to. Sure, we
never got rich, but it wasn't hard for us to sleep at night.
You
might be surprised at how many people in the south actually think
that way. But, I do know that there are so many out there that do
just horrible things to people just because they think they have the
right. The Lord will call them up some day for their actions. I rest
easy knowing that I haven't caused that pain." Allison told
them.
Noah
had listened to the young girl closely. He knew that she was cut from
the same cloth as Kid, and it made him smile. Good people were still
out there, people that knew wrong from right. Allison and Kid were
just that kind of people.
"Where are you from, Jesse?"
Allison asked.
"Kansas. My brother Frank and I, our whole
family, we were burned out of our farm last year. Frank has been off
doing his thing, and I came here. I like it well enough, except when
Rachel and Teaspoon baby me." He told her.
The
air began to cool down, and the group decided it was time to turn in.
Rachel and Allison walked to the house, and the boys went inside. Kid
and Lou remained on the porch and looked at the stars.
"I'm
glad that you are here with me, Kid. Please, after hearing Allison,
you can't still be considering going back?" Louise asked Kid. He
tightened his arms around her. Tears welled up in her eyes at the
thought of him going into battle without her there with him.
"I
just don't know. I have so much going through my head right now, that
I don't know if the thought is coming or going. I just know that I
have to do what is right for us." He told her.
"Well,
then, if what is right for us is you going to Virginia to fight, then
I am going with you. I'll dress like a boy and follow." She
informed him, stiffly. "I told you never to make me leave you to
fight by yourself. I meant that. Then, and now."
Kid
looked seriously at her. He knew her will and what she could do. He
loved her more than anything. Sitting down on the step, he put his
face in his hands and shoved his fingers back through his hair.
"Okay then, that's settled, then. I won't be going to
Virginia to fight. I know you Lou, I know that you would follow me. I
can't have anything happening to you. I'll stay here." He told
her.
"Are you sure?' She asked. Kid looked at her and smiled
crookedly.
"You have no idea how happy you just made me,
Kid." She threw her arms around him and held him close.
"I
think I just might." Kid told her as he kissed her.
