Chapter 6

Jamie asked to ride with Jimmy which he was more than happy to oblige. Jimmy and Lou along with Jamie rode for most of the morning, Jimmy letting Lou take off a time or two as fast as her horse could go because he knew both the horse and the beautiful woman riding her needed it.

They showed Jamie all around their favorite spots. Everything Lou saw reminded her of Kid, and she was surprised that it didn't bother her as much as she thought it would. Kid would always be a part of her past and that would include a lot of good memories.

They reached a stream that was flowing more widely than usual due to the recent heavy rains. They dismounted their horses near the water to let them drink. Jimmy pulled out a bag from behind his saddle that Lou hadn't noticed before. "What's that?"

"Well Rachel thought we might get hungry on our ride." Jimmy said with a wink knowing it was a nice surprise. "Cookies?" Jamie questioned with his big blue eyes. "There might be a cookie or two in here," he said with a smile that made Lou weak in the knees.

They sat together on a blanket near a fallen tree. Along with Jamie, the three of them looked like a young family enjoying a picnic.

"I'm likin' this day," Lou said. Jimmy was quiet but gave a bashful nod at her comment. They sat for a while enjoying the warm weather and watching Jamie find some pebbles to throw in the stream, paying close attention that he didn't get too close to the rushing water.

"Jimmy, can I ask you a question?" Before he got a chance to answer, Lou proceeded to ask, "Do you like being a marshal?" He contemplated the question for a moment before answering. "I guess so. There are worse things I could be doing. It never gets dull that's for sure."

"I think it's time for me to find a job and my own place," Lou said.

"Lou, you know you don't need to be worrying about that right now." he told her. He didn't want to tell her what to do, but he also knew Rachel would let her and Jamie stay in the bunkhouse for as long as they needed.

"I know I'm not going to be out of a home or go hungry anytime soon but I need to do this for myself" she said.

Jimmy knew how she felt and he felt extremely proud of her and happy that she was still the same Lou that he fell in love with.

"Jamie! Don't get so close to the water!" Lou hollered over to him, thankful to see him stepping back as she told him to.

"So Jimmy, has there been any special someone in your life?" she asked but Jimmy was not expecting it, you could tell from the expression on his face. She wasn't sure why but she held her breath while she waited for an answer. "No." he said shaking his head. "No Lou, there hasn't been anyone." She was almost sorry she asked when she saw the look on his face. She thought maybe there was and he didn't want to discuss it. She knew that he and Rosemary didn't last long after they left town, and she was pretty sure he didn't have any lasting feelings for her.

The silence was heavy and Lou turned back to the water's edge. "Jamie!" She didn't see him where he had been playing just a moment ago.

"Jamie! Where are you?" Both Lou and Jimmy got up and ran to where they last saw the little boy, but there was no sign of him. "Jamie!" Both kept yelling and running alongside the water. Lou saw it first down a ways against a piece of driftwood that had blocked part of the stream and pointed. "Jimmy! What's that?" They both looked over to where she was pointing and then jumped into the water. They made their way to what looked like a piece of clothing. The stream was shallow and only came up to Lou's waist, but the rushing water made it hard to stand much less walk against the current. Jimmy with his longer stride made it to the piece of wood first and grabbed the cloth. It appeared to just be part of an old quilt. He held it up and showed her. "Where is he Jimmy?"

"I don't know!"

"Momma! Uncle Jimmy! Are we swimmin'?" the familiar voice sounded from behind them.

They both turned quickly to see Jamie standing on the water's edge completely dry with a handful of grass.

"Where were you?" Lou hollered.

"I's feedin' horsies Momma."

Lou and Jimmy looked at each other and sighed. They turned and started making their way back to the edge, but Lou lost her footing and fell face first into the water. Jimmy immediately went to grab her around the waist and helped her out. They sat on the ground trying to catch their breath when Jamie came over and said, "Momma, you're all wet." Jimmy couldn't help but snicker. Lou just glared at him and then said to her son.

"I know Jamie, I know. I think it's time we head back."

Jimmy stood first and helped Lou to her feet. "Thanks," she said with a smile and then a laugh. She was going to say more but then they heard the hooves of a fast approaching horse. It was Jimmy's deputy who came to tell him that there was some trouble at a neighboring farm. They packed up and rode back towards town, this time Jamie sat in front of Lou as Jimmy rode off ahead with his deputy toward where the trouble was. He would have to get a change of clothes later.

"Did you have a good time this morning little man?" she asked Jamie although she already knew the answer. "Yes momma, can we go again tomorrow?" he asked. "We'll see little man, we'll see."

She was happy for his joy but at the same time she was thinking about the look on Jimmy's face when she asked about his personal life. She would have to ask Rachel when they got back if she knew anybody that Jimmy could've been thinking about.

By the time they got back to Rachel's, Jamie was ready for a nap so Lou brought him into the main house and placed him on the sofa in the sitting room and went to look for Rachel. She was out back hanging the laundry. "Hi Rachel" Lou said as she approached from the other side of a sheet so not to startle her.

"Well, hi Louise. How was your ride…what happened to you?" Rachel asked as she finally got a good look at Lou. "You look like a drowned rat."

"Yeah, it was real nice and lunch was delicious, thank you." Lou added as if she hadn't heard the last part of Rachel's question. "If it's alright with you I was thinking of fixin' dinner tonight for everyone."

"Well, sure that would be nice to have someone fix a meal for me for a change." Rachel said.

"Alright then," Lou added. "I'll need to go pick up some things at Tompkins' store. Is it okay if Jamie stays here, he's all tuckered out on the sofa in there."

"Sure, go right ahead. I'll keep an eye on Jamie. You might want to get changed first though."

Lou just laughed but then got serious again. "Thanks Rachel. Oh and Rachel, I was wondered. Has Jimmy had any um, you know, brought any um…ladies around since you him and Rosemary, you know, split?"

"Well, nothing serious, why do you ask?" Rachel smiled thinking she might know why the young woman was asking something so personal.

"Oh I don't know. I asked him if there had been anybody special and he looked kinda sad but said no."

"Louise, did you ever think that maybe there was someone special, but she was already spoken for?" Rachel said with a sad smile.

"You mean?" Lou asked and Rachel nodded but then added, "Why did you ask Jimmy that anyways?"

"I don't know, just wondering is all." Once again Rachel just nodded but left it at that and smiled thinking that maybe Lou was starting to understand.

"Rachel I care deeply about Jimmy, always have, but I'm still married."

"Louise, do you want to still be married to The Kid?"

Lou didn't hesitate when she answered "no" and turned to leave.

Lou went to Tompkins' store to pick up what she needed for supper that evening. While she had learned a lot about cooking, she hadn't really had the chance to cook for a family her size before so she was a little worried. After getting the things on her list, she walked over to see Jimmy. He had left so suddenly after their picnic that morning she wanted to make sure all was well.

After a brief visit with Jimmy, she was happy to see he had gotten a chance to change out of his wet clothes. She was then on her way back to Rachel's. She was surprised how comfortable it felt to be back in Rock Creek again after so long an absence, especially after the fears she had had speaking to her family after coming back without her husband. After all, they were his family too. She kind of wondered what Kid was doing now back in Virginia right now but then decided she really didn't care to know.

The meal Lou prepared for her big family had been a success. Cody had brought Sarah and then Buck and Emily along with their son Hunter had made a surprise visit. Luckily Lou had fixed plenty to go around and it was a joy to see little Hunter and Jamie play together. Their family was growing and Lou at that moment knew that coming back was the best decision she had ever made.