Chapter 10

Kid asked to stay in the bunkhouse that night but Teaspoon said that maybe that wasn't such a good idea. Kid seemed confused as to why but decided not to question it. He stayed with Teaspoon for the night. Tomorrow he would ask questions.

The next day started early. Lou was up with the sunrise starting breakfast. Once she started working in the evenings, she thought it only fair that she got up and made breakfast for everyone before they left to their respective jobs for the day. She had stayed up late last night fretting about why Kid was here and what problems he was going to cause her. She figured he would try to save their marriage or maybe even try to take her back to Virginia. She decided it would be best if Jamie wasn't around for that conversation. She thought about asking Teaspoon or maybe Sarah to watch Jamie for a while. She knew the talk was not going to go well and she didn't need the little boy to witness any of it.

After breakfast was mostly over, Kid came in with a big grin on his face. Lou was starting to think Kid had had a horrible head injury and forgot all about the pain he caused her in Virginia or did he just think he could fool everyone into thinking their marriage was still a happy one. Kid sat down and started filling his plate and told Rachel thanks for the good food. Rachel looked to Lou and then to Kid saying, "Kid, Louise made this wonderful meal, you should be thanking her."

Oh well, of course she did. I would recognize my wife's cooking anywhere." Lou just rolled her eyes and went to start cleaning up dishes as everyone else had finished and was getting ready to leave for the day. Before he headed out, Lou asked Cody if he thought Sarah would be able to watch Jamie for a few hours this morning. Cody said, "I can take him. I'm going over to her place now. He can help me tend fence right can't cha?" He asked Jamie as he tussled his head of curls. "Thanks Cody" Lou said. "I can pick him up before lunch." "Take as long as you need Lou." he added.

Jimmy walked up behind Lou and spoke softly. "Are you going to be okay? Do you want me to stay or I could just shoot him if you want?" She turned towards him thankful that he always knew just what to say to her to make her smile. "No Jimmy I gotta do this myself, but I'll let you know if I change my mind about that last part." They shared a smile and she knew then that no matter what happened next, he would be there to support her.

Everyone said their goodbyes and it was only Kid and Lou left in the bunkhouse and suddenly Lou felt trapped. She couldn't explain why. She never felt that way around him before, but for some reason he seemed more like a stranger to her now. "How about we take a ride? I'm itchin' to take Katy out and run her and then maybe we can talk." Kid suggested.

They rode for a bit and then decided it was as good a time as any to stop and talk. It was a place they stopped at often, mostly on their own, to think. There was a fallen tree that was good to sit on. The last time Lou remembered being here together was when Kid's childhood friend Doritha had died. They weren't even together then, but she had told Kid that she would always be there for him. It seemed almost fitting that they would find themselves here today.

Lou noticed that Kid seemed somewhat nervous, so much so that she almost felt sorry for him. "Kid, why'd you come here?" He seemed to be collecting his thoughts before answering. "I came back for you Lou," he said. "I'm taking you and Jamie back home…to Virginia."

"The hell you are! You don't get to tell me what to do!" She got up and started pacing. She was starting to think this was a mistake to ride out here with him. She had a half mind to jump on her horse and ride back into town.

"I got a letter from a lawyer saying you wanted a divorce. Is that true?"

"Yes" Lou said simply.

Kid stood up and started walking away. She thought he might leave, but he turned around and walked back toward her and spoke again "I know I wasn't always there Lou, but I went there to fight, you knew that!"

"Kid, you left me alone and then expected me not to go into town or get a job or even have any friends. You accused Jamie of not being your son and then got angry at me for not being able to get pregnant again. You even left me a letter telling me it was over. What did you expect me to do?"

Kid said nothing. She couldn't read the look on his face. It was somewhere between anger and confusion she thought.

Finally he asked. "What letter?"