Chapter 12
-Three weeks later-
There was a dance in town that night to raise money for the new church bell. It was the perfect opportunity for Cody and Sarah to announce their new engagement and for all to celebrate. Rachel had started seeing a widowed banker in town named Christopher. Lou saw the two of them dancing and thought they made a beautiful couple. He had two school-aged children and thought that Rachel would be blessed as well as those children would be if they were to become a family.
Kid was still in town but planned to leave by the end of week. He had spent some time with Jamie, mainly fishing, which they both seemed to enjoy. Lou knew that Jamie would wonder why Kid didn't stay, but Kid promised to come back for holidays and birthdays if he could make it. Kid had chosen not to make an appearance tonight it seemed, and she was more than alright with that.
Lou was talking to Emily while scanning the room waiting for Jimmy. She knew he was technically on duty but since most everyone was at the dance he told her he would be there and for her to save him a dance. Lou had been looking forward to the evening. It would be the first dance she shared with Jimmy in a long time. She was reminded of the dance in the street in Willow Springs. She had spent her spare time the last few days sewing, making herself a new dress. It was deep green in color trimmed with black lace. It was form fitting on top that showed off her curves that motherhood had blessed her with. She had thought back to when she first met Rachel and told her she was upset at her because Rachel had breasts and she didn't.
"Hello ladies." Teaspoon said as he joined Lou and Emily. "Emily, may I have this dance?" Teaspoon could be quite the gentleman which Lou supposed was how he had charmed so many women into marriage. "Yes you may Teaspoon." Emily said giving Lou a sideways glance and smile as she took his arm. "I see your fella in the doorway sweetheart." Teaspoon told Lou as they walked away.
Lou turned to see Jimmy come in, but there was a troubling look on his face that concerned her. She walked through the dancing couples to get to him.
"What's wrong?"
As soon as he laid eyes on her his face broke out in a big smile. "Lord you look beautiful. I'm a lucky man to have such a beautiful date for the evening."
"Thank you, you look very handsome yourself, now what's wrong?" Lou asked again turning her smile into a serious frown.
Jimmy took her arm and pulled her gently to the side of the room out of range of noisy townspeople. "I just broke up a fight in the saloon." He said planning on leaving it at that.
"and…?" Lou asked knowing there was more to it than that.
"It was Kid," he added. "He apparently punched a man that bumped into him, spilling his whiskey. It was not his first drink of the evening either. Kid is sitting in my jail cell right now."
Lou nodded. "He had a habit of doing that back in Virginia too. I thought maybe those days were behind him…but I guess not." Lou added. "Well, I don't know about you Jimmy, but I'd like to dance." She grabbed his hand with both of hers and walked him towards the other dancers. She would not give Kid another thought tonight.
Jimmy left Kid in the cell overnight to sleep off the alcohol. He let him out in the morning, but Kid left the marshal's office without saying a word to Jimmy.
Back at the bunkhouse, Lou had just finished cleaning up breakfast when a carrier delivered her an envelope. She saw it was from the lawyer in Lincoln. She opened it up and as she suspected it was her divorce agreement just waiting on a couple of signatures. She was hoping Kid was still in agreement on signing them. Before heading off to find Kid, she decided she wanted Teaspoon to look over the documents to make sure they were in order. Teaspoon asked Lou if she wanted him to deliver them to Kid, but she said she'd do it herself.
She headed over to the hotel to the room that Kid was staying in. After his night in jail, she wasn't sure what kind of mood she would find him in. Thankfully, he had seemed to sober up and let her in. Lou could tell he wasn't interested in talking, but Kid signed the papers and mentioned he would be leaving in a couple of days. He told Lou he wanted to take Jamie fishing again before he left. They agreed that Kid would take him fishing tomorrow after breakfast.
Lou was relieved that the papers from the lawyer arrived while Kid was still in town. They would send them back and have to wait for a return document announcing the divorce had been finalized.
