Ch 19

A few days later had Jimmy easing his way onto the porch. He and Teaspoon had done a lot of explaining to the others as to why they had been left in the dark about their plan. Teaspoon told them that he needed their reaction to be realistic. They finally relented knowing that he was right. Jimmy watched his girls running around Rachel as she hung out the laundry pulling at her sheets while she scolded them. He saw Teaspoon holding Matt over by the barn. He seemed to be in deep conversation with the child. Then he saw Lou riding a new horse around the corral. She looked beautiful and happy. She was born to ride. He smiled. Teaspoon had a couple good long talks with him about leaving. He was actually thinking of staying. Teaspoon walked over and sat on the porch with him.

"When ya gonna marry that girl?"

"I've been thinking about it."

"Well that's a good thing. It's bout time. The way y'all been carrying on." Teaspoon smiled.

"One problem though."

"What's that?"

"She's married to Kid."

"That is a problem. What are ya gonna do about it?"

"As soon as I can ride, I'm gonna find him."

"I don't know if that is wise, Jimmy. Look what y'all done to him. There has to be hard feelings. Maybe you should let sleeping dogs lie."

"Well you can thank yourself for it. You and Buck are the ones that convinced me. I need to be the one to confront him."

Teaspoon nodded and listened.

"There ain't no way that I can set it back right but I can be man enough to try."

Matt began to fuss. Lou was walking over so they changed the subject. She gathered Matt and went inside to feed him. Teaspoon stood and ran over to chase the girls away from Rachel's laundry. Jimmy watched them squeal and laugh. He loved their laughter. Lou soon walked back outside and sat beside Jimmy. She laid her head on his shoulder.

"You look to be in deep thought." She mumbled.

"I was watching you ride."

"You were, and?"

"I can't say what it made think about cause I'm in the presence of a lady."

Lou giggled and hit his arm.

"No seriously Lou, I was just taking it all in. You, the kids."

"You better not be thinking of leaving. I swear I'll shoot you myself."

"No just the opposite."

Four weeks flew by. Jimmy was moving around more. Louise watched him walking with Emma and Jamie. He was holding their hands as they walked over to Buck and Lynn's house. She watched them go.

"You can't eat that boy alive with your eyes you know?"

Lou jumped and spun around to see Rachel grinning.

"I know. I just love to look at him. I've lost my mind."

"No, you just love him."

"I do Rachel, more than I should."

"Well, I think you got him this time."

"I ain't so sure. I don't know if Jimmy Hickok can ever be got." Lou said as she walked back upstairs.

Rachel watched her go. She needed to go have a talk with Jimmy Hickok. Right now. She made her way over to Buck's.

The next week Jimmy was back in the saddle helping Ike and Buck sort horses. Lou said he was pushing it but he needed to know if he could ride. He had business to attend to.

"We'll take that one." Said Buck.

Jimmy cut the horse from the others as Ike roped it. Buck saw a rider coming. He looked to the others.

"Rider comin." He said.

Jimmy and Ike turned to look. As the rider drew closer, Jimmy saw it was Kid. Buck reached over and grabbed Jimmy's reins to let Kid approach. Kid locked eyes with Jimmy and pulled to a stop a few feet away.

"Should have known that you'd be here." Stated Kid.

"We don't want any trouble here, Kid." Said Buck.

"Ain't gonna be none. My wife here?"

Jimmy went to move but Ike put his hand up.

"What business you got with her?" Asked Buck.

"Business. None of yours. I know she ran back here."

"Cause you left her and the kids to starve." Said Jimmy.

"You mean those bastard kids. They weren't my responsibility. They were yours."

Jimmy went to move but Buck and Ike caught him.

"Go ahead Kid. She's at Rachel's." Said Buck.

Kid rode on to the house. Jimmy glared at Buck.

"You're staying right here with us. This is something that they need to work out so she can move on."

"I don't trust him."

"Teaspoon is there and so is Rachel. She'll be fine."

Jimmy was waiting impatiently with Buck and Ike. He watched Kid and Lou talk. Some words were heated and some seemed calm. Teaspoon was on the porch within reach. He saw Kid mount up and ride back in their direction. He stopped in front of Jimmy.

"Now you can have each other." He sneered as he galloped off.

Jimmy rushed to Rachel's. Lou was waiting on him.

"Lou?"

"It's fine. He met someone. He wanted a divorce."

"And?"

"I gave it to him." Lou said as she walked back inside.

Jimmy watched her go. He looked at Teaspoon.

"She is fine. Just had to say goodbye is all." Said Teaspoon.

Jimmy jumped on his horse and rode away. Lou ran back out on the porch.

"Where's he going?"

"I don't know honey."

Lou wrapped her arms around herself trying not to cry.