Every Wednesday was sewing day. The women got together, and over the tedious task of mending torn garments or making new ones, they exchanged some nice yarns. Today Louise received Ellen and Rachel in her house. Since the morning she had been busy in the kitchen baking a cake and cookies she would serve in the afternoon with the tea. When her two friends arrived, they instantly moved to the living room where they first enjoyed the refreshment Lou had prepared for them. The boys had scurried away to play with Ike, Janey was studying in her bedroom, and Ginnie was happily nibbling the cookie her mother had placed in her little hand.

When tea was over, the women got down to work. Lou put Ginnie down for an afternoon nap in the small cot they had in the study, and when she returned and saw the pile of clothes she needed to see to, she sighed tiredly. Even though the task was more bearable in her friends' company, it was not something she really adored. With two boys as energetic and lively as her two sons, it was no wonder their pants and shirts had to be mended almost every week, and since they were growing up so fast, she also had to let the pants hems down quite often.

Louise sat down next to Rachel and placed her sewing basket on her lap. From the pile she took a pair of pants that belonged to Matt, and noticed the loose waistband. She muttered a low complaint as she threaded a needle and placed a thimble on her middle finger. Ellen was telling her friends about the last letter she had received from Billy. He was fine and enjoying his life at college, but Ellen complained he had no intention to return home during vacation, so she and Buck would have to travel to the east and spend some time with him. Lou did not open her mouth. She was aware that the reason behind Billy's refusal to come to Rock Creek was Janey. The youngster had taken it hard when Janey had broken up with him, and now Billy did not even want to see her. Lou knew her daughter had written to him several times, but she had not received a reply, which naturally hurt her more than she was ready to admit. Lou knew that time will sort out everything, and what had happened between Janey and Billy would simply be a memory one day.

"Are you all right, Lou?"

Louise's head jerked up and gave Rachel a reassuring smile. "Of course I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"You're awfully quiet today," Ellen voiced what was in Rachel's mind too after snapping a piece of thread with her teeth.

Louise lowered her eyes, and without shifting them from her fingers maneuvering the needle, she said, "You know I'm not much of a talker, but it's true … I'm quite tired… I've been too tired lately."

"Is that the reason why we hardly get to see you lately?" Rachel asked. Louise hesitated. Rachel was obviously referring to her absence in those family reunions around Amanda and Teaspoon, but her fake tiredness had nothing to do with her staying away, which she was not ready to admit to. After that moment's hesitation, Lou simply nodded.

Ellen and Rachel shared a meaningful look, and the expression in their eyes mirrored what they were both thinking. It was Ellen who was brave enough to put their suspicions into words. "Lou, are… are you with child again?"

The unexpected question made Lou's hand stumble and the needle shot towards her finger, pricking her skin at the same time she cried 'No!" Automatically, her sore finger found her way to her mouth and she sucked it, trying to soothe the stinging sensation. When she checked there was no blood seeping, she turned her eyes to her friends. "No, no!" she repeated the word emphatically, but then stopped and remained briefly in thought. "I… I don't think so." She let out a sigh, and added, "It's the children. They sometimes drive me crazy."

"More than usual?" Ellen asked, chuckling at the same time.

Lou shrugged her shoulders, hoping that her friends ended up losing interest in her and conversation would swerve into another direction. Even though Ellen and Rachel were her best friends, she could not bring herself to explain how wretched she was feeling lately and the reason behind it. She could bare her soul to her husband and confess her weaknesses and shames to him, but she would die of embarrassment if she had to tell Ellen and Rachel she was jealous of Amanda.

Thankfully, the women relapsed into silence, but that truce did not last long as Rachel brought up something Lou was not keen on talking about either. "You know, Teaspoon's birthday is coming up," she reminded them. Teaspoon had never known the exact date of his birth, but since the olden days Emma had chosen a random day to celebrate it that had been informally institutionalized in their family, and every April they had a special gathering to wish the marshal a happy birthday. "He's turning seventy this year, so it's a biggie."

"Louise, what were you planning to do this year? It will be at your place again, won't it?"

"Uh yes, I guess… Yes, sure," Lou muttered. She coughed and cleared her throat before continuing, "I thought we could make this one memorable, more special… something he could remember gladly."

Ellen smiled, but Rachel looked clueless. "Come on, Lou, tell Rachel what you and the children, including my Ike, have been doing for a while," Ellen urged her friend with a wide smile.

"It's nothing extraordinary," Lou admitted. "But I reckon Teaspoon might enjoy it. The children and I are going to put on a play about his life."

Rachel frowned. "A play?"

"Yes, you know, Teaspoon takes great pride in telling all the adventures he's had over the years, so I thought it would be nice for him to see them in motion. I made a list of all the most important events for him, you know, when he was a Texas ranger, working for the Pony Express, his career as a lawman, so Janey and I wrote a piece for us and the children to act on his birthday, like his life told by one of those old minstrels. Janey and I have also used some old clothes for the costumes, and I've even managed to involve my dear husband and Buck, who were more than reluctant."

"Lou, I think that's a wonderful idea! Teaspoon will love it!"

Louise smiled. "The children are very excited."

"My Ike has been talking about it for weeks. I'm surprised Teaspoon hasn't heard a word yet. Trust my boy to keep a secret, and in two minutes the whole town will know."

The women tittered at the comment, and they were still shining with mirth when the door opened. Kid strode into the house, and a few steps behind him came Teaspoon. The two men greeted the women, and like usual Teaspoon used his particular Baroque dialectics to salute the ladies, which was nothing out of the ordinary. Lou kept a serious countenance when the marshal addressed her. "I haven't seen ya in a while, Louise."

"Yes, that's right," Lou replied curtly, not intending to offer any explanation for her absence.

"That chicken dish you sent with Janey was really tasteful, and even though I can't deny I love seein' your eldest, I do miss your charmin' presence in my office lately."

Louise lowered her eyes, and concentrated on her sewing while she said, "I've been busy, and I imagine you must also have been kept occupied … by your visitor." Kid, who stood behind the sofa on which Lou was sitting, gave her a gentle poke on the shoulder to hint that she should refrain herself from throwing any further comments about Teaspoon and Amanda. Kid thought that Lou was taking this matter too personally, and she should discuss her problem openly with Teaspoon, and these veiled remarks would not help. The only thing she would manage to do was to make both her and Teaspoon uncomfortable.

The marshal furrowed his brow, noticing something peculiar in Lou's tone, but his attention was too caught by something else to give Lou's strange mood much thought. "Uh… yes, I think you're right, honey."

"Take a seat, Teaspoon," Kid offered. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine. I can't stay long. I just dropped by to tell you somethin'… "

"What is it, Teaspoon?" Rachel asked, intrigued.

"Amanda reminded me that next week is the day we usually celebrate my birthday, and since it'll be the first time she'll be here for the date, she wants to make it up to me for those past birthdays she's missed. So she's inviting all of us to a very special lunch in the local restaurant on Sunday." As he announced the news, his big smile vanished when he noticed the women and Kid stare at him with less than the expected excitement. "That'll be great, don't you think?"

Lou pressed the needle between her fingers more tightly and lowered her eyes. Trust Amanda to get in the middle and ruin everything. In a restaurant they could never put on the play that the children had worked so much on and were so thrilled about. Lou was boiling with contained anger, but she couldn't talk or say a thing. It was Rachel who broke the icy silence that had settled in the room. "But Teaspoon, we … all of us were going to spend the day here… like we usually do."

"But there's no law that says we can't change the venue, and it'll be better for Louise if the horde we all are doesn't invade her house all the time."

Kid cleared his throat, aware that this was more than a change of venue, and Lou would feel it like another affront, especially when she and the children have been so looking forward to this particular birthday. Apart from that idea of the play, Lou had even thought of the food she would serve that day, choosing Teaspoon's favorites. "Lou, the children, and I love having you here, and … and we'd already planned that day."

"And the day is a Saturday, not a Sunday," Ellen pointed out.

"Amanda can't make it on Saturday because she's having some men helping her refurbish her new tearoom, and I'm helping her too. Sunday is as good a day as any, and, you know, we can't turn down her generous offer. It wouldn't be right, and she might feel offended."

'God forbid Amanda feel offended, but it's fine if Louise had to step aside and let the road free for precious Amanda,' Lou thought annoyed, not daring to meet Teaspoon's eyes, and she kept struggling with the needle in her hands as if nothing was happening around her.

"Teaspoon, the children have a special surprise for you," Kid dared to say, not wanting to give the whole thing away. "It won't be the same, and you know the restaurant is the last place they'll think as much fun. At least, here they can escape to play in the yard when they feel like it instead of listening to a bunch of adults chatting."

"Uh…" the marshal faltered, realizing he had not taken into consideration what Kid was saying. It was true, but he didn't want to let Amanda down, especially as she had been so full of smiles and excitement when she had told him. "Uh… maybe I think…"

As Teaspoon dithered to say what was in his mind, Louise looked up and plastering a fake smile on her lips, she said, "Kid, it is Teaspoon's day, and it's obvious what he wants to do. It ain't right to badger him with our own predilections."

The marshal smiled gratefully. "Thanks, honey."

"It's going to be fun too," Ellen exclaimed, trying to do her bit to reassure Teaspoon, and the others smiled, echoing her words.

However, Lou was not so pleased, and did not intend to pretend. Putting her sewing basket down, she rose to her feet and in a stiff tone she said, "I'm sure it'll be lovely, but I can't assure my family and I will be there." And before Teaspoon or anybody could say anything else, she added, "I think I heard Ginnie. I'll go before she stumbles out of bed and falls."

Lou scurried out of the living room, and when they heard the study door slam close behind her, Teaspoon turned his confused, stunned eyes to Kid. "What's wrong with your wife, son?"

Kid shifted his weight from one leg to the other uncomfortably. "She was just joking. Of course we'll be there."

Teaspoon shook his head and chuckled. "Don't tell me she's expecting again? You know she easily slides into the acid side whenever she's with child."

Kid did not say anything, and Rachel stepped in. "Teaspoon, I'm leaving now. Will you walk with me?"

"Uh yes, sure," the marshal replied. He bid a courteous goodbye to both Kid and Ellen, and then he followed Rachel out of the living room, ignorant that inside Lou had sank down in the little cot Ginnie had been dozing, with her little girl scooped in her arms and feeling once again bitterness and jealousy course through every inch of her soul and body.

Rachel and Teaspoon walked in companiable silence across the yard. Teaspoon pulled at the reins of his horse behind him as they headed for the spot next to the stables where Rachel had left her buggy. At some point the marshal noticed the woman sending surreptitious looks in his direction. She definitely had something on her mind but seemed to have problems getting it out. "Rachel," Teaspoon finally called, "is there anythin' you want to say?" The woman stared at him in silence while the marshal said, "It's me, Teaspoon, your old pal, and as far as I remember, you've never had any problems speakin' your mind."

Rachel cleared her throat, as she leaned against the buggy frame. "It's really nothing important, but I was thinking about Louise."

"What about her? There's somethin' not quite right with that girl now."

"Oh I guess she was a bit disappointed on account of her children," Rachel explained, trying to tone down the whole thing, but guessing right why Lou was acting so weirdly. "They've prepared a little somethin' for your birthday."

Teaspoon nodded morosely. Every year the children read poems or sang songs as their special way of wishing him happy birthday. "I can't see the problem. We can always do that after lunch in the restaurant or another day."

"Yes," Rachel whispered gingerly, but it was clear there was still something else on her mind. When Teaspoon mentioned he was meeting Amanda in a few minutes, Rachel turned her eyes to him and said, "You and Amanda are spending an awful lot of time together."

Teaspoon creased his brow into a frown. "Anythin' wrong with that?"

"No, of course not."

"She's family, and it's natural I want to spend time with her after all these years livin' apart."

"I know that, Teaspoon. Please don't take this the wrong way. I like Amanda, but…"

"But what?"

"She ain't your only family, and I'm afraid some might feel forgotten."

Teaspoon folded his arms over his protruding paunch, and the very marked lines on his forehead clearly expressed he wasn't pleased about what he was hearing. "That… that's ridiculous, Rachel."

"Please Teaspoon," the woman said softly, placing a hand on his crossed arms. "Don't get miffed."

"If my flamin' birthday is gonna cause such a hoo-hah, we might call off the whole thing!"

"It ain't the birthday…"

"Amanda is very special for me, Rachel. She looked after my real daughter in her last days, something I never had the chance to do. I'll never be able to repay her enough."

Rachel nodded slowly. "I ain't saying anything against you, Teaspoon, and I know how much you love Amanda. All I'm saying is watch out."

"I don't understand what you're going on about. I really don't."

Rachel smiled wryly. "It's nothing. Just ignore me." With a brisk hop she eased onto the buggy and reached for the reins. "Give my love to Amanda," she said as she flapped the reins on the back of the horse. Her free hand waved at Teaspoon as she drove out of the ranch. The marshal remained there, shaking his head. What Rachel had said did not make sense, and he wondered where that had come from. It wasn't like Rachel to reproach his time with Amanda. How could he not spend time with her? She was an important part in his life just like the rest of his family, and if he was paying her extra attention, it was because she needed him more than the others. Amanda had nobody but her son and now him, and after those years living on her own, Teaspoon wanted to spoil her a little. Who wouldn't do the same in his situation?


Despite grumbling on and on for days, Lou finally let herself be coaxed to accept the invitation to Teaspoon's birthday bash. She was not in the right mood, but she had to give in and admit Kid was right. If she refused to be there for Teaspoon, she would just be showing herself in a bad light. Whatever happened between the marshal and Amanda shouldn't be her concern, and she should be big enough to step aside and let Amanda take the upper hand. That was easier said than done, and if Lou considered the last weeks, and those comments and display of affection between Teaspoon and Amanda, a scorching fire broke out in her soul, consuming her. That wasn't healthy, and she knew it, but it was something intractable. What she needed to do was to swallow her pride and pain, and go to that darn lunch, if not for her, for Kid and the children.

When the McClouds reached the restaurant, the others were already there. A long table that had been arranged by the staff to accommodate the extended family stood out in the room, and when Lou, Kid and their offspring arrived, they were greeted with obvious warmth. As Lou took a seat at the far end of the table, she noticed straightaway the sitting arrangement, which she suspected had been Amanda's idea, naturally. Teaspoon sat at the top of the table, flanked by Amanda and her son, as if she had planned to keep him just for herself and away from others.

Kid sat next to his wife, left the big parcel containing Teaspoon's present on the floor, and as he noticed Lou's eyes, he took her hand under the table and gave it a squeeze as he whispered, "Just relax, please."

Louise simply nodded, but kept a serious countenance which contrasted with the smiling other faces around the table. Food was served, and Lou concentrated on feeding Ginnie the purée she had ordered and at the same time trying to thwart her baby's attempts to snatch the spoon from her grasp. Lou welcomed the distraction, but her attention was split to what was going on at the other end of the table. Amanda kept talking constantly, charming as usual, and everybody else, especially Teaspoon, laughed at her witty comments and agreed with every unimportant little thing she said. Lou knew she was being irrational, and her dislike of Amanda was pushing her to extremes she would normally not fathom to step on. Naturally, it did not help to realize that, apart from greeting her at the beginning, Teaspoon had not addressed her at all, as if she had become invisible all of a sudden.

After feeding Ginnie, Kid took the girl from his wife and settled her on his lap. When Lou tried to eat, she realized she had no appetite, and after struggling with her squirming daughter to make her eat, the food on her plate had gone cold. So she simply had a few forkfuls and gave up. A waiter appeared by her side, checking if everything was all right and asking if she needed anything. Lou could have requested him to warm her food, but she did not bother because she wasn't really hungry.

A cake was next placed in front of Teaspoon, and he beamed amused at the many burning candles on top of the icing. The children and adults clapped happily, and Lou joined the chorus of cheerfulness, but her pose was as enthusiastic as a widow at her husband's funeral. "If you don't blow your candles now, Teaspoon, the cake'll burn down to ashes in no time," Buck joked. "Actually, it could burn this whole place down to ashes. There's a whole lot of years on that cake."

"Proof that I've had a long, thriving lifetime," Teaspoon replied good-humouredly.

"And God willing, it'll be much longer yet," Rachel added.

The marshal smiled in appreciation, and filling his lungs, he let the air out in rapid gasps, trying to blow out all the candles on the cake. The rebellious ones defied him, and Matt and Ike rushed to Teaspoon's side to help him with the task, and when all the candles had been put out, the old marshal and the two children were breathless as the rest clapped their hands enthusiastically. The cake was cut and the pieces handed out.

Teaspoon sighed contentedly as he swept his eyes around the table and admired the beloved faces of his family as they gobbled down the delicious cake. It was amazing for the loner he had always been to end up with such a big, wonderful family. Life had been generous with him, and his heart overflowed with love for every single person around this table. He was fortunate, and if he happened to die this very moment, he would go full with happiness. Teaspoon's eyes fell on Louise, sitting at the far end of the table. Her face was strangely lowered over the plate, her shoulders slumped and hunched, and even though her whole attention was on her piece of cake, all she did was to keep rolling it around the plate, but did not attempt to eat.

The marshal sighed. Lately Lou was acting in such a bizarre way that had him worried. The stiffness she was recently showing was not like Louise at all, and Teaspoon wondered if she felt as good as she claimed. It wasn't so long since she had been so terribly sick, so maybe she wasn't totally on the mend. Kid hadn't mentioned anything to him, but it was true that he had been too busy with Amanda and had no time to visit Lou and Kid. Soon Amanda would settle, and he'd be back to his usual routine, and do something about the family duties he had been neglecting lately.

"Something wrong, Teaspoon?" Amanda asked when she realized he wasn't eating his cake.

The marshal smiled as he shook his head. "How can anything be wrong when I'm so lucky to have you here with me today?" he said, sandwiching Amanda's hands between his affectionately. "I'm the luckiest man in Rock Creek, and I couldn't wish for somethin' more than what I already have here," he added, bringing to mind his previous thoughts about his family.

His words drew Lou's attention, and her eyes darted to the stabbing image of Teaspoon and Amanda in such a harmonious picture. His words that had meant to include the whole family sounded as if they only included Amanda, and Lou felt outraged not just for herself, but for Kid and the others who had been by Teaspoon's side all these years. How could Teaspoon be so blind? How could he suddenly turn Amanda into his whole life? The painful declaration she had heard him say at Tompkins' still haunted her, and she couldn't get rid of the discomfort and annoyance that ripped her inside whenever she thought about it. Amanda is like a daughter, Amanda is like a daughter, Amanda is like a daughter… The echo of the words in her head started to feel like a throbbing headache, and she tried to smother them and bring herself out of the jealous niche she had fallen.

Amanda's voice cut through her thoughts and snapped her out of her morose mental rambling. "And now the presents!" As soon as the announcement was in the air, the children jumped excitedly.

"Us first!" Matt exclaimed, and he, Jed, and Ike ran to Teaspoon and presented him with a bunch of pictures they had been working on for the last past week. They were all drawings of Teaspoon in different scenes, riding his horse, holding his gun as he arrested a bank robber, dozing off in his office, or armed with a fork and a knife as he was about to attack a huge plate of what looked like sausages.

"I'm impressed!" the marshal said with a big smile. "You three are some pretty good artists!"

"And this isn't all," Jed whispered as if he were revealing a big secret. "We have a surprise for you when you come home."

Ike and Matt nodded their heads in unison, grinning in anticipation about the little play they had put together with Louise for Grandpa Teaspoon. The three children automatically turned their heads to Lou, who gave them an awkward smile. The marshal noticed the looks passing between the children and her, and raised an eyebrow questioning in her direction. Yet, Lou just looked away as she took a sip of water from her glass.

After the children's enthusiasm died down, the others one by one gave Teaspoon their presents. Janey had bought him a new shaving razor which she had been saving for from the small earnings she got from looking after Mrs. Hill's children from time to time. Rachel gave him a long warm scarf she had knit, and Buck and Ellen a brand new hat.

"And this is from me," Amanda said, placing a red velvet pouch before him. "I hope you like it."

"Whatever it is, I'm sure I'll love it. Just havin' somethin' from you is a gift in itself," Teaspoon replied flourishingly. Lou stared at him, trying to keep a neutral face, but seething inside. She was curious to see about Amanda's present.

"And you know, if you want to reciprocate, you just need to say yes," the woman added.

"Yes to what?" Buck asked the question the rest was already asking themselves.

Teaspoon gave a short chortle. "Amanda thinks it's time for me to abandon ship and move out from my run-down lodgings. She wants me to live with her and her lovely child, and well…" He turned to Amanda and smiled. "I had to say that the idea's growin' on me."

Lou's eyes widened in shock. For years she, Kid, and Buck had tried to talk Teaspoon into moving to the ranch with them and he had always refused, excusing his need for his own place. The ranch could be anything but smothering, with its wide and open spaces, and they had even suggested Teaspoon build his own cottage. It was totally ironic that he had turned that down, and he was thinking about moving with Amanda in the house she had rented in town. All because Amanda was in it?

Louise searched Kid's eyes and then Buck's, trying to find some empathy to what she was thinking and feeling, but neither of the men seemed too bothered. Actually, they were smiling and even nodding encouragement as they watched Amanda lean forward and kiss Teaspoon on the cheek. Their indifference made Lou boil with anger, and it was such the tumult she was experiencing that she could hardly keep still. Her left foot started patting the wooden floor and her hands kept wriggling her white napkin.

"Come on, Teaspoon! Open my present!" Amanda urged among happy giggles.

The marshal carefully loosed the string on the pouch and poured the contents on the palm of his hand. "Oh Amanda," he exhaled as he discovered a shining pocket watch, and as he clicked its lid open, he mouthed the inscription there: "To Teaspoon, the father of my heart. With love. Amanda." His emotion-filled eyes lifted to the dark-haired woman by his side, and he said, "This must've cost ya too much, and with your settling up and everythin'…"

"Nonsense," Amanda cut him off, waving her hand in a disregarding manner. "Nothing's too much, not for you."

"Let Amanda spoil you, Teaspoon," Buck added. "You deserve it."

The marshal smiled and turned his mesmerized eyes back to the pocket in his hold. "Oh Amanda, this present is…"

"The best ever?" A voice resounded loud and clear, and Teaspoon lifted his eyes back to find Louise looking at him with a strange expression after voicing the words. He could see the way she held her head high was a clear indication that she was in one of her angry moods.

"Lou please," Kid hissed in a low voice, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Lou, though, swatted it away as he rose to her feet and took Ginnie from her husband's lap. "Teaspoon, you know I can be many things, but not a hypocrite, and right now I'd feel like the biggest one if I stayed here one more second," she said in a harsh, annoyance-laden voice.

"Is anythin' wrong, Lou?" the marshal asked, looking as confused and stunned as the rest of the family.

"Yes," Louise stated in the same cold voice, but she did not elaborate. Picking up the bundle they had brought with them, she carelessly shoved it onto the floor next to Teaspoon. "That's our present. It's nothing much. Just a quilt." She paused and looking over her shoulder, she called, "Children, we are going now. Teaspoon, you'll have to carry on with your little party without us, but it won't be such a loss, will it?"

Without waiting for a reply, Lou trudged toward the door and the children followed, aware this wasn't the time to protest. Kid also stood up awkwardly. "I'm really sorry, Teaspoon. Lou… Lou, well, she's going through a rough patch… somehow," he muttered, feeling clumsy and unsure how to justify Lou's rudeness and weird behavior. With a polite nod, he simply turned round and followed the path his wife and children had followed out of the restaurant.

Teaspoon was more confused than ever in his long life, and looking around the table, he noticed the perplexity in the others as well. Nobody said a word, and with a yank he removed the napkin from his front and rose to his unsteady feet. "Ex… excuse me," he stuttered, and almost ran out of the restaurant.

Outside Kid and Lou silently were helping the children onto the wagon. Janey was already settled on the back with Ginnie cocooned on her lap. Teaspoon stopped at a few feet from them, and studied Lou's turned figure. Her squared shoulders and stilted motions were enough evidence to know she was as upset as she had sounded inside the restaurant. Kid noticed the marshal's presence, and his blue eyes directed to him drew Lou's attention, and she turned to look at him.

Teaspoon took the steps keeping him apart from the couple. "Lou…" he called hesitantly, but when she turned away from him, he flared up. "I'm talkin' to you!" he lashed out, grabbing her by the arm and forcing her to face him.

"I don't want to talk to you, Teaspoon."

The marshal ignored her words and noticing the children's serious faces, he steered her away from the wagon at a safe distance, and Lou reluctantly let herself be pulled along. When he released his hold, Louise folded her arms over her chest in a defensive way. "What the hell is wrong with you, Lou?"

"Why don't you go back inside and get on with your big celebration?"

Teaspoon exhaled tiredly. "How can I do that after your out-of-the-blue outburst?"

"Just forget about it; I'm sure you can do that easily. Still better, you can forget about me completely."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just that, Teaspoon. Forget I exist. I don't want to see or talk to you again," Lou stated categorically.

Her words made him cringe as they stabbed him in the heart painfully. "Lou…"

"When Polly was around, she once told me that the reason you couldn't stay in a marriage for long was that you have the attention span of a child. As soon as something new catches your interest, you drop everything else. Do you think she was right?"

Teaspoon frowned. "I… I dunno. Maybe." Once again he sighed; the air rushing from his lungs hurting him with every breath he took. Looking at Lou's detached, glacial face and bearing ripped his heart, and the pain coursing all over him was more acute than any of the uncountable wounds he had suffered over the years. "Whatever have I done to you, honey?"

"You hurt me… real bad," Lou whispered in a tiny voice. "Forgive me for spoiling your birthday, but you know me and…"

"I ain't sure I know you anymore."

Lou nodded. "I need to go. Just respect my wishes, Teaspoon, and stay away from me."

Louise did not wait for the response she knew he would not have, and stalked back to the buckboard. Kid helped her onto the seat, and her eyes kept glued ahead of her as she did anything in her power to avoid looking at Teaspoon, who remained on the same spot. The marshal gazed at her with anguished eyes. Kid gave him an awkward, understanding smile before he maneuvered the wagon from the place and set it into motion. Teaspoon stood there, looking after them and when the outline of the wagon disappeared down the street, he slowly moved and plodded back to the restaurant.