Chapter 4 – Lou's POV
It's been two days since Buck left to find his tribe. Kid has not bothered me once. Teaspoon had told him to leave us be until he knows what the law says. Sam and Emma took Kid to their home. It was on the opposite side of town, so he was as far away as we could get him. I miss Buck terribly, in the eight years we have been married we've never been apart overnight. It's driving me crazy. I can't sleep without his arms around me and the children are just as restless. I know they miss their daddy too. There is to be a dance tonight. I would rather stay home but the kids have been looking forward to tonight for a month. Jimmy and Cody promised to make sure I dance, but they have their own wives to dance with too. I just hope they keep Kid away.
Teaspoon, Rachel, and Little Noah are ready to leave, so I usher my children out to the waiting wagon. Teaspoon helps them get in the back with Noah before he assists me up into the seat of the wagon with Rachel. He goes around to his side and climbs in and sets off for the dance. Jimmy and his wife Amanda had just arrived at the dance when our wagon arrived. Cody and his wife Helen and their four year old daughter Louise pull in behind us. After assisting their families they come to give Teaspoon a hand with mine. Jimmy had just helped me out of the wagon when Sam and Emma arrived with their brood. I was glad to see Kid was not with them. My happiness was to be short lived.
I had just finished dancing a rather upbeat number with Sam and I was exhausted and hot. So I asked Sam to help keep an eye on my youngins' while I stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. Sam offered to go with me. I should have accepted if I had I wouldn't be in the situation I find myself in now.
Kid had decided to come to the dance after all. I don't know how long he had been there but apparently he had been waiting to catch me alone like I was now. "Hello Lou", his voice behind me startles me. I wiped around to find him not two feet away. "Kid' I say looking frantically around for someone to come by. "How've you been?' Kid asks stepping closer. "I've been really well and happy, as if you cared." I say taking a step back to find a wall behind me. I'm trapped. "I do care Lou. I've missed you. I shouldn't have stayed away so long." Kid says taking another step forward. He was within inches of me now. "No you shouldn't have. I haven't seen or heard from you in ten years Kid. I've moved on with my life. You should too. You shouldn't have come here Kid. Go away and let Buck and I live in peace." I tell him. "Live in sin you mean. You're still my wife Lou. I'm not leaving unless you're with me." Kid said before pressing me against the wall and kissing me. I try to fight him off but he's too strong. He's not the Kid I knew. The Kid I knew would never force attentions on a girl. I do the only thing I can think of. I open my mouth up to his kiss then I bite down on his lower lip. I taste the blood.
Kid releases me with a howl of pain before he hits me, knocking me to the ground. I scream when his hand makes contact with my face. I look up at him from the ground, a hand to my sore cheek. Kid looks to be in shock. My scream brought Teaspoon and Jimmy running. When Jimmy sees me on the ground it is all Teaspoon can do to keep Jimmy from killing Kid. Cody and Sam have arrived by this time. The two younger men hold onto Jimmy while Teaspoon escorts Kid to jail for assault. Sam and Cody release Jimmy and then help me to my feet. "You alright Lou?" Cody asks. "I'm fine" I say brushing off my skirt. "No you're not, you're bleeding." Jimmy says taking a kerchief out of his pocket and pressing it to my mouth. "It's not my blood, its Kid's. He kissed me so I bit his lip to get him off of me." I tell the three men. They all looked mad at that news. "Well it's a good thing you're still as feisty as ever." Sam said with a grin, I gave him a smirk. The others laughed. After I had regained my composure I went back inside with the men to gather my children and go home. Sam escorted me back to the bunkhouse, after making sure we would be ok her returned to the dance and his family.
Kid's POV
I can't believe I just hit Lou. I've never raised a hand to a woman before. What's wrong with me? Lou's scream has brought Teaspoon and Jimmy. Jimmy looks about ready to kill me. Teaspoon should just let him. Instead he holds him back until Cody and Sam arrive. Teaspoon then escorts me to jail.
Jail. I've been in enough of those to last a lifetime. After that disaster in Prosperity I swore I would never be in another cell again. Unfortunately that's another promise I broke. After my company was killed, I deserted. I guess that's why my commander thought I was dead and wrote to Lou telling her that. It wasn't long after that, that I was picked up by union soldiers. They held me in a prison camp until the end of the war. Two long years.
After the war ended and I was released, I had been so ashamed of myself that I didn't return to Lou. I wandered from town to town. More often than not I was picked up on vagrancy charges. Sometimes it was stealing, when I needed food. I've spent the better part of the last ten years in one jail cell or another, but I thought all that was behind me now. I never thought Teaspoon would be the next person to lock me in a jail cell. I wonder how long I'll be stuck in this one.
After Teaspoon had turned the key in the cell locking me in he asked, "Why did you hit her son?" "She bit me" I tell him. Teaspoon looked at me like I had three heads, "Why would Lou bite you?" "I kissed her." I say, still slightly annoyed that Lou had reacted that way, I mean I am her husband, she used to like kissing me. "Well then I say you deserved it, kissing her against her wishes." Teaspoon said as he moved towards the door. "How long you going to keep me in here?" I asked before he leaves. "Depends on if Lou wants to press charges, if she doesn't you'll be free to go in the morning." Teaspoon told me and then left me alone with my thoughts. Maybe Lou was right. Maybe I should just go away and let them live in peace. No! She's my wife! I'll do whatever it takes to win her back.