Chapter 23

Not long after Lou had left, Kid headed for the station, still pondering last night's events and this morning's conversation with Lou. He knew that he'd have to tell his fellow riders the latest situation in his relationship with Doritha, but he really wasn't sure how to break the news. It had been very easy to talk to Louise, but it would be different with his friends. After her betrayal and lies, Doritha didn't really deserve his consideration, but still he didn't feel very comfortable talking about what had caused their rift. He was a gentleman, and it wouldn't be right to talk about matters of such intimate nature to his friends. Lou had kept her opinion for herself, but Kid was sure that the riders wouldn't be so discreet. The Southerner wanted to put all this behind him and start thinking of the changes he needed to get used to now that he was on his own.

With heavy steps Kid plodded into the bunkhouse. The riders, Rachel and Teaspoon were sitting around the table about to enjoy their breakfast. As soon as Kid stepped inside, everybody greeted him raucously. The Southerner simply smiled and sat down at his usual place at the table. He felt Teaspoon's curious eyes on him, which made him shift uncomfortably under his scrutiny. Although Lou's lie might have saved him from getting in trouble with Teaspoon, he feared it would also give way to further speculation about his relationship with the petite girl.

"I saw your friend Louise this mornin', Kid," the marshal started, and the southern rider lowered his eyes as he feared what Teaspoon was referring to. "Told me you skipped sleepin' in your bunk last night as you were kindly keepin' her company."

Kid nodded, internally cringing at Teaspoon's choice of words. Why did he have to bring all that up here in front of the other riders? The Southerner knew how the marshal's comment sounded, and the impact it would have on his friends. The reactions were instant as he had feared. The riders directed their attention to their friend while they smirked with badly-concealed merriment.

"Way to go, Kid!" Cody exclaimed as he slapped the Southerner on the back, who was sitting next to him.

"I knew you wouldn't be able to resist her charms much longer," Jimmy added sharing an amused look with Buck and Noah.

"Hold it there, boys," the marshal intervened. "Miss Louise was feelin' a bit under the weather, and our friend here just did his duty as a gentleman."

Kid blushed to the roots of his hair as all these remarks resounded in the bunkhouse. Despite the marshal's words, he knew what his friends were like, especially Cody and Jimmy, and they wouldn't let the matter rest. They've already been giving him a hard time with their hints and insinuations about Louise, and any new addition to their exorbitant curiosity was received with obvious merriment. Kid, though, felt very irritated all of a sudden. He didn't like anybody doubting Lou's virtue, and as he was going to give his friends a piece of his mind, Rachel piped in. "So is she feeling any better, Kid?"

"She looked mighty fine to me this mornin'," the marshal replied, eying the Southerner narrowly. It wasn't his place to judge Kid's actions with Louise. Teaspoon simply hoped that the rider would realize that he was about to make the mistake of his life if he let go of the woman he was so obviously in love with.

Kid shifted in his seat uncomfortably. It didn't feel right to lie to Teaspoon, and he feared that the marshal could read through the little fib Louise had told him. So he tried to tell the truth without getting into much detail, "Actually it was her who looked after me last night."

"What I wouldn't give to have a woman look after all my needs!" Cody continued in a dreamy voice, provoking more laughter from the other riders.

Kid wasn't pleased at his continuous teasing comments and glared at his friends as he rose to his feet. "It's just impossible to talk to you, boys," he let out between gritted teeth. "You really have the knack of sending me into a foul mood!"

"Boys," Rachel decided to talk before things got out of control. "When are you gonna learn to keep quiet if you have nothing intelligent to say?"

"Rachel, we ain't doing nothing," Jimmy retorted with a crooked smile, not bothering much about the woman's scolding. "It's fine by us if Kid wants to treat himself real nice before his wedding. It's just natural."

The other three riders cackled loudly, but their amusement stopped short as Kid barked in a very serious voice, "There's gonna be no wedding."

The six people around the table stared at Kid who stood next to his bunk, his back turned to his friends. With a sigh he swirled around slowly and repeated in a softer voice, "There's no wedding." He ran his fingers through his hair for the umpteenth time and flopping onto the bench again, he placed his elbows on the table and buried his face in his hands.

Several wary looks passed among the other six people in the bunkhouse and it was Buck who eventually broke the pregnant silence. "What happened, Kid?"

The Southerner lifted his eyes to his friend and replied sternly, "I'd rather not talk about it. The bottom line is that we're through."

"Kid, you two have argued before," Jimmy added, this time seriously. "You'll be back together in a couple of days, like always."

Kid shook his head while he said, "It's definitely over." He kept thoughtful for a beat and then he added, "I made a fool of myself last night, and Lou just happened to be around and helped me out when I wasn't really thinking right. Just that. She's a good friend, and I ain't gonna have anybody making light of her."

"Kid, you know we were just winding you up," Noah replied, feeling that they have gone a bit too far with their thoughtless words. Kid was obviously going through a rocky patch, and they had chosen the worst moment ever to tease him.

"Just don't involve Lou in your games, all right?" the Southerner insisted.

"We really like Louise," Cody added in a surprisingly serious voice. "She's a nice girl, and it wasn't our intention to insult her or anything."

"It didn't sound that way to me. I just want you to treat her with the respect she deserves," Kid concluded, wanting to let this matter finally settle. They could tease him as much as they wanted, but Lou was definitely out of bounds.

The riders simply nodded at his last words, and the room turned suddenly dead quiet for a few minutes with just the clanking of the forks against the plates breaking the silence.

"Son, have you thought about what you're gonna do now?" Teaspoon asked after a while. He had waited for Kid to have his say before opening his mouth. After his last conversation with the rider a few weeks ago, it was clear to the marshal that Miss Doritha Simmons wasn't a good match for Kid since the most important element was missing in their relationship, at least on his part. Going their different ways would be best for the couple in the long run, but Teaspoon could understand that Kid might be feeling hurt and disoriented at the moment. After all, until yesterday all his plans had been centered around Doritha Simmons, and Kid had practically been left in the air with just a blank horizon ahead of him.

"I dunno, Teaspoon," Kid answered truthfully. "I guess I'll just have to come to terms with my … my new situation. For the moment all I care about is to keep working here as usual and simply take the rest as it comes."

"That's good thinkin'. But don't forget you ain't alone, ain't it true, boys?" Teaspoon added, looking at the people around the table, who nodded their heads in unison.

"Thanks," the Southerner muttered sincerely as he shared a small smile with those he had come to consider his family. They wouldn't agree in everything, but he had no doubts whatsoever that he could trust every one of them with his life at any given moment. That was what was so special about the people who he shared his every day with.

"And now, boys, there's work waitin' for you, which won't get done with you all slobbin' around," Teaspoon said, which provoked a chorus of protest from his young employees. "You know, after the last storm, the barn roof is in urgent need of repair."

"Gosh, Teaspoon," Cody exclaimed in a whiny voice, "Can't you let us enjoy the good food God and Rachel put at our table without hearing that four-letter word you're so fond of?"

Rachel came behind him and patting him on the back she said, "Come on, Mr. Cody. By what you've eaten this morning you'll have enough energy to work for three days non-stop."

With a grumble the blonde rider stood up, following his fellow riders on their way out while he said, "Rachel, you know I'm in a very delicate age and take my eating habits very seriously. It's nothing to joke about."

"Cody, you're a walking joke," Jimmy piped. "There's nothing serious in you, especially your mouth. Eats like a pig, chatters like a monkey and snores like a buffalo."

"Hickok, stop trying to be "witty" and shut up," Cody retorted dryly while the other riders cackled at Jimmy's words on their way out of the bunkhouse. Kid listened to their bickering with a smile; those two would never change and their makeshift family wouldn't be the same without the pair who fought just like an old married couple. At least their invectives managed to keep his mind off of all the problems he was immersed in. As they got ready for a brand new day, Kid greatly welcomed the hard work for once. It would be good for his mind and his shattered soul.

The barn roof would need more than a single day to be repaired, and it was in the middle of the afternoon before Teaspoon let his riders stop the arduous task for the following day. Jimmy had left on a ride earlier while Noah, Buck and Cody had gone to the swimming hole for a dive and thus get rid of the day's suffocating heat. Kid, though, had declined to join in as he needed a few moments by himself to clear his jumbled mind.

After having a refreshing shower and a change of clothes, the Southerner saddled Katy, ready to go to town. He wanted to search out Lou and thank her properly. This morning he had been clumsy and slow, stuttering like a fool, and he needed to show her, how much he appreciated all she had done for him. Maybe he could even ask her to go for a walk with him. It was a lovely day and he'd really love to share some moments with her. There was nothing wrong if they spent some time together; he was a free man now, and as he had almost promised that morning, he wouldn't rush into anything. He would try to use some subtle means and show her that they could be great together and not just because Doritha was gone from his life, but because he felt it strongly in his heart. In the meantime, he also needed to find out whether Lou might feel something other than friendship for him. He wouldn't want to ruin the special bonds joining them together for just acting without thinking.

As Kid led his horse out of the stables, he stopped dead when his eyes fell on the person standing in the middle of the yard. With a sigh he resumed his walking towards the person. "What are you doing here, Doritha?" he asked when he reached her.

"Came to see you."

"What for?" the rider asked again with a terse voice.

"Kid, I feel we're making a terrible mistake if we let everything we have go to rack and ruin," she replied in a soft voice. "We should think…"

"I have nothing to think about," Kid cut her off, irritated that after what had happened the night before he would reconsider getting back together with her.

"Please let's talk," Doritha insisted, realizing that it would be harder than what she had initially thought to change Kid's mind about breaking up.

"We talked more than enough yesterday," Kid continued unmoved by her pitiful stance. "I don't think I can forget the kind words you dedicated to me."

"I wasn't thinking straight, Kid!" the girl protested vehemently.

"I'm sorry," Kid stated, folding his arms over his chest in a defensive posture.

Doritha sighed deeply and feeling that she needed to use her last resort, she blurted out, "Garth's asked me to marry him."

Her words didn't hurt him as she had planned, but they didn't leave him indifferent either. Kid felt as if she had made a fool out of him during all this time and the mere mention of Garth's name was enough to sparkle his anger. "Good for you then," he replied sarcastically, "After all you've already sampled the material, haven't you?"

Doritha decided not to heed his painful stings and continued his technique of bringing him down from his high horse. "Garth has plenty of money and resources. If I accepted, I would live like a queen without any more cares. But, Kid, I don't love him. I'd be ready to give all that up for you, just for you. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Kid shook his head wryly and took Katy's reins, eager to get away from this uncomfortable situation. He was absolutely certain that he had no intention of backing from his decision and fighting Doritha's verbal attacks was getting increasingly difficult.

"I know nobody will ever be able to occupy the place in your heart as the one you love the most," Kid started which provoked a pleasing smile on the girl. "Yourself," he pinpointed, which quickly erased the smile from Doritha's face. "You don't need to sacrifice yourself for my sake. Go and get married into good money. That's what you've always wanted, haven't you?"

Kid turned to leave, but Doritha stopped him by grabbing his arm. "Are you running to see her?" the woman almost shouted the question in a shrill voice. She was boiling with anger and felt utterly insulted after Kid's comments.

The rider removed her hand from his arm and meeting her angered eyes he simply said, "I'm afraid that ain't of your concern anymore." With a swift movement he got on top of his horse and casting the lady a neutral look, he added, "Good bye, Doritha. I hope you have a comfortable and happy life."

Spurring Katy he left the lone woman behind and didn't even look back once. His past died with her then and there, and the sooner he started thinking of his life without her, the sooner his wounds would heal. One day he'd be able to look Doritha in the eyes without resentment, but right now he just couldn't have a civil conversation with her. She had hurt his pride terribly, and even though he had fallen out of love with her, her deceit had taken place when he was still in love. His last words, though, had been uttered sincerely. He didn't wish any harm and hoped that she might find her own trail with whomever she might choose. That man wasn't him any longer, and he would also have to build a path to follow, as the one he thought he was following had been abruptly cut off.

After his confrontation with Doritha, Kid called off his initial intentions of going to see Lou. He wasn't in the appropriate mood; to appear strained and hurt before Louise was the last thing he wanted right now. So instead of leading his mare in the direction of town, he decided to go riding outside Rock Creek. He started at a slow canter, and after a while he was galloping across the open prairie. For a strange reason after a while he found himself on the little hillock overlooking the property he had bought just recently. He hadn't been to the place since the day he had shown it to Doritha. He had been so excited when he had first bought this piece of land and now he wasn't even sure what he wanted to do any longer.

He remained on the spot, transfixed by the image before his eyes, but he didn't dare move. The sounds of hooves behind him was what snapped him out of his pensive mood and turning his head around, he saw Lou approaching on her black horse. Kid smiled faintly as she stopped next to him.

"I was watering Lightning at the creek when I saw you ride past," she explained. "I wanted to see how you were doing. I swear I ain't trying to stalk you."

Kid chuckled at her comment and replied, "I wouldn't mind the stalking coming from a lady as lovely as you."

Lou smiled coyly, liking the way he called her 'a lady'. She had never felt much like one herself, but her heart jumped in delight even though she knew that with all probability he was just being kind to her. "So how are you?" she asked.

"Fine," Kid replied briefly in a soft voice.

"You might say so, but your eyes tell me a different story," Lou said as she noticed his glum countenance. She wished she could make all that disappear, and he could smile with that bright smile of his. Doritha Simmons definitely didn't deserve his suffering after all the damage she had caused.

Kid shrugged his shoulders and after a few moments he explained, "Doritha came to see me."

Lou nodded in understanding. "And you got upset," she stated, not expecting him to confirm her words. "She wanted to make up?" she asked, even though she could guess the answer.

"Yes," he let out gravelly as he kept looking ahead of him. He didn't feel very comfortable talking about Doritha with Lou. This wasn't the way he would like to spend his time with Louise. He didn't want to think about his past, and that was what Doritha was to him.

"And what are you gonna do?" Louise asked again, dreading his answer in her heart. She was aware that Kid would never see her beyond the limits of friendship, but it would kill her to think that he might decide to go back with that woman. Doritha sure didn't deserve a good man like Kid, and he was better off on his own or with anybody else.

"Nothing," Kid stated firmly. "Our engagement is broken, and it'll stay that way."

"You sure?" she insisted, wanting to reassure herself that there wasn't a single trace of doubt in his mind.

"Look, Lou," Kid replied curtly with a tinge of irritation in his voice. "I don't want to talk about it, all right?"

"Sorry," Lou muttered sheepishly. Right now she felt like a fool for riling him up with her questioning and insistence. He probably wasn't in the mood for company at the moment, and she had to stupidly disturb him with her presence. When a few minutes ago she had recognized him and his horse, she had instantly jumped to follow him. It was as if she wasn't able to control her reactions anymore and her body seemed to move on its own. "I… I'll leave you now," she said, feeling very self-conscious. "I won't disturb you anymore."

As soon as his curt words were out of his mouth, Kid wanted to kick himself hard for his callousness. Definitely he didn't deserve her understanding and kindness. Of course his anger sparked like dynamite at the slightest after his angry exchange with Doritha, but he had no right to vent his frustration on Lou. Kid saw her turn her horse around with the clear intention of leaving, but he reacted quickly and taking hold of her horse's reins, he stopped her, "Please Lou, don't go. Stay with me." The girl agreed in silence and Kid added, "Let me show you something."

The rider turned his horse round, followed by Lou, and he led them to the homestead he had been watching with intensity for the last few minutes. When they reached the place, Kid slid off Katy and Louise followed suit. He took the reins from her hand and tethered both horses to a nearby hitching post. When Kid rejoined her, Lou kept looking at him with curiosity and finally asked, "Where are we, Kid?"

"At my place," the rider answered, and when Lou shot him a glance in confusion, he elaborated, "I bought this property a couple of months ago."

"Did you?" she asked surprised.

"Uh huh," Kid simply nodded and Louise's mouth twitched into a big and bright smile as she exclaimed, "Oh that's great!" The rider smiled faintly and Lou added, "Will you show me around?"

"Sure," he answered promptly and they started walking around the place. Lou looked at everything with clear interest, her eyes taking every single thing in as she wore a radiant smile, obviously delighted by what she was seeing. Kid showed her everything in the outside, the stables, the barn, the corrals and even the pastures at the far end of the property. After that, they proceeded to go into the house. Lou was impressed by the size of it; the first floor contained a big lounge, a big-sized kitchen and two multiple-used rooms and on the second floor there were four ample bedrooms. The one destined to become the master bedroom had a nice view of the whole yard from the two windows which it had, and it was quite warm and light. What surprised Louise was the fact that all rooms were bare of furniture and considering that Kid and Doritha were supposed to have gotten married in a few weeks, she couldn't help but wonder why the house hadn't been fitted to live in yet.

"This place is incredible, Kid," Lou started as they were descending the stairs.

"Yes, I thought so the first time I lay eyes on it," he replied without much enthusiasm.

"I'm really glad for you," she exclaimed with a big smile.

"Thanks," he said sincerely and when they reached the first floor, he added, "Doritha didn't think much of it, though."

Now she understood. The rooms were empty because his ex-fiancée hadn't liked the place and probably refused to live here. "I thought you didn't want to talk about her," she reminded him, sharing a look with him.

"You're right," he replied and smiled sheepishly. He looked around his empty lounge with a mixture of pride and sorrow, and after a while he said, "I don't even know what I'm gonna do with this place."

"What are you talking about?" she asked with a frown.

"Maybe… I should sell it," he explained in a soft voice.

"Kid, no!" Louise exclaimed in a loud voice, with such intensity that surprised the rider. "This is what you've been dreaming of owning all your life, ain't it?"

"Yes, but…" he replied, but Lou cut him off in mid-sentence, not allowing him to finish.

"It's an ideal place, big enough for all you want. You'll probably need to carry out some repairs on the stables, nothing you can't deal with, and the house… the house is simply great and in a perfect state. All you'll have to do is give it a good cleaning and buy some furniture." She paused for a moment to catch her breath and then asked in a worried voice, "Are you still thinking of going back to Virginia to fight?"

"I dunno, Lou," he replied.

"Well," she continued, disregarding the fears emanating inside her and squeezing her chest tightly, "in any case you'll need a place to live… uh… when you come back, won't you?" The last part of her words came out in a shaky voice, and she had to breathe in to get a grip of herself. "This is your place, Kid, the place where you will be able to raise up the family you've always dreamed of."

"I know," he admitted as he kept staring at her. He was totally entranced by her passion and resolution. For a moment he felt strongly tempted to stop her flow of words and kiss her hard. Yet, he simply stood there, watching her beautiful features change in so many different nuances: excitement, passion, frustration, pain, sadness… She was beautiful as her face so clearly reflected all those sensations going through her insides. He simply loved how she was so genuine in everything she felt. There were no half truths or pretence in her.

As Kid gazed at her absent-mindedly, the rest of her words were lost to his understanding, and it was when Louise waved her hand in front of his face that his mind snapped back to reality. "Uh…" he let out clumsily.

"Kid, have you heard a word of what I've been telling you?" she asked, feeling amused and slightly offended by his obvious absent-mindedness.

"Of course!" Kid exclaimed, grinning sheepishly. "Actually, you've convinced me."

"Good!" Lou gave him a satisfactory smile, and before she knew what was happening, she felt engulfed in his arms as he held her in a warm embrace.

"Thank you for being there for me," he whispered as he relished in the soft touch of her body against his. He breathed in the delicate smell of her hair, a sweet fragrance of lavender, so different from the intoxicating perfume that Doritha used. He chided himself for bringing his now former girlfriend to his mind and shushing the thought away, he concentrated on the myriad of sensations that Louise's closeness was causing on him. Yet, before he could do something which might scare her away, he pulled away as suddenly as he had thrown his arms around her.

Louise was speechless and still in shock after his disturbing gesture, and all she managed to do was look at him with big eyes. Kid placed a finger under her chin and said in a very soft voice, "It's getting dark. We'd better get back."

Lou just nodded and the rider turned round and plodded outside without waiting for any indication from her. The girl remained at the same spot, feeling very cold all of a sudden despite the warm coat she was wearing. Wrapping her arms around her small frame, she let out a deep sigh and without further ado she decided to follow him with unsteady and trembling legs.