Chapter 34

"Come on, tell me. What do you think?"

Rachel stared at the girl standing before her with her arms on her waist, and the woman's mouth spread into a bright smile. "You look beautiful, Louise."

It was the night of the social, and the entire town had gathered to celebrate the special event. The station mistress had come down to Rock Creek with Teaspoon, and the riders, and once in the hall she had made up an excuse and scurried out of the place. The woman had then gone to Louise's rooms and was giving a hand to the girl to get ready for the dance. The delicate lilac dress that Lou had bought draped around her slender figure harmoniously and gave her a soft quality to her features. Louise, though, didn't seem so convinced and was a total nervous wreck as she dressed up for the occasion. Kid was completely ignorant of the girl's plans, and Rachel couldn't wait to see his face when Lou turned up unexpectedly. "Kid's gonna sweep you off your feet when he sees you."

"You reckon?" Lou asked with trepidation and running around to the full-length mirror once again, she ran her fingers through her hair with a disgusted face. "I can't make this mess into a decent shape," she complained. Her hair had grown considerably in the last month, almost reaching her shoulders, but still she felt it made her look like a boy. Tonight she had pinned two combs onto her sides, but she didn't like it yet. In that moment, she cursed those two men who months ago had mercilessly plucked out her shiny, long tresses. Who would have thought that she would ever be so concerned about her looks? Life could be such a big irony.

"Your hair looks just fine, honey," Rachel added. "And you know Kid would adore you even though you were dressed in rags and covered in mud."

Louise gave her a sheepish smile, knowing that Rachel was right. "I just want tonight to be special," she muttered.

Lou intended to remember this day as a marked point in their lives. She was going to show Kid how much he meant to her and after pondering hard and long, she had decided that she should talk to him. He still kept backing off when their kisses got too … intimate and even though it could be awkward for Louise, she knew that she should clear the air and come up with what was obviously disturbing their relationship. Louise wanted a future with him, and for that she needed to be able to talk to him about everything and anything. Shyness was out of bounds if things were to work between them. She had every intention to show him that nothing he could do scared or disgusted her. Nothing at all.

"It will be special. Don't worry none," Rachel said, noticing the girl's features cloud with doubt. Lou kept staring at her reflection in the mirror as if trying to find any imperfections or flaws. So guessing where her thoughts were going, Rachel added, "You look fine, honey. Believe me." Louise smiled and the station mistress continued, "Shall we go now?"

The girl turned around to follow the older woman out of the room when a memory struck her, and as she brought her hand to her neck, she exclaimed, "Wait!"

"What now?" Rachel almost snapped in irritation, tired of the girl's hesitations.

"I almost forgot," Lou said as she walked to her dresser and picked a fine object off it. It was a delicate chain which she clasped at the back of her neck. "It's Kid's gift," she explained to Rachel. Since the very first moment he had given the chain and pendant to her, she had worn it every single day, and tonight it wouldn't be different. She strangely felt as if the small jewel gave her luck or made her feel closer to Kid.

Rachel simply smiled as the girl fingered the small pendant almost with genuine adoration, as if the most expensive jewel hung from her neck instead of a simple trinket. "It's very pretty," the station mistress said at last. "But let's get going if we want to make it to the dance tonight, Cinderella."

The girl chuckled at her words. She truly felt like the princess of those fairy tales her ma used to tell her when she was a small pea. Kid really made her feel that special and she could almost swear that she had found her prince. After all the ordeals she had had to go through in her short existence, it seemed that life was making up to her for all those heartaches. Kid was the best gift she could ever be given and Lou hoped… prayed that nothing could ruin what they had. After muddling through life, she had never realized how much she longed to love and be loved. Louise had always prided herself on her independence and on needing no one, but the truth was that she had had that yearning to belong without actually being aware of it. Kid had discreetly and gradually settled in her soul and Lou knew that she could never let go.

"Yeah, let's go," Louise finally said and the two women filed out of the room.

In the meantime, the boys sauntered about the social hall as music filled the whole building. Cody hadn't wasted any time and had already danced with three girls. Not being in the mood for formalities, Jimmy had opted for keeping a low profile and had directed his steps to the refreshment table. He was now indulging himself with the rich cakes and other delicacies the local ladies had kindly donated for the occasion. Noah and Buck were engaged in conversation with an old lady, who had already told them the story of her life and threatened to keep on all night long to the two boys' dismay.

On his part, Kid stood in a discreet comer, holding a cup of punch in his hand while he watched the couples rock to the rhythm of the music. His mind drifted back to Louise, and he wished with all his heart she was here with him. He still couldn't understand why she had had to accept that darn other job. She shouldn't have to struggle so hard; a girl like her deserved to be treated like a queen and have an easy life. Yet, Kid knew that Lou was a fighter, and she wouldn't be the person he loved so dearly if she were different. Maybe someday he would be able to offer her that carefree life. Yeah, maybe someday.

"Is this where you hide?" a feminine voice sounded by his side, snapping him out of his deep thoughts and as he turned his face to the side, he saw Samantha there. He smiled and tipped his head to her politely. "So having fun?" she asked as he noticed Martha approaching after the young teacher.

The rider greeted the black woman with a brief nod while she remained in the same stilted posture he was used to. Then turning his attention back to Samantha, he answered her question without much enthusiasm, "Not really."

"Where's your girl?"

"She's busy," Kid said dismissively, his whole heart missing Louise more and more by the minute.

"I see," the teacher replied. "I hope she wouldn't mind if I borrow you for a dance." Kid remained quiet for a few seconds and then she added, "You promised, didn't you? And if I'm not wrong, you wouldn't go back on your word as a gentleman, would you?"

Kid had to chuckle at her comment, and he set down the glass and extended his arm towards her as he asked, "May I have the honor of this dance, Miss?"

"Yes, sir, you may," she promptly accepted the invitation with a tinge of mischief in her demeanor, and stopping just to hand Martha her shawl, Samantha let the rider steer her towards the dance floor. They started to swing with the soft music playing at the moment. She made a silly comment and Kid chuckled as they continued spinning around the room. Dancing and smiling. Smiling and dancing.

Unbeknown to them, a couple of big brown eyes intently followed every single movement of the smiling pair as they graciously swung in the middle of the room. Louise stood at the door, her knuckles turning white as her hand squeezed the wooden frame hard. She didn't move, she didn't breathe, she didn't blink as her bright eyes kept fixed on the same image before her. Her mind had gone numb as soon as she had stumbled upon that perturbing sight, and she simply stood there, watching.

A hand on her shoulder made her spring off her abstraction suddenly. "Louise?" Rachel called in a soft voice. The girl turned to meet the station mistress's concerned eyes and without a second thought Lou swirled around and dashed away from the place.

"Louise!" Rachel called, following the girl with quick steps. "Louise! Wait!"

Lou slowed down and when the blonde woman caught up with her, she asked, "Honey, where are you going?"

"Home," the girl replied in a grave voice and without stopping her movements she continued marching forward without even looking at her friend.

"They were just dancing, Louise. There's nothing wrong with that," Rachel tried to appease the upset girl. She could understand that Lou could have gotten the wrong impression by watching her man pleasantly enjoying the company of another woman. Yet, Louise should know that she had nothing to fear, that all that was a mirage. Nobody could deny that Kid was completely and entirely smitten with the petite girl, and no other woman could drive him away from her. However, Rachel knew that when one was in love, the insecurities boosted, and one saw beyond what was real. Besides, the station mistress knew through the Southern rider that Lou had already shown signs of her jealousy for the new teacher, so it was no wonder that she had reacted the way she had.

"I guess not," Lou said in a cracked whisper. "But well… it's obvious that I ain't needed in there."

"Please, Louise, let's come back. Don't be a fool," Rachel exclaimed irritated.

Lou stopped short and fixing her eyes on the older woman's intently she said, "Yes, Rachel. I'm afraid I've been a fool, a complete fool all this time."

"Lou…" Rachel tried once again, but the girl didn't let her. "Thank you for your help, Rachel. I appreciate it really even though it was … for nothing."

She let out the last part with a cracked voice and as she felt tears blurring her vision, she shot away before Rachel could see her in a pitiful state. The older woman stood there, following Louise's fleeting figure with her eyes until she turned into an alley and disappeared. The station mistress then set off back to the social hall. Her heart went out for Louise who, although mistaken in her judgment, didn't deserve to have this kind of "surprise" thrown at her. She had been so looking forward to tonight and then all her hopes and plans had been smashed in just a few seconds.

Rachel silently cursed Samantha for not leaving the rider alone, and Kid for not keeping away from that woman. The station mistress had somehow foreseen that the new teacher would cause problems. In the few days the blonde woman had worked with the southern lady, she had noticed the teacher's obvious interest in the rider. Samantha had bombarded her with questions about Kid and his girlfriend. The station mistress had tried to parry her inquisitiveness, but Samantha had been difficult to ignore.

"Damn!" Rachel exclaimed loudly as she approached the music-filled room. Why on earth did she and Louise have to turn up at the exact moment that Kid and Samantha had been dancing? And… why on earth did he have to dance with the woman and look so darn pleased? Rachel sighed as she remembered Lou's bitter expression. She hoped that Kid could manage to appease her and talk some sense into her. Yeah, Louise would surely see things in another light as soon as the rider explained himself. Then she understood that she'd been silly to let her jealousy rule her. Yeah, that would be, but Rachel lamented that in the meantime Louise was miserable, alone in her rooms and with all probability crying herself to sleep.

As Rachel was reaching the building, to her puzzlement she noticed that the music had stopped. The moment she was about to climb the steps leading to the building, she halted her movements as a group of people flocked out. Teaspoon led the way, followed by Samantha, the woman called Martha and an elegant man who the station mistress had never seen before. The group went past her while she stared at them with curiosity as their faces revealed that something had definitely happened. A few steps behind them Kid followed, and as he passed by the station mistress, she grabbed him by the arm, stopping him.

"Kid, we need to talk," Rachel said. She had to make the rider go and find Louise without betraying the girl's trust. Louise couldn't be left in that state for the rest of the night, and the sooner the couple sorted out this misunderstanding the better.

"Not now, Rachel," the rider retorted and disengaging his arm from her hold, he continued after the group of people who were obviously heading for the marshal's office.

"But Kid…" the woman tried in a loud voice as he walked away from her. "Louise…"

"She's working," the Southerner said without even turning his head, thus answering what he thought Rachel was asking him. He had been repeatedly moaning about Lou being busy tonight, but seemingly the station mistress either had forgotten or hadn't heard a word of his complaints.

Rachel stood there, watching as the rider walked down after the other four people who had disappeared into Teaspoon's office. She couldn't help but feel curious about what all that was about. The music had started again inside the building and as she shifted her head, the woman's eyes came to rest on the other four riders who were outside the social hall.

"What happened?" she asked them as she pointed towards where Teaspoon and the others had gone.

Noah then explained to the woman how a man by the name of Robert Edwards had cut in on Kid and Samantha's dance, and as soon as they started their own dancing, Martha had stopped them, urging the teacher to go home. The man had reacted harshly, knocking the black woman down with a stinging slap and loudly claiming that the woman had belonged to his father.

"So now they're clearing this nasty business with Teaspoon," Buck picked up where Noah had let off.

"And where does Kid come in all this matter?" Rachel asked again.

Jimmy shrugged his shoulders and added, "You know him. The eternal gentleman."

The rest of the riders shared knowing smiles while Rachel breathed between gritted teeth. "Silly boy."

The station mistress was irritated to say the least. The evening couldn't have gotten any more complicated and the fool of Kid didn't have more sense than getting involved in somebody's problems while his girlfriend was probably fighting ghosts on her own. Of course, Rachel knew that Kid had no idea about what had happened with Louise, but still the woman couldn't help but worry about the petite girl. She even had the strong urge to barge against Kid, to pinch him on the ear and drag him to Lou forcefully.

Later in the evening Kid returned and explained that Samantha had been able to sort out the situation. The lady showed Teaspoon some documents that stated that Martha was a free woman and Robert Edwards's claims were out of place. After that, the two ladies had set off for their place straightaway, declining the rider's offer to accompany them.

"I'm glad that everything is solved," Rachel commented truthfully. She could understand that life for a former slave wasn't a piece of cake since many people didn't seem ready to accept or see others beyond the limits of a different color skin or beliefs. Buck and Noah had been at the receiving end of this sour bigotry, and Rachel could guess that it could even be worse in the case of a woman. Martha seemed an honest, decent person who shouldn't have to face this kind of disruptions in her life.

Kid nodded at the woman's words and then Rachel told the five riders, "We'd better go back home now, boys." After the incident with Martha, the night's jovial atmosphere had been dampened and many citizens had decided to leave the social much earlier than usual. The riders agreed with Rachel's decision and sauntered towards the door.

"I'd rather stay, Rachel," Kid added. "I want to wait for Lou. I imagine she won't be long now."

The station mistress knew that his wait would be totally a waste of time. Louise wasn't going to turn up, and it wouldn't be very wise on her part to send Kid to talk to her now. A couple of hours had passed since the girl had fled, and with all probability she would be either asleep or too upset by now. Lou wouldn't really appreciate it to have Kid knocking at her door when her face was likely to show the signs of a night that had turned terribly wrong for her.

"Kid, I don't think that's a good idea," the station mistress said, racking her brains to find an excuse to make the rider desist from his intentions. She didn't find any, so she simply asked, "Why don't you leave that for tomorrow?"

Kid stared at the woman with a confused frown, not understanding what she was talking about. "Rachel, I haven't seen Lou at all today. You can't imagine how much I've missed her. I just need to see her or I'll go mad."

Rachel smiled sadly, not having a clue how to reply to his sweet words about Louise. The station mistress didn't have the heart or the courage to tell him that he wouldn't see his girl tonight either. She felt she had no right to meddle in their affairs and it was up to them to clear all this muddle. With a sigh Rachel turned to leave and patting Kid on the arm, she just said, "Just don't get yourself in trouble." With those last words the lady followed the other riders, hating to be in the middle of a situation which shouldn't have happened to begin with.

After waiting for over an hour, Kid was getting exasperated. Everybody had left and there wasn't a single trace of Lou coming any time soon. The rider stood at the edge of the boardwalk, constantly checking the direction she'd be coming. A smile spread across his face as his eyes finally made out the outline of a woman walking towards him. However, the smile faded and turned into a frown when he realized that it wasn't Lou, but another woman. She had bright red hair and was over ten years older than his girl. The woman who was carrying a broom and several buckets stomped towards the social hall, and when she reached Kid's position, the rider blurted out, "Where's Louise?"

The woman glanced at the young man with a confused expression. "Are you talkin' to me, boy?"

"Yeah, Ma'am," Kid answered politely, regretting his discourteous manners of now. "Could you tell me where Louise is?"

"Louise who?" the woman let out, completely lost at what he was talking about.

"Louise McCloud, you know… uh … the cleaner," Kid answered matter-of-factly.

"I'm the cleaner here, boy, and I ain't no Louise McCloud or know any Louises. I'm Frances, Frances Graham."

"But…"

"Look, boy. It's late and I have no time for your games," the woman lashed out and pushed Kid out of her way with a strong shove, which moved him out of her way, her broom and buckets hitting him on the chest and quickly entered the building, slamming the door close.

The rider stood unmoving for a few moments, his face creased in bewilderment. Thinking that for some reason, Lou had had to keep working in the hotel, he decided to check the place. The high building appeared before him in shadows, with just a faint light shining in the lobby. Kid started mounting the steps to the hotel's entrance but stopped in mid-stride as his eyes fell on Robert Edwards, who was ambling out of the building.

"Look who we have here. Lover boy," the man started, oozing sarcasm through all his pores, and his sneer soon turned into a bitter expression as he added in a low, threatening voice. "Hear me out, boy. The next time you meddle in my matters I won't let you away so easily."

His threatening tone egged Kid on adopting a cocky posture and he repeated what he had already told him in Teaspoon's office. "You stay away from those ladies or…"

"Or what?" Edwards replied. "Are you ready to fight for the young lady's honor?"

The rider's mouth stretched into a sardonic smile and he turned to leave. "You heard me. Leave the ladies alone," he said once again as he started walking away from the man.

Robert Edwards had no intention to let him go so easily. He was crazy with jealousy for whoever came close to Samantha. He had never felt so strong, as if she were his obsession, as if she had gotten under his skin. No woman had woken the passion, the feelings she did. So when she had unexpectedly vanished from Charleston, Robert had thought that he would go literally nuts. For months he had searched for her, even hiring a detective who turned out to be incompetent and useless. By sheer luck he finally found out her whereabouts and he never hesitated to travel thousands of miles just for her.

Nobody left Robert Edwards without an explanation and Samantha owed him a big one. The time hadn't diminished what he felt for her, and he would do his utmost to have her back in his life. Her excuses about the difference in age didn't convince him, and he hoped that after this unplanned trip he could return to his city in the company of his new bride. Yet, when he had stepped into that social hall and spotted her, warmth had spread throughout all his body, but as soon as he noticed the young man touching her with his hands as they danced, a terrible jealousy hit him.

He was just a young boy, nothing much, probably a simple amusement for her, but Robert Edwards wouldn't have the woman he loved smiling her flirty smile at another man. That was reserved for him alone. When he had finally managed to wrap his arms around her, after those so lonely months, the old feeling had returned full force and he could tell that she felt the same. That was why he had reacted so harshly when Martha had interrupted them. He regretted the way he had treated the black woman. Martha was somebody from his past, and he didn't mean or wish her any harm.

Not liking the way the rider was giving him the brush-off, Edwards called after him with a cynical sneer, "I heard that men from the west never chickened out, but apparently all that I was told is buck wash."

Being the proud man he was, Kid couldn't help feeling that his own persona was being questioned and turning around, he stomped back in a few strides, facing the man, "What the hell is your problem?"

Without uttering a single word, Edwards flipped his glove across the rider's face. Kid knew what that gesture meant and the man's next words confirmed his suspicions. "Let's finish this pathetic matter properly," he stated firmly, "but like we gentlemen do in Charleston and not like ruffians do here. Six o'clock sharp where the roads meet."

"Fine!" Kid barked, his face contorted with sheer anger, which contrasted with the man's calm demure. He was in such a rage that he couldn't think clearly about what he was doing, but he knew that no gentleman could refuse something like that. His eyes burned into Edwards's face, and the man simply walked past him as laughter started bubbling in his throat, leaving the rider alone with his thoughts and ire.

"I can't believe you did somethin' so bloomin' stupid!"

Kid didn't have the nerve to face the marshal as he rode next to him. Despite the many reasons against it, the rider had finally met Robert Edwards at the agreed time and place to fight a duel. Kid had known that this kind of practice was common for southern gentlemen to sort out their disputes, but he had never witnessed or taken part in one till now. Edwards's slave had handled each of them an unusual kind of pistol, which he had carefully taken out from a velvet-lined box, and explained the particularities of the duel to both men. Kid had silently been cursing himself for getting himself dragged in the middle of this senseless situation, but it was too late to back down. His mind hadn't stopped thinking about Lou all night long and regretted not having been able to see her the day before. The dreary thought that he might not see her again had crept into his mind as he had faced the man, and with a strong effort he had shushed it away straightaway.

The two men had stood back to back and as the black man had started to count, they had begun taking as many steps forward. At the count of ten they had to swirl around and shoot. The pistol had felt very heavy in Kid's hand and he had feared that he wouldn't be able to pull the trigger properly. Eight… nine … ten. The two men had swirled around, and when they had been about to fire, shouts had resounded in the silence of the morning.

A wagon had appeared at full speed and Kid could make out Martha and Samantha on it. The black woman had jumped off the carriage and run towards Robert Edwards, frenetically asking him to stop, begging him to stop, but it seemed that he wasn't ready to comply with the woman's requests. However, something that she had whispered had finally penetrated him. The man had looked at Samantha with an aghast expression and finally lowered the gun.

The young teacher had then left the wagon and gone after Robert Edwards, talking promises of love and marriage, but the man had simply shaken his head without a single word to the girl's bewilderment. After the awkward exchange, shots had been heard, and when Kid's eyes had traveled to the direction the loud noises had come from, he had seen Teaspoon galloping in. The marshal then had taken the gun from the rider's hand, voicing a harsh chastise to him. Kid didn't try to retort, still confused about what had happened, so he hadn't been paying attention when in the silence of the morning, Robert had shouted his name and aimed at him. Thankfully, the marshal had been quick enough to react and shot the man dead, stopping his intentions against the rider.

The two women at the scene had started wailing and sobbing as they had hovered over the man's corpse. Kid was still unsure who this man was and what he had been for the two ladies. All he had finally managed to grasp was that Martha and Samantha were something more than mere companions. At some point the young teacher had looked for the comfort of the black woman's arms, calling her mother, and Kid could guess that he had been seeing the real Samantha for the first time, a truer and more human one.

Kid and Teaspoon had taken the two women home, and after making sure they were all right, they started their way back toward town, which was when Kid was receiving a tremendous scolding from the marshal. Teaspoon was driving the wagon that carried the body of Robert Edwards while the rider was riding alongside him. "I can't believe it!" Teaspoon repeated loudly.

"I don't really know why I did it," Kid admitted in a soft voice.

He felt so stupid for having let a pompous man drag him into a situation where he could easily have ended up dead. When Edwards had appeared at the social, trampling over everything and treating the two ladies as if they were his property, Kid had been beside himself with rage. He just couldn't stand anybody abusing and ill-treating women. Something inside him had cracked and made him react. He hadn't been able to help the two women who meant the world to him: his mother and Lou. They had both suffered at the hands of unscrupulous men, and Kid somehow felt that by helping others kind of made up for his previous uselessness. Yet, he knew that in this case he had gone too far and getting himself killed wouldn't have helped anybody in the end.

"Then you're a bigger fool than I thought," Teaspoon barked, still in disbelief by the events. Kid was his most sensible rider, or at least he had believed so, and now the marshal felt kind of disappointed and hurt by the boy's tomfoolery.

They reached town without saying much more and turning to the rider, Teaspoon said, "You go to the station while I take care of this one."

"I … I want to see Lou first," the rider muttered in a soft voice as if asking for permission. He presaged that Teaspoon was already planning a way to make him painfully realize the scope of his foolish adventure.

"Go then," the marshal let out with a stern manner. "I hope she hits that head of yours hard enough to put some sense into it."

Kid simply nodded and muttering an almost inaudible bye, he continued riding into town. The words that the marshal had last said were perturbing as the rider wondered how to face Lou. He needed to explain to her what had happened before she heard a twisted story from other lips. Kid could guess that she'd get mad, and he really feared how she would react. The reality of what he had gotten himself into gradually stumbled over him, and he didn't have a sound explanation for his own ears, let alone for Lou.

As he neared the store, he could make out her figure, sweeping the front of the mercantile. When Katy's hooves resounded in the still of the early morning, Lou looked up and directed her gaze in his direction. Kid lifted his right hand and waved at her, but she didn't move or acknowledge the gesture. When he brought the horse closer, stopping just opposite her, Kid dared to look at her and he then knew that she knew. Somebody must have already spread the tale that the Pony Express rider with the funny name had fought a duel with the man who had caused havoc at the social the night before. Kid could guess that the person alerting Teaspoon of the events had been the same blabbermouth. As he got off his mare, Louise resumed sweeping the floor with energetic swipes, her eyes directed onto the boarded floor.

"Lou…" Kid started, stopping his steps just before the edge separating the covered boardwalk from the dusty street.

"What do you want?" Lou boomed with sheer irritation, not unable to face him.

The rider tried to approach her, but Louise stopped his intention by literally sweeping his feet off the wooden platform and thus keeping him at a distance. Kid backed up, surprised by her rough manners, fearing that she might dare to hit him with the broom, and muttered, "Lou, I know you're angry."

The girl stopped her sweeping movements and glared at him as if she had been stung. "You have no damn idea of anything. You don't know the first thing about me, about how I feel, about what I'm like. You're just an ignorant oaf!"

"Lou, please, let me explain," Kid almost begged in a pitiful voice.

"I already know all I need to. I don't have the time or the patience to listen to your poor excuses," Lou barked at the top of her voice, not caring who should be listening. With a sigh she shook her head, regretting her outburst, but not its content, and feeling that she was getting too emotional, she turned to leave. Yet, Kid stopped her by grabbing her arm. "Please Lou."

The girl sent him a murderous glance as she said, this time in a calmer voice, "Did you ever give a thought to what this would mean to me … to us? What if that man had killed you? How do you think I'd have felt knowing that you have died for another woman's sake?"

At her words Kid was speechless, realizing that his actions had opened a wound in their relationship. He had never considered that she could take all this so hard. The possibility that he might have been killed had been on his mind, but he had never pondered about what all this would do to Lou. His intention, though, had been outright, and he didn't have the kind of interest that Louise was hinting at in Samantha. There weren't any ulterior motives in his actions; he had just felt strongly to defend her from that bully of Robert Edwards. Nothing else.

As his silence stretched, Louise removed his hand from her arm and breathing in deeply to steady her frayed nerves, she said, "Kid, I don't want to argue with you, honestly or get into a fight because of another woman. It's crystal clear to me where your heart swings to, and I won't stand in your way. Maybe she's the one you've been waiting for. Somebody who you could happily frolic around and dance with. Somebody you can smile at. Somebody who you ain't afraid to love completely."

Her voice faltered as the image of him and that woman together popped into her mind. She hadn't felt as utterly lonely and miserable as last night. She hadn't been able to get a wink of sleep as she had cried all night long. It wasn't the dancing or the smiling that had bothered, but something she had seen in their faces that had sent her into sheer panic. Yet, as the night dragged on, she fought to get over her fears and even convinced herself that she had overreacted. Kid and that woman had just been dancing as Rachel had said.

The morning had seemed more hopeful but then all those hopes got shattered again as an early-rising customer was telling Tompkins what had happened between Kid and another man. Apparently the man had stumbled upon the scene as he was riding to town like every morning and had witnessed the whole thing from a discreet and safe distance. The man babbled on and on and as he guffawed loudly, saying how the new teacher was a little heart breaker, Lou had wanted to be swallowed by the earth and die then and there.

"Lou, I don't understand," Kid tried again. "I don't want anybody else. I want you. I love you."

The girl let out a sarcastic sneer as she added, "You really have a funny way of showing it. Could've fooled me and you should've thought about it before getting entangled with … other people." Sighing deeply she got ready to leave even though her legs seemed made of jelly right now, and she feared that she could stumble down at any moment. "I need to go now. You take care."

"No!" Kid almost shouted, grabbing her arm once again. "You don't mean that. Please, Lou, don't leave me! Please." His eyes were pleading, begging with her. It was as if he was in the middle of his worst nightmare, but unfortunately, the situation was very much real.

"I'm sorry," Lou mumbled and disengaged herself from his hold once again. She felt the reality of what was happening hit her devastatingly. Her eyes filled with tears and before he could see her turned into a pathetic being, she whispered the apology again and scurried inside the mercantile. Kid remained on the spot as if all his soul had been sucked out and the emptiness permeating all through his body was such that he had no energy to yell, cry or even move. Lou had left him for his own clumsiness, and he felt that he was dead because right now he didn't feel anything.