Chapter 46

Kid remained sitting on the edge of the bed with a despondent pose; his elbows on his thighs and his face buried in his hands. Twenty minutes had passed since Lou had left and from the very first second he was feeling very lonely and sad without her. He couldn't remember how he used to spend his days before Lou had moved into the ranch. This house wasn't the same if she wasn't here, and Kid didn't want to learn to live without her. Maybe she'd come back when she cooled down, Kid thought hopefully. He'd go and see her tomorrow … or perhaps later tonight, and would try to change her mind. The sensible thing to do was to let her alone at least for this one night. The last thing Kid wanted was to crowd her with his insistence, and she might need to think things through. Maybe she'd realize on her own that she had made a rash decision and sleeping apart tonight may make her see that she couldn't stay away from him in the same way he knew he couldn't. He should do that, but deep down he knew that as soon as he came into his lonely bedroom tonight, he'd need all his might to stop himself from rushing to her side.

A knock at the door brought him back from his reverie and looking up he saw Doritha standing at the threshold with a small sympathetic smile on her face.

"Kid, I saw Louise leave. Something happened?" Doritha asked. She had heard the whole exchange between Lou and Kid with a satisfied smirk from her bedroom. She was glad that her presence was already causing trouble between the couple, which would hopefully lead them to fall to pieces.

Since the first day Doritha hadn't liked Louise McCloud at all and when the brown-haired girl had gradually come between her and Kid, that dislike had become sheer hatred, an overwhelming hatred that had made her go to extremes like the time she had hired those two thugs. Maybe she should have accepted Mary's suggestion back then and let those two kill the woman. In that case, Louise McCloud wouldn't be a problem now, but she hadn't dared. She was sometimes too soft and maybe she should start accepting and adopting some of the ways in this land of savages. Doritha felt that she and Kid hadn't married as they were supposed to because of that tramp of Louise McCloud.

Garth had been a poor substitute to Kid and when he turned her life into a misery, it had been a living hell to stay with a man she had ended up despising. All that had happened because of Louise and now that she was a free woman again, she swore that she'd make that girl suffer in her own flesh what she had undergone herself. Doritha had every intention to steal Kid's affection from her. She'd show that servant how it felt to be dumped like garbage. Kid was an easy target, and if she worked her charms on him, he would be trapped in her web in no time. After all, they'd been in love for many years and Doritha was sure that he still loved her despite the meddling of Louise McCloud.

"Uh…" Kid started awkwardly, unsure how to explain what had happened between him and Louise, "Lou decided to go back to her rooms in town."

"Why? You two fought?" Doritha asked, feigning ignorance.

Kid kept thoughtful for a moment. Lou and he hadn't really argued, and when she had left, she had even given him a kiss, but somehow it felt as if they had taken a step backwards, drifting away from each other. "Uh… kind of," he simply said.

"Is it because of me?" Doritha asked and when silence answered her question, she added in a soft voice, lowering her eyes to the floor. "Maybe I should never have come to you. I don't want to cause any problems," she whispered as sadly as she could.

Kid walked to her and placing a finger under her chin he made her meet his eyes. "Look, Doritha. Lou and I have no problems. She knows I need to help you, but you girls have never got along, have you? So she prefers to stay at her place while you're here. Only that."

Doritha nodded in understanding as a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. This was going to be much easier than she had anticipated. She and Kid were going to spend many hours together all alone, and if she played her cards right, very soon he wouldn't even remember what Louise's name was.

Later that night Doritha sat on the sofa in Kid's lounge while he stood by the fireplace, warming himself after being in the cold checking on the animals one last time that day. About an hour ago they had eaten the dinner that Kid had fixed for the two of them while they had talked and laughed light-heartedly. Doritha had babbled on and on about their past times, but she had stuck to safe topics like their school days and their early childhood. Despite the day's events, Kid relaxed as they both reminisced about those innocent years and all their little mischief when they had been just a couple of young children.

As Doritha looked at his standing figure, she thought she might take a daring step in his direction. Time was money, as the proverb said, and she needed to quickly lay the siege to Kid. "We had a lovely childhood, didn't we?" she asked with a big smile.

"Yeah, we did," he replied turning his head to the woman on the sofa.

"Sometimes I wish we could go back to those times," she let out in a melancholic tone.

"Me too," Kid admitted. Even though his childhood hadn't been anything to brag about, his heart wished he could live those innocent and simple days again. It was a time that had been hard but he treasured some moments in his heart that no bad memory could ruin for him.

Doritha rose to her feet and came closer to him in front of the fireplace. She paused to gaze into his eyes with a flirtatious glimmer and then said huskily, "I still remember our very first kiss." Kid looked at her with a frown, wondering why she had changed the direction of the conversation suddenly. "You took me to that picnic in town, remember?" Kid didn't reply but she continued regardless, "I'd been dreaming, desiring, longing for you to kiss me for weeks, and I thought to myself that if you didn't do it that day at the picnic, I'd have to forget I was a girl and take the matter in my own hands." Doritha chuckled at the memory while Kid remained quiet and serious while listening to her awkwardly. "The day dragged, and I got to think that you wouldn't kiss me then either. But when you dropped me at home, you finally plucked up the courage to do so, remember? A shy and soft kiss … very gentle … like this."

Before he knew what was happening, Doritha leaned in and brushed her lips against his briefly. Kid was so flabbergasted that he couldn't react; he was frozen and kept staring at her agape. The woman took his silence as his leave to continue what she had started, and she kissed him again, this time more deeply. This second time, though, Kid was able to snap out of his bewilderment and gripping Doritha by the shoulders he pulled her away roughly. "Doritha, stop it. We can't do this."

"Why not?" she replied, hurt by his flat refusal. "We love each other."

Kid stared at her as if she had lost her mind all of a sudden. "Doritha, you have just lost your husband, and it's logical you're feeling a bit vulnerable, but this ain't the way to overcome your grief."

"I never cared for Garth!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with scorn. "You're the only man I've always wanted. You know that we can start from scratch. I'll do whatever it takes."

Kid shook his head while he added, "Doritha, it's too late!"

"No, it's not! I love you, Kid!"

"But I don't," he blurted out, which provoked a bitter look from her, and he hurried to soothe his tone. "At least not in that way. You know that Lou is the woman I'm in love with. I'm sorry."

"How can you say that?" she asked loudly, her eyes glowing with irritation. "She's not the woman you deserve."

"Please Doritha."

"You'll get tired of her," Doritha continued, not minding his warning words. "You've just known her for a few months while we've known each other all our lives. You might think she's exciting and unique because of what she does to you in the bedroom, but that's not really love."

"Doritha!" he exclaimed completely aghast. "I ain't gonna allow you to badmouth Lou like that. You have no right to pass judgment on us. I'll tell you this again. She's the woman I love. End of the discussion." Doritha looked at him with a peeved expression, but didn't say anything else. "And now if you'll excuse me, I'll go to bed now. Good night," he muttered solemnly and went past her towards the stairs.

The day couldn't have turned out worse for his liking. First, Lou had left and now this weird episode with Doritha. He started feeling the beginning of a headache, and all he wanted was to sleep in his too lonely bedroom. Kid had thought of going to town to spend the night with Lou in her rooms. He didn't feel like sleeping on his own and maybe he could talk to Lou and convince her to come with him to the ranch the following day. Yet, right now he didn't have the energy to do that. The confrontation with Doritha had left an uneasy sensation on him, and her insinuations about Lou had made him furious. This wasn't the way he wanted to appear before Louise. Tomorrow he'd have cooled down and as soon as he finished his chores around the ranch, he'd go and see her.

Doritha stood rooted on the same spot in the lounge as she heard his heavy steps on the ceiling above her. She was fuming but his words and warnings hadn't put her off. How dare he to humiliate her like that? He was a nobody, had always been, and it was thanks to her … her only that he had a little life to grasp. She had given him the money to leave Virginia and come to the west; she had waited for him for years long; she had traveled thousands of miles to be by his side and now … the weasel dared to give her the brush-off.

No, she wasn't going to let him have his way. He might not love her. Fine. He had chosen and picked out which side he wanted to be on. He'd now know what it was like to have her as an enemy. She wasn't going to allow him to live happily ever after with Louise. They deserved to suffer as much as she had suffered these last months. She might have nothing now, but at least she had her pride. Those two would soon know that nobody would mess with Doritha Simmons, nobody.

It was early in the morning when Rachel headed to town. Samantha had asked her the day before to collect the books and other school material that Tompkins had finally received after several weeks. So before going to work like every day Rachel would drop by the store and have one of the boys Tompkins hired for small errands help her carry all the books to the schoolhouse. As she walked along the boarded walkway, she caught sight of Louise in front of the hotel façade holding a carpet bag. Rachel approached her from behind. "Good morning, Louise"

Lou turned around and smiled faintly when she saw her friend. "Morning, Rachel."

"Going somewhere?" she asked pointing at the bag in Lou's hold.

"St Joseph to see my brother and sister. I'm waiting for the stage," Lou explained.

"I thought you and Kid were going next week." Rachel thought that there was more to this matter than met the eye. Louise had a weird expression on her face, and she had never mentioned anything about changing plans when they had talked in the last few days.

"Well… Tompkins allowed me to have the free days now and … uh … I don't think Kid would care to join me. He's far too busy right now," she added with a bitter gesture.

"What do you mean?" Rachel asked with a frown.

"His friend Doritha showed up a couple of nights ago and is staying at the ranch," Lou blurted out with a sarcastic sneer.

"What?" the blonde woman exclaimed, shocked by the news, and then Lou proceeded to tell her every single detail about what had happened since Doritha had appeared.

"She's such a nasty woman, Rachel," Lou remarked with a weary voice. "I just couldn't stay in that house any longer."

"Lou, you're telling me that Doritha clearly implied that she wanted to do her best to come between you and Kid, and you left the two of them there alone!" Rachel exclaimed, surprised by her friend's naïve actions. By leaving Lou had left the door open for Doritha to entice and seduce Kid. In Lou's situation, Rachel thought, she would cling to her man like a limpet and wouldn't let him out of her sight for one single second.

"Although I don't trust her, I do trust Kid, Rachel," Lou explained. "And well, if he wants to be with her and ruin things between us, he's free to do so. I ain't his guardian, and he's all grown up to know what he really wants from us."

Rachel nodded in understanding, suddenly seeing Louise with new eyes. What she said made perfect sense, and Rachel had to admit that her friend was very brave. It couldn't be easy for her to know that another woman was trying to snatch her man and still keep trusting him. "But, Louise, do you really need to flee to another city?"

"I need a change of airs, Rachel," Lou replied in a tiny voice. "Seeing my siblings will distract my mind, and putting some distance between me and that woman will help me to see things in perspective."

"I still think you need to talk to Kid and tell him everything you've told me about Doritha. He can be too naïve and it's time he opened his eyes about that woman."

Lou shook her head ruefully and added, "Maybe he's glad she's back, and it's her he has always wanted."

"I hope you don't seriously believe all that hogwash"

"I thought he'd come to my rooms looking for me last night," Lou muttered bitterly. She had been awake till very late waiting for him to show up at her door, and she felt totally disappointed when he didn't. They had been sleeping together every single night for over a month now, and it felt strange to be in her bed all alone, at least it was for her. Maybe Kid didn't miss her so much or might be thinking that he wanted somebody else to take her place in all senses.

"I don't know why he didn't, but you know Kid loves you," Rachel said, squeezing the girl's shoulder encouragingly.

"Yes, I know," Louise replied with a sigh, "or I thought I knew."

"Louise…" Rachel let out in an admonishing tone and in that moment the stagecoach arrived at full speed from down the street and stopped raucously before the two women.

"I gotta go," Lou told her friend while handing her carpet bag to the driver. "I'll see you in a few days, Rachel."

Louise was about to get into the carriage, but stopped short when Rachel grabbed her arm to call her attention. Lou sent her a quizzical look and lowering her voice the older woman asked, "Louise, what about that outstanding matter we were supposed to see to?"

"I'll go to the doctor in St Jo," she replied in a soft voice.

She needed to find out for sure once and for all even though she was almost sure that her suspicions were right. This very morning she had been sick, and Lou didn't think it was caused by her nerves or any other reasons. Her body was already changing and Lou knew she had to start assuming the new situation coming on her way. Right now she was feeling very lonely and sad. It was as if she were on a walking rope, her feet trembling which each step she took as she knew that at any moment the rope would crack or be cut by a pair of scissors held by a mysterious woman's hand. This dream had been haunting her all night long and more than once she had woken up screaming when she believed to be falling into the dark abyss.

The stagecoach driver approached her, announcing that they were departing right now and asking her to get into the carriage. Louise nodded and lifting her eyes to Rachel she said, "I have to go now."

"Take care of yourself, Louise," the woman replied while Lou slid into the coach.

Rachel couldn't help but feel worried about her friend. Thinking that the girl would be alone to receive the news of an unplanned pregnancy made her uneasy. Rachel had tried to talk Lou into telling Kid about her fears. She shouldn't be facing this on her own, but Louise hadn't listened to reason. She could sometimes be so pigheaded that it exasperated the former station mistress. And now that Doritha was trying to stir trouble in the couple, Rachel feared what could be crossing Lou's mind and what she might do on impulse by her own insecurities. "Come and see me when you return."

"I will," Lou promised through the small window in the carriage. She waved her hand as the stage started off. Rachel reciprocated the gesture while she watched the vehicle disappear down the street. For one moment the woman stood there deep in thought. Very slowly she started ambling towards Tompkins' store but uneasy thoughts kept assaulting her. She reached the entrance to the mercantile but stopped short in her tracks and after a few seconds she swirled around and dashed along in the opposite direction she had come from, forgetting about the errand that she was supposed to carry out.

The dining room was silent but for the clanking and jangling of forks and knives against the plates. Kid and Doritha sat at opposite ends of the table without talking while they had breakfast. After what had happened the night before, the young Southerner was feeling very awkward. He couldn't believe that Doritha could actually believe that he had a romantic interest in her. The idea was ridiculous; their story had finished forever months ago. Even though they had been a couple for years, he didn't feel anything for her, anything at all. Lou was the only woman he cared for and even though she weren't part of his life, Kid couldn't consider being with Doritha again.

All night long Kid had been thinking that after that weird episode in his lounge it wasn't right for Doritha to stay here alone with him if she still had feelings for him. He had offered his help, so it would be mean of him to ask her to leave the house when she didn't have anywhere else to go. He needed to find out a way to sort out this mess. First, he'd talk to Doritha and explain things to her. Maybe he could stay in Lou's rooms while Doritha found alternative accommodations … and in case Louise wasn't in the mood to accept that arrangement, he'd ask Buck to let him sleep in his hut temporarily. The situation was too absurd. He was feeling forced to leave his home because of his own foolishness. He should have talked to Lou or at least thought things through before offering his hospitality to Doritha, but he had felt so sorry for her that he hadn't had any doubts when the idea poured from his lips. Of course he didn't know that she hoped that things could rekindle between the two of them, and now he couldn't undo his actions. All he could do was talk to Doritha and make things clear between the two of them.

That morning when Doritha came down for breakfast she had kept a cold and stiff attitude towards Kid. She hadn't uttered a single word and acted as if she felt terribly offended and scorned by his refusal. Kid watched her; he knew that talking to her and bringing up the matter of her accommodations was out of the question now. He'd wait for her to cool down, and then he'd explain to her that they needed to find some other arrangements for everybody's liking. Maybe she could stay with some of her acquaintances in Rock Creek and while she arranged what to do, Kid would stay out of the house.

A knock at the door broke the silence in the house, and an instant smile lightened his face. "Lou…" he exclaimed in a whisper but loud enough for Doritha to hear. She snorted disdainfully as Kid dashed to open the door. The bright smile on his face froze in disappointment when he didn't find the person he expected to see.

"Rachel … uh… hello," he let out awkwardly.

"Morning, Kid," the woman greeted with a candid smile.

"Please come in," he said, once recovered from his disappointment. Rachel followed him to the dining room and while Kid poured a cup of coffee for her, the former station mistress greeted Doritha politely.

"Hello, Doritha. I heard you were back in Rock Creek," she said taking a seat across from her.

"Rachel," the woman muttered curtly.

"Please accept my condolences for the loss of your husband."

"Thank you."

Kid handed Rachel the cup of coffee while he sat down on the chair he had been on before. "It's kind of surprising to see you here so early in the morning," he said.

"Uh … yeah," the woman replied clumsily. She hadn't really thought of a plausible excuse to come all the way to the ranch at this time of the day, and now she felt silly with all that hesitation and stammering as if she were a teenager in love. Her only thought had been to try to help Lou. She usually didn't meddle in her boys' matters, but this time she had ignored her reservations. Something had snapped inside her and she feared these two might get lost in their foolishness and needed a little push, especially if Doritha was trying to get in the middle. "I … uh… Louise has a dress that needs altering … and … well … I thought to come by and pick it up." The excuse sounded too feeble but it was the first thing that had popped to her mind.

At the mention of Louise Kid made a bitter gesture and said, "Lou's not here, Rachel."

"I know that… but she told me where she had left the dress," the woman explained, praying that Kid caught the hint.

"Did you see her this morning?" he asked, furrowing his brow.

"Yeah … in town. She was waiting for the stage when I bumped into her."

"What …? The stage?" Kid exclaimed loudly, almost choking with the sip of coffee in his mouth.

"Yeah, she's off to see her siblings," Rachel explained.

"We were supposed to go together next week," Kid let out in a morose voice. The news saddened him and made him realize how much he missed her. The night had been too long without her by his side, and thinking that he wouldn't be able to see her for several days appeared like a tortuous wait to his mind.

Rachel grinned softly and added, "You know what she's like, a girl of impulses."

Kid nodded with a sad smile and said, "Yeah, I guess." He stayed in silence for a beat and then addressed the woman once again, "Rachel, feel free to go to the bedroom."

"Uh?" Rachel let out with a frown, completely lost at the meaning behind his words.

"Her dress. She must've left it in the bedroom," Kid elaborated for her.

"Oh, yeah," Rachel exclaimed among giggles. "My head is like a sieve lately."

While Rachel went up to the bedroom, Kid remained on his seat deep in thought. Suddenly, Doritha's voice sounded in the room, interrupting his train of thought. "Seems your 'precious' girlfriend ditched you. Apparently she doesn't love you as unconditionally as you adore her."

Kid sent her a reproachful glare and rising to his feet he started picking up the remains of his breakfast while he said, "Lou's just gone visiting her brother and sister."

"But she hasn't even bothered to tell you."

"Please Doritha, don't start."

"You've always been so stupidly blind about her," Doritha continued in the same venomous tone.

"I ain't gonna listen to you," Kid added loudly running out of patience and without actually being aware of it, he made a decision in that very moment, "because I'm leaving."

"What?"

"I'm going to Saint Jo," Kid stated.

"You can't do that! She sneaked out on you like a thief because she doesn't want you there. And you can't leave me here all alone!" Doritha exclaimed loudly as she jumped to her feet. "It's very rude to leave me, your guest, like that!"

"Sorry, but I gotta go. You'll be fine and Buck's coming back this afternoon … in case you need something."

Doritha had the urge to hit him and scratch his face, but she kept still when she heard Rachel's steps coming down the stairs. The woman had grabbed the first dress she had come across in the bedroom. She had heard the loud voices between Kid and Doritha and wondered what all that was about.

"Rachel, did you say Lou took the stage?" Kid asked when the woman walked up to them.

"Yes, why?"

"I'm going after her and … well… give her a little surprise," he explained. If he left as soon as he finished tending the horses, he'd be arriving in St Joseph tomorrow early in the afternoon, not much longer after her.

"I'm sure she'll love to see you there," Rachel remarked with an ample smile. She didn't miss the miffed expression on Doritha's face and couldn't help feeling pleased that Kid was on the right track. Her intervention had worked fine and she hoped that Lou would explain things to Kid and they could face everything together. "Good for you, Kid. And you two have fun."

Kid smiled blushing to the roots of his hair. While listening to Doritha all of a sudden he had this big revelation hitting him hard. He was tired of wasting his time in hesitation and nonsense. The woman he loved was now miles away because he had let certain elements interfere in their way. He wasn't going to let anybody cause any more problems. This was their life, his and Lou's, and for once he wasn't going to think of anything and anybody else but him and Lou. Right now he couldn't be bothered whether Doritha would get mad at him, whether he shirked his responsibilities on the ranch or whether something else was expected from him. Now he was going to be the one to take the reins and wouldn't listen to anybody. He had told himself once that he wouldn't do anything to risk losing Lou again and he feared that he had blundered it again. All that was going to finish. No more hesitations. No more doubts. He'd show her how much she meant to his life. Nobody was going to interfere anymore.