Chapter 32

Humming a jolly tune, Lou went through the different shelves in her store while jotting down the various items and quantities on a writing pad. Before she left for Fort Kearney, she needed to have the inventory ready for Theresa or whoever would take over the shop.

This morning Louise was feeling in high spirits. Yesterday, despite all her disagreements with Theresa, Albert, and especially Jack, things had ended up in a very happy note. Going riding with Kid had really done her good. It had felt like old times when they raced and tried to beat each other. The result of that did not really matter, because they always had a good laugh, and that was it. When they had finally got tired from all the riding, they had stopped in Lou's special spot, where she often fled to think or even cry when she was feeling in an especially low mood. It was a quite secluded place, next to a stream, which she had found by sheer chance. Last night she and Kid had enjoyed the peace and quite of the place, and had a light dinner of berries they had picked from the many bushes around, and some cheese Lou had found in her saddlebags. As she had previously said, there had been a full moon, whose light reflected in the sparkling waters of the stream, and in this magical haven of peace the couple had ended up making passionate love. When they made it home, it was too late, and the house was silent and dark, but fortunately, there had not been any incidents, like the night before.

Somebody cleared their throat behind Louise, and she turned around to find Jack. The wide, wooden counter separated them, and the morning light coming from the big widows behind him left his face in shadows, which made it impossible for her to read his facial expression.

"Good morning, Louise," Jack said.

"Morning," Lou replied in a flat tone. Yesterday's altercation had taught her a lesson, and she really needed to keep her distance, and try not to mingle work and personal matters. "Jack, could you please see to the customers today? I'd like to finish the inventory and the paperwork."

Lou was about to turn her attention back to the task she had been busy with before Jack came in, and the young man's voice stopped her. "Louise, can we talk?"

Lou did not really want to talk if the conversation was going in the same direction as the day before. Yet, she felt unable to refuse. "All right then."

"I… I want to apologize for my appalling behavior yesterday," Jack started. "I had no right to speak to you like I did. You've always treated me with kindness and respect, not like an employee at all, and I shouldn't have said what I said. I… I was just hurt and angry, and now I'm sorry."

Louise nodded. "And I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my husband, but I had my reasons."

"I… I understand," Jack added. "I hope you can forgive me, please." He stopped, and then added, "I've brought you something as a sign of good faith. My treat this time." Jack placed a big blue tin, wrapped in an exaggerated black ribbon, on the counter, next to the cup of tea Lou had prepared for herself that morning.

Louise recognized the tin that contained the preparation she used for her tea. This one was larger than the one she usually bought from Jack's uncle. "Thanks," Lou said with a smile. "You didn't really have to bring me anything."

"I felt … I feel so bad after what I said yesterday," Jack explained. "I could hardly get any sleep last night." He paused, and looked into Lou's big, brown eyes. "I really don't wish you ill, Louise. Honestly."

"I know. Please don't think about it," Lou replied in a disregarding manner. "We often say many things we don't mean," she added, bringing to mind all the times in the past she and Kid had fought, and remembering everything she had said just to hurt him.

"Thanks. You're a good woman… an excellent woman, and I hope your husband realizes how lucky he is."

At his words Louise cringed inside. She still did not think Kid was lucky for having her in his life. A voice kept murmuring in her mind that Kid would have been much better off if he had not got to know her at all. Yet, Lou had decided lately she would not question what had no answer, and enjoy what life had granted her. "Let's forget about this matter."

Jack nodded. "Thanks for your understanding," he said. "I'll start work now."

"One moment," Lou called. "We need to talk about something else."

"All right. What about?"

"The… the store. In… in a couple of weeks I'm moving to Fort Kearney with Kid."

Jack looked at her with wide, surprised eyes. "You're leaving Seneca?"

Louise nodded. "My husband has a horse ranch in Fort Kearney; he's just starting in the business, but it's there where we want to settle down."

"A ranch?" Jack echoed. "Are you sure you'll like that kind of life?"

Lou smiled. "Believe me, I am," she said with clear determination. "Anyway, what I wanted to talk to you about is the store. I ain't sure if my sister will be ready to run it on her own, but if she decides she doesn't want to, would you be interested in taking over?"

Jack did not speak straightaway. "I wish I didn't have to see you go or make this decision. It's a very generous offer, and if you're sure about this, well, I guess my answer is yes."

Louise smiled. "Nobody could be better than you, Jack. You know everything there is to know about the business. So as soon as Theresa tells me something, I'll let you know."

Jack nodded. "Is there anything else?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Then let me make you another cup of tea," he said. "This one's gone cold."

"Thanks, Jack. You're a dear."

The young man smiled and took the cup and the tin he had brought himself. As he turned around from Louise, and walked to the end of the store, the smile vanished from his lips, and a dead serious expression appeared on his face. As he carefully spooned the herbal mixture into the teapot, he threw a casual look over his shoulder, and watched Louise, who had returned to the job she was doing. His lips stretched into a weird scowl, and his eyes ran up and down her turned body. Shaking his head, he focused his attention back to the teapot.

A few minutes later the caramel-colored brew was boiling, and as Jack poured some into the cup, the smile returned, and with slow steps he walked back to the young woman, carrying the steaming cup in his hands.

At lunch time Louise usually took a break and dropped by the house while Theresa stayed in the store. As she walked into the living room that afternoon and did not see her husband, she asked, "Albert, have you seen Kid?"

The young man closed the book he had been reading, shifted his crossed legs, and said, "I think he mentioned something about riding."

Louise rolled her eyes amusedly. Where did she expect to find Kid if not with Katy? It was a logical assumption, and Lou could not blame him for doing that. Even though Kid had volunteered to help in the store, Louise had told him that there was nothing she needed his help with. Actually, having him around would be more of a hindrance than a help since he had no idea whatsoever how her business worked. So she had told him, and he had understood. And since he had nothing else to do in Seneca, it did not surprise Lou to hear he was out riding. She was glad he could enjoy the time. However, she was a bit disappointed because she had hoped they could have lunch together.

"Have you had lunch yet?" she asked unenthusiastically.

Albert nodded. "I didn't see you last night," he added.

"Kid and I came back late," she explained. "We went riding, and lost track of time."

Albert nodded again. He kept thoughtful for a second, and then he said, "You know, I'm sorry for what I said yesterday. Theresa and I were way out of line."

Louise smiled, accepting his apologies, and came to sit on the sofa next to him. "I already understand where that came from."

"You do?"

Lou nodded. "I know you're gonna miss me in the same way I'm gonna miss you two."

"Yes…" Albert nodded, lowering his eyes.

"I really have to do this, Al. Kid's my husband, and I love him."

"To be totally honest, I was also surprised about your husband," Albert continued. "I always wondered why a fine woman like you didn't have and want a man in her life."

"I… I know," Lou stammered, ashamed as she thought of her unreasonable behavior for so many years.

"And I really expected the man who'd win your heart one day would be something different… you know, more sophisticated, more intelligent…"

"Kid's very intelligent," Lou corrected him, not happy about the way Albert was classifying and describing her husband. "Running a ranch ain't easy, and you need brains as well as strength to make it work. Kid didn't have much schooling, but he managed to make his way in life without anybody's help, and that just shows what a remarkable person he is."

"I don't doubt that," Albert added. "But a ranch, Louise? A fine lady like you on a ranch? Do you actually see yourself as the little wife of a rancher, and being around smelly horses all the time?"

Lou raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Albert, don't you remember what I told you about the time I worked for the Pony Express?"

"Yes, sure I remember. You worked there many years ago… like the housekeeper of one station or something like that?"

Lou could not help but let out a sonorous peal of laughter. "Albert, do you really listen to me when I talk to you?"

Albert stared at her, not understanding what she was getting to. "Of course I do!"

Lou shook her head. "You know something, Albert? We've known each other for years, and I've been living under the same roof as you, and we know so little of each other," Lou mused thoughtfully.

It was true. Apart from the things she knew from her daily contact with her brother-in-law, she had no idea about much else. As far as she was aware, Albert did not have any close relatives. When he and Theresa got married, his guests were just a bunch of acquaintances from town. His mother was alive at the time, and lived in the east, but since she was quite old and sick, the woman had been unable to travel to her son's wedding. Albert's mother had died a couple of years ago, bequeathing her son some money and a house he had sold. Albert had naturally gone to the funeral and stayed there for a couple of months, sorting out his mother's matters, but Theresa had not been able to travel because at the time of her mother-in-law's decease, the young woman had been sick. Apart from his relations, Lou did not know much about Albert. As a matter of fact, her brother-in-law was a very private kind of person, and did not like to talk about himself. That did not mean he was not talkative; on the contrary, he was quite loquacious, but he usually liked to talk endlessly about the goings-on in town and in his job.

"I think we know what's important," Albert said matter-of-factly to Lou's comment.

"I guess you're right," Louise replied with a smile.

"Theresa made her vegetable soup today," Albert added. "Why don't you go and sit in the dining room while I bring you a plate of my wife's lovely dish?"

Lou smiled, and leaning over, she gave Albert a warm hug. "Thank you!" she said honestly, and rose to her feet. "You're such a nice man, and I'm glad my sister found you."

"I'm the lucky one," Albert replied. Lou kept smiling as she continued to the dining room while the young man headed for the kitchen.