Kid stormed into town about five minutes before Samantha's coach pulled up. He went into Thompkin's store. He didn't really need anything but he wanted to buy something for Lou. He had to at least make up with her. If he couldn't have her love, he needed her friendship. He found a box of chocolates that she might like, so he bought them and walked out to the saloon.
His mind was thousands of miles away as he ran into the Samantha. She was not paying any attention either but trying to read the directions to the new schoolhouse so she could meet with the schoolmaster there. After the collision her appears went flying. Sorrys and more apologies went flying around until they both looked up.
"Samantha?" kid asked, unbelieving that she was even here.
"Kid. How are you?"
'Doin' just fine thanks. What are you ding back here in Sweetwater."
"Well I tried moving on to a new place with my mother, she found Hill
Valley a nice place to live but I didn't. So I moved on and on. It's
hard to find work even out here. So I contacted the schoolmaster here in
Sweetwater and they still need a new teacher. I was on my way there to
talk to him about the job."
"Please let me walk with you."
"It'd be a pleasure." Samantha smiled as Kid took her arm to walk him her.
He still was handsome as she pictured. And such a gentleman too.
Kid lost all thoughts of anything he was doing or planning earlier and just concentrated on Samantha. She was one woman he had grown to care about before she left Sweetwater and now she was back and perhaps to stay. His heart skipped a beat at that though. He hadn't felt this way in a long, long time.
Jimmy was kind enough to give up and let Lou have her book back before she
killed him. All Jimmy caught was the dust trail Kid left behind heading
towards town. Jimmy felt ashamed at himself. He shouldn't have been
kidding around with Lou or I guess wrestling with her for that matter.
Wait a minute. Why was he letting Kid make him feel guilty? Lou is his friend too and can spend time with her just like anyone else can.
"Jimmy!" Lou shouted yet again.
Jimmy came back to life. "Yeah."
'Don't let him get to you…"as she nodded in the direction Kid sped off to.
"Promise me you won't tell anyone about my book. Please."
"Why is that Lou?" as Jimmy was back to his old self again. " Do our
masculine forms not arose the woman within you. Do our eyes not penetrate
into your inner soul to set your…your…whatever it said a fire!"
Lou gave him the look of death, with a smirk.
"Please Jimmy, and then I won't tell Cody it was you who put the Rachael's
jelly in his bed roll."
"Deal" jimmy said affirmatively and rather quickly.
The two friends broke into laughter and then headed back to do some chores
before someone yells at them for not doing it, namely Rachael.
Back at Sweetwater Kid had been waiting outside the schoolhouse as the kids
left for the day. Samantha was inside talking to the schoolmaster/teacher,
Mrs. Jacobbs. Kid deep down wanted her to get the job. That would give
him more time to get to know her even better. Surprising Kid, Samantha
popped out of the schoolhouse with a huge grin on her face.
"I got the job" she screeched.
"That's wonderful." And Kid hugged her and congratulated her again.
"Why don't you come over to the station for dinner tonight. I'm sure
everyone would be glad to see you again." Everyone but Lou, Kid thought to
himself. She was so irritating sometimes but the softer side of Lou was
amazing to Kid.
" Are you sure, I don't want to be any trouble."
" You won't be."
She couldn't resist his smile. "Ok then."
"So where are you staying?"
"I'll be staying with Mrs. Jacobbs until I get a place of my own."
They walked around for a little while longer talking and then Kid excused
himself. He'd be back at 6 to pick her up for dinner. If you didn't get
home soon and do his chores, there'd be no supper for him.
Kid rode back and Ike, who was washing the horses, took Katy for Kid.
"Thanks Ike." He said as he dismounted.
Kid saw Lou and saw her as if for the first time again. She was working
hard fixing the one fence a new horse had busted up. He walked over to
help her.
"Can I help you with that?"
Lou looked up and saw kid there. She was stubborn, "nope, I got it thanks."
"I got you something when I was in town, I kind of a peace offering."
Lou stopped working all together and looked into Kid's eyes. They were
sincere. She saw his hair fly around his eyes and she let a smile slip out.
He handed her the chocolates. She loved chocolate and she hardly ever got
to eat them. "Thank you Kid."
All the reasons for their fighting seemed to have melted away and Lou
hugged him.
Cody watching this from inside the bunkhouse told the others…"Peace at last."
"Quick spying on them Cody. It's none of your business what they're doing.'
Buck warned.
Kid and Lou finished working on the fence together and got done quickly.
Kid then ran over to the main house and told Rachael of the dinner guest
that he invited. He took the buckboard and went to go get Samantha for
dinner around 6.
"That little Rat" was all Lou could shout. Yep, she found out about the dinner guest. "He butters me up and then doesn't tell me this to my face. I don't know what to think any more Rachael. Am I being too hard on him? I don't know if I want to lose him yet to someone else even though he's not mine to lose."
Rachael listened intently to Lou as she just spurted out her feelings to her. Lou saw a broken heart ad broken love. They always take time to heal. Lou decided that she wouldn't play anymore games and to just get over it. She wouldn't let any girls in Kid's life bother her. She would be maturer about all this. Kid wanted her to be his friend, she could do that. She'll have her first test of the new Lou at dinner. She'll sock them all.
Dinner was uneventful. Everyone was civil and even Lou talked with Samantha about what she had been up to. Lou realized Samantha was a nice woman. She really could be a friend with her easily. She still felt the pain in the back of her heart over Kid but she would sit and mope no longer.
In the coming weeks Kid spent more time with Samantha, taking lunch to her
at the school house, long walks, and rides into the countryside. He liked
Samantha; she had a spark of adventure in her that reminded him of Lou. He
was surprised how well she was taking all this. Under the surface Lou was
hurt by him seeing Samantha but she hid it very well. She blew up at Kid
now and then about chores and work related stuff, shifting her anger in
that direction. Kid would snap back at Lou words would be said and they'll
be at each otter's throats. Next day civil again.
Jimmy and Lou went out on a run to take Ellis Mills to be hung. That night their relationship changed. They shared a Kiss Jimmy told her to forget but she knew she couldn't. After coming back things just went back to normal for jimmy, Lou though at least. Jimmy was just as torn about the kiss as she was. They kept it to themselves.
A couple days later the town had a festival and dance. Kid took Samantha and of course, Jimmy asked Lou. This threw Kid for a loop. His friend who said he'd never go after Lou started to do just that. Well I guess she wasn't his anymore. It is harder for Lou to meet guys then it is for Kid to meet ladies. He knew this and he was now feeling what Lou had when he and Samantha started going out.
The guys waited down stairs for the ladies to finish getting ready. Rachael came down in a green dress that accentuated her eyes and made her hair glow against the color. The Samantha followed in her pink gown and Lou done up in royal blue. Bright and hit every curve she had. Kids eyes bulged out at Lou's presence, she was more beautiful than an angel. He had given that up. He though twice about going back. Jimmy took her hand and walked out the door. Kid then followed with Samantha. He couldn't get Lou's image out of his mind. He had to though if he was to be a polite gentleman to his date Samantha.
Jimmy danced with Lou most of the night but she danced as well with the rest of the riders. They each complimented her on how she transformed into a rose right before them, well at least according to Buck. They made her blush. Kid then asked Lou to dance while Samantha was resting her heels and listened politely to what Noah was talking about.
Lou was dancing with Jimmy and felt so free dancing with him. When the
music slowed he held her even closer to his body. She felt secure in his
arms. His eyes seemed to open the gate to his heart. She read him mind
like and open book. She liked this story a lot and smiled, wondered how it
would all end. She wanted to Kiss him again. She was using all her
restraint Jimmy anted to kiss her as well. Lou could feel it and see it in
his eyes. Finally the music faded again and applause. Kid had come up and
asked Lou to dance.
"She'd all yours Kid." Jimmy then excused himself.
"Lou, you look extravagant tonight."
"Thanks you Kid, you don't look so bad your self." His eyes were dashing
and Lou's body felt so warm just to be this close to Kid again. But
Jimmy's eyes fell deep into her soul.
They danced and talked a bit, avoiding all controversial topics that could lead them into open war. Kid couldn't help but stare at Lou. She was beautiful. Wearing a dress seems to expose Lou's vulnerable side. She loses her rough, tuff exterior to be a gentle woman, graceful.
