"Nothing," mumbled Kid, embarrassed that he had been caught staring, but for some reason this scrawny boy attracted his attention in a way no one ever had before. It made him feel uncomfortable.
"Well, go stare at 'nothing' somewhere else," said Lou as he returned to his chores.
Kid shrugged and moved off to the barn where his horse, Katie, was stabled. He had a run shortly and needed to be getting ready.
Buck watched the exchange from the porch of the main house where he and Ike were repairing the porch railing. Ike looked up at his friend, <They at it again?> he inquired.
Buck nodded. "I wish I could figure out why they are always going at each other. It's almost like they're trying to not get alone on purpose."
Ike nodded and went back to work. Buck soon joined him. They both forgot about the most recent exchange of angry words between their co-workers.
Later, when Kid was leaving on his run, Buck noticed that the sky was beginning to really cloud up, "Kid, be careful. That storm is going to be big. Do your best to stay ahead of it," he warned.
Kid nodded, took the monchila from Cody, and rode off ahead of the rain.
That afternoon at dinner, the storm blew in hard. The wind rattled the shutters of the house as it howled past. The rain sounded like distant gunshots as it pelted the roof. "Glad I'm not the one out in this mess," said Cody as he reached for the mashed potatoes.
"Wish you were," teased Jimmy. "Then maybe you'd be washed for supper."
The others all laughed and even Cody smiled.
"Kid should be okay," said Teaspoon. "He got a good jump on the storm and it's coming from behind him. He should be resting at the next station by the time it catches him. Don't you think, Buck?"
Buck nodded. He noticed that the tension he had sensed in Lou seemed to lessen at this news. Before he could decide what that meant the door to the bunkhouse blew open. Ike jumped up to shut it, and noticed some of the horses running away from the stables.
<The stock's gotten loose,> he informed the others excitedly.
"Damn," said Teaspoon. "Guess that means you're going to get that bath after all Cody. Let's go, boys. We can't afford to loose them horses."
The boys quickly donned their rain gear and headed out into the yard. After rounding up all the stock in the immediate area, they noticed that two of the better horses were still missing. Fortunately, the rain was beginning to let up. "I think I can track them," offered Buck. "I'll need to go now before the next part of that storm gets here and washes away everything."
"Fine," said Teaspoon. "Take Lou with you. We need Ike here to help settle these ones here."
Buck nodded. He and Lou mounted and headed off towards the river. When they reached the meadow, Buck dismounted. As he carefully studied the ground, Lou stayed mounted and off to the side by the edge of the cliff that lead from the meadow to the river below. He wanted to be sure and stay off the trail.
Buck soon picked up the trail he was looking for. As he turned to mount, there was a bright flash of lightning followed by a loud clap of thunder. Buck looked up just in time to see Lou fall off his horse and over the edge of the cliff towards the river. Buck dropped his reins and ran towards the place where Lou had disappeared. There he was, laying of a small ridge about half-way down the slope.
"Hold on, Lou. Don't move! I'm going to come down and get you," Buck hollered. He quickly gathered the horses, secured them to a tree, then secured his lariat to a different tree and lowered himself over the edge and down to Lou. Once there, he carefully picked up Lou and wrapped the rope around him. "Stay still,Lou. I'm going to crawl back up and then pull you up. I'll fix that shoulder once I get you back topside."
Buck nodded. "I'll go back out as soon as the rain lets up. I'm pretty sure I know where they went."
"We'll see. You sure you're alright? You look a bit banged up yourself."
"I'm fine," Buck said. He stood and crossed to the room were Emma was tending Lou. He knocked softly, opened the door just a crack, "Do you mind if I come in?" he asked.
Emma looked up from where she was adjusting Lou's bandage. "Not at all," she replied.
Buck slipped in the room and softly closed the door behind him. "I just wanted to let Lou know I ain't gonna tell."
"Thank you," Lou said.
"This explains a lot of things," said Buck.
"Like what?" asked Lou.
"Why you and Kid go at each other for starters,"
smiled Buck.
Lou looked up and gave Buck a hard stare.
"You like him, don't you?" asked Buck.
Lou blushed and dropped her head, but said nothing.
Emma smiled and moved over to where Buck stood. "Come
sit down and let me look at you too," she said.
Buck followed her to a chair next to Lou's bed, and continued, "I think he likes you too. He just don't know why, and it scares him because he thinks you're another boy."
Lou looked back at Buck.
"You get angry to keep him away so you don't accidentally slip and give your secret away," Buck continued. "He gets angry to keep you away because liking another boy that way is wrong, or at least that's what he's been taught."
Emma finished cleaning up the few scrapes and bruises on Buck. She smiled to herself at this exchange and then turned back to Lou. When she finished making Lou comfortable, she turn to Buck. "Why don't we to now and let Lou rest? She has a lot to think about, and we need to discuss how we're going to handle this."
Buck nodded and turned to follow Emma. At the door, he stopped and faced Lou, "I promise I won't tell anyone. Not even Ike. Do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Promise that someday I get to meet Miss Louise. I think she is probably a really beautiful woman."
Lou smiled and blushed slightly, "I promise," she said.
The others all nodded.
"He should probably take it easy for a bit after he's up and around. I'd say plan on covering his runs for the next week," said Teaspoon.
<That's only one run> Ike pointed out.
"I'll cover it," volunteered Buck. "I'll have most of a day off before I go out again, it'll work."
"Good. Now that we have that settled, let's eat," said Teaspoon.
They all ate and then prepared for bed. "I'll go check on those horses at first light," Buck told Teaspoon.
"Fine," said Teaspoon. "Just be extra careful. Looks like this weather may be sticking around for a while."
Buck was up early the next morning. He quietly got dressed and was on his way to the stables when Emma came over to start breakfast. "You going somewhere?" Emma asked.
"I thought I'd go back and check out the area where we lost those horses. There's a small cove close by there. It's where the tracks were headed. They may still be holed up , but they won't stay for long, " Buck explained.
"You think you can get them both alone," Emma inquired.
"No, but I can pen them and go back later," Buck explained.
"Be careful. I'll save some breakfast for you," smiled Emma.
"Yes, M’am," said Buck as he headed to the stables and then back to the meadow where he and Lou had been yesterday.
He quickly located the horses just where he thought they would be. He blocked the entrance to the cove they were in and went back to the way station.
<Emma said to tell you she's got your food at the main house. You're to go eat first,> Ike told him as Buck dismounted.
"Thanks," said Buck as he headed towards the barn with his horse.
<I'll get your horse,> Ike signed. <You'd better get up there fast. She really wants to see you. She's been out to check on you at least three times.>
"Thanks again. I owe you," Buck said as he handed Ike the reins and headed to wash up before going to Emma's.
"You wanted to see me?" Buck asked as he opened the door.
"Yes, come in, sit down. Let me get your breakfast," replied Emma.
Buck went in and sat down. Emma put his food on the table. As Buck started eating, Emma sat down across the table from him. "What are we going to do about Lou and Kid?" she asked.
"Excuse me?" said Buck.
"I think you were right in your explanation of the situation yesterday. Lou and Kid argue with each other all the time to keep the other one off balance and away from them. How can we help them?" Emma explained.
"We need to get them together somehow, but Kid won't go for dating another boy. I don't see Lou telling anyone else that he's really a she. I guess we just have to hope that somehow Kid finds out on his own," replied Buck.
"Exactly, so how about we help Kid 'accidentally' find out?" schemed Emma.
"You have a plan?" asked Buck as he pushed away his empty breakfast dish.
"Kind of," smiled Emma.
Lou nodded. "I just need to go to the bunkhouse first to get a few things."
"Fine," said Buck. "I'll hook up the buckboard and meet you over there."
In a few minutes, Buck and Lou were headed into Sweetwater. Kid rode past them on his way to the station. "Ride safe,Ike," Kid shouted as he passed the monchila on and dismounted. He tended to Katie and then went to clean up. As he entered the bunkhouse after his shower, Emma greeted him with a smile. "You up to a short trip?"
"Yes, M’am," Kid replied.
"I need someone to go to the meadow and see if there are any wild grapes left after that storm. I want to make some jam."
"I know were some were. I'll be happy to go and see," Kid said.
"Good. You can go as soon as you eat something," Emma said placing a plate in front of him.
As Kid was finishing up his meal, Buck was helping Lou down from the buckboard. "I'll go set up while you change," he said.
"I'll meet you on the meadow in a few minutes," said Lou. "I hope you won't be disappointed."
"I won't," said Buck. "I told you I already know Miss Louise is a really beautiful woman. I just want to see her for myself."
Lou blushed and quickly entered the cave. She shortly joined Buck up on the meadow near some vine covered trees. When she entered the grove, Buck stood and offered her his hand. "I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Louise," he said.
Lou took his hand and giggled. "I'm pleased to meet you, too, Mr. Cross."
"Buck, please," Buck corrected her.
"Only if you drop the 'Miss Louise' stuff," she responded.
"Agreed," said Buck. He turned and scanned the horizon. He could just make out the shape of a rider approaching. "I seem to have forgotten part of our food," he said. "Please, sit here and enjoy something to drink while I run back and get the basket."
Lou settled onto the blanket with her back to the rider. She turned when she heard the hoofbeats and realized with horror that Kid was coming directly towards her and she had nowhere to hide.
Kid noticed the young lady as she picked up her head and turned to look at him. He next noticed that she looked familiar. As he pulled Katie to a stop and dismounted he figured out why. "Lou?" he asked. "Yes," she replied.
"What are you doing?" Kid inquired looking around.
"I'm waiting, . . ." Lou stopped. She noticed the picnic basket sitting off to the side of the blanket. She also noticed what appeared to be a piece of paper sticking out of the corner. She quickly went to the basket, removed the paper, unfolded the note and read:
"It seems we've been set up," said Lou handing Kid the note.
He read it, smiled and said, "So, Miss Louise, shall we eat?"
