A Teaspoon of Advice: “Ride safe.”
Arriving in town, Kid found Jimmy in front of the hotel, about to mount his horse. Kid reigned his horse in beside him.
“Jimmy, Lou wants us both out at the ranch.”
Jimmy’s eyes widened as he searched Kid’s face. His features were an unreadable mask, neither showing signs of victory nor sadness. Jimmy felt certain that if Lou had made her choice, Kid was unaware of the decision.
Jimmy nodded. “Then let’s be on our way.”
Kid shook his head. “I’ll be along in a bit. I have some things that have to be taken care of here in town first. Tell Lou I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Perplexed, Jimmy could only shrug. “Well, I’ll be on my way then.”
Kid rode away before Jimmy could see the emotion quaking inside him. The pain was so tangible and intense that Kid had to concentrate on breathing. Kid turned his horse and headed for the bank while Jimmy took off for the homestead.
The ride was short, but Jimmy’s thoughts were in turmoil. The very notion of leaving Lou and his daughters was unthinkable. Jimmy visibly shuddered.
Rachel walked out on the porch as soon as he rode into the yard. “I guess you’re looking for Lou,” she called out to him.
“Kid said she wanted to see us; he’ll be along shortly,” Jimmy explained.
Rachel didn’t comment. Instead, she studied Jimmy carefully, gauging what Kid had told him. Jimmy’s tortured expression made it clear – he had no idea how much Lou loved him.
“She’s out at the cemetery,” Rachel indicated with a gesture in that direction.
Jimmy responded with a slight nod. ‘This is a bad sign,’ he thought immediately. ‘Lou’s probably pulling Kid’s marker out of the ground this minute.’
Climbing off his horse and tying him to the post, Jimmy took off walking. He could see her in the distance at what they had begun calling the family plot. After receiving Kid’s death notice, Jimmy had put up a marker and they had had a small ceremony in his memory. Markers had since been erected, with empty graves as well, to remember other loved ones lost – Noah and Ike.
Jimmy recalled holding Lou as she sobbed at Kid’s funeral, his heart breaking at her grief. Once again, Jimmy felt certain, his heart was going to break at the cemetery.
“Lou, Kid said you wanted to see us,” Jimmy said softly, so as not to startle her. She was staring so intently at the plot, so lost in thought that Jimmy feared frightening her.
Looking up and around, Lou sighed. “Where’s Kid?”
The pain in Jimmy’s chest exploded. ‘Already asking for Kid,’ his mind and heart cried. ‘I’ve lost her.’
Clearing his throat and choking back the emotion, Jimmy paused a moment. “He said he’ll be along shortly.”
Lou nodded and turned toward Jimmy. She saw pain etched in his features and she let out a cry. “Oh Jimmy,” she sobbed as she wrapped her arms around him. “It was so hard,” she cried into his chest.
She could be talking about anything. Kid’s leaving, his ‘death’, this choice. Jimmy began stroking her hair with one hand as he rubbed her back with his other open palm. “Shhhh,” he whispered to calm her. “Whatever your choice, it’s going to be okay.”
Lou pulled back, gulping for air, eyes wide with shock. “You don’t know my choice?” she stammered.
Jimmy’s eyebrows knitted in a frown. “Was Kid supposed to have told me?”
“No Jimmy, but I figured it would be obvious on his face,” Lou explained.
“He’s too good a man to rub my face in it Lou,” Jimmy sighed. “He wouldn’t be that cruel to a friend – not even a stranger.
“What?!” Lou exclaimed. Understanding exploded in her brain. Jimmy actually thought she chose Kid.
“Jimmy!” she cried out as she reached up, hands on his neck, pulling his head down to meet hers. Lou kissed her husband with all the emotions welling inside her; Lou sought to ease his heartache, balm his pain and assure his mind that she loved him completely.
Realizing what her passionate kiss meant, Jimmy crushed her to him as wonder and amazement coursed through his veins. His mouth devoured hers with the hunger of a starved man. She responded in kind, passion filling them both. At last breathless, the couple pulled apart, brown eyes staring into their mate.
“Oh God Lou, I didn’t think…”
“Shhhh,” Lou interrupted, finger on his lips. “I can only imagine what you thought. I’m so sorry for putting you through all this.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” breathed Jimmy. “It wasn’t anybody’s fault. Even Kid can’t be blamed - I feel so bad that he has lost so much.”
Tears welled up in Lou’s eyes again. “It hurt him bad, but I knew I had to be with you – that I needed to be with you. The love I shared with Kid is buried right here.” Lou pointed to the grave. “That’s why I came out here. I wanted to say goodbye to the past.”
Jimmy caressed her cheek for a long moment before they turned to go back to the homestead.
***
By the time they reached the house, Kid was sitting at the kitchen table, talking to Teaspoon and Rachel. Jimmy and Lou were surprised when Kid offered them a stoic smile as they walked into the room.
Teaspoon stood, squeezing Jimmy on the shoulder. “Sit down; we have a lot to talk about,” he instructed.
Jimmy and Lou sat across the table from the other three. Jimmy draped an arm around Lou’s waist, low enough that Kid couldn’t see; Kid had been hurt badly enough and Jimmy wasn’t going to rub salt on the wound, but at the same time Jimmy wanted Lou to feel his support.
“I took care of some business in town this afternoon,” began Kid as Jimmy and Lou listened, waiting on the rest.
Kid continued. “I put aside almost everything I made while working of Davis. I put it in the bank today, as a trust for Emma and Annabelle. You two are on the note as well, so if I don’t make visits often enough, you can always get to it.”
Lou gasped in shock and Jimmy realized with pride what a noble action Kid had taken.
Kid cleared his throat before anyone could speak. “I’d like to be able to stop and visit sometimes, and see the girls, especially Emma.”
“That’s understandable,” agreed Lou. Jimmy nodded.
“I have one big request,” Kid asserted. “I’d like Emma told when she’s older. I want her told that I’m her blood father, what happened and why I’m not around.”
Jimmy took in a deep breath and looked at Lou. She put a hand on her cheek, thinking as her eyes turned to Jimmy. The both nodded simultaneously. “That’s only fair,” Jimmy said, looking back at Kid.
Relief appeared on Kid’s face. “I thank you for that.”
“I don’t want to live in Sweetwater, it’d be too hard,” Kid paused, trying to hold the pain in check. “But I would like to drop by on occasion – see all of you, and see the girls, how they’re growing. I’ll send letters too.”
“You are welcome here anytime,” Lou spoke up.
Teaspoon and Rachel exchanged smiles. Their kids had grown up.
“Where are you going?” inquired Jimmy.
“Don’t rightly know,” shrugged Kid. “Thought I might see California, maybe Texas.”
“Drifting gets lonely,” Jimmy said, knowingly.
“Maybe, but I’m not ready to settle down anywhere now,” Kid said. He left off the rest of his thoughts, ‘not without Lou.’
Jimmy echoed his wife’s words. “Don’t forget, you are welcome here.”
“Thanks Jimmy,” Kid said sincerely. “One more thing,” Kid cleared his throat. “I saw the lawyer in town when I left the bank. Lou, you’ll get divorce papers soon – just sign them and we have no legal ties.” Kid was unable to keep the pain from his voice with that last statement.
Tears filled Lou’s eyes and she bit her lip to not cry out. She didn’t regret choosing Jimmy, but hated seeing Kid hurt like this. Jimmy’s arm tightened around her.
Kid stood abruptly. “I told the girls goodbye already. I’ll come back, when I can, to get to know them better. I just,” Kid paused, “can’t right now.”
Jimmy stood as well, moving beside him. Kid was unable to say anything more and Jimmy embraced his friend in a hug. Teaspoon and Rachel moved to join them. Lou sat, hands folded in her lap. She knew Kid would not want a hug from her right now.
“Well bye,” Kid’s half-hearted smile was poignant. “Teaspoon, walk me out?”
Jimmy returned to his wife’s side and Rachel kissed Kid’s cheek in farewell.
Walking onto the porch, Teaspoon cocked an eyebrow at Kid. “I’m right proud of you did back there son. You’ve grown up a lot.”
Kid nodded solemnly. “A war does that to you.”
“That it does,” Teaspoon agreed.
“Teaspoon, not that I wish him ill, but if anything happens to Jimmy, let me know,” Kid asked his older friend.
“Now Kid, you can’t live the rest of your life waiting on Lou to be free again.”
“I don’t plan to Teaspoon, but I know I’ll never find another woman, not like Lou.”
“Maybe you can find someone completely different,” Teaspoon offered.
Kid just shook his head ruefully. “I can’t imagine loving anyone else,” Kid’s voice cracked as he mounted his horse.
Teaspoon watched as Kid gave a final salute and rode away. ‘Ride safe Kid,’ echoed in Teaspoon’s mind. ‘Ride safe.’
