For Better Or For Worse
a story by Dana
© Dana 2000
Chapter 4
Kid quietly closed the bedroom door behind him and headed downstairs to find Rachel. Teaspoon was already snoring in his chair by the fireplace, and Kid assumed Emily had turned in for the night. Rachel was finishing up the dishes and cleaning off the table as he approached her.
"Rachel?" Kid asked tentatively.
"Yeah, Kid?" she responded.
"I, uh," he paused, not sure how to continue. "It’s Lou," he said. "I’m real worried about her and I was hopin’ you could help."
"Kid, I know. I’m worried, too," Rachel replied. "I’ve tried just about everything I can think of to help, but she’s just so..." She let her comment drop and fell silent.
Kid broke the silence. "I think she should see a doctor."
Concerned, Rachel asked, "Is there somethin’ I don’t know?"
"That’s the whole thing," Kid said. "She’s not eatin’, she sleeps all the time, she won’t even ride Lighting. I heard you sayin’ to Emily you’d take her over to the doctor tomorrow. Maybe you could take Lou with you?" he asked hopefully.
"Now I don’t know, Kid," Rachel said. "I don’t think she’ll go for that. You know how stubborn she is."
Kid laughed. "Yeah, don’t I! Rachel, she’ll never listen to me ‘bout somethin’ like this. Maybe, you bein’ a woman and all, I mean, maybe that’s what it is," he continued shyly.
Rachel smiled and took Kid’s hand. "I’ll do my best. Kid, honey, try not to worry."
"I can’t help it, Rachel," he said. "She’s...I just love her so much, I can’t stand seein’ her this way."
"We all love Louise, Kid. I’ll do what I can," Rachel promised, embracing the young man. I hope this’ll work, she thought.
*
The next morning Louise was awakened by a knock on her door. She noticed Kid was already gone and wondered what time it was. Rachel walked in before Lou had a chance to respond to the knock.
"Come on, Louise. Get up and get dressed," Rachel ordered. "I’m takin’ Emily in to see the doctor and then we need to stop and pick up a few things from Tomkins’. Emily’s all ready to go and Kid’s got the buckboard hitched."
"Aw, Rachel," complained Lou. "Do I have to?"
"Louise," Rachel went on. "It’s about time you pulled your weight around here. Remember our discussion yesterday about bein’ friends? Well, today I need a friend, and you’re it!"
Lou hung her head, realizing Rachel was right. She slowly got up and dressed. She had a nasty headache and was in no mood to argue. Besides, she could tell Rachel meant business. She meekly walked out the bedroom door, Rachel following close behind her.
Emily was waiting out on the porch and smiled as she pushed herself up awkwardly, her round belly making movement difficult. "Mornin’, Louise," she said.
"Hey, Emily," Lou responded. "Sorry ‘bout last night. I shouldn’ta left the way I did. It was rude of me."
"No harm done," Emily said, glad Lou seemed somewhat better. At least she was talking.
"Come on, ladies," Rachel directed. "We’ve got a busy day ahead of us."
Kid helped Rachel into the buckboard and handed her the reins. Normally, the women would have walked, but considering Emily’s condition and their need for a few supplies, Rachel thought it best that they drive. Kid carefully aided Emily’s climb to the seat, then paused to kiss Louise softly before lifting her up gently next to Emily. Taking her hand, he said softly, "Louise, we need to talk later. It’s real important." Lou still looked half asleep, smiled softly and nodded. It looked like Rachel’s plan was going well so far.
"You ladies have a good day!" Kid called as Rachel drove off. He headed off to work on the bunkhouse roof, since Buck had taken the single ride of the day. Kid hoped his friend would sort out his feelings about Emily’s return on the ride. Kid had done a lot of soul-searching on his recent rides and had finally reached his decision about leaving to fight for the South. He hoped that tonight he’d finally be able to discuss it with Lou.
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