For Better Or For Worse
a story by Dana
© Dana 2000
Chapter 7
Kid and Lou awoke the next morning, still wrapped in each other's arms. The smell of coffee, eggs, and bacon lingered in the air and both knew it was well past the time they should have been up. Kid rose and got dressed, planting a quick kiss on Louise's lips before he left their room.
Teaspoon saw Kid at the foot of the stairs and asked, "Where's Louise? I've got somethin' important to tell you all."
"She's right behind me," he replied. "Go ahead...I can always fill her in later." He wanted Teaspoon to hurry it up, since he had news of his own to share with everyone.
"Okay," Teaspoon continued. "I got word yesterday, but it seems like there were enough goings on 'round here, so I decided to save it for the mornin'. There ain't no easy way to say this, but it seems we're done boys," he said, looking at Kid and Buck. Lou appeared at the bottom of the stairs in time to hear the news, so he added, "And Louise."
A heavy silence descended upon the room. They'd all been expecting this, of course, but to have it all end, just like that, was overwhelming. Rachel was the first to burst into tears. "So it's over?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"Hm-hm," Teaspoon answered. "Seems the telegraph lines are done, so there's no use for the Express no more."
Soon, tears had welled up in everyone's eyes. They softly rolled down Lou's cheeks as she said quietly, "But we'll always be family. Always." Kid placed his arm around her waist and buried his face his her hair.
Pulling herself together, Rachel said, "What's done is done. No use cryin' over spilt milk. Now eat up...I don't want all this food goin' to waste."
"Then you gotta stop cookin' like Cody's here too," Buck chided, eliciting smiles all around.
"So ya'll hafta come up with plans fer what to do next," Teaspoon added. He himself planned to stay on as marshall of Rock Creek. He knew his age would get the better of him sooner or later, but he enjoyed the job and felt like he was getting too old to start over again someplace else.
"Well, we already have our plan," Kid announced. "We're goin' back to Sweetwater to try our hand at horse ranching. 'Course, I have to find a place first, but I think we got enough savings between us that we can get a decent place."
"No Virginia?" Rachel asked, watching Louise the whole time.
"No Virginia!" Lou responded on behalf her husband. Everyone could see how relieved she was. It seemed the spark that had been gone for so long was back.
Suddenly, Emily spoke, "I've got some money. I'll chip in if I can come along. That is, if you don't mind. I know you're newlyweds and all, and maybe you need some time along. I just can't stay here," she added.
"We were hopin' you'd come," Louise said warmly.
"I suppose I'll just stay on here and teach," Rachel said. "It's what I love," tears welling up in her eyes again.
Louise reached for her hand. "There's schools in Sweetwater, too, Rachel, if you ever change your mind."
Rachel smiled and quickly said, "We'll see."
Buck remained silent. Guess I got some more thinkin' to do.
"What'll happen to the station?" Kid asked Teaspoon.
"They said we could stay on here for the next few months," Teaspoon replied. "Then I s'pose they'll sell it or somethin'."
Later that morning, Louise and Emily were sitting on the front steps, taking in the sights and sounds of the town they'd soon be leaving. Kid figured they'd stay in Rock Creek about a month after Emily's baby was born, when she'd be strong enough to travel.
Kid and Buck were both working on the bunkhouse roof, although neither was sure what the point was now. Kid said, "Say, Buck?"
"Yeah, Kid," came the reply.
"What would you say to joinin' us in Sweetwater? We'll have to find a place first, but I'm sure we'll need all the help we can get. We'll be partners of course," Kid went on.
Buck was quiet for awhile and then said, "Well, I'm not sure about the ranchin' thing, but I'd be happy to help you find a place. Then we'll just go from there. Sound okay?"
"Sounds great, Buck. Thanks," Kid answered.
Meanwhile, Louise realized she needed to go into town to buy a few things for her surprise picnic with Kid later. She said to Emily, "I need to get a few things from Tompkins' store. Wanna join me?"
Emily shook her head emphatically. "I'm stayin' away from that place. It was awful the other day just bein' in there. I could feel the women all givin' me dirty looks but they wouldn't make eye contact with me. And the men! They all looked at me like I was some easy, two-bit whore!" Emily went on, "Ike was the sweetest, most gentle man I ever knew. He was the only one I'd ever, you know, been with." Tears came to her eyes as she added, "He died savin' this baby's life, even though he didn't know."
Lou could feel her friend's pain. "That's why Sweetwater'll be better, Emily. You can call yourself Emily McSwain and no one there will know the difference."
"I'm a good a liar like you are Lou," Emily complained. Realizing what she said, she gasped, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that! I admire you for what you did. I guess lyin's not exactly the right word."
"Emily," Lou said to her friend, "Ike would have married you anyway. And if you love him with your heart and soul, after all this time, I think he'd be honored that you take his name. That's what marriage is all about anyway. Just think about it." She squeezed Emily's hand and she got up to walk across the yard to the bunkhouse to speak to Kid about going into town.
"Kid!" she called, not seeing him on the roof. "Kid?" she yelled again, hoping he hadn't done something stupid like fall off it.
"Over here Lou," he answered from the barn.
Louise walked into the barn and saw Kid checking out Katy's hooves. "She needs new shoes before I ride up to Sweetwater. I need to go see the blacksmith about gettin' some in a hurry," he told her.
"I was gonna tell you I needed to get some things from Tomkins'," Lou said. "Then maybe later we can walk down to the pond," she said, smiling sweetly.
"And you'll tell me then?" Kid asked, like a child on Christmas. He took her in his arms and kissed her forehead and then her lips. He would have continued, but she pulled away to answer.
"Yes," she replied. "I promise."
"How much will you need from the store?" he questioned. "Do we need the buckboard, or do you just want to ride in?"
"We best take the buckboard," she answered, realizing even a short ride on Lightning was taboo at this point.
Lou helped him hitch up the horses and they drove towards the town. Kid looked at Louise, his eyes full of desire for his young wife. "So you think we need some 'alone' time, huh?" he asked playfully bumping her with his shoulder.
"Yep," she answered simply, smiling at him and bumping him back.
"Yep?" he replied. "That's the best you can do? That's not the usual insulting comeback from the Louise I know!" he kidded.
By this time, they had arrived at the store and Kid stopped the horses and jumped down to help Louise. "That ain't the only thing you don't know," she replied demurely, looking back at him with a grin as she headed up the stairs.
She's got somethin' up her sleeve, Kid smiled to himself as he headed across the street to the blacksmith shop.
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