Times Of Trouble -
© 2000
Author's Note: Contains some mild violence.
~ Chapter 4 ~
TThe moon was full as the young "family" rode into town. As Lou suspected, Baby Ike settled down and fell fast asleep against Emily's chest. The oppressive heat of the day was still in the air, and a light-headed Louise found herself wishing for the cool cellar at home.
The town hall that the dance was being held in was new since Lou and Kid had left Sweetwater. Louise was surprised at the size of it, but then realized the town had grown quite a bit in the year they'd been gone. The dance was to be alcohol-free, but due to the hall's proximity to the line of saloons that were also new to town, no one expected it to remain that way.
Kid pulled the buggy up to the hitching post in front of the hall and secured the horse, greeting a few of the townspeople he knew along the way. He went around to help Emily down, careful not to disturb her sleeping youngster. Then he lifted Louise down and set her on the ground, not letting go of her waist. He placed a soft kiss on her lips and asked, "You'll save a place on your dance card for me, won't you Mrs. Jackson?"
Louise blushed and lowered her eyes, partly because Emily was standing there waiting for them, but mostly because Kid had called her Mrs. Jackson. She still wasn't used to the name. Since she hadn't been to town much, Kid was still the only person who'd ever called her that. But she demurely replied, "I suppose I can make room," taking his arm as they walked towards the hall entrance, Emily following behind them.
If Louise found the outside air oppressive, the air inside the hall was much worse. All the bodies and lack of ventilation made the atmosphere absolutely stagnant. Louise felt her legs began to weaken and she clutched Kid's arm, whispering urgently, "I need to sit, Kid. Now."
He looked down at her with concern in his eyes. "Lou, honey, you okay?"
"Kid, please, just let me sit down," she pleaded.
He quickly scanned the room and found two open seats near one of the few open windows in the building. He led his faint wife and Emily to them and watched as Louise sat and tried to make herself look comfortable. "I'll go get you two some punch," he said, hurrying off.
"Sweetie? Louise, are you gonna be all right?" Emily questioned her friend.
"I'm better now," Lou responded, still catching her breath. She knew no one here and she was glad to be in the corner by the window where she could at least get some semblance of fresh air. Soon, she was cracking jokes with Emily, laughing at the appearance of many of the people at the dance. "Emily, nine o'clock," Lou pointed out. "Where did that woman find that hat? Did she look in the mirror before she walked out the door?" The woman's hat resembled a bonnet, but it looked like it was covered in coonskin.
Emily giggled. "Please tell me no one sold her that thing! What about the guy over there. Does he actually think that greasy looking thing on his lip is attractive?"
Soon the two women were in hysterics, and Baby Ike had awakened from his nap. Lou could see that Kid had been trapped by some of the local men, and being the gentleman he was, he had been forced to politely converse with him. Besides, she was feeling better and having a grand time with Emily.
Louise turned her head and was surprised to see a tall, broad-shouldered, sandy-haired man standing before her and Emily. She gave Emily a sly wink, as if to say, "He's cute - you should meet him!"
The man asked "May I have this dance?"
Emily looked at Lou and stuttered, "I, uh, Louise, can you hold the baby?"
"Forgive me, Miss," the man said to Emily. "I was actually referrin' to this young lady here," he continued, nodding toward Lou. "Just bein' neighborly, Ma'am."
Lou's eyes were as big as saucers. Neighborly, she thought. Here goes nothin'. "Why, thank you, of course," she replied sweetly as the man took her hand and led her to the dance floor. Lou looked back at Emily as if to say, "What's goin' on??"
"Louise," the man commented as they began to dance. "That's a lovely name."
"Thank you," she answered. "And yours is?" He was holding her so close she could barely breathe. She looked for Kid and didn't see him.
"Howard," he replied. "Casey Howard. Perhaps you've heard of me."
"I'm sorry," Lou responded. "We're rather new to town. Your name doesn't sound familiar." He sure thinks highly of himself - I should know who he is. She couldn't breathe and was beginning to feel weak in the knees. She looked back towards Emily, but her friend has disappeared as well.
"My brother Lawson and I own the biggest cattle ranch in these parts. I do believe we're neighbors, so you should be seein' quite a lot of us," Casey explained.
"How nice," Lou replied. "Excuse me, but I'm feelin' a bit faint. I think I should sit down."
"But Miss Louise," Casey said huskily, "We've just begun to dance and I am so enjoying it." She felt Casey's lips brush her forehead, and she tried to step away from him, but he held her even tighter. Lou searched the crowd for Kid and Emily and didn't see them anywhere. This man was making her very uncomfortable and she didn't want to dance. She began to panic. Kid, where are you?
Kid appeared out of nowhere and forcibly grabbed Lou away from Casey. She stepped behind him, clutching his arm for support. Fire was in Kid's eyes as he calmly told the man, "I think the lady's had enough dancin' for the night."
Casey seemed appalled. "I was merely bein' neighborly. I didn't think you'd mind, Jackson."
Lou was surprised the two men knew each other. Kid had never mentioned the Howard ranch, and it was supposedly near theirs.
"Where I come from, neighbors don't look at other neighbor's wives the way you were lookin' at mine," Kid said tersely.
"I saw no weddin' band. I thought she was your sister," Casey responded.
"Maybe 'cause you didn't bother lookin'," Kid retorted.
The stifling air, her panic, and the awkward scene they'd created was too much for Lou. She lost her grip on Kid's arm and crumpled to the ground.
Kid turned around, horrified. "Damn you, Howard!" he screamed, kneeling to cradle his unconscious wife.
