DIFFERENT WORLDS

C.C.

~CHAPTER 18~

Friday Morning

Teaspoon waited for Louise, he wasn’t sure what to think about Jimmy’s instructions. He was sure that it was trouble, he just wasn’t sure what kind of trouble. He prayed earnestly that it wasn’t anything more than they’d been through on numerous occasions. But why would Louise McCloud be involved he wondered. Frustrated at his lack of understanding he chewed on a piece of straw, waiting.

Kid got back to the station before anyone else was awake, he mucked the stables, fed and watered the horses and began to look for the next chore as he noticed Jimmy emerge from the bunkhouse.

“Nice night Kid?” Jimmy smirked.

A little embarrassed by his accusation he replied “come on Jimmy, give me a break will ya?”

Jimmy took pity on him, realizing that Kid was dealing with stuff he only hoped he’d never have to deal with. He didn’t think he’d ever find someone to love, or someone that would love him, certainly not some prim and proper girl from the east!

They both heard the buckboard and watched as Teaspoon and Louise approached the station. Jimmy watched Kid as he caught Louise’s eyes, he laughed as he saw the same love and adoration pass between them he had seen in Wesley.

“Teaspoon” Kid addressed him politely, but didn’t take his eyes off of his bride, the look they gave each other not unnoticed by Teaspoon either.

“Kid” he answered, eyeing the two. “Okay, all small talk aside, what’s this all about?” he questioned, never one for suspense.

Kid told Teaspoon that they should probably include Rachel and the boys in the discussion then approached Louise and took her by the hand, only increasing Teaspoon’s curiosity.

With Teaspoon, Rachel and the riders sitting around the table in the bunkhouse Kid informed them of Louise’s situation regarding her father’s inheritance and finding out about Stephen only marrying her to get his hands on the money.

“Whoa Kid” Teaspoon interrupted, “that don’t rightly explain your involvement, now does it?” eyeing them, realizing the looks that passed between them already told the story, but he was going to make them explain.

“Well you see” he looked nervously from Rachel to Teaspoon, avoiding eye contact with the other riders, his eyes finally resting on Louise, finding the courage to complete his sentence, “we...uhm.... we got ....married.”

You could have heard a pin drop, the silence overwhelming. Lou reached under the table and grabbed Kid’s hand, feeling very much like an outsider, knowing this family of Kid’s was trying to digest the shock they had just been fed. She was afraid that they would have the same attitude toward her that Jimmy had originally. She looked over to him, Jimmy smiled reassuringly which made her breath a little
easier, at least she had two adversaries.

Teaspoon was the first to speak, it had taken a few minutes for him to be able to get a handle on his urge to yell. He told himself that yelling wouldn’t help the matters. He had watched Kid and Louise closely, he watched as they spoke to each other through eye contact. He knew that the way they were communicating was special, reserved for lovers. They really loved each other, but why, he thought, why a spur of the moment wedding. He let out a slow, long breath. “Okay Kid, tell us why’d you hafta get married?”

Kid looked around the room realizing that just a short while ago there wouldn’t have been any reason for him to explain himself or try to find approval for his actions. But as he looked at the faces of Teaspoon, Rachel and the other boys he was grateful for the make-shift family he had found here at the Express, he just hoped they’d support him and Louise. Because no matter what happened he was going to be there for her, he’d always put her first.

“Well” he began “we were trying to figure a way for Lou to be able to get her father’s inheritance without marrying Stephen, and” he looked adoringly at Lou “it just hit me - she can’t marry Stephen if she’s already married.” She smiled at him his eyes revealing his
true feelings for her. Teaspoon felt for the couple sitting before him, relying on him for the advice to answer all their questions. His mind scrambled for the right advice.

Teaspoon look at Louise, “So Louise, tell us, what do you think Stephen’s capable of? You know he can’t marry you if you’re married...” he hesitated “but he can marry a widow” he glared at Kid, bewildered that Kid hadn’t even thought of his own life.

She wasn’t sure she’d find her voice, nervously she began “I’m not” thankful that she had been able to make a sound “really sure, I don’t think he’d kill anyone” looking at Kid she continued “but I’m not sure, he already hates Kid” her voice quiet, the others almost having to strain to hear her. “He might I guess, or hire someone” her voice trailing, trying not to imagine her life without Kid in it.

Teaspoon’s mind wandered back to when his deputy, Barnette, had married a women only to find out that she had already been married, several times as a matter of fact. All of the marriages after her first were nullified when it had been revealed. He had an idea, arching his eyebrows and grinning he explained.

After he finished Louise asked sheepishly, “isn’t that against the law? Wouldn’t I have....?” she was interrupted by Teaspoon.

“Yeah, it is breakin’ the law, but” he was hit by another sudden idea. Damn Teaspoon you are so good he thought to himself. “But if the preacher ain’t exactly a man of the cloth” eyes wide with amusement he continued. “I gotta friend.... I’ll make some arrangements.”

Kid was shifting uncomfortably and nervously wringing his hands. “Teaspoon, that means she’d have to pretend to be his wife for a whole week” he looked defeated.

Louise noticing his discomfort and realizing what he meant found her courage “No Teaspoon, I couldn’t, I won’t......”

Teaspoon understanding the couples struggle was thankful for the thought that entered his mind “Well, let’s see... Louise, how much of an actress do you consider yourself to be?”

She almost laughed at his question and threw Kid a knowing look. “Well Teaspoon, I’ve been playing a role my entire life, I’d say I’m pretty good at it!” she was feeling courageous now.

The group huddled as they made their plans. Each of them had a role and they were convinced that finding a way to get this couple out of the trouble they seemed to be in was their most important chore.

The rider’s and Teaspoon left after the plans had been firmed up. Leaving Rachel, Kid and Louise. In a motherly way Rachel approached the couple. “You know you two, I knew from that first time you came to the station Louise, I knew that you two were destined to be together” she shook her head “Louise, I hope you realized how blessed you are; this boy..ehm..” correcting herself “this man.... he’s pretty special” she looked at Kid lovingly.

He blushed at her compliment and Louise placed her arm around Kid and he looked at her. “I can promise you Rachel” her eyes not leaving Kid’s “I have thanked God everyday for him, I realize it may be an effort for us to get there, but” she squeezed him tightly “we’ll get there and when we do, it’ll be the best marriage ever!” Kid kissed her lips quickly.

Rachel envied the couple in front of her. Yes, they had some obstacles in their way, but they had something stronger than greed going for them, they had true love. And true love would always win when it came to greed, she had to believe.

Teaspoon and Louise headed back into town, regretfully. One more night, then she’d be forced to act the role of a life-time.