SOMETIMES
THE PAST COMES BACK...SOMETIMES
THE PAST COMES BACK...© 2000
They awoke the next morning feeling a little awkward at the position they were in, still embracing.
Lou rose and took care of Seth's needs and breakfast mostly in silence. After a few moments Kid broke the silence "Well, better get going, wonder what Jimmy's gonna say when we surprise 'em?" he look amused. She smiled, knowing they had a lot of explaining to do, also feeling a little apprehensive about telling Jimmy about her life and how it turned out. She knew everybody thought she was too strong willed to have let a man control her like that, she couldn't answer their questions when she didn't have the answers to her own.
Before they mounted the horses, Lou wanted to thank him for what he'd done for her, for her and her baby. She stammered, feeling uncomfortable "Kid", he looked at her, again touching her heart with his eyes. "Kid, I..I.. I just wanted to thank you for all you've done for me, for us... Seth and me. You have been like a savior to me, and I have no idea how to repay you. Kid shook his head, "Lou, you don't' owe me nothin', I didn't do anything any decent man wouldn't have done." He was desperately trying to control his emotions. He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her and love her - he knew he had to get a grip on himself - they could not let their relationship go there - no yet anyway.
Lou knew the reality of the situation, she knew that any decent man wouldn't go to the lengths to get her away from the likes of her husband that the Kid had, but sensing his uneasiness decided to leave it at that. She could still read him like a book, she knew the turmoil he was in and didn't want to say or do anything that would make it any worse for him.
They rode the rest of the morning in silence. Each of them wondering what they were going to do when they reached their destination.
They approached the town that they had decided a few days ago would be the end of their trip. Both felt a little sadness, feeling this was nearing the end of the time they would spend together. They rode up to the sheriff's office and dismounted. Kid handed Seth to Lou and she placed him on her hip- Kid thought she made such a natural mother, he never would have thought that a few years ago. He laid his hand on her shoulder and gently guided her up the few steps and through the door.
They saw Jimmy slumbering in his tipped back chair, his black hat covering his face. Kid cleared his throat as Jimmy peered out from under his hat. "Well I'll be damned" he jumped up nearly toppling over. "What the hell...." he quickly glanced at the Kid and Lou with a baby on her hip, he was confused. "What the hell are you two doin' here, if I ain't mistaken you two idiots married other people, even though everybody knew you were made for each other, and here you are - looking like the nicest little family."
Kid and Lou looked towards each other a bit sheepishly but quickly broke the gaze. Kid grabbed Jimmy's hand and shook it but quickly embraced him in a bear hug. Slapping him on the back, Jimmy turned his eyes towards Lou, "Hello Jimmy" she opened her arm still balancing Seth on her hip, preparing for the big bear hug she knew was coming. "It's a long story" she remarked hugging him. "You got some time?" "Yeah, yeah, just let me wrap some things up around here, you two go up to my place. It's just outside of town about half a mile, you can't miss it, looks just like a lonely bachelor 's place. You two go ahead - freshen up or whatever you need to do - I'll meet you there soon."
Lou had just barely finished feeding the baby when Kid walked into the living area - fresh from his shower. Lou's heart skipped a beat as her memories of their showers together flooded her. Oh get a grip Louise - she chided herself. He looked at her, "You go freshen up Lou, I'll keep an eye on Seth. She complied - gratefully, feeling the need for a good thorough shower.
When she was through, she approached Kid and Jimmy, who had come in while she was bathing. Seth was seated comfortably on Kid's lap. They were laughing, it did her heart good to see the look of happiness on Kid's face, it had been so full of worry lately. She could tell they were laughing about their express days, the best years of my life - our life, she sighed and made her way to the table.
She sat next to the Kid and began to tell Jimmy about the past few years and how her life had turned upside down. A lot of the information she was sharing was also new to Kid, it hurt him listening to her, knowing her pain could have been eased, knowing she never would have had to experience it if he had only given her more time - if he had only waited for her.
As if on cue - Kid picked up after Lou's voice trailed off, filling Jimmy in up to where the Kid had shown up at her house.
Kid filled Jimmy in on his past and his marriage. Lou felt a tinge of jealously toward his wife, than berated herself for being jealous of a dead women. It was her fault he left, it was only natural he would find someone to love - he always attracted women, no matter where they went. How many times did she have to answer questions from all the girls in Sweetwater and Rock Creek. They all thought she was a boy , his 'best' friend, they were always trying to get her to ask him to ask them to a dance or barn raising. At the time Lou thought it was humourous, now she realized she should have understood then how blessed she was that she, even dressed as a boy, was the object of his affections. But she took it for granted and lost it. She'd been such a fool - well nothing I can do about it now, she thought.
Kid was finishing up when she realized she had been daydreaming and missed most of what he'd told Jimmy. "And after seeing the way he was treating her I almost killed him Jimmy! I could've ripped his heart out with my bare hands" he told Jimmy with heart-felt emotion.
Jimmy was shaking his head and Lou was looking ashamed. "Oh, please Lou don't be ashamed, it want your fault" Jimmy stated, noticing her shame. "Besides, you made the decision to leave with the Kid; that took a lot of guts, you aren't the kind of lady to take being treated like that, you just had a little help, that's all" he concluded. She realized Jimmy didn't hold her weaknesses against her and that he was only concerned for her.
He addressed Kid, "well, what are you two gonna do?" Lou & Kid glanced quickly at each other knowing they had no idea.
"Well first I need to find some decent work, then we need to find a place for Lou and Seth, somewhere safe." he answered Jimmy.
"I think I can help you with a job, I lost a deputy a few weeks ago, been looking for a good man. I think I can trust your references" he snickered. "You think you'd be interested?" Before he could reply Lou interjected, "I don't know if this town can take Wild Bill Hickock and the Kid back together again!" They all laughed, evoking many memories of their express days.
"And as for a place to live" Jimmy continued "you don't know this but Buck lives up in these parts now. Found himself a wife and they have a pretty nice spread no too far from town." Lou and Kid looked at each other and smiled, they both were excited about the prospect of seeing Buck. "It'd be my guess that they wouldn't mind finding a little piece of land to put a cabin on, Lou you'll really like Dawn" Jimmy added.
"And Kid you can stay here with me, until things change" he looked at Lou and Kid expecting some input from them, neither of them said a word.
It was getting late and though they were looking forward to the morning when they would ride out to see Buck again and meet his new wife, they were exhausted. Jimmy's house didn't offer much but he gave his bed up to Lou and Seth and he and Kid made pallets on the floor in the living area. Tomorrow was another day - they would worry about it when it came. They slept.
CHAPTER 1 - CHAPTER 2 - CHAPTER 3 - CHAPTER 4 - CHAPTER 5 - CHAPTER 6 - CHAPTER 7 - CHAPTER 8
TO BE CONTINUED...
