SOMETIMES
THE PAST COMES BACK...SOMETIMES
THE PAST COMES BACK...© 2000
A few weeks later
Lou left Seth with Dawn and ventured into town to pick up a few supplies, and stop in and see Kid, she thought to herself.
While she was at the general store she was approached by a mildly handsome tall man. "Well, well, why haven't' I seen you around here?" he grinned at her. She knew he thought he was charming her, but he really was only turning her stomach. But she tried to be polite - realizing she hadn't really been given a reason to be nasty to the man. "Well sir" she replied somewhat curtly "I live outside of town and don't get in too often, I stay pretty busy at home." She turned back to her purchases. He continued and was close to her face, close enough the she was becoming very uncomfortable, "Oh" he continued in a sarcastic voice, "do you have a husband at home that keeps you that busy?" Lou really didn't like the tone of his voice or his implications. "Sir" she spoke harshly. "Adams, Richard Adams ma'am," he interrupted her. "Well Mr. Adams I don't see that my personal life has anything to do with you" she stated flatly, "if you'll excuse me I'd like to finish my shopping." As she turned from him he reached for her elbow. Without even thinking she rammed it into his ribs; "Don't touch me" she almost yelled. Surprised by her reaction, he stepped back "Well I guess you just ain't the friendly kind, huh?" he sneered at her. "I think I'll be seein' you again" he turned to go. "Don't count on it" Lou answered, trying to calm her nerves. She quickly finished her tasks and hurried to the sheriff's office. She need to see the Kid, she needed the comfort just his presence would bring her. It bothered her that she found herself relying on him for comfort, but she also knew that it wasn't anything she had control over.
He was talking with Jimmy as she walked into the office. He turned and his face lit up when he saw her. Oh, Lou thought to herself, he's happy to see me too. That smile, it'll be the death of me yet, come on Lou get a hold of yourself. "What're you doin' in town?" he questioned her bringing her from her thoughts. She explained that she was picking a few things up, while she was talking she noticed Kid glance toward the door. She turned to see what he was lookin at and saw a very beautiful girl walking through the door, dressed in frills and carrying a parasol. "Well hello Kid" she interrupted rudely. "Excuse me Lou" he timidly glanced at her and shrugged his shoulders. Lou felt a very unfamiliar emotion begin to rise in her - she wasn't sure what it was because she had never been one to be very jealous, but because she wanted to gouge this girls eyes out she figured this must be jealously. She stepped back and eyed the girl, yes, she was pretty but not exactly Kid's type. She could tell the girl was a fake, and if there was one thing she knew about Kid it was that he could read people for what they were. She tried to act like she wasn't listening to their conversation but tired in vain to follow it. "Kid, are you goin to take me up on my long-standing invitation to dinner, I do declare" she spoke in an exaggerated southern drawl "I don't know whatever you do with yourself in the evenings, but one of these days I'm going to convince you to come and have a good old southern home cooked meal" she teased. She eyed Lou suspiciously. Kid looked at Lou and she tried to look away before he caught her eye, "Elizabeth, this is Louise McCloud, a very good friend of mine, Louise this is Elizabeth White, her family moved here from Georgia several years ago." "Well, nice to meet your Louise" she continued in her exaggerated accent, she was glaring at her. "Pleasure's mine" she returned Elizabeth's glare with equal disdain. Kid cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Well Elizabeth, I appreciate the invitation, but like I've said before, I have plans for this evening, maybe some other time". Not taking her eyes off of Louise, "You always have other plans Kid, why I believe you may be hiding a mistress somewhere" she spoke with the venom of a snake. "Hold on Elizabeth, my personal life really isn't any of your concern, as I said, I am otherwise occupied and I would thank you not to say such things about me." He glanced at Lou and she smiled faintly. "Well" Elizabeth huffed, I know when I'm being dismissed and turned on her heels glaring at Lou as she left the office.
Jimmy had been quiet throughout the entire exchange, all of which rather amused him. Kid always seemed to get the girl, whether he wanted to or not, he thought wryly. "She's such a bitch" he stated flatly. Both Lou and Kid's eyes widened at his statement. "I'll see you two later", he left knowing they'd need to talk.
"I'm sorry Lou" he apologized for her uneasiness. She was surprised by his apology, "It's not your fault Kid, Hell I don't blame her for coming after you - you're a great catch!" she laughed. "But seriously Kid" changing facial expressions "I don't want you to pass on invitations because you feel like you have to come to the cabin, you know you need to be able to get on with your life and not feel the responsibility of taking care of me and Seth."
"Lou" he approached her "I haven't had any invitations that are more interesting then spending the evenings at the cabin with you and Seth, besides you can't tell me that under any circumstances I would be attracted to the likes of Elizabeth White" he jested with her. "Well she is beautiful you know" Lou smiled at him. "No Lou" Kid became serious "beautiful isn't what a girl looks like - and that girl is rotten to the core - won't leave me alone and she's about to drive me crazy. I was about to take you in may arms and kiss you just to get her off my back." She looked at him archly "you'd better not think you can use me to make other women jealous" she joked with him. He just shook his head, one day he'd tell her he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her and it didn't have anything to do with other women.
He walked her down the street toward Lightening, "Hello Kid, nice to see you this morning. How are you?" Lou looked and saw a pretty blonde beckoning to him. He walked in her direction - "I'm fine Cindy thanks" his voice softer than the voice he had used with Elizabeth. "And you?" "Fine, fine thanks, and who is this?" she asked referring to Louise. Again Kid introduced her as his very good friend and Cindy smiled at her, Louise could tell she liked this girl, she wasn't anything like Elizabeth. The only thing she didn't like was that Cindy showed interest in Kid. "Well it was nice to meet you Louise, and Kid you know that you're always welcome to dinner." "Thanks" was all the Kid replied. She turned her attention to Louise "Maybe we can get to know each other better sometime" she addressed her. "I'd like that" Lou replied. Kid was surprised by Lou's reply, he'd begun to realized that he like her tucked safely away in her cabin.
They made their way to Lightening, she swung herself up into the saddle and bent low to talk to Kid. 'You know, you should accept some of those invitations" she teased. Stepping back and glaring at her "you can't be serious" he retorted "I'd like to look forward to my evenings." And with his last remark he reached up and slapped Lightening on the hind quarter and he galloped away towards home.
As She rode home, she had to admit to herself that she didn't realized Kid was receiving the kind of attention in town she had just witnessed. It scared her. But he still chooses to spend his evenings with me and Seth she thought with relief. Maybe someday he'd be hers - but for now she'd look forward to his visit tonight.
She didn't realize that she was being watched as she returned to her tiny cabin by the creek.
CHAPTER 1 - CHAPTER 2 - CHAPTER 3 - CHAPTER 4 - CHAPTER 5 - CHAPTER 6 - CHAPTER 7 - CHAPTER 8 -CHAPTER 9 - CHAPTER 10
TO BE CONTINUED...
