By Charla
Copyright 2000
Four Years Earlier…
They had been married nearly two months. The time had been rife with war tension, friends leaving for battle and an anger building between the young couple.
“Dammit Kid, I, at least, have the right to know your name! I don’t even know how to introduce myself,” Lou stomped her foot for effect. She was actually angry over something else, but this was a safe topic to fuss about.
“I’ve told you Lou, I’m not ever telling you my last name. When I left Virginia, I promised myself I wouldn’t take a single thing from my Pa, and that included his name. I did tell you my first name,” Kid defended himself.
“I refuse to keep being called Mrs. Kid,” Lou shouted.
Kid pursed his lips thoughtfully and moved to put his arm around her. “Why don’t we go by McCloud?” he offered.
Lou looked at him askance, sideways. “You’d take my name Kid? Aren’t you worried about the town laughing at you taking your wife’s name?’“
“That don’t worry me much Lou; I just want to make you happy.”
“Kid McCloud,” Lou tested the name. “I like it, but why don’t we start calling you Ga…” Kid put his finger over her lips, “Now Lou, you promised me you wouldn’t ever call me that when I told you.”
Lou finally smiled a little, “Okay Kid,” she said, stressing the second word.
“That’s better,” Kid grinned, cupping her chin in his palm, turning her face toward his own. “I don’t want to leave with us fighting.”
Lou immediately turned bitter again. “I don’t want you to leave at all.” Her face was mutinous and stubborn as she stared into his eyes.
“Lou,” Kid drawled, “we’ve been over this a hundred times. I told you a long time ago, before we ever married, that if it came to war, I’d want to go back and defend Virginia.”
“Kid, why couldn’t you have left your love of that piece of dirt when you left your Pa ?” asked Lou, frustrated.
Kid sighed heavily. This argument had been going on for two months and was always the same between them.
“You know I love you and I promise, I’m coming back.”
“You can’t make a promise like that Kid; it’s a war.“
Kid thought of a new tactic. “You didn’t get upset with Cody for signing up.”
“I ain’t married to Cody!” she yelled. Lou shrugged off Kid’s arm and stood, putting a little distance between them. She felt so betrayed by her new husband. “Besides,” she continued, “he’s mainly scouting for the Army here in the west. You are heading right into the middle of it!”
“Lou, “ Kid began, but she interrupted.
“Kid, I’m telling you, if you leave for Virginia, things won’t ever be the same between us.” Lou stated bluntly.
“What do you mean? Are you saying you ain’t gonna wait on me?“ Kid was incredulous.
“Of course not,” Lou explained in a raised voice. “I’m committed to this marriage, to you.” Lou’s tone obviously implied that she didn’t think Kid had the same commitment. She continued, “When you come back, we aren’t going to be the same people Kid. War is going to change you just like being alone is going to change me.”
“I’m not leaving you all alone Lou; Rachel and Teaspoon will be here.”
“They aren’t you, Kid,” Lou stressed. “You are my husband. Why did you ever marry me if you only intended to turn around and leave me?” The anger in her voice was fast turning to hurt. She was on the verge of tears.
Lou’s heart was breaking. She loved Kid and hated his leaving for the war. She would also hate it if he left now, only remembering her angrily harping at his decision. Lou was torn between offering her unconditional love to her husband and fighting him until the last moment on this.
Tears filled Kid’s eyes in response to her anguish. ‘God, how he loved this woman,’ he thought.
“Lou, darling, I wouldn’t be the man you know and love if I walked away from this war, something that I feel responsible for and a cause that I feel is right,” his words begged her to understand.
Lou saw his tears and her fingers wiped gently beneath his eyes. The fight went out of her and she deflated under his loving gaze. He placed his hands on both of her cheeks and bent to kiss her lips softly. He could taste her tears and he felt his own mingle with them.
They kissed like it was their last chance. The passion built between them until they found themselves naked in a clean, nearby barn stall.
“I love you,” they both repeated, over and over.
The next day, Kid left for Virginia. A week later, Lou headed for the doctor. She was expecting their first child.
On to Chapter Three
