From Jessica's Bittersweet Revenge at The Saddlin' Station
"'Course I'm right... have I ever been wrong?"
Kid rolled his eyes and smiled lopsidedly at his friend. "Don't even get me started Jimmy Hickok."
Can just see the two of them before my eyes. Just perfect!
--Starbright
From Kirsten's Parallel with Death at The Saddlin' Station
"Somehow it helped to hear the crispy sound of something being destroyed between his fingers."
How true, the frustration that makes you want to destroy something just to get some relief. Sad but so human!
--Starbright
From Joanna's A Bond So Strong at The Way Station
"When they drove past the stockyards, haunted, hollowed eyes followed them."
One simple line describing both the misery among the prisioners and the hopelessness the one's in the wagon felt. A line that sends shivers down my spine!
--Starbright
From Broedy's Silencing the Past at the Kid and Lou Shrine
"Kid ran his hand down her cheek, the gold wedding band he wore flashing in
the eerie, pale light. Once again he was reminded how lucky he was to have met someone like
Lou. Despite their differences, despite all the obstacles that had stood in their way, in
the end they had made
it. He didn’t know what he had done to deserve her, or their children, and
he would never be
able to take for granted this life they had together. He would never miss
the thrill that ran up his
spine when she kissed him, or the feeling that warmed his heart whenever she
smiled at
him—that special, intimate smile she saved only for him. Yes, he was lucky
alright.
Louise now
bent her face towards his, but before their lips met there was a commotion
outside. She threw
her husband a startled glance before they both arose quickly from the
rocking chair, Kid
grabbing an unlit lamp from the bedside while Lou wrapped a shawl around her
shoulders."
I go back to read this story all the time, just for this passage!
--Jessica
From Starbright's Disaster in Disguise at Ponyexpressen
"Kid saw the look Jimmy threw him and snorted: "You ain't looking that handsome either, just for your information."
Jimmy had to smile at him. Looking like a drenched rat, he still had his pride."
I think that this exchange between the two fits their characters so well! However, let it be known that I think the Kid looks handsome no matter what! ;-)
---Jessica
From Ann Duncan's Forbidden Love at Riders Coming!
"Both Lou and Noah had a knack for avoiding trouble and attention when it was necessary. Lou was enjoying his company and told him so. "The others can be so exasperating, they never want my input or let me make decisions." she complained.
"You're referring to Kid, aren't you?"
"No, I'm talking about all of them, except you and Buck, and maybe Ike."
"Well, that's only half of us that are exasperating, that's not so bad. All of them exasperate me." Noah said in jest.
"Why are you three different?" Lou asked
"I guess it's because we know what it's like to not count, to be ignored." he said." I really love this conversation between Lou and Noah! I had never really given much thought as to why these three (Noah, Buck and Ike) seemed so different in relation to Lou until Ann wrote this story!
---Jessica
From Kristin's Lives Lived at Vaya Con Dios, Ike!
"Buck, if you can hear me now," Lou whispered silently, "Know that we all care about you. Please you must fight for your life. You know we'd all go to pieces if we lost you." I think this is so true! Buck was the peace maker and the calm center for the riders throughout the series, holding them together! Lou's plea is so touching!
---Jessica
From Joanna's Captives at The Waystation
"Jimmy, I want you to listen to me and I don't want you to argue. You have to leave me here. This horse can't outrun them with both of us on his back, but with one, he'll make it. If you leave me here, they probably won't kill me. Then, you can go get help and come find me."
For one cowardly moment that Jimmy could never completely forgive himself for, he considered it. Then he glanced into her huge brown eyes, glassy with tears and knew there was no way in God's name he was leaving her anywhere.
This passage has always stayed in my memory since I first read it! It's so much like Lou to try and sacrifice herself, and Jimmy, well, this shows that he is, in fact, human with the same fears as everyone else!
---Jessica
From Lea's Coin Toss at The Way Station
"Jimmy?" Lou
"Lou..." Jimmy
"Jimmy?" Lou
"Uh, Yeah, Lou..." Jimmy
"Glad everybody knows everybody's names. James Butler Hickok, this is Louise
McCloud. Louise this is James. Just in case y'all had anymore trouble." Cody
I loved that part:)
---Angela
From Kirsten's Ceaseless Endearment at The Saddlin' Station
""Kid, I know that we've had our disagreements, but I just wanted to say that doesn't mean we can't work together. You'll never be able to change me because I'm stuck on a road from the Atlantic to the Pacific...and I know you're probably between here and St. Joe. I can't change you, but I'm willing to become a little more flexible about the whole thing. In spite of the cages."
"The what?" Kid asked with perplexity pasted across his face.
"Cages. We're both in cages, can't you see that!?" She snapped, not aware that every single thing she was saying had absolutely no sense behind it.
Lou knew what she was trying to tell him, it's just that he didn't have a clue. But seriously, what was his problem anyway...I mean wasn't it perfectly obvious?"
The part just cracks me up. Reminds me of when I tried to explain...well never mind! :-) ---Starbright
From Beth's Eye of The Storm at The Saddlin' Station:
"The raindrops glistened like tiny diamonds in sharp contrast against the black night sky as they sparkled on the windowpane, illuminated by the glowing yellow-orange light of the kerosene lamp. The constant rapping on the ceiling of the bunkhouse only ceased to be heard when the clamorous, menacing claps of thunder overpowered the more quiet, steady tempo kept by the rain. All the riders of the Sweetwater Pony Express family were warm and dry inside the bunkhouse, thank goodness, and they pitied anybody that was so unfortunate as to be out on a night like this."
Now isn't this like a line of music? I swear I could hear raindrops tap on my window when I read this part!
--Mette
From Lyn's Eagles at The Saddlin' Station
"I just don't see the difference. Why shouldn't I write a book that contains the truth instead of the hog wash that people like Marcus write?"
"Because either way, you're invading someone's privacy." Noah replied as he looked at Cody, who was leaning on the pitchfork instead of helping.
"You remember what happened to Jimmy, don't you?" Buck added as he carried another bale over to the pair, sitting it down between the two.
"But Marcus wrote a bunch of lies. My stories would be truth."
"The truth as you see it," Noah muttered.
"And the truth can still cause trouble." Buck tossed in as the dinner bell rang. "Best to let it be Cody."
I always love the way the riders can be so affectionate towards each other.
--Alison Sky
From Kirsten's Never Say Goodbye at The Saddlin' Station and Welcome to Sweetwater
Smiling at his Kiowa friend, Kid began walking back towards the others. Even in these bad circumstances it felt good to be back with his family again. It had been too long since their last meeting, and Kid couldn't imagine going through this hard time with anyone else. He knew he could depend on his friends.
--Wendie
From Joanna's Wild Rose at The Way Station
Jamie found himself fascinated mostly with her eyes. They were constantly changing from almost a clear,
light gray, to a deep dark silver. The irises were rimmed in black, the centers speckled with what could
almost be white flecks that caught the light and the color of whatever she wore, from violet to emerald.
They reminded him of the lochs he'd seen in Scotland that winter. At first glance they appeared frozen
and calm, but a deeper look revealed unseen treasures and mysteries churning just beneath the surface
with yet unknown power, and unthinkable depths. These secrets in her eyes were always in motion,
always sliding beneath a deceptively calm surface, catching the light as they glided by.
I want eyes like that! And someone to think about them like that ;-)
--Katie
From Suzy's The Willow Creek Murders at the Saddlin' Station
"It was well known amongst the riders that any one of them would die for
Lou without a thought, but Kid would die without her."
--Wendie
From Kathleen's Once Upon a Fair at Riders Coming!
Back in town, Noah and Hickok were just waking up, oblivious to what
happened to their female companion. As they dressed, Jimmy noticed how
Noah
kept throwing him weird glances. "Spit it out, Noah. I ain't in the
mood for
guessing games."
I love this part! I think in reality, it is the closest Jimmy might
ever
come to admitting his feelings for Lou. I only wish it this scene were
in
an actual episode
--Beth
"What?" Noah finished buttoning his shirt and worked on his sleeves.
"Whatever it is which is on your mind." With hands on his hips, Jimmy
faced his friend.
"I ain't thinking nothing."
"Yes you are. I can see it in your eyes. You are thinking I have a
thing for
Lou. That I shouldn't have done what I did last night. That you
consider Lou
spoken for, though she and the Kid have broken up months ago. That's
what
you are thinking."
For a long time, the two riders stared at each other until Noah broke
off
the contact by turning around and stuffing his clothes in his
saddlebag.
"Then don't make Lou anymore confused than she already is."
"You think I won't be able to make her happy? I'd die for her."
Noah turned to see his friend staring at him with utmost conviction. He
hadn't known Hickok's feelings ran this deep. "I know you would," he
assured
Hickok. "We all would. Except that we would be doing it because we love
her
and she is our friend. Kid would lay down his life for her because he
could
not, would not imagine a life without her." Noah smiled to soften the
blow
of his words. "Now I'll go see if Lou is ready. We have a long ride
ahead of
us." In more ways than one, he muttered to himself.
From Broedy's Silencing the Past at The Kid and Lou Shrine.
(Jimmy finally comes to terms with the fact that Lou doesn't love him
the way he always wanted her to.)
Jimmy nodded at the truth he had so long denied, and it struck him
painfully that all this time he had just been deluding himself. He felt a fool,
and laughed bitterly at her words...
This is enough to break my heart, but it's so fitting...how Jimmy held
onto
the thought that Lou really did want to be with him all these years
because
it kept him from feeling truly alone...Oh! I can't contain my tears!
--Beth
Jimmy nodded silently. He looked into Lou’s eyes one long, last time,
remembering every detail of her face as she looked right at that
moment. For years he had been stubbornly holding onto the notion that perhaps he
had been the one she had truly wanted all this time. He didn’t fool himself
into believing it was love, but it was better than knowing he was alone. It
had been one thing from his past with the Pony Express that he had held
onto as James Butler Hickok ceased to be and he became Wild Bill Hickok—one
sacred thing that reminded him who he really was. Now, as he stared into
Louise’s upturned face, he let it go. The past had been silenced, now he would
move on and find which ever path would be his own. He saw plainly for the
first time that it was not the same as hers.
From From Nesciri's Family Affairs at Buckland. "He was safety and danger at the same time and she needed him. She kissed
him back, hungry and passionately, hearing warning bells ringing frantically
in her head."
I know what she means, exactly. Beautifully put.
--Starbright
From Broedy's On the Strength of a Promise at Kid and Lou Shrine:
Instead Louise kissed him - the same gentle, uncertain kiss they had shared
on their first night together. She did not want to think about the war or
his imminent departure, only to recapture those precious moments they shared
together when they first declared their love for each other. They had been
through so much since then and their love had grown only stronger. Louise
wanted Kid to know how much she loved him, even if it was the last time she
would be able to tell him and to show him how she truly felt. She wanted
their last night together to be just like their first.
A deep sigh from the heart of an eternal Kid/Lou fan.
--Starbright
From Cheryl McCreary's It Was Never Meant to Be at Pony Tales
They [Jimmy and Lou] sat staring at each other. Memorizing each other's
faces. Remembering what they had looked like all those
years ago. They said no words. No words needed to be said. They loved each
other. They had always loved each other. They always would. And both of them
knew it. But neither of them wanted to say it. As if the love between them
would disappear with those three little words, 'I love you.'...
Jimmy had kissed her sweetly on the lips. She had kissed him back. That
would be the last kiss they would share. They both knew it. They had finally
finished what they had started all those years ago with that passionate kiss
by the fire. And now it was all over. They would always love each other, but
life had chosen separate paths for them long ago...
How their hearts longed to be together. But they knew it wouldn't happen.
Knew it wasn't meant to happen. They'd know that the whole time. Jimmy
slowly turned from Lou. Now he had to walk away. He had to walk away from
happiness, from love, from Louise. It was the hardest thing that he'd ever
had to do. And Lou had to let him go. They would always hold each other's
hearts but they could never hold each other. And all they had now were
memories, those sweet memories of last night, the one night that they
shared, the only night that they would ever share.
(Simply, but so beautifully, said! It's so achingly beautiful! I just love
it...)
--Beth
From Starbright's The Promise at Ponnyexpressen
Kid finally calmed down, she felt his shivers ease off. She freed herself from his embrace taking his face into her hands. "Kid, I wouldn't love you if I didn't trust you!"
That is such a powerful statement! What is love without trust? I can picture Lou saying that to him too, that's what makes it perfect. :)
--Maggie
From Suzy's Tangled Lives at Buckland's Native Legends
(Kid is trying to reassure Buck, whom he has learned has very deep feelings
for Lou and feels guilty about them, that he shouldn't feel that way.)
"Truth be known everybody in the bunkhouse is a little in love with Lou,
you’re just the only one truthful enough to admit it. You
aren’t responsible for your feelings, it’s Lou, she just inspires such
love."
(It's nice to think that Kid would be this understanding to finding out Buck
loves Lou, especially after the many fights Kid has had with Jimmy when he
thinks Jimmy's feelings for Lou have crossed the line a bit. But Lou is one
lucky gal...having all the boys in the bunkhouse in love with her!)
--Beth
From Suzy's Colour Family at the Saddlin' Station
They traveled in comfortable silence for a short distance. "Buck you know I love you dearly, but you went back to your people, we thought we'd never see you
again, what happened?"
"They aren't my people Lou, I was treated like a captive, I was not even
trusted to leave the camp alone. I slept with their eyes on my back. They
couldn't or wouldn't trust me Red Bear tried, but the rest of them treated me no
better than the townsfolk treated me because of my Indian blood. I may as well have
no Indian blood for the way they treated me. You and the boys are my people Lou.
I've come back to make a life with you all, I will never forget my Indian beliefs and
cultures, but I can't live happily in that world." He paused his black eyes liquid.
"Just like the whites they see the colour of my skin, not the colour of my spirit.
You and the boys are the only ones who have ever seen my soul, not my colour."
--Spinner
From Joanna's A Bond So Strong at The Way Station
Jimmy is talking to Lou about the war and how it isn't Lou and Kid who have changed, but the world around them.
"It will end some day, Lou. It has to. And you wanna know why? Because love will outlast hate every time. Always has, always will."
Oh, this makes me love Jimmy even more! He is such
a good friend and is able to be so comforting to Lou in allaying her fears and doubts.
--Beth
From Joanna's Queen of Hearts at The Way Station
Jimmy was still thinking in circles when he made it back to the station.
Wanting to put off the confrontation that would surely follow when he broke
the news about the money to Teaspoon, he opted to go into the stable and feed
his horse first.
He was more than a little shocked as, when he entered the stable, a shower of
cold water hit him squarely in the face.
He cried out in surprise and wiped the dripping hair from his eyes, ready to
draw his gun.
Lou stood before him, holding a now-empty bucket, and looking scared for her
life.
Jimmy looked down at his soaked clothes, then back up at Lou, then down at
himself again. He finally raised his eyes to hers nonchalantly for an
explanation.
She pressed her hand over her mouth in the hopes of stifling a giggle, "I
thought you were Jesse! We've been having a bit of a water fight, you see…and
I thought…you were him…" the words disappeared into a long, low giggle.
Jimmy supposed she was winning the fight, judging by the lack of water on
her. That should be remedied, he thought.
"I'm not Jesse," He pointed out quietly.
When she saw the look on his face she yelped in fear and took off in the
opposite direction.
"Oh no you don't!" Jimmy yelled, grinning and giving chase. She was fast,
though, and she burst out of the other end of the barn, laughing wildly.
Just as he was about to run out the door after her, a figure stepped forward.
It was too late to stop, and he ran right into the next onslaught of water.
He stopped abruptly and turned to Kid who was laughing too hard to stand up
straight. Jimmy put one hand on his hip and the other rubbed the water from
his eyes.
"Don't you think you could wait till after winter to have a water fight?" He
asked through teeth that were beginning to chatter.
Kid was still laughing too hard to answer him. Tears gathered in the corners
of his eyes as he howled and gasped for air.
Then Jimmy saw Lou and Jesse both creeping up behind him with reloaded
buckets. He did his best to keep a straight face and not give them away.
"If you could have seen the look on your face! You ran right into the water!
I wish you could have seen it!" Kid finally gasped out.
About that time Lou and Jesse both ambushed him from each side with both
buckets, and soon he was sputtering and coughing.
"Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea of what I must have looked like now!"
Jimmy assured him, and it was his turn to laugh.
All of them stood there dying laughing for a moment, and Jimmy forgot about
Callie for the first time since he'd met her. He looked at Lou, who was the
only dry one in the bunch.
Kid met his eyes and raised his eyebrows, inclining his head ever so slightly
in Lou's direction. They both leapt for her at the same time.
She screeched and fought them, but to no avail as Kid secured his arms around
her upper body and Jimmy got hold of her legs.
Soon, they held her over the water trough.
"No!" She yelled, "Please, don't!"
She laughed nervously, as if she couldn't believe they might actually drop
her in the cold water, "Come on, boys. This isn't funny!"
"Beg, and we might not do it," Kid told her.
"Never!" She growled in defiance, and they lowered her closer to the water.
"Okay, okay!" She implored hastily, "Please, please don't do this to me! Oh
please!"
Jimmy and Kid met eyes, and sensing the golden opportunity at hand, grinned
wickedly.
"Who is the best looking rider in the whole pony express?" Jimmy asked
wickedly.
"Oh you are!" Lou said quickly, then screeched again as Kid lowered her upper
body only inches above the water, "I mean, you both are! You both are equally
handsome, and no one else in the world is quite so handsome."
Kid grinned even more widely, remembering her comment from the day before and
winked at Jimmy.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, young lady!" Kid pointed out.
"'Cept here!" Jimmy grinned.
With that, they dropped her into the trough. She came up shivering and
looking fit to be tied. She splashed them both with water.
Jimmy and Kid, both already soaked, laughed at her efforts.
"Oh no!" Kid grinned, "Don't splash us, we might get wet!"
She glared at them, and Jimmy was glad she didn't have her gun. She wasn't
pleased with the way events had turned out at all.
I love this scene so much, I can just see them all standing there soaking wet. I go back to this story just to reread this scene all the time!
--Aimee
From Starbright's Beyond Betrayal at Ponyexpressen.
"Ike wait!" Lou hollered after him but Ike was on his way. "What he say?" Lou
urged turning to Buck, tugging at his sleeve.
"Uf...nothing!"
"Buck!"
"He just told me to kick him if he ever fell in love," Buck chuckled, "an' I
say I'll ask him for the same favour if it happens to me."
"What?"
"Well Lou, the way the two of you've been ... never mind," Buck let his voice
trail off as he saw Lou's eyes narrow into veritable slits. She stared at him
angrily for a moment. Then she turned and walked away. Buck could tell he hit
a soft spot by the way she walked away and sat down by the creek.
"Ike was right, wasn't he?" Buck asked her leaning on a tree stem, watching
her throw stones in the creek.
"No!" she spoke harshly.
Buck smiled to himself as he saw her irritated manners, as she threw stone
after stone into the creek. Buck figured she'd rather use Kid as a target.
I just love this scene!
--Aimee
From Joanna's Wild Rose at The Way Station:
He followed her up the stairs and into the nursery that had been his when he
was an infant. Lou and Catherine had lovingly decorated it one long, bleak
winter. The room was bright and cheery, and now pale pink to accommodate the
young mistress. He eyed the tiny, custom made table and chairs in the middle
of the room, made for a child of five to play on, but hardly compatible with
his six foot two frame.
She was very proper with the whole ordeal and pulled out his chair
ceremoniously before crossing the table to her own seat. Jamie eyed the chair
uneasily, not confident at all that it would support his weight. But,
Kirsten's eyes were boring into his expectantly, so he cleared his throat and
nodded for her to be seated first, as a gentleman would. When she sat down,
he gingerly eased his weight down too, folding his legs at impossible angles
in order to be close to the table. The chair creaked, and Jamie did his best
to keep most of his weight on his bunched up legs.
"You're very big," the child said at last, and looked altogether disapproving
of him for the fact.
"Well, the table is very small," Jamie pointed out, somewhat stung by her
displeasure with him.
"Yes, it is," Kirsten agreed, and giggled when she looked at her companion...
Jamie looked in surprise at his empty cup. For some reason he'd never taken
the time to wonder if real tea would be served at a child's pretend tea
party…but he supposed it was fitting that the tea was imaginary as well.
Kirsten leaned forward, interrupting the pouring of the tea to the stuffed
bear at his right. She'd served the bunny first, he noted with slight
jealousy. She whispered so that their other companions might not hear her,
"It's not real tea," she said, "It's pretend!"
"Oh!" Jamie said, nodding and using the same tone she'd taken, "I thought it
might be invisible tea!"
"No, silly! There's no such thing as invisible tea!"
"Really? You mean it?" Jamie asked, finding he was enjoying himself more than
he probably should ever admit.
"Of course there isn't," Kirsten said, and straightened back up, going about
serving the bear. Jamie grinned and turned to the bunny on his right, "Lovely
weather we're having isn't it?" '
"One lump or two?" Kirsten asked him with tiny raised brows.
"Oh two please. I like my tea sweet, just like you!"
I have a feeling that Kid's son should be just like this! It's how I imagine Kid would be if he had a daughter, and I would love it if my husband (the one that I imagine I may have many years into the future:) would be that way! It's just perfect!;)
--Aimee
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