The Substitute Suitor

"Jimmy," Lou huffed, having practically ran all the way out to the barn, "what the hell just happened in there?"

Jimmy shook his head. He, too, had seen what went on…the way Caroline was all but ignoring Cody and batting her eyelashes at Lou instead. "I don't know, Lou. But I do know that Cody's about to get his heart stomped on."

"What should I do?" Lou had begun to pace back and forth nervously in the barn. "I mean, you saw the way she was lookin' at me, the way she kept wantin' to talk to me."

"Well, I did say once that you were the best lookin' boy I ever seen," Jimmy teased. "I guess Caroline Harding just happens to agree with me."

"Jimmy, this is no time to make jokes!" Lou scolded. "This is serious! She thinks I'm a 'he', and now she's lookin' at me like that…and Cody really likes her and thinks she likes him…and I don't want Cody to be hurt…but I can't have her knowin' that I'm not what she thinks I am!"

Jimmy's head was spinning from trying to decipher Lou's words that were spewing forth at the speed of lightning.

"Now hold on, Lou," Jimmy held out his hand to silence the ranting young woman. "We got to think this out rational-like."

Lou took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. "Sorry, Jimmy. I guess I just got scared with the way things were goin' in there."

Jimmy nodded understandingly and spoke, his voice low and gentle, "I know, Lou. This is all just too much."

"It's funny, 'cause I suspected there was somethin' odd about Caroline and the way she kept glancin' over at me last night at supper," Lou explained. "But I just never expected…I mean, she can't…Argh!"

Suddenly, Jimmy and Lou heard the barn door slamming in the background, and they turned to see Cody standing in front of them, his eyes blazing.

"Thanks a lot, fellas!" Cody shouted. "Because of you, Caroline decided to leave!"

"What do you mean 'because of us'?" Jimmy wondered.

"The way you ran off like that with no explanation, Caroline thought she'd done or said somethin' wrong. So she left!" Cody fumed as he placed his hands on his hips in anger.

"Well, we just thought we'd give you two a little privacy," Lou lied.

Jimmy decided to follow along with Lou. "Yeah, Cody. We thought we was interferin' with you two lovebirds gettin' better acquainted."

"Oh," Cody replied, his rage now somewhat subdued. "Well, why didn't ya say somethin' before ya ran off?"

Lou and Jimmy glanced at each other nervously for a moment before Lou spoke up, "How do you think that would have looked if we came right out and said that we wanted to leave you alone? We thought that would be too obvious."

"I guess you meant well," Cody admitted, now much more calm. "Just make sure ya let me in on the plan next time."

"Oh, we will, Cody," Jimmy responded, with Lou nodding her head in agreement.

"Well, alright." Cody sighed and turned to exit the barn.

When Cody was out of sight, Lou and Jimmy turned back to face each other to finish the conversation they were having before Cody busted into the barn.

"Well? What now?" Lou questioned.

"I don't know, Lou." Jimmy shook his head in frustration. "Maybe you ought to just avoid her company…leave right away whenever she stops by. I don't know."

"Yeah, I guess. But we offered to help Caroline fix up the dress shop," Lou mentioned. "If I don't help out, Cody'll never forgive me. He may be too blind to see what's goin' on now, but sooner or later, he's bound to find out."

Jimmy sighed deeply as he knew that Lou was right. Cody couldn't keep chasing after a woman who doesn't share his affections.

"I s'pose all we can do is hope that maybe Caroline will grow to like Cody after all," Jimmy surmised.

"I sure do hope so, Jimmy," Lou replied, the doubt and worry apparent in her tone of voice. "'Cause all I know is, I can't be comfortable 'round her knowin' she's lookin' at me the same way I look at Kid."

"Maybe this won't turn out to be so bad after all," Jimmy joked. "Maybe Kid seein' that he may lose you to someone else will prompt him to make a move!"

"Very funny, Hickok," she retorted sarcastically. Lou was obviously not amused by Jimmy's suggestion in the least.

"All I'm sayin' is jealousy does strange things to a man," he continued, on the outside Jimmy let on as if he were teasing about Kid, but on the inside he knew his words might apply to his growing affection for Lou as well.

"Kid's more likely to shoot me dead," Lou added.

"I guess, there's not much we can do right now, Lou." Jimmy placed his hand gently on Lou's shoulder. "Come on. Let's get back inside."

Lou nodded wordlessly and followed Jimmy out of the barn.

What kind of a mess has Cody gotten me into this time? Lou thought to herself. At least I know I'm not crazy thinkin' that Caroline has fallen for me since Jimmy sees it too. I guess all I can do is hope things turn out alright in the end…

The following day, the Sweetwater Express riders were supposed to go into town, at Cody's urging, in order to help take care of some of the repairs necessary to get the building ready for Caroline to start her dress shop business. To do the work, Cody had recruited Kid, Ike, and a reluctant Jimmy since none of them had runs to make that day. Lou was taking Jimmy's advice in avoiding Caroline at all costs and had volunteered to take over a run for Buck so that she would be unavailable to help in town. Buck was both extremely grateful and surprised at Lou's willingness to make the run for him, especially since it would require spending two days bumping relentlessly in the saddle.

None of the other riders knew what had happened with Caroline and Lou the previous day. Jimmy and Lou decided that they should keep it all hush-hush for the time being. The only problem was that it was tearing them apart seeing Cody so in love with this woman, knowing that sooner or later, he was going to end up with nothing but a broken heart.

Jimmy, Kid, Ike, and Cody spent most of the morning with hammers in hand, fixing up the shop while Caroline supervised their every move. She had to admit that although the place was not in the best of conditions, it was shaping up rather nicely.

It was nearing lunchtime, and Caroline suggested that they get a bite to eat over at the restaurant in the Sweetwater Hotel. Jimmy made up an excuse to get away, saying that he had some errands to run while in town. Kid and Ike quickly followed suit so that Cody would be able to spend some quality time alone with Caroline.

Cody appreciated this rare opportunity. He held out his arm to Caroline, and she accepted. Then the two walked down the street to the hotel.

They entered the hotel lobby and made their way into the large dining area where they would be seated. Trying to be the gentleman and impress Caroline, Cody pulled out the chair for her and helped her get situated at the table. He took his own seat just opposite her.

"I do hope you'll tell the others how much I appreciate their help in getting my shop ready," Caroline stated sincerely.

"It's no problem, Caroline," Cody began. "They told me themselves that they were only too happy to help."

"It's a shame Jimmy, Kid, and Ike couldn't join us for lunch," she seemed genuinely disappointed.

"Well, they're just too busy I guess. Me, on the other hand, I'm never too busy to dine with a lovely lady such as yourself." Cody smiled broadly. Then he reached over and took Caroline's hand into his own, raised it to his lips, and kissed it softly.

Caroline grinned falsely. Though she was flattered by Cody's comment and gesture, she couldn't help thinking how much she wished it were another rider sitting opposite from her.

"So, what happened to Lou?" She asked. "I'm kind of disappointed that he didn't come into town and help me today."

"Oh, Lou had a run to make today," Cody responded. "Otherwise, I'm sure he would have been here to help."

Caroline seemed somewhat relieved to hear this. "I was afraid that I had done something to upset or offend him…after the way he ran off yesterday in the middle of my visit."

"I apologize to you on Lou's behalf," Cody reassured. "I asked him about it later, and he told me that he'd forgotten about some chore he'd left undone. I guess he remembered it all of the sudden and just rushed right out of the bunkhouse."

Caroline let out a huge sigh of relief. "Oh, good. I was afraid that he didn't like me."

"I know for a fact that's not the case," Cody asserted as he tried to make Caroline feel that she was well liked by all of his friends.

Suddenly, Caroline's ears perked up and her eyes began to gleam with joy and excitement. "You do?" she asked eagerly, her hopes now soaring higher and higher.

"Well, of course!" Cody was still so completely clueless as to why Caroline cared so much about Lou's opinion of her.

"Then, Billy, I have a favor to ask of you," she stated bashfully.

"Anything at all, Caroline," he replied without even a moment's thought. "You just name it."

Cody was earnest in his willingness to help the young woman who had captured his heart, but if he had any idea of what she was going to ask, he might have felt differently about his quick response.

"Well," Caroline began while picking at her fingernails and biting her lip nervously, "you see, I was wondering if you would tell me if Lou has a sweetheart?"

Cody's face immediately fell. He wasn't sure if he had heart Caroline right. "What do you mean?"

"You know, silly! A sweetheart…a lady friend." Caroline paused for a moment and then continued. "Is Lou courting anybody?"

At that instant, Cody felt his heart sink down into the pit of his stomach. He thought for a brief moment that he had mistaken or misunderstood what Caroline was saying. But now it was clear. All he had to do was look at the expression on her face, listen to the tone of voice in which she asked these questions about Lou. It had hit him like a ton of bricks…stabbed him like a hundred knives piercing right through his newly aching heart.

"Lou?" Cody cried out, his face contorted with complete shock. "Lou?" he repeated.

Caroline was entirely puzzled by Cody's reaction. "Is there something wrong, Billy?"

Cody just sat there silently, stunned and astonished that Caroline not only did not share his feelings for her, but that she actually liked Lou instead! Of all people…Lou! For a short while Cody thought that he was going to let Lou's true identity slip from his mouth. But it seemed that for once, Cody had been struck dumb, absolutely speechless at Caroline's revelation.

After waiting quite a while for a response from Cody, Caroline finished asking the rest of her favor. "You see, I just wanted to know…I know this is bold of me…but I was wondering, since you're so close with Lou and everything, if you would ask him for me if he would like to accompany me to dinner here at the restaurant…when he gets back from his run, that is."

"Lou?" Cody called out a third time.

"There is something wrong…he does have a lady friend, doesn't he, Billy?" Caroline was severely downcast at this thought. "You have to tell me, Billy."

Cody finally took a deep breath and attempted to calm himself. "No, he doesn't have a lady friend."

"Oh, good!" Caroline was so ecstatic that she was practically jumping up and down in her chair. "Then you'll ask him for me?"

"Ask him what?" Cody had been in such shock that he barely heard Caroline's request that he invite Lou to join her at dinner tomorrow.

Caroline shook her head dismissively, "Ask him if he wants to go to dinner with me tomorrow night!"

"Tomorrow night?" he repeated. "Sure…I'll ask him when he gets back tomorrow afternoon." Cody had a frightened smile on his face, but he couldn't bring himself to disappoint Caroline. "I'm sure he'd be happy to go." Though, he was not really sure if he meant it.

The young lady's face was beaming with pleasure. Her blue eyes were perfectly radiant, offset by her shining dark hair, and her mauve-stained lips showed the most beautiful smile. The way Caroline looked just then, though she was thinking about having supper with Lou, it somehow made Cody love her even more.

I have to find a way to make her like me, Cody thought.

Just then, the wheels in Cody's warped little mind began to turn out a twisted plan. Lou would go to dinner with Caroline…he'd make sure of it. Even if it took using all of his money or promising to take over all of Lou's runs for the next month as bribery, he would make sure that Lou went on that date.

"Rider comin'!" Buck, who was sitting on the bunkhouse porch, called out as Lou rode in and handed off the mochilla to Kid.

"Ride safe, Kid!" Lou cried out after him.

The minute Cody realized that Lou was home from her two-day run, he ran outside the bunkhouse to meet up with her.

"Tough ride, Lou?" Cody asked, trying to make small talk before he informed her that she had a dinner date with Caroline in just a few hours.

"Had worse," she replied as she brushed the trail dust off of her clothes.

"Here, I'll take care of your horse for ya," Cody offered.

"Thanks, Cody," Lou spoke, extremely surprised that he had offered to do her such a favor, and without even being asked.

Lou stumbled into the bunkhouse and immediately collapsed on her bunk. Though the ride had gone as planned and she had encountered no unexpected danger, it had been very tiring and physically draining nonetheless.

Cody returned from tending to Lou's horse within a few minutes and came back into the bunkhouse.

"Lou?" Cody called out, though he saw her lying down on her bed.

"Hmmm?" she mumbled, now only semi-conscious.

"Don't ya think ya ought to get cleaned up for supper?" he asked, his true ulterior motive still hidden for the time being.

"I think I might just sleep right through, I'm so tired," Lou replied.

Cody wasn't really sure how he was going to go about telling Lou that she was to dine with Caroline in town that evening. Lou would definitely be furious with him for the stunt he was about to pull. But he decided that there was no easy way around it. He would just have to come straight out with it.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and blurted it all out at once: "Lou, you have to get cleaned up because I told Caroline you'd go to dinner with her in town tonight."

Cody's eyes were still closed as he waited for the reaction from Lou. There was total silence for a few moments, and then Cody slowly opened one eye, and next, the other.

By now, Lou had popped up from her bunk and was sitting up. "You what?" she fumed, her eyes wide with fury as she jumped down off of her top bunk and approached Cody.

"Now hold on, Lou," Cody replied, raising his hands as if to hold back an attacking beast that was out for blood.

"You told her I'd go to dinner with her!?" Lou began closing in on Cody, and he kept trying to back away from her. "Just the two of us!?"

"Well, she likes you a whole lot, Lou," Cody defended, "a lot more than me, apparently."

Lou stopped coming at Cody when she heard this. She realized that Cody now understood that Caroline did not feel about him the way that he felt about her. Lou was afraid that something like this was going to happen. Her face softened as she began to feel sorry for her friend whose heart must surely be breaking.

"Oh, Cody, I'm so sorry," Lou stated, the sincerity showing in her soft brown eyes and gentle voice.

"You mean you knew?" Cody asked astonished.

"Well, I thought there was somethin' funny 'bout the way Caroline was lookin' at me that first night at dinner," Lou said plainly. "And then, the other day when she came by to pick up her shawl…I knew what was goin' on, and Jimmy confirmed my suspicions."

"I can't believe I was so stupid!" Cody threw up his arms in frustration and took a seat on the bench at the bunkhouse table. He brought his heavy head to rest on his hands and began to sulk.

Lou quickly joined Cody and tried her best to console him. "It's alright, Cody. It's just that sometimes when you feel so strong about someone, it can cloud the way you see things so's you only see the good things about that person."

"I know, but I really liked her," Cody admitted, "and I still do." He paused for a moment to prepare again to ask Lou if she would still go to dinner with Caroline. "That's why I need you to meet Caroline for supper tonight."

Cody was practically pleading to Lou. His moistened blue eyes and pouting mouth made him look like a little lost puppy dog.

"I don't understand…why do you need me to go?" Lou shook her head in confusion.

"Okay, I need you go to dinner with Caroline to tell her that you don't feel that way about her…tell her somethin' like you got hurt not too long ago when a girl broke off her engagement to you…"

"I see, you want me to sound pitiful to this girl!" Lou objected.

"Not really, well, just enough so she doesn't take it too hard."

"Go on, I'm listening," Lou urged.

"And the whole night, you can build me up," Cody began, "and make me sound real great and all so she'll start to like me more. It's that simple!"

"And why should I do this for you in the first place?" Lou questioned Cody, as she began to have serious doubts about helping out her friend in a situation that could turn out to be really messy.

"Because I asked you to," Cody pouted, "and 'cause you're my friend."

The thought of something going wrong with Cody's simple-sounding plan caused Lou to want to call the whole thing off.

"I don't think I can do this, Cody," Lou shook her head, wanting to take back any indication she might have given to Cody to make him think that she would do this favor for him.

"Come on, Lou!" he begged, tugging at her shirtsleeves. "You can't disappoint Caroline. It's already after five o'clock and she'll be expectin' you by six-thirty. She's probably already dressed up an' everythin'. You wouldn't want to leave a lady waitin' alone in the middle of the restaurant alone, would ya? That'd just be plain cruel!"

After a few moments of silence, he spoke again, "Please, Lou. Do it for me. Just this once."

Cody was trying to appeal to Lou as a woman, and it seemed like it could be working. Lou sighed deeply, knowing that she would soon be regretting what she was about to say to Cody.

"Somethin' might go wrong…what if she finds out I'm not what she thinks…what if she tries somethin' funny…what if she tries to kiss me!"

Suddenly Lou grew horrified as she began to spout off these things that could happen. She covered her mouth in pure terror.

"Caroline's a proper young lady," Cody assured. "Nothin' like that's gonna happen. Come on Lou," he began pleading again. "It's only this one time! I'll do anythin' for you! I'll do all your chores for a week…"

"A week! Ha!" Lou laughed in disgust. "For somethin' like this, it'll take more like a month!"

"Alright, alright!" Cody reluctantly acquiesced. "A month of me doin' your chores."

"I know I'm gonna regret this, but, okay, just this once," Lou warned. "If it don't work, that's it. I'm stayin' away from her for good!"

"Sure!" Cody beamed. "Now go get cleaned up! You don't have much time."

Lou rose from her seat at the table, got some towels and clean clothes, and was on her way out to the showers. Before she closed the bunkhouse door behind her, she spun around on her heels to face Cody one last time.

"And you better not tell the boys 'bout this, Cody," she mildly threatened, "or I'll shoot you myself!"

To Be Continued…Chapter 9