The bell on Tompkin's store tinkled lightly as she went through to the street. Her head was down while she was thinking over this last month. The Kid and she had worked out an understanding and he had started courting a nice girl named Ellen. Lou wasn't surprised at the type of girl she was, you know, proper lady and all. She was surprised, however, at the extent to which she liked her. Ellen loved the country, animals, and she was funny. She also, obviously, loved Kid. For some reason, this was okay for Lou. Sad, but okay.

Lou didn't really look up as she started crossing the street until she heard a loud "Whoa!" and the stomping of horses' hooves right beside her! She just stood there frozen as the driver of the wagon stopped his horses right in front of her. He was mad! He came jumping out of the wagon and right over to Lou. He grabbed both her arms.

"Lou! Where is your head? I almost nearly killed ya!" Jimmy yelled out of concern.

"I'm sorry, Jimmy. But you didn't hit me and all's well that ends well. Right?" She gave him a weak smile.

Jimmy just looked at her a second and then returned her smile and gave her a little fake punch in the arm.

"You can't scare a fella like that, Lou. I don't know what I'd do."

Lou was about to respond when he stopped in mid-sentence. His eyes and mind occupied with the vision that walked down the stagecoach steps.

"Excuse me, Lou" Jimmy said as he walked over towards the blond lady that had just stepped out. He had a big smile on his handsome face. He knew this girl.

The next few weeks went by in a blur to Louise. Jimmy did indeed know this girl. Her name was Ann and she had been the daughter of a neighbor back in Kansas. They hadn't been close then, but had enjoyed catching up quite a bit.

Ann's father had died a few years back and they had just discovered a large stash of gold he had hidden. Ann let it be known that she was travelling the country on this windfall. Lou had watched her friend dress up in his best and escort this girl to dinner, a dance, lots of walks, and sitting on the swing.

Jimmy didn't have the time he used to for talking to Lou. She tried at first to get his attention and when that didn't work, she resorted to meanness. She criticized Ann every chance she got. All she felt was rotten inside. She couldn't look Jimmy in the eye anymore. After how much time they had been spending together before, it was like they were two strangers. Strangers that couldn't stand each other.

Jimmy brought Ann to dinner one night. The boys were showing her a good time, talking about their adventures with the Pony Express. Some of their stories included little parts about their "runt" that Lou didn't appreciate at all.

Lou was getting really ticked, tapping her fork on her plate and sending Jimmy and Ann evil looks. When Ann flipped her blond head towards her and said, "Don't worry Louise, Jimmy told me that you're a girl and honestly, I don't know how you've dealt with all these boys up till now. I mean don't you get tired of being so dirty, wearing nothing but those grimy clothes?"

You could have heard a pin drop while Buck and Cody stopped chewing. The fork on the way to Noah's mouth stopped mid-lift with his mouth still hanging open. Teaspoon just closed his eyes and Ike actually choked on what he was swallowing. No one moved. The heat emanating from Lou could be felt from across the table. Jimmy had not moved nor looked up from his plate after his initial look to Ann to try to stop her.

When Lou responded, it was very quiet. Eerily quiet. "Why I do what I do and live how I live is my own business. Some of us have to make it on our own, not just on Daddy's money. Some of us have to work for a living. I like what I do and I'm proud to ride for the Pony Express and if you even think about telling anyone," her voice started getting louder as her body rose up from her chair, her eyes dangerous.

"Lou, she won't say anything, I swear. I just told her cause you've been acting so strange and mean. She thought she'd done something to wrong you. I'm sorry I told her and I'm sorry we came tonight. " Jimmy pushed back from the table and retrieved his hat and guns from the rack.

"Jimmy, I had no idea," Ann said as she joined Jimmy in getting up from the table, "that after her actions the last few weeks, your friend would be this sensitive. Louise, I am sorry if I offended you. I am sorry that your Daddy didn't leave you the gold my Daddy left me. Your Daddy's dead isn't he? I'm sorry this is the only life for you... I mean I guess there are less honorable ways..." Ann was cut off by Jimmy, as he saw all his friends rising up from their chairs, not at all happy.

"Enough, Ann. Let's go." He looked for a moment at Lou's angry eyes and his eyes were sad and questioning. Ann smiled at them all sweetly. Was it something she'd said? The two headed out the door and the whole room breathed a sigh of relief.

"What the Hell was that for?" Lou asked. The others just shook their heads. Cody was the only one willing to speak up.

"Well, Lou" he began, "you ain't exactly been the welcomin committee to Ann. You been givin her dirty looks and been nasty to Jimmy since she started comin around. What did you expect her to do?"

He paused and it killed him to see the way that Lou was looking at him, like she'd just been hit in the face. He looked to the others for support.

"He's right , Lou," Buck said. "You've been twice as nice to Kid's girlfriend than you have to Jimmy's."

"Not to mention how you been talkin to Jimmy," Noah chimed in. "I ain't never seen you treat anyone like they were stupid or no good without reason... until now."

Lou just looked at them with tears in her eyes. She sat down and sighed. She looked at her hands folded on her plate. She couldn't believe what they were saying. She hadn't acted like that, had she? I mean, why would she? She was the one being ignored and left behind. She was the one to feel sorry for, wasn't she?

"Louise?" it was Teaspoon. She looked up at him with fearful eyes. What would he say?

"Louise, I think that you need to think about why you been actin like this. Is it because you really don't like Ann? What are you mad at Jimmy for? We all know you don't think he's stupid. We also all know how close you were getting before Ann got here. I don't know what Jimmy's thinkin right now, but if you want to keep him as your friend you better go find out. Maybe you can figure out how you feel on your way." Lou just stood up and nodded. She started out.

"Oh, and Lou?"

"Yeah Teaspoon?"

"She didn't mean all those things. She was just fightin back. Defending your best friend, I'd say. That ain't such a bad thing, is it?"

Lou nodded again. She had some thinking to do. She looked at all the boys. "Thanks boys, for being honest with me. You all are true friends." She smiled at them weakly and quickly left the room.

"What do ya think, Teaspoon?" Cody asked. "Do you think those two will figure it out?"

"I don't know, Cody," Teaspoon answered. "But I'll tell ya, if there were two people more suited to sticking together and lovin one another, I ain't seen 'em." There were nods all around.

Lou went out to the pond she and the Kid used to go to. First, she had memories of the Kid and times they'd had. Then, when she wasn't paying attention, her thoughts turned to Jimmy. She had come not only to depend on him to talk to, but she had found herself looking forward to every minute they would spend together. Even mending the fences and cleaning stalls had been okay when she got to be with him.

He'd always seemed to feel the same. He was the one that would come to her. Sit beside her on the fence. Look at the sunsets with her. Take walks in the meadow and the woods. Go on runs with her, taking the work right out of it. He brought her adventure and gave her the respect she had always dreamed of. He tried to protect her, but did it quietly. He had kissed her.

She remembered that kiss and that trip and she knew that it was then that her heart had finally got her attention. He was the world to her now. If she had taken the time to figure this out before and do something about it, maybe he wouldn't be courting someone else now. Now it was too late. Lou sat on the hill by the water and quietly watched the dragonflies dive for the mosquitoes while she decided what to do.

The next morning, Lou found herself biting her lower lip as she stuffed her hands further into the pockets of her jacket and walked with her head down in the direction of the barn. She had to talk to him. She was already so embarrassed at how she had been acting, what was a little more humiliation. She would just find him and apologize. Maybe they could all get back to normal. Well, it would never be the old normal. She knew that now. She just couldn't stand the thought of him being angry with her.

She got to the barn and pushed open the heavy door. He was standing in the dimly lit, dusty stall of his beloved palomino cinching up his saddle. He was getting ready to go to Ann's.

"Um, Jimmy..." Lou began hesitantly.

She was answered with a deep sigh. "Lou, I'm tired. I don't want to fight you anymore."

Lou swallowed. She knew he was angry with her, but seeing how angry brought tears to her eyes. How did she let this happen?

"I don't want to fight you anymore either Jimmy," she paused. "I want to say I'm sorry."

Now she had his attention. He looked up at her and gave her a judging glance. He wanted to be sure that she meant what she was saying. He saw that she did. He waited for her to go on.

"I've been really stupid and selfish. Ann is a really nice person and if you had started courting her anywhere but here, I think I would have been helping you pick out her presents, like I did before. But this time it was here and it was in front of me and it hurt."

"How did it hurt you, Lou?"

"I know, it doesn't make sense, Jimmy", she looked down at her hands again. He noticed her shyness and felt something starting deep inside, something he'd pushed down so many times before. This time was different because she had come to him. He was the one that was involved with someone. He looked at her intently, waiting.

"I just, it's that..." she wasn't sure how or even if she should say what she was thinking and feeling. "Jimmy, I was being selfish because seeing you with another woman hurt me and it hurt me because... because... "

Jimmy was looking at her with such intensity, she didn't know if she would be able to go on. He had moved to the door of the stall and was only inches away from her now. She could feel his warmth. She looked up from her hands and into his eyes. She decided to go on.

"I was hurt because I wanted to be the one with you.. I guess part of me always has, but now that Kid and I aren't together and you and I’d been spending so much time. You are my best friend and I guess I kept hoping that one of these days you were going to ask me out or maybe even just kiss me again. I know you'd said it was a mistake, but I was kinda hopin you mighta changed your mind."

Lou took a breath while Jimmy continued staring at her, almost no expression on his face now.

"So anyway, when Ann came into your life and I watched you fallin for her. I guess I got jealous and so I been mean and nasty and ugly to you both and I'm sorry. All that's really important to me is that you&'re happy. You are such a sweet man and so caring. You've helped me so much and I repaid you by spitting on your chance for happiness. I truly am sorry and I wouldn't blame you for hatin' me. Just please know how much I care for you. I can't stand for you to be mad at me anymore. Okay?"

She looked up at him, standing so close now, with tears in her eyes and tracing down her cheeks. He reached up and with a gentle hand, wiped the tears away. He put that hand under her chin and looked into her liquid brown eyes. Tears formed in his own eyes. He blinked, a tear escaped. Now it was her turn to touch his face tenderly.

They stood there with one hand touching the other, neither breathing, not wanting to break this moment. For Jimmy, there was no more Ann. He had heard the words that he had so long wanted and yet discouraged. As he looked in her deep brown eyes that were so clearly showing him her love, he knew that there would never be another woman that he would feel this strongly for.

Lou looked into his eyes and finally had a glimmer that he did indeed feel for her what she had always hoped. She could see his love for her shining in his eyes. She saw his hesitation in removing his hand. She slowly moved forward towards him and he moved towards her.

With Jimmy's hand still on Lou's chin and Lou's hand tenderly touching Jimmy's handsome face, their lips met. It was soft at first, a tentative touch. A look in the other's eyes and they kissed again, passionately and filled with their caged feelings. Jimmy's hands moved from Lou's chin to her hair, his other hand moving behind her back to pull her close to him as he stepped from the stall door. He wanted to fully feel her body against his. Lou surrendered herself to his strong embrace and threaded her fingers into his hair, exploring his muscular shoulders and back.

Their kiss continued until they were both dizzy and had to hold each other for support. They backed up a little, breathing heavily, and looked into each other's eyes.

"Lou, I have to know what you're thinking."

"I'm thinkin' we waited too long for that."

"What about Kid?"

"Kid's important to me and will always be in my heart. But the thing with us was, we were always arguing. We saw things differently. We loved each other, but we weren't right for each other. I wasn't who he needed and Jimmy, he wasn't who I needed."

"Maybe so," Jimmy said, "but that don't mean he won't always come first in your heart. I couldn't stand to know that you chose me because Kid's moved on."

"Jimmy..." She leaned up again to touch his lips tenderly with hers while looking in his eyes. "You have been first in my heart for a long time. It's been tryin' to tell me for a while, I just been too stubborn to listen. Now, it's probably too late. I know you been plannin' to ask Ann for her hand."

"Hold up for a minute, Lou. What idiot told you that? No, wait, I have a couple of ideas." Jimmy said with a smirk, thinking of Cody.

"Either way," Lou went on, "I don't want to make you have to choose, Jimmy. I can't promise you anything right now and I would hate for you to lose the good thing with Ann, especially if you decide in a month that you’d rather have stayed with her."

Jimmy backed up and held both her hands between them. "Okay, Lou. I have to be honest with Ann, though. I have to tell her that I have feelings for someone else. As for you and me, we'll just take it slow. Maybe we could start with dinner tomorrow, in town."

"That sounds so good, Jimmy." Lou could feel her grin stretching all the way from ear to ear. Had all this really happened? She felt purely giddy. She reached up and with one hand on his cheek, she kissed his cheek -- a lingering kiss. Then he turned his head and kissed her lips tenderly. He returned her grin with sparkling eyes.

He finished cinching up his horse. He was still gonna go see Ann. Only now he was sure what he wanted to tell her. He led his horse out of the barn holding Lou's hand the whole way. He gave her hand a kiss and one last smile and then mounted up.

Lou watched Jimmy's back as he rode away. She was so excited with the way things had turned out, she was almost giggling. She went back in the barn and brought Lightening out to brush her.

Suddenly behind her she heard the sound of horses galloping near. She turned around and jumped back just in time escape being trampled. She recognized the lead horse and immediately yelled to the bunkhouse.

"Cody! Buck! Ike!" She yelled. The boys ran out the door, concerned what the problem was. "It's the Kaplan Gang and I bet they're heading out to Ann's. They musta heard about her gold. Jimmy just went out there. Get Teaspoon and meet me there!" She ran back in the barn to grab her saddle and got Lightening ready as quick as she was able. Then Lou took off after the Kaplans. She knew her friends would be following close behind.

Before she even reached the ranch, Lou heard the gun fire. She dismounted and left Lightening tied a ways out to keep her safe. She pulled her gun and planned the way she would get in the house. The men appeared to be concentrated at the front of the house, so she thought she might be able to sneak in the back.

Her heart in her throat, she heard Jimmy's voice from upstairs as she approached the back door. She couldn't understand his words, but he was yelling and he sounded afraid. Jimmy was afraid. To Lou, that could only mean that Ann was in.

She got in the back door without being noticed. Quickly, she snuck up the back stairs. At the top, she looked around for Jimmy and Ann. Jimmy was in a front bedroom with both Colts drawn and firing out the window. Every minute or so he would yell down the hall to the back bedroom to ask if Ann was still there and that she was okay. Lou looked into the back room when she heard Ann answer. She was huddled up in the corner with her head down, arms around her knees, hands over her ears. Her eyes were tightly closed. She was terrified.

Lou quickly crawled into the room with Jimmy, rushed over to the window and fired her gun with Jimmy. A moment later, they both sank down under the window to talk.

"Lou, what are you doing here?" Jimmy asked breathlessly.

"I saw them heading out here and figured you could use the help. I can go if you want..." she finished with a smile.

"Don't even think about it!" He smiled back and leaned forward to give her a quick kiss. "I'm actually really glad to see you. Ann is just a bit scared."

They quickly looked out the window and fired a round into the gang trying to keep them from advancing. They each hit a gang member, bringing their number down by two. Still way too many to have a way out.

"I told Cody and Buck to get Teaspoon. They should be here any minute."

"Can you get her out of here?" he turned his head back to where Ann huddled against the wall.

Lou nodded, "We'll have to go out a side window. I saw them movin in around back."

Jimmy nodded now and smiled at her gently. Then he turned back to the window. He would have to keep their attention if the girls were to sneak out.

Lou kept down as she hurried into the back room.

"Ann, " she yelled to the other girl who in return jerked her head up in surprise. Her eyes went from scared to angry. At the sound of the next gunfire, however, she was scared again.

"What are you doing here, Lou?"

"That's a popular question today." At Ann's questioning look, Lou just smiled to herself with a reminder about getting a grip and went on. "Ann, we have to get out of here. There are too many, we can't stop them. Jimmy's gonna cover us and we are sneakin out a window."

Ann simply looked at her with wide eyes and nodded. She knew that Lou was right. There was no other way. Together, the two girls crawled back towards the door. Jimmy stopped firing long enough to look back at them as he saw them start down the stairs. He took a deep breath and focused on the problem at hand.

Lou and Ann were almost to the bottom of the stairs when the men started coming through the door. Lou quickly dropped the first two. The third came in and aimed at the girl who was now cowering to the wall up a few stairs. Lou saw and fired. The man dodged, aimed again and fired. Lou saw no other way. She jumped to the side. She was thrown against the wall as the bullet impacted with her flesh. The man never had a chance to fire again as Lou faintly heard her name and saw a flash above her head. The man fell in his tracks, dead.

Jimmy reached Lou's side and continued firing at the men as they came in the door. Finally, they heard more guns and watched as the men stopped moving forward, instead hunching down and falling as Teaspoon and the boys cut them down.

Ann had run down the rest of the stairs to kneel down beside Jimmy as he cradled Lou in his arms. Lou tore her eyes away from Jimmy's to look at her.

"Why, Lou? Why would you do that? You hate me!"

Lou looked at her with tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry Ann. I have acted so badly. I never hated you. I just love Jimmy."

With that, Jimmy looked up at Ann and she at him. He nodded his head slightly and Ann understood as he turned his gaze back to Lou.

"Well, Lou" she started, "when you want to make up for something, you sure do it in a big way." She smiled at her nervously, Lou smiled back. Then Lou was unable to stop the grimace of pain as her damaged nerves started complaining.

"Jimmy, I can't, " she whispered weakly, not able to be nice anymore. Jimmy just nodded and asked Ann to go get Teaspoon and tell him they needed a doctor. Then he looked back at Lou.

"You're gonna be okay, Sweetheart," he smiled sweetly at her. "We have a date remember. You are not gonna make me wait this long and then stand me up."

Lou just looked at him and quietly closed her eyes and squeezed his hand.

"Lou? Sweetheart? Stay with me Lou! Damn!" Jimmy carefully put his arms under Lou and stood up, lifting her tenderly. He would get her to the doctor now!

The porch in front of the Doc's was crowded. They were all waiting for word on Lou. It had only been a flesh wound to the side, but she had lost a lot of blood. Doc wasn't sure she would make it. He said if she made it through the first few hours she would probably be okay. It had been almost two hours since he came out last.

Jimmy walked off a ways with Ann.

"Ann, I don't know what to say," Jimmy started. "I had been on my way out to your place to tell you that Lou and I had talked and we were gonna try the two of us together. I'm real sorry. I know this is coming out of the blue..."

"Jimmy, don't," Ann interrupted. "I knew about the two of you the moment I walked off the stage. I saw how close you were standing and the looks in both your eyes. It just made me want you to look at me like that all the more. Almost got there, too." She smiled at him and kissed his cheek.

"You tell Louise that I appreciate her saving my life. I promise I will be a little more discreet regarding my inheritance."

"I think that'd be a good idea, Ann." Jimmy gave her a quick hug and watched as she walked towards the stage. Behind him he heard his name and looked back to see Buck waving his arms at him shouting, "She's awake, Jimmy! She's awake!"

Jimmy could hardly run fast enough to get back to where the Doc was talking to Teaspoon about Lou's condition. When they saw Jimmy, Doc stopped, smiled and said, "Go on in, Mr. Hickock. She's been askin' for you."

With a faint smile of relief and a look of disbelief on his face, he went through the door. She had been asking for him? Maybe all this was real after all.

She was laying on the bed, pale and quiet. She opened her eyes, saw Jimmy and smiled a smile that lit up her face.

"Did we win?" she asked.

"Like we always do."

"Did the others show up just in time?"

"Just like they always do."

"Teaspoon worried about me?"

Jimmy nodded, "Like he always is."

She paused, "What about us? Are we gonna be together?"

Jimmy smiled, "Just like we always were and always will be, Lou. Always. I love you, Louise. Whether it's as your best friend or your man, I will always be with you!" He leaned down and tenderly kissed her lips, wrapping his arms gently around her. Lou closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. She was safe and loved and she was sure she would never be bored.