*Author’s note: This tale makes references to the journalist in my other story, “The Story.”

Lou found Jimmy Hickok sitting all alone at Larkin’s Creek, leaning against an old elm tree. A novel rested in his hands, capturing his full attention. She watched him reading the ten cent story, with a mischievous smile across her face. Louise understood why Jimmy had left the station to indulge in the little novel. He didn’t want the other riders to discover its existence, though Cody was bound to stumble upon it eventually. As he turned the page, Louise decided to make her presence known.

“What’s that you’re reading?” She asked, appearing angelic.

Jimmy, surprised by her arrival, tried to hide the novel. Unfortunately, he tried a little too late. “Nothing,” he mumbled nervously. “Just a novel.”

“Oh,” Lou said, still playing the angel. “Any good?”

“It’s not too bad,” Jimmy answered carefully. The spark in Lou’s eyes had him worried. She had tracked him down for a purpose, Jimmy was sure of it.

“Wouldn’t happen to be called ‘A Tale of Lovers’?” Lou asked, surrendering to her naughtier side.

“Might,” he admitted after a moment’s hesitation.

“Thought so,” Lou said, taking a seat beside the famous gunfighter. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her copy. “McKay’s sure gonna make a name for himself by writing about us.”

Jimmy nodded, remembering the chaos the writer’s first story caused. After the novel was out, McKay put a bounty on Lou’s head. He wanted to discover who Wild Bill’s lady love was. Naturally, Colter had to try and collect it. The bounty hunter proved to have a good heart though. He protected Lou’s secret.

Eventually, the mischievous journalist called off his hunt. With the search off, Lou’s identity had better odds of remaining a secret. The little adventure, brought the two riders closer, but not together. Now McKay was back to writing about his favorite ‘couple’.

“How far are you?” Lou asked, sliding closer to Jimmy.

“Uh...I think we’re dancing,” he said, bashfully. Having Lou so close was very appealing.

“Oh. I’m a little farther,” Lou confided. The dance happened a few pages before they boarded a stagecoach heading to Denver, and she was well past that eventful trip.

“What happens a little farther?” Jimmy asked, very curious.

Lou gently brushed Jimmy’s shoulder length hair away from his face. “Maybe you should wait and find out?” She suggested teasingly.

“Never been one for anticipating, Belle-I mean-Lou,” He teased back. Belle was the name the journalist had given her.

“Well, he has us saving a stagecoach from a gang of hell raising bandits,” Lou informed her fellow rider.

“I’ve always wanted to do that,” he joked. In his mind, Jimmy could easily picture how the scene unfolded.

The gang, numbering twenty, emerged from their hiding place right as their target came galloping into sight. An easy heist, the bandits figured. They figured wrong. Wild Bill and his lady love were among the passengers.

As soon as bullets started flying, the brave lovers entered the fight. Through the stage’s tiny windows, the two fired at the outlaws. The rest of the passengers took cover on the floor. Bullets chipped the stage’s frame, but were unable to graze the heroic couple. The outlaws weren’t as lucky. The gang of twenty was down to ten. Quickly Wild Bill and Belle reloaded their weapons.

The remaining outlaws continuously fired at the stage. Soon, the passengers were being tossed roughly around in the little compartment. The stage had abandoned the main trail, leading Belle to a dreaded conclusion. The stage’s driver was dead.

While Hickok fired at the outlaws, Belle began her courageous journey out the stage’s window. Her skirt flapped wildly in the wind, her hands and feet searched for secure holdings. Many bullets would come close to grazing her before she finally managed to pull herself up into the driver’s seat. By the time she gathered the reins and ordered the horses to slow, only two bandits remained. Wisely, the criminals retreated. After defeating the gang, the brave couple escorted the passengers to the next town. Yep, that’s how it happened. Jimmy was sure of it.

“What next?” He asked, but didn’t let her answer. “Let me guess! Once in town, we share a nice quiet dinner.”

“That’s right,” she answered. “After that we...” Louise let her voice trail off, becoming very coy. “Dance.”

“Again?” he inquired.

“I can’t recall us ever dancing like this!” Lou exclaimed, feeling her cheeks grow warm. Her words intrigued him, but he remained silent. He was waiting for her to continue. Hesitantly, she did. She leaned real close and whispered softly what the story reveals in the next chapter. Before finishing the tale, her cheeks were a darker shade of pink. So were his! An awkward silence developed between them.

“What page is that on?” Jimmy asked, ending the quiet spell and drawing a smile from Lou. She surrendered the book and directed him to the marked page. “I’m starting to wish this novel was my life,” he declared after reading about their undercover dancing. Lou blushed at his comment. That’s when he caught himself. Oops!

If confessions had to be made, both of them have had fantasies about the other. McKay was just the first to openly express them. The journalist wrote about their passion in a very elegant manner. He opened up a whole new realm of intimacy for the riders.

“Want to read some more?” Lou asked, cuddling closer to him. Jimmy nodded. He would read a thousand books if it kept Lou so close.

Although the journalist’s tales usual brought chaos with them, they also brought the two riders closer together. Every time McKay sent them on another adventure, the two riders inched closer to couple-hood. Maybe one day, the riders just might make their fantasies come true. One more story perhaps?