Samantha had left Sweetwater to travel off to another town, leaving Kid behind. She traveled through many towns, each one not in need of a schoolteacher. She worked odd jobs at local dress shops or town stores. She decided that she would go back to Sweetwater. That was the only place that felt permanent to her. She kept thinking about Kid. He was such a wonderful and handsome man. If she went back, he would be one good thing to come back to. She packed up her belongings and took the next available stage to Sweetwater.

During this time Lou and Kid still never saw eye to eye. She was still mad at him and he didn't know what to do about Lou so he avoided her. Kid met a few new ladies that seem to just past through town, but nothing permanent. Lou on the other hand couldn't go searching for another man. She was supposed to be one! This drove her even more furious and angry with Kid. Every now and then there would return that spark between them. She would smile at something funny he said or he'd go out of his way to be nice and she'd thank him. Occasionally she'd talk to him. Every time they seemed to smooth things over an accident would happen and the powder keg between them would erupt again.

Lou began to hang around Jimmy more and more which didn't help her situation with Kid. She did this rather unknowingly though and did not mean to be hurtful by it. Kid picked up on it though. Jimmy and Kid were like walking on fine glass, taking each step delicately and slowly. Lou felt guilty for how she was hurting their friendship. Lou was sitting down reading a romance book sitting on the fence when Jimmy came over. He grabbed the book from her hand and started reading it…

"He gazed love-ing-ly into her deep pass-ion-ate eyes. Her body trem-bling under his touch."

"Jimmy give me that back right now!"

"Why? This is just getting good." He smiled teasingly. Lou jumped off the fence to grab the book away from him but being taller he held it out of her reach. Jimmy swivelled around and started to read some more from the book.

"He kissed her, tasting the sweet berry from her lips."

Lou, turning a deeper shade of red than an apple, twisted around the other way to grab the book but Jimmy was too quick. She finally jumped on him knocking him to the ground. They then began to wrestle. Lou now not caring about the book but to evict revenge on her friend for invading her privacy. She felt silly reading those romance books but NEVER wanted to let one of the guys catch her reading one. Jimmy, feeling Lou's pull on the book over coming his own grip, tickled her. She laughed uncontrollably and she let go of the book. He had his success.

As the two were wrestling and chasing each other for the book, Kid came out from the other side of the bunkhouse. He watched them for a minute feeling his blood boiling. They had broken up, he even saw other women. Why did he let this get to him? All they did was argue anyway. Kid longed to have what they use to together. He at least needed her friendship, which she was not even providing any more.

Jimmy was another story. His best friend was going after his old love. What kind of a friend is that? Jimmy would always tell Kid that they were just friends and he knew Lou loved him with all her heart. Kid believed that had all changed. He stopped fighting Jimmy every time he saw him with Lou. He lost her but he didn't want to lose Jimmy's friendship. He had to get out for a while and clear his head. So he grabbed Katy and rode into town.

Kid stormed into town about five minutes before Samantha's coach pulled up. He went into Tompkin's store. He didn't really need anything but he wanted to buy something for Lou. He had to at least make up with her. If he couldn't have her love, he needed her friendship. He found a box of chocolates that she might like, so he bought them and walked out to the saloon.

His mind was thousands of miles away as he ran into the Samantha. She was not paying any attention either but trying to read the directions to the new schoolhouse so she could meet with the schoolmaster there. After the collision her papers went flying. Sorrys and more apologies went flying around until they both looked up.

"Samantha?" Kid asked, unbelieving that she was even here.

"Kid. How are you?"

"Doin' just fine thanks. What are you doing back here in Sweetwater?"

"Well I tried moving on to a new place with my mother, she found Hill Valley a nice place to live but I didn't. So I moved on and on. It's hard to find work even out here. So I contacted the schoolmaster back here in Sweetwater and they still needed a new teacher. I was on my way there to talk to him about the job."

"Please let me walk with you."

"It'd be a pleasure." Samantha smiled as Kid took her arm to walk him her.

He still was handsome as she pictured. And such a gentleman too.

Kid lost all thoughts of anything he was doing or planning earlier and just concentrated on Samantha. She was one woman he had grown to care about before she left Sweetwater and now she was back and perhaps to stay. His heart skipped a beat at that thought. He hadn't felt this way in a long, long time.

Jimmy was kind enough to give up and let Lou have her book back before she killed him. All Jimmy's eyes caught was the dust trail Kid left behind heading towards town. Jimmy felt ashamed of himself. He shouldn't have been kidding around with Lou or, he guessed, wrestling with her for that matter. Wait a minute. Why was he letting Kid make him feel guilty? Lou is his friend too and can spend time with her just like anyone else can.

"Jimmy!" Lou shouted yet again.

Jimmy came back to life. "Yeah."

"Don't let him get to you…"as she nodded in the direction Kid sped off to.

"Promise me you won't tell anyone about my book. Please."

"Why is that Lou?" as Jimmy was back to his old self again. "Do our masculine forms not enchant the woman within you. Do our eyes not penetrate into your inner soul to set your…your…whatever it said on fire!"

Lou gave him the look of death, with a smirk. "Please Jimmy not a word and I won't tell Cody it was you who put Rachel's jelly in his bed roll."

"Deal" Jimmy said affirmatively and rather quickly.

The two friends broke into laughter and then headed back to do some chores before someone yelled at them for not doing it... namely Rachel.

Back in Sweetwater Kid had been waiting outside the schoolhouse as the kids left for the day. Samantha was inside talking to the schoolmaster/teacher, Mrs. Jacobbs. Kid deep down wanted her to get the job. That would give him more time to get to know her even better. Surprising Kid, Samantha popped out of the schoolhouse with a huge grin on her face.

"I got the job" she screeched.

"That's wonderful." And kid hugged her and congratulated her again.

"Why don't you come over to the station for dinner tonight? I'm sure everyone would be glad to see you again." Everyone but Lou, Kid thought to himself. She was so irritating sometimes but the softer side of Lou was amazing to Kid.

"Are you sure? I don't want to be any trouble."

"You won't be."

She couldn't resist his smile. "Ok then."

"So where are you staying?"

"I'll be staying with Mrs. Jacobbs until I get a place of my own."

They walked around for a little while longer talking and then Kid excused himself. He'd be back at 6 to pick her up for dinner. If he didn't get home soon and do his chores, there'd be no supper for him.

Kid rode back and Ike, who was washing the horses, took Katy for Kid.

"Thanks Ike." He said as he dismounted.

Kid saw Lou and saw her as if for the first time again. She was working hard fixing the one fence a new horse had busted up. He walked over to help her.

"Can I help you with that?"

Lou looked up and saw Kid there. She was stubborn, "Nope, I got it thanks."

"I got you something when I was in town. A kind of a peace offering."

Lou stopped working all together and looked into Kid's eyes. They were sincere. She saw his hair fly around his eyes and she let a smile slip out. He handed her the chocolates. She loved chocolates and she hardly ever got to eat them. "Thank you Kid."

All the reasons for their fighting seemed to have melted away and Lou hugged him.

Cody watching this from inside the bunkhouse told the others…"Peace at last."

"Quit spying on them Cody. It's none of your business what they're doing," Buck warned.

Kid and Lou finished working on the fence together and got done quickly. Kid then ran over to the main house and told Rachel of the dinner guest that he invited. He took the buckboard and went to go get Samantha for dinner around 6.

"That little rat!" was all Lou could shout. Yep, she found out about the dinner guest. "He butters me up and then doesn't tell me this to my face. I don't know what to think any more Rachel. Am I being too hard on him? I don't know if I want to lose him yet to someone else even though he's not mine to lose."

Rachel listened intently to Lou as she spurted out her feelings to her. Rachael saw a broken heart and broken love within Lou. They always take time to heal.

Lou decided that she wouldn't play anymore games and would just get over it. She wouldn't let any girls in Kid's life bother her. She would be more mature about all this. Kid wanted her to be his friend, she could do that. She'll have her first test of this new Lou at dinner. She'll sock them all.

Dinner was uneventful. Everyone was civil and even Lou talked with Samantha about what she had been up to. Lou realized Samantha was a nice woman. She really could be a friend with her easily. She still felt the pain in the back of her heart over Kid but she would not sit and mope any longer.

In the coming weeks Kid spent more time with Samantha, taking lunch to her at the school house, long walks, and rides into the countryside. He liked Samantha; she had a spark of adventure in her that reminded him of Lou. He was surprised how well she was taking all this. Under the surface Lou was hurt by him seeing Samantha but she hid it very well. She blew up at Kid now and then about chores and work related stuff, shifting her anger in that direction. Kid would snap back at Lou, words would be said, and they'll be at each other's throats. Then the next day: civil again.

Jimmy and Lou ended up alone on a run to take Ellis Mills to be hung. That night their relationship changed. They shared a kiss more passionate then any she had had with the Kid. It was different with Jimmy than with Kid. Lou couldn't exactly explain it to her self let alone anyone else who would want to know. Jimmy told her to forget it, but she knew she couldn't. After coming back things just went back to normal for Jimmy, Lou thought, at least. But Jimmy was just as torn about the kiss as she was. They kept it to themselves and went on being friends.

A couple days later the town had a festival and dance. Kid took Samantha and of course, Jimmy asked Lou. This threw Kid for a loop. His friend who said he'd never go after Lou started to do just that. Well, he guessed she wasn't his anymore. It was harder for Lou to meet guys then it was for Kid to meet ladies. He knew this and he was now feeling what Lou had when he and Samantha started going out.

The guys waited down stairs for the ladies to finish getting ready. Rachel came down in a green dress that accentuated her eyes and made her hair glow against the color. The Samantha followed in her pink gown and Lou done up in royal blue. The bright blue brought out her hair and hit every curve she had. Kids eyes bulged out at Lou's presence, she was more beautiful than an angel. He had given her up??? He though about going up to her kissing her and begging her to take him back, just for a split second. Jimmy took her hand and walked out the door. Kid then followed with Samantha. He couldn't get Lou's image out of his mind. He had to though if he was to be a polite gentleman to his date Samantha, who was just as lovely as the rest of the ladies this evening.

Jimmy danced with Lou most of the night but she danced as well with the rest of the riders. They each complimented her on how she transformed into a rose right before them, well at least according to Buck. That made her blush.

Lou was dancing with Jimmy and felt so free dancing with him. When the music slowed he held her even closer to his body. She felt secure in his arms. His eyes seemed to open the gate to his heart. She read his mind like and open book. She liked this story a lot and smiled, wondering how it would all end. She wanted to kiss him again. She was using all her restraint. Jimmy wanted to kiss her as well. Lou could feel it and see it in his eyes. Finally the music faded again and applause. Jimmy and Lou then removed themselves from their earlier trance. Kid then asked Lou to dance while Samantha was resting her heels and listened politely to what Noah was talking about.

"She's all yours Kid." Jimmy then excused himself.

"Lou, you look extravagant tonight."

"Thank you Kid, you don't look so bad your self." His eyes were dashing and Lou's body felt so warm just to be this close to Kid again. But Jimmy's eyes fell deep into her soul. They danced and talked a bit, avoiding all controversial topics that could lead them into open war. Kid couldn't help but stare at Lou. She was beautiful. Wearing a dress seemed to expose Lou's vulnerable side. She lost her rough, tough exterior and became a gentle woman, graceful.

On to Chapters 5-10!