Startled, they both wheeled around to face him. Kid took one look at Lou and then his glare went back to Bobby. "Lou, go back to the station." He ordered.

She took a step towards him. "Kid, I'm staying here. I can explain everything. Just listen to me." Lou placed a reassuring hand on his arm.

Usually, she had the ability to talk Kid down from his anger, however, she thought that this case might turn out to be a little bit different.

He turned to her, his eyes full of pain, shielded only by the anger she knew was churning inside of him. "How could you do this to me?" He barked. His voice was furious, but Lou knew that it was only to mask his hurt.

Bobby stood wide-eyed and shocked, uncertain of what to say. "I am not looking for a fight, mister." He said scared and humbled.

Kid looked at him. "I just might be." He watched as Lou went to Bobby's side. She took his hand and motioned for them to sit down. Kid remained standing, and Lou knew that if she didn't play this out just right, she could lose.......well, face it, she could lose the man she was positive she loved.

"Bobby, before all of this started between you and me, there was something I didn't tell you." She paused and looked up to make sure Kid was still standing a few feet away. His demeanor seemed calmer now. "I don't just work with Kid as a friend, he's, well........" She scrambled for words, then took another glance at Kid and stared into his eyes. His face turned soft, and there was a communication between them that nobody else could ever understand. Then suddenly not removing her glare from him she continued. "He's the man I know I love."

Kid's lips formed into a warm smile and he walked towards Lou. She stood up and met his strong arms clutching around her. "I'm so sorry." Lou whispered in his ear.

"No, Lou, I am." He said holding her tighter.

She released him slowly her eyes filled with joy. "Let's just say we were both wrong."

Bobby stood up and began to gather his things. Surprisingly, he did not seem upset, or even bothered by the scene before him. Instead he went over and shook Kid's hand. "I'm sorry for reaching out to something I had no business touching." He spoke sincerely.

Kid nodded. "It's alright. I can't blame you for not taking advantage of something that I ran away from." He smiled down at Lou, his eyes filled with apology.

"It was nice to see you again, Louise. And I do wish you the best of happiness." He smiled at her once more. "It really wouldn't have worked anyway, with the way I travel, you deserve a ranch and you belong to the West, and to him." He motioned to Kid. She silently agreed with him.

"Have a safe trip, Bobby." She called out. He began walking away and gave a wave before he cleared the hill and was out of sight.

The two figures stood side by side, arms holding each other close. Kid turned to Lou. "Are you sure this the the choice you want to make?"

She looked at him, thoroughly confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, he's probably what most women would call handsome." He paused and she nodded in agreement. "And he's got money and a good job."

Lou looked at him surprised. "You think that's all that matters to me in a guy? His money and looks?" Although some women would say that was all that mattered, she knew there was more to it. She wouldn't trade Kid for all the tea that came out of China. Besides, his dirt-covered clothes and ruffled hair gave him the look of the rugged West that she had grown to love.

"You mean you ain't after something of mine?" He said, jokingly his broad smile beaming. She stopped for a moment, seriously thinking. He saw her expression. "I was kidding, Lou." Kid said starting to get worried.

Her face remained straight and she began, "Well, I can think of one thing of yours that I might say 'I love you' to get." She gave no hint as to what it might be.

Kid looked at her questioningly. "What's that?"

Her face cracked into a beautiful smile, which then faded into a smirk. "Your horse."

The two walked hand in hand for several hours, mostly not speaking, but enjoying the company of the other. The handsome figure turned to the woman, her hair now blowing freely with her skirt being pushed by the wind. "There's something that I did a lot of thinking about, and I won't relax till I do." He said.

She stopped and gazed into his eyes. "I'm listening."

He cleared his throat and fumbled for the right way to start. "I know that some women have popped up into my life recently."

"I noticed." She added, but quickly retracted it by biting her lip.

His eyes seemed to crystallize with tears that she reached up and wiped away. He grabbed her hand and held it. "I never meant to hurt you, Lou. You've always been the woman that I cared most about. I just couldn't stand that time when we weren't together......and."

She silenced him by placing a finger on his lips. Louise knew the torment that they both had gone through, and she didn't want him to apologize. Besides, she had her own confession to make. "Then there's something I think you should know too." She paused. "Something happened a while back between Jimmy and me. I should've told you sooner, Kid. But it really scared me."

He remained calm. "What happened?"

Lou went into the story of how after Kid had been shot and what happened after she and Jimmy had gone on to take Elias Mills to his hanging. Finally she came to the part about that night in front of the campfire when they kissed. She held her breath and expected much of the same reaction that Kid had released the night before. Instead he remained demure and did the last thing she expected........kissing her. "It's okay, Lou, I understand. You had a need then, and I didn't reach out to it."

"So you aren't going to go get into a fight with Jimmy?" She said sweetly, not wanting them to come back to the bunkhouse battered and bruised.

He grinned mischievously. "Only if he comes near you again."

Together they walked side by side away from the setting sun. The first darkness of the stary-sky was beginning to appear overhead. They stopped a few paces from the station, again not wanting the moment to end. Kid turned to Lou and held her hands. "Promise me something, Lou."

"Yes, Kid." She replied anxiously waiting to hear what he wanted her to pledge.

"Let's never let this happen again, on either side. You're the only woman I want in my life." He smiled. "And I'm certainly the only man I want for your life."

Louise took a deep breath and contemplated her response. "You know that's asking a lot. There are a lot of cute, rich, men out there." She said grinning.

He gazed at her for a moment. "Yeah, but none of them have a horse like mine."

She laughed and stepped closer to him. "I promise." Again the glowing smile that stretched across his face was worth more than she could fathom. Reaching up she kissed him and then looked into his eyes.

"Our promise will never fade, Louise." He said.

"No, it won't." She replied taking his hand. Together they walked once again towards the house. The sun was nothing more than a small cannonball on the western sky. She stopped once to look back at it, and remembered the past two nights of sunsets and how different each one had been. What will tomorrow's bring? She asked herself as they resumed their steady walk. I only hope it will remain as wonderful as this one. Louise suddenly felt a streak of determination cross through her. No, it will be, because we are going to make it that way.

Please let me know what you think!:):)