"Lou, Buck. I've got a special delivery to St. Louis. You need to head out at first light, so you better get an early night. They expect you the day after tomorrow. Oh & ride safe, boys!" Teaspoon announced just as he was heading over to the main house with Rachel after supper.
"But…" Lou was cut off by the slamming of the door. Teaspoon knew the protests that would follow his announcement, so he made a hasty retreat.
"Oh, come on Lou, I promise I'll make it fun. Ever since Kid started dating that Victoria woman, you've been really quiet & distant. Will you please let me try & help you to smile again? We all miss your smile & laughter around here, don't we boys?" Buck questioned his fellow bunkmates. His answer was replied with nods & "Yeah, we sure do" 's
"Okay, Buck, only for you boys. But if Kid comes in here tonight all giddy as a school girl, I may be forced to hurt him!" Lou stated, a little smile forming in the corners of her mouth. Ever since her former love broke up with her after his latest proposal was knocked back, Kid had become a big hit with the ladies. His new flame, Victoria Hollow, was the daughter of the town's new blacksmith. Her looks, according to the boys, were not nearly as pretty as Lou's, but resembled her own features – stubborn & petite. Cody's belief was that Kid was trying to substitute for the real thing, trying to make Lou jealous. It was working, Lou was jealous, but it was also driving her farther away from the Kid. Whenever Kid was around these days, Lou wasn't.
~ Come on you two, you'd better get some sleep. You've got a long ride ahead of you both tomorrow. ~ Ike signed. He too had become worried about Lou. He had noticed that she had been eating & sleeping less since Kid met "Tori".
"Yeah, come on Buck! Hey Jimmy, you gonna read us a bedtime story?" Lou asked her best friend & confidant who had his nose stuck in a new book Lou had brought him on her last run. She had been giving him private reading lessons, which he had become quite good at. He was now at an adult reading level & seemed to enjoy reading more these days than polishing his guns. Lou had also brought him a dictionary so he could practice his reading when he wanted, looking up the meaning of words he wasn't sure of.
"Sure Lou. Once upon a time, there was a woman who rode for the Pony Express. One night she asked one of the other rider's to read her a bedtime story, so he shot her. The End! Goodnight Lou." Jimmy teased.
"Okay, I can take a hint, goodnight boys. Thank goodness Cody isn't here, coz then I'd never get any sleep over the sound of his snoring.” Lou stated.
"We should be there by suppertime. How about we get a couple of rooms at the hotel?" buck inquired.
"Hmmm, sounds great. So what's happening in St. Louis that's gonna make it so fun, Buck?" Lou questioned.
"Hehehe, you'll see!" Buck giggled at his little secret.
"Buck -" Lou cautioned placing her hands on her hips.
"Lou –" Buck echoed, copying her stance.
"Good evening, may I help you?" the desk clerk asked, looking over his glasses at the two dusty riders.
"Yes, we'd like two rooms please." Buck answered
"We only got the one. Yer better take it 'fore it's gone." The desk clerk arrogantly stated.
Buck looked at Lou who had a slight grin on her face. "We'll take it" he announced boldly.
"Here you go. Room 118. Up the stairs to the right. It's the last door on the left. The bed's big enough for the two of you, with plenty of room to spare." The clerk said.
"Thanks." The two riders said in unison. With that Buck lead Lou up the stairs to their room. "This should be fun, huh Lou?" Buck asked as they entered their room & closed the door.
Shrugging, Lou replied "Could be. So what are we gonna do while we're here?"
"Well, how about I take care of the horses & you get ready & meet me down stairs in say…ahh…45 minutes? The fun starts tonight Louise!" Buck snickered, giving Lou a wink.
Forty minutes later, Lou met Buck outside the hotel dressed in her blue dress in which Jimmy brought her not long after she & Kid broke up. Her hair was half swept up & held in place with a beautiful clip, which Cody had given to her for her last birthday. She also wore her mother's pearl necklace, bracelet & earings. She was the vision of a goddess, one that stole the air right out of Buck's lungs. Buck had secretly loved Louise more than just a sister for too long. He loved her like Jimmy & The Kid loved her… as a future wife.
"WOW! You look…wow…amazing!!!" Buck stuttered
"Why, thank you Buck. I aim to please!" Lou remarked " maybe this is going to be a special night after all."
They walked along the busy streets & came upon a crowd surrounding several wagons. They decided to see what the fuss was about & found it was a circus.
"Fortune Teller – Madam Heart sees all" Lou read, looking at the side of a wagon. "Hmmm I don't think so, what else is there?"
As they looked around, they kept up a steady conversation, discussing all the sights, sounds & smells they were experiencing. Buck & Lou didn't want this night to end, they were having so much fun. As the crowds became thicker, they took each other's hand & weaved through the crowd until they were finally free from the hoards of people. Laughing, Lou looked behind them at the noise. "Oh my god, Buck, promise me we won't have to go back through that again." She couldn't contain her laughter any longer as a clown began following them, overstating their actions tremendously.
"I promise, Lou." Buck replied, glancing at the painted fool standing before them. With this, the clown pulled a bunch of flowers from behind Buck's ear & handed they to Lou.
"Why, thank you." Lou said. The clown nodded & moved on to other couples. "I want to thank you too, Buck. I've had the time of my life."
"I'm glad, Lou. My plan worked…you're smiling again, not to mention laughing" he smiled.
Lou leaned over & gave Buck a kiss on the cheek. Just as she was standing upright, she looked into the deep black pools of his eyes & was swallowed whole in the passion she found there. They both leaned forward & engaged in a loving kiss, neither wanting it to end.
When they finally parted, they were again lost in each other's eyes. Their candle of love had finally been lit.
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