"Yeah, thanks Buck, but how did you know I was back?" Lou questioned. She knew that he was out waiting for her when she rode in. She promised him she'd be back before the dance tomorrow after all.
"I was just out watching the rain & then I saw you ride in, so I thought I'd come out & see if you needed a hand." Buck lied.
"You're such a gentleman!" Lou mocked. "Well I'm beat. Night boys!"
"Night Lou" came the chorus of voices as she slipped into a beautiful dream of what has happened over the past three months, & how happy she was.
The next evening the bunkhouse was busy with the boys preparing for the dance in town. Each trying to use the small mirror hung on the wall, tying their bowties, fixing their hair & just trying to look good for their future "prospects"….if only Cody would move out of the way!
Meanwhile, Teaspoon was in the barn getting the carriage ready & Rachel & Lou were in the house putting the finishing touches to Lou's Hair. She had decided to borrow one of Rachel's good dresses for the dance. The burgundy dress had matching lace around the wrists, & neckline, which was cut lower than what she was used to, but she really wanted to impress Buck. Over the past three months Lou & Buck's relationship, although somehow still a secret, went far beyond that either had expected or experienced. Lou didn't think it was possible to love anyone as much as she loved The Kid, until she realised her love for Buck on their ride to St. Louis. The Kiowa had opened her eyes to a love much deeper than any she had seen or felt in her lifetime.
"There you go. So who's the lucky man? Rachel inquired, seeing the sparkle in her best friend's eyes. She had noticed there was a certain skip in Lou's step for over a month.
"Ahh…ahh…noone Rachel. What gave you that idea?" Lou fumbled.
"Come on, Louise. I'm pregnant, not blind. I've seen the way you've been behaving. It's been this way for over a month now!" Rachel exclaimed with raised eyebrows.
"Noone Rachel. I've just been in a good mood lately!" Lou tried to explain. "We'd better go or we'll be late. I'm sure Teaspoon & the boys are waitin'!"
"Yeah, okay. Come on."
The ladies walked out to the awaiting carriage & men on horseback. Lou had wrapped a shawl around herself, so the boys wouldn't stare at her courageous new look. Buck would get his surprise at the dance, accompanied by her "father & step mother" as she had been introduced to the town as at the last dance.
Send Helen FEEDBACK
Return to The Wild West Book Store