Every member of their Pony Express family was aware of the conscious work that the two riders were doing in trying to repair their damaged relationship, especially Jimmy. It was hard for him to see the progress that they were making, and went out of his way to steer clear of the two riders. He and Kid were once again on speaking terms and he was grateful for that. Despite everything that had happened between him and Kid, the other male rider his best friend and he didn’t want to do anything else to jeopardize their friendship again.
Lou was slowly learning how to laugh and smile again, and it did his heart good. He often felt her questioning eyes on him in the bunkhouse at meal times, and knew that she was hurt by the way he was distancing himself from her. Jimmy didn’t know how to rectify that. He was working hard to get his own feelings for her under control so that he didn’t act upon them, and until he was successful at doing that, he didn’t want to test himself by spending any time alone with her. Nor was he eager to resurrect Kid’s jealousy and cause more problems between his two fellow riders. All he wanted now was for Lou to happy, and if it meant her being with Kid instead of him, then he was okay with that.
Jimmy was in the barn grooming Sundancer one day, when he heard the barn door open and someone walk inside. Lou stopped just inside the doorway and watched Jimmy work for a few minutes as she tried to gather her thoughts. She knew that he was avoiding her and she wanted to know why. Or rather, she suspected why, and had decided to do something about it. Next to Kid, Jimmy was her closest friend and she loved him dearly. They had always had an easy rapport between them up until now and she had kind of taken that for granted, and she couldn’t bear the thought of him not being in her life.
“Jimmy, can we talk?” she asked the dark-haired rider finally.
“Sure.” Jimmy said after a moment’s hesitation.
Lou moved closer so that she could see Jimmy’s face as she spoke to him.” We need to talk about the kiss you gave me Jimmy, and what you said after words.”
“It would be best for all of us if you just forgot about that kiss. You and Kid are working on your relationship, and he and I have repaired our friendship. I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize either one of them.”
“There’s one friendship that you’ve forgotten, Jimmy, yours and mine. I care as deeply about it as I do mine and Kid’s. You matter to me, Jimmy. I couldn’t bear it if I’ve done something to destroy it.”
Jimmy looked at her in surprise.” You could never do anything to make me not want to be you friend, Lou, ever.”
“I fell the same way about you Jimmy. You are a dear friend to me. I know that you want more from me than I can give to you, and I’m so sorry about that.”
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. It is what it is.”
“Will you promise me something, Jimmy?” Lou asked, her eyes flooding with tears.
“I’d do anything for you.” Jimmy vowed hoarsely.
“Promise me we’ll always be friends.”
“I promise, Lou.”
Lou moved then to hug Jimmy and after some hesitation on his part, Jimmy hugged her back. It wasn’t the way he had wanted things to turn out between him and Lou, but having her as a friend was better than nothing at all.
Although the relationships between Kid and Lou, Jimmy and Kid, and Lou and Jimmy weren’t entirely back to where they had once been, they were certainly back on the mend. The healing taking place between the three riders was a welcomed sight for the other members of the Pony Express family. There were bound to be more obstacles to be faced in the future, but for now things were back on an even kilter at the Rock Creek station.
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