Note: This is an alternate timeline story based on characters from The Young Riders. Their roles in this story will be different from the show... please keep this in mind.

Louise McCloud set the skinny golden key into the lock of the general store. She turned it until she heard the lock click closed. He shoulders sagged. It had been a long day...hardly a sale... and hardly a customer. With this awful war so close on the horizon, there wasn't a person in two towns that had money to spare on anything but the essentials.

Their store had been a favorite of the townspeople since her grandfather built it thirty years ago, and now she had to face the facts that they may have to close it. A voice in the back of her head nagged, 'and what would you do for money then?'

She picked up her basket and turned down the lane towards her house. She hummed as she walked along the tree shaded lane...her booted feet tracing lazy patterns through the softly packed dirt.

She was lost in her thoughts and didn't hear the sound of powerful hoofbeats coming up behind her, "Whoa there Katy!" The beautiful paint horse reined to a stop next to her. Lou was clearly unafraid as the young rider slid of the horse's back.

"Hello, Kid."

"Hello Louise." He walked beside her, a wide grin on his face.

She blushed as he continued to stare at her.

"I've been waitin' all day for a chance to come and see you."

They walked for a few minutes in silence, "Well?"

He stopped and looked at her, "Well what?"

She didn't even stop or turn around, "Now you've 'seen' me, is there anything else you wanted to do?"

He laughed and caught up with her, "Now that you mention it, there is that dance after church on Sunday."

"Oh?" She looked up at him, enjoying his discomfort.

"Louise!" He bit out her name, an embarassed smile on his face, "Are you coming to the dance with me or not!?"

By now they reached Louise's house. She stopped at the door, her hand touching the frame, "You want me to go to the dance with you?" she could barely hide her smile.

"Yeah," he shrugged, his cheeks turning pink, "I mean, I've been courtin' you for a while now, and I think it's time we..." he looked at her, worried what she'd say, "...we let everyone know how we feel."

She was still facing the door and Kid felt his heart fall into his stomach. He felt Katy nudge his shoulder as he dropped his head to stare at the ground.

"Kid?" her voice was soft and unsure. He couldn't bring himself to look up. He saw her feet before his in the dirt.

She reached out her hand to touch his arm. He looked up at her, a tear in her eye. "Ah, Lou? I didn't mean to make you cry-"

She leaned forward and kissed him, her lips pressing against his. He was shocked and stood there. When he regained his thoughts he reached out to hold her, but she was gone.

His eyes flew open and he saw her closing the front door. His feet seemed planted in place, so he called out to her just before the door clicked, "Is that a yes?"

Louise stood just inside the door, her hand pressed to her heart. She could feel it beating wildly against her chest. She couldn't stop smiling.

The long day at the store was forgotten and she was bursting to tell her mother what Kid had asked her.

She softly knocked on the door and heard her mothers soft contralto voice, "Come in honey."

The door creaked open and Louise quickly walked in and closed it behind her. She sat next her mother on the bed and smoothed the covers around her. Mary's once beautiful features were marred by over two years of declining health and now as her daughter sat beside her some of her youthful beauty returned if only for a few moments.

Louise took a cloth from the side table and wiped the sheen from her mother's skin. She was encouraged by the smile she received for the simple task. "How was your day mother?"

"Fine, fine, I have exciting news."

Louise barely heard her, "Oh mother, the most wonderful thing happened! Kid asked me to the dance Sunday."

Mary found herself laughing at her daughter's interruption. Louise had been much to serious of late, having to spend her days in the store instead of school with the other girls. "You've danced with him before, dear."

"This is different. He wants to take me there, not just meet him there. He wants everyone to know.." she blushed as she recalled what he had said to her outside the front door. "...how we feel."

A cold hand covered Louise's as she absently played with the tattered edge of the bed cover. "How do you feel Louise?"

"Like I could fly around the world, like I could swing from the trees, like...." she closed her eyes and pictured him standing outside with Katy, "I'm in love."

"He's a fine young man, dear. I couldn't be happier," she paused and looked at her daughter.

"Oh, you wanted to say something, didn't you?"

"Yes.. and this should make you just as happy. I've sent a letter to your father."

Louise sobered in an instant, "You sent him a letter?"

"Just last month and an answer came today in the post. He's coming to see us."

Louise looked down at her feet. "Why?"

"I know things have been so very hard on you-" a series of coughs wracked her small form. She snatched the hankerchief off the table and covered her mouth. Louise moved to hold her mother as the coughing grew worse. Mary looked into the hankerchief and quickly hid it under her blanket afraid what Louise would say. "You've been working so hard and you should be able to enjoy things like dances and tea socials..."

"Mother, you know I've never wanted any of that-"

"Louise-"

"Besides, you've always told me that my father was a man to stay clear of." Louise was confused and afraid, what had made her mother contact him after 16 years.

"He's changed," Mary tried to keep a look of certainty in her eyes, "I've heard wonderful things about him, and he has amassed quite a fortune since I knew him... he'll be able to help us."

Louise bit her tongue. Her mother hadn't had that light in her eyes in months. She couldn't see anything good coming from his visit, but if that is what her mother wanted...then she would make the best of it.

On to Chapter Three

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