CLANK!

“Kid, what in the world? Are you okay?” Cody glanced at Kid, who had just dropped an entire platter of freshly cooked food on the floor. Cody then followed Kid’s gaze to the kitchen door where Tricia was standing, and looking very beautiful.

Tricia ran over to help Kid pick up the food from the floor. She kneeled down and as she reached out for a stray strip of bacon at the same time that Kid did, their fingertips brushed gently against each other’s. Kid looked up and his eyes locked with Tricia’s. Her eyes seemed to bore right through to his soul, and he was sure she knew how he felt.

Cody, sensing the sudden tension in Kid’s face decided to break the silence. “Well Tricia, I guess I owe you a world of thanks!”

Tricia finally broke the stare and looked up at Cody. As she stood and straightened her skirts out, she gave him a perplexed look.

Cody pointed to where Kid had placed the ruined food on the table. There were strips of charred bacon and eggs that looked like they had been rubberized. “Kid here isn’t the world’s best cook. In fact, he’s probably the worst cook!”

Tricia smiled and giggled. It was the first time either of the friends had heard a sound come from her, and Kid thought that it was absolutely lovely. She motioned to Kid and Cody to sit down, and walked over to the stove where she took out fresh pans and the remaining raw eggs and bacon. Ten minutes later the three of them were sitting around the table eating, while Kid and Cody took turns telling Tricia stories hilarious stories of themselves and the other riders.

Finally Cody wiped his mouth with his napkin and stood up. “Miss Llandry,” he began but she stopped him with a look. “Tricia, I want to thank you for not only saving us from Kid’s cooking but for the delicious breakfast that you cooked.” She smiled and began to start clearing the tables. Cody looked at Kid. “I think I should head out to finish the run to Fort Kearney, and then head back to Sweetwater to let Teaspoon and them all know what’s going on here.”

Kid swallowed his juice, stood up and walked over to Cody. “Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”

Cody nodded. “Yeah, it’s only a few hours from here and once I get there I’ll get a fresh horse and hope to be back in Sweetwater by tomorrow morning. Once I explain to Teaspoon what happened here, I’ll bring him and the other riders back and we’ll work on figuring out what happened…” Cody trailed off quietly, so that Tricia wouldn’t hear.

Kid pat Cody’s shoulder affectionately. “You ride safe. And take care of that arm.”

Cody grinned. “Awww shucks Kid! I didn’t know you cared about me that much!”

Kid laughed. “No I don’t, it’s just that if something happens to you then it’ll just be more work for the rest of us!”

Cody walked over to Tricia, picking up her hand and kissing the back of it again. “I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

Tricia smiled and took Cody’s hand, squeezing affectionately. He turned away and started walking towards the front of the store. After he had left, Kid turned to Tricia.

“Let me help you with those dishes,” Kid said as he walked over to the counter. He took a dish from Tricia, pumped some water into the basin and began soaping up the sponge. They began washing dishes, and after a few minutes Kid felt the dish that he was reaching for being pulled of his hands. He smiled to himself and pulled the dish back in his direction. This tug of war continued for a few minutes until Kid finally gave one firm tug and the soapy dish came flying out of Tricia’s hands, slipped through his and went flying across the room, finally hitting the wall and shattering.

Kid's eyes flew open, Tricia let out a loud laugh and Kid soon followed. The two of them collapsed into a fit of giggles and had to hold on to each other to keep from falling down. The next thing Kid knew he was cupping Tricia’s chin between his forefinger and thumb, and slowly lifted it until he was practically touching her face with his lips. She closed her eyes as he used his thumb to softly trace the pattern of her luscious lips. Finally he closed in the tiny space that was remaining between their faces and brought his lips down, crushing hers in a soft kiss. Kid pulled back, but Tricia opened her eyes, smiled at him, brought her arm up around his neck and pulled his head back down to her. This time there was more passion in their kiss, and Kid felt like his lips were on fire. When they pulled apart Kid could see the longing in her eyes, and he knew that they were mirroring the look in his own eyes.

Tricia reached up and traced his cheek with her finger. He closed his eyes as she gently ran her finger over his own lips. “Kid…” she whispered softly.

Kid was so overcome with emotion at hearing that one word that escaped her lips. He opened his eyes and stared into the deep blue abyss of hers. There was no need to say anything more. They both wanted the same thing, and they didn’t need words to express that need between them. Kid gently lifted her into his arms, as if he were carrying a baby and kissed her again. He took the stairs two at a time, all the while his lips never leaving hers. When they entered her bedroom a few minutes later, Kid laid her gently down on the bed below her. She pulled his head down to hers and they picked up their kiss where it had left off…

Kid stirred in his sleep. He awoke, surprised to see that it was sometime in the late afternoon. The sun was just starting to dip down into the horizon, casting the room in a deep amber glow. He turned his head to the side and found Tricia still fast asleep, cradled in his arms. Her hair was in disarray, being pulled loose from the bun during their moments of passion, her make-up smudged and faded, and their clothes scattered around the bedroom. He stared down at her beautiful face, amazed at what had happened between the two of them. He didn’t think she would have any more problems talking anymore. After a few minutes Tricia finally began to stir, opened her eyes, yawned, stretched and sighed contently.

“Would it be wrong to say good morning?” Kid asked her, smiling.

Tricia turned her head to look out the window. She wrinkled her nose, turned back to Kid and giggled. “I would think so… it’s almost evening!”

Kid laughed. “Okay, so good evening!”

Tricia laughed and hit him playfully, but then snuggled even deeper in his arms. “I still can’t believe how wonderful it feels to talk again. I don’t know why I wasn’t able to before, and I was terrified that I was never going to be able to talk again.”

Kid grinned. “Yeah well, you said some things before that I never imagined coming from your mouth!”

Tricia propped up on one elbow and looked down into Kid’s face, her hair falling across her shoulder and landing on his chest. “There are a lot of things about me that you have yet to learn!” she said laughing as she poked his chest with her finger. She lay back down again and sighed.

Kid smiled. If someone had told him that he would be this happy, he would have said that they were lying. For a brief moment an image of Lou with tears of accusation in her eyes flashed through his head, but he quickly pushed it away. He didn’t know what he was going to do, but for right now all he wanted to do was lay there with Tricia in his arms.

On to Chapter Six

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