The sounds of horses approaching woke Kid out of his sweet dreams. He sat up in bed and looked out the window. Dawn was breaking already! Had he and Tricia really slept the entire day away? He looked own at his side and Tricia was still sleeping peacefully. Kid jumped out of bed and frantically searched the dark room for his clothes. He was still tucking in his shirt as he ran down the stairs to greet their visitors. As he walked to the front of the shop he heard voices from outside. The front door opened and Teaspoon, Cody, Jimmy and Lou walked in.

“Kid! Thank God you’re alright!” Lou cried as she ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. Kid stiffened and hugged her back awkwardly.

“Well son, what exactly is going on here?” Teaspoon asked.

Kid’s arms dropped to his side as he turned to face the old man they all thought of as a father. He thought that Teaspoon could see right through him. “What are you talking about?” he asked as he walked over to Teaspoon’s side.

Teaspoon waved his arms around, indicating the town. “This here town, what is going on with it? Cody told us that there’s one survivor, but she ain’t been able to talk since whatever it is that happened here happened.”

Kid released the breath he had been holding and glanced at Lou quickly. She was giving him a strange look.

“I have no idea Teaspoon. I finally got Tricia to talk to me, but I didn’t want to upset her so I thought it’d be best to wait until you got here to question her about what happened.” You are such a liar, he thought to himself. How can you stand here and lie to them like this? Especially Lou!

“Tricia, eh? Where is she?” Teaspoon asked.

“I’m right here.”

All five turned around to where Tricia was standing, dressed in the same clothes as the day before, her hair pulled into a hastily made bun.

“Well it’s certainly a pleasant surprise to hear your voice!” Cody said with a smile as he walked over to where the small girl was standing. They embraced and she smiled back at him.

“Yes, you can say that again. I didn’t think that I was ever going to talk again!” She turned to Kid and her smile grew. “If it wasn’t for Kid here, I don’t know if I’d be talking right now,” she said affectionately.

Lou walked over to Kid and placed her hand possessively on his arm, her eyes never leaving Tricia’s face. “Yeah well, Kid’s a real special guy.”

Tricia’s face fell as she looked down at her feet, shifting uncomfortably under Lou’s hard gaze.

Jimmy’s eyes shifted from Lou to Kid to Tricia and back to Kid again. Something’s not right here, he thought to himself as he noticed Kid go a shade paler than usual.

“So, uh, you wanna fill us in on what exactly happened her Miss….?” Teaspoon asked.

“Llandry. Patricia Sue Llandry, but please call me Tricia.” Tricia supplied as she looked up into the old man’s face, his eyes concerned.

“Alright then Tricia, what happened here?”

Tricia let out a small sigh. “Why don’t we all go sit down in the parlor and I’ll get us some coffee. You all must be so tired from your trip, and this isn’t going to be easy or quick.”

“That sounds like a great idea to me. I’ve been dreamin’ of your coffee ever since riding out yesterday morning!” Cody grinned as Tricia led them to the back of the building where the living quarters were. Kid started to follow, but Lou held him back until everyone else had left the room.

“What is it Lou?” Kid asked.

Lou looked into his eyes. “You tell me.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say?” Kid replied and gave her a weak smile. “I missed you.” He leaned down to kiss Lou’s lips, but she turned her face so that he ended up kissing her cheek. “What did I do?”

Lou looked at him coldly. “I don’t know exactly, but why don’t you start by tellin’ me how you ended up with this on you?” she asked as her fingers rubbed off a smudge of lipstick from his neck. She held out her fingers for him to examine.

Kid’s eyes widened and opened his mouth, but all he could do was shake his head. “Lou, I-“

“I don’t want to hear none of your lies, you hear!” Lou cried, unshed tears shining her eyes. “Did you? Her? Here?”

“Lou-“ Kid began, but was interrupted by Tricia.

“I just brought out some fresh coffee and cake.” she offered as she smiled. “Kid, I would really like for you to be in there with me when I talk about what happened.”

“Kid and I were in the middle of talkin’.” Lou said flatly.

“Oh,” Tricia faltered as she turned to leave the room.

“That’s okay Tricia, I’m coming now. Lou and I can finish our conversation later,” Kid said as he followed Tricia out, leaving a stunned Lou behind.

No, Lou thought to herself. This can’t be… Kid would never! Not with her! He loves me, he would never sleep with another girl! There has to be some other explanation! Lou sat down on the bench by the counter and rested her elbows on her knees, allowing her face to fall into her hands. “I’m not going to cry. I am NOT going to cry!” She repeated over and over to herself.

“Since when did you take up talkin’ to yourself?”

Lou’s head jerked up, surprised by Jimmy who had walked in without her knowing. She wiped away the tears that started to fall with her fists and stood up straight. “I wasn’t talkin’ to myself.”

Jimmy’s eyes were full of concern. He didn’t like to see Lou in pain, and he had no doubt that the cause of her pain was Kid and this new girl. “You wanna talk?”

Lou looked at Jimmy and saw the warm compassion in his eyes. Suddenly all of her emotions came rising to the top, like a pot about to overflow. The pain from the many recent fights that she and Kid had been having, the insecurity of not knowing if she was woman enough for him, and now this! She just couldn’t take it anymore!

“Oh Jimmy!” Lou cried as she ran into his arms and broke down into heartbreaking sobs.

On to Chapter Seven

Be sure to send feedback!

Fan Fiction Main Page