By C.C.
Copyright 2000
As the kiss ended she rested her forehead against his chest, breathing him in. “Kid what about Hannah” she questioned, “aren’t you courting her?”
He shook his head, “No, not really, I tried to make you think that, I even tried to make me think that, she’s a sweet girl, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask her to court steady. It wouldn’t have been fair to her. I realized after the dance that I was in big trouble when it came to you, none of my ideas to rid myself of my longing for you worked” he continued to hold her closely.
"Oh Kid, what are we going to do” her head still laying on his chest as he stroked her hair.
“I know it won’t be easy Lou, but you have to tell him, you have to break the engagement” he stated matter-of-factly.
She sighed “I wish it were that simple” she reluctantly informed him about the money and all that she had just overheard last night. “I’m afraid he won’t be to eager to let me out of this marriage, in fact if he knows that I know I’m afraid of what he might do” she looked at Kid worriedly.
“I’m not gonna let him hurt you Lou, trust me” he squeezed her gently, reassuringly and sighed, trying to come up with a plan. “When’s your birthday?”
“In two weeks, May 4th” she answered.
“Wonder if we can stall them” he tried to reason.
“No Kid, they know he has to marry me before I turn eighteen, that way when I inherit the money, it’ll be considered his too.”
He sighed realizing that she was right. “Maybe we can hide out for two weeks, you know they’d never find us.”
“No they wouldn’t but I promise you they’d hire someone who could” she too becoming frustrated with their lack of options.
Suddenly Kid was hit with a solution. He just couldn’t believe the idea that just entered his mind. That’s crazy he thought to himself. But maybe it’s really the only way.
Hesitantly he decided to tell her his idea. “Lou, I think I have a solution”. He realized he was getting ready to make the biggest decision he’d ever have to make.
“Really, what?” she asked expectantly.
“Well you know” he looked deep into her eyes, setting her heart in motion “you can’t marry someone...... whose married to someone else” he finished and let out a sigh.
Lou’s eyes were as big as saucers, she couldn’t believe what he had just said. “Excuse me Kid, I’m not sure I understand” shock evident in her voice.
“Well” he took her hands into his “I love you, you love me, why shouldn’t we get married?” he stated resolutely.
She was trying to digest his words, this was the absolute last thing she could have ever imagined. “Kid, I don’t know....” trying to find words for all the craziness swirling through her mind “do you think it would be smart, you know to go into something so important for this reason?”
“Lou” he smirked at her “this reason (indicating the money) is only one of the reasons I asked” he kissed her leaving her breathless, “that’s the other reason!”
As they spent the next moments holding each other and enjoying the closeness Lou began to contemplate what he had said. She knew she loved him, she just wasn’t sure if they should base a marriage on the current situation. But when she looked into his eyes, her fears and doubts were quieted, she knew he loved her, and that helping her get away from Stephen and saving her father’s inheritance wasn’t the true motivation behind his proposal.
“Well, where do we start, what do we do?” She smiled nervously at him.
Her smile helped to calm his frayed nerves. He knew what he had asked her was right, it wasn’t that he was frightened that the choice was wrong. It was just that this morning he wasn’t even seeing anyone, and he stood here a few hours later deciding to get married. He really had to chuckle at the situation. He was Mr. level-headed, have a plan, think everything through and he makes the biggest decision of his life in a split second. But again, looking at her, seeing her beautiful smile, and those eyes, he new immediately that he could gaze into them for the rest of their life.
“Well”, he started to walk along the creeks edge, taking her hand in his “let’s start planning a wedding!”
Chapter 12
“Well, we can’t do it in Sweetwater, that’s for sure” he spoke, almost to himself. “But how do we get you.....” his voice trailed. “There is a small town not too far from here, but I don’t know how you’d convince Stephen to let you go.” his mind working feverishly for a plan.
“Where’s the next big town” she interjected.
“That’d probably have to be Wesley, I guess, why?” he questioned.
“I could convince him that I want to go for a few days, you know by his groom’s present and buy my trousseau, it’s pretty much what a bride does you know” she looked at Kid.
He didn’t know that that was what a bride did, he realized he had never given it a thought.
She continued, amused at his puzzlement. “He shouldn’t find it to unusual that I’d want to shop in a larger town.” Kid listened and tried to decide if it would work. “Does the stagecoach go there?”
“Yeah, but it wouldn’t be coming back through before Saturday” he paused. “But you know you could tell him you were gonna hire a hand to take you. People do it all the time.”
“I’m not so sure, he’s been trying to act jealous lately, I’m not sure he’d be too eager to send me to another town with some strange man.” She smiled mischievously at him, “actually he thinks you have feelings for me” she laughed as Kid’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What’d you mean?”
“Well last night after he broke in on our dance, he told me I wasn’t to be near you, that he could see you had feelings for me. I should have known right away he had other motives. He’s never been jealous of me a day in his life” she laughed at the irony of the situation.
Kid too was amused that Stephen had forbidden her to see him and here they stood planning their wedding.
“I’ve got some friends, one’s I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be jealous of. I’ll talk to them and then you can tell him what you want and introduce them, it’s what they do. He can even ask around town, he’ll find that it’s pretty normal. I’m sure he’ll agree”, he reassured her.
She sighed “I’ll try, when do we leave?”
“Tomorrow” he stated. “I’ll talk to Teaspoon tonight, tell him I need a few days off, the company owes me time.” She could see the concern on his face.
“What’s wrong Kid?” she was concerned.
“I was just thinkin’, I don’t know what the company rules about marriage are..... never mind” realizing he didn’t want her to worry, he’d figure something out.
She was touched that he worried about how he was going to make a living when she was due to inherit more money than she could probably imagine. She could also tell that Kid wasn’t just going to accept her father’s money, his pride would prevent that.
Finishing making their plans they decided they’d meet secretly after dinner, after she found out if Stephen would unwitteningly play a role in their marriage by buying her lies. Then they’d finalize their plans for tomorrow. After spending a few more intimate moments together, they headed in separate directions. Each filled with emotions ranging from fear to utter joy.
Louise was truly surprised at Stephen’s willingness to allow her to do as she and Kid had planned. She figured part of his agreement stemmed from him being anxious to be sure that she and Kid stayed far away from each other. He didn’t even question the hands that she had supposedly hired, and had given her plenty of money.
Trying to charm her he used what he considered an enticing voice “Buy us something real pretty for our wedding night darling” his voice dripping with sugarcoating.
She felt the urge to vomit but instead eyed him “Oh just you wait, you’ll be so surprise. Now let me go and pack, I’ll be leaving in the morning and return on Thursday dear.”
Stephen didn’t care what she did before Saturday, as long as she stayed away from that cowboy, he thought.
Louise met Kid behind the livery after she packed. Excitedly she told him about Stephen’s easy acceptance of their plan. They firmed up their plans about meeting outside of town in the morning and heading in Wesley. Kid took her into his arms and kissed her deeply. His heart rate accelerating at her closeness. Finally pulling away, almost breathless “Lou, I’d better go....” he managed.
Overwhelmed by the feelings she had been experiencing, she couldn’t find her voice and just shook her head.
He leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her lips, “I’ll see you in the morning” he paused and looked closely at her, “I love you.”
She came out of her trance-like state “Oh Kid... I love you too, I’ll be there!”
Chapter 13
Louise was truly surprised at her feelings. She had always been so frightened by intimacy, she never really understood the whole thing. No one, not her mother or anyone had ever explained the nature of things to her, and the thought of all of it only served to scare her. But since earlier today, since she had become aware of Kid’s feelings, and allowed her feelings to show she realized that she wasn’t afraid any longer. Of course she was apprehensive, but she was more anxious. She didn’t really know what to expect, but she knew that what she felt during their kiss was such a wonderful feeling; she knew she didn’t know the first thing about pleasing a man, but it was her heart’s desire to be everything she needed to be for him. He had become her world, her reason for existing and even though she wasn’t exactly sure how to physically prove it, she would do what she needed to show him, allow him to show her.
Kid for his part had kept his passion in check. He had longed for her for as long as he could remember, since she stepped off the stagecoach really, but he reasoned with himself. You can wait one more day Kid, not that every ounce of him wasn’t screaming for her, everything that he was wanted her. Sure he’d had a few experiences in his life, but he’d never been so completely consumed by a women before. The thought of her offering herself to him made him involuntarily shudder. He just couldn’t imagine, she was the most beautiful and awesome women he’d ever encountered.
Suddenly he was hit with the realization that he didn’t deserve her, she was out of his class. Wasn’t he just an orphan of dirt farmers from Virginia. He didn’t have anything to offer a women of her stature. He hadn’t really considered his inferiority until now. What the hell am I thinking.... I can never be the man she deserves.
Kid turned Katy back to town, he had to see her. He would tell her that he’d changed his mind. She must not be thinking straight, he’d help her, whatever way he could, but she deserved so much more that he could ever give her.
He left Katy at the end of the street and cautiously approached the hotel. Not seeing any signs of Stephen or his parents he wondered how he’d find out which room she was in. Should he ask the clerk? That surely wouldn’t be smart. Then he had an idea, he found a small piece of paper in the lobby and folded it to make it look like a note. He walked to the desk clerk and said someone had asked him to be sure that Miss McCloud received the note. He watched closely as the clerk slid it in the slot, noticing the room number.
As the clerk’s attention returned to his reading, Kid quietly headed toward Louise’s room. Noticing the hall was empty, he prayed it would stay that way. He softly knocked.
“Oh Stephen, please go to bed” she answered the knock quickly. “You know I am not going to let you in” she was exasperated.
“It’s not Stephen, Lou” he whispered.
“Kid?” she questioned and immediately opened the door, not noticing that she was in her night dress. “What’s the matter?” she asked concernedly.
He immediately noticed her nightgown and blushed “Oh I’m sorry” indicating her attire.
“Oh” realizing what he was blushing for “let me get my robe” she quickly wrapped it tightly around her and looked at him. “Kid what are you doing here?” Afraid of what could have happened to cause him to come to her room and risk Stephen seeing him.
He realized that he hadn’t exactly figured out what to say to her - he just knew he had to tell her. “Lou” he started and turned his back to her, preferring not to look at her, knowing he would be able to think more clearly, however she followed him and he could sense her closeness.
“Lou, I was thinking.... maybe..well... ya know I’ll help you anyway I can.....but maybe gettin’ married ain’t the right thing to do” he fumbled miserably with his excuse.
“I don’t understand” she spoke in a hushed tone.
He turned back to her, gazing at her beauty. “Louise, I can never offer you all that you deserve... you...” he shook his head slightly “you deserve so much more than I’d ever be able to give.”
He was not talking about material things, she knew that he was questioning his worthiness. And that initially angered her, but she quickly softened when she saw the hurt in his eyes. She took both of his hands into her smaller ones.
Kid looked at his large calloused hands compared to her delicate, well-manicured ones and was convinced that he was doing the right thing. She deserved someone much more refined than he would or could ever be.
She forced him to look at her and squeezed his hands affectionately. “Kid, you can give me something no one has ever given me” she smiled at him. “And what you have to offer is the one thing I’ve always dreamt about, never really believing I’d ever find it.”
He looked puzzled, he knew he had nothing to offer her, hell he didn’t even know if he’d still have a job if they did get married.
She giggled at his puzzlement and walked him over to the settee and they sat down, she did not let go of his hands and her eyes continued to bore into his soul.
“Kid what you offer me is your love” she watched him closely “you love me for who I really am, no one, not my mother or father, not the Richardson’s and certainly not Stephen.... no one, Kid, no one has ever loved me for me. I can be exactly what I want to be when I’m with you and I don’t worry that I’m making a fool of myself or that my actions or the way I dress is a bad reflection on you. You” she sighed “make me feel completely comfortable. And comfortable is not something I’ve ever felt.”
He tried to protest but she held up her hand to stop him and continued “I realize that you and I don’t know everything about each other, but we’ve spent enough time together for you to know that none of those things I’ve grown up around are important to me. Coming out here didn’t really change me, deep down I’ve always felt this way, it’s just that I’ve learned how to truly be me, but Kid” her eyes pleading with him to believe what she said “I can’t be me without you. You are part of who I am.” She cupped his face in her hands as she finished her heart-felt speech. She silently prayed that what she had said would convince him that she wanted to marry him because she loved him, it didn’t have anything to do with the money.
Kid was speechless, listening and watching her he realized she was being honest with herself and with him, he also realized that he couldn’t live his life without her, he had been a fool.
“I’m sorry” he began “your ....” he was interrupted by a knock at the door. They looked at each other in shock.
“Louise, darling, open the door” his words slurring slightly. She could tell he’d been drinking, he was more insistent about coming to her room when he’d been drinking. She placed her finger to her lips to indicate to Kid to be quiet, she’d get rid of him.
Kid wondered to himself if Stephen often came to her room at night. However, he quickly reproached himself, it didn’t really matter, he was not a virgin why should he expect that she was.
“Stephen, please go away” she pleaded. “I’m already in bed, I was just about asleep” she lied.
“Come on Louise, I’ll miss you, you’ll be gone for days” he whined. She made a face and Kid grinned and stifled a laugh.
“Stephen, how many times do we have to go through this?” becoming irritated she spoke sternly to him. “You know I will not let you in, now we’ll be married on Saturday, you’ll share my bed then and not before!” She was mad and Stephen could tell his pleas would again end in his frustration.
“Fine” he huffed and she heard him as he stomped off.
She waited until she could no longer hear his footsteps to return to Kid.
Kid was relieved when he realized that Stephen and Lou had not been together. He wouldn’t have held it against her, but he was glad that she hadn’t been with him.
She laughed as she sat back down next to Kid and laughed. “Now Kid, if you still don’t believe that I love you, that should prove it!”
“What do you mean?” he questioned.
“Well, he’s knocked on my door every night since we’ve been here, and I’ve never once opened it for him and you” she teased “one knock from you and I let you right in, me in my nightgown even!” she giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Now you go on and get out of here before I do something I swore to myself I wouldn’t.”
Kid understood that she was intent on saving herself for marriage, and that pleased him, he’d not argue with her.
“Tomorrow then” and he smiled.
“That smile of your is enough to make me change my mind, get out of here...now” she teased playfully.
He cracked the door and saw the empty hall, he left feeling like he was walking on air, all of his fears regarding his unworthiness quieted, she loved him and that was all that mattered.
Chapter 14
Kid rose at dawn and headed into town to fetch Lightening from the livery. He’d arranged with Stan and Bob yesterday the spot where’d he meet them with Louise. They were good guys and didn’t ask any questions, which relieved Kid greatly. Never one to lie, he didn’t know if he’d be very good at it. He also told Teaspoon he needed a few days off, praying that he wouldn’t ask questions, he was greatly relieved again. Things were going smoothly.
He was a bit nervous as he watched the buckboard with the men and Louise approach. Not cold-feel type of nervous, just uncertainty about the next two weeks. Keeping their marriage a secret until Saturday and then a whole week of uncertainty, Stephen would know an he wasn’t sure what he was capable of doing to get his hands on Louise’s money. He’d have to ask Lou what she thought.
She looked radiant, she had dressed in pants, but not the loose fitting boys trousers she wore on lessons, these hugged her hips and accentuated her tiny figure. She wore riding boots and a white long sleeved blouse. Her hair was pulled loosely back into a long braid exposing her beautiful face. The black hat she wore angled back slightly, so as to not hide her face. Kid was breathless as he helped her down, his infatuation not unnoticed by the two men.
“Kid” Stan called, “Kid!” he spoke louder. Kid realized he’d been staring at Louise and quickly turned to Stan “Oh, sorry” he turned several shades of red.
“See ya’ll later” the men called as Bob snapped the reins, both men laughing at Kid’s predicament.
“You look beautiful” he complimented her easily.
“Thank you Kid” she blushed.
“Oh, I almost forgot” nodding his head slightly he handed her Lightening’s reins. “ I wanted to be the first to give you a wedding gift” he smirked.
“What do you mean?” she questioned as she took the reins.
“He’s yours” he replied sweetly, looking at Lightening then back at her.
Pleasantly shocked she threw her arms around his neck “Oh Kid”.
“Well you see, Lightening and I talked it over this mornin’, didn’t we boy?” He said he couldn’t imagine a better master!”
She laughed, realizing that he had probably said just that to Kid. “Oh thank you Kid, you couldn’t have given me anything better!” She sighed and stroked Lightening, the horse eyeing her lovingly. She could sense the horses happiness. She almost swore he was trying to tell her he loved her.
“He does you know” Kid startled her out of her staring contest with Lightening.
“What?” surprised by his insight.
“He does love you, he could tell right away, when you first rode him yesterday” he told her seriously.
“How do you do that?” she asked curiously.
“Don’t know, just a gift” he shrugged nonchalantly. “Some people call it horse whispering, I’ve never really tried to figure it out. I understand them, they understand me.”
She shook her head in astonishment, he certainly was very special.
“Well let’s get a move on, it’ll take a few hours to get there, you up for it? he grinned teasingly at her.
“I think I can handle it” she kissed his cheek, “thank you again for Lightening Kid, I love you!”
“Me too! And your welcome” he mounted Katy as Lou easily mounted her wedding gift.
They headed towards Wesley and the future.
He decided they’d discuss Stephen and how to handle explanations after they found the preacher and got married. He didn’t want anything else on his mind. He realized this wouldn’t be the wedding he was sure she had always pictured, but he could tell she didn’t care. Maybe one day they’d do it the right way, but today it was going to be short and simple.
It was a simple ceremony, the preacher and his wife the only witnesses. Because they didn’t have any rings, the minister thinking maybe they were too poor to afford them didn’t question. He adjusted the words slightly and Kid and Louise pledged their eternal vows to each other without rings, but with the love that they both knew would seal their souls together throughout eternity.
They walked the main street, Kid wanting to shout to everyone that she was his wife. Louise wanting the women she watched eyeing Kid to know that he belonged to her. She held his arm possessively and allowed her mind to linger on some of the insecurities she had about their wedding night. However, she felt confidence in Kid, she knew he would guide her, teach her. Oh she was excited, she couldn’t hardly believe it, she had dreaded the thought of it with Stephen for so long, and here she was ready to go to the room now. She giggled softly to herself.
Kid was nervous, she was so small and so perfect.\ he hoped he could be what he needed to be for her. He knew she was a virgin, and this knowledge warmed his heart. She had saved herself for the love of her life, and that was him, he thought triumphantly. He was thankful for this opportunity, to show her what love meant, but he couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy. I’ll just let nature run it’s course, he signed heavily.
They shopped most of the day, Louise did spend the money Stephen had given her on clothes. Clothes he no doubt would never approve of. But with Kid’s help she had found several outfits that pleased them both. She sent him away to make the most important purchase of the day, the gown she’d wear tonight. He didn’t know what she was up to but didn’t question her. He went to the hotel and rented a room.
Mr. & Mrs. Kid Jacobs he signed the register. Hell, she don’t even know what her last name is he thought amusingly. Must mean she really does love me to marry me and not even know my name. I think I’ll wait and see how long it takes her to even realize it. He put their belongings and the purchases Louise had made so far in the room, he nervously looked at the bed which seemed to fill the entire room. “Come on Kid, stop worrying” he tried to convince himself that’d he be fine. “Don’t put the pressure on you idiot, you’ll be so nervous you won’t be able to do anything!”
He met her outside the last shopping stop of the day, she was carrying a brown package. “Let’s just drop this off and get some dinner” she cast him an almost devilish grin. He briefly wondered what was in the package, then they headed back to the hotel. Kid remembered the women at the desk saying dinner was at 6 o’clock sharp! They need to hurry.
