Kid quickly stuck his throbbing, bleeding finger in his mouth. His eyes glared accusations of betrayal at Louise. He turned to Lou who was watching his anger curiously. "You promised me you weren't gonna run away with him, Lou," he growled.
"Run away!" she exclaimed in confusion. "Who's runnin' away? I'm buyin' that old place where Marshal MacCauliffe used to live and about twenty-five acres around the old swimming hole." She was upset that he'd immediately thought she would go back on her word. "I'm starting' a ranch not leavin' the country," Lou snapped, "not that it's any of your business if I do either."
"You're startin' a ranch?" Kid asked curiously. "With what? Where'd you get the money to start a ranch?"
Danny spoke up from the table. "Louise is a rich woman, now," he replied in answer to Kid's question. He was nonplussed as Kid's head slowly swung toward him in annoyance. "She, Theresa, Jeremiah, and the little one were Tanner's inheritors. When he was lynched in Denver two months ago, all his worldly goods passed onto the McClouds as his only family."
The words were out of Kid's mouth before he could stop himself as he turned to Lou. "Well, that explains his interest in you." He'd expected her to slap him or, at the very least, he expected to see the angry lightning flash in her dark eyes. Instead, she said nothing, merely ducking her head as she finished dressing Lexi.
Louise was stunned into silence. She tried to get really angry at Kid for his comment but her anger just wouldn't respond because the comment hurt too much.
The entire room was bathed in silence, everyone trying not to look at everyone else. There was a rustling and Danny stood. He glared emerald daggers at Kid. "Ya know, Mr. Travis, it takes a real man to crush a woman when she's at her most vulnerable," he said in a voice soft with derision. "I just wish she'd fallen for me first, because I wouldn't have been stupid enough to let her get away to begin with. Come see me out, babygirl. The man can watch his son for five minutes while we say goodbye."
Despondently, Louise stood and walked to where Keaggy stood holding her shawl for her. Kid was left watching her from the bunk, Lexi beginning to fuss at the inattention. He lifted the baby to his shoulder, his hand automatically rubbing the boy's back. Kid felt like kicking himself for what he'd said. He'd never meant it the way it sounded. Lou snuggled comfortably under the arm Danny threw around her shoulders as they left. Kid couldn't help but think that he used to be the one she ran to for comfort like that.
The minute the door closed, Kid let out a loud sigh and the others at the table began deliberately clearing away the dinner dishes, ignoring him.
Things at Mayor Wilson's house on the outskirts of Sweetwater were slightly hectic as Laura and her mother took care of the last minute details for the engagement dinner. Laura smiled automatically as her aunt Hattie passed by with a plate of rolls and patted her cheek affectionately.
"I just can't get over the fact that our little Laura is finally getting married," Hattie said loudly enough that her sister could hear her comment in the kitchen. "And to such a good looking and responsible young man, Nellie. Your grandbabies will be absolutely beautiful!"
Laura cast a glance toward the parlor where Kid was being subjected to another of her father's brandy and cigar chats about politics. She could tell by the way Kid held his jaw that her father had again unwittingly insulted Kid's Southern heritage. It wasn't that her father hated the South, because his wife was from Georgia. It was just that he tended to speak without knowledge or forethought. Kid sat on the edge of the armchair looking uncomfortable in his good clothes. Laura knew for a fact that he'd love to rip that tie off and put his hat back on. They were still waiting on his "family" to show up and she was beginning to get a little perturbed at their lateness.
She put the last place setting on the huge table in the dining room before walking to the door to the parlor. "Excuse me, Papa, but can I steal Kid away from you for a minute?" she asked sweetly.
Mayor Wilson looked between the two with a grin. "Far be it from me to separate two young people in love," he replied, indulging his only child. "Just you mark my words, son. This war's gonna decimate the South if she's not careful. They'd be smart to compromise while there's still somethin' left."
Kid looked to Laura with a relieved smile, ignoring her father's comment. "Yes, sir," he replied, getting up from the chair and placing his untouched glass of brandy on the low side table next to him. "Compromise." He hurried to Laura's side, taking her hand as they walked through the busy kitchen and into the pantry where they could at least hear themselves think.
The minute the door closed on them, he turned to her. "I thought you said this was strictly family," Kid said.
Laura looked up at him, hurt, knowing exactly what he'd meant. "But Caroline is my best friend and she practically is family," she protested. Actually, she'd invited Caroline to the dinner to help her keep her composure around that McCloud woman. "Besides, you invited Louise without even asking me."
Nellie Wilson had been shocked when Laura had explained Louise's relationship to Kid. She'd been even more upset to find out that Kid wanted the woman at the dinner. She understood that the poor boy had no blood kin left, but the audacity of the man to invite that woman! To help maintain order at the dinner, she'd called on her sister and best friend Catherine and her daughter Caroline. Women had subtle ways of putting another woman in her place without alerting men. Nothing was going to affect her baby's happiness, least of all some trollop who'd once dressed like a man and slept in the same room as the male riders at that old Pony Express station. Consequently, the party had swelled from ten to fourteen.
"Laura, Rachel herself said you invited Lou when you ran into them the day she got here," he pointed out.
Laura sighed and gave him a look of exasperation. "I know, but I was just bein' polite," she replied in a hiss. "I didn't expect her to come!"
There was a knock on the door and Hattie stuck her head in. "Thought you'd like to know that your family's here, Kid," she said flatly, her disapproval evident. However, it was difficult to decide if she disapproved of Kid's "family" or finding them talking alone and unchaperoned in the pantry. She left, leaving the door open.
Kid looked down at Laura with a smile. Her blond hair was down, held back from her face by two ornately carved combs she'd told him had been her grandmother's, and fell in waves past her shoulders. The deep lavender of her dress, cut low with a lace collar protecting her modesty, called attention to her eyes. "Have I told you how pretty you look tonight?" he asked with a grin.
She thought for a minute. "Hmm, not yet, but I can see it in your eyes," Laura said smiling flirtatiously at him. "You can't hide anythin' behind those eyes, darlin'. I can always tell just what you're thinkin'."
His head lowered toward hers. "Oh, yeah, what am I thinkin' right now," he asked slyly.
Kid moved to kiss her but Laura spun away with a merry laugh. She grabbed his hand and pulled him from their hideaway. "Later, love, when there's less chance of an audience," Laura said teasingly. "Besides, one shouldn't keep guests waitin'."
He groaned dramatically as she led him to the parlor with a soft giggle at his antics.
Nellie Wilson opened the door to her guests graciously, exclaiming over Rachel's outfit and how nicely each of the boys had cleaned up as they entered and headed toward the parlor. Bringing up the end of the line of guests was the woman she knew was Louise McCloud. The tall, lanky young man next to her Nellie knew was Kid's best friend, James Hickok. He kept a solicitous hand on Louise's back as she walked forward, clutching the handle of a large basket. Pasting a smile on her face she greeted them.
"Good evening James," Nellie said pleasantly. She turned to the tiny woman and was suddenly struck by the large brown eyes that gazed almost fearfully back at her. Who'd ever have thought that that scrawny little thing calling herself Lou could be so pretty and delicate, she thought. Her thoughts hardened, however, as she realized the threat this woman posed to her own daughter's happiness. "And this must be Louise. Laura's told me all about you," she greeted, knowing her meaning was not lost on the young woman.
Jimmy grimaced as the infuriating woman used his proper name like a schoolmarm he'd once had. He felt Lou stiffen slightly as the woman greeted her. Glancing down at his friend he saw her lips thin into an overly polite smile as she adopted her poker face.
Nellie looked down at the basket as Lou passed her on her way into the grand house. The baby gazed up at her with Kid's blue eyes. "Oh, my, what a beautiful little one," she said. She gestured to a large Hispanic woman standing at the foot of the grand staircase in the hall. "Maria will take very good care of him while we eat, won't you Maria?"
"Si, ma'am," the servant replied.
Lou had set the basket on a bench in the hall and began unwrapping the blankets from around the baby, who was cooing contentedly. At the mention of leaving her child in the care of another woman, she'd pulled Lexi up to her shoulder, her head turning toward Jimmy in alarm before turning back to Mrs. Wilson. "If you don't mind, I'd rather not leave him," she said quickly. "He's a little fussy about strangers. He's already had his dinner and will probably just fall asleep. You'll never even know he's there."
"Oh, come now, he'll be just fine with Maria," Hattie replied for her sister. She'd come into the hall a few seconds before knowing that Kid and Laura weren't far behind. The rest of the party had already joined the mayor in the parlor. "She was Laura's own nanny while she was growing up."
Louise felt like she was in the middle of the lions' den and she wasn't about to leave her son with strangers who knew her story and seemed none too happy to have her there. "I'm sure, Maria there's a good woman. Call me over-protective, but I'm not comfortable leaving him with anyone yet," she insisted, her voice getting tight with annoyance.
"Leavin' who where?" Kid asked as he came in on the tail end of the conversation. She actually came, he thought. He could tell by the tension in the air and the way Lou was clutching Alex to her that there was something wrong, though. He walked over and took his son from her, smiling at the grin on the baby's face.
"What's goin' on, Mama," Laura asked curiously. Inside she was already upset. Two minutes in the house and already this woman was causing trouble.
"We were just tryin' to convince, Louise to let Maria take the boy upstairs to the nursery so he could sleep peacefully," Nellie replied, all traces of her polite smile gone. She was going out of her way to accomodate this woman and all she was getting for her efforts was trouble.
Jimmy, for his part had tired of the sniping and disdainful looks the women were giving Lou. "If this is gonna be a problem, Lou, I can take you home," he offered. "It's no trouble."
"No, no, you don't have to leave," Kid siad quickly. "I'd have to agree with Louise, though. Alex is pretty much a mama's boy. He won't be any trouble, Mrs. Wilson."
Nellie smiled quickly at the young man. "Ah, I suppose times have changed. I was just trying to make you all as comfortable as I could while you're our guests here," she said. "When I was a young mother all those years ago, children didn't attend formal dinners with their parents. Please, accept my apologies, Louise. Let me take your coat and we'll all go into the dining room and get started."
"I've got it," Jimmy said, helping Lou out of her coat with a smile. His smile grew even wider as he heard a small feminine gasp. Turning back around after hanging the wrap up on the coat tree, he saw the jealousy in the women's eyes as they took in Lou's appearance. He had to admit, he'd never seen her look prettier. The green dress clung to her fuller curves in all the right places, the color accenting her coloring. Her auburn hair had been swept up gracefully, revealing her slender neck. When she'd come down the stairs that evening at Rachel's, Jimmy'd been hardpressed not to bend down and kiss the back of her neck where one soft curl had escaped the pins.
Kid found himself staring at Louise, despite himself. She certainly had changed for the better, he had to admit. Everything about Lou was soft and feminine tonight. Her head was down as she tried to straighten the fold of her skirt and Kid took a moment to really look at her. The green of the dress and the warm light of the hall lamp made the copper highlights in her hair gleam. He couldn't help but notice a small pink scar behind her ear as she turned.
Kid was so caught up in his perusal that he didn't hear Laura until he felt her pinch his back beneath his jacket. Startled, he looked quickly at his fiancee, chiding himself for his inattention. "What'd you say, sweetheart?" he asked.
Laura looked at him perturbed. "I asked if you'd help me rescue my hair from the baby," she replied. Her fingers were trying to pry a golden curl from the baby's tight fist.
"Hey, hey," Kid said, his hand helping pry the little fist open. "Didn't Mama ever teach you it's not nice to pull people's hair? Whoa! You can't have mine either, Alex."
Lou came forward, trying to hide a smile. "Here, Kid, let me take him," she offered. "I'm sorry about that. He's always had this affinity for shiny things. I can't wear any jewlry without him grabbing at it."
Kid shifted the baby to his other arm, instead of handing him over. "He's just fine with Daddy, ain't ya little guy?" he asked his son, getting rewarded with a toothless grin. "He was just meetin' Laura." Kid turned toward the other two women in the hall and steeled himself for their reactions. "This little charmer here is my son, Alexander."
"Well," Mrs. Wilson, said, ignoring the revelation, "why don't we join the others and begin dinner?" She and Hattie proceeded the younger people down the hall and into the dining room.
Gallantly, Jimmy stuck out his arm for Lou, smiling as she took it. "Shall we?"
Lou tried not to giggle at Jimmy pretending to be a stuffy gentleman. She glanced at Lexi who was comfortably ensconced in his father's arms and didn't look like he wanted to move any time soon. He's fine, Lou, she told herself. Kid'll watch him for a few minutes. As they walked into the dining room, she clung tighter to Jimmy's arm for support. She had a feeling she was setting herself up for a fall, but there was no way she could back out now.
Laura looked to Kid to lend her his arm but he had his hands full with the baby and his makeshift bed. So, she was left to enter her own engagement dinner without her fiancee on her arm.
Louise barely heard the conversations going on around her as she sat at the table. She felt so out of place here. Laura and her friend Caroline watched her like hawks and she could see they were just waiting for her to embarass herself. A look of surprise and disappointment crossed both girls' features when Louise picked up the correct utensils in the correct order. The two would never think of correcting the others at the table, but Lou knew they'd not think twice about pointing out her mistakes and breathed a prayer of thanks to Tanner for teaching her and the children the etiquette of proper society. She spoke only when spoken to, concentrating her attention on her plate and making it through the dinner.
When she did drag her attention from her plate, it was to see Laura and Caroline whispering together or to see one or all of the older women glaring at her. Laura made sure to flaunt her relationship with Kid by touching him every chance she got. The couple sat very close at the table and Lou knew they were holding hands beneath the table. With each new toast to the happy couple, she prayed harder and harder for an excuse to leave the dinner early.
Lexi began to fuss in his basket on the sideboard causing an obvious halt to all conversation. Louise jumped up to see to him. The baby's fussings were a two-edged sword however. It gave her a chance to do something but it also drew attention to herself and the whole reason she felt so out of place.
"So, Miz Louise," the mayor said. "Hank Cutter told me that you recently bought Marshal McCauliffe's old place. What were you and your husband planning on doing with the place?"
Kid wanted to sink into the ground and disappear if he could. He knew there was definitely something unsaid going on between the women, except Rachel, and whatever it was had made Lou very uncomfortable. He'd watched as she drew further and further into herself, not even talking to Jimmy who sat next to her. Kid had tried to catch her eyes a couple times but she wouldn't look at him.
The entire table was silent and Nellie had to smile inwardly. Trust her reckless husband to bring up the painful topic. Louise had merely turned to stare at the mayor for a few moments. Nellie quickly leaned over and whispered in her husband's ear as Louise turned her attention back to the baby.
The mayor's eyes widened at his wife's whispered explanation. "Oh, my," he blustered. "Well, now I thought I recognized you from somewhere. Turns out I did."
Lou heard the change in the man's voice and it was enough to make her forget her shyness in the face of the anger growing within her. Squaring her shoulders, she lifted the baby to her shoulder and held her head high as she returned to the table. How dare they look down their noses at her! "I plan to start a ranch Mr. Wilson like the one I worked in Denver," Lou replied.
"A tiny thing like you, by yourself!" Wilson scoffed. "What does a woman know about ranching?"
The riders and Teaspoon all rolled their eyes, knowing what was coming. No one told Louise McCloud she couldn't do something just because she was a woman.
"Maybe back East they don't know anythin' but this woman does," Lou said in a low voice. "I've been ridin' and carin' for horses since I was three and I've been on my own, workin' and providin' for my brother and sister since I was fourteen. A woman's gotta make her own way out here if she wants to survive. What would you have me do Mr. Wilson, make my livin' lyin' on my back and lettin' men have their way with me? Because that's just about the only option open to unmarried women.
"Let me tell you somethin', I'd rather have good honest callouses on my hands then have smooth, dainty hands and hate myself so much that I can't look myself in the mirror anymore," Louise concluded.
She glared daggers around the table, her face flushed and her chest heaving slightly from her anger. "I don't even know why I came," she whispered. "Dinner was wonderful, Mrs. Wilson. Too bad I can't say the same thing about the company. Please excuse me. I'll just get my things and go."
Lou placed Lexi back in his basket, turning back to the room before
leaving. She looked Kid in the eye for the first time that night.
"Congratulations, Kid. I hope she's everything I couldn't be.
I'm sure you'll be happy together." Without another glance, she left
the room, bundled up her baby and herself and left the lions' den.
