You know everybody’s watching me And what they see Is me watching you… Jimmy tried to hide his growing attraction for Lou. He tried not to look at her every time she entered the bunkhouse or the barn. He went to great lengths to not be left alone with her in a room. How many times had he even traded runs with one of the other riders so that he would be gone when she was at the station? Nothing he did seemed to make a difference. The plain hard truth was, he wanted Lou and he wanted her bad. He wanted her to love him, to want to be with him, to seek his arms when she was sad. What he wouldn’t give to have Lou go weak kneed from his kisses. With a low growl, Jimmy threw the last of the wood he had chopped onto the pile. He felt like everyone was always watching him, waiting to see what he would do next about his attraction to the female rider. At times, Jimmy was sure that they were all laughing behind his back but he never caught them doing it so he wasn’t able to say anything. Every night I dream you’re next to me Tenderly You say my name You stay close enough to keep me here Then disappear When we’re face to face Nighttime was the hardest for him. There was nowhere he could hide from the Louise of his dreams. He would fall into a fitful sleep most nights, having forced himself not to stare across the room to where he could see her sleeping in her bunk. Once he was asleep, the dreams would begin. They were always the same. He would hear his name being said tenderly in his ear. In his dream, he would wake up to find Louise next to him on his bunk, softly caressing his skin where his undershirt was open. She would smile coyly at him before leaning down to place feathery kisses upon his lips. They would snuggle and hold each other all night long. The dream never varied and in it there was no doubt that she loved him completely. Because of this, Jimmy was unable to make himself leave his job, even though the dream Louise disappeared in the light of day when he was face to face again with the flesh and blood woman of his dreams. Though he tried to fight the attraction, the need growing in him to see if it might not be returned was growing stronger. For now, he would continue to watch from afar, waiting to see if she might really be the woman of his dreams. Drop me a note and let me know what you thought!