THE BEAUTY COMES IN THE SPRINGTIME
THE BEAUTY COMES IN THE SPRINGTIME
The next morning Louise got up and was getting dressed when she noticed the calendar on the wall. (Oh no! Miahs birthday is next week! I completely forgot about it. I better go into town today and pick him up a present.) Lou did not have the foggiest idea on what to get him. She figured she would just go around town shopping and see what she could find. With that settled she finished getting dress and went down stairs to start breakfast.
Rachael and Lou had an agreement with the chores. One of them will do breakfast and dinner one day while the other one would do lunch. They would alternate each day, and they would do the same with the other chores. One chore Lou did on her own was feed the horses. She loved that particular job, being with horses always put her in a good mood wether she was riding them or just taking care of them.
‘Lou that was the best breakfast I have ever had.” Cody replied. He was trying to get on her good side, because there was a dance coming up and he was about ready to ask her when she replied.
“Well what about yesterdays breakfast? Wasn’t that not up to your satisfaction?” Lou smiled as she looked at Cody he went from looking like a cat ready to pounce to a dumbstruck horse who had just stuck his foot in a hole and can’t figure out why the tripped. With that everyone at the table started laughing at Cody’s expense.
“Welll, aaah, no that ain’t what I meant. What I meant was is aah, that your food is the best I ever had.” (Great, I can’t ask her to the dance now. I’ll have to wait til later. I know the other guys will try to ask her but she will say no because she’s waiting for me to ask her. ) With that Cody got up and said he was going to start on his chores.
As he was leaving her heard Rachael say “But you told me my cooking was the best you ever had.” That just started everyone to laugh that much harder.
Soon after that the boys left to start on their daily chores along with the kids tagging along, Mary decided to go take a rest. Mary still got tired very easily and Teaspoon went off to town to go to the marshals office. So noone else was in the bunkhouse except Lou and Rachael. Lou said she was going to town to get Miah a birthday present and she asked Rachael if they needed anything from town.
“Yes we do as a matter of fact. We need a bunch of groceries and some other things too. Do you want me to send one of the boys with you?”
Lou looked at the listed and said “No, there is nothing too heavy on here I will be able to lift it all so I see no point in them going. Especially since they have to start on the new addition to the house. So off Lou went to town to get Miahs present and the things for the waystation.
A little while later
“Were almost there Katy, just a few more miles to go.” Kid was glad this ride was almost over. He was exhausted. He knew he had to go to town right after he got to the station so he could go and pick up his package that he ordered from Thompkins.
“Rider comin'! It’s Kid.” Buck said. So Ike got ready for the
handoff. Kid passed Ike the mochilla and yelled
“Ride safe Ike.”
“Kid do you want me to take Katy for you?” Buck asked.
“Yeah that would be great. Tell Rachael I’m going to town alright.”
“Already? You just got back from your run don’t you want to eat or sleep before you go?”
“No, I gotta go pick somethin' up from Thompkins.” Kid went over to Lollipop who was already saddled and off he went. As he was leaving he saw a woman and two children by the corral. (Huh, I wonder who they are. Oh, well I guess I will find out when I get back.”
Louise had been shopping for about an hour finding nothing to her satisfaction when she saw a beautiful saddle in Thompkins store. (He is going to be 14 and he is a good rider, I think I’ll get it for him. The express has plenty of horses for him to ride.) Earlier she was told by Teaspoon that her and her family could ride any of the horses they wanted so she decided this would be the perfect gift for him.
“Mr. Thompkins I would like to get that saddle over there by the window.”
“Sure thing Ms. McCloud.” Even Thompkins was smitten with her. (She sure is a nice young lady. I can’t understand why she is staying with those express riders. Most of them are to not fit for a young lady to be around, always getting into fights, messing up my store, why I could go on forever .)
Just as she purchased the saddle a boy about her age came in like a bat in
hell. Saying to Mr. Thompkins
“I’m here for my saddle Mr. Thompkins.”
“Sorry I just sold it.”
“You what! I thought we had a deal! Who did you sell it to?”
“ I told you I would hold it for you until noon, it is now 12:05pm. So I didn’t have to hold it for you anymore. And I sold it to that lady right there.”
Kid couldn’t believe it . He had spent months saving for that saddle and it was gone! No, he would just explain the situation to her and would get that saddle for Katy.
“Excuse me miss, that saddle you have is mine.”
“I’m sorry ya must be mistaken I just bought this saddle.”
“No you don’t understand Thompkins was suppose to hold it for me until noon today.”
“Well it’s 12:06 so he didn’t have to hold it for you any longer.”
“Miss you don’t understand that’s my saddle and I want it, I’m a gentleman so I’ll pay ya for the saddle and two dollars more, I just have to have it, so just give it to me.” Kid was getting frustrated with this girl, on top of that he was tired. So he wasn’t quite himself.(Who did she think she is? I was five minutes late so what? That saddle should still be mine. Katy needs a new saddle and this is the best one.)
“I’m sorry sir but the answer is no.” Louise couldn’t believe this guy. She already bought the saddle fair and square and here is telling her it’s his. (Well I don’t think so. Miah has always wanted a saddle, and a saddle he is going to have!)
“Listen lady–“ Kid started to speak in a less than civil voice.
“No you listen I bought this saddle an I’m going to keep it now go away!” She started walking to the buckboard to put the saddle down, and got up on the seat.
“Lady I’m tryin' to be a gentleman here–“
“Well if you ask me ya sure as hell not.” With that said Louise took the reins and drove off.
Kid just couldn’t believe what just happen. She had to be one of the rudest girls he had ever met. He took off with Lollipop and went to his thinkin' tree to cool off. (I can’t believe that lady no girl got me worked up like this. Who does she think she is anyway). After being there for awhile he headed home. He came to realize that he should have handled the situation better. As he got to the station he realized how hungry he was so he went to the main house t see if Rachael might have any left over lunch.
As he opened the door and saw, her! All that came out of his mouth was “YOU!”
All that came out of Lou’s mouth was “OH NO, Not YOU!”
