DIFFERENT
WORLDS
by
C.C.
~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!”
