DIFFERENT
WORLDS
by
C.C.
~CHAPTER 4~
A few weeks later
Louise knew when she left the way station that day a feeling was festering in her. She wanted to be free - she wanted to ride horses, wear what she wanted, say what she felt, she was so confused.
Every time she though about marrying Stephen it made her feel so closed in and nauseated.
She hadn’t
seen any of the riders for a while and she really didn’t know anyone
else in town, feeling very lonely she thought she’d like to see Rachel.
She knew her and Rachel could become friends, she also knew that Stephen and
the Richardson’s would not approve of
her choice of friends. She knew they believed the pony express riders to be
below them. But she decided she needed some female companionship, she’d
see if Teaspoon would take her to the station.
Of course Teaspoon never could say no to a pretty lady. He retrieved a buckboard from the livery and they headed out. He again told her that she really needed to learn to ride.
Rachel was excited to see the young girl. She too had been anxious to establish a friendship, needing the company of a female after spending most of her time with Teaspoon and her young charges.
They laughed and talked, Louise feeling light-hearted for the first time in a long time. Rachel asked her why she had Teaspoon bring her in a buckboard, why didn’t she just ride out here.
A little embarrassed Louise replied “I really.... I don’t know how to ride” she stated shyly.
“What!” Rachel exclaimed. Although she felt bad for her tone, she should have known a proper eastern girl wouldn’t know how to ride. “Well” she spoke soothingly “you can’t live out here and not know how to ride, it’s a part of life.”
“It’s not a way of life for a very proper young daughter of a prominent businessman in Boston” Louise replied in an exaggerated high-class tone.
Both of the ladies doubled over in laughter. As they were laughing they didn’t notice the door to the house open and Kid walk in.
He immediately regretted coming in when he notice Louise and tried to leave before he was noticed, but he wasn’t quick enough.
“Kid” Rachel called after him, still giggling. “What do you need?”
“Nothin’
Rachel” he replied flatly and tried in vain to leave. Rachel was suddenly
hit with an idea. Excitedly she turned back to Louise, “So Louise, do
you want to learn how to ride?” she smiled broadly and nodded her head
toward the Kid. “Kid here is one of our best
riders, been around horses his whole life, has a way with ‘em. Bet he
wouldn’t mind teachin’ ya.”
Kid was horrified, the last thing he wanted to do was teach a pampered rich eastern girl to ride western style, his mind reeled looking for an excuse.
“Oh no Rachel, that’s okay, I’m sure Kid’s much too busy for that, besides I’m not so sure it’s such a great idea, learning to ride, I mean.” She noticed Kid’s reluctance to agree to the suggestion.
Kid breathed easier at Louise’s comments. Rachel however was not to be thwarted.
“Kid’s busy I know, but he’s got some free time, haven’t you Kid, you know a girl needs to be able to ride out here for her own good, right Kid?” she glared at him.
Unable to come up with a decent excuse he agreed with Rachel.
“I don’t know Rachel” Lou was hesitant, knowing Stephen would not hear of it. “I don’t think it’s such a good idea” her voice trailed as she though about the verbal lashing she’d received from her fiance’.
Rachel was insistent, “Louise, you can come here for lessons, no one needs to know, it’s good for you, you really need to know how, think about it.”
Rachel was gifted with insight and she knew Louise was worried about her soon-to-be families reaction to her exerting some independence.
Emboldened at the moment by Rachel’s comments she decided to dot it.
“Okay, I’d love to..... that is,” she looked at Kid who was looking very uncomfortable, “that is....if you don’t mind.”
Kid looked at her and noticed for the first time the sadness in her beautiful brown eyes, maybe she wasn’t such a snob he thought.
“Well I ain’t never taught anyone before, but can’t see that it’d be too hart, sure if your willing to trust me.”
Louise was acutely aware that Kid was feeling uncomfortable, but she didn’t care. She had made her decision and was excited about learning to ride, realizing this was part of her longing - longing to be free.
