DIFFERENT WORLDS

C.C.

~CHAPTER 5~

Louise decided to keep her lessons a secret from Stephen and his family; knowing they would disapprove.

She purchased trousers she sighed heavily to herself, I can’t hardly believe I’m going to wear pants. My father’s probably going to roll over in his grave, she thought with a grin.

She decided she wouldn’t bother Teaspoon today, she knew how to drive the buckboard. So she carefully packed her britches so Stephen wouldn’t see them if he caught her leaving. She’d just tell him she was going to enjoy the surroundings... if he saw her. She knew that wasn’t likely, he was much to involved in the banks affairs, which suited her just fine right now. She’d be able to take these lessons and he’d never know.

Kid noticed the buckboard approach and watched as Louise knocked on Rachel’s door. He was relieved that she had the sense to dress at least in a plain skirt, but he still furrowed his brow, how do you teach a girl in a dress he wondered.

Groaning he headed toward the barn to saddle Katy, if any horse would make his job a little easier it would definitely be Katy. He saddled Rebel for himself, he was much less predictable, but nothing he couldn’t handle. He was explaining to Katy the situation;
telling her not to be jealous, knowing she had a tendency to act up when he rode other horses.

Kid didn’t hear Louise enter the barn, she had been amused by his conversation with his horse. She was still a little uncomfortable, sensing that Kid didn’t like her very much. She knew that he had made his decision about her based on Stephen and his family, she thought, hoped really that he’d change his mind about her once he got to know her a little better. She knew she could be friends with him and really wanted too. She felt some sort of a kinship with Rachel, Teaspoon and the riders she had met so far. She didn’t understand it, she just felt she could be completely herself out here and not have to act the part expected of her.

He sensed her presence and turned to find her standing awkwardly in the door. She was dressed in trousers, a loose fitting man’s shirt and her hair was pulled back into a long ponytail.

Kid thought she looked beautiful, so much more than when she was dressed in her eastern frills.

Realizing he was staring; made know to him by her furious blush, he quickly turned back to Katy and spoke not looking at her. “Ah, well you know there for a minute I thought you were one of the boys.... ..maybe I should call Lou - dressed like that.”

She could tell his comment was not meant as an insult, not the way Stephen had spoken to her regarding her plain skirt.

“I didn’t think” she began to approach Kid and Katy “that it made sense to take lessons in a skirt.”

Kid had to had it to her, maybe she wasn’t too green.

“Yeah, guess your right”, he patted Katy’s nose. “Katy, this is Louise McCloud, Louise this is Katy.”

She smiled broadly at the introduction. “Nice to meet you Katy”, she reached to rub her nose the way she had seen Kid pet her. Katy nodded her head slightly and whinnied as if to say hello. Louise could tell that Kid and Katy shared something special, but never being
around horses, didn’t quite understand.

“I’ve never been introduced to a horse before,” she grinned at Kid.

“Well” Kid smiled at Katy “she ain’t just a horse..... she’s,” he rubbed her ears, “she’s special” his voice trailed.

Louise could see the love Kid had for this horse.

“Anyway, you’ll ride her, I don’t really trust any of these others” he indicated the stalls. “Katy will be gentle, “Won’t ya girl?” Katy again nodded her head, Louise was amazed, she could swear Katy understood what he had said.

Kid led the two horses to the corral and instructed Louise in mounting Katy. Katy was as gentle as Kid predicted and after an hour or so of instructions with the reins and some voice commands, Louise was controlling Katy and actually having her obey some of her commands. She was very excited as she and Katy followed Kid and Rebel around the Corral.

“I think that’s enough for your first lesson Lou” he used the name he had earlier dubbed her with. “You’re a quick learner”, he smiled at her. He had begun to realize this afternoon that he like Louise McCloud, however, it troubled him some too, remembering his obsession with her when she first came to town. Life was easier when he wasn’t thinking about her all the time.

Kid was very aware of the stares and snickers from the other riders. They were trying to hide themselves from the scene, but none of them were very good at it. They all got a kick out of Kid’s situation, though none would pass up the chance to spend time with the little beauty, they weren’t envious of trying to teach a greenhorn pampered girl to ride.

After the lesson Lou returned to Rachel’s house and changed back into her skirt. She didn’t have to explain, Rachel understood.

Wanting to thank Kid, Rachel told her that she’d probably find him in the bunkhouse. She knocked and he opened the door, several eyes peering at her from behind him. She blushed at the attention.

“Just wanted to thank you for the lesson, you are a good teacher” she spoke shyly. He groaned knowing Cody was gonna have a good time with that one.

“Anytime, it’s mostly Katy though” he tried to save a little face. “I’ll be gone for the next two days on a ride, but then I’ll be around for a few days, just let me know when you’re ready, we’ll go on to lesson two.”

She looked at him, appreciating his kindness, realizing that he didn’t treat her like he didn’t like her anymore, maybe he did realize she wasn’t like Stephen and his parents she hoped.

“Well, how about Thursday then, same time?” she questioned.

“That’ll be fine, Thursday, see ya then.”

She turned to go, Kid realized that she was back in a skirt, he briefly wondered why, but didn’t linger on the thought, guess she has her reasons. He entered the bunkhouse, bracing himself for the barrage of comments and teasing he’d have to endure. He was also trying to shake the thoughts of her from his mind.

Louise drove the buckboard home, smiling at herself. She had enjoyed the day so much. She liked the freedom she felt riding Katy, she liked that she had driven herself to the way station, she liking seeing Rachel, she liked the Kid....... she paused wondering what that meant..... did she just like the Kid like she liked Rachel? She remembered how he had told her he should call her Lou, dressed like a boy and smiled again at the thought. And he had called her ‘Lou’ several times, actually. She liked it, kind of like they shared something special. Realizing what she had been thinking about she chided herself. “Stop it Louise” she stated out loud. You are engaged, you
can’t think about him like that, he’s just a friend, she tried to convince herself.

She returned to town and to the lady she was expected to be, but eager for Thursday... to eager, she frowned at her thoughts.