Chapter 25

After an early breakfast, Rachel, Lou and Teaspoon stood in the yard of the way station as Kid, Jimmy, Buck and Charlie brought their horses and supplies out of the barn.  Rachel gave Buck a saddlebag of food while Teaspoon took Jimmy aside for one more talk about what they were about to get themselves into.

Lou stood back from the others, her arms wrapped protectively in front of herself, feeling very alone. 

Kid let Katy's reins hang as he made his way over to her.  He gathered her into his arms as she instantly melted into his chest.  He rested his head against her hair, taking in everything about her.

Lou closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him as tight as she could.  She took a few deep breaths, taking in his scent for posterity; it was a combination of horse and the soap he used and even when it was mixed with sweat, it added up to Kid.  She didn't want to forget anything about him.  The two of them had made slow, passionate love most of the night.  Neither spoke of the danger that lie ahead, they both knew it and felt it did more harm than good to harp on it.

"You take care of yourself and don't go tryin' to be a hero," Lou told him.  "Promise you'll come back to me no matter what it takes."  She looked up at him.

"I promise," he told her, his fingers tracing every feature of her delicate face.

"I'm gonna hold you to it."

Kid smiled.  "No reason to go back on my word, seein' as how I got a lot to come home to."  He placed his hand on her stomach.

Lou covered it with hers.  "We're gonna miss you," she said, feeling her eyes begin to well up.

"Not as much as I'm gonna miss you," he assured her.  "Take care of our little one, mama."

"I promise," she said then turned her mouth up to meet his.  All was lost to them except expressing their feelings for one another.

Knowing how hard this was for them, no one wanted to interrupt them.  Kid finally broke away and, after placing one more kiss on her forehead, went to his horse and mounted up.

The four riders sat in a line as they were bid good-bye and told to be careful by Rachel.

"No heroics, boys," Teaspoon told them.  "You do what needs doin' then get the hell outta there."

"Yes, sir," Charlie said.

"You don't have to worry about us, Teaspoon," Jimmy began.  "We're not goin' there to cause any trouble, only to stop it." 

"Well don't you forget it," Teaspoon said.  "Ride safe, boys, all of you."

Kid caught Lou's eyes and mouthed, "I love you."

She blew him a kiss as they took off.  She kept her eyes on the direction they headed in, not even aware of Teaspoon's arm around her shoulders.  She finally turned away as the dust settled from their path.

"Teaspoon, would you mind hitchin' up the buckboard for me?" Lou asked as she took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.  "I have a home to get ready so we can move into it when my husband returns."  She gave a slight grin to Rachel and Teaspoon. 

Rachel smiled and gave her a hug then watched as the young woman went to the house to ready herself for the days of work ahead.  She knew Louise needed to do this, keep busy.  It was the only way to keep her from worrying about what her husband would be facing in the days ahead.