Author's Note: Third installment of the Lou & Kid - Return To Sweetwater series. This story is a sequel to Times of Trouble.

Louise and Emily sat quietly, their thoughts weighing heavily on their minds. The mid-afternoon sun began to soften, as the onset of evening began. Emily stood to head into the house to throw together something to eat, most likely some sandwiches and her famous potato salad. Kid and Buck had been working hard all day, and under normal circumstances would have had Cody-like appetites, but being thrown from a horse over and over continuously generally killed their desire for food.

"Care to join me, Lou?" Emily asked. She hoped Ike would nap until dinner so her friend could enjoy as much of the fresh air as possible. It was healthier for Louise than chasing after the rambunctious toddler.

"Thanks, Em, but I think I'll join the boys at the corral," Lou said softly, silently hoping her friend wouldn't be able to make out her words. She knew she'd catch hell for voicing the thought, but she was bored. She'd been sitting in the damn porch swing for days on end. It had to end soon before she lost her mind completely.

"What'd you say?" Emily questioned, her voice raised in concern. "You better not've said what I thought I heard."

"No, no, Em," Louise lied, shaking her head for emphasis. "I'm just fine right here watching the boys in the corral."

"All right," Emily answered doubtfully. "You better not be headin' over there, though. I value my life too much. Kid'll make mincemeat of me if he catches you," she reminded Lou, closing the screen door behind her.

Once Louise was sure Emily couldn't hear the creaking of the swing inside the house, she carefully stood up on her somewhat wobbly legs. She felt like a new colt just getting its footing. This is ridiculous, she thought. They keep me sittin' like this for another four months, I'll be a cripple!

Asserting her independence was invigorating. She felt like the Louise of old. Good Lord, she thought. Independence. All I'm doin' is standin'. I'll show 'em independence! Louise carefully clung to the handrail and headed down the porch steps and out onto the grass of the enclosed yard. The lawn was littered with Ike's toys, horses and other farm animals mostly, but here and there she could see a train engine or a conestoga wagon. Louise reached the front gate and slowly opened it, knowing its tendency to creak. She could almost picture Emily bounding out of the house after her. Lou smiled as she realized her friend truly had a mother's ears.

Lou's legs were weak, but the exercise felt good. She made a beeline for the corral, prepared for whatever disapproval Kid was sure to give her. She'd been away from the workings of the ranch for much too long, and she craved the nuzzle of a warm, wet nose against her shoulder from one of the many large, kind-hearted horses that called the KL&E home.

Louise reached the corral without drawing the attention of either Buck or Kid. A coal-black gelding was certainly giving them a run for their money. They'd been working with him all day, to no avail. Lou noticed Buck had been his latest victim as her friend gingerly picked himself up off the ground, not even bothering to dust himself off. Kid held the gelding and somehow made it on the horse, his concentration unfaltering.

Lou leaned up against the fence, the breeze blowing her soft brown hair and billowing her denim blue skirt. Since none of her blouses fit anymore, she had taken to wearing Kid's old shirts, and the white one she wore today was surprisingly flattering. Buck noticed her first and merely shook his head. He knew the verbal battle that would ensue once Kid noticed his pretty young wife near the corral. Fact was, he had to agree with Kid on this one. The horses they were breaking were volatile at best, and could crash through any portion of the fence unexpectedly. Lou wasn't safe there, but there was no telling the stubborn woman that, and he knew it, probably better than her own husband. He walked towards her, joining her with his back to the fence.

"You sure you wanna start this?" Buck questioned her.

"Last time I checked, the ranch was the KL&E," replied Lou hotly. "I got every right to check out my stock and see how the breakin's goin'."

"Lou, this ain't the time to be stubborn," Buck reminded her as they watched Kid fall to the ground for what seemed like the hundredth time of the day.

"Buck," Lou's voice softened, "I appreciate your concern. But I'm goin' mad with all the rules 'round here!" Their short conversation quickly ceased when Kid realized she was standing there.

"Louise Jackson!" he yelled. "What the hell? How many times..."

"Kid, I ain't a child," his headstrong wife countered back. "And don't you go takin' this out on Emily neither. She don't even know I'm out here."

"Yeah, well you're carryin' one. That oughtta count for somethin'," Kid answered tersely as he headed towards her. "You know how I feel about you bein' out here! It ain't safe!"

"Well I can tell you one thing," Buck stated. "I'm outta here. Have fun, you two." He suspected things could get ugly before this argument was over. He was actually surprised it had taken Lou this long to stand up to Kid. Even though he felt protective of her and could understand her husband's concerns, he was glad to see Louise asserting herself. She hadn't been her headstrong self in a long time. He headed off toward the house to clean up and grab something to eat.

"Why is this gotta be just about how you feel? What about how I feel? It's safe enough for you to be tossed around like a rag doll day in and day out," Lou retorted. "Kid, if you don't give me some freedom around here, you might as well bring out the marshall and have him lock me up. I'm sick of bein' a prisoner in my home. This won't last another four months. I can guarantee you that!" Her frustrations were steadily mounting. Why couldn't he understand! If he were stuck in the house like she'd been, he'd have lost his mind eons ago. Tears began to well in her eyes, tears that made her feel even more angry. She hated feeling so, so, girlie! Crying at the drop of a hat, blowing up hatefully at people for no good reason. She knew it was just part of being pregnant - probably the part she hated worst of all, except for the silly rules Kid had imposed on her. She hadn't minded the first few months - she'd been too sick to care, but now...? She laid her head in her arms and began weeping.

Kid's anger immediately turned to concern as he slipped through the fence and took hold of his wife, turning her into his arms.

"Louise, honey," he said softly as her tears dampened his filthy shirt, "You know I'm only tryin' to do what's best for you."

"Does that include drivin' me mad?" she asked, her brown eyes looking deep into his blue ones. "'Cause I mean it, Kid, I can't take it anymore."

"What do ya wanna do about it, Louise? I don't know how to help you!" Kid said, frustrated with the circumstances, not his beloved wife.

"I don't know either, Kid. But, please, don't make me stay in the house constantly. You gotta admit, that ain't good for me neither!" she pleaded.

Kid took his eyes of Lou's face and stared off into the distance. She had a point, but yet he couldn't help being scared. He didn't want tragedy to strike yet again. He'd promised her it wouldn't. His rules about no work and taking it easy were the only way he could think of to help ensure his promise came true. He hummed and hawed for a few moments before nodding slowly.

"Okay," he conceded, noting the smile that lit up her eyes. "But you ain't goin' off the property. And no goin' into town unless it's to see the doctor."

"Oh, Kid!" Lou exclaimed. "I think you just saved me from the lunatic asylum!" She threw her arms around his neck and planted a solid kiss on his lips. Kid returned the kiss, until he realized he was tasting an awful lot of dirt instead of Lou. He pulled away, chuckling.

"I think I better wash up," he decided, grabbing Lou's hand and leading her towards the house. "No doubt we'll have company soon, and I'm prob'ly quite a sight."

"You still consider her company, even after all this time?" Lou questioned. "Lord knows she's here every night! She might as well move in and just make it official."

"Maybe she will," Kid answered. "Then I won't have to clean up!" he laughed.

"As long as you're sleepin' in my bed you'll clean up, mister," Louise retorted, jabbing him playfully in the ribs.

"Then I guess I'll be the cleanest rancher in these parts," Kid whispered in her ear as they climbed the porch steps. Louise couldn't help laughing. It was amazing what the threat of banishment to the barn could accomplish. Maybe that would've ceased her confinement long ago...

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