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

True to Kid's prediction, Jenny Tompkins arrived promptly at six o'clock, just as she had every day for the past eight months. Originally, she came to the ranch to lend a hand with Ike after Louise and Emily's ordeal with Casey Howard. But once Emily was rested and feeling better, Jenny had continued to visit the KL&E every evening without fail.

At first Louise didn't much notice the blonde woman's company in the large house. Lou had been utterly distraut after her attack, and later on in the early stages of her pregnancy, constantly ill. She figured Emily would appreciate Jenny's companionship and help around the house.

But once Emily had recovered and began caring for Ike again, Jenny's visits didn't include any help for the young mother. Instead, she lavished attention on Buck, hanging on his every word. Every night she reminded them all of how he had saved her from marrying a dangerous Lakota brave, and how she had returned to Sweetwater because of Buck.

Initially, Jenny's tales didn't bother Emily. She knew Buck and Jenny had a special bond, both living with pain in a white world while struggling to maintain some sort of link to the Indian one. But after eight months of Jenny eating food she had prepared, off a table she set and cleared, in a kitchen she cleaned, all in addition to caring for Ike when Lou couldn't run after him, Emily was sick of Jenny's presence at the ranch.

Emily wasn't sure why the young woman irritated her so. Perhaps it was just that she didn't understand why Jenny wouldn't even offer to help in any way. It was only common courtesy to at least offer, at least in Emily's opinion, especially after eight months. But Jenny did as she pleased, often taking walks outside with Buck, leaving Emily alone to clean up after dinner with Ike squalling in the background.

Lately, Louise had noticed Jenny's behavior and Emily's growing dislike of the girl. Louise tried to help her friend the best she could, considering both the doctor and Kid's orders that she refrain from almost all activity. She knew Emily understood, though, since she was often the one to remind Louise she needed to sit down and relax. Louise also knew that Emily and Buck had grown closer over the past few months, spending time together with Ike and enjoying one another's company while working to improve the ranch. Buck had also showed Emily how to find fresh mushrooms in the small patches of woods on the ranch, and how to tell the good ones from the poisonous. Lou silently wondered if Emily was jealous of the time Jenny spent with Buck, but she didn't voice her opinion to anyone, even Kid.

Kid thought Jenny was good for Buck, but Lou didn't know how she could be. Jenny claimed she could only cook over an open fire, like the Lakota, and that she preferred sleeping outside, like the Lakota. There was a never-ending list of things she liked better about the Lakota. Lou often wondered how the general store managed to stay in business, considering the Lakota didn't have general stores. Still, it didn't make it any easier seeing Emily struggle to keep her tongue in check. Jenny was Buck's friend, and without Buck, their ranch wouldn't survive, so Emily kept quiet.

*************************************************************

Kid, Lou, Emily, Buck, and Jenny sat around the dinner table enjoying Emily's wonderful roasted chicken, fresh green beans, and fresh corn. Ike was content to toss his food on the floor, laughing as his mother patiently bent down and picked up the item, only to have it thrown on the floor again.

"So, Buck, you givin' any more thought to bein' a partner in the ranch?" Kid asked.

Before Buck could answer, Jenny began laughing. Emily, Lou, Kid and Buck all looked at her, wondering what was so funny. If anyone deserved to be a partner in the KL&E it was Buck, since they all knew that without him, the ranch would never survive. The only thing holding Buck back from accepting the offer was the fact that some people might not buy from them knowing a half-breed was a partner. He didn't want to be the cause of any trouble for the friends he loved like family.

"What's so funny?" Kid asked tersely, his jaw muscles twitching in anger. Lou had never seen him react that way to Jenny before, but it obviously bothered him that Jenny found their proposal amusing.

"It's just a little ludicrous is all," Jenny explained. "The Kiowa aren't ranchers, after all," she added, giggling again.

"Well, white men are," Kid shot back, "And in case you forgot, Buck's half white, too."

Buck looked uncomfortable. "Maybe we should discuss this later," he said quietly, "Just us."

"Oh, Louise," Jenny commented, quickly changing the topic of conversation, "Buck tells me you were up and around today. I hope that means you're feeling better. Goodness knows Emily could use the help around here."

Neither Lou or Emily could believe their ears. The two women looked at each other and Louise had to grit her teeth to keep her jaw from dropping. Emily just rolled her eyes. Kid, however, wasn't afraid to comment on what he'd heard.

"Lou's not gonna be doin' anything more than enjoyin' the fresh air. Maybe a little walkin' and mindin' Ike. That's it," he said firmly.

Jenny smiled. "She seems perfectly healthy," she stated, as if Louise wasn't in the room. "Almost all Lakota women worked hard until the day their babies were born, and they never had problems. In fact, the women that babied themselves usually had more sickly infants."

It was all Lou could do to keep her hand from flying across the table and smacking Jenny Tompkins. Emily grasped her friend's arm in restraint, for she could see Lou's indignant anger flashing in her brown eyes. Buck cleared his throat, aware that the tension he had sensed was growing between the three women was about to reach a head.

"Jenny," Buck said calmly, "I don't think you understand. Louise has lost two other children. Doc says she's gotta be real careful this time. She helps Emily best she can, but there ain't a lot she can do 'round here 'til the baby comes."

"Buck, you don't honestly listen to the white man's doctors, do you?" Jenny questioned. "The Lakota have plenty of healing herbs, as I'm sure the Kiowa do. Surely there's something you can give Lou to help make her stronger."

Emily had heard enough. After all Louise had been through, she didn't need to hear this from some know-it-all. "That's it, Jenny Tompkins! If the Lakota world is so much better than the white world, why don't you start eating supper with them!" She snatched Jenny's plate from her and tossed it into the washtub. "You're just as ignorant as your father!" Emily added for good measure.

Jenny looked at Emily, shocked. Then her blue eyes turned cold as she snapped, "At least I'm not some tart who takes a roll in the hay with the first man who takes a shine to me and then gets him killed! And she doesn't prance around carrying his name when it doesn't rightly belong to her!"

Emily felt as though she'd been kicked in the stomach. After all this time, Buck apparently still resented her and blamed her for his best friend's death. Plus, he'd confided in Jenny about it.

Jenny went on, "Any respectable woman only lays with a man she's been promised to!"

Knowing the countless number of times Jenny had reminded them all of Buck "winning" her, Emily spat back, "Oh, so to the victor go the spoils? Maybe me an' Ike shoulda been Lakota. I bet it woulda' been okay then!"

Louise got up and tried to place a comforting arm around Emily, but Emily shook her off. Lou stumbled back into the corner of the room, surprised at her friend's action. She didn't know whether to scream or cry at the battling women. Emily hadn't meant to hurt Louise's feelings, but she was too angry, too hurt, to be touched by anyone. She had loved Ike with all her heart, yet she was being demeaned for it.

Buck and Kid looked at each other in confusion. They'd never heard women fight like this before. Kid began to grow concerned, as he could see Louise was becoming very emotional. He was afraid the situation would get out of hand. Standing up from the table, he crossed the room and took Louise in his arms. Then he said, "Buck, maybe you best see Jenny out."

"Uh, yeah," Buck mumbled, reaching for Jenny's elbow. She ripped it out of his grasp.

"I know where I'm not wanted," she said to him haughtily.

Emily couldn't resist a final dig. "It took this long to figure out?"

Jenny shot her a look of death before stomping towards the door. Turning to Buck she hatefully cried, "No wonder our people are being forced on to reservations and dying of starvation. People like you, who could carry on our traditions, are selling out."

Buck just looked at her calmly, surprised it had taken him so long to see her true colors. "Last time I checked, your people were white, Jenny. I don't see many white men selling out to be Lakota or Kiowa."

Angry tears filled Jenny's eyes as she told Buck, "And I thought I knew you. I thought you were special."

"I thought I knew you, too, Jenny," was his simple reply, watching her walk out the door.

FEEDBACK