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

As Louise came down the stairs the next morning, she could hear Ike throwing one of his patented temper tantrums. He was screaming bloody murder because Emily wouldn't let him go outside until she'd finished cleaning the kitchen. The little boy rolled on the floor, kicking and screaming, his face red with anger. At times like these, Louise wondered if she and Kid realized what they were getting themselves into.

Lou looked out the window to see Kid and Buck, who'd been up since dawn, working with the horses. It appeared they had finally broken the black gelding and they were now working with a white mare that looked much tamer than the black had been.

Lou nervously approached Emily, afraid to mention the previous evening's events. Louise could see that Emily was crying, for her face was as red as her son's and she kept wiping her cheeks with the sleeve of her blouse. She looked exhausted and Lou figured she hadn't slept all night.

"Em?" Louise asked pensively. "I'm not gonna ask if you're okay, 'cause it's obvious you're not. Did you get any sleep last night?"

"What do you think, Louise?" Emily snapped at her. "I caused a huge scene, made Buck feel uncomfortable, and was rude to his friend. Of course I didn't sleep!"

"So now you're takin' up bein' rude to your own friends as a result?" Lou challenged. She was determined for Emily to talk out her problems, here and now.

"Oh, geez, Lou. I'm sorry," Emily apologized. "I just feel awful. I don't know what possessed me last night. I shoulda just kept my mouth shut."

Emily picked up a calming Ike and sat at the table. Lou sat down across from her and reached for her friend's hand.

"It had to be said, Emily," Lou comforted. "Goodness knows, it's been a long time in comin'. I'm just sorry it took me so long to realize what was goin' on. But what was said doesn't concern me as much as how it makes you feel havin' said it. Have you talked to Buck at all about it?"

"I don't think he's got much to say to me," Emily said dryly. "And I don't got much to say to him, either. I can't believe he told Jenny..." Her voice trailed off as tears welled in her eyes.

"But that's just it, Em," Lou continued. "You don't know what he did or didn't tell Jenny. Maybe she just made some assumptions. God knows, she's good at that! You've gotta talk to him, get his side of the story."

"I can't, Lou. I just can't face him!" Emily mourned.

"Why not, Em? Look, Buck ain't one to be two-faced. If you're worried he's still holdin' a grudge against you for Ike's death, you're wrong," Lou told her.

"But what about what Jenny said? The only way she coulda known all that was from Buck," Emily continued.

"I don't know, Emily," Lou answered. But I do know that if you don't talk to him and get his side of the story, this whole thing'll just fester. You gotta stop makin' assumptions and find out the truth."

Emily hung her head, looking exhausted. Finally she agreed, "You're right, Lou. I'll talk to him after lunch."

Louise stood up and went to the kitchen counter. She found some apples and cut some fresh bread, carefully wrapping them in a satchel. She held it out to Emily.

"I think the boys could use a break. Let's go out now," she suggested.

Emily looked at her despairingly. "Now? Lou, please..."

"The sooner, the better," Lou said firmly. "I can watch Ike for you for a while."

Emily took the satchel. "No. It's prob'ly better if he comes along. Maybe it won't be too awkward," she said hopefully.

"I'll come with you outside," Lou offered. "I gotta talk to Kid anyway."

"Louise, you okay?" Emily asked, immediately concerned.

"Good grief, I'm fine!" Lou answered, exasperated. "Can't a woman talk to her husband without creatin' a fuss? Now stop stallin' and come on."

Kid was the first to notice Lou, Emily, and Ike at the corral fence. Buck had been nearly silent about last night's events, but he did tell Kid that he felt responsible for the entire incident, being that Jenny had been his guest. Kid didn't know if Buck would approach Emily or not, so he silently prayed Louise could convince Emily to talk to Buck instead.

The men were working with a dapple gray mare, and Buck was having a decent go with her. Kid approached Louise and Emily, hoping to find out what was going on without being too obvious.

"Hey, Emily," he greeted. "Mornin', Louise," Kid said softly, smiling and reaching over the fence to kiss her. He looked at her quizzically, and the looked she returned answered his question. "Hey, Buck," he called. "What'd ya say we take a break?"

Losing his concentration, Buck was thrown from the horse. He picked himself up off the ground, dusted himself off, and walked toward the fence. He looked hesitantly at Emily, who was holding a squealing Ike. "Hosey! Hosey!" the little boy cried.

"Someday, little one," Emily told her son, looking shyly at Buck. "Maybe someday Uncle Buck and Uncle Kid'll let you help 'em with the horses." Then to Buck she asked, "You got a minute, Buck? I think we need to talk."

Buck nodded and slipped through the corral. He and Emily walked towards the ranch entrance, as Lou and Kid watched, hoping their two friends could work out their misunderstanding.

"Did he say anything to you?" Louise asked her husband.

"Not much," Kid answered, "'Cept that he felt responsible, bein' Jenny was his guest. What'd Em say?"

"She thinks Buck's still holdin' a grudge about Ike dyin'. I told her I didn't think so, 'cause she'd know it if he was. I just said they needed to straighten things out and stop makin' assumptions 'bout things."

"Sounds like good advice," Kid answered. "Let's hope they take it."

"Yeah," Louise agreed. "We can't lose either one of them."

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