Yesterday's Tomorrow

Part 4

The morning sun warmed the room as Lou lie exhausted on the bed.  She and Kid did not get much sleep at all.  Every time one of them woke up, they would jut start making love over and over again.  She sighed in frustration, knowing that it would be their last day alone together for a very long time.  Teaspoon seldom sent two riders together.  She studied Kid as he slept peacefully.  She rose from the bed before she submitted to the overwhelming urge to make love again.

Enough is enough, she scolded herself.  What's wrong with me anyway?  We've been making love all night, and I still want more.

She lie in the tub of bubbles for a while, satisfied with the silence of the room.  She almost fell into a deep slumber in the tub when she felt hands roaming down her waist.  "Kid, stop it!" she cried as he started tickling her.  He hungrily kissed her again.  "If we keep doing this, we'll never get anything done," she told him softly.

"We've got plenty of time, my love," he told her as his lips gently brushed hers.  He loved the way her body felt so slippery against his.  His passion to make love to her was becoming an addiction.

Their "bath" took almost four hours.  Soon they found themselves on their way to deliver the important documents.  As they were walking out of the office, Kid bumped into a woman in a very fancy dress.

Without looking at her, Kid nonchalantly said, "Sorry, ma'am."

"Wait a minute," the woman called as she hurried after him.

Lou rolled her eyes, knowing that it was another one of Kid's admirers.  She hated feeling jealous, but she could not help it.

"Have I seen you before?" Kid asked the woman.

"Are you whom they call the Kid?"

"Yes, ma'am," he answered, still unsure about the beautiful woman's identity.

"You don't remember me at all, do you?" she said, laughing.

"I'm sorry, but I honestly don't," he said politely.

"Well, I remember you.  Who can ever forget those charming eyes?" she said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.  "I'm Marigold from Virginia.  We've met just before you headed out to Sweetwater."

Kid suddenly remembered his brief stay in a little town just outside his hometown.  He gave her a big hug.  Lou almost threw up at the sight.  First of all, she didn't like this Marigold woman.  She was just too fancy, too feminine for her taste, even worse than Samantha.  This woman was covered in thick makeup.  Although she would admit that she was a bit pretty without her facial makeup, she still did not think she could catch Kid's attention.

"So how have you been?" he asked her as she continued to hold onto his strong shoulders. 

"I'm fine.  I moved here months ago with my brothers and sisters.  We have a ranch and a lot of horses.  Why don't you join us for dinner tonight?"

Lou sneezed, hoping it would get their attention. 

Kid turned uncomfortably around.  "This is my friend, Lou.  We both ride for the Pony Express."

"Hello, Lou," Marigold said in an overtly friendly voice that disgusted Lou so much.  Kid elbowed her softly to bring her back to her senses.  She never saw anyone with so much makeup that she stood there frozen, not noticing Marigold's extended hand.

Lou quickly shook her hand, her nose wrinkling at the disgusting smell of the woman's perfume.  "Nice to meet you, Marigold," she said with a sneeze.

Marigold turned to Kid and asked once again, "You're coming, right?  We'd love to have the two of you for dinner tonight."

Lou begged Kid to refuse with her frightened eyes.  Please say no, please, she prayed.

Kid eyed her displeasingly and turned to Marigold with a smile.  "We'd love to," he said with such gratitude that Lou almost fell down to her knees to beg him to take those dreadful words back.  "Won't we, Lou?" he added sternly.

"I don't-" she started to say, but Kid's pleading eyes made her nod weakly.  "We'll be there," she said in a shaky voice.

Marigold gave Kid the directions and left before kissing Kid in the lips.  Lou almost fainted upon the realization of what just happened.  Kid walked towards her and put the back of his hand on her forehead.  "You okay, Lou?  You feel kind of sick."

"I'm not used to that kind of smell," she told him truthfully.  "Who is she anyway?  Why did she kiss you on the lips?  I could have sworn I saw her extending her tongue a little."

Kid sighed.  He was getting tired of arguing with her.  "She's just an old friend I met before I left to Sweetwater.  She kissed me 'cause that's just the way she is.  She's very affectionate.  Besides, she doesn't know we're together."

"You have some feelings toward her, Kid.  I could feel it.  You were just staring at her the whole time like you've been hypnotized.  You even forgot I was there!" she cried angrily.

"What do you want me to say?  Do you expect me to tell her, 'Hi, Marigold.  You can't kiss me 'cause this here is my lovely Louise.'"

"I didn't say that," she said defensively as she began to walk away.  He gently grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him.

"Lou, I'm sorry.  I didn't forget about you at all, honey.  I was just staring at her 'cause I've never seen anyone looking like she did."

"You mean she's pretty?"

Kid started laughing.  "I don't know, but I was just amazed at how much time and effort she put into her looks, and she ended up looking like that."

Lou smiled as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.  "Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed."

"Good thing Cody ain't here to crack some jokes."

"Where are you going now?" she asked him as she mounted on Lightning.

"I'll go by the nice little creek just outside of town," he said, wishing she'd join him.

"What for?"

"Just relax.  It's not everyday that I can enjoy the nature's beauty without any disturbance from the boys."

"You mind if I come along?" she asked with a hint of excitement in her voice.

"You're welcome to," he said with a smile, glad that she'd be with him.

Lou leaned on the tree as Kid fell into a deep slumber.  It was indeed a very beautiful day.  The sun's golden shine made the surface of the water sparkle like priceless diamonds.  She shivered slightly at the cold chill of the afternoon wind.  She could not control herself anymore and lay a tender kiss on Kid who looked so handsome and peaceful in his sleep.  She was surprised when he restrained himself from her kisses.

"Kid, what's wrong?"

"I don't know, Lou, but I don't think we should be doing this."

She rolled her eyes and moved away from him.  "We did this and a lot more last night if you don't remember," she reminded him coldly.

"I know, and I don't think it's right.  I don't wanna take advantage of this situation.  I want us to do this at the right time.  Not now."

"I don't see the difference between right now and last night," she told him, cocking an eyebrow.

"I just did a lot of thinking.  I-" he hesitated for a moment, uncertain about what to say.  "I just think if we'll be doing this kinda thing, we should be ready to face the consequences.  What if you get pregnant?  I don't wanna burden you with issues you're not ready for.  What about commitment?  What about marriage?"

Lou felt tired all of a sudden.  "All right, I understand what you're trying to say.  Fine, I'll leave you alone.  Sorry to wake you up."

"Lou, don't get mad.  I only want the best for us, for you."

She mounted on Lightning, fighting the tears that she knew were coming.  "See you at Rock Creek, Kid."

Kid sighed.  He threw several stones in the creek.  Everything between him and Lou seemed to turn upside down again.  He felt bad about having said the things he said, yet he recognized the importance of having done so.  Now he had to live with her silence all over again.  The sun's brightness suddenly began to glare at him, and he felt as if even nature was mad at him. 

Lou allowed her tears to fall freely as she rode back to the hotel to retrieve her few belongings.  She was mad at herself for looking like an idiot; it seemed as if she was the only one who really wanted their relationship.  Why did she even put herself in such a vulnerable position for pain?  Did she really expect that something good would come out of the petty fooling arounds she and Kid had been doing? 

As she was about to leave the hotel, the door opened and Kid walked in.  "Where you goin'?"

"Home," she said coldly. 

"But we still gotta go to dinner at Marigold's place," he reminded her.

"Well, you can go yourself.  I'm going home.  Besides, I don't know her.  She's your friend.  I don't owe her nothin'."

"Lou, are you mad?  I'm sorry if I said something that offended you.  Please, let's-"

"Don't worry about me, Kid.  I ain't mad.  I just wanna go home," she said before slamming the door behind her.

It was a cold evening.  The sun set too early, and the chilly wind grew stronger each passing hour.  Lou hurried Lightning along the way to Rock Creek, hoping she could make it home soon. 

Forget it, she told herself as she got off the horse.  I'll just have to wait till tomorrow.  She unrolled her sleeping bag when she heard a noise.  She wasn't sure if it was made by a horse's gallop because of the strong wind brushing against her cheek.  She quickly made the fire and settled down.  She was about to drift into a much needed sleep when she heard footsteps.  She sat up and almost screamed, but the sight of Kid silenced her.

"Hey, Lou," he greeted with a silly grin on his face.

"What are you doing here?"

"What's wrong with me being here?"

"I thought you were going to that woman's dinner."

He scratched his head, searching for an excuse.  "I can't let you go home without me.  Now that wouldn't be fair."

She sighed and lie down.  "G'night, Kid."

"Lou-" there was a bit of hesitation in his voice.  "You don't mind if I sleep next to you tonight, do you?"

"There ain't enough room for you in my sleeping bag," she said drowsily.

"I meant to say that it would be okay to you if I move my sleeping bag next to yours," he said.  "It's so cold tonight.  I figure it would be warmer that way."

"Whatever you want, Kid."  She felt him moved closer to her, his warm arms wrapping around her waist.  "Kid, remember you said we shouldn't be doing this," she reminded him.

"I know," he said.  "But we ain't doing anything wrong."  He began kissing her neck, his hands gently caressing her hair.  She put her arms around his neck to bring him closer to her.  She felt like she was losing her self-control once again as their passionate kisses intensified.  They lost track of time as their hands and lips explored each other.

It was a miracle that Kid remembered his own conviction about 'fooling around' with Lou.  He was able to regain his self-control that he almost lost in their heat of passion.  "Lou," he whispered her name as he looked deeply into her eyes.  "I guess we should get some rest.  We still have a long way to go tomorrow." 

She reached up and kissed him softly in his lips.  Her teary eyes stared back at him as if she was afraid he would disappear by sunrise.  She smiled and kissed him again with such intensity that he felt like he was going crazy over her again.  "Good night, Kid."

He kissed her forehead and softly brushed the loose strands of hair from her beautiful face.  "Always remember something, Lou.  I want you to promise this.  I know we're young, and half of the time, we don't completely understand what we feel.  But there's one thing I'm certain of, Lou.  And I want you to remember that you'll always have my love, Lou.  No matter what happens between us, my heart will always belong to you."

She smiled and kissed him softly on the lips.  She never heard anyone say those sweetest words to her.  The look in his soulful eyes told her that everything he said was true and sincere, and the kisses that he lay on her lips made her lose the doubts in her mind.

Part 5