The Blessing
~~ Part 4 ~~
Kid waited on the buckboard while Lou went in to the orphanage with her brother and sister. Teresa finally started to talk on the way back, asking questions Lou wasn't ready to answer. It was already getting dark and he was beginning to wonder if she was coming back out. Finally he saw her silhouette in the doorway as she started to approach the side of the buckboard.
"Why'd ya do it Kid? Why didn't you tell me what you had planned?"
"Why didn't you tell me how much Jeremiah hated me?"
Lou sighed. "I didn't realize how much until I walked in to the restaurant. I guess I didn't realize how much he remembered. They were both so young."
"How much did you overhear me sayin'?"
"Enough to know why you came. It's sweet Kid, but I already said yes. You didn't need to do it."
Kid got down and took her face in his hands while looking into her eyes. "Lou, I've done so much that's wrong with us since the beginning that I just wanted to do something right."
Lou smiled, "Kid, you did do something right. You came to your senses and asked me to marry you when the time was right... for the right reasons. Things with Jeremiah are difficult. I know you wanted his blessin', but if you had told me what you were plannin', or that you wanted to come see them, I would've told you it wouldn't have been that easy."
"Did Rachel tell you I was here?"
"No, Mother Superior did. I was furious with you, but when I walked into the restaurant and heard you explainin' why you were there, I couldn't stay mad at you anymore." She kissed him softly on the cheek.
"Lou, come back to the hotel with me. We can have a nice dinner, go for a walk..."
"Kid, we wanted to go slow, remember? Since there were no rooms in town, I'd already asked if I could stay here tonight. Had I known before that you were here... Well, it wouldn't look right if I didn't stay."
Kid nodded. "I guess I should get goin' then. Should I come back here in the morning?"
"It's late and Jeremiah and Teresa will be going to bed soon. We won't have much time to talk tonight. Come by in the afternoon?" Kid nodded. "I love you Kid."
"I love you too Lou." He pulled her into his arms and softly kissed her. They both heard the sounds of girls giggling coming from behind them.
Lou chuckled. "I guess I better go. Night Kid."
"Night Lou."
Lou watched as he climbed back into the buckboard and headed back towards town. She sighed as she turned towards the girls and saw that Teresa was among them.
Putting her arm around her sister, Lou smiled. "Come on and let's find your brother."