A Dress for Dancin'

Part 1

Kid propped himself on his elbow and gazed lovingly at Lou sleeping peacefully beside him. Ever since Willow Creek he couldn't get the image of her dressed as a saloon girl out of his mind. It was the third time he'd seen her in a dress, but with her hair grown out more, he'd never seen her more beautiful... until last night.

She thought he'd been angry at her for wearing that dress, but in reality he had been extremely jealous. He wanted Lou for himself, and he knew what Jimmy, Noah and later Buck had to be thinking when they saw her too. They were seeing her for the beautiful woman she really was for the first time, instead of the boyish tomboy they were use to. After she had left them by the corral, they'd teased him endlessly.

Slipping silently out of bed so he wouldn't wake her, he quickly dressed and decided to head in to town to check on the package they were suppose to take back to Sweetwater and to bring back breakfast. Gazing once more at the woman he loved, he walked out the door.

~~ ** ~~

After learning the package they were supposed to deliver wouldn't arrive until late that night, Kid walked down the street. He noticed two men hanging a banner on the balcony of the hotel welcoming folks to a dance being held that night. Kid remembered the dances he and Lou had gone to before, where Lou had gazed longingly at the other girls dressed in their finest while she had been in her masculine disguise. This time, he wanted it to be different.

He continued down the street towards the livery where their horses were. When he was taking care of them the day before, he had caught Lou looking in the window of the dressmaker's shop across the street.

"Bet you'd look real pretty in that," he said coming up behind her. "You oughta buy it."

"Why?" she tried to ask nonchalantly, but he could hear the longing in her voice. "So it can sit in the bottom of my trunk with the other dress I never get to wear?"

Kid watched as she walked towards the house where they were spending the night. Now as he realized that the dress shop was open, he knew what he had to do.

"Can I help you sir?" The salesclerk asked as he entered and the bell above the door rang.

"Yes ma'am. I was interested in the purple calico in the window for my..." Kid paused not sure what to call Lou now. Obviously he couldn't say "my lover," but "my girl" didn't feel right now either.

"For that someone special?" the clerk prodded.

Kid nodded. The clerk said, "She'll love it, and love you for havin' such fine taste. Since she's not here, do you know her size?"

"Size? Um..." Kid blushed.

The clerk smiled at his discomfort. "How tall is she?"

"About this high," he said indicating she came to about his eye level.

"Is she thin, average, or more than average?"

Kid remembered how tiny she felt as he wrapped his arms around her waist last night. He imagined she was in front of him again and indicated so with his arms.

"Tiny thing ain't she?" the clerk asked as Kid nodded. "And what about her upper body area?" Kid looked confused. "Her bosom," the clerk elaborated.

Kid turned an even deeper shade of red. Like the rest of her, that part of her was perfect, but he didn't think the clerk or Lou would appreciate that comment.

"I imagine she's small there as well. No matter, I think I might have the right size, let me go check in the back. Will you be needin' shoes as well?"

Kid nodded, still too afraid to speak. He was relieved when the clerk disappeared into the back of the store. He couldn't believe it, but just buying a dress was turning him on. He was still trying to think of things other than Lou lying in their bed when the clerk returned.

"These should fit just right," she said handing him the dress wrapped up with a pair of matching shoes on top. "If they don't, have her bring them back and I'll make sure she gets the right size. Will this be all?"

Kid nodded as he paid for the items. He left the shop and quickly headed back towards Lou.