Love on the Run
Prologue
Kid left the sheriff's office in St. Joe feeling relieved. He had an urgent message about a gang of gun runners that were believed to have been in the area and had attacked Ike, but the sheriff was out on "personal business," and Kid would have to wait over a week for him to return, so he could take the reply back to Sweetwater. It would give him a break for a few days, and he was looking forward to it. He'd never imagined riding for the Pony Express would be this hard, but he loved it and wouldn't have it any other way.
Leading Katy to the livery, he was surprised there was no one to greet him. "Hello? Is there anyone here?" he called out, listening for a reply. When none came, he led Katy towards an empty stall, and when he opened the door, the sight that greeted him almost made him sick.
Dropping Katy's reins, he knelt between the three bodies feeling for a pulse. Not expecting to find one on the third, he was surprised to find a strong and steady one. Carefully rolling the body over, he was even more surprised to see feminine features.
She started to stir, and when she slowly opened her eyes, a look of panic crossed her face.
"Leave me alone! Don't touch me!" she yelled, wincing in pain as she tried to kick her attacker.
Kid backed up. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I came to bed my horse for the night and found you in the stall. Did you see who did this?"
Realizing he wasn't one of the men who had come in earlier and attacked them, she shook her head. She started to stand up but became lightheaded. Luckily Kid was instantly on his feet to help steady her.
"Here, you need to sit down," he helped her out of the stall away from the other two bodies, sitting her down on a bale of hay near the wide barn doors. "Will you be alright alone if I go get the deputy and the doc?" She nodded.
Kid started to leave and then remembered he didn't even know her name. Turning back around he looked at her, "My name is Kid."
She chuckled and then winced, grabbing her side when she realized it hurt. "Kid? Did you parents raise you on a goat farm?" Kid looked slightly angry but then she broke out in a huge grin. "Sorry," she said biting her lip to keep from laughing.
Kid smiled and then laughed as well. There was something about her that he found fascinating. She was beaten pretty badly, and he would bet Cody a month's pay she was pretty once she cleaned up. "And your name would be?"
"Louise. Louise McCloud. Most folks just call me Lou."
"Pleased to meet you Louise. Now sit right there. I'll be back in a few with help." Kid left the livery and walked back down the street towards the sheriff's office. When he arrived, the deputy looked up in surprise.
"Why, Kid, I thought you'd be settled in to the hotel by now enjoying some of St. Joe's finest in entertainment."
Kid blushed at the suggestion. "Ain't gotten that far yet. Went to board my ride and found three people in one of the stalls. Two of them didn't make it. Looks like they were shot execution style."
The deputy immediately jumped from his chair. "And the third?" he asked alarmed.
"Don't think she was shot, but she's beaten up pretty bad. Was comin' to get you then go get the doctor."
"I told Lou she shouldn't be workin' there. It ain't safe for a girl. Go on, and get the doc. I'll meet you both there."
Kid and the doctor arrived about ten minutes later to find Lou in the same place he'd left her, and she was arguing with the deputy.
"Bobby, I told you I'm fine."
"You ain't fine, Lou. You're beaten up pretty bad. Who did this?"
"I already told you I don't know. Last thing I remember was feedin' the horses, and I guess I was knocked in the head from behind. Next thing I know, Kid was leanin' over me."
"Now Bobby, let me look Lou over while you try to figure out what happened. Lou, do you think you can make it back to my office?"
Lou nodded and started to stand. Kid crossed to stand beside her in case she got lightheaded again. She tried to take a step but faltered.
"Here," Kid started. "Let me help you." He gently picked her up, feeling bad as she moaned. "Sorry, I tried to be gentle."
Lou wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her head on his shoulder. She had never felt so safe and she was amazed at how perfect she seemed to fit in his arms. Within moments she had dozed off.
Kid entered the doctor's office and gently laid Lou down on the examining table. "How bad is she doc?"
"I'll know more when I examine her. Why don't you go wait outside," he said more than asked.
Kid nodded and started to leave when he felt a hand on his arm. "Kid? Don't go."
Kid turned back around and faced Lou. "Are you sure?" At her nod he looked back at the doctor. "She wants me to stay."
"Fine, just don't get in the way."
Kid stood next to Lou and she refused to let go of his hand. The doctor examined her quickly and when he noticed Lou had fallen asleep again, he motioned to Kid to step outside with him.
"Is she going to be okay?" he asked worried.
"She has some nasty cuts and bruises, a few bruised ribs, none broken, and a badly sprained ankle, but I'm more worried about her concussion. She needs to be watched very closely the next few days."
"Can she stay here?"
The doctor shook his head. "Usually I'd say it was okay, but one of my patients is due to give birth any day now. I thought you might have been the expectant father when you banged on my door."
"Doesn't she have a husband or any family that could take care of her?" Kid asked and when the doctor shook his head, he was wondering why Lou didn't have a husband. Then again she did seem very close to the deputy Bobby; maybe they were courting. "What about the Deputy?"
The doctor smiled. "She and Bobby? They're just good friends. I think they grew up together at the orphanage outside of town."
Kid looked at the doctor puzzled. "Well I guess when I go and get a room at the hotel, I can make sure to get one big enough for both of us."
"You don't already have a room?" Kid shook his head. "With a fair in town, I'm afraid there aren't any rooms available. Besides Lou has a place over the dressmaker's shop. I'm sure she'd feel more comfortable there."
"Reckon you're right, but I just don't feel comfortable staying alone with her. What will people say when they learn a single woman is under the same roof with a strange man she just met?"
"Kid, people in this town pretty much mind their own business, but if it makes you feel better, say you're her cousin or something. Besides I don't think she should be left alone in case the people that robbed the livery come back."
"Kid?" they heard Lou call from the back room. "Kid?" she called out again in a more panicked tone.
Kid turned and hurried back into the room. "I'm here, Lou."
"I can't seem to stay awake. What did the doc say?"
"You have a bad concussion and got banged up pretty bad, but you should be okay in a few days. He suggested havin' somebody come stay with you. Is there someone I could get for you?"
Lou shook her head. "Would you stay with me?" she asked, pleading with her eyes. "Please?"
"I don't know, Lou. It ain't gonna look right." There was something different about Lou than other girls he had met before, and he couldn't figure out why he wasn't going to say no.
"I'll give you some medicine to give her in case she's in any pain. She'll need to keep that ankle elevated to relieve the swelling, and it'll be to sore for her to walk on for the next few days."
Kid nodded as the doctor left the room.
"Are you sure you don't want someone like Bobby helpin' you? You two seemed real close."
Lou shook her head. "Bobby is the last person I want helpin' me out. We've known each other almost all our lives. He's sweet, but he's like a brother to me."
"He don't seem to think of you as a sister, that's for sure. That ain't the look of a brother watchin' his sister."
"Here we go," the doctor said entering the room again. "If she's in pain, mix a tablespoon of this in her water every eight hours." He handed a packet of powder to Kid who put it in his pocket. "Now Lou, get plenty of rest these next few days. I doubt the livery will be open, and even if it is, I don't want you workin' there 'till I see you again. Is that understood?" Lou nodded. "Well that's all. Kid, if you have any questions, or if she starts running a fever, seems disoriented or anything out of the ordinary, you send someone for me right away, okay?"
Kid nodded and turned as he heard movement coming from behind him. "Lou, what are you doing?"
"Goin' home. What does it look like? If you ain't gonna stay with me, then that's fine. I'll be okay on my own. Been that way for almost six years now."
"Come on, Lou. Let me carry you. You heard the Doc. You need to have someone watch over you, and you need to stay off that ankle." Kid placed one arm under her knees and the other behind her back and lifted her as he had earlier. "Gettin' you up the steps might be a little more of a challenge," he said, smiling down at her.
"You look like the type of person who likes a challenge," she replied, grinning playfully.
"Not usually, but for you I'll make an exception."
"Does that mean you'll stay?"
Kid nodded. "If there's no one else, then I guess I ain't got a choice." Not one that I could live with anyway, he thought to himself.
The doctor held the door open while Kid carried Lou out of his office and down towards the direction of where Lou lived. When they reached the staircase at the back of the building, Kid realized that they were too narrow, and there was no way he could carry Lou up them without hurting her even more.
Lou sensing the problem smiled. "I can crawl up the stairs so you don't have to carry me."
"Are you sure?" Lou nodded, and Kid set her down on the ground. "I'll be right behind you in case anything happens."
Kid watched as Lou slowly climbed the staircase on her hands and knees. He blushed as he realized he was staring at her backside. He would bet she was wiggling it on purpose, but he couldn't look away. He couldn't believe he was acting this way. He was thinking thoughts he shouldn't have been and over a woman who he'd only known for a couple of hours. But there was something about Lou that had him blushing every few minutes.
"Kid?" Lou called from the top of the stairs. "When you're finished starin' are you gonna help me in or not?"
"Considerin' that no one could miss it, I couldn't help but to stare." He laughed when he saw her raise an eyebrow.
When he reached the top landing, he opened the door and then picked her up again. She fit against his body as if she was made for just him. He looked around the room, noticing that it was only large enough for a double bed, a dresser, a small kitchen with a stove and sink, a table and two chairs, a settee, a small galvanized tub, and a desk with another chair.
"Where do you want me to put you?"
Lou looked around for a moment. "Over on the settee is fine."
Kid carried her over and sat her down. "Is there anything you need?"
Lou shook her head. "I'd really like a warm bath, I feel so dirty, but I'm not sure..." she blushed at the thought of him drawing her bath and then having to help her in to it.
Kid blushed too as if he was reading her mind. "Uhm, I can draw you one and then go check on my horse. I'm not sure what to do with her if the livery is going to be closed. Do you think if I did that you could handle the getting in part?"
Lou nodded so Kid went about bringing in warm water to fill the tub. When it was full, he turned to Lou. "I'll be back in about thirty minutes. Will that give you enough time?"
"Thank you for everything, Kid," she said as she started unbuttoning her shirt.
Kid instantly turned away from her as he realized she was starting to undress. "I'll knock when I come back. If you're not done, just let me know and I'll stay outside or somethin'."
Lou had finished undressing and stood up, instantly moaning as she put weight on her ankle. She sat back down. "Maybe this ain't such a good idea after all. I can't even walk up a flight of stairs. How am I supposed to get in a tub? Kid, could you..."
"I'm not sure, Lou. It wouldn't be proper," he said still not facing her.
Lou chuckled. "What's the matter, Kid? Never seen a girl before?"
"Well yeah but..." he stammered. "I mean..."
Lou would bet he was blushing again even though she couldn't see his face. He was adorable when he blushed, and she wondered if he blushed all over. "Kid, if you look by my bed, you'll find my robe. Would it make it easier if I put that on and then took it off after you left?"
Still not looking at her, Kid nodded and went to find the robe. Finding it under the bed, he noticed the simple white garment was worn and threadbare in places. He tossed it over his shoulder towards where she was sitting. A few moments later she called out to him.
"It's safe to look now, Kid," she said giggling.
Kid turned and saw her trying to stand up again. "Lou, wait. Let me help you." He crossed the room, picked her up and carried her to the tub. The robe had fallen partially open at her collarbone, exposing the top area of her small breasts. He tried not to look, but felt himself wondering how perfectly they would fit in his hands and what else lay under there.
"I'm going to set you down in the water now," he said gently lowering her in to the tub. "Is the water too warm for you?"
Lou instantly relaxed as the warm water instantly began loosening her sore muscles. "No, Kid, it's perfect. Thank you."
Kid groaned as he realized that the white robe was now nearly transparent. "Well I'm going to leave you now to finish up. Do you want me to bring us back some food?"
Lou nodded. "If Bobby won't let you board your horse at the livery, ask him if you can board her with him. He has a small ranch outside of town and sometimes when we don't have any more space, he'll let the horses stay there."
"Thanks. Now take it easy and promise me that you won't try getting out until I get back."
"I promise. I'll see you soon Kid."
Kid nodded as he left her apartment and headed back towards the livery. He hoped Bobby would be able to give him some good news, but he had a feeling the deputy wasn't about to be happy to see him.