Love on the Run

Part 1: Rated PG

Over the next few days, Bobby and the posse he had deputized to help find the people responsible for the robbery at the livery had been unable to find any clues. During the day Lou felt safe, but at night when Kid insisted on sleeping on the floor, she would often have nightmares and wake up screaming and crying. Kid would often crawl in to bed to hold her, and they would spend several hours talking and getting to know each other.

Kid found he was able to talk to her about things he'd never told anyone. He told her about growing up in Virginia, how his father use to beat him, his older brother and his mother, how he left when he was fifteen after his mother had died and how he made his way west and eventually got the job with the Pony Express.

Lou talked about her childhood growing up on a horse ranch, how when her mother died the three of them were sent to the orphanage and how after she ran away, her brother and sister had been adopted by a nice family, who allowed them to keep in contact with her.

"So you just left everything behind to come out west?" Lou asked.

"Really wasn't much left after I paid off the debts. When my pa ran off, he left my mom with no way to support Jed and me. Jed and I tried to keep the farm goin' but I was too young and he had other ideas on what he wanted to do. Finally he ran off, and ma got sick soon after."

"But you were only fifteen."

"Well, you've been on your own since you were thirteen."

"I ran away from the orphanage because I wanted to earn money to give my brother and sister a better life. I wanted to save enough and get a place where they could come live with me. I hated it there and didn't want them to be as miserable as I was."

"How long after you left were they adopted?"

"Two years. I never imagined that someone would adopt them together. It's unusual. Their new parents even tried to find me. Teresa didn't want to be adopted without me, and they were willing to."

"Why didn't you let them? It seems your life would've been easier."

"It probably would've been. But I was on my own and wanted to be strong and independent. Wanted to make my own way."

"Was it as easy as you thought?"

Lou shook her head. "If I hadn't met my friend Charlotte, who knows what would have happened to me. She's always been there to watch over me and lend me a hand when I needed it. She wanted something better for me than the life she had. She knew how I felt, and she would try and help me without me knowin' she was helpin'. But I soon learned that if I wanted to be strong and independent, sometimes I just needed to ask for help."

"And Bobby? Did he run away from the orphanage with you?" Kid teased.

Lou laughed. "No, but he was one of the good things about me bein' there. When the other boys picked on me, he would beat them up. I didn't know until later that he had a huge crush on me at the time. I left before he could tell me."

"I think he still does," Kid said, with a tinge of jealousy.

"He just wants to beat up anyone who picks on me. Better be careful," she said as they laughed.

"So how did you come to work at the livery? That's unusual for a girl."

Lou swatted at his arm. "Are you sayin' I can't do somethin' just 'cause I'm a girl?"

"No, I'm sure you could probably do anything I could do."

"And better," Lou said trying to keep a straight face. It didn't work and soon both were laughing.

"Seriously, how did you get the job?"

"Momma was raised on a horse ranch. When her folks died, she and my father took it over. By the time I came along, by father had... um other interests. Momma did everything on her own while my father was out doing who knows what. When I was old enough to help, I did. I learned how to break, shoe and of course ride. On my father's good days, he would show me how to do tricks while ridin'."

"What happened to your father?"

"By the time Jeremiah came along, I did pretty much everything because he was hardly ever home. When he was, he'd rather drink than take care of things. He would start sellin' horses without my momma knowin' to finance his other activities. When momma found out and confronted him, he started hittin' us. When momma found out she was pregnant again, she decided it was better to leave."

"Do you know where he is now?"

"Who knows? Last I heard he was probably in Mexico, but he's dead to me. I haven't seen him since I was nine and if I never see him again, that's fine by me."

"Well if you can ride as well as you say, maybe you could always dress as a boy and hire on with the Express," Kid joked.

Lou loved the way his crystal blue eyes sparkled and his face lit up when he laughed. She could stare at his smile all day, and she could easily imagine running her fingers through his permanently tousled hair.

As the days passed and Lou's bruises faded, Kids' first impression was right. Under all those bruises Lou was one of the prettiest girl he'd ever seen. Her brown eyes reminded him of chocolate, and he liked it when she wore her brown hair down so it flowed over her shoulders and down her back in waves.

She was able to walk short distances now, and each day she tried to walk a little more on it, but Kid didn't want her to push walking on the ankle. But at least he didn't have to worry about when she bathed anymore. She was able to get herself in and out, and he would usually take that time to find out if there was any more information about the investigation as well as going for food to bring back.

By their fourth day together, they had settled in to a routine, but Lou was getting cabin fever. Kid refused to let her leave saying he was worried she would injure her ankle more. The day was unseasonably warm so she had opened the windows to let a breeze in. They had been at the table playing cards when music from the fair wafted up and filled the apartment.

Kid saw the longing in Lou's eyes. He knew she wanted to leave the apartment, but he felt safer with her inside. Bobby now believed that the gang that had caused Kid to come to St. Joe's might have been responsible for the robbery.

Kid stood up and walked over to Lou smiling at her. "May I have the pleasure of this dance?" He held out his hand and smiled when Lou took it standing up.

"Um... You may," Lou chuckled nervously as Kid fidgeted as what to do before pulling her in to his arms, holding her tightly to him.

The two danced through several songs, lost in their own world not being able to tell when one song ended and the next began. When they finally noticed that the music had stopped, Lou couldn't resist as she stood on her toes and kissed him lightly on the lips.

Kid pulled away. "Um... I think I better go. I want to go check on Katy and..."

Lou pulled him closer again and resumed kissing him. Their bodies fit perfectly together as they held each other close. Finally she pulled away and smiled as she noticed he was blushing again.

"You blush easily," she chuckled.

Kid smiled, "I can't help it. You make me think things that ain't right for me to be thinkin'." Now it was Lou's turn to blush. "I mean it, Lou. I've never felt this way before, and I'm not sure what to do about it."

Lou felt the same way, but she had a few ideas on what they could do. She knew Kid would never initiate things, and a plan started forming in her mind. She just hoped she wouldn't be making a fool out of herself.

~~ ** ~~

That night as Kid went to check on his horse and bring back dinner, Lou took extra time in the bath. She added in some bubble bath Charlotte had given her for her birthday as well as laid out a simple, white, sleeveless nightgown that had also been a gift.

When she finished bathing, she went behind the privacy screen that Kid insisted on buying so they could dress in private and put on the nightgown. She heard Kid knocking and she called for him that it was safe to enter.

"Lou?" he called out.

Lou walked out behind the screen and walked towards him. She placed her hand on her stomach, trying to calm the butterflies. She looked at Kid who was speechless as he watched her walking towards him.

Kid was breathless. He never imagined Lou could be as beautiful as she was standing in front of him at that moment. The simple nightgown clung to her body in all the right places, and he instantly became aroused. He dropped the bags of food and crossed the room meeting her halfway.

"Lou?" he asked unsure if she wanted the same thing he did.

"Surprise."

He simply nodded. He gently rubbed her arms before wrapping his arms around her tiny waist and lifting her to his eye level and kissed her. When he broke the kiss, she let out a nervous chuckle, and he smiled. He gently carried her towards the bed lying her down. They resumed kissing, and as he cupped her beautiful face, she reached up and started unbuttoning his shirt.

"Lou, are you sure about this?"

Lou smiled and nodded, "Kid, I've never been more sure of anything."

~~ ** ~~

"You ok, Lou?" Kid asked concerned as he wrapped his arms around Lou. She was lying on her side in front of him, and he could hear her softly crying.

"I don't know," she said hugging his arm a little tighter. Making love with Kid had been everything she had imagined it would be, but when reality set in, she knew they should have never moved to the next step so quickly. They had only met a few days ago, but Lou realized that she could already imagine spending the rest of her life with this man, and it scared her.

"When I first saw you in that nightgown, the most important thing on my mind was gettin' on with what we've been puttin' off these last few days."

Lou chuckled as she lightly kissed his arm. "Me too." She felt Kid placing tiny kisses on her shoulders and neck, and she turned over to face him. She saw that his eyes that were usually so full of life were clouded with worry and something else; possibly regret.

"Do you think we made a mistake?" she asked, scared of his reply.

Kid shook his head. "No, no..." he placed his forehead against hers. Kid took a deep breath, scared of her reaction as he tried to say the words he was feeling. "I know we've only known a few days, but..."

"I love you, Kid," she said, interrupting him.

Kid smiled, realizing Lou had read his mind. "I love you too, Lou... Louise."

~~ ** ~~

Over the next few days, Lou insisted on leaving her apartment once she was able to walk without any pain. The livery was still closed, and the sheriff was due to return any day. They both knew their time together was short, but neither talked about it.

They courted as if they were any normal couple, except for when they returned, they would spend the night lying in each other's arms. Lou showed Kid around town, took him to the orphanage where she had been sent, and even took him to the little pond she had found when she was about thirteen and would often go to when she needed an escape. Since it was still warm, Lou convinced Kid a swim was just what they needed.

After a few minutes, the couple wound up in each other's arms kissing. Lou instantly sensed Kid's distraction.

Lou cupped his face and looked into his worried eyes. "Kid, what's wrong with you?"

"It just don't feel right," he said.

"Sure feels right to me," Lou said wrapping her legs around his waist and leaning her forehead against his.

Kid chuckled. "Well yeah... It just ain't the way I was brought up. I was taught that when a man and a woman been doin' what we've been doin'... well it ain't proper... well, unless... unless..."

Lou pushed away. "'Scuse me, Kid, but you ain't fixin' to propose are you?"

Kid reached out and pulled her back into his arms. "No! Well, maybe... Well yeah, maybe I am."

"Kid, we've only known each other a few days."

"I know Lou, but I've never felt this way before. We both know I'm leaving soon, and I don't want to leave without you."

"Kid, that's sweet, but it's too soon."

"But, I love you."

"I love you too, Kid. But we both know we're not ready." Lou pulled out of his embrace again and swam to the shore.

"Lou!" Kid called after her. "Lou, please, can't we talk about this?"

Lou shook her head. "There's nothing to talk about."

Kid swam to the bank and got out of the water. He grabbed his clothes and started dressing silently, their playful mood lost. The walk back to town was quiet. Neither spoke, both lost in their own thoughts. As they approached Lou's apartment, Bobby came running up to them.

"Kid, there you are! I've been looking for you. Sheriff Reynolds is back and has your reply ready to take back to Marshal Cain in Sweetwater."

"Tell the sheriff I'll be ready to ride out at first light," Kid said, not wanting to leave Lou just yet.

Bobby shook his head. "I've already got your mount ready to go. Reynolds needs it to get back to Cain as soon as possible."

Kid nodded as Bobby walked away. Kid turned to Lou and took her hand.

"Lou..."

"I know Kid. We knew this was going to happen."

"I wish you would think about comin' back to Sweetwater with me."

"I can't Kid. I have a life here. I have friends and a job," she said fighting back tears.

"You can have that with me. We could be together."

"I'm not ready... I'm sorry."

Kid nodded. "I'll be back every chance I get. I'm not gonna give up on us."

"I know. Be careful, Kid."

"I will. I love you," he said cupping her face in his hands and looking in her eyes.

"I love you too, Kid. Ride safe."

Lou's tears started falling, and she turned from him and started to walk away. Kid grabbed her wrist and pulled her back in his arms for one last kiss.