"Kid, I love you, but the beard has to go," Lou pouted. "I don't mind the mustache, but..."
"But why?" He asked as he stroked the thick facial hair covering his face. "I kinda like it."
Lou shook her head. "Because it makes you look so much older than you are," she protested. "Besides, it feels funny on my skin."
Kid grabbed his wife and pulled her against his body. "You didn't complain last night," he said nuzzling her neck.
Lou pushed him back smiling, knowing where it would lead if she didn't. "You better go. Teaspoon will get mad if you're late again."
"Lou, we've been married over six months, he knows what it's like when you're in love."
"Well if you don't shave that beard, he won't have to worry about you bein' late again!" She teased.
Kid jokingly pouted and pulled her back towards him. "I'll see you tonight. Are Jeremiah and Teresa still staying with Rachel this weekend?"
Lou nodded. "That's the plan."
"Good, maybe it's time we start working on expanding our little family," he said with a wicked look in his eyes as his hands started to roam over her body.
Lou shook her head and grinned. "Not until you shave," she said. "And remember, I can hold out a lot longer than you can."
Kid groaned. "I'll think about it, okay?"
Lou nodded. "Be careful today," she said worried. Since the end of the Express, Kid had taken the job as Teaspoon's deputy permanently and she worried about him everyday when he left until he came home at night.
"I always am," he said smiling. "After all, I have something to look forward to at the end of the day." He kissed her deeply, not wanting to leave her, his desire for her becoming evident as she succumbed to his charm.
Lou reluctantly pulled back and pushed him away. "You better go," she said turning away from him.
Kid groaned but nodded. "I'll see you tonight. I love you," he said kissing her quickly on the cheek.
"Love you too," she said as she watched him leave.
After getting Jeremiah and Teresa fed and off to school, Lou started to prepare a special dinner for when Kid came home. He had talked about starting a family, and she wanted to surprise him tonight with the news that they might have already. She wasn't sure, but the signs were there.
As she was hanging the last load of sheets on the line that afternoon, she saw Teaspoon in a buckboard riding towards the house. As he got closer, Lou panicked as she noticed Katy tied behind it. She ran towards him, fearing the worst.
"Teaspoon?" She questioned, the tears already forming in her eyes.
Teaspoon got down and pulled her into his arms. "He's gonna be all right, Lou. He fell off Katy and dislocated his shoulder."
Lou felt relieved. "Can you help me get him to our room?"
Teaspoon nodded. "I'll do it, you just make him comfortable. The doc said he'll be out of it for the next few days. He had to give Kid something for the pain."
Lou nodded as she helped Teaspoon drag an unconscious Kid from the back of the buckboard and into the house. Once they had him settled in bed, Teaspoon gave her instructions on what to do when he needed more pain medicine.
"Try not to give it to him unless he absolutely needs it. Let him rest as much as possible, and take it easy on him," he said with a wink, causing her to blush.
"Thanks, Teaspoon."
As their former stationmaster left, Lou looked at her husband. He looked so innocent and helpless lying on their bed with his shirt open and his right arm in a sling. She felt bad for arguing with him that morning and crawled in next to him on his left side. He groaned slightly at the disturbance, but once she placed her head on his chest, his left arm came over to curl around her protectively. Before long she fell asleep.
Lou wasn't sure how long she had slept, but something scratching her cheek woke her. She opened her eyes and saw Kid had turned his head to face hers and his beard was bothering her again.
Enough is enough! She thought. She slowly crawled out of bed so she wouldn't disturb him. She went over to the basin and looked in the mirror. Her cheek was red and irritated, again. At least this time it's just your cheek. She looked down at the table as a plan started to form in her head.
Several hours later, Lou noticed Kid starting to stir. "Hey," she said crossing towards the bed. "How are you feeling?"
Kid noticed Lou smiling and chuckled. "Like I fell of a horse. I'm sorry I ruined our plans for the weekend."
Lou shook her head. "Don't worry about it," she said. "I'm just glad you’re all right. When I saw Teaspoon ridin' up... Don't you ever scare me like that again!"
"It wasn't like I planned it," Kid said scratching his chin. "What the?! Lou?" He asked puzzled.
"What?" She smiled innocently.
"How much did you shave?"
Lou grinned wickedly at him. "Enough that it won't feel so scratchy anymore," she said before ducking out of their bedroom.
Kid felt his entire face and then looked down at his chest and groaned. At least she didn't shave my head bald, he thought as he tried to think of a way to get his revenge.
A/N: In honor of Shannon's hubby, Russell, whose beard was saved by this bunny! Man I love living out what I’d love to do to my hubby through Lou!