"Rachel, that was a mighty fine supper," Teaspoon said as he leaned back in his chair and patted his full stomach.
"Why thank you, Teaspoon," Rachel replied color filling her cheeks. Turning to the young men still seated at the table she asked, "Have any of you chosen a sweetheart for Valentine's Day?"
"There's so many pretty ladies in town, Rachel, I'm havin' a hard time choosin'," Cody replied with his trademark grin. "I bet Kid has his all picked out though," he teased.
"We ain't back together, Cody. I told you that," Kid replied looking down at his plate. Lou had not said much to him since the incident with Samantha but he knew she was hurt. He'd seen her with Jimmy a lot though and figured maybe she'd moved on. "I think she's found someone else," he mumbled just loud enough that everyone heard him.
"She has?" Cody asked with a knowing look at Jimmy. "Who do you think it is?"
"Don't know just a feelin' I have," Kid replied still looking down at his plate.
Jimmy wanted to punch Cody. Didn't he know when to shut up and leave well enough alone? "She's due back tomorrow," Jimmy said trying to change the conversation.
"Teaspoon, what's Valentine's about?" Buck asked. They hadn't celebrated the holiday at the orphanage he was curious about it as was Ike.
"Ah, Valentine's," Teaspoon said as Cody and Jimmy shot Buck looks that could kill since they knew Buck's question was going to lead to one of Teaspoon's exaggerated explanations.
**************
Valentine's Day dawned a couple of days later with Lou just returning from her run. She handed off the mochila to one of the other relay riders and pulled Lightning to a stop beside Teaspoon. "The pouch wasn't ready 'til yesterday morning. I got back quick as I could,." she said as she slid off of Lightning.
"That's not a problem, darlin', long as you're back safe," Teaspoon said draping his arm around her shoulders. Ike, take care of Lightning for Lou, will ya."
Ike nodded with a smile to Lou as he took Lightning's reins and led him to the barn.
"Thanks, Ike," Lou said as she headed toward the bunkhouse. As she stepped up on the porch Rachel came out the door carrying a change of clothes and a towel for her.
"I fixed a bath up at the house hopin' you'd get back before the water got cold. I think Buck just finished filling the tub. Looks like you could use it more than me," Rachel said with a smile.
"Mmm…sounds great. Thanks, Rachel," Lou said as she took the clothes and towel and headed toward the house. A hot bath, it sounded so good and she'd not had one in such a long time.
Stepping into the kitchen she smelled the rose scent Rachel always put in the bath water. Lou always felt so pretty after one of the few baths she got to take. Having to pretend to be a boy she didn't get them as often as she liked.
She carefully checked to make sure that no one was around and then placed the flowers from the center of the table in the window to let everyone know she or Rachel was taking a bath. They'd come up with the signal after Cody had walked in on Rachel one day. As Lou started to undress she noticed something furry with a note attached to it on the table. Walking over to it, she looked down and saw a note with her name on it. Picking it up she read,
Lou,
Happy Valentine's Day.
Buck
She smiled as she picked up the soft rabbit fur, she realized it was wrapped around something. Untying the leather strip that held it closed she opened the gift. What she saw was beautiful. It was a perfect circle with what looked like sa spider web woven inside. There were small beads in the web, and beautiful feather hanging off of it. She wondered what it was until she noticed the note she'd laid down had writing on the back too.
It's a dreamcatcher. It catches the bad dreams and allows the good ones to pass through to become realized. May all your good dreams come true.
Lou wiped a tear from her eye as she carefully laid the dreamcatcher on the table and finished undressing. She had to be sure to thank Buck for remembering her. She'd completely forgotten it was Valentine's. She'd hoped she'd have someone special to share it with this year but figured it just wasn't meant to be. Kid still wasn't talking to her, and Jimmy, she'd come to realize, was like a brother to her.
As she sank into the water, she sighed, "Well, at least one person remembered me on Valentine's Day."
**********
After a short soak in the baths and a fresh change of clothes, Lou headed toward the barn to check on Lightning. He was quietly munching on some hay. The mud had been brushed away and her put tack on the half wall of the stall. Lou made a mental note to thank Ike for taking care of Lightning. She went to check her tack like she always did after a hard run and noticed a small box sitting next to a hay bale by the door of the stall. She noticed another note then. All it read on the outside was Lou. She bent down to pick it up and a soft meow came from the box. Picking up the note she opened it and read:
I thought you might like something to care for. She needs a momma; hers was killed by a dog in town a few days ago. Happy Valentine's Day.
Ike
Lou opened the box and found a small gray kitten inside. When she picked it up it snuggled into her neck, purring loudly. The sound was relaxing and she sat down on the bale of hay a soft smile on her face.
"You need a momma, huh?" Lou asked her furry new friend. The kitten purred louder and she giggled. "I'll try and do my best by you." The kitten began pitty-patting Lou's shoulder in response. Lou closed her eyes and shortly found herself taking a nap.
*************
Lou was startled awake a short time later by the barn door banging shut. She reached for her gun, but grabbed air. Feeling a heaviness in her lap she looked down and saw the kitten laying there. She smiled as she recalled Ike's and Buck's notes and gifts.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw something lying beside her on the bale of hay. Turning and looking down she saw that it was a bouquet of very pretty flowers. It being February, she knew that it could have only come from Miss Millie's, the new banker's wife, hothouse. Wondering who would have risked getting caught by the woman, who was known to shoot at anyone that came near the flowers in her hothouse, Lou picked up the note and read.
No lady is as pretty,
No lady is as sweet,
No lady can shoot as straight,
As you,
Be my Valentine,
William F. Cody
Cody had signed his note with a flourish that made Lou smile. Making sure that the kitten was tucked in her shirt snuggly and picking up her dream catcher and flowers, she headed to the bunkhouse.
***************
As she opened the bunkhouse door she noticed Rachel setting the table for dinner. Rachel looked up at her, and smiling, said, "You sure look pleased."
"Hum…" Lou replied, "Guess I am. I've gotten a few very nice Valentines today."
"I see," Rachel replied seeing the flowers in Lou's hand and the dreamcatcher. When the kitten peeked out of the top of Lou's shirt Rachel giggled. "Looks like you found a new friend."
"She sort of found me. Ike gave her to me. She lost her momma last week," Lou said as she pulled the kitten out of her shirt.
Patting the kitten on the head, Rachel said, "I've got to get up to the kitchen and bring dinner down. Be right back."
"Do you need any help?" Lou asked.
"No, it's just a stew tonight," Rachel replied as she headed out the door.
Lou walked over to her bunk. She noticed two more packages lying on her bed. One looked to be a book. Picking up the note on top of it she read….
Lou,
A book of poems for a very sweet lady. Hope you enjoy them.
Noah
Opening the package Lou found a book of Shakespeare's sonnets. Lou smiled. She'd read a few of them before and liked them but a whole book was a surprise.
Laying the book down Lou picked up the next note. Opening it she read…..
Time goes so slow when you aren't around.
Happy Valentine's Day.
Jimmy
Lou opened Jimmy's gift finding a watch inside. It was beautifully made and she noticed that while it was pretty, she could also carry it as a boy. Opening it she found a picture of Jeremiah and Teresa inside. She wondered when Jimmy had time to get it. She gently closed the lid of the watch and placed it safely in her pocket, making a mental note to get a chain for it in town the next day.
A moment later she caught herself looking around for a gift from Kid. But there was nothing in sight. 'Well,' she thought to herself, 'guess that would be asking for too much.' They were still broken up, and he was probably still getting over Samantha.
Sitting the kitten on her bunk, she climbed up with it. She hung the dreamcatcher above her head and laid the flowers next to her as she sat back against the wall and opened the book of sonnets.
***************
A few sonnets later she heard the door open and, looking up, she saw Kid enter with his hat in his hand. She gave him a slight smile and went back to reading.
"Lou, can I talk to you," he asked from across the room.
"Uh-huh," she replied without looking up. She didn't want to give away how pleased she was that he wanted to talk to her.
Walking up next to where Lou sat on her bunk, Kid noticed the flowers lying beside her. But that wasn't all, a kitten lay curled up next to her and she was reading a new book. Above her head hung a dream catcher; Kid realized that the other riders had beaten him to giving Lou presents for Valentine's. Kid hung his head as he started to back up his heart sinking a bit lower in his chest.
Lou could see the sadness fill Kid's eyes as he had looked at her gifts. Lou felt guilty for displaying them as she had. "Kid, what did you want to talk about?"
"Nothing," Kid said as he hung his hat on the bunk and turn to sit down at the table. He knew she'd pick one of the other fellas for sure now.
"Kid…." Lou didn't know what to say to him it'd been so long since they'd talked.
Quietly Kid began to speak, "I wanted to give you something special for Valentine's…let you know I still care. Looks like I took too long to find something. I thought about something mystical, but couldn't figure out what would be right. I thought about a pet but didn't know if you would prefer a kitten or a puppy. I thought about flowers, but didn't know where to find them this time of year. I thought about a book but wasn't sure what you would like to read. I thought about jewelry…I saw Jimmy buy the watch in town last week; you brought the picture of Jeremiah and Teresa back with you from your run. Seems all the fellas beat me to everything. I don't have anything for you…." When he finished he looked up to see Lou standing next to him.
"Kid, you have given me something," Lou said with a slight smile on her face, "you've given me the knowledge that I am worth loving. I never stopped caring about you. I just wanted time to get to know who I am. I not sure of me, Kid."
"You still care?" Kid asked unable to keep the wonder from his voice.
"Of course, why do you think it hurt so bad to hear you say what you did to the others that day," Lou said as she sat down beside him at the table. "I can give you something else," Kid said as he stood and walked over to his trunk. "I was saving this for another time, but I think you might like it now." He handed her a small velvet bag. "I took the rings back, when you're ready…or when you accept my proposal…we'll pick the ring out together. Anyway I think you might like it."
Lou took the bag from him and emptied it into her hand. Looking down Lou saw an unusual cameo. Instead of a lady's head there was a horse and rider at full gallop carved in it. Lou's eyes filled with tears. Kid understood how much riding meant to her…..he finally understood. "It's beautiful," was all she could say.
"I'm sorry," Kid said seeing her tears. "I didn't mean to make you cry, Lou," Kid said as he sat back down beside her on the bench. "I just wanted to make you happy."
"You did," Lou replied as she wiped her eyes. "It's just so pre…beautiful. I've never seen anything like it."
"Then it's my Valentine's to you. I'm glad you like it," Kid said as he slid closer to her on the bench.
Lou swallowed the lump in her throat as she said, "Thank you. It's a lovely cameo. Too bad I can't wear it all the time."
"You can once in a while. Maybe to the dance in town next month, you could be Teaspoon's niece or Rachel's cousin?" Kid said his voice full of hope. "I'd like it if you would go with me as Louise."
Lou thought about teasing him for a moment, but replied instead, "I'd really like that, Kid."
Kid smiled and leaned over to kiss Lou on the cheek. About that time Rachel came in followed closely by the other fellas. Lou and Kid both blushed at getting caught kissing.
"Guess we know who's gift she liked the most, huh fellas?" Cody said with a smile. "Congratulations, Kid."