The cool interior of the barn offered a safe refuge from the boys' teasing and Lou's obvious change of heart. Kid shuffled along the dirt aisle to Katy's stall, his hands in his pockets. His features were pinched with his heavy thoughts as he paused by the door to look at the brightly colored mare.
Along his entire right side flames licked along his nerves. He could feel every movement from Lou at dinner as if she were standing next to him. His shoulder burned where she'd pressed her soft breasts against him. Her breath had whispered over his skin and he shuddered.
The barn door creaked slightly as it was opened. Startled, Kid turned and swallowed. The slim figure silhouetted by the setting sun was as familiar as the spots on his beloved Katy. "Hey Lou, you um need something?" He croaked
"Mmhmm," Lou moved toward him the sway of her hips hypnotic. Kid shifted, eased behind the stall door and watched her trail a hand along the rough wooden walls. A slow, sweet smile crossed her face as she caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
"Lightening's fine, I uh checked on her already," Kid frowned as Lou opened the door to the corral. "I can turn her out for you if you like." He winced at the note of desperation in his voice, a wave of heat climbed his neck and into his face.
"That's alright," Lou smiled at him as the door banged back into the wall and the horses flinched at the loud noise. She led the dark colored mare out into the fading sunlight and slapped her rum. The twinkle in her eyes unsettled him as he watched her open Katy's door and take her halter. "It's such a nice evening, they should be outside."
Kid stared at her as she closed the doors and sashayed toward him. As though pulled by invisible threads, Kid's eyes fell to the gentle rise and fall of her breasts beneath her pale cotton shirt. The material shifted, doing more to tease him than hide was beneath it. He gulped as he realized she'd taken off her binding clothe. Heat pooled low in his body as his mind replayed the sensation of her pressed tightly against him. Warm and soft, the plumpness pressed against his shoulder, each breath moved their bodies with a slow friction. Kid's palms itched to reach out and touch, but he fought the urge. Instead, he tucked them into his pockets and hunched forward.
"So what brings you out here?" He croaked.
"I thought we could talk," Lou leaned over the stall partially opened stall door. Her dark eyes trailed like a caress down his body. She paused at the placket of his pants; her tongue darted out to lick her lips before moving back up to settle on his face. "You seem to be avoiding me, just curious why?"
"Just been busy," Kid managed to get out, his eyes on the shadow under her opened collar. "Between my runs and chores, not to mention a few errands, and chores, I ain't been avoiding you. Honest. I like to talk to you; I mean you always have such interesting curves err conversations." Kid stammered his face flaming, "I better um get to work on that saddle. Yeah I um have to fix it."
Lou nodded slowly, her fingers plucked at her collar, "I'll help. Which saddle is it?"
"You don't have to." Kid pleaded as she shifted, her shirt gaped even more to reveal pale skin that flowed into a darker shadow. He ripped his eyes away and stared at her throat, but it wasn't much better. "Won't take me long."
"That's alright." Lou giggled. "I'd like to spend some time together. We haven't had any alone time in a while."
Kid struggled to hide his groan as his mind raced. "Kid, you're in serious trouble here. She's naked under that cotton. You're doomed, boy. Those soft, firm breasts, they'd fit right in your palms. If she's naked on top she's probably naked under her pants as well. Oh God, she's naked…naked and you're in a bad spot." He glanced around desperate to think of something, anything that would offer and easy way out. He missed the victorious grin on Lou's face as she carried Jimmy's broken saddle over to the stack of feedbags.
"Here you go Kid," Lou drawled and patted the hard leather, a smile on her face.
Kid smiled weakly and moved to repair the broken fork. Briefly he wondered how the other man had managed to break the saddle like that. With a look of concentration on his face he set to work dismantling the front of the saddle.
He glanced over at Lou, who smiled back at him as she leaned back on her elbows. Her one leg tucked beneath her and the other swung in a slow, come-hither motion. Every muscle clenched as he watched mesmerized by the dart of her tongue over her lips. Her shirt slipped as she shifted, leaning more to one side to reveal the edge of her tan.
"How was your run?" Kid asked suddenly, his eyes darted back to his work as he poked himself with the needle. He welcomed the brief flash of pain against the seductive vision before him.
"Long, hot, dusty." Lou shrugged; the movement sent her shirt down another inch or two. "How about yours? A rough ride?"
Not really. It was long and smooth, like I like it um them." Kid ducked his head to cover his embarrassment. He'd take his time with Lou, touch her the way a woman should be, or at least how he thought they should be. With no experience to speak of, Kid wasn't entirely sure he could be a very good lover. "Made good um, uh…um…"
"Time?" Lou shifted slightly, a small smile on her lips as she arched her back a bit.
Kid nodded desperately his eyes glued to the pale skin she'd revealed, and his brain frozen. "Oh God stop looking at her! All that pale skin, those soft curves. She'd fit perfectly in my hands, my mouth. Kid, stop it!" His mind raced and his body tightened to a dull ache. He shifted; thankful the saddle hid his body's reaction to her nearness.
"Kid, Kid, KID!" Lou's voice drew him from his thoughts with a jolt.
"Yeah Lou? Sorry, just thinking - "
"I noticed." Lou giggled softly and fanned her face. "Sure is hot in here. I won't say anything if you take your shirt off."
"Um I don't uh think so Lou," Kid moaned softly. "I'm nearly done with this saddle. Told Teaspoon I'd um help him um-" Kid stammered clumsily.
Lou nodded a slow thoughtful gesture as she shifted toward him. "You wanna know a little secret?" She whispered, her eyes twinkling as he shifted, his eyes darting down her shirt.
Kid cleared his throat as her eyes fell into his lap. "I'm kinda busy Lou, maybe next time okay? I uh should um…"
Lou leaned into him and smiled, the smell of leather, and lemon soap rose up to cloud Kid's mind as he sat like a stone. "You are a bad, bad liar," Lou whispered her lips brushing against his ear, her breath stirred the loose curls at his temple. "However, I'll take mercy on you, but I just thought I should let you know - the next dance is mine." Her hand squeezed his thigh, a little too close to the evidence of his attraction than he'd like before she withdrew it.
A shiver chased over his skin as she pressed a soft kiss to his ear before trailing a few brief, gentle kisses along his jaw. She winked at him and pressed her lips to his, her tongue darted out and traced over his lips drawing a gasp from him. He groaned as she deepened the kiss for a few seconds before she pulled back and smirked at him.
Kid smothered a curse as he watched her vanish out into the yard, her hips swayed a bit more than usual as she headed for the bunkhouse. He didn't know whether to be relieved or terrified - neither emotion was one he wanted to dwell on.
He needed help. But who could he talk to? Rachel? No, she wouldn't understand. Teaspoon was just too confusing. Buck and Ike were out of the question - neither would understand his dilemma. Cody was out; the big mouth would probably have it all over the station before morning. That left Noah, who was out on a run, Lou - who was the source of his confusion, or Jimmy.
Jimmy was due back day after tomorrow from his run. When he got back, Kid determined to speak to him. He needed his help and for once Jimmy was the one he knew could help him out. Yes that's what he'd do - he'd talk to Jimmy, and then he'd figure out what he was going to do.