Author's Note: Prequel to "As You Like It", an A/U where Lou and Kid manage to keep her secret until after they secretly marry, only to be discovered in a compromising position by the other riders. In this little story, the secret sweethearts celebrate Valentine's Day in the only way they can . . .
"Well, that’s the last of ‘em," Cody sighed, laying down his pen wearily beside a stack of Valentine cards.
"How many women are you askin’ to be your one and only, Cody?" Noah laughed from the corner.
Cody airily straightened the stack of cards. "I just wouldn’t want to disappoint any of my young lady friends, Noah. They’re all one of a kind, and they all deserve a special Valentine."
"Very democratic of you," Lou mocked, looking up from the table where she was taking apart her gun and cleaning the chamber.
Cody gave a slight sniff in Lou’s direction. "Least I show an interest in the ladies," he answered. "Not like some folks around here."
Jimmy and Cody exchanged an amused glance.
"Now, Cody, don’t go pickin’ on ol’ Lou. Give ‘im a few years, he’s still got some growin’ to do before he’s ready to discover women," Jimmy remarked dryly. Glancing at Kid, Jimmy shivered a little disgustedly when he saw that soft look come over Kid’s face as he watched Lou from a corner. Seeing Jimmy’s eyes on him, Kid seemed startled and focused his eyes on his book again hurriedly.
Irritated at Cody’s guffaws at Jimmy’s remark, Lou sniped, "Fine. I can see why you’d want to improve your odds by sending out thirty valentines. Maybe one of them’ll take an interest, with odds like that."
"Don’t be jealous, Lou. Someday you’ll grow up and some lady’ll take pity on you, you’ll find out what you been missing."
Lou flushed and sprang up, flung the rag down on the table in a fit of pique, then flounced out the door. Jimmy fidgeted uncomfortably, at the sight of Lou’s characteristically odd gestures and walk.
Wait for it, he thought wearily, and sure enough, after a minute or two Kid put down his book and stretched. "Gonna go see a man about a horse." "You do that," Jimmy said, rolling his eyes behind Kid as the younger man hurried out the door. He sighed and shook his head, putting the thoughts that flashed through his mind aside. That runt Lou might be a sissy, but . . . I won’t believe anything worse less’n I see it for myself, he thought firmly.
Kid pushed the door to the barn open and smiled softly at Lou, who was leaning up against the stall door holding a carrot for Katie. He saw she’d already fed a carrot to Lightning, who was chewing contentedly.
"Thanks for taking care of my second best girl," he said gently, coming up behind Lou and passing his arms around her waist. He leaned to kiss her on the neck, and she leaned back into his embrace. "I’m sorry I can’t take care of you like I’d like to," he murmured.
"How’s that?" she asked glumly.
"For starters, seein’ as it’s Valentine’s Day, I’d like to pick you up at the door in a fine carriage and matched pair," he started, swaying with her. "I’d like to give you a box of candy all wrapped up from the store. And I’d like to give you a bouquet of red roses." She smiled as she leaned back in his arms.
"Then I’d like to help you into the carriage and take you in to town to the Valentine’s Day dance, and dance every dance with you. All the other fellas would try to cut in, but I wouldn’t let them," he continued, seeing it in his mind as clear as clear. "And then I’d like to see you home, walk you up to the door . . . and steal a kiss good night."
Lou’s happy face fell a little, and she turned in his arms, playing with the buttons on his shirt. "I’m sorry," she whispered.
He came out of his little daydream with a start. "What for?" he asked, puzzled.
"I’m sorry because you’re missing out on a normal love life, on account of my secrets," she explained. "Someone like you could have any girl you wanted -"
"I know that," he grinned. "Because you’re the only girl I could ever want. And I have you, don’t I?" he asked, low, peering at her downcast eyes. She blushed hotly, and he leaned in closer. "Sorry, I didn’t hear . . . you are mine, aren’t you, Lou?"
"I’m yours," she agreed meekly, her arms slipping up around his neck, her eyes locked on his adoringly.
"So I wasted my money on this, then," he said, "but I’ll give it to you anyway."
She opened the envelope he handed her and read aloud, smiling. "Be mine - Love, Kid." Glancing back up into his eyes, she smiled. "You’re right. You didn’t need to ask."