Part One: Have You Told Her? "Where ya headed son?" Teaspoon inquired of Jimmy as he watched the young man put his bedroll on the back of his saddle. As Jimmy got onto the horse, he looked at the man he had come to regard as a father over the last year. He could see the deep concern in the old man's eyes and could hear it in his question. "I don't know Teaspoon. All's I know is, I can't stay here anymore and watch Lou and Kid get hitched. Right or wrong, I'm in love with her and I can't stop thinking about her." Teaspoon laid his hand on the horse as he thought about what he was about to say to Jimmy. He wasn't sure it was the right thing to tell the young man, but he had kept quiet long enough. Pushing his hat higher on his forehead so he could look Jimmy in the eye, he cleared his throat and went straight to the point. "Son, havin' been wed six times myself, I would like to think I know a thing or two about love. I've seen the way you look at Lou, and believe it or not, I've caught her lookin' right back a time or two. I've always felt that there was somethin' brewin' b'tween the two of you. What I never saw was you doin' anythin' about what you was feelin'," at this point he fixed his gaze upon the rider's face and asked, "Did you ever tell her how you was feelin'?" Jimmy looked down and muttered, "Of course I haven't. She was with Kid, how could I have told her Teaspoon?" Hooking his fingers in his suspenders, Teaspoon gave a little smile. "Well, now. I think we have gotten to what the answer to you're predicament is Jimmy. All's ya got to do is find Lou and tell her how you's is feelin'." Looking like a drowning man Jimmy stuttered, "But Teaspoon! You seen the ring Kid got for Lou. He plans on asking her to marry him when she returns from Julesburg..." A devilish grin passed over Teaspoons face as he stated, "Julesburg is a long way from Rock Creek. A lot could happen during the long ride home." "What are you saying Teaspoon?" "Well, the way I see it Jimmy, you have sometime off comin' to ya and if 'n you decided to take a little ride and were to meet a certain rider on their way back from Julesburg, you might want to take the opportunity to do somethin' about those feelin's b'fore it's too late." A look of hope came over the young man's face as Teaspoon patted himself on the back mentally for opening Jimmy's eyes to what could still be. "Uh, Teaspoon, if you don't mind, I think I'm gonna take a few days off. There's something real important that I got to do b'fore it's too late. Mind having someone take my next run for me?" "I was hopin' you'd say that Jimmy. Don't you worry about your ride. I'll take care of everythin'. Now go find that girl and let her know how you really feel. I got a feelin' she may just be feelin' the same." With that, Teaspoon slapped the palomino and called out, "Ride safe, Jimmy!" Teaspoon watched Jimmy wave, as the rider spurred his horse towards the setting sun, racing to his future. Part Two: Finding Love It had taken Jimmy four days of hard riding to reach Julesburg. He knew that Lou would still be there. She wasn't scheduled to return to Rock Creek for another six days since she was taking a few days off after delivering a special package for Sam to the U.S. Marshal who was stationed there. The first thing he did after stabling his horse was head over to the hotel where Lou was suppose to be staying. There was a couple checking in when he entered the lobby so he stood nearby, waiting his turn and watching the people passing by in front of the hotel in hopes that Lou may be returning if she had been out. "May I help you, Sir?" the young man at the desk asked once the couple had headed up the stairs to their room. "I was hoping that you might have a room I could rent for a couple of days," Jimmy paused, deciding whether or not to ask about Lou. "Oh, also, could you tell me if a Lou McCloud is still here? I'm a friend of his and thought I'd say hello." Looking down at the register book, the man checked the names on the page. "Mr. McCloud is still with us, room eight at the end of the hall. I have the room next to that open if you would like that one, Sir?" "Thank you," Jimmy told the man as he signed the book and paid for the room. As he turned to go up the stairs, he inquired, "Do you know if Mr. McCloud is in at the moment?" Shaking his head no, the clerk mentioned, "Mr. McCloud went out about twenty minutes before you arrived." *~*~*~*~ Jimmy had just finished washing and changing into some clean clothes when he heard a noise coming from the room next to his. 'Ah, Lou has finally returned,' he told himself as he headed towards the door. Standing in front of her room, he came down with a case of the 'what if's.' What if she isn't glad to see me? What if I make a fool of myself? What if Lou doesn't feel the same way? What if Teaspoon was wrong? The last thought brought him out of his reverie. No matter what advice Teaspoon had given in the past, nor how wrong the riders thought he was, they had always come to the conclusion, the even when Teaspoon was wrong, he was right. From personal experience, Jimmy had found out that all the advice he'd been given by Teaspoon, the old man had been right. With that in mind, he reached up and knocked on the door. There was a sudden rush of footsteps towards the door. "Who is it?" 'That's my girl. Always ask before opening a door.' "Lou, it's me Jimmy. Open up." The door flew open to reveal a surprised Lou. "Jimmy? What on earth are you doin' here?" She reached for his hand and practically dragged him into the room and shut the door. "I sure didn't expect to see you here. Did you have a special delivery?" she inquired as they moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "No. I had some time off comin' and decided to take it and ride back with you when you go, if that's alright with you?" Lou thought it was a bit strange, that he'd come all the way out to Julesburg just for a ride. Then again this was Jimmy, you never knew what he was gonna do next. "Why thank you Jimmy. I'd like the company. You get used to ridin' by yourself on a run, but when it's as long as this one is, it'd be mighty nice to have someone to talk to." He started to feel a bit calmer, now that he was here with Lou. He always felt better when he was in her company. Life had a way of looking more promising to him when they were together and if he didn't get cold feet and mess things up, the future didn't look so lonely anymore. *~*~*~*~ The two friends had just finished dinner at the hotel restaurant and were taking an evening stroll through town. Lou was showing Jimmy where different places were that might be of interest to him during the next few days. "I'm not exactly sure how you planned on spending your time before heading back to Rock Creek, but there seems plenty to do here." Lou mentioned as she read a sign stating that in one more day there would be a fair on the edge of town. "Looks like it might be fun," she murmured, turning to her companion. Jimmy had lost himself in the enjoyment of listening to Lou talk and hadn't noticed that she was waiting for him to say something. "Uh, Jimmy? You alright?" Shaking his head, he looked into her big brown eyes. 'Such beautiful eyes. I could get lost in them.' "I hadn't made any other plans other then spending time with you." Lou's heart did a little flip. Her stomach was suddenly filled with butterflies at the thought of Jimmy going out of his way to be with her and telling her so. 'Could there be a possibility that he is feeling some of what I am? Oh, Lord, please let him feel the same as I do.' A smile play at the corner of her mouth as she look around them, making sure they were alone before she stepped up and softly kissed his cheek and whispered, "I'd like to spend time with you too, Jimmy." *~*~*~*~ It was the afternoon of the fair and Lou was begging Jimmy to hurry up so they wouldn't miss anything. He had to grin at her excitement. He decided to put her out of her misery and walked a bit faster. There were clowns, strongmen, and animals in cages from someplace called Africa. There were booths selling food, trinkets and ribbons. There were tents where one could see such strange sights as an alligator man, wolf boy, a rubber man, the fat lady and there was even a fortuneteller. Jimmy could see the longing in Lou's eyes as she read the sign telling that Madame La Rue could see into the future. Handing her a coin, Jimmy urged her towards the entrance of the tent. "It'd be a waste of money Jimmy," Lou argued not wanting to go in by herself. He grinned and told her, "Just go Lou. It might be fun. I'll wait right here for you." For a moment Lou hesitated, looked back at Jimmy and when he motioned her forward with his hands, she disappeared into the tent. The interior was dark. The light was muted but Lou could see drapes or veils of filmy, brightly colored fabric hanging all around the tent. They looked like a rainbow to her. She was startled by a raspy voice calling out for her to enter. At a table near the back of the tent sat a frail, wrinkled old woman. With a crooked finger, she beckoned Lou to take a seat across from her. Sitting on the middle of the table was a glass ball. "You have come to see the future my deary? Madame La Rue sees all, knows all. Sit. Don't be frightened. No harm will come to you here my dear." Lou wondered how the woman knew she was a girl. She sat at the table and handed her coin to the woman who nodded her thanks as she secreted the money away in her lap. "You must be quiet as I look into my crystal ball. I need quiet to see what the mists are showing me of your future." Slowly the woman waved one hand then the other over the top of the ball. At first, Lou didn't see anything but all of a sudden, she could see what looked like smoke whisping through the ball. "I see you are living a hard life right now. It is full of danger and much hard work. Soon though, you will no longer be alone. I see a man; he has been hurt many times before. He has lived a lonely life until now. Your futures will become one. Do not be afraid to go with him. He is your destiny. Together you will have a good life, a life of happiness, but apart, you will both suffer. That is all I see right now." Lou stood to leave but before she could take a step, the old woman grabbed her hand and warned, "Don't be afraid of finding love, my dear. With him, you will have your heart's desire!" *~*~*~*~ Jimmy noticed Lou as soon as she stepped out from the tent. She looked like she was deep in thought as he moved to her side. "Well?" he inquired, "Anything interesting in your future?" "What?" Lou looked at Jimmy for a moment before answering his question. "I'll have to think on it for a while, figure out what it means and then I'll let you know." "I don't know about you Lou, but I'm ready to get out of here. Nothing else I want to see. How about you?" "I'm ready too. Lets go somewhere quiet." *~*~*~*~ The only quiet place they could find was back at the hotel. Sitting on Jimmy's bed, they were playing poker. Jimmy could tell Lou's mind wasn't on the game as she sat across from him. "Lou, if you're gonna keep playing like this I'm gonna quit. You let me win with a pair of deuces and you threw out at least three aces!" Lou looked up and apologized, "Sorry Jimmy. Is it hot in here? I'm hot." To Jimmy's amazement, Lou proceeded to take her shirt off. 'Oh sure, she has her long johns on, but still...' he thought as she threw the shirt on the floor. "That's much better! I know, to make the game interesting, every time we have a losing hand, we have to take something off." He raised his eyebrows at her suggestion and shrugged. That was a new one to him but hey, if Lou wanted to play that way who was he to say no? Besides she was the one losing anyhow. He looked over at her, wondering what was going on with her. "Uh, okay Lou. I'll go along with that. 'Sides, you've already seen all of us guys but we haven't seen you..." He gulped at the look that came over her face. With a devilish grin, Lou practically purred, "And do you want to Jimmy? See me I mean?" Jimmy didn't know where to look. There was no escaping Lou at this point, him being trapped on the bed. "Well, do you Jimmy?" she asked as she brushed the cards that had been forgotten onto the floor. Jimmy could only watch unbelieving as Lou moved towards him, with a very determined look in her eyes. She crawled over to him and stopped when their knees were touching. She sat back and watched the expressions playing over his face. It almost made her laugh. "You aren't afraid, are you Jimmy?" she asked coyly. "Of you Lou?" Jimmy croaked, "Of course not!" "Good," she said as her hand reached out to brush through his long brown hair. "I'm tired of waiting Jimmy. I know that I like you and I'm pretty sure you like me and it's just the two of us here. Alone with no one to interrupt us..." Any reply he would have made was cut short as Lou brought her lips to his. It was a soul shattering experience for him. He'd never before felt the jolt that coursed through his body as her lips deepened the kiss. He felt his body respond before his mind grasped what was being offered. He reached up and held her head in his hands as his mouth opened, taking the embrace to a whole new level. He heard a groan but wasn't sure if it was Lou or himself that made it. All he knew was that he'd just been offered his heart's desire and he wasn't about to let go. His body was alive with desire and his blood was singing as her hands began touching everywhere. With a rasping breath Jimmy whispered, "God Lou. I want you so bad..." She looked up with eyes clouded with desire and smiled, "Do you hear me saying stop?" At the verbal invitation, he threw all restraint to the wind and proceeded to make love to her at a feverish pace. His wildest dream could never compare to the real thing. At the height of passion, Lou begged, "Please don't ever stop lovin' me Jimmy..." "Never...Lou..." he gasped holding her tight until his world stilled once more. *~*~*~*~ He awoke later to a darkened room. It took a moment to remember that he was in a hotel in Julesburg with Lou. 'Lou, my precious, sweet Lou.' Rolling on his side he could see her sleeping form next to him. Her breathing was slow and shallow, telling him that she was still asleep. Rather then getting out of bed and running the risk of waking her, he decided to lie there watching her sleep. 'She's so peaceful when she sleeps. I love the way she curls up into a ball like that. It makes me want to reach out and hold her, protect her from the world.' A short time later Lou yawned, stretched her body out, and finally opened her eyes. "Hello there sleepyhead!" "Mmm...Jimmy. I've never been so comfortable before...must be the company," she offered as she leaned over to kiss him. "I'm pretty partial to the company too." *~*~*~*~ After the several minutes it took for her to fully come awake, Lou suggested they go get some dinner. "I'm starving!" she declared. "That's what happens when you work up an appetite!" Jimmy teased as they headed out the door to find sustenance. Lou just swatted him on the arm and queried, "And I suppose you ain't hungry Jimmy?" He grinned. "Starved!" *~*~*~*~ The days before they were due to start back to Rock Creek were spent holed up in one room or another exploring their newfound love. During that time, Jimmy was able to finally tell Lou all that he had been holding inside. Lou, who had never been able to trust very easily, realized that when she was with Jimmy, she was able to be herself, to give freely of her friendship and her love. As they started out for Rock Creek, Lou looked over at her riding companion and grinned. "Sure never thought I'd be finding love when I was sent out on this run. I'll have to thank Teaspoon when we get back." Jimmy smiled in return, "Me too Lou, me too!" Email Lisa L. HOME