MORNING GLORY

Chapter 12

After some short moments Kid and Jimmy arrived with a load of wood. Even in the dark, Kid noted Lou's disorderly appearance. She had not bothered to wash her face that was covered with dust and traces of tears. He frowned, wondering what happened while he and Jimmy were gone.

Samantha immediately ran to him, putting her arms around him. She was putting on a show of kissing him seductively. Lou looked away and hurried to the creek to clean up.

"Hey, I missed you," Samantha said wholeheartedly, her face beaming.

"What happened?" Kid asked, touching Samantha's bruised cheek.

"Long story."

"Who did this to you?" Kid was certain it was not Buck, but he didn't think it was Lou either.

"Lou just went crazy on me," Samantha said. "She's got some issues."

Buck started building the fire. "Lou was provoked," he said in Lou's defense.

"What happened here? Did we miss something?" asked Jimmy who moved his sleeping bag closer to Lou's.

"I'm not supposed to tell, but there was a little cat fight," Buck said, hoping Lou did not hear.

"What?" Kid asked in disbelief. "Why?"

"I don't know," Buck said. He did not want to be the one to explain every single detail. "Some ugly things were said, and before I knew it, Lou was on Samantha. Don't worry. Neither one is seriously hurt."

"I knew it was a bad idea to have both of them here," Jimmy remarked.

"It's too late to send them back," Kid said.

"Listen, it won't happen again," Samantha said. "I promise. I won't touch her unless she attacks me first like she did today."

"I don't wanna hear who attacked who. I just don't want it to happen again," Kid said although he was quite curious about the incident.

The small group ate in silence. Lou and Samantha did a good job of ignoring eachother. Lou kept her eyes glued on her can of vegetables while Samantha kept her eyes on Kid. Buck could sense the tension in the air and could not recall a time when he would welcome Cody's wisecracks more than that moment.

"We'll rise early tomorrow," Jimmy finally spoke. "So make sure y'all get enough sleep."

"I've never been out here like this," Samantha said. "It's so beautiful."

"Try camping out every week," Buck said sarcastically. "It begins to lose its appeal."

Jimmy turned his eyes on Lou. From the marks on the girls' faces, it was obvious who won the fight. Samantha had a rather ugly bruise on her face and some scratches on her arms and face. Lou almost looked untouched, but he guessed that Samantha was probably the hair-pulling champion.

They cleaned up their meal and proceeded to get some sleep. "You okay, Lou?" asked Jimmy as he sat on his sleeping bag.

She continued to stare at the campfire. It was violent and beautiful at the same time. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

"I remember when I was a kid, I used to love the night. This was before Mama died. It used to be like a tunnel to a new beginning. But now I ain't so sure. After she died, I had these nightmares. My father's attitude toward me was probably responsible for the most part. When you're young, sleep is something that comes so easy, so natural. Now it's more like a demon that I have to battle every night."

"I know exactly what you mean," Jimmy said, reminded of his own demons.

"Jimmy, did Kid say something about seeing anything unusual in town?"

"Not that I can recall. Why? Did he see something he was not supposed to?"

"Well, there's this guy named Chris."

Uh-oh, Jimmy thought, pretty sure that this was another story of love and betrayal.

"It ain't what you think," she told him. "Chris works for my father. He's crazy. He has this thing with me."

"What thing?"

"Some liking, I guess you can call it that. He always tries his advances on me, but hasn't been successful so far. Well, that night in town before the madman incident, I ran into Chris. Again, he got a little nasty with me. He kissed me, and I waited for him to get comfortable. Then I fought back and kicked him where it counts."

Jimmy chuckled. "So what's this got to do with the Kid?"

"Well, he's been acting weird around me, and I'm pretty sure it's not only because of Katy. It's like he knows something. He has that look in his eyes, you know what I mean? You think he's seen it?"

"Well, if he did, he probably saw you kicking that guy in the balls."

"Should I tell him about it, or should I wait till he brings it up?"

"Don't ask, don't tell," Jimmy said as a matter of fact.

Lou nodded, slipping inside the covers of her sleeping bag. She was thankful that the fire kept most of the insects away. She lie awake for a few minutes, her sleepy eyes on Samantha and Kid. Judging Kid's breathing, she knew he was still awake. Perhaps his thoughts were occupied with worries of how to get Katy back. In a gesture of sweet affection, Samantha gently ran her hand back and forth against his chest. Lou felt a tinge of jealousy at the sight.

If you don't wanna see this, stop staring! Lou scolded herself. You always do things to hurt yourself more. He played you for a fool, and you still keep falling in love with him! What's wrong with you? Lou wondered how far Kid and Samantha had gone. They seemed to be regular lovebirds. She remembered the sweet moments she shared with Kid, and wondered if he was doing the same things he was doing to her with Samantha at the same time. Probably, she decided. He was probably seeing Samantha in romantic escapades while flirting with me at the same time. A fool that I am, I'd probably let it all happen the same way even if I knew what I know now.

Oblivious that she was being watched unintentionally, Samantha slowly slipped her fingers under Kid's shirt. He had been unresponsive to her touch as he lie on his back with his arms behind his head, watching the stars above. When he felt Samantha's hand on his bare chest, he quickly turned away. He was certainly not in the mood for this. He felt strange upon the realization that Lou was probably the only one who could turn him on in a moment like this. He hated to admit it, but it was true.

Lou's eyes widened as she watched Samantha's unsuccessful attempt to flirt with Kid. She was thankful that Kid turned his back toward Samantha and did not return the romantic gestures. Nonetheless, she was overcome with jealousy and knew she had to get out of there for a while and get a grip on herself.

She sat on the fallen branch a few yards away from their camp and covered her face as tears fell generously from her eyes. She was always the source of everyone's displeasure while everyone never failed to hurt her. She thought about what to do after they recovered Katy. She knew that she could not stay with Rachel. The woman was very kind, and she didn't want to abuse her kindness by staying longer than necessary. In addition she did not want to be around the station. As long as she was there, encounters with Kid would be inevitable.

Where am I supposed to go? I can't stay and I can't return to the saloon. I don't have anything to support myself. She never felt so helpless in all her life. I have to go back, she decided. I'll go back to the saloon. My father probably didn't even know I was gone. I've been gone from him for so long now that it doesn't matter if I'm there or not. She realized that to her father, she was nonexistent. She was an apparition of the bad memories he wanted to forget.

Lost in her thoughts, she did not realize how quickly time passed. After almost an hour of being gone, Jimmy was certain that she did not leave to answer a call of nature. Out of concern, he looked for her and found her sitting on the fallen branch. "Lou, what are you doing here?"

She sat, alarmed at Jimmy's sudden presence. "Jimmy, go back to sleep. I'm sorry. I was just thinking."

"Lou, the problem with you is you always blame yourself for everything. Stop saying sorry. Look at Cody. He's usually at fault, and I've never heard him say the word sorry. Not once."

"Thanks, Jimmy." She was happy to be his friend. First impressions were definitely inaccurate. In the beginning she thought that Jimmy was the rider she would get along the least. She could see the error of her judgment.

"You gonna sleep here?" Jimmy joked. "You think you can walk, or do you want me to carry you back?"

Lou could see the tiredness in his eyes. "From that weary look on your face, I wish I can carry you back," she said.

"How about you carry me halfway, then I'll carry you?" he suggested as they made their way back to camp. He was glad to brighten up Lou's despondent mood. "Did you really punch Samantha's face?"

Lou nodded. "She deserved it."

"I hate missing that! Promise, next time you and her get into a brawl, you'll make sure I'm around."

"Promise," she said as they reached the camp. Everyone was asleep but Buck who woke up at the sound of their arrival. "Go to sleep, Buck."

"You two okay?" he asked.

Jimmy nodded and was secretly glad that it was Buck who woke up and not Kid. Kid would probably give him the silent treatment if he thought there was something going on between him and Lou.

Morning came suddenly too soon. Kid felt as if he did not even get a decent hour of sleep as he worried about getting Katy back, how to avoid Samantha's wandering hands in the night, and how to ignore the other woman for another day. Hell, he could not even say her name anymore, not even in his thoughts, for it brought bitter sweet memories of moments shared with her. But at the same moment, under the soft glow of the morning sun, now that once again all ways of escaping from the lovely sight that she presented were hidden from him, he felt his longing flared up again, with a violence so intense, so sudden, that he started rolling his sleeping bag hurriedly, as if to escape from the throbbing agony that none the less swallowed him.

"What's the hurry, Kid? You're not planning to start riding without breakfast, are you?" Buck asked, hoping his friend had not lost his mind.

"The faster we get out of here, the faster we find Katy."

"Kid, what's going on with you and Lou? I mean you haven't really spoken to her. I know this is none of my business, but I can tell that this is eating her up. Maybe if you say just one kind word to her, she'll get better," Buck advised.

Kid knew the good intentions behind his friend's words, but his stubborn personality got the best of his emotions. "Does she have some kind of sickness? Why should I say anything nice to her just to make her feel better? Hell, because of her, I don't have a horse! Why don't she make me feel better? Why don't she say one kind word to me? Why don't you answer that, Buck!"

Buck looked around worriedly, praying that Kid's angry tirade did not wake anybody, especially Lou. His prayer was betrayed as Lou rose from her sleep and ran to the direction of the creek. "Thanks a lot, Kid," Buck said sarcastically in hushed whispers. "What exactly is your problem?"

"Listen, I'm sorry. I just have too many things on my mind. That's all," Kid apologized as he finished rolling his sleeping bag.

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."

"Buck, I know you're trying to help, but there's more to this than meets the eye."

"What are you talking about?"

"Remember the night I went to town to look for Jesse?"

Buck nodded.

"Well, I saw her in town with another man," Kid said softly, unsuccessful at keeping the hurt out of his voice. He accepted the fact that she lied to him, that she played with his feelings, that she used him. Yet despite every pain she caused, he still loved her, he still wanted her. No matter how hard he tried to ignore these feelings, there remained the inescapable knowledge of the self-evident.

"He could be a friend," Buck reasoned.

"Well, you just don't kiss your friends like that, Buck! That man was practically devouring her, and she was allowing it!"

Buck could not believe it. Perhaps Lou was not that innocent after all. "Are you sure? It could be a mistake."

"It was her," Kid concluded. "It could not be anyone else but her."

"I'm sorry, Kid. I didn't know," Buck said, understanding the anger that coursed in Kid's emotions. "Did you ask her about it?"

"No. I don't even know how to bring it up, let alone talk to her about the whole thing. If she wants to play this little game, I have no time for it, and right now, I don't have time for her mind games."

"Have you told Jimmy?"

"No. I don't think I'm even ready to speak about it."

"Tell me what?" Jimmy asked, awakened by the mere mention of his name.

"Nothing," Kid muttered under his breath.

"Then why in the world was my name mentioned?"

"No one said your name," Kid lied, sorry to wake up Jimmy who seemed to have a lot less sleep than he did. "You were probably dreaming. Go back to sleep."

"Nah," Jimmy said as he rose lazily, stretching his arms to unlimited heights. "I better get up now. I don't think I'll be able to if I sleep again." He noticed Lou's empty sleeping bag. "Where's Lou?"

"Probably went to the creek to wash up," Buck said. After hearing about Lou's betrayal from Kid, Buck's sympathy for the girl did not change. He still thought of her as family. Something about Kid's story just did not make sense. He was certain there was a mistake somewhere.

"What are we gonna do with her?" Jimmy said, pointing at the sleeping Samantha. "Should we wake her up?"

"I think we should wait for Lou to come back," Buck answered. "I don't think it's a good idea to have both of them at the creek."

Jimmy and Kid nodded in understanding, wishing to have been lucky as Buck to witness a little cat fight between
the two lovely women. I'm sure there'll be a next time, Jimmy thought optimistically.

Hands in her face, Lou wept softly under the golden radiance of the sun. She heard the ugly accusations that Kid told Buck, even the ones that were said after she left. She sat within hearing distance of the camp and regretted it. So, Kid had seen the incident with Chris, and he practically made up his mind about her. She knew that no explanation would be good enough to change the ugly image of her that he created in his mind. The morbid thoughts played in her head, causing her to weep even more, thickening the darkness that loomed in her shattered heart.

He's just like everybody else, she thought sadly. Why did I even believe him to be different? Charlotte's right. Men are all like that, she thought, deciding to promptly bury whatever affection she felt for him. She washed her face, pulling herself together. She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he hurt her, and how much he still could.

She watched the sad reflection of her face in the clear water of the creek. There was a heavy load of gloominess and despair in her eyes, but no sign of defeat could be traced. All things must pass, she told herself over and over again. It might take a while to get over him. I might never get over him just as I never get over my mother's death. But I can move on, and I will.

With her head held high, she returned to camp with a rediscovered strength that she did not even know she had in her. She went about her business as if nothing had happened, as if nothing was said about her that pained her. She ate the tasteless breakfast, studying the rising layer of earth under her legs. She was more than aware of Samantha's flirty nature that seemed to gain new energy each passing day. Samantha even tried to feed Kid, and even Jimmy had to cringe at the weird show of affection.

This ain't no fancy restaurant, Jimmy thought, watching Samantha's attempt to feed Kid, the unwilling participant. She doesn't even care who's around. We might as well disappear.

"We're gonna have a long ride ahead of us," Kid announced, mostly addressing the women. "So be prepared since we won't be able to stop too often for any breaks." He had been more than patient with getting Katy back, and today would be the day that he got what was rightfully his. He stared at the black stallion, his temporary horse. It certainly was a beautiful creature, but it was not Katy. He stole a peak at Samantha, and she was indeed a lovely woman, but she was not Lou.

From that moment, he realized the profundity of his affection for Lou although he had known her for such a short period of time and under unusual circumstances. Nonetheless, his feelings for her overpowered angry emotions that manifested themselves in his gloomy mood, and they were enough to sustain him until he managed a full recovery that lurked out of reach in the distant tomorrows.

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