Yesterday's Tomorrow

Part 1

Lou sighed deeply as she inhaled the sweet scent of the morning.  The hardness of the bunk brought her back to reality after a brief oblivion caused by a dream about the man she truly loved with all her heart- - yes, that very same man who was still sound asleep on the bunk below hers.  Even in her dream, he was still her protector; perhaps even a guardian angel.  He was still the same Kid in her dream; the only difference was he was hers in this completely other world while in reality, he was free.  She lie awake for several minutes, contemplating the past few days.  Samantha left town three days ago, bringing with her the memories she shared with Kid. 

Kid must still miss her terribly, Lou thought sadly.  He's still not over her.  He's still heart-broken.  Tears almost overcame her when she remembered how he acted after they broke up, how whole he was.  He did not seem to be broken-hearted at all, considering his instant attraction to Samantha.  Get over him, she told herself for the millionth time.  He obviously doesn't care about me anymore.  We haven't spoken to each other for the last few days, not even a simple 'hello' or 'bye'.  From the way things look from here, he probably won't ever talk to me for the rest of his life. 

"Hey, Lou," Jimmy greeted her warmly.  He stumbled over his own blanket and almost collided with Noah who was fixing his bunk. 

"It sure is weird without hearing Cody's big mouth this early in the morning," Noah said sleepily as he glanced at Cody's empty bunk.  He was scheduled to return in an hour.

"Can't say I'm sorry," Lou commented as she lowered herself from her bunk.  She caught a glimpse of Kid who was still sleeping.  I wish I could kiss him right now.  I wonder how he'd react if he finds me next to him when he wakes up, she thought cheerfully as she fought a giggle.

Teaspoon and the rest of the riders, except Buck and Ike who were out on an important run together, ate breakfast in silence.  The apparent tension between the two young lovers was affecting the whole family.  Rachel wished that they would just start talking to eachother.  She really thought that the silence between the two would only last for a couple of days, but a day passed and another and still, no words were said.  Now she began to think that maybe only a miracle would save even the dying friendship of these two stubborn riders.

"Letter for you, Kid," Cody said as he tossed the letter across the table to Kid.

Jimmy shook his head in disapproval, knowing that the letter was from Samantha.  This is just great, he thought sarcastically.  To make matters worse, Kid opened the letter in front of everybody as Cody urged him to read it out loud.  Jimmy felt the uneasiness and discomfort growing among the others except Cody. 

"So what did she say, Kid?" asked Cody again as he swallowed a mouthful of Rachel's stew.  "Is she coming back?"

Kid shook his head in disappointment.

"She just left, Cody, so don't expect her to be back so soon," Noah said to lighten up the mood.  Discussing Samantha in front of Lou made him uneasy.

"Kid, what would you do to get her to come back here?  Would you climb the tallest tree in the world?  Would you swim across the deepest ocean?  Would you-"

"Enough, Cody!" Jimmy said roughly to the blond rider.  He never thought that Cody could be so stupid sometimes.  Didn't he see Lou's pale face during the whole conversation?

"What?" Cody asked him with surprise in his eyes.  "Did I say something wrong?"

"Everything," Noah muttered under his breath.  He kicked Cody under the table as the others continued to eat, hoping to kick some sense out of him.

"Well, last time I checked, this was a free country!" Cody defended himself after another mouthful of food.  "And I can say anything I please."

"Which is something you never fail to do," Teaspoon commented.  He cleared his throat, an indication that something important was needed to be done.  He was tired of the obvious and unreasonable tension between Kid and Lou, and he intended to do something about it.  He realized how hard it must be for the two to patch things up with the others watching their every move.  He knew that they needed some time by themselves without the others giving them such a hard time.  "I've got something important that needs to be delivered," he said quietly as he gazed at the faces around the table.  "There's a mail containing some important documents that need to be sent to Prosperity.  I know it's quite a ride from here so I decided to send two of the well-rested out of you, boys."  He cocked at an eyebrow as the young men whom he loved as his own sons stared at him, each hoping and praying that he would not be chosen.  "Cody's scheduled for a run this afternoon when Buck and Ike come back.  Noah and Jimmy just got back from their runs two days ago.  So I guess that leaves you, Kid," he said as he turned to the handsome cowboy.  "And Lou," he quickly added.

Lou's eyes widened in confusion as she searched for some excuse to give Teaspoon.  She had not spoken with Kid for a while now, and it would not be such a good idea to deliver some important documents and ride a few days with someone who would not even look at her, let alone talk to her.  She turned to look at each of the other riders, her eyes begging them to trade with her, but there was no rescue.  They all busied themselves with their breakfast and refused to meet her eyes.  "But Teaspoon-" she started to protest.

"Lou, you don't have to thank me.  I know how much you appreciate it," Teaspoon told her.

"Teaspoon, I'm a girl," she finally said although she hated saying it.  "It might be too dangerous for me.  It's quite far, and we've been having Indian troubles these past few days."

"Now, now, Lou," Teaspoon said, "I wouldn't worry too much if I were you.  You're one of my best riders, and you can handle these situations better than anybody else.  Besides, you've got Kid.  Kid, you wouldn't let anything happen to her, would you?"

"We'll be all right," Kid said softly, not taking his eyes off his food.  He did not know whether to be glad or uncomfortable with Teaspoon's decision.  Mixed emotions were running over him; he felt happy that he would be with her, but uneasy about the idea of being alone with her.  They had not talked much, actually they had not talked at all, these past few days after they broke up.  He missed her terribly, even though he saw her almost everyday.  He wished they could be at least friends, but as the days went by his wish seemed to be impossible.  He wanted to talk to her so many times but was too embarrassed to even approach her after he found out that she heard everything he said on the day he was talking with the boys about Samantha.  He told them that he and Lou were just not meant to be, and he was sorry that he said that even though there was no evidence that what he said was false.  He just regretted those words because they hurt the lovely woman that still owned his heart, maybe even to the day he died.

I guess he likes the idea as much as I do, Lou thought as she observed Kid's face.  He probably wants to shoot himself right now so that he can avoid this ride.  Well, I don't blame him.  Who would want to be stuck with boring ol' me for a few days when there are a lot of pretty girls running after him here in Rock Creek? 

"Jimmy, please, I don't ask you for much," Lou begged him continuously.  "Just this once.  Please, Jimmy.  Take this ride with Kid.  Please."

Jimmy shook his head.  He would gladly take the ride for her, but he knew that it was Teaspoon's plan to give them a chance to work things out between them.  "I'm sorry, Lou.  I've just got too much to do around here."

"Like what?" she cocked an eyebrow.  She knew him well, too well that she could even tell sometimes if he was lying or not.

Jimmy wrestled with his thoughts for a while, hoping to offer a convincible excuse.  "I promised Rachel that I'd do somethin' for her."

"What?"

"Fix stuff," he told her quickly, wishing she would stop pestering him.

"I'll do it for you, Jimmy."

"Trust me, Lou, there's too much work to be done around here.  It's better that I stay.  Don't worry, you'll be fine."

Lou felt like crying.  She felt her knees weakened as she leaned on the fence.  "I don't know what to say to him, Jimmy.  Before, we'd have fights, but we'd talk again after a day or two.  This time, it's different.  I don't know what to say to him, how I should talk to him.  He won't even look at me."

Jimmy stood beside her and put his arm around her shoulders in a brotherly manner.  "Lou, it's gonna be okay.  Just let things flow.  He'll come around.  Don't worry about it.  So what if he doesn't say anything?  Ignore him.  See how he likes it."

Lou smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  "I feel so stupid sometimes.  I don't know why I feel like this.  I guess you're right.  If he doesn't care, why should I?  If he won't talk to me, then I've got nothing to say to him."  She tried to believe the things she said, but she knew she didn't believe them either.  Even the thought of him leaving her at Prosperity to go home separately after the delivery made her feel like dying.

Part 2