Boggs and Mr. Beckett resigned to the fact that their match-making was a failure. When

Louise announced that she would attend the summer dance with Kid. Even though Mr. Beckett wanted to stay, he knew he had a town to get back to saving from the various illnesses around.

Lee got a surprise when she returned home from a run one day shortly before the dance. Lynnette, her twin, was at the station waiting for her. She looked to be in deep conversation with Buck.

Buck had demonstrated his awareness of what was around him, when he announced "Rider Coming" while having his back to the direction that the rider was coming from. Lynn was facing that direction and saw on the horizon a speck that as it got closer, looked like to be a rider.

"That should be Lee," Buck had told Lynn long before the rider could be seen. But somehow he was right.

After Lee passed the mail off to Cody, she got down off of Black and ran to her sister giving her a big hug. "What are you doing here?"

"The school lets out for the summer so I thought I'd come see you."

"That's great!"

"You know Grandfather came to see me."

Lee's face got a far away look. "Yeah he came here looking for the both of us."

"He told me when I told him where you were and what you were doing."

"What did he want?"

"To apologize for turning us out. Seems like Grandmother didn't like him turning us away."

"Oh well, I like working for the express. I'm not going to quit so he can make up with his wife. He didn't care about us, so why should I care about him?"

"Because he's our father's father."

"Who turned him away for marrying the woman he loved!"

"There was more to it than that."

"What did the old man tell you?"

"Mama told me that they believed that she was marring Daddy just for the money. Grandfather found out years later, that her parents thought the same thing about Daddy. When they tried to make up with him, he denied them being his parents. Mama did the same thing with her parents."

"They turned them away, I don't blame them."

"Maybe, maybe not. But it seems like a lot of people got hurt over a misunderstanding. He tried to offer to pay for my schooling. He even said that he would pay for your schooling too."

"No. We're not accepting any money from that hypocrite!"

"Well, it doesn't matter because my grades were so good, that the school awarded me a scholarship for the rest of my schooling. You don't have to pay a thing, they said that I earned it. They're even thinking of doing a pilot program for women to become doctors. If they do I'm first choice." Lynn said with a smile.

"That's great, Lynn!" Lee shouted! "I'll still send you some money to live on though. After all you need to eat and all."

Lynn laughed and said, "But you don't have to send so much now. If you're not going to accept Grandfather's offer to send you school, then take the rest of the money and save it for your schooling."

"Hey, have you met everybody, yet?"

"Umm, I've meet everybody you have written me about except Jimmy. I got here yesterday morning. Rachel said that you had just left."

Lee smiled. "OK, Jimmy should be back anytime now."

Just then they heard Kid yell "Rider Coming"

"I'm up, I should be back tonight though." Buck said.

"OK." Lynn said with a smile.

Lee smiled. She might do some match-making herself. It looked as though Lynn liked Buck and he liked her back by the looks of it. She would see what she could do to get the two together.

The rider coming in was Jimmy. When he saw Lee standing there talking with some lady, he smiled at thought of getting some private time with her. He didn't know who the lady was, for she had her back turned to him, so he knew he couldn't great her with a kiss like he really wanted too. The others had figured out that their relationship was more romantic than a brother/sister relationship, when Cody walked in on them kissing in the barn the day they got back from rescuing Jeremiah and Theresa from Wicks. So without having to worry about the others he had gotten used to greeting her with a hug or a kiss. His love for her had grown since he was able to show his feelings for her. After he had dismounted, Ike took his horse and he went inside the bunkhouse hoping that Lee would come inside as soon as she got finished talking to that lady.

Jimmy didn't have to wait long, but he was on his bunk with his eyes closed when Lee and Lynn walked inside. "Hard ride, Jimmy?" Lee asked. Jimmy didn't open his eyes, just nodded his head and yawned. "There's someone I want you to meet."

Jimmy opened his eyes to see that the lady that Lee must have been talking to was standing inside the bunkhouse. And she looked just like Lee. He stood up to shake he hand.

"Jimmy, this is Lynnette, my twin, Lynn, this is Jimmy."

"Pleased to meet ya," they said simultaneously.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The riders were the only ones in the bunkhouse. Everybody else had turned in for the night. They sat around the table doing various different things. Buck, Ike, and Jimmy were playing poker, Lee was trying to go to sleep, and Cody was trying to tease Kid about Louise, "So, Kid, you going to the dance with Louise, or is her father going to prevent you from taking her?"

"Cody, Louise is going to do what she wants, weather or not her father approves." Lee said.

"Yes, Cody, I'm taking Louise to the dance. Who are you going with?" Kid turned the tables.

"I'm not going to tie myself down to one girl."

"In other words, you couldn't find a date," Lee explained.

"How about you, Ike?" Cody asked, for once, trying to get the attention off of himself.

"I'm not taking anybody." Ike signed.

"See, I'm not the only one who wants to dance with every girl there." Cody explained.

"So, Buck, how about you? Who are you going with?" Lee asked. Buck looked uncomfortable, so Lee continued. "I was just wondering because I happen to know that Lynn needs an escort and she would be happy to go you" Before anybody could respond, she continued, "Now, if ya'll excuse me, I'm going to sleep. I got a ride first thing in the morning. Night." And with that, she closed her eyes hoping and praying that things worked out between Buck and Lynn. She thought that they would make a great match.

"So, Jimmy, are you taking Lee?" Cody said. Jimmy just shook his no. Jimmy and Lee had already talked about it. She didn't want the town's people to get suspicious and tell the company that she was a girl.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Jimmy came to see Lee off. Everyone else was asleep in the bunkhouse. "Mornin'." Lee said when she saw him.

"Mornin'." Jimmy returned as he gave her a hug. But there was something else that was on his mind. "Were you trying to do a little match making in there last night?"

"Well, Um, not really. Lynn just mentioned that she liked Buck and I could tell that Buck liked her, so I just let Buck know that Lynn liked him"

"Uh huh." Jimmy mumbled with a smile. "And that's not match making?"

"OK. I was match making a little." Lee admitted.

"Well, good luck with it. You know how Buck won't let anyone get close since Kathleen."

"I know, but maybe, Buck will see that Lynn is different."

"I hope so, for you and your sister's sakes." Jimmy said as he bent down to kiss her.

"I better get gin'. It's not a long ride, I'll be back for lunch."

"OK. Ride Safe."

With that Lee mounted and rode off. Jimmy stayed there until he could no longer see her on the horizon. Then turned back to go inside the bunkhouse, but was interrupted.

"You really care for her, don't you?" Lynn asked as she stepped down from the porch. Jimmy just nodded, so Lynn continued. "Have you told her that you love her?"

"Excuse me?"

"It's written all over your face. Have you told her?"

"I don't see where that's any of your business."

"It may not be. But she is my sister, and I just don't want to see her hurt. I can tell in her letters how much she loves you, but Lee's the type who has to know what you feel before she will let you know how she feels. You hold her heart in your hands weather or not you know it, Mr. Hickok. So my question to you is are you just leading the both of you on, or are you going to be true to your own heart?" she turned, went inside and left Jimmy to ponder what she said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When the day of the dance finally came, the boys were disappointed that Lee did not wear a dress. "Come on, Lee, nobody's going to tell the company nothin'. Go head and wear a dress." Cody pleaded.

"Cody, if you want to see what I look like in a dress, then look at Lynn, we look the same, only she has longer hair. I'm not going to chance my job, just to have a little fun." Lee stated and then left to go help her sister get ready for the dance and so the boys could get ready themselves.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Louise, Kid could come here to pick you up." Boggs said.

"Pa, I'm going to lend Lynnette one of my dresses. I want to be there to see the expressions on the boys faces when they see her in this." She said as she held up the deep purple party dress that she wore to the last dance. "I'll get ready over at Emma's."

"All right." Boggs resigned to the fact that Louise was going to go to the station to get ready and leave from there.

"I'll see you and Cindy at the dance."

"I'm not taking her, just meeting her there."

"Why?"

"Because she doesn't think her father would allow it."

"You have got to talk to that man. He believes that money is the most important thing in a marriage and love has nothing to do with it. I think that if you talk to him, he would agree to a marriage between the two of you." Boggs looked at his daughter shocked. "Don't be so surprised, Pa. Cindy and I talk. I know how the two of you feel toward each other, and I think it's great. And as long as her father doesn't know how she feels about you, which he doesn't, then he should agree to the marriage. Cindy told me that her father was looking for a rich man to marry her. He thinks that he will get part of money."

"I know she's told me the same thing."

"But I've been there when he has called her into his study to meet someone. Pa, these men are twice your age. They decline because of how young she is. At least you know how old she is and you're in love with her."

"Louise, didn't you say you had to go deliver one of your dresses to the station?"

Louise smiled, "Bye, Pa. I'll see ya there." and she left.

The conversation with Louise had got him to thinking. He still loved Mary, but at the same time he had really fallen for this girl. She was Louise's age. But none the less he had fallen in love with her. Mary was no longer with them. She was in Heaven. Would it be right to marry someone his daughter's age? Louise didn't seem to mind. She thought it was great. Had she known how lonely he had been since her mother had died? When he and Cindy started to see each other, the loneliness had gone a way some. Then when he said good night to Cindy, the loneliness returned. Instead of longing for Mary, he was longing for Cindy. Was this wrong? He wasn't married anymore. His wife had died 7 years ago. Something inside said that this was right. Maybe he should take his daughter's advice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"OK, Barnette, here's what I want I want you to do. When Jo gets here with my package, come and get me, if Emma's nearby, say that there's someone that needs to see me. OK?" Sam made sure that his plan was going to go right.

"OK. Got it. When Jo gets here with your package, come get you and say that there is someone that needs to see you."

"Right. Now I'm going to pick up Emma and I'll see you then OK?"

"OK."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At the dance, every man wanted to dance with Lynn, but it was her escort, Buck, who got the most dances with her. It made Lee see just how pretty she really was. Lee just stood back and watched the scene unfold before her. Her twin sister was having the time of her life. Lee wished that she could dance the night away, like her sister. She also knew that it could jeopardize her job if she did.

About an hour later, Barnette, walked out onto the dance floor, and told Sam what he wanted to hear. Sam made his apologies and left.

When Sam reached his office, Jo was there with the small package. Sam paid him the money and went back to the dance. When he saw Emma, she was dancing with Teaspoon. After the song ended, Emma, saw that Sam was back. "Everything OK, Sam?"

"Yeah Emma, everything's fine." at Emma's sigh of relief, Sam changed his mind. "No, actually, not everything is OK." Emma looked puzzled, so he continued. "And it won't be OK, until you become my wife." He blurted, but before she could respond, he went down on knee and asked, "Miss Shannon, would you marry me?" and as tears came to Emma's eyes, Sam held his breath.

"Yes." She said through her tears of joy. Everyone clapped, and Lee snuck out. Jimmy saw that Lee snuck out and followed her. As Jimmy stepped outside of the door, the musicians were playing a love song for the newly engaged couple. You could hear the music outside.

When Jimmy found Lee, she was in the alley between the building where they were holding the dance and the general store. She had her back turned to the entrance, so no one could see her face. Jimmy put a hand on her shoulder and knew something was wrong. When he turned her to face him, he saw the tears. "What's wrong?"

"Nothin', I just needed to get out."

Jimmy knew that she didn't want to talk about it, so he just dropped the subject and held her until he could tell that she had stopped crying. When he thought she was ready, he asked her, "Before we go back inside, may I have this dance?"

Lee looked stunned, but agreed. After an initial awkwardness, they fell into a comfortable hold that lasted for three songs ... until Cody had noticed that Lee was gone and decided to go look for his bunkmate. "Oh there you are. Jimmy I didn't know you were missing too, well, I 'll just leave you too alone." He left but the mood was spoiled so they went back inside. Lee wondered just how Jimmy knew that she was feeling left out of the dance, but she was glad that he did figure it out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The summer past quickly with planning Sam and Emma's wedding. The twins catching up and getting close again. Also, Lynn and Buck were getting closer and closer each day. For a special treat, Emma, found two wigs. One that looked like Lynn's hair and one that looked like Lee's hair. Lynn would wear the wig that looked like Lee's hair and vice versa. She wanted Lee to attend to her wedding as a girl. She also wanted Lee to stand beside her at her wedding. But in order to do that, the girls had to some how switch places. The only way to do that was to get wigs made. When Lee put her Wig on, and Lynn put her wig on, not even Jimmy and Buck could tell the two apart.

The wedding was set for August 17. On August 18, Lynn had to go back to school, so the week before, Lynn was packing to go back to school, while Emma was packing to move and leave Sweetwater. In July, Sam was offered the Territorial Marshall position and after much discussion, Emma and Sam thought it was best for them for him to take the job. They were going to have to move to St. Joseph. Emma had promised her friends and family that she and Sam would visit often.

The day of wedding was beautiful and it was a lovely wedding with Lee and Louise both standing beside Emma at the alter, while Sam had Teaspoon and Barnette standing beside him. The reception was held out at the way station and everyone had a wonderful time.

Lee was the one this time to dance the party away. She enjoyed every minute of it, and Lynn enjoyed seeing her sister enjoy herself freely. Lee had one dance with all her bunkmates and Teaspoon and then danced the rest of the time with Jimmy.

While Jimmy was dancing with Lee, Kid was dancing with Louise and Boggs, well he was sharing Cindy with the rest of the riders. The riders knew that something was going on between him and Cindy and he knew they could keep the other suitors away from her and keep her father's suspicion down at the same time. He had decided that he was going to ask her father for her hand, but he hadn't quite decided how or when he would ask him.. He was a strange man when it came to ideas on marriage and his daughter, so he knew he had to be careful or he wouldn't get a positive response from the man.

Buck did get Lynn to sneak away and they shared a couple of dances as well, but they had to get back before they were missed. When they got back, Emma and Sam were about to leave and they arrived just in time to see Cindy catch the Bride's bouquet.