Dinner passed unusually quiet for the night before Buck and Teaspoon headed out. Normally, it would have been filled with old stories and laughs about the Pony Express days. Even Cody was quiet, and everyone at the table seemed bothered by something.

"Remember the first time we went after a gang together?" Lou started, finally deciding the silence was too much. Kat perked up a little, dying to hear Express stories from someone other than Cody.

"They shot you, we had to." Kid smiled lovingly across the table at his wife.

"The first time you didn't want me along cuz I was a girl." Lou laughed teasingly.

"And the first time Jimmy argued with me about it!" Kid laughed back, shaking his head at the memory of how many times he and Jimmy had come to blows over Lou.

"The first time you boys made me proud." Teaspoon announced from the end of the table. "Back then, I never thought you boys would amount to much."

"First time I knew Buck couldn't be trusted." Cody added, knocking the wind out of the conversation.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Buck asked, glaring at Cody across the table.

"Twelve or thirteen horses and two wagons." Cody said haughtily. "There were at least twenty-five men!"

"But Ike came back for those rifles." Lou chipped in, trying to continue the story. She didn't know what was going on, but Buck and Cody looked like they could kill each other.

"So you still don't trust me?" Buck asked angrily, completely ignoring Lou. Lou was completely shocked. Buck was usually the one trying to keep the peace.

"No one should." Cody spat back.

Buck nearly went through the table. Cody was just as ready to go.

"Boys!" Teaspoon snapped. He hadn't had to yell at the table in more than a year, and was not happy about doing it now. Cody and Buck had always had their differences, all the boys had. But, Buck didn't fight unless pushed, and Cody was definitely pushing.

"Let's take this outside." Cody said, standing and glaring down at Buck. Buck started to rise also.

"No one is leaving this table until I know what's going on!" Teaspoon barked. "And I'm not riding out with you two ready to kill each other!"

Buck and Cody both sat down, still shooting daggers at each other. They both knew better than to push their old boss too far.

Teaspoon sat impatiently awaiting an answer. Lou looked around the table confused. Kid shifted uncomfortably, knowing where this was coming from. Kat sat horrified, having an idea what was going on between the two friends.

"Well, I'm waiting." Teaspoon said impatiently after several minutes of silence.

"It's nothing." Buck answered quietly, trying to end the discussion.

"The hell it ain't!" Cody bellowed.

"Well Cody," Teaspoon began impartially. "Why don't you tell me what's going on."

Cody glanced at Buck, who was staring at his plate. Cody then looked at Kat apologetically.

"I just want to know when Buck was planning on telling Kat he proposed to Jen." Cody announced. "Especially since he didn't come home last night."

The whole table was absolutely still. Teaspoon and Lou looked shocked at the revelation. Kid shook his head, angry Cody had brought it up this way. Buck still hadn't looked up, but his face was a hundred times redder.

"Excuse me." Kat said in a controlled voice. Her face was completely white as she stood up and hurried out of the bunkhouse.

Cody and Buck both started after her, but Lou beat them to it.

"You two have done enough!" Lou said in a hostile voice as she followed Kat out the door.

"I hope you know you both handled that badly." Teaspoon said disappointedly after Lou had left.