It seemed winter had blown in quickly this year for the town of Sweetwater. Some were saying that this year was going to be the worst ever. The riders out at the Pony Express station had one and only obligation, and that was to deliver the mail from St. Joseph, Missouri all the way to Sacramento, California.
Christmas was just around the corner and this year was especially important to everyone. Most of the riders hadn't spent a single holiday with anyone who they would call a "loved one." And for those who had shared their blessings with family it was too long ago for them to remember.
Leading up to Christmas was the most hectic time of year for the riders. People with families on different sides of the country were sending greetings and gifts to their kin. It made thier job twice as difficult, but also twice as important as usual.
Since it was the first Christmas the riders would spend together as a "family", Rachel was planning on trying to make it special for them all. She had grown to love the express family in the short time she had been with them. In a sense, the boys and Lou were like her children, and Teaspoon and herself were like parents to them. At least that's how she thought of her new family. It was pretty certain that her sentiments were shared by everyone.
Rachel had organized a tree for the bunkhouse to make the festivities all the more special. As a gift to everyone the tree had hand made ornaments to enhance its beauty. Each one of the porcelin figures had a name of one of the riders painted on it, and she had hoped that it would become the starting of a tradition within their family.
But as usual, things were anything but routine around the station. In a season that stands for peace on earth, and goodwill towards men...it seemed to be everything but that. Working what seemed to be long and excruciating days in unbearable cold weather did not make any of the riders appreciate what they all took for granted. Instead they often were at each others throats trying to exchange their scheduled runs.
The moods were often intense and some of the riders weren't even talking to each other. Yes, instead of a wonderful Christmas of togetherness...the riders had been striken by a bad case of the holiday blues.
