Jimmy and Victoria waited until supper time before they broke the news. They wanted to make sure everyone was present to hear it. The other riders all waited in anxious anticipation for what this grand news might be. All eyes were firmly fixed on Teaspoon, not a sound was heard. The old Marshal adjusted his spectacles and holding the letter in his right hand began to read its contents.

"Dear Mr. Hickok,

I reckon that if you are reading this letter, it is safe to say I no longer am among the living. I never prided myself on being a man who lived life safe. I was always a risk taker. A risk taker that trusted no one. As I told you the last we spoke, I was headed my way to New Orleans before our fateful meeting. Fifty thousand in gold waits somewhere therein."

"Fifty thousand dollars!" cried Cody. "In real gold?!" he exclaimed.

"SHHH!" came the strong remprimand from the others at the rude interruption. Cody responded with a scowl as Teaspoon continued...

"Fifty thousand in gold waits somewhere therein. It's whereabouts I've kept quite secret, no explanation needed, you can guess why but, it is the inheritance I've left for my only kin. My wife and my boy. I will twenty thousand of that money to you Mr. Hickok in exchange that you deliver the remainder to my family."

A murmur rose from those at the table as the news they heard was quite unbelievable. Teaspoon cleared his throat again halting the murmurs. "Could you all please show a measure of containment until I'm finished readin' this here letter please." he said in his wry tone of voice. "Thank you." he stated as the voices quelled and all eyes fell on him again.

"You may be wonderin' why I'm asking such a thing from you. I didn't know you it's true Mr. Hickok but I've been around long enough to see into a man's soul. I sense you're a trustworthy man, seeing that you yourself didn't take my bribe money. That told me a lot about the kind of man you are. I can trust that you will fulfill my last wish on this earth seeing I wouldn't trust just any one of my acquaintances as far as I could throw 'em with that kind of money.

I have left the first clue that'll lead you to the gold with a long time friend of mine...goes by the name Mustang Sally in Kansas. Get the clue, go on to the next. You get the picture. Just make sure my kin gets what's theirs."

Teaspoon folded the letter and placed it back in it's envelope. The old Marshal was concerned. A man such as McBride asking this thing of one of his boys made him feel uneasy but for now he would keep his concerns to himself as he heard Cody blurt out his own unique rendition of a congratulation.

"Boy Jimmy, you're a rich man. Well I'll be!" cried William with his wide impish grin.

"That's if I decide to do this Cody which I ain't sure I'm willing to do." noted Jimmy.

"What?! Did I hear you right?" asked Noah baffled.

"You gotta be kiddin' right?" followed Cody in succession, not believing his ears.

"Look. I know it's a hell of a lot of money but men like McBride only bring bad news, even from the grave. How do I know how many other people'll be hunting for this gold?" Jimmy reasoned.

"Jimmy's right." agreed Rachel. "Sounds pretty dangerous to me. There's lots of folks out there that'd love to get their hands on that kind of money. It's frightening if you think about it. Do we really want Jimmy going out there and puttin' his life in danger like that?" she finished.

"Yeah. It's more like dangling a piece of meat 'fore a pack of starving dogs." added Lou.

"We're talking fifty thousand dollars in gold Rachel! Not a small bag of gold dust by any means." added Noah, trying to make them come to their senses.

"Will you listen to yourselves?! Didn't y'all learn nothing from being swindled the last time the promise of a fortune was thrown at your feet?" asked Rachel. They all knew she referred to the fake gold mine they'd been duped into by Cyrus. "Besides, how do y'all know this money is for real?"

"Because McBride was on his way to collect it when we caught him and he wouldn't ask to make sure his family got it if it weren't real." Kid reasoned.

"Kid's gotta a point Rachel." smiled Cody as Kid added points to their side.

Jimmy interceded. "I ain't gonna lie. It's tempting. But I ain't never had that much money. Never needed much. I tell you though, this much money ain't good for one person to have." Jimmy understood that from experience. His dealings with the Judge had taught him that. Too much money led to only misery and greed.

"That's the dumbest thing I ever heard." retorted Cody irritated. "Look at Victoria. Don't seem to have hurt her none." he quipped.

"Excuse me William but Jimmy does have a point. I'll be honest, I'd love to get my hands on that money too but it's not the answer to all of men's ills."

"Well it sure could be the answer to lots of my ills." smiled Cody.

"Cody!" reprimanded Lou with a nudge to his shoulder.

"Don't let appearances fool you Cody. Sometimes that kind of money can be the very downfall of a good man." Victoria added.

"I can't believe what I'm hearing!" voiced Noah. "You gonna tell me that you're gonna sit here and let this chance pass you by?" he said looking into Jimmy's eyes.

"Victoria's right." interjected Teaspoon, taking off his glasses. The riders knew that by that tone of voice they were in for another one of Teaspoon's morality lessons. They sat back in their seats and waited for it with a great lack of enthusiasm. His stare was serious, business-like. They could tell that whatever was going to be said they had better listen carefully.

"Money. Money does strange things to the best of men. It has been the source of wars, kin killing kin, the cause of why men have lost their health, their families even their very lives to get a hold of it. If a man is content with what he's got..." he paused as he looked around the room, "good friends, family, a home, someone to love...that makes him the richest man on this here earth. You boys don't lose sight of that."

Teaspoons words touched them even Cody for one second until he said, "Sure, that's all grand Teaspoon. We ain't sayin' that ain't true but twenty thousand dollars is a whole lot of money to turn your back on." He then turned his attention to Jimmy. "Listen to the voice of reason Jimmy. Think of all the things you can do with that money."

"Cody!" reprimanded Rachel. "Whatever Jimmy's decison is, we need to respect that. He has more important things he has to consider now." she said glancing over at Victoria.

"I ain't made up my mind yet. We'll see."

"Like Rachel said Jimmy, whatever you decide, we're with you." supported Kid. Lou nodded and Buck also agreed.

At the bunkhouse that night, the riders were all settling in for the night. Cody lay on his bunk with sounds of jingling gold coins dancing in his head. He knew without a doubt that if he were Jimmy he'd already be on his way to find that money. But that was William F. Cody's impulsive nature. There was no room for suppressing his adventurous spirit. He lay there fantasizing about what all he could do with so much cash money. He gave out a loud sigh directed at Jimmy.

"What?" Jimmy asked, irritated that Cody wouldn't let the matter rest.

He shrugged. "I don't know Hickok, I was just thinking..."

"Well don't hurt yourself Cody." joked Noah from the other side of the bunkhouse.

Cody wrinkled his brow as he ignored the wry statement. "As I was saying...I was thinking; Are you gonna be spreading your wealth around?"

"Cody!" reproved Lou at the obvious tackiness of such an inquiry though the same question had dawned on each of them but only Cody had the audacity to actually ask.

"I'm just asking. I mean we are family right?" he said sitting up on the edge of the bunk.

"Keep it up Cody and he'll definitely disown you." joked Buck.

"Look, I already told you I don't know if I'm gonna do this." Jimmy repeated for what seemed like the hundreth time.

Cody rose from his bunk at once. He would convince Jimmy even if he had to use his last breath to do it. "What about his family? I mean you're responsible to make sure his family gets that money." he said persuasively.

"I know that Cody. But I've got my own future to think about. I love Victoria and I gotta think about her now."

"Yeah and with that money you could finally afford her." Cody added wryly. His statement was met by a pillow to the head compliments of Lou.

"Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?" questioned Kid mischieviously.

"You grab his arms, I'll grab his legs." Noah alerted Kid, as they both took a hold of pesky Cody.

"I'll get the rope!" cried Lou.

"Can't foget the gag." added Buck smiling as Jimmy tossed him one of his old neckerchiefs.

Cody wriggled trying to get loose from the hold but to no avail. Soon the door was open and his cries for mercy went unheard as the boys headed over to Victoria's garden patch. Under the starry night, they tied him up to the scarecrow post.

"Have a good night Cody." smiled Jimmy mercilessly.

"Come on you fellas." he mumbled through the gag.

Lou waved as she walked off. "Good night Cody." She soon disappeared in the darkness.

"Well Cody at least you got the corn here to lend you their ears. Try not to talk them off." joked Kid.

Cody laughed mockingly. "At least we ain't got to listen to your jibbering no more. I'll say it again but God is good." Noah laughed as he went on his way.

"Now don't you go anywhere Cody." teased Buck as he laid a hefty pat on his shoulder. "I'm sure Victoria will appreciate all the hard work you'll put in tonight." he ended with a grin.

The yellow light of the lantern faded slowly as Buck turned on his way back to the bunkhouse, leaving Cody to bask under the light of the silvery moon up above.

"Me and my big mouth."

"You know what you boys did to Cody last night wasn't right." Rachel scolded them at breakfast the next morning.

"Ah-Ah-Chooo! You tell 'em Rachel." Cody cried with a sniffle.

"As for you Mr. William F. Cody you need to keep your nose out of matters that don't concern you none." Rachel chided in return.

"That's right Cody," began Teaspoon with a slight chuckle, finding the entire affair amusing. "Lucky they didn't tie you butt naked in the middle of a cactus patch instead."

"Now there's an idea." smiled Jimmy at the sound of the suggestion. The others chuckled.

Teaspoon sensing mischief quickly added, "And don't you boys go gettin' any ideas. Cody here I think done learned his lesson...right?" he asked the blonde headed rider with one raised brow.

"Yeah, yeah." was Cody's childish reply.

Rachel smiled and said, "Well good. Now I don't want to hear any more talk about this this mornin'. I swear you all drive me crazy sometimes." she told them as she placed the flapjacks on the table.

"So Rachel," started Teaspoon, "Have you thought about that job offer?"

All eyes fell on the stationmistress. "No I haven't." she said matter-of-factly.

"How come Rachel?" asked Lou, taking a flapjack from the stack with her fork.

" 'Cause I got me enough to do around here and taking care of the lot of you is a job in itself." she reminded them once more. They all had been pestering her about accepting the position of school marm.

"We already told you Rachel we can handle it." added Kid.

"And you won't need to worry about the cooking. I can help with that." voiced Victoria.

"Look, I appreciate all that y'all are trying to do but the fact is I barely got any schooling myself, I can't teach those children."

"But like Teaspoon says Rachel, learning's not only about reading books but about living life." added Buck. Teaspoon raised an eyebrow and gave a grin seeing that at least something he said stuck between the ears of his boys.

"That may be true to some extent Buck, but you have to admit that these people are going to talk about my past and those are memories I'd rather leave there."

"Don't let them get to you Rachel. People like that live to make the lot of others miserable and they're not willing to do anything to remedy the situation." Victoria spoke, trying to help Rachel understand that such snobbishness shouldn't get in the way of her dreams.

"I know people Victoria and these people can easily be led astray by the minority. I just don't want to be surrounded by a mound of controversy. I've been able to live a quiet life for most part since I got here and that's the way I'd like it to stay."

"Well Rachel, all I have to say is that you'd be making a big mistake if you didn't take that job." lamented Teaspoon.

"What about Victoria?" she suggested.

"Me?!"

"You'd be perfect. You schooled Taylor and he learned fine." she said encouraginly.

"I'm sorry Rachel. Thanks for the nomination but I think I'll pass." she declined, pouring some coffee in her cup.

"And why not?" Rachel asked with raised curiosity.

"Because that's your dream not mine. Besides I'm content enough having to look after my family's business to need another distraction and I don't need the money."

"The dedication for the new schoolhouse is this weekend Rachel. Mayor's expecting to announce the new school marm then. You'll have to make a decision." informed Teaspoon.

Rachel held her coffee mug to her lips, closed her eyes and nodded. She knew she would have to make a choice. She would either follow her dream or let it fall by the wayside.

Jimmy and Victoria took advantage of the comfortable early fall afternoon and rode out together he on his palomino, her on Lollipop down to her property. Victoria had been making plans to start building a house on her property. They had together selected the spot where the house, she hoped one day to be their home together would be. They reached the plot of land that had been surveyed, now a series of wooden stakes and strings in the ground. She took Jimmy by the hand, excitedly leading him through the measured squares of the floor plan.

"Look Jimmy, over here facing the prairie, I'm going to have the living parlour. It's so beautiful in the spring with all the flowers blooming! There'll be a big window right here, where we can sit and enjoy the view. And, and way back here...is the kitchen, facing that grove of trees. Lots of birds come to visit there. And look!" she cried excitedly, pulling him by the hand over to another section of wooden stakes and string. "There'll be a stable for the horses and a corral can be way out there so when I look out of our...I mean my bedroom window," she lifted her eyes up high, "on the second floor, not only will I be able to enjoy a beautiful sunset but watch the horses too! Doesn't it sound wonderful?!" she exclaimed.

"Sounds grand Victoria." he said, his mind apparently on other matters.

Victoria was disappointed that Jimmy wasn't showing much enthusiasm. He looked into the distance, his mind far off. Where? She didn't know. She took possession of his arm as they stood in the middle of where the front yard would be.

"Jimmy?" she called softly, "What's wrong?"

He shrugged. "Oh nothing." he lied.

"It doesn't look like nothing to me." she perceived.

He looked at her and smiled. "Do you know how beautiful you are?"

She smiled but wasn't falling for that old trick. "Good try Mr. Hickok but that's not going to work." She took a stance before him. "Talk to me Jimmy." her eyes pleaded his.

Jimmy sighed. He knew he had dampened the mood with his melancholy mood but his thoughts as of late had him thinking more about his future and with Victoria in the mix now, he couldn't help it. What he saw did not make him joyful.

"You know I try not to think too much about the future Vic; that's the way it's been with me for a long time. You just never know what turns your life's gonna take. Things you value here today can just as easy be gone tomorrow."

"Jimmy, you're losing me." she admitted. He wasn't making sense.

"I'm talking about us Vic." She was taken aback.

"What-What do you mean? Don't you see us? A future with me?"

"Of course I do. That's not what I meant."

"Then what?"

"Ever since I met you my whole outlook in life has changed. All I can think of is our future. But I can't help but ask myself what do I have to offer you Victoria when you have all of this?"

"Which doesn't mean anything to me if you're not a part of it Jimmy. This land, my money, none of it matters to me. All that matters is that we love each other. I can live a lifetime on just that." she confessed.

"Can you?"

"Yes!" she said emphatically. "We'll build a home here...our house, with a big bedroom and a big bed where we can make lots of babies." she rubbed her nose with his, her hands on his face, a smile beaming forth. "We're going to live and we're going to love James Hickok...doesn't matter what life throws our way."

Jimmy did find comfort in her words. He took her in his arms and they shared a small kiss. She turned to face the open land, her back pressed firmly against his chest as she held on to his arms while he draped them around her. Thoughts of their future ran through their heads but Jimmy still knew he had to provide for his woman and not his woman for him. From that moment on he considered going after the gold.

"Rachel!" called Victoria. "Rachel you need to come on! We're going to be late!"

"I'm coming already." she replied as she descended the stairs. "Lord, you'd think I was gettin' married or something."

Victoria stood in the doorway, her face stilled with a look of surprise. Rachel noticed the strange expression right away which had suddenly halted her stride.

"What?" she asked worriedly.

"Rachel you look great."

Rachel stepped up to the small hanging mirror on the wall, touching her blonde locks. "Yes I do don't I?"

Today was the day of the dedication for the new schoolhouse. Being so graciously nominated for the position of school marm by Teaspoon, Rachel forsook her usual everyday wear for a more proper, according to Charlotte, mode of dress. She deemed to make a good impression.

Rachel wore a white long sleeved blouse with a beautiful broach pinned in the middle of her collar, a forrest green vest with a matching skirt. Her hair was up in a bun with whisps of blonde hair falling gently on the sides of her face.

"I'm so glad you've decided to take this job Rachel. You'll be the best school marm ever." Victoria told her as she stood behind her friend, her hands on her shoulders.

"Well it's just because y'all ganged up on me." she teased.

"Oh hush! Come, Jimmy's waiting for us."

As they approached the buckboard, Jimmy's expression was telling too as he caught sight of the new school teacher's transformation.

He smiled and said, "Rachel, you're gonna knock 'em dead."

"Why thank you Jimmy." she smiled at him as he helped her unto the wagon. "I hope you're right."

"You wait and see." he winked, and helped Victoria onboard to the driver's seat. After tucking in their skirts and making sure Rachel hadn't forgotten anything, Jimmy mounted his palomino and off they went to town.

The crowds gathered in front of the schoolhouse. Rows of chairs had been neatly arranged before the new school as the more prominent of the townspeople along with its business men and their families, began to find their seats under the warmth of the sunny fall day. Rachel, along with her Express family occupied the two front rows next to the Mayor and his wife and daughter who sat her arm laced with that of her love Buck Cross. Teaspoon sat next to Rachel. Jimmy and Victoria sat behind them with Kid and Lou seated to their right. Noah and Cassie together with Quinn and Cody finished the row.

Rachel was a bag full of nerves as she sat there squeezing the Marshal's hand. Teaspoon alerted her to the fact that he was losing feeling in his hand and she laughed nervously as she let it go.

Mayor Wilson soon made his way up to the front and clearing his throat began the ceremony of dedication...

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Citizens of Rock Creek...First of all I want to thank each of you for showing your support by your attendance here today. This is indeed a proud day for our community. The dedication of this new school will be the focal point in the education of our young people and within her walls, our future as a prosperous town will certainly be built." A round of applause soon followed the Mayor's encourgaging words.

"I want to first extend a heartfelt thank you to all who had a share in seeing this project become not just a thought but a reality. Our thanks go especially towards the group of ladies responsible for heading the most successful bazaar in Rock Creek history yielding enough monetary support not just to build this fine building but filling it with all the right tools to teach our young minds. They worked long, tireless hours to ensure its success so can we all tell them how much we appreciated their hard labor." The crowd responded with a round of applause.

Mayor Wilson continued, "As you all are aware, the loss of our beloved schoolmaster Mr. Adderson has left a deep void in our midsts. To keep his memory alive, we've decided to dedicate this new school in his memory, and to his long faithful record of service to our children." A rain of applause filled the air signifying the attendees agreeableness to the idea.

"Now, on to the news we've ll been anxiously awaiting." continued the Mayor. "It is my pleasure to present to the town of Rock Creek the new head mistress of our new school, Ms. Rachel Dunne." A river of claps followed accompanied by the yeeha's and go Rachel's of her Express family. Rachel stood from her seat, joining the Mayor and two of his council members. They shook her hand in congratulations. Rachel was nervous but still managed to get through her brief acceptance speech saying it was a dream of hers come true and offered thanks to her family, naming each one for their supportive words and nudging along. She also thanked the Mayor and the people of Rock Creek for putting their confidence in her and she vowed not to disappoint. The citizens of Rock Creek appreciated her reassuring words, most of the people anyway and so they welcomed Rachel Dunne as the new school Marm.

The red ribbon was then cut, the final step in the opening ceremony and with that, the crowd was dismissed to enjoy the feast prepared for the dedication. Lively music began to play in the background as all made their way to the long picnic tables full of every sort of food and dessert one could fathom. The Express family enjoyed themselves as they sat together eating and at various intervals, the boys took turns dancing with the school teacher and their ladies of course.

Jimmy and Victoria looked so much in love and the fact didn't go unnoticed by one particular guest in attendance. After the music stopped, Victoria left Jimmy's presence and headed to speak with Mrs. Wilson when she was stopped in the middle of the crowd by an old friend.

"Phillip! Welcome home!" she greeted, a wide smile on her face.

Phillip was happy to see her. Just as beautiful as he'd remembered. "Victoria. I swear you get lovelier everytime I see you." Victoria blushed quite embarrassed by the compliment.

"Tell me, how was your trip to Texas?" she inquired. "And your father? Is he well?"

"Texas is Texas; humid and unforgivingly hot. Father is great, better now that Kate will be there for a while."

Victoria was glad to hear it. She wished Kate would stay there forever but she knew that as long as Jimmy dwelt in Rock Creek, Kate would be sure to show up again.

"And how are you my friend?" Phillip asked.

"Much better thank you. Just happy that things are back to normal." she sighed.

"I'm glad." he paused, feeling a restlessness within. "I've-I've missed you Victoria." he confessed, a wrinkle prominent in his brow, displaying the twisting anguish he felt inwardly. Victoria was in shock. What could she say? His words made her uneasy.

"Phillip!" she cried softly. "I don't..."

"I'm sorry Victoria but I can't lie to you. I can't lie about what I feel for you."

"Phillip, this is not an appropriate conversation." she reprimanded in a voice audible only to themselves.

"I can't get you out of my mind." he uttered in the same tone, taking possession of her hand. She quickly withdrew it.

"There are certain things Phillip that are best left unsaid. I am already spoken for, you know that." she added, looking about her warily, hoping their words hadn't been overheard by those who stood nearby. "If you value the nature of our friendship you will respect my decision as a friend. We will not discuss this again." she sternly charged.

"Forgive me."

"You are." she nodded.

At that moment Jimmy joined the pair putting his arm possessively around Victoria's waist. He sensed an uneasiness between them. "Is everything okay?"

She smiled, trying to mask what had just happened. "Fine. Phillip here just returned from Texas. He was telling me all about his trip"

Jimmy simply nodded, staring at Phillip Wescott. There was apparent dislike between the two men but they reserved their words until Victoria left their company heeding Charlotte's summons.

Phillip took in one deep breath as he puffed his chest out, an aura of mightiness eminating his presence. "Fine lady Victoria is." he stated as they both looked at her speaking with Charlotte.

"Stay away from her Wescott."

"Is that a threat Hickok?"

"Take it anyway you like."

"Don't insult my intelligence Hickok. Tell me, I'm very curious to know, how do you intend on providing for her needs? Victoria is a woman used to the finer things in life. She should be provided with such luxuries and more. She is afterall most worthy. She won't be content living a peasant's life and she shouldn't be expected to or are you planning on marrying her to live off her wealth?"

"That ain't none of your business."

"Typical answer coming from you Hickok. I never understood why in the world Kate was so infatuated with you and I can't imagine why Victoria is."

"Maybe because I see them as the women they are and not some trophy to show off to everyone I meet."

Phillip gave a sly laugh. "Hickok, you're in way over your head. What is it you could possibly offer Victoria other than the meager belongings you possess?" he asked smugly.

"All I can say Phillip is that obviously I've got something she wants 'cause she's with me and not you." Jimmy patted Phillip's shoulder and walked away. Though Jimmy left with the upper hand in this latest confrontation with Wescott, Phillip's words rang too clear in his head.

"Are you planning on marrying her and living off her wealth?"

He knew Phillip wasn't the only person in town to think the same. Jimmy loved Victoria, her money didn't matter but his sense of pride did. Maybe many other men would've been content to leave things as they were. Not Jimmy. He had a means to do something about it and after having words with Phillip Wescott, there was no way he could let this opportunity pass him by.

Jimmy approached his best friend later that evening as they stood outside the bunkhouse. The brisk evening air, so fresh, hit against their faces bringing a welcoming smile from the two friends.

"Kid, I've been thinking about this gold of McBride's." Jimmy confessed.

"What about it?"

Jimmy paused a moment. "I think I want to go for it."

"I'll be honest with you Jimmy, I was hoping you said that." Kid replied honestly.

"Oh yeah?"

"Well yeah, I mean you'd be crazy not to. That's a lot of money to turn your back on. Not that you'd be needin' it once you marry Victoria." he teased.

Jimmy though didn't find the comment amusing. Kid noticed the maddening look on his best friend's face. Jimmy had had it. Here, even his closest friend thought the same as he figured everyone else did.

"See...that's what I have to deal with Kid. Folks looking at me like I'm freeloading off my woman."

"Did you expect different?" Kid plainly stated. "Folks is folks like Emma always said. They're gonna talk. You can't stop 'em."

"Like hell I can."

"And you think this money's going make them change their minds?"

"I don't know Kid, but if I do marry Victoria I ain't going into a marriage empty-handed."

"Oh come on Jimmy. Victoria doesn't care about the money. She cares about you. As far as being empty-handed I'm sure she'll agree with the rest of us that you have more to offer her than any other man in this town. Even Phillip Wescott."

Jimmy sighed, wrapping his coat tight around him as a stiff breeze came rushing through. "I wish it were enough for me Kid but there are certain things even a man's pride can't sweep under the rug. I have to do this."

"If you feel that's what you gotta do, that's your right. Just make sure you're doing it for the right reason." advised Kid.

Jimmy nodded. "I have a favor to ask, actually it's more a request."

"I'm listening."

"I want you to come with me. You had a hand in catching McBride too. It's only fair you get to share in some of the spoil too."

Kid shook his head. "I can't Jimmy. That money was left to you."

"To do as I please with." he reiterated. "Look, you and Lou will be gettin' married come Spring. You could use the money. Buy your own spread, give Louise a home of her own right away. It'll be a good start for the two of you."

"That's mighty generous but..." he was cut off.

"But I'd be very insulted if you didn't. Consider it an early wedding gift." Jimmy extended his hand to seal the deal. "Partners."

After a moment's pause Kid took a hold of his friend's hand. "Partners."

The following day, Jimmy sat with Teaspoon in the hothouse informing his old friend about his decision to carry out McBride's wishes and find the gold.

"May I ask what brought this sudden change Jimmy?"

He shrugged. "Just things Teaspoon. Reality I guess."

"You mean the talk of these folks gotcha going?" questioned the old Marshal folding his arms across his chest.

Jimmy looked at the silvery haired Marshal with a slightly wrinkled brow. "You don't have to say a word Jimmy. I know's the feeling. Believe it or not, in my younger days I too fell in love with a classy lady. Prettiest thing you'd ever laid eyes on down there in Texas. Problem was she had it all and I didn't. That got the folks to talking, saying that I only wanted to marry her for her money though that was a stark, treacherous lie. Her father didn't approve, shipped her off to London someplace. Never seen her again." Teaspoon let out a heavy sigh. "The point is Jimmy, don't let these folks push you into something just 'cause they feels a certain way."

"It ain't just them Teaspoon. It's me. I mean look at me. I'm a known gunfighter, I don't know if tomorrow some trigger happy dirt bad ain't gonna shoot me dead. What do I have to offer Victoria? She's everything a man would want. She could have any man out there she wants."

"Yeah, but she chose you. That tells me you got lots more to offer than you give yourself credit for." Teaspoon paused. "I ain't gonna try to talk you outta this Jimmy. The choice is yours. Just make sure you're doing this for you and not to justify someone else's reasons."

Jimmy nodded, grateful that he could always depend on the older man's wisdom when his head needed to be pointed in the right direction.

"You told Victoria yet?"

"I will."

On to Chapter IV...