Victoria was busy in the kitchen, mixing the ingredients she'd use to make the biscuits for dinner tonight. Her hair was pulled up, her nose and cheeks donned hints of white flour, her thoughts dwelling on nothing else but Jimmy. He was usually what she spent most of her time thinking about. She often fantasized about the day when he'd propose marriage. How he would ask her, where he would pop the question and what words he would use to ask for her hand. She loved to imagine different scenarios. One thing she knew for sure, it'd be the happiest day of her life. The necklace around her neck for now though, was a constant reminder that they shared a bond so strong, so unique, so real that it only kept growing with each passing day.

She turned from the mixing bowl on the table to fetch the salt in the cupboard when Jimmy snuck in and grabbed her by the waist.

"James Hickok! You scared the wits out of me!"

"How's the most beautiful cook in Rock Creek?" he asked as he held on to her from behind, laying soft kisses on her neck.

"Busy."

"Too busy for a kiss?" he asked naughtily.

"Well...maybe not that busy." she said, turning around, her hands white from the flour as she crossed them around his neck giving into his lips.

As they began to lose themselves in their romance filled world, Cody, Noah, Lou and Kid entered.

"Oh Lord, they're at it again." quipped Noah. "I swear you two are worse than Lou and the Kid here."

"Yeah. And we practically have to walk around them with blinders on!" added Cody pointint at Lou and Kid.

"Hush up Cody!" retorted Lou with a slight slap to his stomach.

"Well it's true ain't it?" he said, rubbing his belly as they all found a seat at the table.

"So Jimmy, Kid here told us you've decided to do it after all." remarked Noah.

"Do what?" Victoria asked.

"Go for the gold." informed Cody.

"The gold?" Victoria looked at Jimmy who glared down at his big mouth pals.

"Did we say something?" asked Noah sensing Jimmy's displeasure.

"Jimmy, what are they talking about?" asked his girlfriend, wondering when he'd made such a decision.

"I was coming to talk to you about it Vic, but some of us don't know how to keep our big mouths shut." he told his friends.

Lou discerned that Jimmy wanted to have words with Victoria in private and hinted for the boys to leave the premises.

"But we just got here!" protested Cody.

Lou pulled him by the collar of his buckskin jacket saying, "I swear Cody, your skull is thicker than a cow's hide at times...just come on!" William reluctantly rose from his seat, finding Lou's derogatory comment insulting and made his peace known as the riders filtered through the open door out unto the homestead.

Once alone Jimmy had Victoria sit next to him at the table. She looked at him for an explanation and he had better have a good one. She felt rather nervous to hear what he had to say. This was not Jimmy.

He looked at her, wiping away the dust of flour from her nose. "It's true what you heard."

"Why?" she asked immediately, a hint of desperation in her tone.

"Because it's something I need to do Vic. For me...for us."

"I don't understand."

"I'm a proud man Victoria, you know that and I ain't gonna be living off you."

"It's this crazy talk from people that's gotten you thinking like this." she noted with a scowl. "I don't care about the money Jimmy."

"I do Victoria!" he cried. "I'm not gonna spend the rest of my life having people look down on me because of your money." he stood up, walking to the window.

"My money?" she asked, her feelings hurt. "That's never been an issue before. Let them think what they choose. What matters is what's between us and our family here."

Jimmy shook his head. Sure, that's the way things were supposed to be, but the truth of the matter is that it just wasn't going to be that way no matter how much they wished it.

"It ain't that simple." he continued. "People are going to always look at me as less than deserving of you. I'm not about to live like that." he told her.

Victoria approached him, her eyes urgent with plea. "Jimmy, I love you. If I lose you, my money, McBride's money is not going to bring you back."

Jimmy knew Victoria was against this whole idea. He would be putting his life on the line but he just couldn't ignore the facts. Victoria was a fine lady, rich and classy. He was none of those things. But, he had been dealt a wild card and by George he was going to play it. He made it known that his mind had already been made up. He wasn't turning back now. Victoria closed her eyes as she heard his words, still not believing them. She sensed that this money could only mean one thing and that one thing was trouble. Knowing how head strong and stubborn the man she loved could be, she knew there wasn't anything else she could possibly say to change his mind. That being so she had a request of her own.

"I've never asked anything of you Jimmy but I am now."

He looked at her soft brown orbs. They pooled with tears and he felt a gnawing pain in his breast. "I'd die if I lost you. If this means this much to you, I want to be a part of it. I want to go with you."

"That's not possible." He didn't have to think twice before the response came forth.

"Why not?"

"It'll be too dangerous. I won't put you in that kind of danger." he affirmed.

"I can take care of myself Jimmy!"

"We don't know what we're gonna be facing out there!" he cried. Victoria was visibly angered. "Be reasonable Vic."

"I am being reasonable! You've told me of all the times Lou's gone with you boys on some rescue mission or whatever. She's a girl!" she emphasized.

"But she's not my girl!" he exclaimed.

"But you care for her like a sister. What's the difference?" Victoria wasn't letting up.

"I love you damn it!" he shouted. Seeing he was losing his cool Jimmy calmed down. "I'd die if I lost you too." he uttered softly.

"Jimmy, you're a part of me. Nothing can change that. I'm a survivor. I've survived my brother's and my parents deaths. I've survived a life of confusion and fear. I've survived the Adam's boys. Don't deprive me of this chance."

Jimmy held her arms, pressing his forehead against hers and said, "I can't grant it Victoria. I'm sorry."

"Well it isn't your choice to make Jimmy. It's mine."

"Teaspoon, he's totally unreasonable." she spouted, pacing the wooden floor in the Marshal's office.

"Ain't ya being a bit hard on him Victoria?"

"Hard on him?" she asked in disbelief, halting her stride.

"I mean Jimmy is looking out for your best interest."

"My interests are vested in him. What is it with you men? Just because a person wears a dress does that deem her helpless, incapable of looking after herself?"

"Well...no." he agreed.

"Then what?" she asked frustrated. "Please do explain."

"Victoria, let me...how can I put this without sounding old-fashioned but...men are men. We feel it's our duty to protect you fair maidens from unnecessary trouble when need be."

"Teaspoon, you sound like an ancient storybook novel. We're not living in the past with knights and fair ladies anymore. Those times are long gone! We're stronger now, a force to be reckoned with." she asserted.

"I won't argue with that." he admitted, knowing full well Victoria's strong-headedness.

"I mean, I can ride well enough, I may not shoot as straight but I don't need to be treated like a helpless child either."

"Victoria I know for a fact that Jimmy doesn't think you're helpless and that you can take care of yourself. The point is, is that he doesn't want anything to happen to ya. Jimmy's had a hard long road he's had to travel to get to this point in his life. It ain't been easy for him. When you stepped into his world, it changed his outlook on things. He wants a future with you and he's not gonna take that for granted."

"I understand Teaspoon, but do you understand me?" she asked, kneeling by him. "I have to be there with him. I can't stay back anticipating and worrying about him as each day passes me by. I don't want to leave his side. No matter what. Can you please talk to him?"

Teaspoon gave in to her plea. He knew this meant just as much to her as it did Jimmy. He didn't know if he could make a difference but figured he'd give it his best shot.

The four girls had arranged to eat lunch together at the house the following day. Teaspoon was out in town being the lawman he was paid to be, Rachel was working at school and the boys were nowhere around and that's just the way the girls liked it when they were up to their usual mischief.

After a fine, delicious meal the girls huddled together around the table in Rachel's house as Victoria unwrapped the censored literature from a black satin cloth. The bonded title on the cover made known what comprised the contents it held inside.

" 'The Art of Lovemaking' ?" asked Lou.

"I never knew it could be an art." quipped Charlotte.

"Are you sure dear?" teased Cassie.

"Here...take a look at page 25. It is a definite eye-opener." mused Victoria as she turned to said page. The girls huddled closer.

"My goodness! Is that possible?" asked Lou in disbelief.

"Let me see that!" said Charlotte snatching the book from off the table. She walked over to the window for better light as the girls followed her protesting that they too wanted to see. Charlotte conceded after having found the perfect light and as her friends gathered closer together, one on each side and Victoria glancing over her shoulder, wide, curious and awed eyes followed suit as Charlotte turned the book at different angles...upside down and side to side.

"There is just no way." uttered Cassie amazed.

"No way of what?" startled a male voice. The girls quickly turned in the direction of the intruder as one, their faces shot with embarrasment as they hid the book behind Charlotte's back.

"Jimmy!" cried Victoria as the flash of red brightened her face. "What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you." he eyed suspiciously. "What are you girls up to?"

"Nothing!" she uttered with the guiltiest tone imaginable.

"Nothing huh?" he replied with a crooked smile not believing her.

"Uhm...Victoria...We'll go up to your room and wait for you there okay?" spoke Lou nervously, hoping Jimmy wouldn't be his usual persistant self and press the need to know what they'd been up to.

"Yeah...that way the two of you, you know...can talk." stammered Charlotte.

"Yeah...talk...alone, you know...privately." added Cassie fumbling with her skirt. The three friends rushed past Jimmy, all of them dying of embarrassment at the interruption and ran up the stairs, Jimmy hearing their girlish banter as they ascended. He knew something was up. That was usually the case whenever these four got together. A fact the boys came to quickly appreciate being the unsupecting victims one too many times at the hands of these lovely flowers.

"Victoria what...?"

"Did you need to talk to me about?" she interjected at once.

Jimmy simply nodded, getting the hint that he wasn't going to get any information about this little gathering from Victoria. Two days had passed since their conversation about the gold. Teaspoon had little luck changing Jimmy's mind and Victoria was even more annoyed when Louise told her she was going along. Actually it was Kid, who had talked to Jimmy, convincing him otherwise.

Kid recalled how he used to be overprotective of Lou and how angry it made her. How it eventually led to their breaking up. Jimmy remembered. How could anyone forget? Lou had to be restrained on several occassions so as not to kill him herself. He told Jimmy that he understood how he felt. That all he wanted to do was protect her forever, to guard her with his life but that could only lead to resentment. They were their own women, they had a right to make choices for themselves and they should be men enough to feel secure in that. It didn't mean that they were loved any less, or needed any less...they just needed to let their strong-willed women live along with them not just beside them. Jimmy took his best friend's advice to heart. Kid was right. Jimmy himself had never been overly protective of anyone. He was always a man that admired determination and indivual ability but Victoria, he sighed. He loved her so much but he also didn't want to stifle or smother her. Heck, he knew she wouldn't let him either. If he didn't agree to let her go, she'd most likely follow them anyway. So, instead here he was now, about to speak to this woman who wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Are you still upset with me?" he asked her.

"Upset? I don't know. Annoyed?...Yes. I mean you don't seem to understand how important this is to me. It's the fact that you'll be gone, I don't even know for how long and I can't stand the thought of worrying about you; not knowing what's going on...missing you every day." she added softly. "I can't bear it." Jimmy just listened. "I'm not seeking adventure Jimmy, God knows I've had my share of that in the last few months! I know there will be risks but I want to do this together. It's my right isn't it?" Her eyes bore into his. Jimmy could see her plea through them, her earnest desire. He held her face in his hands saying, "You're going to drive me crazy you know that?" She smiled. He continued as he took possession of both her hands in his larger ones, "Okay." Victoria shrieked, leaping into his arms. "I love you, I love you, I love you!" she repeated.

"Hold on a minute. I have a request of my own."

"Anything!"

"We need to stop in and see my sister while we're in Kansas." he revealed.

"Celinda?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I want her to meet you."

"You do?" she uttered with an amorous ring in her voice.

"Yeah, I do." he smiled in response.

After agreeing to fill his request and spending a few lover's minutes alone, Jimmy had to take his leave and Victoria excitedly ran up the flight of stairs to her room. She found her friends still engrossed in the book they had parted with.

"Now I know that one is not possible." voiced Cassie, laying on the bed next to Charlotte.

"I don't know Cassie...looks interesting." noted Charlotte.

All eyes fell on Victoria when she proclaimed, "Lou, make room for one more 'cause I'm a goin' to New Orleans!"

"You're what?!" cried Charlotte and Cassie unitedly. They knew Jimmy had been adamant about her not going along and now she was going?

"How did you manage that?" inquired Lou still in disbelief. She had also tried to talk to Jimmy but he wouldn't hear of it.

"Hmmm...She must've used page 25 on him." whispered Charlotte to Cassie.

"Oh hush Charlotte. I simply told him how I felt and a few words from Mr. Kid helped."

"Kid?" asked Lou in more shock.

"Yes Kid. Jimmy told me Kid had a good chat with him, made him think about some things." she informed. Louise smiled proudly. She had a pretty good idea what those "things" were. She had been down that road with Kid probably a hundred times and finally, the dividends were paying off.

"Wow, New Orleans!" sighed Cassie. "I've heard so many wonderful things about it."

"Oh it is! The shops and the dresses not to mention the food...Mmmm." reminisced Charlotte.

"I've heard about the fancy riverboats on the Mississippi." Cassie said.

"They are grand! My brother Arthur and I spent an entire three days on one. They're so luxurious." Victoria added.

"Well that all may be so but I don't think we'll be enjoying too much luxury once we get there." said Lou.

"What's the point of being in New Orleans if you can't have a little fun?" asked Charlotte.

"Sounds great and all but Kid and I are trying to save up for our wedding and..."

"Once you find that gold," interrupted Charlotte, "you won't have to worry about money Louise. You'll be a well-to-do lady." she teased.

"Well, I'd love to stay and fantasize with you girls but I best be getting back home. I have some chores that I need to tend to before Quinn gets home from school." Cassie said, getting up from the bed. She handed the book to Charlotte, who eased back on the bed, thumbing through the pages. "Thanks for lunch Victoria."

"Wait for me." called Lou. "I'll walk with you. I promised Rachel I'd shod Lightning today so I better get to it." she said, walking to the door. "Thanks for the book Victoria. It was very educational."

"I'm sure Kid is going to think so." teased Cassie as they left their two friends behind, giggling.

"So when are you leaving?" Charlotte asked.

"Day after tomorrow. We have to stop in Kansas first. While we're there we're going to see Nathan, Celinda and the baby."

"Meeting the family huh? Things are getting serious."

"What are you talking about?"

"Meeting the family?" she asserted. Charlotte stood, placing the book on the nightstand. "Whenever you're taken to meet the family that can only mean one thing." she declared.

Victoria shrugged. "What?"

"You silly girl! He must be thinking marriage."

"Marriage? We've never spoken of it." noted Victoria with a wrinkled brow. Sure she thought about marriage all the time but it hadn't been a subject the two of them had sat down and discussed. Hinted at but not discussed.

"It is a known fact Victoria that no man takes a woman to meet his family unless he's thinking about making her a permanent member."

The thought was pleasing to Victoria but she dared not assume those were his intentions. "I don't know Charlotte."

"Don't be so naive Victoria. Jimmy is in love with thee..." she sang, "and I wouldn't be surprised that as soon as he got that money, he'll ask you to be his bride."

Victoria smiled at the mere thought, an exhilirating sense of happiness caressing her soul. "Do you think so?" she asked her friend.

"I'm sure of it."

To be continued!