Prologue:

the paper's headlines blared-

'Pony Express Riders Foil Bank Robbery in Ft Laramie'

Teaspoon clucked like a tired mother hen, " For once in my life I wish the papers wouldn't glorify my boys." He stared out across the yard at the men walking towards him, "(It's) as if they don't have enough to worry about... these newsmen make them seem larger than life."

Rachel laughed softly behind him.... " Sometimes I think they are larger than life, Teaspoon." She leaned her head on his shoulder, "Trouble is, 'boys' like ours attract a lot of attention. Good -and- Bad."

Teaspoon grasped her around her shoulder and nodded, "Yep. There's no denying that."

The Riders gathered in front of Teaspoon, some squintin' into the sun. "What's the news?" asked Buck.

Teaspoon handed the paper to Noah, "Robbers tried to knock over the bank in Ft Laramie," his mouth turned up in a wry smile, "and Lou and Cody walked right into the middle of it." He held up a hand before the questions flew, " Settle down..."

When it was quiet he continued, "Cody got winged in the side by a lucky shot, but Lou is still as God made her."

Noah looked up from the paper, "Just be thankful Kid's on a run or he'd already be half way to Laramie... riding Katy into the dust."

Teaspoon's warm chuckle followed, "Dare say you're right son. Jimmy?"

James Butler Hickok looked up at the Marshal.

"Cody might need some motherin' on the trip back to Sweet Water, you think you can spare some time to help Lou?"

Jimmy nodded, "You don't need to ask twice." Jimmy headed back to the bunkhouse to grab his pack.

Riders and horses, townsfolk and society... they all bustled through the streets, kickin' up dust and makin' a huge racket.

Lou walked through the streets enjoying the sights. Sometimes it's nice to just watch the world go by.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw ... "Who?" Lou stood in the middle of the street blinkin' in the bright sunlight. The light glinted sharply off the studs on his black hat and her eyes grew wide in surprise.

"Hickok!" She called, "what are you doin' out here?"

A single gesture and his hat tipped back from his face to reveal a satisfied grin, "I heard some of my friends were in town, shootin' up the place. What's the matter Lou, don't want the rest of us to be in on the fun?"

"Not that we asked for it!" She had to suppress the feminine giggle she could feel building inside.

He came up beside her and Lou turned to walk with him. Townsfolk that heard her call his last name were quick to back out of their way as they passed.

Quietly they continued their talk.

"No, really Jimmy, are you here to keep an eye on me for Kid?"

His gazed turned to acknowledge a man who tipped his hat, and when he turned back to his companion his grin was gone.

She saw the truth in his solemn eyes.

Lou's shoulders relaxed as a soft smile returned to her lips. "I should have known better Jimmy - I can count on you to back me up." The spring had returned to her stride as she walked beside him.

Cody rested comfortably in the middle of the four poster bed - he stretched out under the lacy sheets and almost laughed out loud as the soft cushions beneath his head seemed to smell like roses!

Miss Mina was so 'beholden' to him for rushing to her rescue during the robbery that she insisted that he recover under her tender caresses.

Since the morning he had had breakfast (bacon, sausage, eggs, biscuits, pancakes, oatmeal and several glasses of fresh milk), a mid-morning platter of cold sweet fruit and a luncheon that could easily have been mistaken for one of Rachel's feasts. Then he slept.

Mina rubbed his shoulders and back with her soft hands and whispered sweet words to sooth his spirits.

Cody swore he was in heaven...

Lou & Jimmy were shown a sleeping Cody, a sated smile on his face, just seconds before they were nearly shoved out the door by an over zealous Miss Mina.

They walked back towards the hotel, all the while 'bemoaning' their friend's sorry condition.

Lou kept up with her friend's long strides, "At this rate, I don't think Cody will want to get better-"

Jimmy agreed, "Did you see that mountain of dishes on the sideboard? I bet he ate everything in the house!" He cleared his throat, "I'd love to see what she'll find for his dinner-"

Lou punched Jimmy's shoulder before stopping abruptly in the street to look back at the brothel. "If he spends much more time in her care it'll be a miracle if his horse can carry him. He'll need a horse just for his stomach." She grimaced at the thought.

Jimmy chuckled under his breath, "Yep, that would surely be a sight to see." They came up on a Saloon- "You hungry Lou?" Lou nodded and they walked up the stairs together.

They were lucky the Saloon was still empty for the most part. The heavy drinkers and gamblers would arrive later in the evening.

Jimmy told Lou to order for them and he went to find them a table.

Lou was enjoying herself quite a bit - conversation with Jimmy was easy and full of fun. They traded stories about the past week, including the fit Rachel had when she discovered a raccoon holed up in one of the cupboards... eattin' up everything in sight.

Lou nearly spit out a mouthful of sarsaparilla when Jimmy imitated Rachel's shrieks of anger.

"Shoo! Shoo, you dirty beast!"

Coughing to cover her laughter she couldn't get over the squeaky voice he used. Jimmy pounded her on her back until she choked out, "Enough - enough. I'm okay." Her eyes were shiny with tears and red-rimmed but full of laughter. "Jimmy," she gasped "you sure know how to tell a tale."

She took off her glasses to wipe at her eyes. "Just do me a favor next time," she caught his eye, "let me swallow first."

Jimmy nodded as he set his bottle down on the table. "You better go wash off your face, you're covered in dust."

"Guess so," Lou crammed her glasses back onto her face and stood up, pushing her chair back with her legs.

The heavy wooden chair bumped into a man carrying a full glass of scotch.

"Dammit to HELL!!" he hollered as the richly colored liquor dripped off his hand and onto his shirt cuff.

"Hell George," another man called, "it's even on your new boots."

The man leaned back on his heels and saw dark blotches staining his leather boots. His gaze rose to meet the startled eyes of the 'boy' who was stammering out an apology.

She had to choke back a nervous laugh, "Gee Mister.... I'm real sor-" Lou was cut short as the glass the man was holding splintered into a shower of glass at her feet. Instantly her mood sobered, "I'll buy you another."

"What if I don't want another! I'm not in a drinkin' mood no more!

Lou could feel her heart pounding as the man advanced toward her, his eyes glassy and piercing... his hand rose to strike her and she ducked to the side as his momentum carried him into the table.

Jimmy lifted their bottles out of the way as the table groaned and buckled under the man's weight.

'George' pushed himself back up from the table and came at her again.

Lou grabbed a heavy metal tray from the passing bartender and brought it down on the man's red sweaty brow.

He grunted and hit the floor, his eyelids lowering to half-mast.... unseeing.

Lou made sure she could see the steady rise and fall of his chest before she looked up at the bartender's shocked face and sheepishly handed him back the tray. "Hey, I offered to buy him another drink.." she turned back to the table, "I'm not lookin' to fight..."

A slow moment later - everyone turned back to what they were doing and Lou bent to pick up her chair that now lay on the floor.

She sat down with a sigh and realized with a laugh that Jimmy was still sittin' at the table, calmly finishing off his sandwich.

"Hickok?" she asked.

"Yeah Lou?"

"You just sat there?"

"Uh-huh," he nodded and pushed her bottle back in front of her. "I knew you could handle it on your own." Jimmy wiped his mouth and tossed the napkin on the table.

Lou took her bottle in one hand and sat back in her chair - a smile spreading wordlessly across her lips. "I did it."

On to chapters 4-6!