"I don't think we're gonna be able to outrun this storm!" hollered Cody over a clap of thunder. We were returning to Sweetwater from a special run to Crystal Springs. Although it was just late afternoon, the dark clouds were quickly turning day into night.

     "I think you're right," I agreed as the raindrops started to spot my poncho. "Any suggestions?"

     "Well, we're not gonna make it back to Sweetwater tonight. How about the station at Three Crossings?"

     Inwardly, I grimaced. The boys at the other stations ususally lived like swine. Cody and the rest of ours probably would have too, if it wasn't for the civilizing presence of Emma. It was hard for me not to show my genuine distaste for stations like Three Crossings, "I'd rather not."

     "Well, what do you want, Lou? You want to stay out here in the rain instead?"

     "I'd rather," I muttered to myself. To Cody I said, "Let's just go a little further. Maybe we can find shelter in a cave or something."

     "Whatever you say, Lou," Cody sighed in resignation. "But if I catch pneumonia and die, it'll be on your conscience."

     Not being close enough to punch him in the arm, I stuck my tongue at him instead. Fortunately, because of the way I turned my head, I was able to spot a little structure out of the corner of my eye. "Look ahead, there's a cabin or something!" I exclaimed. "Want to see if they'd let two express riders sleep in their barn?"

     Cody grinned, "Let's find out!"

     As we turned in the direction of the cabin, lightning struck right over us, spooking my horse, Penny. She reared at the exact moment I wasn't paying attention, and my right foot got caught in the stirrup. As I landed, I managed to free myself on the way down, but not before hearing an awful >snap<, and a burst of pain surge through my ankle.

     "Lou? Lou? You alright?" Cody was by my side in a flash.

     "My ankle," I moaned.

     "Come on, Lou, we'll get you somewhere dry and then take a look at it," he said, scooping me off the ground with very little effort.

     By the time Cody situated me and both the horses, it was almost too dark to see the cabin. Carefully, Cody climbed the two front steps to the door. Oddly, as cold as it was, no smoke emitted from the chimney.

     "Put me down," I whispered. "They might think it's awful strange of you to be carrying me when I'm supposed to be a boy." Gently, he slid me down, but still supported me. I could only stand on one foot for so long.

     Cody rapped on the door, "Hello? Anybody home? We're just a couple of express riders who got caught in the rain, and my friend has a hurt foot."

     "Cody," I sighed. "You don't have to tell your life story. Besides, I don't think anyone is home- there's no fire."

     Undeterred, Cody opened the door that gave way easily. Another flash of lightning proved to be a blessing, because during its brief time it illuminated the room and we could see where a lantern was hung near the door.

     "Here, lean against the door for a minute, I'll be right back," he assured me. He found and lit the lantern, and returned for me.

     After carefully placing me down on a sofa, he found other lamps and lit them. In the light I noticed that he was soaked through to the skin, and realized the weather was growing colder. This alarmed me, for it had only been a couple of months earlier that Cody had been exposed to the elements, and spent a miserable Christmas Eve because of it.

     "You best get out of those wet clothes," I instructed.

     "But I don't have anything to change into," he laughed. "Besides, you're almost as drenched as I am."

     I couldn't deny that.

     "Well Cody, you weren't shy about borrowing these people's homestead, why don't you look around for some extra clothes?"

     "You think that'd be okay?"

     I threw a decorative pillow at him in response.

     "Okay, I'll try and find us something, but then I want to get a good look at that ankle."

     Cody disappeared behind a partition, and came back with two delightful surprises: a plaid nightshirt for him, and white flannel nightgown for me.

     "Oh this is pretty," I declared, fingering the lace at the sleeves, "Now will you kindly go in the other room and change, seein' as how I can't?"

     "That's our Lou, " chuckled Cody, "Sweet as cream one minute, and a spitfire the next. If you can wait a few minutes, I can even have a fire ready for you to change by."

     "No, the fire can wait. Go change before you catch your death, and it will be on my conscience."

     Retreating, he looked over his shoulder and winked, "You sure are a bossy one."

     That is true, I thought to myself, but what else can you expect after having to become a "mother" to my brother and sister at such a young age. Being extra careful of my ankle, I removed all my clothes, including my long-johns, and slipped the gown over my head. Thank goodness I never gave up the habit of wearing drawers, I thought, even if it was ridiculous to wear them under long-johns. But, they were the one feminine thing I could wear without anyone knowing. Emma even washed them secretly with her underthings.

     "You ready?" called Cody.

     "Yeah, and ready for a fire, too. The temperature is dropping by the minute."

     When he emerged wearing the nightshirt, he had a funny look on his face.

     "What's that look for?" I wondered.

     His face flushed a rosy color I thought only reserved for women, "It's just-just that I never seen you in a nightgown before, is all. Never seen anyone in one, really, 'cept my ma, of course."

     "Just think of it as a dress that happens to be worn at night. I know you've seen girls in dresses before," I suggested, desperately trying to keep that same shade of red out of my own face. "I've never see you in a nightshirt before, either, chicken legs."

     Cody responded to this by clucking like a chicken the entire time he built the fire.

     "Cody?"

     "Bwak?"

     "You can stop that now. Sorry I teased you."

     "Time for me to look at that ankle anyway," he replied, taking human form again. He bent down to get a better look, and put his hand on my toes, "Does it hurt when I do-"

     "Ouch!" I yelled so loud that I almost scared myself. "Yes, it hurts when you do that. Please don't do it again."

     "Sorry Lou," he apologized sincerely. "You've got a bad sprain, but nothing's broken."

     "How can you tell?" I was curious.

     "Seen enough damaged ankles to know the difference," he answered. It was good enough for me.

On to Part 2!