Jack and Jimmy were quiet as Lou snored softly on the seat before them. They were sitting next to each other, each looking as solemn and unsure as the other. They seemed to have left their easy camaraderie behind in Rock Creek and now sat like strangers afraid to move or speak. The glowing moment of their reunion had faded and Jimmy felt he hardly knew this mystifying creature beside him. His memory had failed him; this wasn't the Jack he remembered. She was foreign to him. He felt betrayed.

"I'm so sorry about Ike," Jack said after they had been traveling in silence for nearly two hours. "If I had known I would have said to hell with Bart, and I would have come to Rock Creek."

"Would you?" Jimmy wasn't sure if he believed her or not.

She was hurt. "Yes, Jimmy, of course I would have. How could you think I wouldn't?" Then she stared for a moment. "Oh, of course. You think I'm a coward who hides behind someone else's threats as an alibi. Nice, Jimmy, very nice. Thanks very much." She crossed her arms and wouldn't look at him.

"Well, I'm sorry, Jack, but that's how I see it. What else am I supposed to think? If you'd really wanted to come back to Rock Creek, nothin' would have stopped you." He waited for a reaction. He thought, 'You didn't come back to me.'

"And I suppose you see no connection whatsoever between the fact that I care a great deal for all of you and I was afraid of putting any of you in danger? Bart made very real theats, Jimmy. And he certainly made good on his promise of beating me within an inch of my life. How was I to be sure he wouldn't make good on any other threats? Just because you lot are a bunch of big, strong men doesn't mean I shouldn't fear for you. There are other ways of harming a man besides physically. But you're right, Jimmy: I'm just a coward and I never really wanted to see any of you again. Thank God Bart gave me the excuse I needed." She spat the last words out with all the sarcasm she could muster.

Jimmy felt foolish. Apologies weren't his strongest suit, but he knew he owed one to Jack. It had never occurred to him that she may very well have been frightened, which meant she did care , at least enough to try to keep them out of harm. "I'm sorry, Jack. I really am. I didn't see it that way. I'm sorry."

Jack blinked hard, and still wouldn't look at him. All these months she had longed to see Jimmy, if only for the briefest of moments, and he was acting like this. In the station, when she felt the hand on her shoulder, and alarm had turned to delight, she knew she had never been happier in her life. Even seeing Lou again, as wonderful as that was, could not compare to her first sight of Jimmy in months. Perhaps it would have been better never to see him again; now all her lovely memories were ruined. He wasn't the Jimmy she had kept in her thoughts.

And then she thought of something her mother had told her long ago. "Darling, I adore your father, probably more than is wise for me, and I hope you one day find a men you adore. But you must remember that all men have feet of clay. Love someone, know his faults, and don't make the mistake of putting him on a pedestal when he's only human."

Jack turned her head to find Jimmy watching her. "I accept your apology," she replied gently.

Jimmy smiled. "I'm glad."

Through her feigned veil of sleep, Lou heard, and smiled to herself.

When they reached New York City, Jimmy knew nothing in his life had prepared him for this. Towns like St Joe had been his nearest acquaintance with anything remotely resembling a city, and now Jimmy saw just how remote that resemblance really was. He didn't much care for towns, and he wasn't sure he fancied a city any more, especially one this size. But Jack had been right: there was an energy and life to it that was undeniable. He found that he was interested, and as for Lou, she was beside herself with excitement. She began asking questions the minute they stepped off the train. "Is that the mayor, Jack? Well,then why does he look so important? Why is that woman sellin' flowers on the street corner, Jack? Ain't there a better way for her to make a livin'? Jack,there's saloons right on the main street! Do respectable people actually go in a saloon on a main street? Why, that man winked at me! Did you see that, Jimmy?" And so on. Jack was tickled to death. Lou was so taken with everything that it delighted her.

Jack's employer had given her enough money to get to the city and stay in a hotel. Instead of staying in a particular hotel as he had urged her to stay in, Jack decided to settle for a smaller place that reminded her of Polly's boarding house somewhat. With the money she was able to get two small rooms. It was a lovely hotel, small and understated, not so grand that it made any of them feel uncomfortable, and yet elegant enough that they felt quite pampered.

In the hotel room the two girls shared, Lou was staring out the window while Jack readied herself for dinner. Lou had been ready for ages, still pumped full of adrenaline. "My word, Jack, would you look at that! It's evenin', and I'll bet there's still hundreds of people wanderin' around out there. Is this what a city's always like?"

"Yes, I suppose so. I'm used to it, but it is strange ,isn't it? You'll see people out till all hours of the night, couples taking walks through Central Park -- now there's someplace I should take the both of you. You'd love Central Park, Lou. It's the most beautiful park in the country, I'm sure of it."

"Will we have time for that?" Lou was wistful.

"We have two days, my ship doesn't leave until then."

"Are you really goin', Jack? Back to England?"

Jack sighed, sitting down on the bed to pull her stockings over her legs. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and looked at Lou. "Yes. I must. And I want to. You have no idea how I've longed for my parents. But, Lou, I want to come back. I will come back. This feels like home now, this country."

"Really?" Lou's face lit up. Then she frowned again. "But that's months from now! It will take you weeks and weeks to get to England, and then you'll stay for months, and then it will be weeks and weeks for you to sail back. And then you have to get to Wyoming --"

"Lou, stop. Stop!" Jack interrupted. She grinned. "You're making me dizzy. I know it's ages from now, but I will be back. I have so much to come back for." She broke off. She hadn't meant to say that. She knew that Lou was watching her so keenly any slip of emotion in her tone would be immediately apparent.

"Jack, tell me. Please. Talk to me." When Jack said nothing, Lou went on, "I know you love Jimmy."

"Lou, I don't know how you came to that conclusion."

"Let's see...how could I have come to that conclusion?" Lou did an imitation of Jack that was uncannily similar to one Jimmy had done. "Your face lights up the minute he walks into the room; when I look at you you're almost always lookin' at him; your voice goes all funny when you talk to him." She eyed Jack. "I have more, if you'd like."

Jack laughed. "I guess it was foolish of me to imagine I could keep anything from you, Lou."

Lou giggled. "It's hard to put one by on me, I'll grant you that."

"I do love him, Lou. It's useless, I know. I know he's loved you for so long, and I'm just nice little Jack, perhaps a reminder of you --"

"Now you stop. You don't know anything of the kind." Lou knew she couldn't go much further without betraying Jimmy's trust. Lord, but matchmaking was difficult. She made a mental note to apologize to Rachel a thousand times when she saw her again. She had never fully appreciated the difficulties of bringing together two people so reluctant to be hurt. "Jack, Jimmy's feelin's for me now, whatever they might've been, are friendship. I can promise you that."

"If only I could believe that," Jack's eyes shone with momentary hope. "He's so wonderful, Lou. So unlike anyone else I've ever met. He's not the type of man I imagined myself falling in love with, but things have a way of working out the opposite of what you'd always planned."

"You said somethin' like that in your letter. Start plannin' again, Jack. Some things will work out right."

Jack flushed and stood up to slip into her dress. Lou began to work out a tiny plan in her head. Jack disappeared into the bathroom and Lou lay back on the bed. When she emerged again, she found Lou looking pained.

"Lou, what is it?"
"Suddenly I don't feel so good, Jack." Lou closed her eyes and gave a shaky sigh. "I just...I just feel a pain in my stomach, and my head is throbbin' like crazy. I think maybe it was that sandwich I ate on the train."

"Poor Lou. Do you think you'll be able to join us for dinner?"

Lou pretended to think. "Ummmm....yes, I think I can." She sat up and immediately lay back down. "Oh, my, I guess not. My head just started spinnin' like a top. You go on without me."

"I shouldn't leave you, Lou. I'll stay here and we'll have Jimmy bring us something back."

"Oh, no, Jack, you go on without me. It's just a pain. I'll be fine. I'll just stay here and rest a while."

"No, Lou, I insist. At least let me stay in case you need anything."

Jack shook her head. "No, Lou, that's not a good idea. You've just had a long journey, and someone should be here with you. I'll just go tell Jimmy that we're not --"

Lou groaned. She sat up abruptly again, and spoke in her regular, healthy voice. "Oh, for the love of Pete!" she exclaimed. "Jack, you would try the patience of a saint, I swear. I am tryin' to stay behind so you can have dinner alone...with Jimmy." Lou spoke slowly and patiently, as if to a child.

Then Jack blushed again. "Lou, you are..."

There was a knock on the door. Jack and Lou froze. Jack swiveled her head and looked at Lou. They stared at each other. Lou's lips curled into a wicked smile. She waved goodbye to Jack as she opened the door, and lay back down to give Jimmy her best weak smile.

Jimmy stood in the doorframe with his hat in his hands. His hair had just been washed and he was cleaned within an inch of his life. He was nervous and eager, and reminded Lou of a boy at his first grown-up dance. When he saw Jack he smiled broadly, the pleasure of seeing her plain in his face.

"Hello, Jack." He looked at Lou almost reluctantly. "Hey, Lou. Lou, what's wrong?"

"Just feelin' a bit poorly, Jimmy. I'm afraid I'll have to pass on this evenin'. You two can go without me. I'll just stay here and rest up."

Jimmy furrowed his brow. "I'm not sure if the Kid would want me to leave you alone if you're feelin' poorly, Lou."

Lou wanted to scream. She had to stop herself before she did. These two were going to drive her over the edge. "No, Jimmy," she insisted through gritted teeth, "I'll be fine. I just need peace and quiet. Really."

It was impossible to mistake Jimmy's relief. He would have Jack to himself, and there was no denying it was an evening he hadn't dared to hope for. Lou watched Jimmy and Jack smiled at each other, shyly. Her heart broke at the tenderness of the moment as Jimmy reached for Jack's hand and gallantly slipped it through his arm. When they left Lou was certain that even in this city of thousands, you would be hard pressed to find two happier people.