"What do you mean she's gone?" Teaspoon bellowed.

Kid and Lou had made a frantic search of Rock Creek to no avail. Christy seemed to have vanished into thin air. Finally, they had returned to the bunkhouse to enlist the help of the others. After explaining the situation to Teaspoon, a very contrite Kid waited for the haranguing he knew was coming.

"This is all your fault, Kid." Jimmy said angrily. His dark eyes seemed almost black with rage.

"Jimmy, hold on a minute. I think what we need to do right now is find Christy and quit worrying about who's to blame." Teaspoon stepped between Jimmy and Kid before they could come to blows again. "Kid, you and Lou come with me. The rest of you boys split up and search this town inside out. Rachel, you stay here in case she comes back. Cody will be back from his run soon and you can send him out looking."

"You think something's happened to her, Teaspoon?" Buck asked quietly.

"No, at this point, I don't. I think she's just got her feathers ruffled, but you never know when another blizzard will pop up, and I'd feel better having her back here safe and sound." Teaspoon grabbed his coat and headed out into the cold, followed by Kid and Lou.

Christy wandered aimlessly around town. Twice she saw Kid and Lou looking for her, but each time she ducked out of sight. Deep in her heart, Christy knew Kid hadn't meant the things he said, and really his words were not what troubled her. She felt like she was in a game of tug of war, and she was the rope, caught between Jimmy and Kid.

Kid was her strength, her link to the past. No one would ever understand her like Kid did, simply because they had shared so many of the same struggles. Christy knew why Kid was so overprotective; there had been so much pain in their past, he wanted to shield her from anything else hurtful.

Jimmy, however, was new and exciting. He was charming, obviously good-looking, and so, well, masculine. Christy had heard that girls tended to seek out men like their fathers, and even though she had been very young when her father died, the few memories she did have reminded her somehow of Jimmy. It wasn't merely the physical that attracted her to him; Jimmy made her feel womanly and safe. She didn't know how Kid could worry about her being in danger with Jimmy around, because she had never felt so protected.

Christy also realized there was a flip side to the coin. If she choose Kid, he could marry Louise, leaving her alone again. And who was to say that things would even work out between her and Jimmy? Their blossoming friendship was so new and fragile; it wouldn't take much to break it. Maybe he didn't even think of her in a romantic light. The kiss they shared could have been just a whimsy of his. Christy didn't know when she had been more confused.

She walked slowly past the saloon, thinking of the night that Cody had dragged her inside. Cody was another person who had been hurt during this mess, although Christy had the feeling he would be the first to recover.

The inside of the saloon was smoky and dim. She looked in the window, examining all the people moving around. The saloon girls were dancing around in their gaudy red costumes, rough looking men sat at tables, hunched over cards. Christy watched for a minute as the men placed their bets and laid down their cards. One of the men in particular caught her eye. He looked younger than most of the worn, grizzled cowboys he sat with. His brown hat was pushed down low on his head, obscuring most of his face. She studied him closer. There was something almost familiar about the way he was sitting, slouched down in his seat, with his legs sticking out straight in front of him. Just then the man turned to face her, and Christy gasped. It was Harry Turner.

Christy rubbed the grubby window to get a better look. It was definitely Harry, although he had changed since she last saw him. He had lost weight, making his already lean frame look slightly bony. He sported a week's worth of stubble and his black hair was longer. She watched as he stretched his thin frame then quickly downed a shot of whiskey. He glanced casually around the saloon, his eyes following the saloon girls as they paraded by him. He absently glanced at the window where she stood, then did a double take as he noticed her there. He stood, knocking over his chair and tipping over his whiskey glass. The other men at the table grumbled at him, but he took no notice.

Christy waited nervously until he made his way outside. Up close, Harry's appearance had changed even more. His eyes had a wild look in them, and his hands seemed to shake as they reached up to embrace her face.

"Hello, Harry." She said quietly.

"Christy?" His eyes were disbelieving. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same of you." Christy tried to hide the bitter tone in her voice unsuccessfully.

He glanced over his shoulder at the saloon doors. "Just got here this morning. I'm passing through actually."

She noticed he didn't tell her where he planned to go next. "It's good to know you're doing alright."

Harry flinched at her sarcasm. "I know, I'm sorry. I should have let you know where I was."

"It would have been nice." She stared at him icily.

"Why are you in Rock Creek?" He asked again, obviously trying to change the subject.

"My cousin is here." Christy felt a flash of guilt as she thought of Kid. He would be worried sick, wondering where she was.

Harry glanced at her, then looked away. "Look, Chris, I know you have every right to angry with me, but-"

"Christy!" Harry was interrupted as Kid ran up to them. "Where have you been? We've been looking everywhere for you!"

Just then Kid noticed the man standing next to his cousin. Kid looked the young man up and down and noticed he appeared very drunk. "Is he bothering you?" Kid asked with a steely glint in his eyes.

"Not anymore." Christy replied. "I was just leaving."

"Christy, wait! I want to talk to you." Harry pleaded.

"I don't think we have anything to talk about." She said stiffly. She grabbed Kid by his arm and pulled him reluctantly after her.

Harry quickly stepped in front of her. "Please, wait. Can I see you before I leave?" His tone sounded desperate.

Christy studied him for a minute before replying. "Alright. I'm staying at the Pony Express station. You can meet me there tomorrow.""

Harry flashed his lightening quick grin, and for a second, he looked like his old self. "Tomorrow would be great. See you then." He tipped his hat to her and jogged away.

"What was that all about?" Kid stood with his hands on his hips.

"Just an old friend." Christy tried to sound casual.

"What's he doing here?" Kid asked.

Christy seemed lost in thought. "That's what I would like to know."

"Christy," Kid changed the subject, sensing he would get no further with her on her mysterious friend. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things earlier. You know I don't want you to leave. I just-- I was just being overprotective, I guess."

Christy's eyes filled with tears. "Kid, I know you love me, and don't want me to get hurt, but you have to let me make some decisions on my own."

Kid nodded. "I just can't stand the thought of losing you again. If something happened to you…"

"It won't, Kid. Between you and Jimmy, how can it?" She teased. "But I can't go on feeling torn between the two of you."

Kid took her hand. "I'm sorry. Just promise me you'll take it slow with him, please."

"I promise." She sighed.

They made their way back to the bunkhouse. Teaspoon and Lou were already there waiting with Rachel, but the rest of the boys were still out looking for Christy. Christy felt immense guilt at having the riders out in the bitter cold because of her.

"I'm sorry, Teaspoon, that was immature of me." She apologized.

"Well, that's alright. I reckon everyone of us in this room has done somethin' foolish at one time or another." The older man comforted.

Jimmy and Cody was the last to come in. "We didn't have any luck-" Cody stopped as he saw Christy sitting quietly in the rocking chair.

"I'm sorry, Jimmy, Cody." Christy said sincerely.

"Are you alright?" Jimmy asked. It was hard to tell if he was concerned or angry.

"Fine. I just let my temper get the best of me. I'm sorry all of you had to suffer because of me." Christy couldn't stand the thought of any of them being mad at her, but at the same time, she couldn't blame them if they were furious.

"Well, now, everyone's home safe and sound. Why don't you help me start dinner, Christy?" Rachel said lightly.

The boys sat down at the table and began playing a game of cards. Christy helped Rachel cook, barely saying a word. As if she didn't have enough to worry about, now she had Harry's visit tomorrow to think about. Why on earth had she ever agreed to let him see her?

"Don't be so hard on yourself." Rachel said quietly to Christy. "These boys will have forgotten all about this in the morning."

"I just feel so stupid and childish." Christy explained.

"Believe me, I know the feeling." Rachel laughed. "The best thing to do is forget about it, and get on with your life."

Christy looked at the motherly woman with admiration. "You're way too nice, you know that?"

"Shh." Rachel put a finger to her lips. "Don't you dare tell these boys!"

After dinner Christy wandered out to the barn. She went to Katy's stall and fed her a carrot. While the brown and white horse munched, Christy absently stroked her mane. It must be nice to be a horse, Christy thought.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Came a voice behind her.

"Jimmy!" She breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Sorry." He said as he came closer. "Didn't mean to scare you."

"Are you mad at me?" Christy glanced at him uncertainly.

Jimmy shook his head. "No."

They stood looking at each other for a minute. Finally Jimmy took another step closer and reached out gently to touch her face. Christy closed her eyes.

"Jimmy-" She whispered.

"Shh, let me talk. Christy, since the day I found you, I've been fighting these feelings I got for you, because I knew it would cause problems with the Kid. Kid-he's stubborn. When he latches on to an idea, he don't let go, and Kid thinks I ain't right for you. I know what he means to you, but you gotta tell me, before this thing goes any farther; Christy, how do you feel?" Jimmy looked at the floor as he talked and Christy saw something in him she'd never seen before-Jimmy was scared.

"When I first came here, I was just so happy to see Kid again, I didn't think I would ever look at another man. The things Kid and I went through, Jimmy, well, they made us closer than most cousins. I need him. He understands me in a way others can't." Christy tried to make sure Jimmy understood her love for Kid before she went on.

"Then you gave me that tour of Rock Creek, and you changed all that." She sighed. "You made me realize I could trust someone besides Kid. I just never thought it would be this hard. I don't want to have to choose between you and Kid."

Jimmy nodded. "I understand."

He started to walk away, but Christy caught him by the arm. "Wait." She said. She pulled him back close to her, sensing his puzzlement as she wrapped her arms around him. She kissed Jimmy then, trying to express in that one kiss what words would not let her.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked gruffly. "If you're not, say so now, because I think I'm falling in love with you."

Christy leaned her head against his broad chest. "I'm sure."

"Then damn Kid. Damn him and anyone else that gets in our way." Jimmy held her closer and breathed for what felt like the first time in a very long time.

To be continued...