AUGUST 1876

by Calamity

It was a fair sunny day that August afternoon. Kid worked on the farm with his seven-year-old son, Joseph. Lou went out to the store with their five-year-old son, Timmy, and two-year-old daughter, Maggie.

Kid grabbed good old Lightning, Lou's aging horse, by the reigns and pulled him to the barn. Joseph laughed as Lightning gave a hault as Kid tried to pull him in.

"Ain't funny, son," Kid said with a slight laugh.

"You mean, it's 'not' funny. The word 'ain't' is an improper word," Joseph corrected.

"Where'd you learn a thing like that?" Kid asked with a large smile.

"Teacher told us."

Kid, as well as Lou, grew more and more proud of their eldest son. How fortunate it was for a family to put a child through a good education even after the destruction of the war. So many of Kid's and Lou's friends met unfortunate sentences during that tragic time.

Unfortunately, Kid couldn't serve in the army. For Lou, and for his growing family, it was probably fortunate to have Kid safe at home.

Before Kid could ever enlist, he befell riding accident that injured his back and blurred the sight of his left eye. Though better than ever, his back still gave way to stints of pain and it became harder and harder for him to walk around without his glasses.

Lou had aspirations to join the army to serve her proud country, but with that one terrible moment during her's and Kid's wedding and after losing one of her fellow riders and best friends, she lost all desire to want to join something that would only bring more bloodshed into her life.

Now happily placed in a picture perfect setting with a wonderful husband and beautiful children, Lou couldn't ask for anything more.

Lou walked into the store in her new afternoon dress and bonnet with her children that peaceful day. Maggie wore a matching set as Timmy dressed proudly in his new blue button down shirt and brown pants and boots. He looked more and more like Kid as the days went by and Lou gave a laugh each time Timmy pretended to be in a shoot out.

Lou went up to the storekeeper, Ezra Boone, and asked for the usual items on the list.

"Sure thing Miss Louise," Ezra remarked. As Ezra turned to grab two loaves of bread, several cans of beans, and spices, Maggie pointed to a shiny yellow object hanging on a small pedestal.

"Oh Maggie-baby, you know we can't afford somethin' fancy as that," Lou said. "That's gold."

Ezra gave a chuckle. "Oh ever since that gold rush and the demand of gold earlier this year in the Dakotas, we've been getting more and more gold jewelry for sale here."

"Well, Kid and I believe that gold'll only bring more trouble soon. Time's changing real quickly. Kid and I like things the way they already are."

"The way they are. Ah that love and beauty of the frontier. I remember my days just ridin' my lovely horse for hours on end in that great open valley of Oklahoma or even here in Nebraska. Sure was pretty before more people came."

"I've ridden many rides over the years. The Pony Express let me see it all before it all slowly wiped away."

"Ah yes, the fine Pony Express. I sure can't believe a pretty lady like yourself posed as a boy to get that job. Now how in tarnation did you ever do that?"

"It wasn't long before Kid found out and all the rest of them boys being nosy," Lou sighed and gave a slight chuckle. "The boys. Since the war, I've lost contact with all of 'em. A few of them became famous. I think you've heard of two of 'em. Buffalo Bill Cody, hmm? Wild Bill Hickok."

Suddenly, Timmy jumped up and down after hearing that name and shouted, "Wild Bill! Wild Bill!" He then ran over to the book section searching for a certain dime novel. "Where Wild Bill books? Mama, Mama! Get me one!"

"Not today Timmy. We've already got you ten of those trashy books. I'll tell you the real stories of Cody and Jimmy before more of their days 'til their deaths are printed," Lou smiled. Her arm soon became tired so she let Maggie down on the ground. As Lou placed her on the floor, she noticed a silence in the store. She looked back up at Ezra. "What's wrong, Ezra?"

Ezra looked straight into her eye. "I thought you already knew."

"Knew what?"

"Oh Miss Louise. Didn't you hear? Last night...Wild Bill was shot!"

"What?! The hell you..." Lou soon remembered herself. "Timmy, I see your little friend Henry outside. You go out and play with him."

"All right, Mama." Timmy ran outside with that spirit of a lively soul. Lou turned back to Ezra.

"You've gotta be kiddin' me. Jimmy? Shot? By who?"

"I honestly don't know. But word went out that the great Wild Bill -"

"Shut up! He never liked that name!" Lou snapped at him. She noticed tears pouring from her eyes. She gave out a long sigh as she picked Maggie back up. Now a bit calmer, she regathered her thoughts.

"Um...I'll be comin' back a li'l later to get my stuff. I've gotta go see Kid."

Without a good-bye, Lou ran out of the store. After wiping her tears, she called to Timmy. They quickly walked back home.

Kid and Joseph poured water into the little bowl on the table placed on the porch and began washing their hands and faces from a day of sweating. From a separate pitcher, Kid poured two glasses of fresh lemonade. He shared this special moment after a hard working day with his loving son on that patio.

"Now son, I know you're smart and you got a mighty fine future ahead of you, but I want you to know, that even though it's inherently yours, I won't mind if you don't wanna keep the farm."

"I don't understand, Daddy."

"Time's changing. Changing fast. You think the town hall is big, well, you should see the buildings they have in the big cities like Boston or New York or Charleston. Structures so high it's like five town halls stacked one on top o' the other."

"Why would they want a building that high?"

"I don't know, Joseph. But someday, maybe, you might become a businessman or somethin' big like that and you might go to places like New York or even to England itself."

"Why would I want to, Daddy?"

Kid gave that humane fatherly chuckle. If only Lou were there to hear it. Kid put an arm around his son's shoulder.

"I don't know, son."

They drank their lemonade as the afternoon sun rolled by.

Down the road, Lou came running over to the house screaming for Kid. Kid's smile suddenly turned into a concerned look. He put his lemonade down and ran down the porch steps towards Lou and Maggie and Timmy.

Kid and Lou finally came up to each other. Lou, breathless from the walk, put Maggie into Kid's arms. Timmy, equally tired, walked up the porch for some lemonade. All Lou kept frantically saying was, "Jimmy. Jimmy. Jimmy."

"What? What about, Wild Bill?" Kid asked with a smile thinking of that glorious mark of a town marshall, but as soon as he saw the tears from Lou's eyes, he immediately stopped grinning. "What's wrong, Lou?"

Tears rolled down the face of the lovely lady's face.

"Jimmy was...Jimmy was shot last night. Ezra told me. And the sheriff told me that poor Jimmy was shot in the back playing poker...." Lou began sobbing. Kid felt the tears in his own eyes. It seemed like only yesterday all the boys met for the first time at the Pony Express station. Meeting Teaspoon for the first time. Just boys then. Now, Kid a father, Lou a mother. The rest of them either marshalls, army soldiers, and/or husbands themselves.

"God rest his soul that James Butler Hickok. God rest his good soul."

Kid and Lou did their usual bed tuckings that night. Despite their grief, they still showed smiles on their faces as they tucked their darling children to bed. It was Maggie first.

Lou kissed the brown haired little maiden on the head as Kid took the little angel in his arms and laid her down to sleep.

Joseph, obviously trying to prove his maturity, went to bed all by himself.

Lou and Kid still followed him to his room. Kid took the hat off Joseph's head and placed it next to the table by the bed. Lou leaned down and kissed him good-night.

Then it was Timmy's turn. As Kid arranged his pillow and Lou tucked him in, Timmy spoke up.

"Story! Story! Wild Bill! Story!" Lou tried hard to hold back a tear. Kid shook his head.

"No, Timmy. Not tonight. C'mon Lou," Kid said.

"No, that's all right, darlin'. I'll tell him a story," Lou insisted. She swept back her long brown curly hair as she leaned forward onto her son's bed. She pressed her lips and stared down a moment. Before she could even tell Timmy a story, Lou looked over at Kid who was waiting for her to tell it. "Could you leave for a while darlin'. I want some time alone with Timmy here." vKid lifted an eyebrow but seemed to understand a bit. He nodded and kissed Lou on the forehead. He stepped outside and into their bedroom. Lou turned back to Timmy.

"Story, Mama. Story!" Timmy shouted.

"Well, a long time ago....before the war, there was a station called the Pony Express. You had to be a great rider to be a part of the express. Only the best joined. Not only were you supposed to be good at riding, but you also had to be a good fighter."

"Gun fighter!" Timmy shouted.

Lou sighed. "Yes. A gun fighter. It wasn't a glorious job. But it sure did let you see things no one else would be able to see overnight. They rode all day and all night delivering the mail. Not just any mail. We...they had to treat the mail like gold. To send the gold, it had to be sent quickly.

"One such rider was a young boy named Jimmy Hickok."

"Wild Bill!"

"He wasn't called Wild Bill then. The folks then called him Jimmy. He was a beautiful boy. Fast with the gun, sharp with the mouth. Honor and loyalty spread through his heart. He had a lot of pride and a lot of courage.

"Jimmy used to seem to always get into fights. Big or small. Lately, he was known as a man who could fend for himself and fight on his own, but back then, he depended on his family. His friends at the Pony Express. They were all like brothers. All of them equally loyal and vulnerable as the other.

"Oneday, Jimmy Hickok met a man that wanted revenge on him after Jimmy killed his accomplice that robbed a stagecoach full of gold. That man had friends. Big scary men. The man challenged Jimmy to a duel. Thinking that it was only going to be him and Jimmy, Jimmy went.

"Jimmy was then outnumbered one to seven. Jimmy was fast with the gun, but not fast enough to kill all seven at the same time. Just when he thought it was goin' to be over, there behind were six of his best friends. Ike, Lou, Cody, Noah, Buck, and Kid. Now all in a long fierce row of six fighters, Jimmy and his friends walked down the dirt path towards the other seven fighters.

"There was a lot of blood. Yes, some of Jimmy's friends got hurt, but not enough to kill them. We beat them. We were all so much alike then. The same heart. Same spirit. All part of a family. Each protecting one another. And there stood Jimmy. The future Wild Bill Hickok.

"Jimmy..."

Lou closed the door behind her and entered her bedroom where lay Kid. She could tell he was crying. She didn't blame him.

"Remember when that magazine writer first came to Rock Creek and wrote about the great Wild Bill?" She asked as she carefully combed her curly hair to place up in a bun.

"Lou..."

"Yeah, Kid?"

"What if..." Kid stared up at the ceiling not knowing what or what not to ask. Instead he turned to his side with his back to Lou. Immediately sensing something, she got up off her chair and went over to Kid. Putting her arms around him, she stared down into his blue eyes.

"What's wrong, Kid?"

Kid held her little hand in his. For a while, he just stared at it and rubbed it.

"How'd you ever become a good horsewoman with these little hands of yours?"

Lou put a hand to his face and made him look her in the eye.

"What's the matter, darlin'?"

Kid rolled over to lean against her.

"What if you had followed Jimmy and not me - "

"Aw Kid!" Lou scolded as she shot up and unembraced him.

"I know there was something going on between you and Jimmy - "

"Kid, this is crazy! That was more than ten years ago! We have children now. We have our own home. We have our own life and we certainly have our own future ahead of us!" Lou snapped at him viciously. Kid just stared into her large brown eyes. The same eyes he fell in love with the first time he found out she was a girl posing as a boy.

"Look Lou. I'm not saying that we don't love each other - "

"Then why are ya bringin' up somethin' long gone and long dead!"

"I'm sorry I even brought it up."

Kid layed back in bed and put the covers over him. Lou glanced at him wanting to prove to him that she loved him and only him. Instead, to honor the memory of James Hickok, she put the subject aside and spoke not a word. She turned off the lamp and went into bed.

The shadows from outside the window created ghostly images on the walls. The wind blew the tree branches against the light of the moon. Lou looked up at these images.

She could see riders, gun smoke, and silhouettes of her old friends. She lay against her pillow as she stared into the nothingness of the dark.

What if, she thought. What if she had decided to not marry Kid and pursue Jimmy or any other rider. She knew it in her heart that she had a certain fondness towards Jimmy. Even though he was too wild and proud to be with her, she knew it would've been an adventure. Lou closed her eyes and went to sleep.

Lou lay asleep perfectly sound. Not a thing in the world could wake her up. No guns, no mines, nothing. She couldn't possibly be awaken by anything.

From the distant, she could hear a familiar voice shouting for her:

"Lou! Lou! Louise!"

Louise? Lou opened her eyes. She found herself in another room, in another bed. Unfamiliar, yet familiar. Lou could not believe it. This was one of Rachel's old rooms. The guest room. The one she and the Kid occupied in for a couple months until they left Rock Creek.

Lou felt her body a bit more healthier. Younger. A body that hasn't yet given birth to three babies.

She jumped out of bed and ran in front of the mirror.

To her surprise, her long curly hair was up over her shoulders now. Straight with no gray hairs. She was young again. Not a day older than thirty. She was a girl again.

Her smile could go as wide as before without even making a single wrinkle. Her eyes were nice and wide. Sure enough, no wrinkles there either. How pretty I used to be, she thought.

Just then, she could hear the old voice again:

"Louise! Louise!"

The doors soon flung open and there stood a beautiful blonde woman that only appeared in Lou's memories of the past. It was Rachel. How good it was to see her warm kindness again. Those lovely blue eyes, the fair skin, and that dazzling smile.

Lou smiled with tears running down her eyes.

"Rachel!" Lou ran over to her and gave her the biggest hug. "Oh Rachel! Rachel!"

Rachel just stroke Lou's hair.

"I know, baby girl," she said. "I know."

Through the happiness and tears, all Lou could say was, "Oh Rachel! Rachel! Rachel!"

All Rachel did was hug her also.

"I know, Lou. I'm going to miss him, too. I know you loved him, too."

"What are you talking about Rachel? You know, too? You know about Jimmy?"

"Oh Lou. Of course I knew about you and Jimmy despite Kid."

"Rachel..." Lou realized this was the past. That was somehow taken back in time. Jimmy wasn't dead yet. They were all together again in the Pony Express. Lou looked over by the closet and saw her wedding dress hanging inside. Lou was taken back a couple weeks after the wedding. After Noah died. What day exactly? She didn't know. Not to sound like a fool, Lou just gave a nod.

"Come on Louise. Let's go say bye."

"Bye?"

"Don't tell me you forgot Jimmy was leaving today."

"Course I remembered!" Lou said. Jimmy leaving today? Lou suddenly realized that she was taken back to the day Jimmy was leaving Rock Creek to join the army.

As she and Rachel walked outside, there stood Kid. Young and handsome. Lou never realized how handsome Kid was and still is. She lovingly walked over to him and took his hand. It was good to look into his eyes again without his glasses getting in the way. It did feel empty without any of their children around though. She realized then how much Joseph, Timmy and Maggie made their lives complete.

Kid wrapped an arm around Lou and gave her a kiss on the left temple. She gave a smile. It was then, Jimmy came riding out of the stable with his new horse. His belongings were tied to the back of the saddle. He rode over the the area where Teaspoon, Rachel, Buck, Kid, and Lou stood.

Buck still not yet gone to enlist in the army; not until a year later.

Jimmy got off his horse and approached his family for a final farewell.

First it was Rachel. Rachel wiped a tear from her pretty eye and wrapped her arms around him. With a quick kiss on the cheek, she gave a sniffle and let him move on. Next he went to the Kid. Like a brother to a brother, they gave a good bear hug. Lou could see a wet eye forming on the Kid. Jimmy stayed calm and cool.

"Lead a good one, Jimmy," the Kid said with a cracked voice. Jimmy gave a smile.

"Have a good one, Kid," Jimmy answered back with a hint of crackling in his voice. Lou stared at this bond between two old rivals. Rivals in the mind, but never outwardly forward. Lou sighed not knowing why she was brought back to witness this moment of Jimmy's life. Her's and Jimmy's.

Jimmy approached Buck. He was the one rider at this express station left. Kid and Lou were now ready for married life, Jimmy was ready for the army, Cody already enlisted, Noah gone, Ike gone, Teaspoon ready for retirement, and Rachel ready to start a life as a teacher.

Buck took Jimmy's extended hand and they pulled each other closer to hug one another.

"You'll always be in my heart, Jimmy...brother."

"You'll always be my brother, Buck."

Jimmy then approached Lou. Lou gave a smile. The one she remembered giving him all these years ago. Jimmy looked down at her now more than ever knowing that she was happy with Kid.

"Bye Jimmy," she said with a smile. She reached up and gave him a hug. Jimmy gave a smile also and put a hand on her back.

"He's a lucky man, Lou. Have a good married life."

As they hugged, Lou suddenly had a premonition of the moment before she went to sleep and began dreaming this moment.

"What if..." Kid's voice rang in her head. Lou remembered that at this exact day, she had no intentions of leaving Kid. No intentions to be with Jimmy. No intentions to be in the army. Until this moment with that "what if" thought, she remembered all those moments she shared with Jimmy. Going to him when she felt worried about him, going to him for help, for a talk. All the feelings she must've had lodged deep in her mind. The one moment of truth where they actually kissed.

A kiss she didn't object to.

All those little things he used to inflict on her that she thought as adorable.

What if...

Jimmy noticed a little long pull on Lou. It took him some silent effort to let her go. Lou just looked down on the ground thinking for moment.

Jimmy gave her a kiss on the forehead and then approached Teaspoon. Jimmy looked at Teaspoon in a melancholy manner.

"You were...you are my father. You were always there. I appreciate everythin' you've given me. I love you Teaspoon. Thank you for giving me a home."

"Thank you, son." Teaspoon went forward and completely embraced him as does a father to a son. A father giving up a son that he raised to be a man. A father that once been through all that his son had and will do the same in his own little life. Teaspoon wiped a tear and let his son go.

Jimmy looked at all of his friends for the last time.

"Ride safe, Jimmy." Teaspoon gave a wave of his hat as did Kid and Buck. Jimmy gave a smile and started out.

Lou walked inside the house and into her room. She changed out of her dress into her pants, shirt, and vest. Something told her to start packing. There wasn't much to pack. Four dresses, a couple shirts, pants, and jackets, and one other pair of boots. She owned only one hat.

Lou grabbed her tiny bag and went outside to the stable. There was Lightning. Proud and strong. Ready for any adventure Lou would take him. As she tossed her bag over and put her jacket on, she was approached by two figures.

"She's in here Rachel," Buck pointed out. Rachel ran inside to go to Lou.

"Lou! What in God's name are you doing?" Rachel scolded.

"You don't think I know what life has to offer?" Lou asked angrily. Not knowing why she was angry she just kept walking around.

"What are you talking about?" Rachel asked.

"Lou. Come on, Lou. Why are you doing this? Why are you going to leave Kid? Why?" Buck asked.

"Because..." Lou began. "I don't know. Something is telling me that I should leave now. There's a war out there. It's killed one of my best friends and took away two. My own husband wants to join the side of the south. It's tearing all of us apart and..."

"Lou. We're not going to stop you," Rachel said.

"What?" Lou asked.

"It's your decision, Lou. We never saw you leave," Buck said.

Without a word, Lou mounted Lightning and rode out of the stable.

"Fair riding Louise."

"Good-bye Lou," Buck waved.

"And for the last time...ride safe, Lou."

Lou realized there was one other person watching her get ready to leave. Good old Teaspoon. Lou reached a hand over and took Teaspoon's. Lou gave a smile.

What if this really happened, Lou thought. What if?

Lou heeled Lightning and let him take her down through the land in the direction of Jimmy.

As Lou rode on, there came a deafening sound from the Express station that she left. A gunshot. Just one sickening gunshot. Lou stopped Lightning in mid-gallop. Lou knew who it was. There was no turning back now. Lou rode on.

Lou woke up sweating. She looked over to the right to see if Kid was still there. Sure enough, he was still alive. She felt tears in her eyes - not believing that she actually had the desire to leave Kid for someone she knew would only give her a future dangerously uncertain.

She wanted to wrap her arms around Kid and kiss him all over, but just knowing he was still by her side made her heart feel happy. As she laid back down on her pillow, she didn't feel completely at ease wtih herself. That dream she had. Was that a desire of her's or just a weird dream due to the discomfort and mourning for a lost friend?

Lou closed her eyes again. And sure enough, it happened all over again.

Lou found herself in the middle of a battle near the battlefield. She wasn't a soldier, but a nurse. A nurse tending to the terrible injuries made by another man.

Her gray dress and white apron was practically red all over. Her hair wrapped in white cloth to identify her as a nurse. She would see ten men that lost at least one body part everyday whether it be a finger, hand, foot, leg, or head. She grew immune to all the bloodiness.

She left her quiet home for this. An adventure that she wished she wasn't a part of. She went to sleep every night with nightmares. Not nightmares of the war, but nightmares of Kid killing himself just because she left him for a stupid reason.

Most of all, she missed her children. Joseph, Timmy, and Maggie. From that point, they were now non existent. Lou cried time and time again for the life she left just to see a "what if" happen. It didn't do any good. She barely found Jimmy on the way to the station.

As Lou sat on a chair resting for a moment from all the blood and cries, her one peaceful moment was interrupted by a mine blasted in the distance. The impact made tiny rock pebbles fly in the speed of bullets down towards the soldiers, doctors, and nurses.

Many men fell over from a pebble piercing into them. Lou felt a sudden hit on the arm. She fell forward onto the ground. She had been shot in the arm before, but she hadn't felt that pain in years. She started moaning and calling for help along with the other soldiers. The dust finally settled and swarms of nurses and doctors flew out into the open where the wounded lay.

As Lou tried to raise herself up off the ground, two large hands took her other arm and helped her up. She could barely stand due to the pain on her arm. She fell against that man. Quickly, she hesitated and stood straight.

"I'm sorry," she apologized and tried to run into a tent. As she hobbled away, she heard a sort of laugh come from that man.

"Always the tough one, eh, Lou?"

Lou stopped. Could it be? She slowly turned around and there he stood. His hair was longer and he had grown a slight mustache. A year older than before, but still the same man.

"Jimmy?" Lou sputtered.

"Yep."

"James...Jimmy Hickok!"

"Yep."

"James Butler Hickok - my friend - James Butler Hickok!"

"Yep, yep, and yes, ma'am."

Jimmy gave a laugh. Lou could barely stand still. After all this time, she finally found him. She started running towards him, but suddenly began to feel dizzy from the sudden loss of blood and the quick pain. Lou fell forward as everything turned black.

Lou woke up on a cot. Jimmy sat right next to her peacefully sleeping. His chair bent back against a table. Lou felt a bandage around her arm. She felt embarassed having fainted. No matter, she found a familiar face.

Lou gave a little snicker. She got up and pulled on one of the legs of the chair Jimmy was sleeping on. The chair suddenly tipped over sending Jimmy to the ground. That woke him up.

"Ah! Lou! I bandage your arm and this is the thanks I get?" He screamed. Lou just laughed.

"Had to do it!" She chuckled and smiled. "Like old times."

Jimmy looked up at her as she said "old times". His teased expression suddenly turned stiff.

"Old times, eh?" Jimmy asked. "Where's Kid?"

Lou hesitated and sighed. "Ain't here."

"He fightin' for the South?"

"No. Not fightin' at all."

"What's the boy doin' then?"

"Jimmy..." Lou knew she had to tell him. "Kid's dead."

Jimmy stared into the saddened face of Lou. His eyebrows gave a stern puzzled look.

"Dead?"

"Jimmy...Kid shot himself...after I left him."

"Why'd you leave him?"

"I can't really talk about it right now!" she screamed. Lou got off the bed and started storming out of the tent, but she got another blood rush. She collapsed to her knees.

"Whoa! Hold on there, Lou," Jimmy said as he ran over to her. "You lost some blood. You'll never believe how deep that li'l rock went in. It took a while for a nurse to take it - "

"Nurse!" Lou cried out in shock. She knew none of the nurses were qualified or skilled enough to take out a bullet much less a rock pebble. "Which nurse?"

"She said her name was Elaine - "

"You actually let her? You should've told a doctor to -"

"All the doctors are kinda takin' care of wounded soldiers that have no arms and legs now. We need the soldiers to fight. Not nurses."

"Well without nurses, there wouldn't be anyone alive out there with or without arms or legs."

"That's why Nurse Elaine helped!"

Lou just stared at him. It definetely wasn't love she was feeling for him right now. Lou looked down. Though unhappy with this result, she still felt a sort of bond that rekindled after a long period of separation.

"It sure is good to be with you again, Jimmy."

Jimmy bent forward and wrapped his arms around Lou. Lou let herself be embraced and be engulfed in his mass. For a moment, it actually felt good to be in someone else's arms again. Especially a friend. As Jimmy gave her a slight kiss on her head, Lou felt a sudden rush of sadness all over her. Was this what she left Kid for? Who knows when the war will be over? Who knows if Jimmy will suddenly die in this new life during the war? In front of Lou? Lou slightly let him go as she stared up at him.

"Jimmy...I don't know how we found each other again. All I know is that I don't want to lose you."

"Don't wanna lose you neither," Jimmy whispered. "It's so good to look into this face again."

Jimmy held Lou's face in his large hands. She just gave a smile and a slight blush. They were a boy and girl again. Not a year older than another day at the Pony Express station. Teaspoon lounging on the porch. Rachel telling the boys to do their chores. Jimmy and Lou having a private talk by the stables.

Jimmy brushed a strand of hair off Lou's forehead. With his finger, he gently placed the strand into the camouflage of hair and then lined her cheek down to the chin. With his thumb, he tenderly swept across her lower lip. She could feel his whole body get closer to her. Though kneeling, he was still a whole head and shoulder taller than her. She looked straight up at him with glittering eyes. Jimmy moved his head closer to Lou's. She could smell his breath and musk as his lips got closer to hers. Jimmy moved slowly downward towards her.

Just then, another mine blasted outside. This time, it wasn't across the hills on top. It was right outside the camp. A wagon went bursting fire everywhere. The impact and heat blew people off their feet and threw them yards away from where they were standing.

Jimmy and Lou felt the blast also. Lou fell over as Jimmy flung himself over her to protect her. Before the dust could even settle, he rushed up and took out a rifle and went out to fight raiders. As Lou looked up, she saw the figure of James Butler Hickok disappear into the smokey air.

Lou woke up once more. Instead of waking up with a slight heart pounding, she woke up sweating and breathing heavily. She looked over at her arm where the wound should be. It wasn't there. Everything was dark. She was still in bed right next to Kid and across the hall from her three darling children.

She didn't even realize that she had been dreaming. For a second, her eyes searched around for Jimmy, but found only the familiar settings that the mind thought it lost. And then there was Kid. Silent and sound. Sleeping peacefully. Lou couldn't take it anymore.

She got herself out of bed and opened up her closet. Deep in the end of the rack, behind all the pretty flowery dresses, there was her old jacket, pants, hat, belt, and vest. She started putting them on.

They were a bit tighter on her. Not so much, but tight enough to make her realize she had gained some after having children. They were still more comfortable than a corset and dress. She slid into her boots and put her guns into her belt. As she looked into the mirror, she didn't see the old Lou, but Louise wearing boy clothes. Her long curly hair made her look too much like a girl. She gave a sigh. Nothing was the same anymore.

Lou ran out of the door, out through the hallways, down the stairs, and out the front door. It was windy outside. Windy and dark.

Lou's long curly hair blew into her face. She wished she had her short hair again. It was much easier then with or without a bonnet or hat.

Lou ran into the stables. There was good old Lightning. Very old Lightning. She remembered how he helped her win Teaspoon over the first time she came to the Pony Express. He was five-years-old then. She knew Lightning's good days were numbered, but she trusted him. She grabbed his saddle and pulled herself up.

What was she going to ride to? And what for? She didn't know. All she knew was that she had to get away from the house for a while. Just for the moment. She couldn't stand anymore dreams. Painful dreams that only sparked curiosity inside her. Curiosities too dangerous to even think about.

Lou spurred Lightning. He started on. It felt like the good old days where she and the boys would go out for a ride. Ride through the countryside. The beautiful pastures. The true frontier. A frontier soon gone. She knew the war would only do harm to this beautiful land. It brought more people this direction. More business. More desire for land.

This land would soon be taken away to build more cities. Just what this country needed. More cities to run and judge over.

Lou kept riding. She kept riding until she couldn't see the house anymore. She kept riding until she couldn't even see the road leading to the house.

Just when she thought she was never going to stop, she halted Lightning. She knew he was tired. He grew more and more tired everyday. Lou let him rest by a brook. He drank for the moment as Lou sat on the saddle thinking about Kid, Maggie, Joseph, and Timmy. And when she thought about Timmy, she thought about Jimmy.

How sad it was Kid never really forgave Jimmy for Noah's death. How sad it was Kid never forgave Rosemary for it either. Old scores never settled. Lou knew Kid was never mad at them. He had so much pride in him, he needed a scapegoat. All this pride to defend. All of them had too much pride.

Noah always seeming to think that people kept judging him by the color of his skin. Little did Noah know that many people that he came across didn't feel that way. They were mostly charmed by his good soul and proud heart. Lou missed him dreadfully. It was that low self-esteem that made him feel very uncomfortable almost everywhere. Lou never saw his outside appearance. She only cared about that generous heart that a was a symbol of hope for so many people. A symbol of freedom and the proudness of his heritage.

Ike was almost similar in that way. His one disability didn't get in the way of his beautiful spirit. Everybody loved Ike. Lou had always been touched by that side of him. He never liked how people misjudged him due to him being mute. So much courage came from him. It took a lot of heart and faith to know that he could survive the roughness of such a job as being a rider for the Express. He loved what he did. He would've done the exact same thing and would've gone through the exact same thing even to this day. Ike was a loving soul.

Cody had a lot of pride. He knew he was good. He knew he was probably one of the best out there. He knew there were limited numbers of people that could do some of the things he could do. Cody was a good rider. Lots of snotty arrogance, but in a noble way. He never liked how people thought of him as just a stupid cocky kid that didn't know any better. All of his friends knew he would someday become something great. Cody showed all of them.

Buck had pride in his heritage. His white blood and Kiowa heart blended to make a united symbol. One that someone would look at and no for sure that he was an American. He never liked how people thought of him as someone that should be both a free man and an outcast. That all of his relatives should die to make room for more of the other half of Buck. Buck showed so much loyalty to his friends and family, never forgetting who he really was.

Lou suddenly realized they all were alike. Just as Jimmy didn't like being called a killer, as Kid didn't like being called unloyal to his Virginia or his adopted northern ideals. Just as Cody didn't like being known as a cocky kid, the way Ike didn't like being known as imcompetent. Just as Noah didn't like being judged by the color of his skin, the way Buck didn't like being judged by his two-sided ways. The way all of them had their own pride to protect, the way Lou had to protect her dignity as a capable woman in a man's world.

They were a family. Lou let out a tear as she thought of all the boys. She began patting Lightning to see if he would keep going. Just as she was about to pull out onto the road again, she heard some rustling nearby.

Lou turned to see three men on horses appear from the shadows. They looked like bandits. Lougulped knowing they only wanted either money or her.

"Hello there perty lady," one cackled. "You've got somethin' that we want."

"What's a lovely thing like you doin' out here so late at night?" another laughed.

"How's about you gettin' off that old horse o' yours and gettin' with real men?" the third approached.

Just as they started coming towards her, Lou drew a gun. She was still fast. She aimed at all three. No real target in particular. She knew one would eventually die if he came after her.

"Hold it right there!" she yelled. She started giving out her demands with that same strong voice she that she gave up after having Joseph. "Now, all three of you boys get off your horses nice and slow."

All three did so.

"Now scatter them!" Lou instructed.

All three shooed their horses away into the darkness and the twilight of the moon.

"Now you three just stand right there where I can see you! Don't do anything stupid!"

Lou knew this was a turning point. She decided to go back home. She was getting too old for all this adventure. Lou pointed Lightning back towards the house. She spurred him leaving the three gloatsbehind.

Lou rode fast. Fast enough to make her think she'd easily lose them.

One man reached deep into his jacket. Out game a revolver. There was enough moonlight out to see Lou. He pointed the gun and aimed straight at her. He cocked it and pulled the trigger.

Just when Lou thought she'd ride over the hill, she felt a shot to her back. The extreme pain caught up to her as the wind blew against the wound. The three men laughed.

"Let's let that li'l hussy rot! C'mon. Let's go!"

They all turned to search for their horses.

Lou remained still on Lightning. Just when she thought she could keep going, Lou closed her eyes and witnessed pitch blackness. Her wounded body fell off Lightning as she tumbled a partial way down the hill. There she lay.

Lou lay on the ground bleeding. The pain was unbearable. She wasn't unconscious. She just couldn't open her eyes. She could actually feel her whole life draining from her. As she lay there, all she could think about was Kid. How beautiful their marriage was. A marriage made by heaven itself.

That wasn't the only thing she could think about. She thought of all the reasons that led to this crucial moment. Ever since she heard news of Jimmy's death, ghosts came back to haunt her.

She thought it selfish of her that she was thinking of this at this moment as her family lay sleeping at home not knowing that their wife and mother is on some road bleeding to death. Lou could only think of one thing. It was a dream. The haunting dream that would not go away all this time.

************

The war was finally over. Lou was so happy to be leaving all the blood behind her. It was about time she started taking care of herself instead of thousands of hopeless soldiers. Hopeful yet hopeless.

Lou looked through her old bags. Bags that she brought with her to the fields but never opened once since all she ever wore was her nursing uniform.

She reached in and took out a lovely blue dress that she once wore years ago on one of her good happy days at the Pony Express. She tried it on. The dress could barely fit her. She had grown so skinny over the years the already small dress was too big for her. She knew she had to start eating some good food again. She had earned just enough money to start a small life on her own.

She didn't mind. She was used to living on her own and taking care of herself. A feeling that she thought she lost when she married Kid. But with Kid gone now, all she could do was go back.

Lou borrowed some make-up from a fellow nurse and dabbed it on her face. She also wrapped her hair in a pretty fashion and placed it under a new ribboned hat. She loved wearing a pretty dress again.

For now, she didn't know what to do.

"I could head out west," she thought to herself. "California sounds good."

She knew there were jobs opened for any settlers going to California for a new life. Maybe she could start her own horse station. Lou wished she could ride Lightning again, but she had to give him up to the soldiers. She missed him dreadfully.

Lou arrived at the train station. With her dress, bags, and a couple dollars, she was ready to take on a whole new life.

"One ticket to San Fransisco please."

The teller took Lou's money and handed her a crisp clean ticket. The ticket to a world awaiting the new Louise McCloud. As the train pulled in to the station, people started swarming into the cars. Lou slowly approached one.

"Lou!" someone yelled. Lou stopped for a moment and turned around. She saw Jimmy standing nearby in his uniform. He looked much more clean cut than the last time she saw him that day the mines blasted everywhere around the medical camp. He was a handsome sight.

Lou smiled but immediately frowned knowing it was all his fault she was led to this miserable life. P> "Jimmy," she said glumly. Jimmy kept approaching her.

"I heard Nurse Hamilton mention you goin' out west."

"You heard right."

"So what's out west?" he asked.

Plainly, solemnly, and bravely, she gave one simple answer. "Me."

Jimmy looked down for a moment. Knowing there was only a certain amount of time left before the train left, he began talking again.

"Well, I was hopin' I could give you these just 'cause, you know," he said. He reached around and from his back, out appeared a lovely bouquet of flowers. "So I guess you could call this a good-bye present."

Lou smiled and let a tear fall from her eye. She took the flowers graciously. As she looked at him, Jimmy could only be touched by those lovely big eyes that were forming tears.

"You know what the funny thing is?" Lou asked.

"What?"

"I'm all packed and ready to leave..."

Jimmy waited for her to finish her sentence, but noticed her beginning to cry. She sniffled slightly and bent her head down. As she looked back up, two tears rolled downly quickly and simultaneously down her high cheeks.

"...but...I don't have anything in my bags. Not one thing."

Jimmy looked at her. She was on the train now, but still on the steps.

"All aboard!" the conductor shouted. Lou smiled as Jimmy sighed. The train started. Jimmy started following it. Lou just looked down at him as he walked with her.

"Lou...you know I care for you and that I'll always think of you."

"Will you...James Hickok?"

"You're the only one left that I know and count as my family. You're special Lou. You took my heart and stole it and made it new. There were days when it felt like we were the ones that were meant for each other."

The more he spoke, the faster the train got.

"Lou, Kid was a lucky man. I still can't believe how you left him like that and made him kill himself. And man must love someone so much to kill himself after losing her."

Lou just kept looking down at him as he kept speaking. The train started going even faster.

"Lou," he said now running with the train. "There's only one thing to say Lou. You gave me a reason to live safely through the war when I saw you there at the medical camp. Hopin' that we could start another family after all that bloody mess."

Lou had turned her head but immediately turned back to him when he said that.

"You're very dear to me, Lou. I only hope for the best. You deserve the best and only the best. I guess what I'm trying to say is..."

The train whistled as it got unbearably fast drowning out whatever Jimmy said. So this time he said it louder.

"What I'm tryin' to say, Louise McCloud is that...that I love you! I love you!"

Lou started crying. She let go of the railings, and leaving all her luggage behind on the train, jumped off the train and into the arms of the man that loved her.

Their lips finally met. She barely even touched the ground. Jimmy held her in his arms as he indulged in his whole heart. It was the same kind of kiss Jimmy gave her years ago before she and Kid got married. But that one was out of passion and yearning. This one was out of true love.

Without even letting her touch the ground once, Jimmy lifted her in a threshold and carried her away and out of the train station to their own life.

That night, Jimmy and Lou shared a bedroom at an inn. It wasn't like the time when Lou thought she lost Kid to another girl and just cried all night in bed with Jimmy on the ground listening to every teardrop fall.

They were in the same bed. It was a night full of passion. Sweet lovely passion that Lou hadn't felt in years. The war had made her practically immune to such physical attraction, but Jimmy brought it all back with a kiss and that special night.

Jimmy and Lou lay in bed together with their arms around each other. Wrapped in a blanket, and completely embraced in each other, Jimmy kissed Lou all over her face. Lou just lay against him with her eyes closed.

After a while, they just laid together. Jimmy against the head of the bed and Lou against his chest. It was a quiet moment just in each other's presence.

"You're everything I've dreamed, Jimmy," Lou said finally after a long yet restful silence. Jimmy smiled down on her.

"You're everything I've loved, Louise," Jimmy responded.

They were now one and in each other's worlds.

It was all just a dream. Her as a nurse, going to the train station, responding to Jimmy's silently kept love, and sharing a night of passion with him. All just a strange dream that was only thwarted afterlosing that life from the world.

Lou was finally in bed. Someone must have found her on the path bleeding. Kid walked up next toher side and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Lou, honey," he said in the dark room. "Are you all right? We found you on the ground just bleeding. But it's all right now. Doctor took a look at you. Says you'll be just fine."

"Oh, darlin'," Lou just sighed - so breathless and weak. "I had a dream."

"Shh. Let's not talk about that now. At least you're okay," he said.

"Unfortunately, the baby didn't make it."

"What?!"

Lou opened her eyes and shot up from her bed. "Maggie!"

As she looked around, she realized it wasn't her room at all. It wasn't even her lovely house in Nebraska. It was some lodge. And the man wasn't Kid. It was Jimmy. Lou just looked at him. He had grown a beard and mustache and let his hair grow out even more. Probably never got it cut since the war.

"Jimmy?!"

"Lou, you all right?"

"What did you say about the baby?"

"You must've gotten hurt real hard. You fainted and you started bleedin'. Turns out the baby was sick. The baby didn't make it."

"Baby?"

"I know," Jimmy sighed as he sat next to her on the bed. "We've been trying so hard. It's 'cause you drink too much, Lou! It's bad for the baby! That's why we can't have any kids!"

"I'm a drunk?" Lou was in actuality dumbfounded thinking of herself as a drunk.

"Now you figure it out?" Jimmy asks.

"Oh good golly! I'm a drunk!"

"Look, I don't blame you. I know this ain't a pretty life we're livin', but I got my job as a sheriff. I need to fulfil it. I still love you and care for you, and I always feel bad leavin' you alone all the time."

"Jimmy, no. No. It's all my fault."

Jimmy was obviously very depressed about the baby. He sighed and dropped his head onto Lou's weak shoulder. Lou just wrapped her arms around him. Lou felt the age on her after that transition from the moment after leaving the train station to now.

"So what was that dream you were dreamin' about?"

Lou looked in the mirror. Was this a dream? It all felt too real. The pain in her stomach and other areas of her lower body from that sudden loss of a life, the queasiness of the alcohol in her body, and the drainage of blood could be felt.

Her long curly hair was now just long and wavy and messy. The perfect smoothness of her hair was gone. Now it was just surrounded by flyaways and split ends. What kind of a life was this?

But she knew one thing: That she loved Jimmy. That she'd do anything for him. Lou smiled knowing that she was still a part of the life of a loving man.

Lou gave a sigh and dressed up. For some reason, she wanted a drink. As she stepped outside, she found herself in the view of a dozens and dozens of people drinking, smoking, and playing poker and arguing. Did she live here?

Lou walked downstairs. As she arrived by the bar, the bartender looked up at her and smiled.

"Good evening Mrs. Hickok."

For a moment, Lou had to remind herself that she was Jimmy's wife now.

"Yes. Good evenin'."

"Are you feeling all right?" the bartender asked her.

"I'm all right I guess. Just need a drink."

"Sorry Mrs. Hickok, but the marshal told me not to serve you anymore for now."

"Where is Jimmy?"

"Don't you know? He's at work."

"Doing what?"

Suddenly, from outside, a loud gunshot could be heard. Definetely the distinct sound of a colt. Lou ran outside and found Jimmy pointing a gun straight at some stranger.

The man was around Lou's age with long blonde hair and a blonde beard and mustache. He was on the ground probably because Jimmy kicked him or pushed him. Lou ran over to Jimmy.

"Jimmy!"

"Stay out of this, Lou."

Lou knew Jimmy could not kill this man.

"Jimmy, put the gun down."

"This man's only here to bring some trouble. I got word from the next town that some crazy gunfighter was comin' to Abilene to see me. And I don't want any trouble so might as well do away with him."

The man on the ground protested. "No! No! Please let me explain! I - "

"Shut up!" Jimmy snapped at him. Lou immediately raised her hand and placed it on Jimmy's wrist.

"Jimmy! Don't you know who this is?" she asked knowing exactly who it was.

"What?" Jimmy asked. "What are you talkin' about?"

The man on the ground cleared his throat.

"Thanks Lou," the man sighed.

Jimmy looked down at this man still not knowing who it was. Lou gave a laugh.

”Jimmy," she giggled. "It's Cody."

Cody, Jimmy, and Lou ate dinner together at a nearby restaurant. Cody ate as if he hadn't eaten in a long time.

"So what brings you here, Cody?" Jimmy asked.

"Heard you two got hitched after I read some children's books of yours. 'Wild Bill' marries LouAnn 'The Vixen' McCloud," Cody laughed. He gave a look at Lou who was just staring at him and smiling the whole time. "You sure got mighty pretty, Lou."

"It's so good to see you, Cody. I missed you so much."

"Hell - I missed all you guys. And Buck and Teaspoon and Rachel and Kid...What happened to Kid anyway? Where'd that southerner go to?"

"Kid ain't with us no more." Jimmy sighed.

"What happened to him?" Cody asked. "Joined the south?"

"No Cody," Lou sighed once more. "Kid shot himself."

"Oh...oh. God rest his loving soul."

Lou looked down at her plate seeing her reflection. For a moment she actually felt regret.

"I want you to join my show," Cody told Jimmy.

The two men were at the station where Jimmy usually worked. Jimmy was at his desk filing some reports as Cody sat on the desk next to him.

"What the hell are you talkin' about, Cody?" Jimmy asked as he looked up from his papers.

"You mean to tell me you haven't heard of my show?"

"I know about your show, you idiot! But why?" Jimmy asked.

"Well, first of all, you're James 'Wild Bill' Hickok! You're famous all over the east, you know how to work around cattle like my buffalos and bulls, you're a war hero as well as a survivor of it - like me, and you've killed over 100 men - "

Jimmy jumped up from his chair and grabbed Cody by the collar with fury.

"And you think I'm proud of that?! Do you?!" Jimmy barked at him. Cody fearfully gulped while pinned down on the ground by the marshal.

"Whoa! Hold on Jimmy," Cody whispered. "I ain't saying that killin' is a good thing - "

"Do you know what it's like havin' a mark on your head just because of some stupid pet name you're known for? Oh right! 'cuse me Buffalo Bill. But what do you have to worry 'bout? I have a woman in my life that I adore with all my heart! And to put her in danger all the time, leavin' her all the time, all alone, hopin' and prayin' to have a child, havin' her being called the mistress of Wild Bill!" Jimmy yelled with passion. "I never wanted this for Lou! You and I both know that! I wanted her with Kid so she could live a nice peaceful life with a husband that cares for her and keeps her out of trouble. And look at me! She gets drunk, we've lost babies 'cuz of it, and I can't help but feel sorry for her all the time!"

"Jimmy! Calm down!" Cody assured him.

Just then, Lou came into the station with a basket of bread, jelly, and fruit. The minute she saw Cody tackled on the ground by Jimmy, she dropped the basket of treats and ran over to Jimmy.

"Jimmy! What the hell are you doin' to him?" Lou cried as she pulled him off. She then helped Cody up and started brushing the dust off him. "Cody, you all right?"

"Just fine, Lou."

Cody straightened himself up and left the station without saying a single word. Lou turned back to Jimmy.

"Jimmy! What was that all about?"

"The damn fool wanted me to join his stupid buffalo show."

Jimmy sat back down on his chair and resumed his work on his papers. Lou looked down for a moment after picking the basket of food up. She began spreading the jelly on a piece of bread and placed it on a napkin for her husband.

Just then, after the longest silence, she glanced at Jimmy with a question:

"Why not?"

Jimmy looked up at her puzzled. "What?"

"Why don't you want to join him?"

"Because it's all children's stuff. What good will we get from it?"

"Respect."

Jimmy stared into the eyes of this beautiful woman. A woman that was once a gem to look at. Now she looked tired all the time, suffering from drunkenness, and a loss of two babies. Her hair always messy, her body so skinny from lack of healthy food. It's been ages since she had ridden a horse and felt the openess of the countryside. No matter, Jimmy still adored her.

But he had his work to do. He couldn't just drop everything after having brought peace to Abilene and setting up work for many just to join some road show. But as Jimmy looked at the jails that occupied years of criminals and at the wife of his dreams, he knew he had to make a decision. And it was going to be for Lou.

Jimmy and Cody laughed as they rode alongside the coaches. It looked like the carnival coming to town with the masses of animals following by interesting and animated characters.

They were young again. Riding together in a line with the other riders. Lou felt weak. It had been four months since her latest chance at giving birth. The pains were back again. Lou knew she and Jimmy were going to have a baby again. This time, Lou was going to take care of herself.

She sat on a wagon next to the driver watching her husband and one of her best friends ride again. In a way, the two of them looked like brothers. Both had long hair and beards and both rode like professionals. She smiled under the shade of her sun hat.

Jimmy and Cody had polished an act they would do together. First a fake stand off. They knew they were both good shots, so they decided to scare the audience by barely knicking each other on their clothes and hats. After a quick and sweet finale to that act, they would later do a riding act with Lou. Though it had been years since Lou had ridden a horse, she still had the skills. She did a couple of tricks like turning around on the saddle and hanging off the saddle.

She, Jimmy, and Cody would also toss around a mochila using new juggling techniques. It was just like the old days only they tossed around a lightweight mochila full of nothing while trying to amuse a large group of people.

All in all, it was a good act. One of the best times of their lives. Lou loved this renewal of her life with Jimmy and a new life with Cody.

Cody was still the charming person that blew everybody away with his proud attitude. It was obvious the war didn't bring Cody down while it brought both Lou and Jimmy down. But they were happy again and that's all it mattered. It was a family again.

Lou desperately wanted to have a baby. She knew there was nothing to miss since the life she and Kid had never really existed, but she missed having children around. Lou gave a sigh whenever she thought about that other dimension.

After the act, Lou, Jimmy, Cody, and the rest of the Wild West Show went to the inn and stayed for the night. Jimmy and Lou went to their rooms exhausted, but happy.

Jimmy and Lou plopped into bed fatigued and wiped out. Lou's pretty hair seemed to shine out again since the stress of staying home all the time and drinking was out of the picture. Now she was getting her fresh air and smiles. Drinking was out of the question and making people see the beauty of the west that was and the one that she remembered was enough.

She put on her sleeveless nightgown after taking a bath. Jimmy slipped right into his long johns and dove into the bed wanting nothing but rest and comfort. They layed next to each other and just lied together under the light of a single candle.

Jimmy smiled at Lou as she smiled back at him.

"Lou," Jimmy asked. "Are you happy?"

Lou looked into his intesifying dark eyes with all the love in her heart.

"Of course, Jimmy. I could never think of a more happier life with you."

"When are you happiest?" Jimmy chuckled.

"I grow happier and happier almost every other minute."

"What about those other minutes in between?"

"Those are the moments I fall more in love with you which makes me happier," Lou smiled as she bent over and kissed him. Jimmy acknowledged and kissed her back.

"Do you know how lucky I feel every time I look into your eyes?"

"Why James Hickok!" Lou giggled. "I never knew you were such a touchey kind of fellow."

"You're so perty, Lou. I always had an eye on you since I realized you were a girl. I always thought you were one of those nice cute little fellas and, hell, you turned out to be a nice cute little girl," Jimmy laughed. "I'll never forget the first time I saw you in a dress. You were so beautiful."

"I'll never forget the first time I ever saw you. So cocky and arrogant. A tough guy. But I knew what you were really like. Just a lost little boy, that's all."

"I love you, Louise."

Jimmy put a hand on her cheek and cupped her face gently. Usually, this was the farthest he was able to show his admiration for her while working at the station, but this time it was safe to do so.

After a couple more moments of talking and laughing, Jimmy and Lou just looked at each other and smiled some more. They had never been more in love.

"You've given me so much, Lou. What can I do for you now?" Jimmy asked as he took her hand.

Lou just looked at him with one of those looks. That look that immediately read that she already knew exactly what she wanted. She lifted her hand and touched Jimmy's face. With a little spark in her eye and a smirk, she said:

"Cut your hair."

They laughed and fell into each other's embrace. After a couple more moments of simple talks of love, they fell asleep.

Cody rode out of town oneday to experience the frontier that, he heard, would someday vanish. He didn't want that. Nobody understood the beauty of the real United States country. They just wanted to build more buildings like the ones in New York. Cody wanted desperately to save whatever remains of the country that was left.

Cody had grown so much since leaving the Pony Express. The dime books wrote stories of Cody as being the ever gallant rider, but he knew he was just a human being that was lucky to have lived through the war as well as during his work as an Express rider.

A couple years after leaving the Express, Cody became appointed a scout leader. Despite his beliefs in equality among men, he led campaigns against the Native Indians that dared to stand up against the moving army. Even the Kiowa.

Oneday, Cody rode into the reservation where many of the Kiowa Indians were occupied. He knew in his heart that it was wrong to drive people out of their lands. Not just their lands, but their homes. Homes that have been their own for generations. And he knew he was one such man that helped the white men drive the red men out. Their was a constant weight in Cody's heart after performing such tasks.

As he rode into the reservation to give news to the troops that stayed there, he realized his new horse, Mikey, was limping. Cody jumped down and realized something was wrong. Mikey was bleeding from one of his ankles. Cody sighed.

"I wish I knew what was really wrong with you, boy," Cody uttered. Suddenly, from behind, a man said something that seemed to have really come out of Mikey's mind.

"He broke his ankle."

Cody turned around and saw the most comforting sight of all. It was Buck. A little older now. Cody gave a smile through his mustache.

"Buck!"

Buck gave a smile as Cody jumped up and gave him a hug. Buck didn't really acknowledge the hug, but it was obvious that he was happy to see an old friend again.

"Buck, how have you been doin'? How's everythin'?" Cody excitedly said.

Buck just stared at him and plainly said, "All right....I guess."

"You guess? You guess, what?"

"The fact that I don't have a home anymore."

The weight that was on Cody's heart now sunk down bursting it. Broken.

"Oh Buck."

Buck's hair got longer as did Cody's. Buck left it down with only a red bandana tied around his head. The warrior paint on his face was obviously untouched and left to wipe away on its own. It was fading away slowly, but Cody could still see the spirit.

Cody's old clothes were sold to buy his horse, Mikey. He wore the Union uniform and just had it tailored again. Cody was the spiffing image of a good soldier. Buck had the look of a lost being.

The two of them silently tended Mikey's broken ankle. After rubbing an herbal paste that an old Kiowa woman made, they wrapped the ankle gently and let Mikey rest in a shadey area with water. Keeping the silence, Buck and Cody walked around the reservation. Forgetting all about the message he was to deliver, Cody just walked side by side with Buck.

It wasn't until they made their way into a meadow, Buck finally spoke up.

"I never thought I would see you again, Cody."

Cody nodded a little disappointed. "But not like this. Not here."

"I hear you are a hero among the soldiers. They say you make your life story far bigger than it really it."

"Just makin' a name for myself. 'tsall."

"You were always like that."

"Like what?"

"Bigger than life itself."

Cody smiled. "You know, I've always admired you, Buck. You have that thing where you instantly look at someone and you know exactly what they're really like. I always had to learn the hard way. Almost got killed in many occasions."

"Listen, Cody. I don't want to respark a friendship that was probably lost during this war."

"Okay, Buck."

Cody and Buck kept walking around the Kansas meadows the whole day and the whole afternoon. Without the single inkling of hunger or thirst, they kept talking and walking. They brought up old memories from the days of the Pony Express, old foes, the old adventures, and everything else they shared in a past that was pure and good before the war tore it all apart.

They were like two old men. Two elderly friends that hadn't seen each other in ages sharing old battle stories and lost memories. Side by side, together, forgetting that there was still a war going on for equality, but the feeling of biasness was still there.

Cody knew Buck could easily get out of the reservation since he wasn't a hundred percent Indian. Buck knew Cody thought like that.

"I just don't understand it, Buck. Why do you want to live like this? You know it's only gonna get worse."

"What's there to not understand? You're doing exactly what I'm doing."

"What do you mean?"

"You are fighting with your people for your home. You are fighting among those that know everything you do is probably the right thing to do. And yet, you know it's only going to get worse. There will be more blood, more death, more trouble. But you still stay here fighting alongside it all. Knowing that you might die tomorrow. But you probably have the pride that you will win. I know I am lost."

"Then get out of here."

"Would you leave your family?"

The two of them stopped and sat on the untouched land. As Cody sat down, the put his hand on the terrain and silently felt it. Buck stared at him.

"It's almost gone, isn't it?"

Cody nodded. "All of it. Everythin'. Down to the last dirt."

"Will we be able to ride through the land again?"

"Not very long."

Buck stared at the sunset. The bright orange bounced off the clouds creating purple and pink hues across the horizon.

"Hey Buck," Cody said. "Did you ever think that someone could actually ride into the sunset?"

"Of course. That's what we used to do all the time."

Buck and Cody walked back to the reservation. Cody still had the letters to give the troop leader. Buck returned to his tiny cabin of fifteen men minus his great brother who had died from cholera. The disease should've taken him sooner, but since, like the fighter he is, he had responsibilities over his people, he lived through his disease since the troops seized his people and brought them a whole state down to a reservation. The great Red Bear died leaving Buck as one of the high warrior chief and appointing him as a full blooded Kiowan.

Cody went inside the main office where there sat his fellow scout members and troopers.

Sergeant Jonson sat at his desk and saw Cody.

"Oh Private Cody. I thought you were going to come here earlier."

"My horse got hurt, sir. My friend...er...one of the Kiowans helped me heal him up."

"Oh. All right. Now, what news do you bring us, William?"

"Well, sergeant, I don't know for sure. All's the captain told me to do was keep this letter sealed up until you open it."

"So you don't know what is contained in the letter?"

"No, sir."

"All right. I guess your being a former Express rider has kept you loyal to the people's mail."

Cody gave a laugh and handed him the letter. Jonson opened it and read it. It didn't sound like good news by the expression on Jonson's face. There was no expression. Just a blank and stern stare. Cody gulped.

Jon looked up. "Thank you, William. You are dismissed."

"Wait, sir. Might I ask, what was in that letter?"

"I guess you are permitted to. It's about Blue Troop."

"The Blue Troop? Who are the Blue Troop?"

"I guess not all of the soldiers know about Blue Troop. They are the secret troop that were to raid against rebel Indian tribes. It turns out some of the Kiowans here ambushed the Blue Troop and killed all of them and scalped them. This is a crime that I am put to justice."

"The Kiowans, sir? I'm sure they had a good explanation. Maybe - "

"William. The Blue Troop swore in oath, under God, that they would not provoke fights and harm anybody unless provoked themselves. It turns out, they were to escort a small band of rebelers over here, but then, on the way over, they were hit on the tracks. The whole Blue Troop. Wiped out."

Cody felt uneasy. He knew it was probably the Kiowan warriors that attacked. And he also knew that Buck was one of the warrior leaders.

Cody snuck out of his bunk that night and into the camp. He approached Buck's cabin. He went around the back and opened the window. Sure enough, there was Buck right under the window. Cody reached over and shook him awake. He woke up immediately without a glint of fatigue in his eyes.

Buck climbed out of the window and followed Cody.

"What is it, Cody?"

"Buck, I'll just come out straight. As of tomorrow afternoon, you are going to die."

"Will they execute me?"

"You and your warrior friends that raided the troops."

"They were the ones that lured our entire tribe out of our home. We sought revenge."

"What's happened to you, Buck? You were all about peace. Now I think you're just full of hate!"

"What else am I supposed to be filled with right now?!"

Cody hushed him knowing that guards were posted everywhere.

"Listen, Buck. You are my friend. I don't care what you say. I've always been your friend. And I don't want you to die. Not like this. You are too good. I know what you're really like. I see you dying in a more noble manner by a more noble reason. Not for killing."

"I'm dying for my people."

"No! You're not dying for me!"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I know Red Bear said that you are full Kiowan."

"I don't want to be known as a half breed."

"You're not! You're full Kiowan, you're full white, and you're full friend to me! I need you to runaway!"

"I have nowhere else to go."

"Yes you do! You have a destiny. Your destiny was never to be executed. Your destiny is to keep your blood line goin'. Think about it. You go out there, find a wife, have a family, and let that family keep growin' and growin'. You've seen too many people die and you've saved too many people's lives to die so miserably."

"I take it, you're the one that has to pull one of the triggers?"

Cody lowered his head.

"Buck please. I know I can get you out of here. If you want some others to live, I can't promise all of you that ya'll escape. Please."

"I will betray my people."

"It may seem like that right now, but you'll be doing your people's future a favor."

Buck sighed.

"Since when did you get so good at philosophy?"

"I learned from the best," Cody smiled patting Buck on the shoulder. Cody led Buck away and into the shadows.

The next day, ten warriors were placed in a firing squad. All but one of their brave leaders. Buck was probably far away now. It was almost high noon and the troops and Cody were readying their rifles. It wasn't very long until all the warriors met their sentences as wives and children watched from the cabins.

Cody could not help but feel guilty. These were, in actuality, his friends and he was an assassin. Making the biggest mistake by killing the men that supported their loving families. Cody let out a tear. At least one good came out of all of this: Buck was safe.

Just when the thought assured him, there from the distance, a soldier was riding towards the reservation with a man walking by his horse. It was Buck.

Cody kept an eye on both men from the moment he saw them from the distance. They arrived at the reservation. Buck had a bruise on his cheek and a scratch on his arm. Dust and dirt covered his pants. It was obvious Buck was chased down. He kept one strong look on Cody. Cody wanted badly to turn away, but he was obviously staring at the possible ending to a special life.

Sergeant Jonson approached Buck after the soldier shoved him down on his knees.

"How on earth did you manage to escape?" Jonson asked him. Buck kept silent knowing that he would only betray another. He stared at his fellow Kiowan warriors that lay in the dirt bleeding. He could hear the cry of the wives and children from the cabins. Buck shook his head. It was then, Cody was called on a special duty. "Private William!"

"Yes, sir?" Cody asked approaching Jonson. Jonson handed him a pistol.

"Take this man around the camp. I can't bare to have more tears coming out of the children's eyes. Execute him and do whatever else is necessary on the body."

Jonson spoke using the soft consideration for the children and the cruelty of an evil army soldier. Buck wasn't given the opportunity to cover his ears as he was told such orders to a friend. Cody nodded obediently and took the pistol.

The soldier on the horse let go of Buck as Cody helped him up off the ground. Cody led him around the camp.

"I just want you to know, Cody, that I understand..." Buck's voice trailed off as Cody let out a tearful sob. He did a good job at not letting the soldiers see the cocky scout cry. "Cody, it's all right. I'm not blaming you. You did what you could."

"No..." Cody began. The two of them finally made their way around the camp. There they stood far from peering eyes. "...no...it wasn't enough."

Cody cocked the pistol and began aiming. Buck closed his eyes. As the shot rang out, the soldiers in the camp made a jolt and Jonson knew Cody performed his task.

That was when Buck opened his eyes. He was still standing. Bloodless and fine. Cody had fired into the air.

"I've bought you all the time in the world, Buck. This is all I can do now. There's one thing I know, of all the things that will eventually come to an end, our friendship never will."

Buck let a tear fall as Cody handed him some money. He also handed Buck the reigns of Mikey who was still tied by the shade from the day before.

"Just do me one thing, Buck. Try to write me after you have your first kid."

Buck took the hand Cody extended out to him.

"You know I can protest to all of this. You know I really don't have the desire to do this."

"But you know this is right."

The two lifetime friends pulled each other in and hugged each other without a second thought.Without another word, since there was no need, Buck jumped up on Mikey, heeled him, and galloped away. In the meantime, Cody watched Buck ride away towards the west where the sun would eventually set. The west was soon coming to an end. The same way a day ends by the sun's setting in the west. But if you do live in the west and see whoever is coming towards the west, they seem to be coming from the beginning rather than towards an ending.

Cody tipped his hat solemnly. As Buck rode away, Cody took a shovel and shoved around some dirt to make it look like he buried Buck. After a couple minutes, Cody sighed and walked back into the camp.

Cody wrote a letter to his beautiful wife, Louisa Frederici, to his home in St. Louis. It had been a year since he saw her. He wanted desperately to see Louisa, but in a way, he didn't want to leave what he loved doing. His show.

He sat in his hotel room as he wrote the letter. Halfway through the letter, he began to feel uneasy. It was too uncomfortable writing to his wife as if he were talking to her. He missed her dreadfully, but he didn't think she missed him. It was a good probability that she hasn't been faithful to him. Cody could relate. He rubbed his tired eyes and smoothed his mustache. He had cut off his beard the day earlier.

Cody exited the hotel and walked towards the Wild West sets. As he walked about, he saw a fellow showperson sitting all by herself.

Lovely little Annie Oakley. A wild-eyed teenager that was probably one of the best sharp shooters Cody had ever seen. Probably better than Jimmy himself, but he didn't want them to duel each other. Cody approached her.

"Miss Oakley?"

Annie turned around almost frightened. "Oh! Mr. Cody."

"Hey. Call me Will."

"If I call you Will then you have to call me Annie."

"All right, Annie. So, why are you up so late?"

"Just lookin' around the sets Will. Just wonderin' what it'll be like to perform with you someday."

"Don't worry Little Miss Sure Shot. I'll put you in the soonest season. We got a full act as it is."

"And having Wild Bill Hickok and The Vixen McCloud with us is probably one of the best blessings to this show."

"Hey Miss Li'l Sure Shot, they got names you know."

"So do I, Buffalo Bill!"

"I'm sorry, Annie...so...here on this January evening, 1874, what is Annie Oakley planning on doing later tomorrow?"

"Will...are you planning another act?"

"Maybe...and maybe not."

"And what are you planning on doing?"

"I don't know. Pretty little thing like you, don't deserve to be all alone..."

Cody reached over and kissed Annie. Annie accepted him. After a lovely little moment, the two began laughing.

"Aren't you married, Will?"

"And aren't you the apple of the eyes of that cocky little sharpshooter, Frank Butler?"

"Sounds like someone I know," Annie smiled. Cody gave an impressed laugh and gave her another kiss.

Jimmy stepped out of the hotel with his dark glasses on one morning. He stretched for the moment and soaked in the morning air.

Cody and Annie were linked arm in arm as they passed by Jimmy. Cody stopped and took a good look at Jimmy with his beard gone and his hair cut short. Cody smiled.

"Well looky what we got here!" Cody bragged. "Is this James Butler Hickok? Why! Can't be! He's not that tough-lookin' brute people fear day in and day out!"

Jimmy gave a smile. His mustache was still there.

"Lou wanted me to cut it. So I did it for her. Still think my nose looks too long."

"Are you kiddin' me, Jimmy? Makes you look younger! You look good."

"It's a whole new life with Lou and me. Which is why I gotta talk with you right now."

Cody looked at him without an answer knowing that there was something deep and profound Jimmy had to talk about. Cody looked over at Annie.

"Uh, Annie. I'm afraid I'll have to skip breakfast today with you. I'll see you at lunch."

Annie smiled. "Okay, Will."

Cody bent down and gave her a kiss on the hand. She smiled.

"Have a good morning to you both. Will. And Mr. Hickok."

Annie walked away to the restaurant. Cody just gave a grin as he watched her. Jimmy gave him a swift slap in the head.

"Ow! What's that for?!" Cody shouted hitting Jimmy back on the arm.

"What the hell are you thinkin'? Do you even know how old she is?"

"Look, I know! I know she's not even twenty yet. But she can't be anymore than - what? - sixteen, seventeen - "

"Fourteen!"

Cody gulped. "Fourteen?"

"Barely fourteen."

"But she looks so much older than -"

"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah. You idiot, Cody. I suggest you stop whatever you have with her and end it now!"

"Good God!"

Jimmy shook his head. "C'mon!"

Jimmy pulled Cody away and to their horses. They both mounted and rode away.

Lou walked out of the hotel room in a simple dress. She had to buy a new one to look more flattering around her growing belly. A bigger dress was also a way for Lou to cover her pregnancy to the public that now views her as a slick rider.

She was hungering for a large breakfast. She stepped inside the restaurant and saw Annie sitting alone. Lou smiled and walked towards her.

"Good morning, Miss Oakley."

"Oh! Good morning, Mrs. Hickok. Won't you join me?"

"Why thank you."

Lou smiled. The name "Mrs. Hickok" had such a nice ring. She sat down across from Annie and took a deep breath after sitting down. Annie smiled recognizing Lou's symptoms.

"What month are you in?" Annie asked with a smile.

Lou looked down for a moment. "The secrets out. I've been pregnant for four months now."

"I've heard you've had many more secrets to hide in your life."

"Oh yes. Well..."

The waiter then walked up. "May I get you ladies anything?"

Lou spoke up, "Oh yes! Yes. Um. I would like eggs...wait. I feel like a steak this morning. Steak and eggs, margarin and bread, lots of your hot rolls, and don't forget the gravy."

"Uh, yes." The waiter hesitated and wrote them all down. "And you young lady?"

Annie giggled. "Eggs and bacon, please, and a fresh cup of coffee."

"Very good, miss."

The waiter walked away. Lou smiled. "I guess I'm not hidin' anything very well at all."

"Why hide it? It's such a blessing!" Annie smiled. Lou looked into the eyes of this young girl seeing so much of herself in her. Seeing a girl that Lou could've been instead of posing as a boy. Keeping one of the most difficult secrets ever. "I just can't wait until the baby is born. That way, everybody in the whole country will know about the Hickok family! Husband, wife, and child. Even though I like girls, I do hope it's a boy. The Hickok name must live on."

"Of course. Except, Jimmy and I...well...we don't want this for the baby."

"Want what?" Annie asked.

Lou took a sip of water. "This life. Living on the road. Barely havin' time for myself. How could I even have a life with a baby in one arm and a mochila in the other?"

"Does this mean what I think it means?"

Not faraway, Cody and Jimmy had ridden about a mile out of town. The two had stopped and gotten off of their horses. It was obvious Jimmy told Cody about leaving the show.

Cody paced around while Jimmy stood firmly while looking down at the same time. Cody could see Jimmy's eyes forming a disappointed look by the shape of his eyebrows. Cody shook his head.

"I don't believe you! I can't believe this...any of this!" Cody shouted angrily.

"I'm sorry, Cody, but I got a family - "

"You're my family!" Cody barked loudly. It was so ferocious in a melancholy way that Jimmy didn't know what to follow with such a remark. Cody's dependence and need for friendship as well as a family could clearly be seen through the failing eyes of Jimmy - which reminded him.

"Look, Cody. I'm not the same anymore. Neither's Lou. Neither are you. Lou's pregnant. This is our third try at havin' a baby and we're finally blessed to have her healthy enough to be holding one right now. You think she's gonna want to keep ridin', doin' fancy tricks and stuff? She's got an obligation to fulfil and so do I. And you're more into creatin' some kind of name for yourself than a decent livin'. Look at you! Courtin' little girls while pretendin' to be supportin' your wife in St. Lou - "

Cody struck Jimmy in the mouth cutting off all sound. Jimmy fell to the ground with blood trickling from his mouth, his hat fallen backwards, and his glasses thrown among the grass. Jimmy didn't even flinch nor strike back. He maintained his dignity and placed his glasses back on then dusted off his hat.

"I deserved that. I'm sorry," Jimmy finally said while wiping blood off his lips.

Cody groaned angrily. "How could you do this to me, Jimmy? After all we've been through."

"Things change, Cody! You've changed. I've changed. I've got a whole new life! If it wasn't for Lou, I wouldn't know where I'd be right now."

"How? She was always in your life. How in hell did she change you so drastically?"

"First off, I can't even imagine myself wanting to wake up every mornin' just to see my own wife wake up. Second, all the things people wrote about me, well, if it weren't for Lou standin' right by me, helpin' me remember myself, I'd have become one of them folklores. She gave me a hope for a family, a reason to want to settle down safely, and...and she gave me..." Jimmy couldn't think of that one word that described it all. Cody got frustrated.

"What? What else did she give you?"

Jimmy approached Cody now straight and eye to eye with him. Slowly Jimmy took off his dark glasses and fiddled with them. That was when Jimmy gave a hint of smile.

"She gave me the world."

Cody closed his eyes and leaned against his horse knowing that he knew, for all this time, that it was going to have to end.

As quickly as they entered, the quicker they left. The world reknown Wild Bill and The Vixen took their last bow in February of 1874. Jimmy and Lou gave their final good-bye that night.

Cody helped Jimmy load the last trunk onto the wagon. Lou stood by hugging almost everybody she had worked with on the Wild West Show. It was a somber moment as Jimmy took off his dark glasses to fully look at Cody. His brother.

Lou walked over to Cody and gave him a tight hug.

"You take care now Cody. You hear? We'll always be a complete family with you in our minds."

Cody smiled and stroked Lou's long hair. "All right Lou."

Lou gave him a kiss on the cheek and a slight one on his lips. "You did a good job with everythin' Cody. I'm proud of you. Bless your heart. Good-bye."

Cody and Jimmy took Lou's hands and helped her onto the wagon. As she got comfortable, Jimmy gave a smile to Cody. They didn't look much different since the last time they said their farewells. Only they were a bit older with longer hair along with facial hair.

Jimmy and Cody took each other's hands and pulled into each other for the last time ever. With a good hug, the only words that could've been spoken were already spoken years ago. Jimmy spoke up despite the comforting and melancholy silence.

"Thank you, Cody, for givin' me a new direction."

"Thank you, Jimmy, for givin' me a family again."

While holding back tears, Jimmy smiled, looked down, and climbed the wagon. Cody smiled and looked up. Jimmy looked back down and smiled.

"Hey Cody, what about that Oakley girl?" Jimmy asked.

Cody looked back and pointed at a young man standing next to her. "After I told her to challenge that fella Frank Butler, he nearly fell for her. I guess I'm outta the picture now."

Lou and Jimmy smiled and laughed. Lou sighed for another moment and extended a hand. Cody took it graciously and held on for a moment.

"We'll write to you when we reach Deadwood. And after we get our first bags of gold, we'll send you some, Cody. You're welcome to visit us anytime," Lou smiled.

"I know," Cody replied. "You take good care of Louise, Jimmy. And you watch Bill's back, Lou."

Lou and Jimmy smiled some more. Jimmy whipped the horses and the wagon started moving. With one last wave, Cody uttered his last words to them.

"Ride safe, Lou. Ride safe, Jimmy."

Lou and Jimmy rode passed Wyoming. Jimmy wanted to stop thinking of something. Feeling there was something to do in Wyoming. It was an uncomfortable feeling. But with Lou at his side and his love for her stronger than ever, they rode passed Wyoming leaving his feelings behind.

While riding through the lovely fields, Lou couldn't help but imagine a better life ahead for the both of them. Jimmy leaned over and kissed her. Lou smiled.

"Jimmy, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember when we were young, how Teaspoon made us escort Elias Mills to his hanging?"

"Remember, hell, it seems like only yesterday I saw a complete mirrored image of me twenty years later."

"He told me that night, after we kissed, that I was woman enough to ride with you. At first, I took it as a joke since, you know, with Kid there in my life and all. But now that I think about it, after all these years, I think he was predictin' the future."

"You're very special to me, Lou."

"I have another question."

"Go ahead."

"What made you want to kiss me that night?"

"Everything. You tellin' me that I was scared. You bein' with me. You bein' concerned. It was all you. God knows how long I kept that urge in me. That was one night that scared me to death. I was actually thinkin' far out into the future. I was thinkin' so far out, I feared not being with you."

"Really, Jimmy? You mean that?"

"Of course I do. Why else would I be tellin' you now that I appreciate everyday what God gave to me."

"I love you, Jimmy."

"I have a question for you, Lou."

"Go on."

"How in the world did you and Kid get together?"

Lou laughed. "I guess in the very start, he was the only one I could really talk to. And then it just started to bloom from there."

"I always felt you were happiest with him. Even with all the times you two fought."

"Did you ever try to stray Kid away from me?"

"I guess I have in my own way. But most of the time, I tried to stay out of it. I only wanted you to be happy. When you were happy, it made me happy. Besides, you always did go to him for comfort. Like the time when we were at Willow Creek havin' problems with that Lambert fella. I remember after we broke Kid out of jail and you rode to us the next morning, you looked so helpless and sad. I couldn't believe anybody could hurt you like that. I just wanted to go to you and just hold you. But you went to Kid. So I stayed back. And even while Kid and the Lambert fella were about to kill each other, I stood behind you wantin' nothing but to hold you tight."

"I remember in Willow Springs, you did everythin' you could to cheer me up since Kid started liking that Samantha girl. You bought me a dress, you took me dancing...you made me feel good about myself again. And for a moment, I thought you and I would start fallin' in love...now look where we are."

"All those lost years."

Lou nodded. "Lost years."

"Remember picking up your wedding dress at Seneca together? You looked so beautiful."

"Let's not talk about the past anymore, Jimmy. We have each other now. And a family. Deadwood is our newest home now and forever hopefully."

Jimmy took Lou's hand and kissed it lovingly. Towards the horizon, they could see a small town and the wide open area of land eager for the arrival of the Hickoks.

Jimmy's arrival in Deadwood brought a wave of fear and excitement to the inhabitants. His reputation did nothing but bring the Hickok family burden. Lou on the other hand was accepted wonderfully by everyone. After a while, seeing Jimmy be a good family man by building a home with his bare hands, helping take care of Lou during her pregnancy, and seeing only goodness in him made people lose their fear.

There were, however, the undergrounders that wanted nothing but the downfall of James Wild Bill Hickok. For all these years, Jimmy never once mentioned himself as Wild Bill but rather, James. Sometimes he would introduce himself as James Butler and then refer to Lou as Mrs. Hickok. Lou didn't mind one bit.

After three months, Jimmy spent most of his time building their new home by the river. He would also seek for gold. Little dusts of gold were all he could find. He would go day after day to the mines, but he could barely find the gold they found when it was first discovered.

In the meantime, Lou stayed at home taking nothing but good care of herself. Now in her ninth month, it was obvious her time was soon. She was looking more beautiful everyday. Her long curly brown hair seemed to shine under all light, her cheeks were getting rosier as it glowed more, and her smile showed everyone her undying happiness.

Jimmy was happy, but not as happy as he should. His gold prospects weren't as prospective as he dreamed. Things were supposed to be easier and better, but it was added stress. Jimmy didn't complain though. He had his girl, his upcoming new family, and a dream life where the only thing he did was search for gold. Lou was his gold and added gold would bring more blessings.

Oneday, Lou stayed home with a nurse. Jimmy went into town to pick up some supplies at the store. It was just another lazy day. A day closer to the birth of his child. It was a happy anticipation. No gold or silver or diamond could equal to his want for a family.

As he packed his carriage with the bags of grain and flour, there was a large group of people huddled around the galley. Jimmy thought it strange how there hadn't been a hanging in a month and none coming up any time soon yet people were huddled everywhere.

Jimmy adjusted his dark glasses and approached the crowd. He could hear a rough and feeble voice speaking among the people. The closer he got, the more agitated it got.

Finally, Jimmy saw what was the commotion. Instead of seeing something huge and exciting, it was but a little dirty woman. Very dirty.

She had scruffy dark hair that hung loosely and unkempt under her round black hat. Dirt smeared her once pretty face. On top of that, redness streaked her face along with her countless freckles.

Everything she wore was something Cody wore, only dirtier, browner, and smaller. She looked like an ugly boy that didn't know the meaning of the word, "bath". Jimmy was disgusted, but in the same way, intrigued. She was so comfortable speaking to everybody as if she was born to tell stories.

"...so he grabs that giant bull and actually tosses it over the cliff!" this woman shouted with her raspy voice. "And just when the bull seemed to jump back up, he gets his rifle and shoots the bastard right between the eyes. His horns flew in opposite directions killing two birds along the way."

The children gasped. Jimmy could not believe they were actually listening to such filth. He guessed tall tales interest the people's low imaginations. Probably explains how "Wild Bill" became one of the biggest stories ever.

After her tall tales, this dirty woman wiped her nose with her sleeve and marched towards the saloon. Jimmy shook his head, but followed her, as did many other men. Why? He didn't know. There was something about her. Something unique.

"Bartender, sarsparilla please! And make it a double. And before I even finish it, you better have a good glass of whiskey waiting for my dry lips," this woman cackled. She lounged on the bar stool as men sat on nearby tables just staring at this unusual woman.

Despite everyone else's distance from her, Jimmy walked right next to her and sat down.

"Floyd," Jimmy kindly called out to the bartender. "glass of milk please."

Floyd returned the kind smile and went to it. The woman gave a chuckle and looked over at Jimmy.

"Grown man like you drinks milk?!" she laughed.

"Got a growin' family I got myself at home. Can't afford to drink myself up," Jimmy answered as Floyd handed him a glass of milk. Jimmy took a sip and a bit of milk got on his mustache. The woman laughed.

"Mister, you got a spot of milk on that whisker of yours," she said. With a finger, she gently wiped it off his mustache as Jimmy bashfully looked down. It was a good thing he still had his glasses eyes. He was able to revert his eyes away from her. That was the second thing that made her notice something interesting in this man. "Why do you where such dark glasses? Only one man I know that wears them all day and night, but he ain't the kind of man that drinks milk with a family at home."

Jimmy knew she was talking about him, but he didn't know it. He kept drinking his milk. As he relaxed a bit, he noticed a couple of men playing poker.

"What do ya got?" one man asked.

"Wait a minute. Is Tom still in or out?" the other man asked.

"I'm in," the one named Tom answered throwing in a couple chips.

The first man revealed his cards. "Four threes."

The second man revealed his. "Ha! Four fives! Beat that!"

Then the one named Tom cut in. "Now hold up you two. Got myself a full house. Queen high. Looks like you two lose!"

Tom took it all. The first two men grumbled. That was when Jimmy found the chance at something.

"'cuse me," he told the dirty woman. The woman smirked and went at her drinking. Jimmy walked towards the men. "Pardon me fellas, but mind if I join ya'll?"

"Not at all, Mr. Hickok," Tom answered. "You can sit across from me. That way you get a full view of everybody comin' in the saloon."

Jimmy did as he was told. He sat down, took out a couple dollars, and layed them all as the cards were dealt. After he recieved all five, he took them all graciously and carefully. Keeping his eyes hidden behind his glasses, he stared down at his cards. To his surprise, he saw a winning combination. A two of hearts, a three of hearts, a four of hearts, a five of hearts, and then a five of spades. A pair, he thought. But he could do much better.

He had three dollars on the line. Oh well, Jimmy thought. What's three dollars? I can earn it back later with some gold dust.

Jimmy took the chance and threw out his five of spades. Tom dealt him a card. As Jimmy took it, he nearly gave himself a heart attack. It was a six of hearts. Jimmy gingerly smiled.

After about an hour, Jimmy had won over fifty dollars. Fifty good dollars. Honest dollars? Maybe to him. But it was still money. All the men laughed and shook hands with Jimmy.

"Good game, Mr. Butler," Tom smiled.

"See you tomorrow, Mr. Butler," the first man said with the shake of their hands.

"Just wait 'til tomorrow, Mr. Hickok!" the second man amusingly warned.

Jimmy smiled as he stacked the money neatly. As he was about to rise from his seat to finally go home, someone slammed a tall glass of bourbon right next to him. It was the dirty woman. She sat right across from him and looked straight at him.

"Take off those stupid glasses!" she yelled at him. Jimmy lifted an eyebrow but took them off anyways. That was when she gave a large grin. "Yeah, I thought I recognized you!"

"What are you talkin' about?" Jimmy asked as he placed the glasses back on.

"Mr. Butler, ha! Mr. Wild Bill is more like it!" she hollered.

For some reason, the whole saloon seemed to notice the both of them talking after mentioning the name "Wild Bill". Jimmy lowered his head.

"I have to go home," Jimmy said as he got up, but she stopped him.

"Now hold up there Wild Bill. Lemme take a good look at you! They were right. You are older. And what's wrong with your eyes? Don't know a fellow story when you see one?" she asked him.

"Honestly, ma'am, I don't know who you are," Jimmy said. "Now will you excuse me, I have supplies to take home to my wife and our upcoming baby, so please."

"All right. All right. But just know that I'm not done with you Wild Bill!" she shouted as Jimmy reached the doorway. "And the name is Jane. Calamity Jane!"

Jimmy arrived at home with the supplies and fifty dollars, but Lou only greeted him with anger.

"Jimmy! Where the hell have you been!? The nurse left an hour ago! And I was...I was..." Lou cried out. That was when she placed her hands over her hugely swollen stomach. "It's coming Jimmy! It's comin'!"

Jimmy was about to faint himself when Lou reached for his hand. It was the same thing that happend not too long ago before joining Cody's Wild West Show. But this time, Jimmy knew that this baby was going to be just fine.

Lou fell to her knees. Jimmy, forgetting how big she had gotten, picked her up, and carried her out to the stables. He placed her on a horse as he saddled up with her. Holding her nice and tight, the two of them went to town.

Everybody saw the Butlers enter the town. Everyone including Jane. She looked over while drinking the glass of bourbon that was for Jimmy.

They finally arrived at the clinic where their doctor was. Jimmy helped Lou down and carried her inside. Without a hesitation, the doctor and a few nurses took her in shutting Jimmy out.

Jimmy had never felt so much happiness and fear all at once. He was finally going to have what he dreamed and lived and was born to do. Have a blessing in his life by ways of a growing family. A love that surpasses anything he worked for and killed for.

Jimmy sat by his horse on the steps. Like the crack of her whip, Jane bounded over and plopped right next to him.

"So Bill," she muttered half drunk and half wild. "Tell me how many kids you got out there in the world with the name Hickok sewn onto their little nighties."

Jimmy pushed her away and walked towards whatever he could go to just to get away from her.

"Wait! I'm not finished with you!" Jane shouted.

Jimmy couldn't seem to get her away, but in the same way, he felt a sort of excitement with her. It was the same attraction he felt when he first knew the real Lou. The girl hidden under the world of men and ruling alongside the toughest ones. Jimmy smiled for a moment. Jane noticed.

"Was that a smile I just saw on you, Bill?" she cackled.

The next few moments could not even have happened. With some of his fortune he made in the afternoon, Jimmy wanted more. With the failing gold in his life, he decided to play more poker. He had already made more money that afternoon than he would make in a week.

Drinking rounds of scotch and whiskey, the only thing he gained was strange happiness and incredible wealth. That night, he made two hundred and fifty dollars. Enough to pay for the medical expenses, parts of the house he was building, and a month worth of good hearty food.

Then there was Jane getting drunker than before. The last time any woman he felt a sort of attraction to got drunk around him was Lou. Jane reached over and gave Jimmy a kiss.

"I'll be right back!" Jane whispered.

After winning another twenty dollars, Jane returned to the table. Jimmy looked over and saw a lovely woman with her hair gently curled, make-up neatly put on, a dress that dawned nothing but all nines, and a being that actually took a bath.

And then it happend. Jimmy and Jane spent the whole night in her hotel room when all the while, Lou was at the clinic giving birth to a baby.

~ ~ ~

The next morning, Jimmy awoke with a splitting headache. His glasses were perched on a table by the window of some room. His clothes were strewn all over the floor. And next to him lay a woman that looked more like a lost little girl. Jimmy didn't remember anything. After the first drink Jane gave him, everything was just blackness. But as he stared at Jane, he knew what happened. Something he faithfully did not do for years and gave in to last night. He wanted nothing but to see Lou and his new child.

Jimmy shook his head and rose up, but Jane stopped him.

"Bill, please, stay. You don't know how much I love you!" she shouted half-asleep and half- hungover. Jimmy released himself from her.

After quickly putting his clothes on, Jimmy ran out the door. Still hungover, he forgot where he was, so the first steps he took led him falling down the stairs. Down he fell, shoulder against step, forehead against banister, his body against everything that got in the way. Jane ran out screaming as she watched Jimmy tumble down the last couple of steps.

A few men, including Floyd the bartender, ran to him and carried him across the street to the clinic.

Lou lay asleep on her bed more beautiful than ever. This time, instead of sleeping alone, she slept almost upright with her head tilted slightly. Her slender arms holding a beautiful baby. The sunlight made her look angelic. It was a scene out of Leonardo's imagination and Michaelangelo's works. Like the madonna holding the child.

This almost perfect moment was halted by a rush of men. Lou woke up and saw Jimmy being carried onto a bed unconscious.

"Jimmy! Jimmy!" Lou cried out awaking the baby. "Floyd, what's wrong with Jimmy?! What happened?"

Floyd rushed over to her and kept everything about Jane from her. "Now now now. He was just a little happy yesterday that's all and he had a couple of drinks. Since he was too drunk to go home or anywhere, I opened up a room and made him sleep there. When he woke up this mornin', he darn rushed out wantin' nothin' but to come to you and this beautiful li'l thing you got in your arms. Look at it! Ain't it lovely! And then he fell down the stairs. Mr. Butler will be fine, Mrs. Hickok."

Lou lay back and hushed her baby. She stared at Jimmy being bandaged and treated. At least he was all right.

An hour later, the doctor left Lou alone, who had fallen asleep again, and went out to lunch. Jimmy was awake, but was still hungover. Lou could smell the whiskey on him, but let him hold the baby. Lou guessed nothing is actually perfect, so she didn't mind the drinks he had.

Jimmy held the baby in his arms as if holding something beautiful and perfect that only God could send down with angels blowing their trumpets around it.

"She is so beautiful, Lou. She has your eyes," Jimmy smiled. Lou noticed Jimmy wasn't wearing his glasses, but forgot about it and kept staring at their baby.

"She has your hair. Look, she actually has hair!" Lou smiled along.

"She has your pretty mouth. What man would not want to kiss this mouth?" Jimmy chuckled as he kissed his baby girl.

"She has your strength. Listen to her voice!" Lou said.

"What should we name her, Mother?" Jimmy joked as he held the little darling in his arms.

"There's only one name I can think of," Lou whispered. "Maggie."

Jimmy smiled. "I like that, Lou. I really do. Suits her. Suits you, too. It's like you were always meant to have a Baby Maggie. Dear little Meg. That's what I'll call her though. Like her mother, Louise, that I've called Lou almost forever, I'll call Maggie, my beautiful sweet angel girl, Meg."

Lou stared at Jimmy holding this baby. She never thought James Butler Hickok would actually hold a baby of his own and call her his own. Especially one that was born with his name. Maggie Butler.

A couple of hours later, Jimmy fell asleep from all the medicine he took. Lou lay back down playing with the baby. The baby was still too young to enjoy the fun.

As the peace wore on, the doors of the room flung open. There stood a frail woman that looked like her heart was torn in two. It was Jane. Jane walked in and noticed Jimmy sprawled on his bed with bandages covering him. And then she saw Lou with the most loveliest creature in the world. Jane walked over to Lou with her eyes wet and teary.

"You must be Wild Bill's wife. The one he threw away his guns for to take care of. Nice to meet you," Jane muttered and sniffled.

"Nice to meet you...and you are..."

"Martha Jane Canary. But Bill knows me as Calamity Jane. That's what the soldiers called me when I scouted for them. Being a soldier was all I could ever do since my mother died before I could even start rememberin' things. And as far as I can remember, I have loved Wild Bill," Jane said all this so fast, Lou couldn't believe her ears. Jane was obviously drunk again. Jane took out Jimmy's dark glasses and handed them to Lou. "Here Ma'am. This here's Bill's. He left it in my room..."

Lou looked up at this woman with nothing but shock in her face. All Jane could do was cry and talk about her miserable yet remarkable life.

"Been with too many men. Been with a stagecoach driver, a couple soldiers, and others I can't even remember. All I ever wanted to do in life was to help people. Sick, poor, I don't care. I grew up like that.Everyone thought I was sick. Look at me! A girl dressin' like a boy. Now I'm a woman dressin' like...like a boy!" Jane sobbed. She then got back up and left the room. "Bye Mrs. Bill. Tell Bill I was here."

Jane left. Lou's mouth never once closed the whole time Jane opened hers.

~ ~ ~

Lou nursed the baby as Jimmy tried to recuperate himself. But she never once thought about being good to Jimmy after hearing the words of the dirty woman.

She wanted nothing but to hurt Jimmy back. Jimmy laughed as he tripped over a little mound on the ground. He looked over at Lou, smiled, and waved. Lou's anger boiled when she saw Jimmy laughing and smiling as if nothing had happened.

Maggie gurgled as Lou sat her up. For a moment, Lou forgot all worries as she held Maggie. She had forgotten what it was like to hold a baby. It felt good again. It was then, after years and years, she remembered Kid. Their family, their life, their peace.

It was painful enough to leave Joseph, Timmy, and Maggie, her children with Kid, but now, holding her new Maggie was like bringing back all that she loved.

Suddenly, Lou realized how terrible her pain was and how long it took to pay for all of it. That was when she knew that the only way to get back at Jimmy was to take from him all that was his.

The next hour, Lou ran to the saloon where Jane was. Thinking that Jane was going to be up in her room, Lou ran inside, but found Jane walking down the stairs with a luggage.

Jane was wearing her dirty men's clothing again. Lou, on the other hand, was wearing men's clothing also but with a feminine touch to it. Jane stared at Lou and for a moment, both women thought they were looking into a mirror.

"Mrs. Hickok," Jane whispered fearfully staring at Maggie.

"Miss Canary," Lou whispered back.

"What brings you here, Mrs. Hickok?" Jane asked as she dragged the luggage outside and onto a horse.

"I came here to talk to you."

"Don't you have a husband at home to take care?"

Lou grumbled furiously. "Listen! I know about you and Jimmy!"

"So it's Jimmy now. First it was Mr. Hickok, then Mr. Butler, then Wild Bill....now it's Jimmy," Jane laughed. After she strapped the luggage onto the horse, she quickly looked into Lou's eyes. "Yes! Of course you know about us! I humiliatingly mocked about him and I at the hospital the other day to you. God help me for I did. I just ruined the greatest love in the world!"

Lou stared at her for a moment. "What are you talkin' about?"

Jane started tearing up. "You know, I never cry. But you, ma'am's, the only person I've cried at. It was all my fault Mrs. Hickok. Your husband didn't know any better. I made Floyd serve him drinks that no man would be able to take."

"But he still did it!"

"He was drugged!"

Maggie started crying. Lou sobbed with Maggie as she patted her back. "I'm sorry Maggie girl. I'm sorry."

"Mrs. Hickok," Jane started wiping away some tears. "Please don't do anything to Mr. Hickok. It was all my fault. He was just there earning money for you and the baby. He told me last night that he wanted nothing but to use all the money he won on you and your baby. Guess he doesn't remember sayin' it, but he meant it all right."

Jane turned around and started saddling up her gorgeous white horse. Lou followed her.

"Is there anything you want to say to me Mrs Hickok before I leave. You can damn me all you want, cause that's what's going to happen to me anyhow."

Lou looked up at this lost woman. Lou had everything planned out to take revenge on Jimmy. She was going to give Maggie away to Jane and let her care for her and keep her as her own. Lou was going to tell Jane to go ahead and tell everybody that Maggie was the child of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. It was a plausible thing to do, but Lou prevented it from happening just by not speaking to Jane.

Jane, noticing the silence, nodded and mounted her horse. Just as she was about to leave, Lou stopped her.

"Miss Jane! Wait!"

"Yes Mrs. Hickok?"

"You said you wanted to help people. Well, you can. Go to a reservation or a town with sick children. Care for them. You're a brave woman and I know you won't be afraid of a few sick children. And then tell stories about your helpin' them. I know you can do it."

Jane smiled and tilted her hat. Without another word, she directed her horse towards the ends of the town and rode away.

Lou looked on at this courageous yet lost woman.

"Ride safe, Jane."

Lou went home with Maggie still in her arms. After approaching Jimmy, Lou told him that she knew about him and Jane. Jimmy lowered himself with shame, but Lou told him to forget everything now and only focus on their family. As Lou forgave him, the whole family decided to have their own Bible devotional that day, and then go on with their lives once more.

A month passed since that horrible incident with the man named McCall. Lou neither heard from McCall nor heard what had happened to his body. All she knew was that she shot McCall in the head. No man could survive that.

As the month went by, another month of Maggie's life was lived. Jimmy was now making the family fortune through gambling. Lou never worried about losing money. She trusted Jimmy with her whole heart. Besides, Jimmy knew when to stop and when to keep up his winning streak.

Of course it bothered Lou. It went against her morals - gambling the family money for more money, drinking, socializing through other aspects besides the way of the church. But Lou loved Jimmy. Everybody knew Louise McCloud and James Butler were meant for each other.

As Lou went to town one evening while Jimmy was playing a good game of poker, she met Mrs. Blecker, the minister's wife, sitting on her porch. For a moment, she reminded Lou of Rachel when she sat on her porch all evening long just watching the stars or looking out for her and the boys.

Lou began to miss Rachel and Teaspoon and Cody and Buck. The only people she knew were left in her life that shared with her all the precious memories of life. News of Jesse spread throughout the country. Notoriously stricken. Lou felt sad knowing that Jesse did have a good heart. It was his brother, Frank, that got in the way of his real dreams of riding like a man than a thief.

Lou approached Mrs. Blecker.

"Evenin'," Lou cordially addressed. Mrs. Blecker looked down after gazing at the sky and smiled generously.

"Good evenin' Mrs. Hickok," Mrs. Blecker smiled. "Isn't this a beautiful night?"

"One of the pertiest," Lou nodded as she held Maggie in her arms. "Where's Preacher John?"

"Oh, Mr. Blecker is inside sleeping after eating one of my stews. He always eats so much along with warm milk, he falls asleep instantly!" Mrs. Blecker laughed. Lou smiled. "Oh where are my manners? Come and sit down next to me, please, Mrs. Hickok."

"Thank you, ma'am," Lou graciously accepted and plopped next to Mrs. Blecker.

"You know, Louise," Mrs. Blecker said. "You have an unusual voice."

"I do?" she asked.

"What I mean is, it's lovely, but interesting. It's very strong and deep. It's unlike any other woman's voice I've heard."

"Probably cause I spent most of my childhood silent and my later years like a boy. By the time I got married, I just got out of that life and went into the army."

"The army? Like a boy? I don't understand."

"I was orphaned since I could remember. I didn't have very many friends so I barely talked to people. Afterwards, I ranaway from the orphanage and went to go find work. That was a terrible time in my life. I worked as a maid, a cleaning person, a stablehand, anything. I was also a laundry girl at a burlesque house. That was a terrible time. A terrible time. I was...let's just say what happened to me was something worse than death. I was only a teenager then. Afterwards, I couldn't live as I was. I ranaway from that place and started dressin' like a boy. I cut my hair short, got fitted for glasses that hid my face," Lou took a breath.

"You've been through a lot! But then how did you come to start bein' like a girl again?"

Lou put a hand on Maggie's head and thought for a moment, "You look like Ike."

Lou looked back up. "Well, I didn't know if I looked like a boy or not, so I went back to bein' a stable hand again. The man that lived there treated me exactly like a boy. He taught me how to shoot a gun, ride horses, and talk like one. After a while, I did become a boy. Oneday, he got shot after someone tried to steal one of his horses. After he died, I left the job with the best horse in the stable. His name was Lightning. He was a beautiful horse. I knew if I started bein' like a girl again, I would just have to get a job as a servant or another laundry girl. So when the chance of a new kind of job came up, I took it."

"What was that job?"

"Riding for the Pony Express."

"The Pony Express?! That's a dangerous job!"

"It was. But that's where I came to have a new family. Took them all a while to figure I was a girl. It was a good thing I was never fired since being a girl and all."

"And that's where you met Mr. Butler?"

"That's where I met Jimmy. That child that grew up too fast for his own good." Lou leaned over and kissed Maggie. "You know, for a long time, Jimmy didn't want me to be in his life. I'm sure he did, but his excuse was that it was dangerous and if I came into his life, my own life would be in danger all the time. And it's true. But who's life isn't in danger anway? As long as I have him and Maggie, my life is complete."

"I could never imagine him being with another woman but you, Louise."

"Thank you Mrs. Blecker.

"Is that why he calls you Lou all the time?"

"What?"

"Is that what you called yourself while working for the Pony Express?"

"Yup. Lou McCloud."

"Oh Louise!"

The women started laughing.

"But then, tell me about the army."

"After Jimmy left the Pony Express to join the army, I figured, hell, this is my chance to be more than just what I am, so I left, too. But not with Jimmy. I sold my horse to the army since I reckoned they needed all the best horses they can get. And I worked as a nurse. Got to know many men. But too many of 'em died right after I befriended them. Oneday, I finally saw Jimmy. Tall and handsome in his uniform. I was so happy to see him."

"So through all your masks, the hardships, and even the war, you still found love!"

"That was a mighty pretty thing to say, Mrs. Blecker."

"And you two got married!"

"Right when the war ended."

Maggie gave a burp due to all the shaking from Lou's laugh. Lou giggled and wiped Maggie's mouth. That was when Lou stopped laughing making Mrs. Blecker uncomfortable for the moment.

"Louise? What's wrong?"

"Mrs. Blecker. If something happens to me and Jimmy - "

"Louise! Don't - "

"Mrs. Blecker. Last month Jimmy and I were threatened unexpectedly. Who knows if it'll happen again? Now Mrs. Blecker, please listen to me. I know you and Preacher John have no kids and I think we all know the story and you told me once that you two couldn't afford to adopt a child from a nice orphanage. But I'm beggin you, Mrs. Blecker, if anything happens to me and Jimmy, will you...could you keep Maggie for us?"

"Oh Louise..."

"At least find her a decent home to live in where she can learn about God and...and all the wonderful love Jimmy and I gave her...please?"

Mrs. Blecker was silent for a long pause. Tears started streaming down her aging face. The woman reached over and picked up Maggie.

"Oh Louise. I'd be honored to keep your child!" she smiled and cried. Lou started crying with her. It was a cry of gratefulness. She reached over and took Mrs. Blecker's hand.

"Thank you, Mrs. Blecker," Lou sniffled.

"Oh Louise! My promise has been sealed. I will raise her as if she were my very own! I promise you!" Mrs. Blecker reached closer and hugged Lou.

As the two women conversed, they had not even noticed a tall figure standing in the shadows watching them.

Lou wore a cleaned and pressed white shirt that slimmed against her figured waist tucked into brown pants. Her matching brown vest was bought in a small size to fit her perfectly. Her hair was neatly tied back and curled. Lush curls adorned her shoulders and hints of make-up delighted her face. Somedays, Lou found it more appealing and comfortable to wear these clothes than dresses.

Jimmy wore his usual black pants and boots, a blue shirt with a black vest, and his lucky jacket that he had worn for years. His black hat sat like a crown as his dark glasses served as a warning sign to all that would dare approach him.

Lou accompanied him to the saloon that day since she had promised she would go at least once to watch her proud husband win the family fortune and double it and eventually triple it.

Maggie was sent to another church lady's home. The lady figured Jimmy and Lou needed at least one evening alone together.

As Jimmy and Lou walked through town, Lou remembered something that she had forgotten to tell the church lady. Jimmy went on to the saloon without her. As Lou turned a corner, two hands grabbed her tiny arms and pulled her away.

The figure firmly, yet gently, slammed her against the building wall away from eyes. Lou tried to fight, but the figure shushed her as much as possible.

"Lou! Lou! Lou!" the figure whispered. As Lou looked up, she could not believe her eyes. It was none other than The Kid.

The Kid!

Lou's heart stopped. Years had passed since she even thought about him. He was obviously older, but not much had changed. He was still handsome, but Lou, at the moment, only wanted to be with Jimmy. Nothing could come out of her mouth. Not a sound; not a breath. She just looked up at him. She knew he was probably thinking that she had aged.

"Well ain't you gonna say somethin' or not?" Kid asked.

A tear rolled down one of Lou's cheek. "I don't know what to say."

"Say anything. Please say something."

"I thought...Kid...I thought you..."

"That I died?"

"Yeah, Kid. I heard a gunshot after I left the station. I figured since no one was followin' me and since it would've been you...then I heard the gunshot. Kid, what the hell are you doin' here?!" Lou cried.

"I should be askin' you the same question."

"You've got no right -"

"You know damn well I have every right! I'm still your husband! We got married years ago! And then you leave me...just out of nowhere. After strugglin' to get married for so long, you just leave me."

"What do you want me to do now, Kid?" Lou cried. "Jimmy and I are married now. We have our own life. We have a family. I have a baby girl. I can't possibly leave now to go with you."

"No. No. No. I don't want you to come back to me. I just want to know why."

"Because Kid..." Lou paused. "Sometimes you are given a chance to follow your heart. Maybe even second chances. I didn't want to live a life of 'what if'."

Kid stared at her and let her go. Lou completely forgot about going to Maggie. But she knew this wasn't over.

"I always wondered what it would be like to speak to you again," Kid said emotionlessly. Lou could still see that same vulnerability that she admired in him. "I guess the thought didn't even cross your own mind."

Lou tried to ignore that as best as possible. "Why are you here, Kid?"

"Look, Lou. You've gotten many men angry in your life."

"But Kid -"

"Let me finish. Like I said, many men are angry at you. Jimmy also. And it ain't just me..."

Kid nodded his head and walked away from her. Lou stood confused. She pressed her hands against her face and took deep breaths. Wiping her eyes, she ran back to the saloon. She knew something was wrong.

She ran up the steps and barged into the saloon. For a split second, she noticed hundreds of things all at once.

Jimmy somehow had his back to the doorway of the saloon, it was unbearable empty for a midday, Floyd was nowhere near the bar, and right in front of Lou was a familiar figure. He had a gun pointing directly at Jimmy's head. With a quick scream, Lou lunged at the figure. But it was a little too late, the gun went off and with the angle he was turned, the bullet went through Jimmy's back.

Lou looked down after having plunged into the man. She saw that it was Jack McCall. The man that threatened Jimmy a month ago because of Calamity Jane. McCall then grabbed his gun once more and shot it. The bullet blew into Lou's stomach.

Lou fell on her back, but managed to get back up. Now face to face with McCall, she had nowhere else to run. That was when Kid ran into the saloon and jumped in front of McCall. Lou knew there was nothing else for him to do.

"You promised, Jack!" Kid yelled at him. McCall pointed the gun down at Kid and shot him in the chest. Lou yelped not believing any of this. Lou called for the Kid. With his last ounce of strength, in a manner that no hero should go through at the end of his life, Kid whispered. "I still love you, Louise."

Kid expired. Lou could feel her own strength slipping away. McCall pointed the gun once more and again shot Lou under the ribs and her shoulder. At the same time, McCall felt a gunshot on himself.

Jimmy had grabbed his gun and had shot McCall. McCall grabbed his other gun and cocked it. Jimmy, lay on the ground on his stomach with a bloody bullet hole on his back. McCall shot him three more times against his back. His jacket like a canvas for red paint. That was when one more bullet caught McCall ending all of his destruction. A direct shot to his forehead.

His useless body slumped down. Lou kept her gun up in the air still pointing at the whole area McCall once stood.

Lou slowly inched her way towards Jimmy. But she couldn't go on anymore. She fell to her knees and dropped backwards on the ground at the opposite side of the table. Jimmy and Lou lay on the ground with a poker table between them.

Both of them kept their eyes on each other the whole trying not to miss a single second. As Jimmy looked over at his right hand that was underneath the table closest to Lou, he realized he still held his cards.

"Hey, look at that," Jimmy gulped. "Two aces and two eights..."

Lou reached her right hand over and set aside his cards replacing his hand with hers. They held onto each other feeling their pulses dying down.

"Lou..."

Lou breathed heavily feeling nothing but the pain of losing those she loved.

"I'll always love you, Louise."

"I'll never stop lovin' you, Jimmy. Jimmy Hickok I've always loved you. You made me the luckiest woman in the world when I married you."

"May God watch over Maggie...Lou...you made me the happiest man in the world. I'd rather me bleedin' next to you than to never see you again. You are the last name I will breathe...no matter what...even in the presence of the enemies of mine...Louise...Lou."

"...Jimmy...no regrets Jimmy...Jimmy..."

James Butler Hickok shot his last bullet and held that deadly thing for the last time only replacing it with the hand of his love. With all the respect and dignity he held, he bled in that town forever offering himself as a tragically fallen hero. Making people realize that the death of a hero isn't always full of glory and romance like in his books. He died not only like a hero, but as a man. And especially as the man loved by a great woman.

Louise McCloud died tragically also in that storybook fashion by her man's side. Only she fell more painful and heartbreakingly. Her baby daughter now alone. But her name still held that same glory of a hero. But Lou only wanted to live and be loved by one special person that only her dreams can make come true.

Both lovers held each others hands. Though it may not have been evident of their love for each other compared to the beginning of their love affair, their love was stronger than ever at this moment. Louise in the presence of her "real love" and her true love. Her main hopes and desires and wishes and admiration and respect and love going to that man bleeding in her hands. The date was August 2, 1876.

Epilogue

An aged Teaspoon now a retired marshall living his life with Rock Creek's saloon owner that was once supposed to be his wife ages ago, a beautiful and married Rachel now Rock Creek's finest school teacher, Cody now a soldier again since he was called back to scout after the Custer issue, Buck now a providing man with a beautiful wife and five children living in Idaho, Sam Cain and Emma Shannon now parents of three living in Lincoln, Nebraska, and the Kid and Lou joined altogether in Deadwood for the funeral of James Butler Hickok.

James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok. Nothing else can be said about him better than what writer James Bankes said:

"Who was Wild Bill Hickok? There are too many mysteries, controversies, half-truths and outright fabrications about his life for anyone to answer that question with total confidence. Yet people will keep trying to answer it because, while he was certainly no saint, Wild Bill lived a life of adventure and displayed enough courage and daring to forge one of the enduring legends of the Wild West."

The End

To read the missing part, click here. This part happens right before the Epilogue, and is kinda Kid/Lou...whatever.

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