For the whole journey, Ike wrote down all the places he had been, and marveled at how many towns were named after different colors. Guess they ran out of original names, Ike thought.

Ike was planning on writing a letter to Buck and the rest of the riders. After all, it had been almost a month since he had left them, and he was sure that they were all worried about him. After all, he was still their friend, no matter what Wilson and the others thought of them.

They stopped in Rock Creek, and Wilson pulled in front of an inn. Josiah, Adam and Marcus dismounted and tied their horses to the back of the wagon while Ike helped Julie out. "We'll stay here for tonight, and move on in the morning. Julie, will you and Ike see to getting us two rooms? I'll take the boys and go survey the scene."

Julie nodded. She motioned for Ike, and the two entered the inn.

Ike noticed that Julie seemed distant, like she didn't want to be there. He let her talk, getting two rooms for the night. The inn keeper was very nice, and offered to give them anything that the two would need.

When they had checked out their rooms, Ike pulled Julie aside. "You seem upset. What's wrong?"

Julie looked at Ike. She knew that she could tell him, that they could. But she knew that Wilson would find them, and he would hurt them. And her brother… he was too caught up into it to get him free. Adam didn't want to stay, but he had to, or else he would end up taking all the blame for the crimes. "I'm just tired, that's all. I want to get a good night's sleep."

Ike nodded and gave her a soft kiss. "Then I'll make sure you aren't disturbed tonight. And you can sleep and dream all you want," he signed after they separated.

Julie smiled and hugged Ike. "Thanks Ike."

"Easy pickings," Wilson signed. "The sheriff's office is on the other side of town. We just need to figure out his lunch break and that will be our time."

"What about Ike?" Marcus asked. "He won't do this. He's too noble."

From beside them, a young businessman came over to Wilson and Marcus. "Hello and welcome to Rock Creek Bank. Can I help you two gentlemen?"

Wilson looked at Marcus with a dumb look. "Not really, horse head. We just want to make some quick money."

The businessman looked confused, but kept the fake smile on his face. "I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're saying. Do you have an interpreter with you?"

Wilson turned to Marcus. "Just as I thought. This will be perfect." Wilson turned back to the businessman, then shook his head, shrugged his shoulders and walked out with Marcus behind him.

The businessman stood there, looking confused, then turned and went back to work.

"Any word from Ike yet?" Buck asked.

Rachel turned around and looked at the young man. Every time he came back from a run, he would ask the same question. She could see in his eyes that he missed Ike, and it hurt her that she never had anything to tell him. "No Buck, I'm sorry."

Buck lowered his head and sat in one of the kitchen chairs. "It's been almost a month now, Rachel. Teaspoon said that if I wanted to go after him, he would give me a vacation next week. But I don't even know where to begin."

Rachel left her stew and went to the young half-Indian. She hugged him, then knelt down in front of him. "Ike will get in touch with you, you know that. You mean too much to each other."

"But - "

"Shush," Rachel stated. "Let me finish. Ike needs to learn more about these people. He is probably so wrapped up in that alone that he has forgotten to write. But he will remember, and he will write or visit. Just give him the time he needs."

Buck looked at Rachel and nodded. She could see that he was trying to hold back tears. "I just miss him so much, Rachel. He means so much to me."

Rachel hugged him again, getting him to stand. "He'll be back, Buck. He will be back. Now go clean up and get ready for supper."

Buck nodded and walked out of the stationhouse to the bunkhouse. Rachel watched him go from the kitchen window, the she turned her gaze off to the direction Ike had rode off from three weeks earlier. "Ike, I wish you could see how much he hurts. Please come back, and soon."