James Butler Hickok was not in a good mood. For starters, he had had a tough run the day before and had been looking forward to a long rest. But upon his return to the Sweetwater station he had gotten suckered into taking one of Cody’s runs, and consequently spent another long day in the saddle. Then he had arrived in Blue Creek only to find that the delivery he was supposed to pick up was late, so he would have to stay the night in town.

On any other day Jimmy might have enjoyed spending a night on the town and sleeping in a real bed for a change. This day should have been no exception, especially since the citizens of Blue Creek were holding their annual Fall Dance that evening. But today the presence of the dance only made Jimmy’s mood worse.

The problem was simple. Jimmy Hickok was lonely. He had spent two days riding hard, by himself. After checking into the hotel in Blue Creek he had gone to the restaurant for dinner, where he ate his meal alone. All around him were groups and couples chatting warmly and preparing for the dance. No one paid any attention to him, a stranger, except perhaps to notice his low-slung Colt and give him a wide berth.

Jimmy was used to being alone, and ordinarily it wouldn’t have bothered him. But lately he had been thinking more and more about having to spend his entire life alone. He thought about J. D. Marcus and his made-up stories about "Wild Bill," the bank robber Henry Muncie, and even Jake Coulter the bounty hunter. It was as if all these people were somehow conspiring with Fate to make Jimmy into the kind of man he was pretty sure he didn’t want to be. The kind of man who was forced to look for enemies in every town he passed. The kind of man who couldn’t afford to let anyone get close to him, for fear they would become the target of one of his old demons. The kind of man who had no future, who was doomed to live the rest of his life haunted by the past with only a six-shooter for companion.

Jimmy shuddered. He didn’t want to be that kind of man. He didn’t want to go through life alone. But it seemed like no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t escape the "Wild Bill" image that had been painted of him, or the destiny that went with that image. Now as he stood at the edge of the dance and watched young couples twirling happily in each other’s arms, Jimmy had never felt more lonely or out of place. His imagination turned the curious glances of the townspeople into suspicious glares, and clearly read their message—he was nothing but a gunslinger, an outlaw, a threatening presence in their peaceful lives. Their carefree world of dancing and laughter held no place for him.

Jimmy turned his back on the bright scene and stepped into the shadows, heading back to the hotel. He was angry—angry with the world for treating him the way it did, and angry with himself for feeling so bad. He was so busy brooding that he wasn’t paying attention to where he was going and didn’t see the young woman hurrying away from the dance from another direction. She was so absorbed in her flight that she did not notice him either, and the two walked headlong into each other, sending the girl tumbling into the dusty street.

Jimmy’s first impulse was to yell at the other person to watch where they were going, but he checked himself when he saw that it was a young lady sprawled in the dust. Instead he went and offered his hand to help her up. Her blue dress had gotten tangled around her, and strands of her upswept brown hair had fallen loose around her shoulders.

"I’m sorry, Miss," Jimmy apologized politely. "I wasn’t watching where I was going."

The girl took his hand and stood up, shaking her head. "No, no, it was my fault. I was in such a rush that I ran right into you. I’m sorry." For the first time she looked up and met his gaze, and Jimmy was surprised to see traces of tears on her cheeks.

"Are you alright?" He didn’t think she had fallen that hard.

"I’m fine," she replied, but it came out as more of a whisper. She dropped her eyes and averted her face again, but not before Jimmy saw her lower lip start to tremble.

He didn’t know what made him suddenly want to help her. Maybe it was the fact that she looked as miserable as he felt. At any rate Jimmy found himself taking her hand again. "Maybe you should sit down for a minute," he suggested. She didn’t protest, and allowed him to lead her to a bench on the boardwalk. By this time it was evident that she was fighting back tears, for the occasional sniffle escaped and betrayed her.

Jimmy wasn’t sure what to do. "Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong, and maybe I can help you," he offered awkwardly. "Are you hurt?"

The girl shook her head, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief.

"Do you feel sick?" persisted Jimmy. "Should I get the doctor?"

She shook her head again. "No, there’s nothing wrong with me," she managed to get out between sniffles. "I’m just…oh, I can’t explain it….I feel so ridiculous." The girl wiped her eyes again and started to stand up. "I should go—"

"Wait a minute," Jimmy stopped her gently, genuinely concerned that she was unwell. He tried to think of a way to keep her there until he could find out what was wrong. "What is your name?"

"Susannah," she sniffed quietly.

Jimmy smiled. "I’m pleased to meet you, Susannah. My name is Jimmy." He turned her slightly to face him. "Now please let me help you. At least tell me why you’re crying," he pleaded.

Finally Susannah raised her eyes and looked at him ruefully. "It’s really silly," she said after a moment. "I’m so ashamed of myself, but…but I just can’t seem to help it." She paused, wondering why she was telling this to a complete stranger, but Jimmy gave her an encouraging smile and she continued. "I’m crying because…because…well if you must know it’s because I’m so lonely."

She looked away, unable to face him after that admission, but still feeling the need to explain herself. "What I mean is, I was watching everyone at the dance, and they all look so happy and in love. And I was all alone, and don’t know anybody, and I miss my family…." The tears started again and she wiped them away impatiently. "I know I’m being ridiculous, but…"

"I know exactly how you feel," said Jimmy without thinking. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud. He felt his face grow hot with embarrassment.

Susannah looked up at him sharply, swallowing her tears. "How could you? Surely a handsome—" she caught herself, blushing, and stammered, "I mean, surely a nice young man like you has lots of sweethearts."

Jimmy shook his head, almost laughing at that statement. If she only knew, he thought morosely.

"Why not?" she asked, honestly puzzled by his answer.

Jimmy sighed. How could he explain his life to a stranger? "People that get close to me have a tendency to get hurt because of me," he said finally.

Her large dark eyes looked at him curiously. "Why?"

Jimmy found he could not avoid that frank gaze. He shifted uncomfortably. "I guess you could say it’s because I have kind of a reputation."

Susannah’s eyes dropped to his gun. "You mean, a reputation as a gunfighter?"

Jimmy nodded. "Folks just seem to have certain ideas about me. They make me out to be some kind of killer." He looked at her bitterly. "Maybe you think that’s what I am too."

Susannah studied him for a moment, her face serious. "No," she said slowly, "you don’t seem like a killer to me. You’ve been very kind to me, and I’m much obliged." She smiled at him shyly.

He shrugged. "It weren’t nothin’."

"Yes it was," she insisted. "You didn’t have to stop and help me. I hope I haven’t ruined your evening."

"Don’t worry," said Jimmy. "I wasn’t having a very good time either."

Susannah smiled in sympathy, and Jimmy was struck by a sudden idea.

"Listen," he began. "I was just thinking…" He trailed off, growing unaccountably nervous.

"Yes?" Susannah looked up at him hopefully.

Jimmy cleared his throat. "Well, I was thinking maybe you’d like to go to the dance with me. That is, if you’re feeling better," he added quickly.

Susannah’s eyes lit up. "I’d love to!" she cried. But then her face clouded. "But are you sure you want to go with a blubbering idiot?"

"I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t mean it," said Jimmy sincerely.

"Thank you," she said softly. Her face was wreathed in smiles as she took his offered arm and they made their way back to the dance.

The dance floor was lit with colorful paper lanterns, and when they stepped into the circle of light Jimmy got a good look at his companion for the first time. She was slim and dark, her glossy straight hair piled high on her head. She wasn’t especially pretty, but the way her large eyes shone when she looked at him and the warmth of her smile made Jimmy glad to have her on his arm.

Susannah laughed as Jimmy bowed and held out his hand to her. She dipped into a low curtsy and stepped happily into his arms. She thought she could not have wished for a better companion. She liked the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, the comforting security of his arm around her, the way he held her small hand in his large, strong one.

Jimmy and Susannah stayed until the very last dance. As they danced they talked about their lives, each one somehow feeling they could tell the other anything. Jimmy told Susannah about riding for the Pony Express and his friends at the station. She explained that she had come out West after the death of her parents, hoping to go live on her uncle’s ranch. He was supposed to have met her in Blue Creek but had been delayed, so she had been waiting by herself for the next stage to arrive in a few days. Since she was only passing through the town she had no friends there, and she had passed a miserable few days alone, missing her parents and her old life and worrying about what her new one would be like.

But now Susannah was far from miserable. Somehow being with Jimmy made her feel as if everything was going to be all right. Listening to his stories gave her the courage to face whatever future awaited her at her uncle’s ranch. After all, if Jimmy and his friends could face deadly outlaws and hostile territory on a daily basis, surely she could handle moving to a new home.

The autumn night had gotten chilly, and Jimmy was glad of the excuse to keep Susannah in his arms. She leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. They stood holding each other as the last notes of music faded away, enjoying the closeness that had come so easily and naturally. They were both reluctant to leave, knowing they would probably never see each other again.

Finally Jimmy released Susannah and took her hand in his, and they walked back to the hotel. They stopped outside Susannah’s room and smiled at each other wistfully.

"Thank you, Jimmy," said Susannah softly. "Thank you for everything. I had a wonderful time tonight." Her eyes were bright with tears. "I’ll never forget you."

"I had a good time too," replied Jimmy, his voice husky. "I’m really glad we ran into each other."

Susannah laughed. "Literally!" Then she grew serious. "Jimmy, I just want to you to know…you’re the nicest, most honest person I’ve ever met." He was shaking his head, embarrassed, but she continued. "No, I really mean it." She squeezed his hand to make him meet her eyes.

"You’re a good man, Jimmy," she said earnestly. "Don’t ever let what anybody else says or thinks make you go through life alone. You deserve more than that."

Her eyes smiled at him for a minute. "Goodnight, Jimmy," she said. She stood on tiptoe suddenly and kissed his cheek, and then she was gone inside her room.

The next morning Susannah rose early enough to watch through her window as the lone rider on the palomino raced into the distance.

"Ride safe, Jimmy," she said.

Then she picked up her bags and headed downstairs to meet the stage and her new life.