The Stationhouse RPG

One Year Later

“Don’t talk to me Cody..’ Jimmy shouted once be stepped in the bunkhouse. Buck, Lou, Noah, Ike, Jesse and Emma exchanged looks after Jimmy’s outburst.

“Jimmy...calm down,“ Emma said in a serious tone. Jimmy nodded and sat down on his seat at the table.

“What’s wrong, Jimmy?” Lou asked as the rest of the boys took their seats on the table for lunch.

“He is just mad ‘cause Teaspoon sent Star on a run,” Cody said grinning when Jimmy didn’t answer.

The gunfighter threw his piece of bread at Cody, who started to laugh, joined by his other friends.

“Kid is with her Jimmy” Emma affirmed calmly, “There is no need to worry..”

“I ain’t worried” Jimmy lied and looked down so Emma wouldn’t see he was lying, “This is a man work. She ain’t made for it..”

“Lou can make it...”Jesse commented casually and shrugged when he felt Jimmy’s glare on him.

“Its different “ Jimmy replied, trying to figure out how different that was

“How so?” Emma asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Jimmy looked to Emma and then glanced each one of his friends, who waited for his explanation, “Its different.. That’s all..” Jimmy stated with a scowl.

Emma shook her head and smiled, she knew the real reason for all that bad mood but she wasn’t planning on stating Jimmy the obvious.

“Rider Coming” Teaspoon yelled from the bunkhouse’s porch. Emma raised her hands in frustration when Jimmy practically jumped over the table to be the first one outside.

At the porch, he leaned against the wall causally and waited for Star and Kid to dismount, “ Welcome back Kid.. Star” Teaspoon exclaimed and stepped towards Star’s black horse.

“How was the ride sweetie?” he asked Star when he helped her to get down from the horse.

“Fun” she affirmed joyfully and Teaspoon placed a kiss in her forehead.

“Good..” He muttered pleased with the happiness in the girl’s face.

Jesse came from the house and helped Ike to take Kathy, Kid’s horse and Black, Star’s horse to the stable while Kid walked in the bunkhouse.

“Are you ok?” Jimmy asked holding Star’s arm before she stepped in the house. She met his eyes and smiled and it was when Jimmy eyes darkened in rage, “ You are hurt..” he breathed and passed by her, storming in the house, pulling Star by her lapel.

“KID!” he yelled and the blue eyed boy, who was greeting Noah and Lou turned to face a very angry Jimmy, “What the heck happened there?”

“What?” Kid asked not understanding and Jimmy pulled Star his front.

“She is hurt” Jimmy stated and showed bandaged in her left hand.

“I didn’t see that” Teaspoon commented and got closer to his protegee, he held her arm up and examined the bruise, “Look at that” he added and looked at Kid, “Kid?”

“Its nothing” Star affirmed and moved towards her bunk to drop her bad and take her coat and hat off.

“She picked a fight” Kid finally spoke and Jimmy crossed his arms around his chest.

“A fight?” Teaspoon inquired giving Star a glance while she moved around the group and sat down at the table.

“Yeah.. a fight with some drunk guy ” Kid continued to tell the story

“He made a move on me..” Star affirmed while she ate a piece of bread.

“Ya just had to ignore him” Kid replied and then looked back at Teaspoon, “ He said something to her, she pushed him, he pushed her then she decided to punch the guy and got hurt”

“He had a face to hard” Star affirmed looking at her hand, “But I’m fine .. There’s no need to discuss this”

“Did ya punch a guy?” Jimmy asked groaning

“He deserved” Star replied in the same tone Jimmy used with her.

“Are you out of your mind Star?!!” Jimmy shouted furiously, “I can’t believe it ”

“Ya know.. ” Cody said going towards his place at the table, “She is hanging out way too much with Jimmy”

“Shut up Cody” both Star and Jimmy yelled at the same time

“Told ya” Cody replied smiling amusedly while Jimmy started over him.

“Ok that’s enough.. ” Teaspoon stood between the two boys, “It happened lets move on” he stated and pointed a finger to Star, “You go wash yourself before lunch young lady”

Star smirked and stepped away from the table, “I’m sorry Teaspoon” Kid muttered and Teaspoon placed a hand in his shoulder.

“You didn’t do anything wrong Kid” Teaspoon assured, “Go wash yourself too ..” Kid nodded and walked away.

“You know what’s scaring” Teaspoon commented when Emma approached him, “Cody is right”

“Lets eat Mr. Spoon” Emma said with a smile, “Lets just eat”

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~

The cool night air washed over Ike McSwain as he laid his head back against his saddle. The moon hung low on the horizon, a bright yellow orb against the black sky. 'Harvest moon,' he thought to himself as he sighed heavily. He had always loved the harvest moon. It looked mysterious and secret, like a great eye spying on him from above.

Ike wasn't a religious man. Had never had much cause for church or preachers. But there was something about the night sky that made him wonder. Wonder if his parents were watching down on him. 'Would they be proud?' he thought to himself as he gazed up at the starless expanse that lay out above him.

His life hadn't been perfect by any means. Ike smiled. 'Whose had?' But it had been better than he had once thought it ever would when he was alone and afraid at the mission. That was until Buck came into his life, and changed it forever.

Ike folded his hands across his chest. He though back to that first day he had met the skinny, shy Indian. Buck had been just as much an outcast as Ike, ridiculed and tormented by the other children. But together, they had felt a security unlike any either had ever known.

Sleep beckoned to him as he tipped his hat forward. The ride from St. Joe had been long and hard. Ike knew that if he had pushed it a little bit more, he could make it home to the station. He knew a hot meal of stew and bread was waiting for him and that there was his nice, soft bed.

Batting heavy eyelashes, he inhaled deeply on the cool evening air. Again he smiled. Yes, riding harder would have gotten him home. 'But then I would have had to miss this,' he thought to himself as his eyes began to close, his breathing heavy and peaceful. 'I would have had to miss….." were the last words he thought as he slipped into a restful, but short, sleep.

Madeline Raines clung to the tree as if her life depended on it. The night seemed to close in all around her, pressing on her hard as she cried softly. Her left eye was a mass of purple, useless flesh, but her other was alert, darting from shadow to shadow.

"I didn't mean to," she whimpered as she shivered, sending waves of pain through her chest and ribs.

Off in the distance, an owl hooted carelessly. Mady cringed at the noise, her head darting from side to side. With every movement, her stomach lurched. Mady held perfectly still. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest, pulsing in the back of her eyes and in her throat.

An image popped into her mind, one she had fought to escape. It was a man, laying in a pool of blood that oozed from a hole in his side. A gut wrenching sound ripped from Mady's stomach. She dropped to the ground as she expelled the contents of a simple lunch of bread and cheese. "I didn't mean to."

The day had started out like any other day. She had awake to the bright morning sun, obvious to the fact that it would be the last that she would see it in her uncle's house. She had made breakfast like normal before disappearing to do her chores.

Uncle Jake had been a particularly bad mood as of late, having lost a good deal at the local card tables in Fenton. Mady thought it good to be out of his sight as often as possible.

She hated it when he got that way. One time, shortly after Edward had left, Jake had taken to the saloon for days, leaving Mady alone and frightened at the small one room cabin on the outskirts of town. Until then, it had been her brother Ed that had taken the brunt of Jake's hand. Mady had been there to nurse him, placing cold compounds on his wounds. Never had it been directed to her….until that night.

After that, the beatings came regular. If Mady set a glass down wrong, spilling even the slightest bit of its contents, Jake's hand would fly out. If she spoke when not spoken to, or moved if not asked to do so, it would be a closed fist or a boot to her stomach. That she had grown accustom to as her brother had before her.

But Eddy had left, crying over her one night as he held her tightly to his chest. Mady hadn't thought much of it at the time, only relishing the sense of security she felt in her brother's strong arms. But by morning, she woke to the tirades of her uncle, cussing and screaming about Eddy's departure during the night.

Yes, she had grown accustom to the beatings, learning how to muffle her cries and still her movements. That often gave her uncle cause to move on, become bored. That was……until now.

The cool air nipped at her sweat soaked hair as she continued to cry. Taking a deep breath, she pushed forward almost willing herself to an outcropping of rocks as she limped along. "Must keep going," she whispered under her breath as she half fell, half landed on the rocks.

Laying her bruised cheek against the cool rock, Mady closed her eyes against the images. Hot alcohol laden breath on her face, rough, groping hands pulling and pinching her clothes and skin, the weight of him as he tried to undo his belt. "Nooo," she had cried out over and over, but he had not listened.

The gun had been laying on the table, where he always kept it. He cleaned it a million times, loading it and unloading it, pointing it at her and laughing hysterically as she jumped at the loud hollow click of the empty chamber as he pulled the trigger.

"Why couldn't he just have hit me?" she sobbed against the rock, her battered body aching for her to give up. It wanted her to give in the deep dark sleep that beckoned to her, called to her. "I didn't mean to kill him."

When the gun had gone off, Mady had been terrified. Jake dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes, his body limp and still. There was no sound, no movement, nothing.

It all happened in a split second of a moment. One minute he was charging her, his face burned red with anger, and the next, his eyes rolled in the back of his head.

It had been all she could do to make herself move. Dropping the gun where she stood, Mady ran for the door and out into the night, stopping only for one of Jake's horses as she rode out of town. But her vision had been bad, one eye shut, the other blinded by the tears that filled it. She had lost the horse somewhere deep in the grassy countryside, having gotten thrown from it while trying to avoid an outcropping of rocks.

Mady pushed up into a sitting position. Her body hurt in every place imaginable. She was cold, tired, and more scared that she could ever remember being. She had no idea where she was and even less of an idea of where she was going. She felt faint and the only thing that she could focus on was surviving.

Suddenly, Mady felt her heart skip a beat. Off in the distance, she could see a light and was certain it was from a campfire. Without thought, she jumped from her spot on the rock and began to run.

Millions of thoughts ran through her mind as she neared the camp. 'What if they are outlaws? What if they are killers? What if I die?' As her vision began to blur, she decided that whomever it was, it had to be better than dying in the countryside alone.

"Help me," she tried to shout, but there was nothing left. No voice, no words. So she ran harder, her heart pounding so hard it blocked out all noise. With each pushing movement of her body, the more her vision blurred. She was literally running blind by that point.

Without realizing where she was going, Madeline Raines burst through the bushes, falling to the ground in a heap. Around her, she heard rustling. She felt hands on her, pressing against her forehead. She heard no sounds, but could smell the faintest scent of old leather and soap. That was when her eyes came to rest on the clearest green eyes she had ever seen, and in those eyes, there was comfort.

"I don't want to die," she whispered, reaching up with dirt caked fingers and gently touching his cheek. "...pleas....."

Then everything went black.

Mady awoke to a dark room. She inhaled deeply, ignoring the tremendous pain in her side. She smelled clean sheets and flowers. For a single, shining moment, Mady thought she was home. At any moment she expected her mother to come in to the room, kiss her on the forehead before pulling open the curtains like she always use.......

"How are ya feelin'?"

Mady was ripped from her thoughts. Terror seized her suddenly as she tried to sit up. But the pain was too great. "Aw God," she croaked as burning blades of pain felt as if they were being jabbed into her every muscle. She grabbed the sheets, pulling them up to her chin as she drew her knees close. "Please don't."

"Wait…….wait," the voice said softly.

Mady could see a shadow as it moved toward her. A small flicker of light caused her to flinch, shielding her eyes as the flame was touch to the wick of a lantern. "Please," Mady croaked, her voice barely audible. "Bright."

The flame was lowered as the scraping sounds of a chair were pulled closer to the bed. "That better?" the female voice asked. Not waiting for any answer, she continued. "Who did this to ya?"

Mady tried to focus her eyes. She could see out of both of them, one still limited but open. "I, uh…..I fell. Where am I?" she croaked.

The small woman moved toward the light, and Mady could see that she was just a young girl, most likely the same age as herself. Mady watched as the girl poured a glass of water, smiling as she handed it to her. She had shiny dark hair and kind warm brown eyes. "You're in Sweetwater. At the pony express station. I'm Star."

Mady took the glass and drank greedily. It was the best, cleanest water she had ever tasted. Clutching the glass tightly to her chest, Mady allowed herself to glance around the room.

They were alone in the small, comfortably decorated room. Simple curtains hung from the room's only window, delicate fabric that allowed the evening light to spill in. A table sat against the far wall and a chest of drawers directly in front of the bed. Finally, Mady turned back to her visitor. "Mady. Call me Mady."

A sudden bright smile crossed the young woman's face. "We were awful scared for a while there when Ike brought you in. You were in bad shape. Emma didn't think you was gonna make it. But Ike never gave up." Star stopped, tilting her head to one side. "Where you from?"

Mady remembered the clear green eyes that she had last seen and concluded that they must belong to the one called Ike. "Montana," she said softly. Drinking heavily from the glass, Mady wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. As she drew her hand away from her face, she saw the purple marks on her hand. Suddenly, the smile slipped from her face. Slowly, she turned it over. There were cuts all over her palm, her thumb nail black and blue. Mady looked up, tears springing to her eyes as she caught Star's gaze. Slowly, she brought her fingers to her lips. "I must look a fright."

Star smiled, reaching out her hand and laying it on Mady's arm. "You look fine. You just need to get better."

A comfortable silence fell between them. It was Star who finally broke it. "Did you kill him?"

Suddenly, Mady felt panicked. She pulled her arm away as if she had been burned by Star's touch. "What, I um, no. I fell, um."

Star held up her hands. "I won't tell a soul Mady. I won't. I ain't never seen no fall do that kind of hurt. But it's okay. It will be our secret. I swear."

Tears burned Mady's eyes as she looked around the room, looking for a way out. "But I, um."

"Mady," Star said softly, trying to get her attention. "It's all right. You're safe now. No one will ever hurt you again. I ain't gonna let it. Ike ain't gonna let it. I even pinkie swear." Star held up her finger, her eyes never breaking Mady's. "Ain't no word more strong than a pinkie swear."

Mady caught Star's gaze and held it for several long silent minutes. There was a pure honesty in Star's face that told Mady that what the girl said was true; her secrets were safe with Star. Reaching out her finger, Mady intertwined it with Star's. "Pinkie swear."

Star smiled brightly. "Do you have any family? Any where to go?" Mady shook her head no. "Then we'll talk to Emma in the mornin'. We can always use more help 'round here," Star said, as she stood from her chair. "But you better get some sleep. Emma's gonna kick my butt if she catches me bugging you when you should be restin'."

Before Mady could respond, Star was up and heading for the door. "Night Mady."

"Pinkie swear?" she called out, her fear beginning to grow as the realization of what the young woman knew finally hit Mady.

Star pulled open the door, leaning against the frame as she looked back at Mady. There was a calm seriousness that rested on her face. "I'll take it to my grave," she said quietly as she pulled the door shut behind her.

"Emma, can she stay please?" Star begged as she fidgeted with her hands. Teaspoon sat at the table, his face scrunched up in thought as he looked between Star and Emma out of one raised eye.

"Star, what about her family? Someone somewhere may be looking for her," Emma said, batting at silky red strands of hair that lay against her forehead.

"She has none. No family, no home," Star replied, and Emma could see that the determined young woman was not going to give up.

Ike stood behind Star, gripping his hat tightly in his hands as he eagerly listened to the debate.

"Then where did she come from Star? She has to have a family. And who did that to her?" Emma asked. "What if she is in trouble?"

Star folded her arms across her chest. "She's from Montana, but she don't have family. I asked her. And she just fell from her horse. I think she might have gotten robbed of her belongs or somethin'. Come on Emma. Please. Can she stay?"

Emma looked at Teaspoon for help and found none. Instead, he only smiled, hitching his thumbs in his suspenders as he looked toward Ike. "All right Star. She can stay."

Star started toward the back room full of excitement.

"At least until she is better," Emma called, stopping Star in her tracks. "And I want you to let her rest, Star. Now go do your chores."

Star shook her head. "Okay, I'm going. Thank you Emma."

Emma could see that the smile on Ike's face rivaled Star's as he lowered his gaze to the floor. Turning quickly, he followed his youthful cohort to the door, putting his hat on as they left. Emma shook her head as she watched them leave. "You think it was the right decision, Mr. Spoon?"

Teaspoon pushed away from the table, and carefully placed his old beat up bowler hat on his head. With a cockeyed grin, he shook his head. "How can helping a child that's been beat like that not be the right decision," he said with a smile as he crossed to the door and disappeared out into the bright Nebraska afternoon.

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~

Three Weeks Ago

"Stamshillgrrl," the older woman shook her head impatiently at the young lady standing in front of her. She removed the last few pins from between her lips and placed them in the hem of the white dress the young woman was wearing. "Honestly, Miss Ophelia, you fidget more than a child. It's very unladylike. What would your father say, having spent so much of his money on sending you to such a fine finishing school only to find you have not learned a thing?" Miss Lily had never been to finishing school. Instead she had married young, only to have her husband and baby girl die from the yellow fever that had swept across New Orleans one year later. She had made her living as a seamstress ever since, and could be counted upon for the finest quality dresses in the city, even finer than Monseuir Louis Philipe who came all the way from Paris with the latest French fashions. All the girls from St. Augustine's Finishing School for Young Ladies came to her for their graduation dresses. So even though she had never been to finishing school herself, she knew how young ladies who were about to graduate from the school should behave.

"I can't help it, Miss Lily," Ophelia smiled. Miss Lily nodded patiently, ignoring the use of the word can't. Sometimes, she reasoned, it was acceptable for a young lady to say can't instead of cannot. "Graduation is tomorrow, and then I am going home. I haven't...have not," Ophelia corrected herself with a knowing smile at the older woman, "been home in three years. Not even for Christmases."

"You'll be getting blood on that nice white graduation dress if you are not careful, and then where will you be?" Miss Lily chastened her. "It would ruin your day, that is where."

"Nothing could ruin tomorrow. Not even if it stormed a thousand thunderstorms and rain one hundred floods. No matter what happens, after graduation tomorrow I am going home."

Ophelia had long ago lost count of how many times she had been homesick during her stay in New Orleans. It was not that she was unhappy at school, because she was very happy. She had wonderful friends, enjoyed her studies, and while she could do without some of the rules on what was proper and what was not proper for young ladies, overall she had had a good experience. It was just that she had not known what a home was in her early life, so she was thankful that she had one - a home and a family. She had learned long ago that those were the truely important things in life.

"My word child, but you do put that fancy Shakespeare name of yours to good use, saying things all poetic like that. There," Miss Lily gave a final light tug to the skirt to make sure it hung evenly all the way around. "We are finished for today. I will get the hem sewn tonight and have the dress delivered to you first thing in the morning."

"Thank you Miss Lily," impulsively, Ophelia hugged the older woman. "I will miss having you make all my dresses."

Lily smiled, saying nothing as Ophelia stepped behind the screen to change out of the dress. She would never admit it to anyone, for fear that the headmistress of the school would reprimand her for having favorites with the students (they were a sizable portion of her business after all), but this young lady was one of her favorites. She never acted like a spoiled, selfish brat like some of the other girls, although she could be horribly stubborn at times, and she always treated Lily with respect as if they were in the same social class.

Just then the bell rang as the carriage driver for the school came in.

"I had better go so I will be back in time for tea," Ophelia gathered her recticule and shawl and turned to give Lily another hug. "I really will miss you," she smiled again before she stepped through the door.

The Next Day

"Young ladies, I hope you value the time you have spent here at St. Augustine's, and carry the lessons you have learned home with you. Carry on the tradition of excellence that this school has become known for wherever your lives may take you," the headmistresses voice rang out over the auditorium. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the newest graduating class of St. Augustine's Finishing School for Young Ladies."

Applause filled the auditorium as Father O'Callaghan stepped forward to say the final prayer. When he was finished, the new graduates filed out of the auditorium and into the dining hall where they would greet their guests at each of their tables. Ophelia's parents had not attended the graduation, as they had all agreed that the journey from Sweetwater to New Orleans was too long for them to attend. They had visited her twice while she was in school, staying for a month each time, but to come for a few days just for the graduation was not feasible. So instead of her family, her table would be filled with the teachers and donors to the school. She could barely make it through the lunch, anxious to leave for the train station that evening. Finally though, it was all over and the coachman was loading her trunks into the carriage to take her to the station. She said goodbye to all her friends, each of them promising to write every single day. Before she knew it, the train was pulling out of the station, and she was on her way home.

Kid rode through the sagebrush covered hills, working his way home as fast as the horse could carry him. Teaspoon had sent him east to Ft. Laramie on what was supposed to be a simple run. Of course, it was not simple. 'Nothing that is supposed to be simple with this job ever is,' he thought ruefully. First the rider he had been waiting on had been late, then the incompetent boy had dropped the mochila in the mud. By the time everything was straightened out, it was getting to dark to leave and he had to wait until the next morning. On top of everything else, Katy, his beloved horse, needed a new shoe and he had to leave her in Sweetwater for this run.

Well, at least he should be home by dark. He should be making it to the stage coach road within the half hour, and from there it was only about three hours home. It was a peaceful day too, such a nice day for a ride.

It figures, Kid shook his head as shots echoed over the hills. As he came to the top of the next hill he could see three men riding up fast behind the Blue Creek to Sweetwater Stage. The stage driver was pushing the horses as fast as he could, but the men were quickly gaining on him. The shotgun man was doing his best to fend the men off, but the wildly bumping motion of the stage was throwing off his aim.

Kid spurred his horse into action, knowing that he could not just stand by and watch the stage get robbed. He aimed as carefully as he could before squeezing off a shot and saw one of the would be robbers fall from his horse. That left two men. He saw the shotgun man fall off the stage as one of the robber's bullets found its mark and urged his horse to go faster. He was able to fire off another bullet, nicking one of the men in the shoulder. He quickly shot again, this time knocking the man from his horse. The remaining man, seeming to realize that he would not succeed in robbing the stage now, turned and rode away from both Kid and the stage. The driver pulled at the reins and put the brakes on, stopping in the middle of the desert.

"Is everyone all right?" he yelled back into the interior of the coach.

"I declare," a man's hand reached out and unlatched the door. The man stepped out and turned to help an elderly woman step down. "Does this happen often on this trail?"

"Every once in a while I'm afraid," the driver informed him. "Folks aren't usually so lucky as to have a hero come riding up to save the day."

Kid didn't hear his comment though as he watched the next passanger emerge from the stage. A young girl, about 16 or 17 stepped down and looked around. She was dressed in a dark blue traveling suit. Even through the trail dust that had settled over her, he could tell that she was the loveliest girl he had ever seen.

"Are you the one I should be thanking for our rescue?" she asked him with a smile.

Kid blushed to the roots of his hair. "It was nothin' miss," he stammered. "Any decent person woulda done the same thing."

"Most people aren't decent I'm afraid," the older woman spoke up. "Young man, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I don't know what I would have done if those horrible men had caught up with us. Why, they could have seriously hurt us! Oh my, Jeffrey, what if they got the money?!" She turned back to Kid. "My son Jeffrey is a lawyer. He's going to open up an office in Willow Springs. Tell him Jeffrey," she almost pushed the man in front of her.

"Jeffrey Dumont at your service," the man held out his hand to shake Kid's.

"Nice to meet you," Kid shook his hand. The elderly woman grabbed his arm and clung to it tightly.

"Why, we could have been killed even. Oh, I do hope all our belongings are all right. It was very bumpy back there." Kid could tell that she would go on forever if he could not stop her.

"Why don't we have them taken down and check them over for you," he nodded to the driver who moved to take the luggage off the coach. The woman followed him, dragging her son along and talking non-stop the whole time.

"Has she been like that the whole trip?" Kid grinned at the young woman.

"Pretty much," the girl grinned back. "I'm Ophelia Patrick by the way."

"I'm Kid," Kid took her proffered hand and shook it awkardly. "It's very nice to meet you Miss Patrick. Are you also on your way to Willow Springs?"

"Actually, I'm on my way home," she said, the joy evident in her voice. "My family lives in Sweetwater. What about you? What are you doing way out here?"

"I'm a Pony Express rider," Kid explained. "I'm stationed out of Sweetwater."

"Well, we're practically neighbors then," Ophelia smiled. "And as such, I insist that you call me Ophelia instead of Miss Patrick."

"Well, it's very nice to meet you Ophelia." Kid smiled. "Well, it looks like Mrs. Dumont is happy with the state of her luggage, and everyone is ready to go again," he held the door and helped her into the stage.

"I'll see you around town Kid," Ophelia smiled as Kid mounted his horse. She leaned out the window watching him ride off. She vaguely wondered what her father would think about her being friends with a Pony Express rider, and then wondered why the thought of them just being friends left her feeling empty inside. Oh, well, she thought. I don't need to think about that right now. In just a few hours, I will be home! She settled back in her seat and opened her book, doing her best to drown out Mrs. Dumont's non-stop chatter for the rest of the trip.

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~

Red Bear entered his lodge as his eyes adjusted to the darkness inside. His gaze landed on the young girl huddled near the back on the lodge. His heart broke every time he saw her.

The girl's father had been one of his best warriors. Her older brother had been friends with his younger brother. Try as he might, Red Bear couldn't figure out how the young girl, 'no woman,' he thought, survived the attacked on the village.

Little Dove stood by her husband and watched the young woman. "Why don't you send her to Running Buck for a time. The memories here are still fresh to her."

"I think you're right," the handsome war chief agreed, then made his way over to where the young woman sat. Kneeling down next to her, the tall Kiowa brushed some hair from her face. "Flowers that Shine, I want you to go stay with Running Buck for a while. The memories of what happen here are still fresh in your mind. I'm afraid for your health."

The dark haired girl looked up at the man next to her. "Lives with white man. White man killed family."

"I know they did. The white men he lives with are good people. You trust me right?" He hid a cringe that he felt at seeing the total fear in her eyes that had never known such fear.

A nod was his answer. A smile lit his handsome face. "Good. I know Running Buck will protect you."

He could see that she was thinking about it. "I go."

"Okay. You'll leave after lunch. It's not far. Get some rest." He pulled the hide blanket up over the girl as she laid down. He knew that she hadn't slept much since the deaths of her family.

Red Bear made his way out of the lodge. He summoned one of his warriors. "I want you to take a message to my brother in Sweetwater."

With a nod the warrior went to gather his horse.

Red Bear quickly drew out the message. Then he sent the warrior on his way.

Buck was making his way back to the station after tracking and rounding up a couple of horses that had broken free from the coral when he spotted Flies like a Hawk coming towards him.

The young Kiowa stopped as the warrior reached him. A frown mared his handsome face as he listen to his friend. "Go bring her to the edge of the woods. I'll meet you there." He extended a hand in friendship.

Flies like a Hawk grasped his friends forearm. "I'll be there with her in half a days time."

Buck nodded. "Thank you." Then he continued onto the station.

After he put the rounded up horses in the coral, Buck tied Wind Dancer to the post and went to look for Teaspoon.

Teaspoon had just stepped out of the bunkhouse when he spotted the young man looking for him.

"Teaspoon, I need the rest of the day off," Buck said as he came to stand in front of his brother.

The older man thought about the request. Buck never asked for anything other than respect. "May I ask why son?"

The young Kiowa knew he could trust his boss and friend. "I have gotten word from my brother."

He stopped and took a deep breath. "A friend of mine was killed along with his whole family. Somehow one of his younger sisters survived. Red Bear would like me to look after her for a while. She has noone else. I need to go bring her here."

The older of the two men smiled. "Sure son, go get her. Be careful son."

A smile lit the fine features of the younger man's face. "Thanks Teaspoon. She won't be any trouble. I promise."

"I know son. Go get her." The graying man smiled.

A quick nod was all he got as far as an acknowledgment before the younger man ran and mounted his horse. Then rode off without a glance behind him.

Teaspoon watched until Buck had ridden out of sight, then headed for the house.

"Emma, think you can find a room for another girl?"

"Sure Mr. Spoon. Why?" The housekeeper asked as she dried her hands after stacking the last dish to dry.

After he poured himself a cup of coffee, Teaspoon continued. "Well, Buck is bringing a girl from his village. The poor girl lost her family when their village was attacked. She grew up with Buck til he left the village."

"Sure. I can make up the sick room for her. The poor girl won't take to the others too easy." Emma looked around. "How long til they get here?"

As the gray haired man sat his cup in the sink, he thought. "A few hours maybe. Buck was meeting his friend or brother, I can't remember which, halfway between here and the village."

"Okay. Her room will be ready," the red haired woman answered.

Teaspoon nodded then returned to his chores.

Emma smiled as she went to work to get the girl's room ready.

Buck rode to the meeting place. He edged into the meadow. A smile lit his face as he saw his brother emerge form the trees. "Red Bear," he called out as he climbed off Wind Dancer. Then he headed to where his brother had stopped.

"You came alone?" The older of the two men asked as he looked around.

"Yes. Teaspoon said she could stay at the station. Where is Flowers that Shine?"

Red Bear turned and spoke in their native tounge to someone in the tree.

A young woman, a few years younger than Buck, slowly emerged form the trees. "Running Buck," was all she said.

The young man smiled. "Hello Flowers that Shine. You're going to stay with me and my friends for while. Okay?" He knew that he didn't have to ask for her okay by Kiowa law. But he knew she was frighten and he needed to treat her as he always had.

A small smile crossed the girl's face as she nodded. "Scared."

The young man walked over to where she stood. "I know. My friends are good people. They won't harm you. I made a promise to Black Bear to protect you if something should happen to him." He gently touched her cheek.

Flowers that Shine smiled at the gesture and nodded to her longtime friend.

After Buck climbed onto his horse, Red Bear helped the young woman mount up behind his brother. Placing a hand on her leg, "you must go by the name your mother gave you."

Flowers that Shine nodded. "I go by Dakota." She squeezed the hand of the man she thought of as a second father.

"Be good and trust Running Buck." He patted her leg then stepped back and watched them ride out of sight.

Flowers that Shine leaned against her friend. She was afraid of what her new life would be like, but she knew that Buck would be there for her.

Being lost in thought, Buck hadn't realized that she had leaned against him. He thought back to the last time had seen her. *She grew into a pretty young lady.* "Dakota. My friends are white." He could feel her tighten her hold on him. "It's okay. They will accept you. You know me. I would never let you get hurt."

"Yes. I try for you. Black Bear said I can trust you always." She answered as she fought the tears that threaten to spill at the thought of her brother.

The two young people rode into the yard. Teaspoon came out of the barn when he heard horses come into the yard. He made his way over to where Buck was helping the young woman from the horse. "Buck, she okay?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the young woman that stayed close the young man.

Buck had climbed off his horse. "Flowers that Shine, this is Teaspoon. Teaspoon, this is Dakota. Flowers that Sine is her Indian name. Her mother was a white prisoner before her father married her."

The older man smiled and greeted the girl in her native tongue.

She returned the greeting, not sure how he knew her tongue.

Teaspoon saw the confusion; he smiled. "I was married to a Dakota woman once."

Dakota nodded as she tried to hide a yawn.

"Buck, Emma is getting a room ready for her. Why don't you take her over and introduce her to Emma. I'll take care of your horse."

"Thanks Teaspoon." The young half breed handed the reins of his horse over to the older man, then he took Dakota's hand and led her to the house.

As they entered the house, Emma greeted them.

Dakota took a liking to Emma right away and allowed her to lead her to the room.

"She'll be okay, Buck. Go ahead and clean up for supper," Emma urged the young man.

Buck nodded and left his friend in Emma's hands.

Emma smiled as she watched the young woman discover how soft the bed was.

Dakota smiled at the other woman as she laid down to test the pillow. She didn't realize how tired she was.

Before she knew it, she was asleep.

Emma pulled the extra quilt over her. She frowned when she saw how skinny the girl was.

The redhead remembered what Teaspoon had told her and knew she would have to gently push her to eat and become the young woman Buck knew when he was younger.

She turned the lamp low and left the room. Leaving the door open a little.

She meet the others in the bunkhouse. She put supper on while Buck told them about the girl and asked that they be patient with her while she adjusts to the white man's world.

The others agreed to his request while Emma set supper on the table. They were all wondering about the young woman Buck mentioned, but noone made a point of pushing him for information. They knew he would fill them in when he felt the time was right.

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~

St. Louis, Missouri

Two years earlier....

Louise McCloud huddled between the bureau and cot, the only furnishings large enough to hide her petite form in the tiny room at the back of Wicks' Wild Aces Saloon and listened intently to the sounds drifting in from behind the closed door. In the near distance she heard the sounds of clanging pots and pans as the cook and servant girls prepared food for the customers, intermingled with more distance strains of bawdy music and raucous laughter of men and women. Though these noises were bothersome enough to keep her awake most nights, they did not frighten her in the least. It was the imminent arrival of her employer, Ivan Wicks, that caused her to huddle in fear.

Ivan Wicks had been her benefactor for a nearly a year now, having taken her in off the streets during the previous winter and given her shelter and a job in his saloon. Louise had been so grateful for his kindness, that she didn't care about working in a house of ill-respect. As long as she had a warm place to sleep, food in her stomach, clothes on her back and a few coins in her pocket, she was content. Lately though there had been a look in Wicks' eyes as he looked at her that made her want to crawl into a corner and hide any time he was around. She had seen the same look come into his eyes whenever he hired a new girl to work in the saloon, right before he took her upstairs to one of the rooms that the saloon girls lived in and closed the door. Louise didn't need anyone to tell her what they were doing up there, only that she wanted know part of it. The only trouble was she feared that if she refused Wicks advances that he would toss her out into the streets with no money or food to care for herself with.

Louise's heart nearly jumped out of her chest at the sound of heavy, booted footsteps started across the kitchen floor in what sounded like the direction of her room. She scrunched even further down into the corner made by the bureau and cot and prayed that the footsteps would go away. They didn't. Instead she heard them stop just outside her door and cringed when she heard the jiggling sound the doorknob made as it was being turned and the door creaked open. She held her breath as she waited to see what Wicks would do when he found her room empty. There was no sound for several seconds and then a scuffin of sorts as if he was turning to leave, but the next minute Louise felt her heart plummet into her chest as footsteps entered the room and approached her hiding spot. With trembling eyes, Louise looked up to see Wicks towering over her with red rimmed eyes and a lustful expression on his face and dreaded what he was going to say.

"You're growing into a beautiful woman Louise, " he said and reached out a hand toward her.

"No! Don't Touch Me! No!" She screamed.

Louise bolted upright on her pallet on the floor of her and Davonna Fraser's partitioned off room in the attic of MacDougal's Boarding House. Perspiration ran down her face in rivulets and onto the collar of her nightdress, making the cotton material cling constrictively to her neck. Her body trembled violently in reaction to her nightmare and she found herself clutching tightly to the ends of her worn quilt.

"Louise, lassie, be ye alright?" Davonna Fraser's thick Scottish brogue called out through the darkened room from her own pallet. "Gabhlain, cabhair!"

"Donna fash, mo piuthar, i'm here." An equally as thick brogue responded, this one obviously male and deep. The next moment the currents that partioned off the girls' area from the rest of the attic and Gavin Fraser's sleeping quarters parted, and a tall figure entered and wnet to kneel by Louise.

Gavin eyes had adjusted enough to see Louise's upright outline in the darkened room and reached to draw her gently into his arms. Louise startled at his touch and let out another scream. Gavin mentally chastised himself for not speaking to her before touching her, knowing instantly what her nightmare was about and feeling again the guilt over having not been at the saloon the night that Wicks had raped her.

"Donna cry, mo leannan.Tha thu sabhailte." he crooned softly, waiting for the sound of his voice to soothe her fears before touching her again. "You are safe."

The words seemed to have the desired affect on Louise that he wanted and she came easily into his arms and allowed herself to be held. Gavin settled himself against the wall with Louise in his arms and bid Davonna goodnight.

Present Day...

Louise lay awake on her bunk above Kid's, crying softly into her pillow so as not to awaken the other riders. She had been awakened again that night by the nightmare of her rape, a current happening every year around the time that the actual event had occurred. No matter how much time passed and how little her rape seemed to trouble her at other times of the year, it all came rushing back to the surface of her mind, overwhelming her with the vivid details that it seemed that no time had passed but a few hours from when it had occurred. On most nights after a nightmare had occurred she wasn't able to go back to sleep and this night wasn't any different.

She was out of bed and dressed before anyone else had awakened and quietly let herself out onto the porch. Stepping off of the porch she started across the yard in the direction of the barn, intent on taking an early morning ride on Lightning. She let herself into the stables and moved down the row of stalls to the one her black gelding stood complacently in and was welcomed with a soft whicker for which she patted Lightning's nose in return. Once the horse was saddled, Louise led him out of the barn, mounted and kicked Lightning into a gallop. There was nothing better to soothe her thoughts than being astride Lightning and galloping at breakneck speed across open land.

A short while later, Louise reined Lightning to a stop beside the swimming pool and dismounted. she led Lightning to the water's edge and took a long drink of the cool water herself and tried to think of the words that Gavin had once used to describe the ocean to her. She found it unsettling to discover she didn't remember how Gavin had described it to her and wondered not for the first time in so many days how her Scottish friends were fairing. It had been quite some time since she had last received a letter from either one and suspected that it was because of her move to this station that their correspondence had died away. She rather hoped that one day soon she could return to St.Louis to visit them...but first she had to save up enough money to get Theresa and Jeremiah out of the orphanage for good.

By the time she re-mounted Lightning an hour later and headed back to the waystation, all traces of the nightmare had died away and she actually found herself looking forward to the day, especially Emma's cooking.

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~

The sun was setting in a liquid red-orange ball when she arrived at the station. She had thought she would feel more apprehension, but surprisingly she was calm. She surveyed her surroundings with curious eyes. After so long a journey and so much trepidation, the scene before her was almost disappointingly serene.

The main house was dark and quiet; the only sound seemed to be coming from a smaller building near the large house. That must be the bunkhouse, she thought to herself. It was well lit and the occasional peal of laughter could be heard echoing out over the darkening prairie.

She gathered her bags and made her way up the steps. Taking a deep breath, she knocked lightly on the worn wooden door. She caught a whiff of something from within that smelled rich and oily, most likely fried chicken. It made her stomach roar with hunger. It seemed like days since she had eaten anything other than beef tack and hard biscuits.

Suddenly, the door swung open widely and she didn't know what she had prepared herself for, but it hadn't been this. Cody stood before her, a chicken leg held absently in one hand, with a slightly questioning look on his face. Her stomach did a slow flip. He hadn't changed much in the four years since she had seen him. She could tell from his own gaze that he didn't recognize her, although his expression was appreciative.

"Yes, ma’am? Can I help you?" He asked now.

"Billy?" She grinned. "Is it really you?"

Another boy appeared at Cody’s side, this one dark haired with a slightly stocky build. He had piercing hazel eyes that swept over her briefly. A bald headed boy with striking green eyes joined him. Taking in the newcomers that surrounded Cody, she suddenly felt all the nervousness she had suppressed until then bubbling up. The one with no hair began to gesture frantically with his hands.

"Yeah, Cody, who is it?" Asked the one with the long dark hair.

Cody had never removed his eyes from her. He sensed there was something familiar about the girl but he couldn’t place exactly what it was. She was short and slender with long waves of dark blonde hair captured carelessly with two combs. Her eyes were brown, sparkling with life and filled with more than a little fear. She was wearing a demure green dress with small flowers and white lace at the throat and wrists. There was no doubt in his mind: she was lovely. But who was she?

"Have we met, Miss?" He finally managed. William F. Cody was not one who liked to admit he didn’t know something, but he couldn’t figure out from where he might know this girl.

"I reckon we might have." She smiled. Her voice was low and made her sound younger than Cody already suspected she was. "Once upon a time you tried to steal a kiss from me on the banks of an old pond back in Missouri."

The dark headed boy let out a little laugh while Cody’s mouth fell open. The bald headed one began to make the strange signs with his hands again, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Shut up, Ike." Cody said weakly. He studied the girl again. Missouri? That had been several years ago and there had only been one girl…

"Gus?" He whispered unbelievingly.

She nodded happily.

Cody let out a hoot of laughter and swung her up in his arms. "Augusta Woodridge! Good grief, you’ve sure grown up! What in the world are you doing out here, girl?"

Gus struggled to breathe in his grasp as he finally set her back down. "I’ve been looking for you, Billy."

"What’s going on out here?" Another voice pitched in.

Gus turned to see a tall pretty redheaded woman standing behind them, a motherly expression upon her face. She looked surprised to see Gus but she quickly wiped her hand on her worn apron and extended it.

"Why, hello! I didn’t know we had company. A friend of yours, Billy? My name’s Emma. Get back, Jimmy, Ike, let the girl inside." She shooed the boys away with a wave of her hands. "Come on in, we just sat down to supper and you’re more than welcome to join us."

Over a supper of delicious crispy fried chicken and potatoes, Gus struggled to keep up with all the introductions and questions from the other members gathered around the table. Several times she caught Cody looking at her. Gus found all the others to be very friendly but she longed to be alone with Cody. There was so much she had to tell him and time could be running out…

Finally the last of the dessert had been consumed and Emma began to clear the table. With a warm smile to Gus, she asked the other boys to help with the dishes and excused Cody.

The two of them headed outside, walking silently over to the main house where Cody guided her to a sturdy porch swing. For a minute they sat together quietly, thinking over the past.

Cody had been a young man of fifteen when he happened to pass through the town of Hannibal, Missouri. He was on his way out West, to try and make a new life for himself and had only stopped in the small community to replenish some of his supplies.

Gus had been working in the dry goods store as a seamstress. Cody had spotted her as soon as he entered the store and it didn’t take him long to decide she was the prettiest girl in town. After buying his supplies, he had slipped back outside and carefully torn a small hole in his deerskin jacket. With a sheepish grin, he took it back inside and handed it to Gus.

She had expertly fixed the hole in a matter of minutes, before Cody had even had a chance to strike up a decent conversation with her. With a disappointed look he had accepted the jacket back from her and slipped it on. Gus, who was only fourteen, but very wise for her years, smiled knowingly.

"You know, if you wanted to talk to me, you didn’t have to make up some excuse." She had teased.

At first Cody had been embarrassed, but when he saw the devilish glint in her eyes, he too had laughed. Gus was just finished up her work, so she gathered her things and the two of them left together. Cody offered to walk her home and she accepted. The whole way, they had talked as if they were old friends and by the time Cody had left Gus on her doorstep, he knew he would be staying in Hannibal a little longer than he had originally intended.

"It’s been a long time." Gus said now, quietly.

He nodded in agreement. "It sure has."

She studied her hands and there was another long pause. Finally Cody spoke the question he had wanted to ask since before supper. "What brings you this way?"

She hesitated. A curtain of blonde hair slipped in front of her face, concealing her eyes. "I heard you were working for the Pony Express here, I just thought I’d drop by for a visit."

Cody sensed she was lying but didn’t push her. "And your pa? What does he think about you coming to see me?"

Gus laughed. It didn’t surprise her that Cody sounded so bitter. From the very first her father hadn’t cared for the confident cowboy. Mr. Woodridge found Cody too cocky and way too interested in his only daughter.

"You still holding a grudge against Pa?" She asked finally, nudging him with her elbow to show she was teasing.

"You bet." Cody said firmly. "I still hold him to blame for being the only reason I never could get a kiss out of you back then."

She blushed and rolled her eyes. One thing hadn’t changed; Cody could still make her feel like the most desirable woman on earth. She wondered how many other lucky women had fallen under his spell in the years since then.

"Well, he was right, you know." She pointed out finally. "You did ride off and leave me."

Cody’s expression changed. Suddenly he looked defensive and sad. "Aw, Gus, you know I didn’t want to, but there wasn’t anything for me in Hannibal except for you and your pa made damn sure I knew I couldn’t have that."

She ducked her head and nodded. "Pa has always been rather…controlling."

"So how’d you get loose from him long enough to come out here?" Cody asked again. "Or is he hiding around here somewhere, just waiting to introduce me to that shotgun of his?"

Gus smiled then her expression became serious. "I ran away from home, Billy."

He peered at her closely to see if she was joking, then his jaw dropped open once he realized she meant it. "What?"

Tears began to fill her brown eyes. She knew she had taken a chance coming to find Cody and pride wouldn’t let her admit how much she needed him. Still, Gus knew she hadn’t traveled all this way to merely sit on an old porch swing and reminisce. After a brief internal struggle with herself, she finally spoke again.

"Pa…he’s arranging for me to get married, Billy. I couldn’t talk him out of it; he just wouldn’t listen to reason. I don’t love the man he’s picked, hell; I don’t even like him! I won’t live like that, so I left."

Cody listened, aghast. He always knew old man Woodridge was a demanding, overbearing bastard, but never like this. In fact, in his private thoughts, Cody had suspected Woodridge would never let Augusta marry anyone, preferring instead to keep her under his own lock and key.

"But this ain’t some foreign place, Gus, this is America! He can’t do that!" Cody protested.

"Arranged marriages aren’t that uncommon. And what could I do? I know it sounds crazy, Billy, and you think I should have just told him I wouldn’t marry anyone I hadn’t chosen, but you don’t know what it was like! Pa was constantly harping. Everywhere I went, he would arrange for Victor, the man Pa wants me to marry, to be there. If I told him that I wouldn’t go through with it, Pa would just tell me to quit being so silly; that I would grow to love Victor. But I won’t, Billy, I’d rather die first!"

She began to cry in earnest then and Cody wrapped a comforting arm around her. "So you ran away from home to keep from marrying Victor."

"Yes." She sniffed and tried to compose herself.

"Well, that’s not so bad." He consoled.

She shuddered a little as she forced a laugh. "If only that were all."

Cody looked at her and sighed. "You might as well tell me all of it."

"I don’t know if you remember my Uncle Vernon…he lived in St. Louis and didn’t visit often. He was my mother’s brother and had never approved of her marrying my pa." She took a deep breath before continuing. "He was rich, Billy, really rich. He didn’t have children and his wife had passed away a long time ago. Uncle Vernon died last year…"

"Yeah?" Cody urged, not seeing what this had to do with Gus’ father.

"About six months ago, his will was found. He left everything to me." She stated simply.

Cody’s blue eyes were huge. "Wow! Gus that’s great! Why, you’re a regular aristocrat now! I bet you’ll be dining with the President before long and…"

"He left everything to me with one stipulation." Gus interrupted, holding up a hand. "I had to be married first. Uncle Vernon wanted no part of his money to go to Pa. A few months later, he introduced me to Victor."

Cody’s brows drew together in puzzlement. "But what does this have to do….Wait a minute! Are you trying to tell me that your pa is arranging this marriage to some guy you don’t know so you can get the money? That doesn’t make sense, Gus."

She shook her head impatiently. "No! Pa is trying to get the money for himself! I can’t prove it, Billy, but I think that Pa told Victor about the money and they agreed to split it once we were married!"

"But that’s awful!" Cody protested. "What kind of man would do that to his own daughter?"

She smiled sadly. "Mine, I guess."

"Gus, don’t you think if your pa and this Victor want the money that bad they’re gonna come after you." He asked worriedly.

"That’s exactly what they’ll do, Billy, and that’s why I’m here."

"What do you mean?" He wanted to know.

Gus swallowed hard and forced herself to meet his eyes. "I can’t run forever; they’re smart enough to track me down wherever I go. The only thing I can do is beat them at their own game."

Billy shook his head. "But how?"

"If I’m married before Pa and Victor find me, then it will be too late. My money will go to me and my husband."

"Well, that’s a good idea but who are you gonna get to…" He let his sentence drag off. "No…aw, no! Gus, you can’t be serious!"

Gus closed her eyes briefly trying to screw up her courage. She had rehearsed this conversation all the way here but never to this extent. "Billy, I know I don’t have any right to ask but I didn’t know where else to turn! You’re the only person that I trust enough to do this!"

"But we’d be really married!" Cody cried. "It would have to be legal for you to get the money."

"I know." She stated her tone serious. "It’s a lot to ask, I know, but please, Billy, won’t you consider it? I don’t know what else to do! I can’t marry Victor!"

"There’s gotta be something you haven’t thought of yet." Cody said weakly.

"Trust me, there isn’t. I’ve been thinking about this for six months straight! You’re my only hope, Billy." She looked forlorn as she said this.

There was a long silence as the two of them sat thinking. When Cody thought of his future, he did picture himself married but not so soon! And not like this!

Presently Gus spoke quietly. "It won’t be forever, Billy. We would just have to be married until Pa or Victor found me. Once they learned that I had already married you, they’ll have to give up." She paused. "I’m willing to pay."

Cody rubbed his head with his hand. "Gus…it ain’t that. I don’t want your money…it’s just…it just don’t seem right to be married and we ain’t even in love. Hell, I haven’t even seen you in years!"

Gus brought her knees up to rest on the swing and laid her head upon them. Her expression was one of utter despair.

"And what would people think? A divorce would cause you some harassment, I bet." He continued.

"I don’t care!" She cried vehemently. "I don’t give a damn what other people think! This is my life we’re talking about, Billy, and I won’t live it married to some idiot or running all the time!"

He laced his hands together and stared at his thumbs for awhile. Finally he said: "How long are we talking about here?"

She shrugged. "I don’t know. I’m not sure how far they are behind me or how long it will take them to find me."

"So it could be months." Cody sighed.

"Or days." She added optimistically. "Please, Billy, I promise I’ll stay out of your way and once Pa finds us, I’ll be out of your life for good."

He blew out a breath and looked out into the evening sky. "I know I’m gonna regret this…"

Gus squealed and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Billy, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Don’t thank me yet." He laughed nervously. "Wait until you’ve had to wash a couple pairs of my socks."

"What in God’s name do you mean you’re getting married?" Teaspoon bellowed.

Gus and Cody sat side by side on an old horsehair sofa in the main house. Deciding that action was their best bet they had wasted no time in telling Teaspoon and Emma. Unfortunately, the grizzled stationmaster had not seen things quite the same way.

"Lordy, Lord, Lord." Teaspoon growled, yanking off his brown hat and pushing a hand through his graying hair.

Emma seemed to sense that the older man’s temper had been taxed to the limit so she stepped in between them. "Billy, I think Mr. Spoon and I are just concerned that you may be rushing this a bit."

"I told you, this is the only way for Gus to get out of this situation!" Cody said with frustration.

Teaspoon stopped his pacing long enough to throw the blonde rider a glare. "I don’t think either one of you has stopped to think of another way out. How about we just wait for her pa to show up and tell the man she won’t marry Victor? Did either of you think of that?"

Cody looked to Gus and she quickly stood. "Mr. Hunter, Miss Shannon, I know this is a terrible shock to you both. I wish it were that simple. If my father was to find me here and I wasn’t married, he would harass me until I went with him. He wouldn’t give up!"

"I understand that!" Teaspoon replied hotly. "But marriage just ain’t something you just rush into! Especially if you ain’t in love! Marriage is a sacred union between two people before God, not some story or play that you just forget about when it’s over!"

"Teaspoon, what I think you are forgetting is that I’m a grown man! I can make up my own mind about this; I don’t need your advice!" Cody stood up, a vein pulsing wildly in his forehead.

"If you didn’t act so much like you needed it, maybe I wouldn’t have to give it!" The grizzled older man shot back.

"Wait a minute!" Emma hollered. "Both of you calm down! Billy, all we’re asking you to do is think this over, at least a couple of days."

"Yeah, and while I’m thinking about it, her pa is getting one step closer to finding her." He said flatly. "That’s just it: if we’re going to do this, we need to do it now. We can’t wait."

Emma and Teaspoon looked at each other for a long moment. Emma crossed her arms over her chest and shrugged slightly; Teaspoon just shook his head.

"They are grown, Mr. Spoon." Emma pointed out.

He arched an eyebrow at her. "You remember that the next time one of ‘em gets horse kicked."

Gus waited. She sensed that some of the tension was seeping out of the room. Cody glanced at her and tried to offer a comforting smile.

"Well…. Where are you going to live?" Teaspoon asked finally.

Cody’s face relaxed with relief. "With the boys’ help, I figure I can build us a little something out back of the bunkhouse. We can tear it down when…after this is all over."

"And I’ll get a job in town to help with expenses until I receive my inheritance." Gus put in quickly. "I will reimburse you every cent you’re out, Mr. Hunter, I promise."

For the first time Teaspoon’s lined face softened a little. "I ain’t worried about that, Miss. I would just hate to see either of you get hurt."

"Call me Gus, please." She smiled.

"When are y’all thinking about doing this?" Emma wanted to know.

Cody looked at Gus and she nodded. "Do you think tomorrow’s too soon?"

It passed in a blur. Later Gus would only vaguely remember waking that morning and beginning to dress. She hadn’t planned on being married so quickly so she had only her best dress to wear. It was navy with some light blue trim. Not exactly Gus’ first choice for a wedding dress, but it would have to do. She tied her hair back tightly in a bun then surveyed herself somberly in the mirror. Not perfect, but not too bad.

Emma was waiting for her downstairs. She handed Gus a bouquet of wildflowers picked from the yard and tied with a ribbon. "Every girl should have flowers on her wedding day." She said quietly.

Gus nodded mutely and followed Emma onto the porch. Cody and the preacher who had been hastily gathered from town were already standing there. Teaspoon and the others stood at the bottom of the stairs, each wearing expressions of various degrees of doubt. Jimmy looked openly hostile, Noah only incredulous. Only the Indian girl Dakota didn’t seem to be angry; she just looked afraid.

"Shall we begin, then?" The preacher asked them. When Cody and Gus nodded, he opened his well-worn Bible. Emma took a place at Gus’ side.

"Friends, loved ones…we gather here today to witness this man and this woman…"

As the words swirled by her in only a mumbled rush of sound, Gus found herself looking at the man beside her and wondering what was next. A lot could change in the years that had passed since she and Cody had been sweethearts. Could she still trust him? Would this be enough to thwart her father? And what would be next for her after all of this was over?

"Augusta?" The preacher repeated her name gently. "Did you hear what I said?"

She jumped, startled out of her reverie. She met Cody’s clear blue eyes, mirroring the fear and hesitation in her own. "What? Uh, yes…I heard you…Sorry."

"Well?" He prodded.

She stared deep into those crystal eyes, looking for a future she couldn’t see. She took a deep breath, then exhaled it. Here goes nothing, she thought.

"I do."

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~

As she was working on a dress in Mrs.Wade's shop, Melina remembered how she first meet Noah Dixon.

Kim asked Melina to go with her so she could get fitted for her wedding dress. Mrs.Wade was going to do it for her.

Kim was excited and chatted on their way to the shop. Melina was half listening. She was watching a gang of young men standing outside of the sheiff's office.

An young African-American man looked at her and smiled. He had the softest brown eyes she had ever seen.

Felling her face getting hot, she gave him a small smile and turned her attention to Kim, who was still chatting about what she was to do on her wedding day.

"Boring!" Melina thought to herself.

They walked to the shop and when Melina went to open the door, she felt a hand on her hand.

"May I help you?" a voice asked.

She turned around and saw the young man that had smiled at her. She wondered how he got there so fast.

Melina smiled at him and backed up. He open the door for her and she wheeled Kim in.

"Thank you, Sir," she told him.

The young man looked at her in surprise. That was the first time outside of his friends that a person had treated him as a human being.

"Melina!" Kim said sharply. "Don't talk with that boy. You know what father told us. Come, I need to get my dress fitted."

"Yes, Kim," Melina answered.

Turning to the boy, she said, "I'm sorry that Kim's being rude to you."

"That's alright," he said. "I'm used to it. My name is Noah Dixion. May I see you sometime?"

Melina felt her face turning hot and she answered, "Nice to meet you Mr.Dixon, and yes, would tomorrow be fine with you? I'm off. Kim will be with her mother."

Noah smiled that handsome smile of his and said, "You don't have to call me Mr.Dixon. You can call me Noah. This mister stuff makes me feel old. And yes, tomorrow will be fine. Where should I pick you up?"

"Alright Noah," Melina said coyly. "How about the store? I need to do some shopping."

"That would be fine with me", Noah answered. "What time should we meet? Do you ride?"

"Eleven would be fine with me and no, I don't ride. But I guess I can learn," she said shyly.

"My Goodness," Kim exclaimed. "Melina, what's getting into you! Come on; I will be late!"

"Yes, Kim," she said softly.

"Well, I'll let you girls go then," Noah said. "See you tomorrow, Melina."

"See you tomorrow, Noah," Melina said as she watched the young man go.

Melina and Kim went into the shop.

The next morning Melina put on a new yellow blouse and light brown riding skirt.

She was nervous, but she tried not to show it, especially in front of Kim and her mother.

Mr. and Mrs. Ridd didn't approve of her going to see Noah, but they couldn't do anything because of her age and it was her day off.

She left to go to the store at ten. She got there at ten-fifteen.

She started her shopping as she waited for Noah. When her shopping was done, she went outside of the store. He was waiting for her.

"Hello Miss Melina, how are you this morning?" Noah ask her.

"Fine, nice Sir," Melina answered.

"Are you ready to have a picnic?" he ask.

"Yes," she answered. "Where are we going?"

"Oh, that's a secret," Noah answered shyly.

"Ok, surprise me then," Melina said.

"Alright, take my hand and we will walk to our horses. I'll show you how to ride."

"Ok. Are the horses friendly?" she asked.

"Yes, they are very gentle," Noah answered.

As they walked, they chatted together.

So this is how she remembered her first meeting with Noah Dixon.