Shaking the cold from her body and hanging up the coat to dry near the kitchen stove, she put on a kettle to warm for a nice, soothing cup of tea. The blustering wind rattled the window above the sink as she peered out into the falling darkness. No light shined in the bunkhouse where the Pony Express riders used to live and a melancholy sadness fell over the woman. The Express had disbanded that fall and all the riders had went their separate ways. Moving back to Sweetwater to the old Express station had been a blessing for Rachel after Emma wrote to tell Teaspoon that if any of the riders were interested in staying there, they were welcome. She and Sam Caine still held the deed to the property and were glad that someone could make use of it. Rachel had not spent much time at the Sweetwater Station before the whole ‘family’ had been relocated to Rock Creek, but it still felt like home to her. She just wished that she weren’t alone at the old station. Teaspoon had stayed in Rock Creek as the Marshal; Kid went back to Virginia to fight for his home state. He and Lou were planning on getting married, but when war broke out and he decided to head back to join in the war, Lou couldn’t bring herself to marry him only to have him leave her, possibly forever. Lou headed to Denver, what was there for her Rachel didn’t know. Jimmy rode out west and she hadn’t heard where he was. Cody was scouting for the Army. Buck had visited his brother for a couple of weeks and had returned to work for Teaspoon as a Deputy in Rock Creek. The teakettle whistled bringing Rachel’s attention back to the present. She took her cup of tea into the living room to sit near the fire. It was a cozy setting, with the Christmas decorations up that she had made. The tree in the corner was a little sad looking. She knew she would not be able to drag a big one very far so she cut a small one from near the creek. Still, it looked pretty with the paper chain she looped on its branches and the ornaments she gathered from around the house. Just as she was starting to drift off sleep in the chair near the fire, Rachel thought she heard horses neighing. Pulling her shawl closer over her shoulders, she went to the front door and opened it to see if anyone was there. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, even the lamp she held up didn’t shed light very far from the porch. Emerging out of the darkness were two shadows, hurrying towards her. With her free hand, Rachel reached inside the door and grabbed the shotgun that she kept loaded there. “Who’s there?” she called out to the shadows. Something seemed familiar with the way they moved. “It’s just us Rachel,” a voiced called out, barely audible with the howling wind and swirling snow. Lifting the lantern higher, she exclaimed, “Lou? Is that you?” Stepping up onto the porch and into the circle of light was the young woman. “Hi Rachel. Can we come in?” Lou asked hopefully as Jimmy caught up to her on the top step. With a devilish grin he greeted Rachel. “Hello Rachel. Thought I’d bring you a Christmas present…” he told her ushering Lou into the warmth as Rachel hurried to take their coats. “Jimmy too! What a sight for sore eyes you two are. Please come get warm by the fire. You must be frozen!” Rachel shooed the pair over to the blaze and went to get them something hot to drink. Once they each had a cup in their hands and were sitting comfortably around the fire she questioned them. “What on earth are you two doing out in a storm like this? You could have frozen to death and no one would have known.” “Well, it’s Christmas time Rachel and I couldn’t stand the thought of you being here all alone, so I went and found Lou in Denver and talked her into coming home for Christmas with the family.” Rachel was touched by his thoughtfulness. “I’m really glad you two are here. It has been kind of lonely out here all by myself.” Lou reached over and touched her hand. “I wouldn’t miss being here for the world Rachel. I’m glad Jimmy found me and told me he was heading back here. Wild horses couldn’t have kept me from coming back with him.” The look she gave the young man, held such heartfelt thanks, it made Rachel’s heart swell with love for them both. Setting his cup on the floor, Jimmy stretched out his legs and mentioned, “Teaspoon and Buck are comin’ also. They should be here sometime tomorrow if the weather ain’t held ‘em up.” With tears gathering in her eyes, Rachel exclaimed, “Teaspoon and Buck too?! Oh, my goodness. What a wonderful Christmas this is turning out to be.” Standing up she was starting to fret. “Where will everyone sleep? The bunkhouse isn’t cleaned and there’s only the one bedroom here. I suppose you could sleep with me Lou and Teaspoon could have the spare room and you and Buck can bunk on the floor Jimmy…” The two ex-riders laughed. “Rachel, don’t worry. We’ll take care of the bunkhouse tomorrow and Buck, Jimmy and I will stay out there. We sure didn’t mean to make more work for ya by coming to visit.” “Yeah, Rachel. Lou and me will take care of it in the morning. ‘Sides, I kinda miss sleeping in that old bunk. Even if it was hard!” Jimmy told her with a grin. “Has anyone heard from Cody?” Lou queried as she carried the teacups into the kitchen and started helping Rachel warm up some stew for her and Jimmy to eat. “I had a letter about two weeks ago,” Rachel told them setting the bowls of steaming food on the table a few minutes later. “He was out in Wyoming Territory due to some Indian trouble brewing that way. Of course, reading Cody’s letters you’d think he was out at a big party or some such.” “Well, I sent word that if he could get away, to head back here for the holidays. It’ll be like old times with all of us here,” Jimmy stated sitting down at the table, than he got a far away look in his eyes when he glanced over at Lou, who was quiet, “Or almost like old times.” Rachel nodded at his meaning. “I was thinking of Ike earlier tonight when I was in the barn feeding Sampson. I couldn’t believe the Pikes still had him when I moved back here. I talked them into selling him to me. It just felt like I had a part of him here to keep me company.” “It won’t be the same without him. Noah or Kid either. At least Kid is alive, as far as any of us know,” Lou murmured with a yawn. “Why don’t we turn in for the night? It’s later than I thought,” Rachel exclaimed looking at the mantel clock whose hands showed it was close to midnight. “Jimmy, you take the spare room. There are extra blankets in the bottom drawer of the dresser. That should keep you warm enough. Lou, you can sleep with me tonight.” After goodnights were said, the three headed off to their respective beds for a much needed rest. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ After a morning of chopping firewood for the bunkhouse and cleaning the sleeping quarters, Jimmy and Lou were ready for a break when they heard shouts from outside. “Teaspoon! Buck!” Lou called out as she ran towards the pair who pulled up outside the barn. “Boy is it good to see you two!” she exclaimed as she was enveloped in a big bear hug from the man who was like a father to all of the ex-riders. “Lou! Why, I didn’t know you was goin’ to be here,” Teaspoon stated as he let go of the young woman to embrace Jimmy who stood off to the side. “Jimmy.” “Teaspoon. Glad you could come. You too, Buck. So who did ya leave watching the marshal’s office?” Grinning, Teaspoon confessed, “Well now Jimmy, you won’t believe it but, Barnett done moved to Rock Creek. He’s been working with Buck and I. I figured how it’s so cold and the storms that we been havin’ that not much would be goin’ on while Buck and I took a little time off. So I left the good people of Rock Creek in Barnett’s hands…” Jimmy just shook his head in amazement. “You sure you planned on havin’ a job after the holidays Teaspoon?” Buck laughed knowing Jimmy was thinking of all the blunders that Barnett had made in the past and how irritated he could make his friend. “He’s not really all that bad Jimmy. Maybe it was just you makin’ him nervous.” Nodding his head at the possibility he admitted, “You might be right Buck. Never thought of that.” “Why don’t you two head in and see Rachel. She’s been baking up a storm knowing you two were arriving today. Wonder what she’d do if Cody was coming?” “Probably would’ve made you and me help,” Jimmy laughed as they led the other’s horses into the warm barn. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ After a wonderful dinner big enough to feed an army or Cody, the family gathered in the living room around the fire telling what each had been up to since the end of the Express and began to reminisce about the time they were all together. “It feels like Ike is still here. I’d swear I seen him sitting on his bunk, drawing earlier when I went into the bunkhouse,” Buck stated with a sad tone. “I know what you mean,” Lou mentioned. “I felt his presence out in the barn with Sampson when I snuck him a carrot.” Clearing his throat, as he always did when about to impart so great pearl of wisdom, Teaspoon spoke. “Just ‘cause a person’s gone don’t mean you forget ‘em. As long as you keep his memory alive in your hearts, Ike will always be with you.” “You are so right Teaspoon.” Rachel murmured patting the old man’s hand. The rest of the evening flew by and before they knew it, the clock was chiming midnight. “Well, I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow so I’d better get to bed. Lou, I’d like your help in the kitchen tomorrow if that’s alright?” Rachel remarked as the three younger people prepared to go out into the cold to the bunkhouse. Jimmy grinned and nudged Lou in the side as he put his jacket on. “Yeah Lou, you get to help in the kitchen” he teased. “Yours too Jimmy,” Rachel stated giving the young man a smile. “Ha ha, Jimmy” Lou told him, skirting past him when she seen the sour look he gave her and hurried ahead to the bunkhouse. “Don’t worry Jimmy, I’ll even help out,” Buck offered patting his friend on the back. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The friends had dragged three bunks as close to the fire as they could before settling down for the night. Jimmy’s head was opposite Lou’s and when he reached his hand back she grabbed hold of it and gave it a squeeze. “Sure am glad you found me Jimmy. I sure missed you two,” she told the men. “Mighty nice seeing you and Jimmy too Lou. It just isn’t the same in Rock Creek without out yous there,” Buck replied giving his pillow a punch, trying to get comfortable. “Well, I sure didn’t miss these old bunks!” Jimmy declared changing positions once again. The others laughed and they all started drifting off to sleep. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The next morning after breakfast was over and dishes were done, Rachel roped even Teaspoon into helping out in the kitchen, readying a multitude of savory dishes for the feast they would share the next morning. The last batch of cutout cookies had just been removed from the oven by Lou, who had a white streak over her face from flour, when there was a loud banging at the front door. Wiping her hand in her apron and tucking a stray strand of hair that had fallen out of her chignon, Rachel went to see who was there. “I wonder who that could be?” She said to the others, opening the door. On the other side stood a pair of buckskin covered legs and arms that held a tower of packages that were threatening to topple any moment. “My word…” Rachel gasped catching the top package as it finally lost its perch. “Mind helpin’ me Rachel?” A very familiar voice called out. Buck and Jimmy were close behind her and reached out to help as Lou came from the kitchen. “Just like you Cody, to show up when all the works done!” Lou grinned, as the blond man closed the door behind himself. “I missed you too Lou!” he exclaimed as he hugged Rachel and shook hands with Jimmy and Buck. With a twinkle in his eye, he grabbed Lou and smiled when he noticed they were under a ball of mistletoe that Rachel had hung. “God, I missed you all,” he admitted and leaned down to lay a wet one on Lou’s surprised lips. He laughed and moved into the kitchen where he gave a big hug to Teaspoon. “Son, glad you could make it.” “Me too Teaspoon. Didn’t think I would until the other day though. Some trouble brewin’ with one of the tribes…” he didn’t go into details, knowing that it would bring tension to the group with Buck being the most upset. “Sure smells good in here Rachel,” Cody mentioned, snatching one of the cooling cookies on the table. Sitting down at the table with the others, Cody looked around the kitchen, sniffing the air. “You got anything I can eat, Rachel? I’m starving!” They all laughed as Rachel set a bowl of steaming soup and thick slices of fresh baked bread slathered with butter in front of him and wondered out loud, “Did we make enough for tomorrow?” The rest of the afternoon and evening were spent in talk and playing poker. Though Rachel and Jimmy won most of the hands, every now and then, one of the other’s would win, thrilled with their luck. After popping corn and drinking mulled apple cider and singing Christmas carols, everyone agreed when Teaspoon said, “I think its time we all turned in or old St. Nick will be passing us by!” The former riders dressed in their coats and gave Rachel and Teaspoon hugs and kisses as they headed out to their old bunkhouse laughing and talking amongst themselves. The silence after the jovial conversation was deafening. Looking at Teaspoon who was blowing out the lamps in the living room, Rachel told him, “It sure is good to have you all here. I sure have missed each and everyone of you.” Patting her hand, Teaspoon smiled admitting, “I know what you mean. I’ve missed all my boys and girls too.” They headed up to their rooms, thanking God, for letting their children come home for Christmas, offering up a prayer for Kid, who was fighting for Virginia and for their fallen children. As Rachel was drifting off to sleep, she offered up one last prayer. “Thank you Lord, for letting me be amongst family this Christmas. Please keep them all safe within your protection now and forever. Amen.” Drop me a note and let me know what you thought!