Jimmy Hickok had just handed off the mochila to Buck and was making his way to the barn when Cody came out of it offering to take care of his horse. “Thanks, Cody,” he mumbled slapping dust from his coat. He was covered with the stuff having run into a dust storm down in one of the valleys. Looking up as Cody took the reins for Sundance, he stopped dead in his tracks asking, “Who is that?” Cody turn to see whom Jimmy was talking about. A huge grin crossed the blond riders face as he put an elbow on Jimmy’s shoulder saying in a dreamy voice, “That my friend is Miss Abby Shannon, Emma’s younger sister. Ain’t she something?” Jimmy’s eyebrows shot up. “Emma’s sister? I didn’t know she had one…” his voice trailed off as he drank in the sight of the young woman laughing at something Lou was saying to her on the porch swing of Emma’s house. “Yeah, well neither did we, until she rode into the station the other day.” Cody shrugged and headed to the barn with Sundance to brush him down and make sure he had water and feed before he planned on heading to the bunkhouse to read the new dime novel he’d gotten earlier that day at Tompkins store. Walking slowly towards the bunkhouse, Jimmy’s gaze kept stealing glances at the newcomer. She had to be the prettiest girl he’d ever seen. Her hair was a darker shade of red then Emma’s and she looked to have a fine figure from what he could see. ‘I wonder what color her eyes are…’ giving himself a mental shake, Jimmy walked faster to the bunkhouse. Grabbing a change of clean clothes, he headed outside and around the back of the bunkhouse to where Teaspoon’s showers were. While he washed he wondered why Emma had never mentioned having a sister before. Curiosity was getting the better of him and he hurried to finish washing and got dressed quickly, hoping that the woman was still out on Emma’s porch with Lou. He knew if she was, Lou would be sure to introduce them. Luck was with him. Lou was in the middle of a story on how all of them had helped Sam with a band of outlaws that had been plaguing the Territory not long ago. Jimmy walked up the steps and stood leaning against the railing, waiting for Lou to notice him and introduce him to the fair creature sitting at her side. Seeing the smile that crossed the young woman’s face as she told her story, Lou got the feeling that they were no longer alone. Turning she saw Jimmy, fresh from washing, standing nearby. The look on his face made Lou smile. ‘Another one down,’ she thought. So far all of the other riders had been smitten with Abby. Why she would have thought Jimmy would have been any different was beyond Lou. “Jimmy! I didn’t know you’d even gotten back,” she told him knowing full well he’d ridden into the station not long ago. “I’d like you to meet Emma’s sister Abby. Abby, this is Jimmy Hickok.” ‘Blue,’ he thought, looking into Abby’s eyes. He was pleased when Abby held out her hand to him saying, “It’s nice to meet you Jimmy.” Taking her hand in his, he was surprised at the burning sensation that shot through his body like lightning. “Miss Shannon…” he said with his best smile. “Please, won’t you call me Abby?” she asked, her fingers still in his hold. “I’d be delighted,” he answered, eyes drinking in her beauty. “Oh, brother!” Lou muttered under her breath. She’d thought Cody had been bad but he didn’t have anything on Jimmy. ‘What was it about this woman that had all the riders taken with her?’ Lou wondered. ‘Sure she’s pretty and she’s got a figure I’d die for…but…’ Looking over at the female rider as he regrettably let go of Abby’s hand, he asked with an arched eyebrow, “Did you say something Lou?” “Hmm? What? Oh, no I didn’t say anything…If you two will excuse me, I’ve got a few things to take care of.” Turning to Abby, she said with a smile, “I’ll catch you later Abby.” Moving past Jimmy, Lou smirked as she told him, “Have fun Jimmy!” Jimmy threw her a dirty look but then forgot about her as he took her place on the swing next to Abby when the woman asked, “Won’t you have a seat?” He’d just sat down and begun to ask her where she was from with Ike and Kid both came up to the house and sat down on the porch. “Afternoon, Miss Shannon,” Kid said in a polite but eager to please voice. Ike signed his greeting and held out a flower he’d picked for her from Emma’s garden. Jimmy threw both men an unhappy look. Seemed he was going to have some competition for Miss Abby’s favor. “Oh, great,” he mumbled as Cody came out of the barn headed straight for the porch, the young man having forgotten his dime novel waiting for him in the bunkhouse. With a lop-sided grin, he asked, “And how are you this fine afternoon my lovely?” Rolling his eyes, Jimmy couldn’t believe that the others were fawning over Emma’s sister the way they were. Didn’t they have any dignity? Turning to look at the woman next to him, Jimmy gave her a weak smile. “Now all we need is Buck to show up and you can hold court,” he teased. “Did I hear someone mention my name?” a voice came from around the side of the house. Buck soon appeared giving Jimmy a grin. ‘You’ve got to be kidding,’ he thought to himself as Buck joined the others on the steps of the porch. ‘What’s a man got to do around here to get some time alone with a pretty girl?’ Looking at his fellow riders and the sappy looks upon their faces as they gazed as Abby, Jimmy scowled. “If you all don’t mind, I was getting to know Miss Shannon…why don’t you all go finish up your chores of something?” he asked them in a tone that didn’t brook any arguing. Buck was the first to speak. “Sorry, Jimmy. But Miss Shannon here promised to go for a walk with me and I’m here to escort her on it.” Standing by the swing, he held out an arm and Abby gave Jimmy a look that said, ‘Sorry.’ Not to be out done or willing to have the beauty’s company taken from him so soon, Jimmy stood offering to take her other arm. “Seein’ how I’ve been in the saddle, I think a nice walk to stretch the legs is just what’s needed. Hope you don’t mind me tagging along Buck,” Jimmy said, taking pleasure in the unhappy look that crossed over the Kiowa’s face at his statement. “The more the merrier,” Abby told the two men as she looped her arms through their offered ones. Standing up quickly, not willing to be left out Cody blurted, “Then you won’t mind if I tag along either would you?” Ike and Kid both shook their heads in agreement with Cody, both loath to be out of the woman’s presence either. Especially since it seemed like they were all in competition for the woman’s company. Jimmy and Buck didn’t seem to pleased at the others including themselves in the walk but didn’t see how they could tell the others to stay behind without losing favor in Abby’s eyes. Emma and Lou came out onto the porch of the bunkhouse as the small group passed by on their way for their walk, all of the men in pursuit of Abby Shannon. Shaking her head Lou asked, “Are they always like that Emma?” Laughing, Emma replied, “Not always….but more often then not…” Drop me a note and let me know what you thought!