Their Father's Dream Part 8

                                                 THEIR FATHER’S DREAM

                                                                    PART 8

                                        MARY BOLTON & ROBBIE WOOTEN

Melissa had breakfast almost ready when Sarah returned. She heard the door open and turned to see both Sarah and Buck enter the house. Quickly wiping her hands on the apron, she hurried towards Buck throwing her arms around him.

“Hello! It’s so good to have you back!” She kissed him lightly pulling on his hair in the back as she did so. She had always loved playing with his silken hair.

Buck groaned and pulled slightly away from her. Melissa looked up and caught the pain in his brown eyes. “What’s wrong?” His hand went up to his head and he looked towards Sarah.

Melissa glanced towards her friend. She noticed the medicine bag swinging from her neck. So Buck had given it to her. That had been where Sarah had ridden off to so early. She was used to her meeting Buck at early hours, so it hadn’t surprised her when she’d ridden out.

“Buck and I had a little trouble at the waterfalls this morning.”

Melissa noted that Sarah looked a little pale, but seemed to be okay. “Tell me what happened. Are either of you hurt?” Her arm was still around Buck’s waist and he pulled her a little closer to reassure her.

“I’m fine. But Buck’s head is going to be sore for a few days. Harvey Smith attacked us at the falls.”

They headed into the kitchen where they sat down at the table. Sarah and Buck filled her in on everything that had happened in the first few hours of day light.

“You killed him?” Melissa looked at Sarah shocked. “I’m not so sure I could do that! You’re sure you’re all right?”

“I’m positive. And yes, you could do it, if it meant your life or someone that you cared deeply for.”

Melissa shook her head again. “I guess it’s a good thing that Duell talked you into wearing that gun! It saved both your lives!”

“I’m beholding to Duell for that! Remind me to tell him about it when I see him again. Buck tried to get me to leave, but I knew that I couldn’t just ride out of there and let Harvey kill him. I knew that was what he had in mind. You could see the evil written all over him!”

“She’s too hard headed for her own good!”

“I am not! I never would have forgiven myself if I’d let Harvey kill you. Melissa would have died herself if anything had happened to you Buck Cross! The woman loves you! Or didn’t you know that?” Sarah gave him a pointed look and he glanced towards Melissa and smiled, squeezing her hand at the same time.

“Yep, I know it.” Melissa blushed under his gaze. “And I owe you my life Sarah!”

“It was nothing Buck. You’d a done the same for me if it had been reversed!”

“I told her she was some more warrior woman! I ain’t never seen a woman handle a gun like that. She didn’t even stop to think…..she jist acted.”

“Thank the good Lord she didn’t stop to think! Neither of you would be sitting here now if she had.”

“It’s this medicine bag he gave me. There must be some powerful medicine in here.” She reached up and took the bag into her hand. “I thank you again for it Buck.” Leaning over she kissed his cheek. “Now enough of this morbid talk. Where’s breakfast? I’m starved.”

All the way back into town, Jimmy was in shock! He still couldn’t believe what Sarah had done! He wished that he could have been there to have seen her. He knew it would have been a magnificent sight!

He glanced around behind him at Harvey’s body thrown over the horse. Teaspoon noticed and watched as Jimmy shook his head as if still in disbelief. Taking that as his cue, Teaspoon cleared his throat.

“You knows this proves Miss Sarah can handle herself in any situation!”

“Yeah, I reckon it does at that. I jist cain’t git over the fact that she killed him! It don’t seem she even gave it any second thoughts neither!”

“Well, you ain’t never give it any second thoughts has you son? I mean if’n it means your life or his, what do you usually do? If’n you stopped to think on it, you’d be the one dead!”

“Guess that’s true ‘nough. I jist cain’t see Sarah drawing a gun on someone, nor shootin’ him six times!”

“She knew what she had to do, and seems to me she done it! She weren’t thinkin’ ‘bout nuthin’ ‘cept keepin’ herself and Buck alive. Yeap, that Miss Sarah, she’s one strong woman! Won’t be worryin’ none no more ‘bout her out there on that ranch alone. Even Buck can rest easy with her round!” Teaspoon grinned as he watched Jimmy from the corner of his eye. He was going to get in something about Miss Sarah every chance he got for the next few days. If he kept reminding Jimmy that she was a strong woman, who could take care of herself no matter what the situation, maybe, just maybe, that would change his mind about her!

Jimmy rode the rest of the way in silence, his mind flying around in circles. Sarah had killed a man! She really could take care of herself! That was good….or was it?

That evening at supper, the talk was all about Sarah and Buck’s encounter at the waterfalls. Buck was there for the meal, and he answered any questions that they had. He could tell that Jimmy was still very surprised by Sarah’s actions, but he wasn’t about to let anyone know about it. Buck watched him from the corner of his eye as they talked about it.

“Well, I think Sarah handled herself very well. It would take a brave woman to do what she did!” Rachel smiled towards Jimmy. Maybe this would be what it took to get him to see that she could handle herself no matter what came along. Those two needed to be together.

“I think she done good too! If’n anyone asks any of you any questions, Buck weren’t there with her!”

“How come Teaspoon? We all know he was!” Cody glanced at Buck.

“True we do know that. But ain’t no one else in this here town needs to know.”

“Sarah didn’t want no one knowin’ that she had seen me at the waterfalls this mornin’. She was afraid after all the trouble that Melissa had at the church, that someone was gonna start somethin’ up again. Her story was that Harvey followed her out to the waterfalls and attacked her. If ain’t truthful ‘xactly, but I ain’t wantin’ Melissa hurt any more ‘n she’s already been by them people in town.”

“That’s probably a wise move on her part. She cares a great deal about the people in her life and she shows it.” Rachel got up from the table and started to clear away the dishes. “You tell her when you go out to see Melissa tonight Buck, that I think she was very brave!”

He nodded as he left the house. Jimmy followed him out. “You headed out to see Melissa?”

“Yeap, wanna ride along?”

“Weren’t plannin’ to. Jist wonderin’ was all.”

“I’m shore that Sarah would like to see you. You ain’t been over there in a while.”

“Well, I ain’t goin’ no time soon!” He started across the yard at a near run.

“You ain’t got to bite my head off jist cause I asked you to ride along!” Buck’s voice got louder with each step Jimmy took. “Jist thought you mite want to see she was all rite after this mornin’.”

Jimmy stopped and turned his way. “Yer a goin’, you can do that fer me! I ain’t got no reason to go out there!”

“Okay, have it your way! Thought what happened this mornin’ mite a changed yer mind! Sarah can take care a herself you know! You ain’t gots to be worrin’ bout her getting’ hurt no more.”

“I ain’t thinkin’ on them lines any more ‘n I was a fore this mornin’ happened! Git it outta yer head Buck! Me ‘n Sarah ain’t got no future together!” Angrily, Jimmy hurried on towards the bunkhouse and slammed the door behind him. Buck shook his head. Would he never see the light?

The next couple of days were busy ones for everyone. Winter was quickly approaching. There were tons of things that had to be done before the first snowfall.

Jimmy was out on a run, but his mind wasn’t very far from Sarah. Her memory kept him warm as he rode along in the cold winter air. An image of her standing over Harvey Smith, holding a smoking gun just wouldn’t go away! He had shaken his head more than once to clear it. What was the problem here? Why couldn’t he get her out of his thoughts? There had to be a way to stop thinking about her all the time. It was going to drive him crazy!

It was Tuesday, almost noon. Melissa and Sarah had been into town to pick up some supplies. Sarah had been awfully quiet the entire ride to and from Rock Creek, and Melissa was beginning to worry about her.

“Things okay with you?” They were unloading the buckboard, carrying sacks of grain into the barn.

Sarah glanced her way and sighed. She wasn’t sure how she was feeling right now. “I’m okay. There’s just a lot of things floating around in my head.”

“Don’t have anything to do with Harvey Smith does it?”

Sarah laughed. “Heavens no! I haven’t thought about him again! He got what he deserved. The good Lord is dealing with him now!”

Melissa’s laughter joined hers. “I guess you’re right at that. Then why so quiet? That’s not like you. That was an awful big sigh you let slip out just a few seconds ago.”

Sarah threw the sack of grain she’d been carrying over the others and leaned back against it. She knew Melissa well enough to know that she wasn’t gonna let this go until she gave her enough answers to satisfy her. She really didn’t want to talk about this. But maybe it would make it better if she did.

“I just feel unsettled all of a sudden. I keep thinking about a conversation that Buck and I had before Duell left. I didn’t think that I was worried about it, but I guess deep down I was. Now that I find there is no need to worry, I’m feeling a little disappointed.”

Melissa looked at Sarah confused. She was having problems following this conversation. “Okay, since that made absolutely no sense to me, what was the conversation between you and Buck about?”

“He’d just learned that Duell and I had been together since the two of you had been at the village. He was upset about it and kept asking me what I would do if I found myself....well you know, in the family way!”

“You aren’t are you?” Melissa held her breath. Was that what was bothering her? After all she and Duell had spent a lot of time together, and she knew that they hadn’t been doing chores around the ranch all that time!

“No, my wonderful little friend arrived this morning. There’s nothing to worry about!”

Melissa let out the breath that she had been holding. “Guess being in the family way has crossed both our minds lately. I know Buck would stand by me if that happened.”

“I know he would too! He’s told me as much. I know when he was yelling at me that he was just concerned about my well being. But at the time I didn’t think it was any of his business what I was doing.”

“He just didn’t want you to be hurt again! After all, he knew that Duell already had a son, and probably wasn’t going to stay around very long. After all, everything had just happened with Jimmy.”

“I know. But Duell helped me through all that. Guess most wouldn’t understand that. But he gave me things that I needed. It doesn’t hurt as much about Jimmy as it did before. And I guess you will think me terrible, because he is your brother, and he did leave to go back and hopefully make things right with Nora and Ethan. But when I woke up this morning and discovered that I really wasn’t in the family way…I was just a little disappointed!”

“But Sarah, what if it had happened? I’m not blind! Duell cared a great deal for you. He would have stayed if you had asked him too!”

“I know that, but it wouldn’t have been right. He doesn’t belong to me or with me! He and Nora belong together. I feel that inside. I guess I thought if I had ended up in the family way, I would have felt I had a small part of him with me always. Though I know it would have only caused problems later on down the road.”

“He’ll be back, Sarah. You don’t know for sure that he and Nora will get things straight.”

“Yes I do. He isn’t meant to be with me!”

“Then who are you supposed to be with?”

Sarah sighed again. “I’m not sure! I guess one day I’ll find the perfect person for me!”

“Pooh Sarah, you already know what that perfect person is! You know as well as I do that it’s Jimmy Hickok! And what if you had turned up in the family way? It’s highly possible that it could have been Jimmy’s baby! The two of you spent nearly as much time together as you and Duell did. Duell is my brother, and I want things to be fair to him. But if the baby had been Jimmy’s and you ended up with Duell, it wouldn’t have been fair to either of them.”

“I know! But I’m not in the family way, so we can stop all this worrying!”

“But it doesn’t solve the problem with Jimmy!”

“There isn’t a problem with Jimmy, Melissa. After all, he made it plain how he felt about me! He doesn’t want me in his life!”

“There is a chance that he’s wrong you know. Besides that, I think I know why Buck was so upset about your being with Duell. He feels that you and Jimmy belong together too!”

“I’m not about to hold my breath Melissa! There is a very slim chance that Mr. Hickok will change his mind…but I could die before that happens! You and Buck are just going to have to live with the fact that Jimmy doesn’t want any more to do with me! He’s made up his mind and there isn’t anything that we can do to change it!”

They worked together in silence for several seconds, both their minds centered on Jimmy Hickok. Melissa knew that there had to be a way to work things out with him and Sarah. They just had to uncover it.

As for Sarah, she knew that she would always care for Jimmy. But she was going to have to learn to live without him in her life…and by God…she would do it!

The sound of a rider drew their attention to the ridge. Melissa smiled as she recognized Buck. She hadn’t known that he would be coming by that day.

“Guess now is as good a time as any to reassure him that I’m not in the family way! It should make one of us happy!”

“Sarah, there is nothing wrong with wanting a part of someone to keep with you forever. Duell will be back. If Nora doesn’t work out, then that will leave it wide open for you. The two of you will always be close friends no matter what happens - sort of like you and Buck. But if it isn’t Duell, know that there is someone else out there for you.” Her mind was screaming that it was Jimmy Hickok, but she didn’t dare voice it. “And it will all work out in the end as the good Lord has planned it!”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. How about you go make a pot of coffee and give me a few minutes to talk to Buck? I think he’s been on edge with me ever since we had the discussion, even though he won’t let on. I just feel the need to let him know that it’s all right!”

“Sure,” she smiled and started towards the house. Buck met her halfway, and jumped off his horse, encircling her in his arms. After a quick kiss, he headed towards Sarah and Melissa headed inside. Hot coffee would taste good after working all morning out in the cold.

Sarah watched him walk towards her. He led his horse over to the corral and tied it to the top. Then he turned towards her. She didn’t seem right. Something must be bothering her. He reached to give her a hug.

“Mornin’ Sarah.”

“Hi. Got a minute? I need to tell you something.” She jumped up on the top rail of the corral and Buck did the same. For a moment she sat looking out over the mountains in the back of the house.

Buck could sense that something just wasn’t right. What did she need to tell him? Had someone gotten wind of what had happened at the falls? Were they giving her a hard time about it? Teaspoon hadn’t mentioned it. He would probably know if someone in town had learned something about it. “What’s wrong Sarah? I can tell you’re upset about somethin’.”

She sighed. “Buck you remember when you and Melissa came back from the village when Duell was here? When you and I had words over my spending time with him?”

Panic suddenly hit the bottom of his stomach. What was she about to tell him? “Yeah, I remember. I shouldn’t have been so hard on you ‘bout that.”

“No, it’s okay. I wasn’t about to listen to you, and I guess I probably should have. It’s just that it was so hard for me to get past the Jimmy thing and Duell was there and he helped me through some rough days. I guess you’ll never understand that. But what I needed to say was…I should have listened, even though I didn’t want to. I realize now that you were just concerned about me because you care. I know that you didn’t want me to end up all alone should I become...well you know…in the family way. Well I….”

Before she had time to say anything else, Buck began to speak. “Sarah, I knew if’n you spent all that time with Melissa’s brother it would lead to trouble! Does he know yet?”

She was startled by his question. He thought that she was telling him that she was going to have a baby!

“No Buck…it isn’t…”

“He should be told you know. It ain’t fair to him! You want me to ride out to California and find him for you? Mite be better than your writin’ him a letter and it gettin’ in Nora’s hands a for he reads it!”

For a moment she sat there looking at him. Concern for her was written all over his face. She reached up to caress his cheek. “You’d do that for me? Just up and ride off, leave your job with the express, and Melissa?”

“Course I’d do that fer you! Teaspoon would understand. I’d take Melissa with me! After all, he is her brother!”

She was touched. She knew they were close, but she hadn’t thought that he might offer to do something like this for her. She suddenly shook her head. But this wasn’t what was happening, and she wasn’t going to have a baby. He had the wrong idea. She started once more to set him straight. “Buck I’m not sure…”

“Not shore…not shore ‘bout what? Who the father is? Oh Sarah, I guess it would be possible that Jimmy could be the one. He told me that the two a you had…well, you know.” His face was turning red around the edges.

Sarah knew that Buck had known what had happened between them, long before Jimmy had spent time with her at the cabin. He had probably known the evening after the day at the waterfalls. “No, no Buck…I can’t…”

“Why cain’t you? If there is a chance that the baby is Jimmy’s he should know ‘bout it too! This mite be what brings him round. He won’t leave you all alone if he thought the baby mite be his. If’n you want me to, I’ll go talk to him ‘bout it! Fact is, I’ll go rite now and git him! He’s at the station helping Teaspoon!” Buck jumped down from the fence and started to mount his horse. “Tell Melissa I’ll be back soon.”

Sarah jumped off the corral fence quickly. She had to stop him. All she needed was for him to ride off and tell Jimmy that she was in the family way! She reached for him as he swung up into the saddle. She felt exasperated. He just wasn’t listening to her, and he totally had the wrong impression of what was going on! “BUCK, LISTEN TO ME!!” She stood for a moment looking up at him. Then suddenly she was laughing, laughing so hard that tears were running down her cheeks.

Buck looked at her with a bewildered look on his face. “What’s so dang funny? You think my goin’ to talk to Jimmy is funny? This ain’t no time to be laughin’, Sarah! It ain’t funny!”

His words just made her laugh that much harder, and he just sat there and looked down at her. Finally she got a hold of her emotions and wiped her face. Taking a deep breath, she reached for Buck and pulled him from the back of the horse.

“Buck would you just be quiet a second and listen to me! You are jumping too fast here! You took everything that I just said the wrong way. I wasn’t trying to tell you I was in the family way! I was trying to tell you that I wasn’t! I just felt like you were still a little upset with me about it all even though we sort of got it straight between us. I just wanted to ease your mind!”

He stood there holding the reins of his horse just looking down at her. Then he was laughing too! He grabbed her and gave her a bear hug. “I’m so glad that you ain’t! I’m sorry that I took it wrong! Guess I was spectin’ it to happen.”

They laughed together for a few more minutes, and then he hugged her again. “But jist you know that should anythin’ like that happen, you ain’t gots to worry none! Melissa and me, we’d take good care a you!”

Sarah smiled. “I know, Buck. I love you both for it.” She leaned up and kissed him. “Now that’s over, let’s go in and get some coffee! I’m freezing!” With an arm through his, they headed for the house.

The next few days were considerably colder. It seemed that fall had forgotten to make an appearance that year. Winter was almost upon them. Most of the fences were in pretty good shape, and Teaspoon wasn’t worried about them. This was the time of year that most of the riders stayed inside, unless they had a run. They were beginning to talk about Thanksgiving. Since none of them had families, they usually just had a big meal together on that day, enjoying one another’s company and thinking about happy times and maybe even start talking about the days ahead. They all loved Christmas!

Teaspoon was standing at the window in the kitchen, watching Jimmy. He was standing at the corral, stroking Cisco’s nose, with a far away look in his eyes. There was something very wrong in his world. Jimmy just hadn’t been the same since Miss Sarah had killed Harvey a week or so before. Teaspoon had run out of things to say around Jimmy about her. He knew that there wasn’t a whole lot left that he could do to get the two of them together. He knew Jimmy was miserable, and he needed Miss Sarah in his life. But he was such a hard head, that he had no idea how he could make him see it.

Rachel came to stand by him at the sink. “Got problems? Or just thinking over what needs to be done today?”

He turned her way still holding his morning coffee cup in his hands. “I were jist watchin’ Jimmy. I wish there was some way I could git through to that boy”

“Bout what? I didn’t know there was a problem with him. None of the others have mentioned it.”

“Probably cause ain’t none a them notices, ‘cept maybe Buck, and he knows that it ain’t so good tryin’ to talk sense into that hard head a Hickok’s!”

“Must be ‘bout Sarah then. Anything else and the others would have probably picked up on it.”

“Yep, it’s ‘bout Miss Sarah. Them twos belong together Rachel! Like Lou and Kid did! But I ain’t come up with no way to make him see it! I thought what happened at the waterfall would make him see the lite, but it ain’t! I mean, it should’a showed him that Miss Sarah don’t need no help protectin’ herself! He cain’t use that fer an excuse no more!”

“Teaspoon if Jimmy ain’t ready to settle down, he ain’t gonna do it! No matter how much we try and push him in that direction! I do think he and Sarah would be good for one another. She’s proved in more ways than one that she’s a strong woman, and that’s what he needs!”

“Maybe the good Lord will show me a way to throw them together. I’s run outta ideas!”

Teaspoon leaned over and kissed Rachel on the cheek. She smiled as he walked out towards the barn.

Melissa had left early that morning to ride to the station and see Buck. Sarah had started the day off as usual, feeding the horses and working with a few of them. She felt restless for some reason. Finishing up with Thunder Heart, she saddled Mariah. Something was pulling her towards the station. Maybe a chat with Rachel would cheer her up. She needed some girl talk. Besides, she had been meaning to ride out and invite everyone to dinner on Thanksgiving. This was as good a time as any, to extend an invitation.

Jimmy was restless. He hadn’t slept much the last few nights. Sarah just wouldn’t leave his mind. It was beginning to irritate him. Why couldn’t he let it go? This little voice inside was telling him it was because he had strong feelings for her, but he was pushing that little voice away. He didn’t have time for this. There wasn’t room in his life for a woman...no matter who she was! He had to find something to take his mind off of her, and soon before he went crazy! He got up from the kitchen table and reached for his hat. Maybe a ride would help clear his head.

The station was quiet as she rode up. There wasn’t much activity. The day wasn’t as cold as the few before had been. She jumped from Mariah and tied his reins to the post in front of the house. As she started to knock on the door, it opened, and there stood Jimmy. She was startled by his sudden appearance.

His heart was beating so fast that he was afraid that it would jump right out of his chest. Could she see it beating against his shirt? He swallowed quickly. How was he going to get around her? And what was she doing there anyway?

Sarah watched the expressions cross Jimmy’s face. She didn’t know if he were happy to see her or not. Whatever he was feeling, he quickly covered it up. The wall that was usually there slipped into place. Sarah felt miles away from him. But even so, her own heart was beating over time at the sight of him. What was it about this man that caused her to want to melt into a puddle at his feet?

“Hello Jimmy.” Her voice was soft and sexy. It made his heart beat quicken, if that were possible. He had no choice but to return the greeting.

“Lo. If’n you’re lookin’ for Rachel, she’s upstairs,” he stated as he started to go around her. Teaspoon appeared behind her and blocked his escape.

“Well ‘lo Miss Sarah. It’s good to see you, ain’t it Jimmy?” He looked at Jimmy and waited for an answer.

A little irritated, Jimmy looked up at Teaspoon, twisting his hat in his hands. He knew by the look on Teaspoon’s face that he wouldn’t let him just walk around them and forget that she was there.

“Yeah, it is. Excuse me.” He started to go around them, when Teaspoon’s voice made him stop.

“Son, I’s got an errand I needs you to run. I bet Miss Sarah here would ride along with you.”

“Teaspoon, I need to…”

“Whatever it is you needs to do can wait. This cain’t!” Teaspoon knew that Jimmy would start making excuses the minute he mentioned Miss Sarah going with him anywhere. But he wasn't about to let him get out of this one. No matter what he had to do, it could wait. When he’d seen Miss Sarah ride up, a thought had hit him from out of the blue. This was how he could get the two of them together, if only for a little while. Maybe it would be enough to at least get them talking to one another again!

“Teaspoon, I really came over to talk to Rachel about Thanksgiving.”

He was a little surprised that Miss Sarah would make excuses too, but he guessed he shouldn’t be really. One could tell that Jimmy didn’t really want to be around the lady. He knew Miss Sarah was well aware of that fact. If it were that clear how someone felt, he wouldn’t much want to spend time around them neither.

“Thanksgiving, yeah, it’s comin’ up soon! We’s usually have a big meal on that day here. I think you and Miss Melissa should plan to be here. If’n Rachel needs any help, I’ll see that she lets you know ‘bout it! Now that that’s cleared up, where’d Rachel put that basket…Rachel?” He called for her and she appeared at the head of the stairs.

“But Teaspoon, I was gonna in…” Sarah tried to get him to listen to her.

“It’s all right Miss Sarah, Rachel won’t mind.” He motioned towards her. “Will you Rachel?”

Rachel was coming down the stairs looking their way with interest. “Won’t mind what Teaspoon?”

“Two extra people for Thanksgiving. We always have plenty to eat.”

“Of course we do. We’d love for you and Melissa to be a part of our Thanksgiving. Was there something else that you needed Teaspoon?” She knew that something was going on. She could tell by the exasperated looks on both Jimmy and Sarah’s faces. Teaspoon had something in mind and she wasn’t sure that those two were happy about it.

“Did you finish getting together that basket for the Widow Brown?”

“What basket?” Rachel looked at him startled. She didn’t remember him asking her to make a basket for the Widow Brown. Had it slipped her mind? Teaspoon moved over to her and took her by the arm, moving her towards the sink out of hearing range.

The fact that Rachel wasn’t sure what he was talking about didn’t escape Sarah. She wondered what it was that Teaspoon had up his sleeve. She glanced at Jimmy, and he had a scowl on his face as he looked towards Rachel and Teaspoon. He had no idea what they were up to. He would rather do anything else that afternoon but spend it with Sarah, even if his heart was betraying him. He knew it was dangerous if he spent much time around her. It would be better to stay away from her. At least that way he could keep his emotions in check!

Teaspoon was whispering in Rachel’s ear. “Make up a basket for them to take out to the widow’s place. At least this will throw them together and they mite at least talk to one ‘nother!”

Rachel smiled. So that was what he was working towards. Rachel looked around Teaspoon at the two of them and smiled again. Talking loudly so that Jimmy and Sarah would hear…”Course…I’ve almost finished it. If you’ll get that basket down for me from the hall closet I’ll get it packed while Jimmy saddles up his horse.” She kept the smile on her face, and she started pulling things together quickly.

Teaspoon turned towards the two of them still standing beside the door. “The Widow Brown has been sick and could use a few things. Thought you could ride out there together, and Jimmy could chop a little wood for her and Sarah you could see if’n she needs any of them woman things done for her. I knows Jimmy would feel a mite awkward asking’ her ‘bout them.”

“Cain’t you do this Teaspoon?” Jimmy asked still scowling.

“Now don’t be that way son. Yous is gonna make Miss Sarah feel like your ain’t wantin’ to spend the afternoon with her. I cain’t do it. I’s got to be at the office this afternoon. That’s why I’s thought you could do this little errand for me. Now go saddle your horse while Rachel finishes up.”

Still scowling, Jimmy moved around Sarah and went out the door. He was grumbling to himself, knowing there was no way out of this.

Sarah stood watching Rachel put things in the basket. Why did she feel like Rachel hadn’t known a thing about sending a basket to the Widow Brown’s? Was the Widow Brown really sick?

Teaspoon moved over to stand at her side. “I hope you don’t mind ridin’ along with Jimmy, Miss Sarah. The Widow Brown’s a real sweet lady. Her husband passed on a few months back. They didn’t have no children. No one to help her out with things there. We trys to keep a check on her ever few days.”

“No Teaspoon, I don’t mind.” Sarah watched the expression of worry turn into one of relief, and she realized that Teaspoon was trying to get her and Jimmy together. That was what all this was about. She had to smile in spite of herself. He had such a big heart. But she had a feeling that this wasn’t going to work. Jimmy had let it be known that he didn’t want to be around her at all. But for Teaspoon, she would at least try.

Before long, they were headed for the widow’s place, neither of them saying a word as they rode along. Jimmy still had the same scowl on his face, and Sarah was trying not to laugh. The further they went, the funnier it seemed to become to her. Before long, she started to giggle, which turned into a soft laugh, which finally bubbled over into near hysterics.

Jimmy looked at her started at the first giggle. By the time she was laughing hysterically, he was looking at her as if she were crazy. When she showed no signs of stopping, he asked, “What’s so dang funny? I ain’t seed nothin’ funny ‘bout this! Would rather be doin’ anythin’ then this!”

In between laughter, she nearly whispered, “Is my company that bad Hickok?”

Jimmy just scowled even deeper, looking the other way. If she only knew what her company was doing to him. It was dangerous to be with her. His heart was telling on him, and he was hard pressed to let his brain make the decision to stay away from her.

“For your information Jimmy Hickok, I think this whole thing is funny! Teaspoon sure went to a lot of trouble to get us together!”

“Needs to mind his own business, is what he needs to do!”

“I’m sure he was just trying to help.”

“Well, he ain’t! Why does everone think theys have to try and git it straightened out.”

“Actually I think it’s sweet of everyone! I don’t care if it doesn’t bother you that we aren’t even civil to one another any more! It matters to me!” She had stopped laughing and wiped her eyes, trying to catch her breath. She glanced at Jimmy and he was looking rather startled by her words.

“Why would you care?”

“In case you forgot, Hickok, you are the one who made it perfectly clear to me that you didn’t want anything more to do with me! You didn’t bother to ask me if I wanted to end our friendship that we had! You never cared at all how I felt about it!” Her voice had gotten very loud. She was yelling at him!

“If’n I’d asked you, you would have let me continue doin’ them things with you that we was a doin’ and it would’a brought only trouble! Besides, you weren’t that upset when Melissa’s brother was ‘round!” His voice was nearly as loud as her’s as he glared her way.

“Jimmy, Duell is a friend. He helped me through some rough days! Rough because you made it that way! And I don’t understand how our continuing to be friends would cause trouble!”

“If we’d continued to do what we was doin’, then it would have only ended up with you gettin’ hurt. An I weren’t happy ‘bout them thoughts!”

“How was I gonna get hurt Hickok? Only way I got hurt was by the way you treated me! I was very happy with the friendship that we had. You’re the one who screwed it up. God Jimmy, you were my friend, and you just ended it! You just cut it off like you would a tree limb or something! You didn’t even give my feelings any thought! The least you could have done was come to me and told me you were having problems with something and not just stop coming around to see me like I had the plague or grown two heads or something worse! And as for Duell, why would you not expect me to turn to him for some sort of comfort?”

“Turn to him fer comfort? What sort a comfort did he give you?”

Sarah scowled his way. Was it possible that he was jealous? “That, Mr. Hickok, is none of your business!”

“Yeah, I guess it ain’t!” He looked ahead trying to ignore her and the feelings that were churning inside of him from being reminded of what he’d seen happening between Sarah and Duell that day at the ranch.

She’d still been yelling at him, and he knew that she was right. Duell had been there at just the right time to help her pick up the pieces! He wanted to ask if the friendship had been like theirs had, but he really didn’t want to know the answer. He glanced her way and he couldn’t believe the hurt that he saw in her eyes. Oh yes, she was angry at him, but the hurt out weighed the anger. She was right; he had been the one that had called a halt to their friendship. But he had done it so she wouldn’t end up getting hurt. And look what he’d done to her! He hadn’t realized that he had hurt her at all!

She started to say more, but closed her mouth instead. They rode for several minutes in total silence. She hadn’t meant to say all that, but once her mouth had opened it had all rolled out on its own. She hadn’t allowed herself to think about this until now. She had pushed it so deep that she had thought it would never resurface. She felt a tear slip from the corner of her eye, and she angrily dashed it away. She was not going to cry any more over this!

Jimmy didn’t know what to say to her. He had never really been any good at words when it came to talking to women. Especially one who was hurt and angry at him all at the same time! He didn’t know how to make her understand what he was feeling. He snuck another look in her direction, and she looked as if she had turned to stone. She rode Mariah as if she were a statue. Her back was ram rod straight, and she would occasionally swipe at her cheek as if she were dashing away tears. That hurt him deeply. He’d never meant to make her cry! Finally he spoke to her.

“Sarah, I’m sorry. I ain’t never meant to hurt you. I guess you jist ain’t gonna understand how I was feelin’ ‘bout things.”

Angrily she looked his way. “Then why couldn’t you have taken the time to try and tell me? Make me understand?” She turned her gaze back to the road ahead, refusing to say more.

“I ain’t never been good with words. Guess I jist didn’t know what to say to you. Alls I could think ‘bout was you gittin’ hurt cause a me and I knew that we was getting’ too close with all them things we was doin’!”

She sighed. “What things Jimmy? I don’t understand. Make me understand, just this once! Then maybe I can mark this chapter in my life closed.”

She was looking at him with those soul-searching eyes again, and he was melting under her gaze. Just then the barking of a dog took his attention away from her and he realized that they were at the Widow Brown’s place. “I promise, Sarah, on the way back, we’ll git this all straightened out.”

She looked at him for several seconds, and then she nodded. Hopefully he wouldn’t forget what they had been discussing before they got back on their horses.

Amelia Brown met them at the door. She was a small woman, in her 60’s. She was thrilled that they had come calling and spent a lot of time thanking them for everything that they had brought in their basket.

She seemed very frail, and Sarah wondered how she was making it out here on her own. The dog that had come barking to meet them slipped into the house in front of them, and hurried over to lie in front of the fire.

They were there nearly three hours. Jimmy chopped wood and carried in armloads of it for her. He also mended a fence or two and made sure that all the animals were fed and watered.

Sarah in the meantime, helped her with any daily chores inside that she couldn’t quite get accomplished and made sure that she was taking her medicine that Doc Smith had left for her. She helped her finish up lunch.

Amelia seemed very lonely, and spent almost the entire time they were there talking a blue streak. Sarah could only imagine how lonely it must be for her since her husband had passed on. There were no close neighbors, only those at the station, and her heart went out to her.

She insisted they join her for lunch. Afterwards, Sarah could tell that she was beginning to tire, and she cleaned up the kitchen for her. Jimmy was finished with the outdoor chores, and Sarah settled her down with a blanket for a nap. Leaning near, she kissed the older ladies forehead and promised to come visit her again soon.

Sarah was feeling rather empty as they started back towards the station. Growing old just wasn’t all that wonderful. She wondered what she would be doing when was Amelia Brown’s age? Would she still be alive? Would she have a husband still by her side, with grown children and grandchildren around her feet? She glanced over at Jimmy, and could tell that he was in deep thought too.

“I think we should make it a point to come out and visit her every week Jimmy. It’s so sad to be that age and alone!”

He nodded. “I used to sit and wonder what it would be like to grow old. But I know I won’t ever make it to see the widow’s age!”

Startled, Sarah looked his way. “And what makes you say that Jimmy? You make life what it is!”

“Cause one day someone will have a faster gun than I do and that’s when my life will end. That’s why I ain’t wantin’ things to go on as they was. You’ll only wind up getting’ hurt!”

“Jimmy, I can take care of myself. Or haven’t you noticed?”

“Of course I know you can handle a gun. I seen that with Harvey. I were a mite impressed with all that too! But you gots to understand I never know when someone will be gunnin’ for me. I’d never forgive myself if you got in the middle, or got hurt cause a me.”

“So instead of telling me you didn’t want me to get hurt, you just decided you wouldn’t have anything to do with me anymore? That’s not the way to do it Hickok!” She was looking angry again.

“I know that now Sarah. I’m sorry. I ain’t realized until today I was wrong. Hurting you was what I meant to keep from doin’! Instead it’s what I did! But Sarah, them things we was doin’, they weren’t friend things! I ain’t never slept with Cody, Buck, or Lou!” His face was scarlet as he spoke of the things they had done together. His insides had turned to mush as memories came crashing back.

Sarah realized that it was hard for him to talk about what had taken place between them. “You’re right Jimmy. What we had went further than friends. Maybe those things never should have happened. Maybe I should have told you no that day at the waterfalls, but it wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to love you with everything that was in me Jimmy. I guess those feelings were wrong. But the mistake is already made. We can’t go back and undo what happened between us. I guess if you feel the need to hate me because of what we shared, there is nothing I can do about it!”

“Sarah, I don’t hate you! Them things we done, them married things, they were very special. They jist cain’t happen no more!”

Sarah was silent a moment. Okay, she could understand part of this. “Then Jimmy, if you don’t hate me, why do you avoid me? You won’t talk to me. You won’t even speak to me in town if we pass one another. You won’t come by the ranch just to say hello and see if I’m doing okay!”

“Sarah, we cain’t be friends. Not if it’s like it was a fore!”

She sighed. “Okay. We can’t share one another like before. But why can’t we be friends? Just friends Jimmy…..not” She hesitated before she nearly whispered the word “lovers?” She knew it would be hard. She still wanted to love this man.

“I jist ain’t shore Sarah!” Looking at her, his heart longed for things he knew he could never have again with her. Could he simply be her friend? He knew now that being friends with a woman could mean many different things!

They rode the rest of the way to the ranch in silence. Sarah jumped from Mariah's back and turned him into the corral after taking off his saddle.

Jimmy stayed on Cisco, watching her every move. He wanted to get down and pull her into his arms. But he knew that he couldn’t. He was much safer where he was.

Finally she realized that he was just going to sit there and watch her. He wasn’t going to tell her what she wanted to know, so she moved over to him. “Jimmy, I really do want to be your friend. I understand that you are worried about my getting hurt. But I’ve proven that I can take care of myself. All I’m asking is that we be friends. Friends like you and Melissa, or the other riders...nothing more, nothing less. Do you think we could at least be that to one another? Thanksgiving is coming. Melissa and I will be at the station. I don’t want to still be at odds with you then.”

She had placed her hand on his thigh, and he was looking down at her. She was pleading with him with her ryes. He knew that he couldn’t tell her no. Reaching out, he caressed her hair. Leaning closer he pulled her head towards him and he kissed her softly on the lips. He knew that he shouldn’t have, but he couldn’t help himself.

Her heart was pounding double time. Oh what she wanted to do with this man! It made no difference that he’d hurt her. She savored the feel of his lips on hers, and knew that this may never happen again between them! Slowly she opened her eyes as he drew away from her.

“Okay Sarah, we’ll be friends, but that’s all!” With those words, he kicked Cisco into a gallop and headed off over the ridge. She stood watching him until she could no longer see him. Would she ever feel his lips on hers again?

Jimmy rode back to the station his mind in a whirl. Was he insane? Why had he done that? He shouldn’t have kissed her. It had only made him want her more! They couldn’t be more than friends, ever. He pushed the feelings away. If he let it happen again with her, he knew that he would never be able to let her go! The feelings that he was denying would only multiply, and that would be very dangerous! He had to stop them from growing. The only problem was, he didn’t know how! Friends…they would be nothing but friends!

Melissa returned near dusk. Buck kissed her goodbye on the front steps and reluctantly headed back to the station. He had a run the following day and he really needed some rest. But he didn’t want to leave her behind.

Sarah was in the kitchen when Melissa walked in. The fire was burning brightly in the fireplace, and she walked over to warm her hands as she took off her coat.

“Have a nice day?”

Melissa turned at the sound of Sarah’s voice.

“Oh yes. How bout you? Anything interesting happen while I was away?”

“You’ll never believe this one!”

Melissa followed her into the kitchen where they finished up supper and sat down to eat, still in deep conversation.

“How right you are! I don’t believe this one!”

“I guess I should look at it as a step in the right direction, but I’m not sure. Maybe we took things too fast the first time around. Maybe if we start all over again...” She moved to the sink with dirty dishes in her hands. Starting to pump water, she looked out into the darkness as if searching for answers.

“I think this will make him stop and think about it all. Perhaps he will realize that being friends with you is not what he wants. He’ll realize it isn’t enough!”

Sarah sighed. “I don’t think it will ever be more. I think we had our chance, and it’s over. He was so positive about how he felt about things.”

“But don’t you think that perhaps he was trying to convince himself as well as you that friendship was all he wanted? You can’t tell me he wasn’t thinking about everything that happened between you two while you were talking about it.”

“I think he probably was…just like I was. But that doesn’t mean he’s going to change his mind about it. In a way, I can understand how he feels. He’s afraid that someone is going to come gunning for him, and I might get in the middle. But he’s going to have to realize that he can’t let that stop him from being happy. I don’t know all there is to know about Jimmy Hickok, but eventually he will let it all slip out. No one seems to want to talk to me about it. I don’t totally understand that either, but I guess time will tell.

“Sarah we both know Jimmy is a known gun. We’ve seen that ourselves, but we’ve only seen it happen once since we’ve come here to Rock Creek. Is it possible that he has made this all up in his head and just thinks that there’s a bullet out there with his name on it.”

“I’m not sure Melissa. I do know that if there was any way that I could change the way he feels about it I would. But I don’t know where to start with someone that doesn’t seem to want to change!”

“Give it some time, Sarah. I happen to think that the man will come around to your way of thinking. I know how you feel about him, even though you won’t admit it. He’s hurt you, but you’re willing to forget if he’d become yours! Am I not right?”

Sarah looked her way and smiled. She was right. The kiss that he had laid on her that afternoon had only proven that to be true. Her heart was telling her to go after what she wanted, though her brain was telling her that she would just leave things as they were. “Yeah, you’re right,” she sighed. “But right now I can’t spend all my time worrying about it. If it’s supposed to be, I reckon the good Lord will make it so.”

“It was sweet of Teaspoon to do what he did to try and help you out!”

Sarah laughed. “Yes it was. Don’t guess the good Lord would mind some help…do you?”

Teaspoon was standing in the doorway of his office, watching the people scurry around the streets of Rock Creek. Every year this time, the little town celebrated Founders Day. There were games, horse races, picnics, entertainment, crafts, and a dance at the end of the day. If you were looking for it, chances were you’d find it on Founders Day.

He shook his head as he stepped back inside and closed the door behind him. He needed to get the paper work on his desk done before it was time to head over to the station and bring everyone back to town for the celebration. It should prove to be a good day all the way around.

The riders were all taking turns getting ready to head for town. As usual, Cody was bragging about how he was going to win the horse race and walk off with all the pretty girls.

“Cody, you ain’t gonna have time to spark every girl in town!” Noah looked his way. “Or least you best leave Cassie ‘lone!”

Cody laughed. “If’n she gits caught up in the charms of William F. Cody, ain’t nuthin’ I kin do ‘bout it!” He straightened his tie and grinned at his reflection in the mirror. One could tell that he was proud of himself.

Buck shook his head as he playfully shoved Cody away from the mirror. He’d been standing there for the last ten minutes combing his hair and straightening his tie. Buck made a grab for the comb. “Nough Cody! Give me that comb. You keep this up ain’t no girl gonna look at ya! Ya won’t have no hair left! Sides, save some of the mirror for the rest a us!”

Cody laughed again, and shoved Buck back. This grew into a tussle over the comb. Buck tried his best to take the comb, and Cody was dodging his every move. Finally Jimmy got up from his bunk and shoved them both away from in front of the mirror.

“Look fellows, I ain’t got all day to tie this tie! So’s git outta my way!”

Buck and Cody stopped struggling over the comb and looked towards Jimmy. “Who ya takin’ to the picnic Hickok?” Cody asked the question with great interest.

“No one!” Jimmy just continued to tie the tie, not looking Cody’s way.

“Awful dressed up to be takin’ no one! Ain’t he fellows?” Noah grinned.

“I bet he’s takin’ Sarah! I heard he’s been out to the ranch seein’ her ‘gain!” Cody poked Jimmy in the ribs. He side stepped and set Cody a dirty look.

“We’re jist friends. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with goin’ to check on a friend from time to time...now is there?”

Cody scratched his chin looking thoughtful. “I reckon not. But you best let me have at least one dance with Miss Sarah tonite!” he grinned.

“Cody I ain’t takin’ Sarah to the picnic…and I ain’t takin’ her to the dance! Ain’t takin’ no one, no where!”

“Course that don’t mean he ain’t aimin’ to git up with her once he’s there!” Cody just wouldn’t leave it alone.

Buck had been quiet through all of this. He had known that Jimmy had been out to the ranch a few times that week to see Sarah. But as far as he knew there was nothing going on between them. At least he was talking to her again. Hopefully it was a step in the right direction.

Jimmy turned from the mirror and looked straight at Cody. “For the last time, ain’t nuthin’ goin’ on ‘tween me and Sarah. So stop making’ out there is!” A little angrily, he picked up his hat and stomped out of the bunkhouse.

“What’s ailin’ him?” Cody took up his position in front of the mirror once again, Hickok forgotten. “Don’t matter none. I still plan on sparkin’ all them purdy girls and win me a horse race!”

“Don’t be so shore on that Cody! I aims to give you a run fer your money on that race!” Buck looked very serious. He knew that if he had Melissa in his corner, he could win anything!

“You, my friend, ain’t got a chance!” Putting the hat on his head, Cody headed for the door a grin a mile wide on his face.

Sarah was putting the finishing touches on two apple pies when Melissa walked into the kitchen. “Umm, those smell good! Sure we can’t cut one now?”

Sarah smiled. “I promised Teaspoon an apple pie for the pie contest. I’m not much of a jam maker, but I can make a pie. I don’t think he’d be very happy if I didn’t keep my word! Besides, I promised after he awarded the blue ribbon, that he could have all my apple pie he wanted!”

“Sound like you might be the winner of a blue ribbon!” Melissa laughed.

“Only if my pie is the best. I hope Teaspoon wouldn’t pick mine for any other reason!” She wiped her hands on her apron. “Guess I’m ready as soon as Buck arrives.”

She finished packing the picnic basket, and then turned towards Melissa. There was a frown on her face. “You okay?”

“Just wondering what toady will bring.”

“You worried about facing the town’s people again with Buck?” Sarah moved over to stand beside her.

“Not really. I just hate having them say anything and hurting Buck further. They are just going to have to live with the fact that I’ve made my decision. I’m not about to change the way I feel about Buck Cross just because they don’t approve of it!”

Sarah grinned, “Way to go girlfriend! I’m proud of you. I think today will be a good day. I expect there will be so many people in town that they won’t even notice you are there or for that matter who you are with!”

“You think Jimmy will be there?” Melissa watched the emotions run across Sarah’s face. Jimmy had been out to see her several times in the last week. It seemed that he was trying to hold up his end of the bargain to be her friend. As far as Melissa knew, he hadn’t tried to kiss her again, or make any moves towards her. Sarah seemed to be happy with the simple fact that he had come by.

“Yeah, he’ll be there. I’m not sure how much time he’ll spend with me though. But I know he’ll be there, and I can almost bet you that he’ll know every man I speak to the entire day!”

Melissa laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised!”

Buck rode along in the buckboard. He was nearly to the ranch. He knew that both the ladies were looking forward to the celebration, but he was a little concerned about the way the town’s people were going to react to his being with them. As he pulled in front of Sarah’s house, Melissa ran out to greet him.

“Hi handsome! Got plans for the day?”

Buck jumped from the buckboard and picked her up swinging her around. “Thought maybe I’d spend it with a beautiful lady I know and my blood sister! Would that be okay?” He leaned down to kiss her lips lightly.

Melissa’s arms wound themselves around his neck and for a moment they forgot all about the town and Founders Day! “Course, if’n you’d want to, we could jist stay here all day and spend the time ‘lone…me and you!” Buck gave her an evil leer and Melissa laughed.

“No way Buck Cross! You promised me a picnic, games, winning a horse race, and afterwards a dance! Don’t think you’re gonna get out of any of that!” She tried to look up into his eyes with a stern look on her face, but in seconds, she was laughing.

“Oh okay. If’n you insist!” He brushed the hair from her face and stood for a moment just looking at her. “Melissa, if you really would rather not go into town with me, I’ll understand.”

Melissa looked startled and then hurt as she gazed at him. “Buck, I’ll tell you exactly what I told Sarah only moments ago! The people in this one horse little town are just gonna have to accept the fact that I have made my choice. It's no skin off my nose if they don't approve! There is no one else that I would rather spend the day with, and I’m proud of that fact! Now come on, let’s go join in the fun! Those apple pies Sarah made sure smelled good!”

Buck laughed and hugged her near. If she wasn’t going to let it bother her, neither would he. He loved this woman very much. Soon, very soon, he was going to ask her to be his forever. That thought made his heart soar. Yes, that was what he was going to do.

Before they were a mile away from the ranch, Buck’s mouth was watering. The apple pies, which were still warm, smelled so good it was hard to concentrate on driving the buckboard. “I think we should pull over and eat one of those pies rite now! Who cares if the rest of the riders gits any?”

Sarah laughed. “I promise to save you a slice of the second one Buck. I have to enter one in the pie contest. I promised Teaspoon!”

“There ain’t no way that jist one pie is gonna feed all the riders! I’ll never git a piece!” He pouted and Sarah laughed again.

“Okay, how bout if I bake one just for you for Thanksgiving?”

Buck smiled and leaned back to kiss Sarah on the cheek. “A woman after my own heart!”

Sarah pretended to look shocked. “I thought it already belonged to Melissa?”

Buck grinned. “Well, it does, but ain’t gots to tell her that you own a little piece of it too!” He winked at Sarah, and they all laughed together. Yes today was going to be a good day!

The weather was unusually warm for the middle of November. It was like the good Lord knew that he had to hold off one more day before he let Old Man Winter take over. The people of Rock Creek came from miles around for the celebration. There was something for everyone. There were all sorts of contests, baking, jam and jelly, bread, and pickles. Eating contests, who could eat the most pie, pickles, and hard boiled eggs in the least amount of time. There were handmade crafts to sell. Even the children got into the act with games and contests on their level..Catch the greased pig, and who could roll an egg with their nose the furthest without breaking it to name just a few.

Sarah’s pie took the blue ribbon. Melissa wasn’t surprised with the outcome. Teaspoon loved all the attention the ladies were giving him in hopes of winning a ribbon for something. He hated it when he had finished sampling all the goodies for the last contest.

Jimmy had arrived before Buck and the ladies. He’d stayed to himself most of the morning, though he had spoken to them right after they had arrived. He was never very far away, and every time that Sarah looked up, she could spot Jimmy only a few yards away from her. She would throw him a smile, and he would usually return it, but he made no move to come towards her. He just kept his distance and watched.

The horse race was a big draw. Anyone who owned a horse in Rock Creek was entered. Sarah and Melissa wondered how all those people were going to run the race and not get in one another’s way. All the riders were entered, and the ladies knew they would make it a good contest.

Cody had made his rounds through the town flirting with every pretty girl he came upon. Just before the race, he seemed to pick one certain lady out of them all, and turn his attention to her. She seemed shy, and he promised he could win the race if she would just cheer for him.

The race was to circle through town twice, and the winner of course, was the first one to the finish line. There were at least 75 horses when the gun was fired, and the race was begun. Everyone tried to get in the lead all at once. There was pushing and shoving, screaming and yelling as the crowd moved in closer to get a better look. The prize was a twenty dollar gold piece, and it was apparent that everyone wanted to win it. There was a lot of cheating, and before long, nearly half the men had been unseated and were picking themselves up from the dust of the street.

As they started through the town for the second time, Buck was in the lead. If he won the twenty dollar gold piece, he was planning to buy Melissa something beautiful. His mind was on that as he headed for the finish line. He wasn’t paying Cody a lot of attention.

Cody was second, followed closely by Jimmy. Jimmy had spotted Sarah by the finish line, and he knew that she was watching him. He could feel her eyes. He had begun to close in on Cody when he started showing off. Jimmy wondered who it was for this time. For several seconds, he did some trick riding, and Jimmy was surprised that he didn’t fall off his horse and get trampled.

No sooner had that thought gone through his mind, Cody’s horse side stepped in front of Buck’s, causing it to stumble. Buck was nearly thrown from the saddle as he was shoved into someone else. Cody lost his balance, hanging off the side of the saddle, and before he knew what had taken place, he was lying face down in the dirt. In all the commotion, the finish line was forgotten as everyone tried to dodge both Buck and Cody. Jimmy took the lead and in seconds he crossed the finish line with a big smile on his face.

Melissa hurried over to Buck who had finally gotten his horse stopped and calmed down. Cody was lying only a few feet from him, and Buck quickly headed over to tell him just what he thought. Kid, Lou, Noah and Teaspoon were standing round him.

“Son, is you alrite?” Teaspoon looked down at him. He hadn’t done much other than groan since they had walked up.

“Cody why was you not watchin’ where you was goin’? A horse race ain’t no place for trick ridin’!” There was an angry scowl on Buck’s face! “You cost me a twenty dollar gold piece!”

Melissa had hurried over to check on Buck. She slipped an arm around his waist. “Are you okay?”

He glanced her way and smiled. “I’m okay, but he ain’t gonna he when I gits through with him!”

“Now son, don’t git all riled up over some ole horse race! It ain’t worth it! Cody here was jist showin’ off for the little lady over there!” Teaspoon had already seen him talkin’ with her, and he knew that she had caught Cody’s eye for the day.

“I don’t care who he was tryin’ to impress!”

“Oh Buck, who needs an ole gold piece when they have someone as handsome as you? Come on let’s go eat! I’m starved!” She leaned near and kissed his cheek, and Buck forgot about Cody and how angry he was at him. Teaspoon grinned as he watched Melissa take Buck in hand and lead him off. That had seemed easy enough.

Cody was still on the ground. “Son do yous need some help?” He reached down to help him up, when the little lady that he had been flirting with pushed her way through the crowd.

“Mr. Cody, are you alright?”

Cody looked up into her beautiful blue eyes and he let go of Teaspoon’s hand. He’d been half way off the ground. Suddenly he dropped flat of his back once more and groaned as if he were in deep pain!

“Oh, I ain’t shore Cindy Lou!”

Teaspoon shook his head and motioned for the rest to follow, “Ain’t nothin’ more we’s can do here! Miss Cindy Lou will have him up in no time!” They all laughed as they headed for the finish line.

Jimmy had jumped off Cisco and was standing near the platform that had been built for speeches and such. Sarah strolled over towards him. “Good race Jimmy! Congratulations!”

His heart pounded double time as she drew nearer. “Thanks!” She reached up and gave him a hug, and then strolled off again. Every nerve in Jimmy’s body was standing on end. He wanted to run after her, pull her into his arms and kiss all over her face! We’re only friends…only friends! How many times would he say that before the day was over?

It took all the will power that Sarah had to walk away from him. It had been hard just standing back and watching him all morning. But this seemed to be what he wanted.

Teaspoon, being the marshal of Rock Creek, got the honors of awarding all the prizes for the day. As he started up the steps of the platform, he reached out and took hold of Sarah’s arm, pulling her with him towards the steps.

“Teaspoon, what’s wrong?” she looked his way startled.

He had seen Sarah step up to Jimmy and give him a hug after the race. He’d also seen the longing that had been on Jimmy’s face. Leaning near, he whispered, “I needs you to award this here gold piece to Jimmy!”

“Me? Why me? That’s your job.”

“Not any more it ain’t! I’ve elected you!” They reached the platform together. Jimmy was standing close by watching Teaspoon and Sarah. He wondered what was going on. “Well it looks as if we have us a winner a this here horse race! Jimmy Hickok, son come on up here!”

Jimmy hesitated for several seconds before he climbed the steps of the platform. Sarah watched him coming closer and wondered what Teaspoon really had in mind.

Mr. Williams, the bank president, handed Teaspoon the twenty dollar gold piece, and he held it up for everyone to see. The crowd cheered. “This here is a nice little prize! And who wants some old gray haired marshal to give them a prize, when theys can have a purdy woman do it?” The crowd cheered again, and Jimmy watched as Teaspoon handed the gold piece to Sarah.

In seconds, she and Teaspoon had changed places, and she and Jimmy were standing face to face, only a few inches between them. She smiled hesitantly. Jimmy’s heart was pounding once more in his chest. He could tell that she was nervous as she handed the gold piece to him, saying congratulations once more to him.

Reaching for the gold piece, Jimmy took her hand in his and raised it in the air. The crowd was cheering again, and Sarah turned their way. Several people in the back of the crowd yelled for the purty woman to give the winner a kiss. The gold piece wasn’t enough of a prize! Sarah could feel her cheeks turning scarlet.

“Give that man a kiss, little lady!”

“Yeah, he deserves it after that horse race!”

Teaspoon grinned. “Now I knows I’s glad I got Miss Sarah up here! I don’t think Jimmy would appreciate a kiss from me!”

Everyone laughed and more calls were made for the kiss. Jimmy had wanted to kiss her again ever since the day they’d gone to the Widow Brown’s place. H’d been careful and kept his feelings hidden every time he’d been near her. He wasn’t sure how he felt about kissing her in front of all these people!

Sarah was dying to do it. He couldn’t get mad about it if she kissed him now. This was a great excuse!

“Go on Miss Sarah! Ain’t nothin’ wrong with a little kiss!”

Melissa and Buck were watching from the front of the platform, both wondering what would happen if she did. They could tell that neither of them were sure what they should do about this. Teaspoon stood watching for several more seconds. Then he stepped up between them. Is I gonna have to show you twos how it’s done?”

Grinning, he tipped his hat and kissed Sarah lightly on the cheek. The crowd cheered again and he stepped back. “Now what were so hard ‘bout that?”

Sarah’s face was still red, and she lightly hit Teaspoon on the forearm. He was doing a good job of embarrassing her. By now Jimmy was grinning. Oh hell, why not? It wouldn’t be the first time that they had kissed one another. Just the first time they had done it with this many people looking on!

Sarah was thinking on the same lines and someone in the crowd yelled, “Kiss her Hickok, a fer I come do it fer ya!”

The voice sounded familiar, and Jimmy looked out into the crowd. It sounded for all the world like Jake Colter’s voice! But he didn’t see him any where. But it didn’t matter that he didn’t see him, if it were Jake he sure didn’t want him kissing Sarah!

They stepped towards one another at the same time.   She slipped her arms around Jimmy’s waist. Her lips closed over his, and they seemed to melt into one another.

The crowd continued to cat call until they stepped apart. Both of them, were trembling as they smiled at one another. Teaspoon had been watching, scratching his chin as if in deep thought. “I thinks these two needs to give this old gray haired marshal a few lessons!” Everyone laughed and Teaspoon reached out to shake Jimmy’s hand. He hadn’t missed the affect that the kiss had on both of them. This all might work out yet!

Jimmy left the platform muttering to himself “ …friends…we’re jist friends…” Buck and Melissa headed for Sarah. She looked a little pale.

“You all right Sarah?” Buck sounded concerned.

“I think so. I just wasn’t expecting that to affect me so much!” She was still trembling, and all she wanted to do was run after Jimmy and demand that he take her in his arms and kiss her again! But she knew she couldn’t.

Just then she felt someone’s arms go around her waist. Turning, she was looking up into Jake Colter’s face. “Hey there purty lady! Gots time to spend with the likes a me?”

Her mind briefly touched on what Duell had told her about Jake, but she pushed that aside. Jake was just what she needed to take her mind off Jimmy. Besides, she knew that there would never be anything between her and Jake. She smiled. “What are you doing back in Rock Creek so soon?”

“Was jist ridin’ through and decided I’d stay for the celebration. Care if’n I join you fer a spell?”

“The three of us were about to go eat. I think there’s enough in the picnic basket I packed for you too!” The two of them walked off and Melissa and Buck stood for a moment looking after them. Buck had a frown on his face.

“Least she coulda done was ask if’n we minded if he joined us! I don’t like him none Melissa!”

She sighed. “I know. I’m not really fond of him myself!” She took Buck’s hands, and they started off after Sarah and Jake.

“Why would she invite him to eat with us anyway? After what jist happened with Jimmy? I thought I was reading some serious feelings in her eyes after that kiss!”

“I think you were, and that’s probably why she invited Jake. Jimmy’s still keeping his distance from her, and I think she thought Jake would keep her mind off him for awhile.”

“Don’t matter none. I don’t like him hangin’ round her!” He was still frowning as they drew near the buckboard where they had left the picnic basket.

“Don’t worry Buck. She can handle herself. Besides, you aren’t far off and neither is Jimmy should he cause any problems!”

Jimmy had made his way over to the group of trees where the rest of the riders were gathered to have lunch. Blankets had been spread on the ground and Rachel and Lou were busily unpacking several picnic baskets. The smells that were coming from them were making his mouth water. Lou handed him another blanket and he started to spread it out for her.

“Jimmy, you can eat here with me and Kid. That is if you ain’t plannin’ to eat with Sarah!” She grinned as she looked his way.

“No, I ain’t pla…..” His voice died away and Lou watched the smile his face held turn into an ugly frown. “What in tarnation is that no count doin’ here? An what’s he doin’ with Sarah?”

Jimmy couldn’t believe it when he had looked up and spotted Sarah walking their way, on the arm of none other than Jake Colter! He’d been right, that had been his voice that he’d heard while they were standing on the platform. Anger flew all over him. How dare he show up here!

“Jimmy is you alrite?” Lou turned and immediately spotted what had upset Jimmy so much. She really wasn’t surprised by his anger.

“I’m jist fine!”

“Careful Jimmy, your showin’ your jealous streak!” Lou grinned.

Jimmy gave her a startled look. “I ain’t jealous!”

“Coulda fooled me, Hickok! Now spread that blanket out and sit down. You can act like you’s happy to see him, if’n you ain’t jealous!”

“I ain’t jealous! We’s jist friends…jist friends!” His voice had risen, and several of the other riders turned to see what was going on. Lou sat down, pulling Jimmy with her, trying not to laugh. She wondered who he was trying to make believe he and Sarah were just friends? Himself or her? He still had an angry scowl on his face.

Sarah stopped beside Teaspoon and Rachel and asked if they minded if Jake joined their picnic. Trying to be sociable, though neither had a fondness for Jake, they agreed. Buck and Melissa arrived with the extra blanket out of the buckboard. and they sat down near the others.

Halfway through her lunch, Sarah felt eyes on her. For a moment she tried to ignore them, but they continued to look in her direction. Finally, not being able to ignore the feeling any longer, she turned and scanned the crowd for the person that was watching her every move. She wasn’t surprised to find that it was Jimmy. He didn’t look very happy as he watched her and Jake. She tried smiling in his direction, but the scowl on his face deepened. He wasn’t very happy that Jake was sitting with her. Oh well, what was she supposed to do, ignore her friends just because they were men?

After lunch, Melissa and Buck wandered off together for a little while. He had to admit that things had been going well that day. No one had bothered them, or said anything ugly to Melissa. Was it possible that the town’s people had accepted their relationship? He certainly hoped so.

Squeezing her had, Buck looked her way. “Thought we mite ride to the village and visit everyone there the day after Thanksgiving. If’n you want to, that is.” He looked a little unsure as he asked the question.

Melissa smiled and reached over to squeeze his arm. “Of course I want to! You know I love going there. I can’t wait to see the wolf and her pups. I bet they’ve grown a lot since we were there last!”

“You havin’ a good time?”

“I am. This is the first time I’ve been to a Founder’s Day celebration. Guess I have this to look forward to every year!”

“As long as you’re in Rock Creek you do! And that better be a long time little lady!” He stopped walking and encircled her in his arms.

“The only way that I would think of leaving would be if you asked me to. I hope that doesn’t happen Buck!” She had this serious look on her face as she gazed at him. “I love you!”

He hugged her close to himself. “Oh lady, I love you too! I ain’t ‘bout to ask you to leave. I would be crazy to do that. It would be like cuttin’ out my own heart if’n I did! I’m a plannin’ on us bein’ together forever!”

Melissa smiled. She liked the sound of forever. Looking up, his lips slowly descended on hers and he kissed her for a long moment. In this man’s arms was definitely where she belonged!

The rest of the afternoon was spent playing games. Horseshoes seemed to be popular among the men and a contest was soon started. The children took naps after eating their fill and some of the young couples had slipped off as Buck and Melissa had to spend a little time together with no one watching.

Jake and Sarah took a walk together, and she knew that Jimmy was following them at a safe distance. He didn’t think that she knew he was there. He was doing his best to hide from her,but she knew. She wasn’t sure how she felt about it. In a way she was happy because he seemed to be very jealous that she was with Jake. But then again, if he wasn’t going to spend his time with her, what right did he have to say who she could spend her time with? She pushed the thoughts aside as she and Jake started talking about the dance that would be held that night.

“You goin’ with anyone?” Jake was holding her hand as they wondered around town.

“I’ll ride over with Buck and Melissa since we all came together. If you mean am I spoken for tonight, then no I’m not.”

“I thought Hickok mite a asked ya after that kiss I seed you two sharin’ on that there platform!”

Sarah frowned. “No. I doubt he even speaks to me or even thinks about dancing a dance with me. He probably thinks he’ll catch a terrible disease from me if he gets too near!”

Jake smiled. He had a feeling Hickok was more interested in this little lady than he was letting on. “Did seem a mite scared a you when he were up on that there platform! Until he pulled you into his arms, that is! Weren’t shore if’n he was gonna kiss you! I even yelled I’d come do it fer him!”

Sarah blushed. “If people had kept quiet, I wouldn’t have had to do that! It was rather embarrassing!”

“You didn’t seem embarrassed when you was pulled up against Hickok so tight!”

For a moment Sarah’s whole body tingled as she remembered being pulled tightly against that body! And those lips on hers! She shook her head to clear it. She had to stop thinking bout this! Jimmy wasn’t about to change his mind, “Take my word for it. I was embarrassed! Now enough of this talk. Why were you asking about the dance tonight?”

“Would you consider savin’ a few dances for me? I ain’t that good a dancer, but I promise not to step on your toes too many times!”

“Consider them saved!” she smiled and reached to hug Jake. He smiled, and reaching for her hand again, they started back to the picnic area.

Melissa and Sarah got into the fun of the games that afternoon. There was a lot of laughing and joking as they moved from one game to the next. Buck and Jake were their partners for most of the fun.

Jimmy watched mainly from the side lines. It looked as if Sarah was having a wonderful time. The more he watched her, the more he wished that it could be him by her side. She seemed so happy and carefree. What he wouldn’t give to be able to live life like that! But he knew that would never be, He sighed as he watched her and Jake run the three legged race together, nearly falling down in their hurry to get to the finish line.

Lou once again was watching Jimmy. She didn’t miss the look on his face. She knew exactly what he was thinking. Moving his way, she whispered, “That could’a been you out there with Sarah instead of Jake! Alls you have to do is swallow that stubbornness and go take your place by her side!”

Jimmy frowned. “It won’t never be me beside Sarah, Lou! I ain’t gots no use for a woman in my life! Now stop tryin’ to talk me into somethin’!” He turned and walked off. Lou sighed. There had to be a way to get through to him!

It was getting late. The sun was beginning to sink low in the sky. With it came the coolness of the November evening. Most of the town’s people had loaded up their wagons and had already started for home. There were chores to be done before dark, and small children to get ready for bed. Rachel and Teaspoon were moving the picnic leftovers to the Marshal’s office. They decided that it would be warmer to eat there instead of staying outside. After eating, they would all head over to the dance. Everyone seemed to have had a good time, and Teaspoon was busy telling the town’s folk good-bye that were heading home.

Jake had left Sarah with Buck and Melissa. He was heading for the hotel. “You okay?” Buck looked her way, as she flopped down beside them on the quilt.

She pulled off her shoes and started rubbing her feet. “Fine. But my feet are protesting! I can’t believe we still have a dance to go to!” She rubbed her right foot a little harder and wished that she had some hot water to soak them in. “I think that last foot race with Buck did me in!”

He laughed. “That’ll teach you to try and out run an Indian!” They all three laughed together.

Jimmy had been helping Teaspoon load the buckboard. Sarah’s sweet laughter floated over the air to taunt him, and he turned in her direction. All motion stopped as he gazed at her. He was ever so glad to see that Jake was no where around!

Teaspoon was waiting for Jimmy to hand him the basket. When he stopped what he was doing, Teaspoon looked to see what had captured his attention. He wasn’t surprised to see that it was Miss Sarah. He had to call Jimmy’s name three times before he heard him!

“Jimmy…son, if’n you hands me that basket, we’s can git over to the office and eat a fore time fore the dance!”

Still no response. “Son, yous stayin’ fer the dance aint’ yous?”

Still nothing. “HICKOK! Son, the rest a us mite be hungry!”

Startling him, Jimmy turned towards Teaspoon. “Uh, what Teaspoon?”

“I knows Miss Sarah is a beautiful lady, but yous think yous mite hand me that there basket a fore it gits dark and we can head over to the office and eats? Everone else is waitin’ on us!”

Jimmy had forgotten he had the basket in his hands. He handed it to him and started to walk away.

“Ain’t you a stayin’ fer the dance? Miss Sarah needs a dance partner!”

“She’ll have plenty a dance partners! She ain’t got no need a me!”

Teaspoon shook his head as he placed the basket on the buckboard. When was that boy gonna realize that he was in love with Miss Sarah?”

There were a lot of people at the dance. By the time they arrived, Sarah’s feet were feeling better, and she was looking forward to taking the dance floor. Teaspoon was her first partner, and he was an excellent one. He was followed by Cody, and then Noah. She wasn’t without a partner for more than a minute.

Melissa and Buck spent most of the evening on the floor. Both were remembering how wonderful the day had been. None of the town’s folk had paid them much attention. There had been a few stares and a few whispers behind hands, but that had been all. At that moment, Melissa was pulled up rather close to Buck and they were dancing to a soft, slow fiddle tune. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed the feel of his arms around her.

Jimmy had gone back to the station. He had all intentions of staying put, going to bed early, and not thinking about Sarah anymore that day. But it was no use! All he could see was her sitting on that quilt with Buck and Melissa. She’d been so beautiful with the sun setting behind her. He’d wanted to run up to her and carry her off. He punched his pillow and turned over. Sleep wasn’t about to come!

Sitting up on the side of his bunk, he reached for his shoes. Might as well go back into town and see what was happening at the dance. He knew there was no use in thinking that there would be a chance to dance with Sarah, what with all the men wanting to hold her in their arms!

Jimmy spotted her the moment he walked in. She was in the arms of Joe Watkins. There was a beautiful smile on her face, as she listened intently to what he was telling her. Then she was laughing, her head thrown back. His heart pounded as he watched her every more. Why did she have to be so beautiful?

From Joe, she went to Samuel Pike, to Jason Carter, to…the list was a long one. She danced every dance. And with each new partner, Jimmy’s jealous streak showed a little brighter. He was clinching his fists within ten minutes of arriving. He had to keep telling himself over and over “We’s jist friends…jist friends!”

Teaspoon walked up and stood beside him. “Ain’t Miss Sarah the life a the party? She ain’t sat down a minute since we’s arrived!” Teaspoon expected Jimmy to explode at any minute. He could tell that he was wound as tight as he could get. Did Miss Sarah not know what she was doing to this man?

Sarah had known the moment Jimmy had arrived. She knew it without even seeing him. Her entire body began to tingle. As her newest partner swung her around, she faced the door, and saw Jimmy standing there. Their eyes met, and she wondered briefly if he would claim her for a dance.

He didn’t appear to be in a very good mood. There was a scowl on his face. But that seemed to have been there all day! She’d known that Jake had caused part of it. But since he wasn’t there at present, she had thought perhaps he would be in a little better spirits.

Jimmy glanced at Teaspoon. “Sees, I told you she didn’t need the likes a me for a dance partner!”

The music had stopped for a second, and Sarah looked for a chair to take a rest in. Before she had sat down, three men were there trying to hand her a cup of punch! Jimmy just scowled that much more.

Melissa and Buck wandered over to where she was sitting. “I see Jimmy finally arrived!” Melissa smiled Sarah’s way.

“Don’t look for him to come this way though. He’s acted as if he were upset with me all day! Guess I shouldn’t have kissed him after the race!”

“I think it had more to do with Jake hangin’ round! The kiss wasn’t what upset him!” Buck glanced towards Jimmy and saw that he was watching Sarah from the door. “Want some punch Melissa? Looks as if Sarah has plenty to keep her for awhile!” He laughed as he counted the cups sitting near her on the table.

“By all means, have one of mine!”

“That’s okay. You might want some later on. I can git us a cup!” Buck wandered over towards the punch bowl, but took a detour towards Jimmy.

She looked up at her friend. “Had a good day?”

Melissa smiled. “Wonderful! I think the town has finally adjusted to seeing Buck and I together!”

Sarah smiled. “I sure hope so. Before long the two of you will be married and have a house full of children!”

Melissa blushed. “He hasn’t asked me to marry him yet. There is the possibility that he won’t.”

“Oh he will Melissa! There is no doubt in my mind!” She reached over and patted Melissa’s hand. “I know exactly where Buck’s heart lies. You hold it completely.”

“Except for the little piece you own!” She smiled Sarah’s way.

Sarah laughed. “Guess you’re right. But I know that doesn’t really bother you. Speaking of Buck, where’d he wander off to? The punch bowl wasn’t that far away!”

Jimmy had been leaning against the door frame when Buck walked over to him. He had to find some way to get Jimmy to walk across the dance floor and ask Sarah to dance. He knew deep down that he wanted to do it, but making him see that was another thing!

“Some reason yous holdin’ up this here door?”

Jimmy pulled his gaze away from Sarah to look at Buck. “Looked like a good place to stand and observe to me!”

“Observin’ all yous plannin’ to do?”

Teaspoon who was still standing by Jimmy grinned Buck’s way. He knew that he was going to try to get Jimmy out on the dance floor. He also knew that Sarah was the person that he had in mind as Jimmy’s partner.

“I’s tried to git him to go ask Miss Sarah to dance, but he seems content standin’ here.”

“Sarah has ‘nough dance partners. She ain’t gots no need a me! Sos stop tryin’ to git me to go over an ask her to dance!”

“Maybe she don’t need you, since every other man here seems to want to dance with her, but what it’s she wants you to ask her to dance? Ever thought on them lines?”

I’m shore there are plenty of others she’d rather have ask her to dance!”

“But, what if’n there ain’t…shore she can find a partner, but it mite not be the one she wants to dance with!” Buck could tell that he had made Jimmy think about it. He watched his face as the expressions changed. “Sides, yous and her are friends ain’t you? Ain’t no harm in askin’ a friend to dance!”

Jimmy looked back across the room towards Sarah. She was still sitting on the chair, talking to Melissa. What would be wrong with dancing one dance with her? After all, as Buck had mentioned, they were friends. “I ain’t so shore I should do that Buck!”

“Ah, go on son, she ain’t gonna bite ya! I’ve already danced with her. She’s a good dancer! She didn’t try to bite me!” Teaspoon grinned. The music started once more, and he pushed Jimmy in the direction of Sarah. “Gos on son. Now’s your chance. No one asked her yet!”

Jimmy let Teaspoon push him from the wall and towards her. Did he really want to do this? The closer he got to her, the more he knew that he did. Jake had held her all day! Now it was his turn.

Buck looked at Teaspoon and smiled. “We mite a done it this time!”

Sarah glanced up, and couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Jimmy was headed right for her. “I don’t believe it Lissa! Here he comes. He can’t be going to ask me to dan…” Her voice trailed off as Jimmy stepped up and reached for her hand.

“Lo Jimmy.” Melissa smiled his way.

“Can you excuse Sarah? Thought I mite take my chance and dance with her while all the other men seem to be busy!”

“Sure!” Melissa’s smile grew bigger as she watched them walk away.

Sarah couldn’t believe he was actually doing this! She stood from the chair, her mouth still opened in surprise and slipped her hand into his. In seconds she was stepping into his arms, and they were dancing to a slow waltz.

She wouldn’t let herself think. She was afraid that is she did she would find out this was a dream! She loved the feel of his arms around her. She realized that they were dancing closer than they should be, but she wasn’t about to protest. It felt wonderful.

Jimmy let his guard down. He let the feelings run through his body. She felt so right there in his arms. They moved around the dance floor as one. For a moment, he wondered what it would be like to be able to hold her like this forever? He gazed down at her. Her eyes were closed, and there was a beautiful smile on her face.

“Sarah…” He whispered her name. She opened her eyes and looked up into his face. “You’re beautiful!” She knew he was going to kiss her before he even started moving closer to her. She knew what those lips would feel like on her own, and she trembled in anticipation.

The kiss was soft and gentle, and it sent both their emotions soaring. As it ended, they continued to look into one another’s eyes. Lost. Mesmerized by each other. Jimmy briefly knew that this was where this lady belonged, but he pushed the thoughts away. It couldn’t be like that. This was all there could be.

Buck had rejoined Melissa across the room. They watched Jimmy and Sarah as they danced close together. Both had a good feeling. Maybe things were beginning to change. They wanted their friends to be happy.

It was about this time that Jake arrived at the dance. He’d meant to get there when Sarah did, wanting to spend the entire evening dancing with her. He knew that he had asked her to save a few dances for him, but had planned to not let anyone else dance with her. Things hadn’t worked out that way though. He’d been delayed at the hotel.

There seemed to be a lot of people on the dance floor, and for a moment, Jake wondered if Sarah had left for home already. He didn’t see her anywhere. Then the dancers seemed to part in the middle of the floor and there was Sarah, dancing with none other than Hickok!

Jake watched the two of them together. They must both be blind...at least to each other. Anyone who bothered to watch them together would be able to tell how they felt about one another! Was it really possible that neither of them knew how the other felt? He’d watched Jimmy around Sarah, and he did act strange…as if he were covering up his feelings. Maybe he just needed to make Hickok jealous. Would that make him see things in a different light? Sarah was a beautiful lady, and he would give about anything to call her his own. But he knew that wasn’t possible.

Having made up his mind, Jake moved across the dance floor towards them. They didn’t seem aware of anyone but each other. Jake loved getting under Hickok’s skin, so this ought to be good.

Jimmy had no idea how long he had been holding Sarah in his arms. He didn’t even know if it were a different song that they were now dancing to. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was the fact that he was holding her close to his body. He didn’t want this to end. If this little bit of time was all he could have with her, he prayed that it went on forever!

Jake stepped up behind them, tapping Jimmy lightly on the shoulder. Jimmy didn’t even acknowledge him. After several seconds, Jake tapped him again. Something caught Jimmy’s attention. Was that really someone trying to cut in on his dance?

“Excuse me Hickok, but this here lady promised me the rest of the dances tonite! I’s here to collect ‘em!”

Jimmy couldn’t believe this! It was Jake! He might have been able to handle it, if it had been one of the riders trying to cut in. But this was Jake Colter! His anger flew straight out the top of his head. It was a good thing that Teaspoon had taken everyone’s guns at the door. He might have been tempted to use one of them!

Teaspoon had been watching from across the room. He had known the moment that Jake had entered the dance that Jimmy and Sarah were his target. He watched as he’d stepped across the floor and tapped Jimmy on the shoulder. He knew Jimmy well enough to read the signs. He was angry, and about to explode. He started towards them, intent on keeping them apart, but he wasn’t fast enough.

Sarah couldn’t believe what was happening. One second, she was floating around in Jimmy’s arms. Their eyes telling the other what she knew they would never voice. And the next, Jimmy had stiffened in her embrace, drawn back and had punched Jake right in the face.

“Jimmy!” Sarah screamed astonished. How could he have done this? Quickly she was down on one knee beside Jake. He was out cold! “Jake are you alright?” But he didn’t respond.

Teaspoon arrived and pulled Jimmy back by the shoulders so he could get a look at Colter. “Son, what’s a goin’ on here? Miss Sarah, is you alrite?” She nodded and turned back to Jake. Buck and Melissa hurried up, standing by Sarah’s side. Melissa could see her friend trembling. She wasn’t sure if it were fear or anger that was causing it.

Teaspoon didn’t get an answer from Jimmy. Sarah stood up and got right in his face before he could say anything. “How dare you Hickok! What’s gotten into you? You had no call to punch Jake!”

“Yeah, I did. It was my dance with you! He wasn’t promised anythin’!”

“Don’t be too sure Jimmy. Even if he weren’t it gave you no right to knock the man out! Stop acting so jealous. We’re just friends…or have you forgotten? As a matter of fact, why don’t you just get out of here! I’m not so sure I even want to be friends with someone who acts like you do!”

“But Sarah, he only got what he deserved! He’s been deservin’ it fer as long as I’ve known him!” Jimmy was angry. He couldn’t believe that she was taking up for this no count!

“Enough Jimmy! I don’t want to see you again! You’ve made a mess of everything!” At that she turned her back on him and leaned over Jake once more. Melissa placed a hand on Sarah’ shoulder, letting her know that she was there.

“Buck see Jimmy back to the station. See that he calms down.”

Buck nodded and headed for the door where he had to wait on Jimmy. He was still standing in the middle of the dance floor, looking down at Sarah and Jake. He was breathing hard and was so angry that he could chew nails in two! “Go on son! You two can talk when yous both calmed down some. Right now ain’t the time!” He reached to take Jimmy by the arm and turn him around towards the door, but Jimmy jerked away from him. He followed Buck out the door. Jimmy passed Buck up quickly headed for Cisco. Buck nearly had to run to catch him. “Jimmy, wait up!”

“Buck, I ain’t of a mind rite now to talk!”

“Yous never of a mind to talk! If’n you don’t talk ‘bout this, the problem is jist gonna git bigger!”

“I ain’t got no problem! So how’s it gonna git bigger?” He was nearly to Cisco, and Buck reached out to stop him.

“Jimmy, you jist ain’t realized what the problem is!”

Jimmy stopped walking and looked angrily at Buck. “Alrite Mister Know It All, jist what is my problem?”

“You gonna have to face the fact that you have strong feelin’s for Sarah! They ain’t gonna go away by themselves! You can ignore ‘em til the day you die, but you gonna take them feelin’s to the grave with ya!”

“I ain’t neither to all them things!” He swung himself up into the saddle and looked down at Buck. “Sides, in case you missed it, she jist told me she weren’t gonna be my friend any more! So I ain’t gots to worry none ‘bout it, do I?”

“If’n you’d jist talk things over with her, you mite work it out!”

“There ain’t nuthin’ to work out Buck! Sides, I mite not be of a mind to work anythin’ out! I mite be happy with it jist the way it is!”

“No you ain’t! If’n you was, you wouldn’t a been lookin’ at her the way you was when you was dancin’ with her! Melissa and I could read them feelin’s all over your face! Hell, anyone could’a seen ‘em if they’d jist been lookin’! Stop tryin’ so hard to cover ‘em up! You better think long and hard ‘bout this Hickok! Or yous gonna lose the best thing you ever had in your life!”

Jimmy just shook his head, kicked Cisco into a gallop and left Buck standing in a cloud of dust. He couldn’t believe what Buck was trying to tell him. That he was in love with Sarah! What had Buck seen in his face? He wasn’t in love and he didn’t care if Sarah never spoke to him again!

Back inside, Jake had come to and they had moved him over to a chair in the corner. Sarah was sitting with him. The dance had resumed as if nothing had happened. Teaspoon met Buck at the door. “Did you talk some sense into him son?”

Buck shook his head. “I ain’t shore. I tried, but he’s so stubborn and hard headed. I ain’t shore anyone can git through to him!” Buck moved over to stand with Melissa. She had a frown on her face. “You alright?” He slipped an arm around her shoulders.

Looking up she smiled slightly. “I was trying to talk Sarah into leaving. But she won’t just yet. She wants to make sure that Jake is okay.”

Buck looked towards Sarah who was leaning over Jake looking at his eye that was quickly turning black and purple. “He’ll be fine Sarah. I’m shore he’d had worse happen to him!”

Jake looked up at Buck and tried to scowl, but it hurt too much. “Ain’t as bad as what I’m gonna do to Hickok the next time I see him!” He reached up and touched his face lightly with a finger tip.

“You two go ahead, I’ll come home shortly. I just want to sit here a little longer to make sure he’ll be okay.”

“Sarah, we ain’t leavin’ you to come home alone in the dark! We’ll go git the buckboard all hitched up, and meet you back at the hotel. That way you can walk him back to the hotel.”

“Okay Buck. See you two shortly.”

Buck and Melissa started for the door, telling friends good night along the way. Hand in hand, they walked towards the livery where their horse and buckboard were awaiting them. The moon had risen and was nearly full. Melissa drew in a deep breath of crisp, cold air and smiled. “Winter is in the air. Wonder when we’ll get our first snow?”

Buck looked up into the clear night sky. “Possibly soon after Thanksgiving. Once winter starts, we can got snow rite up til spring! I seed flowers bloomin’ rite up through the snow!”

“I bet it’s beautiful! I love the snow, but it gets so cold! A body needs someone to keep them warm!” She smiled his way through her lashes, flirting openly with him.

Buck stopped walking and pulled her up close to his body. “I won’t mind keepin’ you warm through the winter, Melissa!’ He leaned close and kissed her slowly.

Melissa’s heart jumped in her chest. This man could turn her on with just a smile. But when he kissed her, she lost all rational thought! “Umm, I just might take you up on that offer!”

“What would be even better is if’n we got snowed in some where and had to spend the winter together! We could git in lot trouble, you and me!”

“Oh I wouldn’t call it trouble!” She was still in his arms. Taking a finger tip, she ran it down over his cheek and bottom lip. “I think we’d just be very busy making love to one another! Fact is, I don’t think we’d do anything else! I think it would be rather wonderful to have you all to myself for several days, in bed! I would never tire of having your body be a part of mine!” She smiled as he groaned and leaned near to kiss her once more.

“If’n you don’t stop talkin’ like that, we’s gonna end up in the hayloft in the livery and Sarah is gonna wonder why we left her out in this here cold all nite!”

Melissa laughed. “Oh okay, if we have to go! But I like the thoughts of the hayloft! Keep that in mind!” She moved from his embrace and started running towards the livery. Buck lightly swatted her on the rear and hurried after her.

Sarah helped Jake up from the chair, slipped an arm around his waist, and they started off for the hotel. Teaspoon stopped them at the door. “You want me to walk along with yous Miss Sarah?”

“No Teaspoon, we’ll be okay. Buck and Melissa will meet me there. Thanks anyway!” She smiled at the older gentleman, and the two them walked on.

Jake was a little unsteady on his feet, and he leaned on Sarah. He liked the feel of her arm around his waist.

“Jake I’m really sorry this happened. I don’t know what got into Jimmy tonight. Actually, he’s been acting a little strange all day.

“He ain’t gonna tell you what his problem is! But I knows.”

“Well, I sure wish he’d let someone else in on it so we can help him take care of it! I didn’t like the way he acted tonight! He had no right to hit you.”

“He thought he did! Sarah, Hickok and I’s been enemies for as long as I’s kin remember! I knowed today while we was walkin’ that he was a followin’ us! He’s more interested in yous than he’s gonna let on. He was jealous all afternoon a my bein’ with you and he jist couldn’t handle it when I tried to cut in on his dance with you! He’s gonna have to realize that he has feelin’s fer you!”

“Feelings for me?” Sarah laughed. “No Jake, I don’t think so! If he does, he sure don’t know how to show them! Punching you in the face wasn’t the way to do it!”

“Maybe not. Maybe he ain’t shore how to show you. Yous mite have to help him!”

“I’m not helping him with anything. I detested the way he acted tonight and I meant what I said! I don’t want to be his friends if this is how he acts!”

Jake laughed, the moaned as the pain filled his face at the moment. “He could’a acted totally different and shot me! If’n Marshall Hunter hadn’t a took them guns off him when he gots to the dance, he mite a used one on me!”

“I don’t think Jimmy would have done that, no matter how angry he was.”

“Sarah, ain’t you never seed Hickok when he gits called out? He’s kilt a lot a men! Someone is always gonna be gunnin’ fer him! He’s got a reputation. If’n he gits mad ‘nough, he’s gonna shot someone! I’s seed it happen a’fore. He’d jist as soon shoot someone in cold blood as look at ‘em! And if’n he feels like I think he does, then he’s liable to shoot someone cause he’s jealous a yous! The man is in love with you!”

Sarah was standing there with her mouth nearly down to her knees! She couldn’t believe what Jake was saying! First of all he tells her that he would kill someone in cold blood, just because he might get angry at them, then he’s telling her he thinks Jimmy loves her, and would kill someone over her! She wasn’t sure which one was crazier, Jake or Jimmy! She wasn’t about to believe all this!

“Jake you are talking nonsense! First off I’m sure Jimmy isn’t gonna kill someone just because he’s angry at them. And I know he isn’t gonna kill someone because of me! He isn’t jealous, because he doesn’t love me! Not and act the way he does!”

“Sarah, I’s tellin’ the truth! I done seed it in his eyes! The man is jealous! And if he don’t make some sort of move ‘tween now and the time I git back to town, I’s gonna make one fer myself!” He pulled her up close to his body, startling Sarah.

“Jake let me go!”

“Ah Sarah, if’n you’ll let that no count Hickok hold yous this close, why cain’t I?” He leaned down and kissed her lightly. The entire time she was pushing against his chest.

“Jake, let me go!” She was struggling to get away from him.

“Sarah yous is one beautiful woman!” He was trying to kiss her again, when Melissa and Buck drove up in the buckboard.

Buck heard her, and jumped from the buckboard before it stopped moving. Melissa watched as Buck rushed over and jerked Jake away from Sarah.

“Colter, let her go!”

“Guess I’s have to share with yous too! I’s thought you already had yer own woman!” He threw his head in Melissa’s direction. “Ain’t she gonna mind if’n yous messin’ with her best friend?”

“Jake your best bet is to leave town! Buck, I’m okay. Let it go!” Sarah had stepped back and straightened her dress. “There’s been enough trouble for one night.” She could tell that Buck really didn’t want to turn Jake loose! He was itching to punch him. “Come one Buck. I’m ready to go home.”

Buck was still holding Jake by the shirt front and had his left fist drawn back to hit him. For a few more moments, he stood that way. Then he slowly let go. It wouldn’t really accomplish anything and Sarah was okay. “Yous best take the ladies advice Colter! Else Marshall Hunter will see that you leave town!” Turning, he jumped off the hotel steps and climbed back up on the buckboard beside Melissa and Sarah. Slapping the reins on the horses back, they headed off for the ranch.

The three of them were silent as they rode along. Melissa was snuggled close to Buck’s side. She had mixed emotions about what had happened that night. She looked Sarah’s way. There was a large frown on her face, and she seemed to be lost in thought. Reaching over, she squeezed her hand that was beside her on the seat. “You okay?”

“Yeah. There’s just been so much said and done tonight, I don’t know what to think!”

“Sarah, I know it ain’t none a my business who you decide to keep friends with, but I wish you’d stay away from Jake Colter! He ain’t nuthin’ but trouble!”

“Way he talks, neither is Jimmy Hickok,” she sighed. She really didn’t know what to think any more.

“Sarah, Colter and Hickok have been enemies since they met! Colter was huntin’ Hickok fer the bounty that first time they met. It jist happened he didn’t take him in! They ain’t never gonna like one ‘nother, and theys gonna talk the other down ever chance they git. So take what Colter has to say ‘bout Hickok with a grain a salt!”

“I just don’t know what to think Buck! I don’t understand what Jimmy’s problem is! I wish he would tell me so I could help him with it! He made me so mad when he punched Jake tonight. The mad hadn’t done anything but ask to cut in!”

“Sarah, Jimmy ain’t gonna tell you how he feels ‘bout you! I seen it, so has Melissa. It was very plain as he was a dancin’ with you tonite!”

“Buck he still isn’t going to change his mind about me, no matter how he might feel!”

“You don’t know that Sarah.” Melissa looked her friends way. “I thought that about Buck too, but it all worked out. This could with Jimmy too!”

“It was bound to happen with Buck, Melissa. The two of you were meant to be together!”

“So are you and Jimmy!” Buck sounded a little irritated as they pulled up to the house at the ranch.

“But, I appreciate the way you and Melissa feel about this, but it’s not gonna change anything. I know you both want me to be happy. Just know that it isn’t gonna happen with Jimmy Hickok!” She got up and jumped down from the buckboard. Reaching in the back, she picked up the picnic basket and blanket. “I’m going in. Thanks Buck for rescuing me! You two talk as long as you want. I’m gonna turn in. Night!” She slipped inside, and Melissa sighed.

“I just don’t know what to do about this situation Buck! We both know she and Jimmy are supposed to be together. We have to find a way to make it happen.”

“I tried to talk to Jimmy tonight after he’d punched Colter. He weren’t willin’ to listen. Or at least I don’t think he was. Maybe he’ll come to his senses and start thinkin’ about it.”

“Well, I hope they’re at least on speaking terms day after tomorrow! Thanksgiving won’t be much fun if they aren’t!”

“All we can do is hope fer the best!” Buck jumped from the buckboard and went around to help her down. They walked to the door and Melissa turned to kiss him good night. “I really had a wonderful day Buck! I’d love for you to stay, but I really think I need to go in and spend some time talking with Sarah.”

“Me too! I think Sarah needs you rite now worse than I do! I’ll see you tomorrow!” He leaned near and kissed her lightly. “Nite!” Kissing the tip of her nose, he turned and was gone.

Sarah had gone inside and put up the picnic basket and blanket. After she’d changed for bed, she had gone over and sat down in the window sill, looking out at the clear night sky. She just didn’t know what to make of what Jake had said. Was he so angry at Jimmy that he would make up lies? Or was what he said true? Had Jimmy ever killed in cold blood? Or would he? She just couldn’t imagine him doing that! He had such a kind heart. He could be so tender and loving. She sighed as she pressed her fingers to her temple. She just didn’t know which way to turn.

Melissa changed first, and then went to Sarah’s door. There wasn’t a light, but she knew that she wasn’t asleep. Quietly, she turned to knob and stepped inside the room. She saw her sitting in the window, and moved over to stand beside her. Sarah had heard her enter the room, and she looked up at her. “Buck didn’t stay?”

Melissa smiled. “No. He knew that you and I needed to spend some time talking. He could tell how upset you were.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised. We read each other so well, him and me.”

“Sarah, tonight when you and Jimmy were dancing, the feelings he has for you were so apparent in his eyes. Didn’t you notice them?”

She sighed. “Oh, I saw them. It was as he was telling me with his eyes, what I know he’ll never tell me with his voice. But I just don’t understand if he feels that way, why he acts as he does? Why he doesn’t want more out of this relationship?”

“I think Jimmy is afraid. Afraid of what will happen if he tried for more than friendship with you! There are times that he lets that wall down, like he did tonight dancing with you. That’s when you see things that you wouldn’t normally see. Those are rare times. I don’t know what sort of life Jimmy Hickok has had up until now, but I think it’s been one full of pain and suffering. I think he’s afraid it will never be anything else!”

“Melissa, Jake told me that Jimmy has killed people in cold blood, and that he would do it again and not give it a second thought! I can’t see him ever doing that!”

“I think Jake is trying to feed you a bunch of trash! If it’s like Buck says, and he and Jimmy had been enemies since the beginning, then both of them would possibly tell you nothing good about the other! We both know that Jimmy has been called out. We’ve seen it before. We’ve seen how he acts afterwards. It bothers him to take another’s life. I don’t think he could kill anyone in cold blood. Deep down you don’t either! You may never understand, because he may never tell you, but your gut feelings are right about the man. He can’t be the cold blooded killer that everyone makes him out to be!”

“You’re right, I know. I guess I just have too many troubled thoughts because Jimmy won’t open up to me and tell me these things. Then he goes and does something stupid, like tonight when he punched Jake.”

“You really didn’t mean it when you told him you didn’t want to be his friend any more sis you?”

Sarah looked out the window. “Yes and no. It just made me so angry. I’m still angry, even though Jake tried what he did with me at the hotel. It just irritated me that he would punch someone for no reason! All the man did was ask if he could cut in for gosh sakes!”

“Sarah, like I said before. It was all right there on Jimmy’s face. Holding you close like he was, he was loving every minute of it. It just flew all over him when someone tried to interrupt! And when he saw that it was Jake, whom he was already upset with because he’d spent the afternoon with you, he couldn’t control his temper! He’s hot headed! Besides don’t you think it’s a little strange that he gets so upset if he sees you with another man, if he doesn’t have some sort of feelings for you?”

“That just makes me wonder even more why he won’t be more than my friend of he’s so jealous. That still doesn’t give him just cause to punch Jake! I don’t care how hot headed he is, or how jealous for that matter! There was no cause for it! I suppose I didn’t mean I wouldn’t be his friend any longer, but it might take a few days to get over how I feel about what he did! Melissa I just don’t know what to think here!”

“I know Sarah. Maybe Jimmy will sit down and think things through. It has to be bothering him too! Thanksgiving is two days away. What are you planning to do about it? We’ve been invited to the station you know.”

“I’ll probably just bake the pie for Buck and send it along with you and stay here. You can tell them I’m not feeling well or something.”

“Sarah you can’t do that! We just won’t go. I’ll stay here with you. We could cook here and Buck could join us if he wanted to.”

“And everyone at the station won’t understand that. No, you go ahead and have a good time!”

“Sarah, I won’t go unless you do. Besides, Jimmy knows how you feel. He won’t bother you…especially in front of everyone. You know you don’t want to miss all the fun.”

“Well, we’ll see. Let things settle down some. It’s still two days away. I’ll see how I feel then.”

“Promise me you won’t let yourself be caught alone with Jake Colter again. He can be a dangerous man! Maybe you should think about staying at the station next time Buck and I go to the village to visit, which by the way will be the day after Thanksgiving!”

“Oh? I like how you just sort of slip that in on me!” she laughed. “No, I’ll be fine Melissa. I’ll have the gun with me and you know I can take care of myself. I promise to keep an eye out for Jake. You two go ahead and enjoy your time together at the village. Don’t cut it short or anything like that for me! Now it’s getting late, and we should call it a day. I have to get up early in the morning to feed and water the horses since I didn’t do that tonight. All that extra I left them this morning will be gone by then!”

“Sarah it’s gonna all work out. I know you feel like it won’t right now. Maybe Grandmother Running Doe can talk some sense into him!”

Sarah laughed. “She must be satisfied with the way things are going between you and Buck. She hasn’t visited us lately!”

“Well, I’m going to have to see if I can’t find her and have her work on our Mr. Hickok for us!”

Sarah laughed again. “She might scare him so bad he’ll never speak to us again! See you in the morning girlfriend!” She leaned over and hugged Melissa, and they both headed for bed.

It took Melissa a little time to fall asleep. Her mind was so jumbled with things that had happened with Sarah that day. There was a way to get Jimmy to see things the way he should. She just had to find a way to make it happen. Her last thought were of Jake Colter. She had a bad feeling about him.

Jimmy had ridden Cisco miles from the station. He’d just let him have his head, and go where he wanted. When he finally slowed, he’d made camp for the night. It was cold as he poked at the camp fire. His mind just wouldn’t turn off for the night so that he could sleep. He kept going over everything that had happened that day and night. Why had Jake Colter had to show up in town at all? So much could have been avoided if he hadn’t. He’d always had eyes for Sarah. He didn’t trust Colter, and he knew he didn’t trust him where Sarah was concerned! He would rather see her with Duell McCall, than Jake Colter! Thoughts of Duell brought back the memory of Sarah and Duell kissing at the corral. He threw the stick he’d been poking the fire with away. Turning over, he tried to sleep. He didn’t want Sarah with Colter and he didn’t want her with McCall, so who did he want her with?

And could he live without her being his friend? Had she really meant what she’d said? He guessed he shouldn’t have punched Jake, but it had just made him so mad. And Buck, what sort of nonsense had be been trying to tell him? That he’d seen how he felt about Sarah on his face as they’d danced? Had his feelings been that obvious? How did he really feel about her? Was it love he felt for her? He’d though he was in love before, but he knew that wasn’t what it was. If it had been, it would have lasted a lot longer. With Sarah, things felt so different. It didn’t matter if he did love her, he couldn’t have her! There was no sense in even dreaming about something that could never be!

Finally he dozed off. He tossed and turned all night. His dreams were filled with Sarah. How in the world was he gonna ever stop thinking about her? This was going to drive him nuts!

Near dawn, he woke, and rebuilt the camp fire. It was no use trying to sleep. It was hopeless. There had to be a way to get her out of his system!

It was nearly noon when Jimmy rode back into the station. He was lucky that he didn’t have a run any time soon. He would fall asleep in the saddle. Hopefully everyone would be out doing something. He planned to slip into the bunkhouse and catch a few winks. He was unsaddling Cisco, when he heard the barn door open. He nearly ran somewhere to hide, but decided against it.

“Jimmy? You in here?”

It was Lou’s voice. He was standing in the shadows, but he stepped out where she could see him.

“Yeah, what is it?”

“I been lookin’ fer you all mornin’. Got a few minutes?” She stepped over to where he was unsaddling Cisco. He swung the saddled over the side of the stall and after feeding him, leaned against the door.

“What is it? I really need some sleep.”

Lou looked at him…really looked at him for the first time. She could tell that he hadn’t had any sleep. There were circles under his eyes.

“You okay?”

“Fine.”

She sighed. His answer was short and to the point. He wasn’t about to tell her anything, and she knew as well not to question him further. “It’s ‘bout yesterday Jimmy…Colter, Sarah and all.”

Jimmy frowned. He really didn’t want to talk about this - especially not after spending the entire night thinking of nothing else. “Lou, I really ain’t in the mood to talk ‘bout this now!”

“That’s why we need to. If we wait till you are in the mood, we’ll never talk ‘bout it!”

He sighed. Taking his hat off, he ran a hand through his hair. She was probably right. “Okay, what ‘bout it?”

“Jimmy when you gonna stop lyin’ to yourself and admit that you love Sarah?”

Jimmy sighed. “I ain’t in love with Sarah!”

“Yes you are! If’n you didn’t have them feelin’s fer her, it wouldn’t a mattered yesterday when Colter showed up. You wouldn’t a got mad when he was bein’ her partner in all them races. It wouldn’t a mattered to you a tall! Then last nite, you’d a never slugged Colter if’n you hadn’t a been dancin’ with Sarah pulled up close to your body dreamin’ a doin’ it forever, not aware of anyone else in the world, til he tried to cut in! You lost yer cool cause you love her!”

“Lou, you’re crazy! I ain’t in love with her!”

“Jimmy, go ahead and deny it! When your on your death bed, you’re gonna wish you had pushed away your foolish pride and took her into yer heart! Cause you gonna be lonely forever!”

“You don’t know what yer talkin’ ‘bout!”

“Oh yes I do! Member when Kid and I decided that we weren’t ready to settle down? We thought it was over. We was miserable! Jist like you are now! I heard her tell you she didn’t want to be your friend no more! I saw the hurt through all that anger in your eyes! Face it Hickok….you love her!! I’m sick and tired of seein’ you git upset when some other man in town speaks to her, or dances with her, or pays her too much attention…jist like Colter did yesterday! It’s time to stop all this nonsense. If’n you don’t you are gonna regret it! Sarah deserves to be happy…so do you!”

Jimmy had been silent while he listened to her. Maybe she was right. “Sarah ain’t gonna be happy with me! She deserves someone better’n me!”

“Whoa! Wait jist a minute Hickok! There ain’t no man out there better’n you are! Git that thought rite outta your head! Any woman in her rite mind would be proud to be by your side!”

“Ain’t true Lou! She should be with someone who ain’t gots to worry every time he turns his back on someone! She needs someone who can give her years of happiness...not jist days!”

“Jimmy it don’t matter none! None a us knows how long we got here. None a us knows who we’re gonna fall in love with! None a us knows what the future holds! What we do know is what’s now…rite this minute! An I know fer a fact, you love Sarah, and you should be with her!”

Jimmy walked over and sat down on a bale of hay. Lou followed him over, taking a seat at his side.

“But Lou, it ain’t fair to her. Askin’ her to love me and not knowin’ from one day to the next, hell, from one minute to the next if’n I’m still gonna be alive!”

“I bet she wouldn’t care none bout that Hickok! To her, all that would matter was that you was hers..that the two a you was together, whether it be fer two days, two weeks, or a hundred years! What little time you have here on this earth, you deserve to be happy! Don’t shut her out no more! Go to her and tell her how you feel! Don’t wait no longer and give her a chance to make some excuse not to let you in!”

“But it’s too dangerous! I ain’t wantin’ to see her git hurt or kilt cause a me!”

Lou looked into his troubled eyes. “Jimmy, Sarah can take care a herself! Ever thought it mite be good to have someone like her to cover yer back when she needs to? If’n you’d tell her how you really feel, she’s gonna be there when you need her!”

“How you know Sarah feels this way? You asked her how she feels ‘bout me?”

“Course not! But us women can tell! I’ve known she was interested in you since the first time I laid eyes on her. She’ll be good fer you Hickok! Let her in!”

“I cain’t Lou! I don’y want her to git hurt!”

“Jimmy, she’d be the first to tell you it ain’t gonna matter! If’n she can spend her time with you, it won’t matter none! She loves you! That would be all that mattered!” Lou leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I love you Hickok! You know that. I want to see you happy. Sarah is the lady that can make it happen fer ya!”

Lou got up and left him sitting on the bale of hay. He leaned his head back on the stall and closed his eyes. Everything that she had just laid in his lap was swirling around his head. Funny how Lou could get through his thick head when no one else could! He got up and headed for the bunkhouse. He would think about this later. Right now he had to have some sleep!

Later in the afternoon, Sarah rode into town to buy the things that she would need for baking apple pies. Rachel had refused to let them bring anything other than the pies to the Thanksgiving dinner. So making a list of the things she didn’t have, she had left Melissa taking care of things at the ranch and had gone to Tompkin’s store.

Jimmy had gotten in a few hours sleep and feeling a little better had decided to ride into town. He was so tired of thinking about things. He had to find something to get his mind off Sarah. While he’d been sleeping, the things that Lou had said to him had invaded his dreams! He just couldn’t get away from the situation!

He stopped in front of Teaspoon’s office, and was about to swing down from the saddle when he spotted what looked like Mariah tied to the railing in front of Tompkin’s store. Moving Cisco in that direction, he swung down from the saddle and went over to talk to him.

“Hey boy, how ya doin’?” Jimmy started scratching his ears, and Mariah whinnied, nudging him for more attention.

Sarah had gotten her things together, and was walking out of the store before she noticed Jimmy standing there. Her heart was suddenly in her throat. What should she do? Ignore him? Speak to him and act as if nothing had happened? She stood silently for a few seconds just looking at him. She realized as she stood there, that this man would always be very special to her, no matter how he acted, or what he did! Why did it have to be that way? Why couldn’t she just walk away from him, like he was doing to her? Just turn her back and act as if he didn’t exist?

Jimmy felt a presence and turned to see Sarah standing behind him. She was so beautiful standing there. Though she had on a heavy coat, he knew where all her curves were and his heart started to pound as he thought of her in his arms only two nights before.

“Sorry,” his voice was low. She had to strain to hear it. “I couldn’t resist coming over to tell him hello!” Jimmy’s back was to Mariah, and he nudged him in the back again, nearly knocking him over. Sarah almost laughed aloud, but kept it inside as she watched the two of them together. Jimmy and this horse clicked. They belonged together. Jimmy smiled and turned once more to scratch his ears. Pulling a lump of sugar out of his pocket, he gave it to him. Then with one last smile, he started to step away.

Sarah walked over to her horse, secured the packages that she had purchased, climbed on and rode away! It was the hardest thing that she’d ever done! Jimmy just stood there looking after her. She hadn’t even said hello! His heart felt as if it had been broken into a million pieces. Somewhere in the last few hours, he had finally let it all sink in. He’d finally admitted to himself that, yes, he did love her. There was no use denying it any longer! Now what was he supposed to do? She’d just acted as if he didn’t exist! Of course wasn’t that the way he’d acted with her?

Thanksgiving Day dawned cloudy. Melissa wondered as she walked back towards the house from feeding the horses if it would snow. The clouds were heavy, and the air just held that feeling. Her mind briefly touched on the conversation that she and Buck had the night of the Founders Day Dance. They were supposed to leave in the morning to go to Red Bear’s village. Would it snow while they were there? She smiled. Maybe that was where they would get snowed in! It sent a thrill through her body as she thought of the nights that she would be spending in Buck’s arms at the village. She missed being able to sleep beside him. She knew that Sarah didn’t mind if Buck stayed at the ranch over night, but they tried to keep down talk…not knowing what might be said. The riders wouldn’t think much of it, but things had gone to well in town to push their luck.

Sarah had been up since dawn making pie crust for the apple pies she had promised to bring to the station. She was just putting the top crust on and slipping them in the oven when Melissa came in the door.

“Since you’re baking, I guess that means you’ve decided that you’re going to the station with me for supper! I really don’t want to go unless you do!”

“I guess I’ve decided to go. After yesterday, I think I can go to the station, see Jimmy and ignore him with the best of them!”

“What are you talking about? What happened yesterday?” Melissa poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. Sarah cleaned up her mess and soon joined her in a cup, telling her what had happened the day before.

“One of the hardest things I’ve ever done was ride away from him!”

“Well, maybe it gave him something to think about. After all, that’s the way he has treated you in the past! He needs to know how it feels!”

“Who knows what Jimmy will do? I don’t think anyone, not even Teaspoon or the riders know how he thinks!” She sighed. “I’m not planning to worry about it any more though. Whatever happens will happen!”

Jimmy had been up most of the night. He couldn’t get Sarah off his mind. He’d spent a lot of time thinking about what Lou had said to him, and he realized that she was right. He just hadn’t been willing to admit it. Now that he’d decided that he had feelings for her, Sarah was acting really strange. Had she decided that she wanted Jake Colter? Was that why she was ignoring him? He couldn’t get over the fact that she had totally ignored him the day before. That had cut him to the bone. Was that they way that she had felt when he had walked away from her all those times? If it were, he was so sorry that he’d done it. Now here he was, ready to tell her how he felt. Ready to try and do it right this time, and she wouldn’t have anything to do with him! Now what?

The ladies rode to the station around 2 o’clock. They were planning to help Rachel prepare the meal. Everyone seemed in good spirits, and there was a lot of laughter and good natured picking going on. Teaspoon let it slip that Buck and Melissa were going to visit Buck’s brother the next morning, and all the riders started in on them. Of course Teaspoon threw in his share of questions. By the time it ended, Melissa was red with embarrassment, and Buck wasn’t far behind.

Jimmy stayed mostly to himself during all the picking. He noticed that Sarah would send him a glance from time to time, but her eyes didn’t linger. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking as she looked his way. He never had a chance to pull her to the side to say anything to her. Of course, he didn’t know what that would be if there was a chance. If she’d chosen someone else, why wasn’t she spending the day with him? Was it Jake? How was he going to handle it if she had? Surely she wouldn’t pick someone like Colter!

Lou could tell Jimmy had given what she had said to him some serious thought. She had a feeling that he was soon going to tell Sarah how he felt. She seemed to be doing a good job of ignoring him. But Lou could tell that she was having a hard time with it. She would catch her looking at Jimmy when no one else was watching.

Neither realized that they were putting on a show. They were acting like young kids in love for the first time. They would gaze at one another longingly when they thought the other wasn’t looking. Teaspoon was sitting at the head of the table watching them. What was it going to take to get the two of them to realize how they felt? He was out of ideas!

After everyone had eaten their fill, and the table had been cleared, they all moved to the living room. Teaspoon had gotten a fire going in the fireplace, and they all crowded around. Lou and Kid were cuddled in one corner; Noah, Jimmy and Cody were sitting in a semi circle in front on the floor, Rachel and Sarah on one end of the sofa, Buck with Melissa sitting in his lap on the other and lastly Teaspoon sitting in his favorite chair. They talked for awhile about the things that had happened in the last week or so in Rock Creek, and then conversation turned to Christmas.

Jimmy watched Sarah from half closed eyes. How he wished they could have their differences worked out by then. Christmas had always been his favorite time of year. It would be even more wonderful if he could spend it with the woman he loved…..the woman he loved! Those words shook him to the very core! He never thought that he would think them, let alone feel them! He had never planned to fall in love with anyone. But as he gazed at Sarah, he realized that he loved her very much. He frowned as he stared into the fire. He just didn’t know what to do.

Sarah’s mind was working on the same line. Jimmy had looked so good that day. It had been just as hard for her to ignore him as it had the day before. She found herself wanting to throw herself in his arms. As she looked his way, she felt her heart pound double time. He was leaning back on his elbows, looking towards the flames of the fire. His long legs were stretched out in front of him. She would love to be lying there beside him, her head resting on his chest, listening to his heartbeat! She closed her eyes, and willed herself to think about something else. This wasn’t getting her anywhere!

Conversation had ended, and everyone had been sitting quietly. Buck leaned near and kissed Melissa on the back of the neck and she snuggled deeper into his embrace. She was anxious for tomorrow to arrive. She didn’t want to tell him goodnight! Lou and Kid got up and headed for home, which started everyone else moving.

Sarah stood up and stretched. “If I sit here much longer, I’ll fall asleep. That’s what good food and a warm fireplace will do for you.”

Teaspoon cleared his throat as he spoke up. “Warm fireplaces is good fer other things!” He grinned as he looked from Sarah to Jimmy. She blushed and looked away from Jimmy. He could feel his face heating up as he thought about Teaspoon’s meaning.

They all laughed and started saying their goodnights. Jimmy watched as Sarah hugged everyone but him, and then headed for the door. She hadn’t even glanced his way! Feeling rejected, he headed for the bunkhouse.

Buck rode back to the ranch with the ladies. He was a little worried about Sarah. She didn’t really seem herself. He glanced around Melissa, and asked. “You feelin’ alrite Sarah?”

She sighed. “I’m fine. Just all this with Jimmy is beginning to get to me.”

“Want me to talk to him fer you?”

“Buck if I thought it would do any good, I would jump at the chance. But I don’t see Jimmy changing his mind. I’m just going to have to make myself accept the fact that he isn’t going to be mine again. Our time has come and gone.”

“Give it some time Sarah. Before Jake showed up at Founders Day, he seemed to be coming round. Let him get over the mad spell, and he might be back.”

“I guess that is a little ray of hope. But among the negative, it doesn’t shine very brightly. After what I said at the dance to him, he may never speak to me again!”

Melissa went to bed again that night with Jimmy and Sarah on her mind. She wondered if she could summon Grandmother Running Doe. She had always just appeared; never had she asked her to come. Was there a possibility that she could change the way Jimmy felt? She knew that she had helped turn Buck around. She wasn’t sure how, but she knew that she had been involved. She drifted off to sleep asking her grandmother to do something before it was too late.

Jimmy rose from his bunk near dawn. He could count on one hand how many hours he’d slept in the last two days! He was worn out. There was no use just lying there. He pulled on his coat, reached for his hat and guns, and slipped from the bunkhouse. Maybe a walk in the cold morning air would clear his thoughts.

Everything was quiet. Even the horses were huddled together to stay warm in the corral. He walked over and propped his foot on the bottom of the fence, and stood looking out towards the mountains. Today was another day. Buck and Melissa would be leaving in just a few hours to go to visit Red Bear. That would leave Sarah at the ranch all alone. He wasn’t too thrilled about that. But he knew that Sarah would insist that she was capable of taking care of herself. Could he come up with a good enough excuse to go by the ranch and check up on her? Would she even talk to him if he did?

His mind was so wrapped around Sarah and his problems, he didn’t notice that the horses were beginning to stir. They were beginning to act strange. Suddenly Jimmy heard a noise. He turned, but didn’t see anything. The horses were beginning to whinny, as if someone strange were close by. Reaching for his gun, he turned once more. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing!

There was a mist swirling around behind him. As he watched, it drew closer to him. He drew the gun that he had his hand on.

A ghostly voice was heard, and a shiver ran up Jimmy’s spine. “Your guns won’t hurt me…listen to me young, hard headed one…”

Jimmy looked around startled. Whose voice had that been? And why did he have this spooky feeling all of a sudden?

“Who’s there? Come out in the open so I can see you!” Jimmy turned slowly all the way around, still not seeing anyone.

“I’m here young, hard headed one…”

Jimmy looked back towards the area that he’d seen the mist and he couldn’t believe what he saw. In fact, he rubbed his eyes. It didn’t go away. Was he dreaming? Asleep on his feet? That had to be it.

In the middle of the mist stood an old Indian woman. She was dressed in a buckskin dress, decorated with beads and eagle feathers. His heart was hammering so hard in his chest that he was afraid that it would crash right through the skin. Was this real? Was someone playing tricks on him? If it were real, what did she want with him? Suddenly he wished that Buck were there. At least he was familiar with this spirit thing…and something told him, this was one! He had never believed they existed! Now he wasn’t so sure! He waved the gun towards the mist. “What do you want with me old woman?”

“No reason to fear me. Colter...he the one to fear! Hurt Sarah…watch over her. She the one you love...be with her forever…marry her, many children…”

The mist was beginning to vanish and along with it the old woman. “Wait…wait…who are you? How’s Colter gonna hurt Sarah?”

“Running Doe…ask Melissa...she tell you who this ole’ woman be…watch over Sarah…”

At that she vanished completely!

“NO! Come back!” But she was gone. Jimmy ran to the spot where she had appeared, still holding his gun in his right hand. The mist was totally gone. He stood there, stunned. What had just happened? It left him with such a strange feeling.

He hadn’t noticed that the sky had turned from dark to gray. It was still cloudy, and the sun didn’t look as if it would appear that day. He didn’t see Teaspoon come out of the house and walk his way.

Teaspoon wasn’t sure exactly what was wrong with Jimmy. He was standing by the corral with his gun in his hand, staring off into space. His face was white, and Teaspoon wondered if he were feeling okay. Carefully, he walked up and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Son, is you alrite?”

Jimmy jumped at Teaspoon’s touch. He gazed at Teaspoon as if he didn’t recognize him. What had been going on out here? Teaspoon looked around but didn’t notice anything strange, that is, until he looked down at Jimmy’s feet. There were three perfect eagle feathers lying beside him. Teaspoon leaned down and gave them a better look. “Son, where’d these here feathers come from?”

Jimmy was still off with his thoughts. Who was Running Doe? What did she have to do with Melissa? Why would she appear to him?

When Teaspoon had spoken to him, he hadn’t paid him much attention. When he didn’t answer his question, Teaspoon had the urge to shake him. What was wrong with him?

“Son, is you there? Where’d these here eagle feathers come from?” This time he got through to him, and Jimmy looked at the feathers that Teaspoon had picked up off the ground and now held in his hands. He knew that Running Doe had left them. There was no question. He reached out and took them from Teaspoon.

“I gotta find Buck! Ain’t got no time to tell ya now!” With that, he holstered his gun and hurried towards the bunkhouse where the rest of the riders were beginning to wake up.

Teaspoon looked after him. He had looked as if he’d seen a ghost. Shaking his head, he went into the barn and saddled his horse. There was time to make morning rounds in town before Rachel had breakfast ready.

Buck had just finished dressing when Jimmy came rushing into the bunkhouse. Looking around he spotted Buck who was just reaching for his coat and gun belt.

“Buck I need to talk to you.”

Buck had looked up when Jimmy had come rushing in. The tone of his voice had made him realize that there was something going on. He worried that something was wrong with Melissa or Sarah.

“Is Melissa and Sarah alrite?” He quickly strapped on his gun.

Jimmy motioned towards the door, indicating that he didn’t want to talk inside with the others listening. So Buck followed him outside, worried that something might have happened to the two women that meant the world to him. He thought it a little strange that he hadn’t had any feelings about either of them that morning. Normally he would know if they were in trouble.

“Jimmy you ain’t actin’ rite. What’s wrong?”

He walked over to the end of the porch and stood looking out over the yard. Buck followed, wishing that he would just tell him what the problem was…especially if Melissa and Sarah were involved.

Jimmy turned his way, and handed him the eagle feathers. Buck looked down at them startled. He knew where they had to have come from. There was no other place that three such perfect feathers could be found. “Grandmother Running Doe!” It came out almost as a whisper.

“Who is she? Whose grandmother?”

Buck looked up at Jimmy. He seemed shaken, and he realized that she must have appeared to him. “She’s Melissa’s Cherokee grandmother.”

Jimmy seemed to remember Melissa talking one night about having a grandmother that was Cherokee. But why would she appear to him? It suddenly dawned on him that Buck was very familiar with the feathers. He had known without his telling him that someone named Running Doe had left them!

“You seen her too, ain’t you? I ain’t crazy, rite? She ain’t livin’ no more, but she’s come to you too? I weren’t dreamin’?”

Buck looked up at Jimmy from the feathers he held in his hand. He was trembling slightly. To someone who wasn’t used to the spirits, it could be a rather upsetting experience. “No, you weren’t dreamin’. Grandmother Runnin’ Doe walks the spirit path, but she keeps a close eye on Melissa. She came to me and told me I was ‘sposed to be with Melissa. She is my future. She made me realize that I needed to rethink what I was doin’ at the time.”

“If’n she’s Melissa’s grandmother, why’s she come to me? I ain’t interested in her!” The entire time Jimmy was talking, he was remembering what the woman had said to him. That Colter was going to hurt Sarah.

Buck was still holding the eagle feathers as if they were gold. “I ain’t shore. What exactly did she say to you?”

“That Colter weren’t nuthin’ but trouble. That I needed to watch over Sarah. That Colter was gonna hurt her. That Sarah was the one I loved and we was goin’ to marry an have lots of children.”

Buck smiled at the last words. So he’d been right. Sarah and Jimmy were destined to be together! That was one reason why she’d shown herself to Jimmy. To make him see that he was wrong in thinking that he and Sarah didn’t belong together!

“What you grinnin’ ‘bout? Ain’t none a this funny! I guess I have to believe what she has to say? Or did I dream all this?”

“Jimmy, you ain’t dreamed none a this! She’s a spirit, and she ain’t gonna tell you no lie!
Whatever she said will come true!”

“Then that means Colter’s up to no good! I got to figure out some way to watch over her! She ain’t gonna like it none neither!”

“Jimmy, the nite a the dance, after you left, Sarah walked Colter back to the hotel while Melissa and I went after the buckboard. When we arrived, Colter had her cornered. He was a forcing hisself on her!”

“WHAT? Why ain’t you done told me ‘bout this?” Jimmy’s face was red with anger.

“I knew that the two a yous weren’t on good terms, and I jist weren’t shore if’n I should tell you or not. Fact was, I had thought I’d let you know a’fore Melissa and I left this mornin’ jist in case there were trouble whilst we was gone!”

Jimmy turned and hit his fist on the column of the porch. At least Buck had told him. If Running Doe hadn’t appeared to him, he might not have found out. He could break Jake Colter in half for touching Sarah!

“Did you take care a him for what he done to Sarah?”

“I was itichin’ to slug him one. But Sarah weren’t ‘bout to let me! I jist told him it were in his best interest if’n he left town a’fore you got wind a what had happened!”

“When do you and Melissa leave for the village?”

“Not long. Soon as I eat breakfast and ride out to the ranch.”

“I’ll find a way to look after her while you two are away. Even if’n I have to camp out on the hill top that over looks her place.”

“Good. At least I can go to the village and not worry ‘bout her.”

Jimmy had fallen silent, still finding it hard to believe that a spirit had actually visited him. “Do you really believe that what she said will come true?”

Buck smiled. “Yep, I do. Best git used to the idea Hickok…you gonna be getting’ married!” Buck slapped him on the back and for a minute Jimmy just stood there. Then a tiny smile started in the corner of his mouth and slowly spread across his face.

“I mite jist like that idea!”

Buck smiled. Looked as if things were finally going to work out like they should!

Melissa had gotten up early that morning. She was excited about going to the village with Buck. She had the coffee going when Sarah stumbled into the kitchen.

“Why are you up so early? Someone would think something special was happening today!” Sarah smiled her way as she sat down at the table.

“Just could be!” She sat down too, propping her chin in her hand. “Oh I can’t help it Sarah! I’m excited about going to the village with Buck, getting to spend some time alone with him!”

Sarah looked at her flushed face and sighed. The last two times that Buck and Melissa had been at the village, she had been with Jimmy and Duell. This time she would be alone. “I hope you have a wonderful time. I just wish…” she stopped talking and shook her head. “Don’t matter none what I wish, it ain’t gonna happen!”

Melissa reached out and patted her hand. “Why don’t you ride to the station and talk to Jimmy today. At least get things straight between you two. Even if you don’t end up together, you need to be friends. You know you want to straighten out whatever is between the two of you. You don’t want it to be this way forever.”

Sarah knew she was right. It was bothering her that she and Jimmy weren’t even on speaking terms. They could at least be friends. That would be better than nothing. “I might do that.”

“No mights…set your mind to it and go this afternoon. The sooner the better!”

“Yes Mom!” Sarah laughed. “I’ll try and work up my nerve!”

“You laugh about it, but I know deep down it’s really bothering you.”

Sarah sighed. “You know me so well! Fact is, I didn’t sleep all that well last night for thinking about Jimmy! I kept seeing him stretched out in front of that fire and the desire to be there with him was nearly burning me up inside. The sad thing is, I don’t think that Jimmy and I can be any more than friends to one another.”

“You never know what might happen! I still think Grandmother Running Doe can help us out! I asked her to last night. Now all we have to do is wait!”

Melissa seemed so serious. Of course Sarah had seen what could happen when the spirits wanted it to! “Okay, I’ll give her a chance. And in the meantime, I promise to go to the station and speak to Jimmy!”

Melissa leaned over and patted her hand. “I know you’ll feel better after you do!”

Jake Colter had been out of Rock Creek for three days. All he could think about was Sarah Brooks! He was determined that he would have her. It was for sure that Hickok wasn’t gonna make a play for her! Why let something as beautiful as she was go to waste? Now his only problem was finding an excuse to show up at her ranch!

As he headed back towards Rock Creek, an idea hit him. He really wasn’t a religious man, but he tipped his hat towards the heavens and thanked the man above, if he were really up there for the help! Sarah sold horses at the ranch of hers. He remembered her telling him about the ranch the first time that he had taken her out to supper. That was it. He would show up at her place looking to buy a horse. He decided that he’d stop in Rock Creek first and get a room for the night. He needed to wash some of this trail dust off before he went calling. He smiled to himself. One way or another, Sarah Brooks would be his before night fall!

Jimmy had ridden into town not long after Buck had left to go for Melissa. He’d given it a lot of though, and he had decided that he would tell Teaspoon he needed a few days off. That he was going to stick close to Sarah while Buck and Melissa were gone. He didn’t want her out there on that ranch all alone. He’d rather be honest with Teaspoon, then try and make up some foolish story that he knew Teaspoon would see right through. After all, he knew how he felt about Sarah.

Teaspoon was standing in the doorway of his office when he looked across the street and spotted Jake Colter. Now what was he doing back in town? He definitely didn’t need any trouble. So he decided that he would walk over to the hotel and find out for himself what had brought the no good skunk back to town.

Jake had tied his horse to the rail out front of the hotel and was about to go in and inquire about a room, when he head his name being called from across the street.

“Colter…hold up a minute!”

He wasn’t surprised to see Marshall Hunter headed his way. “Well, I should a knowed you’d be tailin’ me the minute I’s got into town! What’s wrong Marshall? Don’t yous trust me? I ain’t aimin’ to start no trouble!”

“Glad to hear it. Jist wanted to see how long yous planned to stay and why yous here again so soon! I likes to keep an eye on folks that tends to start trouble at the drop of a hat!”

“I done told you, I ain’t aimin’ to start no trouble! I’s plannin’ to git a room for the nite, then ride out to that ranch Sarah Brooks owns. She still sells horses don’t she? I’s in need a one!”

Teaspoon rubbed his chin with his fingers and thought for a moment about what Colter was saying. Sarah did sell horses. Maybe that was why he’d come back. Maybe he didn’t plan on making any trouble.

“Yeah, she sells horses. Fact is, I’s planned to ride out there after I’s finished up here. Melissa left this morning; with Buck fer a few days. Is needed to make shore she were okay.”

Jake couldn’t believe his good fortune! He’d timed this perfect! “Well I’ll see that she ain’t in need a anythin’ whilst I’s out there. I hear she’s a tough lady. I’s shore she can take care a herself!”

“Oh, I knows she can. I jist would feel better if’n I knowed she was alrite!”

“Is shore you would. Ain’t no need a yous goin’ out there if’n I’s goin’ anyway! Don’t worry no more ‘bout it. Is take care a everythin’!”

With a smile on his face, Colter tipped his hat towards Teaspoon and headed inside to clean up. This was wonderful news.

Jimmy found Teaspoon standing at the door of the office looking off towards the west when he arrived. “Everythin’ alrite? You look worried.”

He turned towards Jimmy. “I think I’s jist made a big mistake.” Teaspoon knew that Jimmy couldn’t have come along at a more perfect time. Even if he and Sarah weren’t on speaking terms, he knew that Jimmy would want to help keep her safe. “I ran into Jake Colter a little while ago.”

Jimmy was immediately on guard. “Colter? What is he doin’ back in town?”

“Says he came through cause he was aimin’ to buy hisself ‘nother horse. Was askin’ if Miss Sarah still sold horses. Not thinkin’ straight, I’s told him she did and that she was out at the ranch by herself.”

Panic gripped Jimmy. He had to hurry. After what Buck had told him, there was no telling what Colter would do if he found Sarah alone.

“Son, where you’s goin’ in such a hurry?”

“To check on Sarah! He ain’t got no business out there if’n she’s alone!”

“I was hopin’ you’d see it that way! Sees you in few days!” But Jimmy didn’t hear the last words. He was already galloping at a fast pace towards the end of town and Sarah.

Colter took his time getting to Sarah’s ranch. He would have her all to himself once he arrived. No need to hurry. They would have all night! He stopped on the hill that over looked the ranch and sat watching her as she worked with one of the horses in the corral. Both horse and woman were beautiful. Maybe after he had his way with her, he could persuade her to sell him the animal.

Sarah cooed to Mariah, as she worked him in the corral. Her mind was on Jimmy as always. Would he be pleased with the gift that she planned to give him? Christmas would soon be there. Mariah would be her gift to him.

She took himaround the corral one last time, and as she started to turn him loose, she spotted a rider coming down the hill. For a moment she thought perhaps it was Jimmy. Then she realized that it wasn’t. Her visitor was Jake Colter! Reaching to her side, she felt the gun under her shirt. She was glad once again that Duell had made her promise to have it at all times! Her heart pounding with dread, she leaned on the fence waiting his arrival.

“And what do I owe this visit to? I don’t recall inviting you to stop in the next time you were in town!”

Jake flinched at her tone of voice. “Okay, I deserved that! I’s sorry ‘bout how things turned out the last time we was together. I ain’t come here to fight. I’s come here to see ‘bout buyin’ a horse from yous. Be alrite if’n I git down off this here nag and see what you have to offer?”

Sarah watched him from where she stood. She didn’t trust this man at all, but she did have a reputation in town of selling horses. Maybe that was all he’d come for. “Alright. But I don’t trust you Jake Colter. You’ve proven to me you can’t be trusted.”

“Well I’s jist gonna have to change your mind ain’t I?” He had gotten down from the horse and was walking towards her. She was glad that the corral fence was between them.

Jimmy was sitting on the raise over looking the ranch. He was watching Colter’s every move. There was no way that he was going to touch that little lady and ride off to tell about it.

Sarah started telling him about the horse that she had ready for sale. He seemed interested in Mariah, but she quickly told him that he wasn’t ready yet. She planned to spend a few more hours working with him. She knew the way Jake felt about Jimmy. She couldn’t tell him that she was planning on Jimmy owning the horse.

She noticed that he kept glancing around, as if he were looking for something or someone. Finally he asked, “You here ‘lone?”

Sarah knew that she couldn’t tell the truth. “No, Melissa is in the house.” She had ducked under the corral fence and was taking Jake towards the barn to show him one of the horses inside.

“Now, I knows you is tellin’ me a lie. I have it on very reliable sources that you is out here all ‘lone! I’s decided yous needed some company! Weren’t that nice a me?”

“I don’t need your company Jake. I’m perfectly fine all by myself!” Her tone told him that she wasn’t happy with his idea. He would just have to change her mind.

“Oh, you’ll like my company. I kin promise you that!” He suddenly pulled her into his arms. Sarah struggled to get away from him. His mouth came down on hers, and she felt as if she were being smothered.

She bit his lip and he hollered. “That weren’t very nice a you Sarah! Gonna have to teach you some manners I see.”

She was trying to reach her gun, but he was holding her arms too tight to her sides. He pulled her even closer and tried kissing her again. This time she screamed…”Jake Colter let me go! I don’t want any part of you!”

“You’s jist think you’s don’t! When I’s through with you’s, you’s gonna be beggin’ fer more!”

Jimmy had started down the raise at a mad gallop the first second Jake had kissed her. Jake wasn’t sure what had happened. One minute he was kissing the woman he’d dreamed about for the last three days, and the next, he was being jerked around and slugged. Looking very surprised, Jake gazed up at Hickok. “I should’a knowed you’d be a tailin’ me jist like Hunter when I’s started out here! He with you’s too?”

“Nope! Don’t need Teaspoon to take care a the likes a you! Now git up and git outta here. Sarah don’t want nuthin’ to do with the likes a you!”

“You think you’s better’n me Hickok? I don’t think so! I’s ain’t the one that done kilt all them people in cold blood!”

That set Jimmy on fire. “You’s liein’ ‘bout me and you know it Colter! I ain’t never killed no one in cold blood!”

“I’s know better then that! I seed you do it!”

Jimmy made a lunge for Colter, and they hit the ground. Sarah watched from where she stood. They traded lick for lick, and she wondered how many times they had fought this way.

Jake managed to get away from Jimmy, and reached to pull Sarah against his body. “Come mer purty lady...you’s and me has some unfinished business…” He tried to kiss her again, but Sarah was faster. She pulled the gun and had it pointed straight at him in mere seconds.

“Get away from me now Colter! I’m not afraid to use this on you!”

“And I ain’t afraid to take it from you’s neither!” He reached for the gun, and Sarah fired. It hit him in the shoulder.

“The next one won’t be so harmless Jake. Now back off!”

Jake stood for a few seconds just looking at her. Trying to decide if she were bluffing or not. He was holding his shoulder, the blood streaming down his arm through his fingers. Deciding that she wouldn’t shoot him again, he made a lunge for her, knocking the gun out of her hand and her to the ground at the same time.

Jimmy was on him in seconds. For a few minutes, Sarah wasn’t sure who was going to come out of this fight a winner. It was obvious that they were both out for blood. Even though Jake was wounded, he fought as if his life depended on it. And it just might. Jimmy wasn’t about to let up!

After about ten minutes, Sarah decided she’d seen enough. She didn’t want to fire her gun for fear of hitting Jimmy. Picking up a 2x4 lying near the corral, she started towards the two men. Just as she stepped between them, Jake drew back to hit Hickok, and instead of landing the punch on his jaw as he’d planned, he hit Sarah square in the face! Knocking her sprawling in the dirt and out cold!

“Sarah?” Jake stood a second to long looking at her. It gave Jimmy the advantage and he pounded Jake into the ground.

Leaving a bleeding Colter where he landed, Jimmy rushed over to Sarah. Picking her up, he carefully carried her towards the house, worry written all over his face. Would she be alright?”

Jake came to a few seconds later, and sat up. The pain in his shoulder reminded him that he’d been shot. Looking around he remembered slugging Sarah. Getting up he headed for the house. He had to make sure that she was okay.

Jimmy had placed her on the sofa. He was trying to get her to wake up. He bathed her face with cool towels and talked to her all the while. “Come on Sarah. You got to wake up, You cain’tleave me now!”

Jake staggered into the door and stood looking at Hickok. “Is she alrite?”

Jimmy tuned anger in his eyes. “Best thing you can do is git outta here a’fore I kill you in cold blood! If’n she ain’t alrite, you can damn shore know you’s next! Now git outta my sight!”

“Hickok, I didn’t mean to hurt her none!”

“Don’t matter…now git outta here! Or I ain’t gonna be responsible for what I do to ya!”

Jake sent Sarah one last look and headed for his horse. Well, he’d sure made a mess out of this one.

Jimmy spent the rest of the afternoon by Sarah’s side. She stirred once, but didn’t wake up. He was beginning to worry about her. Darkness was beginning to fall, and he was about to go get the doc. He’d done all he knew to do.

He was on his knees by the sofa, holding her hand in his. “Sarah, you got to come back...I cain’t live without you. I jist realized that I love you! You cain’t leave me now!”

Sarah heard his words…but had he said what she thought he had? He loved her? “Want to repeat that Hickok?” She hadn’t opened her eyes. But Jimmy knew she was back in the world of the living.

“I said I loved you!”

“I think you’re the one that got hit instead of me!” She opened her eyes and tried to sit up. She groaned, reaching for the left side of her face. “What hit me? A ton of rocks?”

“Colter did!”

She was silent a few seconds remembering. “That’s right. That no good piece of horse manure!”

Jimmy was a little startled by her words. He didn’t remember hearing Sarah talk that way! “Jist lie still! You don’t need to be sittin’ up jist yet! You gonna have a purty black eye!” Jimmy grinned and she looked up at him with a frown on her face.

“You think this is funny? Well it’s not! And if I ever see Jake Colter again he’ll regret the day he crossed my path!” She slowly tried to sit up against Jimmy’s wishes. “I don’t know how you knew he was out here, but I’m very glad that you showed up. Though I could ha…”

He interrupted her sentence with “Have handled him yourself! I knowed that is what you were gonna say! Teaspoon told me that he was headed your way.”

Sarah groaned as she finally sat up, holding her face. She’d been hurt many times living on the ranch, but had never had a black eye. Her face hurt.

Jimmy was still on his knees by the sofa. He reached up and caressed her face. She leaned into the caress and for a moment sat silently just letting the feelings wash over her, eyes closed.

“Sarah, we need to talk.”

She sighed as she opened her eyes. She wasn’t sure she was ready for this. She’d heard his declaration of love, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to accept it. “I know Jimmy. But I’m not sure I’m ready to talk about it just yet.”

“Then jist listen whist I tell you what I have to say. I’m sorry fer everythin’ that’s happened ‘tween us these last few days. I never should’a let Colter git under my skin. If’n I’d had any sense a tall, I’d have realized what I was feelin’ fer you and I’s would’a told you instead of actin’ jealous like some school boy! I ain’t wet behind the ears, I knows ‘bout love...I just ain’t never felt it so strongly a’fore!”

Sarah sat there looking at him, not knowing if she should believe him or not. “Jimmy. What made you decide you had these feelings for me? I mean, after everything that has happened between us, you pushed me away, remember?”

“I ain’t shore Sarah. Alls I know is I love you. I guess it took my getting’ jealous over Colter and Lou comin’ down on me to realize that what I was feelin’ fer you weren’t gonna go away! It jist keeps getting’ stronger!”

“Jimmy forgive me for feeling this way, but I don’t trust you! You’ve hurt me so badly. How can you expect me to just believe you’ve changed over night?” Her heart was pounding double time. She wanted what he was telling her to be the truth!

“I guess I cain’t blame you none. I did treat you purty bad. I cain’t take it back Sarah! When Duell was here, he talked to me ‘bout you! I knowed he cared fer ya too. It were obvious in the way he talked. He told me if I let you walk away, I’d be losin’ the best thing that ever happened in my life. Course then I weren’t ready to accept that. But I am now!”

Sarah looked startled. “Duell talked to you about me?”

“I weren’t too happy ‘bout it, but yeah he did! Pulled a gun on me and forced me to go with him. If’n he’d been gunnin’ fer me, I’d be dead right now. I knows I ain’t wantin’ to meet him in no dark alleys. The man is faster then me!”

“Then I guess it’s good he’s on your side.” She smiled slightly. “I had no idea he was going to say anything to you.”

“He didn’t want you to know. I should’a listened to him then, but I guess I was too hard headed to do it. Guess Melissa’s grandmother was right!”

Sarah’s head snapped up. “What?” She wasn’t sure that she’d heard that last sentence! Had she appeared to Jimmy also? Melissa had said that she’d asked her to help.

Jimmy had a far away look on his face. He thought of Melissa’s grandmother calling him young hard headed one, and he guessed it fit! He shook his head slightly. “Nuthin’! Teaspoon’s always tellin’ me I’d hard headed. Guess it’s time I learned to listen more instead a tryin’ things my way first!”

Sarah was silent a moment as she thought of Duell! She smiled. He was such a wonderful man! He had known how much she loved Jimmy and he had tried to make things right for her between them. Perhaps he had, but it had just taken awhile to get it all straight! “Jimmy, all these times you kept telling me you didn’t need a woman in your life. If you’ve loved someone before, why was it so hard to love me this time? Everyone needs to be loved!”

There was hurt in her voice and Jimmy heard the sound. He got up from the floor and sat beside her on the sofa. What he really wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her. But right now he couldn’t. “When I loved Rebecca, it wasn’t like it is now. She’d been recently widowed and things jist happened ‘tween us. That was a while back. Now that I’m older, I guess I look at things differently. My life is so messed up, I cain’t be shore that I’ll be here tomorrow! There mite be someone out there today that has a bullet with my name on it!”

“Jimmy tell me about your life. All I’ve heard is what the people in this town have said. Or what one of the other riders might heave told me from time to time. And of course what Jake was spouting off about. I have no idea what it’s been like, or why you feel the way you do. I can’t trust you if you don’t open up to me! Love is based on trust. Please tell me.” She reached out and took his hand in her own, squeezing it.

Jimmy sighed. He’d known he would eventually have to try and explain how he felt. But it wasn’t easy telling her the best thing for her had been to push her out of his life! “Sarah, my life ain’t been much to talk of. My father wasn’t much of a father. He was an abolitionist. What time he wasn’t workin’ fer what he claimed he believed in, he was beatin’ up my Maw. He never thought much a me. After he’d beat my Maw, he’d start in on me. H got kilt workin’ fer that cause he thought was more important than his family. Then shortly after, my Maw died. My sisters were both older ‘n me and were on their own, so I decided it was time I left. I went to work fer this judge that seemed to own everythin’ in the area. He started trainin’ me to be this great gunfighter. But it wasn’t long a fore I realized that he wanted me to be someone I weren’t. I jist couldn’t take another man’s life cause someone demanded I do it. When I left the judge, I wandered around, getting’ into trouble every where I went. I started makin’ a name fer myself. One thing I wished I never done. It was round that time, I met Teaspoon and he hired me on as a rider. He helped me grow up I guess. He’s been the only family I had in a long time. Wasn’t long ago JD Marcus came ridin’ into town and started writin’ all them lies ‘bout me. Tellin’ I was this great gunfighter, fastest draw in the west, kilt all them people. Now my life is bigger then ever and I ain’t shore how to live with it. Ever time I turn round, someone is tryin’ to be faster then me. My name always goes a fore me. That’s why I didn’t want you to come into my life Sarah.”

He looked down and she squeezed his hand again. “But Jimmy, everyone deserves happiness in their lives. No matter who you are, or what you become. You need someone to love you…someone to take care of you…like Teaspoon and Rachel, the other riders.”

“But Sarah, I didn’t want you getting’ hurt. Someone could draw on me and you’d be in the line of fire. Or someone could git wind that you was my woman and they would try to hurt you to git to me. I couldn’t stand that if it happened!”

“Jimmy, it’s my decision to make. If you lay everything out on the table in front of me, tell me everything that I can expect if I enter into a life with you, it would be my choice to stay or not. Not yours!”

“But it ain’t fair to you. You could have anyone out there you wanted. You’re a beautiful woman! Any man would be honored to have you by his side.”

“Anyone but you?” She looked hurt as she gazed at him.

“No Sarah, I’d be more then honored! I’d love to have you beside me. I jist don’t want you to git hurt. Or if’n we decided we could be together, an I got kilt tomorrow, it wouldn’t be fair to you!”

“Again, I’m the one to make that choice Jimmy! If I decided spending the rest of my life with you was what I wanted more than anything else, then that’s what I’d do. What’s not fair to me is your making the choice for me! Maybe neither of us has long to live on this earth. But only the good Lord knows that! I deserve to be happy and so do you. If we only had two days or two hundred years together, we’d be happy! That would be what mattered!”

“Sarah, I’m sorry I tried to make your decisions for you. I guess I was bein’ selfish. Though I was only trying to think a you. I love you Sarah. I’m positive ‘bout these feelin’s. I can only hope you mite still feel the way you once did ‘bout me. I think you cared ‘bout me a fore I was such a hard head and hurt you so badly. Them things we did together, there was feelin’s there. We wouldn’t a been doin’ ‘em if there weren’t!”

She leaned over towards him and kissed his lips. Oh how she’d missed that. “I think I’ve always loved you Jimmy. Those times we made love were the most beautiful in my life! I just hope that you won’t run from me again!”

“What is If was to git kilt tomorrow? That’s cheatin’ you. You shore you want to live that way? If’n you don’t I’ll understand.”

She caressed his cheek. “Jimmy. Remember it’s my choice. I love you! I’d take whatever the good Lord would give me. It would never be enough, be it one day or ten thousand. But I would take whatever he saw fit to give us and I would never take anything for them! This is my choice Jimmy.”

Jimmy let out the breath he’d been holding. He couldn’t believe that she had actually said all that. She was his...his forever! No matter how long that forever might be! Pulling her into his arms, he smothered her face with kisses. His heart was soaring! Why had he waited so long to accept the fact that they belonged together? He’d known it from the beginning.

Sarah’s heart was pounding so hard that she was afraid it would jump out of her chest. She was finally in Jimmy’s arms again…where she belonged! She thanked her lucky stars, the good Lord, and lastly Grandmother Running Doe...for she had a feeling that she’d had a big hand in this!

His lips were caressing hers, and she was breathless. Right at that moment she didn’t care if the world came to an end! She could die happy!

Jimmy knew that he wanted to make love to her, but he didn’t know if she would let him stay the night. “Sarah, can we…”

He didn’t have to finish the sentence. She knew what he was asking. “Please stay Jimmy. Buck and Melissa will be gone for several days and I don’t want to spend it alone.”

He smiled and rose from the sofa. Picking her up, he carried her towards the bedroom.

It felt as if it had been an eternity since Jimmy had loved her. She didn’t realize until then how much she had craved this man! They couldn’t seem to get out of their clothes fast enough. Picking her up, Jimmy placed her in the center of the bed and quickly stretched out beside her.

Their mouths were fastened to one another’s. Their hands touched and caressed every inch of skin. Jimmy groaned as Sarah took his hardess into her hand and lavished it with attention.

His mouth left hers and he kissed his way down her body, stopping now and then to pay particular attention to her breasts, her stomach and her belly button. By the time he’d reached her secret woman place, she was giggling. Such sweet torture he was giving her!

But her giggles were replaced with moans as his tongue entered her. She arched her body in response. His hands slipped up her sides, over her stomach and came to rest on her breasts. He caressed and squeezed them, lightly flicking a finger tip across their tips. She could feel the pressure building through out her body. She knew she was close to that point of no return, but she didn’t have the will power to stop her body as the sensations washed over her. Her breathing was labored and she moaned again, pulling Jimmy even closer. Her climax was powerful, and she felt as if she had just run a marathon when it was over.

When Jimmy knew that she had gotten what she needed, he worked his way back up her body. Attacking her mouth once again. Sarah opened her eyes and looked lazily at Jimmy. His weight felt so good to her, as he covered her body with his own. Suddenly, she flipped Jimmy to his back and she started her own sweet torture. Her hands were every where it seemed, at once. She liked his nipples, his belly button, down across his flat stomach to his hardness that was quivering for her attention.

She took him inside her mouth and made love to that part of his body. He couldn’t help it as he groaned and pulled her mouth closer. He was so close to release, but he wanted to be inside of her.

Pulling her up the length of him, she straddled his waist and in seconds had taken him inside herself. Hips pounded hips as passion rose higher and higher. Then they were entering that special place that was theirs alone, as they called out to one another. Over and over the sensations rippled across their bodies until at last they came to rest, arms and legs a tangle. Breaths labored and sweat covering their bodies.

“Sarah…” Jimmy whispered her name.

“Yes?” Her eyes were closed as she relaxed by his side.

“I love you!”

She smiled. “I love you too!”

It was his turn to smile. He knew that he would never get enough of this lady.

They spend a little longer in one another’s arms, and then got up in search of food. It was completely dark outside. Jimmy went out to care for the horses and Sarah started something for supper.

Jimmy looked up at the sky as he walked towards the barn. The clouds were just right, and he wasn’t surprised to see a few snow flakes. He quickly took care of all the animals and placed Cisco in the barn. He stopped to give Mariah a little scratch behind the ears. Then he headed back inside.

Sarah had the fire burning brightly and wonderful smells were coming from the kitchen when he entered the house. He suddenly had a mental picture of living like this for a long time. He’d be coming home in the evenings after a hard day’s work, a beautiful wife waiting on him with supper ready and loving arms to hold him. He warmed his hands by the fire and slipped out of his coat. Then he went to the kitchen in search of the woman he loved. She was busily setting the table.

“It’s startin’ to snow out!”

Sarah looked a little worried. “I hope Buck and Melissa made it to the village okay.”

“They shoulda. It ain’t that far away. Horses are taken care of until tomorrow. Them clouds look a mite heavy. We’s probably in fer a good bit a snow.”

Sarah moved over to slip her arms around his waist. “Well, I’m not gonna complain! Are you? Unless that is, you don’t care none for women with black eyes!” She had inspected her face in the mirror while he’d been gone. It looked pretty bad.

Jimmy laughed and leaned down to kiss her. “Ain’t gonna bother me none! Fact is, I like the idea gittin’ snowed in with you! I can think a plenty a ways to keep us from getting’ bored!”

Sarah laughed. “Umm, I think I’m gonna like with winter weather!”
COPYRIGHT -2004 M. Bolton & R. Wooten

CONTINUED……

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