A continuation of the stories "I'll See You In My Dreams" and "Time in a Bottle"

Prologue - Every Road Leads Back

Spring 1876, Sweetwater, Nebraska

She heard the name of her beloved whispered in the sudden gust of wind that swept across her face and sent loose strands of her long auburn hair tickling at her nose. She closed her eyes and gracefully drifted backward into the tall, lush grass, feeling the coolness of the earth against her back and neck, realizing that although she would not actually be able to see the man she loved so much, she could at least have her dreams.

She began to envision a time long ago when she was at this same exact place...when she was with him. It had been ten long years since she had seen him last, yet at the same time, it felt like only yesterday.

She could still feel the sensation of his soft lips lingering on her forehead when he kissed her good-bye. She raised her hand to her head and began to gently trace the spot with her finger as if the kiss had left a permanent imprint in her skin. Rather, that imprint was left deep in her heart.

In her other hand, she fiercely clung to the last letter that he had written her, dated many years ago. She brought it to her bosom, pressing the well-worn paper tightly against her chest as if it were he that she were clinging to.

"Oh, Jimmy," Louise whispered to herself, "I miss you so much."

Soon Lou drifted off into a light slumber, the thoughts of James Butler Hickok still running through her mind.

She thought of the last time she had seen him. Kid had been killed in the war a little over a year before, and she had returned to Sweetwater and made her home amongst her remaining friends from the Pony Express days.

Lou and Jimmy had fallen in love and were to be married. But as always, Jimmy's inner demons would not allow him to share his life with another. He would never be able to rest easy and live a peaceful existence while the possibility of some fame- or revenge-seeking, pistol-toting drunken desperado calling "Wild Bill" Hickok out into another gunfight still lay in the foreground of his thoughts. Jimmy would never allow himself to rest easy or experience happiness. And it was this fact that saddened and worried Louise the most. More than anything she wanted to know that he was happy, even if it meant that he was not with her.

So many images of the past, of days gone by, flickered before Louise's eyes as she lay stretched out on the grasslands near the pond. It had been their place. It still was, even though Jimmy was not physically there to share it with her. He was in her heart, always and forever.

Lou saw visions of herself ten years younger and Jimmy sitting in the middle of the pond, laughing and splashing each other until they were both soaking wet. She saw his face so plainly in front of her when they kissed that day...when she realized her feelings for Jimmy had grown into love for the first time...when she realized that things between them would never be the same again.

No, they were never the same. They were better. Lou had never felt the love for a man like she felt for Jimmy. Of course she had loved Kid with all her heart. She always would. But the love was different somehow--indescribable. It was something that to this day Lou could never fully explain, not even to herself. Maybe it was the secret longing that both she and Jimmy had kept buried deep within for so many years. Maybe it was passion that came forth when they were finally able to admit their love to each other.

Kid needed Lou, and she loved him for that. But Jimmy understood her so perfectly, in a way that no one else did or ever could. No one could even come close. Jimmy trusted her; he believed in her abilities. And Lou loved him for it, long before she actually put a name to the feeling she had for him.

Jimmy never aged in her mind. His face would always be young and fresh. His eyes would always be that misty, dark gray that allowed Lou to look right into his heart and soul. His words might have betrayed him at times, but his eyes never could. Neither could his heart.

Jimmy loved Lou, but he couldn't be with her. He wouldn't let himself be with her. She hated the fact that Jimmy could not allow himself to be happy, but she couldn't fault him for it either.

Then Lou envisioned the day of the wedding...the wedding that never was. She saw herself dressed all in white with the crown of wildflowers upon her head, waiting at the pond with Rachel, but knowing that Jimmy would never come, all the while, feeling strangely content in that fact.

They had already said their good-byes. Though the words were never actually spoken, they both knew. They knew that it would be a long time before they would see each other again, but they also knew that they eventually would.

Their paths would meet again some day. Lou understood that nothing could break the bond that indelibly held their hearts together, just as Jimmy understood that no matter which road in life he chose or happened to wander on, every road would lead him back...back home...back to Lou.

Lou suddenly felt a presence as a shadow fell upon her face, which she noticed even though she was half-asleep with her eyes closed. She quickly opened her eyes and saw the hazy outline of a figure standing above her, the sun's blinding glare obscuring the specific facial features of the person.

At first, Lou thought that she was surely dreaming when she instantly recognized the familiar, statuesque stance of her beloved, his broad shoulders and narrow waist, his long hair blowing freely in the breeze, the sun creating a halo-like affect around his head. But then her eyes widened and filled with tears of joy, knowing that what she was seeing before her was very real indeed.

As Lou raised her hand to her eyes to block out the brilliant rays of light, she gazed upon the face that she had longed to see every day for the past ten years. It was a face she had seen hundreds of times before, and many more times in her dreams. Her heart had ached to be near him, and now, he had returned to her. It wasn't a dream; rather, it was a dream come true.

Lou took the hand that was stretched out in front of her, bringing her to her feet.

She cried happily, and almost unbelievingly, as she fell into his wordless embrace.

"Jimmy!"

Chapter I - At Long Last Love

"Jimmy!"

Louise was almost in a state of shock when she realized that she was finally holding the man whom she had yearned to hold in her arms for ten long years. The emotions were so overpowering, so overwhelming, but so wonderful.

"God, I've missed you, Lou," Jimmy spoke at last, his voice nearly in a whisper as he attempted to blink away the tears that were soon forming in his eyes as well.

"It's been so long," Lou cried, "so very long."

Jimmy stroked her long, silky hair as he held Lou in his loving embrace. He never imagined that it would feel so good to hold and touch her as it did right at this moment. And though it had been many years, the inner stirrings that Jimmy felt when he was with Lou had not dulled or diminished in the least. They had only become stronger.

Lou finally managed to pull herself away from Jimmy just enough so that she could look him. He has changed quite a bit, Lou thought. His face had aged appropriately, but Lou also saw what the years of inner turmoil and loneliness had done to him. The years of living as "Wild Bill", roaming from one lawless town to the next, drowning his pain and sorrow in cards and whiskey had left its mark.

However, behind all that, Lou still saw the Jimmy she knew and loved shining through the surface. All she had to do was look into his eyes and know that who he really was, the side of him that he never showed to anyone else except her and their friends from the Pony Express, had not changed. No, he was the same old Jimmy, the Jimmy she loved so much, the Jimmy that loved her.

"Please don't cry, Lou," Jimmy said, soft and gentle.

Jimmy raised his hand to Lou's face and tenderly wiped away the teardrops that were cascading down her rosy cheeks. The feel of her smooth skin under his finger sent a shiver down his spine. It was a sensation he had missed more than he ever thought.

"I can't help it, Jimmy," she replied, "I'm just so happy!"

Just then, Jimmy gave Lou the most beautiful smile that seemed to erase all the time and distance that had come between them. They were together at long last.

They stood close, arms intertwined, looking into each other's eyes in blissful silence for what felt like hours. No words needed to be spoken. Their love and understanding transcended all such superficialities, for it was on a level that was just too deep for most normal folks to even begin to comprehend.

They simply held each other tightly, drinking in the sight of one another, both feeling that their dreams of being reunited were finally fulfilled.

She's even more beautiful than I remembered, Jimmy thought to himself, smiling slightly.

Lou wore a plain ecru blouse that buttoned in front, the top two buttons not fastened, allowing her lovely neck and uppermost portion of her chest to be tastefully revealed. The blouse was fitted and tucked at the waist into a dark brown split skirt that fell to the middle of her calves. Though her outfit was simple, it fit Lou's slender, yet delicately shaped, figure perfectly, and she looked wonderful in it.

Her hair was still very long, falling in loose strands almost down to her waist. As the wisps of hair just around her face danced in the subtle spring breeze and the golden sunlight shone brightly against the coppery highlights, Jimmy wondered, as he had so many times before, how anyone could have ever mistaken Lou for a boy. It seemed a feat that would be impossible now.

Lou sighed to herself in sheer happiness as she looked Jimmy over, her eyes straying from his for the first time since he arrived.

He's just as handsome as ever, she thought, a slight blush rising in her cheeks.

Though Jimmy had kept his long, dark brown hair and pulled-low black hat, his outward appearance had changed greatly due to his dandy clothing. Always the one to wear black, he had stayed with that tradition, choosing a fine black linen coat and pants with a perfectly white shirt peeking out from under a silver and crimson patterned brocade vest. Hung low past his waist were the two deadly ivory-handled Navy Colts.

Lou supposed that Jimmy figured he had a reputation to uphold, though it was not always one that he wanted, and now he had finally chosen to dress in a manner appropriate to reflect that reputation. But even Jimmy realized that maybe it was kind of ridiculous for him to dress this way on the plains outside of Sweetwater. He had nothing to prove to Lou or his old friends, for they knew him as Jimmy, and not "Wild Bill".

Moistening his lips in preparation to speak, Jimmy broke the comfortable silence that had formed between him and Lou.

"Somehow I knew you'd be here," he said, smiling at Lou and at the recollection of all the unforgettable memories they had created together by the pond.

Lou smiled in kind. "I come here whenever I can." She nodded slightly and looked around at the surroundings dreamily, deeply inhaling the air perfumed with the scent of wildflowers, before restoring her gaze upon Jimmy. "This place has meant so much to me."

Lou paused for a moment, the smile fading and her face turning more serious. "I've missed you so much, Jimmy, but I've never stopped believin' that you would return to me. Even when your letters stopped, I knew." She paused, her eyes penetrating into his with such strength and soul. "I love you, Jimmy."

"I love you, too, Lou," he sighed just before pulling Lou close to him and enfolding her in his arms. "I'm so sorry I didn't write. I...I just couldn't. I..."

"It's alright, Jimmy," she reassured him. "It's alright. You're here now. That's all that matters."

Then they kissed.

It was what they had been waiting for...dreaming of...and more.

The moment felt to Jimmy and Lou as though they were being transported back ten years in time to that glorious summer's day when they first kissed and admitted their feelings to each other.

Jimmy also imagined himself with Lou on the day that was to be their wedding day, imagining Lou dressed all in white, in the wedding dress that he would never see her in, her face aglow with all the love she had for him.

Imagining that Teaspoon had just pronounced them 'man and wife' and said, "You may kiss the bride." Imagining what his life would be like had he stayed in Sweetwater and made his dream of marrying Lou come true.

For a moment, Jimmy wondered how he could ever have let himself leave her...how he could have walked away from spending the rest of his days with the only woman he'd always loved. He silently cursed himself for the lost years he'd spent away from Lou. But at the same time, Jimmy knew deep down inside that he had made the right decision. To him, leaving was the only decision. He felt he had no other choice. Just as he felt he had no other choice but to finally return to her.

Lou suddenly sensed Jimmy's distraction in the kiss. She could tell that he was deep in thought and probably knew precisely what it was that occupied his mind. For she had been thinking the exact same thing...thinking what was, what might have been, what if...

All the questions and doubts that both of them had seemed to fade when they parted lips and looked deeply into each other's eyes again. There was only the present and the fact that they were together at last.

Chapter II - Homecoming

The little white farmhouse came into view over the horizon. To the left were the barn and the corrals, which were filled with some of the finest horse blood in all the territory. The place had greatly expanded and been built up since Jimmy left, but still, seeing the only home he'd ever truly known brought the memories flooding back.

Even with the larger barns and several new outbuildings scattered about, the essence of what it had been remained the same. The foundation of family and love was strong, strong enough to survive some of the worst of times, including the loss of several of their own. Seeing it all again...it was as if days gone by had finally returned. Even the air seemed to carry the scent of the past and of times never to be forgotten.

Pausing to fully take in his surroundings, Jimmy sighed as he looked around. He smiled to himself when he saw the old bunkhouse. It was there, just as remembered it...just as it was when he first laid eyes on it and met the people who would become family to him...just as it was when he last saw it as he was saying goodbye to Lou. Jimmy silently wondered if he were to open the door as he had hundreds of times before, if he would hear all the voices that once filled its walls with laughter and a sense of camaraderie.

After several moments, Jimmy glanced back down at Louise, who stood by his side, squeezing his hand reassuringly.

"Somehow the old place hasn't changed much," Jimmy said wistfully, "even after all these years."

Lou nodded in agreement. Her eyes scanned over the land that had become hers when she moved back to Sweetwater after the war. A certain pride glowed in their dark brown orbs when she reflected on all the hard work she'd put into turning it into a successful ranch. It was what she and Kid had dreamed about before he chose to return to Virginia to fight for his home soil. He hadn't lived to help Lou work for the dream and see it come to fruition, but there was a deep sense of satisfaction that came along with the knowledge that she'd made it a reality, in spite of everything, and on her own terms. It was hers now, and no one could ever take it away.

Jimmy noticed that Lou seemed to be a million miles away, but from the expression on her face, he could guess what was on her mind. She had every right to be proud of her accomplishments. She had succeeded where most would have failed. She had survived a traumatic childhood, only to become a strong, independent woman. She fought to carry after her husband was killed, when so many would have just given up. And there was no one else, man or woman, who Jimmy admired more than Louise McCloud.

Lou eventually became startled back into reality when she felt a hand warm her cheek. She glanced over and saw Jimmy. His eyes were so full of life and love, and the way that they were boring into hers with such intensity caused a slight blush to rise to her face. Somehow, Jimmy still managed to make her feel like this, even after so many years. Here she was, a woman of thirty-five years with a growing son, and one look from James Hickok was enough to send her heart aflutter, leaving her feeling like a lovesick schoolgirl.

All prior thoughts erased, Lou found herself surrendering completely under the heat of Jimmy's gaze. "Part of me still can't get over the fact that you're really here, Jimmy," Lou said, shaking her head slightly as she brought her hand up to brush away a strand of hair that had flown loose from under his hat. "I feel that it's all just a dream...that if I wake up, you'll be gone again." Her hand dropped back down to her side, as if touching Jimmy might shatter the moment and the dream would be over.

Moving to stand directly in front of her, Jimmy took her face in both his hands. He lowered his head towards Lou, his expression speaking to her with everything that was burning in his heart.

"It's not a dream, Lou," he told her softly. "And I promise you this: I ain't ever gonna leave you again. Not as long as I live."

"I love you so much," she whispered, all emotion overwhelming her.

Jimmy answered with a long, sweet kiss. His lips had ached for hers for far too long. He understood how Lou could wonder if this was all just a dream. If it was, it was the sweetest, most wonderful dream ever dreamt, and he never wanted to wake from it. So many days and nights Jimmy had had the same dream. So many times he had awoken to the harshness, the loneliness, of reality, wanting nothing more than to close his eyes and become lost in the dream with Lou forever.

As they stood clinging to one another, the moment succeeded in carrying the two of them away. Jimmy and Lou were in their own world now. A world where love and youth reigned eternal, and where neither ever felt longing or loneliness again. Time was never-ending, and everything was wrapped up in all the colors of sunrise, always the dawning of something new and vibrant and beautiful.

Jimmy and Lou were finally brought out of that world and back into the real world, which suddenly seemed so much brighter and better than before, when they heard the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching. Rachel's shrills of delight followed soon after.

"James Hickok?" She shouted as she ran to greet them. "Is that really you?"

Lou glanced at Jimmy knowingly, and he returned her look with a warm grin. Arm-in-arm, they walked towards Rachel, meeting her halfway to the house.

Rachel immediately wrapped Jimmy up in her motherly embrace. "I can hardly believe my eyes, but I knew it could only be you."

"Ah, Rachel," he began, "it is good to see you!" Jimmy stepped back a little bit so that he could get a better look at her. "You look just as pretty as ever," he added with a smile.

"Oh, you hush up about me," Rachel beamed as they all started heading for the house. "It's you I want to hear about! Ten years is a long time to go without seein' someone."

Glancing over his shoulder to Lou, Jimmy replied, "I couldn't agree with you more, Rachel. And I intend to make up for every minute of lost time."

Lou's heart danced inside at Jimmy's words, and for the first time in ages, she felt complete again.

"Come on," Rachel interrupted her thoughts, "I know at least two other people dyin' to see you!"

Chapter III - Awakenings

Teaspoon Hunter -- town marshal, former Pony Express stationmaster and Texas Ranger -- dozed in the armchair in the parlor of the old farmhouse. His soft snores filled the room as the afternoon sun came streaming in through the open door.

Rachel and Lou glanced at each other when they noticed his napping state, and they stood there trying to stifle their laughter. They each thought to themselves what a wonderful surprise this would be for Teaspoon, having Jimmy home again. However, the older man was oblivious to the fact that three people had just walked into the room.

Jimmy, on the other hand, was completely taken by surprise when he saw Teaspoon. He looked as he had all those years ago when he used to sit in the marshal's office, his feet perched up on the desk and his chair leaning back on two legs, his trademark hat tilted down over his eyes. Teaspoon looked very much as he had the last time Jimmy had seen him, save a few added wrinkles.

Some things never change, Jimmy thought with a grin. Not that he wanted them to.

Still chuckling silently, Rachel tiptoed over to where Teaspoon sat. She leaned down close to him, but still he did not make a move. Then, she shook him fiercely, shouting out, "Wake up! We got company!"

Teaspoon nearly jumped out of his chair and out of his skin at the way he'd been startled in alertness. "Who? What?" he growled in his state of disorientation. He reached to his hip where his gun would have been were he actually wearing it at the moment, and finding it absent, he slowly began to come to his senses, realizing that he was inside the house and not being attacked by a group of bandits.

His eyes focused on Rachel and Lou, who were laughing riotously at the expression that was still plastered on the old man's face.

"What're ya tryin' to do?" Teaspoon grumbled upon seeing he had become the subject of merciless ridicule. "Tryin' to scare a man into an early grave?"

Teaspoon worked at righting himself in his chair, groaning the entire time, when he finally saw the tall, long-haired man dressed in black standing in the background. It took less than a moment before recognition set in, and an understanding expression spread over his face as his eyes met with Jimmy's.

"Teaspoon, look who we found wanderin' outside the house," Rachel said with a joyful smile. Though, no introductions were needed at this point.

"Jimmy," he simply said.

Jimmy removed his hat, approaching Teaspoon with an amazing surety. It felt so good to be back with his family, the only people with whom he felt completely comfortable...where he could just be Jimmy. "Teaspoon. It's been a long time."

"That it has, son," came his reply. "Too long."

Teaspoon rose to his feet as fast as his aging bones would allow and moved to within arm's length of Jimmy. He held his hand out to Jimmy, who accepted it willingly and proceeded to pull the older man in towards him for a hug. It was something that 'Wild Bill' would never have done, embracing another man. But that part of his life suddenly seemed washed away as he easily slipped back into being Jimmy. And he could find no more appropriate form of greeting to give the man who had been a friend, father figure, and mentor to him while he worked for the Pony Express. Even after, Teaspoons words of wisdom and 'bag of tricks' remained with him.

Rachel and Lou watched the exchange in silence, their hearts warmed by the long-awaited reunion. Lou could feel the tears threaten to spill as she thought how good it felt to have Jimmy back again. If only the whole family could be together again, she mused, the melancholy suddenly sweeping through her.

The two men finally released each other, smiles of happiness still visible on their faces. Teaspoon stepped back, taking the moment to regard Jimmy more closely. His eyebrow raised at the sight of the fine clothes he wore. And Teaspoon couldn't help thinking that, somehow, they didn't fit Jimmy; they just didn't seem like him.

Jimmy knew what the old man was thinking, and for an instant he felt a little embarrassed at how he must appear. Surely Teaspoon must be thinking that Jimmy had given into acting more like 'Wild Bill' than he would have hoped. Maybe there was some truth in that, Jimmy admitted to himself. However, now, Jimmy could cast that aside for a while and be the man who knows himself to be inside.

Rachel disrupted the wordless conversation between Jimmy and Teaspoon by lightly swatting the older man on the arm with her hand. "Well? Are you two gonna just stand there gapin' at each other?"

Before anyone had the chance to respond the front door flew wide open, and in ran a young boy who immediately ran to the side of his mother.

Lou scooped him up in her arms, hugging and kissing him until the boy squealed with laughter for her to stop all the fussing. "Ma! Stop it!" He thought his mother had gone plum crazy, and Lou knew it was only a matter of time before he was full-grown and stopped running to her altogether.

"How was school today, little man?" She asked him, stooping a bit to his level.

His face immediately took on an irritated look at the mere mention of school. "Ahhh, that Mary Sue Walker keeps tryin' to kiss me at recess. She just won't leave me be!"

Lou found it difficult to hide her amusement, though she tried to cover it up with an understanding face. "Did you ask her to stop?"

The boy nodded.

"You were nice about it, right?" She asked.

He stood shyly, in that same manner that his father often had, his head down, feet shuffling on the floor. Then he brought his finger up to his chin and appeared pensive for a moment before he glanced up and replied, "Well, was tellin' her I'd put a toad down her dress if she kissed me again nice?"

"James McCloud!" Lou exclaimed, her voice full of shock. However, on the inside, she was chuckling right along with the rest of the adults in the room. But Lou knew she had to send her son the right message, so she threw a glare in the others' direction warning them not to encourage her impressionable son. "You should know better than that."

"But she just wouldn't quit it, Ma!" He defended himself.

"All the same, you could have been a little nicer about it," Lou told him. "There'll come a day when you won't mind the girls' attention."

"Uh-uh! No way!" James shook his head. He didn't believe it. Never would he want to be the target of girls' kisses and moony looks and secret whispers. No way, no how. He shuddered at the notion. "Yick!"

Lou rose to stand fully, a smile lighting up her face as she shook her head at her son's antics. He was nearly eleven years old, but to her, James would always be her baby...her little man. He was a bit small for his age, something that Lou attributed to the fact that he was born slightly prematurely. He had delicate facial features, a slightly upturned nose dotted with a few freckles. He had dark brown hair, just like hers, not to mention the same stubbornness and will of iron that made it possible for her to survive the harshness of life that often accompanied living in the West. Louise knew already that her boy was going to be quite the handsome gentleman in a few years, and there'd be more than just Mary Sue Walker out to capture his affections.

But his eyes were all his father's. They were the identical sparkling azure color that could swallow a person up in their depths if they looked too long. They were Kid; and Lou could still feel his presence every time she gazed upon the child they had created. But somehow, it didn't hurt anymore.

"Well, ain't ya even gonna come over 'n' say hi to your Uncle Teaspoon and Aunt Rachel?" The grizzled man said to the young boy playfully.

Happily, James ran over to greet them, hugging and kissing them both. Rachel and Teaspoon had become his adopted grandparents over the years, though he referred to them as his 'aunt' and 'uncle'.

Once his overwhelming welcome home from school was over, Lou decided to introduce James to the tall, dark stranger that caught his attention and held his focus. It was as if, standing right in his own living room, was a man straight from the pages of the dime novels he'd seen the other kids at school gawking at during recess. James stood completely transfixed by the man in black. He was not afraid, just in awe. And Lou could tell that her son was immediately taken with him.

"James," Lou began, "you remember your Mama, Uncle Teaspoon, and Aunt Rachel talkin' 'bout your Uncle Jimmy, right? Who you're named after?" He made no answer. "Well, he's come here to pay us all a visit. You haven't seen 'im since you were a baby."

Lou looked over to Jimmy. She was beginning to feel a little unsure of herself and the way things were going, but the softness in his eyes reassured her, making her feel at ease.

Jimmy approached the boy with a hint of caution in his step. At first he thought about bending down so that he would meet James eye to eye, hoping to take some of the shock out of the situation. But after a little more thought, Jimmy figured that a boy of ten, an age where many started to want to be treated more as a man, might take more to someone who spoke to him as a real person, not just a kid. So, he simply extended his arm out, offering to shake hands with James, as a man would do.

"Pleasure to see you again, James," Jimmy said with a slight smile. He might have worn a gunfighter's rig and gambler's clothing, but his face and voice made him instantly likeable to the youngster.

A grin broke on James' face, and he grew relaxed as Jimmy took his hand and shook it firmly, thus making their introduction formal.

"How long will you be stayin', Uncle Jimmy?" James asked as if he'd known his Uncle Jimmy all of his life, apart from the stories his mother told him at bedtime each night about her days as a rider for the Pony Express.

Jimmy glanced back at Lou, and he could tell how pleased she was that James seemed to approve of him. James was a very loveable boy, but he tended to be very shy around new people at times. She was also pleasantly surprised at how well Jimmy was handling things. He'd make such a good daddy, she thought.

"I don't know exactly," Jimmy spoke tentatively, realizing that he didn't quite know how to respond. He looked to Lou for her unspoken support. After all, how could he tell Lou's son that he planned on staying for good? That a man who is not his father will be staying in his house and, hopefully, sharing a bed with his mother? The right words didn't come easy, especially when trying to explain to a ten-year-old. But Lou gave Jimmy a tender, heartwarming smile, and the words magically appeared. Besides, there'd be time enough to explain everything later on.

Turning back to James, but his eyes still locked on Lou's, Jimmy said, "But I hope it's for a long, long time."

"Hooray!" James yelped in excitement. "Now you and Ma can both tell me stories 'bout when you and my pa worked for Uncle Teaspoon ridin' the Express!"

Jimmy's smile broadened by the minute, and Lou could feel her heart absolutely soaring. She didn't remember the last time she felt this happy. Jimmy was back. All she had to do was look into his gentle gray eyes to know that it was true; her Jimmy was back for good.

Chapter IV - Moonlight Promises

After supper, which was filled with a million questions, Jimmy and Lou finally found some time to be alone. They walked along the edge of the western corals, the moon hanging high above them to light their way through the darkness.

They walked in silence for a long time, words not needed to describe how much they'd missed each other. Somehow, it was as if no time had passed at all, and they did not really feel the need to catch up. Being together was enough. The air was so comfortable between Jimmy and Lou...just as it always had been...just as it was always meant to be.

Though Louise felt no impending desire to fill Jimmy in on the details of her life while they were apart, Jimmy certainly got an earful at dinner from Rachel, mostly about the other members of their family.

Jimmy learned that Buck had left Sweetwater about seven years ago. His brother, Red Bear, had been killed by the army in a battle to protect his tribe's land and heritage. For many years, the army tried to force the Indians onto reservations, and for the most part they were successful. Although it never came without a fight. Buck felt a responsibility to return to his Kiowa people and do his part to help them in their losing battle to preserve their way of life. While living with the Kiowa, he found a wife and started a family of his own.

Buck still remained in touch with Lou and the others in Sweetwater. He sent letters as often as he could, considering the fact that the tribe was constantly on the move to avoid being confined to the reservation. But Lou understood. She knew it was always a struggle for Buck to live and fight with his Indian brothers, knowing he had a family that he loved in the white world as well.

Stories of Cody, who was now more widely known as 'Buffalo Bill', circulated across the country for the past several years. Most of what Lou knew of Cody came from newspapers and local gossip, but she heard from him every now and then during his many travels and exploits. He always made a point to stop by and enjoy some of Rachel's home cooking whenever he was nearby. Last time he came around, everyone was surprised to learn that Cody had taken himself a wife, a lady named Louisa. Still, married life did not stop his wanderlust or quest for adventure.

And Cody always seemed to be having some kind of new adventure, whether it was scouting with the army or creating his own stage acting troupe which recounted tales of life on the plains. Lou had learned at supper that Jimmy even spent some time with Cody participating in one of his shows up in New York before deciding it was not for him. She'd heard stories about the infamous 'Wild Bill' Hickok joining 'Buffalo Bill' on stage, but she had always dismissed them as rumors. It was hard for her to believe that Jimmy would leave his beloved West to go to the big city and act in a play. This fact left Lou nearly choking on her laughter during the meal, imagining her Jimmy on stage. She felt bad for making Jimmy feel uncomfortable and embarrassed, but she couldn't help it. Eventually, everyone at the table, Jimmy included, despite all his attempts to keep a straight face, joined in the laughter.

As for the rest of their little family, Rachel and Teaspoon, of course, still resided in Sweetwater. They lived in Emma's old house with Lou and James, which had been expanded on some years ago. At first, Rachel insisted that she and Teaspoon have a house of their own built on the property, but Lou convinced them to stay on. Having family close had become so important to her over the years, and finally, they conceded, never regretting the decision once.

Teaspoon and Rachel never married, but the nature of their relationship was clear to everyone they knew. It was simply that neither had the desire, or the temperament, to walk down the aisle again.

Rachel gave up teaching school a while back when some of the children's parents started giving her trouble about not possessing a teaching certificate. She didn't want to go through the long process of getting a proper license, and frankly, she was beginning to feel the years wear her down and wanted to spend more time helping Lou on the ranch. However, her teaching skills never went to waste since she was constantly on James about doing his homework correctly.

Teaspoon had also retired from his post as marshal of Sweetwater, and only after a lot of coaxing from Rachel. There was no doubt that Teaspoon was still spry, especially for his age, but everyone agreed that it was time to turn the town over to someone who was a little younger and faster. But whenever trouble arose and the new marshal needed some men to form a posse, he always called on Teaspoon because of his vast knowledge of the territory, his tracking skills, and his great instinct.

Sam and Emma now made their home over in Fort Laramie. Sam had worked his way up to the position of Territorial Governor over the years, and Emma couldn't have been prouder. Together, they had a family of their own now -- two young girls -- one about James' age, the other two years younger. They were both redheaded and high-strung. Just like Emma, Sam would say. Lou could always tell from Emma's letters that they had their hands full, but were loving every minute of it. They all made the trip to Sweetwater at least once a year. Lou and Rachel loved having the company, but James could never wait to get rid of the two freckled young girls, who he believed were only out to torment him.

And then, there was Jesse. Jesse James, as he was called. His name was known all over the country, and not for things to be proud of. After he left Rock Creek all those years ago, he joined up with his brother Frank, where he fought for the Confederacy in guerilla bands, even massacring Union soldiers.

Following the war, Frank and Jesse began their crime spree. They robbed banks, trains, and stagecoaches, constantly living life on the run from the authorities. Eventually, the U.S. Government even had a hefty price out for Jesse and his gang. Ever since his departure from Noah's funeral, it appeared that Jesse just kept finding more and more trouble, just as Jimmy had always feared.

Jimmy was roused from his deep thoughts when he felt Lou's warm hand reaching out for him. He took her hand in his own, an unconscious and natural reaction. He turned to look at her, and he saw her dark brown eyes boring into his. Suddenly, he felt guilty again for all the time he'd been away, for all the letters he started writing to her but could never manage to finish. And he ached just to hold her in his arms and make all the wasted time and missed opportunities go away.

Sensing Jimmy's unspoken torment, Lou whispered words to soothe his soul. "It's alright, Jimmy. It's alright."

"I didn't mean to stay away so long," Jimmy spoke, his voice beginning to crack with emotion. "I...I meant to write to you. I'm so sorry, Lou. I--"

"Shhhh," she hushed him gently, stroking his long brown hair with a delicate hand. Lou looked deeply into his eyes, seeing all the regret and the torture that Jimmy had been putting himself through. "There's no need to say you're sorry. I understand, Jimmy. I know it ain't been easy, but we're past all that now."

Jimmy's eyes wavered, and he found that he had to look away, almost as if he could not believe what Lou was telling him. He didn't deserve to be forgiven so easily, he thought. He didn't deserve the love that was staring him in the face, shining in the eyes of a woman he suddenly did not feel worthy of. Only when he felt Lou's hand guiding his face forward did he return his gaze to her.

"Look at me, Jimmy Hickok," she said firmly, but lovingly. "I love you. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone else in this world. No amount of time or distance can ever change that. And I'm tellin' you that you ain't got nothin' to feel sorry for. Like I said before: You're here now, and that's all that matters. Ain't no use wonderin' what might have been. But what we can do is work on what is. Right here and now."

Lou paused for a moment, moistening her lips with her tongue. "The past is past, Jimmy. The present is now, and you gotta stop torturin' yourself for somethin' you can't change." She clasped his hand in hers and squeezed it reassuringly. "There's still time for us, and we should make the most of that time together. It's not too late."

For a moment, Jimmy stood speechless, in awe of Louise McCloud. She's so strong, he thought. So beautiful. And so right...right about everything. He had always let his negativity get the better of him while Lou forever managed to remain strong, in spite of everything. She'd lost her husband but chose to move on and live her life. After that loss, she gave her heart to Jimmy when a lot of women would have shut love out. Why is it that he could face the toughest gunfighter and stand victorious, but could not face himself and conquer his own feelings of inadequacy? Jimmy knew he had no right to allow his weaknesses to take over, not when he had Lou and her faith in him to make him stand tall and be strong.

At last, Jimmy felt the words come to him, and his ardent vow fell from his lips. "I will, Lou. I promise you that. We'll make the most of our time. I told you I wouldn't leave again, and I aim to keep that promise, for as long as I live...for longer."

Jimmy felt an inner peace sweep through him, and all the guilt he had harbored for leaving Lou ten long years ago and for not returning to her sooner left his soul for good and he was free.

"I love you so much, Lou," he whispered, the emotion threatening to overtake him.

"Oh, Jimmy!"

They held each other close, the stars twinkling in approval from above.

"You're right, Lou," he began. "The past is gone. And this is just the beginning...for both of us."

Chapter V - Through the Eyes of a Child

In the few weeks since his return to Sweetwater, Jimmy managed to slip back into life at the ranch with tremendous ease. It seemed impossible to him that he'd ever been away. Everyone was overjoyed to have him back in their lives, and it was impossibly to ignore the fact that Louise was happier than she'd been in a very long time. Even James noticed the change in his mother, and he knew it was because of Jimmy.

"Uncle Jimmy," he said, "tell me another story about the Pony Express."

It had become tradition in a short amount of time that Jimmy would sit with the boy each night and read to him and talk about the adventures he, Lou, Kid, and the others had when they rode for the Express. It warmed Jimmy's heart to see the youngster's eager eyes focused on him when he spoke, hanging on to every word, every syllable, as if he were revealing the world's greatest secrets and mysteries. Also, he was pleasantly surprised at how James followed him around, taking to him so easily and so quickly.

Jimmy scratched his chin, searching his brain for a story he hadn't already told. He found that talking about his time as an Express rider with James only made the memories that much clearer to him. It made him recall things he hadn't thought about in years, but he was grateful for the opportunity to rekindle the past and allow the legacy he helped create along with his dearly departed friends to live on in some small way.

A broad smile crept onto Jimmy's mouth as he was about to tell James about the time Teaspoon had bought all the riders 'a surprise'...which turned out to be a set with which to play 'dirt tennis'. He shook his head when he remembered how silly he felt wearing those short white pants, and then how he'd gotten angry and shot the ball down. He hadn't even managed to get the story out, and already he was busting out laughing to himself.

Lou walked in, wondering what all the commotion was about. "What's so funny?"

Jimmy turned and saw her standing in the doorway leaning against the frame, her arms folded across her chest and a sly grin on her face.

"Uh, nothin', Lou," he replied, still chuckling. "I was just about to tell your son here about the time Teaspoon tried to teach us all to play tennis."

"That was the time when you argued about the call Teaspoon made and you pulled out your gun." Lou was laughing right along with him by this point. "You sure showed him," she teased.

"Well, as I recall, you weren't too good yourself," Jimmy shot back with a joking grin. "That wash tin still has a big dent from where you whacked the ball at it!"

"Tell me the story, Uncle Jimmy!" James interceded. He wanted to be let in on the fun, too.

"Not now, little man," Lou told him, her voice taking on that stern, but loving, motherly tone. "It's time for bed."

"Awwww!" he protested.

"You have school to go to tomorrow mornin'," she told him, unyielding. "It's not long 'fore it lets out for summer. Then there will be plenty of time for stories."

"Please, Ma? Please?" James pled. "Just one more?" His face took on that pouty look that Lou had come to know only too well. He was nearly eleven years old, but he could manage to look just like he did when he was five.

Lou glanced over at Jimmy, who simply smiled and shrugged. He knew the power of persuasion in that boyish, puppy-dog expression on James face. It was exactly like his father's. Lou wouldn't be able to hold up against it for long.

Finally, she sighed and relented, as both 'boys' knew she would. "Alright, alright. But just one more story." She didn't know if the warning was more for her son or for his namesake, who indulged the child far too much for his own good. "Then I'll expect you to go right to sleep."

"Yes, ma'am," James said with a nod. He wouldn't try to press his luck.

"Yes, ma'am," Jimmy added, winking at Lou impishly.

She simply shook her head at the pair, sighing again. Her two men, she thought. Then she said, "I'll be back in a few minutes to tuck you in and kiss you goodnight."

"Alright, Mama."

Lou blew James a kiss and then left the room, closing the door behind her.

Even though Lou was no longer standing in the doorway, Jimmy's gaze remained on the spot where she had been only moments ago. God, I love her so, he thought to himself.

It almost seemed that little James must have overheard the thought that was going around in Jimmy's mind when he suddenly said, "You like my mama a whole lot, dontcha, Uncle Jimmy?"

He turned to face the child, startled for an instant that he'd actually voiced the sentiment out loud. But he knew from the innocent expression on James' face that he was simply speaking from what he'd observed.

Jimmy smiled at him, and brought his hand up to tousle the boy's hair as he sank back into the softness of his pillow. His hair was thick and dark and straight, just like his mother's. And Jimmy wondered at the way his feelings for Lou had become so obvious, so transparent, that even a child could see. He couldn't deny it, and he didn't really feel the need to.

Choosing his words carefully, Jimmy told him, "Yes, James, I like your mama very much. We've known each other for a long time, and she's real special to me."

But James wasn't really satisfied with the answer he got. "I can tell she likes you a whole lot, too, 'cause lately she's always smilin'. Ain't never seen her smile so much before."

Jimmy honestly did not know what to say at this point. Of course, he was glad to know that Lou was so happy, and that he was the partly responsible for it. But how could he go about explaining the exact reasoning to James? What he felt for Lou was so simple and pure, but it could be so complex to put words to. He was at a complete loss.

The silence didn't seem to phase James any, though. He just kept chattering away. "She walks around the place singin' and smilin' she's so happy. I'm glad she's happy."

"I'm glad she's happy, too," Jimmy said, not knowing what else to say. He was afraid he was setting himself up to say or do something really foolish, something he couldn't take back. His mind began to wander.

Then, it happened.

"Uncle Jimmy?"

"Huh?"

"Do you love my mama?"

Instantly, Jimmy was snapped back into reality. He was shocked at the question placed before him...shocked that it came from the lips of a ten-year-old, who also happened to be Kid and Lou's son.

He looked at the boy. James' face was a blank canvas, free from any expression. Then a look of curiosity and sincerity was painted across it in a matter of mere seconds.

"Uncle Jimmy, do you love my mama?" he repeated.

Flustered, Jimmy said, "Well, your mama and me...we've been friends for a long time. She's like family. Of course, I love her." There. He'd said it. And the words sounded harmless enough after all. Jimmy hoped this would be the end of the topic.

Unfortunately, James was becoming a little frustrated at the way his questions were being avoided. He was nearly eleven, and he was tired of the way grown-ups always thought kids didn't understand anything. He hated not being able to know things just because he was young. So he persisted.

"No, I don't mean like how you love Aunt Rachel or even Uncle Teaspoon. I'm talkin' 'bout like the way my pa loved her." Having made himself clear, he asked once more, "Do you love her?"

Seeing the look in the boy's crystal blue eyes, there was nothing Jimmy could do but tell him the truth...the real truth. He probably didn't even have to say the words because it was written plainly across his face. You'd have to be a fool not to see it. Jimmy smiled at him, marveling at his intelligence as well as his stubbornness.

He nodded. "Yes, James. I do. I love her like your pa loved her. I love her more than I can ever say."

A satisfied glow spread across James' face, and Jimmy felt somewhat relieved at the outcome.

"I knew you did," James said, yawning. "Mama used to tell me stories about a man in black who rode in on a horse that looked like gold. She said he saved her from the pain of when my pa died. Said he loved her so much," -- another tired yawn escaped -- "that she knew she had to be brave. Mama never said it was you, but when I saw you, I knew."

Jimmy was staring off into space, dazed by what he was hearing. He'd never expected Lou to tell her son stories about him like that, making him sound like some sort of hero. He expected those would have been reserved for his daddy, for the Kid.

He's as much your son as he is Kid's.

Lou's voice echoed in Jimmy's ears as he remembered the time of James' birth. Everyone was in town on errands that day except Jimmy when the baby started coming a month early. Lou had been so frightened, and he'd wanted so much to ease her pain. Jimmy didn't know what he was doing, but together, they managed to bring a new life into the world.

Lou held the tiny form in her arms, glowing in the joy of seeing her dead husband come alive again in the eyes of their child. She looked up to Jimmy, announcing that she would name her son after him. He was astounded. It didn't seem right somehow, and he let her know it. That was when Lou said, "Jimmy, he's as much your son as he is Kid's. Maybe you didn't help make him, but you helped bring him into this world. His name will be James."

"Are you gonna marry her?"

Jimmy whirled back around at the sound of James' voice.

"What?" he asked, though he'd heard the question perfectly.

"Are you gonna marry Mama?"

Unsure of what he was gonna say, Jimmy was relieved when the door to the bedroom opened and Lou appeared from the hallway. The light followed her in as she glided across the hardwood floor towards them.

"Time for bed, sweetie," she said.

This time, there was no protest.

"Did you have fun listenin' to Uncle Jimmy's story?" Lou asked.

"Actually," Jimmy jumped in, "James was the one doin' most of the talkin' this time."

She was intrigued by the hint of mystery in his voice and the odd grin that he wore. "Oh? And just what was my son tellin' you?"

Jimmy suddenly feigned innocence. "Oh, nothin'."

"Uh-huh." Lou didn't believe it for one minute. But it was time to put her boy to bed. She'd deal with Jimmy later.

Glancing over, Lou could tell that sleep was beginning to set in, for James' eyes were halfway closed already. She leaned over him to straighten the blanket.

Jimmy took it as his signal to stand up from his spot on the edge of the bed. He watched as Lou bent down and kissed the boy tenderly on his forehead, brushing his bangs aside in order to do so.

"'Night, little man," she whispered.

"'Night," came the tired reply.

Lou had moved aside, and Jimmy took his turn to say goodnight. He touched the top of James' head affectionately, causing a smile to cross Lou's lips as she watched the exchange between the two men she loved most.

"Sleep tight, James," whispered Jimmy. Then he blew out the lantern on the bedside table.

Thinking that James was fast asleep, he and Lou began to steal away towards the door when a low voice sounded from behind.

"Uncle Jimmy?" he called out softly.

Jimmy came back over and knelt by the bed.

"What is it?" Jimmy asked gently.

James yawned his answer, his eyes now closed. "I hope you do."

"You hope I do what?" he asked, but the barely audible sound of the boy's steady breathing was all the reply he got.

Then Jimmy remembered.

Are you gonna marry Mama? James had wondered a few minutes ago.

I hope you do, he'd just told Jimmy.

A smile formed on his lips, and Jimmy leaned in to whisper to James, though he knew he was fast asleep. "I hope so, too, James. I hope so."

Jimmy rose to his feet and walked to where Lou stood with a bewildered expression on her face. His eyes twinkled at her, and he took her by the arm and led her out into the corridor. She followed him wordlessly as he headed into her room across the hall, closing the door behind them.

Chapter VI - Something in the Air

"Sometimes I don't know how you do it," Jimmy commented with a smile.

Lou finished cinching the saddle on her new horse, Midnight, and looked up at him curiously. "How I do what?"

"This!" He spread his arms out, trying to encompass the entirety of the ranch within them. "All this. You have one of the best spreads in the territory. Sometimes it just amazes me how to manage it all so well."

Chuckling at his sudden choice of topic, Lou replied, "It's not as if I do it all by myself, Jimmy. I have Rachel and Teaspoon to help, and then there's Walt 'n' Hank. They practically run the place on their own."

Jimmy simply shook his head at her as he mounted Charlie. "Why don't you quit fightin' me on this and admit that that you're just an amazin' woman!"

"I ain't fightin' nothin'," Lou began, pulling herself into the saddle with ease. Even after many years, the born rider in her was still evident. "I ain't doin' nothin' special. I just do what I hafta do. An' that's all there is to it."

"If you say so." Jimmy knew what an incredible lady Louise McCloud was, and he knew she was just too modest -- or more likely too stubborn -- to actually admit it herself.

"You two gonna quit yer jawin' anytime soon?"

The voice belonged to Teaspoon, who was helping Rachel up into the buckboard. He hefted himself onto the bench next to her, groaning and making a funny face as he felt what all the years had done to his bones.

Jimmy and Lou turned on their horses to look at Teaspoon, who now sat with his arms folded across his chest. He wore his trademark, crooked grin and tattered black hat, looking much as he did when the riders had first met him. They smirked when they saw Rachel smack the older man lightly on the arm, telling him to hush up himself so they could all get going. "Day's a-wastin'!" she told him.

Blushing slightly, Lou returned her gaze to Jimmy. A sly grin crossed her lips just before she kicked her horse into a run and shouted, "Don't choke on my dust, Hickok!"

In a flash, Lou was off and speeding away from the ranch. Jimmy reacted quickly to the challenge, smiling as he commanded Charlie into action with a hearty, Ya!, chasing after her as fast as he could. The race was on.

Teaspoon and Rachel were left behind in a cloud of dust, watching as the two spirited riders galloped across the land as if they were teenagers, riding for the Express again.

"Kids," Teaspoon muttered.

Rachel just shook her head and smiled while he slapped the reins and started the wagon rolling. They traveled along at a much slower pace, the gentle joggling motion of the wheels lulling Rachel into a relaxed state. She sighed and rested her head on Teaspoon's shoulder as they drove towards town for their monthly trip to pick up supplies.

Once they all reached town, (Lou won the race, by the way) Rachel divided up the list of things to get amongst the four of them. They each went on their separate ways hoping to get the job done much quicker.

---

It was a beautiful late spring day. The sun shone brightly in a rich, azure sky, and the few clouds that were present were the pure white, fluffy variety that made a person want to spend hours trying to see what objects they could find in their cottony masses. It was the kind of day that made a body feel glad to be alive. At least, that's how Jimmy felt as he walked through the streets of Sweetwater, going about completing his given set of errands.

But Jimmy was having a hard time keeping his mind on the task at hand. His thoughts kept wandering back to the previous night. It was the first night he had spent in Lou's bedroom since his return a few weeks ago. Lou had tried to convince him when he first arrived that it was alright for him to share her bed. Heck, she'd wanted him to. She loved him and had missed having him near. But Jimmy had insisted that it wasn't right. Not yet, he'd told her.

Knowing that little James was asleep just across the hall made Jimmy uncomfortable. Lord knows, he wanted to be with Lou more than anything. It was almost more than he could bear not to be able to hold her at night and feel her body naked against his. However, he did not want to make it look to James as if he were moving in too fast on his mother. After all, the boy didn't know the history that he and Lou shared. Jimmy didn't want him to be upset with the fact that there was another man -- a man he'd only seen before when he was too young to even remember -- who'd suddenly shown up and was now taking over the spot in his mother's life where only his father should be. Somehow, Jimmy wanted to feel that he had the boy's approval.

The conversation with James last night seemed to give Jimmy the push he needed to finally feel at ease with letting himself love Lou again in the way he desperately wanted. It was not that he needed the push, really. He just wanted James' blessing, to tell Jimmy that it was alright for him to be with Lou and not have to work so hard at hiding their relationship.

So, Jimmy stayed with Lou that night. They did not make love, but they slept in each other's arms, simply content to hold one another as dawn bathed their bodies in its glorious light and smiled down upon their love.

He grinned to himself at the memory of Lou's warm body pressed against his. Jimmy's blood ran hot just thinking about it. How long he'd waited and hoped and dreamed for that moment. So many nights alone he'd tried to make that longing vanish by drowning himself in whiskey when he knew that the fire that burned within him -- the fire of his love for Louise McCloud -- could never be put out. Too strong was her hold on him, and she would not allow him to ever forget her love even when he'd felt so tortured by the memory of her sweet scent that he thought he wanted to bury those memories in the recesses of his mind forever.

But those days were behind him now, in the past where they had no further hold on him. The past is gone, Jimmy thought to himself. He no longer had to exist off of dreams of coming home to Lou. He was home, and he had her living, breathing body in his arms to cling to.

The sun immersed him in its radiance. It's good to be alive, he mused. He whistled merrily as he headed towards the general store with quick, lively steps.

---

Lou had just finished up some business at the bank when she ran into Rachel outside the dress shop, so the two of them decided to check out the new yardage arrivals while they were there. Lou passed a pretty mint green pattern that had caught her eye. She was all smiles, moving among the bolts of fabric as if she were floating on air. Rachel couldn't help but notice the extra spring in the younger woman's step, or the aura of complete happiness that surrounded her.

Pretending to be looking at a dark blue gingham material, Rachel secretly watched Lou. She had started to hum while she wandered through the shop, glancing at the fabrics but not really appearing to be paying much attention. Rachel knew that her friend was definitely pre-occupied, and she had a good idea just what -- or rather, who -- was filling Louise's thoughts.

Finally, Lou spotted Rachel out of the corner of her eye and noticed the mischievous grin on her face. She did a double take, catching Rachel red-handed, though she attempted to hide the fact that she'd been staring.

"What?" Lou wondered as she approached Rachel. She didn't realize that she was being so obvious.

"Nothin'," Rachel retorted, still grinning. "It's just that you been actin' like a love-sick schoolgirl all day."

"Oh?" She feigned innocence and dropped her gaze back to a dress hanging nearby in an attempt to hide the blush she felt creeping on.

"Mmmhmmm," Rachel nodded. She stood with one hand on her hip and that knowing look on her face. "And I think I know what it is that has you feelin' so good today."

Turning back to her, Lou said with teasing in her voice, "Well, do tell, Rachel. Don't keep me in suspense any longer."

"It's just that I happened to notice that the bed in the spare room was already made when I got up this mornin'," she mentioned, her tone mysterious.

Lou was quick to answer, doing her best to keep up in the little game that was developing between her and Rachel. "I guess Jimmy was up early and got to it before you did."

"Louise, when did we ever know Jimmy Hickok to make his own bed?" Rachel asked, folding her arms across her chest. Her eyebrows were raised in such a way that Lou knew she couldn't keep her secret much longer. It wasn't really secret anyway. It's just not something she went around telling the whole world.

Lou was turning bright red at this point, and Rachel knew that she'd guessed correctly. She closed the gap between them and lowered her voice. "I knew it! I knew you two wouldn't be able to hold off much longer."

"Wait a minute, Rachel," Lou said. "It's not what you think."

"Oh, come on, Lou! We're friends, aren't we? Women can talk about these things, too. What was it y'all used to call it? Dancin'?" Rachel stifled a laugh. She just wasn't buying the fact that while Jimmy and Lou had slept together, they had not 'danced'.

Lou moved even closer to Rachel and whispered so that the other women who had come into the store wouldn't overhear. "No, I mean it, Rachel. Me 'n' Jimmy...," she cut herself off, sighing in exasperation. "There was no dancin' involved. We just...held each other."

Suddenly Rachel felt foolish. She had no right to assume anything had taken place, and it wasn't really her business to begin with. She immediately felt the need to apologize for making Lou feel uncomfortable.

"I'm so sorry, Lou," she admitted. "I didn't mean to pry. I was only happy for you 'n' Jimmy."

"I know," Lou replied, not angry in the least. "I'm just so glad he's here...that he's back in my life. And last night felt so good, Rachel. So right."

Rachel smiled at the younger woman. Lou's joy was apparent in everything about her...the way her eyes lit up, the soft glow on her face. Only true love could do that to a person.

"I know, honey." Rachel touched her gently on the shoulder. "You two were made for each other. And if there's anybody in this world who deserves to be happy, it's you 'n' Jimmy."

A thankful smile came across Lou's face, and the two of them went back to browsing.

---

Jimmy stepped into the mercantile, glancing down at the list of items he needed to purchase there. His eyes remained focused on the piece of paper in his hand as he walked up to the front counter. The shopkeeper was busy stacking up some cans on the shelves behind the long wooden counter. He had his back towards Jimmy but had heard the sound of footsteps announcing the arrival of a potential customer.

"What can I do for ya?" his gravelly voice called out. He'd not yet turned around to face Jimmy.

Jimmy looked up from his list when he heard the familiar voice. He furrowed his brow as recognition washed over him. "Tompkins?"

The broad, white-haired man spun around at the sound of his name. He was instantly transported back in time when he saw the man before him...to a time when he was doused in flour before being hit over the head with a frying pan. He shook his head to clear the memory.

"Well, if it isn't Jimmy Hickok," Tompkins said with a wry smile. "I heard rumors sayin' 'Wild Bill' was back in town." He snickered when he said the infamous name, never quite able to equate the young hothead who first came into his store all those years ago with the most well known gunfighter around.

Jimmy tried to hide his disgust upon hearing the hated moniker. Yes, he'd used it for a while to get what he wanted. It was a name that some feared, some loved, and some wanted to blow out of existence. There were times when it gave him an advantage, but even more times when it made his life a living hell. And for some reason, it really grated on Jimmy's nerves to hear it roll off Tompkin's tongue like that.

But, he masked his feelings and greeted the old man from his Express days. "Good to see you, too, Tompkins," he quipped, barely managing to conceal his sarcasm.

"What brings you back to Sweetwater? Last I heard 'Wild Bill' was makin' his residence in Abilene."

Jimmy was getting a little irritated. It seemed that Tompkins was finding the situation a bit too amusing for Jimmy's taste. Maybe not much had changed in fifteen years after all.

"I'm just here for a visit," he said quickly. "Rachel and Lou need a few things on this list here." Jimmy handed over the list in an attempt to change the subject and get on with business. It was a fine day; no need to waste it jabbering with someone who only made Jimmy feel annoyed and self-conscious.

Tompkins took the piece of paper and looked at it, squinting his eyes so he could better make out what it said. He mumbled incoherently to himself as he perused the list. Meanwhile, some other customers began wandering into the store.

"Be with you fellas in a minute," he told them, as he proceeded to get the items on Jimmy's list and collect them in a large crate.

"Just put that on Lou's account," Jimmy said.

"Alright," Tompkins nodded. "Anythin' else you need while you're here?"

"Nope," he shook his head. "That'd be it for today."

Suddenly, the older man started laughing in that irritating belly laugh of his, shaking his head in disbelief. "I never thought 'Wild Bill' was into shoppin'," he chuckled.

Jimmy failed to see the humor, and his face showed his displeasure. "Could we just get on with it?"

Tompkins tried to stifle his laughter as he finished totaling up the purchases and marking them in his ledger. Jimmy took an apple from a nearby barrel and began munching away while he waited. It was amazing how in a matter of minutes his entire mood had been soured.

But unbeknownst to Jimmy, one of the men who had come into the store had been listening to everything Tompkins had said. His ears perked up and his eyes glimmered with malicious intent at the sound of the name 'Wild Bill'. He nonchalantly ambled out into the street while Jimmy was still standing at the counter with his back turned. He knew somebody who'd be mighty interested in knowing that 'Wild Bill' Hickok was back in town.

Chapter VII - Last Man Standing

"Is that all of it?" Rachel asked while Jimmy, Lou, and Teaspoon loaded the back of the buckboard until it was full of crates, barrels, and sacks.

The blonde-haired woman made a mental checklist as her eyes scanned the inventory in the wagon, verifying that they hadn't missed anything.

"Looks like we got everythin', Rachel," Teaspoon told her.

Lou turned to Jimmy, a wily smile playing on her lips. "Did ya get a chance to go over and see our old friend?" She motioned with her head over to the general store. She laughed to herself as she recalled all the trouble she and the other Express riders had given Tompkins over the years, though it seemed rightly justified at the time.

"Yeah, I saw Tompkins alright," Jimmy nodded, seeming not so pleased. "Still the same cranky old geezer he was the last time I seen him."

"Really?" Lou looked a little surprised. "I always thought he'd sweetened up a bit over the years."

"Well, ain't nothin' sweet about him, if ya ask me."

Lou didn't ask what Jimmy had meant by it. She simply shrugged her shoulders and let it be.

Jimmy held out his hand to help Rachel into the buckboard so they could be on their way. They'd gotten everything they needed from town, and there was still plenty of time left in the day to make a last attempt at enjoying it.

"Hey, Hickok!" a voice sounded in the distance.

Jimmy stopped and turned toward the source of the disturbance.

"Wild Bill Hickok!"

The voice grew louder, but the crowds of people and wagons rolling through the street prevented Jimmy from seeing who exactly was calling his name. He searched the masses with his skillful gaze, his eyes narrowed. Jimmy could feel Lou's grip tighten around his arm, as everything around him seemed to be moving in slow motion. All other sounds vanished from Jimmy's ears except for the lone man's voice calling him out.

Suddenly, the crowds parted like the Red Sea, revealing a young man who couldn't have been more than twenty years old. His lips were curled in defiance, his eyes clouded in an ominous haze.

"Welcome back, Wild Bill!" he sneered, challenge dripping in his words and zealous stride. He kept approaching Jimmy, his icy stare never leaving him.

Lou felt her breath leave her body when she realized what was happening. No, Jimmy. No. Her heart cried out the words, but they would not fall from her lips. She didn't understand how this could be happening, not when she'd been so happy only moments ago. It couldn't be real, she thought...she wished.

Unfortunately, Jimmy knew all too well what was going to happen. He'd resigned himself to this life long ago even though he'd been able to forget about it temporarily due to the euphoria of being back home with Lou. But now, it was all crashing down upon him again. And it was too late to turn back.

He gave a slight nod of acknowledgment to his challenger, realizing there was not much else he could do. Then Jimmy turned to Lou, her fingernails digging into his flesh though he paid it no mind. He placed both hands on her shoulders, shaking her into reality until she turned her head to look at him.

"Lou," he told her, his voice firm and unwavering, "I need you to go home."

Her brow wrinkled in confusion. She couldn't believe what he was saying to her. Here he was about to engage in a gunfight. The man she loved was about to risk his life, and he wanted her to leave his side. She couldn't believe it. She wouldn't. She shook her head violently. "No, Jimmy. I ain't leavin' you! I won't!"

Jimmy's voice grew louder, more determined. He would not let her stand by and watch, knowing that if something went wrong and she were hurt, he'd never be able to live with himself. Jimmy remembered how awful he had felt when he'd killed that woman accidentally when she ran out into the middle of a gunfight. And he wanted to die after he had killed his own friend and deputy when he was working as marshal in Abilene. Deputy Mike Williams ran out into the street to help disperse a mob of drunken Texans, but Jimmy unknowingly shot and killed him, thinking he was the enemy. He was determined not to let that happen again and became even more ardent in his demand.

"Lou! I said go home. Now!" He was practically yelling at her by this point, but he didn't know what else to do to get his message across. Time was running out, and his opponent was getting impatient.

Lou stared back at Jimmy in rebellion, unwilling to back down. He turned to Rachel, who was practically in a state of shock. His eyes looked upon her pleadingly. They needed to get Lou out there quick, and he hoped Rachel might be able to force some sense into her.

"Rachel, please," he said. "I need you to take Lou home."

With a nudge from Teaspoon, Rachel hopped off the wagon and reached out for Lou. She wrapped the younger woman in her arms, practically hauling her away from Jimmy and from the scene that they all knew was about to unfold.

"I ain't got all day, Hickok!" The man hollered again, rapidly becoming antsy.

He remained standing in the middle of the main street of Sweetwater. Within a matter of minutes, the town suddenly seemed empty. Mothers had latched onto their children, dragging them out of the street and into the safety of the shops. There were still plenty of people lining the sidewalks, men mostly, anxious to see the show. The sense of morbid curiosity that filled the air was overwhelming...and disturbing.

Jimmy said nothing, and turned again to face Lou. He saw the anger and hurt in her eyes, and it was like a knife to his heart knowing he was the reason for it. But he knew he had to be strong and keep his resolve that no danger come to the woman he loved. Glancing over to Rachel, who held onto Lou securely, he said, "Get her out of here."

Rachel obediently forced Lou up onto the buckboard, following after. She took hold of the reins, studying Jimmy as his eyes locked on Lou, who sat refusing to look at him. He tried hard to convince himself that he was doing the right thing. Meanwhile, his heart was breaking.

Teaspoon stood back studying the events of the last few minutes. He had learned enough in his lifetime to know that there was not much he could say or do to prevent what was about to take place. He'd said it a long time ago: There's something about Hickok, I don't know, that's bigger than life. If I wasn't superstitious -- which I am -- I'd call it destiny. Whatever it is, all I know is that we can't keep protecting him from it because, sooner or later, he would have to face it. And it ain't something a man ever beats. Not in this life anyways.

From beneath the brim of his hat, the old man looked up at Lou, who just continued to stare straight ahead of her. "Lou," he said in a soothing tone, "I'll take your horse and make sure James gets home from school alright."

She didn't respond, not even a nod. All she kept thinking was how she wished she had her gun with her. She'd either shoot the man standing in the middle of street herself, or shoot Jimmy. She saw the way he was looking at Jimmy, at the hate radiating from every pore of his body, and it terrified her.

Patting Lou on her arm, Teaspoon heaved a great sigh. He then motioned to Rachel to drive on. She nodded sadly and slapped the reins.

Lou felt the initial jolt from when the wagon started into motion, her head snapping back slightly. The wheels rolled through the dusty street, carrying her further and further away from the man she loved. She'd never felt so utterly helpless before. She wanted to cry out and tell Jimmy that she loved him, but she had no voice. And the distance just kept growing.

Once the buckboard was a safe distance from town, Teaspoon came up to Jimmy, looking him square in the eye. He placed his hand on his shoulder in a fatherly way and said, "You don't have to do this, Jimmy." Teaspoon knew his attempt meant nothing, but he still felt the need to try.

"I got no choice, Teaspoon," Jimmy replied coolly, yet regretfully. He was preparing himself mentally for the ensuing battle, forcing himself into 'Wild Bill' mode. It was kill or be killed. And there was no turning back.

Teaspoon simply nodded and stepped away. He had no doubt that Jimmy would come out of this the victor, but he also understood how, in the past, every time Jimmy was forced to take another life, he let a little piece of himself die along with it. It was as if a small part of Jimmy was gone, only to be replaced by the persona that 'Wild Bill' Hickok had become over the years. Teaspoon had hope, though, that this time things might be different. He had Lou now. He had her love to help keep him strong, but only if Jimmy would let her.

At last Jimmy stood face to face with his latest foe...the next notch on his gun, the next ghost to haunt his soul. He pulled on his black leather gloves, which helped him keep a solid grip when he'd go to reach for his gun with lightning speed. Eventually, he was ready, the silver of his two Navy Colt revolvers glinting in the afternoon sun.

The man across him snarled his threat, moving aside his coat to reveal the weapon at his hip. "I'm takin' you down, Wild Bill."

Jimmy raised one eyebrow. How many times had he heard that before? How many men over the years had made those their last words? How many more, he wondered.

"What's your name, boy?" Jimmy asked. That was his first vocal acknowledgment.

"What difference does it make? Soon everybody's gonna know the name of the man who shot down Wild Bill Hickok." The young man's arrogance and naiveté was apparent, unfortunate traits possessed by many of the men Jimmy faced.

Jimmy's face remained a stony facade. "Then humor a dyin' man's last wish," he spoke with sarcasm.

"McCall," he said. "Thomas McCall. Now quit stallin', Hickok!"

Nodding, Jimmy made a mental note of the man's name. Jimmy stood tall, his body poised and ready for action, his eyes focused on detecting even the smallest movement from his opponent. They flickered back and forth between the face of the enemy and the shaky fingers that hung by his side, only inches away from the gun intended to "take down Wild Bill".

"There's no turnin' back," McCall warned, not realizing his words would seal his own fate.

"Nope," Jimmy said in a voice so low only he could hear. "There's no turnin' back."

The sound of guns clearing leather followed by the echo of a single shot ripped through the eerie silence that hung over the town. When the smoke cleared, there was only one left standing.

Chapter VIII - A Pledge Beneath the Heavens

Louise had been wandering alone in the darkness for what felt like hours. After what happened in town with Jimmy, she needed to get away from it all; she needed to think. But she found that her mind was a blur, a storm of thoughts and emotions so mixed up that she didn't know what to think.

She'd been forced to leave town with Rachel, and she remained in a stoic state of silence throughout the ride home. The minute the buckboard was pulled to a halt outside the barn, Lou bolted up from the seat and ran. She just kept running further and further away from the house because she didn't know what else to do. Usually, she would have at least saddled her horse and rode, but in this instance, there did not seem to be time enough for that. Lou wanted to get away as fast as she possibly could. Away from what, she did not truly know.

But that was hours ago. It was mid-afternoon when she began running, as if for her life, and now it was way past suppertime. Lou realized that everyone must be worried sick about her, but not even that fact convinced her to turn around and head for home.

Her legs and her senses guided her unconsciously as she ambled across a densely wooded area of her property. Lou didn't know where she was going. She didn't care. It was similar to the countless number of times she'd hopped on Lightning and rode across the open prairie, letting her faithful horse carry her and lead her away from her troubles and towards some inner peace. He always led her in the right direction, never allowing her to stray.

Lou had been walking in a haze, breathless, but she finally regained awareness when she realized that she was at the pond. Somehow, it did not surprise her in the least that her heart had led her there. The place always brought her comfort and solace. She felt safe there, as if this spot of Earth was somehow closer to God.

Deciding to stop her tireless stroll, Lou stood by the edge of the water, staring into its murky depths. The moonlight danced across the silvery surface of the water, a silent, flowing waltz with the stars. The night breeze caressed her cheeks, and a shiver ran down the length of her spine. Lou did not shiver because of the chill, but because of the fear that ran through her. Fear that she would lose Jimmy...fear that she wouldn't be able to bear it if she did.

She gasped unconsciously, taking in a long, deep breath and holding it for several moments. The air stung her nose and burned her lungs. Closing her eyes, Lou whispered a prayer. A prayer for Jimmy...and herself.

Lou was completely oblivious to the tears that had begun to cascade down her cheek. So fervent was her plea and so strong was her concentration that she did not hear the sound of hoof beats coming up fast from behind until they were almost on top of her.

Jimmy flung himself from his saddle and ran to Lou's side. "Lou!"

Opening her eyes at last, she spun around towards him. Her heart began to race at the sight of him, her fears vanishing into the ethereal beauty of night.

The words caught in her throat as Jimmy wrapped her in his arms, holding her so tight she could barely breathe. But Lou did not protest. She only wanted to be held tighter, so tight that they would disappear into each other and into a world where nothing or no one could ever come between them.

"I'm fine, Lou," Jimmy whispered in her ear. He wove his fingers into the tangles of her long hair. "I'm here. Everything's gonna be alright."

Finally, Lou found her voice, and it was filled with a strange mixture of relief, sadness, and joy. "I thought I'd lost you. When I saw the look in that man's eyes...I felt truly afraid for you, Jimmy."

Jimmy pulled away from Lou just enough to look into her tear-filled eyes and spoke the words of his heart. "I told you, Lou. I told you I ain't never gonna leave you again. No matter what happens, I'll always be with you. I swear it now, and I swear it forever."

Lou felt her soul become at ease. She'd heard Jimmy say those words before, but somehow, the full extent of their depth and meaning had not completely sunk in until now. She and Jimmy had something so powerful -- a love so deep and transcending -- that it had to be true. Jimmy would be with her...always.

"I can't guarantee that what happened today won't happen again," Jimmy cautioned, only to be cut off by Lou.

"I don't care, Jimmy," she told him outright. "I knew what might happen when I chose to love you, and I'm ready to face it with you. Just don't push me away when trouble comes."

Jimmy nodded lightly, making his silent vow to her, his eyes never leaving hers once. He knew he'd hurt her earlier today by sending her away, especially when he knew she was strong enough to handle anything that life threw at her. He couldn't help his innate desire to protect Lou, but she was right...about so many things.

"I love you more than life itself," Jimmy finally said. "I can't imagine my life without you, Lou."

Lou smiled up at him, an expression of pure happiness on her face. "I love you, too, Jimmy. Now more than ever."

The moon suddenly began to shine at full strength as it moved out from behind some clouds. It felt as if the moon were lighting up the world just for them, smiling upon their love. Lou and Jimmy were in their own private Eden where only good and truth and love existed, and all evil was shut out by the sentry of trees that stood guard around them. Nothing could disturb the sanctity of the moment. Nothing dared to.

Jimmy's heart was literally singing inside him. He'd never thought it possible to love somebody so much, but there he was, holding the one person who gave his life meaning and purpose and filled it with all the intangibles that made it worth living. And, looking at her, he suddenly felt the overpowering need to express all the things that were just bursting to be let out. He'd ridden through Hell and back today, but Jimmy could think of no better time, no better place.

"Lou, I can hardly believe I'm standin' here with you like this," he began. He thought the words sounded awkward to his own ears at first, but they began to come easier with each heartbeat. Lou's touch made it so. "I love you so much. I think I started lovin' you the minute I found out you were a girl, and it hasn't stopped since. It's only gotten stronger and stronger every day. I should've known from the start I couldn't hide it for long."

Lou brought her hand to his face, outlining the curve of his jaw with her fingers...gently, sensuously. "We don't have to hide it, Jimmy. Not anymore."

Taking possession of her hand, Jimmy squeezed it in his own. He continued. "For a long time, I was afraid to love you. There was Kid, and you two loved each other. At the time, I know it was right," he confessed to her. When Lou and Kid were first married, he denied that Kid was right for her. How could another man be meant for Lou when Jimmy loved her so much? "And then, when Kid was gone and we admitted that we loved each other, I was still afraid to let myself love you. Afraid that my troubles would find you, and I didn't want to cause you any pain. So, I ran away. I ran from you, I ran from love...I ran from the best thing that ever happened to me, all out of fear."

His eyes were locked on Lou's, unflinching, penetrating into the very core of her existence. Jimmy shook his head slightly. "But everything inside me tells me the time is right for us now. And I'm not afraid anymore. I won't fear love, because I know you never have."

"Jimmy." Lou's lips moved to form his name, but the sound was barely audible because her emotions were so saturated by the earnestness of his confession. Never before had she heard Jimmy speak like this to her. Never before had he been so articulate and eloquent about what was in his heart. Though she always knew the things that he couldn't say.

It was a very rare thing in itself for Jimmy to admit that he was afraid. After all, the name of 'Wild Bill' Hickok was enshrouded in a legacy of courage and fearlessness, even callousness. But Lou knew the real Jimmy. She knew his vulnerabilities, and she was glad he was able to share them with her. So she listened to him with open ears and an open heart.

"That time we rode with Elias, I head him say that you were woman enough to match me," he told her. Lou hadn't realized that Jimmy heard her conversation with Elias Mills, but he'd secretly listened to every word. "He was right. He knew that you were woman enough...that you were strong enough to stand by me in spite of the trouble that's always shadowed me." He moistened his lips with his tongue, pausing for an instant. "But the truth is I wasn't man enough at the time to let you."

Squeezing Jimmy's hand lightly, Lou wordlessly encouraged him to go on. She wasn't going anywhere. She'd stopped running.

"You once told me that I was a better man than I gave myself credit for." Jimmy smiled at the memory and at the recollection of the taste of her mouth on his for the first time. It burned within him like a fire, and for so long, he had tried to squelch it. But it would not be forced out. The flames of his passion only grew higher and more consuming. "Well, that's only because of you. You believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself. You made my life mean somethin', and I know that my life ain't worth livin' if I don't have you in it."

Jimmy then took hold of both of Lou's hands, twining his fingers between hers, melding the two separate entities into one. He sensed the heat from her body transferring into him, giving him just a little of her strength so that he could continue. "Lou, I need you. I need you to be with me always. To hold me up and make me strong...to help me be the kind of man you believe I can be." He paused for a moment, feeling breathless from the sight of her more than from the length of his entreaty. "Be my wife, Lou. I need you by my side. Please...will you marry me?"

The answer rolled off of Lou's tongue before she had a chance to realize it. "Yes!" She clung to Jimmy and pressed her face into his chest, repeating the word over and over again in muted tones. It was the most wonderful word in the world, she thought. And this was the most wonderful moment.

Jimmy glanced heavenward upon hearing her declaration. No man on Earth could have been happier than he was.

Then, in the heat of such a serious and passionate moment, a wry smile formed on Jimmy's lips. "I promise you I won't sneak away before the weddin' this time."

Lou couldn't help but laugh. She moved to look up at him and said, "Don't worry. I won't let you get away this time."

Still smiling, Jimmy cupped her face in his hands and lowered his mouth onto hers. Lips like honey, he thought, as he lost himself in the kiss and in their love. He knew that with a love like theirs, nothing could ever touch them. Their bond had been forged long ago, before either of them had even realized it.

The kiss eventually ended, but the feelings it carried did not. Lou's eyes were dancing in the moonlight, her hair shining like copper beneath the stars. It was hanging loose down her back, the way Jimmy loved it most. He brushed a wispy strand away from her face with his hand. Jimmy marveled at how he never tired of touching her. It was familiar and comfortable, yet it was new and exciting at the same time. Touching Lou felt like home, and there was nothing in the world quite like the feeling of coming home after a lonely, weary journey. Jimmy had been on the journey for far too long. Now he was home.

"Should we go back and tell Rachel and Teaspoon the good news?" Jimmy asked, hardly able to contain his joy. He was so eager, he didn't wait for her response. "Let's set the date for this Saturday."

"No," Lou simply said. Jimmy looked puzzled. "I mean, not Saturday. I don't want to wait till then. Let's do it here...now. Like it was meant to be."

He nodded in agreement. "Like it was meant to be," he echoed softly.

And so, Jimmy and Lou would make their wedding vows to each other. It would be just the two of them...and all the love that could flourish between a man and a woman. A love so pure that no piece of paper or official ceremony could ever be needed to sanctify it. They had the expanse of velvet blue Nebraska sky as their cathedral. The moon would serve as their preacher, and the trees and the stars their congregation. This was where their love had begun, at this place. It was only fitting that it would be where Jimmy and Lou would pledge themselves to each other for all eternity.

"Louise McCloud, I promise to love you forever. I'll be with you and take care of you always. I'll love James like he was my own flesh and blood. And I'll never stop tryin' to be the kind of man that's worthy of you."

The power of Jimmy's pledge brought tears to Lou's eyes for the second time that night. But this time, they were tears of happiness. It touched her that Jimmy somehow felt as if he had to prove himself to her. He never did. She loved him for what he was.

Then, Jimmy unexpectedly reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the two golden rings that he had bought ten years ago. Lou gasped when she saw their perfect circles glistening in the moonlight. She had nearly forgotten, though Jimmy never had.

Jimmy placed one of the delicate gold bands on the ring finger of Lou's left hand. He slid it up until it came to rest right next to the wedding ring that Kid had put on her finger many years ago. Lou had never taken it off, and Jimmy didn't expect her to now. He knew he no longer had to compete with Kid for her love. He felt Kid's spirit smiling down upon them that very moment.

Lou brought her hand to her lips, pressing the ring against them. Then she took Jimmy's hands again, and began speaking her vows.

"Jimmy Hickok, what we got is bigger than the sky, brighter than the moon and all the stars, deeper than these waters. We got somethin' that most people only ever dream of." She paused for a second to collect herself. "I promise to stand by you and love you in everything you do. I wanna be there with you even in the face of danger. I was prepared to make that promise to you ten years ago, and every day since, so I'm makin' it now. I loved you then, and I love you now. And I'll love you till the end of time."

Taking the matching gold ring from Jimmy, she slid it onto his finger. It looked so right on his hand, and instantly it seemed to become a part of his being.

An indescribable energy surrounded the two lovers as they clasped their hands together and kissed. They were truly one new creation, two halves joined into one as only God can do.

Jimmy and Lou engaged in a dance as old as time as they made love that night under the stars, showing their love for all the heavens to witness. Their vows resonated deep within them, giving them a heightened passion unlike they'd ever known before. And the winds carried Jimmy's words on them like a song: No matter what happens, I'll always be with you. I swear it now, and I swear it forever... I'll always be with you...

They stayed there all night, awake in each other's arms, until the last star faded into the first pink light of dawn.

Chapter IX - Revelations and Revelry

Lou and Jimmy should have felt tired that morning, but they didn't. They were too full of energy and euphoria and love to be let the lack of sleep bother them, and the rising sun only succeeded in making them feel more alive.

"Mornin', darlin'," Jimmy whispered in Lou's ear, kissing her softly on the side of her face.

Lou lay stretched out on the grass, enfolded in his strong arms. She felt so warm and secure nestled next to Jimmy, her head tucked in the hollow between his neck and shoulder. She hadn't wanted the night to end.

She smiled at him lovingly as she lightly touched his cheek with her fingertips. "Mornin'."

"I hate to say it," Jimmy began reluctantly, "but I think it's time we headed back to the house."

Sighing, Lou had to agree. "I know. I just can't imagine what everyone's gonna say when they see us ridin' back after bein' gone all night. And then when we tell them..." Her face began to flush prettily, and she was all aglow at the thought about what she and Jimmy had done last night...vowing eternal love, 'dancing' under the stars...

Jimmy chuckled, weaving his fingers into the long tendrils of her hair. "I don't know. Either Rachel's gonna kill us for not invintin' her to the weddin', or she'll be so happy she can't stop cryin'."

Lou lifted her head and perched it up on Jimmy's chest to look at him. She had a lovely expression on her face. "I have a feelin' she'll do both. First, she'll get all teary-eyed and start fussin' over us somethin' fierce. Then, she'll stand there, her hands on her hips, and start on how we shoulda waited so she could be there."

"I reckon you're right," Jimmy conceded. "In any case, she 'n' Teaspoon'll be so glad for us."

Lou's face suddenly sobered as she realized that she hadn't even thought how all this would come to affect her son, James. She knew that he loved his 'Uncle Jimmy' very much, but how would he take to having another man around the house to stay for good? Lou had counted on having more time to allow Jimmy to make the transition into both of their lives, but last night, none of that seemed to matter. The sense of urgency that she'd felt overpowered any logic.

"Oh, Jimmy, what am I gonna tell James?" she wondered, her mind racing with possibilities that she hadn't considered until now. "How am I gonna tell him we got married?"

Jimmy took on a wistful look as he thought about Lou's question and the conversation that he had with James two nights ago.

"Are you gonna marry Mama?" the boy asked Jimmy. "I hope so," came the later reply.

He smiled at the recollection, knowing that everything was going to work out just fine. Jimmy sat up, forcing Lou to do so as well, and looked deep into her chocolate brown eyes. He could see the worry laden in them, but he believed that he had the power to remove all traces of doubt from them.

"It's alright, darlin'," he smoothed her hair back with his hand. "'cause I happen to know that we have James' seal of approval to get hitched."

She looked at him quizzically, her brow wrinkled. "You do?" Jimmy nodded. "And how's that?"

Jimmy just grinned and looked her as he rose to his feet, pulling Lou up along with him. The horse blanket that had covered them during the night fell to the ground, exposing their nakedness.

The sunlight streaming through the trees danced on their skin, dappling it with a soft orange-yellow glow. Jimmy's eyes traveled over Lou's body, lingering on her delicate curves as she stood before him with an expression of wonderment on her face. He could hardly believe she was his, but she was. Lou had given herself to him so completely, as he did to her. And Jimmy could still feel the power of their oneness washing over him like new rain. He reveled in the feel of it.

Grabbing the blanket and wrapping it around himself and Lou, he said, "C'mon. I'll tell you on the way back to the house."

---

Rachel was up early as usual, preparing to start breakfast for everyone. Her mind was not really on the task at hand, as she was still worried about Lou and Jimmy. She hardly slept a wink that night, though Teaspoon tried his best to ease her mind and allay her fears. He'd informed her that Jimmy walked away from the gunfight without a scratch, and that he had ridden off afterward in search of Lou.

"Jimmy'll find her," Teaspoon had said. "Nothin' can keep those two apart for long. They got Destiny on their side."

Teaspoon had arrived home that afternoon with James, who had no idea what had occurred. He sensed that something strange was happening when he spotted the old man with his mother's horse waiting for him outside the schoolhouse. Usually James walked home with some of the neighboring children, a fact that made him feel proud and independent since many of the other kids his age still had their mother's picking them up after school. So, he knew something was up, but Teaspoon just told him that he was in town and figured he'd give James a ride home, save him the walk. James shrugged and accepted.

It had been a different story later that night when the boy kept wondering where his mama and Uncle Jimmy had gone. Teaspoon and Rachel eyed each other over the supper table, unsure of what they should tell him. They didn't want to lie to James, but they also didn't want him to be left wondering and worrying. Eventually, Rachel decided to tell him that his mother and Jimmy went to spend a quiet evening alone together so they could catch up on lost time. James seemed satisfied for the time being, and Rachel didn't feel so bad since she knew there was probably a great deal of truth in her statement.

The griddle was just starting to warm up on the stove when Rachel saw the approaching horse outside the window. She immediately abandoned the hotcake batter that she'd been mixing and ran outside, a mixture of relief and curiosity on her face.

Lou was riding in front of Jimmy on his new palomino, Charlie. They trotted in at an easy pace, finally coming to a stop just outside the old bunkhouse where the family still ate most of their meals. Rachel stood outside with her arms on her hips and her apron flapping in the subtle breeze, as Jimmy helped Lou down from the saddle.

Rachel still wore a worried expression, but it melted the minute she saw Lou and Jimmy's smiling faces. She had thought about scolding the two for not coming home last night and leaving her half scared out her mind. Then she thought twice, determining she should simply be happy that they were back now and that they were safe. Besides, Rachel knew she'd just been plain silly to fret so. She knew that Jimmy would find Lou, and that everything would work out fine in the end. The young couple did not even have to say a word for Rachel to know this was true, and she figured it would be best to leave it at that and ask no more questions.

"Mornin', Rachel," Lou said to the blonde-haired woman, approaching her with a sudden feeling of giddiness. She latched onto Jimmy's hand and felt comfort in his surety.

She smiled at them. "Mornin' yourselves. I'll have breakfast ready in 'bout half an hour, in case your interested."

"Thanks, Rachel," Jimmy told her. "We didn't mean to worry ya none last night." He glanced over to Lou standing next to him before turning back to Rachel to speak for the both of them. "We just needed a little time alone, to sort things out, so to speak."

"Well," she sighed, folding her arms across her chest, "I'll admit y'all had me worried. But I knew you two would be alright."

"We're more than alright, Rachel," Lou began. She could feel the warmth of a blush growing in her cheeks, and soon she could not contain her happiness. Her eyes flashed over to Jimmy's, sparking in the sunlight, and he nodded reassuringly. "You see, Jimmy 'n' me...well, we got married last night."

Rachel's mouth dropped wide open when she heard this, and for a moment, she was rendered speechless. Then she ran over to the younger woman and flung her arms around her. "Oh my gosh, Lou! Jimmy!" She moved on to embrace him as well. "I can't believe this! I'm so happy for you!"

"That means a lot to us," Jimmy told her with sincerity. He reached over and pulled Lou closer towards him. The joyous couple just beamed with their love.

"This is incredible!" Rachel carried on. "How did you two manage to find a preacher so quick?"

Jimmy and Lou glanced at each other knowingly. She responded to the question. "We didn't." Rachel looked utterly puzzled, but Lou went on to explain. "We figured we didn't need a piece of paper to show the world or each other how we feel. We know how we feel, and the Lord knows how we feel. What more do we really need? In the end, a weddin' is just a matter of a man and woman and the love between 'em. And that's somethin' we got plenty of."

Rachel's eyes were glassy with tears by this point. She knew exactly how Lou and Jimmy felt. She and Teaspoon felt the same way about what they shared, and they certainly didn't need a marriage certificate to prove their love for each other. And those folks in town who disapproved of their relationship, well, they could all go to the devil for all she cared. Rachel understood that Lou and Jimmy believed the same.

"Oh, I couldn't be happier, Lou," Rachel said, her eyes shining with tears. "But part of me wishes you'd waited, just so I could see you get all fancied up and walk down the aisle. I always loved goin' to weddin's."

"Maybe next time, Rachel," Jimmy teased her, only to receive a jab in the ribs from Lou.

"Sorry, Jimmy, but I'm afraid you're stuck with me for good this time," Lou spoke to him with an adoring smile. "An' I ain't ever lettin' you go."

"I wouldn't want it any other way," he said, just before he wrapped both of his arms around Lou and bent in to kiss her lightly on the lips.

The trio was interrupted when they heard the front door of the house slam shut, the sound of Teaspoon and James' footsteps following soon after. James ran to his mother's side at the sight of her, throwing his arms around her waist.

"Mama! I missed you last night!" he told her, obviously happy that she was home again.

Lou bent down to hug and kiss her son. She hadn't realized how much she ached for him until that moment, and she felt the emotions welling in her chest. "I missed you so much, little man! I'm sorry I wasn't here to tuck you in last night."

"That's alright," James assured her. "Uncle Teaspoon told me the story of when you 'n' Pa 'n' Uncle Jimmy 'n' Uncle Cody 'n' Uncle Noah were chasin' after this strange beast, and it turned out just to be a camel!"

James finally loosened up his grip on his mama when he saw that Uncle Jimmy was back as well. He ran over to his side, hugging him, too. "Uncle Jimmy!" he squealed with delight.

"Hey there, James," he smiled down at the eager young boy. "I'm glad to hear you're not too mad that Uncle Teaspoon had to tell you a story and not me." Jimmy sent a teasing wink towards the older man.

"Naw," James shook his head. "You're both pretty good at tellin' stories."

"Speakin' of stories," Rachel interceded, "I think Lou and Jimmy have a story of their own to be tellin'."

She glanced at the happy couple and then at Teaspoon, her eyes twinkling cheerfully. He had one brow raised in question and that typically curious smirk on his face.

James wondered what new story his mother and Uncle Jimmy would have to share. Something happy, he supposed from the way they were smiling. He loved stories with happy endings the best.

So, they all went inside the bunkhouse while Rachel finished making breakfast for everyone, surrounded in a wonderful sense of love and family.

---

"And you're sure you don't mind if Uncle Jimmy stays here with us?"

James lay in his bed, a contented look on his face, while Lou sat next to him, stroking his thick, dark hair with a mother's gentle touch.

"I like Uncle Jimmy, Mama," the child told her. "I'm glad he's stayin'."

Lou felt relieved at hearing him say those words to her. Ever since that morning when she'd told everyone that she and Jimmy got married, she was not certain if James' initially positive reaction would be lasting. After all, it was only three weeks ago that Jimmy came back into their lives. It would not seem unusual to Lou if James were less than happy upon hearing that she had a new man in her life. But Lou notified her son that he'd always come first with her, despite the fact that he didn't really seem to need the reassurance of her love.

James' happiness at Lou and Jimmy's sudden marriage made the decision unanimous. Rachel was thrilled, of course, and Teaspoon's weak attempts to mask his extreme joy by saying, "Well, it's about time," and "I been wonderin' what you two been waitin' fer," were in vain. They all knew how the old man felt. He was never good at hiding his true emotions, especially happiness, and they wondered why he didn't give up trying altogether. Teaspoon was a softy at heart, and they loved him for it. Besides, he was right...it was about time. Jimmy and Lou deciding to marry was not truly sudden after all. Their love had been more than ten years in the making.

The lantern cast a lovely glow on Lou's sun-kissed skin as she leaned over talking to James. Jimmy stood just outside the bedroom door, listening to everything they were saying, and feeling infinitely glad to have been accepted so easily. In the short time since his arrival, he had grown to love the boy as if he were his very own. Jimmy only regretted the opportunities that Kid was missing out on in getting to know his son. He'd come a far way in his feelings over the years. There had been a time long ago, after James was first born, when Jimmy wished more than anything that Lou were his wife and the child were his own. But now, Jimmy couldn't help feeling blessed with the way things had turned out for him. And there was no need for him to feel jealous or envious...not when he had it all, and not when he knew with his every ounce of his soul that Kid was up there smiling down upon them.

Jimmy leaned in towards the door, which was slightly ajar, when he heard the voices again.

"I'm so happy you like Uncle Jimmy, little man."

"I do," James nodded. "He tells real good stories, Mama, and you're always smilin' now that he's around."

It was true; Lou found it so easy to smile now that Jimmy was back. Her happiness was infectious and everyone was taking notice.

"Now that you 'n' Uncle Jimmy are married," he began, his expression becoming a little more serious, "you won't be lonely anymore."

Lou kissed him on the forehead, letting her lips linger there for a moment to savor the sweetness of the moment. She didn't think it was possible to love a person this much, and here she had, not just her child, but she had Jimmy, too. Her heart was so full she thought she might bust right open.

"I could never be lonely, sweetie," Lou whispered. "Not when I have you. I love you."

"I love you, too, Mama," James said.

Finally rising from her spot on the bed, Lou pushed the hair away from James' face one last time before she turned to leave.

"Goodnight, little man," she said as she clasped the doorknob in her hand.

"'Night, Mama."

Lou closed the door behind her. Jimmy was there, standing in the hallway with a look on his face that Lou couldn't seem to fathom. They simply stared deeply into each other's eyes for a minute, knowing that they were surely the two luckiest people on Earth.

At last, Jimmy's face broke into a slight smile as he took hold of Lou's hand and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. When their lips parted, Lou felt dizzy and breathless...and completely wonderful.

A sly smile crossed Jimmy's mouth as he began leading her downstairs to join Rachel and Teaspoon for a cup of coffee. "Let's go, Mrs. Hickok," he said.

"Mrs. Hickok," Lou echoed pensively. "I happen to like the sound of that." She smiled that brilliant smile of hers and followed her man down the steps.

Chapter X - Malicious Intentions

The last cool days of spring had ended, leading to the hotter, drier summer days and night. School had let out in the middle of June, so James spent more of his time at the ranch helping out his mother and Jimmy and the several hired hands they'd taken on over the years. He loved working with the horses, and he had such a gentle touch to him. It was a trait that had been passed on to young James from both his mother and father.

Lou and Jimmy had been married for over a month now, and it was pure heaven. Rachel had suggested that they take some time off for a honeymoon, maybe travel around a bit and see some other sights, but the newlyweds agreed that there was no place they'd rather be than home in Sweetwater. They had each done their share of drifting and wandering over the years, both physically and spiritually, and now they were simply content to revel in the joys of being home...and being together.

It was a particularly hot and sunny afternoon when Jimmy and Lou rode into town to mail off some letters and take care of other business. They enjoyed spending the time alone, trotting along side-by-side on their horses as they had so many times before during their Express days. Somehow, it always brought the memories stirring to the surface.

After tying up their horses to the hitching post outside Tompkins' store, Lou and Jimmy walked over to the post office to drop off their mail. They had written letters to Buck and Cody shortly after their un-officiated marriage ceremony, but after neither produced a response, they decided to try again. The two former riders were constantly on the move, something that Jimmy and Lou understood and never begrudged. Cody was probably off traveling the country with his latest stage production, too busy to leave a forwarding address. And Buck was especially difficult to contact with all the activity between the U.S. Army and the Indians. It was impossible to know exactly where he was these days, but they never stopped trying.

"Is that all for today, Mrs. McCloud?" asked Mr. Beverly, the post office director.

Nodding, Louise said, "Yes, that's it. Is there any mail to be picked up for the ranch?"

The man lowered the reading glasses so they sat on his nose properly, and he perused the pile of incoming letters. Finally, he raised his eyes to meet with hers again, declaring, "Nope. No letters for the PXP Ranch today."

Lou suddenly appeared crestfallen. She always hoped to find a letter from her extended family and was disappointed when there was none. But she knew mail still traveled slow these days, many preferring to make use of the telegraph to send out any urgent messages.

"Alright," she sighed and turned to leave, Jimmy by her side. "Have a nice day, Mr. Beverly."

"You, too, Mrs. McCloud."

Jimmy tipped his hat at the man just before he closed the front door of the office behind him, the bell on it jingling loudly. Outside, he put his hands on Lou's shoulders trying to comfort her.

"Don't worry, Lou," he told her soothingly. "I'm sure Cody and Buck got your letters. It's just takin' time for theirs to come back to us."

"I know," Lou replied, still feeling melancholy. "It's just that I miss them all so much. Sam 'n' Emma, too. Part of me wishes they could all come for a visit at once, when the rest of me knows that would be impossible."

Kissing her lightly on the forehead, Jimmy said, "Not impossible, darlin'. Only difficult."

Lou felt her heart grow more at ease under Jimmy's loving hand. She knew that she was just being over-emotional. It seemed that lately, she was either suddenly thrust into a mild depression or deliriously happy. She didn't know what to make of it. She summed it up to the heat and the long hours of working out in the sun, making her head do funny things and think strange thoughts. Lou dismissed her feelings and changed the subject.

"Do you think I should be tellin' everyone in town to call me Mrs. Hickok now that we're married?" she mused aloud. "After all, they must suspect somethin' by now."

Jimmy looked down at her as they walked along the wooden walkway that lined the street. He chuckled at her sudden choice of topic. She seemed to be doing that a lot recently, he noted to himself. Changing topics as quickly as she changed her mood. But he loved her for it. Lou always kept him on his toes, and life was never boring, that was for certain.

She glanced at him, wondering what was so darned funny all of the sudden. "What?" she asked, slightly defensive, though a smile lit her face.

"Nothin', Lou," Jimmy shook his head at her, still grinning so that his dimples showed. "It's just I don't care what name people in town call you. They can call you Mrs. Annabelle Mumblepuss, for all I care."

Lou couldn't help but laugh as well, especially hearing Jimmy suggest that the townsfolk call her by the name she'd given the rag doll she had as a child. She smiled at the memory of his face when she'd told him about the doll and what she had chosen to name it. At the same time, Lou knew that Jimmy was right. She was being silly, and it didn't really matter what her name was because she knew she belonged to Jimmy. And it was only a name, after all.

What's in a name? Lou asked herself, remembering a particular sonnet by a fellow named Shakespeare. She'd read it in the little leather-bound book of poetry that Kid had given her before he left for the war. She sighed, remembering how even after she'd married the Kid, she never learned his real name. At least she knew Jimmy's full name, and Lou chuckled to herself at the idea that she was 'Mrs. Louise McCloud-Kid-Hickok'.

"Besides," Jimmy began again, interrupting her thoughts, "it might be easier to leave you as Mrs. McCloud so we don't have to explain why no one was invited to the weddin'."

Jimmy was smiling on the outside, joking with Lou about their unique situation and circumstances. However, he was secretly plagued with the reality of what her taking his name could mean. He'd cursed his own name so many times for all the trouble it brought him....trouble that he wanted as far away from Lou as possible. It was something he didn't even want to think about. Jimmy just hoped she would be content with keeping her own name for the sake of convenience, knowing that the name didn't really matter anyway. Lou was Hickok at heart.

---

The afternoon in town seemed to be passing by quickly, with all of their errands out of the way in no time. Their final stop before they could go home had been the bank. Jimmy and Lou were just heading out of the bank that very moment when Martin Willingham, the owner, spotted them on the street. Well, he spotted Louise, and moved fast to approach her.

"Why, good day to you, Mrs. McCloud," he said, smiling and tipping his hat to her. His eyes quickly grazed over the man standing next to her, but he did not greet him...not yet.

"Oh, Mr. Willingham," Lou stammered, having been caught off guard by his sudden presence. "We were just leavin' the bank."

"A fortuitous meeting then," he replied, that fake-looking grin still plastered on his face.

Martin Willingham became owner of the Sweetwater Bank two years ago. He was a man of about forty, very well dressed, and he hailed from a wealthy family back East though he'd managed to make it quite well living out West. In addition to the bank, he also owned and operated a big cattle spread just outside of town. In fact, his property bordered on the PXP Ranch. At one point, he had been eager to offer Lou a bundle of money to buy up her property. Then he began making other kinds of offers, only to be flatly refused.

After a few moments of silence, Willingham finally decided to say something to Jimmy, who stood clasping Lou's hand and studying the banker suspiciously. "And is this one of your new hired hands, Mrs. McCloud?" he remarked snidely.

Inside, Jimmy was seething, but the feeling of Lou's grip tightening on him was enough for him to restrain his brewing anger. It was not so much what the banker had said, it was more the way he was looking at Louise when he said it. The way his eyes swept over her body as if he were undressing her with them. The way his wicked intentions was barely concealed behind an exaggerated grin. It did not take much for Jimmy to realize that he did not trust Martin Willingham, not the least little bit.

Lou managed to bite her tongue as well, though the man thoroughly disgusted her. She still had to conduct business with him, and she knew it would be to her advantage to smile and play nice. "Actually, Mr. Willingham, this is Jimmy. He's my husband." She hoped he would take the none-too-subtle hint and stop his futile attempts at pursuing her, once and for all.

The banker was stunned, but he fought to keep up his facade. "Oh! Well, allow me offer my congratulations...to both of you! And might I say, I'm certain you made a fine-looking bride." He bowed slightly and took Louise's hand in his to kiss it.

When he had done slobbering on her hand, Lou wanted to go right home and find some soap and hot water so she could get his filthy mark off of her. But still, she kept her mask of congeniality, holding fast on to Jimmy with her other hand so that he wouldn't punch the man's lights out or worse, reach to his hip for his gun.

If Willingham only knew that he was messing with the quickest draw in the West and not an ordinary rancher, he might have thought twice about dismissing Jimmy so easily.

"Thank you very much," Lou said. "But we really have to be gettin' on home now. Good day."

With hardly time for him to say goodbye, Lou was already walking away quickly, her skirt sweeping up a cloud of dust, with Jimmy in tow.

"Good day to you, too," Mr. Willingham sneered quietly to himself once Lou and Jimmy were well out of earshot.

He continued to stare at Lou while she made her way through the bustling streets of Sweetwater. He licked his lips lasciviously, thinking of how good it would feel to have her next to him. She was quite a beauty, he thought to himself, and he couldn't help but notice her from the minute he had moved to this godforsaken wilderness from his comfortable family home in Boston in an attempt to further his fortunes and make a name for himself.

Ever since his arrival, Martin had made efforts to win over Louise and gain her affections, as many other local men had also tried to do, but it was to no avail. She would have none of it and insisted that they keep their relationship on a strictly business level. Though, he never stopped persisting. And the fact that Louise now claimed to be married would not deter him in the least. Willingham wanted her, but he wanted her land even more.

Over time, Willingham kept increasing the number of cattle on his ranch at alarming rates, thereby increasing the size of his pocketbook as well. However, he also found that, by doing so, his natural resources were rapidly becoming more and more depleted. Still, he would not cut back operations. He had other plans instead...plans which would allow further expansion of his growing empire.

The land to the north of him was still rich and full of the moist grass that his cattle desperately needed for grazing. It also had the best source of water in the area with the creek that ran through the densely wooded area on the property. Horses, not cattle, were its staple, so the land was relatively unspoiled. It was the land that was owned by Mrs. Louise McCloud.

Willingham removed his hat and wiped the perspiration that had formed on his brow with a white handkerchief. He looked up at the sky, squinting from the brightness of the sun. It was going to be a long, hot, dry summer. And he knew that if his cattle and his business were going to thrive, they were going to need more grass and water.

He had tried all the usual tactics to win over the lovely, yet feisty, Louise McCloud and had failed miserably. Failure was something Martin Willingham was not used to. He would not tolerate anything but success, and he would do everything in his power to insure that he would indeed get what he wanted. He had a few more tricks up his sleeve. After all, he knew that he hadn't gotten to where he was today if he didn't know how to bend things to his will. He had come out West, started a profitable cattle business, made a name for himself apart from his family. He even took over the town's bank when it ran into some financial trouble a while back, making his advantage and position within Sweetwater even greater. And he was slowly eating up the land all around him, until there was only one last -- and very beautiful -- barrier remaining.

Martin's eyes caught the back of Jimmy as he un-tethered his horse. He would not be thwarted so easily. Louise might pose a challenge, but it would be a challenge he'd most enjoy meeting and conquering. With that last thought, Martin Willingham turned away and headed for his bank.

As the couple mounted their horses, prepared to depart for home, Jimmy turned back to look at the banker before kicking his horse into a run. No, he didn't trust the man at all, Jimmy decided. Not one bit.

Chapter XI - Things Fall Apart

The bad news came in the form of a note carried by Mr. Beverly, who was sent out to the ranch one evening a few days after Lou and Jimmy's last visit to town. It had been a special errand given to him just as he was about to close up the post office for the day. He'd been tossed a few coins and sent on his way to the PXP ranch to deliver the news to Mrs. McCloud and family.

Louise stood in the doorway, reading the note that she'd just been handed. Seconds later, she looked up at Mr. Beverly, shock and confusion written all over her face. "I don't understand."

The man was sincerely regretful to have been the bearer of such unhappy tidings, especially to such a nice woman as Louise McCloud. He didn't typically serve as a personal messenger, but under the circumstances, he had felt compelled into doing so. He had his own problems to think about. He knew he couldn't be letting his own feelings of pity get in the way of doing what needed to be doing.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," Mr. Beverly replied sadly. "But that's what I was instructed to give you."

"I know you only deliver the mail, Mr. Beverly," Lou agreed. "You didn't write this."

The post office worker turned around to leave, instantly sorry that there wasn't something more he could do. He knew he had his hands tied, and it would be only a matter of time before the bank and Martin Willingham came after him, too.

---

Lou had put James to bed early, despite his protests, and now the adults were all gathered in the downstairs parlor. She sat on the sofa, her brow furrowed, glancing over the note for what must have been the hundredth time that night. Finally, Jimmy pulled the piece of paper from her grip, replacing what was in her hand with his own.

"Lou, honey," he began, "this don't mean things are over for us. It's just a little bump in the road. We'll get through it."

Snapping up to look at him, Lou said, "Jimmy, you don't know what this means!" She didn't mean to raise her voice, but the more she thought about the possibility of losing everything, the more frightened and angry she became. "The bank is callin' in the loan I took out to build the new barn last winter. I don't have the money to pay it back." She closed her eyes and shook her head, almost in disbelief that all this could be happening to her...to them. She had been so happy, and it suddenly felt as though the world was crashing down upon her. "Not now," she said.

"But the ranch is more profitable now than it's ever been." He shook his head. He didn't get it. "Maybe you're right, Lou. Maybe I don't understand."

Lou looked at Jimmy and saw the hurt expression in his eyes. She hadn't meant to be so blunt and so cool towards him. Things were happening too fast, and it seemed that in one fell swoop, everything she had worked and sweated for might be taken away. She could not help but feel overwhelmed and emotional

"I'm sorry, Jimmy," she apologized to him. "I didn't mean to go over the edge like that."

"It's alright, darlin'," he whispered to her as he brought her body in towards him. He stroked her hair, trying to soothe her and convince her that everything would work out alright in the end, just like it always did.

Teaspoon picked up the note and began to examine it, trying to see what he could do to help the situation that had been thrust upon them. Rachel sat by his side, her heart crying out to help Lou. She asked him, "Is all this legal, Teaspoon?"

He heaved out a heavy breath as he turned to look at Rachel's worried face. "I'm afraid so. When Lou took out that loan, it was because she needed the money right away to replace the barn that'd just burnt down. Winter was comin' on quick, and we needed someplace to keep the animals. The bank musta realized this and upped the risk of the loan 'fore any of us had a chance to think they might actually call it in early."

"That just don't seem fair," Jimmy remarked. "Is there anythin' we can do, Teaspoon?"

"I'm afraid not, son," he sighed regretfully, handing Mr. Willingham's note back over to Jimmy. "The bank wants their money back, and they want it by the middle of next month."

"What do we do now?" Rachel wondered.

Lou sat there, looking as if she were in a daze. For the first time in a long while, she didn't know what she was going to do.

Seeing her deep state of thought, Jimmy asked, "What're thinkin', Lou?"

She merely shook here head, and answered, "I don't know, Jimmy. I just don't know."

"Why can't we just pay 'im off? Get Mr. Martin Willingham and his bank off our backs for good?" The utter disdain that Jimmy felt for the banker and what he was doing was very evident in each word he spoke. He knew from the start that there was something about the man that he didn't like, and now Jimmy knew his initial instincts had been confirmed.

Lou realized that while Jimmy was good at working with her on the ranch doing the actual physical labor, he was not as well informed about all the business aspects that went on behind the main operation. She took care of all the money and kept the books, and up until that point, everything had been working to her advantage. But the unexplained fire that wiped out their biggest barn early last winter came as an unexpected blow. A hard, cold winter had been anticipated, and Lou knew that if she was going to have any kind of stock to sell come the following time of auction, she would have to hire out as many men as she could get to help build a new barn to shelter the animals.

Lou gathered all the money she could muster, but still it was far from enough. Desperate, she went to Martin Willingham and asked for a loan, believing him to be sympathetic to her plight. He gave her the money to buy the lumber and materials she needed for the construction of the new barn and also to hire out some workers. The banker had made her believe that she would plenty of time to pay back what she'd borrowed. That with the next major sale anticipated come autumn, she could have the loan mostly paid off. Lou never believed he would ask for the money back so soon.

Lou explained to Jimmy, "It's true the ranch is doin' better than ever. But all we've earned with last year's sales has gone back into the ranch. We don't got much cash money on hand, and that's the problem. The next major auction ain't till mid-October. That's more than three months away, and we don't have that much time." Her eyes scanned the faces of everyone in the room, the severity of the situation weighing down heavily upon them all. "But if I don't pay, I lose the ranch, the house...I lose it all."

Jimmy nodded sadly, now comprehending the full impact of what was happening. He was determined not to let events progress that far; he was determined that Lou's hard work would not have been for naught. He knew how hard Lou worked day after day to make the ranch a success and live out the dream that she and Kid had formed when they first got married. Jimmy knew he would do everything he could to not let it die.

He reached over and pulled his wife to his chest where she immediately broke into tears. Jimmy whispered words to try to comfort her, but still, the crying would not subside. "We'll make it through this, Lou," he told her. "Somehow, I'll find a way."

Jimmy held her in his arms for ages, saying nothing, but hoping his presence would bring Lou the solace she needed. Meanwhile, the wheels in his mind started spinning. I'll find a way, he thought.

---

The sun was still low on the horizon, and the first pink and lavender fingers of dawn had only begun to creep across the morning sky. But time was wasting, Lou thought. And she had some business to attend to at the bank.

Chapter XII - Propositions

A loud knock on his door brought Martin Willingham out of a state of sleep and into a sense of brutal awareness. He wondered who in the world could be calling on him at a time like this. It was barely six-thirty in the morning, according to the pocket watch that sat on his bed stand, and the bank did not open until eight o'clock.

He stumbled across the floor, grabbing his dressing robe as he made his way to the door of his room above the bank. The knock came again, only this time, it sounded even more insistent.

"Just a minute!" He shouted as he turned the key and twisted the knob to open the door.

The sunlight came streaming into the room through the cracked door, temporarily obscuring his vision. Martin squeezed his eyes shut and held his hand up to block the blinding rays. When the sunspots on his eyes began to vanish, he saw the stony, determined face of Louise McCloud.

"Louise," he said, not bothering with the propriety of using her full name, "what a pleasure it is to see you this fine morning."

Lou came charging into the room, much to the banker's surprise. She was a woman on a mission. "Cut the small talk, Willingham," she told him flatly. "You know why I'm here."

He nodded and simply smiled that wily smile of his. Sure, he knew why Louise was there to see him. He had expected she would come by to pay him a call sooner or later, knowing that the woman did not back down so easily...not when her ranch was at stake. Not without a fight, he thought. His grin broadened at the prospect.

"I suspect you're here to discuss our little loan," Willingham said redundantly.

Lou had only just arrived, and she was already tiring of his games. Her patience was wearing thin and it was showing in her face. Her skin was stretched drum-tight across her features, and a deep frown line seemed to have become permanently etched in her forehead.

"Like I said before, I ain't got time for games." She stood firm, trying to hold her ground though she feared she wouldn't be able to for much longer. She prayed that none of the doubts she felt inside were evident on the outside.

Martin threw his head back in laughter for a moment before returning his now-hardened gaze to her. "Alright, Louise. We'll talk." He began approaching her slowly, that look in his eye.

Suddenly taken off guard, Lou began to back away from him. Nervously, she asked, "Ain't ya gonna at least get dressed so we can do downstairs and discuss this proper?"

The second the words fell from her lips, she knew she'd asked a foolish question and wished to take it all back. The banker was still in his bedclothes with a navy blue satin robe over them. Maybe she should have waited until he was dressed and downstairs in the bank office, Lou thought. No, she chided herself, internally conflicted. She had wanted to take care of business when there was no one else around to distract her. An overwhelming sense of urgency had led her to knock on the door of his private room above the bank where he often stayed. There was no taking it back now.

"Aw, come on now, Louise," he began with that evil glint in his eye. "You came to me, remember? I think we can discuss this more comfortably up here."

Lou was beginning to feel weak in the knees as the distance between them was steadily decreasing. The way Willingham was looking at her and the tone of his voice made her tremble. She kept stepping away from him, until she ended up with her back up against the wall and she could move no further.

"You want to keep your ranch, don't you, Louise?"

She nodded helplessly.

"Well," he licked his lips, "I have a proposition for you that would allow you to keep your land."

Furrowing her brow in confusion, Lou asked, "What kind of proposition, Willingham?" Had she dared ask such a question? she later thought.

One side of his lip curled up wickedly as he stood nodding his head at her. I practically own the town as it is, he mused, and I knew it was only a matter of time before I had you as well. He had her right where he wanted, the man thought.

"Oh, I think you know what I have in mind. But if you need me to spell it out for you..." Willingham's voice died out, and his eyes began to sweep over Lou's body in a sinful manner. Lou unconsciously began feeling at the buttons at the neck of her blouse, as if making sure she was still fully covered.

"What I'm suggesting is a merger of sorts." He paused again, amused by his own analogy though Louise didn't seem to get it. "Marry me, Louise," he finally spouted out, moving his hand up to block her body between himself and the wall. "Marry me and you can keep your precious ranch. Together, you and I can combine our efforts and build an empire unlike anything else in six territories!"

"I told you before," Lou replied, her voice wavering in utter abhorrence for the man standing in front of her. He was so close she could feel his breath on her skin, and it made her sick to her stomach. She quickly glanced over to the door. She was only inches away from it, but she saw that while the banker had backed her up against the wall, he must have also locked the door. "I'm a married woman," she offered her last defense, realizing it was a weak one, but that she was trapped.

Martin Willingham looked unaffected by her remark. Then he put on that evil grin and laughed. "Oh, yes. That's right. You got married to that ranch hand of yours. How romantic," he sneered at her with hateful sarcasm. "But that doesn't have to stand between us and our little business deal, does it?" His eyes passed over her again, and Louise knew exactly what he meant by 'business deal'.

"You filthy bastard!" She suddenly spat at him, feeling the bile rising in her throat. "I wouldn't lower myself to be your whore if you were standin' over me with a gun to my head!"

Leaning in even closer over Louise, he managed to grab both of her arms before she could react, immobilizing them and effectively pinning her back against the wall, helpless. He used the weight of his body to hold her still. "Oh, I think that can be arranged," he scoffed, and then he lowered his lips onto hers with a forceful kiss.

Lou fought with every ounce of energy she had in her against this vicious man. She struggled against his hold, finally jerking her head hard enough so that his lips were thrust apart from hers. She was left breathless and heaving against the wall, so disgusted by him that she could feel the pure hate she had for him flowing through her veins. Lou had to spit in his face just to rid her mouth of his venom.

This act only further enraged Willingham. He let go of her right arm and backhanded her in the face with his left hand, seething with anger all the while.

At first, Lou was stunned by the blow, but then looking up and seeing the eyes of the beast, she found the courage she'd been seeking. She decided to fight back. Because Louise McCloud didn't take that kind of crap from anyone...not anymore.

In the process of hitting Lou, the banker had also freed her right hand. She was now able to reach into the waistband of her split skirt for the gun she'd stowed there. And before he knew what hit him, Martin Willingham felt the cold metal barrel of her gun pressed into his throat.

"Louise?" he squeaked. So tightly was the weapon thrust into his vocal chords that he could scarcely get the sound out. It seemed that now she had the upper hand, and she was taking control of the situation.

"Don't make another move, Willingham," she told him fiercely, moving him further away from her as she led them to the middle of the room. He had no choice but to comply. "Or I'll fill ya so full of holes your own mother won't even be able to recognize your dead body when I'm done."

Initially, Willingham barely flinched, believing that Lou was only bluffing. He didn't know that she was a good shot or that she had killed men in the past and would probably do so again if provoked. The stories of Louise McCloud's courage and fearlessness had not reached the ears of Martin Willingham, but soon, she thought she just might have to put a bullet between them.

He felt the harsh coolness of the gun pushing deeper into his neck as Lou cocked it, ready to fire, and he gulped hard against the fear building in his throat. Suddenly, Louise didn't quite seem the lovely little flower to Willingham, and the fact that she could shoot him dead right then and there began to sink in. Not so helpless after all, he thought ruefully. The banker then started to laugh nervously, attempting to mask the anxiety that was growing inside him.

"You wouldn't shoot an unarmed man, would you?" His voice was cracking with panic, but his face still wore that awful exaggerated smile that made Lou want to vomit at his feet just looking at him.

"Don't tempt me."

But her steely gaze began to flicker under the pressure of Willingham's stare. He still had one hand on her left arm, and she was so close to him, those eyes just kept piercing into her soul. She almost couldn't bear to look at him.

Louise hadn't killed a man in several years, and she began to wonder if she had it in her anymore. The idea of shooting the man in cold blood began to make her pulse race, and she felt that she might get dizzy and faint. Already that morning she had been sick twice from the mere thought of the potential confrontation. And here it was actually happening, and that same feeling in the pit of her stomach and that swirling sensation in her head began to make her feel weak again. The more Lou thought about it, the worse it became. Besides, the banker wasn't even armed. It wasn't really a fair fight no matter how much she hated him, and she knew it.

Martin saw the woman's resolve slowly slipping away, and he sensed that maybe he had a way out of this after all. He kept staring at Lou until she began to melt more and more under the heat of his wicked gaze. He could feel that the pressure of the gun prodding into his neck was easing up slightly, and he knew he had Louise right where he wanted her.

"You don't have it in you, little lady," he sneered at her defiantly.

In a sudden flash of sunlight and splintering wood, the door of the room was busted wide open. Martin Willingham's head whipped around towards the source of the disturbance, but he was blinded by the light glinting off of shining silver.

"Maybe not, but I do."

It was Jimmy!

He had broken through the front door and now stood with one of his two deadly Navy Colt pistols aimed right at Martin's black heart. He stood tall and intrepid, unwavering in his willingness to send the banker to an early grave without thinking twice...or even once.

Jimmy! Thank God, Lou thought. She finally released the breath that she didn't realize she'd been holding.

Willingham let go of Louise when he saw that Jimmy meant business. He might have seen a glimmer of weakness in the eyes of Louise McCloud that allowed him to think he could get away with everything, but there was none to be found in Jimmy's penetrating, gunmetal gray eyes. Only stone-cold hate and icy determination shone in their stabbing depths.

Louise lowered her gun as well, running to Jimmy's side as he enfolded her with his free arm. The other still held fast and firm, keeping his gun on Willingham lest he think he can try something funny.

"Oh, Jimmy!" Lou exclaimed in relief. "I'm so glad you're here!"

"It's alright, Lou," he told her, his eyes never leaving Willingham's once. "He ain't gonna bother you no more. Let's get him to the marshal."

For one happy moment, Lou thought everything was over and that her troubles were gone for good. But then, the marshal happened to walk in having heard the commotion from the jailhouse next store. And what next transpired completely dashed Lou's hopes of finding a quick and easy end to this chaos.

Chapter XIII - No End in Sight

"I'm sorry," the marshal shook his head, "but there's nothin' I can do."

Jimmy immediately popped up from the chair he'd been sitting on in the marshal's office, causing it to tumble to the ground with a loud thud. "What do you mean, marshal? That man assaulted my wife! He ain't gonna get away with it!"

"From the sound of it, Mrs. McCloud is the one who pulled out her gun on him." The marshal understood Jimmy's plight, but unfortunately, he could not hold the banker under such circumstances. "She's even admitted it."

"She was only actin' outta self-defense," Jimmy nearly shouted. He then turned and pointed his finger at Martin Willingham, who sat casually in a chair, his legs crossed, looking as if he had absolutely nothing to worry about. "This animal should be put in jail!"

"I'm sorry, Jimmy, Louise." Marshal Duncan was at a loss. "But I just can't keep him here."

Shaking his head in disbelief, Jimmy paced over to where Lou stood with her arms wrapped around herself, like she did in the days when she was trying to hide her true gender from everyone. He looked in her eyes, knowing that she'd had a tremendous scare before he'd managed to arrive on the scene just in time. She looked ragged and pale, not at all herself. The berry-colored imprint of where Willingham had slapped her was growing darker and more pronounced by the minute, and looking at it only made Jimmy's ire grow as well. He wished now that he had killed the wretched man when he'd had the chance.

"Uh, Marshal?" Willingham spoke at last. "You saw this man when you showed up. He had his gun pointed at me, and she had hers out, too. On the other hand, I was completely and helplessly unarmed! Don't you think that's call enough to lock them both up for a while?"

Marshal Duncan scoffed at the smugness in the banker's tone. "I wouldn't press my luck, Willingham."

Duncan would have liked nothing more than to throw the man behind bars and toss away the key. He knew the reputation that the banker was building in town. He knew that several families had already lost their homesteads because they owed him money, and he felt sympathetic for Lou and Jimmy. However, the marshal simply did not have the means or the justification to imprison Martin Willingham, not yet anyway, because he was too good at keeping all of his activity looking legal on the outside. So instead, he got a simple slap on the wrist and could go back to his business of slowly putting all the ranchers, farmers, and shop owners around Sweetwater deeper into debt...so he could then eat them alive and take away all they've worked for.

"Come on, Jimmy," Lou said, motioning to him. "There's nothin' we can do here. Let's go home."

Lou was just as disgusted as Jimmy was with the way things had turned out, but she knew that standing around letting the anger consume them would do no good. They still had that loan to pay off, no matter how much they wanted to forget about it. The marshal made it clear that the terms of the loan were legal and proper, and as much as he hated to admit it, Willingham had every right by law to call in the loan and demand his money back. Lou and Jimmy had no other choice but to find a way to pay it off.

Jimmy had heard Lou calling out to him, but he did not budge. His eyes remained transfixed on Willingham, piercing into him like poison darts, though the man's grinning expression did not once waver at the visual threat. He knew he was untouchable, and this little situation only served to further prove that fact.

Finally, Lou moved towards Jimmy and took him by the arm, gently leading him to the door so they could go home and try to put the incident behind them. Jimmy silently complied, but his unspoken threat finally became verbal when he spoke some last words before turning his back and walking out the door. "You ain't seen the last of me, Willingham. You try anythin' funny, and you won't live to regret it."

Unphased by the warning, Willingham rose from his chair, brushing the wrinkles from gray suit. He put on his derby hat, an air of arrogance and invincibility surrounding him. Marshal Duncan shook his head in disgust.

"Thank you, marshal," the banker began in his typical snobby voice as he passed him on his way to the door. "And a good day to you."

On his way out of the jailhouse, one of the young deputies came up to Willingham. By this time, everyone in town knew what had happened between Jimmy, Lou, and the banker. The deputy spoke to him as he walked by. "You sure must be askin' for a lot of trouble, Mister."

Martin Willingham looked somewhat confused by the cryptic nature of the message, but then the lanky, tow-headed fellow elaborated.

"You just don't go 'round messin' with Wild Bill Hickok's woman and expect to live to see the next day." Then he disappeared inside to join the marshal and start his day's work, still shaking his head at the man who would be fool enough to get on Wild Bill's bad side.

The banker stood in the middle of the walkway, stunned. His mouth hung agape, and he thought he'd wet himself right there on the street when he heard the name of the infamous gunfighter. The young deputy's words echoed in his ears. You just don't go 'round messin' with Wild Bill Hickok's woman and expect to live to see the next day.

Gulping hard to push down the lump that had formed in his throat, Willingham began to think that maybe he'd had a close shave after all. He thought he'd been in complete control over the situation with Louise and taking over her land. But now, she had 'Wild Bill' Hickok, one of the deadliest men ever known, on her side. And all that time he thought the man who Louise had married was just another poor rancher or dirt farmer looking to get in on her fortune.

He certainly didn't look the part of 'Wild Bill', Martin thought to himself. At least not from all he knew of the man from the stories and legends that circulated around the West. He wore simple black clothing that looked as though they'd seen better days. But then he remembered the gun that had been aimed at his chest. It was the weapon of a gunfighter, a killer, he realized. At the time, he had more important things to worry about than what kind of gun his assailant held.

Now Martin Willingham understood that he had severely underestimated Louise and her protector husband. Maybe he hadn't been quite so direct in his demands as he should have been, but that was all about to change now that he knew exactly who and what he was up against. He would still have his victory, the banker silently schemed. Willingham knew how to get what he wanted, and he would have his land, with or without Louise McCloud.

---

By the time Jimmy and Lou made it back to the ranch, Rachel and Teaspoon were already outside waiting for them. They'd been pacing the front porch non-stop ever since Jimmy ran out of the house after declaring that Lou had ridden off to town, most likely in search of the banker.

Jimmy had awoken that morning to the sound of Midnight's hoof beats pounding into the solid, packed dirt outside of the house. He looked to the window and saw his wife riding fast and hard away from the ranch, a gigantic cloud of dust chasing after her. He knew she was on her way into town to speak with Mr. Willingham and try to reason with him about the loan.

He shook his head as he threw on his some clothes and pulled on his boots as quickly as he could, knowing that it would be just like her...just like Louise to try to take care of this by herself. In most other instances he would have let her because he trusted that she could take care of herself and handle things on her own. But after seeing that look in Willingham's eyes that day in town, Jimmy knew that Lou was getting in over her head, and he needed to be there to make sure nothing awful happened to her.

So Jimmy followed after her, but by the time he saddled his horse and was ready to ride, Lou was far enough ahead of him to notice that he was on his way.

The town had only begun to wake up when he finally made it to Sweetwater. The street was relatively deserted, with only a few of the shopkeepers beginning to open their shutters and sweep the dusty walkways leading to their businesses.

Lou's black horse was easy to spot. He saw it hitched outside the bank, and his suspicions were confirmed instantly. Jimmy stealthily walked up to the bank window and looked inside, his gun ready in hand. He saw no one. He tried the door, but it was locked. Then he heard the sound of voices coming from above. They were muffled and incoherent, but he heard them just the same. He turned and carefully headed up the steps leading to the room above the actual bank office.

The voices grew louder and clearer as Jimmy ascended the stairs. Then he heard that sickening laugh, and he knew that it was no one else but Willingham. That's when he kicked the door open and saw that man's filthy hands on his wife. Jimmy's gun was already aimed at the banker's heart before he knew what hit him.

Jimmy was brought back into the present when he heard Rachel's shrills cut through the air around him and fill his ears. She had run into the yard before the horses even came to a stop and immediately began crying her relief. Lou jumped off of Midnight and allowed the older woman to swallow her up in her arms.

"Oh, Lou!" Rachel cried, finally releasing her. "We were so worried about you! Are you alright?"

She barely had enough time to catch her breath and answer when Rachel pulled her back in tightly towards her chest. "I'm fine, Rachel," she managed to get out despite the constriction of her lungs. "Jimmy got to me in time."

"Oh, thank God!" she shouted her relief and pulled away slightly. But then she noticed the big purplish mark across the side of Lou's face, and Rachel's face went white with shock. Judging by the looks of that bruise, she thought, Lou was far from being fine. She brushed aside the loose strands of Lou's hair gently to get a better look. Lou flinched at her touch.

Teaspoon came up behind Rachel and placed his hands on her shoulders reassuringly until at last she stopped looking as if she were going to squeeze the life out of Lou. The woman had been driving him crazy for the past few hours with her worrying and fretting. Of course, he had been worried himself; Jimmy and Lou were his family and he couldn't help but worry some. But Teaspoon also was more successful at not letting it tear him up inside and get so worked up he could barely see straight. He knew it was always better to remain calm even under such stressful circumstances.

The old man then turned to Jimmy, who was only now getting down from his horse. "Jimmy," he drawled out, "glad to see ya made it back in one piece."

"Did you expect anythin' else?" He tried to make a light joke, hoping that it might ease the tension and anger he still felt building inside. "Well, tell ya everythin' once we get inside."

The foursome walked back to the house once the horses were taken care of and settled in the barn. It was going to be a long day, they all knew.

---

"...that still only leaves you a month to pay back all that money to the bank," Rachel said, restating the obvious.

"I know." Lou had begun to pace around the parlor frantically, back and forth, back and forth. All the while she kept wringing her hands so much that Jimmy was afraid she'd end up hurting herself. "We don't got much time."

"If I was still marshal," Teaspoon broke in, his anger at the situation clearly evident, "that banker fella would be locked in irons and in jail for what he done." Suddenly, he felt so completely useless, and he hated that feeling more than anything.

"Thanks, Teaspoon," Lou replied, appreciating his sentiment, "but I'm afraid it ain't gonna work out that way. We still need to find a way to come up with the money, no matter what we think of Martin Willingham." She shuddered involuntarily as she heard the name fall from her own lips. "Unfortunately, he's got the law on his side."

"Maybe we could try to sell the horses now," Rachel suggested, "instead of waitin' till October."

Lou shook her head, still pacing across the carpet. "No. Nobody around here has that kind of money lyin' around. What with the drought comin' on, they're all gonna be hard up for cash this summer. From what I hear, our banker friend has got his greedy hands in nearly everyone's pockets for miles. No. If we wanted to make a big sale, we'd need to drive them to auction. And the only one I know of this time of year is somewhere in Texas, and that ain't for weeks. There's just not enough time for that."

Everyone seemed at a loss. Where would they come up with so much money in so little time? It had come to their recent attention that Martin Willingham had been working steadily at bleeding the town dry. He controlled the bank as well as the biggest spread in the territory, and if he had his way, he'd own all of Sweetwater and every bit of acreage within a fifty-mile radius. But still, he had the law on his side because there was no evidence that he'd coerced anyone into borrowing money or signing their property away as collateral. It didn't seem fair or right, but they had to play the game his way. They couldn't just wait and sit around and hope that things were going to work out...that, miraculously, people would suddenly come forward and join forces against Willingham, forcing him out of town for good. There had to be some other way, but what?

The room was shrouded in silence as everyone sat and pondered the very same question. Lou had finally stopped her relentless pacing and plopped down on the couch next to Jimmy. Then she began biting her nails nervously, something she hadn't done in more years than she could count.

But Jimmy was deep in thought, lost in his own mind. He had come up with a plan for getting the money together last night when the message first came to them about the loan being due. However, he had been reluctant to say anything to anyone because it was risky, and there was no guarantee that he'd even be able to come up with what they needed to get out of this bind. Jimmy hoped they'd come up with another way out...but as of yet, there seemed to be no end in sight. Lou had already worried herself sick, unable to keep any food down the entire day.

After several long moments of waiting and wondering if he was doing the right thing, he lifted his head up and looked at the others sitting scattered around the parlor in dismay. Then he turned to his side, and seeing the lost and helpless expression on Lou's face was enough to convince him that his idea was worth a try. It was better than giving up; Jimmy knew that much. And he wouldn't let Lou lose everything she's worked and sweated for without giving it the fight of his life.

With a newfound resolve, Jimmy spoke up, his voice shattering the suffocating cloud of silence that had formed. "I think I know somethin' that might work."

Chapter XIV - Tracks of Gold, Tracks of Tears

Teaspoon, Rachel, and Lou listened intently as Jimmy described his plan for making the money needed to pay off the loan and save the PXP ranch. Apparently, during a previous stint in the Dakota Territory, Jimmy had managed to win a stake in a gold mine during a lucky hand of poker. Though he now owned what was rumored to contain a fortune in gold, he never had the time or inclination to stay around long enough and work to get the ore out of the ground. Besides, he never felt the need to have a lot of money or possess a lot of fancy things, so the claim had remained idle for years.

But now it had become a different story. Lou needed the money; she needed it bad and she needed it fast. No one had been able to come up with a feasible plan to acquire such a large sum, and Jimmy felt that his gold mine might be the only way. It was a long ways away, over in Deadwood, and the territory was rough and dangerous and, by all accounts, lawless. Jimmy knew that if he were to make a go of it, he would have to do it alone. And that was something he knew for certain that Lou wouldn't like in the least. It was the primary reason that he held off until all other options had been exhausted to tell everyone of his plan.

"Lou," he explained to her, "you gotta know that I want more than anythin' to have you there with me." He knelt down in front of her where she sat on the couch, holding her hand and trying to make her understand. "But it's just too dangerous. It was bad when I was there years ago, and from what I'm hearin', Deadwood's only gotten worse since I been gone."

Lou listened to Jimmy telling her that she couldn't go with him, not wanting to believe it. She wouldn't meet his gaze when he spoke to her, and Jimmy knew it was breaking her heart. It was breaking his, too. His heart and his mind were telling him two different things, but right now, what his mind was telling him was beating out what his heart was feeling.

He loved Lou more than life itself. He trusted her and believed in her capabilities. But none of that mattered when it came down to the reality that she could be killed traveling with him through some of the roughest territory he'd ever been through. Jimmy had done a lot of restless wandering over the years, and everything in him told him that he could not take the chance of bringing her along. He'd gladly go out there and risk his own neck, but he wouldn't do that to Lou.

"Lou, honey," he kept trying to placate her, "this is the hardest thing I've ever done. I love you so much; I don't know how I'm gonna be able to stand it while I'm away. But I know that I can't watch over you and be there for you while I'm out in the mine. It'll only be for a little while, I promise you."

Finally turning her head and looking into his eyes, Lou said, "How am I supposed to feel when you say it's too dangerous for me, but you're willin' to go out there and risk your own life? How can you expect me to let you go alone when you're tellin' me this?"

"I know the territory, Lou," Jimmy replied. "You don't. I got a name that most people will think twice about crossin'." He sighed loudly and licked his lips, hating what he was about to say. "And no matter how much you don't want to admit it, you been outta the game for too long."

She looked at him with a mixture of shock and hurt on her face. "This is because of what happened in town with Willingham, ain't it? You're not willin' to take me to Deadwood 'cause you think I won't be able to kill a man if I have to...that I'll back down like I did this mornin' at the bank!" The tears began streaming down her face, and Lou quickly and angrily flicked them away with her hand. She cursed herself for showing weakness at a time when she needed more than ever to prove to Jimmy that she was strong. And to prove it to herself as well.

"That ain't fair, Lou, an' you know it," Jimmy shook his head, frustrated. "God! I want to take you with me! Don't you believe that?"

Lou dropped her focus from him yet again. She didn't doubt that Jimmy loved her, but the way he was acting...well, it was reminding her a little too much of the way the Kid would get when he was in his overprotective mode. He drove her crazy with his constant worrying and fussing, making her think that he doubted her abilities. She still loved him, despite his faults. Lou just never expected that Jimmy would turn and do the same thing to her, not when he'd stood up for her on more than one occasion when Kid wanted to leave her behind when the stakes got to be too high and the situation too dangerous.

"Lou." It was Rachel's turn to reason with the stubborn young woman. "Jimmy just doesn't want anythin' to happen to you, that's all. None of us do."

Continuing to stare off into space, Lou did not respond to her entreaty either. She was starting to feel slightly dizzy with all the stress, and she was forced to close her eyes to clear her spinning head. Her hand came up to her face, unconsciously massaging her temples. She began to feel as if she might be sick again.

"Lou?" Jimmy called out, a worried expression on his face. "Lou, honey, are you alright?"

Moments later, Lou pushed Jimmy out of her way and jumped up from the couch. She ran out of the parlor and then out the front door, where she doubled over the porch railing and emptied the contents of her stomach for the third time that day.

Everyone ran to her side, deeply concerned about her well being. She hadn't been herself at all lately, and this latest episode was just another clue that something was dreadfully wrong. And they didn't even know Lou had vomited twice already that morning. Jimmy looked at Rachel worriedly as Lou continued heaving over the side of the porch. She simply shook her head, unable to explain to him what the problem was.

When Lou finally felt her stomach stop convulsing, she came back up to a standing position and then almost immediately sunk into the rocking chair on the porch just to keep herself from dropping to the ground. She felt so weak and sick. She didn't know what was wrong with her, though she tried to attribute it all to stress.

Lou had turned from a pale white to a sickly green color in a matter of minutes. Then, Rachel came over to the younger woman and began feeling her forehead. "Goodness, Lou!" she declared. "You're all feverish and warm!"

Unwilling to admit that there was anything wrong with her, Lou shook her head in denial, only to regret it soon after for the dizziness it created. "No, Rachel, I'm fine. Really. Just a little worn out." She was not convincing in the least, and deep down, she knew it.

In the meantime, Rachel had run inside and brought back a glass of water. Lou drank it, washing down the terrible, burning sensation in her throat. She eyed Jimmy over the edge of her glass as she gulped down the water.

"You ain't fine, Lou," Jimmy told her firmly, but concerned. "You're sick. And this is the last sign to convince me I'm doin' the right thing in leavin' you here."

She put down the glass and looked at him, finally starting to believe that maybe he was right. She couldn't deny that she felt awful. Lou might never agree with him about leaving her behind, but she knew he only had her best interest at heart. She'd worry about him something fierce while he was gone, but she also understood that they had no other choice but to let him go.

Sighing, Lou slowly pushed herself up out of the rocking chair and stood to look Jimmy deeply in the eye. She saw the conflicting emotions swarming within their glassy orbs, realizing that it hadn't been an easy choice for him to make, but it was the only way she could hold onto her beloved ranch. Lou finally nodded, and said, "Alright, Jimmy. Go to Deadwood...with my blessing."

Jimmy swept the woman he loved up into his strong arms and held onto her for dear life. She felt so good against him, and he fought hard to push back the thought of not having her with him to hold. How he'd ache for her while he was away. Squeezing Lou tighter, he kissed the top of her head, fighting the overwhelming urge to break down and cry.

"I love you so much, Jimmy," she wept in his arms.

"I love you more," he simply said, not trying to sound competitive in any way, and Lou understood that.

Teaspoon and Rachel decided to leave the couple alone on the porch as they returned back into the house. They realized that this would be a difficult few weeks for them, and being apart was going to make that even tougher. But if anyone could pull through and survive this most recent of life's challenges, Teaspoon and Rachel believed it was Lou and Jimmy.

---

The entire household was up at first light the next morning to see Jimmy off on his journey to the Dakota Territory. He had to get moving as soon as possible because the trip alone would take quite some time, and then he would have to mine the gold and get the money back to Lou in time for the loan payment. Their time was short; every moment was precious. Even so, there was no guarantee that the mine would pan out in the end, though they knew they had to give it a shot.

While Rachel and Lou were busy in the kitchen fixing plenty of food for the trip, Teaspoon was in the barn with Jimmy helping him to get his horse Charlie saddled and ready to go. The two men worked together in silence most of the time, knowing how hard it was going to be to say goodbye, even if only for a little while.

Finally, there was not much else for Jimmy to do but be on his way. Everyone gathered outside by the barn to say goodbye to him and wish him good luck. Jimmy hugged Rachel, who was fighting the tears, and then he shook hands with Teaspoon, the man who'd taught him just about everything he knew that was worth knowing. He walked up to young James, who looked down at the ground sadly, his feet making circles in the dirt. Jimmy knelt down to talk to the boy.

"James," he began, "now I want you to be extra good while I'm gone, and look after your mama for me. You'll do that for me, won't ya?"

He merely nodded, unable to bring himself to look up at Jimmy face to face. Jimmy knew the child was just upset to see him go. Hell, he was having a hard time keeping control over his own feelings, but he had to, if not for himself, for Lou. Jimmy lifted the boy's chin up to look at him with his gloved hand.

"I know I won't be 'round for a while to tell ya any stories," Jimmy told him, "but when I come back, I'll tell ya more stories than you'll ever wanna hear." He tried to smile through the onslaught of emotion, but he couldn't help but to feel even more sorrow that James wouldn't talk to him.

Finally, Jimmy rose to his feet again and tousled the boy's hair with his hand before turning to Lou. But just as he was about to take a step towards her, James ran to him and plunged his arms around his waist.

"I love you, Uncle Jimmy!" he cried out. "I'm gonna miss ya!"

Jimmy was touched by the sudden outburst, and he instantly scooped James up in his arms, hugging him tightly.

"I'll miss you, too, James," he said. "But just remember, all you have to do is look up into the sky at night when you're lonely and know that wherever I am, I'm under that same sky, lookin' right back up at you."

"I will," the boy nodded, wiping away his tears. He wouldn't let himself cry, he thought. He'd be strong, like a man. "I'll look out for Mama for ya, too."

Setting him back on his feet again, Jimmy said, "That's a good boy. You do us all proud, son."

At last, it was time to bid farewell to Lou. Nothing could have prepared him for this moment. It was so much harder than he thought it would be, but he could tell that she was doing her utmost to remain strong and focused, and seeing her fighting for strength helped Jimmy immensely.

The two of them gazed into each other's eyes searching for the courage that only their love could bring them. Then, they reached out and held each other close, doing everything in their power to make it last for as long as possible. Their lips melted together in a kiss, so full of love and longing and desperation, almost as if they expected never to be able to taste one another again.

After several long moments, Jimmy pulled away because he knew it was time to leave. But before he let Lou out of his arms completely, he bent her face in to him for one final, gentle kiss on the forehead and whispered the words he'd pledged to her that night by the pond. "Believe it: No matter what happens, I'll always be with you."

Then, arms unwilling, he slowly let go of her and hoisted himself up into the saddle.

"You take care of yourself, son," Teaspoon said to him, handing over the reins. "Watch yer back."

Setting his black hat atop his head, Jimmy nodded. "I will, Teaspoon. I still remember your bag o' tricks." This brought a smile to the old man's grizzled features.

"We'll take care of things while your gone, Jimmy," Rachel added. "We'll still be tryin' to find a way to prove that Willingham is crooked after all."

"Thanks, Rachel. Do what you can here, and keep an eye out for trouble," Jimmy cautioned.

"We will," she said. "Hurry home to us, now."

Nodding, Jimmy returned his focus to Lou, his precious wife...the person who meant more to him than anything in the world. She was his whole reason for living. "Remember what I said, Lou."

"I'll always remember, Jimmy. I promise you," Lou swore with all her heart and soul. "Just come back to me safe."

Jimmy didn't answer, because somehow, he had a feeling that might not be a promise he could keep. He knew the risks involved in what he was about to embark on, and he didn't feel right taking on another promise only to have it end up broken. Instead, he leaned over the side of his horse and kissed Lou one last time. She reached up and wrapped one arm around his neck, her head disappearing under the brim of his hat. "I'll always be with you," he echoed softly in her ear.

He sat back up erect on the horse as Lou backed away. And then he was off.

Jimmy kicked his horse with his spurs and rode away from the homestead, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.

Rachel and Teaspoon took James back into the house while Lou remained standing outside, watching the distance between her and the man she loved growing by the second.

"Ride safe, Jimmy," she whispered into the wind. She knew he was too far away to actually hear the words, but somehow, he'd feel them in his heart.

As Lou stood and stared out at the western horizon, her hand unconsciously made its way to rest her fingertips on her lips. She could still feel the remnants of Jimmy's last kiss on them, burning into her skin as his love burned in her soul. She began to feel weak in the knees when she realized that she could no longer see his outline in the vast open prairie ahead of her. Only dust and emptiness. Jimmy was gone, and suddenly everything in front of Lou went black.

Chapter XV - Life Must Go On

Lou awoke to find herself lying in bed in her nightgown, a cool compress on her head. Her eyes scanned her bedroom as she tried to remember how she had gotten there in the first place. It was still daytime, evident by the light shining in through her window. Then it hit her; Jimmy was gone and she must have fainted.

She scooted her body up to a sitting position, the damp rag falling to her lap. Her head ached terribly in the sudden rush of movement, but there was no dizziness, which was a good sign.

Then Lou heard the sound of footsteps in the hallway. It was Rachel. She immediately ran into the room when she saw that Lou was awake.

"Lou, you should be in bed," the woman scolded lightly.

"I am in bed, Rachel," Lou told her.

Sighing in exasperation, Rachel crossed her arms over her chest. "I mean you should be layin' down in bed."

Obediently, Lou stretched herself back out on the bed, knowing that by the look on Rachel's face, she'd have her hide if she didn't do as she was told.

"What happened, Rachel?" Lou asked her friend, her brow wrinkled in confusion. "The last thing I remember was watchin' Jimmy ride off. Then I woke up and I was back in the house stuck in bed."

Rachel eased herself down to sit on the edge of the bed next to Lou. She ran her hand across Lou's face, feeling if she was still warm. "I think all this sun and heat and stress has finally got you just plain worn out! Too much worryin' and frettin', like you've been doin', isn't good for a body." She smoothed back Lou's long brown hair as she spoke. "I had Teaspoon go into town to fetch the doctor, but he's over in Blue Creek doin' rounds there since their doctor passed on a week back."

Lou still looked puzzled, though she verbally agreed with Rachel's assessment of her ailing. "I guess you're right. I just don't know what's come over me lately."

"Well, you stay put a while and rest up," Rachel told her, rising from her spot. "We'll take care of things 'round here till you're feelin' better."

"Is James around?" she suddenly asked.

"I told him he could go over to Mrs. Eriksen's and play with her two boys for the afternoon. But he knows to be back for supper."

"I hope he's doin' alright, Rachel," Lou looked concerned. "I wasn't sure how he'd handle things...with Jimmy bein' gone an' all."

"Don't you worry yourself about that boy, now," Rachel instructed. "He'll be just fine. It's you we're all worried about, Lou. You gave us all quite a scare."

Lou began to feel the tears stinging the back of her eyes again at the mere thought of Jimmy being gone. She couldn't deny that she was struggling with his absence, and it had only been a few hours. She didn't even want to know how she'd be after he had been gone a week, let alone a whole month. She was trying to be strong for him, like she knew he'd want her to be, but when you love someone like that, not being with them seems unbearable.

I'll always be with you... Jimmy's words came to her, echoing in her mind and temporarily erasing her torment.

With a renewed sense of fortitude, Lou turned and looked the blonde-haired woman straight in the eye. "I'm gonna be fine, Rachel. We're gonna make it through this...together."

---

Louise had begun to feel slightly better over the next few days, and Rachel finally pronounced that she was well enough to not have to remain in bed. The low-grade fever and lightheadedness were gone completely, though she still experienced occasional nausea, mostly first thing in the morning. She didn't really think much of it as she wanted to keep her mind and her body occupied so the days would pass by quicker. Jimmy continued to fill her thoughts every minute of the day, but remembering his promise to be with her always brought her comfort and peace.

She was mixing up the batter to bake some cookies for dessert when she looked out the kitchen window to James in the yard. She could hear the boy giggling when one of the mares, Filia, shoved her snout right in his face. He was helping Teaspoon feed the horses. Lou chuckled to herself as she watched the two of them together. It always warmed her heart to see how the old man interacted with her son. He was such a softy on the inside, she thought, and his attempts at appearing gruff were humorous and only made him out to be even more of a character. Teaspoon had been like a father to her, and he gladly reprised that role with James after the Kid passed away. Lou was always grateful for his presence in their lives.

Her mind then wandered back to Jimmy. Her thoughts never strayed far from him these days. He should be in Deadwood by now, Lou mused. That meant that at any time there should be a message for her at the telegraph office telling her that he'd arrived safely. Lou had been half tempted to stay in town shacked up at the post office (which also housed the telegraph) until word came through. Instead, she spoke with Mr. Beverly who promised that he'd send one of his boys over to her just as soon as anything arrived. She glanced out the window again and scanned the horizon, wondering if maybe the courier was on his way that very moment. When she saw no one, she went back to her task of making cookies. They were her son's favorite -- chocolate chip. They're Jimmy's favorite, too, she thought.

---

After several long days of difficult travel over some very rocky terrain, Jimmy had arrived in the town of Deadwood.

Deadwood City was located in the middle of Deadwood Gulch, a dead-end canyon notched in the Dakota wilderness, bordered by a rushing mountain stream and a steep rock wall. Nearly twenty-five thousand people had crowded themselves into mining camps and settlements in the gulch since the recent discovery of gold in the Black Hills. Main Street was lined with buildings that had been slapped together out of raw pine, a few stores, hotels, and other commercial establishments, but mostly saloons and gambling houses. The long narrow street was jam-packed with horses, wagons, mule and oxen teams, creating a traffic that churned up enough dust to keep Deadwood under a constant choking and stifling shroud.

It was a tough town, attracting every able-bodied thug, whore, pimp, gambler, and gunman in the West with an itch to improve his lot. It was a town of outlaws sitting on land that actually belonged to the Sioux. Even the U.S. Government did not recognize its existence, which partly accounted for its inhabitants' ability to run free without any law in town to force them to do otherwise.

Jimmy rode through the crowded street, seeing a few familiar sights from the last time he had passed through. He recognized Nuttall & Mann's No. 10 Saloon, a place where he'd spent many days and nights at the poker tables. He'd gotten to know the proprietor, Carl Mann, quite well, and also a fellow named Harry Young, the barkeeper of the establishment. Somehow it made Jimmy feel a little less nervous knowing that he had some acquaintances in town.

He came to a hotel that, by all outside appearances, looked to be about as respectable as anything he was going to find in this town. So, Jimmy stopped his horse just outside, secured it to the hitching post, and went into the hotel to set himself up with a room. Then he figured he'd go looking for the telegraph office so he could wire his wife of his safe arrival.

---

Martin Willingham had sent some of his men out looking for the man known as 'Wild Bill' Hickok shortly after the encounter at the bank. It was then that he learned that he was too late to enact any kind of vengeance on the legendary gunfighter because he had already left town, heading for the Dakotas to stake a claim so Louise could keep her land. It was amazing how word traveled through town.

The banker couldn't have been more pleased to get Jimmy out of the picture, though he would have liked to taken him out in a more permanent way. Meanwhile, that left Louise at home with only her son, another woman, and an old man to serve as her protection. Things were beginning to look up more and more for Willingham and his plans for taking over her property. But before he got down to business with Mrs. McCloud, he had some other things to attend to first.

---

The message had finally arrived from Deadwood informing everyone back in Sweetwater that Jimmy had gotten there safely. The telegraph was more than a breath of relief for Lou, learning that Jimmy had made the trip without running into trouble. He also told her that he'd do his best to send more telegraphs over the next month letting her know how his luck is going with the gold mine and getting the money to save the ranch.

Lou remembered the terse message, and she repeated the words to herself as she went about hanging the pile of freshly laundered clothes and sheets on the line.

ARRIVED IN DEADWOOD stop
TRIP WAS FINE stop
WILL START DIGGING FOR GOLD TOMORROW stop
MISS YOU AND LOVE TO ALL full stop

"Mama? Can I go over to play at the Eriksen's today?" James begged, interrupting her thoughts of Jimmy.

Pinning up another sheet to dry on the clothesline in the yard, Lou took the extra clothespins out of her mouth to give her son an answer. "I don't know if that's such a good idea, little man."

"But why not?" he wondered. He really wanted to go over and play with the Eriksen twins, who were only a year older than he was. They always had a good time together, especially during the summer.

"You been over there twice already this week, James," she reasoned. "You don't wanna wear out your welcome."

"But, Ma, Mrs. Eriksen always tells me how much she likes when I come by, 'cause then Jakob and Nils aren't always swarmin' 'round her kitchen tryin' to eat up all her pies."

"Oh, why don't ya let the boy go over 'n' play, Lou?" Teaspoon came up behind her while she bent to pick up the next sheet to be hung dry.

She turned to look at Teaspoon, and then back at James, whose eyes were now gleaming with hope. She stood with her hands on her hips and shook her head at the both of them. "Alright, you can go," she finally gave in. "You did finish your chores, didn't you?"

James nodded, smiling at his little victory. "Yes, ma'am. All finished."

"I tell ya what," Teaspoon proposed, "I'll even ride over with James myself. I been needin' to return that axe sharpener I borrowed off of Johann for some time. Be back 'fore ya even know it."

Sighing, Lou nodded and decided to let them go. James would be alright with Teaspoon around, she told herself. It's just that lately, she'd been almost afraid to let him out of her sight. She didn't know why she suddenly felt the urge to have him near, but she'd been feeling a bit uneasy these days. Lou figured it had something to with the fact that Jimmy had left.

Minutes later, Teaspoon emerged from the barn with his horse Lancelot. He helped James up onto the horse and then hoisted himself up behind the boy. They began galloping away from the house at a slow, easy pace toward the neighboring homestead owned by the Eriksens. All the while she watched them, Lou had this strange, nagging feeling that something was wrong, but she didn't know what.

Chapter XVI - And Justice for All

By the time Teaspoon and James rode up to the Eriksen place, the struggle was already in progress. Martin Willingham's mount was tied up just outside the house, along with the horse belonging to his ranch foreman and right-hand man, who also served as his chief assassin. The sound of screaming ripped through the still summer air like a warm knife through butter, reaching Teaspoon's always astute ears while they were still far enough away not to be spotted.

The old man pulled his horse to a halt in a patch of woods that surrounded the little white and yellow farmhouse. He looked around and verified that no one else was around to have seen him and James ride in.

"What's goin' on, Uncle Teaspoon," James asked, puzzled and concerned.

"Shhh!" he hushed the boy as another shrill penetrated the walls of the Eriksen's house. He then turned back to face James who was sitting atop the bay horse. "Now, son, I want to you ride back to the house and tell your ma to go into town and fetch Marshal Duncan."

Teaspoon reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a gun that was stowed there. James' eyes went wide; he knew something terrible was happening.

After loading the gun, the gray-haired man glanced back up at the youngster and gave him a reassuring nod, though the seriousness of what was happening was plainly written on his face. "Ride back now, James. And tell yer ma to hurry!"

With a slap on the horse's rump, the boy sailed away back into the woods and towards the PXP Ranch. When James was safely out of sight, Teaspoon sneaked along the side of the house where he saw what was going on inside through a window.

It was Willingham alright, and his henchman, Collins. Willingham had a gun pointed at Johann Eriksen, and his wife was screaming and crying and carrying on because Collins was also holding her two boys as hostage. They squirmed and cried, but that only resulted in the man tightening his grip around their little necks, which were being crushed under Collins' muscular arms. Mrs. Eriksen stood by helplessly, cowering in the corner, and on the verge of collapse.

Teaspoon could hear their voices more clearly, and he listened carefully before making any rash movements. He needed to be deliberate and not just rush into the house with his gun blazing. That's how innocent people ended up getting killed, and he did not want that.

"What more must I do to convince you fools to sign these papers giving the land over to me?" The banker threatened them, one hand on his gun, the other hand holding the title to the homestead. "If you do it now and get out of town, I might just let you live."

Johann visibly quaked in his boots as Willingham held the gun pointed at him. "Please! Don't do this to us! We have worked so hard since we came to this country for all we have! Please, leave my wife and sons out of this, and I will find a way to pay you back the money I owe!" His voice was desperate, as was his plea, his eyes flickering between the barrel of the gun aimed to his chest and his screaming wife and children on the other side of the room.

"You said we had a year to pay back the money," Johann continued his futile appeal.

"Well," Willingham sneered, his lips curling on one side, "I changed my mind."

Teaspoon watched the horrible scene unfold before him. He kept his gun poised and ready to fire, but Mr. Eriksen was blocking his line of vision on the banker. He did not have a clear shot. So he decided to creep over to the other side of the house to another window where he might be able to have a better angle.

Martin Willingham simply would not back down. Instead, he pulled back the hammer of his gun, laughing maniacally the entire time. The twins began wailing even louder, if that was possible, and this only served to further enrage the banker.

He yelled over to his accomplice, "Collins! Make those brats stop screaming this minute, or I'll put a bullet in each of them!"

Collins put moved his hands to cover the boys' mouths and held onto them with his vice-tight grip. He succeeded in muting their high-pitched shrieks until they were merely frightened whimpers.

Turning back his attention to Johann, Willingham looked at him through devious eyes, his teeth clenched and his anger rising by the second. "If you know what's good for you, you'll sign." He nodded and lifted one eyebrow in an expression that made him look like the devil himself.

Mr. Eriksen was now sweating profusely, and he was so utterly petrified that he was literally frozen in his place. He glanced over to his two sons, who were red-faced with steady streams of tears making their faces glisten as the sun came reflecting through the window. Then he looked at his wife. She had been in hysterics, but now her hollering had subsided and she was struck dumb, the only sound coming from her was a slight hiccuping sob.

"You're running out of time, Eriksen," Willingham warned him. "It's time to decide what's more important to you -- your land, or your life."

"Alright, alright!" Johann finally gave in. His back was up against a wall and there was no other way out. "I will sign the papers! Give them to me." He was sobbing now as well, for he was about to give up everything he had ever worked for. But his family meant more to him than the land.

Johann took the papers from Willingham, who grinned at his victory while he released the hammer on his gun, and he leaned over a table in his front parlor to sign. He dipped the pen in some ink, and his hands shook violently as he made his signature on the document. Hanging his head down and closing his eyes, Johann threw the pen down in defeat and spun back around to face the banker with the signed property deed in hand.

"I did what you asked," Johann stated. "Please, now let my family go."

Checking to make sure that everything was in order, Willingham examined the papers. They met his with approval, and he folded then neatly and put them in the inside pocket of his coat. Mr. Eriksen sighed, believing that this whole bloody nightmare was finally over. He might have lost his land, but he still had his life and his wife and boys were okay.

But Willingham turned on him again with that foul expression plastered on his face and re-aimed his gun at his target. Eriksen was puzzled; he had done what the man had asked yet he was staring down the barrel of a gun.

"Sorry, Eriksen," the banker replied, feigning pity, "but I can't leave behind any witnesses. Better say your prayers, because it's time for you and you family to meet your Maker."

An earsplitting scream pierced through the air followed closely by the sound of breaking glass. Martin Willingham whipped his head around reflexively toward the source of the din, but only after he had squeezed the trigger of his gun. The bullet had sailed across the room, pulling away from its intended target and landing in Johann's right shoulder instead of his heart.

Moments after the banker's gun went off, Teaspoon emerged outside the shattered window and fired off several shots before Willingham had a chance to react. He managed to clip Collins in the neck, and another bullet was now imbedded in his left thigh, causing him to lose hold of the twins. He fell to the floor in pain, and Johann managed to grab the man's gun to prevent him from firing back. Eriksen was hurt badly, his blood turning his white shirt a deep shade of crimson, but he would survive the wound he'd received.

With a quickness that belied his many years, Teaspoon took aim on the banker and fired just before Willingham managed to swing the arm holding his pistol around towards him. But Teaspoon's bullet had hit its mark before the other man could fire a shot. The gun slipped from Willingham's fingers and went crashing down as he looked at the gaping hole in his chest, a look of pure disbelief replacing his devious smile. He fell to his knees as blood began to trickle from his mouth, and then, his head hit the floor with a resounding thud of finality. Martin Willingham was dead. It was finally over...over for the Eriksen family, and over for Lou.

---

Marshal Duncan and his men were quick to arrive to the scene. Teaspoon explained how the banker had forced the Eriksens to sign over their property to him and then began firing with every intention of killing Johann and Lord knows who else.

Johann was bandaged up and his wounds tended to while Lou helped to bring Mrs. Eriksen and her two boys back to a relative state of calm after all they'd been through. Teaspoon took some rope and tied up Collins, who was bleeding badly but still very much alive. He would be hauled off to jail and most likely be sent to the gallows for his part in the crime. As for Martin Willingham, well, he already got what was coming to him. Teaspoon had rightfully killed him, and there were witnesses and enough evidence so that there would be reason for the marshal to doubt what happened. Justice had been served.

Over the past few months, many people in Sweetwater had begun to have suspicions about Willingham and his methods, but there had never been any hard evidence to prove that he was doing anything improper or illegal. That was until now. All of his dirty deeds could soon be fully exposed, much to the relief of his borrowers. Marshal Duncan would see to it that all of the bank's loan records and paperwork were examined so they could determine how to best handle the financial situation of its clients. The borrowed money would probably have to be paid back eventually, but for the time being, there was no immediate need to do so or fear of losing one's home.

"I guess that should 'bout do it, marshal," Teaspoon said as he handed Collins over to his custody.

"Thanks for everythin' you done, Teaspoon," Duncan told him. "I'm sure findin' out Willingham is burnin' in Hell will help a lotta folks sleep easier from now on."

"I'm just glad I got here 'fore it was too late," the old man replied, scratching the back of his neck pensively. He didn't even want to think about what would have happened if he hadn't shown up in time. It was bad enough that two eleven-year-old boys had to witness the whole event; it would be infinitely worse if they had actually lost their father as well.

The marshal turned to Lou, who had released Mrs. Eriksen back to the care of her husband. "I guess this means you don't need to be in such a hurry to come up with all that money," he mentioned.

She nodded, still somewhat in shock yet relieved at the same time over all that had transpired. Her heart was now able to rest easy knowing that Martin Willingham could pose no further threat to her and her family.

"As soon as we get back to town," she said, "I'm gonna send Jimmy a telegraph lettin' him know he can come back home."

Jimmy could return home. Hearing the words fall from her lips instantly brought a joy back into Lou's heart that she thought she had lost when she saw the man she loved ride away. She was so happy and relieved that she felt as if she might cry. Marshal Duncan tipped his hat to Lou and rode away with his deputies though she did not notice. All she could think about was that soon, she would have Jimmy back in her arms.

Teaspoon moved to stand behind the woman who was like a daughter to him and more, and he placed his hands on her shoulders reassuringly. Lou then brought her right hand across her chest to rest on top of Teaspoon's left one, squeezing it gently and thankfully. "It's all over, Teaspoon," she told him. "It's finally over."

Chapter XVII - Choices of the Heart

"What do you mean you can't send my message?" Lou impatiently asked Mr. Beverly at the post/telegraph office.

"Like I told ya, Mrs. McCloud," he replied, "the line between Cheyenne and Deadwood's been down for days now. Can't get nothin' through."

Lou huffed slightly, irritated that she couldn't send a telegram telling Jimmy that he could come back home, that everything was alright. "Well, do you know how long it'll be till it's fixed?"

He shook his head. "Can't rightly say, ma'am. There's really no way of knowin'. It could be two weeks or it could be two months. There's talk of Indian trouble 'round there. Seems the Sioux are on the warpath again, and no one's terribly anxious to risk gettin' stuck out in the middle of it to fix the line."

Tapping her foot nervously on the floor, Lou wondered frantically what she was going to do now. How could she send word for Jimmy to come back to Sweetwater? She didn't want him spending any more time there than he needed to. She'd already been fighting her own fears that something terrible was going to happen to him, and she didn't think she could deal with it much longer. Lou began to pace around the small room, the heels of her boots beating rhythmically against the hardwood floor.

"You could always try the mail," Mr. Beverly suggested. "Try sendin' a letter."

Still pacing, Lou shook her head sharply. "No. That'd take too long. And there's no way of knowin' if it'll even get to Jimmy."

Sorry he was unable to offer much help to the obviously distressed woman, the telegraph operator simply sighed and shrugged. "I'm awful sorry I can't give ya better news, Mrs. McCloud. But I'll be sure to let ya know if 'n' when the line gets fixed. That's all I can do for now."

"It ain't your fault," she told him. "I appreciate all you've done for me so far."

With nothing left to do there, Lou bid the man 'good day' and left through the front door. Her mind was already scheming with what her next course of action would be. She knew that whatever happened, she had to get Jimmy home. And if she couldn't send a telegram, she'd have to just go to Dakota and bring him back herself.

Teaspoon was waiting for Lou on a bench right outside the post office, and he rose to his feet when he saw her coming towards him. He could tell by the pensive look on her face that something was brewing, but he didn't know exactly what.

"Did ya send the message to Jimmy?" he asked, a slightly puzzled look on his face.

"No," she shook her head. "The line's down, an' Mr. Beverly don't know when I'll be able to get word through."

Suddenly, Teaspoon understood the look on Lou's face, and what she was planning became clear to him. "Lou? You ain't fixin' on ridin' out to Deadwood yerself, now, are ya?" It was kind of a silly question, since he was afraid he already knew the answer.

Finally, Lou met his gaze, the answer to his query written plainly in her facial expression. "I ain't got no other choice, Teaspoon. I gotta bring Jimmy back home, 'fore somethin' terrible happens." The stark determination was gleaming in her eyes, and the old man had a feeling it would be difficult, if not impossible, to convince the woman to do otherwise.

"Now, Lou," he placed his hand on her shoulder because he could see she was getting herself all worked up. He needed to try to reason with her. "You don't know anythin' bad's happened to Jimmy. It'll only be a few more weeks till he comes back anyway. Why not let it go till then. Jimmy can handle himself, you know that."

Lou shook her head vehemently, her breath starting to sound ragged. "I can't, Teaspoon. I just know somethin' ain't right. I got this feelin', an' it won't go away. I gotta ride out there and get 'im myself." She started getting that old weak feeling that had plagued her for over a week and found she had to move to the bench to sit down and collect her thoughts.

Teaspoon followed suit, growing more and more concerned for her by the minute. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and he could feel her shivering. It was a hot day, one of the hottest days so far that summer, and Lou was shaking as if it were the middle of winter. He knew then that she was receiving some strange signals, and maybe he needed to let her follow her instincts. They were rarely wrong, he knew, and now was not a time to doubt them.

Taking some deep breaths to calm herself and bring her racing pulse back to normal, she then turned to look at Teaspoon, a sense of desperation and urgency apparent in her deep brown eyes. "You understand this is somethin' I have to do. I need to make sure Jimmy's alright. I can't wait to hear back from him in a letter I can't know will ever come. I need to do this, Teaspoon."

Heaving a loud sigh, the old man nodded. "I know ya do, darlin'. But I can't let ya do this yourself. You don't know the terrain all that well."

"I ain't relyin' on someone else to do it for me," she ardently opposed. "I need to go out there and see Jimmy for myself, with my own two eyes."

Her eyes pierced into his in such a way that he knew there would be absolutely no talking her out of what her mind was already firmly set on. "Alright, Lou," Teaspoon said. "You can ride, but I'm gonna see 'bout sendin' a friend o' mine with ya who knows the territory. I'd go with ya myself if I was a few years younger."

Smiling, Lou pivoted on the bench and hugged him appreciatively. "Thanks for understandin', Teaspoon. This is just somethin' I know I gotta do. I'm gonna go to Deadwood, and I'm gonna bring Jimmy home."

---

Lou planned to ride out the very next morning along with Teaspoon's old friend, John Taylor Nelson. J.T., as he was called, was a man probably in his mid-thirties and a former captain in the U.S. Army. He lived a few miles outside of Sweetwater on a small homestead by himself. He had no family. His wife and baby girl had died quite a few years back of a cholera epidemic that had swept through Cottonwood. J.T. had been stationed in Ft. Bridger at the time, and he always felt guilty for not being there when they died. He'd drifted for a while after that, settling on a small plot of land near Sweetwater to try to make a new life. He was somewhat of a loner, still feeling the pain of losing his family, but Teaspoon had told Lou that the man was one of the best trackers he'd ever known. He believed that Lou would be safe with J.T. because he was very familiar with the territory in and around Dakota.

Rachel had been shocked to hear that Lou was going to make the long trip to Deadwood. She knew that Lou was still not completely well, though Lou did everything she could to try to convince her friend that she was feeling much better. But Rachel also understood her need to bring Jimmy back. She loved him so much, and they had such a bond that she didn't doubt Lou when she said she had sensed danger for him. And so, Rachel would pray for Lou and Jimmy and wait for them to come home. She knew that was all she could do.

At first Lou believed that her premonition of peril was related to what happened to the Eriksen family, but the dream she had the night before she was about to leave for Deadwood only proved that she had been right in fearing for Jimmy.

A thick cloud of smoke filled the room as Lou searched around frantically for him. She could barely see anything in front of her, and she felt her way around, trying to find him. The sounds of laughter and shouting filled her ears while she blindly searched for Jimmy through the dense fog. Her heart pounded in her chest unceasingly, and a fear unlike any that she had ever experienced before swept over her body with the force a hurricane.

At last, the fresh scent of leather, horses, and saddle soap wafted to her nose. Then, the wind in the room shifted and the smoke began to clear, and the back side of his outline became clear. Lou could see his black coat and his long, brown hair flowing out from under his signature black Stetson hat. He was sitting in a chair facing away from her so that she could not see his face, but she knew it was her Jimmy just the same.

Relief washed over her, but unfortunately, it was only temporary. She extended out her arms to touch him and found he was suddenly unreachable. Then her head whipped around as she heard a loud blast penetrate the thick air. She saw playing cards come flying towards her from all directions. She screamed and tried to find Jimmy again, but she was surrounded in an endless, white haze once more.

At that point, Lou awoke from the nightmare, completely breathless and her heart thudding against her ribcage violently. She sat up in bed and glanced around the room as if trying to figure out where she was. She looked out the window and saw that the first rays of sunlight were already starting to stream into the room. Lou closed her eyes and sighed, realizing that she was in her own bedroom, safe and secure. But where was Jimmy, she wondered. Her mind began to race again, until she remembered he was still in Deadwood.

Lou jumped out of bed and threw on her clothes in a mad frenzy. She literally flew down the stairs where she finished getting ready to leave for Dakota. She had to get to Jimmy, she knew. She had to get to him before it was too late. Lou didn't understand exactly what the dream had meant except that danger was lurking for her man...And she only prayed that it wasn't too late already.

Chapter XVIII - Deadwood Days & Deadwood Nights

Jimmy had already spent nearly two weeks in Deadwood working his gold mine almost non-stop, yet all he had come up with amounted to close to nothing. The little bit he'd managed to find barely earned him enough to feed and shelter himself. Growing increasingly frustrated, Jimmy went to the local assayer's office to see if continuing along his present course was even worth his time and energy. He was running out of time as it was, and he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to earn the money needed to save Lou's ranch. It was something he didn't want to think about, but the very real possibility was staring him in the face as each day passed that he failed to produce significant amounts of ore.

The assayer went to Jimmy's small claim and evaluated the situation. The end result was that the mine was practically worthless. Whoever had put up the claim in the poker game that Jimmy had won those years ago had only managed to swindle him in the process. He would not get the money the way he originally intended; he knew that now. So, Jimmy would have to come up with another plan to get the save the PXP Ranch. He had no other choice because admitting defeat was not an option he would take.

Over the next few days, Jimmy began spending all of his waking hours in the many saloons and gambling houses that lined the main street of Deadwood City. If he couldn't earn the money with gold, he would have to win it with poker. Playing the picture cards was an art he believed he had come to master over the years, and other than mining, there was no other way to quickly come across the large sum of cash Jimmy needed.

Not having much to begin with, Jimmy had to work slowly and tediously to build his pile of playing money in lower stakes games so that he could eventually work his way into the ones that had higher payoffs, but also higher risks.

Eventually, Jimmy was doing all of his prospecting at a poker table in the No. 10 Saloon, owned by his old acquaintance Carl Mann. He felt it was a safer place to make a home for himself during his stay in Deadwood since he knew most of the faces and trusted them as much as he could ever trust anyone in the town.

He had a hard time remaining anonymous now that he spent so much time in town, but for the most part, Jimmy found that most folks either let him alone or simply offered him flattering words and compliments. Many people actually cheered when he walked into a saloon, crowding around him and offering to buy the infamous 'Wild Bill' drinks. Jimmy quickly learned that in a place like Deadwood, which served as a haven for many big-time gunslingers, the danger wasn't from his fellow professionals, but from some kid drifting in with a yen to make a name for himself.

Late at night, after the poker games were over, Jimmy went back to his room and spent his time thinking about his beloved wife, Louise, and how much he missed her. He would lie down on his bed where he could look out the window to the sky. It was difficult to see many stars clearly because of the torches and lamps that constantly lit the rowdy streets of Deadwood just outside. The town never seemed to sleep; there was always a steady stream of activity going on. But inside his little room, with his thoughts on Lou, Jimmy somehow found a sanctuary from it all.

One particular night after a long day at the poker tables, Jimmy went back to his room where he pulled out the stack of letters that Lou had written him during his ten year absence from her. He had kept them with him always, though he had never been able to bring himself to read them. He felt foolish about that now, but at the time, it was all he could do to keep his sanity and prevent her memory from torturing his soul further. But Jimmy realized that it was he who had been torturing himself all along by not allowing himself to be with Lou when he had the chance the first time around. He had her now, he thought, and the letters just might ease the loneliness he felt at not having her with him.

So, Jimmy untied the string that bound the pile of unopened letters together, lit another lamp to brighten the room, and began reading. He read for a very long time, the hours passing like minutes to him; he was so engrossed.

Once he finished all the letters in sequence, Jimmy pulled out a sheet of paper from the drawer in the small nightstand in his hotel room along with a pen and some ink. The telegraph line was down, he'd been told the other day, so he proceeded to write his own note to Lou, the words spilling free and easy as the pen flowed over the paper. When he was finished, he folded the letter and placed it in his coat pocket so that he could mail it the next day.

Jimmy finally fell asleep that night, his mind filled with happy thoughts of Lou. She even came to him in visions in his dreams. He dreamt of her sweet scent touching his nose, her beautiful, long hair spilling all around her face and tickling his chest as she rested her head on him like she often did after they made love. He dreamt of her loving smile greeting him first thing in the morning when he woke up, the feeling of her warm body by his side in the bed they shared. He dreamt of her riding with him on Charlie through the open prairie with the sun glowing on her supple skin. He dreamt of her holding his head in her lap and her breath on his face as she leaned over to kiss him. He dreamt...

---

The following afternoon was back to business for Jimmy as he made his way to his usual table at the No. 10 Saloon. He saw some of the other regulars he'd become friendly with over the course of his visit -- Carl Mann, the saloon proprietor; Captain Frank Massey, a Missouri River pilot; and Charles Rich, a gunman and gambler with a considerable reputation of his own.

Jimmy made a move to take his typical spot in the chair with his back to wall. Watch yer back, Teaspoon had told him before he left Sweetwater. And he did his utmost to do just that. The last time Jimmy had sat with his back to people was in Hays City, when only a fortuitous back-bar mirror had saved him from being shot in the back by a man named Jack Strawhan. Sitting with his back against the wall, where he could see everything else going on around him, was simply the smart thing to do, he'd learned over the years, and it had become routine. However, Frank Massey had beaten him to it and plunked himself down in Jimmy's customary place.

"C'mon, Frank," Jimmy began, motioning for him to get up, "you know that's my spot."

"Nobody is going to shoot you in the back, Hickok," he replied, laughing lightly. "And since when is 'Wild Bill' suspicious?" The others at the table joined right in, ribbing Jimmy good-naturedly yet refusing to indulge in what they believed was a silly "pet superstition".

Shrugging off his annoyance, Jimmy sighed and took the only available chair at the table. He was well on his way already to getting enough money to send to Lou so that she could pay of Mr. Willingham once and for all, and he hoped that another successful day at the poker tables was all that he needed.

Carl Mann passed the shuffled deck of cards to Jimmy for the cut, and then the playing commenced.

---

Lou and J.T. had arrived in Deadwood early that morning after an exhausting and arduous journey. Fortunately, they hadn't run into any trouble, much to their relief, and they immediately began searching all around the mining camps that were scattered all around the town. For all they knew, Jimmy was still working at his gold mine, so it only seemed logical that they begin there.

But after many long hours looking among the barrage of tents and makeshift shelters, asking everyone she came in contact with if they had seen her Jimmy, Lou had come up empty handed. Finally, she ran into an old prospector who said he saw a man matching Jimmy's description in town the other day when he had gone there to cash in his latest rush of gold. Lou felt the hope surging in her breast, and she knew that she had to go back into Deadwood City to look for him there. She would scour every inch of the town if she had, but she would find Jimmy. Of that much she was certain.

---

Jimmy had been having a rough time of it at the poker tables so far that day. Both his luck and his instincts were failing him. He felt that he was not able to fully concentrate on his cards when he knew that he was sitting with his back to people. With one eye always focusing on what might be coming up from behind and the other on the hand being dealt to him, he was finding it more and more difficult to make good judgments and size up his opponents at the table. The pile of money in front of Jimmy was diminishing down to almost nothing. And it was only four o'clock.

---

Once J.T. and Lou had begun asking around Main Street in Deadwood if they had seen Jimmy, offering his description, people immediately began responding. They told her that the man she was looking for was none other than 'Wild Bill' Hickok himself. It should not have surprised her that word of his presence would spread like wildfire, but it did. Several of the denizens pointed her and J.T. in the direction of Carl Mann's No. 10 Saloon.

---

Jimmy fanned out his cards and stared at the hand that Charlie Rich had dealt him. His eyes passed over a pair of aces, a pair of eights, and a queen kicker -- a pretty good hand, by all accounts. But would it be good enough to win, he silently wondered. His luck had been quickly running out, along with his money. In fact, only moments ago, he even had to borrow fifty dollars from his friend Harry Young at the bar in order to keep in the game. This had to be the break he'd been waiting for, Jimmy thought. It needed to be.

At the same time, a young man by the name of about twenty-five entered the bar. He ordered a drink from the bartender, tossed it back, and began walking toward the table where the four men were playing poker. The players were all intent on the hand just dealt them and were totally unaware of the presence of the man standing behind them.

Finally, it was Jimmy's turn to call or fold. "Call," he simply said, beginning to feel more confident.

The doors to the No. 10 Saloon swung open and Louise McCloud stepped foot inside. Her discerning brown eyes scanned the smoke-filled room. The men inside were loud and boisterous, most already working on a good drunk even though it was the middle of the day and the late afternoon sun was still shining brightly outside. The dense white haze that hovered above everything in the saloon served to block out much of the outside light.

The flossy girls who worked there all turned to look at the woman standing there dressed in men's clothing as they carried their trays of drinks from table to table. She was definitely not their usual patron, and neither was the clean-looking man with the faded U.S. Army jacket who stood by her side.

Louise looked over to the far right-hand corner of the room where she saw a group of men engaged in a game of poker. Instant recognition spread over her face when she saw the familiar outline of the man she loved. It was his coat, his hair, his hat. She'd found him at last.

But Lou also caught a sudden movement from the corner of her eyes as a young man standing only feet away from Jimmy pulled out an old Colt .45 revolver and took aim.

"Jimmy!" Lou cried out to him, and she ran towards him with her heart in her throat.

But just as her scream reached his ears and he was about to turn his head to look at her, the sound of gunfire cut through the smoky room. And then, there was nothing but silence and the quiet shuffle of cards falling to the floor.

CONCLUSION A - THE 'REAL' ENDING

Chapter XIX - As Love Lies Bleeding

"Take that!" the young man hollered as the bullet left his gun. "You killed my brother Thomas, so I've killed you. Now everyone will remember the name Jack McCall...the man who took down 'Wild Bill' Hickok!"

Jimmy's body slumped forward from the impact of the bullet hitting him in the middle of his back, and then he slipped from his chair onto the hardwood floor below. Lou ran to his side as the scene before her seemed to unfold in slow motion, the awful nightmare that had been plaguing her sleep becoming a horrible reality before her own eyes. She fell to the floor alongside Jimmy, but not before she pulled out her own gun with lightning fast reflexes and fired a shot into Jack McCall's heart, killing him almost instantly.

Lou looked back down at Jimmy. She was sobbing uncontrollably, his blood staining her clothes while she knelt over him and cradled his head in her lap. He was still breathing his last few breaths, all the while staring up into Lou's tear-filled brown eyes. It was just like the dream Jimmy had only the night before, him lying on his back with his dear wife's lovely face looking back down at him.

"Oh, Jimmy!" she cried. "Jimmy, don't leave! Please, don't leave me!"

His life's blood quickly draining out of him, Jimmy began to move his lips to speak to Lou one last time. His voice was barely audible, and it took every ounce of strength that was remaining in him to say what he needed to say to his beloved wife before his soul left his body and sailed off into the next world.

"I'll always be with you," he told her. And as the last word fell from his quivering lips, Jimmy closed his eyes and was gone. She was too late, she thought. She hadn't been in time to save him. James Butler Hickok was dead.

"No, Jimmy, no!" Lou continued to hold his lifeless body in her arms, rocking him back and forth as she wept like she had never wept before. "I love you so much, Jimmy! I love you so!"

She caressed his still-warm skin as she hovered over him, running her fingers through his dark silky hair like she had dozens of times before. It couldn't be real, she thought. It's not possible. Jimmy looked just as he did when he slept, at the moment right before he would open his eyes in the morning to find Lou gazing down at him smiling. She loved him more than she'd ever loved anyone in her life. How could he be gone?

Crowds of stunned on-lookers had filled the saloon and flooded the streets when the news exploded that 'Wild Bill' Hickok was dead, shot in the back by some youngster seeking both revenge and notoriety. It was the act of a coward, they all knew. Nobody would ever get respect by killing a man that way. Word spread like wildfire about how Wild Bill's woman then shot his killer, and everyone tried to push their way into the No. 10 Saloon to get a look at the lady who held Hickok's mortal body and most certainly his heart.

But for Lou, she was alone in that saloon; it was only she and Jimmy. No one or nothing else mattered because her Jimmy was dead. And while the crowd of folks was gathered all around, they simply stood and stared in utter silence, in awe of the greatness that had been so cruelly and wrongfully ended.

The stream of tears that was flowing down her cheeks had begun to splatter on Jimmy's face as she sat with his head still in her arms and cried. She moved her finger to lightly brush away a drop that had landed on his cheek. It lingered there for a moment, until the realization set in that while she could feel his smooth skin under her finger, he could no longer feel her.

Lou hung her head down to rest her forehead against Jimmy's and pulled his unmoving body closer towards her. She lowered her lips to his, still pink and soft and warm, and kissed him. Then she put her hand over the gaping wound in his chest from where the bullet had entered his back and ripped clean through to the other side. His blood now covered her. "One love, one blood...I'll always love you," she whispered to herself while the quiet tears continued to fall. "Ride safe, Jimmy."

As she ran her hand all over him, touching and feeling his body for what she knew would be the last time, she felt something in his left-hand jacket pocket, the one right over his heart. She wiped her hands on her pants to remove some of the blood, but the deep crimson stain remained. Lou pulled out the white piece of paper that was sticking out slightly from Jimmy's pocket and unfolded it carefully.

It was a letter. Jimmy had written her a letter, and it was dated only the day before. Lou let out a long, deep sigh, and she began to sense her heart beginning to settle in her chest. Jimmy's spirit was moving inside of her, giving her a new strength with every breath she took.

I'll always be with you, Jimmy had told Lou on his dying breath.

And with Jimmy's words of promise filling the void in her soul, she read.

Epilogue - Love's Legacy Lives On

"Mama, tell me a story," he bounced on his bed anxiously. "Tell me the one about Uncle Jimmy."

Lou smiled at her son, the moonlight streaming in through the window illuminating his delicate features. "Which one, little man?" She had thousands of stories of Jimmy...her Jimmy. Thousands of memories.

"You know which one! My favorite one!" James told her, as if she should have known automatically. "The one where he rides in after the war and saves you."

Sighing with a mixture of sadness and fond remembrance, she brushed his thick, dark bangs to the side of his forehead. His eyes twinkled as he waited the telling of his favorite bedtime story. After taking several deep breaths, Lou began.

"Once upon a time, there was a young girl who loved a boy very much." Lou always told it as if it were a fairy tale, but James always knew that it was a true story. It was the story about his mother and father and Jimmy and the love she shared with both of them. "He had sandy brown hair and blue eyes--"

"Just like mine?" the boy jumped in, eager to become part of the storytelling, too.

Nodding, Lou said, "Just like yours, baby. They were bluer than the sky." She became lost in her memories for a moment before she finally continued. "They loved each other very much, and they were very happy together. But there was a war goin' on that was tearin' the country in two. The boy felt it was his duty to return to the place where he was born and fight for his home soil. She didn't want him to leave her, but she knew he had to."

"And he died, right?" James interceded again, seeing the melancholy expression on his mother's face despite her attempts to conceal it from him. His own sadness was evident as well.

She nodded through her tears, which glistened in the lamplight like diamonds on her cheek. "That's right, little man. He did die, but not before he and the girl made a baby together. A beautiful baby boy, so she'd always remember the man she loved even though he couldn't be there with her anymore. But still, she was still very sad."

"And then the man in black rode in a horse that looked like gold, and he saved the girl from her sadness," James said, all smiles again.

It seemed that this time around, Lou and James were telling the story together. It was only fitting since he was a part of that story. He was a part of her and a part of Kid...He was a part of Jimmy, too. And Lou slowly felt her heart releasing its last shred of sorrow as she and James recounted the tale of the love she shared with two fine men.

"That's right," she said, feeling an inner courage suddenly growing within her. "The man in black, he rode in one day when the girl was at her lowest. He swept her up onto his horse that shined like gold in the sun, and he carried her away from her pain. And she was happy again."

"She loved him very much, didn't she?" He asked, although, he already knew the answer.

Lou nodded, a gentle smile lighting up her features. "Yes, she loved him very much, and he loved her, too." She took on a faraway look before the sound of her son's voice lured her back.

"And they lived happily ever after?"

"Yes, James." She touched his cheek with her hand, leaning in over him closer as she sat on the edge of his bed. She brushed aside his hair the way she always did and kissed him on the forehead. "They lived happily ever after."

James sighed contentedly, sinking further into the softness of his pillow. He loved hearing stories with happy endings, and he always loved that story because he knew it was true.

Lou rose from the bed and took the lantern with her as she walked to the other side of the room. Before she shut the door, she turned back, smiling upon her precious child. "Goodnight, little man," she whispered.

"'Night, Mama," James answered with a tired yawn. "'Night, Pa. 'Night, Uncle Jimmy," he added a few seconds later, his gaze now focused on the night sky outside his window.

Closing the door behind her, Lou stepped into the hallway. She smiled to herself and closed her eyes, leaning back against the wooden doorframe for a few moments.

"Goodnight, Kid," she spoke softly. "Goodnight, Jimmy."

The bedtime story might have been over, but what she shared with each of them would live on forever. Lou would have her happy ending, just as the story did.

---

Later that night after Teaspoon and Rachel had long been asleep, Lou stepped out onto the front porch. The air was still and cool, as the last days of summer began to fade into autumn. The moon was full and bright in the navy blue sky above, and the stars were sparkling and shimmering like tiny grains of silver caught in the heavens.

Lou sat down on the railing. Her legs dangled over the edge and her back was pressed up against a supporting beam. She gazed out into the starry, moon-filled night with a wistful expression on her face and a sense of peace moving through her like the gently whispering winds that had begun to stir all around.

Several minutes had passed, and Lou was completely lost in thought. Then she put her hand into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out a piece of paper. It was creased and worn, the ink with which it was written faded and splotched from previous tears.

It was a letter...the letter that Jimmy had written her the day before he was killed. She'd read it over and over again until the words had become permanently imprinted on her brain. She no longer needed to open its folds and glance at the handwriting to know what it said. She knew it by heart. Still, Lou held the paper open in her hands, just as she had the first time she read it while she was kneeling over Jimmy's dead body, his freshly-spilled blood staining her clothes.

She read the letter now, as she had read it every night since her beloved Jimmy was taken away from her. Just as she knew she would read it every night until the last breath left her body. Lou read with everything she had in her. All her memories, all her love...the legacy that he had left her. She read...

Louise Darling, If such should be that we never meet again while firing my last shot I will gently breathe the name of my wife -- Louise -- and with wishes even for my enemies I will make the plunge and try to swim to the other shore.

Lou shut her eyes for a moment and leaned her head back against the painted wooden beam, sighing as the breeze kissed her cheek before subsiding again. She held the letter against her chest, up to her heart, where she knew that Jimmy would always live on. It was true that she missed him, but she knew with every ounce of her soul that she would never be lonely again.

I told you I wouldn't leave again, and I aim to keep that promise, for as long as I live...for longer.

Lou felt it in her heart and deep in the pit of her stomach that he had never really left her, and never really would. She moved her hand to rest over her belly. Even in death, Jimmy was keeping his promise.

She would see his face when she closed her eyes, and of course, he would always be there in her dreams. I'll see you in my dreams, Jimmy, she thought to herself, a wonderful sense of tranquility sweeping over her.

Lou breathed in the air deeply and stared at the full moon beaming in the sky. It reminded her so much of that night under the heavens, where she and Jimmy pledged to love each other forever, marrying themselves to each other in front of God and all Creation. She knew then and she knew now that nothing could ever truly come between them, not even death, because their love would outlast it every time.

Then she rose from where she had been perched on the railing and moved further out into the night, letting the moon fully immerse her in its splendor. It wrapped her in a light that dimmed in comparison to the light she felt glowing from within. The light of love...the light of Kid and Jimmy and the legacies she had created with each of them in that love. What they had given Lou was the strength to face the days that lay ahead of her, in the knowledge that true love survives above all else.

The days that followed Jimmy's murder were some of the hardest Lou had ever known. But with his spirit still breathing in her body, along with the undying support of her family, she found it possible to go on. Jimmy's Earthly remains might have been left behind in Dakota, but his immortal soul was carried with Lou wherever she went.

Cody and Sam and Emma had been notified immediately thanks to the bold headlines announcing 'Wild Bill' Hickok's death in newspapers and magazines nationwide. Lou wrote a letter to Buck informing him what had happened, unsure if he would ever receive it.

After burying her husband in a cemetery outside of Deadwood, Lou returned home to Sweetwater to her son and Teaspoon and Rachel, who had already heard of the tragedy. Louise told them how she had never realized just how many people loved and respected Jimmy until she saw so many grieving faces in the crowd at the funeral. They were all strangers without names to her, but many of them had known Jimmy from his time spent in Deadwood prior to his return to Sweetwater. The kind words that these people said about her sweet Jimmy brought tears to her eyes and comfort to her soul. She knew he would have been happy to know that not everybody hated or feared him...that most ordinary folks understood that the man known as 'Wild Bill' only ever killed a man because he had to.

Slowly, over the following month, the rest of the extended family had made their way to Sweetwater to pay their condolences and mourn as the close-knit unit they still were. Even Buck had found his way there, something that Lou believed was nothing short of a miracle. So, in a strange way, she had gotten her wish for the family to be together. It was the much-hoped for, yet bittersweet, reunion. Having everyone back together brought Lou a great deal of solace, but soon, they all went about their separate ways again, promising to stay in touch and write often. And Lou was left believing there would be better times ahead for them all.

Closing her eyes again, Lou tilted her head back, enshrouded by the night. She heard the name of her beloved whispered in the sudden gust of wind that swept across her face and sent loose strands of her long auburn hair tickling at her nose. And the winds carried Jimmy's words on them like a song: No matter what happens, I'll always be with you. I swear it now, and I swear it forever...I'll always be with you...

"I'll always be with you," Lou echoed softly, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "And with wishes even for my enemies, I will make the plunge and try to swim..."

At last, the reverie was broken, and Lou decided it was getting late. She headed up the steps of the front porch, her hand poised to turn the doorknob. But then Lou stopped for a moment, her eyes flickering to the two golden rings sitting side-by-side on her finger. She turned back for one long, last look at the two stars twinkling brightest in the sky above her and smiled.

Just remember, all you have to do is look up into the sky at night when you're lonely and know that wherever I am, I'm under that same sky, lookin' right back up at you.

Lou whispered into the night before disappearing into the house, "Ride safe. I'll see you both on the other shore."

For she knew that, along with Ike and Noah and all her other loved ones, Kid and Jimmy would be there waiting for her. But in the meantime, Lou realized that love would continue to fill her days with hope and joy and laughter, from now until the time comes when she is reunited with them...when she has completed her Earthly journey and finally arrives Home...

...to the other shore.

-THE END-

CONCLUSION B - The Alternate Ending

Chapter XIX - The Miracle of Love

The cards slipped from Jimmy's fingers when he heard the sound of Lou's voice reach his ears above all the din in the saloon. For a moment he thought he had been dreaming, but then he realized he was not, that she was actually there.

Jimmy was alive, and he came running towards her, calling out her name.

"Lou! Lou!" he said over and over again as he stood up from his chair and wrapped his beloved wife up in his arms.

"Oh, Jimmy!" she wept uncontrollably, clinging to him for her very life. "Jimmy, I was so afraid I'd lost you!"

He stroked her hair with his hand soothingly while she cried her tears of relief all over the front of his jacket. "Shhhhh, now," he hushed her gently, his voice soft and reassuring. "It's alright, Lou. I'm still here." Pulling away just enough, Jimmy gazed deeply in Lou's glossy brown eyes. He wiped her tears away with a delicate touch of his finger. "I'm right here with you, just like I'll always be. I'll always be with you, Lou. Always."

The blast of gunfire had come from Lou. As soon as she saw the young man draw his revolver and take aim at the back of Jimmy's head, she whipped out her gun with lightning fast reflexes and not a moment of hesitation and shot him dead before he even had a chance to pull the trigger.

Jimmy looked down at the lifeless body of his potential assassin bleeding all over the hardwood floor of the saloon and brought Lou even tighter towards him. He knew how close he had come to death, but Lou had been there to save him. He didn't know how Lou had come to be in Deadwood, or how she had known that his life was in danger. But somehow, she had, and neither would question what awesome force had brought them together on that fateful day.

Crowds of stunned on-lookers that filled the saloon and flooded the streets parted the way for James 'Wild Bill' Hickok and his woman as they walked through on their way to his hotel room. Lou and Jimmy sent a thankful look to J.T. Nelson when they passed him by, and he acknowledged them with the slight nod of his head and smile on his face. J.T., along with everyone else who had seen what had happened within the walls of the No. 10 Saloon only moments before, knew that what he had witnessed was nothing short of a miracle. A miracle of love.

---

Everyone in Deadwood soon learned that the man who tried to kill 'Wild Bill' Hickok was a fellow by the name of Jack McCall. He had come out West with his brother from Louisville, Kentucky half a dozen years before. His greatest ambition was to be a famous gunfighter, and this aspiration was passed on to his younger brother Thomas as well. It was well known at the time that the best way to make a name for yourself was to kill someone with a big reputation. And what other man in the West had a bigger reputation than 'Wild Bill' Hickok?

Thomas McCall made his first and last attempt at achieving notoriety when he called out 'Wild Bill' when he was in Sweetwater a few months earlier. He was shot dead by a bullet from one of Jimmy's Navy Colts before his gun even cleared the holster. The same unfortunate fate would befall his older brother, Jack, who met up with Jimmy in Deadwood not long after. Only he was killed by Louise McCloud in a failed attempt to shoot Jimmy in the back.

The events that took place in Deadwood on that hot day in August of 1876 would become something that Jimmy and Lou never discussed again. They would only marvel in the miracle of what love had allowed for them. It had given them a second chance at happiness, another chance to live the rest of their lives together in the knowledge that sometimes Destiny can be changed. Sometimes love really does win out in the end. They both knew that it had happened to them, and they accepted it and made the best of the wonderful gift that had been presented to them.

For Jimmy and Lou shared a love that was so deep, so pure, and so true that they knew nothing could ever come between them. Nothing.

Epilogue - Love's Legacy Lives On

"Grandma, tell me a story," he bounced on his bed anxiously. "Tell me the one about Grandpa Jimmy."

Lou smiled at her young grandson Adam, the moonlight streaming in through the window illuminating his delicate features. "Which one, little man?" She had thousands of stories of Jimmy...her Jimmy. Thousands of memories.

"You know which one! My favorite one!" Adam told her, as if she should have known automatically. "The one where he rides in after the war and saves you."

Sighing with a mixture of sadness and fond remembrance, she brushed his thick, dark bangs to the side of his forehead. His eyes twinkled as he waited the telling of his favorite bedtime story. After taking several deep breaths, Lou began.

"Once upon a time, there was a young girl who loved a boy very much." Lou always told it as if it was a fairy tale, but Adam always knew that it was a true story. It was the story about his grandmother and his grandfathers Kid and Jimmy and the love she shared with both of them. It was the same story she had told her own four children growing up, and it was the same story she now told her many grandchildren. "He had sandy brown hair and blue eyes--"

"Just like mine?" the boy jumped in, eager to become part of the storytelling, too.

Nodding, Lou said, "Just like yours, baby. They were bluer than the sky." She became lost in her memories for a moment before she finally continued. "They loved each other very much, and they were very happy together. But there was a war goin' on that was tearin' the country in two. The boy felt it was his duty to return to the place where he was born and fight for his home soil. She didn't want him to leave her, but she knew he had to."

"And he died, right?" Adam interceded again, seeing the melancholy expression on his grandmother's face despite her attempts to conceal it from him. His own sadness was evident as well even though he had never known his first grandfather, as he called the Kid.

She nodded through her tears, which glistened in the lamplight like diamonds on her cheek. "That's right, little man. He did die, but not before he and the girl made a baby together. A beautiful baby boy, so she'd always remember the man she loved even though he couldn't be there with her anymore. But still, she was still very sad."

"And then the man in black rode in a horse that looked like gold, and he saved the girl from her sadness," Adam said, all smiles again.

It seemed that this time around, Lou and Adam were telling the story together. It was only fitting since he was a part of that story. As her son James' youngest child, Adam was a part of her and a part of Kid...He was a part of Jimmy, too. And Lou slowly felt her heart releasing its last shred of sorrow as she and Adam recounted the tale of the love she shared with two fine men.

"That's right," she said, feeling an inner courage suddenly growing within her. "The man in black, he rode in one day when the girl was at her lowest. He swept her up onto his horse that shined like gold in the sun, and he carried her away from her pain. And she was happy again."

"She loved him very much, didn't she?" He asked, although, he already knew the answer.

Lou nodded, a gentle smile lighting up her features. She was an old woman by now, her face wrinkled and worn, but underneath it all, she was still very beautiful. "Yes, she loved him very much, and he loved her, too." She took on a faraway look before the sound of her grandson's voice lured her back.

"And they lived happily ever after?"

"Yes, Adam." She touched his cheek with her hand, leaning in over him closer as she sat on the edge of his bed. She brushed aside his hair the way she always did and kissed him on the forehead. "They lived happily ever after."

Adam sighed contentedly, sinking further into the softness of his pillow. He loved hearing stories with happy endings, and he always loved that story because he knew it was true.

Lou rose from the bed and took the lantern with her as she walked to the other side of the room. Before she shut the door, she turned back, smiling upon her precious grandchild. "Goodnight, little man," she whispered, calling him the same name she used to call his father when he was Adam's age.

"'Night, Grandma," Adam answered with a tired yawn. "'Night, Grandpa Kid. 'Night, Grandpa Jimmy," he added a few seconds later, his gaze now focused on the night sky outside his window.

Closing the door behind her, Lou stepped into the hallway. She smiled to herself and closed her eyes, leaning back against the wooden doorframe for a few moments.

"Goodnight, Kid," she spoke softly. "Goodnight, Jimmy."

The bedtime story might have been over, but what she shared with each of them would live on forever. Lou would have her happy ending, just as the story did.

---

Later that night after everyone had long been asleep, Lou stepped out onto the front porch. The air was still and cool, as the last days of summer began to fade into autumn. The moon was full and bright in the navy blue sky above, and the stars were sparkling and shimmering like tiny grains of silver caught in the heavens.

Lou sat down on the old porch swing, her bones creaking with age. She had spent many a night in that same exact spot. She gazed out into the starry, moon-filled night with a wistful expression on her face and a sense of peace moving through her like the gently whispering winds that had begun to stir all around.

Several minutes had passed, and Lou was completely lost in thought. Then she put her hand into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out a piece of paper. It was creased and worn, the ink with which it was written faded from time and constant handling.

It was a letter...the letter that Jimmy had given her right before he died just over one year ago of natural causes, though it had been written on the night before he was saved, but nearly killed by Jack McCall, in Deadwood. She'd read it over and over again until the words had become permanently imprinted on her brain. She no longer needed to open its folds and glance at the handwriting to know what it said. She knew it by heart. Still, Lou held the paper open in her hands, just as she had the first time she read it while she was leaning over Jimmy's dead body, his head resting in her lap.

She read the letter now, as she had read it every night since her beloved Jimmy was taken away from her. Just as she knew she would read it every night until the last breath left her body. Lou read with everything she had in her. All her memories, all her love...the legacy that he had left her. She read...

Louise Darling, If such should be that we never meet again while firing my last shot I will gently breathe the name of my wife -- Louise -- and with wishes even for my enemies I will make the plunge and try to swim to the other shore.

Lou shut her eyes for a moment and leaned her head back against the swing, sighing as the breeze kissed her cheek before subsiding again. She held the letter against her chest, up to her heart, where she knew that Jimmy would always live on. It was true that she missed him, but she knew with every ounce of her soul that she would never be lonely again.

I told you I wouldn't leave again, and I aim to keep that promise, for as long as I live...for longer.

Lou felt it in her heart that he had never really left her, and never really would. They had lived a long life together, filled with happiness and joy and the love of each other and family, and she knew that, even in death, Jimmy was keeping his promise.

She would see his face when she closed her eyes, and of course, he would always be there in her dreams. I'll see you in my dreams, Jimmy, she thought to herself, a wonderful sense of tranquility sweeping over her.

Lou breathed in the air deeply and stared at the full moon beaming in the sky. It reminded her so much of that night many years ago under the heavens, where she and Jimmy pledged to love each other forever, marrying themselves to each other in front of God and all Creation. She knew then and she knew now that nothing could ever truly come between them, not even death, because their love would outlast it every time.

Then she rose from where she had been sitting and moved further out into the night, letting the moon fully immerse her in its splendor. It wrapped her in a light that dimmed in comparison to the light she felt glowing from within. The light of love...the light of Kid and Jimmy and the legacies she had created with each of them in that love. What they had given Lou was the strength to face the days that lay ahead of her, in the knowledge that true love survives above all else.

Lou and Jimmy had shared more than thirty years of marriage together. They lived a happy life, filled with the joy of Kid and Lou's son James as well as three children of their own, and more recently, ten grandchildren and counting. It was also a relatively peaceful existence on their ranch in Sweetwater. Of course, life still presented its challenges to them, and every now and then a drifter would wander by looking to call out 'Wild Bill' Hickok to produce a name for himself. But as time went by, the days of the Old West faded more and more into the past as the light of the new century dawned upon them, bringing with it changes that no one had ever imagined. Even now, Lou still longed for the old days again, when she and Jimmy were young and energetic. Yet the love they had for each other never grew old and the memories of those times lived on.

Closing her eyes again, Lou tilted her head back, enshrouded by the night. She felt as if she were a young woman again, back in the days where it all began.

She heard the name of her beloved whispered in the sudden gust of wind that swept across her face and sent loose strands of her long hair tickling at her nose. And the winds carried Jimmy's words on them like a song: No matter what happens, I'll always be with you. I swear it now, and I swear it forever...I'll always be with you...

"I'll always be with you," Lou echoed softly, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "And with wishes even for my enemies, I will make the plunge and try to swim..."

At last, the reverie was broken, and Lou decided it was getting late. She headed up the steps of the front porch, her hand poised to turn the doorknob. But then Lou stopped for a moment, her eyes flickering to the two golden rings sitting side-by-side on her finger. She turned back for one long, last look at the two stars twinkling brightest in the sky above her and smiled.

Just remember, all you have do is look up into the sky at night when you're lonely and know that wherever I am, I'm under that same sky, lookin' right back up at you.

Lou whispered into the night before disappearing into the house, "Ride safe. I'll see you both on the other shore."

For she knew that, along with Ike and Noah and all her other loved ones who have since passed on, Kid and Jimmy would be there waiting for her. But in the meantime, Lou realized that love would continue to fill the remainder of her days with hope and joy and laughter, from now until the time comes when she is reunited with them...when she has completed her Earthly journey and finally arrives Home...

...to the other shore.

-THE END-

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