William F. Cody had just about decided that life didn’t get any better than it was right at that moment. Finished with a special run to Fort Laramie in record time-even with the rain, not expected back in Sweetwater for at least a day-no worries about chores, and, as if God was smiling on him, a bright shiny new day to ride in. Yep, this was almost as good as it got. If he could just find a town with a clean room for the night and a place to get a decent meal, things would be nigh onto perfect. Shoot, he might even think about a bath since he had some extra money. Good thing he’d drawn his pay before he left Sweetwater. Thinking of a decent meal brought a rumble from Cody’s stomach, reminding him that it had been a long time since his breakfast at the fort. The thought of the sandwiches he’d managed to wrangle out of the cook positively made his mouth water. Looking around, he decided the stand of trees near the riverbank would be just the place to stop for lunch. Sometime later, stomach satisfied, Cody leaned back against a tree and let the sun wash over his tired body. He had to be careful, he decided, or he just might fall asleep. The sun was a lot lower in the western sky when Cody awoke with a start. He looked around quickly, trying to determine what noise had roused him from a pleasant dream. His horse grazed nearby, unconcerned. The sound of water slapping the side of the riverbank was the only sound that was really out of place. Normally this “river” was little more than a stream, sometimes barely more than a trickle, but heavy rain, unusual for this time of year, had created a definite river. Cody doubted that even the unusual water level would have taken him away from Evely-he heard the noise again, a soft mewling sound that interrupted his train of thought. Rising easily to his feet, he went in search of the source. It had taken Cody the better part of an hour to find what was causing the sound. He’d spent another few minutes staring in disbelief at a basket floating for the most part on top of the water, held in place by the branches of a large tree. He wasn’t sure what was in it but he was certain the noise he had heard was coming from inside. And he was certain that, whatever it was, what was inside was alive. More minutes were spent attempting to devise a way to rescue the basket with the least amount of discomfort to himself. Swearing softly, he realized that he had only one option. His swearing increased in volume as the icy water soaked his boots and socks, but he was able to free the basket and return with it to the bank. “How in the world did you get in there?” he exclaimed as he pulled back the cover of the basket. The honey-brown eyes that stared back at him gave him no answers. Instead tears welled up, a mouth opened and a baby’s wail filled the air. Cody wasn’t totally inexperienced with babies though his experience had been limited to those who weren’t angry and thoroughly wet. Always before, when faced with the prospect of changing a diaper, a doting mother, aunt or grandmother had been there to take over. This time he was on his own. Bravely, he lifted the wiggling baby from the basket, trying desperately to remember what his brothers’ wives would do in this situation. “The first thing they would do is get you into a fresh diaper,” he murmured. Hoping against hope, he fumbled in the basket for something, anything, that was dry enough to replace what the baby now wore. It took little time to realize that everything was soaked through. “All right, now what?” Cody looked around, trying to come up with a plan. The baby had stopped crying, but was now whimpering and shivering violently. Cody knew he had to act fast. The only option, he realized, was to use the spare shirt he kept in his saddlebag. Awkwardly holding the baby in one hand, he pulled the shirt out of the bag, grabbing his jacket from its position on the back of the saddle along with the poncho he had worn the previous day. Clutching the baby to his chest, trying to give what warmth he could, the rider managed to spread the poncho on the ground with his coat on top of it. Kneeling carefully, he lay the baby on the coat and began to remove its sodden outer garments. “It ain’t pretty, Honey,” Cody remarked a few minutes later. “But it’ll do until we can get you something dried out. Have to see if there’s anything pretty enough for a cute young thing like yourself.” His charge rewarded his efforts with another bout of wailing. Nothing Cody tried over the next half hour had any affect on the sobbing infant. Honey, as he decided to call her taking the name from her most striking feature, was not to be consoled by mere words. “I don’t know what’s wrong, Honey,” the rider whispered soothingly holding her close. “You’re dry and warm now and . . . “ His words trailed off as the baby started rooting at his shirt, obviously looking for something Cody couldn’t supply. “You’re hungry!” he exclaimed. As he rocked Honey, Cody thought briefly of what might have happened to her folks. No one, he was sure, would have set her adrift without a darn good reason. “Not like you’re Moses,” he said softly. No, he decided, more than likely something ugly had happened upstream. Only the fact that she had been in her little “boat” had saved her from drowning. He’d found nothing in his original search to indicate that other family had made the trip. “Probably a good thing,” he mused. “At least it means they might be alive still.” Looking down at the face that was finally beginning to relax as exhaustion claimed her little body, Cody added, “If they’re alive, they’ll sure as heck come looking for you.” The baby had finally cried herself to sleep, much to Cody’s relief. He carefully lay her on the makeshift blanket and covered her with the coat. “What am I going to do?” he worried aloud. The most logical thing to do would be to stay put, he decided. If a search party was looking, they would be searching the riverbanks. But, he reasoned, there was no way to tell how long she’d been in the water or how far her little craft had traveled before being caught in the tree. Getting her some food was the most important thing, he concluded. A quick search of the basket revealed only a sodden blanket and some diapers-also soaked through-but nothing in the way of food. Inspecting the basket itself, he found no identifying marks. It truly had been a miracle, he decided, that the basket had been built the way it was. Until a hole had been poked in the side, most likely by the tree branch or maybe a rock, the basket had been watertight. “Somebody up there is looking out for you,” he told the sleeping baby. “I just hope they keep looking out for you.” As if in response, the wind picked up and he heard thunder in the distance. Looking around in surprise, he realized the sky had darkened considerably as the clouds rolled in again. “Gotta find some place where we can stay dry,” he muttered, thoughts of food and family put on hold for the time being. Wracking his brain, he searched for anything that would serve his purpose. He had only ridden this particular trail a couple of times but knew the nearest town would be too far to get to before the rain hit. Still, he couldn’t think of any better option and couldn’t afford to waste any more time. With a little luck, he’d run across a shack or a homestead along the way. Moving quickly now, Cody gathered the still wet blanket and diapers into a bundle, tying the ends so it could be looped over the saddle horn. He considered packing Honey back into the basket but decided she would be more manageable if he simply carried her. With a flash of inspiration he pulled one of his cherished books from his saddlebags and tore out one of the back pages. Found the baby. Heading south along trail , he scribbled. Wrapping the note in the oilskin that had earlier wrapped his lunch, he put it in the basket, then secured the basket in a visible spot on the tree nearest the river. Stepping back, he took a moment to survey his handy work, feeling rather proud of himself for his ingenuity. “At least they’ll know you’re alive,” he said to Honey as he lifted her from the ground. The baby squirmed briefly, then snuggled against him. Holding the baby with one hand, Cody tied his coat back on the saddle, draping the poncho across the horse’s neck within easy reach. He wasted a few precious minutes trying to figure out the best way to mount his horse with Honey in his arms. With what he would later call a flash of brilliance he stripped off his shirt and, tying the arms together, fashioned a sling that he place around his neck. Carefully securing Honey in the sling, he swung into the saddle and began to ride. The rain caught up with them less than an hour later. Cody thanked the powers that be that he had chosen a poncho instead of a rain slicker. He was able to cover both himself and Honey from the rain as they rode on. The baby hadn’t stirred since he had lifted her from the ground back by the tree. While Cody was no expert on babies, he knew this probably wasn’t a good thing. “Don’t you worry, little lady,” he assured her. “I’ll take care of you, I promise!” The pair moved slowly through the now raging storm. Cody kept his hat pulled as low as possible to protect his face from the rain and still let him scan the area on both sides of the trail for a possible stopping place. His horse slogged gamely along the trail, which had become a quagmire of mud and fallen branches. A blinding flash of lightning startled the beast who quickly pranced backwards. As Cody fought for control, he thanked his lucky stars for the mare’s action, for, just seconds later, a huge tree fell across their path. Calming his now skittish mount, he urged her around the downed tree. A second bolt of lightning, just as they cleared the leaf covered branches, revealed a clearing. A brief glimpse of a shadowy outline prompted the rider to rein his horse to a stop. He waited for another flash and was rewarded seconds later with a clear view of a cabin at the edge of the clearing. Sighing gratefully, he encouraged the horse forward. “Stand where you are and keep your hands where I can see them,” a voice ordered, followed by the sound of a shotgun hammer being cocked. Cody did exactly as he was told. He had found the barn as he rode toward the cabin and had stopped to take care of his horse before approaching any further. The condition of the stalls and the fact that one of them was occupied confirmed that someone was living in the cabin. Having placed Honey in a pile of fresh hay, then lighting a convenient lantern, he’d been rubbing the mare dry with an old feed sack when he’d been interrupted. “Turn around, real slow,” the voice ordered. Keeping his hands raised and away from his belt, Cody turned to find himself face to face with a young man only slightly older than himself. Putting on his most innocent face, the rider replied. “Didn’t mean no harm. I was just trying to find some place to get in out of the rain.” “Most folks ask first,” the other man countered. “Look, Mister,” Cody said. “I was just trying to find a place where we could get dry and maybe rest up a bit. We aren’t going to cause you any trouble.” “Who’s ‘we’?” the man asked suspiciously. Honey chose that moment to whimper softly. The homesteader spun in her direction, his finger tightening on the trigger of the scattergun as he did so. “NO!” Cody cried, leaping forward. He wasn’t going to make it. He was just too far away. Even though he stretched his full length as he leaped across the barn, Cody knew it wouldn’t be enough. All noise stopped and the barn around him faded as he focused on the instrument of death before him. His hand touched the gun barrel just as the homesteader’s finger squeezed the trigger. The forward momentum of his leap continued, his body colliding with the other man’s throwing them both to the ground. Cody rolled across the homesteader, pulling the shotgun from his hands, not caring at that moment if he broke the man’s fingers in the process. Jumping to his feet, the rider raised the gun like a club over his head, anger overriding all other thoughts. Just as he started the downward swing, a single sound fought through the haze that enveloped his mind. A single whimper from the direction of the haystack caused him to swing around, movement unfinished. “It wasn’t loaded!” the homesteader whispered. “It wasn’t loaded.” Throwing the shotgun across the barn, Cody all but flew to Honey’s side. Taking her in his arms, he examined her carefully. She was completely unharmed. Sighing heavily, Cody turned to face the homesteader once more. “What is the matter with you?” he roared. Honey whimpered again at the loudness of his voice. “She wasn’t going to hurt you,” he continued a bit more softly. “You could have killed her!” The homesteader stared at him, fear gradually replaced by indignation as he realized Cody would do nothing as long as he held the baby. “You trespassed on my land!” he argued. “You had no right to do that. I had every right to defend myself and my property.” Cody shifted Honey to his left hand as he stepped forward. The homesteader backed away-but not fast enough. Cody put all of his weight behind one hard right cross to the other man’s jaw, laying him flat out on the floor for a second time. As the fear and anger induced adrenaline rush faded, Cody was left feeling very tired. His actions, he realized, left him face to face with a dilemma. He needed to get Honey into the house where she could be warmed and hopefully fed. The fact that the owner of the house now lay unconscious on the floor of the barn made it highly unlikely that he would be welcomed with open arms. “I have to take the chance,” he said aloud. “If there is somebody up there, they gotta take care of the baby.” Decision made, he pulled the poncho back over Honey and strode resolutely through the mud. No one answered his knock so Cody pushed the door to the cabin open gingerly. It didn’t take much to see that the single room was empty. Judging from the contents the homesteader lived alone. Cody’s heart dropped. It wasn’t likely the man in the barn was going to be able to help them-even if he was of a mind to. “Oh well,” he muttered. “We’ll take care of that when we have to.” He lay Honey on the single bunk, pulling it as close to the fire as he dared. Piling some blankets around her on the off chance that she might try to move about, Cody returned to the barn. “Good thing you’re not much bigger than me,” he said as he lifted the other man over his shoulder and carried him back to the house, dumping him as gently as possible on the floor. The man began to stir as Cody searched the few cupboards for something he could use to feed Honey. Milk would be best he knew, but failing to find that, he hoped for some alternative. “There’s nothing here,” a voice said from behind him. Cody whirled to find the homesteader watching him from the floor. The man made no attempt to get to his feet so Cody relaxed a bit. “Look, Mister,” he said as sincerely as possible. “I’m sorry about what happened out there. It’s just that you could have hurt the baby and-“ “It’s all right,” the other man interrupted. “I didn’t know about your baby. If it were me in your place, I’d’ve done the same thing.” Rubbing his jaw ruefully, he asked. “What’s wrong with her?” The storm outside raged on, reaching a peak and then moving on as Cody related the story of how he had found Honey to the man who asked to be called “Ben.” He did his best to suppress the urge to embellish the story and felt he had succeeded admirably even though he couldn’t help but be proud of his ingenuity when it came to leaving the note behind. “We gotta get her something to eat,” the rider concluded. “And soon!” “She probably needs liquids more than anything right now,” Ben suggested. “Let’s start with some warm water and see if that helps.” “What’re we gonna use to feed her,” Cody asked anxiously. “You don’t have a baby bottle around here, do you?” Ben got a faraway looking on his face, but said nothing as he stood and walked to a large trunk that sat in the corner of the room. He carefully opened the lid and removed some neatly packed bedding before smiling in satisfaction as he lifted a well-wrapped bundle. To Cody’s amazement, Ben opened the bundle to reveal a glistening baby bottle, complete with a rubber nipple. “My Edna believed in being prepared for most anything,” the man said softly, more to himself than to Cody. “What happened?” Cody asked before he could stop himself. “Fever took her, couple-three years back,” Ben answered sadly. “I’m sorry.” “At least she’ll be happy to know her planning came in handy,” Ben said with forced cheerfulness. “Now,” he continued, moving to fill the bottle from a small pot he had set on the hearth earlier. “Let’s see if we can perk this little darling up.” The warm water was helping Cody decided. He would never have thought to try something like that, assuming that babies only drank milk. As Honey sucked contentedly on the nipple, he watched Ben repack the trunk. Before the other man closed the lid, Cody noticed a uniquely shaped black bag in one corner. “Are you a doctor?” he asked curiously. “I was going to be,” Ben replied closing the trunk firmly. “What happened?” “Life,” the other man answered, a trace of bitterness in his voice. He moved to check the blanket and diapers he had hung on a wooden rack in front of the fireplace. “These are almost dry.” “Edna was going to be a nurse-“ Ben started. “You don’t have to tell me anything,” Cody interrupted. “It’s none of my business.” “It’s all right,” Ben argued. “Been a long time since I’ve had anyone to talk to.” The look he gave the rider made Cody realize the man needed to talk. He nodded his encouragement. “Her pa was right,” Ben finished some time later. “She could have managed the fever if she hadn’t been so weak from the baby. As it was I lost both of them. Guess I lost all my wanting to go on after that. I built me this shack and just settled in and waited.” Waited to die, Cody realized. “Why did you come out there without loading your gun?” he asked impulsively. “Didn’t have much of a choice,” Ben said with a laugh. “Ran out of cartridges a while back.” “That’s a mighty quick way to get yourself dead,” Cody chided gently, pretending not to have realized that may have been exactly what the other man wanted. “You’re lucky I wasn’t some outlaw.” “Most outlaws wouldn’t have taken that good a care of their horse,” Ben theorized. “Besides, I figured the shotgun was intimidating enough that I’d be able to get your pistol away from you.” “Probably could have,” Cody conceded. “How’s she doing?” Ben asked after watching Cody for a bit. “She won’t take anymore,” Cody replied, concern creeping back into his voice. “Probably needs burping,” the other man suggested. Smiling at the rider’s confused look, Ben gently took the baby from him. Placing her against his shoulder he patted Honey’s back until he got the desired results. “She’s going to need more than water before long,” he said, handing the baby back to Cody. “She’s too young for solid food but I can see about some broth maybe. I know Edna would feed little Ben a clear broth now and again when he wouldn’t feed.” “You don’t have a cow?” Cody asked, remembering a third stall in the barn. “Did have,” Ben replied. “She got loose on me a few months back. Last time I saw her, she was over on the next hill. Durned if I can catch her though.” Cody settled Honey back on the cot. Watching her as she snuggled into the blankets, he decided she looked a lot better than she had. “Maybe I can catch her,” he suggested. A glance out the only window revealed that the rain had stopped but it was too late to be going out. “Wouldn’t do much good,” Ben argued. “She wouldn’t have any milk after this long.” “At least you’d have her back,” Cody argued. “We’ll see,” Ben said non-committally. “Right now I think we should try to get some sleep.” Cody slept fitfully that night, alert to any noise from Honey. The few times she fussed, he was on his feet immediately, checking her diapers or offering her some warm water. When the sun rose the next morning he felt as if he hadn’t slept at all. But, he noted, the baby was a bit more active. She even smiled at him when he picked her up. “Do you think she can travel?” he asked Ben. “I don’t see why not . . . “ the man’s voice trailed off as he paused, obviously in thought. “But?” Cody challenged. “I was thinking maybe it’d be smarter if you rode to town and got her some food,” Ben suggested. “You can probably get there and back faster than you’d get there with her.” Looking out the window, he indicated the storm clouds hovering on the horizon. “Last thing this little darling needs is to get caught in the rain again.” “How far to town?” Cody asked. “’bout eight miles as the crow flies,” Ben answered. Cody considered his options. Even with the makeshift sling, he had to ride slow-a lot slower than he would without her. He hated the idea of leaving her behind but he trusted Ben to take care of her. “All right,” he agreed finally. “You make up a list of things we need while I saddle my horse.” Trees, downed by the storm, slowed Cody’s progress as he rode towards town, but he still made good time, arriving just before midday. Ignoring the stares and whispered comments, he strode into the general store. “Can I help you, son?” the storekeeper asked as Cody dug into his grimy pants for the list Ben had written. Waiting as patiently as possible for the man to fill his order, Cody strolled around the store, adding items as he found them and decided they were needed. Stopping in front of a display of toys and baby clothes, one dress in particular caught his eye. The shade of green would definitely set off the golden brown of Honey’s eyes. “You have something to carry the milk in?” the shopkeeper asked, breaking into his thoughts. “No,” Cody replied, shaking his head. “Hold on. I think I’ve got a couple of buckets back here,” the man told him. “We can tie a piece of oilcloth over it. Long as you ride careful, you should be all right.” “I can do that,” Cody agreed. “You sure you got enough money for all this stuff, son?” Once again Cody thanked whatever had prompted him to draw his pay before leaving Sweetwater. The storekeeper nodded in satisfaction at the notes Cody pulled from his pocket. “I’ll get you that milk.” On impulse Cody added the green dress and a matching bonnet to his purchases-and after a few moments hesitation, had the storekeeper add two boxes of shotgun shells. The parcels safely stowed in a bag that was tied tightly to his saddle horn, Cody started to mount, then looked across at the sheriff’s office. He paused, a part of himself arguing against what he knew he had to do. Finally, sighing in resignation that it was the only thing to do, he asked the shopkeeper to hold onto the milk for a bit and stepped across the street. He hesitated again outside the door but the knowledge that he was doing the right thing for Honey pushed him onward. Straightening resolutely, he opened the door and stepped inside. “I figured, this being the nearest town and all, if the baby’s family are alive, they’ll check in here with you,” Cody finished. “Well, no one’s stopped by here yet to report a missing baby,” the sheriff replied. “The last wagon train went through a couple of weeks back but that would have been too long for them to be folk to the baby. I’ll be sure to keep my ears open though.” “That’s all I can ask, Sheriff,” Cody told him. “If someone does come looking for her, I just wanted to make sure they know she’s alive.” “You planning on taking her back to Sweetwater with you?” the other man asked. “We got us some folks here who’d be happy to take her in.” “Soon as she’s able to travel,” Cody replied. “There’s a woman at our station who’ll take good care of her-and I kinda want to keep an eye on her myself.” “Well, if anyone comes looking, I’ll send ‘em out Ben’s way,” the sheriff promised, walking out to the sidewalk with Cody. “And I’ll get a message to Sam Cain over in Sweetwater for you with the next rider that comes through.” “Appreciate that, Sheriff,” Cody said, offering his hand. “You want to stay for lunch?” the man asked. “Hotel’ll be sending something over before too long.” “Thanks, but I need to get back,” Cody declined. He crossed the street carefully avoiding the worst of the mud. Swinging easily into the saddle, he reached down to take the buckets offered him by the shopkeeper. “You brought a lot of stuff,” Ben told him as he helped Cody bring in the parcels. “Didn’t think I’d put that much on the list.” “I didn’t figure it would be a problem if I replaced some of what we’ve taken,” Cody told him. “Not as if either one of you has taken all that much,” Ben argued. “Well, it’s here now,” Cody replied simply. He couldn’t help but notice how Ben’s eyes lit up at the sight of the food and the cartridges. “What’s this?” Ben asked, unwrapping the green dress. “I just figured she needed something pretty,” Cody replied, blushing slightly. “She can’t keep wearing my spare shirt, now can she?” “No,” Ben replied with a smile. “She most certainly can’t.” “So no one’s even reported any kind of accident?” Ben asked later that evening. He had suggested that they feed Honey small amounts of milk over a few hours rather than risk making her sick by feeding her too much too soon. Cody had deferred to his knowledge and was in the process of watching the baby eagerly suck down her third feeding in as many hours. She had definitely improved since his return with the milk. Even now she’d pause occasionally to stare at him with those tawny eyes of hers. “Sheriff said no strangers had even been in town for a couple of weeks,” Cody replied. “Except for me.” “I guess a lot depends on if they spotted the basket,” Ben mused. You get much farther downstream from where you found her, there are other towns closer.” “So what’re you gonna do if no one comes for her?” he asked curiously. “Guess I haven’t thought much about that,” Cody answered. “I’ll think of something-or Emma will.” “Emma?” “She’s the lady who helps run the Express station,” Cody explained. “There’s no point in speculating yet,” Ben said firmly. “I’ll bet anything that someone comes looking for her real soon.” Reaching out, the man gently tickled the baby’s foot. She rewarded him with a throaty chuckle before settling back to snuggle against Cody. “I know if it was me, I’d move Heaven and Earth and throw the devil out of Hell itself to find this one,” Cody agreed. Two days of steady meals and more attention than she could possibly need had brought about an almost miraculous change in Honey. Her color had returned to normal and she spent more time awake and cooing at her doting bodyguards. The second morning, Cody decided to go hunting for Ben’s cow. With Honey sleeping peacefully in a makeshift cradle, the determined rider had set out early. He had returned several hours later looking as if he had gone one on one with a grizzly, but proudly leading the cow. “What in the world?” Ben exclaimed as he jumped from the porch to open the barn door. Cody opened his mouth, inhaling as if to launch into a story only to sigh instead. “You’d never believe me.” “Try me,” Ben prompted. “Got something I gotta do first,” Cody answered. He walked back the way he had come, calling, “Be right back,” over his shoulder. That evening Ben sat watching as Cody fed the baby. He had managed to contain his curiosity when the rider had returned from his second trip into the woods, even more bedraggled than before, but proudly leading a young calf. He had said nothing as the two men had spent the afternoon constructing temporary quarters for the newly weaned youngster. He had even managed to keep his questions to himself through dinner. Finally, he simply couldn’t stand it any longer. “Tell me!” he ordered. Cody looked puzzled for a moment, then grinned widely. “Well,” he began thoughtfully. “That old cow led me on a merry chase. I musta covered five miles before I finally caught up with her. She seemed tame enough-even let me walk right up to her. Course I know how to walk up to animals without spooking ‘em. It’s a gift. You just have to take it real slow and easy and you keep talking to ‘em while you’re doing it. Keeps ‘em distracted so’s they don’t know what you’re really doing.” He paused for a second to shift Honey to his shoulder, patting her gently until she burped. “Just as I was about to put the rope around her neck, I hear this bellow from behind me. Sounded just like an old steam engine,” he continued. “I turn around and what do I see?” He paused again, this time for the dramatic effect. Ben was just about to ask him exactly what he had seen when he continued. “I saw this monster of a bull, that’s what!” Cody exclaimed. “He musta stood at least sixteen hands tall and weighed two-thousand pounds if he weighed an ounce!” He looked at Ben to see if the homesteader properly grasped the magnitude of his dilemma. “What did you do?” the other man asked, right on cue. “Well, I just stared that old bull right in the eye!” Cody proclaimed. “He was astanding there, snorting and pawing at the ground, acting for all the world like he was getting ready to charge at me. He had horns out to here!” Cody spread his hands apart to arm’s length. “I knew I’d be a goner if he caught me with one of those.” He paused yet again as he placed the now sleeping baby in her nest of blankets on the cot. Ben waited a few minutes to see if Cody would continue on his own before prompting, “So?” he demanded. “What happened next?” “Well, I’ll tell you,” Cody replied dramatically. “I looked that old bull right in the eye-letting him know I wasn’t afraid of him-and I said, ‘Mr. Bull, you listen to me. I’m going to take this here cow back to her home, cuz we got us a baby back there that needs her milk!’” Cody glanced at Ben and noted the skeptical look on the other man’s face. “I swear to you, Ben,” he declared. “That old bull musta realized that he shouldn’t mess with William F. Cody, cuz he just stood there and let me put that rope on the cow and lead her away.” Ben was still skeptical. He was still pretty much a dude when it came to animals but even he didn’t quite believe that anyone could challenge a bull like that and get away with it. Then again, he decided, if anyone could get away with it, the brash young man in front of him would be at the top of his list of those who would succeed. “What about the calf?” he asked curiously. “You know, I didn’t even notice the calf until I started back with the cow,” Cody admitted. “Then I hear this sound in the bushes and look back to see her following us.” The rider looked thoughtfully into the fire for a few minutes. “She couldn’t keep up with her mama and me, so I promised her I’d come back after her.” “Well, I guess the important thing is that you got them both back safely,” Ben told him. “For that, I thank you.” “Nothing to it,” Cody answered. Ben woke the next morning to find both Cody and the baby gone. “He wouldn’t just up and leave without saying goodbye,” he muttered. Pulling on a pair of overalls, he stomped his feet into his boots and walked outside. The sun was just making its way over the horizon to the East while once again storm clouds threatened in the West. A brisk wind whipped around him as he stepped off the porch. The sound of cloth flapping in the wind caught his attention. Looking at the rope he and Cody had strung between two trees, he noted that the baby’s blanket and diapers were well on their way to drying. “Well, he wouldn’t leave without those,” Ben mused as he continued across the yard. The cacophonous rattle of a bucket colliding with a wall and an indignant shout from Cody greeted him as he entered the barn. The rider, unaware of Ben’s presence, was in the process of rising from the floor. Gingerly rubbing his arm, he picked up the three-legged stool and the bucket, then strode determinedly back into the stall where a rather distraught cow stood eyeing him wearily. “Dang it, cow!” Cody muttered. “All I want to do is milk you.” Carefully avoiding the hooves, he stalked around the stall and set the stool in position. “How hard can this be? My sisters did it all the time!” A throaty chuckle from a nearby haystack let Ben know where Honey lay. “You’re not helping anything, Missy!” Cody admonished. “Now, come on, Bossy. I’m just gonna sit down right here and I’ll even warm up my hands for you.” This time he was a bit more successful. A few minutes later, Ben quietly left the barn to the sound of erratic spurts hitting the bucket and Cody’s triumphant, “I knew I could do it!” Ben walked back towards the house, a bemused smile on his face. He stopped part way across the yard, shading his eyes with his hand as a man rode up. “Morning, Ben,” the newcomer called. “Morning to you, Will,” Ben answered. “What brings you out and about so early?” “Durned if that yearling bull of mine didn’t get hisself lost again,” Will said disgustedly. “Was wondering if maybe you’d seen him around?” “Fellow that’s staying with me mentioned having a run in with a bull up on Miner’s Ridge just yesterday,” Ben replied. “Must be mine,” Will mused. “Guess I’d better check up that way. Durned fool’s too stupid to be on his own. Shoot, he follows my youngest around like a puppy most the time. Storm musta scared him.” “Well, he’s probably not moved too far from the ridge then,” Ben suggested. “Sure hope not. I’ve wasted enough time looking for the fool critter!” Will looked about, noting the laundry flapping in the breeze. “Heard tell you got a fellow staying with you who found a baby.” “Yep,” Ben replied. “Showed up in that big storm we had a couple nights back.” “The missus told me to tell you, if you need anything, just let us know,” the other man offered. “Our youngest isn’t much out of diapers hisself, so we can help you out if need be.” “I’ll keep that in mind,” Ben said. “Thanks for offering.” “You know women folk,” Will said with a wry grin. “Can’t resist a baby-or telling a man what he’s done wrong.” With that the man rode off. Ben continued on to the house, shaking his head in wonder. “Horns out to here,” he muttered. “Do you think Honey’ll be ready to travel soon?” Cody asked over dinner that evening. “I really need to be getting back to Sweetwater.” “I don’t see why not,” Ben admitted reluctantly. “She’s doing a lot better.” “I’ll have to rig up a better way to carry her though,” Cody mused. “The sling worked when she wasn’t real active, but I don’t think she’s going to stay put any more.” Ben watched as the lady in question lay on the blanket near the fire. She was valiantly attempting to turn over and had almost succeeded when suddenly her left foot distracted her. Rolling back to her back she proceeded to explore the offending appendage. “You’re probably right,” he agreed. “I think I have a basket around her somewhere that might work-or better yet, we could make a papoose board for her. The Indians travel with their babies in one all the time.” “You know how to make one?” Cody asked. “Never tried,” Ben confessed. “But, between the two of us, I’ll bet we could figure it out.” He reached down to tickle Honey’s bare foot, receiving the hoped for giggle in return. “Have to admit, I’m going to miss you two though.” “You can always come to Sweetwater for a visit,” Cody suggested. “You planning on keeping her then?” Ben asked curiously. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s coming after her,” Cody replied. “She’ll be well taken care of.” “I’m sure she will be,” Ben agreed. “So, when you planning on leaving?” “Well, if we can be ready,” the rider told him, “I figure day after tomorrow, first thing.” The day dawned bright and, for the first time in a while, cloud free. The trio had a good breakfast and then prepared for Cody and Honey to leave. “You be careful riding!” Ben admonished. “I will, don’t worry,” Cody promised. “You start making plans to come for a visit.” “You bet!” Ben replied with forced cheerfulness. He wouldn’t admit aloud to the fact that the past few days had made a difference in his life. Helping Cody and the baby had shown him that he could still be useful-and, more importantly, still feel something for other human beings. “I’ve got a lot of work to do around here,” he added. “But soon as I can, I’ll be up to see the little lady!” The homesteader watched as Cody rode from the yard, Honey securely tied to his back. Ben almost swore the baby waved at him as the pair rode out of sight. Sighing softly, he turned and began to plan for his future. “Rider coming!” Lou called from the porch of the bunkhouse. “It’s Cody!” The rest of the riders swarmed out of the building to greet Cody as he rode into the station yard. “About time you got back!” Jimmy Hickok scolded. “I was getting mighty tired of doing your job for you while you were out gallivanting around. Really hope she was worth it.” “Didn’t the sheriff over in Coffeyville get word to you?” Cody asked as he carefully dismounted. “The message was that you were ‘delayed’,” Teaspoon told him. “Nothing in there ‘bout why?” “Well, I had a good reason,” Cody vowed. “And yeah, Jimmy, she was definitely worth it.” Ike had walked around Cody to take care of his horse. His eyes grew wide at the sight of the baby strapped to the other man’s back. He clapped his hands to get the others’ attention, startling Honey in the process. She immediately began to wail. “You didn’t have to scare her!” Cody exclaimed angrily as he slipped the cradle off his back and proceeded to comfort the baby. “He didn’t mean to!” Buck countered sharply. To everyone’s amazement, the baby’s cries subsided almost instantly as Cody held and rocked her gently. Everyone, that is, except for Cody, who stood smiling broadly. “I know,” he conceded, nodding an apology to Ike. There was a momentary silence, broken only by an occasional hiccup from the now satisfied Honey. “Son,” Teaspoon said quietly. “I think you have some serious explaining to do.” “And as soon as she was up to traveling, we started back,” Cody finished. “Poor little thing,” Emma murmured. The woman had taken possession of Honey almost immediately, checking her over to make sure she was well and happy. “She’s lucky you found her.” “She’s so tiny,” Lou agreed. “She probably wouldn’t have lasted very long once that basket started leaking.” ”I know,” Cody said. “Somebody up there was looking out for her, that’s for sure.” Ike waved his arms to get their attention, mindful of scaring the baby again. “I don’t know what we’re going to do with her, Ike,” Cody responded to his friend’s signs. “I guess I’m still kind of hoping her folks’ll show up sooner or later.” “You don’t think they’d’ve showed up by now?” Buck asked. “Depends,” Teaspoon answered thoughtfully. “Depends on what happened to ‘em in the first place-and where.” “No way they wouldn’t be looking for her if they could,” Hickok voiced what they were all thinking. “Unless they’ve decided she’s dead.” “Did the sheriff over in Coffeyville send anyone out to look?” Teaspoon asked. “I don’t really know,” Cody admitted. “Only went into town that one time.” “I’m off for the next few days,” Buck volunteered. “You want me to go see what I can find?” “Let’s talk to Sam first,” Teaspoon suggested. “See how he wants to handle it.” “But right now,” Emma stated firmly. “This little one needs to be put to bed.” “I’ll help you, Emma,” Lou said before any of the others had the chance. Cody watched as the two women carried his baby to the house. He knew it was only right that she sleep in a real bed instead of the bunkhouse, but he couldn’t help but fell like a piece of himself was missing without her nearby. “Didn’t realize they could grow on a fella like that,” he murmured. A hand touched his shoulder and he looked up to see a smiling Ike. Realizing the mute rider had heard his words, he grinned with embarrassment. “Well, she has!” he confessed. “There was nothing in the basket to give you any clue as to who she is?” Marshall Sam Cain asked the next day. Cody had ridden into town with Teaspoon and Buck and had just finished telling his story for the second time. “Not a thing,” he affirmed. “Well, there’s not a lot we can do then, I guess,” Sam mused. “Teaspoon, can you send messages up the line with any of the riders going through? Tell them to let any law they can know to contact me if they hear anything?” At Teaspoon’s nod, the lawman turned to Buck. “I doubt you’ll be able to find much, what with all the rain we’ve had, but if you want to try, go ahead.” The Kiowa nodded and left the office. “So now what?” Cody asked. “Emma says she’ll take care of Honey for awhile,” Teaspoon replied. “So, for now, we wait and see what, if anything, Buck finds or what Sam hears from up the line.” “And then what?” “We take what comes, when it comes,” the older man said firmly. Life at the Sweetwater Express Station changed only a little over the next months. Buck had returned from his scouting expedition having found nothing. The basket still hung in the tree where Cody had tied it, the note still securely in place, but the Kiowa had found no sign of her family-or that anyone else had found the basket. He had ridden several miles upstream, passing several points where a wagon or a person on horseback could have easily forded the stream, but no remains. He’d finally returned to Sweetwater empty handed. True to his word, Teaspoon had sent messages with every rider coming through the station. There wasn’t a lawman within miles of the river who wasn’t aware of the fact that there was an apparently orphaned baby waiting for her family to find her at the Sweetwater station. Sam had heard nothing. The marshal had spoken to Cody and the others about the possibility of taking the baby to the orphanage in St. Joe, but had been firmly told that would not happen. Lou, Ike and even Buck had been adamant that the baby was better off with her Express “family” than she would be anywhere else. “Besides,” Cody told him. “We don’t know that she’s an orphan yet. I’m not giving her up until we are absolutely sure!” The riders, Teaspoon and Emma spent most of their spare time either watching or playing with the baby and Honey was thriving under their attention. If anything, she was becoming quite spoiled. “Babies need to know they are not the center of everyone’s world,” Emma scolded after hearing Honey begin to cry and just as immediately stop. She had known one of the boys had jumped at that first whimper and was now comforting the baby. It hadn’t really come as a surprise that this time Cody had been the one to jump although she probably wouldn’t have been surprised at whichever of them she had found. Even the outwardly tough Jimmy Hickok turned to mush when Miss Honey “spoke.” “So what are we supposed to do?” the rider asked. “Let her cry!” Emma replied firmly. “If you don’t, you’re going to end up with a spoilt brat on your hands,” Teaspoon agreed. Emma bit her tongue to keep from reminding the older man of the trips he had made to the little girl’s room the night before. Cody considered what the other two were telling him. He knew they had more experience with babies than he did but he just couldn’t see how giving the baby a little extra attention right now would be that bad for her. Besides, he didn’t think he’d be able to just stand there and let her cry. “But what if she was really needing something?” he argued. “I’ll bet you’ll see that, most of the time, she’ll just go back to sleep,” Emma told him. “If she doesn’t-well, then we can go get her.” “Okay,” Cody agreed reluctantly. “I’ll try-but I’m not making any promises.” Grinning, he continued, “And I’ll bet you’ll have trouble getting any of the others to wait, too!” Cody had been right, every one of the other riders had questioned and argued the merits of allowing Honey to cry. No matter how hard they had tried, the baby’s cries had ended in one or another of the boys or Lou rushing to her side. Ike was the most recent “hero” to come to her aid, when the shout “Rider coming!” was heard. Stepping to the window, he saw a wagon approaching from the direction of Sweetwater. A rider on horseback accompanied them. Ike recognized Sam Cain’s horse even before he recognized the marshal himself. Having just returned from a ride, Cody was in the bunkhouse cleaning up. He stepped out onto the porch as the wagon pulled into the yard. “Ben!” he called out excitedly. “I was wondering if you’d-“ he stopped abruptly as he noted a woman riding next to his friend. “Morning, Cody,” the other man called, climbing down from the wagon. “I’ve got somebody here you need to meet.” Reaching up, he helped the woman to the ground. Cody took one look at the woman and felt his heart drop through his boots. There was no doubt that she was Honey’s family. The eyes that stared at him curiously were mirror images of those he had looked into almost daily for the past three months. “William F. Cody, this is Marjorie Carey,” Ben introduced. “Marjorie is Honey’s mother.” “My brother tried to keep the wagon on the shale as we forded the river,” Marjorie related. “But a big branch floated by and caught our rear wheel, breaking the axel, and we tipped over.” She shivered at the memory of the accident, clutching Honey even more tightly than she had while telling her story. “I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but when I came around, I was at a farmstead several miles west of the river,” the woman continued. “The wagon master had sent men to look for Grace but her basket was moving downstream too fast. They weren’t able to catch up with her. With my brother and his wagon gone, they didn’t know what to do with me. I couldn’t go on with them as I was and they couldn’t afford to wait for me what with winter coming on. So they left me behind at the farmstead, thank the good Lord.” “Marjorie was hurt pretty bad,” Ben added. “She wasn’t able to get up and around until just a couple of weeks ago.” “As soon as I was able, I started looking for my baby,” Marjorie said. “They kept telling me I was on a fool’s errand, but I knew, as only a mother can, that my baby was still alive.” “The nearest town was almost two day’s ride from the farmstead,” Sam answered their unasked question. “It never even occurred to me to go into town,” Marjorie explained further. “I knew Grace was lost in the river, so I began searching the riverbank until I found the basket-and your note Mr. Cody.” “Just Cody,” the rider answered absently. “I’m glad you found it.” “From there, I found Ben and he brought me here,” she finished. “By the time she found my place,” Ben interjected, “she was barely able to move. She was and is still very sick. But she insisted on coming here no matter what the cost.” “I can’t begin to thank you-all of you-for everything you’ve done for my baby,” Marjorie said, barely maintaining her composure. “Her father died before we left Illinois-she’s all I have left of him.” “We just did what had to be done,” Teaspoon said. “And we’re all glad to see that she’s back with her Mama where she belongs,” Emma agreed. “Yeah,” Cody agreed, although it was obvious that his heart wasn’t really behind the words. “Gra-Honey means a lot to you doesn’t she?” Cody started. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t heard the woman come into the room behind him. Emma had insisted that Ben and Marjorie stay on. What little argument the baby’s mother had thought to provide, quickly ended when she stood and promptly fainted. Only Buck’s quick reaction had saved both the woman and the baby a fall to the floor. “You shouldn’t be up,” the rider answered, recovering quickly. “I woke up and had to make sure I wasn’t dreaming all of this,” the woman replied. She stepped carefully across the room to stand at the side of Honey’s makeshift crib. Looking down at the sleeping baby she continued. “I don’t know how to thank you. She would have-would have died, if you hadn’t found her when you did.” “Like Teaspoon said, I did what had to be done,” Cody replied. “You did more than ‘what had to be done’, Cody,” the woman protested. “Most people might have rescued my baby, but then most people would have turned her over to the law in Coffeyville and just gone on about their lives. You took care of her, probably better than I have-“ “That’s not true!” Cody interrupted. “It wasn’t your fault that she got lost like that. In fact, if you hadn’t put her in that basket, she probably wouldn’t have been alive for me to find!” “You’re very kind,” Marjorie said shyly. “What are you going to do now?” Cody asked impulsively. “I don’t really know,” the woman replied. “Emma is insisting that I stay here until I am fully recovered, but I’m not sure I should impose like that.” “I’ll bet Emma doesn’t consider it imposing,” Cody said with a grin. “Besides, it means we’ll have the baby with us longer.” “You all seem to love her very much.” “She kinda grows on you.” Marjorie and Grace did stay on, as did Ben. Emma found Cody watching the adults one afternoon a sly smile on his face. “What are you grinning at?” she asked. “Them,” Cody replied with a nod. “Ben is always there when she needs him isn’t he?” “He is definitely attracted to her,” Emma agreed. “But that’s not such a bad thing, is it?” “Nope,” the rider answered. “Not a bad thing at all.” Nobody was all that surprised when, just two weeks later, Ben announced that he had asked Marjorie to marry him-and she had said yes. “At least this way I can see Honey whenever I want!” Cody said happily. “Well, maybe not right away,” he amended. “Gotta give you two some time for a honeymoon.” “Actually, Cody,” Ben said with a grin. “I was hoping you’d be willing to baby-sit for us for a few days.” “Ben!” Marjorie exclaimed, blushing furiously. The wedding took place the following Saturday with Emma standing up for Marjorie and Cody as best man. Teaspoon was at his best as he performed the ceremony joining Ben and Marjorie in holy wedlock. The group in attendance laughed out loud as baby Grace squealed with delight when Teaspoon announced that the pair were now man and wife. The next morning, as the family prepared to return to Ben’s farm, Cody stood once again in the baby’s room watching her sleep. “I never would have dreamed this is the way that trip would have turned out,” he whispered. “But I sure wouldn’t trade even one day for it to turn out any other way.” The baby chose that moment to wake, regarding him with her seemingly all-knowing eyes. She cooed softly almost as if she knew things were changing. Smiling, he lifted her from the bed, expertly checking to see if she needed to be changed, then dressing her in the green dress that set off her beautiful eyes. All the while, he was talking to her, telling her how he would be coming to visit her as often as he could and how he would make sure her mama and daddy brought her to visit the station too. “You’re Uncle Cody is going to spoil you rotten,” he vowed. He didn’t notice that Marjorie and Ben were standing at the door watching him. The newlyweds looked at each other and quietly made their way down to the kitchen. Finally the time came when he had no choice but to take her downstairs. He sighed as he picked up her small case and left the bedroom for the last time. Turning her over to her new daddy, the rider said, “You take good care of her, you hear?” “Don’t worry, we will,” Ben replied. Cody watched as the wagon pulled away, then turned at the sound of Buck’s voice. “Rider coming,” the Kiowa called. With a sigh, Cody mounted his horse and prepared to make another ride. The End Email Cathy HOME