Buck and Jimmy raced back to the ranch with Teaspoon in the back of the wagon complaining of an intense headache. His face was cut and bruised and both Buck and Jimmy easily guessed what had happened to Teaspoon by the flat on his face lay down position that he was in when they came across him after being late arriving back to the Pony Express Station.

As they approach the ranch Rachel comes out of the house upset to see the boys struggling to get Teaspoon to his feet. "What happened? Where did you find him?" Rachel asked as she opens the gate to the white picket fence to allow Buck and Jimmy to get Teaspoon into the house and situated comfortably onto the couch.

Jimmy straightens his stance as he looks down at Teaspoon holding his head in his hand. "We're thinking that Teaspoon's horse lead him straight into a very large tree branch. It must have caught Teaspoon by surprise and threw him off his horse," Jimmy stated softly so as not to alarm the pounding going on in Teaspoon's head.

"Buck is on one knee wiping the blood from Teaspoon's wounds with a wet cloth that Rachel had handed to him. "Teaspoon, can you hear me?" Buck asked pleading with Teaspoon to answer him.

Teaspoon is dazed, but he is alert enough to look at Buck, Jimmy and Rachel with a confused expression. "Who are you calling Teaspoon? Isn't that like a utensil that you eat with?" Teaspoon asked grabbing the wet cloth from Buck and placing it on his forehead for his throbbing headache.

Buck stands up and shares a confused look with Rachel and Jimmy. Jimmy looks down at Teaspoon who is making himself even more comfortable on the couch by lying down and throwing one of Rachel's quilted throws over his chilled body.

"We are calling you Teaspoon. That is your name," Jimmy replied wondering what is wrong with Teaspoon's memories.

"Could I get a cup of hot coffee? I feel a chill coming on," Teaspoon spoke as he closes his eyes. "And could one of you dampen this here cloth with warm water?" Teaspoon asked as he hands the cloth to Rachel.

"Of course," Rachel replied as she looks at Teaspoon oddly while backing up into the kitchen to dampen the cloth for his throbbing headache.

Jimmy pulls Buck off to the side while Teaspoon appears to be settling in for an overnight nap on Rachel's couch. "What do you think is going on with Teaspoon? I think he really doesn't remember his name," Jimmy asked really confused as to why Teaspoon can't seem to remember his name.

"Teaspoon took a bad fall…" Buck started to explain to Jimmy.

"Well no kidding. I figured out that much. He was out cold on the ground when we found him," Jimmy interrupted a little annoyed that Buck thinks he can't comprehend that Teaspoon fell from his horse.

"What I meant was that during the fall Teaspoon obviously hit his head hard enough that it has caused him to not be capable of remembering who he is," Buck stated.

"What do they call that…like when someone can't remember who they are?" Jimmy asked unsure of the correct diagnosis of Teaspoon's condition.

"It's called amnesia," Buck stated wondering if Jimmy might have amnesia.

"Amnesia that's right. I knew that," Jimmy replied with a knowing grin.

Teaspoon tries to sit up when he smells the strong aroma of coffee coming from the kitchen. "Could you two kindly help an old man that has been injured to sit up? I do believe that nice woman is making me coffee," Teaspoon requested as Buck and Jimmy both try to assist Teaspoon into a sitting up position on the couch.

"Are you comfortable?" Jimmy asked wanting to make sure that Teaspoon isn't in any pain.

"Could one of you fluff up my pillow and tuck it in behind my back?" Teaspoon asked looking directly at Buck.

Buck gives in and fluffs Teaspoon's pillow and cautiously places it behind Teaspoon's back. "Is that ok?" Buck asked as he looks away from Teaspoon to Rachel when she enters the room with Teaspoon's dampen cloth and a steaming cup of coffee.

Rachel hands the cup of hot coffee to Teaspoon. He looks up at Rachel after looking into the cup. "Do I drink my coffee black?" Teaspoon asked wondering about his likes and dislikes.

"You won't drink coffee any other way," Rachel replied with a smile. After Teaspoon takes a slight sip of his very strong black coffee and gives her a nod of approval Rachel turns than to Buck to follow her into the kitchen.

"He doesn't remember a thing. How are we going to fix this?" Rachel asked quietly so that Teaspoon can not hear the anxiety in her voice.

"Teaspoon seems to like your coffee," Buck stated thinking more out loud than really talking to Rachel.

"What does liking my coffee have to do with Teaspoon getting his memory back? Everyone likes a strong black cup of coffee," Rachel stated wondering what Buck is thinking.

"What if your cooking could get Teaspoon to remember," Buck said with a smile believing that the way to Teaspoon's memories is through his strong appetite for Rachel's cooking.

"Buck, just because Teaspoon loves to eat doesn't mean that my cooking will prompt him to remember us. The only thing my cooking might do is to get Teaspoon to remember that he loves to eat," Rachel stated disappointed with Buck's idea.

"I think we should give it a try. Think about something that you have made for Teaspoon that he really enjoyed," Buck suggested as Rachel leans in to tell him one of Teaspoon's favorite dishes that she has made for the marshal.

"Buck, could you and Rachel get out here," Jimmy hollered as Buck and Rachel rush out of the kitchen to see Jimmy trying to get Teaspoon's boots off and when he pulled his boots off he landed three feet from the couch onto his backside.

"What are you doing now?" Buck questioned looking at Jimmy holding onto Teaspoon's boots. "Why didn't you try pulling one boot off at a time instead of both boots at the same time?" Buck questioned as he helps Jimmy to stand on his feet.

"I figured it would take less time if I pulled both boots off at the same time," Jimmy exclaimed as he paces Teaspoon's boots by the side of the couch on the floor. "Look I can barely dress and undress myself. I am not that good at undressing others," Jimmy stated with a grim look on his face.

"Buck, could you cover up my feet with my blanket," Teaspoon asked ignoring that Jimmy and Buck are talking about him.

Buck covers up Teaspoon's feet with an impatient look. "Let's get something straight here Teaspoon. You are not sick. You've only just lost your…"

"Mind," Jimmy spoke as he interrupts Buck.

"Jimmy," Rachel scolded the rider.

Buck turns back to look at Teaspoon. "As I was saying, you're not sick. You've just lost your memories. You are capable of taking off your own boots and covering up your own feet. You are capable of getting off this couch and getting your own cup of coffee. Now Rachel wants to know if there is anything you would like for her to make you for supper tomorrow night," Buck stated hoping that Rachel's delicious cooking will help with Teaspoon's memory.

"How about apple pie? I love apple pie," Teaspoon spoke thinking about Rachel's homemade apple pie.

Jimmy and Rachel are both happy that Teaspoon has chosen something that they both know that Teaspoon ate more than his fair share of it when Rachel baked an apple pie. Buck on the other hand is wondering why Teaspoon picked apple pie.

"How do you know that you like Rachel's apple pie?" Buck questioned thinking that they have all been had by Teaspoon.

"Doesn't everyone like apple pie," Teaspoon replied with a slight stutter of his words.

Buck studies Teaspoon for a brief moment, but he concludes that Teaspoon isn't faking his memory loss. "Rachel, can you bake one of your famous apple pies for supper tomorrow night?"

"I sure can," Rachel exclaimed as they all say goodnight.

Buck and Jimmy are on their way over to the bunkhouse after saying goodnight to Rachel and Teaspoon.

"What was that all about Buck?" Jimmy questioned wondering what Buck is up to.

"I just thought for a second that our Teaspoon was back," Buck stated still thinking that perhaps Teaspoon is faking his lost memories.

"What… like you think Teaspoon is faking his memory loss?" Jimmy asked shocked that Buck would think that Teaspoon would do something like that.

"You don't think Teaspoon is capable of making fools out of all of us? Jimmy, think about it for a minute. This is just the situation that Teaspoon enjoys being in. He's totally in control of this situation. He gets all of us riders to do all the chores around the station while he gets to enjoy loafing and feasting on Rachel's cooking all day long," Buck spoke more sure than ever that Teaspoon's memory loss is more selective than actual memory loss.

"So how do we prove that Teaspoon's memory loss is real or not real?" Jimmy asked disappointed that Teaspoon would try and make a fool out of him.

"I've got a plan. It all has to do with Rachel's cooking," Buck spoke quietly as the two young riders continue their path over to the bunkhouse.

The next evening as the entire family, except for Cody and Lou who are on mail runs, gather at Rachel's table for dinner Buck, Rachel and Jimmy put their plan into action. Buck and Jimmy had agreed to let Kid out of their plan to make the plan more believable.

Rachel proceeds to bring out the dinner that she had prepared. A supper menu that includes of all Teaspoon Hunter's favorite dishes. As she places the dishes one by one on the table Buck and Jimmy can hardly contain smiles from creeping onto their faces.

"Rachel, the pot roast looks a little dark," Teaspoon spoke sadden that Rachel has burnt his favorite meal.

As Jimmy slices the pot roast Buck tries to register the disturbing expression on Teaspoon's face. It is the same look that Buck sees on Kid's face. The knowing that Rachel is a much better cook and that she has never burnt a meal before.

"That's the way you like it Teaspoon," Rachel spoke as she places two slices of the very burnt pot roast on Teaspoon's plate.

"I do," Teaspoon spoke bewildered as he glances down at the pot roast his stomach starting to turn with disagreement.

"He does?" Kid questioned confused by the entire situation.

Rachel places a slice of pot roast on Kid's plate. "He does. Buck could you pass the mashed potatoes to Teaspoon," Rachel spoke holding back her laughter at the expressions on both Teaspoon and Kid's faces.

Teaspoon takes a heaping spoonful of Rachel's delicious smooth mashed potatoes, but when he puts a spoonful in his mouth he begins to chew while everyone at the table watches in amazement. He soon forces the mash potatoes down with a large glass full of water! "Those potatoes were a bit lumpy and sticky. I could hardly swallow them," Teaspoon spoke looking confused at Rachel. "I suppose that's just the way I like them."

"Yes, it is just the way you like them," Rachel spoke as she takes a sip of water.

Buck passes the sweet peas to Teaspoon next, but when Teaspoon tries to pick up the peas with his fork the peas shoot all over the room. The entire family watches the peas shoot around the room with laughter hardly being contained from Rachel, Jimmy and Buck while Teaspoon and Kid watch on in horror!

Rachel, Jimmy and Buck clear their throats from their laughter. Teaspoon places his fork down on the table. "The peas are a bit hard," Teaspoon muttered in disgust.

"Just the way you like them," Rachel commented as she takes another sip of her water.

"I've suddenly lost my appetite for dinner, could we just move on with dessert," Teaspoon stated with a slight demand in his tone of voice.

As Rachel disappears into the kitchen to retrieve the apple pie Teaspoon takes notice that the others are also picking at their dinner. "I see that the rest of you can't eat Rachel's cooking either," Teaspoon remarked looking directly at Buck wondering if he suspects his memory is perfectly intact.

"We don't like burnt pot roast," Jimmy remarked sulkily.

"Or mashed potatoes that have more lumps than my mattress," Kid remarked his stomach grumbling about their awful dinner.

"Or peas that fly around the room!" Buck exclaimed with a smile.

"Well who would be able to devour such an awful dinner?" Teaspoon asked angrily.

"You," Jimmy, and Buck replied in unison.

Rachel returns to the dining table with the apple pie and places it on the table. She serves up pie to Teaspoon first and then to the boys. Before the boys get their slice of pie from Rachel Teaspoon tastes the delicious dessert!

The entire table halts the progression of a fork full of pie to their mouths when they hear this obnoxious crunching as Teaspoon chews on his piece of apple pie!

Teaspoon has a difficult time swallowing the piece of pie in his mouth, but he finally gets it down with help from another large gulp of water. "Rachel did you even bake that pie?" Teaspoon hollered as he gets up from the table.

Buck, Jimmy and Rachel are barely able to stop from giggling. "Rachel that has got to be the worst supper you have ever prepared!" Teaspoon shouted above the giggling at the supper table.

Buck stops laughing first. "What do you mean by the worst supper Rachel has ever cooked?" Buck questioned as Teaspoon looks dumbfounded from his mistake.

"Yeah, how can you claim this is the worst supper Rachel has ever cooked when you don't have any memories from past meals that Rachel has cooked?" Jimmy questioned with a slight snicker in his voice.

"Well…I…well…I…" Teaspoon stumbled all over his words while an impatient Rachel looked at him for an explanation. "I just thought that I deserved a much needed rest from chores and being the marshal. Just for a few days," Teaspoon spoke pleading for Rachel to understand.

"Teaspoon Hunter tomorrow morning I will have a long list of chores for you to do before you ride into Rock Creek to your marshal's office," Rachel stated trying to hide her knowing smile.

Buck pats Teaspoon on the back as a friendly gesture. "I guess you'll need to be getting out of bed at about two in the morning to get all your chores done," Buck stated with a grin.

"I can not believe that you tried to get out of chores and your marshaling duties Teaspoon Hunter. That is not a good lesson for these boys," Rachel spoke as she storms out of her home.

"Looks like someone's in the dog house," Jimmy stated with a wide grin.

"This is you two's fault," Teaspoon spoke looking directly at Buck and Jimmy who are grinning from ear to ear. "I'm sure I'll find extra chores for the two of you to do," Teaspoon smiled as he walks out of the house after Rachel. "Rachel, let me try and explain."

Kid stands up from the table. "You two knew all along that Teaspoon was having selective memory loss?" Kid questioned with a smile.

It is now Jimmy's turn to look confused. "What's selective memory loss?" Jimmy asked as Kid and Buck look at each other wondering if Jimmy's memory is completely gone.

"Never mind Jimmy," Kid stated as Buck and Kid leave Rachel's home and Jimmy alone to clean up the supper mess.

Lou laid back down on the bed that she had shared for the past six years with her now deceased husband collapsing into the shape of an angel she gave thought to how she felt about Patrick's sudden death and what she planned on doing next with her life. She and Patrick had tried through the years to have a family, but they were never blessed with one. Her only family now was her Pony Express family and how she truly longed to see them again! Her only doubt as she succumbed to more painful tears was if her Pony Express family would want to see her again.

As she crumbled to the bed and smelled the scent of his body still lingering from a few days before when Patrick was still alive she can't help but to pray that the ceiling above her would collapse unto her and take away all the grief that she is now feeling as soft tears cascade down her cheeks. The loss of Patrick has been so tremendous for her to endure alone. Yet she is alone. She begins to feel as if she is choking to death from grief. She had expected the two of them to grow very old together, but at the young age of twenty-seven she finds herself alone for the first time in six years.

Years ago she had left Rock Creek when with one last try to save their relationship she and Kid had decided to separate for awhile to figure out if their love was really the intense love of adults that would eventually marry and raise a family together, or if that love had been merely a young crush of coming together as Pony Express Riders and being forced to be with each other as they battled the harsh elements of a vast wilderness that was yet tamed.

Lou sits up in her and Patrick's bed tears streaming down her face. She wipes the tears away begging her inner strength to overcome her and take away her astounding grief. "Why am I thinking about Kid when my husband has just died?" Lou asked softly to only her since she was all alone in her and Patrick's bedroom. She swipes the tears from her face and firmly decides that it is time she pulled herself together to get ready for Patrick's funeral. This afternoon was going to be difficult enough to get through without the added burden of reopening old wounds concerning unfinished business with Kid. After the funeral perhaps she would travel to Rock Creek and spend time with Teaspoon and Rachel. Through the years she had kept in touch with Rachel through the telegram and the written letter. Rachel had often remarked how she felt that Kid had regretted not working things out with her. Lou shakes her head firmly trying desperately to think about her dead husband and not about the one man that she truly gave her heart to all those years ago.

After the funeral Lou felt that she had desperately needed to get away from her home and the life that she shared with Patrick. She had packed up a few cherished possessions and articles of clothing and with a little optimism traveled to Rock Creek by wagon. She didn't want to travel by stage coach; she wanted the time alone to think about what she truly wanted having made the firm decision to see Kid after all these years.

As she approached the old Rock Creek Pony Express Station where Rachel and Teaspoon still live she starts to feel an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach. What if Kid wants nothing at all to do with her? Lou shakes her head. It doesn't matter. It is way too soon after Patrick's death for her to be thinking about what if's with Kid.

She brings the wagon close to the still standing white picket fence that goes all the way around the beautiful house that she once remembers as the home where she and Rachel would talk about the men in their lives until almost dawn. This happened only on those occasions when Kid had upset her and Rachel was more than willing to listen for hours if she needed her to.

The moment Lou gets down from the wagon she turns suddenly to hear the front door of Rachel's home shut and for Rachel to hurriedly rush toward her with open arms.

"Lou! Is it really you?" Rachel exclaimed she and Lou gather in a warm embrace. Rachel breaks the embrace and holds Lou out to her at arms length. "Let me take a good look at you. I can't believe you're here!"

Lou is just as excited to see Rachel. She brings Rachel in close for another hug. "I've missed you Rachel," Lou said softly as the women continue to hug.

Finally Lou pulls away from Rachel with tears streaming down her face.

"Lou honey, what is wrong? Rachel asked referencing the quiet tears.

"It's Patrick," Lou stated overcome with emotional grief for her dead husband. "He was killed."

Rachel stands still in shock for a brief moment before bringing Lou in close to her for a comforting hug. As she tries to console a grief stricken Lou she watches as Teaspoon rides onto their homestead. From a distance Rachel can see the excited expression on Teaspoon's face. He knows that his daughter has come home.

Teaspoon gets off his horse moments before he is upon Rachel and Lou. Lou welcomes a warm fatherly embrace from her old stationmaster. When Lou has finished shedding enough tears for the three of them Teaspoon looks the young woman over to make sure all is well with her health.

"You look a little skinny Lou," Teaspoon stated with a warm smile.

"Patrick has died," Rachel spoke wanting for Teaspoon to know that Lou has had an emotional past week.

"Lou honey, I'm so sorry," Teaspoon replied as he pulls Lou in for another hug. "How did that happen?"

Lou is the first to pull away from her hug with Teaspoon. "Perhaps we could go into the house and then I will tell both of you all about it," Lou spoke her voice settling from all the emotion from being with the two people that she loves most dearly.

As the three make their way to the house Teaspoon and Rachel continue to comfort Lou. Teaspoon opens the front door for Rachel and Lou and shuts it when they are inside.

"I will make a fresh pot of coffee," Rachel stated with a concerned expression for Lou's well being as the three sit at the kitchen table.

"There had been some trouble at other farms with cattle and horse thieves, but none of the farmers could catch the bandits that were doing the stealing. The marshal had asked Patrick to set a trap at our farm to catch the bandits. Most nights Patrick would put our herd of cattle in the large barn and the horses into the small barn. We had hired a farm hand to watch guard at night. Patrick agreed to help the marshal out. Patrick he hated seeing the other farmers suffering because of their losses. For four nights in a row we left the herd in the corrals and the farm hand who watched guard slept on our couch. On the fourth night the bandits came and there was a gun fight between the bandits and the marshal with his men. Patrick tried to help the marshal and his men because there were over twenty bandits. Patrick and most of the marshals men were shot and killed," Lou spoke quietly as Rachel serves coffee to Teaspoon and Lou.

"Did these bandits get away?" Teaspoon asked angry that Lou has lost her husband over a gang of horse and cattle thieves.

"Yes, the bandits left that night with at least half of our herd of cattle and horses," Lou stated with a sniffle.

"I'll get Buck to help me track them down, but it will have to wait until Kid and I are through with this saloon girl murder that is going on here in Rock Creek," Teaspoon stated firmly.

"Teaspoon I didn't come back home to get you to help me find my stolen cattle and horses. I came back home to just get away from my life with Patrick and the memories and to be with my family. The horses and cattle at this point mean nothing to me," Lou stated with a warm smile for the man that would do anything for his children. "What is going on with the saloon girls?"

"There have been two saloon girls murdered right here in town," Rachel spoke knowing that the deaths of both these young women are weighing heavily on Teaspoon's mind and the fact that he, Kid and Buck have not been able to figure out who it is that's doing the killing.

"What exactly are you doing to find the killer?" Lou asked very interested in what is going on with the murdered saloon girls.

"After the first girl was murdered Kid convinced the second girl to pretend to get friendly with one particular stranger that came through town around the same time the first girl was murdered, but that turned out to be a dead end real quick," Teaspoon spoke quietly hoping that their killer had been found.

"Why is that," Lou asked intrigued with Teaspoon's storytelling.

"The second girl and the stranger were both found dead in a room above the saloon," Teaspoon spoke clearly with shame that he was unable to protect the second girl from meeting the same fate as the first saloon girl.

Suddenly Lou gets a brilliant idea or so at least she believes it to be a brilliant idea worth sharing with Teaspoon. "I guess it's a good thing that I came home when I did," Lou spoke with a smile.

Rachel senses that Lou has come up with a brilliant plan that will put her life in danger. "Why is that young lady?" Rachel asked adamantly and firmly that she will not allow Lou to do anything foolish.

"I can help. If you both remember correctly, I can fill out a saloon dress rather nicely," Lou spoke sure that Teaspoon will enlist her help.

"I know exactly what you are thinking Lou and the answer is no. I will not allow you to put your life in danger," Teaspoon spoke just as adamantly as Rachel.

"I've made my decision Teaspoon. I am going to pose as the newest saloon girl in town and help you, Buck and Kid to find your killer," Lou spoke the tears of Patrick's death now nothing but a memory.

Later that evening Teaspoon walks out onto the porch where Lou is looking up at the stars. "Kid is not going to allow you to put your life in danger," Teaspoon spoke softly as to not wake up the animals sleeping peacefully on the ranch.

"Kid doesn't have the same feelings of protectiveness over me that he once had. I'm sure that he will welcome the help to be able to catch the killer," Lou stated boldly.

"You make it sound as if it was Kid's decision to end your relationship all those years ago," Teaspoon spoke trying to make Lou see that Kid will not be happy about her plan to help them catch the killer.

"I know that Kid thought or believed that I stopped loving him when I chose to be with Patrick over him, but Kid forced me to make that decision," Lou stated trying to state the facts to Teaspoon. Lou is sure that over the years of missing her that perhaps Kid has told the story of his and Lou's break-up differently than the way it had actually happened. Lou wants and needs to set the story straight with Teaspoon.

"So what are you trying to tell me? That you wanted to really be with Kid, but he pushed you into Patrick's arms?" Teaspoon questioned knowing that over the years he has only heard and listened to Kid's side of the story.

"I won't deny that I had strong feelings for Patrick. I love Patrick, but I was in love with Kid. It was Kid that couldn't commit to us," Lou replied remembering the pain of losing her one true love.

Teaspoon remembers the past when Kid and Lou were riding for him as Pony Express Riders. "Kid has always had commitment issues," Teaspoon spoke believing that Kid may have been the sole cause of his losing Lou to another man. Patrick wasn't just any other man either. Teaspoon remembered how Patrick had talked to him about how much he loved Lou and would take care of her forever. In the end Teaspoon gave his blessing and the two were married before moving away from Rock Creek.

"I knew that Patrick loved me and that we would have a good life together, but now Patrick is gone and I really need to do something to keep my mind off of his death," Lou stated hoping that Teaspoon will consent to her assistance with catching the killer of two saloon girls.

Teaspoon hugs Lou tightly. "We'll set you up in a room tomorrow night above the saloon," Teaspoon stated knowing that Kid will protest, but he has a plan that just might make Kid realize what he gave up seven years ago.

There is a strong knock on Lou's door above the saloon. She swings open the door to find Kid facing her with Teaspoon directly behind him.

"Kid meet you new partner," Teaspoon spoke softly knowing that if Kid still cares deeply for Lou that he is going to protest her participation with catching the saloon girl killer.

Kid is shocked to find Lou standing in front of him dressed in a very seductive saloon girl dress! "No!" Kid shouted loud enough for patrons downstairs in the saloon to hear him.

Lou grabs Kid by the arm and immediately feels the old feelings she once had from their simple touch of one another. She angrily pulls Kid into her new room. Teaspoon follows close behind and shuts the door.

"What is the matter with you? Do you want everyone in the saloon to know what we are doing? The killer could be in the saloon at this very moment," Lou spoke demanding that Kid listen to her for once.

Kid glances down at the hold that Lou still has on his arms and then looks at Lou to see if she plans on releasing her grip on him. The moment Lou lets him go Kid turns and pleads with Teaspoon for answers. "You agreed to this? You agreed to allow Lou to be my partner?" Kid asked demanding that Teaspoon give him answers in a quick manner.

Lou steps in before Teaspoon can answer. "Don't take out your frustrations for not doing the right thing on Teaspoon. I offered my services to catch this killer," Lou stated adamantly to an angry Kid.

Kid turns to Lou. "Don't take out my frustrations for not doing the right thing…what right thing Lou?" Kid asked as he and Lou both watch as the door to Lou's room quietly shuts with Teaspoon's abrupt exit.

"You didn't fight for us," Lou stated her voice cracking with emotion as Kid walks close to her.

Kid starts to soften remembering what it was like to touch Lou's soft skin. He closes in on Lou reaching his hand to touch her face.

Lou breathes deeply welcoming Kid's touch that over the years she had not forgotten. She closes her eyes as Kid's lips brush tenderly against her own lips.

Lou remembers the delicate touch of Kid and how his hands on her skin had a sensuous affect on her senses. She pulls away from Kid not wanting to feel the pain of his abandoning their love again! "We need to get to work and try and figure out who the killer is," Lou stumbled through her words feeling the heat from Kid's kiss.

Kid wipes away the kiss from his lips not wanting to remember what it was like to be intimate with Lou. She married another man and that was her choice even if he sort of pushed her into Patrick's waiting arms. "The only plan that I have come up with is for you to go downstairs and mingle around the saloon with the gentlemen," Kid stated thinking that he doesn't want Lou mingling with any other man but him.

"Do you have any suspects?" Lou questioned wanting to aim her attentions at suspects rather than just every man in the saloon.

"I have a few suspects, but I want you to make your own opinions on some of the men so that we can compare notes," Kid spoke hoping that Lou has a plan of her own to keep the men at arms length.

Lou heads for the door, but Kid can't help but grab onto her arm to stop her from making possibly the biggest mistake of her life. "Are you sure you want to get involved with this investigation?" Kid asked as his hand stays intact with Lou's arm. "I mean once you walk down those stairs and the men see you there will be no turning back."

Lou looks down at Kid's hand as he slowly removes his grasp on her arm. "I am sure that I want to do this," Lou stated as she walks to open the door with Kid right behind her.

"Buck and I will be in the saloon without our badges on. We will be keeping an eye on you," Kid stated as Lou turns around only to come face to face with Kid. She can't think of anything better to do than to kiss his wanting lips. The kiss turns into a passionate embrace and a kiss of longing for one another. When Lou finally stops the kiss she looks into Kid's eyes as if she is haunted with bad memories.

Lou clears her throat. "I should get downstairs," Lou stated as she walks away from Kid.

Kid watches intently as Lou walks away from him and down the hall that leads to the stairs. He wonders silently for a moment if Lou is playing games with him for his lack of doing things right seven years ago or if she really does care about him even though Patrick has just died.

Lou has made her way downstairs and walks over to where Buck is standing at the bar. "I left Kid speechless upstairs in our room," Lou stated trying to talk with a sexy attitude.

"I don't think I really need to hear about this," Buck stated a little embarrassed that Lou is talking to him like that.

"I think I am really going to enjoy this," Lou stated as she winks and smiles at a few of the men in the saloon.

"What embarrassing me and Kid?" Buck questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"That and playing games with the men of Rock Creek," Lou replied as she walks into the crowd of men at the saloon.

Buck grins slightly, but turns and watches Lou make her way across the room to talk to a gentleman that obviously has money just by looking at the tailored three-piece suit that he is wearing. He is actually one of his suspects, but Kid thinks the man is just looking for any woman he can pay to be his escort for the night.

Buck looks up at the top of the stairs as he sees that Kid has finally decided to come down into the saloon to help him watch after Lou. Kid walks over to Buck and with his back to Buck he and Buck try to have a quiet conversation.

"We are really going to have to keep our eyes on Lou at all times. She is really into her new job," Buck stated as he walks away from Kid and tries to get a little closer to Lou who is paying close attention to his suspect.

"What is your name pretty lady?" the rich man asked Lou.

"Louise," Lou stated as she places her hands on his arms.

He flashes a fistful of dollars in front of Lou. "Care to take a walk out of this place with me?" he asked with a slight smile.

Lou takes the money and places it down the front of her dress. "Let's go," Lou stated as the two of them head for the saloon doors to escape the thick smoke and chit chat of drunken men. Lou wraps her arms through his and the two waltz out of the saloon looking for a night together rather than spending the night alone!

Buck throws a backward glance at Kid saying that Lou may have knowingly gotten herself into more trouble than she can handle.

Kid races for the saloon doors, but Buck grabs onto his arm. "We have to be smart about this. There is a possibility that he is our killer. We have to give Lou the chance to reveal him," Buck stated as Kid roughly pulls his arm from Buck's grasp.

"And what if he is the killer? Are you willing to take that kind of chance with Lou's life?" Kid asked pleading with Buck to help him to find where Lou has disappeared to with this man.

Buck walks out of the saloon ahead of Kid realizing that this is Lou they are talking about and that they should have never agreed to allow her to help them trap this killer. Kid rushes out after Buck.

Lou finds herself being handled rather roughly in the nearby stable. The man's hands are all over her and Lou tries desperately to fight off his offensive touch.

He slaps Lou across the face. "I paid for you," he said as he kisses her soft lips and backs away in pain when she nails his lips with her teeth releasing blood onto the stable floor.

Lou suddenly thinks about running, but as she turns he grabs her by the waist and flips her around encircling his arms around her to keep her still.

Lou has a lot of fight in her. She screams out as she tries to get his strong hands to release her. He clasps a hand over her mouth to still her screams! She bites his hand. His instinct is to slap her roughly across the face. Lou lands in a pile of hay and he stands over top her shaking body undoing his belt buckle!

Kid and Buck hearing her distant screams make a run for the stable in time to see the man rip part of Lou's dress from her body. Kid draws a gun on his back. He stands perfectly still looking down at Lou with her dress torn from her body.

Buck draws his gun. "Let's go. You have a date with a jail cell tonight," Buck stated as he and the man leave the stable.

Kid takes off his jacket and drapes it over Lou to cover her. He reaches down and takes her hand helping her up from the stable floor. "Are you ok?" Kid asked in a concerned tone of voice.

Lou wipes away a few tears that have escaped from her eyes. "I was so scared that he was going to kill me," Lou replied quietly as she collapses into Kid's arms.

Kid slowly wraps his arms around Lou. "Lou I am sorry. I should have never allowed you to do this," Kid stated as he gently kisses the top of her head.

Lou looks up into Kid's eyes. Feeling completely safe in his arms she reaches up to his lips and kisses him. The kiss grows passionate, but she pulls away not wanting anything more intimate to happen in the stables where just moments ago she was almost raped. "Could you take me home?" Lou asked her eyes pleading with Kid to take her home where she will be safe with him.

After Lou is finished with a hot bath Rachel knocks on her bedroom door. "Can I come in?" Rachel asked softly.

Lou opens her bedroom door to allow Rachel to walk in. The two women sit on Lou's bed.

"From what Kid told me tonight was quite an ordeal for you," Rachel spoke wondering if Lou is ok from what happened at the stables.

"I think I wasn't prepared for what would happen if I came face to face with the killer. I only thought about being close to Kid. I didn't think about the possibility that Kid might not be able to save me in time from the killer," Lou replied admitting to Rachel that she wanted to help because she wanted to be close to Kid.

"So you put your life in danger to be close to Kid?" Rachel questioned thinking that she should holler at Lou for her foolishness, but realizing that Lou has always loved Kid and perhaps she truly needs to find out how Kid feels about her once and for all. "Did you get the answers that you need to move on with your life?"

"I found out that Kid's touch still heats up my soul and body. I loved Patrick, but I have to admit that the heated attraction between the two of us was tame. With Kid it's like I am on fire without water nearby to put me out," Lou stated sadly.

"That could be because water isn't what you need," Rachel stated with a knowing smile.

"Even when Kid isn't touching me I can feel his hands all over me. It's almost like I need to escape from my clothes and jump into the coldest body of water I can find to cool my skin down," Lou stated pulling at the nightdress that she has on.

"Perhaps you need to find Kid and just rid yourself of all this pent up desire," Rachel proclaimed thinking that Lou has sustained her desire for Kid for seven years and now it needs to be released before her desire for Kid drives her mad.

Lou settles her feet onto the floor and races outside of the house running right into Kid.

"I was just coming in to check on you," Kid stated as his eyes roam up and down Lou's body in the rather revealing nightdress.

"We need to talk some place where we can be alone," Lou stated as she grabs onto Kid's hand.

"Talk?" Kid questioned.

"The old bunkhouse is empty right?" Lou asked as she pulls Kid toward the bunkhouse.

"Yeah," Kid replied as Lou opens the door to the bunkhouse.

Lou lights an old lantern and looks around at the bedding that Rachel has tried to keep clean just in case Jimmy or Cody would come back home and need a place to stay. "The bunkhouse looks the same the very day that I left here seven years ago," Lou stated turning back to look at Kid.

Kid looks deeply into her eyes that are filled with desire. He senses that if he doesn't at this very moment make things right with Lou that this time he will lose her forever. He doesn't want that to happen. "I love you," Kid spoke softly as he touches her face.

Lou intakes a sharp breath of air and closes her eyes as Kid kisses her. She presses her body close to his waking up all his desires for her from seven years ago when they last touched. "I either need a cold body of water…"

"What?" Kid asked understanding exactly what Lou is trying to tell him, but trying to act like he wants her to tell him just how much she desires him.

"I want you to touch me all night and into the morning and for the rest of our lives," Lou replied as her nightdress softly hits the floor!

Kid blows out the lantern and guides Lou backwards onto his old bed.

Rachel pulled the wagon to a stop in front her home on the Pony Express Station farm and a nervous Kid was right there to help Lou get down from her seat on the wagon.

"How was your visit at Doc Barnes today?" Kid asked softly almost afraid to talk with Lou for fear that her anger at losing her sight would cause her to eventually break and become an emotional mess over her now so unsure future.

"Lou actually received some good news today from Doc Barnes. Would you like to tell Kid what the doctor told you?" Rachel asked Lou realizing that she had pulled away from Kid because he started to act differently toward her after the accident that left her without her vision.

"Doc Barnes believes that the trauma from the explosion and the stress of losing my sight is what caused my blindness. He feels that my sight will eventually come back," Lou stated with a slight smile.

"That's great news Lou," Kid spoke his voice suddenly happy that Lou may not have to endure blindness for the rest of her life that they all had originally suspected when she was caught in an explosion during a bank robbery a few weeks ago.

"Kid, could you gather up the rest of the boys and Teaspoon while I get Lou into the house to rest for awhile. I need to have a little chat with all of you," Rachel spoke very clearly so that Kid would round up the rest of the family for her.

Kid watched intently as Rachel hand in hand walked Lou into the house. None of the riders are on a mail run today so he heads over to the barn to retrieve the riders from their chores. He later rides into town to inform Teaspoon that Rachel is insistent that he come back to the Pony Express Station with him.

When Kid and Teaspoon ride their horses onto the Pony Express Station they notice that the rest of the family is sitting on Rachel's front porch enjoying glasses of fresh cold lemonade and trying to keep cool during the September heat wave that has hit Rock Creek.

"What's this all about Rachel?" Teaspoon asked as he and Kid each poured themselves a cold glass of lemonade and took a seat on the porch.

"It has been brought to my attention by a certain young woman that all of you have been treating Lou just a little differently since she has lost her sight. Lou is heartbroken that her blindness has caused you boys to distance yourself from her," Rachel spoke looking for an answer from Buck thinking that out of all of them he would be the one with the most logical response.

"It isn't that we want to avoid Lou. It's just that each of us thought that perhaps she needed alone time. We didn't want to intrude on her thoughts about her situation until she was ready for us to be there," Buck spoke rationally.

"I mostly stayed away because I was afraid we would just argue over her situation," Kid spoke ashamed that he has kept his distance from Lou.

"I kept my distance because I didn't think Lou needed me around. I'm sure I would have opened up my big mouth and said something stupid about her being blind," Cody remarked now thinking that Lou probably could have used some laughter in her life while trying to accept being blind.

"Jimmy?" Rachel questioned wondering if Jimmy kept his distance for any particular reason.

"Now that we all know that she needs us we will get her more involved in our daily routines again," Jimmy replied with a slight smile.

"I have a much better idea," Rachel stated her eyes smiling as she glances at each one of the boys.

"What plan are you cooking up in that head of yours Rachel?" Teaspoon asked thinking that the boys just might be in a little bit of trouble.

"I want each one of you to plan an outing with only you and Lou. That way Lou will start to feel that each one of you enjoys spending time with her even though she is blind," Rachel stated thinking that her plan might help Lou to get her sight back.

"You mean like a date?" Cody questioned thinking that Kid is sitting right there with the rest of them looking a little annoyed with Rachel's suggestion.

"Yes, like a date, but not with romantic implications. We all know that Kid and Lou are a couple, but let's face it," Rachel spoke as she looks at Kid. "Kid you haven't exactly been there for Lou through her ordeal."

Kid looks down at the wooden floor of the porch ashamed that he hasn't been helping Lou through her crisis. "I'm sorry Rachel. I really figured that Lou didn't want me around. I was only trying to give her time and perhaps I needed time to figure out…"

"To figure out if you wanted to be romantically involved with a woman who is blind?" Jimmy questioned thinking badly of Kid at this very moment.

Rachel stands up between the boys to stop what could escalate into a physical fight involving fists and bruising. "None of that matters right now. Doc Barnes talked with me about Lou's blindness. He feels that Lou is anxious and stressed about her initial blindness and that this stress might be causing her to remain blind," Rachel stated wanting the boys all to realize that Lou doesn't have to be without her sight.

"Like Lou is using her blindness as a crutch because she feels that we don't feel the same about her because of her blindness," Teaspoon spoke knowing a little bit about blaming yourself for things that you really have no control over, but blaming yourself anyway.

"I want each of you to plan a day with Lou starting with you Jimmy," Rachel said in a slight demanding tone of voice.

"I am riding to Plum Creek tomorrow to deliver an important package to the marshal. Lou could ride along with me," Jimmy replied thinking that a date in Plum Creek away from Kid's watchful eyes would be just perfect.

"Lou can't ride right now Jimmy. See can't see," Kid stated acting jealous over Jimmy taking Lou out of town for their date.

Jimmy stands up and faces Kid. "She can ride with me on my horse," Jimmy replied adamantly before walking off the porch to retire to the bunkhouse for a good nights rest before traveling to Plum Creek with Lou in the morning.

Everyone watches the pale color of Kid's complexion turn to a bright red from embarrassment from his own neglect of Lou and angry from Jimmy's plan to take Lou away from Rock Creel for a couple of days.

"I'm sure that the two of them will get separate rooms at the Plum Creek Hotel," Cody remarked with a grin as he walks off the porch.

"With Lou being away for at least two days that gives the rest of you time to think about your date with Lou," Rachel spoke as Buck and Teaspoon walk off the porch and she walks into the house to tell Lou about her date with Jimmy.

This leaves Kid all alone on the front porch to think about what he didn't do with Lou to cause Rachel to think up such an elaborate plan to make him realize that Lou is more important to him than just the mere fact that she has lost her vision. He hopes it isn't too late to make Lou see that he still cares for her.

After Jimmy delivered his package to the marshal of Plum Creek he escorted Lou to the Plum Creek saloon where the two enjoyed supper together and a sasprillia.

"There's something else going on that you dragged me all the way to Plum Creek for our date," Lou questioned wondering what Jimmy is searching for.

"You remember what this saloon looks like from our last visit here?" Jimmy questioned thinking that Rachel said this should be a visual date where they should each create an image for Lou of her surroundings.

"I remember the saloon Jimmy. Don't worry you don't have to go into detail about the smoke and drunks. I can smell the thick smoke in the air and I can hear the shouting and gagging from the drunks that are near by," Lou replied giving Jimmy the visual.

"Thanks for the description, but I am not searching for anyone," Jimmy stated trying to reassure Lou that this is just an outing for the two of them.

"I don't recall saying that you are searching for someone. I know you Jimmy you are wearing both your guns tonight," Lou replied worried that her dearest friend is searching for a gunfight.

"I wear both my guns every where I go Lou. Tonight is no different than any other night," Jimmy stated trying to ease Lou's mind.

"I feel how tense you are," Lou replied waiting to see if Jimmy can explain the feeling he has that she can sense.

At that moment Jimmy thinks that he has been saved from answering Lou's question when the marshal walks up to their table. "He's left Plum Creek," the marshal stated to Jimmy and then walked back out of the saloon.

Jimmy smiles and clears his throat waiting for Lou to make a remark about his bringing her to Plum Creek in search of a gunslinger.

"We should retire to our room for the night. We need to get back to Rock Creek," Lou stated not wishing to argue with Jimmy over his reasons for coming to Plum Creek.

"Lou, I need for you to promise me that you won't tell Teaspoon about this," Jimmy spoke hoping that Lou could understand his need to deal with bad people in his own way.

Lou looks directly into Jimmy's eyes. "Someday Jimmy Hickok you are going to get yourself killed looking for the wrong man," Lou stated as she takes his hand to lead her to their room upstairs.

"Promise me you also won't tell Kid that I was too cheap to get us two rooms," Jimmy spoke with a smile.

"I definitely will keep that secret," Lou stated as the two walk up the stairs hand in hand.

"I don't care what the two of you did in Plum Creek. I am just so grateful that you got Lou back here in time for my date with her," Cody spoke to Jimmy as he watches Lou and Rachel talking and laughing obviously discussing Jimmy's neglect to get Lou a room of her own in Plum Creek.

I am surprised that you planned on taking Lou to the festival. I assumed that Kid would get the honors of escorting Lou to a festival that involves dancing and romance," Jimmy said wondering how Cody won out over Kid.

"I got my request in before Kid did," Cody stated with a grin plastered on his face from ear to ear.

Rachel guides Lou over to where Cody is sitting. Cody and Jimmy both stand up and Cody gladly takes Lou's hand from Rachel.

"Lou, would you care to share a dance with me?" Cody asked in a soft voice.

Lou smiles warmly at Cody. "I would love to."

Cody and Lou walk to where the Rock Creek band is playing and begin to dance to a slow song. Rachel turns her attention to Jimmy once she sees that Lou is having a good time with Cody. "How was everything with you and Lou in Plum Creek? I was hoping that her time with you would bring back her vision," Rachel stated a bit weary concerning Lou's sight.

"I think I actually made Lou a little more nervous then she already has been," Jimmy stated worried that Rachel will be angry with him.

"Why is that?"

"Because I was searching for Nigel that outlaw that had threatened me a few months back when I was on a mail run. I had heard that he was around the Plum Creek area," Jimmy stated ashamed that he took Lou there and put her life in danger.

"Did you find him?"

"No, but Lou taught me a few things about our other senses and how powerful they can be when we lose our sight," Jimmy replied with a charming Jimmy smile.

"She also taught you how to put up a barrier between the two of you when you are forced to share the same bed," Rachel started with a humorous smile.

Jimmy looks real nervous about Rachel knowing his secret. "Please Rachel don't ever breathe a word about Lou and I sharing a room to Kid."

Rachel points to Cody and Lou who are now dancing to a fast song. "Look, the two of them are really enjoying themselves," Rachel stated as she lightly kisses Jimmy on the cheek and walks away from him and toward Teaspoon.

After the dance Cody takes and places Lou's arm into his. "So that was fun."

"I am having a great time Cody. Who would have thought that Cody can be a lot of fun on a date," Lou stated with a laugh.

"Well thank-you Lou, I think. Let's get something to eat,"

"That sounds good," Lou replied as Cody guides her over to the picnic tables loaded down with anything a person could possibly want to eat.

"What would you like? There's…"

"Let me smell if I can tell you what I would like," Lou said thinking that she should use her other senses more.

"I'll put everything you want on your plate," Cody replied waiting for Lou to tell him what she would like to eat.

"I would like a barbecue sandwich," Lou stated smelling the sweet aroma of barbecue sauce and brown sugar mixed with the smell of fried hamburger. "Also a heaping spoonful of French fries."

Cody is amazed that Lou can smell the food so clearly. He makes Lou a barbecue sandwich and then proceeds to load down her plate with French fries. "What about a vegetable? Do you have a preference?"

Lou giggles. "Don't tell me my choices," Lou remarked as Cody guides her to where the vegetables are placed on the table. "How about some beans and an ear of sweet corn."

"I think I'll have the exact same thing. Lou you sure can pick out a tasty supper," Cody remarked with a wide grin happy to be in Lou's company and in the company of so much food.

Buck walked out of the bunkhouse noticing that Kid was leaning against a wooden post deep in thought of Lou. "Is everything ok?" Buck asked wondering if Rachel's plan to help Lou get back her sight was bothering Kid.

Kid looks around at Buck. "Sure. Everything is fine," Kid stated with a hit of sarcasm.

"You have nothing to worry about. Lou cares for you," Buck insisted as he searches for the answer as to why Kid seems down in the dumps.

"Rachel did this because I was neglecting Lou when she needed me the most. I know she won't fall for Cody, but I have to admit I was a little worried about her being alone with Jimmy for two days," Kid stated not mentioning how he feels about Lou's upcoming day with Buck.

"I think we all kind of neglected Lou, but it bothered Lou the most that you were avoiding her since the accident," Buck replied.

"Sometimes I can be a damn fool. This isn't the first time since I met Lou that I have treated her as if the two of us weren't together as a couple, but lately being with Lou has been feeling different," Kid stated unsure of what he is feeling.

"Different for both of you or just different for you?" Buck asked trying to understand what Kid is trying to say.

"I am not really sure how Lou feels about us as a couple anymore. Lately I have been getting the feeling that she has been pulling away from me, but it could just be because of the accident and her losing her sight. I sure hope this plan of Rachel's works," Kid stated feeling sad about him and Lou.

"I just hope Doc Barnes is right and Lou's blindness is mostly being caused by stress," Buck spoke as he looks up to see Cody escorting Lou into Rachel's house. He notices that Kid has looked to see that Lou has made it into the house safely. "I guess the festival and dance are over with," Buck said as he tries to figure out how Kid feels about the light kiss on the cheek Cody gave Lou before opening the front door to Rachel's home for her.

A few days had past before Buck escorted Lou by wagon out to the country a few miles from Rock Creek where before the two of them nestled near woods, a pond and a meadow is a beautiful old farm house and barn. After pulling the wagon to a stop Buck got off the wagon and then proceeded to place his hands on Lou's waist to swing her gently off the wagon. Buck waits until Lou has established her balance before he releases his hands from her waist.

Lou takes in a deep scent of the clean, crisp air around her. "It smells so fresh and clean here. Buck, where are we?"

"You know how I talked to Teaspoon about wanting my own farm someday out away from Rock Creek," Buck spoke with excitement as he glances around at the farm.

"Yes," Lou replied wondering what is before her.

"Teaspoon made some inquires and he found this place. It is for sale at a very reasonable price and so I've been saving like crazy hoping to buy it," Buck stated happily.

"That would be so wonderful," Lou replied with a happy for her friend smile.

"Let me show you around," Buck stated as he takes Lou's hand and the two walk hand and hand around the farm.

"Is there a pond nearby? I can smell fresh water and when the breeze comes through I can hear the ripples of tiny waves against land," Lou asked as Buck walks Lou down to a large pond that sits in front of the farm.

Buck kneels down and helps Lou to kneel down also so that she can feel the cool, clean water of the pond. "I can't wait until someday when you will be able to see the pond Lou, but for now I will just tell you about it. It is really large, large enough for fifty people to swim in and it has the attraction of butterflies, birds and bees humming about the wild flowers that are growing along the banks," Buck said as he watches Lou continue to feel the coolness of the water against her hand.

"What about the water? It feels so clean and crystal clear. Is that how it looks?" Lou asked excited about how beautiful the pond looks to her through her other senses.

"Yes Lou, the water is crystal clear. When I look down into the water our reflections are perfectly clear," Buck stated as he brings him and Lou both to a standing position again. "Let's take a walk through the meadow."

Buck takes Lou's hand again and the two walk through the meadow of wild grass and flowers that is right next to the pond.

"I can smell the sweet scent of wild honeysuckle and the grass smells as fresh as grass smells after a spring shower," Lou spoke as she reaches down to sweep her hands through the grass and flowers. She kneels down enough to bring a hand full of grass and flowers to her face to smell the freshness. "I bet the grass is the most brilliant color of green."

"It's a lot different than the brown grass that tries to grow at the Pony Express Station. The color is like a deep emerald green and the flowers flow beautifully with the breeze with a radiant glow of gold over the entire meadow," Buck spoke as he and Lou turn and walk back toward the farm.

"I bet this farm would be the perfect place to watch a captivating sunset," Lou spoke smiling with joy at the depth of the beauty surrounding her.

"I'm betting the sunrises are worth getting up early for too," Buck stated with a smile at how relaxed Lou is today.

"You know what would be perfect for this farm is a big old rooster. A rooster that would wake you up every morning just in time to take in the golden glow of the sun rising," Lou stated as Buck opens the front door to the farm house for Lou to enter.

"The house needs some cleaning that's for sure," Buck stated as he takes notice to how the sunlight breaks through the many windows on the first floor of the two floor house showing off the dust that is everywhere. "I love the kitchen. It's large enough to feed a family of ten children," Buck stated enthusiastically.

"Ten children? I had no idea Buck Cross that you would want ten children," Lou said pinching Buck in the side as she teases him.

"Do you think ten children are too many?" Buck asked wanting a woman's advice on how many children most women would want to have before saying that's enough.

"I don't think ten children are too many. I would love to have a large family someday, but Kid thinks two children are enough. That is one thing that Kid and I will have to further discuss if we were to ever get married," Lou remarked as she looks in the direction of Buck's warm eyes. "Show me the barn."

Buck takes Lou's hand and guides her out to the barn where Lou makes Buck walk around the exterior of the barn. She wants to feel with her hands just how large the barn is. They stop just at the barn doors. "This barn is certainly big enough for cows, horses, and a few goats," Lou stated with laughter wondering what Buck thinks about goats.

"I don't know about goats Lou. Aren't they those really stubborn animals who do what they want?"

"They also eat everything in sight," Lou stated with a giggle.

As the two continue to walk through the tiny wooded area Buck begins to realize that it is starting to get dark. "I need to get you home. I hadn't realized it, but we've been out here all day. The sun is setting."

"I bet the sunset is beautiful?" Lou questioned with a deep exhale of air.

"It is many shades and tones of red and orange against a dark blue sky," Buck whispered as he walks Lou to the wagon.

Lou smiles brilliantly as if she can see the sunset with her own eyes.

Kid is pacing and waiting impatiently for Buck to return back home with Lou. Rachel is waiting patiently thinking that it is about time that Kid started to have some feelings of jealously.

"Buck and Lou should have been back hours ago. Exactly where was Buck taking Lou again?" Kid questioned as he looks away from Rachel to see the wagon pull up in front of the house with Buck and Lou arriving back home.

Kid starts to walk toward the wagon, but Rachel grabs onto his shirt. "This is Buck and Lou's day. Buck will help her down from the wagon," Rachel stated as she slowly releases her grip on Kid's shirt sleeve.

Buck walks Lou hand in hand over to Rachel. "I'm sorry Rachel that Lou and I are late. We sort of lost track of time."

"Lost track of time? How could you loss track of time when it is dark outside?" Kid questioned in an angry tone of voice.

"Kid, why are you waiting for Buck and me to get home anyway? This is our day and we can stay out as late as we like," Lou said as she turns to Buck. She reaches up with her hand to touch Buck's cheek and then kisses him lightly on that cheek. "I had a wonderful time today Buck. Someday I hope to share this same day with you again when I can see everything for myself."

"I hope that day comes real soon Lou," Buck stated as he places Lou's hand in Rachel's hand. "Good-night Lou."

"Good-night Buck," Lou spoke as she and Rachel walked into the house with Kid and Buck watching until the two women are inside.

"Where did you take her today?" Kid asked looking upset with Buck.

"I just took Lou some place where she could leave her problems here at the station. A place where she could relax and just be herself," Buck replied as he left Kid's side and proceeded to walk toward the bunkhouse.

Kid had waited several days after Buck and Lou's outing before he approached her about their special day together. He couldn't help but notice that after her day with Buck her attitude about her blindness had changed. She become more aware of her other senses and they were working overtime to make up for the loss of her sight.

Kid wasn't a real romantic because for most of his and Lou's relationship she paraded around the station disguised as a boy and so he lacked a feeling of being romantic with her. He had a difficult time coming up with a special day that would also help her to relax in hopes of her sight coming back to her. Finally he shared with Rachel that the only thing he could come up with would be to take Lou on a picnic. Lou always loved when the two of them would spend time together under their favorite large tree a little distance from the station.

"Let me spread out a blanket and then you can sit down," Kid stated as he proceeds to spread out a blanket and then he gently takes Lou's hand and guides her to sit down on the blanket.

"We are under our tree. I can hear the breeze running through the leaves," Lou stated with a smile.

Kid was still sitting out the rest of their picnic lunch when Lou reached for a juicy, red strawberry that she bites into with extreme joy.

Kid is amazed that she knew that he had placed the strawberries in a basket close to where she could reach for one. "How did you know that the strawberries were so close to you?" Kid asked as he finishes unpacking the picnic basket.

Lou takes another bite of the strawberry. "I could smell them," Lou stated as she reaches for another strawberry.

"Would you like a sandwich? I made your favorite," Kid asked not wanting Lou to fill up on just strawberries.

"That would be nice."

Kid hands Lou a sandwich of roast beef and cheese. He notices how she smells the sandwich before taking a bite of it. "That is something I will have to get used to," Kid stated not quite understanding why she has to smell everything before eating it.

"It's really quite simple Kid. I want to make sure that what I am eating is food that I like," Lou replied as she continues to eat the sandwich that he gave her.

"Is everything ok?" Kid asked unsure of what to talk to Lou about."

"Everything is excellent Kid. Don't be so worried about the picnic lunch. What has me a little worried is that you seem uncomfortable around me because of my blindness," Lou stated feeling a little stressed being with Kid today.

Kid puts down the sandwich that he was eating onto his plate. "It's just that since the accident I've had a difficult time trying to figure what it is that would make you happy," Kid stated feeling a little lost about what to say to Lou.

"Just being with you Kid makes me happy, but I have been sensing from you that my being without my sight is like I am a burden to you. I don't want to feel like a burden to anyone and so that is why I have stayed away from you," Lou stated sadden by her talk with Kid.

"I suppose I am to blame for your blindness," Kid stated also sad by the way he has been treating Lou.

"Why would you say that? You had nothing to do with the bank robbery and the explosion that day when I lost my sight."

"Doc Barnes believes that your continued lack of sight is due to stress. I am sure that my behavior toward you has caused you a great deal of stress," Kid replied expecting Lou to agree with him.

"I have been feeling unwanted and helpless since I lost my sight. I can't do my job as a Pony Express Rider and that means that I am living at the station, but not pulling my own weight," Lou stated trying to avoid saying that Kid and his lack of encouragement is part of the problem.

"What about our relationship Lou?" Kid asked needing to know if his lack of caring for her and helping her through her crisis has caused her to want to pull away from him.

"I want to see again and this past week with all these special days with Jimmy, Cody, Buck and you has made me want to work harder at getting my sight back. I want to see Jimmy storm out of the bunkhouse after you and him have one of your disagreements. I want to see Cody eat three plates of food in one sitting and I promise I will never make fun of his eating habits again. I want to see the perfect sweet redness of the strawberries that you brought on our picnic lunch. I want to swim in the pond where Buck took me yesterday and feel the water splashing all around me before winter gets here. I want to be able to see the wild flowers in the meadow as well as smell them. I want to…" Lou stops talking suddenly.

"What is it Lou?" Kid asked wondering if perhaps thinking about all the happy times that she remembers has brought back her sight.

"I need to get back to the station right away. I need to find Buck," Lou chimed as she stands up by herself and tries to walk toward the wagon.

Kid gets up from their picnic lunch and helps her to the wagon wondering why she needs to find Buck in such a hurry.

Buck helps Lou off of the wagon. "I don't understand why you needed to come back out here to the farm today. You are supposed to be spending today with Kid," Buck stated a little confused by Lou's actions.

"It's so beautiful here. I just wanted to see it for myself," Lou stated as she runs down toward the pond before Buck can stop her.

"Lou! You're going to fall in!" Buck hollered as he watched in horror as Lou jumps into the pond! He takes his boots off and quickly jumps in after her.

Lou emerges onto the surface of the pond and Buck comes up right in front of her. "The water is as crystal clear and clean as you described it," Lou spoke with joy as she splashes Buck in the face.

"Lou we really should get you out of the water and back home," Buck stated as he tries to guide her toward the edge of the pond.

"I will agree to go home if you promise we can come back out and go swimming again before the water gets too cold," Lou spoke as both she and Buck walk onto dry ground.

"I promise," Buck replied as he holds onto Lou to help guide her in the right direction. Buck bends down and picks up his boots as well as Lou's shoes.

Lou suddenly stops and glances around at the farm house, the barn, the surrounding meadow of wild flowers and the tiny wooded area on the one side of the pond. "It all looks so beautiful. Just the way you described it. I can't believe how perfectly I could see the farm with only your words of what it looked like," Lou stated as she reaches down and picks a wild flower.

Buck watches Lou and it suddenly hits him that Lou has her sight back, but before he can even mutter a single word Lou turns to him and allows him to smell the flower that she just picked.

"What do you think this flower smells like?" Lou asked as Buck looks at her with joy and amazement.

Buck puts his hand around Lou's to bring the flower to his nose again to smell the flower. "It kind of reminds me of a sweet earthy smell. It smells like happiness.

"To me it smells like this entire farm. I home that has hope and love and laughter. Perhaps a sweet earthy smell is a good description," Lou stated smelling the flower again. She looks deeply into Buck's eyes. "Thank-you."

"Thank-you? For what?" Buck asked thinking that he should get her back to town so Doc Barnes can examine Lou's eyes.

"Thank-you for giving me my sight back," Lou replied as she reaches up to Buck and lightly kisses him on the cheek as they walk hand in hand back toward the wagon as the sun begins to set behind them.

First just a note to share with the readers that my Sound Story for the Five Senses Challenge is the original prelude to my story from The Rock Creek Adventurous Tales - Back Together Again. Originally when I first came up with the idea for Back Together Again it was meant to be one story, but the more I thought about the idea the more it became a series with five parts (I am writing part 4 at the moment) titled If We Are Lost…Love Will Find Us. However I thought that maybe those that have read Back Together Again would like to read how the story was suppose to start out and it is perfect for my sound story. Keep in mind this is just a summary not the entire original Back Together Again.

Like every morning for the past seven years Rachel waits patiently for the rooster to wake her so she can get started with her daily routine of getting Teaspoon off to Rock Creek to do his marshalling duties while she does her housework and then roams about the old Pony Express Station trying desperately to fill a void that was left when four young men and one beautiful young woman went from being orphans and all alone to becoming fine young men and a woman that could take care of themselves, left their home scattering across the countryside taking a piece of her heart with each of them.

Rachel walked across the yard from her house to the house that Teaspoon has been building for the past five years meant to be the home that Kid and Lou were to live in, but Kid insists that he and Lou like it back east and really don't want to come back west to live other than to just visit. She opens the front door and steps inside.

The first floor of the house has been complete for over a year now, but the second floor where the bedrooms are located is unfinished. With the news from Kid that he wouldn't be moving his family back west, Teaspoon had given up on getting the house completed at a fast pace knowing that no one would be living in the house.

Rachel makes her way into the large kitchen from the living room, but as she turns the corner to her surprise Kid and Lou are making the children breakfast. The laughter and giggling of Abigail and Emma brings tears to Rachel's face. She can hear the bacon sizzling on the stove and Lou telling the girls to get in their chairs that breakfast is almost ready.

Rachel moves forward to talk with Kid and Lou. "When did you move…," Rachel spoke suddenly coming back to reality and realizing that the kitchen is empty and the laughter of the children and Lou's sweet voice are silent.

Rachel stands alone in the kitchen wondering how she could have let her imagination run away with her to the point of thinking that her family was back home. "I need to do something with my life that will keep my day occupied before I literally go crazy," Rachel spoke only to herself and the four walls of Kid and Lou's kitchen.

Rachel walked outside the house needing to be free of the memories that will never happen with Kid, Lou and their children. When she is suddenly hit with another memory, but this time the memory comes from the past!

She could hear the gunfire ring out as if the shots had been fired just yesterday with first Ike and than Noah both killed by gunfire that wasn't meant for them. She remembers how she felt like both Ike and Noah were at the wrong place at the wrong time. First it was Ike lying fatally wounded at Doc Barnes office and then Teaspoon trying his best to come to terms with Noah's death at his funeral.

She is well aware that on occasion Teaspoon wakes up in the middle of the night from a sound sleep sweating and guilt ridden that he could not stop the shot that Buck had fired after Ike had been killed. That very shot is heard in Teaspoon's sleep night after night. He hates that Buck has had to live his life with the guilt of taking another man's life. Teaspoon often talks to her about how much he misses all his boys and Lou, but especially Buck. He almost had Buck convinced to stay on in Rock Creek continuing to be his deputy after the tragic event of Noah's death and Cody joining the army, but Buck decided that he needed time to be by himself to think about what he really wanted for his life. Teaspoon understood, but he still had a difficult time letting him go. Buck was the last one to leave almost seven years ago.

Rachel shakes her head bringing her mind and thoughts back to reality. She looks back at the house that should have a family living inside of it and she decides that it is time she had a heart to heart conversation with Teaspoon. Her family needs to come back home!

Later that evening after Rachel had cleared the supper dishes away from the table and served herself and Teaspoon a fresh cup of hot coffee, she begins her long speech about what she would like to do with her long and lonely days.

"I would like to discuss an idea with you that I need to address before I drive myself and you off this ranch," Rachel spoke with a stumbling of words wondering just how Teaspoon is going to take her news.

"Sounds like you have been giving something some serious thought. What is it Rachel?" Teaspoon questioned knowing that Rachel has been lonely during the day because they have discussed it in the past.

"I have heard through Thompkins that the school needs a new teacher for the upcoming school term this autumn. I would like to have my old job back if that is possible," Rachel spoke fearing that Teaspoon would rather she just stay at home and tend to the few horses and the hens that they have raised through the years.

"Rachel, the job is yours if that is what you really want, but I thought that you preferred to stay home and take care of things here," Teaspoon spoke not knowing that the ranch is making her crazy.

"I love our home, but it hasn't been the same in years since…,"

"Our children grew up and left us," Teaspoon spoke knowing exactly what Rachel was going to say and also knowing what she is feeling.

"I have been hearing them with memories from the past and new memories of the future. I walked into Kid and Lou's house today and actually seen them standing in the kitchen cooking breakfast for Abigail and Emma. I can not even describe the sounds of love and joy that was coming from that kitchen this morning," Rachel spoke as she sees the look in Teaspoon's eyes that she is doomed to have to listen to one of his lectures.

Teaspoon takes a sip of coffee and lowers his head. "I have been missing all of them a lot lately too. I figure it is because we haven't seen any of them in over a year now since Jimmy's visit last summer. I have been wondering for months now if Buck is ok and where he is at. I mean it is easier with Kid and Lou, we know where they are, but with Buck we don't even know if he's alive. I know exactly what you are going through. The other day I walked to the cemetery to visit with Noah and before I got there I could hear wedding bells and Kid and Lou reciting their vows and then I could hear the words spilling out of my mouth from Noah's funeral," Teaspoon spoke as he looked up at Rachel to see that her eyes her misting over with tears.

"I understand that they have all grown up and that they have lives of their own to lead, but we haven't seen Kid and Lou since Emma was born when we traveled east for her birth two years ago," Rachel spoke missing that her grandchildren are not growing up close to her where she can see them everyday.

"We haven't seen Buck in three years since he rode through searching for a woman that he claims stole his horse," Teaspoon spoke with a bit of a chuckle.

"Jimmy hasn't rode through since last summer and Cody hasn't been through since right after we came back from visiting with Kid and Lou," Rachel spoke thinking that there must be some way to get them all back together again.

"I think perhaps we should visit Kid and Lou again. Maybe that is all the both of us need just to see how they are doing. It's a whole lot easier for the two of us to pick up and travel back east than for Kid and Lou to travel here," Teaspoon spoke with a smile on his face thinking that his idea sounds great.

"I have a better idea," Rachel spoke with a gleam in her eyes.

Teaspoon looks at Rachel as if her plans mean getting him into trouble, but he asks Rachel what her brilliant plan might be anyhow. "What plan do you have that is going to mean a lot of trouble for me?"

"You need to finish Kid and Lou's home," Rachel replied waiting patiently for Teaspoon to respond.

"Why? Kid has already told me that he and Lou can not make a move right now."

"That was over a year ago when Kid sent you the telegram saying that he couldn't move his family at that time. Maybe now Kid would be willing to move if he knows that the house is completed and ready for them to move into."

"What do you think Kid and Lou are going to do for work once they move all the way back out here? It takes years to get a ranch into shape to where it is making you a profit," Teaspoon stated thinking that Kid and Lou will not agree to come back home.

"They wouldn't have to start the ranch off in a big way. They could start with a few horses and work each day to make it bigger. I know there has to be work here in Rock Creek that Kid could do until he got the ranch up and running," Rachel replied not wanting her wish of Kid and Lou coming back home to be ruined.

Teaspoon gets up from his chair at the table. "I'll look into working on the house tomorrow afternoon. Maybe I can telegram Kid in a few days just to see how they are doing just to see if he might be interested in a move, but for now I am tired," Teaspoon replied as he kissed Rachel good-night.

"I am going to stay up just a little longer," Rachel spoke as Teaspoon smiled at her and then heads upstairs to their bedroom.

Rachel gets up from her chair and walks back outside. She stares at the empty bunkhouse and imagines that a lantern is on. She walks over and opens the door suddenly hearing the boys and Lou arguing about Cody's lack of doing his chores, but how he is perfectly capable of shoveling down his fair share of food at mealtimes and in between mealtimes. Rachel smiles at her memory, but she shuts the door and their voices from her mind and heart and leans against the outside of the door. "I want to hear all their voices again here at home," Rachel spoke to her as she walked across the yard back to her home.

A few days later Teaspoon had started back working on Kid and Lou's home. He had looked over the situation and realized that the only major things left to do was to paper and paint the bedrooms. Then he would telegram Kid about coming home to stay.

While working he had heard a wagon and horses pulling up to the house, but he figured who ever it was that Rachel could bring the visitor to him so he continued to work hoping to finish up over the next few days. He had been neglecting his marshal duties doing the afternoons to work on the house, but he really needed to put in a full day in Rock Creek. Without a deputy the town solely depended on him to keep law and order.

He hears a loud commotion outside with Rachel hollering with delight and he could swear that he had heard Rachel yell…

"Buck!" Rachel hollered as she runs off the porch and into his arms. Buck takes her into his arms and tightly holds her until Teaspoon has made his way outside from Kid and Lou's home with a complete look of shock, but happiness written all over his face!

Buck watched as Teaspoon runs to make his way over to where he is standing still holding onto Rachel. The three embrace for what seems like forever.

Finally Teaspoon releases his hold on Buck. "It's so good to see you son. It has been too long." Teaspoon spoke barely able to get the words out.

"It has been too long, but I am home now," Buck stated happily. Buck walks over to a young woman who is trying to get down from the wagon, but she is about seven months pregnant which makes the task extremely difficult. Buck helps his wife get down from the wagon and he brings her over to where Teaspoon and Rachel are standing.

Teaspoon senses immediately that he knows this young woman, but she looks a little different than the woman he met for a brief time about eight years ago. "Jane, is that you?" Teaspoon questioned taking her hand and really looking her over and then giving her a fatherly hug.

"Yes, it is me Teaspoon. It has been such a long time," Jane replied holding onto Buck for support as Teaspoon releases her from their hug.

"So the two of you are married I hope," Rachel said thinking that with a baby coming within a month or two that Buck had better have made an honest woman of Jane.

"Of course we are married Rachel," Buck replied easing Rachel's worried mind.

Rachel suddenly gets a pang of sadness as she looks at Buck and Jane. "So how long do the two of you think that you can stay," Rachel asked hoping to see her newest grandchild's birth.

"You don't want us to leave already, do you Rachel?" Buck asked getting the wrong impression from Rachel that she really wants them to stay forever.

"Rachel why don't you take Jane into the house and get her settled in while I chat with Buck a while," Teaspoon spoke wanting to talk to Buck about staying at least until after the baby is born.

Rachel takes Jane into the house to show her a beautiful bedroom downstairs that would be perfect for her and Buck to stay in while they are visiting.

Teaspoon and Buck walk toward Kid and Lou's home. "I see that you are still working on the house. Three years when I rode through you almost had it finished what kept you from getting it done?" Buck asked looking over the house that has curtains hanging in every window.

"I sort of quit working on the house about a year ago when Kid informed me that he and Lou couldn't move back home at that time. I started back working on it a few days ago when Rachel out of no where informs me that she misses all of you and wants all of you back home again as a family," Teaspoon spoke wondering what Buck will think of his admittance that he and Rachel terribly miss all of them.

"I have missed you and Rachel very much Teaspoon," Buck stated as he and Teaspoon hug again. "That is why Jane and I have bought a small farm just a couple of miles outside of Rock Creek."

"You what?" Teaspoon asked excited that Buck will be staying permanently.

"I bought a farm…"

"I heard that part. I can't believe what I am hearing," Teaspoon stated with a large smile playing on his face.

"Teaspoon is everything alright with you and Rachel? I mean I expected you to be happy, but you seem almost relieved that Jane and I are staying," Buck replied a little worried about his family.

Teaspoon wonders if he should tell Buck about all the old memories that he and Rachel have been having lately. He decides that he needs to talk to Buck so that when he becomes a parent he will understand this strange feeling of loss when your children leave you. "This ranch has been pretty quiet for too many years Buck."

"I am not sure I understand," Buck spoke looking deeply into Teaspoon's sad eyes.

"Look at this home. Do you see anything unusual about it?" Teaspoon asked thinking that if anyone can see what is going on it would be Buck.

"No one lives in the house, but there are beautiful curtains hanging perfectly in every window," Buck replied looking back at Teaspoon.

"That is because Rachel has spent the past three years making this empty house a home for when Kid and Lou come back here to live," Teaspoon stated worried about his wife and all her memories.

"But Kid and Lou never actually said they would come back home even after you started building this house."

"I know that and you know that, but Rachel has had it in her head that once the house is completely done that Kid and Lou will make the move back here," Teaspoon stated sadden by Rachel's sadness to have her family back.

Buck glances at the house again and then back at Teaspoon. "Is anything else going on with Rachel?" Buck asked concerned about Rachel.

"Nothing really, I mean we both have been hearing memories from the past a lot lately. You know like the other day I was thinking about Noah's untimely death and I heard the silence that came from you after a rushed out of the marshal's office to see Neville lying dead on the ground."

"I hope after all these years that you still don't blame yourself for that situation," Buck spoke grimly thinking that Teaspoon has never stopped blaming himself for not getting to Buck before the incident with Neville happened.

"That situation is the point that I am trying to make with how things change when your children grow up and move away," Teaspoon stated wanting Buck to cherish his children and make as much time for them as he possibly can so that when they grow up he has no regrets.

"I know that you and Rachel didn't want any of us leaving seven years ago when one by one we took off in different directions. I understand that you wanted to keep all of us together, but I know that speaking for myself I just needed time to think about what was best for me. It had nothing to do with my wanting to leave you and Rachel. It had more to do with if I had stayed I would have been your deputy until the day I died and…"

"That was my choice for you not your choice," Teaspoon finished Buck's thoughts.

"Yeah, but now I think that being your deputy would be my choice if you would have me back," Buck stated having finally found what he truly wants in life. A family of his own, which is with Jane and with the baby soon to be born, a farm and home that he can call his own, working with Teaspoon again and to be a part of his old family.

Teaspoon slaps Buck on the back as they both start to walk toward Rachel and Teaspoon's home. "I'd like to have you back in the office. So you are going to farm and be my deputy," Teaspoon replied happy to have one of his son's back home.

It had been a little over two weeks since Teaspoon had sent a telegram to Kid telling him that the house is completely finished and that he and Lou could come home to start up the ranch if moving back west is something they would like to do. He mentioned in the telegram about Buck having bought a small farm a couple of miles outside of Rock Creek. He also mentioned that Buck had met up with a woman from his past and married her, but he didn't tell Kid who the woman is. He thought that would be a nice surprise should Kid and Lou make the trip back to Rock Creek.

Now that Rachel is occupied with Jane and keeping her comfortable during the last few weeks of her pregnancy, he has been able to relax a little bit concerning Rachel's sounds of past memories. She hadn't had anymore imaginary sounds of laughter or memories of all of them standing right in front of her since Buck had come back home.

As for Buck he is busy part of his day fixing up the small farm that he and Jane hope to be living at before the baby is born and the other part of the day he rides into town to help Teaspoon as his deputy. The town folk are happy to have Buck back as their deputy and many had stopped by the marshal's office during Buck's first couple of days to express how happy they are about his return. Teaspoon knows that that had to make Buck happy. It had taken a very long time, but the citizens of Rock Creek respect and truly like Buck.

Teaspoon had been sitting at his desk looking over wanted posters when Buck entered the office ready for his afternoon deputy duties.

"How was the morning?" Buck asked as he sits at his desk noticing right away that Teaspoon doesn't answer and that he seems to be preoccupied with the posters lying on his desk in front of him. "Teaspoon, is everything ok?"

Teaspoon finally hears Buck and glances up from the posters to pay attention to Buck. "Did you hear those shots?" Teaspoon asked as he quickly gets up from his chair and rushes to the window with his gun drawn.

"Teaspoon, no one fired any shots. I swear I really think both you and Rachel should let Doc Barnes check your hearing," Buck said as he continues to watch a shocked Teaspoon sit back down in his chair.

"I was thinking about Jesse," Teaspoon proclaimed as he tosses Jesse's wanted poster onto Buck's nearby desk for him to look at.

Buck looks intently at the poster for a moment. "Do you want me to post it on the bulletin board?" Buck asked thinking that Teaspoon doesn't have the heart to do it.

"Later maybe, I just want to talk," Teaspoon spoke his mind years away from today.

"I am here to listen to whatever it is that's troubling you Teaspoon," Buck stated as he leans back in his chair ready to listen to Teaspoon.

"Rachel and I we haven't seen Jesse since he left here seven years ago. At least with the rest of you we would see you from time to time when you would be passing through, but Jesse he never stops."

"Does that really surprise you?" Buck asked his voice showing that he has no concern for Jesse James since he chooses to lead the life of a robber and killer.

"I know that he has been though this area. I hear his name mentioned all the time whenever I am in nearby towns on business," Teaspoon uttered knowing that Buck doesn't really care much for Jesse.

"Teaspoon, I know that you love Jesse just as much as you love the rest of us that rode for the Pony Express, but he has chosen a life that goes against everything that you believe in. I mean with you being a marshal."

"I just miss the boy that Jesse used to be," Teaspoon replied not wanting to upset Buck with his reminiscing of Jesse.

Teaspoon and Buck glance up from their conversation when they hear a stampede of one horse come rushing toward the office! They both stand up from their chairs just in time for the door of the office to slam open and for Kid to come rushing in at both men!

"Kid!" Teaspoon and Buck hollered in unison as the three men share hugs.

Teaspoon pulls away first to take a look at Kid. "I have been waiting for a telegram and you're looking a bit thin. Isn't Lou feeding you properly?" Teaspoon asked with a wide grin painted on his face.

"Buck it's so good to see you," Kid said quietly as he hugs his friend and brother again.

Teaspoon watches on as tears form in his eyes.

Kid finally releases Buck from their hug and looks at Teaspoon. "Lou and I wanted to surprise all of you."

Teaspoon looks around. "Where is Lou?"

"We went out to the ranch first. Abigail and Emma were both exhausted from the trip out here. Lou wanted to get them into a nice warm bed for a nap," Kid replied as all three men are just so happy to see one another again.

"Did you see the house?" Buck asked hoping that Kid likes the finishing touches that he and Teaspoon had worked on for a couple of weeks.

"Lou and I didn't go inside yet. Rachel was just so happy to see us that I think she wanted to take Lou through the house after getting the girls settled in for their nap," Kid stated as he slaps Buck on the back. "I also met your lovely wife. How did you ever meet up with Jane again?" Kid asked happy that Buck has found a woman that truly loves him.

"She stole my horse about three years ago," Buck spoke as he witnesses a surprised look on Kid's face. "It's a long story. I will tell you about it later."

"And she's pregnant. Looks like the baby is just about ready to be born," Kid remarked.

"Buck I think we should call it a day and get out to the ranch. I am sure those women are cooking up quite the feast," Teaspoon spoke as Buck agrees and the three leave the office for the day.

After supper that night Rachel, Teaspoon, Buck and Jane with Kid and Lou are sitting on Rachel and Teaspoon's front porch talking about the past and thinking about the future.

"So back to what we were talking about this afternoon on our ride here," Kid spoke bringing up a conversation that the three of them had as they rode back to the ranch from Rock Creek earlier that day.

"I think it is a great idea Kid," Teaspoon spoke hoping that Buck would agree.

"What idea is that?" Rachel asked wondering what other good news she might receive today.

"I've asked Buck to join me in building this ranch into the most successful horse ranch in the territory," Kid replied hoping that everyone will encourage Buck and Jane to join him and Lou to build the ranch.

"Like I had said earlier Kid, I think your idea is worth pursuing, but Jane and I just bought a farm a couple of miles from here. I'd really like for you to see all the work I've done so far with it," Buck replied thinking that he would like to build a ranch with Kid, but what would he do with the farm he had just purchased.

"I have the perfect solution for the farm Buck," Jane spoke liking the idea of living here on the ranch. "We could sell the farm. You have already bought six horses. That would be enough to get this ranch started."

"Like I said earlier the two of you, well soon to be the three of you, could stay with Rachel and I until we get another house built here on the ranch," Teaspoon spoke hoping that Buck will say yes.

"Ok, don't all of you gang up on me at once. I will put the farm up for sale tomorrow," Buck said as everyone is smiling and excited about the formation of The Kid & Buck Horse Ranch.

A few days had passed since the formation of The Kid & Buck Horse Ranch. The men were busy mapping out Buck and Jane's new home to be built about thrity feet away from Kid and Lou's, but sitting back in the little wooded area by the stream. Jane was getting some much needed rest for her feet and legs so Rachel and Lou decided to start getting Kid and Lou's house ready for them to move into.

It was early afternoon and Rachel and Lou had spent the better part of the morning unpacking the wagon filled with possessions that Kid and Lou had brought with them from back east.

The two women were busy getting Lou's kitchen ready for many days of family cooking and baking.

"Lou, what exactly got you and Kid to come back home? The both of you were so sure a year ago that you would never move back," Rachel asked wondering exactly what Teaspoon had written in his telegram to Kid and Rachel.

Lou stops a moment from putting dishes away in cupboards to glance at Rachel. "Teaspoon mentioned that you were missing your family, but he also mentioned that Buck had come home to stay. I think Kid really thought that if Buck had made the decision to come back home for good then it was time that we also decided one way or the other. Kid knew that once we made our decision we would have to live with that decision for the rest of our lives," Lou replied making Rachel realize that they didn't want to spend the rest of their lives so far away from their family.

"I have been having a really tough time these last few years getting used to how quiet the ranch had become with all of you gone. So much so that I have been hearing your voice and Kid's voice and Buck's voice everywhere I turn. One day I heard all of you arguing in the bunkhouse the way that you all used to when you were riders for the Pony Express," Rachel stated knowing that Lou will understand her pain.

"I know exactly how you feel. I would think about Buck, Cody and Jimmy all the time wondering how they were doing or if they were even still alive. Whenever I would receive a telegram from you I was always searching for news on how they were doing," Lou spoke wondering still how Cody and Jimmy are doing.

"I am sorry that I couldn't give you more news on them, but that was because most of the time Teaspoon and I don't even know how they are doing. Jimmy was here last summer and stayed for a week only because Teaspoon insisted that he stay. I think Jimmy was ready to leave after two days, but he stayed and helped Teaspoon track down a bank robber. I know that Jimmy appreciated the hot meal every night and a warm bed to sleep in, but it still wasn't enough to keep him here," Rachel chimed thinking about how much she had enjoyed Jimmy being home last summer for the first time in seven years.

"I know that you would like for Jimmy to be here now what with Buck and Jane ready to have their first baby and for him to be able to share with Kid and Buck the news about their partnership, but how are you going to find him and how are you going to get him to stay once you do find him?" Lou asked hoping that Rachel can find Jimmy.

"I know a few towns that Jimmy frequently stays in. I am going to send out telegrams tomorrow hoping that eventually he gets one of them. There is really no other way to find him."

"What are you going to say to Jimmy in the telegram?" Lou asked knowing that Rachel already has a plan brewing in her mind.

"I am actually going to tell Jimmy the truth with maybe just a little bit of exaggeration," Rachel said as she sees the questioning look that Lou is giving her. "I am going to tell Jimmy that Buck and Kid are busy building the new ranch and that Teaspoon needs a deputy for a couple of months so that Kid and Buck can get the ranch started before winter arrives. That isn't too much of an exaggeration."

Lou rushes over and gives Rachel a hug. "I think your plan just might work. What about Cody?"

"Cody is still with the army. I know that with his work it would be impossible for him to stay in Rock Creek for a long period of time, but perhaps he could visit more often if he knows all of you are back home to stay. I am not too sure on how to reach him, but I was thinking I might try a couple of the forts around the area. I'll first deal with Jimmy and then Cody."

Lou and Rachel go back to unpacking. Rachel stops abruptly and listens to all the sounds that are such a welcome to her. The sound of the men hammering the walls to Buck's new home, the sound of their laughter over one of Teaspoon's bad jokes, the sound of Lou humming in the kitchen as she puts away more dishes and the sound of Jane walking onto the porch with Abigail and Emma chatting away at her. She knows that she will be able to persuade Jimmy and Cody to come home, maybe not to stay permanently, but perhaps for awhile they could stay and then make more visits knowing that Kid and Buck are home for good. She smiles warmly at all the sounds on the ranch knowing that her family is back together again.

Kid had come by Buck's ranch to make sure he was doing alright after the accident that left him with a broken foot. The events had happened a few days ago when Buck had come into town to help him and Teaspoon out with a rowdy gang of outlaws that rode into Rock Creek just for a quick drink at the saloon and to have a little fun while shooting up the town! When Buck arrived he unfortunately got caught in a cross fire and was thrown from his horse!

Kid found Buck sitting on his front porch with a cold glass of water thinking about the chores that he could get done and the ones that he couldn't possibly do while hobbling around on his crutches.

"I know what you're thinking," Kid stated with a slight smile as he walked onto the porch and took a seat next to Buck.

"What am I thinking Kid?" Buck asked knowing that Kid is going to give him the exact same kind of lecture that Teaspoon had given him the day before.

"What you're thinking is that it is spring and there is a lot of work to be done and that you can manage feeding the horses and cows and tending to the hens and the goats and all the other chores around this ranch all by yourself, but you can barely walk even with the crutches," Kid replied easing Buck into the plan that his family has already put into motion.

Kid, I can't just sit here on this porch for the next six weeks with my foot propped up on a stool and watch the work not get done. I don't think the animals will be too pleased if I avoid feeding or giving them water or mucking out their stalls until I am capable of walking again," Buck stated annoyed with his injury.

Kid looks around the ranch and suddenly realizes just how much work Buck does every single day to make his ranch successful. He doesn't have nearly the work that Buck does on his ranch because Lou does part of the work while he works in town as Teaspoon's deputy. Kid looks back at Buck. "That is why Rachel has set her plan to help you for the next six weeks into action. You have nothing to worry about. All the chores on your ranch will be taken care of everyday from dawn to dusk while your foot is healing," Kid announced happy that he was the one chosen to deliver the good news to Buck.

Buck is apprehensive about asking Kid how his chores will get done if all he can do is sit on his porch for the next six weeks, but because his curiosity is darn near killing him he proceeds with caution. "Exactly how is this going to happen?" Buck questioned with an, I am afraid to ask look on his face.

"Rachel has summoned Jimmy and Cody to come home to help you out on the ranch," Kid replied quickly and patiently as he waits for Buck to explode.

"What?!" Buck replied almost out of his chair.

Kid gets up and forces Buck to sit back down and then he takes his seat again. "Listen Buck, there is no way that you can do all the work that your ranch requires and Jimmy and Cody are both more than happy to come home for six weeks to help out. All you have to do is feed them and give them a place to stay," Kid replied quickly knowing that it won't sit well with Buck having Cody and Jimmy underneath his roof for more than a day or two.

Buck thinks about what Kid is saying before he explodes about Cody and Jimmy staying with him. "I will end up with more than a broken foot if I have to tolerate Jimmy and Cody living under the same roof with me. This entire family knows that Cody and Jimmy don't get along," Buck stated sure that he will probably be moving in with Rachel and Teaspoon before his foot has mended.

"Not to mention the fact that you and Cody are usually at one another's throats for one thing or another," Kid spoke with laughter.

"It isn't funny Kid," Buck spoke with a serious glance Kid's way.

Kid feels a little sorry for Buck. He first must endure sitting for six weeks and then he is asked to endure Cody and Jimmy living with him for six weeks. That would have to be some kind of punishment for just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. "Look I think this could really work out if you just give it a chance. I will stop by as often as I can just to make sure that the two of them are not driving you totally crazy."

"Oh thanks a lot Kid," Buck stated grimly.

Early the next day Jimmy arrived at Buck's. He walked into the house to find Buck sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of coffee. "I hope you made enough for me," Jimmy stated as the two men shake hands and hug.

"How have you been Jimmy?" Buck asked happy to see Jimmy.

"I've been good, but I hear you're not doing too well," Jimmy replied as he looks at Buck's foot while pouring himself a hot cup of black coffee.

"Yeah, well I have been better, I am really grateful that you're here to help me out, but…"

"I know. You hate relaying on others to do your work, but I don't mind. This actually gives me the chance to come back home to visit with my family. Something that I probably would not have done on my own," Jimmy stated thinking about how long it has been since he has seen any of them.

"It has been three years since your last visit and that visit only happened because Teaspoon was sick," Buck stated wondering if Jimmy feels uncomfortable being around Louise after he had told her that he did indeed love her.

"It isn't all because of Lou if that's what you are thinking," Jimmy spoke making it perfectly clear to Buck that he cares about Lou, but that's all it is anymore.

"Then why do you stay away if it isn't because of Lou?" Buck asked thinking that maybe it could be because it is hard to face Kid with Kid knowing that Jimmy cares deeply for his wife.

"There isn't any one reason why I stay away. Maybe a little of it has to do with Kid. I don't want Kid to think I come back home just to see Lou. Some of it is because of what happened when the Pony Express ended. All the stuff with Cody is still hard for me to swallow.

"I heard my name!" Cody hollered as he walked into the kitchen where Buck and Jimmy are enjoying a cup of coffee and a meaningful conversation.

Jimmy looks at Buck somewhat annoyed. "I didn't know…"

"Didn't Rachel mention that she had also asked Cody to help me out?" Buck asked seeing the disturbed look on Jimmy's face.

Cody gives Jimmy a slap on the back and then a hug. "I am just so happy to be back home with all of my family. Jimmy it has been a long time. I am thinking about seven years since we last seen one another," Cody said with a smile on his face from ear to ear at his contentment for being with his family again.

"I was thinking that it hasn't been long enough," Jimmy stated as he takes a gulp of coffee.

Buck can only sit back and try to force a smile as Cody pours himself a cup of coffee to join him and Jimmy. "This coffee sure has the same old Rock Creek coffee smell. Things just never change around here," Cody said as he takes a sip of the strong black coffee while making an offensive face at the smell.

And exactly what kind of coffee do you drink Cody?" Jimmy asked in an annoyed at Cody already tone of voice.

"Well the coffee I drink sure doesn't smell like it came from the back end of a mule," Cody replied pushing the coffee away from him. "So exactly why did Rachel send for me?"

"It involves work Cody," Jimmy replied watching Cody's complexion turn pale.

"Rachel didn't mention that in her telegram," Cody replied feeling a little sickly.

"What did Rachel tell you?" Buck asked convinced that Rachel probably mentioned something to do with food.

"That she was planning a sort of family gathering that involved a lot of eating. She thought I might want to visit for a few weeks," Cody replied suddenly noticing that when Buck gets up from the table he is walking with a pair of crutches and his foot is bandaged heavily.

"Well Cody I hate to disappoint you, but here is the real scoop on why Rachel beckoned you to come home. I broke my foot and I need help here on my ranch with the chores. The catch is that while you work for the next six weeks I will feed you that feast that Rachel promised you," Buck stated feeling as if this is going to be a very long six weeks.

Buck with his crutches and Jimmy walk outside from the kitchen back door leaving Cody to ponder over Rachel's deceiving him. "This is going to be a long six weeks."

"Cody!" Buck and Jimmy hollered in unison.

That night after dinner the three men all retired to their bedrooms. The damp spring air had made the temperature at night drop lower than what Cody was used to. He tossed and turned snuggling his blanket up to his face until finally dressed in only his long johns walked over to Jimmy's bedroom where he stole his blanket right from on top his friend. Cody doesn't even take the time to realize that Jimmy had opened the window in his bedroom and that the room is freezing! He leaves Jimmy shivering and grasping for his blanket in his sleep.

Back in his bedroom Cody takes the two blankets and snuggles down deep into his bed. With the added warmth of the second blanket Cody easily falls fast asleep until in the morning Jimmy wakes him up with a growl!

"Cody!" Jimmy hollered as he looked down at Cody who is still sleeping soundly in his bed like a newborn baby.

Cody sits up in his bed scarred out of his mind. "What are you hollering for at the crack of dawn?"

"It's actually time to get up and start the morning chores," Jimmy spoke calmly as he grabbed the top blanket off of Cody. "And the next time you come into my bedroom and steal my blanket you are going to find yourself sleeping out in the pasture with the cows! Do I make myself clear?" Jimmy asked not waiting for an answer, but instead leaving Cody to think about his plight should he steal from him again.

After breakfast Cody and Jimmy head out to the barn. Once inside the barn Jimmy hands Cody a rather large pitch fork. "What's this for?" Cody asked honestly not remembering from their old Pony Express days how to use a pitch fork.

"You honestly don't remember what we use a pitch fork for?" Jimmy questioned amazed at how Cody has managed to survive in the West.

"No, I don't," Cody replied sniffing the inside of the barn. "Could we get out of the barn it sort of smells like something died in here."

"Something did," Jimmy replied as he laughed and pushed the pitch fork into Cody' stomach. Jimmy than escorts Cody over to the cow and horse stalls. "Today your job is to muck out the stalls," Jimmy stated with a wide smile on his face.

Cody suddenly understands what the pitch fork is for. It is wide enough to clean out all the crap from the stalls. "Oh come on Jimmy! I am an army officer. I can't be seen mucking out stalls of horse and cow crap!"

"Who is going to see you other than me? This is your punishment for stealing my blanket," Jimmy replied angry at Cody for just being at Buck's with him.

"I thought my punishment was sleeping with the cows in the pasture not cleaning up their crap," Cody hollered back at Jimmy who is walking away to start working on the corrals that didn't weather well through the harsh winter snow storms that have passed since spring's arrival.

"You can sleep with the cows. That way they can actually crap on you," Jimmy replied as he walked out of the barn with a wooden tool box.

Cody watches Jimmy disappear. "I think maybe I will just muck," Cody replied as he takes a deep breath thinking that it will be more pleasant to hold his breathe while mucking, but that proves ineffective when he breathes in the unpleasant odor from the barn that he wants to escape from. Before mucking his face turns red as he gags and coughs the horrific smell out of his lungs!

Kid gets off his horse in front of Buck's house who is sitting on the front porch reading a book. "You seem to be enjoying your time off," Kid spoke as he walks up the steps and leans on the porch railing.

"I don't want to get too used to doing nothing. It doesn't suit me very well," Buck stated as he puts the book down to talk with Kid.

"How are things going with the help?" Kid asked with a teasing smile.

"Just before you got here the two of them were in the barn hollering at one another about something. I think it had something to do with Cody sleeping with the cows tonight," Buck stated with a grin.

"Well Cody always did know how to get on Jimmy's good side," Kid spoke teasingly.

Kid, I don't know if I can take five weeks and six more days of Jimmy and Cody bickering all day and night long," Buck stated wearily.

"You are actually counting down the days," Kid said with a grin.

"I have to; it's the only way I can stay sane through all this and with the two of them living here driving each other crazy," Buck replied knowing that Kid wouldn't want the two of them living with him for even one night.

"I am sorry Buck."

"I keep thinking that I am having this horrible nightmare and that any second someone is going to wake me up. I keep thinking it will be you since you seem to be enjoying my pain just a little too much," Buck stated with a slight grin.

"I have to admit that it is kind of hilarious having Cody and Jimmy living with you and actually working together. I mean how did Jimmy get Cody out here to do chores anyway? I figured Rachel asking Cody to come home to help was a waste of a telegram, but he showed up," Kid said watching the grin form on Buck's face.

"Rachel kind of didn't tell Cody the complete truth. She told Cody that she was planning a feast for the family and she wanted him to visit for a few weeks," Buck replied with a smile.

Kid roars with laughter. "Leave it to Rachel to come up with a great plan to get Cody to work," Kid stated as he and Buck look toward the barn when they see Cody running from the barn with straw and cow crap tossed all over him.

Cody comes running up to the porch. "Jimmy is insane! He threw cow crap all over me. He says I wasn't mucking the right way. How can there be a wrong way to clean out stalls of cow crap?" Cody hollered as he flinches about.

"You smell real bad Cody," Kid stated as he plugs his nose.

"There's a well in back of the barn and then there's always the cold creek in back of the house where you can wash the smell off," Buck said trying to keep from laughing at Cody's misery.

Cody runs behind the house opting for the smell to be gone quickly by jumping into the cold creek. "Damn you Jimmy!" Cody hollered as he realized just how cold the creek is in the early days of spring.

Kid and Buck finally let out their laughter!

After Cody finally was able to get the cow crap smell off his skin he proceeded to sit at the kitchen table where Buck has prepared supper for the three of them.

Cody glances at Buck who hasn't said too much since he had arrived. "I know that deep down you are enjoying my plight being here with Jimmy just a little too much," Cody stated somberly.

"After seven years of not seeing one another you would think that the two of you could get along better," Buck stated noticing the guilty look on Cody's face.

"Jimmy and I have actually run into each other from time to time. I mean Buck we are both out their traveling me with the army and Jimmy by himself. We were bound to run into one another," Cody replied miserably.

"So why are you and Jimmy being dishonest about running into one another? I suppose that you pretend that you don't even know Jimmy when you run into him when you're with your army troop," Buck stated thinking that Cody being an army officer now is embarrassed about knowing Jimmy and maybe even ever working for the Pony Express.

"If you're implying that I am embarrassed about once working for the Pony Express I will tell you that I am not. Riding for the Pony Express is what made my advancement to an army officer possible," Cody stated proud that he rode for the Pony Express.

"How is that?" Buck asked as he placed food on the table for Cody to serve up a plate for supper.

"The army knew that I rode for the Pony Express and they would give me special missions where I would have to deliver mail, important documents, maps things like that to other forts. They knew that I was a fast rider having ridden for the Pony Express. I always completed these missions on time or sometimes even earlier than my intended arrival time. Eventually I became an officer through my fast riding," Cody stated proud of himself and his past job as a rider for the Pony Express.

"So you're just ashamed of Jimmy," Buck stated wanting to know what Cody's problem is with Jimmy.

Cody has already devoured most of his supper and he continued to help himself to more food with Buck not really paying attention. Instead Buck is more concerned on getting answers from Cody. "You sure can cook Buck. This supper is the best thing I've smelled all day and it tastes better than Rachel's cooking, but don't ever tell Rachel I said that," Cody spoke trying to avoid Buck's question concerning Jimmy.

"I am glad you like my cooking, but my cooking isn't really what this is all about. Come on Cody why do you dislike Jimmy so much?"

Cody puts down the utensil he is holding in his hand and gives in to Buck's questioning. "I don't dislike Jimmy. It's just that Jimmy and I didn't exactly part on the best of terms all those years ago when Noah was killed and Jesse ran off. Jimmy blamed me even more than Teaspoon did for Noah's death," Cody remarked somberly.

"Teaspoon didn't really blame you for Noah's death. Teaspoon was very upset that Noah died for nothing just like the rest of us were all upset about his death," Buck replied wondering if Jimmy's dislike for Cody has just made Cody dislike Jimmy just as much to the point where now they can not tolerate each other. "I know Cody that Jimmy hated the fact that you had joined the army…"

"He has never been able to accept that being in the army is my life and it makes me happy," Cody remarked as he continued to eat.

Jimmy walked into the house from the kitchen door and sits down at the table looking at all the empty bowls of food that was suppose to be his supper. "Cody, did you enjoy your supper and mine?" Jimmy asked angrily.

Buck looks down at the table and realizes that while he was trying to get answers out of Cody he ate everything at the table. "It's my fault Jimmy. I kept talking to Cody and not paying attention to how much he was devouring," Buck spoke looking harshly at Cody.

Jimmy notices that the bowl of vegetable soup that Cody is devouring is still half full and Cody notices Jimmy looking at it. "You can have what's left," Cody remarked as he shoves the bowl toward Jimmy.

"That's real nice of you Cody," Jimmy said as he takes the bowl of soup and dumps it over Cody's head. "That makes me feel a whole lot better that I missed out on supper."

The soup drips and drips all over Cody's face and down his shirt. He tries to wipe the soup out of his eyes. "I probably deserved that," Cody spoke as he gets up from the table. "Well I guess I will just get on up to bed; busy day tomorrow. Just so you know Jimmy, Buck here is a really good cook," Cody said as he leaves the kitchen while grabbing a dish cloth to clean up with.

"I think I guessed that Cody! I could smell supper clear out in the barn," Jimmy hollered while Buck pours him a cup of coffee.

"What's his punishment going to be tomorrow, I mean besides the fact that you dumped soup all over his head?" Buck asked as he gets a slight smile from Jimmy.

"I'll think of something that really smells bad since Cody's true happiness depends on what he eats and that his nose never has to smell anything offensive," Jimmy stated with a smile and a second cup of coffee.

The next morning Buck decides that he can not spend the entire day sitting on the porch reading a book. He ventured out by the barn to find that Cody is sitting down in the pig pen trying to clean out the pen. "Cody it might be easier to clean out the pen if the pigs weren't in the pen," Buck remarked with a grin making fun at Cody's expense.

"I don't think I can do this anymore Buck," Cody spoke as he tries to get to his feet, but he keeps slipping back down into the pig crap. "I have done nothing but clean crap since arriving while Jimmy fixes the corrals and feeds the animals. It's just not fair."

While Buck continues to watch Cody try to get out of the pig pen Jimmy walks by with a breakfast sandwich piled high with fried eggs and crispy, hot bacon!

Cody glances up at Jimmy devouring his sandwich. "That bacon sure does smell good," Cody remarked with a frown that he is still surrounded by pig crap.

Jimmy looks down at Cody sitting in the middle of the pig pen with six pigs gathered all around him. "It smells exactly like it tastes Cody, crispy and hot. Cody I had asked you to clean out the pig pen not swim in it," Jimmy remarked with a pleasing smile as he walked into the barn while eating the remains of his breakfast sandwich.

"Cody, why did you come out to work this morning before sitting down to eat breakfast? I promised you a feast for helping me out on the ranch," Buck said as he looked down at an almost heartbroken Cody.

"Jimmy informed me that I had my feast last night and that my punishment for eating his share of supper was that he got my share of breakfast this morning along with his share," Cody replied somberly.

"I see. Well Cody you have a nice day," Buck spoke as he limped away from Cody and back up to the house. "I'll be going into town today. I'll be back in time to fix supper. You are allowed to have supper before bedtime, aren't you?" Buck asked grinning at Cody's predicament with Jimmy.

Buck limped into Teaspoon's office crutches and all. Teaspoon's face brightened up when he witnessed Buck walking about even with the hardship of crutches. "What brings you into town?" Teaspoon asked thinking that maybe it wasn't such a good idea to leave Jimmy and Cody alone on the ranch.

"I had to do something besides spending my day sitting on the porch," Buck stated somberly as he sits down in Kid's chair.

"I thought you was doing the supervising," Teaspoon said with a teasing smile.

"No one could supervise Jimmy and Cody. Actually I have that wrong. Jimmy is doing the supervising and I am surprised but Cody is obeying Jimmy's every order," Buck remarked with a slight chuckle at how the two of them have been battling each other since they arrived mostly over food.

"I suppose I don't really want to ask, but I will anyway. Why is Cody obeying Jimmy?" Teaspoon asked wondering how Jimmy and Cody are really getting along.

"Actually the two have given me quite a few laughs since they have arrived what with Cody eating Jimmy's supper and Jimmy dumping a bowl of soup onto Cody's head. Then Jimmy has given Cody all the sh-- crap chores at the ranch. You know mucking out the stalls and cleaning out the pig's pen. I can hardly wait to see what chore Jimmy makes Cody do tomorrow," Buck spoke with a smile.

"So the two of them are getting along as well as can be expected then?" Teaspoon asked thinking that Jimmy and Cody can actually live under the same roof.

"Yep, as well as can be expected. By the way where is Kid today?" Buck asked thinking that Kid never takes a day off from the office.

"I told Kid he could have the day off. I think he wanted to get some work done around his ranch," Teaspoon replied as he looks at Buck who seem to go from happy talking about Cody's harmless pain to sad over Kid working on his ranch, but Teaspoon knows the real problem. "I know that you hate having Jimmy and Cody do your chores for you, but it's only going to be for a few more weeks."

"Actually it's more like five weeks and four days," Buck stated somberly.

"So you're counting," Teaspoon stated surprised that Buck has very little to do that he would actually be counting down the days until he doesn't have to use the crutches anymore. "Ok, I think we need to find you something to do with all this spare time you have before you go crazy."

"What would that be? I can't do anything that requires standing."

Teaspoon thinks a moment and realizes that he has the perfect solution. "Kid needs time away from this office to get ranch work done and I could use you here to just work around the office," Teaspoon replied thinking he has found the perfect solution for Kid's problem and Buck's dilemma.

"I thought you just said that we shouldn't leave Jimmy and Cody alone on the ranch," Buck stated wanting to help Teaspoon out because then he would be doing something, but worried that Jimmy and Cody might kill one another.

"For God's sake Buck they are grown men! What are they going to do that could possibly be so bad?" Teaspoon questioned thinking that the two of them should be able to work together wit