Lou stared at the ad in the paper:

Business for Sale
Going Back East
Includes all merchandise and building
$600.00
See Widow Summers in Rock Creek, Nebraska

Looking up she saw Cody coming toward her with the package Teaspoon had sent them for. She sighed wishing it had been Jimmy who had drawn this run with her instead of Cody. She would have been able to talk to Jimmy but Cody; she figured would only tease her about wanting to buy a dress shop.

"Ya ready to go?" Cody asked when he reached her.

"Yeah," she replied as she tore the advertisement from the paper and stood up. She grabbed Lightning's reins from the hitching post and swung up on the horse's back.

As she folded the piece of paper to put it in her pocket Cody asked, "What's that?"

"Nothing," Lou replied as she turned Lightning toward home and gave the horse a kick.

Looking down where Lou had been sitting Cody noticed the paper was from Rock Creek and it looked like Lou had torn out an advertisement. Curiosity getting the better of him Cody grinned. Teaspoon always got a paper and he could look at it and figure out what Lou had been reading.

******

Cody stretched as he woke the next morning. The ride the day before had been pretty easy and he and Lou had gotten back just after sunset. By taking it though they had earned today off. The thought of Lou had him recalling the events of the day before and how distracted Lou had been on the way back to the station.

Climbing out of his bunk he dressed quickly. The others had left him and Lou to sleep in but Cody was too curious about what Lou had found to sleep any later. Lou though he could see, was still sleeping.

As he was about to leave Rachel came through the door with a plate of biscuits and ham. Grabbing a couple of the biscuits, Cody grinned at her, pointed at Lou still sleeping, and rushed out the door.

Rachel called after him, "Cody, you have better manners than that!" Looking back over her shoulder she noticed that she'd not awaken Lou. ******

Cody headed straight toward the jail hoping Teaspoon hadn't thrown out the paper yet. He ate the biscuits as he rode. Reaching the jail saw the paper lying on Teaspoon's desk. Picking it up he quickly turned to page Lou had been reading the day before. In the outside column about midway down he spotted the advertisement. Reading it he realized what had preoccupied Lou yesterday. She told them how hard it was for a girl to find a job that paid enough to take care of her brother and sister. She said pretending to be a boy, even a small boy, earned her more than any job she could find as a girl that was decent.

"Good mornin', Cody. Didn't expect you up so early, seein' how you have the day off," Teaspoon said as he stepped into the jail.

"Um…yeah," Cody replied laying the paper down.

Teaspoon noticed Cody seemed a bit preoccupied and asked, "Something on your mind, son?"

Cody looked at Teaspoon and then back down at the paper. "When did Widow Summer's decide to go back East?"

Cody caught Teaspoon by surprise with the question. "Since last week when she got a letter from her daughter. Her husband joined the Army so she needs her mother's help with the children," Teaspoon said as he walked around his desk and sat down.

"Oh," Cody replied quietly. The usually talkative rider was quiet for a change which was beginning to concern Teaspoon.

Teaspoon watched him for a moment then said, "Somethin'…."

Cody cut him off, "Teaspoon, how much do you think Lou's been able to save since the Express started?"

Teaspoon wondered at Cody's interest in Lou's savings. "Don't rightly know. And don't figure it's any of our business. Why?"

"Well…she was…now I wasn't spyin' on her honest Teaspoon. But I saw her. She was readin' the paper while I was gettin' the package and she got a faraway look on her face. Then a moment later she looked all sad. When I asked her about it she wouldn't tell me anything." Cody paused for a moment and looked at Teaspoon, his usual grin and easy going manner were gone. "Ya don't think she's tired of the Express and us, do ya?"

Teaspoon looked at Cody, the boy was really worried. "She ain't said anything." Looking down at the paper on the desk he asked, "You think she saw that advertisement for Mrs. Summer's shop?"

Cody nodded. "She even tore it out but she's not said anything about it but she's been real quiet since the break up with Kid. When he took up with Samantha, she started stayin' away from the bunkhouse when he was there."

"Now Cody, I done told you boys to stay out…."

"We are Teaspoon but she's been real unhappy. We're worried about her, she's become like a sister to us…well, most of us."

Cody didn't have to say more Teaspoon had seen the looks cast in Lou's direction from Jimmy since the run to Willow Springs. Teaspoon had known about the advertisement for the dress shop. "So you think she wants to buy the shop?"

"She sure was preoccupied after she saw it. But she's not said anything about it."

Teaspoon leaned back in his chair and hooked his thumbs under his suspenders as he thought about what Cody had said. He knew the female rider had been upset about Kid and the new teacher. She'd not quite been her feisty self the last couple of weeks. And lately it wasn't all that hard to see the young woman underneath the disguise she wore. The widow was asking a large sum for her shop but it was a fair price considering what she was including. All the merchandise, furniture and the building, it would be a good business for a young woman starting out, especially one as good as Lou was with a needle. Lately, she'd been helping Rachel with the mending at the station and doing a better job than many a seamstress, including one of his wives.

Cody knew Teaspoon was thinking about everything they had talked about and he was about to leave him to his thoughts when Teaspoon finally spoke.

Teaspoon stood up and walked around the desk. "Come on, Oliver owes me a favor since I helped him out last week."

Cody grinned as he followed Teaspoon out the door and down the street to the bank. Oliver was the teller at the bank and Teaspoon had told them at dinner the night before how mad Oliver's wife had been when he came home drunk a couple of days ago. She'd almost thrown him out until Teaspoon told her that the bank had nearly been robbed and Oliver was just trying to calm his nerves after the incident.

*******

It wasn't hard to convince Oliver to tell them how much Lou had in the bank, after a bit of coaxing from Teaspoon. . She was over a hundred dollars short of the price the widow was asking. They left Oliver and headed back to the jail trying to figure a way to help Lou out.

*********

A few hours later found them still sitting in front of the jail when Jimmy and Noah arrived.

"Now that's not a sight I ever thought I'd see," Jimmy said to Noah. "Cody with his mouth shut and no food around."

Noah laughed. "And sittin' here with Teaspoon lookin' all serious." Then to Cody he added, "It's a different look for you ain't it?"

When Cody didn't rise to the bait, Jimmy asked, "What's going on?"

"Lou wants to buy the dress shop but she doesn't have enough savings in the bank. We were just trying to figure out a way to help her out," Cody replied. "But we ain't been able to come up with anything."

"How do you know she wants to buy a dress shop?" Jimmy asked.

"I saw her lookin' at the advertisement in the paper. She tore it out and won't say anything about it. But every time she looks at the advertisement she gets this look in her eyes," Cody replied. "But Ollie said she's only got four hundred sixty-two dollars in the bank, leavin' over hundred more for the shop."

"Not to mention what she'll be needed to care for the young'uns until folks see how good she is with a needle," Teaspoon added.

"She is good with a needle," Noah agreed. "I've got fifteen she's welcome to if it'll help," Noah said reaching in to his pocket.

"I won thirty off that gambler last night. Better Lou use it than buying into another game. It's in the bunkhouse, I'll get it for you when we get back," Jimmy quickly added.

"That'll still leave eighty-eight. I've got fifteen myself, that'll bring it down to….um….seventy-three," Teaspoon said.

"I've got ten after what I spent on that last run. So that leaves sixty-three. If Buck, Ike and Rachel chip in we should get pretty close to what she needs," Cody said as he stood up. It was exciting doing something like this for Lou; after all she'd helped just about all of them at one time or another.

"Aren't you forgetting someone?" Teaspoon asked with a pointed look.

Cody shook his head but wouldn't look Teaspoon in the eye.

Jimmy, though, didn't keep his thoughts to his self, "He doesn't care enough, Teaspoon. Look how he treated her."

"Now, Jimmy you don't know the Kid's feelin's. He may want to help." Even as Teaspoon said the words he didn't believe them. Either hadn't had much to do with the other since the schoolteacher. Even though the woman had left town the two riders were still only a bit more than civil to each other. "Just ask him. Couldn't hurt matters and he might want to help."

Jimmy started to object but he knew from Teaspoon's look, the stationmaster wasn't going to change his mind.

"Buck and Ike'll be back soon, I'll check with Rachel first," Cody said as he stood up. He then hurried back to the station.

*************

That evening Rachel asked Lou to give her a hand after dinner up at the house with some mending and the rest of the riders-except Kid who wasn't back from his run yet-gathered to see how much they had managed to pull together.

"Rachel pitched in ten," Cody said after the ladies had left the bunkhouse, "that leaves fifty-three."

"Here's twenty-five more, from me and Ike," Buck said handing Teaspoon the money. "What's that leave?"

"Twenty-eight," Noah said. "When's Kid getting back?"

"'Bout now," Kid said closing the door behind him. "Why?"

Teaspoon waited a moment for one of the others to tell Kid what was going on. When no one volunteered, he took it on himself to explain things to Kid. "Widow Summers is moving back East to her daughter's and sellin' out. Cody here saw Lou with the advertisement the widow ran and believes she wants to buy the shop. But she's short a bit of cash for it and we are trying to help her out." Teaspoon hadn't taken his eyes off Kid since he started speaking. He could tell Kid still cared for Lou.

"You want to contribute?" Jimmy asked. It was phrased as a question but Kid heard the challenge in Jimmy's voice.

"Sure," Kid said walking over to his bunk and pulling out a small bag. He tried to pretend it didn't matter to him but he wasn't really sure he wanted to do this. Lou could take it the wrong way. She could just feel bad that the widow was leaving, since the lady had been nice to her the few times they had met in town, and still want to ride for the Express. But she had told him when they first got together that it was a dream to one day own her own business and she was good with a needle.

"She only needs twenty-eight more and she can buy the shop," Cody said eagerly.

"There's about seventy-five, in there. She'll need the extra for getting Jeremiah and Teresa here, setting up the place, and until folks see how good she is," Kid said tossing the bag on the table and heading out the door with a fresh change of clothes for the shower out back.

"Where'd he get that kind of money?" Cody asked after Kid left.

"He's been workin' at the livery carin' for the horses since Samantha left," Buck said from the end of the table. "He said it was to stay busy and out of Lou's way. He's feelin' pretty bad about everything that happened."

"How long were you going to keep this to yourself?" Teaspoon asked his eyebrows going up and his tone rough.

"He didn't want anyone to know. He asked me not to say anything 'til he could find a way to let her know how sorry he is for what he said," Buck replied to Teaspoon's question but he was looking directly at Jimmy.

"He should be," Jimmy said but much of the venom that had been in his voice the last few weeks was gone.

"Well, that gives her more than enough for the store." Looking at his riders and filled with pride at how they had pulled together to help Lou, he added, "How shall we tell her?"

*Doesn't Rachel have one of her apple pies cooling for dessert?* Ike asked.

"She does, and I believe she made some lemonade to go with it," Teaspoon replied.

"I'll go get them," Jimmy volunteered a bit too eagerly.

"No," Teaspoon said as he stood up. "I'll go get the ladies. You are going to let Kid know that he is expected in here with the rest of us. It'll take us a moment to get back; I suggest you use the time to let Kid know that you-and all of you are still his friend."

Jimmy thought about objecting to what Teaspoon said but he knew better. He groaned as he followed Teaspoon out the door. He knew it wasn't going to be easy to convince Kid to come back inside but he had to try.

******** Jimmy found Kid just finishing up his shower and dressing. "Hey, Kid. Teaspoon wants us all inside to give Lou the money for that shop." Jimmy waited a moment and when Kid didn't reply he said, "He said to tell you he expected you there."

As Kid finished dressing he tried to think of a way to get out of going back in the bunkhouse. When none came to him he sighed, "Look Jimmy, could you just tell him I had somethin' to do. I'm sure she won't mind."

Jimmy was becoming frustrated. "Kid, she'll want you there."

Kid was feeling the same way, he thought of all people Jimmy would understand. "Sure, she ain't spoke more than a word to me in three weeks. Not that I blame her at all. She's even taken to leaving the bunkhouse when I come in unless a meal is on the table and she's been spending more and more time up at Rachel's than the bunkhouse. So what makes you…all of you…think she'd want me there."

"She's hurting Kid. Or haven't you noticed?"

Jimmy's question had Kid seeing red. It was the final straw. He got right in Jimmy's face as he said, "What haven't I noticed? That she doesn't smile anymore. That she's lost weight because she ain't eatin''. That she leaves the bunkhouse in the middle of the night and sits out in the barn cryin'. That she looks at all the things the girls in town have and tears fill her eyes. That she looks more and more like the woman she is every day. I notice Jimmy, every little thing that she does I notice. I just…just...damn," Kid swore and turned away unsure if he was more angry with Jimmy or himself.

Jimmy smiled. "You still love her." It was a simple statement but one that went a long way in understanding his friend.

Grumbling for revealing so much to Jimmy Kid replied, "Never really stopped."

"What about Samantha?"

"Samantha?" Kid sighed. He'd not thought about the woman since she'd left town. "Ah, I thought she was what I wanted. She was a lady like I was used to back home." Kid shook his head. "But she couldn't do a thing for herself. Wouldn't even try most times, and she couldn't ride. I kept finding myself comparing her to Lou and Lou won out every time. Then she just up and left after that man Robert died. She didn't even say goodbye."

"You miss her?"

Kid looked back at Jimmy and his friend could see the truth. "She ain't the one I miss, Jimmy. I miss Lou."

"Come on, Kid. We'd not have near enough if you hadn't pitched in," Jimmy replied.

Kid thought about what Jimmy said. "I thought you two were gettin' pretty close."

Jimmy looked out across the prairie and then answered, "She's not safe with me. I care about her but," he looked back at Kid, "she ain't in love with me 'cause I ain't you." When he noticed Kid was about to deny what he had just said he added, "Kid give her some room. She's afraid of losin' the independence she's gained by bein' Lou."

Kid didn't reply and Jimmy hoped he'd listen to what he had said. When Kid nodded and gathered his things Jimmy let out the breath he had been holding. They both smiled and headed back to the bunkhouse.

As they came through the door of the bunkhouse, they noticed everyone else was already seated and waiting on Teaspoon to cut the pie Rachel had made.

"'Bout time you two came in, one more minute and I think Cody was going to come after you," Teaspoon said as they took seats opposite each other at the far end of the table.

Teaspoon picked up the knife to cut the pie, then stopped in mid-slice causing Cody to groan. "Lou, I heard you got an interest in that shop the widow is selling."

Lou looked up at Teaspoon surprised that he knew. Before she could ask how he said, "A little bird mentioned it."

Everyone laughed as Lou looked at Cody and mumbled, "A peacock is more like it." He grinned back at her and shrugged, earning a slight smile from Lou. "I did," she admitted, "but it's too much."

"Well," Teaspoon said knowing she'd not accept the money if it was just offered, "You have been doin' a lot of the mendin' around here lately and some of us could use a couple of new shirts and maybe a pair or two of pants. Come to think of it my suit is lookin' a bit moth eaten. Think a few investors could help you out?"

Lou's pride started to make her decline the offer but she really did want the shop. "Guess, I could do that but I'm short over a hundred dollars not to mention the money I'd need to get Jeremiah and Teresa home."

"Lou," Rachel said gently, "We'll help you out with all of it. We are a family."

"Ike and I saw a couple of old bunks in the barn we could fix up for them. Won't take anything to do it," Buck offered.

"And there are two dressers in the attic of the house that could be used, if someone would clean them up," Rachel said with a smile.

"Sounds like a job for me and Cody," Noah said with a smile in Lou's direction.

"Kid and I have that run to St. Joe in the morning. We can pick up Jeremiah and Teresa while we're there," Jimmy offered.

Lou just nodded overwhelmed by her family's generosity. Looking down at the end of the table Kid was nodding in agreement with Jimmy. She started to feel trapped and like the decision had been made for her. She started to panic and reject the kind offer.

Kid saw the look on Lou's face and finally realized what Jimmy said was right. It wasn't that she didn't love him but that she needed her independence, too. Maybe Jimmy was right about her loving him. "We just want to see you smile again, Lou. If you'd rather keep working for the Express that's fine, too." Kid's heart skipped a beat when Lou smiled-a real smile-at him.

Everyone else looked at Kid stunned; he was actually telling her she could still work for the Express if she wanted. Lou felt her throat grow tight and looked away. "I would like it but I don't think ladies would buy dresses from some…"

"They would if you had relatives in town," Jimmy suggested.

"Yeah, you could draw your savin's out of the bank, ride a few towns over, take the stage back and act like you're new in town. Then start askin' for one of us and we'll claim you as a sister or somethin'," Cody put in.

"But which one of you and who could I be?" Lou asked.

Teaspoon cleared his throat. "Me, darlin'. Now, most folks know I've been married enough times that I might have a child somewhere. If you showed up claimin' to be my daughter I don't think anyone would doubt you or me when I claimed you were."

Lou couldn't speak. Tears of happiness filled her eyes. "You'd want me as a daughter?"

"Far as I'm concerned," Teaspoon said taking hold of her hand, "ya already are."

Lou nodded unable to speak. Teaspoon pulled the envelope out and handed it to her. "There's close to two hundred in there. You get that shop going and we'll help you out with the young'uns." Teaspoon saw the first genuine smile from Lou in a long time. Clearing his throat he said, "Rachel pour the lemonade and let's celebrate, my daughter's come home." He started to cut the pie again and paused. Pulling the knife out, he pointed it at the other riders. "I expect you boys, to treat her with the respect the daughter of the marshal deserves."

"Like you did that marshal's daughter down in Texas, Teaspoon?" Jimmy asked remembering when Teaspoon had told him about the man that had helped him out.

"Better."

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