Songs from the Hope Floats Soundtrack CD Honest I Do Sometimes what we see is NOT what is real and it can cause misunderstandings. In Need Jimmy's attraction to his fellow rider is frustrating him to no end. Paper Wings A little story about Louise and a set of paper wings that had set her free. To Get Me To You Jimmy's caught in a snow storm but nothings going to keep him away from his family. Chances Are Jimmy's on a mission once he decides that Abby's the one for him. Will he find what he's looking for? Honest I Do… “How could you think I don’t love you anymore?” he said in a loud voice, trying not to yell at her. “What would ever give you that idea?” he demanded. For days now his wife had been acting strangely and now this. He had no clue as to where she got the idea that he didn’t love her anymore. Why, he had never loved anyone else but her. She was his whole world and up until now he had thought he’d been doing a good job of showing her how much she meant to him. Her tears, which had been threatening to spill over, finally did so with a loud sob and she threw herself down upon the bed and buried her face in the quilt upon it. ‘How could he even ask her that?’ she wondered. Hadn’t she seen him talking to that new seamstress just the other day? She had seen the smile he gave to her, the way he looked at her with that gleam in his eye. A look he hadn’t given her in a long, long time… With a deep breath, he sat down upon the bed, reaching out a hand and gently brushing the hair from her face. “Please, won’t you tell me why you think I don’t love you anymore? I’m in the dark here. I don’t have any idea what’s going on in your mind,” he said in a more calm and soothing tone then he’d used with her before. Though her tears were still falling, they had slowed down and she was no longer sobbing. Reaching up she tried to push away his hand but he wouldn’t let her. He just kept on stroking her forehead and cheek, softly asking her to talk to him. The pain in her heart was making it hard for her to answer him. Never had she thought that she would lose his love. They had been together for over seven years now and had two beautiful children. How could his feelings change in the blink of an eye just because he had seen a beautiful woman? “I…I seen you and her! Don’t try denying it. You were talking to her and looking at her with a gleam in your eye. How could you? I thought you loved me!” she accused glaring at him. His eyebrows rose at her accusation. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said in all honesty. “I don’t know what woman you think I’m in love with either.” Her eyes narrowed a fraction as she hissed, “That new seamstress that’s who!” Laughter rang throughout the room when he heard that. Pulling her into his embrace he hugged her tightly to him. “Oh, sweetie! You couldn’t be more wrong. I was talking to her about you! I wanted to buy you a new dress for your birthday and it was suppose to be a secret. What you saw was me telling her about you. There’s only been one woman for me and that’s you. I love only you, honest I do…” In Need… You know everybody’s watching me And what they see Is me watching you… Jimmy tried to hide his growing attraction for Lou. He tried not to look at her every time she entered the bunkhouse or the barn. He went to great lengths to not be left alone with her in a room. How many times had he even traded runs with one of the other riders so that he would be gone when she was at the station? Nothing he did seemed to make a difference. The plain hard truth was, he wanted Lou and he wanted her bad. He wanted her to love him, to want to be with him, to seek his arms when she was sad. What he wouldn’t give to have Lou go weak kneed from his kisses. With a low growl, Jimmy threw the last of the wood he had chopped onto the pile. He felt like everyone was always watching him, waiting to see what he would do next about his attraction to the female rider. At times, Jimmy was sure that they were all laughing behind his back but he never caught them doing it so he wasn’t able to say anything. Every night I dream you’re next to me Tenderly You say my name You stay close enough to keep me here Then disappear When we’re face to face Nighttime was the hardest for him. There was nowhere he could hide from the Louise of his dreams. He would fall into a fitful sleep most nights, having forced himself not to stare across the room to where he could see her sleeping in her bunk. Once he was asleep, the dreams would begin. They were always the same. He would hear his name being said tenderly in his ear. In his dream, he would wake up to find Louise next to him on his bunk, softly caressing his skin where his undershirt was open. She would smile coyly at him before leaning down to place feathery kisses upon his lips. They would snuggle and hold each other all night long. The dream never varied and in it there was no doubt that she loved him completely. Because of this, Jimmy was unable to make himself leave his job, even though the dream Louise disappeared in the light of day when he was face to face again with the flesh and blood woman of his dreams. Though he tried to fight the attraction, the need growing in him to see if it might not be returned was growing stronger. For now, he would continue to watch from afar, waiting to see if she might really be the woman of his dreams. Paper Wings Louise was hiding in the corner of the room next to the dresser, praying that the bad man wouldn’t find her. She could hear his boots as he made his way up the stairs and down the hall. They stopped outside her door as they had so many times before. A single tear escaped the corner of her eye as the handle on the door began to turn slowly. Closing her eyes tight she imagined she was a little bird, perched on the windowsill, ready to take flight…like the one her momma made for her from a sheet of paper the other day. He entered the room and closed the door softly behind him. No need for the girl’s momma to hear and come start with him again. Looking around the room, he finally spotted her skirt in the shadows. In three steps he was standing over her, a wicked grin upon his face as he saw the terror written on her face. How he loved to see that look. Reaching down, he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the middle of the room. Eyes narrowing he growled for her to look up at him. She shook her head, the motion almost imperceptible. He noticed it however and shook her hard. He hated to be disobeyed and this slip of a thing was NOT going to ignore his demands. His right hand lifted high above her, pausing so she would know it was coming, giving her ample time to be afraid and cringe. The child looked up defiantly, not saying a word, lips thin in a solemn line. She knew what was coming and let her mind drift off to where she was that little bird perched for flight. When he full force of his hand struck her, she bit her tongue to keep from crying out. As he repeatedly hit her, she kept her eyes shut tight, flying high above the fields behind the house, where nothing bad could happen to her. She was free from the pain that the bad man caused when he beat her, free to live in the sunshine. Not satisfied with the reaction he had not gotten from the child, the man shoved her away from him. When he turned he knocked the paper bird off the dresser and it was crushed under his boot as he went in search of more amusing prey. Once he had left her alone, Louise picked herself up from the floor where he had thrown her. Touching her lip she felt pain where it had been split. Her cheek stung from the repeated slaps also. What hurt the most though was when she noticed her bird, the bird that gave her freedom from the pain, lying crushed upon the floor. Kneeling down to pick it up, she cradled it in her hands, tears falling from her eyes. She shook her head, wondering how she could have thought that paper wings could set her free… To Get Me To You The snow was falling heavily now. Darkness was settling over the mountainside and Jimmy knew that he’d have to find shelter soon. He’d hoped to be home by now, sitting next to the warm fireside, watching Abby as she went about taking care of the baby. Joshua Hickok had been born only a month ago and Jimmy had hated leave him and Abby to go into town but they needed supplies and if he didn’t go before they got snowed in for the winter, they’d be without to many things they’d need during the cold months ahead. Sometimes he cursed their living so far out in the wilderness but then remembered how he and Abby had come across the spot where they’d built their cabin. It was an early day in spring and they’d both fell in love with the view. They could see the valley below and for miles in three directions. It was perfect. A stream ran down the mountain not far from the house and the water was as fresh as could be. There was enough shelter from the trees surrounding the house that the worst of the winter weather didn’t hit them head on like if they’d built down on the open plains. It was the perfect place to raise a family and that’s exactly what they were doing now that their son was born. He’d come a few weeks early and had scared the heck of Jimmy. He had never delivered a baby before and there was no time to ride into town for the midwife who’d been planning on coming out to the cabin just before the baby was due. Both Abby and he survived the delivery but there was a moment there when he thought he might not make it. He knew his wife was a strong woman but never realized just how strong until watching her go through labor. He thanked god he was a man and wouldn’t ever have to experience what she’d went through. One thing he did learn was Abby knew a lot more unlady like words then he ever imagined and he was called most of them more then once while waiting for their son to be born. A smile crossed his face as he thought of how beautiful she’d looked holding their son once he made his appearance into the world. It was a picture he’d never forget. With a sigh, he pulled on the horses’ reins trying to get them to move through the ever-deepening snow. “You’ll get to rest soon,” he told them as they reached the cover of several pines in which they’d take shelter for the night. Jimmy piled the dry goods against one of the tree trunks forming a shelter for himself from the north wind. The snow was coming down heavier as darkness fell. He found enough dry wood and debris to make a fire to cook something to eat and for warmth. Glad that Abby had insisted he take several extra blankets since one never knew when a storm would strike, he wrapped himself in them next to the blaze. Back in town he’d been warned that a storm was brewing but he was anxious to get back to his wife and child and insisted on leaving despite the words of warning. He’d do whatever necessary to return to his family, even if it meant trudging through snow waist deep. *~*~*~* It was still dark when Jimmy packed the goods back on the horses and set out on the last leg of his journey home. He was determined to get there by noon. The snow had let up overnight leaving close to three feet on the ground making it slow and difficult going. He could smell the smoke from the fire in the house long before he could see it. That smell alone made him hurry. He knew that soon, he’d be home in the loving arms of his wife and holding his son. As he crested the bend leading to the house, he seen the front door open and Abby dressed in her winter coat and woolen scarf come out of the house and headed towards the woodpile. With a huge grin he called out to her. At the sound of his voice, she turned; dropping the wood she’d picked up Abby started running towards him. He laughed as she went down and got up all the more determined to reach him. Dropping the horses’ reins, he met her part way, gathering her in his arms. “I didn’t think you’d be coming so soon with the storm…” she said breathlessly from his kiss. “Oh, Abby….never doubt that I’ll do whatever it takes to get me to you. I love you sweetheart.” Chances Are …I'll be dreamin' of the future And hopin' you'll be by my side… …Chances are I'll hold you And offer all I have… (Several days prior to the story "All I Have To Offer You Is Me"…) The thought popped into Jimmy's head as he tried to fall asleep, He should ask Abby to marry him. He was tired of them both going to their separate beds every evening, he was tired of not reaching out in the middle of the night to pull her close as he longed to do. He wanted to wake up to her smile every morning. The only way that would happen is if he married her. Abby wasn't the type to share a man's bed without being totally committed and the more he thought about that, the more he liked the idea of having her by his side for the rest of his life. He could see them now…a nice little house somewhere outside of town, at some point a few children running around the yard and hanging on Abby's skirt. Yes, the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea of making a home with her. With that thought in his head, Jimmy finally fell into a peaceful slumber. *~*~*~* The happy mood he'd been in after thinking about asking Abby to marry him was still with him several days later. The more he thought about it, the more he knew it was the right thing for him to do. Ignoring the bemused looks of his fellow riders, Jimmy ate his breakfast with a smile on his face as he watched Abby across the table from him. Every time she'd look up from her plate he'd grin at her, wondering if she'd be surprised at his thoughts of marriage. When breakfast was over, Jimmy asked Teaspoon if he could talk to him for a minute as the others made their way out to the barn to start their chores. "What's on your mind son?" Teaspoon asked, not having missed the besotted looks the young man had been sending the pretty red head over the table that morning. "A…Teaspoon, do you think I might be able to take the day off? I don't got a run today and Cody does owe me from the last time I helped him out so maybe he could do my chores…" Teaspoon could tell whatever Jimmy was wanting to do was important to him even if he didn't say what that was. Taking his hat off and scratching his head, Teaspoon hemmed and hawed for a moment, taking some amusement in seeing the young man squirm. "Well, I suppose that might be possible. You haven't taken any time off in a while and you got some comin'." At the hopeful look on Jimmy's face, Teaspoon had to ask, "Where you headed son? Seems like you got somethin' important your wantin' to do." Slapping the stationmaster on the back, Jimmy grinned. "That I do, but I can't rightly say what it is yet. You'll know soon. I promise. Thanks Teaspoon!" Hurrying back into the bunkhouse, Jimmy went into his trunk and pulled out some of his saved earnings and tucked it into his shirt pocket for safekeeping. As he pushed the trunk back into it's place, a shadow fell over him. "Good morning Jimmy….is something going on?" Abby asked, having been racking her brain over what could have the young man in such a good mood and sending her such looks as he did earlier. Standing up, Jimmy leaned over and gave Abby a kiss on the cheek. "It's a secret sweetheart!" and with that he gave her a wink and told her he'd be back later that evening. *~*~*~* "But that ain't fair I tell ya!" Cody complained after Jimmy gave him the news of having to do Jimmy's chores as well as his own. "You owe me Cody and you know it. 'Sides, Teaspoon already said I could have the day off. See you all later," he called as he led Sundance out of the barn. "Where's he goin' anyhow?" Cody asked frowning. "Don't know, don't care," Kid told the blond man grinning at the thought of Cody's taking over Jimmy's chores for the day. What Cody didn't know was it was Jimmy's turn to not only cart away the manure from the barn, but also help dig a hole for the new outhouse out back. Looking at her friends, Lou said, "Whatever it is, must be important. Did you see the way he was lookin' at Abby this morning? It almost made me blush!" "You and me both," Noah laughed. He'd never seen Jimmy so smitten before. It was amusing to watch the young man in love. "I'd love to see what this is all about, but I've got a run to Bear Run Crossing," Buck told them, saddling his horse. Thumping his chest to get his friends attention, Ike promised to tell him what happened when he got back in a few days. "Thanks, Ike. I appreciate it." A call from out side of "Rider comin'" by Teaspoon sent Buck hurrying out of the barn with his horse following behind. *~*~*~* Jimmy headed northwest towards the town of Lander. He'd recalled seeing a sign for a jeweler there the last time he'd been out that way. With his mind occupied with thoughts of Abby and how he was going to surprise her with the ring, time seemed to fly by and the trip was made in no time at all. Letting out a sigh of relief upon seeing the weathered sign for the jewelry shop, Jimmy stopped Sundance outside of the shop and entered the establishment feeling a bit nervous over what he was about to do. "May I help you?" asked a kind faced elderly man behind the counter. Jimmy wasn't quite sure what he was wanting so he shrugged. "If you don't' mind, I think I'll just look around for a bit first," he told the man as he gazed into the glass cases filled with rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches and other handcrafted items. "Let me know if there is anything you'd like to see," the man said before turning to work on something on the bench behind him. A little while later, Jimmy asked, "What's that green stone? The one right there?" He pointed to a ring in the case he was looking at. Hurrying over to the case, the old man took the ring in question out. "This is an emerald. And a fine one it is too. Look at that deep green color. You don't find many that dark. Most are a pale green it seems. At least most that I've worked with are." "Hmmm," Jimmy said studying the ring with interest. The green would go well with Abby's red hair. The two would compliment each other he thought. The shape was nice too. It was oval but looked kind of plain to him. Pointing to a ring near the emerald, he asked, "Do you have one that has them little clear stones around it…with an emerald, not the red stone?" The shopkeeper shook his head. "No I don't son, but it wouldn't be to hard for me to make you a ring like the red one there. I can take the emerald out of that setting and put it into a new one and put the two diamonds on the sides. I could have it ready for you in about a week if you would like. Yes, Abby would like it, he thought. "How much?" he asked hoping that he had enough with him. Jimmy grinned at the price the man told him. Taking out the money he'd brought with him, he paid for the ring and promised to be back in a week for it. "Whomever you plan on giving it to is one lucky woman," the shopkeeper told him. " Actually, I'm the lucky one," Jimmy told him with a tilt of his hat. "She's going to love the ring. Thank you." Deciding that he'd get something to eat before heading back to Sweetwater, Jimmy headed for the saloon, thoughts of Abby and how she'd like the ring dancing in his head. Email Lisa L. HOME