FEBRUARY 20, 1860

"Hi Blythe," Kid smiled at her as he set the mail pouch on the counter.

"Good afternoon Kid," Blythe smiled back. "How was your run?"

"Not too bad, I only got chased by one gang of outlaws this time," Kid joked.

"Well, I'm glad they didn't get the mail pouch," Blythe teased.

"Just for that, I won't ask you what I was going to ask you," Kid couldn't resist teasing her.

"Don't then," Blythe said. "I'm sure you wouldn't like the answer anyway."

"Well, why don't I ask you and we'll see if you have the answer I want to hear."

"Shoot," Blythe said.

"I just wanted to know if you would like to go for a walk with me," Kid gave her one of his adorable smiles.

"Well, that's an easy question to answer," Blythe laughed. "I'd love to."

"Can you go now?"

"Sure. There isn't any more mail due today, and just about everyone in town has already been in today, so I can leave for a little while." Blythe grabbed her coat. "Mr. Cromwell, I'm going out for a while. I won't be too long," she called to the store keeper, who was waiting on a customer. Mr. Cromwell just smiled and waved for her to go on. Blythe worked hard, often going beyond her duties at the post office to help out at the store, so he didn't mind letting her have a little time off. Besides, he enjoyed teasing her about her growing relationship with Kid.

Blythe and Kid wandered peacefully through town, enjoying the crisp temperatures of the early February day. This was Blythe's favorite kind of day; the sky was bright blue, while the air had a refreshingly crisp coldness. She was so focused on her conversation with Kid and on the beautiful weather, that she didn't see the deep rut in the road. She stepped in it and fell, twisting her ankle.

"Blythe, are you okay?" Kid asked worriedly.

"I think I twisted my ankle," she said.

"Kid reached down to help her up. "Can you walk on it?"

Blythe tentatively took a few steps. "It hurts, but I think I can manage," she gritted her teeth against the pain.

"Nonsense," Kid swung her up into his arms. "I'm too much of a gentleman to let you walk in that much pain. I'll carry you to the doctor's office."

A few minutes later, Kid and Blythe entered the doctor�s office. Luckily, he didn't have a patient, so he was able to see Blythe right away. Kid waited in the front room while the doctor examined Blythe's foot.

"Well young lady," the doctor smiled at her. "I'd say that's quite a sprain you have there." He began to bandage her foot while he talked. "I want you to stay off it for the rest of the day, and if the swelling hasn't gone down by tomorrow morning, come back to see me. You're lucky you didn't break it though."

"Thanks, doctor," Blythe said.

"Now," he handed her a few pills. "If the pain gets too bad, take one of these. And if that boss of yours gives you any trouble, let me know. I'll come over there and talk to him," the doctor pretended to sound mean.

Blythe laughed. "I'll do that."

The doctor handed her a set of crutches. "Now, I know that you will need to get around, so you can use these. Just bring them back to me when you don't need them anymore, okay." He showed her how to use the crutches and opened the door of the examining room.

Kid stood up as they entered the front room. "Are you okay, Blythe?"

"She's gonna be just fine Kid," the doctor said.

Blythe paid the doctor, even though Kid tried to insist that he should pay for it.

"No," she said. "This was my fault. It wouldn't have happened if I was watching where I was going." She handed the doctor the money. "Thank you so much," she smiled at him and shook his hand.

Kid walked her back to the store, where he explained to Mr. Cromwell what had happened. Mr. Cromwell insisted that she go to her room and get some sleep and not worry about who would work the post office. He would take care of it. So Blythe thankfully allowed Kid to carry her upstairs. She wasn't good enough on the crutches to get upstairs yet. He set her down on her bed, and as soon as he left the room, shutting the door quietly behind him, Blythe was asleep.