AT THE VALENTINE'S DANCE!

FEBRUARY 14, 1860

She had seen Jimmy outside of the corral with another Pony Express rider, the one they called Lee. She had stared at Jimmy for a while. She couldn't avoid to look at him even though he was in the shadows now from where she stood. When Jimmy and Lee moved out of the shadows, and he turned and their eyes met she turned away. She quickly made her way into the corral to watch the dancers, and she saw Buck approaching with a girl. Buck introduced the girl as Caly Johnson. Catherine liked her. Caly was nice, and Catherine noticed the special looks Caly gave Buck.

They talked for a while, and then Buck and Caly went to drink something. Catherine watched Cody asking Caly to dance, she accepted and they danced. When the song ended she saw Buck walk towards Cody to take his date back. Cody then came back and asked Catherine to dance.

Catherine thanked him, and smiling she said she would dance with him later. She apologized and stood up and walked over to Kathleen. The two women talked for a few minutes. Kathleen seemed happy. The dance was making good money for the school fund. Catherine then decided it was time to leave so she said goodbye to her friend and walked out. She tried to mount Thief, back at the hotel Bird had helped her, but now she was an alone and facing the problem of mounting her own horse.

"Damn dress!" She yelled to herself failing to mount again.

"Can I help you, Catherine?" A familiar voice said. Catherine turned surprised, and saw Jimmy Hickok standing right behind her. She stood looking at him as he repeated. "Let me help you to mount," Jimmy said nicely and he continued. "You seem to be having problems, it�s probably because of that dress. I have to say it's a beautiful dress." Jimmy smiled at her.

Catherine blushed. She wasn't used to blushing, but Jimmy had different effects on her.

"Thanks Mr. Hickok, but I don't need your help," she replied.

"Come on, I just want to help you"

"I appreciate, but I don't need your help"

-"God! What's wrong with you? Why do you act like that with me?" Jimmy asked irritated.

"How am I acting Mr. Hickok?" She replied serious.

"You are always in the defensive with me. Can�t you let a man help you with something?"

"What?! Defensive!! Why do you men always think we need your help?" Catherine replied furious, that was one of the effects that Jimmy had on her. She always got furious with him for no reason, "I don't need your help and I don't want your help." She completed.

"FINE!" Jimmy yelled turning and starting to walk away. Catherine was getting more and more irritated then she turned and walked fast towards him.

Jimmy heard someone approaching, and when he turned back he saw Catherine coming. She stood close to him in silence. She held his shirt and pulled him to her and kissed him. Jimmy was totally taken by surprise, and he didn't push her away. Catherine then pushed him away after realizing what she had done. She looked at him embarrassed and walked back to her horse, mounting and riding off.

Jimmy stood still shocked. After thinking about what had happened he turned to go back to dance. Jimmy noticed a shining thing on the ground near his feet. He took and it was a heart shaped locked. He thought that it must belong to Catherine, and she had lost it when she kissed him. Jimmy put it in his pocket thinking about giving her back in another time.