AUGUST 3, 1861

"So?" Elena sat down at a table in the Silver Spoon.

"So what?" Charity asked.

"How's it going with you and Cody?" She looked up into Charity's puzzled face.

"What do you mean? I haven't seen Cody in a long time. I've heard that he's hurt and staying with Jacy."

"Yeah, but didn't you tell me the other day that you saw Jacy with Kid at Grace & Charlie's wedding?" Elena inquired.

"Yes, but so what?" Charity didn't know what Elena was suggesting.

"I bet Jacy and Cody's relationship is a little strain, to say the least, since he's been crippled. You should go out and visit him." Elena advised.

"Oh, I don't know." Charity was skeptical. Just because she had seen Jacy with Kid several times in town and at the wedding, didn't mean that there was anything wrong with Cody and Jacy's relationship.

Elena could see that her friend needed more convincing. "Besides Charity as I was waiting for you, I heard Teaspoon and Rachel talking." Elena turned her head and glanced over at Teaspoon and Rachel. "They said they weren't sure how Cody and Jacy were getting along. Cody seemed to be asking Kid to take Jacy to different events, like the Square Dancing Party coming up. It could be because he's in that wheelchair, or it could be because he doesn't like Jacy any more. There's only one way to find out." She smirked.

After eating her lunch, Elena asked Charity, "So are you going to take a ride out there and see Cody on your lunch break?"

"I don't get that long of a lunch break." Charity answered.

"You're not that busy right now. The lunch crowd is gone now, and I'm sure Caly can handle it for a little while."

"But---"

"You're just making excuses. Now come on." Elena grabbed Charity by the arm and dragged her to the door. "Caly, Charity is going out for a while. You can take care of the place while she's gone, right?" Not even waiting for Caly to answer she pulled Elena out the door, but as Charity was closing the door behind them, they both heard Caly say yes.

Charity went to the livery stable and rented a horse from Dean. She didn't pass anyone on her way to Jacy's home. All the way there she wondered what she would say. She pulled Reflections up in front of the house, and then she dismounted. She walked up to the door and knocked, and Melissa answered.

"Hi Charity, what brings you out here?" Melissa asked.

"I thought I would stop in and see Cody." When Melissa didn't say anything or invite her in, she continued, "Cody and I are friends, and I wanted to see how he's doing."

Melissa smiled and stepped aside. "Come on in. I'll show you where he is."

Charity followed Melissa to Cody's room. Melissa knocked on Cody's door and when he told her to come on in, Melissa opened the door. "Cody, Charity is here to see you."

"Bring her on in," Cody replied from his bed. He had been spending a lot of time in bed lately, mostly feeling sorry for himself because he couldn't be the man that Jacy needed. Melissa let Charity in and then she left. Charity walked up to the bed. "Pull up a chair." Charity followed his orders.

As she sat down, she asked, "How you doing?"

"Well, I'm as good as can be expected under these circumstances." He moved his pillow around some to feel more comfortable as he sat up to talk with Charity. "What brings you here?"

"I just wanted to see how you were doing?" Charity said. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"No, I can't think of anything. Unless you can give me two working legs." Cody answered but regretted it the moment he said it because Charity frowned. "I was just kidding." Charity lifted her head and gave him a little smile. "I'm glad to see you. I don't get to see too many people, and a different face is nice."

Charity noticed how pale Cody was getting. It must be because he hasn't been outside in some time. "Do you ever go outside?" Cody tilted his head wondering why she was asking. "It's just that you're paler than you used to be. Would you like to go out for some fresh air? I could push you outside."

Cody hadn't thought of going outside in his wheelchair, but he didn't want to look pale and sickly, especially in front of pretty girls. It should be all right to roll his wheelchair out onto the porch. "I'd like that." He threw off his covers. That surprised Charity, but he had his clothes on, and she was glad that he did. He managed to get himself into his wheelchair while Charity watched eager to help him if he asked her to. After he was in his wheelchair, Charity opened the bedroom door and pushed him out. She rolled him down the hallway and to the front door. She opened the door and wheeled him out onto the porch.

Charity situated Cody's wheelchair so that it was beside the swing, and then she sat down. They talked and talked, and before Charity knew it two hours had slipped by, and she only stopped to glance at her watch when she saw Jacy come riding in and stop in front of the porch.

"Well, it's good to see you up and outside for a change, Cody." Jacy dismounted. "Hi Charity, what brings you out here?"

"I just came out to see how Cody is doing?" She replied.

"Oh, well, where is Melissa?" Jacy wondered why her sister wasn't around.

"I don't know." Both Charity and Cody replied.

"Well, she should have brought you two some lemonade on this hot day. Would you like some?" Jacy would have to speak to her sister about not being a good hostess while she was away.

"No, none for me." Charity didn't want to stay now that Jacy had returned.

"I would like some." Cody said. Jacy nodded and entered the house.

"Well, Cody I need to get back." She got up and started around Cody's wheelchair, but there was a loose board, and she stumbled and hit the wheelchair losing her balance and falling right into Cody's lap. Cody automatically grabbed her around the waist to save her from falling off his lap and onto the porch floor. Charity turned her head and looked into Cody's face. She wished she were his girl. If only he would kiss her. She didn't even mind that he was in a wheelchair. He was still the same person even though he couldn't walk.

Jacy came out carrying two glasses of lemonade, and it was a little awkward for a minute. Charity finally stood up and brushed her skirt down, "Well, I better be leaving." Charity mounted Reflections and headed back to town.

Jacy handed Cody his glass of lemonade. "What happened?" Jacy asked after Charity left.

"Nothin'."

"Nothin'!" Jacy's anger got the better of her, and she threw her lemonade in Cody's face. Then she stormed back into the house.

Cody just sat there with lemonade sliding down his face. After a minute, he sat his glass of lemonade in between his legs and wiped his face off with the sleeves of his shirt. He didn't know why Jacy was mad at him. He hadn't done anything wrong.

A little while later, Melissa came out. She didn't say anything. She knew Jacy was mad at Cody, and she decided not to ask why. Hopefully soon Jacy would tell her. Instead of talking, Melissa just pushed Cody back to his room.