JULY 25, 1861

“Cody,” Jacy repeated for the third time.

Cody was jarred out of his thoughts, “Yes, Jacy?”

“Guess what I got in the mail today?” Jacy asked.

“You sure like guessing games, don’t you?” Jacy thought Cody was picking on her, but then he smirked, and she smiled. “Well, lets see, could it be a letter?”

“Well,” she thought about it for a few seconds, “No, not exactly.”

“Money?” Cody said

“NO!” Jacy shook her head. “It’s sort of like a letter. Well, I’ll just tell you.”

“Ok, tell me.” Cody wondered what it could be.

“It’s an invitation.”

“An invitation?” Cody was about as surprised as Jacy had been when she had opened it a few minutes earlier.

“To a wedding.” She drew out the suspense waiting to see when he would ask who was getting married?

Finally Cody could stand it no longer, “Who’s getting married?”

“Charlie and Grace.” Jacy watched his eyes grow wide.

“Wow!” Cody wondered how Teaspoon was taking the news. “Well, you’re going aren’t you?”

“Well I don’t know, if you are I ummm . . .” She didn’t finish the sentence waiting to hear if he would ask her to go with him.

“When is it?” He inquired.

“It’s this Saturday.”

“This Saturday?” Cody thought that was real soon. Jacy nodded. Cody looked down at his legs. “I can’t go Jacy.”

“Why not? I’m sure one of your friends could give you some help, and you’re really good in the wheelchair.” Cody shook his head. “No, I can’t. Not yet, it’s too soon.” He had been sitting up talking to her, but after saying that he laid back down. Jacy was about to say something but decided against it. He didn’t seem interested any more.

Sadden Jacy said barely above a whisper, “Well, I’ll let you get some rest.” Cody didn’t respond, so she sulked out of the room.

Cody laid there thinking. It hurt to make Jacy so unhappy or to feigned disinterest, but he had no other choice. Because he had overheard Jacy and Jewel's conversation two days ago, Cody had started to think maybe Jewel was right. If he didn’t walk again, how could he support Jacy? What kind of man would he be? Silently nodding to himself, he decided that Jacy would be better off without him. Ideas came and went rapidly in his head. He had to figure out some way to get Jacy not to like him and to like someone else. An hour later while still thinking of whom Cody could set Jacy up with, she slowly opened the door.

Jacy was hoping that he wasn't asleep, and she smiled when she saw that he was awake. "Cody, Kid's here to see you."

Cody nodded and sat up. "Send him in please."

Jacy stepped aside letting Kid in.

"Hey Cody, how you fairin’?" Kid said as he walked over and took a seat in the chair next to his bed.

"Hey Kid, I'm doing okay. Can you do me a favor?" He asked determined to stick to his plan.

"Sure what is it?"

"Can you escort Jacy to the wedding?"

"What? Cody. If I --,"Jacy started to protest, but Cody held up his hand to stop her.

"You should go and have some fun." Keeping his real reason a secret. "Well Kid, will you?"

Kid was reluctant at first but figured that Cody just needed someone to look after her for him since he couldn’t be there, so he turned to Jacy. "I would be pleased to escort you, ifin’ you don’t mind ma’am."

Jacy was confused. She could see Cody really wanted her to go, so finally she agreed. "Alright, I’ll go." Still baffled Jacy left and went to get supper started. While she was cooking, she hoped that Cody would change his mind and decide to take her to the wedding himself.

Kid visited with Cody for a while filling him in on everything that was going on at the station. Then he headed back home.