SEPTEMEBER 11, 1861

Cody saw Jacy home after the ordeal with the drunk and Caller Bob getting shot. They were in the living room. Cody could tell that Jacy was feeling awful about the whole incident. Nervous Jacy said, "Cody, I'd understand if you didn't want to see me again after what happened."

"What? Why wouldn't I want to see ya again? You're my gal. Jacy, I love you."

"Oh Cody, I love you, too." She threw her arms around him and Cody squeezed her tight. "I'm sorry about what happened. I had too much to drink, and I didn't know what I was doing."

"I understand. Kid shouldn't have had ya go in the saloon." Cody was angry at Kid for coaxing Jacy into acting like a saloon girl.

"Don't be mad at Kid, please Cody. He only wanted to help Teaspoon and so did I. It was my fault. I shouldn't have had so much to drink. I will never drink beer again. I promise." Jacy didn't want to see Cody and Kid have a straining relationship due to her stupidity. "Promise me you won't be angry with Kid." She pleaded.

"I promise." Cody didn't like to see his gal upset, and he would do anything to prevent that. To make her smile, he changed the subject, "Ya know I didn't like seeing you drunk, but that dress you were wearing looked really good on you." Jacy blushed. "Of course I don't want other fellas seein' ya like that. Ok? If ya want to wear things like that you wear them around here where only I can see ya." Cody leaned in and kissed Jacy.

Jacy was beginning to feel good again, about herself and her relationship with Cody. She didn't want anything to come between them ever again. She loved him so much. Jacy turned around as she heard a noise. "Hi Melissa."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know Cody was here. I'll just go back upstairs and work on my homework." As she spoke a grin stayed on her face. She had already finished her homework but she didn't want to intrude on her sister's alone time with Cody.

"No, come on in here. I think you should know that Caller Bob was shot today." Jacy didn't like to keep any secrets from Melissa. Besides she would probably hear it from one of the other kids at school tomorrow.

"No! How?" Melissa was shocked.

"A drunken man shot him. I'll fill you in on the details later." Jacy replied.

"Is he going to be alright?" Melissa held her breath waiting for an answer.

"I think so."

Melissa let out her breath. She was relieved. She couldn't imagine the town without Caller Bob. "Did we get any mail today?" Melissa was also worried about Jedidiah, and she had been waiting on Jacy to come home to see if she had received a letter from him.

"No, no mail." Jacy saw the disappointment on Melissa's face. Jacy was also disappointed.

Cody noticed their behavior. "Why were ya expecting a letter?"

"I received a letter several weeks ago from Jedidiah. He said that him and Samantha were trying to find a legal way to get Justin out of the mines. He was thrown in there unlawfully by a corrupt sheriff and judge. But I'm getting worried, I haven't received any more information from him, and I'm afraid that something might have happened to him. He said that he would send me another letter informing me more about the situation, if they successfully get him legally out of the mines."

"Where is he?" Cody wanted to make sure that he remembered right.

"He's in Horse Creek." Jacy studied Cody's face wondering why he asked.

"Ike has a mail run to Horse Creek this evening. I think I'll go and trade runs with him. That way I can check on Jedidiah for ya. How does that sound?" Cody didn't like seeing his gal worried.

"Oh Cody would you? I'd be forever grateful. He might just need your help." Jacy's expression turned from concern to relief. "But promise me you'll come back."

"Of course I will. I don't want ya to turn to being a saloon girl to get someone else's attentions. You're my gal and I want ya to stay that way." Cody smirked. He knew she wouldn't become a saloon girl. He was just trying to lighten the mood. Jacy nodded. "I'll stay if Jedidiah needs me, but I'll send word back to ya to let you know what's going on."

"Please be careful." Jacy told him right before she leaned over and kissed him. Melissa turned away to give them their privacy.

Jacy followed Cody to the door and she repeated her words as before. "Please be careful, Cody.

"I will." Cody leaned over and gave her another quick kiss. "That will have to do me until I get back. Jacy blushed. Cody mounted Prankster, waved to Jacy and rode back to the way station.

As Cody was riding in, Ike was mounting Shyster. He was getting ready for when the other rider came in to hand off the mochilla to him. Cody turned his horse just so that it stood in between Ike's horse and the other Pony Express rider. The other rider had to pull back hard on his horse's reins to get him to stop. His horse reared up, but the man was an excellent rider and didn't fall off. As soon as the horse got back down on all four hoofs, the rider angrily shouted at Cody. "What the hell you doin'?"

"Sorry, I just didn't want Ike to take off with the mail." Cody quickly signed, explaining to Ike what he wanted. Ike nodded.

Angrily the other Pony Express rider butted in, "So who am I to hand this off to?" He was getting very impatient because of hunger pains and because he didn't understand what they were doing swinging their arms around and putting their fingers in different positions.

"I'll take it." Cody held out his hand and the man practically threw it at him. Cody grasped the mochilla to his chest so as not to drop it and then without further delay took off for Horse Creek.