"But I didn�t get to apologize the first time. She stormed off before I got the chance to." Cody exclaimed.

"Then you really need to apologize to her." Jimmy stated matter of fact. Cody slumped down on his bed. Jimmy had never seen Cody so depressed. Cody was always the lively chipper one. "She overreacted, but now she�s had time to cool down and will probably accept your apology." Cody looked up and grinned.

"You�re right. I�ll go and apologize, hopefully she will accept it." Cody grabbed his rifle and headed for the door.

"Cody aren�t you forgetting somethin�." Jimmy grinned at the boy�s eagerness. "You have a run in fifteen minutes."

"Oh . . . Jimmy could you . . .?"

"Nope, I have a run in less than an hour. You�ll just have to do it later." Jimmy said.

Discouraged Cody went and sat on the steps of the bunkhouse. Jimmy had cheered him up some. Jimmy was probably right. As soon as he goes and apologizes she would like him again. And they could start over again. Then he would ask her to the dance.

The next day Cody had the day off. He went into town and bought a new suit at Jasmine�s and had a trim and shave at the barber�s. Then with a happiness in his heart, he went over to the newspaper office. He knocked on the door, and Melissa answered. "Hi, Cody. What can I do for you?"

"Is Jacy home?"

"Nope. She�s out."

"Well, do you know when she�ll be back?"

"Nope, she didn�t say. She�s out with Ted. They went riding my horse, Braids." Melissa smiled because of her wit. She wanted to keep Cody away from her sister. She had other plans for Jacy, and they didn�t include Cody.

"As in they�re riding double?"

"Yep, that�s what I mean."

Crestfallen Cody replied, "Thanks, you have a good day." He left.