JANUARY 12, 1860
Corey got out of her bunk and walked across the room as quietly as she could without disturbing any of the other sleeping riders. She knew that they wouldn�t understand her reasons for leaving, so she thought it would be better to just leave a note. She reached underneath her bunk for the satchel she had carefully packed the night before and swung it over her shoulder. She quickly rolled up her bed pack and pulled the folded sheet of paper from her pocket. As she quickly scanned the hastily written note, she knew she was doing the right thing.
My friends,
I have chosen to leave the Pony Express in order to travel West and try and find my family. I recently got word of some possible leads, and I feel that I have no choice but to follow them. I hope to see you all again real soon, but for now this is what I must do. Please forgive my sudden departure, but I knew you would try and talk me out of it. Wish me luck!
Corey
�
Corey took a deep breath, laid the note on the table and quietly opened the front door of
the bunkhouse. She cursed the squeaky hinge and held her breath as she heard Cody stir. He
did not wake, only turned over and mumbled something in his sleep. She quietly pulled the
door shut and hurried down the steps and over to the barn where she quickly mounted her
horse and took off. She had one last stop to make before heading towards California.
Meg�s, Meghan Thompson, her best friend. She knew that Meg would be devastated to find out that Corey was leaving, so she knew that again, the only way to tell her would be through a letter. She arrived at the Thompson residence a few minutes later and quietly walked up the steps of the front porch. She pulled the other note out of her pocket and hesitated slightly before opening it.
My dearest Meg,
How you will probably hate me after reading this, but I know of no other way to tell you. I am leaving Dreamville. For how long, I don�t know, but it is something I must do. I received some leads on my family in California and I have decided to go after them. As soon as I know where I will be staying I will write you with the address. But for now, please wish me luck and I hope to talk with you soon. You are, and always will be, my very best friend, and I wish you well while I am gone.
Love,
Corinne
Corey felt her eyes moisten up, and she swallowed back her tears. Meg was the only true friend she had ever had, and it hurt like hell to have to say goodbye. But it also hurt like hell to know that you�re abandoned by your parents and not have any clue as to who your family was. Corey needed to know who she was, and why her parents deserted her before she could go on with her life. She would just have to do what she always did � deal with the pain.
Corey tucked the note in the grates of the front door and turned around. She looked up at the house where she had spent so many days and her eyes traveled up to Meg�s window.
"Goodbye my friend," Corey said quietly before turning and mounting her horse. She rode off into the direction of the rising sun and hoped that she wasn�t making a mistake.