"What's the matter with you?" Her older sister asked as she watched Melissa moping around the library.

"Why doesn't the rodeo have something that I can do?" Melissa asked. "It's not fair. I want to be part of the rodeo."

"Well, what about a clown. You can go in and lure the bulls away from the riders," she replied.

Melissa's mouth gaped opened. Finally, she closed it and very firmly said, "NO, I don't want to be a clown." She glared at her sister even though her sister had her face glued to her paper.

She stopped writing on the rodeo article and looked up, "Well alright, don't get so upset. Hmmmmm . . . how about . . ." She thought a few minutes and then said, "How about a trick rider?"

"A trick rider? What do you mean?" Melissa was intrigued.

"I mean do you know any tricks that you can do with Braids?"

"Well, Braids will take my hat but she gives it back to me when I want her to. She knows how to bow. Remember I taught her that for fun." Melissa thought some more.

"Are you any good at jumping?"

"Sure, Braids can jump lots of things, fences, bushes, holes." Melissa told her sister.

"Good. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll help you with a routine, so that you can put on a show at the rodeo if you help me with a little something." A conniving grin played across her face which intrigued Melissa even more than the rodeo.

"What . . . what is it you want me to do." Melissa excitedly asked.

After Melissa was told the plan, Melissa and her sister rode into town to put 'the plan' into action.

She knew that Blythe would be out to supper and that the door to the post office wouldn't be closed because Blythe trusted the town folks and Simon and/or Javier would be at the store, and they would keep an eye on the post office.

It just so happened that this morning she had seen Lee deliver a letter to the post office. She was very curious and wanted to know whom it was that Lee always sent letters to. It might help her get Lee away from Jimmy. She had exhausted all her ideas, and anything that might help her figure out a genius plan she was bound and determined to have.

Melissa and her sister arrived outside the store. They entered and immediately Javier came to their assistance. They said hello and asked where Simon was. They found out that he was out delivering supplies to Tally. They got to rattlin' off the supplies they needed both at the same time, and Javier was having a hard time understanding what both of them were saying. Finally he whistled to get the two sisters to shut up. "I can't keep up with you. Why are you in such an all fire hurry?"

"Uhhh . . . well Melissa why don't you tell Javier what we need. I have a letter I need mailed. I'm just going to put it on the counter for Blythe." So she disappeared into the post office while Melissa starting pointing out things that needed to Javier. When she was sure that Javier couldn't see here, she went through the mail and found Lee's letter. She opened it up and quickly scanned it. She pocketed the letter and took it with her.

After Javier packed up their wagon, they headed home. "So did you get it?"

"Yeah, I did."

"Let me see."