Javier Cromwell was working in the store when Lee walked in to deliver the mail to Blythe. He followed the boy out of the store.

"Uh, excuse me, Mr. Ethridge."

Lee turned around and saw a boy about her age maybe a year or two younger. "Yes, Mr. Cromwell? You can call me Lee."

"Lee, you can call me Javier."

"OK. Javier, what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering what it was like to be a Pony Express Rider?"

Lee thought on her life. She didn't know how to explain her life to him. "Well, we ride 75 miles a day as fast as the horse can run. And you sleep in a hard bunk and live with 6 to 10 other men. There is no room for privacy. But I love to ride so it's worth it and the pay ain't half bad. I'm able to send my sister to school."

"Thank you for talking to me. I sometimes just wonder what it might be like to have another job besides working for my father."

"Alright." Lee said as she mounted Black, and as she rode back to the waystation, she thought, Yes, it's worth it. Not only did I find a family, I found my Soul-Mate. I just wish we had more privacy!