DECEMBER 27, 1861

Rowdy was packing up his gear in the barn of the StarShine Haven Ranch when Jedidiah arrived. "You leaving Mr. Yates?"

"Yeah, I'm stronger now, and I need to be getting on." Rowdy threw his saddle on Midnight.

"Yeah, my sister tells me you're looking for work. I wish I could help you with that, but I don't need any hired hands right now." Jedidiah explained.

"That's alright. I need to be moving on. I'm heading west. I heard that there's lots of ranchers out there, so I should be able to find work somewhere."

"Well, I can help you there. I own the J and J Railroad. If you want to get out West fast, you can take a free ride on my train to wherever you'd like to go." The young entrepreneur stated.

"I don't want to be beholden to anyone." Rowdy said as he tied the cinch tight around his horse's belly.

"I'm the one who is beholden to you for saving my sister's life." He saw that Rowdy was about to decline his offer, so he said, "You won't be beholden to me. Besides my train doesn't get as many passengers in the wintertime as it does in the spring and summer. So one more passenger on board won't matter." Jedidiah took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. "So please take this note to the train depot and show it to the clerk there. You can get a ticket to go anywhere you want for free. I usually don't let animals ride on the train, but this time I'll make an exception."

Rowdy turned around and smiled. He took the note that Jedidiah was holding out to him. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. I hope you find a nice place to work. I also would like it if you were to write me and let me know where you ended up if it's not too much trouble. I think my sister might like to write to you." Rowdy nodded, and as Jedidiah left the barn to walk up to the house, he said, "Good luck and take care Mr. Yates."

Rowdy led his horse out of the barn, mounted and started down the lane with a pair of eyes peeking out from the living room window watching him as he left.

Jewel left the window when she could no longer see the young cowboy. Jedidiah had caught her staring out the window, but he didn't tease her. She had enough hardship this past month, and he didn't think she was up to anyone annoying her, even if it was just for fun. He could also see her disappointing features and knew that she would miss the young lad.

Halfway to town Rowdy felt the first snowdrops of the day, and before he arrived in town the flurries were coming down hard and heavy. First thing Rowdy did as he arrived in Dreamville was to check the depot. As he stopped out front of the office, he brushed off some snow from his winter coat and stomped as much snow off his boots as he could before entering. The clerk, Brandon, told him the first train out of town was in an hour, and its final destination was San Francisco. Trading his note in for a ticket he stuck it in his pocket and braved the cold and snow by walking his horse over to the livery stable. He inquired as to how much it would cost him to stable his horse for an hour or so until the train arrived. He was willing to pay, but Samantha would take no money since his horse was staying just for a little while and wasn't going to eat. Rowdy left his horse there and hurried over to the saloon to get out of the cold once again.

Before entering the establishment, Rowdy had to brush and stomp off snow again. He was cold but he knew a drink would warm him up. He ordered a whiskey and as he was sipping it, he noticed the pretty little red-haired saloon gal. She was sitting at a table with a man who seemed to be almost ready to pass out, and if you asked him his name he probably couldn't remember it. He saw a group of fellas passing the day by playing poker, and if he had more time, he would have asked to join them. He could use a little more money in his pockets.

Rowdy turned back to stare at the bartender, though the bartender was skinny he was also muscular, more than able to control the people in the saloon if he had to. The bartender was talking to another fella down on the other side of the bar and that fella was also on the slim side, but he looked like he could take care of himself as well.

Before Yates could lift his mug to his lips again, the voluptuous Red was at his side. "Buy a gal a drink?" She asked as she slipped her arm around his.

"Sure, whatta ya have?"

"Richard, a whiskey please," she called.

Jedidiah rode into town. The snowstorm was horrible, and he wanted to check on Samantha. He didn't find her at the stables, so he decided to see if she was over at the restaurant. He shook off some snow, and as he was about to enter the Silver Spoon, Elena came storming out almost knocking him down. As he entered, he saw Samantha sitting alone. She saw him and smiled.

"What's wrong with Elena? She almost knocked me down?"

"I overheard her talking to Charity. Although I couldn't help it she was practically screaming. She's furious because Meg and Luke, finally, finished rebuilding their house, and now she won't get to see as much of Luke in town as she has been when they were living with Daniel and Serena."

"Oh, well then that explains why she almost ran me down." He smiled. "May I join you?"

"Please do," she pointed to the chair across from her.

They ate dinner, and then Jedidiah escorted her back to her home, which was adjoined to the livery stables. Making sure that she would be all right and that she had enough wood to last her a few days, Jedidiah then made his way back through the storm to his own home.

Four whiskeys later, Rowdy had to leave. He excused himself and made his way through the snow back over to the depot.

"The train might run a little late today, due to that snow." Brandon told the young man as he sat down on a bench near the fire to wait.

"No hurry," Rowdy answered as he rubbed his hands together and blew on them hoping to get them warmed up.

There was a stove in the other room, and before Rowdy had come in Brandon had been making some stew to warm him up. "Mister would you like some stew to warm your belly?"

"That would be mighty nice." Rowdy answered.

Brandon went into the other room and came out with two bowls of beef stew. He handed one to Rowdy and sat his own down at the desk. He then returned to the other room and poured two cups of coffee. He delivered one to Rowdy and he sat the other one down by his stew. He sat down at his desk and ate the stew and drank his coffee. Rowdy didn't talk much, but Brandon told him some things about Dreamville and the Davis family.

Rowdy had learned as much about Dreamville as he wanted to know, especially about Jewel and the past troubles she had with men. He thought Jewel was a nice gal, and she deserved to have a good life. He kind of wished that it could be with him, but right now he didn't have anything to offer a gal. He had no job, he didn't have much money, and he had no roots – no home, nothing!

About an hour later, the train pulled into the station. The conductor entered the office to grab him a cup of coffee while the water was being transferred to the train. Rowdy told the conductor about his horse, and Brandon showed the conductor the note that Jedidiah had written.

"Ok, we'll put you're horse in the cargo car with the luggage. There's not much luggage anyway, not many passengers this trip." The conductor told him.

Rowdy nodded. "I'll just go get him from the livery stables." So Rowdy returned to the stables and retrieved Midnight. When he returned to the depot, the conductor showed him where to put his
horse. After Midnight was stowed away, Rowdy found him a seat on the train. The conductor had been right there weren't that many people. Just a couple of old ladies and three men, one man was pretty old, and one looked like a banker or a congressman – or some such type who worked in a respectable office – because of the three-piece suit he had on. The other man looked like a regular cowhand, black mustache, duster and his hat pulled down over his eyes. Rowdy figured he must be asleep. He had a long trip ahead of him, so he might as well settle in, relax and try to take a nap, too. Pulling his hat down over his eyes and slouching in his chair, the young lad sat there thinking until he drifted off to sleep.