SEPTEMEBER 9, 1861

Susan looked around the town as she stepped off the train. Not sure where she should look for Jimmy. She spotted a young man with a clipboard. "Excuse me, Sir?" She called out as she walked over to him.

Brandon looked up. "Yes ma'am. How may I help you?" He couldn't help but notice her condition and that she was alone.

Susan smiled.  As she placed a hand on the small of her back, "Could you please tell me where I can find Jimmy Hickok, please?"

Brandon thought for a minute. "He should be at the Pony Express station, about a mile south of town. You can rent a rig and horse at the livery in town."

The young woman nodded. "Thank you." She started off towards the livery.

Brandon just shook his head. He wasn't one for gossip, so he turned back to what he was doing.

After renting a horse and buggy, Susan headed for the station in the direction the boy at the livery told her to go.

A frown crossed her face when she felt the baby move. She shook her head to clear her thoughts as she pulled into the station yard.  She pulled the horse to a stop as she saw several of the riders in the yard.

Slowly she climbed from the buggy. She looked around but didn't see Jimmy anywhere.

Buck looked up at hearing someone approach. He hoped it was Caly, but he knew it was too early for her to show up yet. "Ma'am? Can I help you?"

Susan nodded. "I hope so. The guy at the train station said I could find Jimmy here."

Buck nodded. "He's here. Please have a seat. I'll go find him."

Susan smiled with relief. "Thank you," as she took the seat he offered her.

Buck smiled as he headed off to get Jimmy.

Just then Lee and Rachel came out of the house talking about something.

Lee spotted the young woman. "Can we help you Miss?" Lee asked with concern at seeing her condition.

Susan nodded as she stood.

Rachel gently stopped her. "Please take it easy."

Susan nodded as she sat back in the chair.  "Thank you. I'm waiting for Jimmy. The young man with long black hair went to get him for me."

Lee nodded as she leaned against the post of the fence. "How do you know Jimmy?"

Rachel sent Lee a look of concern.

Susan noticed the look but chose to ignore it. "We're old friends you could say. We dated a bit several years back."

"OH, I see. I'm sorry I don't mean to pry but where's your husband?" Lee asked watching the young woman wince at something. She thought it might have to do with the baby.

"Susan Gordon. I'm not married. I was hoping Jimmy could help me. I can't keep this baby. Not knowing how it came to be." Susan looked down as she told her story to them.   She had been raped and the man caught and hung by a lynch mob.  But she felt that she couldn’t look at the baby every day and be reminded of the whole ordeal.

Lee frowned remembering how scared Caly was when she went through her ordeal. She felt for the young woman. "I’m sure Jimmy will help you. In anyway he can."

Susan smiled. "Well I was hoping he would be willing to adopt the baby. I know he’d give it a good home, and he would be able to protect it."

Lee smiled. “I know he will."  

She was stopped by Rachel’s hand on her shoulder, as she whispered into Lee’s ear.  "Lee this won’t replace the child you lost." Rachel’s words where stopped by Lee’s nod. 

"I know Rachel. But I know this was meant to be." Lee turned to the young woman seated near her. "I know him.  He'll do this."

Susan smiled with real relief but also wondering how this young woman in front of her could know with such certainty. "Oh I hope so. I don’t' want to blame this baby. But if I keep it I will end up doing that."

Rachel could understand. "I think your doing the right thing for the child."

Just them Jimmy walked over to where Lee and Rachel stood. "Susan. What brings you-" The words died in his throat when he saw her condition.

Susan smiled. "Hi, Jimmy.  No I'm not trying to pass it off as yours. I would like to talk to you about it though."

Jimmy nodded. "Alright."

Susan nodded as she retold the story to Jimmy.

Jimmy nodded as he listened to her story. "Well, I will have to talk it over with my fianc�e.” He turned to the woman he loved, and said, “Lee, I think we need to go talk.”

With out moving, Lee smiled. "I'm for it. I say she stays here till she has it," she turned to Rachel to see what she would say.

Rachel nodded. "She can use Grace’s old room."

After pulling Lee aside to confirm that Angel was not the reason for Lee wanting to adopt this baby, Jimmy nodded and told Susan, "Then it's settled. You’re staying till you have the baby.”