Josie was furious with her uncle. How could he have not told her that him and Cody had switched jobs. How dare he keep it from her. If that brassy bordello girl hadn't said anything, she would still be in the dark. Why would he choose not to tell her? Why keep it a secret?

She didn't like riding horses much, so she kept Reflections at a fast walk, but in her mind she keep saying over and over, how long till we get to the station. Finally, when she did pull up at the bunkhouse, she was angrier than when she had left the store.

Seeing Simon come out of the bunkhouse, she jumped down and stormed up to him. "How could you? HOW COULD YOU?"

Shocked Simon threw his arms in the air and opened his mouth to talk, but he was so surprised to see Josie that he couldn't think of a reply. He let his arms drop to his side.

"Well, aren't you going to say anything? Josie demanded. "I can't believe you didn't tell me that you switched with Cody. What were you thinking? Why wouldn't you tell me?"

"I just didn't want to upset you. I switched places because it would help the town, and besides I'm enjoying riding for the Pony Express. I'm not as fast as the some of the younger lads, but I hold my own." Simon firmly said. He wasn't going to tell Josie that he had aches upon aches from sitting in the saddle for so long, and that he had just got done taking a long hot bath to ease his pains some.

"Upset me! Hmmmph! You're too old to be riding that's why you're in the store business. You don't need to be gallivantin' around acting like a young buck. You're not in any good physical condition to do that." Josie sternly stated.

"I'll have you know I'm fit as a fiddle. And don't you go telling me what I can and can't do." Simon angrily said. He didn't like anyone telling him he was to old to do something.

Ike came out of the barn leading Trixsy for Simon. It was Simon's turn for a run. Ike stopped a ways behind Josie and Simon. He didn't want to interrupt them. He knew that Simon had been having a rough time at the station. He seemed to hurt a lot. He hadn't been eating much lately. He had been resting more, and he moaned a lot while in his bunk. He had decided to ask Simon if he would like for him to take his run this morning, but he hadn't had the chance yet to do so.

"Rider Comin'!" Kid hollered as he came down from the porch. He had just tucked a list of supplies in his pocket that Rachel had gave him.

"Sorry Josie, I can't talk now. I'm up." Simon started walking toward Trixsy. His walk was more like a wobble, he put most of his weight on his left leg because his right leg hurt more. It took a little effort on his part to swing up and into the saddle, but he did it, even though he clinched his mouth so a hurt expression wouldn't register on his face. He smiled at Josie and Ike and said "Goodbye." He swung Trixsy around and kicked Trixsy into a gallop. As the rider came into the station, he tossed the mochilla to Simon. Simon clenched the mochilla and took off.

Simon wasn't fooling anybody. Josie could tell that he wasn't in very good physical condition. Still angry Josie asked, "What's your name? How do I get him back? I want him back at the store not working here."

Ike was surprised at the young lady firing rapid questions at him in such an angry tone. He started signing trying to answer her questions. This made Josie more angry. Josie put her hands on her hip. "What the hell you doing? I asked you questions, and all you can do is wave your hands at me. Didn't your mother teach you any manners? Well, didn't she?"

Seeing a stunned and depressed Ike, Kid came to his aid, "Ma'am, he's not being rude. He's trying to answer you, but he can't talk. He's mute. He's using sign language to answer you."

Quickly her anger subsided and was replaced by remorse, "Oh . . . Oh, I didn't know. I'm sorry. I feel . . . awful. I didn't mean what I said, please forgive me. I'm just worried about my uncle." Josie said.

Ike signed, and Kid said, "He says he understands, and he accepts your apology." Ike nodded his head when Josie looked at him.

"Thank you." Josie then turned to Kid. "How do I get my uncle back to his store."

Kid explained to Josie how the switching occurred, and how one could switch people back to their regular jobs. He informed Josie that Simon would be back this evening, and Josie told Kid to tell Simon to come to see her at the store. After Josie received directions to Caller Bob's farm, Josie thanked him, and she apologized to the mute lad again. She mounted Reflections and rode off.