Kimberly turned around in Jacy's kitchen bewildered. Her mind had been taken up with the newspaper most of the day, and she had only just realized that when Melissa came home, she�d be expecting food on the table. Besides that Kimberly herself had been working up an appetite thinking about her articles, and a certain Pony Express rider. Now what shall I cook? She asked herself as she looked through the cupboards.

She had never been very good at learning to cook, and usually just hung around the saloon kitchen until someone took pity on her. "Hmm I wonder what this is?" she said as her eyes fell upon the meat that was hanging in the coldstore.

Kimberly decided to make a stew with her find. She searched out a big pot and tried to cut the meat up as best she could. She then put in a couple of carrots and a few potatoes. She couldn�t remember what else went in a stew, so she put in a few liters of water. It looked a bit strange and watery but she knew it would thicken up a bit. Hmm, I think it needs something else, she thought as she spied a small bottle of brown liquid at the back of the cupboard.

"Aah! That must be the stuff that makes the gravy," she exclaimed happily as she poured half the bottle in. Kimberly then lit the fire and put the pot into the heat. "Well, that was easier than I thought," she mumbled happily as she went to back to work on her articles.

Kimberly chewed on the end of her pencil and stared at the blank piece of paper in front of her. She had been trying desperately to think of what the people of Dreamville would find interesting, but for some reason she just couldn't get the inspiration.

She jumped up when she heard footsteps come up the path and was surprised to see a tired looking Melissa come toward her.

"Hi, how was your first day as the owner of the gazette?" Melissa asked cheerily.

"Oh pretty good, but I'm having a hard time thinking of what to write. So what�s it like being the teacher?" Kimberly grinned as the young girl shrugged her shoulders.

Melissa smiled. "Well, it�s harder than I thought it would be. That's for sure, and I'm starved. What�s for supper?"

"I made a stew," Kimberly said proudly as she waved a hand toward the kitchen.

"Oh great, sounds good. Is it ready yet cos my stomachs rumbling?" Melissa said as she started to set the table.

"I'll serve it up right now," Kimberly spooned the stew on to the plates that Melissa had placed down.

Melissa watched as the mixture was put on the plate. It didn't look very appetizing. And she was too polite to point out that it smelled a little strange.

"Well it looks great," Melissa said as she sat down opposite Kimberly. She stared down at her plate. The stew looked rather watery and unusual, and she wasn�t sure if she was hungry anymore.

"Well, there�s plenty of it," Kimberly muttered as she stirred it around with her fork.

Melissa watched as Kimberly put a forkful into her mouth. She realized that it couldn�t be that bad, so she decided to try a bit.

Kimberly looked across the table to the girl who was trying with all her might to keep herself from making a face.

Not wanting to hurt Kimberly's feelings, Melissa swallowed hurriedly, "It�s um, nice. I've never had vanilla flavored stew before."

"Blargh! Is that what that taste is? Oh my gosh, Melissa, I can't believe that something can be so disgusting," Kimberly cried as she quickly removed the rest of the stew from sight.

"I think we'd both be better off if you cooked next time," she said as she poured them both a glass of water.

Melissa's face fell, "Oh No, we're going to starve because I can't cook very well either."

"But you can cook better than me, I'm sure," Kimberly laughed.

Melissa grinned. "Well that goes without saying!"

Kimberly looked thoughtful, "Who would think that two hopeless cooks like us, would get to eat fabulous dinners every night" Kimberly said as she shot Melissa a conspiratory look.

�

"How?" Melissa asked hopefully.

"I hear that the Dreamer�s Hotel serves up a good meal, and well, we can't be expected to starve now can we?" Kimberly said as she hooked her arm through Melissa's.

"Now what a good idea, it'll save us from fighting over who has to clean up too!" Melissa laughed as they spun out the door.

The two girls were soon settled down in the restaurant, and the food that had been placed in front of them was quickly disappearing.

"Well, I must say, you may not be able to cook, but you certainly know how to order," Melissa uttered between mouthfuls.

"It�s one of my few talents," Kimberly laughed. "One of my very few!"

"Mmm, that was delicious," Melissa sighed happily as she put her knife and fork on her plate.

"I hope you left some room for dessert," Kimberly said as she looked over the menu again.

"Of course! I hear the apple pie is to die for," Melissa grinned as she tried to catch the waitress�s eye.

Kimberly gave Melissa a serious look, "Unfortunately we still have a small dilemma left."

"What�s that?" Melissa raised her eyebrows in question.

"Well, what do we do tomorrow, peach pie or steamed pudding?"

This last comment sent both of the girls into fits of giggles. It was a happy, tired and pleasantly full pair that finally walked the distance back to the house.