JANUARY 8, 1860

Lee was getting Black ready for her ride. It would be a while before the mochilla would make it back, but she was the only one at the station and spending time with Black was relaxing. She heard a rider coming in to the station and walked out of the barn to see whom it was.

"Hi, I'm Joshua. I'm here to send off a letter for my boss. Who do I give it to?"

"I can take it. Where is it to?"

"To her husband�s family in Boston, She needs to tell them of his passing."

"Oh, I�m sorry." She paused then spoke again, "I'm headed to the next way station East of here in just a few minutes. I can take it with me." Lee smiled.

"How does the Pony Express work any way?"

"Well, us riders will go from one way station to the next as fast as we can and pass the mochilla to the next rider that is ready. The mail has been sorted and is sent on to the way station so that the mail gets to the right person. We have the mail that's supposed to stay in that town in a separate compartment so they know to take it to the post office. Sometimes, the company sends us on special assignments, which usually takes an extra gun. And we ride straight to that person. Usually that's reserved just for Army documents and government stuff."

"Do you ever know what you're carrying?"

"Nope. It's none of our concern. We just get it to where it's supposed to go."

"Sounds dangerous if you're carrying stuff for the Army."

"It is, but it's a living."

"Why are *you* working for the Express?"

"It's a job and it puts my sister through school so she can become a nurse."

"Oh ok. Well, I guess I'll see ya around. Probably when that reply comes back "

"Yeah I guess." she said as she looked up to see a cloud of dust coming up on the horizon. "Well that'll be the mochilla, I'd best get going."

"Ok bye."

"Bye."

Joshua watched as the mochilla was handed from one rider to the next and then he rode off to the Lumber Mill.