JULY 16, 1861

"Lee, you look pale, Are you okay?" Rachel asked.

"I have a headache is all."

"Why don't you go lay down. You shouldn't be over doing it in your condition."

"Rachel I'm fine. I just have a headache." Lee sighed.

"Lee honey, Rachel is right. Why don't we go lay down." Jimmy said, concerned.

"Jimmy Hickok! I said for Lee to go lie down not you."

"Rachel, if she's not feeling well, I'm going to stay with her. It's been months since we had time alone." Jimmy said annoyed.

"You're not married yet." Rachel argued.

"No, but that's my child, she's carrying."

"Rachel if you want me to lie down, then Jimmy's coming with me. Otherwise I'm not laying down." Lee came to Jimmy's defense. All the arguing was making her headache worse. Rachel realized she was beaten. So she let Jimmy go with Lee.

When supper was ready Rachel went to get the couple. She noticed they both were asleep, so she let them sleep and saved them some food.

A few hours later Jimmy woke and noticed Lee was shivering. She was also sweating. "I'll be right back, Baby. I'm going to get you another blanket." He told her as if she was awake. As he pulled back the covers, he noticed blood on the sheets.

He immediately went to find Rachel. He realized she must be in her room. He banged on her door. "RACHEL, something's wrong with Lee!"

Rachel opened the door in her robe. "What's wrong?"

"She's sweating and shivering. When I went to get another blanket I noticed blood on the sheets."

The red head grabbed a blanket off her bed. "Here cover her with this one. I'll send someone for Daniel."

"Get Meg." Jimmy said knowing she felt more comfortable with her.

"I'll send for both." She said without arguing.

The door to the bunkhouse burst open startling everyone. "I need two riders to go get Meg, Serena, and Daniel--NOW." She knew she didn't have to stay. She knew that the first two riders out the door would fetch them.

Kid and Noah were the first two out the door. "I'll get Meg." Noah said on his way to the barn with Kid hot on his tail. They mounted their horses and rode out bareback.

When Kid got to Daniel's, he banged on the door. When the door was opened it revealed Daniel standing there." Rachel said to fetch you and Serena."

"Okay give me a minute. We are needed at the Pony Express Station, Serena." Daniel said over his shoulder.

It only took a few minutes to get DJ ready and they were on their way.

Meg and Luke were talking with Buck and Caly, when they heard a banging on the door. When Luke opened it, he saw Noah. "Rachel needs Meg at the station."

"Okay, Let's go. Meg you're needed at the station. Caly, I'll explain to your father why you're there later. I'm sure your father will understand." Luke informed everyone.

Back at the station Rachel and Jimmy were trying to keep Lee comfortable. She was complaining of cramps when Meg walked into the house and called out. "Rachel."

Rachel yelled, "Up stairs."

"In Lee's room," Jimmy added.

"What's going on?" Meg asked as she entered the room.

"She is burning up and shivering." Jimmy said worried.

"And bleeding." Rachel said sadly.

"Okay, Everyone out while I have a look at her."

"Meg, I have to know what's going on." Jimmy said stubbornly.

Meg wasn't in the mood to argue. "Jimmy I will let you know as soon as I know. Now OUT." Then she looked down and in the middle of the bloodstain she noticed a lump that appeared to look like a baby.

"Is that..." The words died on his lips. He could make out a head, eyes and a mouth.

"I don't know for sure. NOW OUT."

But Rachel knew. She had gone through it herself. "Yes Jimmy it is. Come on let's let Meg work," she quietly said as she pulled the stunned young man from the room.

Daniel and Serena arrived not much after Meg did and were sent up to Lee's room. By that time Grace had come down stairs, and she took DJ from Serena. Caly had Liz, and Luke had Grant. The Riders gathered with everyone in the parlor.

When Meg saw Daniel she was glad. "Daddy she lost her baby. She's burning up." Meg continued to give him the symptoms. "I think it's Yellow Fever."

"You're right." Daniel said after he did his own examination of Lee. He turned to Meg. "I didn't know she was expecting."

"She came to me and asked. I confirmed it on July seventh." Meg said sadly.

Daniel nodded.

Meg showed him the baby.

"We'll get Ian to make a coffin for her." Daniel said.

Meg heard her father call it a her, and she lost it at that point. She could no longer hold back the tears. Lee was sleeping comfortable now. Meg had cleaned her up and Rachel had changed the sheets. Daniel and Serena held Megan until she regained control.

Back in the parlor no one could get out of a sullen Jimmy what had happened.  All Rachel had told them was that Lee was sick.

Meg then came out and said. "I couldn't save the baby, but Lee is resting comfortably. She has Yellow Fever. That's why she lost the baby. One of us will be over to check on her everyday. Till we know she'll be okay."

"Can I see her now?" Jimmy asked quietly.

Meg nodded.

Jimmy walked up the stairs and saw Lee lying in the bed. His tears fell with a mind of their own. He lies next to her and held her.

He stayed there for the next few days. He wouldn't leave even for Daniel, Meg or Serena when they came to check on her. Rachel had to send his plate up. No one said anything. They knew the Yellow Fever had Lee near death.

When she wasn't at work, Caly was spending a great deal of time at the station, and she wondered why her father hadn't stopped her. But that didn't matter at the moment, right now she was more concerned about her friend.

Steven knew the two girls had grown close. He knew he had to sit Caly down and tell her what her mother had died of. He just had to find the right time. He didn't want to scare her anymore then she was. But until he told her, he didn't mind her being at the station. He was going to ease up on her anyway.