Lee looked at the gold locket. She remembered when Jimmy had giving it to her. They were walking back to the bunkhouse from the pond on Valentine's night. Jimmy had said that he found it on the ground and that he thought it was Catherine's. He had asked Lee to give it back to Catherine the next time she was in town, but she had forgotten all about it. She was going to go talk to Catherine about why she had told Bird and allowed Eddie to overhear that she was a girl. She would not forget the locket at home this time. Even though she was mad at Catherine, she knew that Catherine must miss the locket. She would if that was her locket.

Lee saddled up Black and rode to the hotel. When she got there, Catherine was no where in sight. She saw Eddie behind the desk. "Eddie, is Catherine around? I need to talk to her."

"She's in her office. I'll go get her for you."

"Eddie, if it's all the same to you, I'll just go in her office. I need to talk to her in private." Lee didn't wait for a response, she just opened the office door and walked in with Eddie following close behind.

"You can't do that . . . You can't just . . ."

"It's alright Eddie." Catherine said as she dismissed her loyal employee. As Eddie closed the door, Catherine looked at Lee and said, "Lee, there was something you wanted to see me about?"

"Yes, there was. Where I come from, if you don't keep your word, then you can't be trusted. Your word is your honor, and if you don't keep your word, then you have no honor. You gave me your word you wouldn't tell anybody that I was a girl. But I had Eddie come to me saying that he knows I 'm a girl because he overheard you telling Wild Bird. You broke your word. And my job is on the line. I want to know why."

Catherine sat down calmly, "First, calm down, you aren't at your house, this is mine, and if you want to have a civilized conversation then we will have it. Otherwise, I will ask you to leave. I don't think I owe you any explanations about my actions, but you are right I made you a promise, I broke it and I'm sorry about it. Look Bird is like a father to me, and we don't keep secrets from each other. That's why I told him, and I'm sorry if Eddie heard and went to see you. I'm gonna have a little talk with Eddie about eavesdropping. Now, about your job being on the line, well, if you hadn't lied to get it then your job wouldn't be on the line. Look I'm not saying that you didn't have your reasons, and actually I don't care, but don't come here talking about words and honor if you can't be honest enough to tell people who you really are."

"It wasn't your secret to tell. It was mine. You had no right telling anybody my secrets. And as for lying to get a decent job, not everybody has the opportunities that you have. At least I keep my word. There was no other job for me. When I say not to tell anybody that means anybody. And that anybody includes family. Because it's not my secret to tell, if I get fired because of this . . ."

"Deal with it."

Lee narrowed her eyes and decided it was a mute point. She would have to move on. She only hoped that she would still be able to see Jimmy somehow. Lee dropped the locket on the desk and said, "One of the riders found this on the ground. They thought it might belong to you." Then she walked out of the hotel and went back to the station.

When she walked into the bunkhouse she started packing. Jimmy, who was the only one in there at the time, was on his bunk trying to take a nap. Considering that Lee's bunk was above his, when she started packing, it became difficult to sleep.

"Where you going. You're not up for a run till tomorrow."

"I'm leaving." Lee responded as she threw her things into her saddlebags.

"Why?" Jimmy asked concerned.

"Because, Catherine can't keep her mouth shut. She told Wild Bird and Eddie over heard and Eddie's writing a book. I told him to keep my name out of it, but you never know. And I'd rather quit than be fired. Corey had the right idea about leaving before Teaspoon found out. " She tried to hold back the tears, but failed miserably. Even though she missed her friend Corey terribly, she didn't want to leave the express because she really didn't want to leave Jimmy. She knew that if she left she would probably never see him again.

"Since when does he do what the company says?"

"He's never gone against them."

"He's never had a reason to yet."

"But how do we know what he'll do? I don't want to take the chance."

"I'm just trying to get you to stay."

"Why are you so worried about me? I'm sure Catherine will be happy to get rid of me."

"Because I care about you."

She was so wrapped up in what she was saying that she didn't hear Jimmy's response. She continued, "I'm sure Catherine can make you happy. You can take her to dances and other places and not worry about anyone finding out."

"I don't want to take her. I want to be with you"

There was no holding back the tears now, "But we can't. I want to be with you, but with Catherine knowing, it will just be a matter of time before Teaspoon finds out. Or she may write the company and tell them herself. And then there will be nothing anybody can do."

"What if she does? You can stay here."

"Jimmy, what about Lynn? I have to put her through school. How else can I get that kind of money and still keep my self respect?"

"Lee, let me deal with Catherine. Don't leave."

"But . . ."

"Lee, I love you."

"I love you, too. She sighs. How are you going to convince her not tell anyone else and make sure that the others don't tell when she told me to deal with it when I told her that I might loose my job? She doesn't care. And why should she? It's not like we're friends or anything."

"Don't know yet."

"How are you going to talk to her when you're avoiding her?"

"I'm not avoiding her."

"Jimmy, you had me return a necklace of hers that you found. If that's not avoiding, I don't know what is."

"Alright, so I'm avoiding her, but I will make a point of talking to her about this."

Lee smiled and just shook her head. "Alright, I'll stay for a while and see what happens."

"Just trust me to deal with her."

"Thanks, Jimmy." Lee said right before Jimmy's lips met hers.