Liam Thomas flicked reins against the horse’s rump as he drove the wagon into town. Even though he lived just on the outside of town, well within walking distance, he had just finished dropping his two grandchildren at the schoolhouse and decided to go and get some supplies. Eleanor needed some more thread for her mending and she had asked him to pick up the yard goods that Simon was holding for her. She wanted to make the boy another shirt, and she had promised to make Erin a new dress. The girl was at one of those stages where she out grew her clothes before she wore them out. He also needed some feed for the horses.

He had to admit he was looking forward to having some time to himself. He loved his family, but since Cayden had come to live with them, his time was tied up just keeping track of the boy and making sure he didn’t run off. Plus the boy had so much to learn. Although he had lived with his parents until he was five, Cayden had been raised by the Lakota from that time on, until he was recently found and returned to Liam and his wife Eleanor. The boy had forgotten a lot about how to live amongst the white world and he was fighting every thing they tried to teach him.

So Liam was looking forward to a few minutes of conversation with grown men. There would be Simon at the mercantile and maybe he would stop by and have a chat with the Sheriff, Teaspoon Hunter. He was hoping to ask for some help with his grandson. Hunter had a whole slew of young men working for him and Cayden had seemed to pay a moderate amount of attention to what the Pony Express riders told him.

He pulled his horse to a stop in front of Simon’s store and climbed wearily down from the seat. He was getting too old to be raising a spitfire like Cayden. Flipping the reins over the post, Liam climbed up onto the boardwalk and entered the store. Simon was there with just one customer, a young man Liam had never noticed before. He could tell from his dark looks he was of mixed heritage, obviously at least half Indian.

"Morning Liam. How can I help you this morning?" Simon said from where he was stocking a shelf.

"Need a few things here Simon." Liam handed the man the list Eleanor had written out. "Also need some feed for the horses and another pair of gloves for Cayden. Boy lost his again."

Simon just shook his head as he gathered up the items on Eleanor’s list, pulling the yard goods he had held for her from under the counter and gathering up the few other supplies she wanted. The young man came up to the counter with his purchase.

"Go ahead of me son. I’m in no hurry." Liam said.

"You two haven’t met yet have you?" Simon asked. "This is White Wolf. White Wolf, this is Liam Thomas. Liam owns a small place on the edge of town. He’ll be raising some vegetables and such come summer. His grandson is that blonde haired boy you mentioned."

"You’ve seen Cayden? What about him?" Liam asked.

"No, I’ve just seen him in town here with you. I only commented that he carries himself like a warrior."

"Like a warrior, eh? Well, he has been fighting me quite a bit. Truth is he’s spent the last nine years with some Lakota. Are you Lakota?"

"No, Kiowa."

"Like that Pony Express rider?"

White Wolf nodded.

"You going to the Valentine dance, Liam?" Simon asked.

"Haven’t decided yet. All depends on the boy I reckon." Liam replied as Simon turned back to his work.

"I have heard about this dance," White Wolf spoke up. "It sounds interesting to me. Why would you not go?"

"The boy can get lost too easy amongst the crowd. He has a tendency to run away. Plus he doesn’t know how to behave at a dance."

"How will he learn if he is not allowed to participate?" White Wolf said as he placed the apple back in the barrel and walked out the door. Liam watched him go.

"He’s right you know." Simon said as he tallied up Liam’s purchases.