DECEMBER 23, 1861

Samantha walked into the PEG.

"Good morning Samantha." Jacy greeted.

"Hello!" She smiled. Her and Jacy had been getting along really well since she had come back to town.

"Can I do something for you?" She asked with a smile on her face.

"I hope so. Are you going to sell newspapers on December twenty-fifth?"

"That's in two days. That's Christmas day and also Jimmy and Lee's wedding day. I don't think I'll have the time to put out a newspaper on that day. Why?" Jacy was curious.

"Well, then can you print something in your paper on the day before the wedding?" Samantha had a little ad that she wanted Jacy to print.

"Sure, do you know what you want the ad to say?" She grabbed a piece of paper and pen as she saw Samantha nod.

Samantha told her what she wanted the paper to say. After hearing the ad, Jacy told her friend that it was a wonderful present that she was giving Jimmy and Lee. Samantha felt good that Jacy thought so because she hadn't really been sure.

The next day, Lee was delivered a free newspaper. She was baffled when Melissa handed it to her and told her it was a pre-wedding present from Samantha.

"Why would Samantha give me this as a wedding present?" She said
aloud.

"I think there's an ad printed on page three that you might be interested in." The pony-tailed haired girl replied and then she turned around and rode off.

Lee quickly flipped to the page and scanned it. A smile crossed her face as she saw the ad meant for her and Jimmy. She rolled up the paper, mounted Black and rode into town to thank Samantha.

Samantha read the ad for the fourth time. She thought she had done a very good job on it. She looked up to see Lee walking in.

"Samantha, I got the newspaper. I wanted to think you for your wonderful present. I'm going to cut out this ad and put it in my wedding scrapbook." She stopped and smiled at her.

"I'm glad you like it, but I also have another present for you. Wait right here, and I'll be right back." She went into the storeroom and brought out two packages. "I hope you and Jimmy will like them."

"I'm sure we will. Do you want me to open mine now or wait until tomorrow." Lee asked.

"Whatever you want to do is fine by me."

Lee decided to wait, and she left with the packages. She would show the ad to Jimmy when he got back that evening from his mail run.

Samantha was glad that her ad for the 2 free horses shoeing was to Lee's liking. She just hoped that Lee would appreciate the 2 horse blankets that she had purchased at the mercantile a week ago.