Samantha had been going to the schoolhouse for weeks now. She was a quick learner, and Kathleen told her she was doing very well. That evening she ran into a young man as he was rushing out of the school. "Excuse me, miss. I didn�t mean to plow into ya. Sorry!" He said as he scurried down the stairs, mounted Prankster and headed home.

"Well, he was in a hurry." Samantha said as she saw Kathleen in the doorway.

"Yes, he was. He has a mail run tonight and had to get back to the waystation." Kathleen smiled and then turned around to lead Samantha inside.

"So are you teaching him to read, too?" Samantha asked hoping that her and the young fellow might have something in common.

"Yes, but I was helping him with his writing instead of his reading. I think he has a sweetheart. I was helping him write a love poem."

"Oh." Disappointed Samantha said none to happy, "I hope his gal likes it."

"I�m sure she will." Kathleen sat down at her desk, and Samantha took a seat in the front row. She opened the book that Kathleen had left already on the desk, and Samantha began to read.