Simon was relieved to be back working at the store. He was glad that Josie had paid for him to return, but he would never tell her that. He didn�t want her to know that he was that out of shape. He was genuinely glad to be back behind his counter helping customers instead of riding the long hot trail. He was also pleased that Cody wasn�t working at the store. He knew Cody was good with the ladies, but he hated being showed up. Someone had paid his fine, but he wasn�t sure who had done it. He knew that Josie had paid his fine because she had told him.

That evening about two weeks ago when he had come back from his run, he figured that Josie would be there. Somewhere just waiting to pounce on him, but instead Caller Bob was there. He had told him that his fine had been paid and that he could return home. When Simon did return home there was a birthday cake and Josie waiting for him in the kitchen. Josie had a smile on her face and had him sit right down while she lit a candle on the cake for him to blow out and make a wish. Of course there was only one thing he could think of to wish for and that was NEVER EVER HAVE TO RIDE AS A PONY EXPRESS RIDER AGAIN. So he blew out his candle and made his wish. He thought somewhere along the line she was going to let him have it again with both barrels, but he had been wrong. She didn�t once act mad or argue with him about deceiving her instead when they had a quiet talk and after two pieces of cake, she got up stowed the cake away, kiss him on the cheek, and said, "Goodnight Uncle Simon, I�m glad you�re home." She then went up to bed. Shortly afterwards Simon followed.

It was good to be sitting in his favorite chair that evening just reading the PEG and not worrying about when his next run would be. Simon turned the page and started to read about Cody�s Song Writing Contest being extended to the end of the year. Some of them songs that they had published had been downright funny, especially that one that Cody wrote called She Thinks My Stallion�s Sexy.

"Anything interesting in there," Josie asked as she came into the living room to relax after finishing the dishes.

"Not much, they�ve extended the song writing contest." Simon dropped the paper a few inches so that he could look at his niece. "Maybe I should write one called the Simon Rock."

"Oh yeah, and maybe you�d become a famous gunfighter, too." Josie replied. She had seen the famous Mr. Hickok in action several days ago when he had to shoot a gun out of a fella�s hand who had been dead set on making a name for himself by killing Wild Bill Hickok.

Simon chuckled and went back to reading his newspaper. When he finished he sat it aside and looked at Josie. His niece was young and beautiful, only twenty years old. It would be nice if she would find a nice man to settle down with. She deserved to be taken care of. She had taken care of him and Javier after his wife had died. There were several eligible men right here in Dreamville, and they would be out at Caller Bob�s place tomorrow night for square dancing. So with his mind made up he said, "Josie, tomorrow night is our square dancing night. I would like for you to come along."

"Why?" Josie inquired.

"That way I can introduce my pretty niece to some of Dreamville�s wonderful citizens." Simon didn�t want to say fellas for she might think that he was trying to hook her up with one. Of course that wasn�t far from the truth, but he knew if she suspected that then she would never go. He could see that she was wavering, so he decided to add fuel to the fire. "Also sometimes a lady doesn�t show up because of one reason or another and we might need you to help fill a square."

Josie knew how to square dance, and she liked it. It wouldn�t be too bad to go just in case they needed another lady to help out besides that one fella that she liked might be there.