Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing.

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"Last stop! Independence, Missouri! Everybody off!" The conductor yelled, waking me from slumber. I grabbed my bags and headed for the door.

Independence was a bustling town, not unlike Philadelphia, the only difference was Independence was surrounded by prairies.

There were only two trains going out that week, one returning to Philadelphia, and the other going north-west to the Dakotas.

Dakota wasn't near far enough from Ryan for my taste. Guess I'll have to ride the rest of the way. But for now it;s nearly midnight and I needed someplace to stay the night.

"Excuse me, Sir?" I said to the stationmaster "Is there someplace I can stay the night?" preferably one that wasn't surrounded by saloons . . .

"You can stay the night with me and my missus if ya like, son." he offered kindly "Thanks, I'd like that." I say grinning "I'm Ryan." "Phineas Preston, but call me Preston." he replied

"How old are you Ryan?" Preston asked me "16, Sir, almost 17." yet another lie . . . I turned 18 last month.

"Where can I buy a horse, Sir?" I asked following him "There's a blacksmith shop 3 streets over, he usually keeps a few horses on hand." "Thanks." I said again "Here we are," Preston said presently "C'mon in. I'm home Trudy."

"Phineas, I kept the coffee on for you." Trudy said coming in the room "Hello, boy. What's your name?"

"Ryan, ma'am." I say "Preston said I could stay the night." "Of course you can, you come right with me, you can stay in the guest bedroom." "Thank you, ma'am." I say following her "It's no trouble at all, Ryan. Washroom's across the hall. You come and have breakfast in the morning, now. And sleep well."

I took advantage of the bathroom and bathed thoroughly. Then went to bed, I wanted an early start tomorrow.

After a large breakfast of flapjacks and bacon, I thanked Trudy again, tried to pay her for her trouble, but she wouldn't take any money. Not even for the clothes she gave me, jeans and a couple flannel shirts.

I left $40 on the sideboard, on my way out. I then headed for the blacksmith's. I could hear the -clang-, -clang- of his hammer, a block away. The sign over the door said Ballard's Smithy.

He was a big man with a drooping handlebar mustache, he wore a big leather apron, and was making horseshoes.

"Somethin' I can help ya with boy?" he asked plunging the horseshoe and tongs into a water barrel.

"I need a good horse." I told him. He motioned for me to follow him, and led me over to a corral back of the shop.

There were five horses in it, a bay, a roan, two blacks and two chestnuts.

"What do you plan on doing with it?" he asked opening the gate.

"Riding west. How old is the bay?" I asked looking the horses over

"That's Ace, he's four."Ballard told me "He's good for riding, he's a mustang, sure-footed."

"How much?" I ask "$40, plus the tack." "Deal." I replied grinning happily

"You need a guide?" Ballard asked leading Ace out to be tacked up. "Yeah, do you know where I can find one?"

"My apprentice just finished his apprenticeship and is goin' west to join his family, why don't you ask him?" He said handing me the reins

"Thanks, I will." I reply

I led Ace, tacked and loaded with my baggage. Not that I have much. Just a bag of clothes and a bedroll. We were going to find our guide. The smith said he lives here.

"Quinn Ely?" I ask when a boy not much older than me opens the door. "Depends on who's lookin' for him." the boy said grinning "Heck Ballard said you're going west. I need a guide."

"Well, I don't know how good of one I'd be, but you're welcome to come along. I'm leavin' just as soon as I'm finished packing."

"Why're you goin' west?" He asked saddling his horse, Chocolate Chip. "Personal reasons." I answer vaguely "How old are you?" he asked loading another horse with food. "Old enough." I reply "Do you take pleasure in answering without giving information?" He asked rolling his eyes

"I might." I reply grinning "What's you're name?" he smirked "Ryan." I say leaning against a wall "Where're we going?" it's my turn to ask questions now.

"First we're headin' down to Tulsa to meet up with my brother Bryan, it's 255 miles, should take us two days tops. Wait, don't you care where you're going?" he paused to ask me

"Nope." I said shaking my head "After Tulsa where're we going?"

"Then we're goin' 365 miles to Amarillo to pick up Kit and Nate, then it's 309 miles to Albuquerque to get Adam, then 980 miles to Darton."

"You've got it figured out pretty good." I said grinning "Yup, It should take us a week-and-a- half to get to Darton. Weather and natives permitting."

"Thanks for taking me along, Quinn." I said mounting Ace. "You're welcome, kid." Quinn replied mounting Chip, tying the pack-horse, Dylan's lead to his saddle horn.

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A/N: Please review!