A/N: No copyright infringement intended.

There was nothing more satisfying than walking in the front door of the McCord ranch house. " Martha, John? We're home!" Maddie exclaimed, rushing into the arms of her family.

The rest of the traveling party, burst through the door only moments after Maddie. The girls eagerly chatted with Martha and the men surrounded John, eager to tell him all the goings on from their journeys. Everyone was relieved and excited to be home again.

1860

Mistaken identity

Lane and her friends Suzanna Miller and Caroline Everett walked from the wagon that was sitting across the street and into the Sweetwater general store. Jimmy & Cody had just rode into town and Cody noticed the pretty ladies going into the general store. Following the women was Luc (who was now 22) and Mase (who was 25). Marc and Matt were back at the ranch, having avoided the chore of accompanying the girls into town. Mikaela and Michelle, and Jeremy and Sloan were also busy at the ranch.

Cody being the debonair man, decided he needed to meet these women he had just seen enter the Sweetwater store. Beautiful women were in short supply in the west. Jimmy toke in the men trailing the women.

"Cody I think those women are spoken for" indicating the men walking after the women.

"Nonsense, nothing ventured nothing gained. I just want to go say 'hello'. Besides, we need to do some business at the general store" Cody replied.

Jimmy just shook his head and dismounted to follow his smitten friend into the store.

The women were oblivious to the two pony express riders who had entered the store. They were completely focused on the cloth material and fashion plates that had just arrived. Jimmy casually watched the women from the side of the store. He was captivated by the brown haired girl. He didn't know who she was, but he was interested in finding out. Luc was always watchful of all activity going on around him and Maddie, he immediately zeroed in on the men in the store, especially the dangerous looking man with the colt guns strapped on. He didn't want any harm to come to the girls. He took steps to put himself beside the girls. Clothing was the last thing of interest to him, but he would do what he had to. He turned on the charm, flirted with the girls, and inquired what the girls were looking at. Maddie looked at Luc and raised an eyebrow in curiosity at his new found fascination with fashion, she glanced at Mase who shrugged in confusion, and turned her attention back to the topic at hand. Suzanna and Caroline eagerly included Luc in their deliberations about clothing, asking his opinion as to what would look best on them.

The Suzanna and Caroline were giddy with excitement at being flirted with by Luc Gallagher, he usually never paid them attention. The girls were secretly envious of their friend, she had the undivided attention of one of the hottest available men in the territory and didn't even care. He was such a handsome man, and good looking men were in short supply in the west. There were secret musings that one day Luc would get tired of being ignored by Madelaine and many a girl hoped he would settle his attentions on her. Or for that matter any of the Langdon men could have their pick of young women in the territory.

Luc completely unaware of the thoughts going through the minds of the women beside him, Oh, it was so rough being a man, thought Luc, he deserved sainthood for the things he put up with for these girls.

Jimmy frowned at the tactic employed by the man, but he was undeterred. He walked over to the store manager and casually inquired about general town activity. The store manager excused himself from Jimmy for a moment to help his other customers.

"cuse me Jimmy, I need to go help Miss McCord. Be right back to help ya" Jimmy turned to Cody, "I think it might be time to go introduce ourselves" Cody's face lit up with excitement, now that his friend was getting into the plan. "I've heard of the McCord ranch, it is an impressive spread, it sits just outside of town. One of those women is a McCord". Jimmy indicated. Cody gazed at the women in infatuation.

Lane looked up from the cloth she was examining, she had the distinct feeling she was being watched. She glanced around the store and discovered a pair of eyes staring at her. The man was captivating. He had a rugged look, mesmerizing brown eyes, and a physic to make a woman's pulse race. He looked dangerous, he wore two guns, one on each hip. No man in Sweetwater ever wore two. Lane supposed it was so he could kill, or defend. He had an aire of ruthless protector, warrior, and gunslinger. She was intrigued. He didn't appear to be intimidated by Luc, who was giving him a decidedly dangerous and disapproving look. He appeared to be the type of man to stand up to anyone, a man who never backed down. Only a handful of men were strong enough to stand up to Luc. One of the unknown men walked over and made introductions.

"Well Howdy ladies, my name is William Cody, and this here is my friend James Hickok" indicating his silent companion.

"Hello gentlemen. I'm Ms. Miller, this is Ms. Everett." Suzanna said indicating herself and the other girl.

Turning to the last remaining woman, Jimmy smiled and asked "and you would be?" but he already knew who she had to be.

"I'm Ms. McCord. This here is Lucien Gallagher and Mason Langdon," indicating the men who accompanied the women. "nice to meet you Mr. Hickok and Mr. Cody"

"Ladies it is a pleasure to meet you. You can call me Jimmy though"

A mischievous glint came into Lane's eyes. "Well if were going to be on a first name basis, I'm Mikaela" She said taking the opportunity to get revenge on Mike who got Lane in trouble with the tutor, for spilling the books and scattering the lessons. And Mikaela had told him she was Lane. Lane had no idea what was wrong or what he had done but she got in big trouble. Oh yes, Mike was in for it now. She looked at her friends, sending them a silent message to keep quiet. They raised their eyebrows in confusion, but thankfully kept silent.

Jimmy looked closely at the woman before. Taking in her high check bones, gorgeous brown eyes, and slim frame. Yet she was nearly as tall as he was. Lane was staring back at Jimmy, taking in all of him. Luc stood to the side, observing Maddie staring at this man. His temper caught ignited.

"Well we have to be going" Luc interrupted, in a not pleasant tone. Lane snapped back to her senses and tore her eyes away from the man standing before her. Regaining her powers of speech, "It was nice meeting you, I eagerly look forward to seeing you again, please feel free to call on me sometime" Lane said, turning to the store manage who had been hovering nearby "We'll take those supplies as we discussed, please have them loaded into the wagon" Lane requested as Luc grasped her arm and guided her out of the store. Suzanna and Caroline followed with Mase out the store front door.

"What are you up to?" Luc whispered as they exited. Maddie just smiled at him and said nothing.

"I think I'm in love" Cody exclaimed as he watched the ladies depart.

"Now, Cody you are always in love, which woman has your fancy this time?" Jimmy asked

"Oh that Caroline Everett girl" Cody responded. Jimmy exhaled in relief, he was grateful that Cody didn't have eyes for Mikaela McCord.

The next day, Lane headed back into town, she took the wagon and Marc accompanied her. And much to her surprise and delight, she spotted Jimmy again. He was in town with the other riders. Turning to Marc "I you can drop me off here, I'll meet you at the hotel for lunch as soon as I'm done with my stops"

"Now Maddie, I don't want you walking around by yourself, its not safe. Luc would have my head iffen he found out"

"I'm not Maddie, I'm Mikaela, geeze Marc, can't you tell your own sister? I ran into Lane back at the house and she told me what she needed in town, so I agreed to get it for her. Luc needed her for something, so she stayed home" Marc gazed at Maddie, studying her deeply, trying to see if she was telling the truth, trying to discern for himself which sister sat before him. A slight blush crossed his checks, he couldn't tell for sure which sister was which. It was frustrating, a brother should be able to tell these things.

Changing the topic from his mistake with his sister "I bet Luc needed her" Marc said in a suggestive toe, he could see which way the wind was blowing with those two. He wondered how long it would take Maddie to catch on.

"Now what's that supposed to mean?" Maddie asked

"Oh, come on Mike, it is so obvious. Open your eyes. Luc is absolutely devoted and infatuated with Maddie. He means to marry that girl one day. Mark my words. Luc is a private guy, but I can tell"

Maddie was astonished, she had never noticed. Perhaps she had chosen not to see. "Has he said something to you?" Maddie would have to think about this new information.

"Nah, I can just tell. It is something in the way he behaves around her" Marc replied in all seriousness "he's not just protective of her, he's possessive of her, like she belongs to him and no one else. Now I like the guy, he's the best in everyway that counts, and I would rest easy knowing the Maddie would be safe living with him, if they ever left the ranch to strike out on their own"

Absently Maddie gazed across the street and encountered the gaze of Jimmy. He looked pleased to see her coming into town. She planted a smile on her face, the flustering news with Luc pushed to the back of her mind for the time being.

"I won't be alone, I see some friends I can walk with. You go take care of what you need to. This way you won't be bored. I forgive you for getting me confused with Maddie." Maddie said. Marc relented, and let Lane/Mikaela go her own way.

Lane walked over to Cody, who looked thrilled at her approach.

"Hello Cody, fine day today, good to see you. Who are your friends here?"

"Hello Ms. McCord. These are the other pony express riders. Buck, Ike, Kid, Lou. You already know Jimmy" each person nodded their head or tipped their hat in greeting, "and this here is Ms. Emma Shannon, the way station is out at her place." Cody said. "We're in town for supplies"

"Pleased to meet you Ms. Shannon. Please call me Mikaela. Nice to meet you all. Now Cody, I told you last time, to please call me by my first name, no need for formality between friends. May I consider you a friend?" Lane said.

"I'd be right pleased to consider you a friend. What are you doing in town?" Cody replied.

"I have some errands to run. My brother Marc just dropped me off, since I saw my friends, he let me go on my own. I didn't mean to take up so much of your time. Please don't let me keep you from your business. It was a pleasure to meet you all" Lane swept off down the board walk along the street. She turned into the general store.

"Well, I guess I need to stop in the general store" Jimmy replied, "Me too" said Buck, "and me" signed Ike, "I did need to look at a few things" said Kid, "I wonder if Mikaela is going to see Caroline today" muttered Cody, "I'd better go ask my 'friend' " he grinned.

The boys scrambled off to the general store. That left Emma and Lou standing alone. "Well, looks like it's you and me" Emma chuckled. Lou stood there fuming, hating that McCord girl for having all of the boys scurrying after her skirts, an immediate dislike forming. Who the hell is she to flirt and lead on all the riders like that? Lou seethed

Lane proceeded to collect many packages from the store she was visiting. She chatted with the riders, pleased that they had also come into the store. Knowing that Jimmy was nearby, Lane looked for a reason to talk to him again. Intent to drop off her packages in the wagon, as she was walking along the board walk, she couldn't see well, she stumbled and dropped several packages. Jimmy and Buck swooped in to rescue the damsel in distress. Not far behind was Ike and Kid. They picked up the packages looking at Lane enthralled.

"Oh how embarrassing, I feel so silly" Lane exclaimed with embarrassment as she looked around her scattered packages.

"Her let me help you with those, I'll carry them to the wagon for you" Jimmy announced with a meaningful look at the others. He had seen her first, he had first claim on this girl.

"Why thank you Mister Hickok, I would be honored. Thank you all for your gallant help. I don't know what I would have done without you all." Jimmy gathered a few packages. Lane held her hand out expectantly. Jimmy looked at her in confusion. She had thought the men here were like the high society men back in Michigan, they were forever offering their elbow to a lady to assist her in walking, like all women would fall down without a strong man to assist them. Lane had never been interested in placing her hand on any man's arm, why should she? No one had caught her interest, plus Luc was always at her side, and no man had been brave enough to stand up to him. He intimidated them all. She giggled at the memory. If a fella couldn't stand toe to toe with Luc, he did not impress Lane.

However, Jimmy, made butterflies flitter in her stomach, he made her feel things in her chest. Things she had only felt around one other man, Luc. It was so confusing.

"Don't keep the lady waiting, give her your arm Jimmy" Kid whispered.

"OH" Jimmy exclaimed and stuck out his elbow. Lane delicately placed her hand on his arm. Heat and electricity shot through them both at the contact. Lane gasped and looked at Jimmy, at the same moment, he felt the same and looked at her.

Recovering quickly, Lane said" Shall we?" gesturing towards the wagon across the street. The group progressed across the crowded busy street. Suddenly cowboys came tearing down the center of the street just as their party crossing the street reached the same point. Lane turned her head, froze mid word, and was staring down the approaching horses. Jimmy thinking quick to protect Lane tossed the packages he was holding to Kid and Ike, and grabbed Lane and spun her around to safety.

"Its ok, I got you, you're safe" Jimmy whispered, his arms still holding tightly to Lane. Lane began to notice all the bodily contact she was having with Jimmy. He was rubbing her back, arms, his front pressed against her front, her head tucked in to the crook of his neck. She leaned back slightly, and looked into his mesmerizing brown eyes.

Marc came tearing over, having seen the events happen, but being unable to get there in time to save his sister.

"Mikaela are you OK?" Marc asked. He looked from Mikaela to Jimmy and back again.

Drawing a shuttering breath, more from the close proximity of Jimmy than the harrowing harm she had barely escaped. Releasing his arms, Jimmy stepped back. Mikaela gathered herself.

"I can't say thank you enough, for what you did for my sister" Marc said.

"Jimmy can I speak to you for a moment?" Lane asked

"Yes" stepping to the side with Lane.

She looked into Jimmy's face, smiled, and leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek and gave him a hug. "Thank you, you placed yourself in danger for me. I can't express my thanks enough."

"Ah it was nothing" Jimmy replied

"It was everything to me. You must let me repay you some how? No, well I extend my open offer for you to come call on me some time at my home. All of you are welcome at the McCord ranch. Now please don't disappoint a lady." Lane said with a smile.

Lane stepped over to the wagon, Buck offered his hand to assist her into the wagon. Lane looked at Buck and grasped his hand and gave him a friendly squeeze of appreciation. Marc climbed aboard and sent the horses down the road. Lane looked back at the pony express riders still standing by the side of the road. She raised her hand and gave them a wave, then turned to face forward.

"Woo-hee, Jimmy, that girl has the hots for you" Cody exclaimed. "She was looking like she could eat you up"

"Nah…you think so Cody? Kid" Jimmy asked. Kid just shrugged his shoulders unable to offer comment. "Come on, lets go find Emma" Kid said

December 2011

fffew, finally got the riders in, as promised, now what is Jimmy going to think when he discovers Lane's little prank? Sure hope he doesn't shoot someone. Who else is grinning to see that Luc has a little competition for Lane's attention…