Chapter 14

By the end of October rolled around Cindy and Boggs announced that they were expecting a baby. Nobody could have been happier for them than Louise. Jeremiah and Theresa were also excited to have a baby sister or brother on the way. Cindy and Boggs had waited for Sam and Emma to come to town before telling anybody.

Emma was needed to help finalize the wedding preparations, because Lynn, one of the brides, was in Denver going to school. Lee, the matron of Honor, was still riding for the Express and could only do so much. Lynn had told Lee exactly what she wanted and Emma made sure it happened. Emma and Sam showed up two weeks early to help out. Two days before the wedding, Teaspoon announced that the Pony Express was going out of business. "We all knew this day was coming. Ever since we moved to Rock Creak, the rides have been mostly government runs for the army and their payroll."

Cody added, "I, for one, plan to join the army."

"When's the last run?" Lee asked.

"Today. Jimmy has it. I want two guns on this one. Part of it is army payroll and the other part is the announcement that the Pony Express is ending and the last pay checks from Russell, Majors, and Wydell for each station. Jimmy, you'll be carrying this as far as Fort Laramie."

"I'll go with him" Lee said.

"OK. I just wish that I could have given you more notice than this." Teaspoon said regretfully.

"At least we own the station so we don't have to look for another place to live." Kid said. "Cody, Noah, you also have some land on this station to build a house if you want it."

"Well, Kid, if it's all the same to you, I think I'll stay in the bunkhouse until I have someone to share a house with. Besides, I'm thinking of joining the army with Cody." Even though Noah and Cassie had been seeing allot of each other, he wasn't sure if he was ready for marriage especially now that he had no job.

"I'll stay in the bunkhouse when I come to visit. But I'm going to travel with the army." Cody said dramatically.

Everyone laughed and Louise added, "Well it's here for you both if you change your minds. We'll save it for you. We bought enough land for everyone. And we've been saving the money that the company's been giving us for rent. We haven't really decided what we are going to yet, though."

"You could always work as your father's nurse." Ike signed.

"That's an idea that we've been talking about. I'm sure I will for while, but when Lynn comes to live with us in December, she's going to be Pa's apprentice. I don't want to intrude on that."

"You wouldn't be intruding." Buck encouraged.

"Rider Coming," Kid announced as a Pony Express employee rode in with a pouch for the last time. Jimmy and Lee mounted up. Lee took the pouch and they rode off as courses of "Ride Safe" rang in the air.

"Matt, Rob, I've got some lunch in there if you want some." Rachel offered as Matt handed Teaspoon the last payroll for the Rock Creak station.

"Thank you, Mrs. Dunne." Rob said and they went into the bunkhouse to eat as Teaspoon handed everyone their last payment. To everyone's surprise, there was a bonus to help out while they found new jobs. They even paid Kid and Louise an extra month's rent. Everyone had a little savings and was hoping that they could hold out before the money was gone.

Kid, Jimmy, and Cody probably would have no problems finding another job, but Buck, Ike and Noah weren't so sure they could find another job easily.

~TYR*~TYR*~TYR*~TYR*~TYR*

Jimmy and Lee returned the day before the wedding. Lynn had arrived on the morning stage and was worried that her matron of honor would not make it back in time. Her new brother-in-law was also supposed to give her away. And neither one of them were there. When she saw them ride into the station, she ran out to great them. "I heard this was the last run." Lee just nodded. "Do ya'll know what you're going to do?"

"Not yet. We talked about it last night, but we're not sure. After the wedding we'll run it by everybody to see what ya'll think."

"Emily, Ike and Buck and I were discussing it this morning. We also decided that it would be best to wait until after the wedding to let everyone know our idea."

"Don't worry, Lynn. Everything will work out."

"I know. Grandma and Grandpa are supposed to come for the wedding." Lee just nodded.

Even though it was a double wedding, it was a small ceremony. The town showed up to show their support for the two couples. Jimmy gave Lynn away, and Cody gave Emily away. Teaspoon officiated. Kid was Buck's best man, while Noah was Ike's best man. Lee was Lynn's matron of honor, and wore a purple dress. Louise was Emily's matron of honor and wore a deep yellow-gold dress.

They used the arch that Jimmy and Lee used and covered it with wild flowers. The brides' bouquets were made of roses. Complements of Ellen. While Ike and Emily used the traditional vows, Buck and Lynn made up their own vows like they did in the Kiowa village. This was their way of combining the two traditions without messing up Ike and Emily's part of the wedding.

At the reception, everyone danced with everyone at least once. Noah took Cassie and she caught Emily's bouquet. Rachel caught Lynnette's bouquet.

Since there was no more Express the newlyweds decided to stay home instead of taking a honeymoon trip. They thought that this would save them some money.

When Southern sympathizers came to town, Frank James, Jesse's older brother, was with them. The union army, who was passing through getting recruits, found out where they were hiding. This band of outlaws were breaking Confederate laws as well as Union laws-all in the name of the South. They said that they stole the money for the South to help them out in the War. When Jesse heard that the army was going to arrest them all, he told Frank about it.

An angry widow, whose husband had been killed by the gang, tried to go with them. Noah went with her to try to protect her. He saved her life by stepping in front of a bullet that was meant for her. Cody saw this and grabbed Noah and brought him to Boggs.

As soon as they got to town, Boggs went to work saving Noah's life. Luckily, the bullet missed all organs. Boggs just had to take the bullet out. It looked a lot worse than it was.

Jesse felt so bad, that he left with Frank as soon as he found that Noah was going to live.