The next afternoon Jane stood in the yard and smiled and waved as Buck rode off. She called "Ride Safe" to him with the others and then she went into the kitchen and beat up on some dough.

"Feeling better Jane?" Rachel asked from the doorway

Jane blushed as she realized she'd been caught, "Sorry." She quickly placed the dough back in the bowl and covered it with a towel. "But yes."

"It's hard watching them leave. Always having to stay behind and wait."

"I told Buck I wouldn't worry but,"

"But you're worried."

Jane nodded as she sat down at the table and wiped her hands on a towel.

"I'd be concerned if you weren't." Rachel said as she placed a glass of tea in front of the young girl. "Though I wouldn't have expected you to be beating things up. Glad to see your fire."

Jane smiled, "It takes a bit but once I get there it can be impressive. I got made a the social we had back in Benton before Buck and Teaspoon left and well..."

Rachel smiled, "I heard all about it from Teaspoon. He was very impressed with your takedown of the minister."

Jane blushed and covered her face with her hands. "My temper has always been my biggest albatross."

"You handle it and use it wisely though. So you're doing well."

"Thanks." Jane said as she sipped her tea. "I wanted to go and see Emily today. Would that be ok?"

"Of course. I'll have one of the boys hook up the buckboard for you."

Jane pulled up to the cabin and stopped the buckboard, "Hello!" she called "Emily?"

"Dammit" she heard a womans voice say coming from the barn.

Jane got down and walked toward the barn, "Hello? Emily?"

"Whose there?" Emily called out. "I'm working."

"I'm Jane. I'm a, well….a,uh, um…..a friend of Buck's" Jane stuttered unsure of how to describe their relationship.

"Wait! I'm coming."

Jane heard something heavy fall to the ground and then a short woman with a round face and short hair came out to the yard wearing pants and a man's shirt. "Are you really Jane? THE Jane? The one Ike said Buck wouldn't stop talking about?"

Jane blushed at her description and started to nob but stopped herself. "Jane's a fairly common name but, well, I mean, I think I am."

"From Denton or something like that."

"Benton" Jane corrected.

"Yeah!" Emily said happily, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see Buck."

"He had a run?"

Jane nodded and couldn't help but look over her shoulder at the road.

"C'mon let's have something to drink. I feel like I know you. Buck told Ike all about you and then Ike told me…" Emily paused as a moment of grief washed over her. She shut her eyes and took a breath, "so I feel like we're old friends."

Jane smiled. "I'd like for us to be friends. From what Buck says you and Ike were probably gonna get married."

"I dream about that sometimes."

Jane nodded, "I dream about my father walking into our shop and talking to customers and smiling at me."

Emily stopped one foot on the porch the other in mid-air. "Did your father die?"

"Yes. Not long before Ike did. It's kinda how I met Buck and everyone."

Emily went and sat in the rocker on her porch, "So these dreams, where Ike is really alive, that's normal?"

Jane shrugged, "I guess. At least we both know we're not alone."

Emily let out a deep breath, "I didn't even know I'd been holding that in."

Emily opened the door and Jane followed her inside. The two girls sat and talked and compared lives and stories and dreams for hours until a knock came at the door. Emily jumped looking startled.

Jane stood and looked out the window, smiling she turned back, "It's Kid."

Emily smiled and nodded as Jane opened the door.

"Hi Emily." Kid said his hat in his hands.

"Hi" Emily said as she quickly looked away and began to clean up their drinks and snacks.

"Is everything ok Kid?" Jane asked worried.

"Rachel wanted me to come and bring you back it's getting late and she didn't want you to have to drive the buckboard alone in the dark when you're still new here. If you're not done socializing I can wait on the porch."

"No, no. It's fine." Emily said hurriedly, "We didn't realize how late it had gotten."

Jane bit her lip nervously and then turned to Kid and whispered, "Can you give me just a minute to say goodbye?"

Kid nodded and added, "Come out to the station Emily. We all would love to see you."

"Thanks Kid." Emily said staring out the front window as Kid turned and walked onto the porch shutting the door behind him.

Once they were alone, Jane walked slowly over to Emily, "Em? Are you ok? Are you upset that I need to go?"

Emily reached out blindly and grasped for Jane. Jane took Emilys hand and felt her squeeze hard. Jane stepped in closer and wrapped her arms around her friend. "It's gonna be ok Em."

"I'm sorry." Emily said as she felt tears rolling down her cheeks.

Jane quickly walked Emily over to the couch and sat her down. "What is it?"

"Seeing Kid, seeing any of them. It hurts. It just…."

"Should I not have come?"

"You're different. You are a part of them but you're not. I don't know why exactly but, I've loved having you here. I felt good today. For the first time since Ike died. Then seeing Kid, it just…"

"I understand." Jane said. "We'll figure this out. You and I will see each other whenever you want but you won't need to see them. At least not until you're ready. You're my friend Emily."

"You're not upset at how I was to Kid?"

"No and Kid won't be either once I talk to him. He cares about you just like I do. Everyone at the station does. When you're ready to see them they'll be waiting for you."

Jane gave Emily another hug and then stood and headed for the door.

"See you soon." Emily said

"Can't wait!" Jane replied and both woman smiled.

Stepping onto the porch Jane saw that Kid had Katy tied to the back of the buckboard and was quietly talking to the horse while waiting for her. Smiling at the sight Jane walked over, "Sorry about keeping you."

"Is Emily ok?"

Jane explained as they rode back.