That evening, Rachel held the baby while everyone ate. For Buck it was a lot like old times , but also not. The chatter was much more subdued. They talked about Dr. Howard.

"I don't see how you let him in." Jimmy said.

"He was helping." Lou said.

"It wasn't the doc's fault." Cody said. "He said it's a miracle that Our little feller's alive, because of Miss Penny. She told me she'd like to be a doc but she can't...you don't blame her do you?"

Jimmy threw his spoon down and went out side. The others let him be. Buck couldn't help but recall the letter Emily wrote. "let him be, he'll soon calm down and that beautiful heart of his will show." It's been two days and he missed her.

—-

Teaspoon came later to read to them. "I wasn't sure what to pick," Teaspoon started, but Buck stopped him.

"In Ike's bible, I found some letters. One was to Emily from Celinda." Buck started. They others had curious looks on their faces. "The other, was a letter Emily wrote to Baby Ike. It's sort of for you all too. I'd like to read it."

"By all means." Teaspoon said.

Buck read the letter. He got through it all with out crying although his voice cracked a few times. He completely skipped the paragraph on Jimmy. Jimmy noticed what was read about him was only one sentence long. He tried not to let it bother him but he understood he's too rough, to hard. There was nothing gentle about him to be included in a letter to an innocent child. He understood. He listen to the rest of the letter.

When Buck finished, he folded up the letter and put it in his pocket. "She never did get to write that letter to Baby Ike about his Pa."

Rachel touched him on his arm. "But he has you. You're a living breathing letter."

"Thanks Rachel."

Before everyone settled into bed, Buck went over to Jimmy's bunk. "Can I talk to you outside, just me and you?" Then he held up the baby more, "and Ike too." They sat outside. "There was one more paragraph in the letter that I skipped and wanted to share it just with you and the baby."

Jimmy's brow furrowed. He just looked straight ahead and listened.

Buck began to read, "With your Uncle Jimmy, I know his secret. He may deny it and we'll let him if wants. He's the quickest draw with his colts, and he might seem scary and mean, but he's the softest, gentlest soul. He's got the biggest heart. He can protect you and have your back but he'll also love you the most. He's sweet and thoughtful. He has my permission to teach you how to shoot, it's a necessary skill in this world, but don't become a gun slinger. Not that Uncle Jimmy is. Don't ever think your problems or pains can be solved at the end of a gun. Uncle Jimmy can be of quick temper but let him be, he'll soon calm down and that beautiful heart of his will show. Also don't read those dime books, there was a man who told a bunch of lies about Uncle Jimmy. All that did was bring trouble to him that he never deserved. We do have two of those books and those are the only exception because they belonged to your father. Uncle Jimmy is good, not like those books say."

Jimmy sat there and smiled. A tear rolling down his face. He turned to look at Buck "I thought she didn't have anything good to say about me."

"I think she thought only good about you." Buck said.

"Thanks for reading that to me." Jimmy said reached over and gingerly touched the baby's soft hair. "He sure is soft."

"You wanna hold him?" Buck asked.

Jimmy shook his head. "He's way too tiny. I'll break him."

"You won't break him."

Jimmy just shook his head again. They sat there in a comfortable silence.

"I would have shot 'em." Jimmy said breaking the silence. "That doctor, for not coming."

"I know." Buck replied. "But he still wouldn't have come and the outcome would have been the same but we would have lost you too."

Back to comfortable silence, Isaac stirred a bit.

"Buck?"

"Yeah, Jimmy."

"Can I keep Celinda's letter to Emily? We both know I can't read it, but I'd like to keep it."

"Of course." Buck said.

—-

Buck woke up to breakfast going on and soft chatter. Teaspoon was holding the baby. How is he sleeping so late? He quickly put on his clothes and sat at the table. Jimmy was already gone for the day.

Teaspoon was reading off next week's schedule. Buck heard his name toward the end of the week.

"That run will take me right by the registrars office." Buck said. "I won't have to make a special trip."

"I know." Was all Teaspoon replied.

After breakfast, he bundled up the baby and debated on carrying him to his tasks in town or putting him in the basket? He decided to just carry him.

The feeding was a learning process for everyone but as time went on Isaacc was getting more and more food, which was good. Buck had yet to milk the goat, it seemed every time the baby needed to eat, it was already there being warmed on the stove. Obviously the others were pitching in behind the scenes that he didn't even realize. But he wanted to look into that canned milk.

He walked into Tompkins store. The last time he was there, he bought Emily that blue and white thimble. "Hey there Buck." Tompkins greeted. They'd come a long way from when they first met. "I'm really sorry to hear about your wife."

"Thanks Tompkins. I came in to see about a canned milk? It's supposed to be good for the baby. Dr. Howard told me about it, the midwife did too."

"Milk in a can? Like the beans in a can?"

"I suppose." Buck said.

"I can look it up in this catalog." Tompkins pulled out a large book.

"I'll also need more syringes. The baby is too little for the bottles we have." Buck held him up.

Tompkins seemed to notice Isaac for the first time. "A boy or girl?" He asked.

"Boy." Buck replied.

Tompkins stopped looking through his book. "I remember when Jenny was that small. I was afraid to hold her, I thought I'd drop her. My wife kept her home for weeks on end. She was afraid the sun was too bright." He looked like he was off in some other time.

"You hear from her? Jenny?" Buck asked.

He was pulled back into the current time, shook his head and went back to his book. Buck didn't understand why he was being so stubborn in not going after his daughter. He nearly chased his wife away.

There was silence while Tompkins continued to search his catalog. "Well what do you know. It is here." Then he whistled. "It's going to cost a pretty penny. I can order it but it's a minimum of 24 cans." He named a price.

"I'll take it. Dr. Howard said he's going to need milk for a year. I'll come back with the money in an hour."

"You'll pay that much? Upfront?" Tompkins asked, shocked.

"Absolutely. My baby needs milk. How long will it take to get here?"

"Well that's another story too. Because of the weight, and getting it on a larger shipment of goods, at least a month, maybe two. One of you boys could defiantly get to St. Joes and back quicker. You still want to order it?"

"I said I'd be back with the money didn't I? What about the syringes?"

"That's much easier. I could get a few in by the end of week. Maybe sooner if I check with the fort doctor. You might not need so many, maybe one or two, if that. Them little things grow fast. Before you know it he'll be walkin' and talkin'"

Or being taken hostage and carried away. And you never see her again. Buck thought, but said nothing. "Ok. Thank you. I'll just order two."

Buck's next stop was to visit Cassie at the laundry. "Hey Buck!" She said with her big smile. Then she put her laundry down and hugged him. "I'm so sorry. Emily surely will be missed. I'm sorry I haven't stopped by."

"It's ok Cassie. My past few days have been a bit of a blur. The reason I'm here is because I'd like to hire you. How much to do diaper laundry? We've gone through most of what I have."

Cassie smiled. "May I?" She asked motioning to Issac.

"Sure." And he gently handed him over.

"He's so cute! Look at all his hair. I just love babies." Cassie said holding Ike close. "Buck, I won't charge you a thing. Your family has been so good to me. Consider it my gift to you. I'll send my brother over to pick up a bin every other day for now. As he grows, he might use less diapers."

"No Cassie, I insist."

"Tell you what, you let me hold this little darling a few more minutes and we can talk about a price next week."

Buck smiled. "Deal."

After going back to the general store, and paying in full for his order, Buck went back to the bunk house. Baby Ike needed another diaper change.

At supper Buck told everyone about the milk being available at St. Joe's. "I can go!" Lou volunteered. Buck knew she would. "Can go visit Teresa and Jeremiah. Teaspoon, can I switch my runs around ? I can be back lightning fast."

"Sure. We can maneuver things around." Teaspoon said.

"Uh, it's probably be a good idea if she don't go alone." Said kid.

"Well that'll take some more maneuvering, but that's what's family for, right? To help each other out." Teaspoon said.

Buck gave Lou plenty of money to cover the cost of 2 cases of milk. The next morning the bunk house was up early each going in a different direction. This time Buck didn't sleep through it all. In fact, he was up earlier than the others because he heard the baby crying. Everyone was gone by breakfast, leaving Buck alone.

The following days went by in a blur. Most riders were out. Jimmy the most. Then on pay day, Teaspoon was handing out each rider's cash pay. Teaspoon handed Buck some money. "What's this? I haven't been on a run in .." Buck had to think. "Well it was well over a week." Has it been that long?

"You were still on the schedule." Was the reply.

"But.. I didn't make any runs." Buck replied, puzzled.

"Jimmy took them all. Said to pay you just as if you'd made 'em. And don't you go telling him I told you." Teaspoon said with the shake of a finger. "'Sides, that's what family's for."