Disclaimer: Newsies is not mine so don't sue cause I have nothing but my Newsies dvd and Halloween candy

Of Cowboys and Dreams

Jack took the long route back to the lodging house hoping to avoid his fellow newsies' inquiries about Leigh. He had no such luck. He entered the bunkroom to see everyone still awake, sitting on their bunks in the dark. A string of appreciative grunts and 'ooo's' sounded as he made his way to his bed. Jack removed his shirt and pants and hung his hat and bandana on the bedpost. Saying nothing he climbed up onto the top bunk and got under the covers. He ran a hand over his tired face.

"Fella's, it aint like dat" he tried.

"Not yet" a few boys chorused, while others snickered. The boys could tell that the girl was something different since Jack would normally be enjoying the heck out of the teasing from the newsies.

"Hey Jack is it true she's rich?" a voice asked from across the room.

"Go to sleep Boots" Jack muttered tiredly.

"Boy was she pretty – blond hair, green eyes… da goil even shook our hands" Mush recalled after a few moments of silence. Jack rolled his eyes and shifted onto his side. Hopefully his boys would find something else to hold their interest with the next day.

As Leigh got ready for bed she smiled to herself. She'd managed to make a friend. One that actually seemed interested in what she had to say. There was a heavy knock on her bedroom door as she climbed under the covers.

"Come in" she called. Her father walked in, coming to say goodnight. He sat on the edge of her large bed.

"Did you get the job?" he asked.

"Yes! And I start tomorrow!" she was extremely excited at the prospect of the new experience. He smiled at her enthusiasm.

"What did you do afterwards?" he loved to hear about her days since she always made them sound interesting even when they weren't. She reminded him so much of his wife when she spoke.

"Well while I was at Irving Hall talking to Medda, my boss, a young man came in to say hello to her." Leigh poked her father in the arm when he made a face at the mention of a boy. "I had met him yesterday when I bought a newspaper – he's a newsboy. Anyways when I bought a paper we talked for a bit and then again at Medda's we talking again and I asked about the newsie strike… did you hear about that Papa?" she asked finally taking a breath.

"Yes, I've heard bits and pieces. Seems very courageous of them to go up against such powerful people." Leigh nodded in agreement.

"Well, the boy I was speaking to was Jack Kelly, the leader of the strike. So as he told me about it we walked and he showed me around Manhattan. I even got to meet a couple of his friends too. They were very nice as well… a little odd, but nice." She finished. Her father was watching her closely.

"Was this Jack Kelly the one that walked you home tonight?" Leigh was slightly taken aback that he'd seen them.

"Yes. He didn't want me walking home alone in the dark." She answered honestly hoping her father wouldn't forbid her from seeing him again. It was nice to have a real friend. "He was a perfect gentleman Papa," she confirmed, hazarding a guess at what he was thinking about.

"I doubt you'd let him be anything but one" her father grinned.

"So I can be friends with him?" Seeing no immediate response she continued, "I just enjoyed speaking to someone who wasn't only about money or the latest imported fashions…" she finished, not knowing she'd won her case a long time before.

"You can continue to see him, just be careful. You're not as street smart as he is, I don't want to see anything happen to you." Leigh was absolutely convinced she had the best father in the world.

"Love you Papa," she said hugging him.

"You too kiddo" he returned the hug and left her to sleep.

The next morning Jack got up to more questions regarding Leigh. He made it clear though, that they weren't to make any sort of catcalls or comments if she was ever around them. The newsies dropped the topic feeling a small sense of accomplishment at getting their leader to unknowingly reveal the fact that she'd be around in the immediate future.

Jack was left thinking of whether or not he should go and pop in at Irving Hall while Leigh was working. Maybe he could convince Medda to let him steal Leigh away for lunch later. Tying his bandanna around his neck he led the boys out of the lodging house and to the distribution centre.

Leigh was having little to no trouble in learning how to waitress. She'd dropped a glass or two and had messed up one of the pretend orders that Medda had been giving her for practice. Medda was impressed with how well the girl was working. She could tell that the girl wasn't exactly poor and had originally had her doubts about her ability to do hard work. All doubts had been buried and Medda watched as the girl joked around with another waitress while rolling up the sleeves of her white shirt.

"Hey Medda" Jack greeted as he sat beside the older woman at a table.

"Kelly what are ya doing here kid?" she beamed at him. She loved the boy like a son and especially liked it when he visited her.

"Just came by to see if I could steal your newest waitress away for lunch at Tibby's" he said looking around the room until his gaze fell upon the blond in question. Medda smiled knowingly and nodded.

"She could probably use a break by now anyways… Leigh, could you come over here?" she called across the room. Leigh walked over, her face lighting up as she saw Jack.

"Hello Jack" she glanced at him before turning her attention to Medda.

"Jack is demanding that I let you go for lunch with him"

"He is, is he?" Leigh smirked as Jack shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The way Medda had put it made it seem like it was a date or something.

"Yes. You can go if you like, and take your time, there's not much else to do until tonight," Medda said before getting up and going over to the stage to check on the dancers practicing.

"My saviour" Leigh dramatically put her hand to her heart. Jack chuckled and led her from the building. As they walked he explained that they were going to Tibby's where all of his friends would be.

"How's yer job goin' so far?" he inquired. Leigh let out a small laugh.

"I've broken some glasses, stepped on a few toes but other then that it's going well," she commented.

"You'll like woikin' for Medda. But if anyone evah gives ya trouble, send 'em my way all right?" he joked punching his fists in the air. Leigh could sense the underlying seriousness in his voice.

"Jack can I ask you something?" Leigh spoke up tentatively.

"Shoot"

"Why do you talk to me? I really haven't done anything to earn your friendship" she almost regretted bringing up the subject.

"You aint like da rest," he wondered why she felt she wasn't worthy of his friendship.

"But how do you know that?"

"You'se genuinely nice Breeze. Even when ya met Mush and Blink you were actually interested in meeting 'em – I could see it yer eyes," He could tell she didn't seem to believe what he said. She sighed and shook her head.

"How many people will be at Tibby's?" she changed the subject.

"Depends on who's done sellin' their papes… maybe twenty," he predicted. "Don' worry, just pretend ta remember all their names".

"Thanks for the tip" her eyes twinkled up at him.

"We're heah" he said holding open the door for her, which didn't go unnoticed by Leigh. He followed her in and stood beside her where she waited for him to lead the way. She glanced around the room, uneasiness creeping over her as the twenty-odd newsies stopped in mid-bite and sentence to stare at the pair by the door.

"Well this is awkward" Leigh remarked, making a few of the nearest boy's laugh and go back to their previous activities. Jack flashed a grin at her and led her to a booth where David, Race and to Jack's surprise Spot were seated. David moved from his spot and grabbed a chair to sit in so Jack and Leigh could have his seat.

"Heya Spot" Jack nodded.

"Jacky-Boy who's da goil?" Spot asked, not one for subtlety.

"Guy's dis is Leigh, she woiks at Medda's. Leigh dats Racetrack, David an' Spot, he's da leadah of the Brooklyn newsies."

"It's a pleasure doll" Race winked at her. She just smiled sweetly, not sure how to act around them yet. The waiter arrived almost immediately and took Jack and Leigh's orders.

"Has da Cowboy given ya a newsie name yet?" Race asked, knowing Jacks tendency of giving his friends nicknames, newsie or not. She nodded and opened her mouth to answer when Jack beat her to it.

"Breeze" The guys laughed at the face Leigh made as Jack answered for her, leaving Jack very confused. Having been beside her, he didn't see her glare trying to burn holes in the side of his head.

"What? What'd I miss?" he asked looking at Leigh. She put on a mask of innocence.

"Absolutely nothing" she responded. Jack made a show of eyeing her carefully before taking a bite of his newly arrived sandwich.

"Mmm hmm"

"I take it you're new in town?" Leigh faced David as he asked the question. He had picked up on her very faint southern accent in what little she'd spoken.

"Yep, I just moved her with my father from New Mexico." She earned weird looks for the answer, but figured it had something to do with Jack and his dream of Santa Fe.

"Is it a lot different than here?" David continued.

"In some ways I guess. Papa and I lived on a ranch just outside Santa Fe, so I'm not used to all of the buildings and people here, but the cities are pretty much the same as the ones back home."

"Can you ride a horse?" Les chimed in, appearing at David's side. Leigh smiled at the little boy.

"That's Les, David's bruddah" Jack leaned in and whispered to her.

"You bet I can"

"Did you have your own horse?" Les asked pushing David a bit as he leaned on the edge of the table.

"Yeah, it was a mustang – a wild horse – that my father found injured after a storm. We nursed it back to health and kept it. It wouldn't let anyone but me ride it, so it was pretty much mine I guess." She smiled fondly at the memory. Jack observed silently as Leigh continued to tell stories, at Les's request, about the West. He didn't so much listen to what was said but how she was saying it. He could hear a distinct sadness in her voice as she recounted her tales. He also noticed a lack of a mother as she told of her old life.

Jack was pulled form his thoughts as Spot, who was across from him, kicked him hard, under the table. He shot the smaller leader a 'what was that for?' look, who in response nodded his head towards Leigh and gave the older boy a pointed look. Jack realized he'd been caught staring. He shot a quick glance over at the girl beside him glad she seemed unaware of his gaze as Racetrack questioned her about her poker-playing abilities.

Leigh was completely aware of Jack's stare as she chatted with his friends. While it wasn't unwelcome, it was unnerving and she wondered what was running through his mind just then. Nor did she miss the amused looks that Spot was giving Jack as he sipped form his drink.

Having finished her lunch and paid Leigh looked to Jack.

"I should be getting back to work now."

"Do ya know the way back?" he asked knowing if he wanted to sell the afternoon edition he wouldn't be able to walk her back.

"Yeah, I'm good" she answered. She got up form the table and said her goodbyes to Jack's friends. With a lingering look at Jack, caught by everyone at the table, she left the restaurant.

"Damn Cowboy, you'se got it bad" Race smirked.
"Shut it Race" Jack retorted lamely, balling up his napkin and throwing it at his comrade. "We's just friends, dats all."

Alrighty, there's chapter two. I'd just like to thank LadyRach, Katherine and crazybutbeautiful for reviewing. And to promise everyone that the story will get better once all the introductions and such are over and done with.
I do have pretty much half the story written (not necessarily typed though) … but if anyone has any ideas of how the story should go, I am always open to new suggestions or ideas and always willing to make my story better.
Please Review. Ya know you wanna!