PART FOUR

The next day could not come quickly enough for Melanie, and with great impatience she waited for Howard to leave for town. He had had a late night in one of the saloons and was irritable, more so than usual, and she had to restrain herself from antagonizing him. She could barely admit to herself the reason for her eagerness to visit Louise that morning, but she could not deny that her thoughts had often strayed to Jimmy Hickok during the long evening. The fact that he infuriated her was dampened as she remembered the way he had looked at her when he thought she wouldn't notice. It had been years since she anyone had looked at her that way, a mixture of curiosity and desire, and Melanie could not helped but be intrigued by the man she had heard so much about from Louise. She was not sure what to expect from a man with Wild Bill Hickok's reputation. She was not sure she hadn't just imagined yesterday's events and their fateful meeting. Melanie realized she was not sure about much anymore.

When she finally arrived at the ranch she found that Kid and Jimmy had already left to make a delivery in town. Melanie was pleased to see her friend but she still felt a pang of disappointment. Louise was playing with Charlie on the verandah as Melanie sat and joined them.

"It must have been a great surprise to see your friend after such a long time," she commented casually.

"With Jimmy it's always a surprise. We never know when he's going to turn up," Louise said merrily. She was thrilled that Jimmy had come to visit again, and this time she hoped to convince him to stay a while. Though she never spoke of it with Kid, Louise secretly worried about Jimmy and the life he had chosen to lead. Gambling and gunfighting were a dangerous combination, but he seemed hell bent on living up to the reputation that had been bestowed upon him. Lou knew there was more to Jimmy than that.

"How long do you think he'll stay?"

"I wish I knew."

Melanie bit back the questions she was dying to ask – she wanted to know so much more but she knew that Louise would become suspicious. Melanie was a married woman after all, she had no cause to be asking questions about a man like James Butler Hickok.

"I expect he and Kid will be back shortly though, if that's what you're worried about." Louise did not look at her friend as she spoke, but her eyes were twinkling with mirth. She knew Melanie was interested in finding out more about Jimmy - he was an intriguing man after all. It amused her that Melly was being so coy about it though, just as Jimmy had been the night before. As she predicted, Melanie feigned disinterest at the comment.

"Kid was going to take the boys to school too, that's probably why they're taking a little longer than expected."

Melanie ignored Louise's none too subtle digs and tried to change the topic of conversation. "How is Adam enjoying school? It must be hard being the youngest there."

"Mr. Waltham says he's doing well, considering he's only five. I know he was bored here all day without Jamie, but I miss having my baby boy around," Lou sighed, watching Charlie try to catch a grasshopper next to the porch.

"You've still got Charlie," Melanie smiled. "Besides, when Adam is a famous scholar you'll be glad you sent him to school early. That boy has a lot of potential."

Louise nodded, knowing it to be the truth. Adam was already reading beyond his brother. She was proud of his intellect, but that did not stop her missing him when he started school only three months before.

Lou was about to retrieve her daughter from the flower bed when she saw two riders approaching the ranch. The Kid and Jimmy had taken the wagon, so she suspected it was the horse traders they had been expecting later that day.

"I was hoping Kid would be here by the time these two showed up," Lou said grimly to Melanie as the rough-looking riders drew reign at the main corral.

"Sometimes I wish I could wear my old Express clothes when they come, just so they'd take me seriously."

"There aren't too many women horse traders in these parts, Miss Louise," Melanie replied. "But you know you are twice the expert they are."

"Hpmh. I'll get Teaspoon to give me a hand. Do you mind watching Charlie? This could take a while."

"Of course not." Melanie beamed – she loved Charlie as if she were her own daughter. "Why don't I take her down to the creek? She loves it down there."

Louise agreed and soon Melanie and Charlie were on their way.

The bubbling stream was a great favorite of Charlie's as she loved to wade in the cool waters. Melanie made sure there would not be a repeat of yesterday's episode with the mud before she allowed the toddler to approach the water. The sun reflected off the rippling creek, dappled by the trees branches hanging overhead.

"Pretty, Aunt Melly," Charlie laughed as she splashed in the stream.

The morning grew hotter and soon Melanie peeled of her boots and stockings to venture into the water too. Hitching up her skirts, she waded bare-legged into the creek and enjoyed a splashing contest with her goddaughter. Charlie's squeals reverberated over the empty plains and Melanie laughed at her delight. No matter how bad she felt about Howard or how despondent she became, spending time with Charlie soon cured her of her misery.

Melanie was so intent on their good fun that she did not notice the rider approach. He had been watching them for a while, surprised that she had not heard his horse, but not in a hurry to make his presence known. She was knee-deep in the water, her copper hair untied and streaming down her back. Her cheeks were rosy from the heat and her exertions, her eyes merry and wild. He felt he could watch her all day given half the chance. This realization did not alarm him as he knew it should. He had no right to admire her, nothing could come of it. But still he was mesmerized by the woman playing in the creek.

It wasn't until Charlie called out his name that Melanie realized they were not alone.

"Unca Jimmy!" the girl cried, running towards him. Grabbing on to his leg, she pulled him towards the water. "Come play."

Jimmy chuckled and managed to extricate his leg from her vice-like grip. Glancing up he saw Melanie quickly walking towards the water's edge, tugging at her skirts which had carefully hitched up so they wouldn't get wet. Her cheeks burned with new color but she smiled him, tucking her thick curly hair behind her ears.

"Mr. Hickok, we meet again."

"Mrs. Brooks, this does have a familiar feel to it. But you don't need rescuing this time," he replied. "And here I was ready to offer my services once again."

"As you can see I came with a companion today." Melanie smiled as she reached down to pick Charlie up. "There must be safety in numbers."

"Another day, perhaps." Jimmy touched the brim of his hat and tickled Charlie under the chin. "I'd better be getting back to the ranch. I promised Kid I'd help him break some horses this afternoon."

"We were just leaving as well," Melanie said a little too quickly.

"Then perhaps you'll allow me the honor of escorting you ladies home."

"Why, thank you, kind sir," she replied just as mockingly.

Charlie clapped her hands. "I wanna ride, Unca Jimmy."

"Very well, Miss Charlie, you climb up here with me."

Melanie passed the girl up to him on the horse, and made sure she was settled before climbing into the buggy. Jimmy had begun telling Charlie a story about the Pony Express when her mother was a great horse woman.

"Like me," the two-year-old stated firmly, and Jimmy did not doubt it.

Charlie kept both Jimmy and Melanie entertained as they made their way slowly back home. As soon as they returned to the ranch, Charlie ran inside in search of her mother to tell her of the horse ride with Uncle Jimmy. Melanie smiled after her, and caught Jimmy's eye.

"You have quite a way with her," she commented playfully. "I'm surprised you don't have children of your own."

"Well, it ain't easy to find a woman to settle down with in my line of work," Jimmy replied, his voice rueful.

"And just what kind of work is that, Mr. Hickok?"

Jimmy finished hitching his horse to the post and turned to face her. Melanie was surprised to see his eyes sour, and she wondered what she had said that was so wrong.

Jimmy was not sure if she was mocking him, and to his dismay he was actually ashamed in front of her. He was a gunfighter who on occasion kept the peace in some town, but the rest of his time was spent with cards, women and whiskey. For the first time he was ashamed of his life - ashamed that Melanie Brooks should know the truth about him. She wasn't interested in stories or the legend of Wild Bill Hickok. She saw him for what he was, and he was not proud of the fact. Unsure what to say to her in reply, Jimmy could only retort in defense.

"Well, I'm surprised you don't have children of your own, Mrs. Brooks."

His words were unkind, although he had not meant them to be. He knew he had struck a nerve when Melanie's face registered a look of deep-seated pain. The naked emotion in her eyes made him regret his words immediately, but he could not think what to say to take them back. Tears glistened in her eyes as she retrieved her jacket from the buggy.

Eventually Jimmy found his voice. "Melanie, I didn't mean –"

"Excuse me," she said quietly as she brushed past him to go into the house.

Jimmy swore at himself under his breath for being such a fool.