Ch 6

Jimmy never offered to go out to help the Creech's. Cody was there unless he had a run but then was right back out there as soon as he got back. Cody had been basically courting Shannon for almost a month. Now that the house was fixed, Shannon had spoke with the dressmaker in town. She had agreed to let her work for her and design some dresses. Jimmy and Lou followed Emma into town to get a few supplies. Jimmy was shopping around in Thompkins store. He picked up some of candy and left to join Lou outside.

"I'll be a few before I'm ready. Y'all have a few minutes." Said Emma

Jimmy and Lou walked around town just killing time. They saw Emma wave her hand to them. As they finished loading the wagon, they gathered their horses. Just as Jimmy as about to swing up in the saddle, he noticed something sticking out his saddle bag. Lou saw him pause and looked over.

"What's wrong?"

"This." Jimmy said as he pulled out several sticks of his favorite candy from his saddle bag. They were tied with a red lacy ribbon.

"Where did that come from?" Asked Lou.

"The hell I know. I didn't put it here."

"We weren't gone that long. Someone had to just put it there."

They both scanned the street and saw no one. Jimmy quickly pushed it inside his saddlebag and mounted up.

"Maybe you have a secret admirer." Smiled Lou.

"Lou, please keep this tween us for now." Jimmy said frowning.

Lou could sense his frustration so she agreed. They set off behind Emma back toward the station.

Jimmy was working with Kid on the barn the following week as Lou galloped out of the station on her run. Cody pulled up in a wagon with Shannon. Kid waved while Jimmy just kept working. Shannon saw them and made a point to walk over.

"Hello."

"Hi Shannon, what brings you here?" Asked Kid.

"Cody asked me to come spend the day and see the new foals. I just needed to get away for a few and I do love baby horses."

Shannon stood and watched Jimmy. Kid nudged his arm but he kept working. Kid nudged him harder. He finally turned.

"How are you Shannon?"

"Just fine and dandy. Thanks for asking." She said as she stared.

He quickly turned back to his chore. Cody took Shannon's arm.

"We best let these boys get back to their chores. The horses are this way."

Kid just shook his head at Cody. He went back to helping Jimmy. After a few hours, Jimmy went in the barn to put their tools away. He turned around from the corner and almost bumped into Shannon. He jumped back.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gotten right behind you." She said.

"Where's Cody?" Asked Jimmy.

"He had to help Ms. Emma for just a moment. I told him I would walk around and wait for him to take me home."

"That's nice. He shouldn't be too long." Jimmy said as he walked past her toward the bunkhouse.

"Excuse me?"

He turned around.

"You are a mystery. You don't seem to like us here."

"No it's not that. I just like to keep to myself. Have a good afternoon." He said as he walked away.

Jimmy went into the bunkhouse. He stepped over to his bunk. He grabbed a clean shirt and froze. There were flowers on his pillow tied with another pretty ribbon. He picked them up. This shit had to stop. He heard someone coming up the steps so he frantically crushed them under his pillow as Kid strode in. Kid saw him put his pillow back in place.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"What was that?"

"Nothing just getting a clean shirt. Has Cody took Shannon home yet?"

"Yeah they just left. Why?"

"I want to clean up but was waiting until they left."

"I got ya. Well they're gone."

"Thanks."

Jimmy got his clothes and walked outside.

Lou rode in the following morning as Emma was just going in to tidy up the bunkhouse. Lou walked in as Emma was making the boys bunks.

"Where is everybody?" Asked Lou.

"They are around here somewhere. They are supposed to be getting their chores done."

Emma finished with Cody's bunk and went to Jimmy's. She stopped and pulled a bouquet of crumpled flowers from under his pillow.

"Louise, look at this."

Lou walked over and saw the broken up daisies.

"Where did ya get those?"

"They were squashed under Jimmy's pillow. Wonder who he is sweet on?" Smiled Emma.

Lou saw the ribbon. It was the same ribbon that was tied around the candy in town a few weeks ago.

"Or who is sweet on him." Lou said without thinking.

"Sweet on him? You know who it is Louise?" Asked Emma.

"No not at all. Just thinking out loud."

"What should I do with them?"

"Here, I'll take them and find out." Lou said as she took the flowers and went outside.

Once she got outside, she shoved them under her jacket and went to find Jimmy. She found him putting fresh straw down in the barn.

"Jimmy?"

"Yeah Lou, when did you get back?"

"Just now. Jimmy?"

He turned around and put the hay fork down.

"What is it?"

Lou pulled the crumpled up flowers from under her coat. Jimmy looked around to make sure no one else was in there with them.

"Emma found them under your pillow."

"Oh God. I meant to throw them out first thing." Jimmy said as he put his hands over his face.

"What's going on with all this? First candy, now flowers?"

"If I knew, I would put a stop to this shit. I don't want it."

"Where were they?"

"On my pillow yesterday."

"So someone had to be here, close."

"The only strange person here was Shannon and Cody followed her around like a sick puppy."

"Maybe Cody's playing a trick on ya?"

"That could explain yesterday, but he wasn't in town with us."

"True."

"Please help me get rid of them Lou."

Lou nodded and untied the ribbon. She took the flowers over to Sampson. The donkey happily ate what was left of them. Lou put the ribbon in her pocket.

"Thanks Lou. What am I gonna tell Emma?"

"Don't worry about it, I'll think of something."

"Thanks."

"You owe me."

"You name it."

"Lightning needs to be reshod. I hate doing it."

"You got it."

Lou smiled and walked away leaving Jimmy to his thoughts. Kid saw Lou whispering with Jimmy in the back of the barn.

"What is going on with them two?" He mumbled as he watched her leave.