The next day Elizabeth rode into town by herself to visit her good friend Charlotte. It was not often that the older girl could get away from her work at home and the two were going to make the most of it.

As she dismounted Sal, rubbing his neck, she saw Jim Goulding coming in with his kid sister. The girl was twelve years old and happily swung her basket in hand as she trailed after her older brother.

Elizabeth wanted to groan when she accidentally made eye contact and he started making his way over to her.

He tipped his hat once he was in front of her, "Mornin, Liz."

"Mornin, Jimmy. I see you brought your sister into town today." she decided to direct the attention on the little girl, hoping she could escape any awkward words with him.

"Yeah, she wanted to buy some new lace for the first day of school next week. All her friends wanted to match." Jim chuckled.

Elizabeth smiled down at the younger girl who lowered her head shyly. Another sweet Jane only with strawberry colored hair.

"I used to wear the same ribbon in my hair as my older sister Jane. We loved to match when we were younger."

"And now?" asked the girl curiously.

Elizabeth placed her hands on her hips, "And now, I do my own thing, not that that stops me from spending a lot of time with her. We love braiding each others hair. Do you and your friends do that?"

The little girl nodded.

Jim smiled at the affection Elizabeth showed his sister. He was still holding onto his promise to marry her. That was if he could persuade her to accept him.

"Lizzie, are you doing anything later today?" he asked hesitantly.

This was what Lizzie was preparing for, "Later today?"

"Well, I know you like to go for rides and I was wondering if you'd like to go for a ride later on."

Elizabeth debated on the decision to accept or refuse. A ride wasn't asking a lot.

"Sure, I think I can do that. What time?"

"When will you be done here?"

Elizabeth dug into her pocket to retrieve the timepiece she had received from her father. The family heirloom.

"I think in an hour."

"Then I shall see you in an hour." Jim smiled, feeling his heart beat faster in anticipation.

Elizabeth couldn't help teasing him on his eagerness, "You forget Jimmy, you have your sister with you, that is unless you want to drag her around with us."

"No, of course not." Jim looked down at his sister who was trying not to giggle at his flustered appearance.

"I shall see you in about an hour," Elizabeth waved as she went off to catch up to Charlotte who was just coming out of the general store.

"Lizzie, it's good to see you!" Charlotte said as they embraced one another.

"And you. How are things at home? My mother sends her greetings and well wishes to your mother and family."

The two talked, going to the stores that Charlotte had to see to before officially being free to relax and spend time with her friend.

They talked about Mr. Bingley, Charlotte's father had met him the other day and invited him over for dinner that night.

"I have no doubt that when my mother hears of this, she will be thrown into hysterics." Elizabeth shook her head.

"He mentioned you and your sister Jane. I thought your family would've invited him over already." Charlotte frowned in confusion.

"Jane and I didn't actually tell our mother about Mr. Bingley. We didn't want to overexcite her with the officers stationed in Meryton."

"You mean you didn't want her to start throwing one of you at the new gentleman."

"I think I'm safe from that ever happening. I don't think he looks at me in that way."

"And what way is that?" Charlotte laughed.

"As a man would look at a woman he is interested in."

"You mean the way Jim looks at you?"

"That's not 'love'. He doesn't know what he wants and only sees me as the girl he knew a long time ago."

"The one who'd get in fights with boys?"

"The one who thought that there was such thing as true love. I now know that that is reserved for only romance novels."

The two continued on until Lizzie had to go and meet up with Jim Goulding. He rode up to her just as she was mounting Sal.

"You ready?" he asked with a wide smile.

"Where do wish to go?"

"I was thinking we could ride out to Oakem Mount."

As they rode along, Lizzie pulled her hat off and let it rest against her back with the stampede string. She wiped her brow and forehead from the beads of sweat.

"It's been getting hotter of late," she noted.

"Uh, yeah. My father believes it's gonna rain this weekend though. It'll be good for the crops." He was trying hard not to stare at her.

"Lord knows we need it."

"What?"

"The rain." Lizzie turned to look at him with furrowed brows. "You following the conversation there, Jimmy?"

"Lizzie." Jim swallowed a lump in his throat, trying to force the words out, "I was wondering if we-if you could see me as more than a friend."

"Charlotte already is my best friend."

"You know that's not what I mean."

"Jimmy. What is it that you actually like about me?"

"Does there have to be a specific thing?"

"No, I'm just curious to see if this isn't just you wanting to marry me because you vowed you would when we got older."

Jim cleared his throat nervously.

"Okay, yes I did like that girl that could beat up any boy when we were kids, but I also like you."

"You don't know anything about me!" Lizzie threw up her hands in exasperation, "For instance, what do I love to do when I'm not out riding Sal?"

"Um..."

"You've never actually tried to get to know me, Jim. I'm not six anymore. And the answer was reading."

"Okay, so you love to read. I love to write! I can write you a poem every day to show you how committed I am."

"Lord, help me," Lizzie muttered under her breath. She looked up at the open fields and had an idea. They were about to reach Oakem Mount soon. "How about this, if you can beat me riding back to town from Oakem Mount, I'll go on a date and you can write those poems. If I win, I will tell everyone that I asked you out and you rejected me."

"Why would I agree to that?" Jim frowned.

"Because it saves you face among your friends. I mean I don't really care what John Lucas or Edward King thinks about me."

Jim looked from the start towards the town in the distance. "Alright then, we'll race."

Elizabeth kicked the sides of Sal, urging him to go faster. She was standing, leaning forward in her saddle.

"Come on Sal, show em what you got!" she called to her horse. The stallion picked up speed, distancing Jim on his horse. "Woohoo!"

A lone figure rode into Hertfordshire on his black stallion. He was dressed in all black, his duster caked with dry soil. His back hurt as he continued to sit straight in his saddle while swaying to the movements of his horse.

He watched the locals amble about, a few casting him wary glances. That was most likely because of the colt pistol he wore at his side, a warning to anyone to stay away.

The crude sign reading the saloon was just ahead and he pulled his tired horse to a stop.