Disclaimer: I do not own The Young Riders.

Polly's eyes were locked with Ike's as Dr. Moses Barnes kissed her hand. Ike gave her a tight smile, nodded and turned to leave. Her throat clogged and her nose stung with tears she didn't understand. This was better. She shouldn't have started walking to him like a pig to slop in the first place. It was against everything she'd been telling herself since they kissed in the schoolhouse. It was better if Ike left. But, if it was better, why did she want to cry?

It was a stupid, childish crush, nothing more. But still, Polly wanted to pull her hand away from Dr. Barnes and dash through the crowd to stop Ike from leaving, throw her arms around his waist and cry for him to stay. Her father would sigh, shake his head and ask the Lord why he'd been cursed with such an impetuous daughter. Ike pulled his hat onto his head and gave her a long look before disappearing into the crowd with his curly-haired friend.

"How are you liking our little town, Miss Tucker?"

"Quite well," Polly managed to answer without stumbling over her words too badly and dragged her attention from Ike to Moses. The doctor's grey hair was combed neatly and Polly bit back the question that rose to her lips – if the doctor had any daughters her age. Dr. Moses Barnes was easily older than her father.

Over the crowd in front of her, she saw Ike and his friend hoist themselves up onto their horses. Ike met her gaze one last time, touched the brim of his hat, turned his horse and left. His friend touched his hat as well before following Ike. Polly felt their departure like a swift kick in the stomach.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Barnes. What did you say?"

Dr. Barnes smiled. "I asked if you would please do me the honour of joining me for lunch."

She wanted to say 'thank you, but no,' and might have had she not caught the look Reverend Williams gave her. So instead, she nodded her acceptance and took the doctor's arm. It was the only right, sane thing to do. Polly tried to ease her nerves on the short walk towards the hotel, but every step twisted her already sore stomach. If this was right, it sure felt wrong.

Dr. Barnes held out the chair for her like a proper gentleman and Polly sat down, thinking of the times her grandfather had done the same thing. Grandpa Tucker had picked out Polly as his favourite for whatever reason, maybe because he knew how disappointed Pastor Tucker had been to find out she was a Polly, not a Paul. Whatever Grandpa Tucker's reasoning, he'd dotted on Polly, letting her sit in his print shop while he and her Uncle Hiram pressed newspapers and pamphlets and books and dime novels, giving her penny candy and saving copies of books for her. Every once and a while, Grandpa Tucker would take her down the street from his shop to Mr. Collins' bakery. Grandpa Tucker would pull out the pretty wrought iron chair for her, push her in so she could reach the table and they'd share one of Mr. Collins' little cakes sitting at the table in the window. Polly had always loved the times with her Grandpa Tucker and right now, watching Dr. Barnes sit down across from her, she wished desperately his kind face would change into the familiar one of Grandpa Tucker.

"Reverend Williams said you hail from Brookfield," Dr. Barnes smiled at her and Polly made the effort to smile back. "I have some family in Brookfield, myself. My sister moved there from Milwaukee with her husband some years ago. Sam and Sarah Miller."

"I grew up just a few blocks down from the Miller's," Polly's smile was easy this time. "They had a daughter my age, Lottie. We used to play together. My eldest sister, Elizabet, married their second son a few years ago. Elizabet and Robert had a son just a month or so before I left for Sweetwater! His name's Moses. They must have named him after his Great Uncle."

"Yes, I got that letter last week. Wonderful news, though I don't know why Robert would choose to give the poor child my name! Please, tell me, how are they doing? What's Brookfield like? Letters can only say so much." Dr. Barnes' eyes were cheery and bright and Polly felt the ease she'd been hoping for finally come.

"Truth be told, part of me misses Brookfield already. It's a grand little town, not so grand as Milwaukee or New York, but it's not to be dismissed either. The Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad go right through the centre of town and there's always something exciting being unloaded at the Junction. My Grandpa Tucker owns the print shop, so everything always a ruckus. He has a knack for making even the most boring bit of news exciting," Polly talked until she realized she'd probably been talking too much and stopped, an abashed flush covering her cheeks.

"I hope you'll eventually come to talk about Sweetwater the same way you talk about Brookfield. Sweetwater's not as fine or grand a town as Brookfield, but it can be exciting and it has it's own charms."

"Yes," Polly nodded in agreement, her thoughts flitting back to Ike and his shy smile. "I've already begun to appreciate some of Sweetwater's charms."

"I hope, one day, to go and see my sister and her family in Brookfield, but I haven't been able to yet."

"I'll have to write and tell Elizabet that I've met you. I suppose the 'Wild West' isn't so big after all!"

"Now, Father, don't go giving Miss Tucker the impression that the West is as tame as back east."

Polly jumped in her seat at the hand that came to rest on the back of her chair. Turning, she looked up to see a tall man smiling down at her with the same kind smile that graced the face across from her. Bright blue eyes were merry and curly blond hair was tucked behind his ears.

"My apologies for being so late, but I find you can't rush a baby. It'll be born when it wants to be born."

"Miss Polly Tucker, this is my son, Dr. Lansford Barnes. Lansford, this is Miss Polly Tucker, Sweetwater's brand new schoolmistress."

A/N:

God Bless Soccer. I watched two games today, half a game yesterday and I have two games to watch tomorrow. If I can't have hockey (stupid Canucks being stupid and failing miserably in the post season, what's wrong with you, you idiots? gave the dang series away, didn't you, eh?), then at least I have the Dynamo, the USA Men's National Team and the Italy Men's National Team. YAY FOR MLS, World Cup Qualifiers and Euro 2012!

In the Denmark/Netherland's game this morning, Denmark's keep was putting on a freaking clinic in net, it was insane. Absolutely insane.

Moving on.

I'm really hungry. So I'm gonna go get something to eat.

Thanks so, so much for reading, I hope you liked it and, please, tell me what you think!

Love, Thalia

P.S. Dr. Barnes Sr is actually in the show, in 2x4 Blood Moon, but I made Dr. Barnes Jr up.

P.P.S. I still hate you, J.