By that evening, Jim was tired of hanging around that hotel, but they did not have much else to do at the moment. They had to wait for their land deal to go through and they also had to wait for their lumber and everything else to be ready. The next day, he would attempt to find some horses. This town seemed to have everything they needed. They could not get along without horses, that was sure.

Bones had asked Carol to come over to the town doctor's office. He had gone to see the doctor and asked if he could use his office to give Carol her checkup. "So, you say you're feeling very well," Bones said.

"Yes," Carol replied. "Why did Jim want me to have this exam?"

"Well, he's worried about you. He says you're sleepy all the time, and since we're in a different environment and around different things, I thought it would be good to make sure everything's okay."

"What do you think could be wrong?"

"We'll find that out. You're not worried about anything, are you?"

"No."

"Good. I just wish I had the technology on the Enterprise to do this."

"You're not the only one."

"Don't worry. I'm not gonna get invasive." Bones picked up the stethoscope. "I haven't ever needed one of these before, but it's a good thing I know how to use it."

Carol was silent while Bones listened to her. He stuck a thermometer in her mouth after he looked. He checked her pulse next. He could have already had all this if he were on the Enterprise. "You been feeling any pain?" he asked.

Carol shook her head as she still had the thermometer in her mouth. Bones took it out. "Well, you don't have any fever either," he said. "You been feeling weird anywhere?"

"I'm starting to feel weird here now," Carol said.

"Sorry, but if I'm going to be your doctor, I have to ask you all these things. Far be it from me to get too personal with my best friend's wife. He's the one who was worried about you. You can blame all this on him."

"I'm going to definitely speak to him. Just because I'm sleepy some of the time and…"

"And what?"

"Never mind. That's between Jim and me."

"What…never mind. I don't find anything wrong with you. Just a few more questions and we'll be done."

Spock was working on a blueprint for the barn they would build. "Spock, if we can build it that perfectly, it will be quite a sight to see," Uhura said.

"If we follow the pattern exactly, I believe we can accomplish this design," Spock replied. "This barn will be sufficient for the animals and will allow us to keep them warm during the winter."

"Well, Spock, you know some of the animals don't care to stay inside the whole winter."

"When it is extremely cold, they will."

"Yes. It looks wonderful. I'm just wanting to know if we're all going to live in the same house."

"I assumed we would."

"But Spock, what about privacy?"

Spock considered that a moment. "You are suggesting that we build more than one house on the land?"

"It wouldn't hurt. We would have our house, and Jim and Carol would have theirs."

"And the doctor?"

"Him too."

"I am not certain that the doctor wishes to live alone. He is not used to being alone."

"Still, he could have a practice as a doctor in his own house, and if anyone came out to see him, he could see them there."

"That is true, but for now, I believe we should concentrate on one house because of the winter that is upon us."

"I agree, but let's keep an open mind about privacy."

"We will."

"No woman wants to share her house with someone else besides her husband."

Spock looked at her. "I thought Carol was a good friend of yours," he said.

"That doesn't mean I want to live with her."

"I see. I believe we all lived together and functioned well aboard the Enterprise."

"Yes, we did, but this is not the Enterprise, and we don't know if we will ever get back there."

"Are you suggesting that it will be different than living on the Enterprise together?"

"Of course, Spock."

"Explain."

"Spock, did your parents never have a home of their own?"

"Of course."

"People like to have a place of their own. Although we lived on the Enterprise, we had our own quarters."

"But we will have our own rooms. It will be quite similar to living on the Enterprise, although without the technology."

"I'm sure we'll make it."

Uhura figured she would never get Spock to understand the simple concept of privacy. Not having to worry about someone else in the house if she wanted to go down to the kitchen during the night. She could not just go without putting on a robe.

Jim went out to walk around the town. He thought he could like the town if everyone stopped thinking of him as a gun slinger. However, he did not see Q across the street watching him. Q was dressed as a cowboy. He knew the real test was coming for Jim Kirk, and he would be tested from all sides. He had been watching them, and they had been much more successful than he had thought mere mortals could be. They were not stressed out over being in another time besides their own. Kirk had seemed to be more stressed than the others, but he had overcome it and the others seemed to hold him together. He relied on them as much as they relied on him to make the right decisions for the group. He had thought they would not be such a team when thrown into another environment, but he was wrong.

Q saw Doctor McCoy come from the doctor's office with a doctor's bag. That doctor had adapted to his surroundings as well. Q knew McCoy could not be content with the medicines he had to work with in this time. He had worked with so much technology that was non-invasive, and now he had to take bullets out the old-fashioned way. He had already saved Jim Kirk's life since they had been in this time. How could they just adapt so easily? Humans were so weak.

Bones met Jim on the boardwalk. "Hey, Jim!" he said. "Have you talked to Carol yet?"

"No," Jim said. "Is she alright?"

"Yeah. She's fine." Bones knew he could not tell Jim what he had found out. "She is perfectly normal."

"Good." Jim paused a moment. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Don't ask me that. Just don't ask me. I'm busy anyway."

Jim watched as Bones walked away from him, but he walked on. He passed by the barber shop and thought maybe he should go in there. He did not want to just get totally rugged, so he went on in.

"Howdy," the barber said.

"Howdy," Jim replied. "I think I need a haircut."

"Well, that's what I'm here for, and seeing as I don't have anyone else in the chair, it's your turn."

Jim took his hat off and sat down in the chair. As the barber started cutting his hair, he saw Carol outside. "Carol!" he called.

Carol looked into the barber shop, and went in. "Hey, ladies don't belong in the barber shop," the barber said.

"She's my wife," Jim informed him.

"Jim, I have some incredible news," Carol said.

"What is it?"

Carol started to say something but then she just smiled. "I'll tell you when you're done here," she said.

"Why can't you tell me now?" Jim asked.

"Because it's too big. I'll see you later, Darling."

Jim watched her hurry out. The barber chuckled at that. "Well, you must be in for a big surprise," he said. "You folks new in town?"

"Yes," Jim replied. "We're buying a ranch site outside of town."

"It's a nice town."

"It seems like it."

Jim did not talk much while he was getting his hair cut. He kept wondering what Carol wanted to say that was so exciting. Bones had asked him if he had talked to her yet and…Jim almost jumped out of the barber chair but he could not move…or he felt like he could not. Bones knew something he did not know, and Carol was excited about something as well.

"H-How much longer till you're done with my hair?" he asked.

"Not long," the barber answered. "You want a shave too?"

"No. I just need the haircut."

When the barber was done, Jim barely remembered to pay him. He remembered getting his hair done on the Enterprise. Things were so different where he was now, but he could not dwell on that right now. He hurried down the street, wondering if Carol was in the hotel. He would just have to go there and see.

Jim went into the hotel and up to their room, but Carol was not in there. He thought he might be sick if he did not find her soon. He had to know what was going on. He looked both ways on the boardwalk. He did not see Carol or Bones, and he did not see Spock or Uhura either. He supposed Spock was in his room working on blueprints. He did not care to wander around the town.

Finally, Jim saw Bones coming out of the general store. He hurried after him. "Bones!" he called.

Bones looked around and stopped when he saw Jim. "What are you in such a hurry for?" he asked.

"Bones, where is Carol?"

"I don't know. What's going on?"

"What is she wanting to tell me?"

Bones was surprised by that question. "You mean she hasn't told you yet?" he asked. "I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"I just can't. I promised."

"Bones, I'm starting to get very nervous. I can't ask the question, can I?"

"No. Now, just go find her and don't be trying to get me to tell you stuff. I just ordered myself a doctor's kit and bag in the general store there."

Jim just stood there as Bones walked on. Well, he supposed he had to find Carol, and he saw her coming out of a shop down the street. When she saw him, she smiled and came to him. "Jim, I have something to tell you," she said. "I…"

"Jim."

Jim looked around to see Spock behind him. "I have finished the blueprint for the barn, Captain," Spock said the last word quietly.

"Oh. Spock, I'll look at it later. Carol has something we need to talk about," Jim replied.

"I will talk to you later then."

Jim turned back to Carol who smiled. "Jim, you know I saw Doctor McCoy," she said.

"Yes. Just tell me. Don't stall anymore."

"We're going to have a baby."

Jim thought he might faint just hearing that even though he had expected it. "Jim, are you alright?" Carol asked.

"Yeah," Jim said. "I guess we should have expected this."

"Are you happy?"

"Of course I am. I just hope we can get that place fixed to live in and…" Jim smiled. "My…" He scowled at what he was about to say. "I guess Mom will never know."

"You don't know. Maybe we'll be back before."

"I guess you haven't told anyone else. Kinda weird that Bones knew before I did."

"He's the doctor, even if he is your best friend."

"I couldn't get him to tell me."

"How do you feel?"

"I don't know. I'll tell you later."

Carol laughed. "I don't think I've ever been so happy."

"I'm gonna tell Spock."

"Wait. Don't you have anywhere else you have to go today?"

"No. I'm going tomorrow to see about getting the horses we need."

"Let's have lunch then."

"Okay." Jim looked down the street and there was a diner not far from them. "How about there?"

Carol took his arm and they started across the street. "Jim, I love you."

"I love you too, Carol. You know, I don't think we would be any happier if we were on the Enterprise than we are here."

"I don't either, but I know you miss your ship."

Jim nodded. "I do. I guess they'll give her to someone else."

Carol hugged his arm. "I'm sorry, Jim."

"Sorry for what? I can't get back there."

"What do you suppose would happen if he sent us back now?"

Jim frowned. "I don't know. I don't want to lose you…or the baby either."

They went into the diner and got a table. A waitress came and poured coffee for Jim. "I would rather have tea," Carol said. "If you have any."

"Why yes, Ma'am, we do," the waitress said. "Coming right up."

Jim looked at the menu which was very small. "I guess we don't have much of a selection," he said.

"In a time of limited production," Carol replied.

Bones walked into the diner next. He came over to their table. "Mind if I join you two?" he asked.

"Have a seat," Jim said.

"So, what's good in this place?"

"Probably everything." Jim looked at him. "Thanks for keeping that secret, Bones, and letting Carol tell me."

"Think nothing of it. It's a doctor's job to keep secrets."

The waitress came back with Carol's tea, and poured Bones some coffee. "So, what do you think about that, Jim?" he asked.

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around it," Jim replied.

"There's nothing like being a father."

Jim and Carol looked at him, but he just looked at the menu. "I'm gonna eat a big steak," he said. He noticed they were quiet. "What?"

"Bones, why don't you go ahead and tell us," Jim said. "You've never told me much about your experiences. You've always said you don't want to talk about it."

"And I don't."

"Bones. I'm your best friend. You don't even tell me how your life was…"

"Jim."

Jim did not go on with that. He knew that part of Bones' life was one reason he was so brusque. He did not want to show too much emotion about anything.

By the end of that week, they had their horses and all their equipment, and were ready to go out to their land which was now theirs as well. Jim had written a letter for Artemus Gordon and Jim West in case something happened. He hoped it would take care of everything. He had also written a Will for the Marshal to keep. He thought the Marshal was a very honorable man. He did not judge someone by what others said about them. However, there had been talk all over the town about Jim being a gun slinger, and some had shunned him when he was trying to do business with them. He was glad they were on their way to their own place now, and would not be going back to town for a while.

Spock was glad as well. He would not have to wear his hat or that bandana all the time on the ranch. He would have a lab at the ranch and he would develop gadgets for Bones and other things. He was sure Bones would want to participate in the findings as well.

"Captain, I am relieved that we are leaving the town," Spock said as they got outside the town.

Jim was driving a wagon. He had finally learned how to drive it since he had known they would have to. "I'm sure you are," he said. "You must have felt like a prisoner in that hotel."

"It was rather confining."

"Well, we sure won't be confined out here," Bones declared. "We're gonna be in the wide open spaces."

When they came to their property, they just sat there and looked at it for a few minutes. "We'll build right there," Jim said pointing as he looked at Carol.

"As far as you can see," Carol said. "Just look at it."

"I know. This is gonna be great. And at night…"

They moved on down to the area where they would build. It was flat and quite big enough to build the things they intended to build. Jim knew it would not be easy but they would figure it out together. He had tried to get Carol to just stay in the hotel but she had insisted that she was going to stay out there with him as much as she could. He did not want her to sleep on the ground but it was all they would have for a while.

Jim held a hammer in his hand and waited for Spock to give him another piece of lumber as they were building the frame for the house. Spock was cutting the corners so that they fit perfectly. Jim supposed he should expect nothing less from a Vulcan.

By the end of that day, they had built a floor for the house. Jim stood on it and smiled. "Just look at this," he said. "We built this! Don't you think that's awesome?"

"It's just a floor, Jim," Bones replied.

"Come on, Bones. We've never built anything in our lives. We actually built this with our own hands."

"Well, I guess it is pretty amazing."

Carol laughed. "I think it's incredible, Jim," she said.

"Thank you, Sweetheart," Jim replied.

Jim got down from the floor and they built a fire to prepare for the night. They had not neglected to get something to sit on. Jim had gotten a cushioned chair for Carol, although it had not been easy to get the seamstress in town to understand what he wanted. It worked fine, however.

"Captain, I fear that it will get too cold to stay outside before we can get the house built," Spock said. "It will be quite some time before we can have it ready to live in."

"I realize that," Jim replied. "We can always set up the tents to stay in for a while."

"Jim, Carol can't stay out here and freeze," Bones said.

Carol looked at him. "I am not freezing," she said.

"You may not be now, but the temperature is dropping around here. You can't be exposed like that. I'm telling you as your doctor."

Jim looked at her. "You can stay at the hotel some of the time," he said. "Don't be stubborn about this."

"I'm not being stubborn," Carol replied. "I just want to be with you."

"Well, you and I may have to go to town every night and stay in the hotel. Whatever we have to do. I want you to be comfortable and I want everything to work out well. After all, it's not that far."

Bones sighed as he leaned back and sipped his coffee. The only way he had avoided telling Jim so much about himself was that he was always busy at the academy, and they were always studying, working. They had been roommates, but Jim was always out too.

After everyone started drifting to sleep, Bones walked out by himself and sat on the side of the floor they had built with his bottle of whiskey. He looked up at the clear sky as he took a drink straight out of the bottle. He sure felt like a fifth wheel some of the time, but he figured when they really got busy with everything, it would be different.

Jim walked over there and got up on the floor and sat down. "What are you moping about?" he asked as he looked up at the stars himself. He looked at the bottle in Bones' hand. "You're drinking."

"I'm not moping," Bones said. "And I'll drink if I want."

"Come on, Bones. We've been friends a long time."

"You know, when I'm busy and…I don't want to talk about this. Stop trying to butt into my personal feelings."

"Why? You're always butting into my personal feelings."

"I'm your doctor. It's my business to do that."

Jim shook his head. "You're just trying to start an argument to change the subject. You always do that."

"Can't you get the picture that I don't want to talk about it?"

"When are you ever going to stop being so stubborn and stop trying to hide the fact that you care about people?"

"Jim, you and I are totally different when it comes to that."

"You don't have to tell me that. Just tell me about your life, Bones. What did you almost tell me about being a father? Are you a father?"

Bones was silent for a while. "You must have noticed the condition I was in when we first met," he said. "I guess I was working too much."

"Can you tie that together a little?"

"I don't like talking about this, Jim."

"I'm certain I know that. All I've ever heard you tell were bits and pieces. I know it was a bad divorce, but what happened? You've been bitter for so long."

"I'm not bitter. She just decided she liked someone else better, and she took everything. That's about the end of it. I don't like talking about that. Sometimes I try to pretend that part of my life didn't happen."

"Sometimes I like to pretend things didn't happen. I wish I knew how things are back in our own time."

"I'm pretty sure things are fairly quiet without you."

"I resent that."

"You do have a knack for trouble. Even here."

"I haven't been in that much trouble here."

"Well, you have a reputation as a gun slinger. That's trouble. Maybe not now, but later."

"You never know. We're out here away from everybody."

"You sure can't beat this view," Bones said. "And we're staring at it from the ground."

Jim looked up at the sky. "Just think of what all's out there, Bones."

"Yeah. Disease and dangerous anomalies that could wipe us out just like that. Violent species who only want to dominate everyone else."

Jim chuckled at that. "Are you a father, Bones?"

Bones frowned. "I never talk about this."

"You are, aren't you?"

"I have a daughter somewhere. I guess that doesn't matter now. I'm not even in the same time."

"You never see her?"

"No. Her mother and I don't exactly get along. I know she's okay. I may never see her again anyway."

"I'm sorry, Bones."

"Don't worry about it. I try not to think about it, but when night comes, it's quiet, and I just can't sleep." Bones shook his head. "I usually keep this to myself."

"You don't have to keep everything to yourself."

"I like to. It's my business. Besides, you're about to have more to worry about than my problems."

"I know that, but you're here with us, Bones, and you're part of this group. You don't have to isolate yourself."

"Like I said, don't worry about me, Jim. I'll be alright."

Jim frowned. He did not like thinking of Bones being miserable, and he did not like the fact that he seemed to be drinking for comfort. "Well, I guess I'll get some sleep," he said.

"You should. I'll just keep watch for a while."

"Good night, Bones."

Bones sat there looking out across the terrain that was dimly lit by the stars and moon. There were some trees, but not a whole lot of trees. The air was completely fresh and he could definitely feel a chill in the air that had not been there when they first arrived in this time. Winter was coming, and it was not waiting for anyone.