Shit! SHIT! Jimmy curses and punches the stall door that was Lightening's temporary home and now is empty. "Way to go Hickok, well you screwed that up. What are we supposed to do now" he said looking at Sundancer." Damnit! His thoughts were running in all directions trying to make sense of it all;

'a baby!' 'a Baby?'

'How did this even happen'

'A girl… a daughter'

'I shouldn't have run out last night, I just needed to think

'Surely she knew I was coming back'

'She made her choice and she left'

'You left yesterday Hickok' … 'and how was she supposed to know you'd be back'

'So what now? I'm just supposed to go after her, Chase her down'

'She don't need my help, not really'

Jimmy got real still, his thoughts finally settling on one thing as he looked over at Sundancer and said "But the baby might. She might need me. Ain't she got a right to know her father" Jimmy was still trying to figure it all out when he heard his name.

Mr. Hickok a voice calls his name from outside

"In here" Jimmy yells out the livery doors. Jimmy looked at as a young soldier entered the stables "I'm Hickok, what'd ya need private".

"Sir I have a communication for you from Fort Leavenworth" the private handed him an envelope. "Thank you Private" Jimmy took the envelope and looked at the soldier and raised his eyebrows.

"I was told to wait for a reply sir"

Jimmy frowned and opened the envelope.

Mr. Hickok

I hope your friends' injury is healing and that they are doing well but per your agreement you still have 3 months on your contract with the United States Army and we are in need of your skills here in Leavenworth. We will be heading into the territories in Kansas and Colorado and I expect that you will be in Leavenworth when we leave on Monday.

Respectfully

Major Rawlins

Jimmy reread the note. He looked at the Private "Let your commanding officer know I will be in to speak with him today" Jimmy watched as the private left and he walked over to Sundancer.

"Of course we could just keep riding and never go home" Jimmy looked at the letter from Rawlins and the note from Lou.

"Damnit boy" talking to the horse again "I wanna meet her, see for myself, see if she's mine and if she is, well, then…Jimmy sighed not knowing what he'll do if it's true… "I guess we're headed back to Kansas, we'll just make a quick stop in Rock Creek"

….

"Well that's good news "Rachel said stacking school books on the shelf at the back of the class room "Is Jimmy coming too?"

"She didn't say. But I do wonder if she told him" he said looking at the telegram he had in his hand.

"If she did, I sure can't wait to hear how that went" Rachel said "And when she gets here we can't act like we haven't noticed that Jamie is obviously Jimmy's child."

"Well parentage aside, she is the sweetest baby I ever seen. Where is my darling girl today? "He asked as he leaned against the bookcase and pulled Rachel in for a hug.

"Teaspoon" Rachel scolded "Not in here, my students are right outside" Rachel may have scolded but she still smiled and didn't pull away.

"Reading and Writing certainly are important, but in some areas the education of our youngins' is sadly lacking" Teaspoon stole a long kiss from the school teacher and then asked again.

"Where is our baby girl?"

"Over at Emily's," Rachel said running her hands over her hair "why don't you go get her and bring her home for lunch. I'll meet you there." Rachel said walking out the door to ring the bell letting the students know that recess was over.

Teaspoon walked across town towards the livery thinking about the day Buck brought Jamie home and the news that Lou was seriously hurt.

"Rider coming" Emily hollered running out to the street when she recognized that it was Buck.

She grabbed the reins and stopped the horse as Rachel came out "Welcome back. What cha got there Buck" Emily asked looking at the bundle in his arms.

"Our niece Jamie" he said as he handed her the baby before climbing off his horse. "She's pretty tired and hungry"

"Where's Lou and Jimmy "Rachel asked from the porch.

"Lou's hurt Rachel, pretty bad too. Where's teaspoon? He needs to hear all this."

"He's coming now" Rachel saw him walking quickly their way.

Teaspoon was smiling as he walked up "Is that my grand baby? Where's Lou and Jimmy?"

"Teaspoon Lou's hurt real bad, she was shot near Fort Kearny and Jimmy stayed behind with her" Buck paused looking like there was more to say.

"What?" Rachel asked seeing the worried look on his face as they walked into the house "Lou being hurt isn't bad enough?"

"There's more." Bucked said as he looked at the bundle that Emily was unwrapping "I am pretty sure that Kid is not Jamie's father."

Teaspoon took the baby from Emily "Oh my" he said looking at the baby then up at the others in the room "Well I'll be Damned"

…..

Teaspoon had spent the rest of the afternoon with Jamie and after supper he headed back to the office to relieve Barnett and make one last walk around town. A few hours had past when he returned home, he crept in quietly, thinking that Rachel might have gone to bed, but instead he found her sitting on the sofa looking at him and right away she put her finger to her mouth, quietly 'ssshhhing' him and pointed to his favorite chair. He walked across the room and sat next to her and looked at the young women asleep, curled up in his chair holding her daughter. Even asleep he could see she looked pale and tired but she was home. He smiled and whispered "When did she get here?"

Rachel whispered back "About an hour ago, I tried to get her to see the doctor but all she wanted was Jamie, her shirt is pretty bloody and she looked on the verge of collapse, I doubt she should have been riding so soon. I sent Buck for the Doctor he should be here soon. She just took the baby and lay down; I haven't taken my eyes off of her since. Jimmy ain't with her Teaspoon, and when I asked where he was all she said "he knows and it don't matter". One small tear rolled down her cheek and she looked at her husband "He wouldn't tell her that, surely it was just a misunderstanding, Jimmy wouldn't just … I don't know, walk away from his child"

Teaspoon looked at his sleeping girls and thought of Jimmy, because Jimmy's life sure did look a lot like his did many years ago Teaspoon felt closer to him than the other riders. "I don't know Rachel, Jimmy's been running away a long time and from a lot of things, I'd like to think this would be different, but I don't know, I just don't know"

…

"Good morning Teaspoon" Lou said as she walked into the marshals office and perched on the edge of the desk looking all the better for three days of rest and Rachel's good cooking "Rachel wants to know if you'll be coming home for lunch or do you want me to bring you something?"

"Well Barnett won't be in till this evening so I guess its lunch here" Teaspoon stands as Eddie from the saloon comes walking in.

"Morning marshal, Mr. Pritchard is asking if you'd come over to the saloon, we got a ..a.. "Eddie looks at Lou and looks down "…A gentleman that was ..well… staying with one of the girls and now he ain't leaving. They're both pretty drunk"

"Tell Charlie I'm on my way Eddie" Teaspoon looks at Lou "Sweetheart you wanna hold down the fort till I get back?"

Lou smiles, drops into his chair and props her feet on the desk "Sure thing" He chuckles walking out as she pulls her hat down over her eyes and hears her say "Take your time Teaspoon, take your time"

A few minutes later just as Lou is about to nod off she hears a voice "Excuse me I'm looking for Teaspoon Hunter"

Lou lifts her hat and peers out from under the brim at the man standing near the desk "Fred? Fred Clayton? Is that you?" Lou pulled her hat off and stood up.

"Holy cow Lou! It's good to see you" he pulls her in to a friendly hug then lets her go and looks her up and down "Don't they feed you enough around here, you're going to blow away. I didn't even know you were here, last I heard you and the Kid got hitched and headed East. Is the Kid around too?"

Lou hesitated, "No Fred, Kid died in the war, in Virginia" She said

"Oh honey" he said taking her hand "I'm so sorry. I didn't know him as well as I did you but seemed liked he was a good man"

"Thank you Fred. Tell me what have you been doing since the express ended"

"Well I am working on a spread south of Julesburg on the South Platte; it's a nice spread. The owner runs cattle and wants to start breeding horses too. I was in St Jo visiting family and headed back to Colorado when I heard that Buck was here and he had some horses for sale, thought I'd take a look."

Teaspoon came in on the tail end of that conversation "Is that Fred Clayton I see in my office? Good to see you"

"Good to see you to teaspoon, I was telling Lou here I was looking for Buck."

Teaspoon listened and noticed that Fred hadn't let go of Lou's hand. Lou was still wearing her express getup; to most folks she might still look like a boy so Teaspoon was wondering why the younger man was still holding her hand so affectionately.

Seeing the look on his face she jumped in "Fred knew, Teaspoon that I was girl, for about the last 6 months the express ran. I was visiting the orphanage in St. Jo and he was there too, he saw me going in the hotel as Lou and coming out as Louise."

"I agreed to keep her secret, we all knew the express was going to end soon and damn if she wasn't one of the best riders the express had, certainly one of the best that came through my station in Seneca."

He looked at Lou "Why don't you show me where Buck is and then let me buy you two lunch so we can catch up."

"Sure, sounds good. Teaspoon why don't you meet over at the saloon in about an hour or so" Lou steers Fred out the door and in the direction of Buck Livery Stable.

…

"It's a real nice place, it called the Fremont Ranch." Fred said over the lunch "It's a pretty new spread, a couple of brothers from Missouri came out about three years ago and I started with them about 18 months ago. It's growing fast and I keep having to hire more men and now I'm looking for stable manager and a good horse trainer. Of course I'd like to hire some of our express riders but I can't find 'em and well they weren't none of them as good with horses as your boys were Teaspoon."

Lou looked at Fred "How bout me? I'm looking for work and I'm about as good with horses as Buck and Ike ever were."

"You? Oh gee Lou I don't know, you're still a girl and I don't think they'd like me hiring a girl."

"Actually Fred I am a woman, a widowed woman that needs to provide for herself and her daughter. Now I could go get a saloon job or go work at that house just outside of town, but why should I when I can work horses and oversee any job that needs doing. Come on Fred you know me, I can do the work."

Fred thinks for a moment "Ya you can that's true. I tell ya what, you come with me when I leave in the morning, we'll show off your skills to the owners and see what they say."

"Now hold on Fred, if she were to get this job where would she live? She can't be raising my granddaughter in a bunkhouse and what about schooling when she gets a little older." He turned towards Lou "these are things you have to think about now"

"Well the stables have a couple of rooms in the back that would make a nice little place for you Lou and the town nearby has a school Teaspoon. I think it's a great idea, if we can sell the Fremont's on it. Look you two talk about it, I'm going to settle up with Buck and I plan to leave at first light if you want to come" He stood to leave and reached out to shake Teaspoons hand "It's good to see you again Teaspoon."

As Fred walks out Lou turns to Teaspoon "This sounds perfect."

Teaspoon takes her hand and looks into her face "You just got here and now you're thinkin' of leaving, going a damn near a thousand miles from here."

"Teaspoon I have to find work, I can't keep living on what you and Rachel provide. I have to get on with my life; there ain't work for me here Teaspoon. Please I want your blessin' on this and it ain't as far as you think 4 or 5 days ride is all. We'll come visit all the time, I promise."

Teaspoon looked into the face of his adopted daughter and smiled softly "Ok girl, you got my blessing, but you gotta be the one to tell Rachel. I ain't doin' it."

Lou throws her arms around his neck "I'm just going to check it out, a couple of weeks is all, they might not hire me but it cain't hurt to find out."

….

Oh Rachel please don't cry" Lou pleaded "Buck don't look so mad." Lou looked around the room at her family "I have to try; I have to make a life for us. There ain't nothing for me here" She saw Bucks face get hard" That ain't what I mean Buck." She put her hand on his shoulder "I know you all are here and I love you but what work is there for me in Rock Creek?"
"Come work with me Lou" Buck said "I can use the help especially now that Emily is due soon."

"That's sweet Buck, you know you have only enough work for you right now. But I'll tell you what, you buy that ranch you keep talking about and I'll be home in a hurry but for now I'm leaving in the morning and I'll be back in a few weeks, if they don't hire me then I'll have to think of something else and if they do I'll come home, collect my things and Jamie too."

Rachel looks up at Lou "I don't mind you leaving her here, you know I don't but you taking her so far away just about breaks my heart and Lou honey what about Jimmy?"

Lou got quiet "Well he can come see Jamie anytime he likes, I won't keep her from him, but he ran off when I told him….."

"Louise he was just shocked is all, surprised like the rest of us"

"No more than I was Rachel. I promise we won't be gone forever."

Rachel looked at her "Lou you're gonna find a nice man who will become your family, he'll take care of you and Jamie and then you won't come around as often, that's how it always goes"

"No man is gonna want me, I'm too independent and I ain't gonna be lady enough for him. Oh, I'm not an old maid, so don't look at me like that, I'm a widow and that's ok. I won't be alone I'll have Jamie and eventually Teresa and Jeremiah, but mostly I'll always have you, all of you."

"But Jimmy" Rachel asked again "And I'm not talking about him being Jamie's father I'm talking about you and Jimmy."

"Rachel, leave Jimmy out of this. There ain't no place in his life for me, can you see Jimmy settling down, raising a family, being a farmer or rancher. That ain't the kinda life he wants, but it's the kind of life I have now. Let it go." Lou stood up "I gotta get packed for in the morning. Thank you for letting me leave Jamie here while I head out with Fred. I promise, I won't be gone long, 2 weeks at the most."

Lou kisses Rachel and Teaspoon on the cheek and hugs Buck and runs upstairs to pack and spend time with her daughter.

….

Jimmy rode into to town a few days later and tied his horse off outside the house and waited, he wasn't sure what for…courage maybe? He could face killers with their guns blazing but right now the thought of facing his family and that baby is daunting.

"Jimmy!" he heard a voice call and as he turned he saw Buck walking towards him, his hand out, Jimmy shook his hand as Buck clapped him on the shoulder "We were starting to worry about you. We thought you'd be right behind Lou when she got here"

"I had to stay and work out some things….with the army. I do still work for them. Buck Where is Lou?"

"Ummm well…." Buck started when the front door opened and Teaspoon walked out on the porch

"Well Jimmy good ta see you." He said. Teaspoon wasn't a tall man, but when he pulled himself to his full height and had that 'you have some explaining to do' look on his face, Jimmy found Teaspoon to be a towering force.

Jimmy nodded, looking him in the eyes he was worried but never one to back down "You too"

Buck sensing the tension turned to leave "I have work to do. Jimmy, come by the livery later, I'll be there if you want to talk."

Teaspoon smiled a little "Well never knew Buck to be chicken." He looked at Jimmy "Better come in son"

They walked in as Rachel was coming out of the kitchen holding a dark haired baby, with amber eyes; she didn't say anything, surprised for a moment at seeing Jimmy coming in.

"She's little" He says looking her over.

"Babies usually are Jimmy" Rachel said.

Jimmy looked at her incredulously "I meant she's tiny, considering she's almost a year old"

"Well Lou ain't too big either, takes after her like that, but she's got your eyes and other wise looks just like you" she said sitting the baby on the living room floor.

Jimmy shook his head no "no….not really…"

Rachel's head snapped around as she stood up "….Jimmy don't you dare deny this child I'll…."

Jimmy never took his eyes of the baby "…She looks like Lydia, my younger sister. She looks just like Lydia did as a baby." Jimmy looks at Teaspoon and at Rachel "I ain't denying her, I just wasn't expecting her, didn't plan on her."

"Her name is Jamie" Rachel said, her hands on her hips and barely containing her anger.

"What?" Jimmy asked "I know that" he says looking at Rachel "Look I know you must be disappointed in me and I'm sorry if you're angry too."

"I'm not angry, not really and I'll admit to being surprised, but this situation is tough on all of us. All that Lou's been through and we just got her back, then she goes and damn near dies. And now we finally get to have this precious baby here, for a minute it felt like we might get our family back together and now Lou's leaving and you're here." Rachel takes a deep breath "Jimmy I am not disappointed in you. You and Lou created this child together, neither one of you is to blame, but both of you are responsible and I'm not sure either of you are thinking about Jamie or your family right now, just about yourselves." Rachel started to leave, but turned and kissed Jimmy on the cheek "I love you Jimmy, I do but if I think for one minute that you and Lou aren't treating this beautiful baby right….Well…. I'll take you both out behind the wood shed" Rachel turns on her heel and walks out.

Teaspoon grinning from ear to ear says "that's just one of the reasons I married that women, spunk, she's got spunk. And as for the wood shed she'll have to get in line behind me, Buck and Emily." He looks at Jamie playing on the floor "we love that baby girl; she has come into our lives like fresh air. Wait till you get ta know her Jimmy, she may look like you but she is her momma made over, like having a little Lou crawling around. Stubborn as the day is long" He laughs out loud "See her trying to stand up, watch this" Teaspoon sits on the floor next to the baby and tries to help her stand up, but Jamie pushes his hand away and says "no no" and continues to try to pull herself up….. The proud grandpa smiles "She won't let nobody help her do nothin' who does that remind you of."

Jimmy just looks at her as he sits down on the floor, leans against the sofa across from Teaspoon and the baby "Lou, just like Lou. Teaspoon what am I supposed to do about this whole thing, about that" he says pointing at the baby.

"She does have a name Jimmy. She ain't an 'it'. And not calling her by her name ain't gonna make the problem go away. Now I don't know what you intend to, or how you and Lou want to handle this situation, but Jimmy no matter what happens all you gotta do is love her." Teaspoon softened a bit. "Just Love your daughter, that's really all ya gotta do son, the rest will work it's self out the way it's meant it."

Jimmy looked over at Teaspoon "What'd she mean 'Lou's leaving?"

…..