Though the sun lit up the town with its brilliant vibrancy, the atmosphere was charged with a cool alertness. The train depot was abnormally calm considering the emanate arrival of the No. 7, which promised the departure of Jake's heart. He found himself completely out of sorts, uncertain how to place his hands, or even where to stand. Watching nervously while Teresa adjusted her moss green dress coat, he took to shoving his sweating fists into the front pockets of his brown slacks. Lucy stood behind the wicker carriage quietly observing the shaky demeanor of her parents. She stared at her father as his throat bobbed while he swallowed back something she was too young to understand. They looked for all the world as if they wanted nothing more than to embrace one another, and yet they stood aloft holding something at bay.

Together they did an awkward dance as Teresa tried to step around Jake to get to Lucy and Izzy. She came down on her knees cupping Lucy's face in her hands. Though she smiled lovingly, there was a sadness in her mother's expression. It was then that Lucy saw the slight pinkish swelling under her mother's eyes. They were welling up, and as she kissed Lucy on the forehead, a single tear fell into her hairline. Tenderly Teresa wiped it away, fighting the tremble of her lips.

"You'll be a good girl while Mama's away. And help your Papa with Izzy," Teresa's voice quaked. "I love you sweetheart."

"I love you too Mama," Lucy's eyes grew round as she turned seeking reassurance from her father. But Jake had his back to them, his head was bowed, and his hand flew up to his face. Teresa rose sniffing as she peered into the opening of the carriage. Izzy slumbered deeply, tucked into her pale yellow blanket. Teresa ran her finger gingerly along, Izzy's round blushing cheeks, feeling her heart aching painfully in her chest. She forced herself to maintain every ounce of composure that she had at her disposal. The force of her attachment to her children and her husband was threatening to break every bone in her body, if she couldn't hold them to her.

Off in the distance the airy wail of the train's whistle spoiled the calm. It vibrated the ground as it chugged closer and closer to the ailing family. Teresa forced herself to turn away from her children. Jake continued to face away from them, his shoulders stood like a shield against this inescapable parting. She came up behind him sliding her arms around his flanks and resting her hands on his chest. He could feel her heart pounding into his back, and the pressure of her cheek as she pressed herself into him. Immediately he took hold of her hands, holding them tightly to him as he exhaled an exasperated huff of air. Grabbing the front of his ivory linen shirt, Teresa clenched it in her grasp unable to release him. Unable to extricate herself from his warmth. From his scent. From the very solidity of his body.

They were hardly aware of the train's halted presence as Lucy pushed the carriage closer to her parents. She wrapped her small arms around her mother and father's legs. Teresa held the back of Lucy's shoulder close, beginning to lose her resolve. It was unknown to them how long they stood in such a pose, as the Conductor began to shout, "All aboard coming aboard!"

As Lucy stepped back, Jake spun around catching Teresa off guard. He grabbed her by the shoulders, yanking her up on her toes. His lips encased her mouth as she melted into him, savoring his taste. Senses becoming alert little memory banks she held on to every movement and sensation. Bringing his mouth close to her ear she felt his warm breath panting as he whispered, "You come back tah me. You come back tah us."

Stepping back, she peered into the dark ashen blue of his eyes. It was then that she realized why he'd been hiding his face from her. The skin under his eyes was heavily lined and dark with swelling. He'd been holding tears back with as much ardor as she had been.

"You are in my heart," she managed taking comfort in the feel of his cheek beneath her hand.

"Wire us as much as you can," Jake huffed awkwardly. "I already spoke with Horace. He'll be waitin'."

"All aboard!"

These two words sliced through them, severing their bodies as she boarded the train. Adhering herself to the first available window seat she could find, Teresa mouthed how much she love them as the train trudged away from the station. Away from Jake, Lucy, and Izzy. Away from Colorado Springs.

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Celina pressed her face close to the dusty window as the train pulled into Colorado Springs. Her lips pressed themselves into a thin line, as she watched the couple saying goodbye. The man had his back to her but she had full view of the woman as she forced herself to leave him. Celina thought the whole scene rather melodramatic, until she saw the small child clinging sadly to a wicker carriage. Casting this bit of angst aside, she stood stretching the kinks out of her sore spine. Finally valise in hand, she turned narrowly avoiding being trampled by the same woman, as she hurried passed; in order to gain a window seat. Such sentimentality, she thought breaking out into the fresh sunny breeze.

The moment her heels struck the thick boards of the platform, her eyes searched in vain for the white haired Mr. Bray. All she found was this tower of a man, his face shadowed by his dark suede Stetson, and shoulders broadened by his burnt umber duster. As the train pulled away from the station, he waited until the caboose was well out of sight before he swept his daughter up on his hip. Despondently he pushed the carriage down the platform and across the tracks. Celina watched him blend into the bustle of the town, her eyes magnetized to his sway.

"Ms. Morrow?" an out of breath voice broke through her thoughts. She turned to find the silver haired merchant shambling up the platform.

"Mr. Bray?" she asked pacing towards him with relief.

The man eyed her grinning as to some unforeseen triumph. "You're the seamstress I've been waitin' for?" He waited a moment for her to nod before adding, "Well, let's get yah situated. You'll be stayin' up at the boardin' house."

She followed him down across the tracks, in the same direction as the man and his children. Mr. Bray's feet traveled more swiftly than she thought, for she found herself struggling to keep up. Her eyes drank in the new world around her as they passed the blacksmith's radiating heat from the fire stores, the milling town's folk studying her every detail, and seemingly out of place bank front. There was a finely hand painted sign in the windows of the emerald green trimmed window, which read, Grand Reopening. Her eyes blinked as they passed the barbershop and she saw the same man with his back to the door. Celina couldn't help herself as she paused momentarily to watch as he cradled his baby in his arms. He swayed gently back and forth before disappearing into the back of the shop.

"Ain't yah comin?" Mr. Bray's hurried voice startled her. "Still got a ways tah go! Heh heh heh"

"Excuse me," she half skipped catching up to his stride.

"That there's the Mercantile," he pointed in passing. Then pointing in the opposite direction, "And down there's the Gold Nugget. . . You'll stay outta there. And that big long building's the clinic. Yep we got ourselves our very own lady doctor!"

"Oh?" she her sights lingered on the long graying building with wonder. What would such a woman look like? As they neared the porch steps to the squat looking boarding house porch, Mr. Bray paused rubbing his finger under his nose. He hooked his thumbs into his slivery blue vest pockets.

"Just get yourself settled and then come on over and I'll show you where you'll be workin."

"Thank you Mr. Bray. I can't wait to get started," Celina forced herself to smile. As she watched him leave, she couldn't help peering further down the wide street as a smoldering, lion's maned, gem of a man, trotted down passed the Mercantile and disappeared into the corner doors of the barbershop. She was beginning to revel in her decision to come.