Chapter 2

“NO!” Louise screamed in her sleep as her body tossed and turned causing her to almost fall off the seat of the coach.

“Louise,” Dewitt knelt before her, running his hands across her tear stained face.

“Huh?” His touch jerked her awake. Her body froze as she saw the captivated look in his eyes.
( Read more... )

“Can’t believe we didn’t see it before,” the driver, affectionately nicknamed Charlie, chuckled as he handled Louise a canteen of water. They had just stopped for a midday break to each lunch and water the horses. When Louise stepped down from the stage, she stumbled, causing her hat to fall, revealing her true gender immediately to both the driver ( Read more... )

Chapter 1

The tall lanky man leaned against the pillar of the hotel porch. He was dressed in a neatly pressed dark grey suit and wool jacket with a tall black derby hat worn smartly on his head as he waited for the stage. He pulled out his gold pocket watch and sighed in annoyance that his transport home to St. Louis was late again. He returned ( Read more... )

St. Joseph, Missouri 1856

“Louise?” A woman in her early twenties entered the tiny room looking for her friend.

The room was dark and silent aside the faint sound of the saloon below. She crept into the room carrying a small lantern. The soft lighten the shadows to reveal the petite girl curled up on the bed unconscious, her dress torn and stained ( Read more... )

Chapter Five

Louise could hear the riders entertaining Michaela outside as she finished preparing dinner. She was surprised at how taken they all seemed to be with her daughter, even the notorious James Butler Hickok seemed to have a soft spot when it came to little girls. After she pulled the chicken out of the oven, she put the biscuits she had ( Read more... )

Chapter Four

Kid offered to stay and entertain Michaela in the parlor while Louise got settled in. As she was upstairs unpacking she heard her daughter playing “Pattycake” and laughed, wondering what a sight it must be to see her daughter playing with the handsome Pony Express rider. She could to tell Kid was obviously attracted to her, but right ( Read more... )

Chapter Two

“Mama,” Michaela asked. “I thought we were going to visit ‘Miah and Tessie.”

“We are.” Louise smiled at her little girl as they walked to the stagecoach ticket office in St. Joe. “But they don’t live here anymore.”

“They don’t?” The girl looked confused.

“Nope.” She shook her head. “I got a letter a while back from the couple that adopted ( Read more... )

Chapter Three

“Louise,” Kid said as he put their bags in the back of the wagon. “These are some of the other riders, Cody, Ike, Buck, and my brother, Andy. Guys, this is Louise, our new housekeeper and this little one is her daughter, Michaela.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Cody tipped his hat.

“More like he’s pleased to know Jimmy won’t be cooking ( Read more... )

Chapter Two

“Mama,” Michaela asked. “I thought we were going to visit ‘Miah and Tessie.”

“We are.” Louise smiled at her little girl as they walked to the stagecoach ticket office in St. Joe. “But they don’t live here anymore.”

“They don’t?” The girl looked confused.

“Nope.” She shook her head. “I got a letter a while back from the couple that adopted ( Read more... )

Chapter One

Louise put on her best face as Tyler prepared to board the stage for San Francisco. “How long will you be gone this time?”

“Two months, maybe three at the most,” Tyler sighed. “You know how I hate leaving the two of you, but it can’t be helped.”

“I know.”

“It’s just with all these robberies lately, the company is getting nervous.”

“Of course ( Read more... )