~ Do you think somebody is following us? ~

"Nah, I’m just checkin’ to be sure," Jimmy said, as he dismounted.

~ I’ll take care of the horses if you go gather firewood, ~ Ike volunteered.

"Sounds good," Jimmy said as he handed Sundance’s reins to the mute rider.

They had stopped near a clump of scraggly brush, consisting mainly of dead honeysuckle and young cedar. Nearby grew some taller cottonwood saplings and a few elms. Jimmy let out a sigh of pure exhaustion as he began breaking out branches from the dead brush that had been killed by flooding in recent years. The branches broke easily near the ground, bearing testimony to the dead roots. With his arms filled, Jimmy turned back to the place where Ike was setting river rocks in a circle for the fire.

"Think there are any fish in there?"

~ I doubt it, but if you want to try and catch a couple, be my guest. ~

"Maybe for breakfast. I’m too tired tonight," Jimmy replied, dumping the firewood onto the ground next to the site where Ike was circling rocks.

~ Go ahead and get some more wood while I start the fire. I’m hungry and I want to eat as soon as possible. ~

"Sure Ike," Jimmy said, squinting slightly to make out the other man’s hand motions in the moonlight, his mind having trouble deciphering the signs.

Within minutes a fire was crackling and Jimmy was beginning to make coffee. They would have to settle for dried beef and corn dodgers for supper.

"It’s too dark to see where we’re going, Alex. Why can’t we stay out here on the hill instead of going back to the trees?"

"For starters, there might be coyotes out here. Besides, we could probably build a fire and stay warm and we can try catching a fish if we go back to the river. We haven’t eaten since McDonalds yesterday, so I for one am famished."

"How are we gonna catch a fish when we don’t have any equipment?"

"I don’t know. We’ll figure something out. We have to use our heads. Think survival."

"Great," Tabatha said sarcastically, "I’m the first person they’d vote off the island!"

"Seriously Tab, don’t you remember anything from being a Girl Scout?"

"That was you. I was more interested in not letting Kyle use me for a punching bag than learning how to build fires and tie knots."

"Still, we’d be better off if we spent the night along the river. I doubt that the wind will be as strong there either," Alex added, pulling her jacket closer around her.

The girls carefully began to descend the hill in the darkness, trying to pick out the best path in the dim light. They became so absorbed in not falling that they didn’t notice the twinkle of a tiny light in the distance.

Tabatha had to grab onto Alex’s arm at one point to keep from sliding off a steep ledge.

"Why did we ever climb up here in the first place?" she gasped, clutching the side of the hill until her heart began beating at a regular pace.

"It just wasn’t this sharp on the other side. It’s probably not so bad in the daytime."

When they had finally reached the bottom, both girls were huffing and puffing from the excursion. It was then that Tabatha noticed the tiny pinprick of light about a mile away. It was just along the horizon line where the decreased number of trees along the riverbank made it easier to spot.

"Oh my God! Alex look! Is that a light?"

" Yes! Maybe…maybe it’s a rancher out checking cattle or something. Oh my gosh, Tab! This could be our chance. Lets hurry before they leave."

The girls stumbled along through the darkness keeping their eyes on the light. It remained stationary and seemed to glow like a candle in a darkened room.

It took them a while to get close enough to finally distinguish what they were seeing actually was. The realization ignited fears in one young woman and excitement in the other.

"It’s a bonfire!" Tabatha exclaimed, quickening her step.

"Tabatha! Wait! We can’t just go charging down into somebody’s campsite. We have no idea who’s down there. They could be murders for all we know."
"What? Get real Alex. They’re probably a couple of old guys on a fishing trip or something. If we don’t go down there we’ll never be found!" Tabatha retorted before turning and marching on towards the steadily growing fire.

Ike was just sitting down with his second cup of coffee when he heard one of the horses nicker softly, a signal that someone or something was coming.

~ Listen. ~ Ike signed, setting his tin cup on the ground and setting a hand on the handle of his pistol.

Jimmy did the same, carefully drawing the colt from his left holster and silently cocking it. His eyes darted about, searching the area for movement among the trees, his ears straining to hear something, anything.

"Alex! Hurry up!"

"We shouldn’t go down there, Tabatha!"

"What the heck! Those are horses. Maybe you were right about ranchers."

The voices that the riders heard were faint, but distinctly feminine.

~ Put your gun away. ~ Ike signed, easing his hand away from his holster.

Silently Jimmy slipped his weapon back into its proper place.

* What on earth are a couple of women doing way out here? * Jimmy wondered. They were miles away from the main road and the closest building was the Pumpkinseed Station.

"I don’t know Ike, what do you think Marshal Hunter would say?" Jimmy said rather loudly, in an attempt to let the two women know that they weren’t in danger.

Ike threw him an odd glance as he stood to add more fuel to the fire to increase the light.

Faintly, they heard some sticks breaking, as though one woman was forcing the other to enter the campsite.

Tabatha cleared her voice loudly, forcing Alex to submit to the idea of going into the camp.

"Excuse me gentlemen," The blonde said in a clear voice as she stepped into the clearing, "I hope we are not disturbing you, but we were hoping that you could help us."
"Evenin’ ladies. How might we be of assistance?" Jimmy asked in his most polite manner.

"My name is Tabatha and this," she said pulling Alex into view, "is my friend Alex. We seem to be very lost, so when we saw the light from your fire, we thought that maybe you could help us."

Ike stared blatantly at the two oddly dressed women. The slim blonde who was doing all the talking drew his attention instantly. So much so that he didn’t notice Jimmy’s sudden loss for words.

A moment passed before Jimmy realized he’d been staring. "I’m James Hickok, Jimmy to my friends, and this is Ike McSwain," he managed, still trying to keep from staring.

While they were both wearing pants, they were obviously not trying to disguise their femininity; neither were they equipped to be so far from civilization. In his intense inspection, Jimmy noticed the girl with long dark hair shivering with cold.

"Have a seat. Would either of you like some coffee?" He offered, realizing that he had been gawking.

"Oh yes, that would be awesome," Tabatha said, stepping closer and kneeling in front of the flames. Alex followed her actions somewhat apprehensively.

Ike quickly poured them a cup of the scalding brew for each girl, then passed around the packet of dried beef from his saddlebag.

"Thank you," Alex said softly when Ike passed the packet of dried meat to her.

Jimmy hid a grin behind his cup when he saw Alex blush when she caught him staring.

"Forgive me fore eavesdropping, but as we were approaching, I thought I heard one of you say something about a Marshal, or someone by the name of Hunter. My uncle is Al Hunter, a rancher near Fairbury," Alex announced, throwing a stinging look at her friend when she mentioned the name of the town. "Am I correct in assuming that what I heard was right?"

"Uh," Jimmy stammered, surprised that while she had appeared rather shy, she was very well versed. "Ike and I work for Marshal Teaspoon Hunter in Rock Creek. We sometimes serve as deputies, but we’re actually Pony Express riders."

"Pony Express riders?!" Alex exclaimed, her voice raising in both pitch and volume at the shock his statement caused.