“Oh that’s alright,” Molly said to her. “I’m sure I can manage.”

“Nonsense, that box weighs as much as you do I’m sure,” Mrs. Potter retorted.

“I can take it for her,” Vin Tanner’s voice came from the doorway behind Molly. She turned at the unexpected voice and fought against blushing at the sight of him. Her dream of him barely left her mind and she found herself avoiding him for fear of embarrassing herself further.

“No, that’s alright, really, I can manage,” Molly stammered but Vin had already picked up the box and was waiting for her to lead the way out of the store. “I don’t want to be a bother,” she tried protesting one more time.

“It ain’t a bother, I’m happy to do it,” Vin said with a smile to her. Molly smiled back dropping her eyes from his gaze. The pair walked in silence up the street to the church. Vin caught Molly out of the corner of his eye. The early sun was catching her face just so to make it seem like it was glowing. She had her hair pulled loosely back, a style she seemed to favor lately that made her seem older.

There was something about this girl, something he’d noticed from the day he watched her get off the stage coach when she’d arrived in town with her father. It was something he’d chosen to ignore because he knew what he was feeling wasn’t right but it became stronger since the night at the jail when she’d been in danger. Even in spite of what Chris had told him, it wasn’t something he could make just go away and something he wasn’t sure he wanted to. Molly caught his gaze on her and smiled at him. He loved the way her eyes light up when she smiled.

“This is very good of you to do,” she said to him.

“It’s no trouble,” he told her. They reached the stairs to the church and she led the way inside and up toward the front.

“You can just place it down here,” she said, indicated the front pew. Vin went to set the box on the pew when the lid lurched and knocked several books to the floor. Both Vin and Molly bent to pick up the books, each grabbing the same one. The both rose together still holding on to the book. Their eyes locked and Molly felt something flow through her, something different but not at all unpleasant. It was like how she’d felt after waking up from her dream.

“I hope it ain’t ruined,” he said breaking the spell they’d seemed to have fallen under.

“I think it would take more than a fall to ruin Shakespeare,” Molly said to him taking the book.

“So that’s Shakespeare?” Vin said.

“Just some of his sonnets,” Molly said. “I’d like to try and teach the children some of his work but I always seem to get tongue tied reciting him.”

“I’d like to hear you try,” Vin said to her. Molly looked up at him, the feeling building up again. Molly opened the book.

“’What is love? ‘Tis not hereafter. Present mirth hath present laughter; What’s to come is still unsure.” Vin watched her lips form the old words, finding himself wondering what they would taste like. “…In delay there lies no plenty. Then come kiss me…”Molly felt herself stumble on the line and she began to blush. “See? Oh but this,” she said picking up the other book. “This one you’d enjoy. It’s Great Expectations. Have you ever read it?” she asked.

“I can’t say as I have,” he said to her. “My ma used to read to me all the time when I was a boy,” he said to her.

“Would you. . . would you like to hear some?” she asked. Vin sat down on the pew. Molly sat next to him and began to read the story of Pip, the orphan who was about to come into fortune. When she’d finished the first chapter she closed the book. “I’m sure you have a lot to do,” she said to him. In truth he could have listened to her all day. He stood reluctantly.

“I suppose I should be on my way,” he said.

“You’re welcome to borrow the book if you wish,” Molly said to him.

“Oh no, I’d be too afraid of gettn’ it ruined or lost,” he said to her. He placed his hat back on his head and tipped the brim to her before walking out of the church. Molly watched him leave and took in a breath before resuming her task of organizing her new supplies.

Vin walked out into the morning. More people had emerged to begin their day. Chris caught site of him from where he’d been sitting near the saloon. He’d seen his friend walking up the street with Molly carrying a box. He watched as the pair walked into the church and he’d expected him to re-emerge right away but nearly an hour passed before he’d walked back outside. Vin walked back in Chris’s direction and caught site of his friend. The two nodded to each other in greeting and Vin walked over to him. Chris stood up. “School supplies get in?” Chris asked him. Vin nodded.

“The box was a bit heavy for her to be carrying on her own,” Vin replied.

“People saw you helping her,” Chris said to him.

Vin shrugged, “So?”

“So those same people are gonna be wondering why it took you nearly an hour to help Molly Gallagher carry a box into the church,” Chris said to him.

“Well those people need to be mindin’ their own business,” Vin said a little too defensively. Chris knew the tracker could care less of what other people thought.

“What’s goin’ on Vin?” Chris asked him.

“Nothin’ but me helpin’ the school teacher carry a box,” Vin said still on the defensive.

“Yeah well, some people think there’s more to it than that,” Chris said, remembering what Lily had told him.

“It ain’t none of anyone’s business,” Vin said. “Not yours and not this town’s what I do with my own time,” he said taking a step toward his friend threatenly.

“Leave it alone, Vin,” Chris said in a warning tone. He was beginning to see how his friend was toward the young school teacher and knew it meant nothing but trouble for either of them. Vin didn’t reply to him but to take a step back and walk away from him. Chris watched him walk up the street and shook his head. It was clear he was going to have to learn the hard way.

It was later in the afternoon by the time Molly finished her work in the school. Her father was due into town and him, her uncle and herself had made plans to have dinner together that evening in one of the town’s restaurants. She was happy to see both of them since it was becoming a rarity to spend time with them lately. Molly made her way to her house and knew her father was there since Nicholas was tied up outside. She walked in and noticed he was sorting what looked to be the mail.

“Hello my girl,” he said, putting the letters on the kitchen table and walking over to embrace her. He had missed her so. Molly returned the embrace. “We’re meeting your uncle at 6:00 over at the hotel,” he said to her.

“That will give me enough time to freshen up,” she said. Bryan resumed to sorting through the letters.

“Miss Bo Jun Caine?” he said questioningly. “Who in the world is that?”

“Oh that’s Lily’s new employee over at the saloon,” Molly said. “Why?”

“Well this letter’s addressed to her,” Bryan replied. “It looks fairly important. I wonder how we ended up with it?”

“Oh I’m sure it was a simple mistake at the post office,” she said walking up behind his shoulder. The letter was formally addressed and did have an air of urgency to it. “I should see she gets it right away,” she said taking it from her father.

“Will she be at the saloon?” her father said in a tone that suggested he didn’t want her near the place even still.

“Da,” Molly half whined. “I’ll be there and gone in no time. Besides, it’s not that busy during this time of day.”

“And just how do you know that?” Bryan said. Molly lowered her eyes to her father in a look that was hard for him to resist. “Alright,” he said throwing up his hands in mock surrender. “If I have a child that refuses to obey her father I’ll let the good Lord deal with her if he can.”

“Stuff and nonsense,” Molly retorted with a laugh before going back outside. Molly walked toward the saloon catching site of a figure just ahead of her. The person turned to the side and Molly recognized Bo Jun Caine. “Miss Caine,” she called out. The person didn’t react. Molly stepped up her pace. “Miss Caine,” she called out again. The person stopped and turned toward Molly with a confused look on her face as though she weren’t certain it was she who was being called to. Molly walked up to her. “I was just on my way to the saloon to see you,” she said. “I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Molly Gallagher, we met the other day in the saloon.”

Bo Jun simply nodded at her. She remembered the odd sounding girl who had come in to talk to Lily. She had seemed upset at the time but now had a smile on her face. “This came for you in the mail and somehow we, my father and I that is, ended up with it.” She held out the envelope to her. Bo Jun starred down at it as though she’d never seen a letter before in her life. She gingerly took it from the girl and half bowed her thanks to her.

“I thank you,” she said softly, her eyes down.

“You are more than welcome, Miss Caine,” Molly said to her turning to walk away.

“Wait,” Bo Jun called out. Molly turned back around.

“Yes.” Bo Jun still wouldn’t raise her eyes to her. To Molly she seemed almost embarrassed about something.

“My English with reading is no good,” she said to her holding the letter back out to Molly. “Would you read to me?”

“Oh, um, of course. That is if you don’t mind?” Molly asked feeling strange about reading an almost perfect stranger’s private mail.

“Please,” Bo Jun said, almost begging. If it was the news she’d been waiting to hear for so long she wanted to know it right away.

“Alright then, um, why don’t we go over here?” Molly suggested walking to the end of the boardwalk and sitting on the edge of it. Bo Jun followed and Molly scooted over so she could sit next to her. Molly opened the envelope and unfolded the single piece of paper inside. “It’s dated the 15th of this month,” Molly began. “It says, ‘Miss Caine, I am responding to your inquiry of several weeks ago regarding Mr. Steven Caine whom you claim is your father. Mr. Caine did not go back over seas after his missionary work in China was completed and instead was assigned to a parish near the Applicacha’s. I deeply regret to inform you. . .’”

Molly stopped looking at the woman next to her. She didn’t think she’d be able to read the next line. Molly cleared her throat and began again. “’I deeply regret to inform you that this is where Mr. Caine caught the fever and died five years ago. I have forwarded your inquiry on to that parish in the hopes that perhaps they could provide you with any further information.’ It’s signed Father Joseph Whithouse,” Molly finished. She turned to the woman next to her whose face held almost no emotion. “Oh Miss Caine, I am so desperately sorry. Did you know him well?” she asked. Bo Jun simply shook her head.

“Not at all. I came here looking for him,” she said softly. Molly’s heart went out to the woman that sat next to her. She couldn’t imagine not knowing her own father and then suddenly finding out he’d been dead for years from a total stranger.

“Is there something I can do?” she asked her. Bo Jun shook her head and took the letter and envelope from her, carefully folding the paper and slipping it back in the envelope. “Well, perhaps if you’d like I could help you compose a letter to this parish. Maybe he had family that you could find?” Bo Jun stood up and faced Molly.

“You are kind, but I have my answer.” She half bowed thanks to Molly again saying, “I thank you,” before turning and walking away. Molly watched her go her heart heavy for the woman. She looked so lost and alone. JD caught site of Molly from across the street. She was just sitting on the edge of the boardwalk looking upset. He walked over to her.

“Hi,” he said to her. Molly looked up and smiled. She hadn’t seen JD in a while and was grateful for his company now. He always had a way of making her smile. “Are you okay?” he asked, his brown eyes holding concern. She sighed.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “I just had to tell a perfect stranger that her father’s been dead for years.”

“Who?” JD asked.

“Bo Jun Caine, the woman who works at the saloon. Please don’t tell anyone, I’m sure she doesn’t want it to be common knowledge especially since it seemed she hardly knew him.” Molly stood up.

“You’ve been busy?” JD asked, hoping that was the reason he’d hardly been able to spend time with her lately.

“Yes,” Molly said. “Walk with me a ways,” she said. She took his arm and the pair walked slowly up the street. The townspeople that were out and about smiled at the pair. “Come to dinner tonight with Colum and my father and I,” she said to him.

“Oh I don’t want to intrude,” JD said to her.

“Nonsense,” Molly said to him. “I’d love it if you would. We’re meeting Colum at the hotel’s restaurant at 6:00.”

“Alright, I’ll see you then,” JD said as they reached the door to the house. He watched her walk inside and turned back toward the town go get himself ready for dinner.

Colum and Bryan watched the pair walk arm and arm up the street after dinner. “He’s good to her,” Colum observed. He’d always thought of JD as a nice young man for his niece and after spending the evening with him was convinced even more so. He was a gentleman to her and the two laughed and talked like they were old friends. He couldn’t help but notice how each looked at the other when it didn’t seem as though they were paying attention. Bryan simply nodded to his brother’s statement. “You used to look at Kathleen the same way he looks at Molly,” Colum continued.

“I’m not ready to let her go just yet,” Bryan said to him. “She’s too young.”

“She’s only a couple of years younger than Kathleen was,” Colum said.

“Yeah but I remember what I was thinking when I was looking at her that way,” Bryan countered watching the couple until they disappeared from site.

JD and Molly reached the house and walked to the door. “I’m glad you joined us,” Molly told him. “I had a wonderful time.”

“Me too,” JD said taking his hat off he began to twist it in his hands. “I um. . . I’d like to kiss you good night,” he said to her remembering what Buck had told him the last time he’d said good night to her that way. Molly lowered her eyes in a blush.

“I think I’d like you to,” she said to him. He stepped slowly toward her and Molly closed her eyes. His lips on hers were soft and there only a moment. He didn’t push for anything more not wanting to scare her again. Molly opened her eyes and looked at his. “Good night, John,” she said softly using his given name.

“Good night,” he said to her, backing up and placing his hat back on his head. He watched her walk inside and waited to hear the sound of the door locking before turning and walking away.

Molly had gone through her entire desk twice and all she could think of was that her grade book was at the school. She needed to get her grades posted for the Judge and wanted to finish that task before the next day. It had to be at the church she concluded. Her father hadn’t returned from dinner yet and Molly knew she could be there and back by the time he returned. She pulled on her sweater and walked back outside and toward the church. Inside was lit by the candles at the front. Molly quietly made her way to her desk. The back door opened suddenly and she jumped at the unexpected noise. Josiah walked in the room.

“Well hello, Molly,” he said to her. “Working late?” he asked her.

“No, I just think I’d left my grade ledger here,” she said. He walked toward the desk ready to help her look. His gaze fell on a book and he picked it up.

“Planning on teaching them poetry?” he asked her. Molly looked at the book he’d picked up.

“I’d like to,” she said. She continued going through her desk. Josiah opened the book and began to page through it.

“This one is one of my favorites,” he said. He took the book and walked toward the front of the church. Cheyenne had quietly come in the back door and was observing the young school teacher talking to Josiah. She seemed more relaxed around him. She smiled as he picked up the book and said he’d had a favorite poem in the book. He began to recite from the book. “’There she weaves by night and day…,’” he said. Cheyenne looked at Molly. Her back stiffened straight and her whole body seemed to tense up. “’…a magic web the colors gay…” The books in her hands fell from her grasp and she whirled around.

“Stop it,” she said almost in a whisper. Josiah didn’t seem to have heard her as he continued.

“’She has heard a whisper say a curse is on her if she stay…’”

“Stop it!” Molly screamed. Josiah stopped in mid sentence and starred at the girl as though she’d become possessed. Her hands were clenched in fists at her sides she took a step toward him. “Stop it,” she said again. “It’s a ridiculous poem and I’m nothing like her do you hear?” she yelled.

“Molly, what’s wrong?” he asked her. “You’re nothing like who?”

“I won’t let you,” she yelled.

“You won’t let me what?” Josiah asked concerned about the girl in front of him. She seemed to not even be in the same room it was as though she were somewhere else with someone else. He walked toward her and she took a startled step back. “Molly?”

“Stay away from me,” she yelled and turned to run out the door. Josiah made a move to go after her but Cheyenne stepped in the room and stopped him. She’d seen the whole thing from her post at the door and had a feeling she knew what was wrong with the girl.

“I will go to her,” she said to him and ran out the door after her.