Chapter Two

Jimmy frowned as he moved to a corner of the Washington home. It was a small home; cram packed with things - tables, chairs, boxes, books, oh so many books and children. He had no idea how many were actually running around because they were moving so fast. He wasn’t sure if he was seeing the same ones over and over or if they were different ones.

A few moments later, a tall thin man with spectacles perched on the end of his nose walked into the room and took a seat in a rocking chair. He waved his hand at the children, much to Jimmy’s shock; they paid no heed to him. Bedlam still reigned.

The gray-haired man sighed; his shoulders drooped visibly as he seemed to be resigned to his fate. “Priscilla,” he said loudly. Silence.

“Priscilla,” he called out once more.

Jimmy smiled as he saw Priscilla Washington appear. She had light brown hair pulled back into a knot and the prettiest blue eyes he had ever seen. She walked into the room, not even glancing in Jimmy and Cody’s direction and Jimmy could not help but grin broader. Something about that girl always brought a smile to his face.

Cody thought he had to pay Jimmy for escorting Priscilla, but Cody did not know everything. He had chosen to make Cody squirm when the truth was he knew exactly who Priscilla Washington was and he was looking forward to this dance. Cody’s stories had not scared him in the slightest. They had intrigued him.

But it seemed as if Priscilla was not looking forward to anything. She sure wasn’t dressed for a dance, he decided, as she was wearing a housecoat. As Jimmy’s eyes ran down the length of her slim form, he noted that she was wearing boots, poking out from underneath her robe. Boots which could be considered dressy.

“Yes?” Priscilla said crossly.

The older man, who Jimmy recognized as the father of the Washington brood, waved a hand helplessly in the air. “Please.”

Priscilla glared at her father for a brief instant before clapping her hands. The sound was greeting by a chorus of aww’s.

“Now,” Priscilla commanded.

Jimmy could count the children now, now that they were still. There were three girls and a small boy, all shuffling towards Priscilla. “Grace, you see that John gets into bed,” she continued in a stern voice.

The tallest girl nodded. But before they all left the room, Priscilla dropped a quick kiss on each head that passed by her. “Sleep tight,” Jimmy heard her whisper. As the children filed out of the room, Lorna Washington pushed her way through the same narrow doorway.

“Good night,” Lorna whispered to each child. Jimmy laughed to himself as one of them told Lorna, “No kissing this time.”

Lorna, who was now a very pretty shade of pink, pushed the child out the door as she stepped into the room. She bestowed a magnificent smile on Cody before turning her smile to her father.

“Father,” Lorna said formally, “you know William.”

Mr. Washington nodded gravely at Cody. “Yes, I remember.” He eyed Cody sternly. “And I can see from his friend’s presence that he remembers me.”

Cody’s head bobbed up and down vigorously. “Yes, sir.” He motioned Jimmy closer. “This is James Hickok. He will be taking Priscilla to the dance.”

“I see,” Mr. Washington began.

“Father,” Priscilla said shrilly, “I told you he would just find some guttersnipe to escort me.”

“Guttersnipe,” Jimmy sputtered.

Priscilla glared at him. “He is a gunfighter,” she announced dramatically. “Being with him would not be safe.”

Jimmy’s mouth fell open. Judgmental and vindictive were never words that he associated with her. Spirited and feisty yes but he certainly never expected this kind of vehement reaction.

“Now hold up,” Cody interjected.

“Father.” Priscilla ran to her father’s side and knelt beside his chair. “You can’t do this, can you?” she asked softly.

Lorna hurried to the other side of her father’s rocking chair. “Oh Daddy,” she wailed, her eyes filling with tears. “She is being difficult again. She hates the fact that I can go out and enjoy myself and she wants to punish me. I did everything she asked of me today. And I did as you said. I told Cody I can’t go out alone with him and he found Cilla an escort, but now she wants to spoil it all.”

“But Lorna,” Mr. Washington began again.

Lorna glanced quickly at Jimmy. “She is being hateful, judging this young man and she knows nothing about him,” she countered, obviously knowing her tears were having no effect.

“Hickok,” he mused aloud. Mr. Washington turned his head and looked at Jimmy. “They are just dime store novels,” he said slowly.

Lorna nodded furiously. “And you always say no one should read such trash.”

“That is true, Priscilla,” Mr. Washington said.

“But -” Priscilla began.

“We should make our own judgments,” Lorna interrupted. “Isn’t that right?”

“You are a Pony Express rider, correct?” Mr. Washington asked Jimmy. “You work with William?”

Jimmy nodded.

“And Mrs. Shannon knows both boys,” Mr. Washington said, glancing at Priscilla. “She wouldn’t keep them on if they were troublemakers.”

“But look at him!” Priscilla exclaimed.

“Judge not ye be not judged,” Mr. Washington said firmly and Priscilla sighed loudly, knowing she had lost.

“Fine,” she snapped, whipping off her robe and dropping it to the floor. She stood before her father, glaring at everyone in the room. Underneath the robe, as Jimmy had suspected, was a dress, a dark red dress with white piping around the collar. She grabbed her hat. “Let’s get this evening over with.”