AND JILL CAME TUMBLING AFTER

Jack sat alone in the kitchen for a few minutes before following Lou out into the living room. She found her friend standing before the window at the front of the house, staring out across the land she and Kid owned. She seemed to sense Jack's presence, and began speaking without turning her head to be sure.

"We headed back home the day after we saw you off at the docks. Jimmy pushed us the whole way; he never wanted to stop and take a break. I don't think he would have slept if we hadn't made him. He hardly said a word through the whole trip. We took trains, we took stages, we took horses, we traveled for weeks, and he hardly said a word. But when you looked into his eyes...oh, if you had seen his eyes. I think the only thing that got him through those first few months was the thought of you comin' back." Lou paused, leaned against the windowsill. "When you wrote us that you were married, he disappeared for a week and a half. Left us a note and asked us not to come lookin' for him, to just let him be for a while."

Jack gasped. "You never told me that."

"No. He asked me not to." Lou watched as Jack absorbed this news. "He's never mentioned you since, Jack. He refuses to discuss you. After he came back he was like a dead man walkin'. You could talk to him and he might say somethin' back to you if you were lucky, but it was like he was just goin' through the motions. It's better somewhat, but he's never been the same since."

Jack looked as if she'd been slapped. She sank down onto the sofa like a wounded bird, folding her body into its cushions defensively. Lou sat beside her and put her hands on her friend's arm. "Oh, Jack! I didn't tell you to hurt you; but I've never asked you *why* before. Why did you marry Magnus? Why did you hurt Jimmy like that? I have to ask you now, Jack."
But before Jack could speak, the front door was opened and banged shut.
"Lou?" a voice called. "We're here."
Buck sauntered into the living room, a rosy-cheeked red-haired beauty trailing behind him. They were smiling at each other. "We've come to prepare food for which to eat," Buck began teasingly. When he saw Jack sitting beside Lou, the words fell away. "Jack?!" He crossed the floor to her in two great strides, picking her up off the couch and into his arms, swinging her around the room. Jack shrieked delightedly.
"Buck, put me down!" she cried, not altogether meaning it. Lou watched them with a grin.
Buck set her gently back down. "My lord, girl, it is so good to see you. How long's it been now? Six years? Seven?"
"Too long, Buck, far too long."
"We sure were sorry to hear about your husband, Jack."
"Thank you. I've brought my daughter with me. I can't wait for you to meet her. I know she'll love her uncle Buck."
Buck rubbed his hands together, eyes gleaming. "I got me another niece to spoil!"
His wife and friends laughed. "And he *will* spoil her," promised May.
Buck put an arm around his wife and drew her close to him. He gazed upon her lovingly, and the adoration was obvious in his voice as he said, "Jack, I'd like for you to meet my wife, May Baker Cross. May, honey, this is Jill Townsend Kendall -- Jack to her friends."
May and Jack shook hands. "I've heard a lot about you," May smiled.
"You're certainly no stranger to me, either," replied Jack, instantly connecting with the kindness in the bright green eyes before her.
"I don't know if you got Lou's last letter, but I asked her to tell you the good news." Buck was grinning from ear to ear.
Jack caught the delight in his voice. He looked fit to burst. "Is it what I think it is?" she asked slyly.
"You're an awful smart woman, Jack Kendall. I'm gonna be a father!"
"Oh, congratulations," said Jack, awe and pleasure clear in her tone. "Congratulations to you both."
"Now if he'd only stop treating me like a porcelain doll," May sighed.
Lou hastened to Buck's defense. "I think all men are like that with the mother of their child. I thought the Kid would have a nervous breakdown during all three of my pregnancies. Lord knows it used to grate my nerves somethin' awful back in the old days, but now I think it's kinda sweet."
Jack laughed. "When I was pregnant with Maddy, Magnus hardly let me leave the house, and when I did he insisted I wear a coat and gloves, even though it was springtime. And he was a doctor!"
Her friends laughed in return, but a bit uncomfortably. The sudden mention of Magnus seemed to have reminded them of Jimmy. Poor Jimmy, who had never been the same since the news of Jack's marriage. 'I want the old Jimmy back and Jack's the only one who can make that happen,' thought Buck. 'She's the
one who took the light out of his eyes, and as much as I care about her, I can't help resenting her for that.'
Lou and May began preparing dinner, resisting all offers of assistance from Jack, no matter how much she insisted. "If you have to have somethin' to do, keep Buck company while he waters the horses," Lou ordered firmly. "There'll be plenty of time for you to help out with the chores. For now, you just relax."

Jack sensed a degree of uneasiness in Buck when they were alone together. He made polite small talk, but it was apparent that he was holding something back. As he fetched water for the horses, Jack watched him. They chatted easily, but almost formally. She ached to ease the discomfort he seemed to
feel, but she was clueless as to how to go about it. Buck came to a gorgeous Appaloosa and stopped. He stroked its mane affectionately.
"This here is Manhattan. She's Jimmy's girl." The horse snickered softly and nuzzled Buck's long, dark hair.
Jack froze. "Manhattan?" she repeated in a whisper.
Buck nodded. "For obvious reasons, I'm sure," he said, not unkindly.

Manhattan was a beautiful horse. She stared at Jack with big eyes, her curly lashes blinking in curiosity. "Hello, girl," breathed Jack.
"If you thought the Kid worshipped Katy, you should see Jimmy with this ol' girl. You'd think she was the queen of England." Buck stopped, realizing what he had just said. "So to speak," he finished self-consciously.
So that was it: Buck's loyalty to Jimmy had him questioning her. Her heart melted at this subtle sign of devotion. She was deeply touched by Buck's unconscious actions, and did not feel slighted in the least that he had sided with Jimmy. Instead, it only made her a bit wistful for all that she had missed out on by leaving her friends behind.
"You do know that we're glad to have you back," Buck said suddenly.
"Thank you. That means a lot to me, Buck."

A voice drifted to them from the barn door. "Well, well, well, what have we here? The return of the prodigal?"
Jack turned at the sound, instantly recognizing the lazy drawl of William Cody. "Cody!" she exclaimed.
"C'mere and give me a hug, beautiful lady." Cody opened his arms wide and enveloped Jack in a tight embrace. "It sure is good to see you, Jack." He sniffed her hair. "My, you smell like flowers in the mornin'."
She giggled. "Ever the charmer, Cody."
He raised an eyebrow. "Funny to see you in that get-up. Guess I still had you in mind as the little pixie in the breeches."
"Did Lou tell you she was here?" Buck asked.
"Nah, I was just stoppin' by for dinner and came to put my horse in the barn. I found you two out here and I could hardly believe my eyes. Lord, it's been a long time." He hugged her again. "Wait with me while I tie m'horse up, and then we'll walk back to the house."

Cody looped an arm around her waist as they walked to the porch. Apparently he wasn't having quite the internal dilemma that Buck was. He chatted with her easily and affectionately, almost as if she'd never been gone, never left and broken Jimmy's heart. But she had, and despite his nonchalant demeanor, he was very much thinking of the fact.
"Jimmy's not here?" Cody said suddenly.
"He's out at Nellie Davis's place again," answered Buck.
"That fence just about mended? He's out there enough, he oughta have that whole shack built back up." Cody and Buck shared a light chuckle. Jack walked between them, unable to say anything. It was impossible to miss the light-hearted meaning. Jimmy obviously spent a lot of time with this woman. Perhaps Cody and Buck were trying to tell Jack to steer clear of Jimmy, whatever her intentions. She choked hard on a sob. 'Steady on, Jack,' she instructed herself silently. 'Just remember that whatever happens, you've only yourself to blame.'

In the house, the Kid had already arrived with Rachel, Teaspoon, Ben, Maddy, and Lou and Kid's younger children, Adam and Hannah. They were standing around impatiently, and when Jack entered the room, the three adults descended on her as one. They passed her around, hugging her, kissing her, exclaiming over how pretty and grown-up she looked. Suddenly the house was full and noisy, the din of conversation reaching a level that made the living room sound like a party. Just the way Lou liked it. The smell of chicken frying floated through the room, followed closely by the heavenly scent of baking biscuits. The children quickly began complaining about how hungry they were, and it was several minutes before everyone was settled, and a real conversation could finally begin.

Lou had seated Jack next to her, unwilling to let her friend out of her sight for another moment. She noticed a disheartened expression in Jack's eyes that seemed to have replaced the bright hope. There was so much more to Jack than even Lou had ever realized, and she didn't intend to let her sleep
tonight until she had revealed everything. 'I've played the patient friend for almost six years now, and I've never resented her for it, but I'll be damned if she keeps it from me any longer,' Lou thought, knowing she was more hurt at being kept in the dark than she was ready to let on.

Supper continued uneventfully, delayed more than once by long bursts of laughter. Teaspoon and Cody seemed to vie for the attention that night, which was to be expected. And during the discussion it quickly came about that Rachel at last had herself a fellow.
Teaspoon nudged the glowing woman seated next to him. "Go on, girl, tell Jack all about Cappie."
"Teaspoon, you ought to respect a lady's right to privacy," May reprimanded him playfully.
"Privacy shmrivacy, we're all family here."
Jack flushed with pleasure at Teaspoon's words. She was still considered family, despite the fact that she had hurt one of their own. The knowledge warmed her considerably.
Rachel didn't seem at all reluctant to divulge her news. "Well," she began, a lovely color rising in her face, "his name's Edward Capshaw, but everyone calls him Cappie. He's from Canada; he came to Sweetwater to start ranchin' and now he's got himself a fine place out there south past Old Man Hodges.
He's lovely, Jack, you'll really like him. He's smart and funny and kind..." Rachel's voice trailed off to a blissful sigh, and everyone laughed.
"And he's a looker, too, don't forget to mention that," added Lou with a sly wink.
"That's my wife," Kid said, acting wounded. "Only cares about a man's looks."
Buck began with a serious voice, "Now, Kid, you know that ain't true. Lou here looks for many qualities in a man. If she only cared about a man's looks, she wouldn't have married you, now would she?"
Laughter rocked the table, and the children looked bewildered. It sounded very much like Uncle Buck had just made fun of their daddy, and yet their daddy was laughing just as hard as the others.
"I expect he'll ask me to marry him any day now," Rachel said confidently. "He's hinted for weeks, and I just keep waitin'."
"Then you'll say yes?" prompted Jack.
Rachel nodded emphatically. "Without any hesitation or a doubt in my mind. I love him. I'll never want anyone else. I can't imagine *not* marryin' him."

The table grew quiet with Rachel's simple, eloquent words. Jack watched as Lou and Kid exchanged a look matched in love and affection only by the glance Buck and May had passed to one another. She felt sharp pain in her chest and fought against it. "What would you do if you thought being with him would only hurt him in the end?" she asked quietly.
Rachel looked at her in shock. "I...I wouldn't hurt him for the world. I guess if I knew I would hurt him, I would..."
"Stay away," Jack finished for her in a whisper.
"Stay away," Rachel agreed, equally soft-voiced.
Suddenly Jack's meaning was clear to everyone. She hastened on, "But I don't think that's the case now, is it?" she asked brightly. She chuckled. "You'll be good for him and I'm sure you'll be very happy, Rachel."
"Well, now, don't congratulate her yet," warned Cody. "He ain't proposed yet, has he? A man can always change his mind."
Buck slapped Cody on the top of his blond head. "Shuddup, you fool," he hissed, but there was laughter once again, and Cody grinned with pleasure.
"It doesn't matter, really," Rachel said when everyone had settled down. "Even if he never asks me, I'll love him till the end of my days." She was looking at Jack with serious eyes, and Lou realized Rachel was sending a message: 'I know your pain.' Without a direct word, she had somehow picked up on what was hidden in Jack's heart.
"Marriage is...difficult," said Jack. She spoke almost as if to herself, and her eyes remained fixed on her plate. "Bloody difficult, really," she amended with a short laugh. "It's not always like the storybooks say,
although I hope it will be for you, Rachel. We've certainly got some beautiful examples of marital bliss at this table." When she finally looked up, her dark blue eyes were moist. "I owe you all an explanation."
Teaspoon reached across the table, mindful of manners or the plates and dishes in his way. He grasped Jack's hand in his and said, "We don't have to talk about this now, sugar. You've had a long journey and you're not yourself. This can wait."
"Whatever you did, you had the best intentions, Jack, we know that," promised Lou, realizing that she meant it.
"Mummy, don't cry. Please don't cry," Maddy begged.
"I did love Magnus," said Jack. "I did. I loved him. He was a good husband, a good father, and I loved him."
Teaspoon was staring past her, a wide-eyed, peculiar expression on his face. Jack discerned that Rachel had the same expression, and quickly she turned her head to find Jimmy standing in the frame of the kitchen's back door, a shadow in the moonlight. The look on his face clearly showed that he had heard everything.

CHAPTER 1 ¤ CHAPTER 2 ¤ CHAPTER 3 ¤ CHAPTER 4 ¤ CHAPTER 5 ¤ CHAPTER 6 ¤
CHAPTER 7