Victoria got little sleep that night. There was lots to think about. The time she had with Jimmy last night was memorable. She felt close to him and hoped he felt the same way.

"He likes me. I know he didn't say it but that's the feeling I got. Could it really be true? Could he be feeling something for me?" Her heart bubbled with happiness at the mere thought. She heard voices outside and ran to the window, peeking through the lace curtains. There he was, talking with Buck getting his horse ready. "I am really falling in love with him."

"Rider coming!" shouted Kid.

As Jimmy mounted his horse he looked up at her window. He was glad to see her one last time. He tipped his hat to her as she gently pressed her hand against the glass signaling good-bye. He rode off after having received the mochila from the incoming rider. There she stayed until she could see him no more. Buck looked up and saw her there. "That is trouble."

***************

The day seemed to go by ever so slowly for Victoria. Trying to keep busy didn't help much either. Maybe talking to someone would help her relieve some of the anxiety she was feeling. The thought seemed good but she opted not to reveal to anyone her feelings for Jimmy just yet. The last thing whe wanted to do was to have news of this reach Cody before she was ready to face it.

"I can't handle this." she said as she sat at the table, her head in her hands. He was gone. She missed just hearing the sound of his voice. The only comfort she found was reveling in the moments they had shared.

"Are you feeling all right?" asked Rachel walking into the kitchen.

"I don't know. I guess I don't feel too good." she answered, quite saddened.

"Was it something you ate?" Rachel asked, sitting next to her.

"It's not that at all. It's matters of the heart that are troubling me."

"Well that's different. Is it Cody?"

"No it's not Cody."

"Anything you want to talk about?"

"Maybe at another time?"

"Alright. Whatever it is, it'll work itself out." Victoria hoped Rachel was right.

***************

"What are you so happy about?" asked Buck as he helped Cody mend a part of the fence damaged by one of the new horses. "I've never seen you so happy about doing chores before."

"It's not the chores Buck. It's the driving force behind me."

"Let me guess, Victoria."

"You got it." he said with a broad smile on his face.

"So what's the deal?"

"Buck, I'm in love and Hickok is nowhere around. It's just gonna be me and her for the next six days."

"You think Jimmy is interested in her?" Buck asked, testing the waters of his suspicions.

"I don't know Buck, but I ain't taking any chances. Hickok has a way with women. They're attracted to him like bees are to honey."

'You can say that again.' thought Buck. "So you're saying Victoria's interested in Hickok?" he probed, just to see if Cody had noticed anything peculiar.

"I ain't saying that either, but like I told you before, timing is everything. It's a time for love Buck, and my time has come. With Hickok outta the way, there's nothing stopping me from gaining her affections."

"Just remember what I told you; if it's going to happen, it will."

"It will happen Buck."

"Then I wish you luck." 'You're gonna need it.' he thought. Buck couldn't bring himself to mention what he thought he'd seen between Jimmy and Victoria. It seemed to him that something was starting to happen if it already hadn't. He couldn't pull the rug from under his friend's expectations in case he was totally wrong. Discerning that such a situation could get rather complicated, he thought it best to leave matters alone.

***************

That afternoon Victoria was busy in the barn tending to the horses. Miraculously she had managed to tear her thoughts away from Jimmy although it hadn't been an easy thing to do. She hadn't seen much of Cody today either as he was also busy with things. It had been a relief for her, seeing she didn't need any more complications right now.

'Maybe avoiding all contact with him would send him the message.' she thought. 'I can't do that. He deserves better; he's my friend. I'm just going to have to be honest and let him know...after the dance. I'll tell him after the dance. I owe him at least that.'

Cody and Lou were making their way past the barn when they saw Victoria. "How's it going?" asked Lou as they entered.

"I guess it could be going better." she said pulling hay out of her hair.

"These boys can be a handful at times. Why don't I finish helpin' ya?"

"Thanks Cody but that really won't be necessary."

"It's my pleasure." he said taking the brush out of her hand.

Victoria looked at Lou with wide open eyes. "Lou help me out here." she said through clenched teeth in a whisper.

Cody had already gone and started working on one of the horses. "Ah...Cody, don't you remember we're supposed to meet Buck and Noah at the corral." They both looked at him for his response.

"Tell 'em I'll be there later."

Lou shrugged her shoulders at Victoria not knowing what else to say. "Well why don't you stay and help us Lou." suggested Victoria.

"Sure." she responded, just to have Cody give her the 'get outta here' look. "On second thought, I better be goin'...the boys are waitin' and they're almost through breaking in that last horse." she said walking backwards to the barn entrance.

Victoria silently mouthed: "Don't, don't." but Lou was gone. Lou felt horrible leaving her friend in such a predicament but this time Victoria would have to fend for herself. Here she was, all alone, in the barn with Cody and not a soul around.

"So how's your day been? I've hardly seen ya."

"I've had better days." she said approaching him.

"Are you feeling okay?" he looked concerned.

"Yes, I just have lots of pressing things on my mind."

"I hope it's not about those Adams boys."

"No, it's not that."

"Then what is it?" he asked looking at her with his gorgeous eyes. Cody had a certain way of looking at her with those eyes; she couldn't maintain eye contact for too long without feeling guilty.

"I don't know. I guess this dance thing has me sort of nervous." Victoria didn't actually lie; the dance had been on her mind but it wasn't the real cause of her anxiety, but she had to come up with something seeing she had been acting rather peculiar. "I don't know, I guess being in a new town and not knowing half of the people that are going to be there is kind of unsettling. Back home it wasn't a big deal. I knew everyone and everyone knew me. Just thinking about stepping in that room for the first time...well you know."

"I understand, but don't you worry about that 'cause I'll be at your side every step of the way." he said reassuringly.

"Thanks Cody. You're such a good friend." she said smiling at him. Cody didn't particularly care to hear the reference 'good friend' being applied to him but took it as a step toward better things with Victoria.

About an hour had passed by and Cody spent the time retelling some of the funny moments the riders had trying to break in the horses. He told about the sense of competition that existed between them as far as how many each could break. They had the bumps and bruises to show for it but, as he assured her, it was all in good fun. Victoria enjoyed hearing Cody's version of every story and like time and again he had managed so effortlessly to help her forget about her troubles and enjoy the time she spent with him.

"Let's hurry...I'd like to go and see how the boys are doing." she encouraged, rubbing the palm of her aching hand which was due to the constant brushing she had done.

"Here, let me see." He took her hand and gently started massaging her fingers down to the middle of her palm. Victoria enjoyed the feeling, closing her eyes to the soothing sensation but the person in her thoughts was not Cody but Jimmy.

"Stop that." she said softly, regaining her senses.

"What?" he asked looking deep into her eyes.

"That." she said nodding at their hands.

"What-this?" he said in his mischevious seductive voice as he continued.

"Yes. My hands are filthy."

"Oh I don't mind. Mine are too." he said as he backed her up against one of the posts in the barn. It was inevitable. As their bodies got closer she knew he was going to kiss her. He rested his hands on both sides of the post to keep her in position. Victoria prayed for a quick escape. Leaning towards her lips, she could feel his breath on her. Their lips were set to touch when Buck and Noah rushed into the barn.

"Cody!" shouted Buck.

It broke the moment and she seized the opportunity, getting away, leaving the barn.

"We broke her!" said Noah ecstatically. "We finally did it!" The two riders stood there, overjoyed with wide smiles shining through at their accomplishment.

Cody turned, annoyed at his friend's bad timing. "Thank you-very-much."

Realizing they had inadvertantly interrupted their friend, the two riders quickly fled the scene being pursued by an angry Cody.

***************

The next couple of days seemed to go by quickly for Cody who was becoming impatient at his lack of progress with Victoria. "I don't know what else to do Buck. I'm not gettin' anywhere." he said throwing a rock to the ground in frustration.

"Maybe it's a sign Cody."

"A sign?"

"Never mind."

"Nah, come on, tell me what you were gonna say."

"That maybe you should start looking in another direction."

"You sound like Noah! What is it? Is she too good for the likes of me?"

"That's not what I meant. Just look at the big picture Cody. First off, you haven't told her how you really feel, so she doesn't know and, if she doesn't know, what do you have to work with? You keep dropping these hints that are getting you nowhere and if nothing's happened by now..." Buck's voice trailed off.

"I ain't ready to give up. These things take time. I'm just falling a bit behind schedule."

"I'll say." Bucks comment came from sensing that the clock was ticking away rapidly before Hickok's return.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Look, don't you think you should talk to someone like Lou or Rachel instead of me? I'm sure they could help you figure something out."

Cody took Buck's advice and headed to get the help he so desperately needed. Buck was glad Cody decided to go elsewhere for advice. The last thing he wanted to do was to stick his foot in his mouth and make what could be a harmless thing into a huge mess.

Cody chose to confide in Rachel hoping she'd be able to help him. Afterall she was a woman, and he figured she'd be the best person to ask about his love problem.

"Well Cody, have you let her know about the way you feel?"

"Not in so many words."

"How many?"

"Okay, I haven't come out and actually said it; but I thought actions spoke louder than words."

"Not in every case Cody." she said, a motherly concerned look on her face as she took a seat next to him on the swing.

"I see that now."

"What you need is to learn how to understand women and what we want."

"Hmph. Teaspoon says that's impossible."

"It ain't impossible, no matter what you've heard. Now, first lesson. Women are all different. One way don't work for all so you have to try different things."

"Like what?" he wondered.

"For instance, some women like quiet romantic dinners, others like to have a good time and go dancing while still others just love a simple thing like a nice solitary picnic. There's a million things you could try. You just have to use your imagination."

"I don't know Rachel. I hate to admit this but my imagination right now can't stretch too far." he said his hat in hand, his face downcast.

"I see you're gonna need some help. Look, tomorrow the girls and I will be goin' to town. Victoria has her last fitting with the dressmaker, so come along with us. We were gonna make a day out of it anyway, so I'll pack a picnic lunch and tell her that on our way home we'll stop and have lunch. Lou and I of course will find some excuse to leave y'all alone and then the rest is up to you."

"Sounds good but I don't know. She doesn't seem to be in the mood for picnics lately."

"True. She has been a bit mopey lately but that is just the change she needs."

"If you say so Rachel. Count me in."

***************

Just as planned, the following morning, Rachel along with the two girls and Cody headed to town. Victoria was a little more upbeat seeing that the day for Jimmy's return was not far in coming. The anticipation of seeing her almost finished dress had also brightened her day. Cody and Lou rode their mounts while Rachel and Victoria traveled on the buckboard.

"It's good to see you smiling today." he said as he helped Victoria off the wagon.

"Thank you Cody."

"For what?"

"For being such a good friend. I know I haven't been the most pleasant person to be around lately and you've tried so hard to make me feel better. I just wanted to let you know I really appreciate it." These words she said as she tugged on the fringes of his buckskin jacket that fell across his chest. Cody felt pleasure just from the feel of her simple touch, wanting to tell her exactly how he felt but knowing the place or time wasn't right.

"You know I'd do anything for you." he told her softly.

"I know." she replied, looking into his beautiful blue eyes.

"Let's go in and see what this dress looks like." called Rachel enthusiastically from the shop steps. They all followed into the empty store. Cody sat patiently looking through a book while Rachel browsed the shop. Lou was in the dressing room helping Victoria with her gown.

Victoria had been heavy on Cody's mind. He couldn't understand why she had been acting so strange. It was unlike her to go off often for hours by herself. Her usual bright and cheerful personality had been quite absent this week. 'Maybe Buck was right in saying it was a sign. A sign of what?' he thought. They hadn't addressed the incident in the barn and he had been reluctant to bring it up not wanting to chance alienating her from him anymore. Buck and Rachel were right. He'd have to let her know exactly what she meant to him...'after the dance. Things will most likely be clearer by then.' he thought.

Lou emerged from the dressing room. "Y'all ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." he said putting on a smile.

"Okay here I come." She stepped out. Cody at the sight of her immediately stood up with a look of marvel in his eyes. "So what do you think?" she asked.

"It's beautiful." gasped Rachel.

Cody gave no response. "Cody?" called Victoria with a quizzical look.

"What's the matter Cody? Cat got your tongue?" teased Lou.

"Never. I just...everytime I think you can't get more beautiful you do." he said holding her hands. Cody's heart was full with love for her.

"You're too flattering." she blushed.

"I meant it."

Victoria wished she could feel for Cody the way he seemed to feel about her but it just wasn't there. Her heart yearned for Jimmy and Jimmy alone.

"Pardon me monsieur." interrupted Pierre with pins in his mouth as he surveyed the fit of the gown on Victoria. The two were separated as Pierre tucked and pulled around the bodice of the dress to tighten the loose spots of his creation.

Cody stepped outside, a heavy doleful look had appeared on his face. Rachel discerning the change of demeanor in her young rider followed after him to lend an ear to whatever had brought such a shift in his mood. She found him sitting on the bench outside the store. "Are you all right?" she asked taking a seat next to him.

"Nope." he replied staring at the wooden floor beneath his feet.

"What's wrong Cody?" There was no response to her question. Instead he looked straight ahead, his thoughts twirling in a confused mass.

"What am I doing Rachel?"

Rachel looked at the young man puzzled. "I don't understand."

"Why do I feel so confused all of a sudden?"

"You're in love Cody."

"Hmph, is that all?"

"We all go through it. Love makes you well up with all these different emotions. Sometimes you don't know if you're coming or goin'. You're happy one minute, sad the next. Unsure of yourself at times, then confident as a bull at other times."

"That's the way I feel. I mean, if you'd had asked me a few days ago how I would handle things with Victoria I would've told you everything step by step. Now, I'm doubting wether or not I should even pursue her anymore. Noah and Buck have even suggested I should start looking elsewhere...I'm starting to think that maybe they're right."

"And what if they're not?" Cody shrugged at the question. "Are you ready just to give her up without knowing if you gave it all you got? Love is not an easy game to play Cody. It's not always gonna deal you a winning hand, but you've got to play. If Victoria means that much to you, you have to try your best no matter what others tell you, otherwise you'll have to live with the 'what if ' questions for the rest of your life; are you ready to do that?"

Cody thought then shook his head. "Good. Now put a smile on that face; You can't romance a girl looking like that.

***************

The morning had unfolded into a beautiful sunny spring day. Flowers were blooming everywhere, the song of birds could be heard all around like a melodious concert. The air was fresh and the accompanying light breeze made for a relaxing atmosphere.

Rachel pulled the wagon over into a field of wild flowers. The sight left Victoria awestruck as she couldn't believe the vast amount of colors before her eyes. "This is absolutely breath-taking Rachel. We don't have anything like this back home." she said dismounting the wagon.

Cody and Lou tied their horses around the big shady tree and started unloading the picnic supplies from the wagon. Cody couldn't help but smile looking at Victoria as she excitedly walked through the field, picking and smelling the many flowers that surrounded her.

"What are you thinking?" asked Lou looking at her friend.

"I couldn't tell you that Lou. It might embarrass you."

"Nothing you say could possibly embarrass me anymore Cody." she replied following him to the spot Rachel had selected.

"Look at that. Didn't I tell you it's the change she needed?"

"Guess you were right Rachel."

"Well we better be goin' Lou."

"What? Aren't we gonna eat?"

"They are, we're leaving."

"But I'm hungry." she protested.

"You'll just have to wait 'til we get home."

Lou opened the basket and quickly grabbed a biscuit just in time for Rachel to slap her hand. "How come I'm always the last one to know what's goin' on?" she grumbled standing up, eating the snatched biscuit.

"Have a good time." Rachel told Cody. "Come on Lou." she said grabbing her by the hand. "We'll see you when you get back." Rachel and Lou mounted the horses and left the two would-be lovers alone.

Victoria had been so preoccupied, enjoying the ambience, she hadn't noticed the quick departure of her two female companions. "This place is so beautiful." she sighed as she sat on the blanket near Cody, an array of multi-colored flowers in her hand. Cody wished to tell her how beautiful she was, just sitting there, a glow eminating from her as the sun gently touched her shiny brown locks. Still he felt the time wasn't right and concluded to comment on their surroundings instead.

"Where are Rachel and Lou?" she asked looking around for her friends.

"Rachel forgot she had to meet Teaspoon back at the station and Lou needed to finish some things before it got too late, so they said they were sorry they couldn't stick around."

"I'm sure." she stated and embarrased smile crossing her face as she discerned she had been set up on this match-making date. Victoria wasn't sure what to expect or what events would unfold from this date. The thought of Cody being attracted to her made her feel awkward in such a romantic setting, so she focused her efforts on getting to know him better as a friend. Their conversation centered on diverse subjects such as friends, the townsfolk, childhood memories, their own dreams and aspirations...

"I wouldn't mind gettin' into show business myself." he said.

"Really? I didn't take you for the show business type."

"Oh I've done a bit of actin' here and there."

"An actor? How exciting. I think that would really be a fancy life to live."

"True, but it's a lot of hard work...maybe I'll get to see what a big city like New York or even Philadelphia looks like."

"You've seen one city, you've seen them all." she said picking at the grass.

"Can't be that bad. The way folks are always talkin' about all the new things you get to see and do. Shoo-if I could I'd get goin' tomorrow."

"Then Cody, I hope you do get to go someday."

"You traveled a lot?"

"Yeah. I've been places."

"Tell me."

"I did a lot of traveling with my father; business trips mostly, but I've been to London, Paris, even Italy once. I liked New York City the best though, really exciting but you know what my favorite place has been?"

"What?" he asked curiously.

"A little town called Rock Creek."

"You gotta be kidding!" he said with a stark laugh.

"Don't laugh. I'm serious."

"I don't see what's so exciting about this place." he said looking around.

"It's not the excitement, it's the peacefulness of it that I love. The open spaces, the clear starry nights, the flower fields..." she said closing her eyes as she recalled each image. Cody was tempted to kiss her, taking in the beautiful features of her smiling face, but again refrained from the act. "You know what I'd really like to do?" she said sitting on her knees. "I'd like to build a house on my land. I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I think I could make myself a home here."

"Well that would be a darn good spot that's for sure. That land is the envy of every man 'round here."

"That's what I keep hearing; of course I haven't seen it to know."

"Then why don't we go check it out."

"Right now?!"

"It's a good a time as any ain't it?"

"I suppose."

"C'mon." he said as he pulled her to her feet. Victoria loved the spontaneity of the moment. She very rarely had one and never with someone with a wild hair like Cody.

To finally lay eyes on the very thing that had brought her so far from home, to this place; a place that had changed her life maybe forever, was exciting. 'Yes, I could definitely stay here.' she thought. Rock Creek in just a short time became a special place. New friends had been found, true friendships were beginning to develop and the man she found so captivating was also a part of it; a magical place unlike any other.

Cody stopped the buckboard on the top of a hill that overlooked a vast prairie of green lush land. "Here we are, as far as the eye can see and then some."

Victoria stood on the buckboard as she looked with amazement on the wide open land. "Cody, I never thought it was so wonderful!"

"Now you know why. But this ain't the best part."

"There's more?" He motioned for her to sit down and they were on their way once again.

From the majesty of the open prairie, they made their way to the creek on the border of the property. The rays of sunshine broke through the canopy of big green trees that covered the creek, grazing its moving waters. Victoria bent down to feel the coolness of the water. "This is so perfect. I know I keep repeating myself but it's just what I've always dreamed of." she said as she looked at him with sheer happiness. Cody reveled seeing her in a state of such glee, realizing his role in contributing to her obvious joy.

His heart urged him to take the next step. It was now or never. He walked closer to Victoria who was now standing by the edge of the creek, taking in the beautiful setting.

Approaching her, he chose to stand close behind her.

"Do you know what my favorite part of this place is?" he asked in a low voice, his heart pounding fast from the prospect of his coming revelation.

"What?" she asked hesitantly, not turning around to face him.

"You." he replied gently grasping her arms. Victoria closed her eyes at the feel of his touch and the face of Jimmy was the first thing she saw. She knew in order for her to have any chance with Jimmy, nothing between her and Cody could be allowed to happen.

Slowly turning her towards him he started, "There's something I have to tell you."

"Me too." she interrupted, walking away.

"Please let me finish or I'll probably never have the guts to do it again." he said taking hold of her hands. "I know what I'm about to tell you may sound crazy seeing we've only known each other a short while but..." Cody paused taking a deep breath.

"I have these...I mean I...You know when you meet someone and you believe that that person is the one you were meant to be with..."

"Cody please." she interrupted once again, shaking her head, not being able to look at him.

"I know what you're going to say and you can't."

"But I..."

"Hold it right there." shouted a voice from behind as the sound of a cocking gun forced Cody to raise his hands.

'Now what?!' he thought in frustration. His confession of love would have to wait yet for another day thanks to the arrival of their unexpected guest.

***************

On to Chapter 9!