"What do you mean?" she practically whispered.

Cheyenne's eyes locked with Molly's. "I feel your fear. I hear you call out for me in the darkness. I see a man in the shadows, I hear your scream."

Molly’s hand went to her mouth once more in an unrealized attempt to stifle her gasp. "I think maybe," Cheyenne continued. "You and I, we share the same nightmares. I see in your eyes the same fear that once haunted me, the same fear that still bring the nightmares in my sleep. Why will you not trust in me as I have trusted in you? I want only to help you my friend."

"It's not that I don't trust you, I do, it's just that..." Molly stammered out. What happened to her and what happened to Cheyenne were so completely different. "I don't understand how you could have dreamt that. I dreamt you were there that night, that I was calling to you from his parlor..."

Molly abruptly stopped. Once more she had revealed more than she should have about that night. Cheyenne took a slow step toward the girl. She was nearing the breaking point. Molly looked at her, her soft brown eyes huge with confusion and fear.

"What parlor?" Cheyenne asked. "Who is he?"

"I can't, don't you understand that I can't," Molly whispered. She seemed to shake herself from whatever she was about to reveal. "He'd been drinking. He didn't know what he was doing. It happened a hundred years ago," she said. Looking up at Cheyenne she knew she didn't believe her and Molly was afraid of what more she might try to get from her.

In that instant Molly turned and ran for the door. But Cheyenne caught her before her hands could reach the door handle, she held tightly to the young girls arm. Realizing the girl was on the verge of revealing her story Cheyenne pressed on.

“You can not run from this forever Molly.” She sympathized. “It will eat at your soul until you loose your self in the fear and rage.”

Tears streamed uncontrollably from Molly’s eyes. Her body tensed and trembled even more and before she knew what she was saying she blurted out the whole terrifying ordeal.

How she was being toutered by this man because her mother was ill and she couldn't go to school so she went there in the evenings. How on this night his wife was out and he'd been drinking. Cheyenne cringed as memories of the drunken men who’d attacked her flowed vividly threw her mind as Molly continued her story.

He’d had her working on an algebra problem when he said that he wanted her to recite. He gave her a poem it had been the same poem that Josiah read that had sent her running from the church the other day. He told her to go stand in the parlor by the fireplace and recite it. As she was doing that he came behind her and grabbed her. He held her and told her how much he loved her, that she was beautiful and just what he wanted to do with her. He began to kiss her and touch her. They’d ended up falling to the floor and he was on top of her but she kicked him, scrambled up, and demanded he let her go. He hadn’t quite gotten what he wanted and just watched her frantically gather her things and run out the door. She went to Emily's and told her what happened and cleaned herself up. But other than Emily, no one else knew.

Molly could tell no more. The stress, humiliation and pain of repeating her tale had taken its toll. She fell against Cheyenne sobbing uncontrollably.

Cheyenne held the young girl in her arms and hesitantly began to stroke her hair as she tried to comfort her. Cheyenne’s own tears seeped threw the corner of her eyes. Her voice was soft and calm as she spoke in her French/Indian dialect.

“He can not harm you now little one.” She repeated in English. “It’s alright, no one will ever hurt you. This I will promise.” She held Molly for a time before she gently moved her away and lifted the still crying girl’s chin to look at her.

“You are safe now my friend. This man is not here. You got away from him. You must be grateful for that, and know that he can not harm you now.”

“Oh please Cheyenne,” Molly begged almost hysterically. “Please don’t tell anyone this promise me!”

Cheyenne nodded. “Your secret is safe with me. You have told no one else?”

Molly shook her head and began to wipe her tear stained eyes with the back of her hand. “Wait,” she exclaimed her lips trembling as she fought to control her emotion. “Mr. Wilmington, I told him once. I don’t know why, I just...”

Cheyenne gave her a small smile. “Buck will not betray your trust.”

Molly pulled a hanky from the small pocket of her dress and wiped her eyes. “I should go now, I’ve already said to much.”

“Come.” Cheyenne said to her. “Sit a while first, until you are calm. It is good to talk, I know how keeping such fear and shame inside can cause the hurt to overcome you, make you feel as if you are alone and there is no one to soothe your pain.”

Molly braved a small smile. “Thank you. But, I’ll be alright.” She said returning the hanky to her pocket. “I really must go, Da will start to fret if I’m not home soon.” She started to turn for the door when she stopped and looked back at Cheyenne. “Thank you,” she said in a small voice.

“I am hear if you have need to talk little one. I will tell no one.” Molly gave her another small smile and left.

Cheyenne let out a sigh as the girl walked away. She hoped that one day the girl would be at peace. She would make it a point to keep a watchful eye on her. The dream had a meaning. Her grandmother had always told her to listen and be mindful of her dreams. The spirits often spoke to you in them and she must always heed their some times hidden meanings.

Cheyenne returned to her room intent on retrieving her gun and hat. She felt the need for a long ride and was intending on going to the stables and saddling her horse when she heard the door of the church open.

As she stepped through the door to see if it was Molly returning she saw Lily enter and kneel in the front pew. Before she was seen Cheyenne quickly backed away behind the doorway.

She was still unsure of this woman. Pangs of jealousy surged through whenever the pretty saloon owner was near Josiah. Cheyenne wondered if her reason for being in the church now was to see him. For a split second she contemplated the idea of going out into the church. Maybe warning the woman off. Then she heard the church door open again and someone else entered. The voice was familiar and Cheyenne leaned closer to the door way listening.

Nathan tipped his hat as he walked up to Lily. “Evenin' Lily.”

Lily smiled. “Good evening Nathan. Come to see Josiah?”

Nathan smiled, “I was hopin' he’d be interested in maybe tryin' to win some of that money we lost to Ezra last night back. Seen him around?” Nathan asked quickly scanning the church. Lily shook her head and sat back in the pew. She looked pale and worn out. “How you been feeling?” Nathan asked concerned. “Still plagued with the morning sickness?”

“I’m afraid so.” Lily sighed. “And I just don’t have the energy I’m use to.”

Nathan gave her a comforting pat on her shoulder. “It’ll pass, from what I’ve been readin', the morning sickness is only suppose to last for a few months. But there’s been cases it’s lasted the whole pregnancy.”

Cheyenne leaned her head closer to the doorway. Had she heard right? Was Lily with child? Who’s child? Josiah? No, she pushed the thought from her head and listened intently.

“Oh Lord” Lily was saying lightheartedly. “Let’s hope not. I don’t think I could take it the whole nine months.

Nathan smile then his expression turned to a more serious one. “Have you told him yet?”

“No,” Lily answered quietly. “I just can’t find the words.”

Nathan put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You should talk with Josiah, I know he’ll help you all he can. That is his responsibility you know. It’s what he’s good at.”

Cheyenne didn’t wait to hear more. Her mind reeled. The child was Josiah's. Tears threatened to burst threw but she fought them back as she stormed out the back door toward the stables. She felt as if her heart would break and fall into pieces on the ground. She gritted her teeth, anger flowed threw her veins. The saloon girl! She had been right. There had been something between she and Josiah. Her heart felt twisted and her mind swam. Confusion, pain and rage mingled together inside her as she ran to the stables and burst threw the doors.

She stopped just inside when she saw some one else their next to Black Wind’s stall. The oriental girl from Lily’s saloon was grooming her horse in the next stall. Cheyenne decided to pay her no mind as she continued to walk to Black Winds stall and opened it. The stallion seemed anxious. “Whoa Black Wind,” She spoke soothingly to her precious steed as she stroked his neck and began speaking in her native tongue softly to him. The horse bucked his head and then leaned over the railing of the next stall towards the oriental girl’s horse.

Bo Jun smiled to herself as she stroked her own horse’s neck. “Her name is Shujean." She spoke quietly to the sleek black stallion as he nuzzled the mare.

Cheyenne began to saddle Black Wind. She glanced over at the girl in the next stall and gave her a short nod. “Your stallion is very beautiful,” the girl spoke shyly.

Cheyenne patted Black Winds shoulder proudly. Just being in the presence of her faithful steed seemed to calm her raging emotions. “He is taken with your mare.” Cheyenne said to the girl as she turned to rub the mare’s forehead.