"Thank you for this." Lily shook off the gratitude as if she was doing nothing.

"I should warn you, there will be people in this town who will believe that you are intending to engage in a different type of enterprise. They will assume that you are participating in less virtuous activity." Lily waited for the recognition to sink in. "Not that it is all that an unpleasant way to earn one's income."

Bo Jun wondered what Lily's comment meant. Had the woman in front of her once sold her body? Perhaps at another time she could inquire as to what she meant.

"I found myself placed under that assumption when I arrived. But men quickly discovered that I was not selling myself to the highest bidder or any others. While it has not stopped their looks, at least I am not under a barrage of lewd comments."

"I would think they would be afraid of Mr. Larabee." Bo Jun would have had to be blind not to see the way the man looked at Lily. She wondered though if Lily saw the same thing in his eyes. It also had not escaped her that by the sounds coming from the bedroom at night that Chris was one 'round eye' who knew more than how to drool or snore on a pillow.

"Yes, well, on some days I would agree with you, on others. . . " Her thought trailed off. "Alright then, I believe you are ready now. I will go down first. Wait a few minutes and then come down. You want to make an entrance. And remember, enter like you own the room."

Obediantly, Bo Jun waited a few moments. She spent the time getting used to moving with all that material wrapping around her legs as she walked... Caucasian dress certainly was cumbersome! When she felt she could navigate with some semblance of her normal grace, Bo Jun moved to the mirror, to make sure none of the borrowed finery was disarranged.

She pinched her lips and cheeks to bring some color to her face, then, drew a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Calm, centered, head held regally high, Bo Jun left the room and floated down the stairs.

Molly walked with purpose toward the saloon. She'd felt horrible about the news she read to Bo Jun in the letter she'd received. She knew the bread that was in the basket she held wouldn't bring her much comfort but it was the only thing that Molly could think to do. She walked behind the saloon to the kitchen door where she thought Bo Jun might be. Molly walked inside and through kitchen to the main area of the saloon and caught site of the woman. She looked different. She was wearing a silk dress that was similar to the dresses Lily had. Her hair was pulled away and up. Molly had thought her pretty before but now she was extraordinarily beautiful. Molly timidly walked up to her. "Miss Caine?" Molly said.

Bo Jun turned around to see the young girl that had read her letter to her. She had something held in her hands wrapped in a towel.

"I...um...I brought this for you," she said, handing Bo Jun the bread.

Bo Jun unwrapped it to see a round loaf of what looked to be some kind of bread.

"It's Irish soda bread," Molly said to her. "I never really got a chance to say how sorry I am about your father."

Bo Jun lowered her eyes to the girl. "I have nothing for you," she said to her.

"Oh no that's not necessary. I just wanted to give you something that's comforting. Silly I know. You don't need to give me anything, I was happy to do it," Molly said to her. "Just enjoy it," she said and turned to walk away but stopped and turned back around. "I don't mean to be forward and this might not be my place but if you wanted, I could teach you how to read and write English. You speak it very well and it would be my pleasure," Molly said to her.

Bo Jun looked up in surprise at her. "You would do that?" she asked. "In exchange for what, I have nothing to offer you," she said.

"The opportunity to make a new friend?" Molly said to her. "You don't need to tell me now, just let me know. I would enjoy it," Molly said before turning again and walking back outside.

Bo Jun's gaze followed her. As the saloon doors swung shut behind the young woman, a smile of true delight lit her face. To read and write again!

She turned, and glanced at the placards posted around the saloon. Soon, they would be more than squiggles of color on cardstock to her!

And, most of all-- she may have a friend. A real friend.... Bo Jun turned to take the order of a new customer with a polite greeting, but her mind was far away. A friend, she reflected again, filling a glass with beer. She'd never had a friend... not really...

She stopped just inside when she saw someone else there 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 Wind's 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.

"She is coming into season," Bo Jun explained, with a rueful lift of her shoulders. "I will have to move her far away, or she will cause much trouble, trying to get to your stallion...."

The brush stilled in it's long, slow sweeps on the mare's glossy dun hide. "Unless, you would allow them to mate? I have never allowed this before, as I have always been traveling. But now, I am staying in this place. Shujean and your Black Wind would have a fine colt-- it would bring a good price, half for each of us..."