Emotions. Ugh, for nine years Katherine's emotions have been a roller coaster of, up and down, happy and sad, angry and really angry and the list could go on. It's crazy to think that just one face, one attractive face, could trigger so many emotions. Katherine had never expected to see that face again, never expected the wave of emotion that coursed through her veins as she stared into very familiar blue eyes.

Jack Kelly.

Katherine's whole body tensed, surprise dominant in her features, 'Your hallucinating' a thought echoed in the back of her head 'You let yourself think about him to much and now your mind is playing tricks on you' she thought looking for an logical explanation. If she was just imaging it why did it feel so real? Dozens of emotions rushed into her chest and mind, surprise, relief, anger, joy, sadness, and maybe even a little fear and she couldn't really think of why. His face was a blend of relief and sadness, that face, it hadn't changed much in nine years he still had a head full of dark hair and bright blue eyes and a strong jaw line, and he still wore that same old Newsboy cap on his head, the same one she had meet him in, he also looked tanner than she remembered like he'd had seen more sun than he wanted to. As if acting on their own accord, her arms lifted up and reached for him and before she could blink his arms were around her in a crushing hug. This wasn't real, it couldn't be, could it? And yet he felt so familiar, her hands clutched the front of his shirt and her fore head was pressed against his shoulder he smelt like ink and paper and rich dirt. She was shaking violently and she felt tears spring into her eyes, she hadn't noticed but he was whispering something.

"Katherine, Katherine, Katherine..." he whispered over and over again sounding like a broken record player, her name coming from his lips sounded like a sweet melody, like a symphony playing into her ear, he said her name like it was the only thing keeping him alive. She felt like she was 17 again and she was just saying hello from a long night alone, and not nine years of being alone. Nine years! Nine years she had been alone! Nine years she had spent with a broken heart! And he was just now deciding to come crawling back? Anger coursed through her like a fire storm of rage, she pushed his chest with all her might and he staggered away from her surprised.

"Nine years Jack!" She hissed, he made a move toward her but she backed up.
"You have no idea what you've put me through alone!" She spit venomously.

"Katherine, let me explain." He said putting his hands out in front of him, trying to calm her down.

"What is there to explain?" She asked her voice raising with each word. "You left, and I thought you were never coming back!" Her voice cracked and her eyes leaked tears of anger. Jacks dark eyebrows nit together.

"I'se didn't want ta leave." He said controlling his voice carefully. Katherine took a step back her hands were begging to shake.

"What do you mean?" She asked slightly confused her anger building even more.

"Youse think I wanted to leave?" He asked his voice shaking slightly, "Why the hell would I leave you willingly?" He questioned. Katherine took a step back shaking her head.

"My father told me you saw the train heading out West and you couldn't resist." She said the words felt as if they would burn her mouth. All the anger she had suppressed over the years was surfacing, the tension was building ready to break like a dam too full of water. Anger about Jack, about her father, about herself, all ready to break loose rose higher as he had the nerve to look confused!

"Your father told you I couldn't resist?!?" He asked his voice raising. "Your father put me on that train! I never wanted to go! I never wanted to leave you!" His voice rang with truth and it made Katherine shutter.

"My father put you on that train? No, he couldn't have he told me-" She started to say but Jack cut her off.

"He told me if I didn't leave ya alone that he'd have me on the next train outta town, I didn't listen and he made true on his word." Jack said coldly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out an old piece of paper. It was small and it looked as if it had been folded and un-folded many times before, "This explains every thing." He said handing the paper to Katherine. She took it hesitantly and carefully un-folded it. It read:

Dear Jack,
I understand you have feelings for my daughter, but you must know that I do not approve of you running around with her. I gave you fair warning: back away and I will back away, continue your relationship with her and I will put it to an end. But sense you deliberately disobeyed me I have no choice but to send you away, I take no joy in doing this but it's for the best. P.S. Hope you enjoy Santa Fe, after all that is where you've wanted to be all along, I suppose you could thank me.
Sincerely, Joseph Pulitzer

Katherine stared in shock at the familiar handwriting etched into the paper. Her hand shook as she read it again and again. There was no mistake to who this letter was written by.

"My father did this to us?" She whispered tears blurring her vision. Jack looked at her grief stricken, and nodded once. Her hands flew to her mouth and the paper fluttered uselessly to the floor, "H-how did you g-get back?" She asked trying to suppress a sob she felt raise in her chest.

"I'se worked on the rails, day after day" he said bitterly, his eyes locked with Katherine "but it was all worth it to be looking a you now." He said his eyes shinning.

"Oh Jack" She said reaching out for him again, he wrapped his arms around her burying his face in her hair. Just then there was a creek in the floor boards and a tiny voice called behind her.

"Mom?"

AUTHORS NOTE: Chapter 4!! I'm so proud of this story, I hope you all like it and as always comment and let me know what you think. I own nothing.