"Matty, you can't possibly be serious," Kaylee repeated herself out of frustration. "That will fall faster'n you can spit and then you'll find yourself limpin' home to hear Dad laughin' and Momma cluckin' o'er you like a sick hen!"

"It ain't gonna fall, cause I added somethin' special to the grav lock!" Mathias shot back. He pointed to a tangle of wires and metal fusings. "Here!"

Kaylee looked and shrugged, glancing back at her brother.

"I'm pointin' right at it," he insisted. She looked again.

"Ai ya, that's your 'somethin' special'?" she asked incredulously. "I had that exact part back on Tooley's ride more'n four years ago!"

"Worked then, didn't it?" Matty grinned.

"Yeah, till a rock bounced under the carriage and dented it all t'hell! He still limps, from what Corbin tole me!"

"I ain't stupid like Tooley!" Matty's grin was gone again. "I ain't flyin' it over no gorram mountains in clouds thicker'n Ma's stew!"

"You say that now, but I recall a certain pretty girl made you think you could do all sorta stupid things," Kaylee said, poking her brother's arm. He rolled his eyes and went back to putting his tools away.

"She married las' year, mei mei," he grumbled. Kaylee's smile faltered a little.

"Oh," she said quietly. "You didn't mention...Matty, I'm sorry. I thought you two were..."

"She married Tooley," he admitted. "That crash made him seem more...hell, I dunno. He may be limpin', but she's got his babe in her arms already."

"Really?" Kaylee asked. Unaware of her own hand flying to her abdomen, she smiled. "A baby?"

Matty noticed. He stopped putting away the tools and gawked.

"You're preggers!" he accused. Kaylee blinked and dropped her hand. A grease stain now remained over her stomach.

"I knew you wouldn't wear a dress t'dinner jus' for a homecomin'!" Matty laughed. He rushed to his sister and hugged her tightly, swinging her off her feet as if she weighed nothing. She gasped for air when he finally released her.

"Don't say nothin' ye