A/n: Thanks to Amara for letting me use the nun-story. To Dani for making me write. Tracy for betaing.

Chapter 1.

As Buck rode into Seneca it dawned on him that he hadn’t the slightest idea of the location of the Hickok farm. His eyes narrowing, Buck searched for a face that wouldn’t claw his eyes out if he approached. Someone who wouldn’t mind giving an Indian directions. But there was none. Buck had only been in Seneca for 10 minutes and already he felt like half the town had given him the evil eye.

This was nothing new. He had lived in the white world long enough to know that each day was a battle for survival

This is just the life I have to live with, Buck thought as he reined Warrior to a stop outside a little store by the name of ‘Hanson’s thingamajigs and other stuff’. A man with such a name for his store couldn’t be more judgmental than the average person. Buck quickly discarded any thoughts regarding his faith upon entering the little store, remembering what his mother had once told him; “Living in the past does nothing but keep you from looking at the road ahead.” She had told him that after he had, yet again, cursed himself for being who he was.

The store was dimly lit. All the tables and shelves contained small curiosities.

“Excuse me,” Buck said taking his hat off. He had no idea how this Hanson would react to him. For all he knew, the man could be the Seneca version of a certain William Tompkins.

“Yes, may I help you with anything?” Hanson asked as he studied the young man that stood before him. Hanson had never seen him before. He was Indian, or at least part Indian. It was hard to see in the dim lighting. He wore a white man’s clothes and the expression on his face appeared to be that of a child who had toyed with matches after his mother had distinctly told him not to.

“I was wondering if you knew the way to the...” Buck didn’t know Celinda’s married name. He searched his mind trying to recall Jimmy ever mentioning a surname. “The Hickok farm?” Buck decided to go with Hickok and hope for the best.

Hanson eyed Buck questioningly. “And what is your business at the Hickok’s?”

At least the man didn’t throw him out, head first.

“Sir, my name is Buck Cross. Jimmy Hickok is a good friend of mine. We both ride for the Pony Express. Four days ago, Jimmy sent me a telegram asking for my help. So here I am, but I don’t know where they live.” Buck took a deep breath. He hadn’t spoken this much all at once in a long time. But it was for the best that he told as much as he knew in order to make Hanson believe that he was telling the truth.

“And your sole intention is to help a friend in need?” Hanson questioned, again looking Buck over with great skepticism.

“Yes Sir.” Buck replied.

“Either you’re telling the truth or you’re an incredibly good liar.” Hanson concluded.

“The first one,” Buck replied with a slight smile.

“Well then, I’ll tell you the way,” Hanson smiled as he came around the counter and greeted Buck, “Any friend of James Hickok is a friend of mine.”

Buck left Hanson’s store with a good feeling inside. There was one more person to add to the short list of people that didn’t want to see him dead. He had been given directions so good that you’d have to be a blind man to miss it. At least that was the way Hanson had described it.

Absently, Buck scratched Warrior in between the ears before he untangled the reins from the railing. A few people walking by gave him the evil eye, but Buck ignored them.

Due to Hanson’s good directions, Buck soon saw a small farm off in the horizon. Even from this distance, Buck could see that the place needed some work, and what had been done were only temporary solutions. Broken fences were held together with rope instead of nails. And the barn that had towels stuffed in the gaps instead of new planks.

After Buck had put Warrior up at the stable, he knocked on the door to the main house. It gently opened as if not to make any sound and Jimmy poked his head out to see who it was.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Jimmy whispered in relief, “Come in, but be quiet. Celinda and the baby’s sleeping.”

Buck nodded his head in agreement as Jimmy opened the door completely to let Buck in.

Soon the two of them were sitting at the small kitchen table, both nursing a cup of coffee. Neither really said anything. Jimmy excused himself to go to the nursery. A minute later he came back into the kitchen with young James on his shoulder.

“He just needed a change of diapers,” Jimmy explained. “And you little man,” Jimmy turned his attention to James, “need to get some more sleep.”

Buck smiled at Jimmy and how well he was doing with the baby. It wasn’t too long ago that a baby girl had been left on their doorstep and neither of them knew exactly how to take care of the little one. Ike, it seemed, was the only one who could get the little one to stop crying.

“Buck?”

Buck jerked back to reality at the sound of his name.

“You looked about a million miles away,” Jimmy commented.

“Guess I was. Just thinking about that time when that baby girl was left on the porch.”

“Yeah, we’ve grown up since then,” Jimmy smiled, making faces at young James. “Wanna hold him?”

Buck wasn’t really sure what to say about that. But he didn’t have to say anything as Jimmy was already handing him the baby.

“Be careful to support the head,” Jimmy warned him as he let go.

Buck looked at the baby who lay in his arms, grinning toothlessly. He couldn’t help but to smile back.

Chapter 2.

Buck and Jimmy sat at the kitchen table sipping coffee and discussing what needed to be done around the farm. Buck listened intently and nodded when he was supposed to. He didn’t really say much because he didn’t know what to say. Both men turned their heads as Celinda walked into the kitchen.

“Celinda, what are you doing out of bed? I thought I told you to get some sleep?” Jimmy said softly.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Celinda said, her eyes fixed on Buck. “Who’s thist?” she asked as she studied Buck with tired eyes.

“This is Buck Cross, the friend I told you about.” Jimmy said. Buck sat his coffee down and got out of his chair.

“Oh.” Then she took a shot pause.” You just sit yourself back down,” Celinda admonished Buck. Buck, not wanting to argue, did as she said.

“Why don’t you try and get some more sleep and I’ll wake you when James is hungry.” Jimmy said as he led Celinda back to her bedroom.

Buck sat and thought. Celinda was lucky to have Jimmy to take care of her. She’d make it through this bad time courtesy of Jimmy.

Buck awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of the baby crying. He and Jimmy were sleeping in the nursery so that Celinda had a chance to sleep through the night. Rolling over so that he was facing the cradle he saw Celinda sitting with the baby on her shoulder, rocking him gently while singing a soft song.

“He can’t sleep?” Buck questioned.

“I don’t know what to do. He just won’t go to sleep. I’ve fed him, changed him and burped him. He just won’t sleep.” Celinda said as she continued to rock her child

Buck noted the obvious tiredness in her voice and features. “Do you want me to try?” Buck asked. “Maybe I can get the little one to sleep.”

“I don’t know,” Celinda said warily. It wasn’t that she had anything against Buck, she just didn’t know him. He had only been there for a day and though he was a friend of her brother and she trusted her bother’s judgment, she just wasn’t sure of him yet.

“Please, just let me try.” Buck was pleading with Celinda out of the goodness of his heart. She needed sleep and healing and right now the baby wasn’t helping. Celinda swallowed a yawn trying to hide the fact that she could most likely sleep for a year straight. Reluctantly, admitting defeat, Celinda put the baby in Buck’s care. Buck, a little nervous at first, held little James in his arms and rocked him gently, singing a song he had heard as a child. Soon, James calmed down and was snoring softly.

“There we go little man,” Buck whispered gently as he laid James back in his cradle. Immediately, James began to fuss again and Buck picked him up. He hasn’t been taught to hate, Buck thought and he rocked the child and sang the song.

Chapter 3.

Buck hesitated as he stood outside of the general store. He didn’t mind going in to pick up supplies as Jimmy had asked, but this was only his third day in town, and he hadn’t been in the store before. He didn’t relish meeting another Tompkins.

When Jimmy saw Buck walking towards him outside the livery, he was puzzled. Buck couldn’t have got the supplies that quickly.

“Done already?” Jimmy asked.

“Not exactly.” Buck looked down at the ground, embarrassed.

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t go in Jimmy.”

“Why not? I told you to just tell Mr. Martin to put it on Celinda’s tab. What’s the problem?”

Buck just looked at his friend. ‘It must be so nice not to have to worry about how people will treat you,’ he thought.

Suddenly, Jimmy realized what Buck was worried about. Martin wasn’t at all like Tompkins, but Buck didn’t know that.

Jimmy sighed heavily. “C’mon, I’ll go with you.” Jimmy grumbled to himself, despising how people’s prejudices could be highly inconvenient.

They entered a store that could have been a replica of the mercantile in Rock Creek. White shelves lined with supplies, feed bags on the floor, and a portly man in glasses behind the counter.

“Mr. Martin…” Jimmy called out to him. The man looked over his glasses at Jimmy and Buck and exhaled in surprise.

“Jimmy? Jimmy Hickok? I haven’t seen you in a coon’s age, boy.”

He came around the counter and shook Jimmy’s hand. He hadn’t really noticed Buck yet, who hung back from Jimmy, pretending to look at some canned pickles on a shelf behind him.

“How are you?” Mr. Martin asked

“All right. Been working for the Express out of Rock Creek, but I came up to take care of Celinda.”

Mr. Martin’s smile faded. “Yes, poor thing. She’s been through quite a lot. Anything I can do, just say the word.”

“We’re here today to pick up some supplies. Right Buck?”

Buck turned around, slightly startled at hearing his name.

“Who’s your friend?” Mr. Martin asked, looking Buck up and down.

“This is Buck Cross. He rode for the express, too. He’ll be staying out at the farm with us for a while. It’s too much for me to handle on my own right now.”

“Well, welcome to Seneca Mr. Cross.” Martin held out his hand and Buck took it, trying not to act too surprised by the gesture of kindness.

Jimmy handed Buck the list of supplies and when Buck walked to the back of the store, Jimmy spoke quietly to Mr. Martin.

“He’s gonna be in here from time to time. You got any problem with that?”

“No.” The storekeeper looked at Jimmy as if he had grown a second head or something of the like.

“Back in Rock Creek, a lot of folks had a problem dealing with an Indian. Buck’s my friend and I don’t wanna see that happen here, so if you got a problem…”

“As long as he’s a paying customer Jimmy, I don’t care if he’s purple with green polka dots. He’s here to help you out. That’s good enough for me.”

Jimmy smiled broadly and slapped Mr. Martin on the back. At least one thing was going smoothly for him today.

When they got to the counter with the supplies, Mr. Martin totaled their bill and handed it to Jimmy.

“Can you put this on Celinda’s tab? I should be able to get a payment to you in a week or so.”

Mr. Martin hesitated and then spoke, “I’m sorry Jimmy, I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

Buck looked at Jimmy, and Jimmy stared at Mr. Martin. “What?”

The storekeeper looked at the young men apologetically. “I’m sorry son, but Celinda’s account is way past due. Even before Nathan was killed they were behind in paying. I was going to bring it up with him, but then, when everything happened…I just can’t do it anymore.”

Jimmy pounded his hand on the counter in frustration.

”Can’t you pay something on it today? Anything?”

Jimmy shook his head. He’d spent all the cash he had on lumber to fix the barn and the fences.

“How much is the total bill?” Buck asked.

“It don’t matter Buck. I ain’t got the money.”

“I’m sorry Jimmy,” Martin apologized.

When they left the store, Jimmy cursed out loud. “Why didn’t she tell me they couldn’t pay the bill? Then at least I would have known that before I went in there!”

“Jimmy, Celinda barely knows what day it is right now. You expect her to remember that she owes the mercantile money?”

As they climbed up into the buckboard Jimmy shook his head. So much for things going smoothly.

“Well,” he announced, “looks like we’re gonna be short one cow by this time next week.”

Two days later, Jimmy was coming out of the telegraph office in town when he saw Mr. Martin waving to him.

“Hello Jimmy. What are you up to today?”

Jimmy smiled. Somehow it was comforting having these people treat him like he was still twelve years old.

“Just sending a telegraph to my friends in Rock Creek. Wanted to let them know that Buck made it here all right.”

“Listen Jimmy, about Celinda’s bill….”

“Mr. Martin, I promise I’m gonna get a payment to you next week…”

Martin put a hand up to silence Jimmy. “Your bill has been taken care of.”

Jimmy looked at the storekeeper, and wondered if he’d heard him correctly.

“What?”

“It’s paid up.” Martin smiled.

“You didn’t have to do that…”

“I didn’t. That Indian fella, Buck, he came in yesterday and took care of it. I told him he didn’t have to pay the whole thing, but he insisted. Seems like a nice fella.”

Jimmy was dumbstruck. He didn’t know what to say. It was a relief to know that he didn’t have to worry about the bill, but he certainly hadn’t expected Buck to take care of it. “He sure is.” It was all Jimmy could say.

“You take care now, Jimmy.”

“Hey Buck, got a minute?” Jimmy asked Buck who was just coming out of the shower after working on the barn.

“Sure, Jimmy. Something wrong?” Buck replied while drying his hair in a towel.

“You didn’t have to do it, you know.” Jimmy tried to sound like he appreciated what Buck had done, but it just wasn’t his responsibility to make sure that the bills were paid.

“Do what?” Buck asked, confused. He stopped drying his hair and looked at Jimmy.

“I saw Tom Martin in town.”

Buck sighed. He knew Jimmy would find out that he’d taken care of the debt at the store; he just dreaded the conversation that would follow.

“You didn’t have to pay the whole thing, Buck, or any of it for that matter.”

“It needed to be done, and I had the money,” Buck explained.

“That was a lot of money.”

Buck shrugged, and turned around to get his shirt.

“It’s ain’t that I don’t appreciate it Buck. It’s just that it’s not your problem.”

Buck looked at Jimmy, a little hurt by his friend’s comment.

“I’m livin’ here aren’t I? If we ain’t got any supplies, that’s my problem.”

“That’s not what I meant…” Jimmy started to explain.

“Look Jimmy, you asked me here to help, so let me help you. Besides you’re my friend and friends help each other out.”

Jimmy didn’t know what to say. He did need the help and so did Celinda. He knew he shouldn’t let his pride get in the way, but that was easier said than done.

“I guess it ain’t always easy to ask for help.” He admitted.

“I know how you feel.”

They walked towards the house in a comfortable silence. It was time to start lunch.

“Thanks,” Jimmy said as they walked inside.

“You’re welcome.”

“So how come you didn’t get the supplies while you were there?”

“Huh?” Again, Buck looked confused.

“When you were at the mercantile. You coulda just picked up the supplies then. Now we gotta make another trip into town.” Jimmy’s tone was one of exasperation, but the twinkle in his eye didn’t go past Buck.

“Very funny,” Buck drawled.

Jimmy couldn’t help laughing at his own joke.

“Hickok, don’t push your luck.”

Chapter 4.

As Buck was about to muck out the stables one morning, he heard noises coming from the hayloft. Who would be up there this early in the morning, he wondered, as he carefully began to climb the ladder. Without making a sound, he looked in the hayloft and found Celinda hidden behind some bales of hay.

Buck sat down next to her and put one arm around her shoulder.

“It’s alright,” he said softly. He had no idea what else there was to say. Just being there for Celinda seemed like the best thing to do at the moment.

Celinda leaned against Buck’s shoulder and cried. Buck was glad that she trusted him enough to do so. Upon first arriving, he had been so worried about how Celinda would feel about him being Indian, but he had worried for no reason. His face could have been bright purple with green dots and Celinda wouldn’t give a hoot. Buck didn’t understand how he could have thought that she would despise him. After all, she was a Hickok.

“Sometimes I’d wish that the men who killed Nathan killed me too,” Celinda muttered in between her sobs. Buck was shocked to hear her confession. But he understood her very well. Ever since Ike died he had had often had those exact same thoughts. He wished that Neville had shot him while he was at it. Buck would have even paid for the bullet.

“Don’t say such things,” Buck said gently.

“Why not?” Celinda asked, bitterness evident in her sad and raspy voice.

“If you were dead what would happen to little James?” Buck smiled gently.

“I don’t know,” Celinda said, her voice but a whisper. Then as she thought about what she was saying, she began to sob again.

“It will be alright. Just give it some time and it will be alright.”

“How do you know that?” Celinda spat. There couldn’t be any truth behind what Buck was saying.

“Because I’ve been there myself. And though it might not seem like it right now, things will get better.” Buck paused for a moment, considering if he should tell her the story. After all, his knife wasn’t tied to his boot.

“I grew up in a Kiowa village,” Buck began. “Life there wasn’t easy for me. My mother, she was raped by a white man and I carry his blood in my veins. While my half brother and I were out with a hunting party, the village was attacked by white men. Mother was killed and my brother told me that I had to leave to learn about my white half as it was equally important as the Kiowa part of me.

“I had been walking for two weeks and was nearly starved to death when I came upon one of the white man’s buildings. I later learned that it was a barn. I was so tired I fell asleep in one of the stalls. I figured I could wake up early and then sneak out before anyone noticed. But I was so tired that I didn’t wake up until I noticed that there was something going on around me. There were some women there, and they were all wearing strange, black and white clothes. At the time, anything white was strange. I only knew a few words in English and had no idea what was going on around me. I pretended to be asleep, hoping that whoever they were they would leave me alone.”

“I really had no idea what was going on as I was hauled to me feet and dragged into one of the other buildings. I felt like I was taken hostage. I was so scared. They took everything that I owned away from me; and gave me new and strange clothes. Gave me strange food to eat.

“Life there was very much the same as it had been in the village. I was ridiculed because I was Indian and talked funny. It was very confusing. In the village I was too white. At the mission school I was too Indian. But I figured that I had to live with it as this was a place of learning, and that was what my brother had sent me to do; learn.

“Once a month we were allowed to go into town to do some shopping. We were each given some money to spend on candy or whatever we wanted. One of the older boys always took mine, but I figured I didn’t need it as I didn’t have anything to buy. I was walking around, looking at the buildings and the buckboards and everything. There was so much to learn about. I didn’t notice the men that were discussing me and pointing at me from outside the saloon. They came over to me and started to beat me.” Celinda gasped loudly at the story that Buck was telling her.

“It’s nothing really,” Buck reassured her, “I’m used to it.” Then he continued.

“I thought I was going to die. But there was this other boy that at school, he didn’t have any friends either. The other children were scared of him. He had lost all his hair to scarlet fever had lost his voice. We didn’t know why. I usually kept away from him, because he was always making faces and running around scaring everyone. This boy jumped into the fight and helped me defend myself. We got the heck beaten out of us. Ever since that day we stuck together. I learned that his name was Ike McSwain and that he had come to the mission school after his family was murdered. I taught him sign language so that we could talk together and he helped me learn my English better. He told me every time I said a word wrong, or put the words in the wrong order.

“After we turned seventeen, we had to leave the mission school. We drifted around for a while, but at least we had each other. After being turned down from every job possible we struck gold with the Pony Express in Sweetwater. That’s where I met your brother. Twelve months had passed before we all moved to Rock Creek. The people that ran that station weren’t able to run it because of some Indian trouble.”

Before moving on with the story, Buck fell silent and looked down at the floor. He was still holding Celinda.

“He died, didn’t he?” Celinda asked.

“Saving the woman that he loved. I was so happy for him. I had never seen him so happy as when he was with Emily.” Buck smiled at the memory. It wasn’t often that Ike smiled, but when he did, it lit up the darkest room.

“After he died, I was so lost. It was like a part of me had gone with him. Ike was my first and best friend. I no longer wanted to live. I began searching for ways to make myself feel better. Then I remember what Red Bear, my half brother had done after mother was killed.”

Buck released his hold on Celinda and rolled up the sleeves on his shirt.

“I remembered that Red Bear had cut his arm to show his grief. So I figured that it wouldn’t hurt if I tried it too.”

“You did that?!?” Celinda stared at the white lines on his otherwise bronze skin.

“It helped take my mind off of things. Soon, it was the only reason that I even got out of bed in the morning. It was the only thing that made life worth living. Eventually Jimmy found out. He had suspected that something was up for a long time, but he didn’t know for sure. I swear, I have never seen your brother as mad as he was right then. He said that what I was doing was sick, and that I should come to someone and talk about it instead of keeping it all to myself. He also said that we were brothers.

“Some of my cuts became infected. I didn’t care whether they were taken care of or not. While Jimmy and I were yelling at each other I passed out. I didn’t wake up for two weeks. Later I found out that Jimmy had stayed with me the whole time.”

Celinda looked up at Buck and slowly digested his story. This man had been through his own hell, and yet here he was, comforting her. Still, she couldn’t imagine getting past the pain that she felt at that moment. Then she thought about Jimmy, remembering the angry boy with the chip on his shoulder that had left home years ago.

“Seems my brother has grown up quite a bit.” She smiled weakly.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. He refused to give up on me.”

“He’s always had a stubborn streak.” Celinda laughed to herself and Buck hugged her closer. She leaned into him, grateful for the comfort that he offered.

“I feel like I have a hole inside me that nothing can fill,” Celinda explained tearfully. “I feel hollow. And when I look at James, I know I should be thanking the Lord for my little boy, but all I feel is anger. All I can think about is that his father will never get to see him grow up.” She choked back another sob.

Buck said nothing. He knew that right now, she just needed someone to listen.

“I keep going over that day. Nathan just insisted that I go into town to visit our friends. It was my first time getting out after little James was born.” Celinda smiled sadly at the memory, then anger flashed in her eyes.

“I should have made him come with me…or if I’d just waited until he was done with the chores he could have…”

“Don’t Celinda.” Buck shook his head.

”But if I’d…”

“There’s nothing you could have done. This was no one’s fault but the men who murdered Nathan.”

Celinda looked away and Buck turned her face gently, forcing her to look directly at him again. “You can go over it and over it. It won’t change what happened. Don’t do that to yourself. It’s not worth it.”

Celinda looked at Buck, and she knew that he was right.

“How did you do it?” She asked.

“Do what?”

”Get through it?”

“I had friends…a family to take care of me. They helped me to see that life was worth living. Some days it’s still not easy, but it gets better. I promise.” He smiled gently at her.

“Must be some pretty special friends. Jimmy doesn’t let himself get close to many people, but I know how much he misses them, even though he doesn’t talk about it.”

“I miss them too.” Buck admitted.

Celinda started to cry again. “I’m sorry…”

“What for?” Buck hesitated and wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb.

“That you had to leave Rock Creek…for this.”

“This is where I need to be Celinda.”

Celinda took a deep shuddering breath, then reached up and hugged Buck around the neck.

“Thank you, for listening.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I want you to come talk to me anytime you need to.”

“So how long before it stops hurting?” Celinda asked, her brown eyes still brimming with tears.

“When I find out I’ll let you know.” Buck whispered. He hugged her back, and they stayed like that for quite a while.

After that time in the hayloft there was a special understanding between Celinda and Buck. They understood each other’s pain and having someone to lean on made things easier. Whenever Celinda felt like grief would take over she talked to Buck and he reassured her that everything would work out in the end.

Chapter 5.

As Celinda and Jimmy did their shopping Buck was making funny faces at a laughing James. There was just something about James’ smile that warmed Buck’s heart. As he had just stuck his tongue out and raised his eyebrows he noted that the town biddies had arrived. He took notice of them the first day he had arrived in Seneca and made a promise to himself that he would stay as far away from them as humanly possible. Well, they were trapped in the same room now. Buck turned back to James who looked at Buck in bewilderment. It was like he was asking why the fun stopped.

“What’s gotten into that Hickok woman’s head, letting a breed near her son?” This was why Buck stayed clear of the town biddies. He sighed deeply and tried to forget that the comment had ever been made.

“Well, if you ask me, that family has never been right. You know, James left when he was 12. He didn’t even go to his father’s funeral. And his father was such a good man…did so much for the community. So sad the way he was killed.”

“And now Celinda has lost her husband. I heard they have some family back East. If it were me, that’s where I’d be. It’s just not proper, her living out there alone.”

Jimmy heard this conversation and cringed. He clenched his fists and fought the temptation to shoot every last one of those women in the gut so that they could slowly bleed to death. Nobody but him and his mother knew the truth about the man his father really was. He glanced at Buck who had moved to the other side of the store with James so he didn’t have to listen to their prattling. Celinda was busy looking at some material and seemed to be oblivious to what was going on a few feet from her.

“Afternoon ladies,” Jimmy spoke loudly and the two women stopped talking immediately.

“Good afternoon James.” They looked the young man up and down, “so nice to see you back in Seneca.”

“And I’m just thrilled to be here.” Jimmy gave them a big smile, knowing that his sarcasm was lost on them.

As soon as he turned away from them the whispering started up again. Buck had decided that he was going to wait outside and was about to ask Jimmy to take the baby, when Celinda turned around and marched right up to the group who had been stealing glances at her.

“Excuse me, but would you ladies mind speaking just a bit louder? That way I’ll be able to hear everything you’re saying about me, instead of every third word.” She smiled sweetly at them.

The women, obviously embarrassed, stammered to answer her. “Why, Celinda, we didn’t see you there dear. How are you doing?” The woman put her hand on Celinda’s arm in a gesture of comfort.

“Not very well, thank you Mrs. Collins. But, I’m surprised that you’d ask.”

“Celinda, we’re all very concerned…”

“Well,” Celinda cut them off, her voice rising in anger. “That’s an odd comment, since it seems you all already know everything about my situation.”

The older woman’s face turned bright red.

“So,” Celinda continued, “since you know so much about my life, I see no reason for you to talk about it behind my back. You can either let everybody join in, or keep your comments to yourselves!”

Jimmy stepped up and put an arm around Celinda, trying to lead her away from the group of women that were now, for once, silent.

“Celinda, let’s go.”

“We didn’t mean any harm dear.” Another of the women said as Celinda started to walk away. Buck was standing near the counter with a sleeping James on his shoulder. At that moment he wished that he’d stayed behind at the farm instead of coming into town with Jimmy and his sister. It would have been easier for everyone.

“Really? Well, seeing as how you’re all God-fearing women, what gives you the right to judge me? Or to judge Buck?”

The women looked at each other, and none of them answered her.

“Celinda…” Jimmy tried again to calm her down.

“No Jimmy, I’m not going to let them do this. It’s wrong.”

Jimmy cleared his throat nervously. He’d done his best to avoid a bigger scene, but if his sister wanted to have it out with these busybodies, he couldn’t stop her. He didn’t really want to stop her either.

“Well, you have to admit,” one of them smiled condescendingly “it is an odd situation. Him living at the farm with you.”

“My husband was murdered last month Mrs. Cooper. He left me with a newborn baby and a farm to run. How dare you look down your noses because I have a friend helping me!” Celinda took a breath, as if she was just getting started.

“And as far as Buck goes…”

Buck stepped forward then and put up a hand to silence her. He didn’t want her to embarrass herself. “Celinda, please…”

Celinda gave Buck a look that told him not to utter another word. She was going to have her say.

James, now awake, let out a glass-shattering wail. Buck started to rock him gently back and forth while talking soothingly to him. One of the biddies smiled triumphantly as if this was proof that the half-breed was completely and utterly incapable of taking care of the baby.

“Not one of you have ever come out to the farm to see how I was doing, or if I needed help.”

“And as far as Buck goes he is more civilized than the lot of you rolled up into one. He is a good man and a good friend. My brother and I wouldn’t have gotten through this without him. He cooks and cleans, and gets up with my son in the middle of the night so I can sleep. And by the way, Mrs. Collins, those fences of yours that border our property? The ones that your husband was supposed to help Nathan repair months ago? Buck has fixed them all, so please be sure to tell your husband he needn’t trouble himself.”

Mr. Martin, the shopkeeper, stood behind the counter, watching Celinda. She was only 5’1, but she was a commanding presence. He could think of no one else in town that would have the nerve to stand up to those old hens. He had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing at the expressions on their faces.

Celinda took her shawl, and wrapped it around her shoulders. She looked each of the three women in front of her in the eye.

“And one more thing, next time you’re all having tea, if there’s anyone that you haven’t discussed my circumstances with, please be sure to tell them that Celinda Hikock has a half-blood Kiowa living out at her farm, because I want everyone to know it!”

With that, Celinda turned on her heel to leave, her long skirt flouncing behind her.

“Buck, will you bring the baby outside please, I need some air.”

Buck looked nervously at Jimmy and Mr. Martin, then turned to follow Celinda out the door. Martin was now laughing so hard, that he had to excuse himself to the store’s back room to regain his composure.

Jimmy watched him go and then turned to the three red-faced women still standing in front of him.

“Well ladies. It sure was nice chatting with you. Y’all have a lovely afternoon.” Jimmy tipped his hat and made a quick exit.

Buck caught up with Celinda as she walked out of the store. James was still fussy, having been awakened too early from his nap. Celinda took the baby from Buck, her brows still knotted in anger over her confrontation.

"Celinda, you didn't have to..."

"Don't you dare say I didn't have to do that, because I did. Those women make me sick to my stomach...always thinking they're better than everyone else." Celinda patted her son's back gently as he began to settle down.

"I'm sorry. I just don't want to cause you any trouble..." Buck began again.

"Will you please stop apologizing for yourself Buck? No one treats me or my friends that way. I just hope Mr. Martin will let me back in the store..."

Buck stifled a laugh. He wondered that himself.

"Well, that was impressive." Jimmy commented as he approached them. "You did me proud, Celinda."

"Thank you." Celinda smiled slightly, finally relaxing a bit. She handed a sleeping James back to Buck, and let Jimmy help her up into the wagon.

"No doubt the two of you are related." The three of them turned to see Mr. Martin approaching, carrying the purchases that Celinda had forgotten.

Celinda blushed; slightly embarrassed now at the way she had behaved.

"Mr. Martin, thank you. I forgot all about those."

"You were a little preoccupied," the storekeeper smiled.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to cause a stir. It's just..."

Martin waved away her apology with his hand. "Don't apologize. Did me good to see it. There's lots of folks would love to see Bertha Collins get put in her place like that. Just wish I coulda sold tickets!"

Buck and Jimmy laughed loudly at this comment and Celinda blushed to an even darker shade of crimson. As he loaded the supplies in the back of the wagon, Martin wished them all a good afternoon.

The ride home was quiet to say the least. Jimmy drove the wagon, seeming to be in his own little world. Buck sat in the back with James on his shoulder. Celinda stared at the road straight ahead of her, muttering curses under her breath. She was glad that she’d had her say, but those women still made her blood boil.

When they were home, Celinda took James from Buck and went into the house to feed him and Buck and Jimmy unloaded the wagon. The job was done in utter silence. Neither of them knew exactly what to say. The look that they shared told that Celinda, though hiding it, was hurt by what Mrs. Collins and the other women had said. Both Buck and Jimmy decided to leave the subject alone until Celinda was ready to talk about it.

Chapter 6.

Buck was jolted awake by the scream. It took him a few seconds to realize that the scream wasn’t coming from baby James.

“Jimmy, you alright?” Buck asked, once he had rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Jimmy sat up in bed, looking terrified. “Jimmy, please say something,” Buck pleaded.

At that moment Celinda rushed into the room. “What is it?” she asked. Then she saw her brother. He was drenched in sweat with a terrified look glued to his face. “Jimmy, what’s wrong? Talk to me, please.” She rushed to his bedside and gathered him up in a hug. “Everything’s gonna be alright. It was just a bad dream.” She talked softly while stoking his hair.

Buck stood shocked. He had seen Jimmy have nightmares before, but they were never this bad. The scream had touched something deep within him. James had been awakened by the ruckus and wailed loudly, voicing his discomfort in being woken in the middle of the night. Buck picked the baby up and walked out of the room to calm him down. He sat down in the hallway and sighed audibly.

“There, there.” He talked in a soft voice. The sobs could clearly be heard from the other room.

“Nothing’s alright.” Jimmy managed to communicate in between the sobs. His whole body was limp and most of his weight leaned on Celinda.

“It was just a nightmare. Just a nightmare.”

“No it wasn’t. It was so real. You don’t understand...” Jimmy sobbed on his sister’s shoulder.

Celinda was scared. She had never seen her brother this unglued before. Not even after seeing their father murdered. Then he was just cold. “Jimmy, please talk to me.”

“I can’t,” Jimmy sobbed and held on to his sister like she was the only thing that kept him alive.

“Why not?” Celinda wasn’t sure what was going on and it scared her.

Jimmy curled up in Celinda’s arms and rested his head over her heart. He needed to hear something steady – something safe. He knew that Buck had left the room with James some time ago. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled.

“You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“I came here to take care of you and instead you end up taking care of me.”

“Jimmy, we’re family and families take care of each other.”

Buck sat in the nursery and gently rocked James. All sorts of thoughts went through his mind all at once and all too fast. What had really happened last night? He knew what had happened, but he had no idea. He wondered what Celinda was thinking. And he wondered who had taken the initiative. Him, her, both?

He remembered coming home and going to the barn to cool down the horses. When he came in the house, Celinda had already fed James and put him down for the night. Thank goodness the little guy was a good sleeper...Neither of them felt like eating, so they had gone outside to the porch. They were silent for a few minutes, each alone with their thoughts. Then Celinda started talking about Jimmy. Celinda said that Jimmy used to be this sweet-natured baby, and he was a loving little boy who had followed her around like a puppy dog. This surprised Buck. He didn't think many people would describe Jimmy as "sweet". Somewhere along the way, Jimmy changed, Celinda said. He was a trouble-maker at school, always getting sent home for fighting, nor did he ever seem to be on their father's good side. But whenever she looked at him, she still saw the little puppy dog. Now that he was back in her life, she couldn't imagine losing him. Buck couldn't either. It was because of Jimmy that he was even alive today and for that he was thankful. He just couldn’t lose him too.

They talked about Ike, too. Buck told her about the time he and Ike tried to run away from the Mission school. They knew that they could never just walk out the gates as if nothing was wrong. So they came up with the idea that they could dress up as nuns and then walk out unnoticed. The plan seemed to working until they were caught red-handed. Buck and Ike had vouched that they would never tell that story to anyone, mostly because even though they had been punished to no end, they apparently looked like the “cutest little nuns ever to set foot in Mission.”

Both of them were feeling lost. Celinda had been sitting next to him and had leaned her head on his shoulder and he had put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. There was nothing improper about it, he was just comforting her. Then, she had looked up at him, her big brown eyes shining with tears...and he had kissed her. She had kissed him back, and next thing he knew they were in her bedroom.

Why had he kissed her? Buck wondered. And how had they ended up in the bedroom? That was what Buck wanted to know. When was that decided? Buck looked down at James, and he looked up at Buck with a serious look on his face. Buck swallowed hard. He couldn’t believe that he had actually enjoyed last night. He had enjoyed something that the man that fathered him had taken without permission.

What kind of man did that make him? Was he like his father? Last night he had given up control and let his feelings take over. He knew that what the man that fathered him had done had nothing to do with feelings. His was an act of violence, with no thought to the victims that he would leave behind. So maybe he wasn't his father, but still, the fact that he had been so easily caught up in the moment with Celinda scared him. He'd had experiences with girls before. They had been brief, and not very fulfilling. This was different. This was all the way. He and Celinda had made love. He knew that for a white woman, that didn't make them man and wife, and in fact Celinda was still married to Nathan. Even though her husband was gone, she was still another man's wife.

Buck sighed and realized that his head hurt. The more he thought about this, the more complicated things got. The only other thing he knew for sure, was that Celinda was definitely not a girl. She was a woman. That was one thing he knew he would not easily forget.

James’s slight fussiness had turned into full-blown cries. It was breakfast time. Buck took a deep breath and headed back into the master bedroom. Celinda was in deep thought and Buck wondered what she was thinking. “He wants breakfast,” Buck explained and handed James over to his mother. Celinda opened her shirt and Buck quickly turned away, looking like a schoolboy with a crush on the teacher.

“There ain’t nothing you haven’t seen before,” Celinda chuckled at the sight before her. “You weren't shy last night.” Celinda smiled at him. Her remark made him blush clear to his toes.

”I'd better get started on the morning chores,” Buck said. He was trying to think of something to take his mind off of what was going on in front of him.

“You can't muck out the stalls in a sheet Buck.”

Buck looked down at the sheet the he still had wrapped around his waist. He'd forgotten that he still didn't have any clothes on. Realizing that there was no way around it, he let the sheet drop and went over to pick up his pants off of the floor. He looked up to see Celinda smiling down at her son, who was now content in his mother's arms.

He was going to slip out of the room quietly, but Celinda called after him

“Buck...wait a minute.”

Buck turned and sat down at the edge of the bed. He was nervous and was absently playing with the sheet.

James, ready for play, crawled on the bed between the adults and found the creases in the sheet of great interest. Buck scooped the boy up before he crawled off the bed. “Be careful there little man,” Buck reprimanded the boy, trying to be serious, but James’ smile was infectious.

“Buck, we need to talk.”

“I know.” Buck, turning serious, repeated his earlier words as he looked straight at Celinda. His eyes not leaving hers.

“Last night,” Celinda began again. Buck carefully grasped his medicine pouch as James was about to stuff it in his mouth.

“Why don’t we stick to putting food in your mouth,” Buck smiled and then turned back to Celinda. “Last night. I don’t think it can happen again.” He wasn’t sure why he had said that. It just came out of his mouth.

Celinda sighed in relief. Now that Buck had said it, she didn’t have to. But it felt so awful coming from him. Buck gauged the expression on Celinda’s face. It told him that she agreed to what he had said.

“I don’t know what you must think of me, but I hope you don’t think I’m an awful person.” Celinda looked at Buck uncertainly, trying to read his emotions.

“I don’t think that at all.” Buck put his hand on her arm, then thought better of it, and put his hand back in his lap.

“I’ve never….been with anyone except Nathan.” Celinda explained. “But last night….”

“I should have just gone to my own room. It wasn’t right for me to…”

Now Celinda was the one who reached for Buck. She put her hand over his, and kept it there.

“You didn’t do anything that I didn’t want you to.” They looked at each other for a moment, and then, Celinda blushed. “I don’t really know what else to say, but I want you to know that.”

They sat by Jimmy’s bed, neither saying anything. When Celinda went to the back room to change James, Buck took a deep breath.

“What have I done, Jimmy?” Buck wasn’t sure if his friend could hear him or not, but it didn’t matter much. “I shouldn’t burden you with my problems. You just get well.”

Chapter 12.

Buck sat in the hayloft, knees drawn up under him. He had been sitting like that ever since dawn. He couldn’t believe that he had forgotten. Life had decided to deal him a good hand. Jimmy would be alright, he was still at Doc’s but he would be alright. Everything had been going so well he had forgotten about... He had woken up, checked on James, fed the animals. Then it hit him. Having already done all his chores he just wanted to be left alone in his misery.

“Buck?” Celinda’s voice startled him. Buck looked up at her, not saying a word. “What’s wrong?” she asked, sitting down next to him.

“I’ve forgotten about Ike,” Buck choked out as Celinda put an arm around his shoulders. “I woke up today like nothing was wrong and I did the chores like nothing was wrong. Then it all just kinda hit me in the face – that it’s been a year. Today.”

Celinda hugged him, feeling his pain. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not really.”

She sat with him for a while, her arm still around his waist. Finally Celinda broke the silence.

“I know you don't want to talk about it, but can I tell you something?” Buck looked at her, waiting to hear what she would say.

“I forget about Nathan sometimes too.” Buck's brow knotted in surprise at her statement. “He's been on my mind a lot lately since Jimmy got hurt. I guess seeing Jimmy lying there in the office where Nathan died...” Celinda's mind drifted for a moment back to the night Jimmy was hurt, then she seemed to shake off those thoughts and focus on Buck.

“You're moving on with your life, Buck. You can't blame yourself for that.” She smiled gently at him. “Sometimes I'm thinking about the laundry, or something funny that James did that morning, or maybe what the three of us are going to do after supper, and then I think about Nathan. But for those few moments before...I guess it's hard to explain. If I could go back and change things, of course I'd want him here with me. But I can't change the past. Just because I'm not thinking about him every minute doesn't mean that I miss him any less, or love him any less.”

Celinda reached up and touched Buck's face with her hand. She hoped that her words were of some comfort to him. “Buck, you haven’t forgotten about Ike. You’ve just gotten better.” Buck looked at her with a question in his eyes. “You haven’t cut yourself since Jimmy found you. And you’re smiling a whole lot more since you came here. Though Ike isn’t here, he will always be in your heart.” Celinda placed her hand over Buck’s heart. "Does that make any sense?"

“Kind of.” Buck smiled lopsided. “It’s just that I don’t want to forget.” Buck hugged Celinda for a few moments before he got up. “How about the two of us get started on breakfast. I’m starving.”

******

The following evening Buck couldn’t sleep. Every which way he tried it he just couldn’t sleep. James was beginning to fuss as well. Buck got up and sat by the bed until James was asleep again then he grabbed his blanket and walked into the hallway. He considered knocking on Celinda’s door so that they could talk, but he didn’t want to wake her. Besides he didn’t want anything to happen. He hadn’t stopped thinking about Ike the whole day. Buck banged his forehead against the wall. Why couldn’t anything ever be easy? He slipped down the wall and pulled his knees up under him.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Celinda asked.

“No, I just keep on thinking.”

“What about?”

“What would have happened if Jimmy hadn't found me when he did? If Ike hadn’t taken the bullet that was meant for Emily.” That was all he said. He couldn't tell her that he'd been thinking about her too. Now that she sat in front of him, he found it was all he could do not to reach out and touch her.

“I don't like to think about that Buck.” She looked up at him seriously and held his gaze. “I know we’ve both suffered a lot of pain in the last year. But the one good thing about it all is that it brought Jimmy home to me. And it brought you here. I don't know where we'd be without you.” Celinda reached out and took hold of Buck's hand.

They were holding each other tightly; neither wanted to let go of the other. Buck had his head on Celinda’s shoulder, silently crying. What they had promised wouldn’t happen, had just happened. What he didn’t realize was that Celinda was crying too. At one point during the night they fell asleep.

Chapter 13.

“Buck?” Jimmy whispered. His body racked with pain and something else that he couldn’t put his finger on. “Buck?” he whispered again, wondering if he was dead and if his friend was safe. The room he was in was light and he was on a soft bed. Last thing he remembered was pain and blackness. And then there was nothing until now. He saw a face and tried to focus. “Take it easy,” the face said. “Buck’s in perfect health.”

“Am I dead?” he asked. His own voice sounding foreign.

“You’re very much alive. But it was close there for a while.”

“Celinda, I need to talk to her.” His voice had a hint of desperation in it.

“Celinda is home with James and Buck.”

“I need...” Jimmy started again, but found it took too much effort to finish the sentence.

“Take it easy, son. I'll get her here as soon as I can. She'll be very pleased to see that you're awake.”

Jimmy sighed with relief and tried to find a comfortable position, which proved to be impossible. In less than five minutes, he was asleep again.

Buck slowly opened his eyes. He tried to guess what time it was, and decided it must be very early. The first gray light of dawn peaked in through the window. He could feel Celinda's arm wrapped around his waist, and turned to see her face about three inches away from his. He smiled as she also opened her eyes. “Good morning,” he mumbled, kissing her gently. He was surprised when she deepened the kiss. He pulled her closer and moved his body over hers. They were interrupted by someone barging through the front door yelling their names. Buck groaned. "What the..."

“Celinda! Buck! Get your lazy butts out of bed! Jimmy’s up!” the voice yelled.

“Jimmy’s up!” Buck and Celinda said at the same time. A wild search for clothes began as they didn’t want to be caught in the situation that they were in. Buck was so flustered he couldn’t figure out what to do first. He stood paralyzed, looking at his pile of clothes on the floor. “Long-johns before pants,” Celinda said. Buck made it out to the hallway first, still tying his pants. He found Mr. Hanson waiting for them, almost jumping up and down he was so excited.

“Jimmy's awake Buck! Doc sent me...”

At that moment, Celinda came out of the bedroom and practically ran into Buck. When she saw Mr. Hanson, she blushed. There was no explaining away the fact that they had been in the same room together. Mr. Hansen looked embarrassed, and cleared his throat nervously.

“Morning Celinda,” he tipped his hat to her as though they were meeting on the sidewalk in town.

“Mr. Hanson...” Buck realized that the older man must have known that he had caught them in a compromising situation, but at the moment, the news about Jimmy took precedence over everything else.

“Well, don’t just stand there pretending to be fish. Let’s get going.” Hanson was the first to snap back to reality.

“I need to feed James first!” Celinda ran into the nursery, leaving Buck and Hanson alone.

“So,” Hanson said.

“So,” Buck said.

Celinda, James, Hanson and Buck were greeted by the doctor when they entered the front of his office. Both looked at him expectantly.

“I’ve given him something for the pain so he’s a little woozy.” Baker informed then. He led them to the back room where Jimmy lay in bed, his eyes closed. Celinda sat beside the bed and touched her brother’s hand. Jimmy slowly opened his eyes. He was in obvious pain, but his face lit up when he saw her.

“Hi.” he said, smiling. His eyes moved to Buck, who stood behind Celinda. “I guess I forgot to duck,” he joked, trying to laugh, but gave it up.

“Don’t you ever scare us like that again! You hear?” Celinda tried to sound stern, but instead her voice broke.

“It sure is good to see you.” Buck smiled down at Jimmy.

“You kids been getting into any trouble while I was gone?” he asked. Hanson bit the inside of his cheek not to laugh. Seeing the guilty looks on the “kids” faces was all he needed to confirm what he had thought happened this morning.

“Come on now, what've you kids been up to?” Jimmy smiled again, but looked tired from the effort of so much talking.

“Jimmy, why don’t you try and get some sleep? I think you've done enough talkin' for now.” Hanson offered as he put a hand over Jimmy’s.

“Like a baby,” Jimmy mumbled. “I got Ear and I’ll sleep like a baby.” Celinda leaned over and kissed Jimmy on the forehead, smoothing his hair with her hand.

“When can he come home?” Celinda asked Dr. Baker anxiously as he walked with them back to the front office.

“Not for a while. He's doing very well, that's for sure, but I don't want to push it. The vein needs healing so let's just see how he does for two week and then we go from there.” Celinda was disappointed, but she understood the need for caution. Jimmy had a long recovery ahead of him.

As they walked outside into the early morning air, Celinda took a deep breath, for the first time in awhile, she felt like she could breathe. Hanson had left the office a few minutes earlier, and now Celinda and Buck were alone. They decided to celebrate with breakfast at the restaurant.

Celinda glanced at Buck as they headed out of town. “Do you think Mr. Hanson suspects anything?” she asked.

Buck arched an eyebrow at her, surprised that she would even ask the question. “Suspects? He KNOWS.”

Celinda sighed. She felt like she should be more upset about that, but she was so relieved to see Jimmy awake, nothing else really mattered. Still, when Buck started laughing to himself, she gave him a sober look.

“I don't think it's very funny.”

“I'm sure it was from where Hanson stood.” Celinda found herself laughing too.

“Want to get into some trouble when we get home?” Celinda suggested, grinning wickedly. Buck replied with a kiss.

As they got closer to the restaurant Buck gave her a sideways glance. “Think we could skip breakfast?”

Chapter 14.

Jimmy’s state slowly improved as time passed. He slept for most of the time and when he was awake, he wasn’t one for conversation. Both Celinda and Buck were there every day, but Jimmy just laid there staring at the ceiling. James, it seemed, was the only one who could get his uncle to smile.

Baker was worried about Jimmy. He knew that the man would make it, but there was something deep within that wouldn’t let go. Buck was thinking about the dream. Was that what was bothering Jimmy?

“Jimmy,” Baker said. “The Sheriff is here to take your statement about what happened. You feel up to it?”

“Guess so,” Jimmy muttered as the sheriff entered. Quickly, Jimmy hid Ear under the covers as it would be the talk of the century if it ever got out that he had a stuffed animal.

“Heard you just about used up your luck,” Sheriff Corbin said as he sat down in the chair next to Jimmy’s bed.

“So I’ve been told.” Jimmy stared up at the ceiling. He didn’t really feel like talking to anyone right now. “Guess you want to hear what went down?”

“That’s why I’m here,” Corbin smiled.

“We were at the saloon and this drunk started talking to Clint about how they served Indians. I didn’t want none of it so Buck and I scared him off. On our way home we ran into him. He recognized me as Wild Bill. He was so drunk so I turned to leave. Then there was pain and blackness.” Jimmy was exhausted from talking and took a few deep breaths to calm down. “What happened after that?”

“Buck shot Charlie and helped you here. From what I hear, if Buck hadn’t tried to stop the bleeding you’d be dead.”

“I’ll remember to thank him,” Jimmy said sarcastically, venom in his eyes.

“Why don’t you try and catch some sleep,” Corbin said as he left the room.

It had been a long day. Jimmy had been awake for most of it, which was a good sign, but Celinda felt like she had to stay with him, talking, and at least today, he seemed to enjoy it. She knew he had to be bored out of his mind lying in that bed all day. He'd fallen asleep about an hour ago. It was seven o'clock and Celinda, Buck and the Martins were just finishing dinner.

“Celinda, honey, why don't you just stay here tonight. James is already asleep.” Mrs. Martin pointed out.

“I don't want to trouble you.” She smiled.

“No trouble,” Mr. Martin assured her. “You're just going to be back here in the morning. Don't wake him, you should just stay.”

Celinda looked over at Buck, who sat across the table from her. She searched his face for a sign about what she should do. What the Martin's suggested was the logical, practical solution, but she still hesitated with an answer.

“It's settled then.” Mrs. Martin declared in her sweetly officious manner. “I'll make up the guest room for you.”

Celina smiled weakly.

“You could stay too, Buck,” Mr. Martin offered. “That couch ain't bad. 'Course, it's been awhile since I slept there.” Martin winked at his wife.

“Tom!” Mrs. Martin scolded.

Buck chuckled. “Thanks, but I need to get back to the farm and tend to things there.” He looked at Celinda. “You should stay.” He told her. “No sense in you coming home. It's late.”

Celinda sighed. She couldn't admit out loud that the main reason for wanting to go home was that she felt strange spending a night apart from Buck.

Once dinner was finished, Celinda started to help clear the dishes, but Mrs. Martin shooed her away. “Just sit down and relax for a minute. You haven't had much time to yourself today.”

When she sat down in the parlor, Celinda suddenly felt exhausted. The daily routine of spending her days with Jimmy and trying to keep James entertained in the doctor's office or letting friends keep him, was beginning to wear on her. She prayed for Jimmy's sake, as well as her own, that he'd be able to come home soon.

Thirty minutes later, Buck had run out of reasons to stay. He knew that Celinda needed some rest, and he still had to get back to the farm.

“Thank you for dinner. It was delicious.” He smiled at Mrs. Martin, who gave him a hug.

“Any time dear. It's nice having someone else to cook for.” Mrs. Martin glanced at Celinda, who was watching Buck.

“Tom, can you help me with something in the guest room please?”

“Hmm? I thought you had everything done. I was gonna walk Buck out...”

“Tom...” After twenty years together, Mr. Martin knew better than to argue with that particular tone. “Guess I'll see you in the morning,” he said to Buck as he followed his wife out of the room.

Celinda and Buck walked to the door in silence. Buck was strangely unsettled at the thought of leaving Celinda alone for the night. When he looked down at her, she had tears in her eyes.

“What is it?” he asked softly, turning her face up to his.

“It's just been a long day.” Celinda took a shuddering breath and wished that Buck would take her in his arms. She wasn't disappointed. He pulled her close and gave her a tight hug.

“You need some rest.” He told her, rubbing her back gently. “Try to get some sleep and I'll see you in the morning.”

“Will you be alright?” she asked, looking up at him. As soon as she said it she realized it was a ridiculous question. She was sure Buck could handle himself in most situations.

“I'll be fine. I won't like being alone though.” He smiled at her and she seemed to search his eyes for something. He felt her gaze clear through to his soul.

“It seems strange doesn't it?”

Buck nodded, knowing exactly what she was referring to. He leaned his head down until their foreheads touched. They stayed like that for a moment, and then Buck gave Celinda a feather-soft kiss. As he pulled away, she put her arms around his neck and gave him another hug.

“I'd better go.” Buck finally said.

Celinda nodded silently. He gave her one last smile as he closed the front door behind him.

When she crawled into the featherbed and propped herself up on the pillows, Celinda was suddenly very glad that she'd decided to stay at the Martins. She knew Buck was still riding home, and felt a bit guilty for being in a comfortable bed already.

There was a knock at the door, and Mrs. Martin peeked inside.

“If you need anything dear, just let me know.”

Celinda smiled at the kindly woman who had taken such good care of her and James the past few weeks.

“Thank you so much for letting me stay Mrs. Martin.”

“I wish Buck could have stayed too,” she said. “I'm sure he must be worn out, taking care of the farm himself.”

“I don't know where we'd be without him,” Celinda said, as much to herself as to her hostess.

“Such a hard worker, and so handsome too.” When Celinda blushed, Mrs. Martin laughed. “Don't be embarrassed Celinda. There's nothing wrong with noticing. And he certainly has an eye for you.”

Celinda's head jerked up in surprise at that comment, but before she could reply, Mrs. Martin said goodnight and shut the door.

Buck had gotten back to the farm in the dark. He cooled down the horses, checked on the rest of the stock, and in about 40 minutes had finished the rest of the evening chores.

After the busy day they'd had, he should have been asleep the minute his head hit the pillow. Instead, he found himself wide-awake.

All the nights that a baby's cry had shattered the silence of the house in the middle of the night, or that Jimmy's tossing and turning had driven him crazy, now things were too quiet. Buck felt lonely in the house by himself. He realized that he had not felt lonely in a long time, and that was because of Celinda; especially since Jimmy had been hurt they had spent a good part of every day together. They worked well together, and even if they had nothing to say to each other, they were comfortable in silence. He loved her fiery temper and the way she could silence Jimmy with just a look. She was a strong woman with a loving heart and, he thought to himself, beautiful brown eyes. Perhaps without realizing it, she had claimed his heart. He had no idea what to do about it, but he couldn't deny it any longer.

Finally, Buck got up from his bed and went into Celinda's bedroom, to the bed that they had shared for the past weeks. It felt strange to be there alone. At last, Buck fell asleep, though it wasn’t a good sleep.

Two months had passed since Jimmy had woken up and the day arrived when it was time for Jimmy to head home to the farm. Buck and Celinda took deep breaths as they stood before the door to Doc’s office. They knew that when Jimmy got home they would no longer be able to share the same bed. After their third encounter they hadn’t physically been together, they just needed to be near each other. They needed each other’s strength. That was over now because it wasn’t proper. They hadn’t decided that they would now sleep separate; both just knew that this is the way things were to be done.

The drive home was slow and bumpy. Buck stopped the wagon several times so that Jimmy could rest. Once home, Buck and Celinda helped him to his bed and soon Jimmy was asleep from exhaustion.

It was night when Jimmy woke up. Buck lay snoring in his own bed and James wasn’t far behind only his snores were softer and cuter. One could almost believe that they were father and son. Mentally, Jimmy shook his head. There was a glass of water placed on a chair by his bed. He didn’t have a bedside table so that made sense. Jimmy reached for the glass and grinded his teeth in pain as his shoulder protested. Giving up on the water, Jimmy stared up at the ceiling and started thinking.

He had gotten so used to Doc Baker’s it was strange to be home. Jimmy had a feeling that everybody in his express family would have rushed to Seneca at the news that he was shot, but because of the war, that damned war, his family had been torn apart. Lou and Kid had gotten married and left for Virginia. Teaspoon had gone back to Texas. He had no idea what Noah was up to, but Jimmy hoped that the man had sense enough to stay away from the fighting. Rachel was still the school teacher in Rock Creek. Jimmy was glad to have Buck here with him. At least he was certain that one person in his family was all right. He had the snoring to prove it.

Chapter 15.

Celinda smiled as she sat outside enjoying the last bit of sun. Again Jimmy had promptly told her to stop acting like his mother. And again Celinda had said that she was his older sister and she loved him and acting like their mother came with the job description. There was something that wasn’t right with Jimmy, but Celinda couldn’t put her finger on it. For most of the day, Jimmy was awake but he never ever smiled.

It had been a month and Jimmy wasn’t really happy to be judged well enough to be out of bed. Though he didn’t like it, it was nice having Celinda mother him and be there for his every need. Why, he hadn’t even thanked her. He felt like such a fool. He had had the dream a few more times, but he had made sure that he didn’t scream like last time. Screaming had only caused him trouble. He had spent a lot of time watching as the air coming from the open window made the feathers in the dreamcatcher move with the movements of the air. Eagle feather for courage and owl feather for wisdom.

Reluctantly, Jimmy had agreed to come with Buck to town for supplies. If he had a choice he’d rather be in bed, watching the dreamcatcher. It seemed to be the only thing that kept his mind off the ever present pain in his back and in his heart.

“Bet it feels good to be out of that bed?” Buck asked, trying to start a conversation as the drive to town had been eerily silent.

“Guess so.” Jimmy forced a little smile on his face. “Buck, I need to talk to Hanson, Why don’t you just begin shopping and I’ll come back soon.”

“Sure,” Buck replied as they went in their separate directions.

A paranoid Jimmy looked all about as he walked down the street. Before he really knew what had happened he was sitting in the “finer” saloon with half and empty whiskey bottle in hand.

“Ain’t that Jimmy Hickok? William Hickok’s kid?” One of the patrons asked the barkeep.

“The one and only,” the barkeep answered and went back to cleaning glasses and ogling the girls.

“Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” the patron said to himself as he looked at Jimmy through the corner of his eyes.

Jimmy slammed the bottle on the table and walked over to the guy in question. “Take it back!”

“Take what back?” the patron laughed sarcastically. “The fact that you’re a no good Injun-loving drunk?”

“Take back what you said about my father and what you said about Buck.” Jimmy demanded.

“Oh, a little touchy, are we,” the drunk said.

“Just take it back and no one will get hurt,” Jimmy ground out through clenched teeth.

Discreetly, the barkeep nodded to one of the bouncers to get Jimmy out of there.

“Take what back?” the drunk asked. “That your just like you’re father? Well, if you ask me the truth needed to be told. Well, there is one difference between you and that father of yours; he loved coloreds, you love Injuns.” The drunk smiled, knowing that he had hit a nerve.

Buck wondered what had taken Jimmy so long. The possibility that Hanson had dragged Jimmy into testing some crazy thingamajig wasn’t unlikely. Wandering down the street towards Hanson’s store, Buck saw Jimmy being thrown out of one of the saloons. Buck ran down the street and was just in time to stop Jimmy from entering the saloon again.

“What the hell are you doing?” Buck screamed as he held Jimmy back from reentering with all his might.

“Let go of me! Let go of me!”

“Jimmy, let’s go home. Whoever you’re mad at, it’s not worth it.” Buck strained every muscle in his body to keep Jimmy back from entering the saloon.

“Buck. Let go of me or I swear to God that I will shoot you dead!” Jimmy muttered through clenched teeth. Then all went black as Buck knocked him out with one blow to the head.

As Buck stopped the wagon in front of the house Jimmy began to stir. “What the hell did you do that for?” he asked as he sat up, rubbing the back of his head. He looked at Buck with venom.

“You’re drunk and about to start a whole heap of trouble,” Buck explained as Celinda came out to greet them.

“I ain’t drunk and I wasn’t about to “start a whole heap of trouble” if that’s what you think,” Jimmy spat. “There are some things that aren’t your business and don’t concern you no matter what you think. No dreamcatcher or hooky Indian stuff will take my nightmares away.”

“What are you talking about?” Celinda asked as she put a hand on her brother’s arm. She noticed his swollen jaw and could smell the alcohol from where she stood. “What happened? Are you alright?”

“Just GREAT!” Jimmy answered sarcastically. He hopped out of the back of the buckboard and almost fell as he hit the ground. Then he started walking unsteadily toward the house.

Celinda stood perplexed at what was happening before her. She could smell the alcohol on Jimmy’s breath and the way he acted was strange. True, one could never know when it came to Jimmy, but this was extreme even for him.

“You’re drunk!” she exclaimed.

Jimmy turned around and gave her a big smile, still walking backwards. “Congratulations! You got it right on the first try!”

“Who hit you?” she asked, trying to catch up with him.

“Our good friend Buck Cross here.” Jimmy shot Buck an angry glance. “He knocked me out cold…and after all I’ve done for him.” Jimmy shook his head in mock disappointment. “Ain’t that a fine way to say thank you!”

Celinda looked back and forth between the two men, now thoroughly confused.

“You would’ve gotten yourself killed Jimmy.” Buck spoke evenly, trying to keep his voice calm.

Jimmy looked at him from the porch, his eyes red and watery. “Well, maybe that would’ve been the best thing for everybody. You don’t need me anyhow!” He threw open the front door and stomped into the house

“Jimmy...wait!” Celinda called after him. She wondered how long till James would wake.

“I mean, Buck paid off our debts and got everything up and running, and it looks like you took care of everything just fine while I was laid up.”

Celinda stood in shook at the tone Jimmy was using. So full of hate and venom. “Jimmy, Buck came here to help and that’s exactly what he’s done.”

“Help?!?” Jimmy looked at Celinda in disbelief. Then he smiled ironically at the unreadable look on Buck’s face. “With me getting shot I ain’t good for nothing!” His eyes narrowing to focus on Buck, Jimmy continued. “With me out of the way you could take over the farm, raise my nephew as you own and have my sister all to yourself.” Upon seeing the look on Buck’s face Jimmy laughed loudly. “That is what you want, Buck? Ain’t it?”

“Jimmy, shut up!” Buck spoke in a calm tone, as though he was talking to a frightened animal. “You’re talking crazy.”

“I know I ain’t talking crazy,” Jimmy countered. “I can see it in your eyes. I’m telling the truth. I think that with me out of the way, dead or otherwise, life on this farm will suit you like a hand in glove. Run this here farm during the day and dance with my sister at night.” When Jimmy saw Buck’s jaw clench and his face harden, Jimmy laughed again. “Thinking about her keeps you up half the night...or ain’t you told her that yet?”

It only took Celinda a quick glance at Buck to know that her brother was telling the truth. She looked away her face turning crimson.

“I said shut up!” Buck started for Jimmy but Jimmy met him halfway.

“Go ahead Buck!” Jimmy dared. “Hit me again. Show Celinda that you’re tough and put me out of my misery.” The last part came out as a plea.

At that moment James wailed from the nursery where he had been napping. Buck cursed under his breath as he took the opportunity to get away from the situation before he did something that he was going to regret.

“Ain’t nothing to be ashamed of Buck!” Jimmy called after him. “Hell, I wish I had that kind of excuse for not sleepin’!”

Celinda was at a loss. She had never seen her brother like this. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked him, as she knew that there was more than just the alcohol speaking.

“You don’t wanna know what’s wrong with me. Believe me Celinda, you don’t want to know.” Jimmy’s voice was different now...exhausted.

“Yes, I do want to know. Because I love you and you’re scaring me.”

“Celinda, you have no idea how lucky you are that you don’t know the truth.” Jimmy walked over to the fireplace mantle and picked up a small figurine of a unicorn that had belonged to his mother.

“Not knowing what? I don’t understand.” Celinda took a step towards Jimmy.

Buck stood silent and watched the exchange. He knew that it wasn’t his place to butt in.

Jimmy picked up the framed picture that stood next to the unicorn. The motif was his sisters and him with their father. He stood behind them, all powerful and protecting, but Jimmy knew better. The picture was taken a few weeks before was killed. It had been a few weeks after their mother’s funeral and William had insisted that they’d take a family portrait. Studying it for a while, Jimmy put it back with great care.

“You wanna know?!? You really want to know?!? What’s in here...” Jimmy pointed to his head and looked at her in astonishment.

Celinda nodded mutely.

“You want to know what our father was really like? William Alonzo Hickok…such a good man. He helped so many people, total strangers, find their way to freedom. I wonder what those people would’ve thought of him if they knew he was a drunk that beat his wife and son!”

Once he said the words out loud, Jimmy let out a great sigh, as though he’d been holding his breath for a long time. Celinda stood in front of him, her eyes wide with shock. Jimmy continued, not giving her a chance to say anything.

“The first time I saw him hit her, I must’ve been about five…I tried to stop him, but what could I do? I was only five. He was a grown man…he just pushed me away.” Jimmy was staring straight ahead, not really focusing on anything, as his mind took him back to that memory. “I remember he left right after and Ma cried for a long time. After that I just tried to stay out of his way. But no matter what I did, it wasn’t good enough. I used to do my chores, and Lydia’s and yours too, and I tried to do ‘em perfect, so he wouldn’t get mad…he’d come home from his meetings and he’d get me up outta bed and make me do ‘em again. After awhile I just gave up. I figured I was gettin’ the hell beat out of me anyway, I might as well do somethin’ to deserve it.”

Looking at the mantle, with one graceful movement he slammed the picture of his family – his father, Celinda, Lydia and himself – down on the floor and stepped on it as he muttered curses. Once the picture was completely destroyed, Jimmy seemed to calm down.

Celinda still stood in front of him, her face white as a sheet. “I didn’t know….” She began as she put a hand on his arm. Jimmy’s muscles tensed at the touch.

“Remember that time I broke my arm, Celinda? I didn’t fall down from the hayloft. I was trying to protect Ma and he pushed me away. After he had calmed down he took me to the doctor. When we got home he beat me for breaking my arm and then he beat Ma again because she should have taken care of me and make sure that I didn't get hurt.” Jimmy’s face seemed to crumble then, and his eyes filled up with tears. “I tried so hard to help her…but it was all my fault!”

Buck watched his friend and he felt like he was going to be sick. He’d suffered a lot at the hands of the Kiowa, but never from a member of his own family. Even his stepfather treated him like his own son. James, who had been sleeping was now screaming loudly at the tension in the room.

Jimmy ran a hand over his face, and Buck saw he was shaking with the effort of trying to control his emotions.

“You wanna know the worst part?” Jimmy smiled mirthlessly at both of them. “Everybody was always so worried about somethin’ happenin’ to him…worried that he’d be killed fightin’ for ‘The Cause’. I used to pray every night that somebody would kill him, cause I wasn’t old enough to do it myself!” He looked from Celinda to Buck, waiting to see their reaction at his confession. “That day when I saw him killed was the best day of my life. Now, what kind of son does that make me?” Jimmy asked, in a tone full of self-loathing.

“I’m so sorry…” Celinda whispered. Her voice was barely audible.

“Jimmy, why don’t we sit down now?” Buck sat James down on the floor, and stepped forward, intending to lead Jimmy over to the settee. Celinda stood by her brother, tears streaming down her face.

“Jimmy, I didn’t know...” she said, her voice quivering, “if I had…”

Jimmy turned on her, his eyes now blazing with anger. “How could you not know Celinda? We lived in the same house for God’s sake! Didn’t you hear her crying at night?” Jimmy demanded, his voice way over normal speech level.

“Yes but, I thought they just quarreled…I didn’t know he…” Celinda bit her lip, unable to finish the sentence.

“He HURT her…over and over! But you were his favorite weren’t you? You always had everything you needed; maybe you just didn’t want to mess it up for yourself!”

“Jimmy!” Buck spoke up, trying to stop him from saying anything else. He knew it wasn’t his place to interfere, but he wasn’t going to stand by and see Jimmy hurt Celinda.

Celinda had backed up against the wall next to the mantle and Jimmy, who was almost a head taller than his sister, stood over her. Both of them were crying now.

“WHY DIDN’T YOU HELP ME?” Jimmy screamed at her through his tears. “Why?” Jimmy grabbed her arm to shake her, but Buck pushed him back

“STOP! That’s enough Jimmy! Look at what you’re doing!”

Jimmy looked at Buck and his eyes finally focused. As the haze of emotion in his head cleared, he looked at the scene before him. There was broken glass and china on the floor, his sister was sobbing in a corner, and his nephew, who looked scared to death, pulled at her skirt to be picked up and comforted. It was like a scene from his own childhood.

“I’m sorry…” Jimmy choked back a sob, and then ran out of the house, leaving the door wide open. Running towards the barn, Jimmy knew that he couldn’t stay at the farm any longer. Stumbling in the mud created by the morning’s rain, Jimmy fell. He didn’t get up – he just laid there in the mud completely helpless.

Buck picked up James and then put an arm around Celinda. She fell against him and buried her face in his shirt. “It’s alright,” he assured her in a soft calm voice. “Come on and sit down. It’s gonna be alright.” After a moment Celinda took a deep shuddering breath and sat up, taking her son from Buck. He insisted on sitting between the two adults as they talked, leaning his head first on one, then the other.

“You’d better go check on him.” She looked up at Buck, and tried to smile, to assure him that she was all right.

“I don’t want to leave you.” He told her, wiping the tears from her face with his hand. Celinda covered his hand with hers, and drew strength from his presence. “I think Jimmy needs you more than I do. Just go make sure he’s alright, please?”

Celinda slowly walked out the door, wondering what to expect. As she saw Jimmy lying in the mud, completely motionless, she ran over to him and gathered him in her arms as if he were a child.

“I’m so sorry,” Jimmy muttered through his tears and the fabrics of his sister’s dress as she buried his face on her shoulder.

“Don’t be,” Celinda soothed as she rubbed his back gently. “None of this was your fault.”

“I’ll leave if you want me to,” Jimmy said softly.

“You’ll do no such thing,” Celinda scolded. She held him close for about half an hour before she urged him to stand up. “Let's get you cleaned up.” she said, as though she were talking to her ten month old son instead of her twenty year old brother.

Jimmy smiled weakly and allowed her to lead him back toward the house.

After he had washed up and gotten a change of clothes, all Jimmy wanted to do was take a long nap. His head and back throbbed and he felt like he barely had the energy to hold it up. Celinda suggested that he go to the spare room instead of the baby's room, that way he could sleep a little more comfortably and not be disturbed. She promised to fix him something to eat as soon as he'd had some rest.

As he started for the back room, Buck came in from outside with James. He had taken him outside to play for awhile to give Jimmy and Celinda some time to themselves.

“Immy,” James called as soon as he saw his uncle. “Immy.”

Buck sighed with relief when he saw Jimmy looking a little more like himself. He hadn’t heard any sobbing since he'd gone outside, so he guessed things were as good as they could be under the circumstances.

“Hey, Jimmy. Somebody wanted to see you,” Buck smiled.

“IMMY!” James squealed again. James reached out and touched Jimmy's cheek with his chubby hand, and Jimmy felt tears in his eyes.

Carefully, as if holding him for the first time, Jimmy took his nephew and hugged him close. “I’m so sorry. I'll never do anything like that ever again. I promise. I love your mamma, and I love you too."

James, oblivious to Jimmy’s apologies, smacked a big sloppy kiss on Jimmy’s cheek. Jimmy smiled and hugged his nephew again. “Now, I’m gonna take a nap and you be good to your mamma,” Jimmy said, the features of a smile forming on his face as he was about to hand over James to his mother, but James clung to his uncle’s neck. Jimmy smiled as he walked into the spare room. A couple of minutes later Celinda and Buck walked in to check on the two who were both asleep. Celinda kissed both of her boys and made a quiet exit.

Chapter 16.

Celinda lay awake and listened to the thunder and watched as the lightning flashed. She liked the sounds and the light of a good storm. Sure, it wasn't good for farming, but the sounds of a storm had a calming effect on her. She thought about Jimmy and what he had told her today. Now she knew the reason why her mother tried to keep her away from the farm, letting her stay with friends after school and sometimes spend the night with them. She was protecting her from her father's wrath. Celinda found it odd that she hadn't done the same with Jimmy. But Jimmy never really had any friends. He had always been a bit of a lone wolf. She used to tease him about that he was always thinking too much. If she had even the faintest idea what was going through her little brother's head at such a young age, she would never have teased him like that. She remembered that Jimmy's responses usually consisted of sticking his tongue out and making some sarcastic comment.

Buck and Celinda sat up talking. They had decided that they would both pay extra attention to Jimmy until they were both completely sure that he would be alright. Buck had commented that they should try and hide their plan of mothering as much as possible, because Jimmy wouldn't like that they over-cared for him. That was the way he had put it; ‘over-cared’. Celinda liked how Buck sometimes made words up. It made her smile. He said he did that because sometimes he didn't always know the English word for something so he just made one up. He and Ike had done the same thing with sign, whenever there wasn't a sign for an English word, they made one up. Celinda fondly remembered the slight smile on Buck's lips as she told him that story. Her mind went back to her brother and she thought about how painful it must have been for him to carry the secret alone for so long. But he wasn't alone any more.

It was night when Jimmy woke up again. A flash of lightning was followed by the sound of thunder. Jimmy pulled his covers more tightly over him and wished that he wasn't alone. Though he wouldn't admit to it, he hated storms. They were scary because he couldn't control them. As lightning flashed over the sky, Jimmy, with sort of a determination in his eye, wrapped the blanket around him and walked to Celinda's room. "Celinda, is it alright if I sleep in here tonight?" he asked, hoping that she wouldn't say no.

"Of course little brother," Celinda smiled as she made room for him on the bed. She noted that her brother was kind of cute all wrapped in a blanked and disheveled hair. Jimmy crawled in and leaned his head on his sister's shoulder. Celinda gently stroked Jimmy's hair and made a mental note that she was going to try and persuade him to get a haircut...or at least teach him how to use soap. But not tonight. As lightning and thunder appeared almost at once, Jimmy crawled closer to Celinda. "Shh, you're not alone," she soothed as she continued to stroke his hair.

Buck woke up, not at the thunder, but from James' loud and very unhappy wail. Picking the boy up, Buck rocked him gently as he sang the Kiowa lullaby that James had grown to like.

"Mamma!" James wailed. "MAMMA!"

As Buck opened the door to Celinda's room a slight smile came upon his lips. Jimmy seemed to be doing a bit better. "He wants his mamma," Buck explained as he handed James to Celinda.

"How are you feeling?" Buck asked Jimmy as Celinda cared for James.

"A bit better, I think." Jimmy replied with a weak smile as he gently stroked his nephew's head, trying to calm the baby down.

"IMMY!" James chimed over the thunder. Jimmy took the boy from his mother and held him against his chest.

"The storm will calm down soon," Jimmy soothed, as his nephew cried.

Buck smiled at the scene in front of him. This is family, he thought as he settled back on a pillow and thought about nothing in particular. He sat there with his knees drawn up under him; sitting vigil over his family. Today's events, though rooted in a bad thing would end up knotting then tighter together as a family. Soon he was asleep, the slight traces of a smile evident on his face.

The storm raged through the night like wildfire as they sat in the same bed comforting each other. They had contained their laughter when they discovered that Buck was soundly asleep, his snores nearly drowned by the rain. He slumped down to a prone position and Celinda tucked a blanket around him.

After a storm there was a strange kind of serenity to nature. It seemed like Mother Earth played dead possum as Father Sky raged. And once the storm was over, Mother Earth and everything she contained came to life again. The grass gave a special smell that only comes after a good storm and all the animals and plants came out from hiding.

Dawn had just arrived when Mr. and Mrs. Martin and Hanson arrived at the small farm in which a small family resided. Hanson was silent, thinking about Jimmy and why he had reacted the way he had the previous day. He did have a gut feeling about the real William Alonzo Hickok, but he wasn’t in a position to say anything.

“It’s awfully quiet around here,” Mrs. Martin noted, as her husband helped her down from the wagon.

“Well, it’s still early,” Hanson replied, but he found himself in agreement with Mrs. Martin. It was too quiet. Looking inside he couldn’t see anyone. He did hear the sound of snoring. Walking towards the source of the snore, Hanson opened the door to Celinda’s room and found Buck, Celinda, James and Jimmy all asleep. As Mr. and Mrs. Martin entered the house Hanson put a finger to his lips to hush them down.

Celinda awoke to the sound of bacon in a frying pan. Looking around there were three other people in the bed and the bacon couldn’t be frying itself. There was someone in the house, that didn’t live there. “Buck. Wake up,” she called and pushed the snoring body next to her gently.

“Huh?” Buck replied groggily as he rolled around and saw Celinda. “I think I fell asleep,” he muttered. “Is something wrong?”

“There is someone in the house that is frying bacon and since it’s none of us who is it?” Celinda explained in a whisper.

“Will you two lovebirds try and keep it down. A body can’t sleep in here,” Jimmy muttered as he rolled over and drew the blanket over his shoulders. Both Celinda and Buck turned a dark shade of crimson as Jimmy had more or less confirmed that he knew what had been going on between them while he had been laid up.

“You are not moving a muscle until you’ve got some food in ya.” The habitants of the bed all turned to look at Mrs. Martin who was holding a spatula. Jimmy winched in pain as he turned too quickly. “And Jimmy, I thought the good Doctor told you to take it easy on that shoulder? You don’t want to disobey him do you? When Sally, you had a crush on her I seem to recall, when she broke her leg trying to use an umb