In the late afternoon, Sarah saw Buck ride in, so with a smile, she
greeted him.
“Where is your shadow?” Buck asked her as he greeted her with a hug.
“He is in a council meeting. I think they’re discussing the fact that
the soldiers are doing more patrolling, and they can’t decide what to
do about it. Melissa was here earlier.”
“I’m heading there after I water my horse and make sure that you’re
doin’ alright. Are you?” He asked taking his horses reins and leading
him to the creek to drink his fill.
“I’m alright. Two Eagles is making sure that I get everything I need.
He keeps bringing food to Red Cloud, so she’s already to have us cross
over the marriage stick,” she laughed.
“That’s going to happen?” He asked, surprised that she’d made the
decision without talking it over with him.
“Get that look off your face! No, I have not made the decision yet.
I’ve told him that I’ll make my decision after the baby is born. I
don’t know how I will feel by then, so it wouldn’t be fair to him.”
“I think that he loves you.”
“I think that he does too. His actions say that. I keep asking myself
can he be for real, but he is. There are not too many braves like Two
Eagles…except maybe for Buck Cross,” she told him as she giggled and
kissed his cheek.
“In our next lives, maybe you and I will get back together.”
“I don’t want another life after this one. It’s wearing me out!”
“I agree with that. Is there anything I can get for you? Anything I can
bring the next time I’m through here?”
“You can bring Melissa, and you can stay longer. How’s that?”
Buck got his crooked smile. “I think I can do that.”
He started to get on his horse and a wave of coldness flew through
Sarah. She shuddered. He noticed it and turned quickly to her. “Are you
alright?”
“Yes, I don’t know what that was...that...it’s you. You’re going right
back to Rock Creek, aren’t you?”
“No, first I have to go by the stage stop and drop off a letter to
Steve. Then I’m headin’ back. I’ll be okay,” he assured her. “I’ve made
that run so many times I could do it in my sleep.”
Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling though.
“Promise me that you’ll be careful, Buck. I love you, and I’m so
grateful for all that you’ve done for me. I couldn’t get through this
life without my kindred spirit.”
“And neither could I. I love you too, you silly Sky Dancing. I’ll stay
longer next time,” he told her as he gave her a tight hug and kissed
the top of her head.
“Give Melissa my love,” she told him as he mounted his horse.
“I will. Take good care of your child, and tell Two Eagles that the
next time I come with Melissa, we’ll all go for a ride.”
“I’ll tell him. Ride safe Buck.”
She watched him until she couldn’t see him anymore, sending a prayer
after him for protection by the spirits.
Jimmy handed his folded note to Melissa as she stood on the porch.
“I guess I’ll head into Rock Creek. You comin’?”
“No, I need to stay here a while longer in case Buck comes by. You go
on ahead and get all those hugs and welcome backs.”
“You think that’s what I’ll get? Do you think Teaspoon will give me my
job back?”
“He didn’t hire anyone to replace you, so I believe that spot is still
open for you,” she assured him. “You just have to let him know that
you’re back and ready for work.”
He smiled down at her. “Thank you for bein’ my friend, Melissa. I’m
glad that I stopped here first. Thanks for remindin’ me that I’m human
again!”
“Anytime Jimmy!”
“See you later,” he told her with a kiss before he hoisted himself back
on his horse.
She waved him off, then closed the cabin, saddled Panache, and headed
out to the Kiowa village.
Sarah was just helping Red Cloud start the evening meal when Melissa
came flying into the village.
“Why is Summer Wind in such a hurry?” Red Cloud asked her as she jumped
from Panache before he had stopped.
“Can I borrow Sky Dancing for a few minutes? I’ll bring her right
back…promise.”
“Go,” Red Cloud smiled at Sarah. Sarah looked at her curiously as
Melissa motioned for her to get on Panache. She climbed on in back.
“Let’s go to the woods,” Sarah suggested, which Melissa did. She could
feel her friend’s excitement. Once there, they dismounted, and Sarah
turned to her. “What?”
Melissa just smiled and held out the piece of paper to her. “I didn’t
read it.”
Sarah opened it and immediately looked at the signature. “Jimmy!”
She whispered as she felt all the blood leave her head. She had to sit
down or fall down first.
“You alright?” Melissa asked anxiously.
“Yes,” she whispered. “He’s back?”
“Read what he said.”
Sarah turned her attention back to the note. She read aloud…”Dear
Sarah, Melissa said you had been worried about me. I’m back in Rock
Creek and I’m doing fine. She says that you’re doing fine too, and that
you’re seeing someone. I hope that you are happy. Jimmy.”
They sat in silence for a few moments. “What he didn’t say were things
he admitted to me....that he misses you terribly, and that he still
loved you with all his heart. He told me that he wouldn’t write that
stuff to you because he wanted you to stay in Boston.”
“How does he look?”
“Leaner...stronger...older. He had a beard when he rode in. I made him
shave it off. His eyes look cold sometimes. I think it’s gonna take him
a while to get rid of all that happened while he was gone. He’s anxious
to go back to being a rider for the Pony Express.”
“And he doesn’t want to see me?”
“No…he thinks that you’re in Boston. He feels that you should stay
there and keep living your new life.”
“And you told him about Two Eagles?”
“Not who it was…just that you were seeing someone. I was hoping it
would make him jealous.”
“And instead he acted like he acted when I was seeing Cody?”
“Yeah.”
Sarah sighed. “I want to see him so badly.”
“I could get him out here on some pretext. Then he’d have to talk to
you....see you were pregnant....then he’d probably marry you and then
the two of you could have what you want!”
“NO!” she said shaking her head furiously. “I would have what I wanted.
Jimmy wouldn’t have what he wanted. I guess this answers a lot of
questions that I’ve been carrying with me. Maybe I should just stay
here...have the baby…marry Two Eagles. He would be very good to me.”
“Yes, he would, but it isn’t what you want to do.”
“But I have to think of my child. She’s going to need a father. Two
Eagles wouldn’t let anyone judge her. She’d receive a lot of love here.
And I’m not unhappy here. I can live this life.”
“Yeah...you can...just don’t make any hasty decisions, Sarah.”
“I won’t. I’ll give it more thought. Thanks for bringing this to me.
I’ll treasure it. You just missed Buck,” she told her friend. She saw
the frown that went across Melissa’s face. “What?”
She opened her mouth to speak, but then found that she couldn’t. What
was she going to do? Accuse her best friend of trying to take her man
away?
“Try again Melissa. You didn’t do a good job that time,” Sarah gently
encouraged.
Melissa took a shaky breath.
“Red Bear told me that when Buck comes and spends the night here, he
shares your sleeping fur. He told me that he didn’t when I asked him.”
“Oh, I suppose Red Bear is confused?” Melissa nodded, so Sarah went on.
“Yes, he shares my fur with me, but that’s all we share. He feels my
belly because he likes to follow the baby moving, but I always have my
clothes on. Buck was very confused for a while after I came here. I was
very lost after I arrived here. Buck gave me the strength to live
through each day. Buck’s not confused anymore though. He loves you so
much. He’s told me that more than once. I think he just told you a
little white lie because he didn’t want to hurt you. You’ve got to
believe me…nothing happens between us. We just sleep. I’m sorry.”
“When you explain it that way, it all makes perfect sense. I was so mad
at him when I found out,” she laughed.
“Don’t be. There is nothing to be mad about. In fact, the reason he
didn’t stay long this afternoon was because he was in a hurry to get
home to you. He had to go stop by the stage’s first stop to give some
stuff to Steve, and then he was hurrying home to you.”
“He’ll have to wait because I’m going to help you and Red Cloud fix
dinner. But first I have to tell you my news.”
“What’s that?” Sarah asked as she hoisted herself up on the horse.
“I think I’m pregnant. I’m always tired, I’ve missed my time of the
month, and I feel swollen.”
“That definitely sounds like you’re pregnant!” Sarah agreed. “How
do you feel about it?”
“I’m not sure yet. It would certainly make me feel better if Buck would
ask me to marry him.”
“I can understand that. But I have a feeling that it will all work out
for you.”
“You think?”
“Yes, I think, and I’m very happy for you!” She told her as she
hugged her. “Now we can be two pregnant, single women together,
battling the world.”
“Well, let’s go battle!”
Jimmy caused quite a stir when he rode up. Everyone, including Lou’s
brother and sister was sitting on the porch. Lou screamed, “Jimmy!” and
he was immediately surrounded and hugged and kissed by Lou and Rachel.
Emily smiled shyly at him, and he felt completely surrounded by their
love. He actually believed that he had been missed. When he got to
Teaspoon, the older man hugged him close.
“It’s good to have you back, Jimmy. You ready to ride again?”
“I was hopin’ you still wanted me for that,” Jimmy told him with a
smile.
“You’re up tomorrow then son!” He welcomed him back.
“Great!”
“I’ll take care of your horse, but don’t start tellin’ your stories
until I get back!” Kid stated as he slapped his friend’s back.
“I won’t!”
Buck was cantering along the road, looking forward to seeing Melissa
again after being away from her for three days. Life was going well.
Maybe tonight would be a good night to ask her to marry him. Things
were settled with Sarah. She would probably stay on in the village
after the baby came. Hopefully by then, Two Eagles would have persuaded
her to marry him. They’d have a good union. He knew that Sarah would
always love Jimmy, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t have a good
marriage with someone she considered a good friend of hers. His mind
was on Melissa, so that he didn’t hear the birds scatter in the grove
of trees ahead. He was completely surprised when a group of outlaws
surrounded him, guns drawn.
“What’s that you carryin’ in that pouch, boy?” what could only be the
leader of the gang asked.
“I ride for the Pony Express. It’s only mail.”
“Hand it over.”
“I cain’t do that,” he explained, as all of his senses became
heightened. His mind was working over time looking for a hole of
escape. Outwardly, he appeared very calm.
Guns were cocked. “Hand it over, half-breed!” he said again.
Instantaneously, Buck dropped in his saddle, kicked his horse, and
bolted off, while he drew his gun and fired behind him. He got the drop
on them with his surprise move, but they were soon in quick pursuit,
guns blazing after him. He knew the odds were against him. His horse
wasn’t fresh, and he still had about two miles to go. He turned and
fired again. One fell off his horse, good, now only three were
following him. He fired again, another fell off. Maybe he’d get out of
this yet. As that thought went across his mind, he remembered Sarah’s
premonition before he left the village. And before he could think
anything else, he felt the blaze of fire go through him. The shock of
it made him drop his gun. Some instinct within him made him hold on to
his horse. He had to get to the station or he would be killed. He knew
that in some part of his mind. He held on for dear life, hoping his
horse would sense the urgency of getting him home.
“Rider comin’!” Teaspoon yelled.
“It should be Buck. We don’t have nothin’ goin’ out,” Rachel told him
as they all stood up. Jimmy was most anxious to see his old friend
again. But something wasn’t right….he could feel it.
The horse stopped a few feet shy of them, and Buck rolled out of his
saddle, falling on the ground.
“Oh my God!” Lou cried as she was the first to get to him. He’s been
shot!”
“And it’s bad! Kid...go get doc…Ike…Jimmy…help me carry him into the
house!” Rachel ordered.
Ike’s heart was breaking as he helped to carry his best friend into the
house. He didn’t look good, and he was bleeding profusely from what
looked like two bullet holes. They laid him gently on the bed in
Teaspoon’s room, and Ike could feel tears come to his eyes. He kneeled
down by Buck’s head and brushed the hair out of his face. Buck’s eyes
fluttered. “Ike…Kiowa Village…hurry!” was all that he out before he
passed out again.
“What did he say, Ike?” Jimmy asked.
“Kiowa village,” Ike signed.
“Don’t his brother live there?” Jimmy asked.
“Must be what wants…I go now!” Ike stated, anxious to bring what
Buck had asked him for.
“Melissa should be here! Where is she?” Noah asked.
“The miner’s cabin. I left her there. She was waitin’ for Buck. I’ll go
up and get her,” Jimmy told them as he took off.
Ike had never saddled a horse so quickly. The horse had already started
its gallop as Ike jumped on it. He rode as quickly as he dared in the
twilight, hoping that he could get to Red Bear, hoping Red Bear would
know what to do for Buck so that Buck wouldn’t die. It seemed to take
him forever to get to the village, and he galloped quickly into it,
gathering a lot of attention. At Red Bear’s teepee, he slid off the
horse.
“Ike! Why are you here?” he heard Melissa ask him. Melissa? He turned
to her. He almost fell over when he realized that Sarah was standing
next to her. Was this why Buck had sent him here?
“Buck shot! You have to come! You come too, Sarah! Now! Hurry! It’s
bad!”
“Oh my God!” Melissa stated as she sat down. Sarah immediately took
over. “Red Bear, I’ll ride my pony, Melissa will need one too! I’ll go
get my bag of medicines in case they’ll come in handy. Will you come
too?”
Many things sank into Ike’s brain. One was that Sarah was pregnant and
dressed as an Indian would dress. The second was that she was speaking
the language like a native. The third was that she was obviously
ordering a lesser chief around, and he was letting her.
“Ike...I know that you’re probably very surprised to see me, but I’ll
explain later. Do you think you need a fresh horse to ride back to Rock
Creek?”
“Yes,” he told her, grateful that she would think of it.
Sarah turned and said something to one of the braves, then disappeared
into the teepee. She came back out, carrying a bag with her. She
pulled a silently crying Melissa up, and Red Bear led the way to the
ponies that were being held for them. Sarah saw Two Eagles standing
close by, so she quickly told him why she had to go, and that she hoped
that she would see him soon. They all mounted and left at a full gallop.
Kid had run into Cody in town, so the two of them escorted the doc back
to Rachel’s. They were all made to wait in the living room, while
Rachel helped the doc do what he could to save Buck’s life.
“Did he say what happened?” Cody asked Lou.
“No…all he did was tell Ike to go to the Kiowa Village...we think it
was to get his brother.”
“Where’s Melissa?” Kid asked.
“Jimmy thought that she was still at the cabin. He went to get her.”
“Jimmy’s back?” Cody asked. “Lord...I go to town, once on my own, and
everything happens around here.”
“No...that’s it!” Noah told him.
Jimmy looked around the cabin, but Melissa was no where to be seen.
Maybe she had given up on Buck, and he had missed her on his way out
here. He’d go back to the station and see if she was there. If she
wasn’t, he’d go looking for her.
It seemed to take forever for the doc to come out and when he finally
did Jimmy was coming through the door.
“Well?” all of them seemed to ask at once.
“He is definitely in the hands of the Lord. He’s lost a lot of blood,
and those bullets tore him up inside. He ain’t wakin’ up. You’d better
all say your prayers.”
“Where’s Sarah when we need her?” Cody muttered. “She’s the only one
who knows how to pray to Buck’s spirits!”
Jimmy knew that was true. Why couldn’t she be here?
“I’ll check back in,” the doc stated as he left.
They all heard the sound of numerous sets of horses hoofs come
thundering into the yard outside. Expectantly, they turned to the door
expecting Ike and Red Bear.
“Where is he?” Melissa screamed as she came in.
“Teaspoon’s room,” Rachel told her.
And then Red Bear and Ike came in. They followed Melissa. And lastly,
SARAH came in! She looked around, briefly smiled, and followed the
others. Jimmy’s mouth hit the floor. In that brief second, he’d seen
that she was in Indian dress, and her belly was sticking out!
“Lou! That was Sarah!” Jimmy stated.
“And she’s pregnant!” Kid said softly.
“And she looked like an Indian!” Cody told them.
“We can all see that “Lou told them. She was concerned about Jimmy, who
looked awfully pale. He went slowly to the door of where Buck was and
looked in at the scene that was unfolding. His heart was thudding so
hard, he thought it would leap out of his chest. Sarah was bent over
Buck, looking at his wounds and talking to Melissa. Then she turned to
Red Bear, and spoke to him in his own language. She could speak Kiowa
too? WHAT was going on here? Melissa looked miserable. She kept calling
Buck’s name, but he didn’t respond. Red Bear stood in the corner,
looking very worried.
“I need some water, Rachel. I really wish that White Hair was
here!” Jimmy could hear her mutter. Rachel brought her the water,
and he watched her, mesmerized, as Sarah took the dressings off, placed
some concoction on it that she’d made from plants she took out of her
bag, and then replaced the dressings.
“How does it look?” Red Bear asked her.
“Not very good,” she told him honestly, feeling as if her heart were
breaking as she looked down at this man who was so important to her.
“We need to pray to his spirits. Do you know where his prayer spot is,
Red Bear?”
“Yes, I will go there now and pray. I will be back at first light.”
Sarah nodded her head as he left. Melissa looked at her. “Do you think
it will do any good? Red Bear’s going off to pray, I mean.”
“It helped me.”
“But that was because it was Buck praying for you. You have to pray for
him now, Sarah. He looks so awful,” she cried.
Sarah’s mind was running in so many directions. She was very aware of
the confusion she had created when she had come into the house. She
knew that Jimmy was standing in the doorway watching her every move. To
help Buck she needed to concentrate, but she didn’t think that she was
capable of that right now. She looked at Melissa’s face again. It was
begging her to do something. Concentrate! She ordered herself. She
closed her eyes, and started to push all the externals from her mind
one by one. She took some deep breaths to give her some semblance of
inner calm. She raised her arms over Buck, and repeated some of the
words that he had taught her so long ago. She invoked the spirits to
come to him…to heal his wounds….to restore him to good health. She told
the spirits what a good man Buck was...how he honored the earth and
revered it in all that he did…she told them how generous he had been to
her...how he was another part of her…how difficult it would be to live
without him…how Melissa depended on him. Then she began the chant of
the Earth Mother that Red Bear has taught her as soon as she could
speak and understand Kiowa…...
Jimmy along with the rest of the riders, watched her mesmerized. The
chant was in Kiowa…her movements were graceful…the words coming from
her mouth were somehow peaceful. He could see Melissa’s face relax, and
he said his own prayers to go along with hers. This man must not die.
His eyes kept traveling to her belly. He knew this baby was his, and he
could feel walls that he had built on the road starting to crack apart.
He knew that she wouldn’t sleep with anyone but himself. She must have
been with child before he left her. Had she known? Why hadn’t she told
him?
“Hopefully that will help,” she told Melissa as she reached over to
squeeze her hand.
“That was beautiful, Sarah,” Rachel told her. “What with all those
prayers and the poultice you’ve put on his wounds...well, I’m sure that
it will help him.”
Sarah fished around in her bag. “Can you make a tea from this? I need
to get some of this in him. It should help him too.”
“I’ll go make it right now,” she told Sarah. He couldn’t leave Sarah.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her, but all her attention was focused on
Buck. He didn’t think she even knew that he was sitting there watching
her.
Melissa focused on every breath that Buck would take…in and out…in and
out. He looked so clammy and pale. In and out…in and out. She couldn’t
let go of his hand, she had to keep this connection to him. She watched
as Rachel brought the tea back in and gave it to Sarah. Sarah waited
until it was cooler, then she put it into Buck's mouth in very small
amounts so he wouldn’t choke on it. She was very pleased when she had
gotten the whole cup down him. Now it was time to watch and wait. The
doc came back, and she stepped out of the way. He recognized her, but
didn’t say anything. He also didn’t say anything about the poultices
she had put over the wounds. She thought that he probably figured it
really didn’t matter at this point what they did, that he would die
anyway. After he left, she resumed her position by the bed and tried to
get in touch with Buck’s spirit. Usually it was so easy for her, but
now it seemed so far away, so weak. She didn’t like that. In her mind
she spoke to it, cajoled it to come back and help him fight this battle.
“Sarah! His breathing sounds so funny!” Melissa told her. Sarah
had lost track of how long they had sat there by his bed. Melissa was
right. It was shallow. Sarah felt his forehead. It was warmer than it
should be. She took some more herbs out of her bag and packed those
around his wounds. She pulled into her mind everything that White Hair
had told her. She could feel his spirit getting weaker.
“He wants to leave us, Melissa. You need to get by his ear and tell him
how much you love him and how much you need him. Tell him about the
baby,” she said softly. “He’ll hear you, and hopefully will choose to
come back.”
Melissa did as Sarah told her. Very softly, she told him, “Buck you
have to come back to me. I love you. I need you here with me. We need
to get married. I'm with child...and our child needs you. I love
you...Sarah loves you. You have to come back to us.”
Sarah placed both hands on either side of Buck’s face. She reasoned if
this had worked for her, it would bring him back.
All of this was ringing bells in Jimmy’s head. It was as if he were
watching Buck a few months earlier, when Buck had saved Sarah’s life.
Now it looked as if she were returning the favor. All was hushed in the
living room. Everyone was gathered around the door, watching her,
praying with her to bring Buck back into their lives. Melissa kept
talking in his ear, while it seemed as if Sarah was putting every ounce
of energy that she had in her into Buck. It wasn’t until this moment,
that he came to the realization how much Sarah must love this man…how
much he must love her. Why hadn’t he seen it before?
“Come on Buck,” he heard Cody whisper behind him. Lou had her hand on
Jimmy’s shoulder while Kid had his arm around her. Noah, Ike and Emily
were standing in the door frame, while Rachel and Teaspoon were at the
foot of the bed.
Ike couldn’t stand to watch his friend leave him. He could feel tears
going down his face as Sarah concentrated on Buck. Without being aware
of anything, he broke away from the group, kneeled down next to Sarah,
placed his hands over hers. He focused on Buck, willing him to come
back...to not look so deathly.
Red Bear came in then, saw what was going on, and began a singsong
chant as he continued praying to the spirits. “Call him back, Melissa,
Now!” Sarah ordered and Melissa called to him. Sarah could feel
his spirit coming back in full force to his body...she could tell that
Ike felt it too. They both smiled at each other. “Thank you, Ike,” she
told him softly as she leaned her head on his shoulder. “I couldn’t
have done it without you.”
“Yes…could have,” he told her as he hugged her close and kissed her
cheek. “Glad you back,” Ike laid his cheek against Buck’s cheek...went
over to Melissa, hugged and kissed her. Then went back to Emily. Doc
arrived, and seemed surprised that Buck was still among the living. He
looked him over, felt his cool forehead, looked once again at Sarah and
Red Bear, and smiled.
“Whatever you two are doing, I’m glad you’re on Buck’s side,” and he
left saying he would be by later in the day.
Sarah and Melissa gave him some more tea, and Melissa was relieved that
he really seemed to be breathing easier.
“Sky Dancing, I must go back to my people now. What shall I say to Two
Eagles? He will wonder when you will return.”
“Tell him that I will be with Buck for at least the next few days. I
can’t leave him just yet.”
“I understand. I will come back in two days time, but I think he will
be fine.”
“I do too,” she smiled wearily at him.
“Summer Wind...will you be alright?”
“Yes, Red Bear. Everything is fine now…I think,” she tried to sound
brave.
Jimmy watched as Red Bear went over to Sarah. He was surprised when
Buck’s brother gave her a loving hug. He did the same with Melissa.
Then he left as silently as he had come.
“You two ladies need some rest...especially you, Sarah,” Rachel stated
as she decided that it was time to send these two to bed.
“I’m fine, Rachel. I’ll catch a few winks next to Buck in this chair. I
really can’t leave him.”
Teaspoon went over to his daughter and hugged her closely. “I know that
honey, but you look exhausted. What if I promise to sit right here and
if there is any change at all, I’ll come up and get you. I swear that I
will.”
“I love you Teaspoon, but I have to be here with him...I just have to
be. I know that he’s doin’ better, and I can’t explain it, but I just
can’t leave him.”
“I think you calls that love!” He told her as he bent down and
kissed the top of her head. “Try and get a little sleep.”
“I will.”
“Sarah?” Rachel asked.
“In a minute. I still have one thing that I need to do. I promise I’ll
come out in another ten minutes.”
“Alright. I’ll get a bed ready for you. Come on, Jimmy, I have a
feeling that she and Melissa need to be alone for a few minutes.”
Jimmy was reluctant to leave, but he did as he was asked. Rachel shut
the door behind them.
“He’s going to be okay Melissa. I feel it, and I think that you do too.”
For the first time, Melissa allowed herself to cry. “I thought we were
going to lose him, but you were great Sarah...especially after I
accused you of all sorts of things earlier today...yesterday….”
“You had every right to...really you did. But I was just returning the
favor to him. He kept me alive. I wanted to do the same for him,” she
stated as she leaned over and caressed Buck’s cheek. “I love this guy,
but he’s marrying the right one of us. We both know that. Now before I
go, let’s thank the spirits for letting him hang around for awhile
longer.”
“Say the words slowly so I can say them after you. I want to thank them
too!”
So Sarah told her the words and showed her the gestures, and Melissa
threw her whole self into it. When they were done, Sarah slowly got up.
“I need a bed. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“Jimmy’s out there waiting on you,” was her comment.
“He’s out there...I’m not sure about the waiting on me part.”
Melissa really looked at her friend. “Just as Buck and I are meant to
be together, so are you and Jimmy. He honestly told me that he still
loves you and always will. Somehow you have to find a way to convince
him that he has to marry you.”
“It’s all I want, Melissa.”
“I think that little girl of yours will help you in that. You KNOW how
he is about kids. Now get out of here!”
Sarah walked out of the room expecting a crowd, but saw only Jimmy. He
smiled his half smile at her and opened his arms to her. No...this
couldn’t be happening! But Sarah didn’t hesitate. She walked right into
them, and they were immediately closed around her, holding her tightly
against him.
“Oh baby,” Jimmy murmured into her hair. He had decided at some point
during the long hours that he’d sat in that chair, that he couldn’t
push this lady away anymore. He no longer had the strength to put up
his walls. “Rachel said we could have Lou and Kid’s old room.”
“We?” she asked, looking up at him with a smile.
“Yeah, we...come on!” He told her as he easily picked her up and
carried her up the stairs. He laid her gently on the bed. The covers
had already been folded back. A night dress lay on the chair in the
room, but she didn’t have the energy to put it on. She watched as Jimmy
took off his gun belts, and his boots. Then he lay on the bed next to
her, pulled the covers over them, and pulled her into his arms. Her
back was against his chest. She hardly dared to breathe. Was she really
lying in Jimmy’s arms again?
Jimmy’s hand went to her belly. “This is my baby, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” she yawned suddenly feeling like she wouldn’t be able to keep
her eyes open.
“Go to sleep. We’ll talk later.”
“Okay. Jimmy, I still love you,” she sighed.
“Oh lady…I still love you too,” He told her as he leaned over and
kissed her cheek tenderly.
“I hoped that you did...” she drifted off, and he could tell that she
was sound asleep.
He could feel the baby moving inside of her, and he smiled. He had
helped her create this life, but the smile gave way to a frown. How
could they possibly get married? How? It was probably best not to think
about it. He had new responsibilities now, and he would find a way,
somehow! The baby gave his hand quite a wallop, and he chuckled. He had
a fighter on his hands! And he finally had Sarah back on his arms. She
smelled so good. She’d obviously been living at the Kiowa Village. And
Melissa had told him that she had a man in her life...it obviously had
to be an Indian. Who else could she have met? They had a lot of talking
to do, but right now, he was the man she was with. With any luck, it
would stay that way.
Jimmy pulled her closer to him, kissed her hair, and fell into the
deepest sleep he’d had since he’d left her side in Rock Creek so many
months ago.
Melissa leaned her head down on the bed so that it was against Buck’s
side. She really wanted to crawl in bed with him, but she was afraid
that she would hurt something. Besides, the poultice didn’t smell that
great! She looked at him again, just to reassure herself. She leaned
over and kissed his lips.
“I love you Buck Cross. You’d best wake up later today so I can tell
you that when you can hear me!”
With that, she took his hand in hers, got herself comfortable and
drifted off to sleep.
Two Eagles was waiting for Red Bear when he rode back into the village.
“How is Buck?”
“Sky Dancing and Summer Wind have pulled him through. Sky Dancing said
to tell you she would be staying there for a few days...until Buck is
doing better. She is fine. I will be going back in two days time to see
my brother. You may come with me to see Sky Dancing.”
“I may do that,” Two Eagles told him, as Red Bear continued on his way.
Two Eagles didn’t like the feeling that she was back in her white world
with the people she had been hiding from. What need would she have to
come back to him? He wanted to see her, talk to her, have her reassure
him that she would be back. WHY did he have to fall in love with a
white woman? He went to his pony and headed him towards Rock Creek.
Maybe he would make sure that she was alright.
It hurt to breathe. It felt as if someone was holding a branding iron
to his side. He tried to move, tried to open his eyes...where was he? A
moan escaped from him before he went deeper inside of himself again.
The moan woke her up. “Buck?” she called to him, but he didn’t answer.
He still just lay there. Had she imagined what she’d heard? She stood
slowly and stretched. Melissa felt stiff from sitting in the chair for
the last many hours. What had happened between Jimmy and Sarah? Her
stomach growled, but she didn’t want to leave Buck’s side. She knew
that sooner or later, Rachel would appear and make sure that she had
something to eat.
Jimmy woke, and lay still, savoring the feel of Sarah in his arms. He
didn’t want to, but he knew that he had to get up and go on the run.
He’d promised Teaspoon that he would do it. And maybe it was a good
idea to put some space between him and Sarah today. They both needed
time to think. He’d see her tomorrow morning. Maybe they could talk
then. He kissed her cheek, caressed her hair, patted her belly softly,
and left her.
Sarah opened her eyes, but didn’t move. She listened, but could hear
nothing. She could feel that she was alone. Where had Jimmy gone? She
pushed herself up, stretched, yawned, and splashed some water on her
face. Then she headed down to see Buck and Melissa. She didn’t run into
anyone on the way.
“How is he?” she asked softly as she walked into Teaspoon’s room, and
knelt by Buck’s side so she could take him in. She felt his forehead,
it was cooler.
“I thought I heard him moan earlier, but I think I was imagining it.”
“Let’s check his wounds to see what they look like,” She suggested as
they pulled the covers down, and pulled the bandages away. The wounds
looked clean, not too red, and there was no odor. “I’d say that he’s
looking good. He’s gonna be hurting though when he wakes up,” she
warned.
“I suppose so.”
“Hungry? I could bring you something. In fact, why don’t you take ten
minutes to do what you need to do? I won’t budge until you get
back…just ten minutes.”
“And no more,” Melissa assured her.
“Do you know where Jimmy went?”
“I saw him leave on a run. Did you talk last night?”
“No. We were both exhausted. We told each other we loved each other. I
told him the baby was his…I fell asleep. Nothing is settled.”
“It will be,” Melissa stated. “I’ll see you in ten minutes!”
She kissed Buck and left. Sarah sat down. “When are you going to wake
up Buck Cross?” she asked him in Kiowa.
“You do that well, Sarah,” she heard from behind her.
“Cody!” She said as she got up and went over to him. She wrapped
herself around him.
“You really surprised us last night.”
“I imagine that I did,” she said looking up into his blue eyes. They
were smiling down at her. He couldn’t resist kissing her. It was good
to have her back.
“How’s Buck?”
“Resting quietly. He’ll probably wake up at some point today. Did you
Ike care of Panache for me last night?”
“Yeah...he’s fine,” He said as she still held him close. He was
reluctant to let her go.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s going on with you? Was Jimmy in on
this?”
“No, he didn’t know a thing about it.”
“Talk to me Sarah.”
“I didn’t want to leave and Buck knew that. He also knew that I was
pregnant, so he arranged with Red Bear to take me in until the baby was
born. Then this happened to Buck. It was only coincidence that I showed
up around the same time Jimmy did.”
“Is he going to marry you now?”
“As far as I know, nothing has changed with the situation. We haven’t
discussed it yet since he’s out on a run.”
There came a sound of a clearing throat behind them.
“Finally caught you Cody!” Melissa said with a smile.
Cody backed away from Sarah. “I wish you had caught me,” he told her
before he kissed Sarah one more time, then left them alone.
“Is he at it again?” Melissa asked sympathetically.
“I don’t know, but Cody’s heart is always in the right place,” she
replied. “I’m heading outside now.”
“Be careful not to let anyone see you,” Melissa warned.
“Okay.”
Two Eagles had seen Summer Wind come out, then go back in. He saw
various men coming and going around the house. The door opened again,
and his heart caught. Sky Dancing stopped and looked around. Then she
disappeared. He wanted to talk to her, but should he? When she
reappeared, he whistled. Her head came up and she looked around. He
showed himself briefly, before he disappeared into the forest cover. He
knew that she would come when she could.
Sarah smiled to herself, suddenly feeling good. She should have known
that Two Eagles would be watching over her. She’d go to him after dark.
Rachel had breakfast ready when she went back in. The others were
there, looking at her expectantly. It was sort of amusing in a way. She
went to a vacant place at the table, turned to the group and spoke.
“Yes, it’s Jimmy’s baby…yes I knew I was pregnant when I left, and even
if I hadn’t been, I wouldn’t have wanted to leave. Buck knew that and
arranged for me to stay at the Kiowa Village. Melissa also has spent a
lot of time there with me. My name there is Sky Dancing and Melissa’s
is Summer Wind.”
“Now that the threat is over with Jimmy, will you be stayin’ here?” Lou
asked.
“I don’t know that the threat is over. Jimmy and I haven’t talked yet.
I don’t know if I’ll be staying here. Things aren’t black or white
anymore. I have obligations to the Kiowa now. I’m teaching their
children English. Some of the adults are learning also. I’m helping the
medicine woman with some of her things too.”
“That’s why you could help Buck then?” Noah asked.
“Yes, she’d taught me a lot. So, I don’t know what’s going to happen,
but it sure is good to see all of you again, and to eat Rachel’s
cooking,” She smiled around the table.
“I hope that you stay,” Lou told her as she squeezed her arm. “We’ve
all missed you. Cody hasn’t stopped talkin’ bout you!”
Sarah looked over at Cody, and he actually blushed as he smiled at her.
“I’m sorry that Jimmy ain’t here,” Kid told her. “I offered to take his
run, and even though he wanted to stay with you, he needed to go on the
run to get back into it.”
“I understand. He probably needed some time to think too,” she laughed.
“It isn’t everyday you find out you’re going to be a father.”
“When’s the baby due, Sarah?” Rachel asked her.
“Two months. I know by then I’m going to be ready for it to come.”
“Now you all go and do your chores. Let Sarah eat in peace,” Rachel
ordered. They all gave Sarah hugs as they left.
“Except for Buck, this has been a happy time for us. First Jimmy comes
back, and then you show up. I know that it might be a hard decision for
you, but I hope that you stay with us. We’ll come up with some
explanation about the baby.”
“Thanks Rachel.”
“Did you want to keep wearing your Indian clothes, or did you want me
to try and fix somethin’ for you to wear?”
“Actually this is quite comfortable, but I imagine that if I’m going to
be staying here for a few days, I should put on some white clothes.
Thanks for thinking of it. I’ve gotten so fat!”
“I think I have something I could fix for you. I’ll work on it today,”
She assured her.
“Has Melissa eaten yet?” Sarah asked as she finished up her meal.
“No...would you take her somethin’?”
“Sure,” she told her. Rachel gave her a plate, and Sarah went into
Buck’s room.
“Not awake yet?” Sarah asked as she handed the food to Melissa.
“Nope,” she sighed.
“Two Eagles is out by the trees waiting for me.”
“I’m not surprised. He loves you. I’m sure that for as long as you’re
here, he’ll be watching over you,” Melissa told her.
“I’ve given everyone the necessary facts about what’s been going on
with me, but I haven’t mentioned Two Eagles. I don’t know if they’d
understand about him.”
“They might not. Jimmy’s gonna ask eventually thought.”
“I suppose. All I know was that it made me feel good to know he was
watching out for me.”
“You’re not thinking about telling Jimmy no and going with Two Eagles
are you?”
“No…I don’t know. I don’t know what Jimmy is going to suggest. Things
haven’t changed around here. If anything, he’s probably made more men
want to come after him since he’s added so many kills to his list.”
“He was a bounty hunter.”
“Jimmy?” She asked, getting a mental image of the few bounty hunters
that she had seen around town. She shuddered.
“Yes. That’s how he could legally kill the outlaws.”
“Oh great! What sort of person is he now, Melissa? Is he still my
Jimmy? Or has he turned into someone else?”
“I can’t answer that. When he was talking to me at the cabin, I have to
admit that I wondered myself. At one point, he looked at me with the
coldest eyes...had the coldest tone of voice, but later, he did seem
like the old Jimmy. I think that you need to give him a chance, Sarah.
Your baby needs her father.”
“How come nothing is ever easy? And why haven’t you woken up yet Buck?
You’ve got to quit lying there!” she told him.
“Maybe it hurts too much to wake up,” Melissa suggested.
“I’ll give him that! By tonight Buck, I’m not gonna take no for an
answer!”
Buck could hear Melissa and Sarah talking, and he could hear her
threatening him. He didn’t want to wake up. He didn’t want to hurt so
bad.
“His eyes are moving, Sarah,” Melissa stated feeling excited.
“Buck Cross…I know you’re in there! Wake up now!”
“Don’t wanna,” he croaked. “Hurts!”
“Please, Buck!” Melissa asked him.
“I love you,” he whispered as he struggled to open his eyes.
“I love you too!” she assured him as he finally got them open.
Everything was blurry. He blinked so he could focus. There she was…and
Sarah.
“Hi!” Melissa smiled.
“Hi,” he told her. “I love you too,” he told Sarah.
“You know that I love you. How does it feel?”
“Like I have a fire burning inside of me,” he admitted. “What’s that
smell?”
“Some poultice Sarah put on.”
“So your lessons with White Hair were used?” he smiled at her.
“Yes. Are you up to telling us what happened to you?”
He gathered his thoughts, and slowly related what he remembered. “One
of my last thoughts was about your premonition Sarah. From now on, I’m
going to listen to you if you get another one.”
“Premonition?” Melissa asked her.
“I just felt something bad was going to happen to him, but he assured
me that he would be fine.”
“And I wasn’t because I had my mind on you!” he told Melissa. “All I
wanted was to get home to you!”
“At least he was thinking something good!” Sarah approved. “I’ll leave
the two of you alone and have Rachel send in some broth. I’ll also let
the others know...especially Ike. Do you remember telling him to come
and get us?”
“No.”
“See you later,” she told him as she dropped a kiss on his forehead and
left them alone.
“I saw both you and Sarah coming to me when I was out,” he frowned.
“You wouldn’t let me go.”
“It was more like Sarah wouldn’t let you go,” she told him. “She pulled
you back, and I think Ike helped her. I kept talking to you telling you
not to go. Sarah said she did it to return the favor, but I know
better. She wouldn’t want to be around if you weren’t here. Just like
you couldn’t let her leave when she was supposed to go to Boston. I can
accept that now.”
“Can you really?” he wanted to know.
“Yes...as long as I know that you love me and want to be with me.”
“I do...on the ride…” but he was interrupted by Rachel bringing some
broth in. Oh well, he’d tell her later what was on his mind.
Sarah was glad when darkness fell. She could finally walk around
outside, so she headed for where she had seen Two Eagles. He was
standing, waiting for her.
“Sky Dancing,” he smiled at her as he quickly gathered her to him.
Sarah wrapped her arms around his waist, and breathed in all that was
Two Eagles. He was so solid, and she knew what he was about. She didn’t
have to worry that he had a hidden agenda of which she knew nothing
about.
“It’s good to be with you,” she told him as he leaned down and gave her
a solid kiss. The familiar thrill went through her. It was then that
she realized that Jimmy hadn’t even kissed her.
“I have missed you. I hope you don’t mind that I am here.”
“No...it comforts me.”
“Tell me of Buck.”
They sat. He pulled her against him, and she told him all that had
happened. What she had done. What Melissa had done. How much better
Buck was doing.
“And these people you know. Were they happy to see you?”
“Yes...very. They want me to stay and say they will work out problems
with the baby. Jimmy Hickok is also back, but I really haven’t spoken
with him. He had a run this morning, and won’t be back until tomorrow
morning.”
“I love you, Sky Dancing. I have always known that there was a chance
you would decide on this world, but I don’t want to let you go. All I
want is that you come back to the village with me,” was his simple
pronouncement. It was the first time that he had told her he loved her,
but she had already known it.
“Two Eagles, thank you for telling me that. You have been so much to me
in the past. It may be that way in the future. I just don’t know yet.
As soon as I know, I will tell you.”
“So be it, my heart.”
Sarah felt him kiss the top of her head. She snuggled a little closer
against him, and they just sat together, enjoying the feel of each
other, and the silence around them. When it was quite late, she turned
to him. “I have to go back now.”
“Come tomorrow night?”
“I’ll certainly try.”
He stood up and helped her to her feet. He held her closely for a
moment, kissed her, and then sent her on her way.
Getting closer to the station, Cody fell in step next to her.
“I don’t know that it’s a good idea for you to go walkin’ by yourself
Sarah.”
“It probably isn’t, but I had to get out. For the past few months I’ve
lived my life outdoors. Now it feels funny to be cooped up inside all
day.”
“I imagine it does,” he agreed. “Sarah, if Jimmy don’t offer to marry
you, my offer still stands.”
Sarah stopped walking.
“You’d marry me with me pregnant with another man’s child?”
“Well yeah. Why not? I still love you. We’d think of somethin’ to tell
folks ‘round here. It’s obvious that you want to stay. I don’t think
I’m that bad to live with. And eventually you’d love me,” he explained.
She didn’t have the heart to tell him of Two Eagles.
“You’re a sweet man, Cody. I’ll file it away and pull it out if I need
to.”
“That’s all I ask.”
Sarah put her arm through Cody’s. “Now I’ll let you escort me back up
to the house.”
“With pleasure.”
Jimmy arrived back in the early morning hours. He quickly washed off,
changed clothes, and snuck into the house. He peaked into Buck’s room,
yeah, Melissa was there sound asleep holding Buck’s hand. He went up
the stairs and found Sarah, curled up on her side, also asleep. He
didn’t want to disturb her, so he stretched out on the floor, grabbing
the extra pillow from the bed.
The only thing he was sure of was how much he loved Sarah. He’d thought
of little else while he was on the road. His child was a little more
real to him now. Suddenly he didn’t feel sleepy. He quietly got up, put
his hat and gun belts back on and went back outside. He looked out at
the hills. How he loved this land. And then he saw
him…tall….imposing...and he was watching him. It looked like he was by
himself. And then he knew….Sarah’s Indian. This was the man she was
involved with. If he was here watching over her, it had to be serious.
Jimmy was tempted to go up and see him, but he knew that this Indian
probably didn’t speak any English, and he sure didn’t know Kiowa. He
turned away and headed for Lou’s.
Two Eagles watched Jimmy Hickok. He’d seen him ride in and go into the
house. Then shortly, he’d come back out. He had a feeling, as Jimmy
Hickok stood there and watched him, that he knew who he was. Had Sarah
told him? She was honest. If he had asked, she would have told him.
Satisfied that he now knew what he was up against, he went back to his
camp.
Jimmy knocked lightly on Lou’s door, hoping that he didn’t wake
everyone up. She appeared shortly, in her wrap, and was surprised to
see him.
“Jimmy! Come on in. I’ll fix the coffee!”
“No...can we sit out here?” He asked.
“Shore,” she said as they both sat down in rocking chairs.
“Lou...I don’t know what to do.”
“Sarah?”
“Yeah.”
“She’s pregnant. There’s only one thing to do…marry her.”
“But what if the outlaws come for me? Granted there’s less of them now,
but a few will still come.”
Lou sighed and looked out over the station property.
“Remember before I got married to Kid, and you ‘n I were travelin’
together and I was scared about gettin’ married? You asked me if I
loved him, and I said yes. Do you remember what you said?”
Jimmy remembered that conversation very well.
“I said that love was all that mattered. That I considered Kid a very
lucky man.”
“Then you said ‘Who knows...maybe one day I’ll get lucky.’ Well
Jimmy, you have gotten lucky. You do love her and that’s all that
matters. You’ve got your answer.”
“I guess that I do,” he smiled. “But there’s something else…Lou, she’s
involved with someone from the village. He’s out there, watching us.”
“Well, what did you expect? She didn’t think she could have you. She
has a child to think about now. Don’t hold that against her. You’ve got
to talk to her...persuade her to marry you.”
“What if she chooses him?” he asked.
“She won’t, Jimmy. She’s gonna have your baby. That’s a miracle. And
Sarah knows the risks of bein’ with you, and that didn’t stop her
before. It won’t stop her this time neither.”
“Love’s all that matters, huh?”
“Yeah. With love you can get through anything.”
“Okay then. By this time next week, I hope I’m a married man!”
“I hope so too. It’s a pretty wonderful experience.”
He got up. “Thanks Lou.”
She got up and hugged him hard.
“Now you go and talk to her!”
“Yes, mam!” He saluted before he kissed her cheek and left her.
He hurried back to Sarah’s room. She was just beginning to stir. He sat
in the chair across the room, as he watched her stretch. She slowly
opened her eyes.
“Jimmy! You’re back!” she smiled.
“I rode all night to be here,” he told her as he took his hat off and
laid it on the floor. “How ya feelin’ today?”
“Fine. You must be tired.”
“A little. You ‘n me need to talk Sarah.”
“I know, Jimmy.”
“I really thought it would be for the best if you went back to Boston.
I wanted you as far away from here as possible. I hear that you almost
got yourself killed.”
“Yeah, but Buck saved my life. It’s over.”
“Anyway, it’s obvious that I was wrong tryin’ to send you away, and you
found a way around it.”
“Jimmy, you have to understand. I knew I was pregnant, and I just
couldn’t leave here. I feel like this is my home. Buck knew that my
spirit was here, which is why he got me an invitation to stay at the
village. Thanks for admitting you were wrong.”
“You know, Buck has always been there for you. You two really love each
other, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she stated. “We’re very in tune for some reason. He’s there for
me. I’m there for him. But he’s more there for Melissa. There’s nothing
physical between us, Jimmy.”
“I know that, but it wasn’t until I saw you tryin’ to pull him back
that I realized the depth of your feelin’s for him.”
“He feels the same for me.”
“So tell me about the village...how you got on...what your life was
like there.”
“I’m known as Sky Dancing there. Melissa is Summer Wind. I feel very at
home there, and they’ve all been very good to me…” and she went into
detail about her life there. Things she had learned, some stories about
some of the Indians. He noticed that she didn’t mention the tall Indian
he’d seen a little earlier. Well, he’d let her tell him in her own time.
“And part of your heart is there?” he asked her.
“Yes. The children are so precious, and all the Indians have been so
open and sharing with me. It would be hard to leave it behind.
Now...tell me about you...what you’ve been going through these past few
months…why you decided to come back now.”
He sighed and rubbed his hand over his eyes. He decided that he needed
to be very honest with her or all this could come back to haunt him.
“I started out jist wanderin’ round, pretty aimless. As soon as I would
git to a town, I’d scout around to see who was there. I had some
specific people I was lookin’ for. If they was there, they was more
than happy to call me out. Then I decided that I needed to do somethin’
to earn some money, so I turned myself into a bounty hunter. I went
after every man that I knew was after me that had a price on his head.
On the way, I’d run into a few that wanted me bad enough to call me
out. I didn’t stay in any one place for very long. I was shot a few
times, ate a lot of biscuits and jerky on the trail. I spent my time
always aware...always ready to kill someone else if I had to. All they
had to do was look at me wrong, Sarah. And once I really got into all
this, I pushed you out of my mind. I convinced myself that you didn’t
think about me, so I wouldn’t think about you. And then when I wanted
to think about you, you were so far away from me. I was sure that even
if I ran into you, you wouldn’t want me anymore. I wasn’t the same
person out there. I didn’t feel anything for anyone. I didn’t think of
anything beyond the next person I would kill.”
“Jimmy...just how many did you kill?”
He looked down at the floor. “Fifteen...maybe twenty. I lost count
after awhile.”
“So why did you decide to come back to Rock Creek?”
“I’d pretty much killed everyone I was lookin’ for. I was tired of
bein’ alone on the trail. I wanted to be with my family again. I wanted
to be human again. I wasn’t human out there.”
“So are you? Human again?”
“Yeah, Melissa helped me some with that,” he told her. “Lou has helped
some too.”
Sarah got up off the bed and looked out the window. “And then in I
walked, pregnant and all. That must have been a shock.”
“Yeah...sorta...that’s what you was tryin’ to tell me that day you was
shot, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before I left?”
“I wanted to Jimmy,” she stated as she turned around. “But I knew it
would place an unfair burden on you. If you had stayed around, I
probably would have been killed because I wouldn’t have left your side.
Don’t blame yourself. It was my decision to make, and I made it.”
“You must have been scared.”
“Oh I was,” she smiled as she leaned against the window pane. “But,
like always, Buck was there and saw me through it. I still get scared,
but it’s not as bad as it was before. I’ve made good friends at the
village...especially Two Eagles.”
Here it came. “Two Eagles?”
Suddenly she had all his attention. She looked so pretty leaning in the
window with the sun streaming in on her hair. The white nightdress of
Rachel’s outlined the baby very well.
“He’s unlike any brave I’ve met so far. He started out talking to me
because he wanted to learn about the world. Then we started talking
about personal things, and he fell in love with me. Jimmy...he has been
my best friend there. He has taken very good care of me. He makes sure
I have the best food to eat. He makes sure that I don’t over do it and
that I take care of myself. He wants to marry me. He’s a wonderful man.”
“So he loves you?” he asked. That hurt. Even though Melissa had told
him about this man, he didn’t want to think about it. Now he had to.
“Yes. He loves me very much. He’s camping out near here.”
“I know. I saw him. He was watching me.”
He watched a smile cover Sarah’s face.
“He was checking you out. He knows about you. You know he didn’t want
to fall in love with me, a white woman. He’s afraid that I’ll come back
to my world and leave him behind.”
“And will you?” Jimmy asked, holding his breath.
Sarah really looked at Jimmy sitting there. His hands were clenched
into tight little balls. His face was begging her not to tell him she
would. She just wanted to run to him, but she made herself stay where
she was.
“Jimmy, that would solve all the problems, now wouldn’t it?”
“Hell no it won’t!” he finally exploded as he stood up and went over to
her. “I love you, Sarah. Seein’ you again has only confirmed it. I
cain’t go through this life without you. I don’t like the person I was
out on the trail. You’re the only one who can keep me human and keep me
in the sunlight. You’re carryin’ my baby. I want to help you raise that
child. I don’t make that much money, but it’s enough. I cain’t let you
go with another man!” He told her as he went down on one knee at
her feet. He took her hand. “Sarah Brooks...Sky Dancing…I love you so
much. I need you in my life. Let me have a chance. Please marry me!”
“Oh Jimmy...what about everything you’re afraid of?”
“We’ll work through it. We’ll have a lot of help. I know that this Two
Eagles must be pretty wonderful…probably a lot better than me. But he
cain’t love you as much as I do!”
Sarah put her hands on either side of his face and looked deeply into
his eyes. She didn’t see any coldness. She didn’t see any of the killer
in him. Had he buried it? Would it stay there unless he needed to call
on it in an emergency? And what of Two Eagles? Would he understand what
her heart was telling her to do?
“I hope you’re seein’ the rite things there, Sarah,” Jimmy practically
whispered to her.
Sarah melted at that point. “Yes Jimmy. I think that I see what I’m
looking for. I see a Jimmy that I used to know, but he’s grown up a
bit. I think this Jimmy is ready for a wife and a baby...so yes, I’ll
marry you,” she felt her eyes fill with tears. Finally, at long last,
she would have what she had wanted since the moment this man had come
into her life.
He stood up, pulling her tightly against him. “We’ll figure it all out.
It will work out, Sarah. And we have to get married right away.
Teaspoon will probably be willin’ to do it for us.”
“Oh Jimmy…I do love you so much!” she said as she wrapped her arms
around his neck, and pulled his head down to hers. After they shared a
kiss, she said, “Let’s go tell Buck and Melissa. Maybe this will
inspire him!”
“Tarnation!’ Buck swore as he attempted to move in the bed.
Melissa jumped.
“What’s wrong?” she asled alarmed.
“I feel like all my guts are fallin’ out whenever I move!”
“I can see you’re going to be a real good patient!” she teased.
“It hurts!” he pouted. She laughed as she leaned over to kiss him,
happy he was being feisty.
“You’ll survive, Buck! Are you hungry?”
“Kinda. Something beside broth.”
“I’ll see what I can rustle up,” she told him as she left him. It
wasn’t long after Melissa left that Jimmy and Sarah came in.
“Jimmy! When did you get in?” Buck asked, excited.
“The same night you got shot!” Jimmy said. “You didn’t give me a
very good welcome back!” He said as they shook hands. Buck winced
at the sudden onslaught of pain.
“It’s about darn time that you got back...and you’ve found Sarah?” he
looked a little weary.
“Yes, and I owe you a ton of thanks for not lettin’ her go back to
Boston!” Jimmy smiled. “I jist asked her to marry me, and she
said yes. I wanted you to be my best man since it seems that you two
are tied together at the hip!”
“Of course I will be,” he smiled up at Sarah, knowing how thrilled she
was. “When?”
“Tomorrow!” Jimmy smiled.
“Tomorrow?” both Buck and Sarah asked him.
“What’s tomorrow?” Melissa asked as she came in carrying a tray for
Buck, followed closely by Teaspoon.
“My weddin’!” Jimmy stated with a grin.
“Really?” Melissa squealed.
“Provided we can get it together,” Jimmy amended. “Teaspoon, can you
marry Sarah and me tomorrow?”
“Of course I can.” was the reply.
“But why so quick?” Melissa asked.
Jimmy reached down to Sarah’s belly and rubbed it. “Before I become a
daddy, this has to be legal. And we got to come up with a story about
all this. I don’t want none of the townsfolk to look down on Sarah for
bein’ in the family way.”
Teaspoon scratched his chin. “Well…how bout if we spread the story that
you two was married months ago, but kept it a secret because we was
worried about those men comin’ after her. When we found out she was
havin’ a baby, we sent her away so that she was safe, and Jimmy went
off to draw them away. Now we feel that the danger is over, and they
can let everyone know they is married!”
“That’s brilliant! Teaspoon,” Melissa told him as she kissed his cheek.
“I like it too,” Sarah replied. “What time tomorrow?”
“How bout after I make my rounds? You two can git all married like,
then we can have a celebration breakfast?” Teaspoon suggested.
“It will have to be in here since I’m the best man! I cain’t go too
far,” Buck stated.
“And you’ll be maid of honor, won’t you?” Sarah asked Melissa.
“Yes!” Melissa stated enthusiastically.
“It’s all set then. We’ll need a ring,” Jimmy stated. “Where am I gonna
git a ring and not let the townsfolk know what’s goin’ on?”
“I think I know where you can get a ring!” Rachel said from the
doorway. “I hope you don’t mind me listenin’ in, but you can use mine
if you like. I look upon you and Melissa as my daughters, and I’d love
it if you would accept it. It has happy memories attached to it.”
“Oh Rachel...are you sure?” Sarah asked her as she went over to her and
took her hands.
“I’m sure, Sarah. Tom and I were very happy together, but he’s dead and
life goes on. It’s mean a lot to me if you would wear it. You and Jimmy
are so much in love. Please?”
“Okay. Thank you,” Sarah smiled at her before she hugged her.
“And we have to find somethin’ special for you to wear!” Rachel stated
as she pulled her off with her.
“You’ve lost her, son!” Teaspoon smiled as he watched the two women
walk off.
“I’ll give them a little while...then I’m goin’ off to find ‘em! And
you…you lied to me, Melissa Crawford!”
“Me?” she asked wide eyed. “Whatever do you mean, Jimmy Hickok?”
“Up at the cabin when we was talkin’. I asked you what you were hidin’
from me. You made me believe that it warn’t nuthin’! I tell ya, Buck.
You’re gonna have to watch out for her. You didn’t tell me that Sarah
was close by at the Kiowa village or that she was havin’ a baby!”
“Like I could tell you that at the time! You would have gotten all
upset and not thought anything through. As it is, it’s worked out for
the best.”
“I guess. She told me about Two Eagles. She still needs to talk to him.”
“Two Eagles? Who’s Two Eagles?” Teaspoon asked, drawing up a chair.
“A brave from the Kiowa Village who fell in love with Sky Dancing,”
Buck told him.
“Who’s Sky Dancing?” Teaspoon asked, very confused.
“Sarah,” Buck explained.
“Oh…”
“He’s been camping a little distance from here, keeping his eye on her
and on me,” Jimmy told him.
“I’m not surprised,” Teaspoon stated. “She’s gonna talk to him soon?”
“I’m sure she will.”
“It ain’t gonna be easy for her…or him…”
“I know,” Jimmy told them. “I want to talk to him.”
“What are you gonna say to him?” Buck asked, not liking the idea at all.
“I don’t know. I jist know I gots to talk to him.”
“Well, son, remember that he’s got his pride too. Don’t do nuthin’ to
take that away from him,” Teaspoon advised.
“And don’t forgit all that he did for her,” Buck stated. “He took real
good care of her when I couldn’t be there.”
“I’ll be careful. And I’ll only go if Sarah says it’s okay.”
“He’s a real nice man,” Melissa told him. “I mean I love you and all,
but I respect Two Eagles a lot.”
“I’ll remember that,” Jimmy told them.
Ike, who had been out on a run, stuck his head in the room, and was
thrilled to see that Buck was awake and talking. He hurried over to
him, and knelt down by the bed, then hugged him close. Buck wrapped his
arms around him to reassure his friend that he was okay.
“Feel better?” Ike asked him with tears in his eyes. The emotion made
Melissa start sniffing.
“Yeah, I do. I hear I have you to thank for that.”
“No...thank Sarah. She and Melissa save you. I only help little!”
“That’s not true, Buck. He helped a lot.”
“No…Sarah knew the secret. You up soon?”
“I hope so. Speaking of Sarah...she and Jimmy are getting married
tomorrow!”
Ike looked up at Jimmy, who was moving his head up and down.
“Happy for you!” Ike signed to him.
“We’d better fill you in on the story we’ll be passin’ round so you can
tell Emily,” Buck told him.
It had been a busy day, Sarah reflected, as she looked out in the
direction of Two Eagles camp. How could she feel so happy and so sad at
the same time?
“You need to go and talk to him,” Jimmy told her from somewhere behind
her.
“I know. I was just thinking that.”
“I want to go with you.”
Sarah turned to him. “Why?”
“I don’t know. To meet him, I guess. I’ve only seen him from a distance
when he’s watchin’ me. You can trust me, Sarah.”
“Give me half an hour...then you can come out. I’ll ask him if he wants
to speak to you. Stop about 10 feet from his camp and call my name so
that we know you’re there. If I tell you to come, you’ll know he’s
agreed to see you, okay?” She asked spelling out the rules.
“Alright,” he agreed.
Jimmy noticed that Sarah had changed into the dress that Rachel had
altered for her. It was good to see her in regular clothes again. Sarah
smiled as she stepped out the door and closed it behind her.
Two Eagles could sense her coming, so he stepped out to meet her. He
opened his arms to her, and as always she walked into them. But his
heart sank when he realized what she wore.
“You are Sarah again?” he said sadly.
“Yes…this is very hard for me to do, but I think that you knew me
better than I knew myself. I can’t leave my world. I love all those
people in there. They are my family. And I love Jimmy Hickok. He
asked me to marry him this morning.”
“And you are going to do that?”
“Yes...tomorrow morning.”
“Are you very sure, Sarah?”
“Yes, but my heart is sad because I am making you sad. You are very
important to me. You have helped me, taken care of me, and saw past the
fact that I was white and not married. You didn’t condemn me. Instead
you honored me with your friendship and your love. That means so much
to me, Two Eagles. I will miss you and our conversations very much.”
“As will I. To me, you will always be Sky Dancing…my Sky
Dancing!” he told her firmly.
“That is true…Jimmy never had a part of Sky Dancing,” she smiled up at
him.
“I love you, Sky Dancing!” he groaned as he leaned down to kiss her
once again before he had to go and leave her behind.
She returned his kiss enthusiastically, after which they just held each
other. They lost track of time, and too soon she head, “Sarah?”
Two Eagles head shot up. “It’s Jimmy. He told me that he wanted to talk
to you. I told him I would ask you, and that it was up to you.”
“Do you want me to talk to him?” he asked her.
“It is your decision either way,” she stated putting no pressure on
him. She held his hand and squeezed it to reassure him.
“Okay, we sit around fire and talk. You will tell me what he says and
you will tell him what I say?”
“Yes. Come on in, Jimmy. It’s okay,” she called as she and Two Eagles
sat by the small fire. Jimmy walked in, sat, and took off his hat. Two
Eagles looked at him expectantly as he sized him up.
Jimmy knew immediately that this was one man he never wanted to face in
battle because he would surely lose. His eyes burned into him, and he
seemed to have the slightly arrogant air of other Indian braves he had
come into contact with.
“Tell Two Eagles that I came here tonight because I wanted to meet him
and see what he was about. That I wanted to let him know that I’m happy
he became your friend, and that he took care of you.”
He listened closely as Sarah turned to Two Eagles and told him what he
had said. Jimmy noticed that when Two Eagles looked upon Sarah, the
arrogance left his face and his eyes told Jimmy all that he needed to
know. Two Eagles spoke to Sarah, and his voice was deep, somewhat
calming.
“Two Eagles said to tell you that he has heard much about you, and is
happy for me that you came home. He says that he is happy that I wasn’t
afraid to be his friend, and he congratulated you on the fact that you
and I will get married.”
“Tell Two Eagles that I feel he’s a better man than I am. I wouldn’t
have the courage to do what he’s doin’ right now. I thank him for all
that he did for you, and that I hope the two of you can remain friends
when this is all over.”
Sarah smiled at him before she once again turned to Two Eagles to relay
his message to him. Before he started to reply, Two Eagles really
looked at Jimmy. This was not the man he had expected, but then if his
Sky Dancing was going to marry him, he should have known better. He
hoped that they would always be fighting on the same side.
“Tell Jimmy Hickok that you have come back to the world where you
belong, that perhaps we can all be friends one day. Now it is time for
me to go.”
Sarah told Jimmy the message, and they all stood up. She went over to
Two Eagles, not knowing what their future held or if she would ever see
him again.
“Thank you, Two Eagles. I will always remember you and your love and
your kindness to me,” she smiled up at him. She wrapped her arms around
him once more, and squeezed him tightly. He returned it and tried to
smile down at her.
“Goodbye Sky Dancing. Thank you too.”
They shared one last smile, and she turned and left with Jimmy.
“You were right. He’s quite a man. He will do great things for his
people.”
“Yes, he will.” she agreed. “Thank you for being so nice to him, Jimmy.”
“Why shouldn’t I be? He did a lot for you, and I am thankful for that.
You ready for bed?”
“You go on up. I’m going to make one last check on Buck and Melissa,”
she told him.
“I’ll be waitin’ for you.” he told her as he kissed her and left her at
the bottom of the stairs.
Melissa wasn’t in with Buck when she walked into his room. He appeared
to be sleeping, so she lightly laid a kiss on his forehead and turned
to leave.
“Not so fast, Sarah,” he told her as he gripped her wrist.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” she apologized as she sat down in
Melissa’s vacant chair.
“I’m glad you did. Have you spoken with Two Eagles?”
“Yes. It was difficult, but he was gracious as I knew he would be. He
and Jimmy came to an understanding. And I’m ready to become a married
lady to the man I love tomorrow.”
“I am happy for you.”
“You and I have come a long way, Buck Cross.”
“Yes, we have, Sarah Brooks. And it’s all worked out. You have Jimmy
and I have Melissa. You’re livin’ back in Rock Creek where you belong.
You’re goin’ to have a beautiful baby, and I git to keep my kindred
spirit. Thank you for bringin’ me back.”
“Like you said, I get to keep my kindred spirit. You did it for me, and
I owed you!”
“I’d say we’re pretty even now!”
“So would I. Where’s Melissa?”
“Right here. How’d it go with Two Eagles?”
“It was sad, but I think we’ll all be okay in time. Goodnight all. See
you in the morning. You’d best be ready for best man duties!” she shook
her finger at Buck. “No more moaning and groaning...at least not during
the ceremony!” she laughed. She made her escape to the sound of a
pillow being thrown at the closed door.
Still chuckling, she made her way to her room, and stopped short as she
went through the door. Jimmy’s clothes were piled neatly on the chair,
and he was in the bed, blanket to his waist, naked chest peeking out.
“I know I should wait til tomorrow to do this, but I love you Sarah. I
cain’t wait any longer...unless you don’t think we should make love
because of the baby and all.”
Sarah started to remove her clothes. “I don’t think we have to worry
any about the baby. At least not yet,” She was suddenly very conscious
of her bloated body. Jimmy hadn’t seen her naked like this. He took in
her curves. “I’m a little fatter than I used to be!” she stated
uncertainly.
Jimmy moved the covers back. “And more beautiful than ever, Sarah. Come
here!”
She got into the bed next to him and he pulled her close to him.,.
proceeding to kiss every part of her body that he could reach. “I guess
we’ll jist have to be more inventive about how we do things,” he told
her with a smile.
“I love you, Jimmy Hickok!” was all she said as she began to
refamiliarize herself with this man’s body. There had been subtle
changes to it. There were more bullet scars than she had remembered,
and these new ones she tracked with her fingers, kissing each one.
Please God, let there be no more! She worked her way slowly down his
body, kissing all the parts that he loved to have kissed, caressing
those he loved caressed. She knew that he was getting excited, but she
wasn’t surprised when he stopped her, and began to love her the way he
knew she liked to be loved. Briefly she wondered if there had been any
women besides her, but then she decided that she really didn’t want to
know. And when he entered her, she stopped thinking, and just
concentrated on his face and all the love that she saw there. If there
had been any doubt in her mind before, now there wasn’t. This was her
Jimmy. The man she had originally fallen in love with. He was her past
and her future. She knew she had made the right decision.
“Jimmy!” She cried as she could feel herself being carried away.
He followed right behind her, knowing that no matter where her head
was, so was his. He would never leave her far behind again.
“So will you sleep with me tonight?” Buck asked Melissa as she cleaned
him up, getting him ready for the night.
“I’m afraid that I’ll hurt something or roll over on top of you. I
don’t want to make your wounds worse now that they’re starting to heal.
I don’t want to make them hurt any worse than what they already do.”
“If you sleep on my right side, I should be alright.”
“What will Teaspoon think?”
“Nothing. We’ll have all our clothes on!” he laughed at her.
“I guess it would be alright then,” she decided. “I really want to.
I’ve missed you.”
“Then climb in.”
“If I hurt you, you’ll tell me?”
“I’ll tell you,” he lied as he patted the bed and slowly moved over so
she could climb in.
She did so carefully. And he wrapped his arms around her.
“This feels good!” he stated as he kissed the top of her head.
“Yeah, kind of like coming home,” she agreed. “You know that you had me
worried Buck.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t ever mean to do that. I love you too much, which
reminds me of what I was thinkin’ when I got surprised by those men.”
“What was that, Buck?”
“I was thinkin’ about you and about our lives. I was thinkin’ how much
I loved bein’ with you and havin’ fun with you. I know that since Sarah
got pregnant, I ain't been with you. I felt like I needed to be with
her, and she pointed out how wrong I was about that. She was rite. She
needed me but not like I thought she needed me,” he chuckled. “I hope
you’re gonna forgive me all that, and at least Sarah is all settled
now.”
“I already did a while ago,” She told him. “But thanks for telling me
all that.”
“I’m proud that you’ve been to the village and learned more about me
and my ways. I want you in my life for as far as I can see,” Buck
stated as he turned towards her. “I want you to be the mother to my
sons and daughters. I cain’t exactly get down on one knee, but I’m
askin’ you to marry me, Melissa.”
Finally! She could’t believe that he was finally asking her! Buck
smiled at her as this incredible look of happiness went across her
face. “Buck…I….oh wow…Buck!”
“Is that a yes?” he asked her as she started to nod her head.
“Yes! It’s yes!” she said as she put her arms around him and
hugged him.
“After I get better, we can talk about settin’ a date. We can do it
anytime that you want to do it.”
“Um...Buck?”
“Yeah?”
“I think we should do it pretty quick!”
“You’re that anxious?” he chuckled.
“Yes! I mean you said you wanted sons and daughters. Well, we’ve
already got one started.”
“We do? How long have you known?” he asked, feeling more happy and
excited than he thought he ever could.
“About a week now. I think it happened the night of the celebration at
the village.”
Buck smiled warmly, remembering that night.
“That was a good night!” he told her. “We’re having a baby too? So it’s
not jist Jimmy and Sarah? It’s us too?”
“Yes, it’s us too! That’s why we need to get married soon. And I
couldn’t tell you sooner. First you weren’t here, then you got shot.
This has been my first opportunity.”
“Oh baby, you have made me so happy,” he said holding her close. “I
remember jist before you came to Rock Creek, that I didn’t think I
would ever find someone to love me…to want to be with me. And now here
you and I are. Thank you,” he whispered in her ear before he kissed it.
They began to love each other, until he moaned as a knife of pain went
through him. She pulled quickly away from him. “Enough of that!”
she told him.
“Later then, when I’m feelin’ better?”
“You’ve got yourself a deal, Mister!” She laughed.
There was an air of barely suppressed excitement the next morning.
Jimmy, under protest, was quickly whisked out of the house so he
couldn’t be with Sarah. “This isn’t fair, you know!” he called to Lou.
“It’s bad luck to see the bride on her weddin’ day!” she told him,
shaking her finger at him.
“We have to get her ready!” Rachel stated. “I’ll do her hair…Lou...can
you finish pressing her dress? Melissa…give this wedding band to Buck
so he can hold onto it for Jimmy.”
Rachel continued directing everyone. She had fixed another of her nicer
dresses so that it would fit Sarah. Lou finished pressing out the
wrinkles, while Rachel did her hair. They put a little makeup on her,
while Cody brought in some flowers he had cut for her. And before she
knew it, she was ready to go.
“You look beautiful,” Melissa told her as she led her over to a mirror
so she could see herself.
“Thanks to all of you!” Sarah told the assembled group of women.
Teaspoon poked his head into the room. “Are you ladies ready? Everyone
is waitin’ downstairs.”
“Who’s gonna give Sarah away?” Lou asked.
“Cody,” Sarah smiled. “I’m sure he would do it.”
“I’ll go and get him,” Melissa told her as she scooted on ahead to find
him.
Sarah willed her heart to slow down. So much was happening so quickly,
but she knew it was what she wanted to happen. Cody appeared, all
dressed in his suit with his crooked smile.
“I hear I’m givin’ the bride away?” he said as he extended his arm to
her. She slid hers through it.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t mind.”
“You look so beautiful!” he told her as he kissed her cheek. “Thank you
for givin’ me this honor.”
Her eyes searched for Jimmy as she entered the room with Melissa ahead
of her. Jimmy’s face wore a big smile, and he looked so handsome all
dressed up. Buck was propped up in the bed next to him. He was also
smiling at her. Cody walked her up to Teaspoon and Jimmy.
Teaspoon cleared his throat. “Dearly beloved…I always like that part…we
are gathered here today to witness the union of James Butler Hickok and
Sarah Elizabeth Brooks. If there is anyone here who objects to this
union, please speak now...and there’d better not be anyone,
Cody!” Sarah chuckled at that. “Who gives this woman in holy
matrimony?”
“I do,” Cody stated as he relinquished his hold on her. “And you’d best
be good to her!” he told Jimmy.
“I will be, Cody!” Jimmy assured him as he took his place next to
Sarah. The rest of the ceremony proceeded uneventfully. They promised
to love, honor and cherish each other. At the end, Teaspoon pronounced
them man and wife, and they kissed to an applause filled room. Jimmy
couldn’t quit smiling. He didn’t think he would ever be this happy.
Buck motioned Teaspoon to come over to him, and he whispered something
to him.
“Really?” Teaspoon asked him, and Buck nodded his head. “Okay everyone,
I need you attention here!” he requested. Everyone stopped
congratulating Jimmy and Sarah and turned to him.
“How would you like another wedding here today? Buck seems to think
that since we have everyone here, he wants to get married to Melissa.
He said that she’s already agreed to do this. What do you say, Melissa?”
“I…”
Sarah walked over to her, and handed her the bouquet of flowers she’d
been holding.
“I’d be honored to be your matron of honor. I know Ike would make a
great best man,” Sarah told her.
“And you said you wanted to do this soon,” Buck reminded her.
“She don’t have a wedding band!” Lou cried.
“Yes I do,” she said. “I’ll be right back!”
In a few minutes she was, carrying a gold wedding band triumphantly.
“My mother’s,” she explained as she handed it to Ike.
“Jimmy…would you give me away since my father is marrying me?” she
asked him.
“I’d be honored to, since I feel like your brother anyway,” he smiled
down at her as he offered his arm.
“I think we’re ready, Teaspoon,” Buck told him.
So Teaspoon, his eyes filling with tears, began the ceremony again.
He’d never thought that he would ever get the chance to marry his own
daughter off. She and Buck were so much in love. They also promised to
love, honor, and cherish each other. After that he pronounced them man
and wife, and after they had kissed, he had the honor of giving the
bride a hug and kiss.
“I love you, Melissa Cross!”
“And I love you Teaspoon Hunter,” she told him.
“My...we have lots to celebrate now!” Rachel said as she heard a
knock on the door. “Noah...could you get that?”
“Sure.” Noah stated as he headed for the front door and opened it to an
older white couple. The woman looked vaguely familiar.
“Can I help you?” he asked.
“The people in the town sent us here. We’re looking for our daughter,
Sarah Brooks. They said she left on the stage months ago for Boston,
but we haven’t heard from her in months! They told us that the
Marshall, Teaspoon Hunter, might know what happened to her,” the woman
stated.
“Wait a minute! You’re Sarah’s parents?”
“Yes, we are.”
“Well hello there. I’m Noah Dixon, and Sarah is right inside. Come on
in.”
“It looks like a celebration,” Mrs. Brooks stated.
“It is…one of the Pony Express Riders just got married. Wait right
here, I’ll got get her for you.”
Noah was chuckling to himself as he went to Sarah.
“Um...Sarah...there’s a couple here and they say they’re your
parents,” Noah told her.
“Oh my God!” she stated. “Did you tell them I just got married?”
“No...I said one of the riders just had. I didn’t mention you.”
“Remember, I’ve been married for months!” she told everyone in the
room. They all smiled and nodded their heads, enjoying this immensely.
“You ready to meet your in laws?” she asked Jimmy.
“They ain’t gonna like this,” he predicted.
“Maybe your fame hasn’t made it to Boston?” she asked hopefully,
knowing how her mother could be.
“I think he means that you’re pregnant, and you never mentioned getting
married to them,” Buck laughed.
“Oh, you’re right.”
Sarah dreaded this, but she knew it was something that she had to do.
She squared her shoulders, took a deep breath to still the flutters in
her stomach, smiled reassuringly at Jimmy, and went out to her parents.
Jimmy had to admire her. She’d gone from being totally insecure about
this, to charging head first into it.
“Mother! Father!” Sarah stated as she took them by surprise…first
hugging one, then the other.
“We were so concerned...” her mother drifted off as she spied Sarah’s
figure. “You’re pregnant?”
“I am so sorry to have worried the two of you! Things have been so busy
here. Jimmy and I were married quite a few months ago...then I got
pregnant, and the school year ended and all. I’m so sorry! Let me
introduce you to my husband, Jimmy Hickok. Jimmy, this is my mother
Victoria and my father, Lawrence.”
“Hickok…why does that name sound familiar?” Her father asked as he
shook hands with Jimmy.
“I don’t know, father,” she told him trying t distract him. “It’s so
great to see you. You’ve come at a good time. My best friend got
married today, and I was her matron of honor. Come and meet everyone.”
“I know your name son,” Sarah’s father said again. “Wild Bill Hickok -
that’s it! Are you related to him?”
Cody started to snicker, and Sarah shot him a withering look.
“Well, sir…I’ve been called that,” he told him truthfully. It would
have been easy to lie about that too, but he couldn’t. That was a part
of him.
“Oh my word! You’ve married an outlaw!” her mother screamed before she
keeled over in a dead faint.
“Oh no…” Sarah said as she knelt down beside her.
“I’ll get a cold cloth,” Rachel offered. “And some water.”
“He’s not an outlaw, father. He’s a Pony Express Rider. People have
written a lot of lies about him,” Sarah stated looking up at him.
“I’m Marshall Teaspoon Hunter. You must be Sarah’s parents. What
happened to the Missus?”
“She fainted when she heard who Jimmy was,” Sarah explained.
“Oh, that’s too bad. You findin’ out all of Sarah’s news?” Teaspoon
asked.
“Yes, we are. We have to admit it’s been a surprise.”
“She’s had lots goin’ on. She was so busy with her school and all…but
we love her like one of our own!”
Sarah’s mother started to come to at that point, and Jimmy just tried
to stand out of the way. If this was her reaction to him, was it
possible that she ever might like him?
“Why don’t we help her into the parlor, and give them some privacy so
they can all visit?” Rachel suggested.
“Good idea,” Teaspoon agreed as they helped Sarah’s mother up.
It was then Sarah realized that everyone was standing at the door to
Teaspoon’s room, watching what was going on. She had a feeling they’d
be talking about this for months to come. When they were all seated,
Rachel mentioned something about making tea, and then made her escape.
The two couples sat and stared at each other for a few moments.
“I know that you were worried about me, and I AM sorry about that. Time
just got away from me though.”
“But you got married without inviting your family?” her mother accused.
“The time was just right for Jimmy and me,” she explained.
“Then you never wrote to tell us. You never wrote to let me know you
were with child? How could you not let your own mother know?”
“Mother, I knew that if I let you know I was getting married, you would
have insisted I come back to Boston and have a big society wedding. I
didn’t want that. This is my home now. I wanted to get married here. I
was going to let you know when the baby was born what was going on. I’m
very happy and healthy. The baby is fine. Jimmy is a wonderful man. You
can’t believe everything you read about him.”
“It’s not true that you’re an outlaw?” her father asked him.
“No sir. I ride for the Pony Express.”
“They say that you’ve killed many men. Is that true?” her father
questioned him.
Jimmy looked uneasily at Sarah. What was he supposed to say? They’d
never accept him if they knew his history.
“Father, like anyone else who lives in the west, you have to be ready
to defend yourself. Jimmy has had to do that on occasion, and I
understand that.”
“Sir, mam…I know that all this has caught you by surprise, but I’ve
been so caught up in my wife that I know there’s things we’ve
neglected. I love her very much, and I would die before I let anything
happen to her. She’s well taken care of here. When I’m not around, any
other rider would give his life to watch over her. The whole town loves
her...she’s made friends with some of the Indians here and can speak
their language. She’s brave and courageous, and you really don’t need
to worry none about her welfare here,” Jimmy finished as he put his arm
protectively around his wife.
“Are you trying to tell us that you’ll never be coming back to Boston?”
Sarah’s mother asked.
“We’re not saying that. It will be awhile though. They baby will be
born in two months, and then the new school year will begin.”
“You’re going to work after your child is born?” her mother asked,
aghast.
“Why not? They still need a school teacher here. I know that Melissa
and Rachel or Lou or Emily will watch her while I teach. I can’t just
sit at home mother...you know me. I’m still giving English lessons to
the Indian children. I can’t just drop out of life. But enough of this.
I’m all grown up and going to be a mother myself. Let’s just enjoy your
visit. We have a nice hotel in town where I know you can get a room.
Jimmy will escort you over there and help you get settled. Then you can
come back here for dinner, and we’ll discuss what has been going on
with my family. How does that sound?”
“That will be fine Sarah,” her father stated as they all stood up, and
he gave her a hug. “It’s good to see you looking so well, and I’m
finding that I like the idea of being a grandfather. Come on Jimmy,
show us where this hotel is.” How like her father. He was always the
one who could accept changes quickly. It would take her mother a little
longer, but she would eventually come around too. She ushered them all
to the door, sure that Jimmy would rather do anything but walk his new
in laws to the hotel! She had to smile.
When the door closed, she was surrounded by all her friends, and she
caught them up to date on what was going on.
“Teaspoon, you’re gonna have to circulate that story about Sarah and
Jimmy quick!” Rachel told him.
“I know, and I’m off to do that now!”
“I hope you don’t mind about dinner,” Sarah smiled.
“Heck no. I was gonna prepare something special anyway...what with you
and Jimmy and Buck and Melissa, and now your parents here. What a party
we’re gonna have tonight!”
“What you gonna surprise is with next, Sarah?” Cody asked as he droped
an arm around her.
“Nothing, I hope. I hope that the town will let me come back and be
their schoolteacher. At least then Jimmy and I will have a place to
live and raise our family.”
“They’ll have to take you back. There ain’t been no one who’s wanted to
job yet!” Noah replied.
“How are you two doing?” she asked Buck and Melissa. They were sitting
on his bed, his arm draped around her.
“We’re fine. You seem to be the entertainment today!” Melissa laughed.
“Come on, Mrs. Cross. I believe you and I need to help Miss Rachel with
the dinner for tonight!”
“And I’ll go and see if Jimmy needs rescuin’!” Cody offered.
“Thank you!” Sarah told him with a kiss to his cheek.
Sarah’s parent’s hung around for the next two weeks. They got to know
Jimmy better, and seemed to approve of him. By the time they were ready
to leave, Buck was finally up and walking around. Teaspoon and the
other riders had let out the story behind Jimmy and Sarah, and the
townsfolk seemed to accept the explanation. They also let Sarah know
that they wanted her to stay on as their teacher, so Jimmy moved all
her things back to the house, followed by the two of them.
All of the riders, plus Rachel and Teaspoon went to the stage to see
Sarah’s parent’s off. Jimmy and Cody had decided to escort the stage
for awhile, so they sat on their horses while Sarah hugged them both
hard and said her goodbyes. Teaspoon helped Mrs. Brooks onto the stage,
and just before it left, Sarah remembered something she’d wanted to ask
her parents.
“Mother, did we have any Indians in our family?”
“What a strange question to ask!” she stated, looking slightly
horrified.
“My grandmother was...she’d be your great grandmother. She was a Sioux.
I’ll write and tell you the whole story,” her father called to her as
the stage pulled out.
Sarah just stood there, mouth open. “It’s true then…Buck, did you hear
that?” she asked turning to her kindred spirit. His face wore a huge
smile.
“I knew it had to be true!” Buck told her as he grabbed her close in a
hug. “I knew it!”
“In my heart, I knew it too!” she told him. “Well, let’s get you back
to the house. You’ve been up long enough for this time!”
“Rachel?” he asked.
“You heard her!”
“Melissa?” he asked his wife.
She just managed to look helpless.
“I guess I’ve been outvoted!” he stated as he meekly followed the
women. Melissa held onto his hand.
EPILOGUE
Sarah smiled to herself as the last child hugged her goodbye. She
turned to clean her blackboard, when she heard the squeal of laughter.
With a smile on her face, she turned to see her daughter run into the
classroom, Melissa and her son following directly behind her. Abigail
Elizabeth was now 3 years old…William Henry was 2 ½. Abby was
the spiting image of her father...the same with William.
“These two have worn me out today!” Melissa chuckled as she collapsed
on one of the chairs. “What did you teach them about today?”
“The Pony Express and how sometimes progress may not be that great for
everyone!” she smiled fondly. “I tried to make them understand that
while the railroad was a great idea, it put some people out of work.”
“Like our husbands,” Melissa stated, smiling as she remembered how
their husbands used to make a living.
“It’s just lucky that Teaspoon was ready to retire when the railroad
came through. I think Jimmy makes an excellent replacement,” Sarah
commented as she finished hugging Abby and continued with cleaning the
board.
“At least it stopped all those outlaws from coming after him. Now they
try to stay away from him,” Melissa stated.
“Which is fine with me. I don’t need all the excitement I had when we
were first seeing each other. Will Buck be back tonight from his Indian
Agent’s meeting at Fort Laramie?”
“He said that he would be. Lord, but I miss that man! I’m ready for him
to take over his son for a time.”
“I was so glad when the government made Buck the Indian’s agent for
this territory. It’s the first time that the Indians have been treated
fairly. He does such a good job. Abby...don’t climb on the tables.”
“And he’s happy doing it too. I think he finally feels as if he’s doing
something helpful for his people.”
“I know how pleased the Kiowa are about it. They all look a lot happier
since that decision was made.”
“Do you have to go out there this afternoon? I thought if you did, I’d
ride along with you. These two would love to see all their friends
gain!”
“Great idea. I’d love the company on the ride. I wonder if Fair Flower
has had her baby yet?”
“If she hasn’t, Two Eagles is going to be a nervous wreck!”
Melissa laughed.
“It wasn’t long before Sarah had changed her clothes, hoisted her books
and Abby into the saddle with her, and had Melissa and William riding
along beside her. They took their time, knowing that they would be
staying in the village for supper before they rode back to Rock Creek.
“What are you thinking?” Sarah asked her best friend as they walked
their horses toward the village.
“I was remembering the night Abby was born.”
Sarah laughed. “Wasn’t Buck priceless that night? It’s lucky that he’d
already helped with the birth of one child so he sort of knew what he
was doing. I didn’t think Jimmy would survive that night.”
“That was a great meal, Melissa,” Sarah told her friend, as she hoisted
herself from the table. “I’m really thankful that you invited us up
here tonight. I was going stir crazy at our house,”
“And that’s where we should be! What if the baby comes tonight? We’re
gonna be in trouble!” Jimmy told her as she rubbed the small of her
back with her hand. “Your back hurt?”
“It’s been kind of achy for the last few hours. I’ll be alright. And
the baby hasn’t seemed that anxious to show us her face, so I don’t
think that tonight will be the night,” she tried to calm her husband.
“You don’t know that….right Buck? She couldn’t know that, could she?”
Jimmy asked his friend anxiously.
“You got to quit worryin’ Jimmy. I would think that a woman would know
these things. I’m countin’ on Melissa knowin’ so that we can be down in
Rock Creek when it’s time for her to have ours.”
Melissa and Sarah just looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Come on...you two men can go outside and argue the finer points of
this topic while we women clean up!”
“You sure you’re okay?” Jimmy asked her.
“I’m fine...now go,” she shooed him out the door, laughing all the
while. “Now, let’s get this cleaned up so we can join our husbands.”
“You happy?” Melissa asked her as they cleared dinner off the table.
“Ecstatic! You?”
“Me too! Who would have ever though that life could get this good?” Her
friend asked has as she turned her back to Sarah and began to wash the
dishes her friend was bringing to her.
Sarah had the strangest feeling go through her body as her backache
seemed to move around to the front of her body. “Melissa?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t tell Jimmy this, but I think I’m going to have his daughter
right here.”
“No! How? I mean this is your first baby! How could you have it this
quick?”
“I don’t know, but my backache has moved. I don’t think I can make it
back to Rock Creek!”
“Oh Lord...what are we going to do?” Melissa squeaked as she helped her
friend sit down.
“I don’t know. Jimmy will never let me forget this!” she laughed.
“How can you laugh at a time like this?” Melissa scolded before she
started to laugh and sat down next to her. Sarah grabbed her middle,
but kept laughing.
“What’s goin’ on in here?” Buck asked as he and Jimmy came back in,
having heard all the laughter.
“Sarah’s having her baby. Do either one of you know how to deliver
babies?”
“This is a joke, right?”
“No…” Sarah howled before another contraction stopped her.
“Tarnation! This hurts!”
“You’re not funnin’?” Jimmy stated, finally catching on.
“NO! She’s really having a baby!” Melissa told him. “Come on,
let’s get her over to the bed. Buck, you ever deliver a baby? Somehow I
don’t think Jimmy has.”
“Once...a couple years ago. Oh Lord…Sarah…you don’t think we have time
to ride to get the doc?”
“No, I don’t think so, Buck. I’m counting on you for this. In a way,
it’s only right…” here she smiled at him. He smiled back at her and
nodded.
“Okay, Melissa, why don’t you help her into one of your night dresses?
Jimmy, we need to boil some water. I’m gonna need to make sure my knife
gets put in it.”
“Knife!” Jimmy practically screamed. “What do you need a knife for?”
“That’s it. You’re waiting outside. I don’t think that you’re gonna be
very much help in here!” Buck stated as he pushed him out the door, and
closed it in his face.
“What am I supposed to do out here?” Jimmy yelled at the closed door.
“I have to be with Sarah.”
“Not now you don’t gotta be with noone. Now stay!” he heard Buck order.
Sarah was in Melissa’s night clothes, looking a little weary of this
whole process.
“I’m scared Buck,” Sarah told her friend.
“Remember when Jimmy left, and you had to go to the Indian Village?
Remember how scared you were then?”
“Yes,” she replied in a small voice.
“Look how well it turned out. Now Jimmy is back, and you’re gonna have
a healthy baby in a few hours. You’re not alone, and Melissa and I will
be with you every step of the way.”
A fierce contraction took over Sarah’s body, and she did her best not
to scream out in pain. When it was over, she looked at her two friends.
“Just between you and me, I don’t think that it’s gonna take a few
hours!”
Out on the front porch, Jimmy paced. He could hear Sarah calling out in
pain, and he had never felt so helpless in his entire life. He should
be in there with her, helping her through this experience. After all,
he’d had something to do with it.
He heard an especially shattering scream, and he ran for the door,
throwing it open. He was in time to see Buck calmly pulling out his
child from inside his wife. Melissa was there, putting a blanket around
the baby, while Buck cut the cord that was attached to it.
“You’ve got a daughter Jimmy,” Melissa smiled at him, as she passed the
screaming bundle to him.
Jimmy looked down in amazement at the baby that lay in his arms. She
was covered with white stuff and blood, but she had to one of the most
beautiful things that he had ever seen. He looked at Sarah, who looked
totally exhausted and knelt down next to her, putting the baby into her
arms. She looked down at her, and smiled.
“She’s beautiful, Jimmy! I love you!” She stated tears in her
eyes as she kissed Jimmy, then kissed the baby. “Thanks you two!”
“You did all the work!” Buck told her as he turned everything over to
his wife. “Come on Jimmy. We’ll let Melissa clean up Sarah and the
baby. Let’s drink a cup of coffee on the porch.”
“I love you too,” Jimmy told his wife as he gently kissed her, then
kissed the baby.
“By the way, what’s her name?” Melissa asked.
“I haven’t talked to Jimmy about this yet, but if he agrees, I’d like
her to be called Abigail, after his mother, and Elizabeth after mine.
That’s my mother’s middle name,” Sarah looked over at Jimmy to see what
he thought of her idea.
“Abigail Elizabeth…I like that…has a nice ring to it,” Buck stated as
he looked at Jimmy.
Jimmy felt as if he would cry if he said anything. He never knew that
it was possible for so much emotion to fill one human being. First his
daughter, now she was to be named after his mother. He just nodded his
head, kissed his wife once more and quickly exited from the cabin.
“I guess he likes that idea. Now out with you Buck. I have things to do
here,” Melissa told her husband.
The women watched him leave. “And just think, you get to go through all
of this in a couple of months!” Sarah laughed. “With my luck, you’ll
return the favor and have it at my home!”
“But at least your home is closer to the doc!” Melissa told her. “Now
let me get you two cleaned up.”
Jimmy and Buck had finished their coffee, and he was trying to let
everything sink into his conscious, when he became aware of someone
close. He looked over at Buck, and Buck motioned with his head to the
side of the cabin. He didn’t look as if he was concerned, and when Red
Bear and Two Eagles came out of the shadows, he could understand why.
“Sky Dancing has had her child?” Two Eagles asked Buck.
“Yes, about an hour ago. I’m sure that she would welcome the chance to
show her child to you. Let me go in and tell her that you’re here."
Jimmy watched as Buck conversed with the brave, greeted his brother,
then went into the cabin. Two Eagles, then turned his attention to
Jimmy. He nodded his head at him, and Jimmy smiled back at him. He
wasn’t surprised at all that this man knew that Sarah’s time had come.
He had already resigned himself to the fact that Sarah had her Indian
connections. They weren’t a part of him, but he knew that he had her
love and was secure in that knowledge. Buck came out and motioned for
Two Eagles and Red Bear to come in. Jimmy followed them in. He watched
as Sarah greeted them both, then motioned for them to come and look at
the baby. Two Eagles smiled as he saw the child.
“She is beautiful like her mother,” Two Eagles told Sarah.
“Thank you. We are calling her Abigail Elizabeth.”
“She must have an Indian name like her mother, since I know that we
will see her growing up as you visit the village. She will be known as
Dancing Star, Sky Dancing.”
“Thank you, Two Eagles. That is a lovely name, don’t you agree Red
Bear?”
“For what it is worth, I like it!” Melissa smiled as Red Bear nodded
his agreement.
“What are they talking about?” Jimmy asked Buck.
“They’ve just named your daughter Dancing Star since they feel that she
will go to the village with her mother and learn their ways.”
“Dancing Star...that’s a purty name alright,” Jimmy stated. “Tell them
that I appreciate them coming and giving my daughter her Indian name.”
Buck relayed the message to Two Eagles and his brother. Two Eagles put
his large hand on Dancing Star’s head and said a silent prayer for her.
Then he looked at her mother, realizing he still felt a great love for
her and said a prayer for her. He knew that she was happy, and that was
important to him.
“And how is Summer Wind?” Red Bear asked Melissa.
“I’m fine. Getting fatter every day with Buck’s child. I’m very happy”
“That is good!” he told her. Two Eagles smiled again at her before they
said their farewells and left.
“What a day! I’m so tired,” Sarah stated with a yawn. “I feel guilty
that I’m taking your bed.”
“Well, Jimmy and the baby can sleep with you tonight. Tomorrow we’ll go
get the wagon and get you back to your home so the doc can come and
take a look at the two of you. One night on the floor won’t kill Buck
or me.”
“And then the next morning we found all that stuff that Two Eagles had
left for you.”
“I still have those little moccasins, and those soft sleeping furs were
precious. It still amazes me that Two Eagles knows when anything
important happens in my life…even now that he’s married to Fair Flower.”
“I have a feeling that deep down, the man still loves you!” she
laughed. “Oh to have men falling all over you!” she teased.
“Look who’s talking! You have your husband, your son, your father, Ike,
they all worship the ground you walk on!”
“Yes, they do, don’t they? Speaking of Ike, Have you ever seen a man so
thrilled to be a father? Their little girl has got to be one of the
most precious babies that I’ve ever seen.”
“That’s true. As enthusiastic as Jimmy and Buck have been as fathers,
Ike beats them hands down! I think those two will have a very large
family.”
“I think so too!”
“You comfortable sweetheart?” she asked Abby, seated quietly in front
of her.
“Yes, Mommy!” she giggled.
Sarah looked over at William, also content to be riding in front of his
mother.
“You know…speaking of the way Abby was born. What about William?
Remember how you kept denying that you were in labor, and then returned
the favor and really had him at my house?” Sarah asked as she looked
out over the hills.
“Well, it wasn’t my fault that the doc chose that time to be out at the
Brown’s place delivering Clara Brown’s baby!” Melissa defended herself.
“You really did it to get back at me! And your poor husband!”
“Abby is only 6 months old, Jimmy. You can’t expect her to start
talking for at least anther couple of months!” Melissa laughed at him.
“I’m tellin’ you...she said daddy…didn’t you sugar?” Jimmy asked his
daughter as he picked her up off the floor. She squealed in delight as
Jimmy picked her up.
“As you can see, I’ve been deposed as his favorite lady!” Sarah replied
as she came out of the kitchen wiping her hands.
Jimmy smiled fondly at his wife. The sun had come back into his life
once Sarah had come back into it. It hadn’t set since. He liked his
life that way.
“From the look you’re getting’, I don’t think you have to worry none,”
Buck assured her, knowing he really didn’t have to.
“Gather round the table. Dinner’s ready,” Sarah said. “Someone hoist
Melissa out of her chair.”
“Very funny Sarah. I’m gonna remember this for the next time you’re
pregnant!” she chuckled as she kept ignoring the pains that were
shooting through her belly. She had talked to doc about this, and he
had explained about false labor to her. She was sure that was all this
was, and she didn’t want to get Buck all concerned. She also didn’t
want to ruin Sarah’s dinner. She was so enjoying spending time with her
friend.
“I’m not worried, Melissa!” she laughed. “Jimmy, you have to put Abby
down. I swear that he’s going to spoil that child.”
“That’s what she’s been telling me ever since the day this youngun was
born!” Jimmy said. “But so far she’s been wrong. This little lady has
the sweetest personality of any child ever born.”
“And he’s not prejudiced at all!” Buck stated.
“Ooooooo,” Melissa stated as she grabbed her belly.
“What?” Buck asked, instantly at her side.
“It’s nothing…it’s just those false labor pains again!” Melissa assured
him.
“You sure?” Sarah asked her.
“I’m sure. Let’s eat supper. It smells womderful!” Melissa told them
with a smile.
“Okay, Jimmy please say grace.”
They all bent their heads, and Buck had to smile. He and Jimmy had
never been grace sayers before these two women had come into their
lives. Actually, there was a lot that he and Jimmy did that they hadn’t
before Sarah and Melissa! Sarah started to load the table down with
food, and it was passed around. Sarah noticed that Melissa didn’t take
very much. Sarah also noticed that she kept clutching her belly and she
was doing it more often.
“Are you sure you’re alright, Melissa?” Sarah asked her.
“I think I am. It’s just that these pains keep coming closer together,
and they’re getting stronger!”
“You’re in labor!” Sarah declared. “Buck, go and get doc.”
“I’m not in labor, I tell you! All he’ll tell you is that it’s too soon
for this baby to come. I have at least another two weeks!”
“As if your baby cares! They come when they want to, and I’m betting
this one wants to come now!”
“I’ll go git doc!” Buck stated as he headed for the door.
“No...really...they’ll stop in a minute. I’ll just be embarrassed if
you bring him here, and he has to tell me again that I’m not really in
labor.”
“Okay...you get five more minutes! If they haven’t stopped by then Buck
is going to get doc!”
“Why don’t I jist go now?” he asked, his hand still on the door.
No...owww…!”
“That’s it! I’m goin’!” he stated as he bolted out the door.
“I guess I’d best get some towels and some hot water going. Jimmy, help
her into our room so that she can get into bed.”
“I’ll be okay…really!”
“And give her one of my night gowns. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Jimmy put his arm around her waist and helped her into the bedroom. “I
don’t believe you aren’t listening to me. I know my own body!”
“After Sarah’s labor, you think I’m gonna believe you?” Jimmy asked her
incredulously. “I jist hope you wait til the doc gets here!”
“I’ll be waiting all right...in two weeks you can eat your words when
my baby gets born!” she told him, but she really didn’t believe the
words as they came out of her mouth. The next pain nearly doubled her.
Jimmy just picked her up and laid her on the bed. He handed her one of
Sarah’s gowns.
“I guess you best change into this, so you’ll be ready for the doc when
he comes.”
“You sure are bossy, Hickok!”
“I know, and don’t you forget it!” he told her as he left the room.
Sarah came in shortly after, and helped her change.
“Were your pains close together, Sarah?” Melissa asked her.
“Yeah, just before Abby was born. Are yours that way?”
“Yesss…” she moaned.
“Jimmy!” Sarah called.
“Yeah?”
“I think I’m gonna need some help here. Put Abby in her crib, and bring
me the hot water and a sharp knife…now!” she ordered.
Jimmy hurried to do what she asked. Soon he was back by her side.
“Do you feel like you gotta push?” Sarah asked Melissa. “Where’s Buck?”
“Yes…”
“Get me some towel,s Jimmy.”
“Oh Lord!” he stated feeling weak. He handed her the towels.
“You stay near, Jimmy, and wrap the baby when I hand it to you!”
“But then I’m a gonna see parts that I don’t wanna see!” he told her as
Buck came rushing in.
“Doc’s not here...he’s out at the Brown place.”
“You’re just in time Buck. You’ve got two deliveries under your belt,
and I don’t have any. Tell me what to do!” Sarah told him.
“I cain’t deliver my own baby!” Buck stated, turning pale, looking at
Jimmy.
“Don’t look none at me! I ain’t never done this, and I ain’t wantin’ to
learn on Melissa!”
“But! I see a head! What do we do now?”
Buck just stood there, staring.
“BUCK!” Sarah yelled at him, getting some towels ready. “Snap out of
it!”
Melissa felt as if all her insides were getting pushed out of her. She
also felt like she was being ripped open from head to toe. But her body
was telling her to push for all she was worth, and push she was doing,
hoping someone would catch the baby as it came into the world!
Buck quickly leaned over, gently put his hands around his baby’s head,
and helped to guide it out. Sarah was right there with towels. Then she
handed him the knife, and he once again cut a cord that had connected a
baby to its mother. “You’ve got a fine son!” Sarah told him
softly as the baby screamed against her. “You take the baby, and I
think I can get it from here.”
With awe and wonder, Buck took his son from Sarah and looked down at
him. Yes, there were ten fingers and toes. He definitely wasn’t very
happy, so he turned to Melissa, and put their son into her arms.
“Isn’t he handsome?” Melissa asked in wonder.
“I’d say so,” Jimmy stated as he looked over Buck’s shoulder. Then he
looked at Sarah, who looked very relieved and happy. He smiled at her
and gave her a wink. He was proud of her. As always, she’d been
unflappable. How he loved her still…always.
“Now Buck, if you’d get me some water, I’ll be more than happy to clean
up your wife and baby. Let’s see, isn’t this where I send you and Jimmy
out to the porch to drink coffee?”
“Yeah...I think so,” he told her as he hugged Melissa to him for a
moment.
“I love you Summer Wind,” he told her softly as he kissed her.
“I love you too, Buck Cross!”
“Wait...name...what’s his name?” Jimmy wanted to know.
“I thought if it was a boy, we could name it after her daddy,” Buck
stated.
“Teaspoon?” Sarah laughed.
“No, Henry. He’s always the man that I thought was my father while I
was growing up,” Melissa explained. “And William as his first name.
Henry will be his middle name. What do you think?”
“William Henry Cross. That’s a strong name,” Jimmy approved as he
leaned down to kiss Melissa’s forehead. “Come on Buck, let’s git my
wife some water and go drink that coffee.”
Sarah just shook her head as she sat down on the bed next to her friend.
“This is becoming tradition! Let’s agree to end it now and have the doc
at our next births!”
“I can agree to that!” Melissa stated wholeheartedly. “But you got to
admit that Buck’s getting awfully good at this!”
“Yes, he is, but Jimmy is hopeless!” she laughed, shaking her head.
“I heard that!” Jimmy told her as he came in with the requested water.
“But I’ll pretend that I didn’t!”
“Out!” they both yelled.
“And then Red Bear showed up, just like Two Eagles had when Abby was
born. It’s amazing really.”
“And he gave William his Indian name! What’s your Indian name, William?”
“Two Feathers!” he shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Well, I’d say that the whole village will know we’re coming!” Sarah
laughed as she kicked Panache and urged him forward. She was anxious to
find out if Fair Flower had delivered her baby yet.
Melissa smiled as they came over the rise, and rode down into the
village. So many of these people meant so much to her. In front of Red
Cloud’s teepee, they dismounted. The two children were immediately
surrounded by their friends. The ladies knew they would be okay while
they were there. Greetings were exchanged before Sarah asked,
“What of Fair Flower?”
“She gave Two Eagles a son about an hour ago,” Red Cloud told her.
“Great! I’ll go over there…coming Melissa?”
“No...this is one you need to do on your own. I’ll go and visit with
White Hair and the others. You can find me there after you finish your
lesson.”
“Okay,” Sarah smiled at her as she headed for Two Eagles teepee. She
called out her hellos as she approached the teepee.
Two Eagles, hearing Sarah’s voice, smiled to himself as he got up and
went out to her. And like always, his heart started to beat a little
faster when she was around.
“Sky Dancing...you have come to see my son?”
“Yes, can I see him if I promise to be very quiet?” she smiled up at
the handsome brave. She could tell that she still held a special place
in his heart.
“Yes, they both sleep. Follow me,” he said as he went back inside.
Sarah let her eyes adjust to the dimmer light, and then tiptoed over to
where Fair Flower laid on her sleeping furs. Nestled in her arms was
the baby. She smiled as she looked down at the darker skinned child.
All babies were cute though, and this one was no exception. She tiptoed
back out, followed by Two Eagles.
“Does your son have a name yet?”
“We disagree. She wants to call him Tall Bear. I want to call him
Running Eagle.”
“Hmmm, I wonder who will win this?”
“I will,” he smiled. She saw a touch of his arrogance, so Indian like.
“Yeah, you will. You know, Two Eagles, this is all so right for you,”
she stated as they walked along together. The children started to fall
in line behind her.
“How so?”
“The fact that you crossed the marriage stick with Fair Flower and not
with me. The fact that you have a son who is all Indian, instead of my
daughter who doesn’t have too much Indian blood in her. Things happened
as they were supposed to.”
They stopped walking as he looked around. He found Dancing Star as she
ran and chased with the younger children.
“But she is like you. She fits here. It would have worked, Sky Dancing.”
He could feel his insides begin to soften towards her once again. What
good could that accomplish?
“I know it would have, Two Eagles. Every now and then I miss it…I miss
you. But I’m happy, and I know you don’t want me to thank you for all
the gifts you keep leaving for me and the baby…but it’s so sweet of you
and I appreciate everything that you leave,” For in the Indian manner,
Two Eagles left things for her to find, never expecting thanks...just
doing it because he knew it would bring her pleasure.
“I hope this does not make your husband angry?”
“No, Jimmy understands about my other life here and the friendship that
I have with you. Well, let me teach the children their lesson. After,
if you have time, we can continue our conversation about the people in
Asia.”
“I’d like that Sky Dancing.”
These talks were his salvation. He was starting to let her teach him
English, and he loved to learn about what was going on in the world out
there. She could still stimulate his mind, and he felt as if he would
go crazy if their talks ever came to an end. Fair Flower just couldn’t
give him all that he needed.
“Good. See you later.”
Melissa enjoyed her time with the ladies. She followed Sarah’s progress
around the village. First talking to Two Eagles - that man was still
smitten with her friend. Then teaching the children. Then talking to
Two Eagles again. She knew that Sarah was teaching him English and that
surprised her. She didn’t think he would ever care to learn, but maybe
he understood the value of speaking the language of the intruders.
Her attention was drawn to riders entering the village, and she smiled
as she realized it was Jimmy and Buck. Jimmy finally seemed at home
here, and it had taken him quite awhile to come to that. She had to
admire him though. He had kept pushing, kept coming, until the people
of the village had accepted him.
“Hello you two!” she called to them.
“Where’s Sarah?” Jimmy asked after he had made his greetings to those
seated around her.
“On the hill talking to Two Eagles. They’ve been at it for awhile. So I
don’t think she would mind if you interrupted.”
“Daddy!” Abby yelled as she came running and jumped into his arms.
“Hey sugar. Let’s go find mommy.”
They walked off as Buck sat next to his wife.
“I didn’t expect you.”
“I got back sooner than I thought, and ran into Jimmy who was headin’
up here. So I joined him.”
“I’m glad that you did. I’ve missed you!” she told him with a kiss.
That was received with approving looks as William came hurling at him.
“I’ve missed my family too!” he told them. “What are we fixin’ for
supper tonite, ladies?” he asked the group.
“Two Eagles...hello!” Jimmy called to him in his own language.
Sarah looked at Two Eagles and smiled her encouragement.
“Hello, Jimmy Hickok!” He said to him in English.
“Hey, that sounded great!” Jimmy approved.
“You understand?” Two Eagles asked him.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Why don’t the two of you speak some English while I help the ladies
with supper? Come on, Dancing Star.”
“I’m coming, mommy.”
The rest of the evening at the village was enjoyable. When the children
started to fall asleep, they agreed that it was time to go. They all
said their good nights and Sarah snuck to Two Eagles’ teepee and left
her gift for the baby. Then she mounted Panache.
Melissa looked back over her shoulder, and the village looked to be at
peace. She looked over at her friend. She and Jimmy were riding ahead
of her and Buck talking quietly between themselves, Abby sleeping in
the saddle in front of Jimmy. Her husband rode next to her, cradling
William in front of him. How was it possible to feel so content? So
much had happened since that fateful day she had gotten on the
stagecoach to Rock Creek. She now had a father, a husband, and a son.
She had peace, as she knew her best friend had. She had contentment,
and hopefully soon, both she and Sarah would add to their families. She
smiled to herself in the darkness. Life was good.