TO HAVE AND TO HOLD
PART 8

                     MARY BOLTON & ROBBIE WOOTEN


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.


THE END

COPYRIGHT - 2004  M BOLTON & R WOOTEN