Chapter 2
Ike McSwain was standing on his front porch with his wife of two months Emily, when his best friend and brother Buck Cross rode into his yard. Ike could tell by the look on his face that whatever he had come to talk about it wasn't something he would discuss in front of Emily. So Ike turned to his wife and signed to her to go on inside that he had to talk to Buck, Emily not understanding completely what Ike had said just looked at him for a minute until he repeated his signs slower. She understood this time and did as she was asked. Ike smiled after her and went to his friend.
Buck had been watching the little interaction between the happy couple while he sat on his horse, after Emily went inside he dismounted and tied his horse to the porch railing and meet his 'brother' halfway. "What's the matter Buck" Ike signed to his friend. "You will never believe what just happened back at the station Ike." Buck said still half in shock. Ike seeing the look on his face thinks something terrible has happened, "What happened? Is everybody alright?" he signed so fast that even Buck had a hard time following. "Whoa slow down Ike. Its ok nothing bad happened and everybody is fine. No this is personal. I just got back from a ride and was in the barn brushing down my horse when Lou came in. She walked right up to me and kissed me on the mouth Ike. Before I had time to react she took off. I have no idea why she would do something like that." Buck said the look of wonder back on his face. Ike had a goofy grin on his as he listened. "Lou kissed you? Lou? And you did nothing?" Ike signed breaking into silent laughter.
Buck punched him lightly on the arm. "Hey I wasn't expecting it, I was in shock. I mean she's never given me any indication that she had feelings for me or was even attracted to me." Ike shook his head still laughing silently, "I think she just gave you some indication Buck. What you need to figure out is if you have feelings for Lou or are at least attracted to her." He signed. Buck just looked at Ike like he was crazy. "You're kidding right. I need to figure out how I feel about Lou or if I'm at least attracted to her? Dammit Ike, I've been in love with Lou since pretty much when we found out she was a girl. Even before then I would catch myself looking at her in attraction, I thought I was going crazy, that there was something wrong with me." Ike was doubling over in his silent laughter now; Buck couldn't take anymore so he finally tackled Ike in a friendly wrestling match.
Emily came outside when she heard the ruckus and was shock to see her husband and his best friend fighting. Running over to them she yelled for them to stop, which they immediately did to see the look of worry on her face. Buck busted out laughing while Ike's shoulders started shaking all over again. Emily looked between the two of them before she just huffed and turned around muttering something about crazy men. Ike stood up and dusted his pants off before helping Buck to his feet. Buck dusted off his pants and started heading for his horse when Ike stopped him and invited him to stay for dinner. Buck accepted not quite ready to head back to the station and discuss what had happened in the barn with Lou. He knew what he wanted to say to Lou, he just didn't know the reason Lou had to kiss him to begin with, what if it didn't mean anything.
Emily was glad that Buck had stayed to dinner. As much as she loved Ike, she still missed vocal conversation, not that she would ever say anything like that to Ike. When she asked Buck about the fight she broke up between him and Ike, Buck explained to her that they had just been playing around. Ike had been teasing him about something, so he had to put him in his place. Ike got that goofy grin on his face again when Buck explained that to Emily. She did not miss it. "What were you teasing him about sweetheart?" "Ike don't you dare tell her." Buck threatened. Ike didn't listen, "Oh just about a certain female pony express rider giving him a kiss in the barn." Ike signed to his wife. Buck punched Ike on the arm, as Emily started drilling Buck with questions.
By the end of supper Buck was exhausted by all of Emily's questions. But she agreed with Ike that it sounded like Lou was at least attracted to him, but had a feeling that Lou's feelings went deeper than that. She also told Buck that something had to have made Lou act on her feelings. When Buck said he didn't have any idea what could have been the cause, Emily just urged him to be careful. Buck thanked them both for the advice and dinner before heading home. Lou wasn't around when he arrived but he did find Jesse in the barn. Jesse looked irritated. "Hey Jesse, what's going on?" He asked as he dismounted and started unsaddling his horse. "Nothing that concerns you half breed." Jesse said before stomping off. Buck was left watching his retreating back, he would never have expected Jesse to call him that, shaking his head he went about his business before returning to the bunkhouse.
