"I have to ask, Buck," Noah said astonished, "What were you thinking? Kissing a white girl like that in the middle of a dance floor could get the likes of us hung."

Ike gave Buck a look like he was wondering the same thing.

"I guess I wasn't thinking," Buck answered. "It just happened. One minute we were dancing and the next we were kissing."

*Did she kiss you?* Ike asked.

"We kissed each other," Buck clarified. "I can't really explain it, but there's something about her."

"Uh huh," Noah commented. "She's trouble and the like that will get you killed."

Ike looked at Buck alarmed. *Could she be another Kathleen Devlin?*

"She's nothing like Kathleen, Ike," Buck said slightly annoyed. "Why does everyone always think I'm going to get hurt as soon as a pretty girl looks my way? Lucy's not like that."

*We're all just worried about you,* Ike signed. *Besides you don't know Lucy that well.*

"I won't get the chance either," Buck said sadly, "Especially if her father has anything to say about it. It's probably for the best anyway."

Buck untied his string tie and pulled it from under his collar. He took off his jacket and sat on the edge of his bunk.

"I could never forget her though," Buck thought out loud. "Her eyes were so piercing and green, I felt like she could see into my soul. She smelled like flowers and fresh baked apple pie. I wish I could see her again."

Ike looked at Noah and they both knew to leave it alone, but Ike was worried that Buck would get his heart broken again or worse.

The bunkhouse door opened and the rest of the riders returned from the dance. All of them gave Buck a sympathetic look as they entered.

"How was the rest of the dance," Noah asked.

"It was a little subdued, but nice I guess," Kid answered. "Buck caused the most excitement at the dance the whole night."

"Buck, it would have been scandalous if one of us kissed a girl we barely knew in the middle of the dance floor," Cody observed, "Why'd you do it."

"I don't know," Buck said sincerely, "It seemed like the right thing to do at the time."

"Buck, it isn't like you to cause this kind of trouble," Kid said, "You should know better."

Buck felt himself go defensive. He didn't like having to answer to the rest of the riders about things that to him were personal.

"I'm sorry I stepped out of my place, Kid," Buck said on his way out the door. He needed some air.

"That's not what I meant, Buck," Kid called after him.

Buck walked across the thoroughfare to the corral where they kept the Express horses and looked up at the moon. He wanted to be left alone with his thoughts that were mostly of her. This was a beautiful creature that suddenly stepped into his life and caused all sorts of wonderful new feelings to emerge. He had only been in her presence for a few brief minutes, but already he was sure he would move mountains to be with her. He smiled at the thought of seeing her again. The smile faded from his face as he heard the distinctive sound of gravel under the hard soles of boots walking his way. He could tell by the gait just exactly which of his brothers had taken it upon themselves to cheer him up.

"What do you want, Jimmy?" Buck said flatly.

"How do you do that?" Jimmy remarked.

Buck laughed quietly. "I just pay attention."

"I have something for you," Jimmy said.

"If it's advice, I don't want it," Buck said simply.

"I think you'll want this," Jimmy said with a smile.

Buck turned and arched an eyebrow at his friend. He didn't know what Jimmy could have that he would want.

"I was dancing with your dance partner's dear friend Cecilia," Jimmy said. "She gave me something to give to you."

Jimmy held out a delicate lace glove and Buck couldn't help but feel his chest puff out with excitement and pride. It was Lucy's glove. The one she had dropped and he returned to her. This was the glove that started everything.

"Did she say anything?" Buck asked quickly, "Was there a message?"

"Just that she wants to see you again," Jimmy said smiling. "Be careful, my friend."

Buck turned back the corral as Jimmy left. He brought the glove to his nose and deeply inhaled Lucy's scent. He smiled at the sky and observed a falling star. Lou told them all that you are supposed to make a wish when you see a falling star, so Buck took to opportunity to wish that he would see Lucy again.

"No daughter of mine will be seen cavorting with Indians," Lucy's father yelled. "I don't care that he was dressed as a white man, or how well mannered he was!"

Lucy was trying to look like she was paying attention and understanding everything. All she really wanted to do was sneak out of the house and find Buck. She owed him an apology. She let the magic of the moment take her over when she kissed him. She hoped it did not cause him any trouble with his employer. The marshal seemed like a fair man, so she was optimistic that Buck wouldn't lose his job or be stuck in a jail cell. Lucy hoped most of all that she hadn't endangered Buck's life.

"Do you understand me, young lady?"

"Yes, papa," Lucy answered.

"Now go on to bed," he said, "We'll speak of this in the morning. After a good sleep, you'll see the error of your ways, Sweetheart."

Lucy settled into bed hoping to spend her night dreaming of Buck. He took her by surprise and now he was the only thing she could think of. She was petrified to be near him at the beginning of the night and now all she wanted was to be in his arms. He was strong and handsome. That is all she really knew about him. She hoped to soon know everything about him. Lucy paced around her room trying to think of a way to make it happen. She sat down on the window seat in her room and gently took out the silver comb holding her hair in place. She grabbed her silver backed brush and started her nightly ritual of brushing out her long brown hair. Lucy looked out her window just in time to see a shooting star. She closed her eyes and made a wish. She wished she would be able to see Buck again.

Buck tried to concentrate on his breakfast, but all he could think about was Lucy. Her sweet smile was all he could see as he stirred his oatmeal. The grey mush was long since cold, but the rhythmic stirring helped focus his mind.

Buck had been watching all the people at the dance that night. It was his habit to know who everyone was and where they were. It was a defense of his. He felt safer when he knew where trouble was likely to come from.

Across the room Buck had seen her. She looked upset and had just left the hall. He was the only one who saw her drop her glove. He remembered looking around the hall and nobody picked it up, so he decided to be neighborly. Teaspoon was always encouraging them to garner good will with the towns they worked in. That was what he was going to do...garner good will. He wasn't prepared for how beautiful she was. His mind had gone completely blank and all he could do was stare at her in wonderment. He thought he had blown it and scared her, but she returned to him and asked him to dance. A lovely lady had never asked him to dance before. Her skin was so soft and her smile so genuine, Buck was lost.

"Buck, are you going to eat that?" Cody asked and by the sound of his voice not the first time.

"Hmmmm?" Buck hummed back.

"I said, 'are you going to eat that?'" Cody repeated.

Buck looked down at his oatmeal and pushed the bowl over to Cody.

"Those girls sure were something last night, weren't they?" Cody asked.

"Yeah, they were," Jimmy added blushing. "Cecilia about charmed my socks off."

"Phoebe's eyes were prettier than even mine," Cody sighed. "I could look into them all night."

"I didn't notice," Buck said grabbing his coffee mug.

"No, you wouldn't have," Cody said smiling. "You were too busy with your own pretty lady. She was quite a looker too."

"Her name was Lucy," Buck said with an involuntary sigh.

"He's got it bad," Cody said in a stage whisper to Jimmy.

"I think we all got it bad," Jimmy concluded. "Maybe we can take them all out on a picnic."

Buck frowned. Given how Lucy's parents reacted to a dance with him, there would be no way he'd allow him to take her on a picnic.

"Maybe you can," Buck said sadly, "I don't think Lucy's parents would look too kindly on me asking to take Lucy on a picnic."

"I have an idea," Cody said enthusiastically, "What if Jimmy and I ask Phoebe and Cecilia? Maybe they can bring Lucy along as a chaperone?"

"That just might work," Jimmy agreed. "You can meet us later."

Buck gave Jimmy a non-committal shrug and got up from the table.

"Where are you going?" Cody asked.

"Out to chop some firewood," Buck answered as he grabbed some work gloves.

Cody and Jimmy watched Buck go and then looked back at each other.

"Let's go into town, Jimmy," Cody said decidedly. "If Lucy's half as hung up on Buck as he is on her, we have to help them."

"You sure you're not just thinking of Phoebe?" Jimmy teased.

"Well they are friends and if we all benefit at the same time, I say it is more than worth it," Cody reasoned.

"For once, Cody, I agree with you," Jimmy said as he grabbed his hat. "Let's go set up a picnic."

Phoebe and Cecilia stood outside the Halston's front door. They hoped Lucy wasn't grounded for life after what happened at the dance the night before. Both ladies wondered if Lucy still felt drawn to Buck today or if it was just the magic of the night.

"I don't know about you, Cece, but I really hope she still wants to see Mr. Cross," Phoebe said trying to hide her ulterior motivation.

Cecilia smiled but suppressed an all out giggle. "And you're not just hoping because of Mr. Cody?" Cecilia teased.

Phoebe blushed. "He asked me to call him 'Billy,'" Phoebe gushed suddenly excited. "Oh Cece, he is just the cutest boy I have ever seen and I think he likes me."

Cecilia gave Phoebe a quick squeeze of support. "That's really wonderful Phoebe!"

"Oh Cece, I didn't even ask how your dance with Mr. Hickok went," Phoebe said. "What did you say to him when you asked him to dance anyway? He looked at you with a look almost scandalous."

Cecilia giggled openly this time a blushed. "It is silly," she said.

"Tell me," Phoebe insisted wide eyed.

"I said, 'You must be on hell of a thief, because you stole my heart from across the room,'" Cecilia answered. "Are you happy now? Ugh… this is so embarrassing."

Phoebe's mouth hung wide open. "I can't believe you said something like that."

"I can," Lucy said coming out the door. "Were you two going to knock, or just sit on my front porch all day?"

Cecilia and Phoebe giggled. "We're sorry, Lucy," Cecilia said. "I guess we were just scared you would still be upset about last night."

"Well, I am," Lucy said, "But I have a plan. Let's go into town, perhaps our boys are outside working."

"Oh Lucy, you are terrible," Phoebe said blushing.

"I like how you think," Cecilia said with a sly smile.

"Mama needs some supplies from Tompkins'," Lucy said. "I volunteered to get them."

"Clever," Cecilia said approvingly. "Let's go."

Jimmy and Cody were sitting on the boardwalk just outside Teaspoon's office playing checkers, hoping to see the ladies they met at the dance the night before.

"Maybe we should help him," Cody said looking over at Buck chopping wood.

"I know what you mean," Jimmy said. "I was hoping those pretty ladies would come into town today."

"It sure is frustrating," Cody remarked, "Not seeing them."

Jimmy laughed. "We just met them, Cody," he said. "You can't be that frustrated."

"You didn't see Phoebe's beautiful cornflower blue eyes," Cody argued. "Those eyes could drive a man to a life of crime."

Jimmy laughed a little louder. "I already feel like an outlaw after dancing with Cecilia," he said. "It wasn't her eyes, but the way she moved her hips."

Cody looked at Jimmy with a tinge of jealousy. He could almost imagine Phoebe moving her hips that way. He'd be a goner for sure. Both young men looked at each other and laughed. Then they back at the wood pile. Buck had just taken off his shirt and was back to chopping. Cody decided Buck was a lot more frustrated than either himself or Jimmy.

Cody looked around the town and smiled as the ladies, he and Jimmy we speaking of, walked out of Tompkins' store. He stood up from the checkerboard.

"Well, would you look at that," Cody said nodding in the ladies direction.

Lucy led the way out of Tompkins' and promptly dropped her package as soon as she saw Buck. His muscles were rippling and the sweat on his body was glistening. Lucy thought she might swoon. "Oh my," she said involuntarily out loud.

"Oh my goodness!" Phoebe exclaimed taking in the sight of Buck chopping firewood.

"Oh my goodness is right," Cecilia said appreciatively.

Cecilia also caught the sight of Jimmy and Cody heading their way. "Heads up ladies, we have company," she said under her breath.

Cody picked Lucy's package up and tipped his hat. "Good day, ladies," he said suavely.

"Hello, Billy," Phoebe said shyly.

Cecilia just winked at Jimmy and he became tongue tied once more.

"Thank you Mr. Cody," Lucy said taking her package back. "What brings you and Mr. Hickok over here today?"

"Ah…we came over here to…ah, not that we wouldn't like to…but you see," Jimmy fumbled.

Cody rolled his eyes at Jimmy and took a stab at explaining their presence. "Jimmy and I would like to invite you ladies on a picnic tomorrow afternoon," he said.

Lucy frowned and looked back over to where Buck was chopping wood. A picnic with him would be so lovely. She envied her two friends. They could be asked to picnics and parties with the young men they fancied. She was forbidden from seeing the one boy she wanted.

"You go ahead, Phoebe, Cece," Lucy said sadly.

"Now Miss Halston, I'm sure you know that Miss Phoebe and Miss Cecilia will need a chaperone on their picnic," Cody said while nodding at Buck and winking at Lucy.

"I think a picnic is a wonderful idea," Cecilia said catching on to Cody's idea. "Don't you Phoebe?"

Phoebe looked confused and then parsed out the plan for herself. "Oh my yes," she said.

Lucy looked back at Buck. He had put the ax down and was looking at them all. She smiled at him and nodded. "Yes, a picnic is a wonderful idea, Mr. Cody," she said.