Buck strode down the boardwalk with absolute purpose. Today, Mama was letting him go to general store all by himself to pick up a package for Miss Rita, and it was a job he was taking very seriously. The Miller's store was only a few streets over, and he'd been lots of times, but this was the first time he'd been allowed to go alone and he was determined to fulfill his duty perfectly. Not just because he wanted to impress Miss Rita but also to show Mama that six, in eight days, was plenty big enough to things on his own.

For his entire walk Buck never strayed from the boardwalk, he didn't even talk to anyone unless they spoke to him first. Normally if he'd been out playing or even if he'd been out with Mama would have wanted to walk through the alleys or make several stops en route, but he didn't do that today. Mama had been very plain before he left that he was to go to the store and come right back home without making any stops in between and Buck had already made up his mind that today he would obey to the letter.

Arriving at the general store, Buck pushed through the door and went up to the front counter. "Good afternoon, Mr. Miller."

Mr. Miller smiled down at Buck. "Afternoon, Buck. What can I do for you today?"

Buck had known Mr. Miller his entire life and he liked coming to his store, although the licorice the man always gave him probably had as much to do with Buck's fondness for this this store as the man himself. "Miss Rita sent me to get a package for her." He told the store owner, standing as tall as he could and trying to sound grown up, even though he could barely see over the counter.

"All righty. I don't see your mother today. Did you come alone?"

"Yes, Sir." Buck answered proudly. "I'm six now, almost, so Mama let me come by myself."

The man chuckled. "Well, six is close to grown I reckon. Rita's package is in the back. Just a minute." Before going into the back room the store owner took the jar of licorice from the counter and offered it to Buck, who gladly accepted the candy with a grin. As the storekeeper disappeared into the back Buck leaned against the counter, contentedly chewing on the confection.

It didn't take long for Mr. Miller to reappear carrying two packages. Buck wasn't quite done with his candy but shoved the rest of it in his month when he saw the man. He wasn't loafing today, even to finish the licorice. Mama had told him to come straight home, so as soon as Mr. Miller gave him the package he was leaving. Miller walked around the counter studying the two wrapped parcels and finally handed the smaller one to Buck.

"There was one for Lilly back there as well, but as you're here be yourself today I guess it will wait." He said, setting the larger one aside.

Buck hastily chewed the remaining licorice as he eyed the other parcel thoughtfully. It wasn't that big. And it wasn't that far back home. "I can get it." He declared after swallowing.

The store owner looked up from where he'd been writing and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? That's an armload to carry back."

Buck nodded emphatically. "I'm sure. I can do it. It's not too far back home."

Smiling the man retrieved the other bundle and passed it to Buck. "Are you sure you can carry them all the way home?" He asked, watching Buck struggle with the load for the smallest bit.

Neither package was heavy but carrying both of them was a bit awkward and it took Buck a moment to get settled. Still, he was determined he would deliver them both. "I'm sure." He affirmed with a smile.

"Well, one of the marks of a fine man is that he does more work than is expected of him." The older man said as he opened the door for his young patron.

"Good-bye, Mr. Miller. Thank you!" Buck called as he started back down the boardwalk towards home.

If Buck had been intent on his walk to the store he was even more so on the way home. He now had parcels for both Miss Rita and Lilly and it was a responsibility he didn't take lightly. He also now had to keep hold of his deliveries which wasn't a simple thing for the young boy. The problem was he was so focused on getting home that he was caught off guard when one of the shop doors suddenly swung out and a burly man darted out promptly colliding with Buck.

Buck stumbled back with a grunt as he hit the large man causing both him and the packages to fall to the boardwalk. He looked up, about to protest when his words were cut off by a glare from the bearded, heavy-set man, a boat or a dock worker, river rats some of the girls called them, by the looks of him. "Why don't you watch were you're going, whelp?" The man demanded.

Buck stared up at the imposing man with wide eyes. "I'm sorry." He hadn't done anything wrong but the apology came automatically as the man glowered down at him.

"Stupid kids." The man huffed. He had turned to stalk off when another voice joined their discussion.

"You make knocking kids to the ground a daily habit, mister?"

Buck slowly got to his feet, keeping his eyes on the newcomer. He was younger and cleaner than the dock worker. Clean shaven and dressed nicer too, he looked more like a man who might come to the Palace than a river rat.

The big man sighed heavily and aimed his glare at the newcomer. "He yours?"

The younger man shook his head. "No."

"Then it ain't none of your concern." The river rat shot back.

"Oh, I think is." The man on the street said quietly. He sifted ever so slightly and suddenly the expression on the other's face changed.

"No need to get worked up over it." The rat's tone was now far more amiable. "I mean accidents happen, don't they? Didn't mean nothing by it. 'Sides he's all right, ain't you kid?"

Buck looked between the two men who were both watching him intently. Buck nodded slightly and then focused hard on the newcomer trying to spot whatever it was that had made the river rat so accommodating. He couldn't see anything.

"Now" The newcomer continued. "I realize you're probably a very busy man with a lot to do but I think you could at least take time to apologize to the boy."

"Sorry, kid." The burly man mumbled.

"Hope you didn't strain yourself too much. Now move along."

As the man made a quick getaway, Buck's rescuer came over and picked up the packages that had been dropped earlier. "You all right, boy?"

"Uh-huh. I'm fine."

"Hope you don't have a lot of those encounters."

"Nope. Most people like me."

The man laughed. "I'm sure they do."

He looked down at the burden Buck had been carrying. "This is quite a load for a boy your size."

"I can do it." Buck replied, slightly offended. "I'm already six and I'm not so small. I'm gonna be going to school soon."

"Is that a fact? Well, I reckon you're a pretty good size for six at that."

Grinning Buck stuck his hand out to the man. "My name's Buck Wilmington."

"John Parker. It's a pleasure, Buck." He reached for Buck's hand, but instead of shaking it he turned it palm up. "You sure you're all right?"

Buck looked down and saw the large abrasion on his palm for the first time as Parker began to gently examine his hand. Now that he was aware of it, it was starting to string a little bit but Buck stood quietly until the man found a particularly tender spot. Hissing Buck tried to jerk his hand back.

Parker winched at the boy's reaction. "Sorry 'bout that. Looks like you got a splinter in there." He said, releasing Buck's hand.

Buck took to studying his hand trying to see the splinter Parker had found. He ran his thumb along his palm, wincing when he felt the sliver of wood embedded in it. "Why don't you come over to my office and let me clean that up for you." Parker suggested.

"What office?"

"The sheriff's office."

Buck's eyes narrowed. "You're not the sheriff." Mr. Cranford was the sheriff and Buck had heard enough about Mr. Cranford from the girls at home to know this was't him.

"No, I'm not. I'm a deputy.

Buck had never met a deputy before. "Is that why that river rat turned tail?"

Parker laughed. "I guess if you call that turning tail. You want to get that hand cleaned up?"

Buck shrugged. "I suppose so."


Several minutes later Buck was perched tensely on a desk in the sheriff's office while Parker stood over his hand, extracting the splinter as gently as he could.

"Ow!" Buck cried, feeling the needle poke him again.

"Sorry." It wasn't the first time the apology had been made. "You know, it probably wouldn't hurt as much if you didn't look at it." Parker muttered, shifting some so Buck's view was mostly blocked.

Buck knew that was probably true, at least that's what Mama told him every time she had to doctor him but he just couldn't keep his eyes off what the man was doing. Craning his neck Buck looked around Parker's shoulder and bite down on his bottom lip, whimpering only a little bit when he felt the needle again.

Soon Parker relaxed his grip on Buck's wrist and held up the tiny piece of wood that had been the problem. "Sorry if I hurt you, son, but I couldn't leave it in there."

Buck didn't mind, now that the ordeal was over. "That's all right. You were almost as good as Mama. And lots better than Rose."

Parker didn't know who Rose was but it sounded like a compliment. "That's gratifying. Let me put some of this on there and it will almost be as good as new."

Buck gave the bottle the deputy held a wary look. Whatever was in that bottle would sting. The stuff in bottles always did, but Buck begrudgingly held his hand out anyway.

"This is gonna hurt a little bit."

"Mama blows on it." Buck told the man hastily.

Parker paused. "Huh?"

"When it stings, Mama blows on it."

Parker nodded. Taking a rag he dabbed at Buck's small injury. Once again he was as easy as he could be but he still felt Buck tense as soon the antiseptic touched the abrasion. Hearing another whimper escape, Parker began to blow on the boy's palm, stopping only when he sensed Buck relax some. "Feel better?"

Buck nodded with a smile. "Yes, sir."

Returning the smile, Parker starting to pick up the supplies he'd used to patch Buck up and put them away.

"Is this Mr. Cranford's desk?" Buck asked.

"It is."

"Do you think he's as useless as tits on a boar hog?"

Parker started at the choice of words and turned back to the boy. "What? Where'd you hear talk like that?"

"That's what Miss Liza says about him. And Jeanie says he couldn't tell his rear end from a hole in the ground if he had two tries." Most of what Buck had heard the girls say about the sheriff wasn't very flattering.

Parker did his best not to smile. This kid was a card and he had some pretty accurate descriptions of the sheriff but Parker wasn't sure he should encourage Buck's phraseology. "Well, maybe you shouldn't repeat any of that. Not sure everyone would appreciate the comparisons."

"Yes, sir."

Parker went back to his task, still trying to fight back a grin at Buck's unintentional, but very fitting, slurs against his boss when he heard Buck gasp.

"I have to go!" Buck cried, jumping down from the desk. "Mama said I had to come right back home after I saw Mr. Miller, and that I couldn't make any stops." He looked to Parker, distress plain in his blue eyes. "And now she's probably worried and she won't want let me go to the store alone anymore."

"If you tell her want happened I'm sure she'll understand." Parker told him, trying to calm him down.

"She doesn't always think I'm telling the truth." Buck sighed.

One of Parker's eyebrows went up. "Do you always tell the truth?"

"Yes. Well, most of the time I always tell the truth."

Parker snorted a laugh. "How about if walk home with you. If she doesn't believe you I can vouch for you."

"What's vouch mean?"

"It means I'll tell her you're telling the truth."

Buck flashed an infectious grin, all worry vanishing from his face. "She'll have to believe a deputy won't she?."

Buck kept up a steady stream of conversation as he and Parker they made their way toward the Palace. He only stopped his chattering when Parker put a hand to his shoulder.

"Where do you live, Buck?" As they had walked Parker had started to notice they were entering the rather unsavory said of town and that almost every building they passed was some kind of saloon or dance hall. When they passed the first building with red-glassed lanterns hanging out in front, he really started to wonder about their location. The boy must have gotten turned around when they'd left the sheriff's office.

"Down there." Buck said, pointing down the street.

"You live on this street?" Buck nodded. "Are you sure?"

Buck looked around at the familiar buildings he walked by countless time in his life. "Yes, sir. We're almost there."

"Buck, I uhhh, I don't think there is anything but saloons on this street."

Buck nodded again. "That's right. We live at the Palace."

"The Palace?" Parker asked, unable to hide his surprise. He was fairly new in town, only arriving about four months ago, and was still learning all the ins and outs of the town but he'd heard of the Palace. From what he'd picked up since he'd started wearing a badge a few weeks ago, the Crystal Palace was not the average brothel. The price for a girl there was high, some of them ridiculously so, and if a girl there decided she didn't want a particular man, odds were good that he wouldn't get her. Something that was unheard of in your run-of-the-mill whorehouse. Still, while the Palace was a high end brothel, it was still a brothel and Buck lived there. Than again, a lot of things Buck had said today, like the many women he'd made mention of and his somewhat crass descriptions about the sheriff made a lot more sense in light of this new knowledge.

"Well, actually it's the Crystal Palace but everybody calls it the Palace." Buck stated very matter-of-factly.

Parker looked down at the boy who was gazing up at him innocently and swallowed back his shock. He doubted Buck was old enough to understand that his life was radically different than most children and Parker sure wasn't going to be the one to tell him otherwise. "Well," He said with a smile. "Let's get you home."

Buck needed no farther encouragement. "Come on, Mr. Parker." He more or less ran the rest of the way home.


Ida was anxiously waiting in the barroom. Buck had been gone too long and she had feared sending him off after Rita's package alone would end up like this. He had promised to return home as soon as he finished at the store and although his promise had been made with absolute sincerity Buck was so easily distracted by things. There was no telling what had happened between here and the Miller's store to make Buck forget about his pledge. Ida gave the clock across the room a worried glace. If he wasn't back in five minutes and then she was going to look for him.

Just then she heard the door slam. "Mama!"

Jumping up she ran into the foyer. "Buck, are you all right?" She asked, worry crowding out anger. At least until she assured herself he was in one piece.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Then where have you been? I told you to go straight to the store and come straight back."

"I did. Well, I tried to. It wasn't my fault."

"That's the truth, Ma'am."

Ida noticed the man who had come in with Buck for the first time. "And you are?"

"This is Mr. Parker." Buck supplied. "He's here to…what are you gonna do for me?"

Parker chuckled. "Vouch for you."

"Yeah, he's gonna vouch for me 'cause I told him you might not believe me."

"I might not believe what?" Ida looked between her son and Parker waiting for one of them to expound on what had happened to delay Buck.

"I was coming home like I was supposed to and this River Rat knocked me down." Buck held up his skinned palm as proof.

"Knocked you down!?" Ida was immediately on her knees studying Buck's hand.

"It was unintentional but he wasn't exactly civilized about trying to make amends." Parker added.

"But Mr. Parker made him apologize and then he took care of my hand. There was a splinter in it too but he got it out. That's why I was late."

Ida looked at Buck's hand closely. It seemed his mysterious new friend had done a thorough job of cleaning it. "Well, in that case, I'm certainly grateful to Mr. Parker for his help." Getting to her feet once more Ida gave the man a smile which he returned with a nod. "Buck, I'd like a word with Mr. Parker. Why don't take Rita's package to her. She's been waiting for it."

"I got one for Lilly too."

"I'm sure she'll be glad to heat that."

Parker handed the parcels to Buck who ran off, eager to finish the job he'd started earlier. Ida smiled as she watched him hurry off then turned her attention back to Parker. "I'm afraid we haven't been properly introduced. Ida Wilmington." She offered her hand which Parker kissed lightly, momentary unsettling her. It had been some time since Ida had met a man with manners like that.

"John Parker. It's a pleasure, Miss Wilmington."

"I want you to know I'm truly grateful for any help you gave him today, Mr. Parker."

"John. And it wasn't anything much, just doing my job."

"Your job?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Deputy John Parker."

"Ah, that answers few questions. I hope he didn't cause you any trouble today. He can be something of a handful."

"Not at all. He made for entertaining company."

"He's certainly that."

An awkward silence fell between them and Ida wondered where the conversation should go. She was saved from having to force things when Parker cleared his throat. "I should probably be moving on. It was a pleasure, Ma'am."

"The pleasure was mine. Thank you, again."

"Anytime. Would you mind telling Buck good-bye for me?"

"Of course."

With a final nod Parker left. Ida stood in the foyer a moment contemplating the man who had just left and marveling at the fact that in the five minutes he'd been with her he hadn't directed any leers or innuendos her way. Definitely the type of man she didn't meet often. Smiling she returned to the barroom.

It wasn't long before Buck joined her. "Did you get your deliveries made?" Buck nodded once and Ida couldn't help but notice he seemed serious all of a sudden. "How's your hand?"

"Fine." He said, holding it out for her to see again. "I like Mr. Parker." He told her while see looked at his hand. "Do you?"

"Well, we don't really know Mr. Parker, Buck, we've only just met him. But he seems like a nice man."

"Do you think we'll ever see him again?"

"I'm sure we will, sooner or later."

At those words Buck almost immediately brightened. "That's Good. Can I go play?"

"As long as you're back in time for supper."

Buck was off like a flash again. Ida sighed as she watched him go. He had liked the man. So much so that he'd been upset by the thought of not seeing him again and that Ida's mere words of affirmation that she thought another meeting would take place that had cheered him. She only hoped that meeting Deputy John Parker today wouldn't be the cause of any problems down the road.

A/N: So sorry for the delay. This chapter did not want to be written :/ Hope you enjoy, feel free to tell me what you think. Thanks for reading and a big thanks to those who reveiwed the last chapter. One final thing, when I started writing this story I had planned on it taking place in Kansas but after some planning I've decided to shift east just a bit to Missouri and I'll be doing some reediting to fix any previous references I have made to Kansas.