CHAPTER 8

Buck continued to stare at Dani waiting for whatever reaction was about to come. She pulled her eyes from his, dropping her hands to her side. There was no emotion in her face and he knew that she was either going to blow or completely shut down. He tried to prepare himself for either as she turned away from him.

"You saw his body?" she asked very coldly as he faced her back.

"Yes," he confirmed.

She grabbed the rest of her clothes and headed for her horse.

"Take me to him," her voice continued to be devoid of emotion.

"He's at the Undertaker's," he pointed out.

"Take me to him," she repeated.

He nodded as they both mounted their horses. She kicked her horse into a gallop in the direction of town. Buck tried his best to catch up and soon led the way.

They approached the Undertaker's office and both calmly stepped down from their mounts. Dani continued to keep her eyes ahead and focused. She knocked on the door as Buck came up behind her. The Undertaker slowly opened the door.

"Yes?" the old man peered out at the couple.

Dani stared straight ahead as Buck addressed the man.

"We need to see Noah Dixon," he stated.

"I'm sorry, it's getting late and I really don't think it would be a good idea," the older man replied.

She continued to stare straight ahead.

"That wasn't a request," she lashed out.

"Please, sir, she's his family and she needs a moment to say goodbye," Buck added.

The Undertaker looked over the two, nodded and opened the door. He led them to the back room where, on the table, a body was placed under a plain white sheet.

"I'll leave you two alone," the Undertaker stated as he turned to head out of the room.

Dani approached the body and slowly pulled back the cover revealing Noah's face. Buck realized how peaceful he appeared. Dani continued to pull the cloth down as she laid her eyes on the bullet wounds on his shoulder and chest.

"What happened?" she asked.

Buck swallowed down his sadness and began telling the story.

"Noah was trying to defend Rosemary Burke. She was going after the men that killed her husband. He didn't want her to go alone."

She nodded her understanding never letting her eyes leave her brother's face.

"I warned him," she managed to get out.

A few more seconds passed.

"Where's my gun?"

Buck paused unsure if he should tell her. She removed her eyes from Noah looking up at him.

"Where is my gun?" Dani got louder.

He stared back at her.

"Dani, I don't think…"

She didn't let him finish his comments as she stomped her way out of the back room and out of the office. She walked over to Buck's saddle bags and began pulling everything out from them letting it all fall to the ground. After pulling the sheet back over Noah's body he made his way after her.

"It isn't in there," he plainly stated.

"Where is it?" she asked, yet again very coldly.

"I put it under my bunk when I got back to the station."

With that she ran to her horse, quickly mounted it and kicked it into a gallop. She made it almost completely to the station before Buck could react.

Rosemary watched from Rachel's porch as Dani slammed her way into the empty bunkhouse. She knew she shouldn't confront her, but something compelled her to follow Dani in. As Rosemary entered she saw Dani ripping through one of the bunks.

"Danielle, I'm so sorry," she started apologizing, but was soon confronted with a loaded and cocked six shooter. As Rosemary stared down the barrel Jimmy entered from the front door rubbing his already aching head. He realized what was happening and quickly drew his gun pointing it at Dani. At almost that exact same moment Kid and Lou entered from the back door, Kid quickly drawing his gun and pointing it at Jimmy.

Jimmy's eyes never left the two women.

"You gonna let her kill Rosemary, Kid?" Jimmy addressed him.

Lou stared at Kid.

"Can't say as I'd be sorry if she did," he replied.

"Kid," Lou managed to squeal out.

The group stood in silence, the only sound that could be heard was the beginning of a storm now causing rain drops to hit the roof above them. Everyone stood completely motionless as Buck burst in behind Kid and Lou. Taking in the scene before him he turned his attention to Dani.

"Dani, you can't do this. Killing Rosemary isn't going to bring Noah back."

She just stood keeping both eyes on Rosemary.

"I know it won't, but the way I figure it, I shoot her, then Hickok shoots me and we both get put out of our misery."

Buck turned to Jimmy.

"Jimmy, put it down," he demanded.

"Not until Kid puts down his," Jimmy stated as he continued to stare at Rosemary and Dani.

Buck and Lou both faced Kid who gave in and dropped his gun. Jimmy followed through dropping his as well. Buck tried to approach Dani.

"You don't want to do this."

"If you want to blame anyone, blame Jesse," Jimmy interrupted.

"Jimmy," Lou whispered.

"No, he's the reason Noah's dead. They knew the Army was coming. It was a set up."

Dani turned her attention to Jimmy.

"That boy had something to do with this?" she questioned.

"Him and his brother just road out of here," Jimmy nodded.

Dani un-cocked her pistol and headed out past him leaving them all behind. Buck gave Jimmy an angry glance and headed out after her.

Dani had already trotted into the distance and right into the storm that had so quickly erupted. Buck rode as fast as he could to catch up to her.

"You don't know where they went," he shouted over the trotting and rain.

"Then you'll show me," she shouted back.

"No, I won't" he stated.

Dani slowed her horse and drew her pistol.

"You'll show me…" he interrupted her.

"Or what? You'll shoot me?"

He stopped his horse and dismounted. She continued to stare at him from atop her mount.

"I'll find them without you."

He moved in her way and grabbed the reins from her.

"Get out of my way," she stated.

"No, this isn't going to solve anything."

She quickly dismounted cocking her gun, "Get out of my way!"

He continued to stare her down determined to stand his ground.

"This isn't going to bring him back. He's gone, Dani."

She continued to stare at him as her expression slowly shifted.

"You don't think I know that? I stared into his lifeless eyes just like you did," her frustration grew with each word as she yelled her feelings over the rain. "He's dead because of this stupid war and if that boy had anything to do with it, he's dead too."

Buck tried his best to reason with her.

"Noah was so proud of you for finally putting that life away and becoming a real lady. Do you think he would have wanted you to go back to how it was, you always running?" he reasoned.

"I'm sure he wouldn't, but he's dead now and I don't think he wanted that either." Dani's tone became solemn, "Now move!"

Through the sounds of the storm they could make out the hoof tracks of at least two riders approaching. Dani didn't remove her cold stare from Buck who squinted to make out the faces saddled behind them. Three riders quickly drew their horses to a halt. Cody was the first to stop with Kid and Jimmy fast behind. Cody tried his best to speak over the rain as he kept his own pain in check.

"The army'll be running a raid on Pearson's men in the morning," Cody spoke up.

She turned her attention over her shoulder, but still refused to drop her Colt.

"They killed Noah, Dani, not Jesse," Kid added.

"If you want blood, you'll get it tomorrow," Jimmy interjected.

The three stared on, willing Dani to concede. They where quickly rewarded; she un-cocked her pistol and re-holstered it as the rain began to slow.

The five riders made their way back in silence between the drops of water that managed to soak all of them through to the skin. The ride was short and uncomfortable. They arrived at the stables met by Lou and Rachel. Both seemed relieved to see that everyone had come back. They offered to take care of the horses as the riders parted company. Kid decided to stay and help as Buck, Jimmy and Cody chose to go back to the bunkhouse. Dani headed to the main house, avoiding any contact with anyone. As she approached the front door she heard her name called from behind her. She turned to find a very sullen Cody had followed her up.

"Dani, can I talk to you?" Cody asked.

Her response was a simple nod as she stopped and faced him. It was obvious that Cody was in a lot of pain and it seemed as if he needed to share it with someone.

"I'm sorry about Noah," he tried to hold back the tears. Dani didn't make it any easier with her lack of response, "He wasn't supposed to be there. I tried to stop him and when he got shot I tried to help, but it was too late." He finally broke down and let his frustration out as he began crying. She continued her silence as he shed his tears, "I just wanted you to know that."

He added his last statement realizing he was going to get nothing in return and turned to walk away. She grabbed his shoulder to get his attention.

"This wasn't your fault. You loved him and I know you would have done everything in your power to protect him," she admitted.

She removed her hand and walked away while Cody kept his sights on the building in front of him. He heard the door close, wiped his tears away and began the walk back to the bunkhouse.

Finally inside Cody found the quiet of the group too eerie. Buck sat calmly at the center table with Rosemary sitting at the opposite end. Lou and Kid had made their way inside and where now sitting on Kid's bunk as Jimmy sat on his. The tension in the room was fierce and it seemed like everyone was lost in their thoughts. As Cody took a seat in his bunk, Rosemary quickly shot up and headed to the door.

"Where are you going?" Jimmy grabbed her attention before she made it out.

"She needs to hear how sorry I am," she seemed intent on getting Dani to listen to her.

"Rosemary, I think she just needs to be left alone, right now," Lou tried to interject some sense.

"Do you really want to face down that gun again?" Jimmy questioned.

"If that's what she needs to do than she can do it," she grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. Jimmy stood up from his bunk.

"Then I'm going with you," he added.

Both Kid and Buck stood at the same time, but Buck was the first to respond.

"No, I'll go with her."

He didn't wait for any agreement; he simply followed Rosemary outside and up to the house.

As they entered they found Rachel working on some sewing in the foyer. There was only a candle illuminating the room and it took a second for their eyes to adjust. Rosemary nodded to Rachel and began her trek up the stairs. Rachel gave Buck a worried look and he shook her off as he continued to follow behind. She didn't bother to knock as she arrived at the dimly lit room. Buck hoped they would catch Dani at a moment when the possibility of getting to her gun was limited. There they found her sitting on her bed cleaning what appeared to be a piece of her revolver. Buck felt a small sense of relief, but was not ready to let his guard down.

"Lucky you," Dani addressed them. "I already took the bullets out, but if you were smart, you would turn back around and head out that door."

Her cold statement didn't deter Rosemary.

"I came here to say I'm sorry and to tell you that Noah died protecting me. That is something you should be proud of. The army had no right to tell him he couldn't serve. This was his way of helping the cause and he died bravely for it."

Dani's aggravation was evident on her face as she stood from the bed.

"Was that really supposed to make me feel better? Are you that arrogant to think that his death was justified by your actions?" She took a step toward Rosemary; a step which Buck mirrored behind her, "I don't care if he died bravely, he still died. If you're so ready to die for your cause then have at it, but stay the hell away from me or so help me God, when I'm done with Pearson tomorrow, I will be coming for you."

The two women stared at each other as Buck looked on unable to move or speak. There was nothing he could say to either to make the situation any better. He prepared himself for any reaction. Rosemary finally backed down once again defeated and took her cue leaving the room as she closed the door behind her. Dani just shook her head and walked back to the bed ignoring Buck's presence in the room. She picked up the empty chamber and her cloth and continued where she left off. Buck just stood in the corner unsure of what to say.

Minutes passed as she kept her attention on the task at hand. He figured she didn't want him there with her so he turned out of his corner grabbing the door handle.

"Don't go," she stated in almost a whisper.

He turned to find her soft eyes now truly meeting his for the first time since the swimming hole. He nodded his response and slowly walked toward the bed sitting behind her. She turned her attention back to her piece.

The silence between them was deafening. She kept her eyes turned away from him as she rubbed the luster into the nickel chamber. Soon the sound of rubbing was replaced with her soft sobs. It broke Buck's heart listening to her try to hold in her heartache. He stood from the bed and positioned himself in front of her on his knees. He looked into her eyes.

"It's okay to hurt," he stated.

"No," she shook her head, "I've done my damndest not to feel anything for so long and I come here and that all gets washed away. I hate myself right now."

Buck couldn't understand her need to be numb.

"Why?" he questioned.

"Because if I was here earlier I could have stopped him or at least gone with him," she continued to beat herself up as the tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"Do you regret what happened between us?" Buck inquired.

Dani looked away from him.

"Not at all. That's why I hate myself. I came here for him. And then I run off with you and he dies," she admitted.

"You have every right to be sad and angry because he's gone," Buck pushed her eyes up to meet his. "Nothing I can say or do can change that, but know that what we did was not wrong. We didn't cause his death and neither did Rosemary or Jesse or anyone else."

"Except Pearson," she shook her head.

He nodded his agreement back to her and another moment of silence passed between them. Buck's urge to be with her took him over.

"Do you want me to stay with you tonight?" he asked.

She wiped the tears from her cheek.

"Yes," she stated.

He took a seat next to her as she reached for the pieces of her Colt putting it back together. Reaching for her holster she placed the weapon inside and returned the rig to its hanging point on the bedpost.

She turned to Buck who tried his best to give her a reassuring look. Buck stared deeply into her emerald eyes. The tension was too much as she leaned into him meeting his lips with hers. He quickly returned the kiss as they both let their eyes close to the room around them. For that moment they were able to shut out everything that had happened and return to that morning when it was just the two of them in each others arms. Dani pulled back releasing him and lying down on the bed. She patted the open spot beside her inviting Buck to lie down. He welcomed the invitation lying down on his side; he placed his arm around her waist and his head on her shoulder.

Nothing more was spoken between the two as thoughts of the wedding, the morning they had shared, and Noah and Pearson's men filled Buck's mind. Trying to get a decent night's sleep was not going to be an easy task with such uneasy images floating around in his head. The realization of the impending death that tomorrow would bring swept through him. Before closing his eyes to enter his fitful slumber Buck knew morning would come far too soon. He held onto Dani as tight as he could and let himself drift away.