I OWN NOTHING BUT THE ORIGINAL CHARACTER OF ERIN

NUMBER TEN

Birds chirped and leaved swayed in the wind. Despite the summer heat, the day was a pleasant one due to the storm that had passed through the night before.

This is a fantastic day for a picnic, Buck thought.

It couldn't have come at a better time. A week ago was the Sweetwater Summer Social, and only six days ago Buck had received Emma's blessing to court her niece, Erin. Buck was ecstatic to be courting Erin, but he was running out of activities for them to do together.

They still spent the evenings together as Erin sewed and mended, and Buck always brought her the tea she needed to sleep. They had taken long walks through the prairie surrounding the station. They had sat and watched the sunset together, and one sunrise when Erin had surprised him as he returned from his morning prayers. Now, Buck was at a loss as to what they could do next. He couldn't take her to dinner at the restaurant in town as they'd always refused service to Buck. He supposed they could go for more walks but those would get boring. A picnic would be a perfect activity for them, and maybe he could muster up the courage to ask her to be his girl.

Buck had never asked a girl to be his before. In the village, he and Little Bird had basically remained strangers to each other, their developing relationship cut short by the attack that killed his mother and brought her back to the white world. At the orphanage, no females besides the nuns would go near him. He had wanted to ask Kathleen, but thankfully he saw her true colors before he did. Buck certainly didn't want any of the women who approached him when he was on his runs. Now he had no experience when he finally met the woman of his dreams, and, spirits be blessed, she had agreed to let him court her.

Buck knew he had friends he could ask, but the one he approached had not been any help. When he asked Kid how he had asked Lou to be his girl, Kid had only said, "I never asked; it just happened." Buck had walked away even more frustrated than he had been in the beginning. Ike had never courted a girl and Cody had but had never been serious enough about one to ask her. Jimmy he would NOT ask because he was still sore that Erin had chosen Buck and not him. This left Lou, who was as helpful as she could be. "Just take a deep breath and ask. Explain that you want to be her one and only and she is your one and only and everything will be alright. Don't worry. She's obviously crazy about you and will say yes!"

Buck wasn't so sure about the "saying yes" part. He knew Erin liked him and enjoyed his company, but what if her interest wore off and she decided she'd rather not be courted by him? Buck wanted more than just an official courtship—that was just a formal relationship and didn't indicate that they truly cared for one another. He wanted others to know that they weren't just courting, they wanted to be together.

Buck sighed and set off to see Emma about packing a picnic for lunch.

Buck and Erin had been eating silently for the past ten minutes. He didn't know what to say. They had discussed the weather, then Emma's cooking, his latest run, and even Erin's latest sewing project. He had absolutely zero interest in the latter but had not known what else to talk about. Erin looked like she was suspicious of something when he asked about quilts. If he is so nervous, then he's planning something, she thought.

Erin finished eating before Buck. Now that's a first. Something really is up for him to take his time eating.

Buck was shaking as he tried to finish his fried chicken. He was going to burst with nervous energy. He had practiced a short speech last night in the mirror but now he couldn't remember anything. What should I say? How should I start? Should I give a long explanation or just ask? WHAT DO I DO?

Buck could feel himself beginning to sweat. He knewErin was getting suspicious of his intentions. Oh no! What if she thinks I brought her up here to do something improper? Not that I would mind if she wanted to. No, stay focused! 'Erin, I absolutely adore you and…and…and…' Buck felt like his brain was imploding—everything was a jumble.

"Willyoubemygirl?"

Buck winced. Had he really blurted that out loud? He wanted to be what Cody referred to as "suave," but he was pretty sure he had just blown it.

"What did you say?"

"Uhm…"

"You just spoke so fast that I didn't understand you."

Buck squeezed his eyes shut and took a few deep breaths. Opening his eyes, he began speaking.

"Erin, you are the most wonderful girl I've ever known. You're kind, and sweet, and funny, and so, so smart, not mention you're so beautiful. If it's alright with you, I want you to be my girl."

Erin looked confused.

"Your girl? What exactly does that mean?"

Buck turned a pretty shade of pink. How does she not know what this means?

"You know, my girl. My one and only. Your one and only."

"Your one and only what?" Buck noticed Erin looked genuinely confused.

Sighing, Buck explained, "I'm not sure. Lou told me to say that."

Erin smiled encouragingly, prompting Buck to continue.

"All I know is that it means you are more to me than just someone I am courting. Courting is so formal and it can be between two people who can't stand each other but whose parents are forcing them too. When I call you my girl, I'm saying that I'm serious about you, and you're serious about me. It shows everyone we want to be together and that you are so special to me that I wanted to make you mine," Buck explained. "Not in a literal way, of course," he hastily added, lest she misunderstood.

Erin was thoughtful for a few moments. Buck's anxiety rose tenfold for every one of those moments.

"I have a question," she said.

"Yes," Buck ventured, tentatively.

"If I'm your girl, then what does that make you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you my boy?"

Buck hesitated. He had never thought about that part. He was stumped, so he decided to speak from his heart.

"Erin, if you agree to be my girl then I'll be whatever you want to call me."

Erin broke into the adoring smile she seemed to save only for Buck.

"Then yes, I'll be your girl."

Buck gave a whoop of joy. Jumping up, he pulled Erin to her feet. Swinging her around once, he leaned forward and captured her lips with his own, devouring her mouth. So involved was he in the kiss that he didn't noticed he'd kicked over the pitcher of lemonade. Erin gave a yelp as the liquid spilled over her shoes and the bottom of her dress.

"I'm so sorry!" Buck truly was panicked.

"It's okay," Erin said.

"No, I'm so sorry! Here let me help you!" He frantically tried to dry Erin's feet with his handkerchief, mumbling apologies the entire time.

"BUCK!" Erin raised her voice, finally getting his attention. Buck stopped his ministrations and slowly stood up.

"Buck," she asked. "Am I always going to be exasperated with you?"

"Probably. My mother and brother always said that I could be pretty annoying."

Erin laughed. "That's not what I mean. Exasperated means, hmm, it means I don't know what to do with you. For me it is an affectionate feeling. I'm not mad, or annoyed, just…challenged."

"Well, I guess that's better than annoyed."

Both Buck and Erin dissolved into laughter.