Chapter Ten

Buck and Jimmy rode back into town in silence. Buck was angry. He was angry that Jesse had let Frank get away and angry that he'd lost control of his temper.

"You would have killed him, if I hadn't stopped you, wouldn't you?" Jimmy asked concerned for his friend.

"You didn't see her this morning, Jimmy," Buck said. "It was almost like seeing what the shadow did to those girls, to Violet, all over again."

"I'm sorry, Buck," Jimmy said supportively. "I'm glad I didn't see it. I would have let you or helped you beat Frank to a pulp."

"I'm only sorry Jesse saw what I did to his brother," Buck lamented.

As the two riders approached the station they saw Cricket's parents enter the house with Lou.

"I wonder why they didn't notice Cricket was gone until now," Buck thought aloud.

"Perhaps they were distracted," Jimmy answered.

"Distracted by what?" Buck asked.

"Well unless I miss my guess, I would say Cricket's going to have a little brother or sister soon," Jimmy replied. "I've seen them come out of the Doc's a lot lately and well Mrs. Jones usually keeps one hand on her belly, which seems to be getting bigger."

Buck looked at Mrs. Jones and knew Jimmy was right. "I wonder how Cricket will take the news."

"You have feelings for her," Jimmy stated somewhat surprised.

"What? No, I don't," Buck said defensively. "I mean, she's my friend and she's just a kid."

"Be careful, my friend," Jimmy warned.

"I don't have feelings for her, not like that," Buck reiterated.

"Uh huh."

"Shut up, Jimmy."

Jimmy laughed and his face turned serious. "You should put something on your hand."

Buck looked down at his torn up knuckles and knew Jimmy was right. He didn't have time to be slowed up by an injury.

Buck walked out of the bunkhouse adjusting a bandage covering the knuckles on his left hand. He looked across the way in time to see Cricket's father carrying her out of Rachel's house. Her parents brought her a dress to wear home and she clung to her father tightly. Cricket briefly locked eyes with Buck and he gave her a kind smile. She looked down at his hand and looked back at his face. Cricket seemed very curious as to what Buck had done to earn the wound he was covering. Buck cast his eyes to the ground and then looked back up at her. She smiled at him as if knowing that he had fought for her honor.

Buck looked for Cricket the following two mornings, but she didn't come to the station or to church on Sunday. Speedy seemed to be missing Cricket too. The horse looked longingly toward the schoolhouse where Cricket always came from to visit her. Buck thought maybe Cricket would like some company. He saddled up his horse and Speedy and rode out to Cricket's house.

Buck tied the horses to the hitching post outside the Jones' house, nervously walked up to the door, and knocked. Mr. Jones opened the door and the two men spoke briefly. Mr. Jones explained that Cricket hadn't left her room since he brought her home two days ago. He and Mrs. Jones were worried about their daughter. Buck introduced Speedy to Mr. Jones and he was pleased with the gift he was giving his daughter. He invited Buck inside. He thought as Buck did that maybe Speedy might be good medicine right now.

Buck took off his hat and knocked lightly on Cricket's door.

"Go away," Cricket said listlessly.

"It's Buck. I brought Speedy by. I thought maybe you might be up for going on a ride."

Buck's offer was met with silence.

"Cricket?" Buck asked as he knocked lightly again.

Cricket opened the door and turned away allowing the door to swing open. She sat on her bed. Buck saw that the bruise on her face was fading but it was still a brownish green color. He looked at his own knuckles which were now scabbed over. The physical wounds were fading, but Buck could see the emotional wounds were still very raw.

"Hey," he said gently.

"Hey," Cricket answered. "Thanks for the visit, but I don't feel like having company just now."

"Speedy misses you," Buck said encouragingly. "I miss you too."

Cricket looked up at Buck skeptically. "You don't need to lie to me to make me feel better," she said. "I know I just get on your nerves."

"That's not true," Buck said sincerely. He sat down next to her. "You are a very fun person to have around."

Cricket was quiet. She looked over at Buck's hand and lightly touched the damaged knuckles. "You found him, didn't you," she said more than asked.

"Yeah, I followed Jesse and I heard Frank confess to everything."

"You got into a fight over me?" Cricket asked.

"Sort of," Buck answered. "I didn't really give Frank the opportunity to fight back."

"Good," Cricket said.

"Come on," Buck said taking Cricket's hand in his. "Speedy is outside and I've got some carrots in my saddlebags. Come give her a treat."

"Ok," Cricket said slowly jumping up off the bed and allowing Buck to lead her outside.

Cricket followed Buck outside and she smiled when Speedy perked up at her appearance. Buck grabbed a couple of carrots from his saddle bag and gave one to Cricket. They gave both the horses treats while standing next to each other.

"Frank didn't…you know," Cricket said softly.

"I know," Buck said. "I'm glad for you that he didn't. I saw what it did to Violet."

"She was defenseless though…I willingly went with Frank," Cricket said, "It was my fault, I was stupid."

"Hey, stop right there," Buck chastised lightly. "It wasn't your fault. You trusted that he was like Jesse and that he was a friend. You didn't do anything wrong."

"But…"

"No, buts," Buck said cutting her off.

"You don't think badly of me?" Cricket asked.

"I of all people in this world could never think badly of a woman who was attacked the way you were," Buck answered. "My mother…"

"Somebody hurt your mother?" Cricket asked sympathetically.

"Yes, and then she had me," Buck said quietly.

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything," Buck said. "Let's go for a ride."

"Ok, since you brought Speedy all the way out here," Cricket agreed.

Buck trotted into town with Speedy in tow. He thought back to the ride he and Cricket just went on. He was happy to see the horse and rider bonding so well. He had never seen two creatures so well suited for each other. He felt happy that he was able to link the two together. Cricket would be very surprised that Speedy was really hers and had been all along. He was sure that Cricket would give him the credit, but her parents were the ones who facilitated the whole plan. He just found, as it turned out, the perfect horse.

As Buck pulled up to the station he saw Ava waiting for him. "Hej, Buck," she greeted.

"Hi," he replied.

"Our wagon is almost fixed and we'll be leaving soon," Ava announced. "I was hoping we could spend some more time together before I had to leave."

"What did you have in mind?" Buck asked.

"Well, since you have two horses saddled we could go for a ride," Ava suggested.

Buck looked over at Speedy. He couldn't, no he wouldn't let anyone but Cricket ride her. It was her horse after all. Buck knew enough about women to know it would hurt Cricket regardless of whether she knew the horse was hers or not.

"I can't right now, maybe later," Buck said, "Besides, only one of these horses belongs to me."

"Oh, I thought...never mind," Ava smiled to cover a blush.

"Maybe I could catch up with you tomorrow," Buck suggested. "I have a few things to see to today yet."

"Sure," Ava said. "We're resupplying tomorrow now that the wheel's been fixed. The smithy just has to remount the wheel and then we'll be gone."

Ava looked at Buck curiously as if waiting for him to react.

"It's too bad you can't stay for the weekend," Buck said trying to be nice. "We're throwing a big birthday party for Cricket."

Ava nodded. "I see," she said and cast her eyes to the ground. "She's important to you, isn't she?"

"She's my friend and she's been through a lot lately," Buck answered clearly not understanding what she was getting at.

Ava blushed and then frowned. Buck thought she looked slightly embarrassed.

"I've done something wrong, haven't I?" Buck asked.

"No, I was just hoping there was something between us," Ava said. "There isn't is there?"

"Ahh," Buck uttered caught off guard. "I..."

"It's alright," Ava said quickly. "I was just being hopeful is all. I hoped you'd give me a reason to convince my pappa to stay."

"I'm sorry," Buck said sighing, "You're a really beautiful girl and you deserve much better than me."

"Buck, you are a good man," Ava said smiling. "When Cricket turns sixteen, she better watch out."

"What? Why?" Buck asked confused.

"She has strong feelings for you," Ava observed, "And unless I miss my guess the feelings are starting to become mutual."

"I don't have feelings for her," Buck said shocked. "Why does everyone keep saying that? Besides, I don't know if I'll be here that long and she'll probably forget all about me by then anyway."

"You have met Cricket before, right?" Ava laughed. "I can see it even if you can't. I had hoped I was wrong, but both of you are just waiting for the right time to be together. I think it is rather sweet."

Ava walked away leaving Buck feeling taken aback. Was he really waiting for Cricket to be old enough? Did he really have feelings for her? Buck was feeling almost paralyzed. He didn't know how long he had been standing near the corral staring off into the distance but a voice seemed to be calling him.

"Buck, can you hear me son?" Teaspoon's said finally reaching him.

"I'm sorry, Teaspoon, what did you say?" Buck asked sheepishly trying to shake off his thoughts.

"You just gonna stand there, or you gonna cool down them horses?" Teaspoon asked and by the way he asked Buck understood it was not even the second time Teaspoon had asked.

"Teaspoon...I..." Buck was having trouble formulating words and kept contorting his face.

"Sweat lodge?" Teaspoon offered.

"Sweat lodge," Buck confirmed and nodded slowly with a confused look.

"I'll take care of the horses for you," Teaspoon said shaking his head.