Chapter 10

Lou cursed herself. She couldn't believe how close she had been to kissing Buck. Yes she wanted to kiss him. She wanted to kiss him more than she thought possible. But then Nathan Feller had to call Buck and break the spell that had been woven over them. It was only then that Lou thought about Jenny. She cursed herself. She wanted Buck, she wanted Buck for her own but he wasn't hers. He was Jenny's and Lou needed to remember that. She wanted him to forget about Jenny and she wanted to make him forget about Jenny. But despite everything she had already done she had never gone after a man that belonged to another woman… she couldn't do it now. Even if she wanted to… even if it was tearing her up to ignore Buck when he came back to the campfire, even as she forced herself to sit away from him and not look at him.

Lou felt Buck's eyes on her whenever he was riding by her wagon. Other times when he was ahead of the train scouting, she still felt eyes on her. When she would look though she didn't see anybody watching her. She knew Buck was confused by her behavior, by her sudden standoffishness. She just didn't know what else to do. She couldn't allow herself to get close to Buck; she couldn't let him get past that wall again. Not if she had any hope of sparing her heart when they got their annulment.

This behavior went on for two days. Neither of them really speaking to one another, always feeling each other's eyes on them when their backs were turned… also feeling like someone else was watching. When the wagon train pulled into Seneca they were given three hours to get supplies or whatever they needed.

Buck walked over to Lou, who was rummaging around her wagon. "Lou … I … I need to go mail something. Did you want to come with me?"

Lou looked up startled. That was the first time Buck had spoken to her other than at meal times. And then it was only a quiet thank you. Lou was tempted to go with him but then she remembered the letter she had found in his saddle bag … Jenny. "No that's alright … you go ahead. I think I'm going to see about getting some fresh bread from that bakery down the street. Did you want anything?"

"No … I'll be back soon," Buck stated before walking towards the post office.

Lou sighed and went her own way. She walked into the little bakery and was hit by the smells of all the baked goods. Her mouth watered in hunger at the delicious scents.

"Can I help ya miss?" A freckled face girl asked from behind the counter.

"Yes… I would like a loaf of bread," Lou said while she eyed the sweet confections.

The girl wrapped a loaf of their freshest bread, "You like anything else … them sweets are awfully good."

Lou looked at the cookies, she knew Buck had a sweet tooth and he loved snicker doodles. "Yeah give me a dozen of those snicker doodles."

Once the girl had the order boxed up, Lou paid her and went back to her wagon a smile on her face. She never noticed the man watching her every movement.

Buck walked away from Lou disappointed and relieved at the same time. He had wanted Lou to go with him but he also didn't. He needed to mail the letter to Jenny ending things and he also needed to send a telegram to Rock Creek. There were some people there that he needed to let know about Lou. He was so preoccupied in his thoughts that he never saw the man following after Lou to the bakery, he didn't see the way he leered at her, how he watched her every movement.

He walked into the post office and sent off the letter to Jenny. He had never felt so relieved as he did when that letter left his fingers. He hadn't realized how much he was dreading returning to St. Joe this time knowing he'd have to propose to Jenny. He knew he'd never have been able to go through with it … he couldn't marry someone he didn't love.

Buck walked out of the post office and went down the street to the telegraph office. A thin man with wire rimmed glasses looked up as he entered.

"Can I help you?" the man asked.

"I need to send a telegram to the marshal in Rock Creek," Buck said walking up to the desk.

The man handed Buck a piece of paper and pencil. "Just write out what you want to say."

Buck scratched the side of his face in thought. There was a lot to be said to the man that had been a father to him but in the end Buck just kept it simple. There would be time to catch up when they reached Rock Creek. Buck paid the man and left the shop. He walked back to wait by Lou's wagon but Lou had beat him back.

She smiled as Buck approached and held up a baker's box. When Buck was close enough he could smell the cinnamon. He grinned as she opened it up to reveal the snicker doodles. "Thought you'd like a little treat," Lou said softly.

"I'm surprised you remembered they are my favorite," Buck said as he picked up a cookie and bit into it. "Mmmm… these are good."

Lou smiled as she watched Buck enjoy the treat. She had always enjoyed watching Buck eat something that he really liked. His whole face showed his appreciation of the food. And the way he moaned in delight as he chewed … it made the butterflies in her stomach wake up … something they hadn't done in a very very long time. Lou reached out and brushed the crumbs off of Buck's lip after he finished chewing.

"Lou … I … thank you … for the cookies," Buck said sighing when he failed to say what he really wanted.

Lou forced the smile on her face to stay in place and nodded. "You're welcome Buck … I … um… Jenny is a lucky woman," Lou whispered before turning away and climbing into her wagon.

Buck's mouth dropped open at Lou's mention of Jenny and the despondent way she said that. Was it possible that Lou was beginning to have feelings for him and because she thought he was in love with Jenny was putting distance between them. Buck felt a smile tug at his lips. If that was the case, he'd just have to woo Lou even harder, leave her with no doubt that he was the man for her and when the time was right tell her everything.

Meanwhile in Rock Creek, Teaspoon Hunter was sitting in the marshal's office with his feet propped up on the desk and his hat hanging over his face. To anybody looking it would appear that the marshal was fast asleep but to those that knew Teaspoon, they would see the tall tale sign that he was aware of everything happening around him.

"Polly my dear, don't just stand there, come on in and tell me what has my pretty little woman here this time of day." Teaspoon said without moving the hat from his face.

"Maybe I just wanted to see my sugar lips," Polly said as she walked over and plucked the hat from Teaspoon's head.

Teaspoon grinned and reached around Polly's waist pulling her onto his lap. He kissed her soundly. "Now what really brings you down here?"

Polly reached into her pocket and pulled out a telegram. "I happen to be at the general store when this came in for ya, the boy gave it to me instead of sending a messenger to you."

Teaspoon took the message from his wife and looked at it. It was addressed to Marshal Hunter, Rock Creek. He figured it was something job related so he wasn't looking forward to what the telegram held. Opening it he read the simple message three times.

Teaspoon. Will be in Rock Creek in a week. Lou's with me. Buck.

Teaspoon jumped to his feet completely forgetting about Polly still sitting on his lap. "Hot Damn!"

Polly who had somehow managed to catch herself stood up. "You better have a good reason for almost dropping me on my bottom Teaspoon," She said with her hands on her hips.

Teaspoon picked Polly up and swung her around in a circle before planting a huge kiss on her lips. "My boy and girl are finally coming home."

"What are you talking about Sugar lips?" Polly asked.

"Buck! He's going to be here in about a week and he's got Lou with him." Teaspoon exclaimed. "I've got to go tell Rachel!"

Polly just laughed as she watched the love of her life bound down the steps and towards the school house like a man half his age. It had been a long time since she had seen Teaspoon in such good spirits. She knew how he had worried over those two children for years. She didn't know how Lou came to be with Buck but she knew she'd find out in a week. She just hoped that whatever the reason neither one of them had ever returned to Rock Creek was behind them. She also wondered why Lou was with Buck and where Kid was. 'Well guess I'll find out in a week.' Polly thought before she walked out of the marshal's office and headed to her saloon.