Chapter Twelve
Cricket sat at the dinner table pushing a carrot around her plate. She thought back to the events back at the Pony Express barn. Was Buck about to kiss her? Really kiss her? This was really confusing. Shouldn't Buck want to shun her like Frank said? Why was she putting so much weight into what Frank said anyway? He had hurt her and she was listening to him? Cricket growled softly and stabbed her carrot in frustration.
She looked up at her parents. Both had stopped mid-chew and stared at her. Cricket blushed and went back to chasing vegetables around her plate. She stopped when she heard her father clear his throat.
Cricket looked up and both her parents were smiling nervously and holding hands above the table. Cricket felt her blood rush to her face and her stomach contract. This was it. Her parents were going to give her the bad news they have been saving. Cricket had completely lost count of how long she suspected they were keeping something from her. Now they were about to tell her and it would probably ruin her life.
Cricket tried to remain calm, but every muscle was in her body was tense. She was sure her parents were going to tell her they were moving away from Rock Creek. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. There were certainly enough bad memories here, like Maryellen Webster, and Frank James had just added himself to the list. There were also good memories and friends that were here. The Riders, Violet and even Jesse, although she was angry with him right now, were all good people in her life. She would miss them terribly when she left.
Mr. Jones cleared his throat again and looked at his wife and smiled. He started to speak rather excitedly and shyly at the same time. Cricket contorted her face in confusion. Her father was giddy. Her father was never giddy. Cricket looked over to her mother. She was beaming.
Cricket snapped her head back to her father. She could have sworn he said something about a baby brother or sister. Cricket blanched and looked back to her mother. She was absolutely glowing. Cricket thought she might be sick.
"I need some air," Cricket said standing up and excusing herself.
The thought of a sibling was a shock and not one she was prepared for. She had been expecting something completely different. Cricket started walking toward town. Her head was swimming and for some reason the only thing she wanted right now was to hug Speedy. There was something so comforting in that horse even though she wasn't hers.
Cricket walked to town and when got there she saw Speedy in the Pony Express corral. Cricket climbed the fence and sat down. Speedy walked up to her and let her pet her nose.
Buck excused himself from the dinner table and went outside to the bunkhouse porch. He had a lot to think about. He almost kissed Cricket today and meant it. It was almost dizzying the feelings he was feeling right now. He just wished he could stop and think for a little bit. Maybe he needed to visit Teaspoon's sweat lodge or just do an all out vision quest. Buck was feeling so jumbled and lost. He desperately needed some clarity to his life in general and then maybe he could get some clarity on the smaller questions.
Buck looked over toward the barn and thought about saddling up his horse and going for a ride. Sometimes a nice long ride helped bring him some peace. As he walked he noticed a lonely silhouette spread across the ground. He followed it to a familiar lady sitting on the top rail of the corral fence. Buck walked up trying not to intrude on Cricket's silent revelry.
"Want some company?" Buck asked.
Cricket wasn't startled. She expected someone from the station to find her out here eventually as she wasn't hiding.
"Sure, pull up some fence," Cricket said and gave a slight smile.
Cricket and Buck both paid attention to Speedy the times the horse came around and accepted attention.
"Buck, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," Buck said gazing at the rising moon.
"Do you have any younger brothers or sisters?" Cricket inquired.
"No," Buck replied. "I have an older brother though."
"Is he a lot older than you? Like more than ten years older than you?"
"Yes, why?" Buck asked back.
"My mama is going to have a baby," Cricket revealed. "They barely take care of me sometimes. I don't know what it would be like to be an older sister."
"Well I do know what it is like to be a little brother," Buck said.
"Tell me," Cricket insisted.
"It was hard being so much younger than Red Bear," Buck began. "He was tall and strong and most of the boys his age looked up to him. I did too. There was nothing he wasn't good at. I wanted to be just like him. I wasn't though and the rest of the tribe never let me forget it."
"Because of what happened to your mom?" Cricket asked. "Or because you were so much younger than he was?"
"Both at first, but as I got older it was more about my heritage than anything else."
"I'm sorry," Cricket said softly.
"Red Bear looked out for me. To him I was a full brother. No one ever hassled me when I was with him."
"I suppose I will protect my little brother or sister too," Cricket said ponderously. "What if he or she bugs me?"
"I think that comes with the territory," Buck said with a laugh. "I'm sure I drove Red Bear crazy most of the time."
Cricket laughed too.
"It's getting late, how about I take you home?" Buck offered.
"I would like that," Cricket said.
Buck jumped down off the fence. He held his arms out to help Cricket down and she put her hands on his shoulders. Buck placed his hands on her waist and lifted her down. They stood there together for a few moments unsure of what to do next. Buck was the first to move and he offered his arm to Cricket to walk her home.
The rest of week flew by quickly as the riders, Rachel, Violet and the Jones' prepared for Cricket's birthday party. The riders were cleaning the bunkhouse. Violet was baking with Rachel most of the week. They had made several batches of cookies. If only they could keep Cody away from them, they would have enough for the party on Saturday. Rachel was excited to learn from Violet how to make applesauce cake. Rachel had discussed with the Jones' the location of the party and decided that the station wouldn't work. Rachel and Mrs. Jones devised an elaborate plan to surprise Cricket. It would require everyone's skill and cunning to pull it off.
About mid week, Rachel made a farewell dinner for Ava and her father, Swan. They had finally gotten their wagon repaired and had purchased enough provisions. They were setting out for Oregon in the morning. The riders had been tracking their wagon train on their Express runs and had found it was not too far ahead of them. They could catch up in a matter of a week. There was awkwardness between Buck and Ava that the riders noticed and Cody was quick to distract Ava from it. In truth, he was hoping that the comely blonde and Buck wouldn't hit it off so he might have the chance to woo her while she was here.
Cricket came by the station every day after school. Buck was on distraction duty so they others could get the party ready without Cricket catching on. Cricket's mother had given her a riding skirt since Cricket didn't want to wear pants anymore, but still wanted to help Buck train Speedy. Cricket was surprised and grateful. Buck started teaching Cricket more about riding than Jesse had taught her and by the end of the week the two of them were testing out to see if Speedy was appropriately named. They soon found that she was.
By Friday, Cricket was finally bold enough to ask the question that had been gnawing at her for a while. She was on a ride with Buck and just couldn't contain her curiosity anymore. Although she was scared of the answer, she felt she needed to know. She was getting quite attached to Speedy.
"You're not keeping Speedy, are you?" Cricket asked.
"What makes you ask that?" Buck asked back.
"Well, you never ride her," Cricket observed. "I would say we have been training her for someone else."
Buck thought a moment. He didn't want to ruin the surprise, but he didn't think she would buy it if he lied outright. He decided that maybe he could tell her the truth and still keep it from her at the same time.
"We are," Buck confessed. "I am delivering her to her new owner by the end of this week."
"I'm sure going to miss her," Cricket said trying not to cry.
"I think Katy is too," Buck said. "Those two have been as thick as thieves in the barn."
"Well, I don't want to know who her new owner is," Cricket decided. "I think I just want to enjoy the time I have left with her."
"That sounds like a good idea," Buck said. He felt bad that he made Cricket sad but it would add to the surprise tomorrow.
Cricket swallowed back some tears and put a brave smile on her face.
"I'll race you back to the station," Buck challenged.
"Oh you want to get beat again, Mr. Pony Express rider?" Cricket taunted back.
"I was letting you win before," Buck baited. "This horse and I are former Sweetwater Founder's Day Race Champions."
"I think the operative word there is 'former'," Cricket teased. "Besides, this is Rock Creek. The competition is much tougher here."
"We'll see," Buck said smiling and getting set in his saddle.
Cricket settled herself into her saddle as well waiting for the word, 'go.'
"Ready? Set? Go!" Buck shouted and the horses took off toward town.
