Disclaimer: Nope, don't own 'em. But if I did I'd let them have a lot more fun!
A/N: This chapter will tie up a lot of loose ends and get the pair pointed back in the direction of Rock Creek. Look for some nice, fluffy, loving smut near the
end of the chapter. After all, it is their last night alone together ;) ML
After the offering to the Spirits and naming of baby Running Bear, Buck and I slowly made our way back to the tipi where we had awoken after the vision quest. I was suddenly weary; I guessed that the activities of the last two days were beginning to catch up with me. I was glad to have somewhere to go, somewhere to lay my head...somewhere quiet where I wouldn't be disturbed and could sleep in peace if needs be.
As we approached the tipi, I spied a parfleche on the ground just out front of the doorway. I peered inside; someone had taken the parfleche which had contained our previous evening's meal and brought another, one which contained fry bread and berries and what looked to be strips of cured meat. A pot of water sat beside the parfleche. Buck and I carried the food and water inside and sat down on the animal skin-covered ground. Sure enough, we were good and hungry again, and ate the food and drank the cold, fresh water gladly.
I set the empty parfleche back just outside of the tipi; when I came back inside again, I tied the flaps closed. Buck saw this and raised an eyebrow at me.
"Are you tired, Lou?" he asked.
I crawled over to the pallet of animal furs, so wonderfully soft and comfortable, and lay down. I rolled onto my side to face Buck, who was sitting, crosslegged, not far from me.
"I am, a little" I admitted. "I don't know what's gotten into me. I don't usually get tired easily."
Buck came over to sit beside me. "Lay on your stomach" he said quietly. I rolled over and pillowed my head on my hands. Buck straddled my thighs and began to rub my back, starting at my shoulders and working his way down.
"Mmmm...that feels wonderful" I murmured. "But would it be better if I took the dress off?"
"If you want to" he said. "I could do a better job that way."
He got off of my legs and I sat up, pulling the dress over my head. When I lay back down, he once again straddled my thighs and resumed rubbing my back. My eyelids began to slide shut; the last thing I remembered was saying "Thank you, Buck" before sleep claimed me.
When I awoke, I was alone in the tipi; someone had draped a light blanket over me. I sat up and saw a neatly folded pile of clothing next to me; it was the clothing I had worn when Buck and I had arrived at the village. I dressed in my chemise, shirt, and trousers, now clean, and pulled on my stockings and boots. When I heard men's voices outside, I ventured out to find Buck speaking with Gray Wolf. The young brave had Twitch and Blink with him and Buck was busy buckling the saddlebags to the back of the saddles. He was also dressed in his now-clean clothes. When he saw me, he smiled.
"You look like you're feeling better" he said. "I figured it's time to get these ones back to Big Sandy before Tom starts to worry." He said something in Kiowa to Gray Wolf, who smiled before leaving the horses with us.
"I am feeling better" I said, patting Twitch's shoulder. She nickered and nuzzled my arm. "I wonder if Tom would ever sell you any of his stock" I said thoughtfully. "I bet Twitch would drop beautiful foals."
"I want to find out" Buck said. "He's got the best horses I've seen in the Territory, along with the Kiowa and Sioux. We need to get a good stallion, first thing."
I flushed warmly when Buck said that. We were talking about something big - it was our future we were talking about, our lives after the Pony Express. Buck and I had a future together.
The idea was more than I could understand right then - I hadn't even had time for it to sink in yet. I knew that my life was going to change in every way possible and ordinarily I hated change with a passion, but this felt good. It felt right.
I felt good, and I couldn't help smiling.
"I guess we need to say goodbye to Red Bear and Morning Star. And Evening Star" I said with regret. "I know we'll see them again."
"We will" Buck said with his calm assurance. "We will see Evening Star at a very special time." He leaned down and kissed my head. I sighed happily.
We began walking to Red Bear's tipi. I could hear women's voices from inside; Red Bear came out of the tipi.
"Morning Star's mother, Dark Horse, is fussing over her new grandson" he said proudly. "I am sorry to see you leave, my brother, but I know we will meet again." He looked from Buck to me. "Do not wait too long to make me an uncle, Heart of A Warrior" he said, winking at me. Buck laughed and squeezed my shoulder; I flushed and looked down, giggling. Red Bear kissed me on the forehead, then clasped Buck in a hearty embrace.
An older woman with long, shining jet-black hair came out of the tipi. I guessed she was Dark Horse; she was an older version of both of her daughters. She spoke in Kiowa to Buck, who translated for me.
"Dark Horse says thank you for helping to birth her grandson" Buck said. "And, she has packed some food for our journey; it is in our saddlebags."
"Please thank Dark Horse for me, Buck" I said. He spoke rapidly to the older woman, who smiled and kissed first Buck and then me on the forehead. She raised her voice, speaking to her daughters inside the tipi.
"Come in, Running Buck and Heart of a Warrior" came Morning Star's voice. We entered the tipi to find Morning Star sitting up, nursing Running Bear. Evening Star sat across from her.
"I am glad that you have come to say goodbye" Morning Star said. "You will have a safe journey from here."
"The horse-man will be glad to have his horses back" Evening Star added. "In time, he will bargain with you for some of his horses. They will be fine animals and will give you good stock."
Morning Star finished nursing Running Bear, and her sister tied her dress closed again. She stood and came to where Buck and I were standing, and kissed both of us on the forehead. "May the Spirits guide you and protect you on your journey, Running Buck and Heart of a Warrior" she said, her eyes shining. "Your union will be blessed." Buck leaned forward and spoke softly to the now-sleeping baby in Kiowa; I looked questioningly at Morning Star, who smiled and nodded. I leaned down and kissed the baby's forehead.
"Goodbye, little one" I whispered. "I'm glad I was here when you arrived. I hope it's not too long before you have a little cousin." I looked up at Buck and gave him a secret smile.
Outside of the tipi, Red Bear held the horses. He hugged us both one more time. "Safe journey" he called as we wheeled the horses around and rode back along the pathway and out of the village. I took one look back before we turned and urged the horses into a canter, heading south towards Green River.
We rode at an easy pace that would bring us to Big Sandy while there was plenty of daylight left. The Express trail was well-travelled once again; we passed wagon trains heading west towards Fort Bridger and Salt Lake City, settlers with their wagons, other Express riders heading both east and west. One rider was heading east at a fast clip; when he neared us he slowed to a canter.
"Those're Tom Southem's horses, I'd know them anywhere" he called. "What's your names, boys?"
"Buck Cross and Lou McLeod, Rock Creek" Buck called to the rider. "We're heading back to Big Sandy - got to get Tom's horses back!"
"I'm heading there myself" he said with a grin. "I'll let Tom know you're coming!" He spurred his horse on to a swift gallop.
We reached Big Sandy by late afternoon. Tom was waiting for us with two fresh horses ready. When we pulled up at the hitching rail and dismounted, he took one look at us and whistled.
"Someone sure didn't like the looks of you two" he said. "What the hell happened?"
Buck and I exchanged a glance, not wanting to divulge the nature of our mission. "Outlaws" Buck said. "We were lucky to get away - we can thank your horses for kept us on their backs, just like you said."
"Yep" Tom said proudly, stroking Twitch's neck. "They do their job, all right."
"Would you ever consider selling any of your stock down the road, Tom?" Buck asked candidly. "I'll be looking for breeding stock once the Express has shut down - I aim to breed my own herd."
Tom leaned against the hitching rail, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Ain't no way on God's green earth I'd ever part with Twitch here" he said finally. "But tell you what - I'd be willin to part with a couple of her sisters. Smart and quick, like her. Maybe after she's dropped a few foals of her own, you could come and see me. I aim to start breeding her once the Express is done."
Buck had a broad smile as he buckled his saddlebag to the back of his saddle, as did I. Tom's answer had given us plenty to smile about. We mounted our fresh horses and cantered away towards Dry Sandy and from there, to Pacific Spring. Just past Pacific Spring, we stopped a ways off of the trail and unpacked the parfleche Dark Horse had put in Buck's saddlebag. We tied the horses in the shade, and spread our early supper out on a flat rock.
We ate in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts. But there was something on my mind, and I decided to broach the subject.
"I don't really want to ride into Rock Creek tonight, Buck, if that's all right with you" I said tentatively.
Buck set down his canteen and gave me a friendly grin. "What's really on your mind, Lou?" he asked.
"Dang" I said, "how'd you know that?"
"By now, I just know when you've got something on your mind" Buck laughed. "Do you want to tell me what it is?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Well, it's just...this'll probably be the last night we'll be able to spend alone together. Maybe for a good long time, if Teaspoon has anything to say about it. So, I kinda - "
" - want to make the most of it?" Buck finished, raising an eyebrow. "I know I do."
"Yeah, I guess you do." I flushed a little and looked down, feeling suddenly shy. I glanced up at Buck through my eyelashes. "So..."
"So...what should we do about it?" Buck grinned. "We could ride back to Pacific Spring and get a room at the hotel...or we could ride ahead to Spring Pass and get a room at the hotel there..."
"...or we could cuddle up together and sleep under the stars" I said. "The nights aren't that cold yet."
"We won't be able to get a hot bath out here" Buck reminded me. "Especially not one together."
I looked at him; he looked at me.
"Spring Pass" we said together, laughing.
It was a little past suppertime when we pulled up at the Spring Pass way station. Goode greeted us as we dismounted at the hitching rail; his reaction to our appearance was much the same as Southem's had been.
"Lord have mercy" he said, shaking his head. "All this time and nothing happened, then you two show up and it all comes down on you. What happened, Buck?"
"Outlaws" Buck said. "They got the drop on us when we were riding the long stretch between Big Sandy and Green River. It was Southem's horses that saved us - we were able to get free and outrun them."
"Can we keep our horses here one more night, Goode? We're not heading back to Rock Creek until tomorrow morning" I added.
"Be my guest, Lou" Goode said with a grin. "Guess you an' Buck want one more night in nice soft beds before you're back in the hard old way station bunks, huh?"
"That's right" Buck laughed and I joined him. "Anythin exciting happen while we were gone?"
"Funny you should ask that" Goode said with a wide smile. "Your friend there from Rock Creek - what do they call him, Hickok?"
"Jimmy, yeah" Buck said.
"Well, he's got one beauty of a shiner, I hear. One o' my riders comin through Rock Creek seen him and asked that young Cody fella what happened. Seems Hickok'd been on a fast run to Kansas with that other young lad, the one with the flashy paint mare."
"Kid" I said, wondering.
"Yeah, him. Well, the two of 'em was in Kansas - Hickok got a sister there?"
"Yeah, he does" I said. "Her baby's due any time now."
"So he an' the Kid , they was visitin with Hickok's sister, and some other woman was there - the widow of that Isaiah Burke, the slaver abolitionist. An' this Burke woman starts gettin all friendly-like with Hickok, see, wantin to know if he'll ride with her an' what's left of her husband's followers while he's there in Kansas. That Kid fella, he gets good an' mad, says that wasn't what they was there for an' it would put Hickok's sister and brother-in-law in danger with her baby so close to comin'. Folks'd know Hickok's name an' face an' he'd be puttin' hisself in danger, too. And" Goode went on, "it wasn't proper-like for a new widow to be fawnin' all over another man so soon after her own husband's passin'. Musta hit a sore spot there - he got all het up an' told the Kid to mind his own damn business. So the two of 'em got into it, an' Kid punched him in the eye but good" Goode finished.
"Did Jimmy ride with the abolitionists?" I asked with a grin.
"Nope - not that that Burke woman didn't try her damndest to get Hickok to stay, I hear she was cryin' an' carryin' on, clutchin' at his arm to get him to stay an' all" Goode chuckled.
I felt the blood drain from my face when he said that. Buck and I exchanged glances.
"What does she look like, this Burke woman?" I asked carefully.
"I hear she's young...in her twenties, maybe. Not a real looker, either. Got dark hair. Real dark."
The dark-haired woman from my visions...she was tied up with the slaver abolitionists. My blood ran cold, thinking of Jimmy riding with her...of what I had seen happen to Noah in the vision.
We had to keep her away at all cost.
"That's quite a story" I said to Goode, being careful not to look at Buck just then. "But Cody's got a way of stretchin a tale."
"Well now, Grant swore up and down Cody said that that's how Kid told it to him" Goode chuckled. "Have to get the story fer yerselves when you get back to Rock Creek."
"We'll be by in the morning to get our horses" Buck said. We said goodnight to Goode, then started to walk to the hotel.
"That Burke woman is real trouble, Buck" I said once we were far enough away from the way station.
"I saw it in my visions, too. I saw Jimmy riding with her, and I saw Noah get shot when he was riding with her not far from Rock Creek" Buck said with an edge to his voice. "We have to keep her away from Jimmy and Noah."
There were only a few customers in the dining room when we got to the hotel. We were able to get a room with no trouble and were assured that a hot bath would be brought up within a half-hour.
"You want anything to eat?" I asked Buck after signing the room register.
"How about a cup of coffee?" Buck grinned.
"And a piece of pie?" I wheedled. He laughed at me and we seated ourselves in the small dining room.
We were served promptly. The apple pie and coffee were all we needed after having eaten Dark Horse's good food earlier. I looked around the dining room, at the women in their dresses wearing jewellery and with their hair up and sighed, resting my chin in my hands.
"I wish I could be wearing a dress right now...and have my hair put up with combs...and maybe wear some earrings" I said wistfully.
"You're beautiful the way you are right now, Lou" Buck said in a low voice so he wouldn't be overheard.
I looked up at him. "Yeah...my hair all mussed up and dusty...and smudges of dirt all over my face."
"I don't look any different from you right now." Buck made me laugh, and I felt a little better.
"I want to look nice for you sometimes, Buck" I said quietly. "Even when I'm wearin britches and a man's shirt workin on the ranch, I'm still goin to want to look nice for you. At least some of the time."
"You're always beautiful to me, Lou" Buck said in a low voice that made my nipples tighten. We looked at each other across the table and once again I felt that strange alchemy, like sparks flying from my eyes to his.
"We'd better go" I said in a near-whisper.
"We'd better go...'cause in a minute I'm not going to be able to stand up" Buck said in a strained voice. I paid the server and chuckled to myself as Buck struggled to get to his feet.
We unlocked our room to find a hot bath waiting for us, along with a stack of towels. I took off my gunbelt gratefully, slinging it over a bedpost, and set my saddlebag on the floor. Buck locked the door and drew the drapes closed. I unbuckled his gunbelt and slung it over the other bedpost and, taking his saddlebag, set it on the floor beside mine.
"Thanks, Lou" he whispered in my ear. He took my hat off of my head and set it on the bedpost with my gunbelt, then took off his own hat and set it on the other bedpost with his gunbelt. He came up and hugged me from behind, arms around my waist, and I leaned back against him, letting his greater bulk support my weight. His arms hugged me tight and he kissed my ear. I knew he wanted me, I could feel his hardened manhood pressing into my back, but I was content just then to lean into him, feeling his desire and his strength, and savoured the moment. His hand reached up and cradled my breast, then stroked it gently through my shirt. I sighed and leaned my head back into his solid chest. His warm breath washed over me as he kissed the side of my neck at the very bottom; he nipped it gently with his teeth then laved it with his tongue to soothe the sting.
Laughing quietly, I turned in his arms then and looped my arms around his neck. I drew off his black vest and, undoing the first buttons of his shirt, kissed the smooth brown skin of his chest, running my tongue along and tasting the salt of his sweat. I looked up into Buck's noble, beloved face and wondered for the thousandth time how anyone could find the warm colour of his skin distaseful, something to be disliked or even hated. They never saw the gentle, caring man whose skin just happened to be darker than theirs. They couldn't see his kindness or his spirit.
I gently cupped the cheek that bore the knife cut and kissed his jaw. A slight smile graced his lips as he drew the bottom of my shirt out of my trousers, and opened all the buttons from top to bottom. He slid the shirt down, off of my shoulders, and kissed my ear, my neck, the top of my shoulder. I reached up to open the last buttons of his shirt and, pulling it free of his trousers, slid it off. I ran my hand over the muscle of his chest, breathing in his clean warm scent, the sage and sunshine, fresh hay and saddle leather and musk, so appealing to my senses. My hands worked at the ties of his trousers while he unbuckled my belt and unbuttoned my pants. Finally, he unbuttoned my chemise and pulled it off, running his palms over my breasts. My nipples hardened and I felt the sweet sensations all the way down to my very center.
Without a word, Buck scooped me up into his arms and carried me over to the bathtub. He set me down feet first, and I sat in the warm, soapy, fresh-smelling water. He climbed in behind me, pulling me back to lean against his hard chest. I closed my eyes, listening to the drumming of his heart.
"I'll be glad when we can do this every night, Buck" I murmured. "And share the same bed."
"We'll have to move out of the bunkhouse first" Buck laughed quietly in my ear, "or else we'll have Jimmy and Cody crawling in with us, begging for bedtime stories."
I snorted softly. "Well, I don't know about you, Buck, but I've heard enough of their bedtime stories. Remember before y'all knew I was a girl? I swear some of their stories of their exploits with women were enough to curl my hair!"
Buck laughed outright. "Yeah - Kid would make an excuse to visit the outhouse and Ike and I would just cringe."
I was silent for a moment. "It'll be strange, not being there with them." I turned slightly to see Buck's face. "But we can go back every once in a while and tell them bedtime stories, can't we?"
"Sure" Buck grinned. "Once upon a time, there were two Pony Express riders who loved each other very, very much. They decided to get married, and when they did, they decided to make a baby - "
"Buck Cross, you stop that right now, hear?" I turned and splashed Buck with soapy water. He laughed and splashed me back. I shrieked, and soon the soapy water was flying every which way. We both were dripping and the floor puddled with bathwater.
"Come on" I chuckled at Buck, who was wiping the soap from his eyes. "I'll wash your hair."
When I was done, he washed my hair. We wrapped ourselves in the towels and combed out our wet hair, drying off in front of the , though, I draped my towel over the back of the chair and climbed into the soft bed. Buck climbed in beside me. As always, I snuggled up close in his arms.
"Tired?" he said quietly.
I rolled slightly to face him. "No...not really. Are you?"
"Mm-mm." He shook his head. "Lots to think about."
"Yeah...there is." I put an arm behind my head. "Getting married...starting the ranch..." I thought quietly for a moment. "Buck, when are we going to tell Ike, and the others? About us, I mean?"
Buck was quiet for a moment. "I don't want to tell the others just yet - not until the Express is closer to closing down. But, I've been thinking about Ike, Lou. If you agree, I'd like to tell him after we get back to Rock Creek."
A wide smile lit up my face. "Yes - but only if I can tell him with you. I trust him to keep quiet about us." I chuckled quietly to myself. "I wonder if he's been out to see Emily Metcalfe again? He is just head over heels for her."
"I hope he has" Buck said. "I think they'd be really good for each other."
"You do?" I said, surprised. "I didn't know that fellas thought about things like that." That set me to thinking. "What did you think about me - about us?"
Buck rolled over to face me. There was a smile on his face - a real one, not his teasing smirk.
"I've always had feelings for you, Lou. Even when you were with Kid - I was happy for you, because I wanted you to be happy." He looked down at me beside him. "I could see when you were so unhappy with him, though. And when you told me what he'd said to you - on that overnighter to Fort Laramie, remember? - more than anything, I wanted to show you how I felt about you." He kissed my forehead. "When you asked me to be with you, that you didn't want to be alone, then I knew that you felt something for me, too."
"I did, Buck" I whispered. "I realized that I'd cherished feelings for you for a long while, but all I'd been thinking of was Kid. I knew it was time I let you know how I felt for you."
"I love you, Louise." Buck's eyes were very dark, even in the lamplight.
"I'm not sorry that we were friends first. I love you, Buck." I reached over and turned the lamp wick way down so that it was almost out. Buck pulled me down beside him, and cupped my face with his hands. I reached my hands up to hold both his wrists, and kissed first one palm and then the other. He kissed me deep, his tongue sweeping my mouth, and my core began to grow hot and liquid-feeling. I let my breath out in a rush, kissing his neck and nipping hard enough to leave a mark on his brown skin. He made a sound like a faint growl, wolf-like, his eyes now black in the low light. Our eyes met and locked; he was waiting to see what I would do. I felt no fear or hesitation, only love for this man, and I was confident as I straddled his strong thighs and held him tight with my legs. I leaned down, my breasts falling forward like ripe fruit, and kissed him, my hands cupping his face and my tongue in his mouth. Beneath me, I felt his manhood twitch and harden even more. I straightened and slowly moved my hotly wet core along his length and back again. I threw my head back, savouring the sensation, as Buck hissed and closed his eyes, his hands moving over my breasts and his fingers rasping my nipples.
I cried out softly and thrust myself along his shaft. Then, before he could protest, I climbed off of him and took his manhood in my hand. His eyes flew open then; "Lou - ?" he said, startled.
"Shhh" I whispered, "lie back. Close your eyes." He obeyed me without question, and I knelt beside him, still holding him in my hand. I saw droplets of clear fluid coming from the end of him and swirled it around with my tongue, tasting the salt and feeling the silkiness.
Beside me, Buck gasped a little as I lowered my head and took him into my mouth. I moved slowly, letting him feel me rasp my tongue along his length and around the head of him. I couldn't angle all of him into my mouth, so I grasped him gently but firmly with my hand and began to move it slowly up and down . His skin glided easily like a glove over his length and he groaned, a fine sheen of sweat breaking out on his forehead. I smiled to myself, knowing I was bringing him such deep pleasure.
I grasped him a little tighter with my hand, suckling gently on the swollen velvety head, and ran the flat of my tongue in the vee just beneath it and the cluster of skin bunched there. He cried out then, and I moved my tongue and hand faster and harder; "Lou" he gasped, "Lou, stop - before - "
But I didn't stop. I wanted him to feel the singular devastating pleasure that he brought me. I pulsed my tongue in that vee, and he erupted into my mouth, filling me with his hotness. I swallowed hard when he finally slowed and stopped; it wasn't as bad as the fellas' stories about women doing this same thing would have it.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and moved back up beside Buck. His eyes were closed, his chest heaving, his hair sweaty. When he sensed me beside him, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Are you trying to kill me, Lou?" he said a little hoarsely, still panting.
"Not until we've been married awhile" I giggled. He closed his eyes again and, smiling, put an arm around me.
"It's not really fair, you know" he said quietly. "I mean, you didn't get to - "
"Make it up to me in the morning" I whispered into his ear, and turned out the lamp.
A/N: Well, the loose ends are tied up and now it's back to Rock Creek. The wild ride may be over, but now their lives are going to move forward. There is so
much left to do! As always, please do let me know what you think - every comment and review is treasured! ML
