I OWN NOTHING BUT THE ORIGINAL CHARACTER OF ERIN
NUMBER FOURTEEN
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"After you, milady," Buck Cross said flirtatiously, holding open the door to the mercantile.
Erin Kelly, whom he held the door for, smiled back. Just as flirtatiously, she countered, "Oh no, I couldn't good sir, age must go before beauty!" A giggle escaped her lips.
Buck gave a quiet laugh. "I can't argue with that," he said, starting to go in before Erin.
"Now Buck, don't be so rude!" Jimmy Hickok interrupted. He walked up to them; he hadn't heard their conversation, just saw Buck start to go in front of Erin.
Buck felt his ire raise before Erin defended him. "He wasn't being rude, Jimmy. Buck was just teasing me."
Jimmy at least has the decency to look chagrined, Buck thought.
"Gee, I'm sorry Buck. Listen we don't you two relax out here and I'll run in a get that flour Emma needs," Jimmy said, eager to show Erin he was contrite about his mistake,
Buck started to protest when Erin interrupted. "Jimmy, what a good idea! It is a lovely day. We'll wait right here."
Jimmy frowned. He hadn't expected Erin to agree so quickly. Giving himself a mental shrug, he entered the mercantile.
As soon as the door closed, Buck and Erin looked at each other and then dissolved into laughter.
"This is a good thing. I hate going in there," Buck stated.
"Why?"
"It's just never a pleasant experience for me. Would you like to go for a walk along the boardwalk?"
"Certainly," Erin said, looping her arm through his.
Buck felt butterflies in his stomach. She was touching him! It had been three weeks since Erin had arrived, and only one week since she had worked through her fear of him being Indian. She hadn't ever initiated touching him! Maybe we can get even closer, emotionally and physically, he thought.
"So, what do you think Jimmy's doing right now?" Erin asked.
"Probably waiting in line, ready to dance out of his shoes with impatience!"
Erin laughed. Buck was hypnotized by the sound. She has the prettiest laugh.
Just then, the tip of Erin's boot caught on her dress. Lurching forward, she braced herself for impact with the boardwalk, but Buck reached for her. I am one lucky girl, she thought, being in the arms of the man of my dreams.
Buck was equally happy with the sensation of having Erin in his arms. He relished the feel of her as they stared at each other.
"Hey boy, you'd better git your hands off that white woman!"
The prospector's voice cut through the spell. Buck's eyes closed in resignation. Erin looked over Buck's shoulder at the man. Buck could see the rage in her eyes.
"What did you just say?" she hissed.
"Erin, let it go," Buck said, releasing her.
The prospector continued on as if Erin hadn't spoken. "That's better, you nasty Injun. And don't you think about touchin' another white woman as long as your sorry hide lives!"
Erin raised her voice. "Who do you think you are? We're minding our own business, and then you come along—"
"Erin," Buck said, his tone lethally quiet. "Let it go."
Erin looked at Buck. "I will not let it go," she hissed.
Buck knew what would happen if she kept arguing: things would get worse and put the both of them in even more danger.
"Erin, I need you to do as I say, before—"
"Injun, is you now tellin' that purty white gal what to do? Who in tarnation do you think you are? A white man?"
"What?! Who do you think you are, you stupid jerk! Why can't you mind—"
"Erin!" Buck interrupted. He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Stop, please."
Erin took a close look at Buck. He looked panicked, and she had never seen him not self-assured and in control.
"Look at that! He's got that poor white gal all messed up! Prob'ly convinced her he's a good man. I say we teach this Injun a lesson, don't you boys?" the prospector called over his shoulder to the crowd gathering behind him. Several of the spectators loudly voiced their agreement.
The color drained from Erin's face as she stared at Buck. I've made things worse, and I've put Buck in tremendous danger, she thought.
"Erin," Buck said in a steel whisper. "I want you to turn around and go to the mercantile to find Jimmy. Stay with him and do not come back to me whatever happens."
"I don't want to leave you," Erin said in a pitiful whisper. "I'm sorry, I should have listened to you."
"Everything will be alright," Buck lied. The last thing he needed now was for her to panic.
"Now, do as I say and go!"
Erin felt the tears running down her face. She vowed to do as Buck said; he obviously knew more about how to handle these situations than she did. Turning around, she bumped into someone.
Jimmy! Maybe he can help!
Although Jimmy had just stumbled upon the scene, he could guess what was happening. "Erin, get behind me and get ready to run if I tell you," he whispered in her ear. Erin nodded and stepped behind him, grabbing his arm. Her head peeked out around his shoulder.
Buck slowly turned to face the small crowd, holding his hands up.
"Well, lookee what we got here! A filthy, nasty half-breed! Daddy prob'ly raped a white woman! Like father, like son! He was cornerin' a white woman to do the same, I'll bet!" The prospector sneered at Buck. The crowd murmured amongst themselves.
"I wasn't planning to do that and I don't want any trouble," Buck said slowly.
They heard the click of a hammer sliding into place. "And I don't want any trouble either." Buck turned
and saw Jimmy holding his Colt, the barrel pointed directly at the prospector's heart.
It seemed as if time stood still as the prospector contemplated what to do next. If he backed down, he'd look like a coward in front of his friends. If he didn't, he believed Jimmy Hickok would shoot him dead. Either one seemed like a bad option.
"What's going on here?"
Sam Cain briskly strode to Buck's side. "Hickock, put away that gun!"
Jimmy clicked back the hammer and put his Colt in his holster. There was dead silence.
"I said, what's going on?!"
The prospector answered with a smooth voice. "Nuthin' at all, Marshall Cain. Nuthin' at all. Idn't that right, half-breed?"
Sam turned to Buck, who stared back at the prospector. Buck knew Sam would lock the prospector up if he explained things. However, he also knew what would happen if he didn't play along and Emma didn't deserve to have her house burned down, or worse. He also didn't feel like dying.
"It was nothing."
Sam stared at Buck for a couple of beats before speaking to the crowd. "Alright, there's nothing to see here, so go on about your business." The audience slowly started to move along. The prospector grinned at Buck before walking away. He was pleased with the way things had ended up.
Sam turned to Buck. "Buck, just say the word and I'll lock him up."
Buck shook his head. "It's over now, done and gone. It's best to just leave it alone."
Sam nodded. He couldn't begin to imagine what Buck went through. Tipping his hat to Erin, he strode back to the jail.
Erin rushed over to Buck, just stopping herself from throwing her arms around him. She made sure to stand an arm's length away.
"I'm so sorry! I should have listened to you!"
"It's alright, you didn't know," Buck responded. He could never stay mad at Erin. "Just please, listen to me next time and do exactly as I say."
"I will," Erin answered.
Buck nodded. "Now let's get the wagon and go home."
"Flour's already loaded up," Jimmy said.
The three turned and walked to the wagon, Erin leading the way with Jimmy behind her.
Jimmy puffed out his chest as he thought of how Erin must be impressed with the way he handled things. Life is good, he thought.