Chapter 28

That night after they made camp and everybody had gone to their own wagons for the night, Buck lay with Lou in his arms, a smile on his face as she snuggled closer. "I can't believe we are going to be home in less than a week." Lou sighed happily.

"It won't be much for a while but it won't take long to build a house for you and the baby," Buck said softly.

"You mean for you, me, and the baby," Lou corrected poking Buck in the side.

Buck laughed, "Yeah, I still can't believe you're mine and we're gonna have a baby."

"I love you Buck. I'm sorry it took so long to realize that," Lou said rising up just enough so she could look into his eyes.

"We're together now, that's all that matters," Buck replied running his fingers through her hair.

They stared at each in silence for a few minutes until Lou exclaimed, "Oh! I almost forgot, you had a letter waiting for you, postmarked St. Jo."

"Did you read it?" Buck asked.

"It was addressed to you … besides I'm pretty sure it's from Jenny," Lou said as she moved to her discarded skirt to get the envelope from her pocket.

"You still could have read it; I don't have secrets from you," Buck stated as she handed him the letter.

"I'm not sure I would want to," Lou muttered under her breath but not low enough for Buck not to hear.

"Louise Cross, are you jealous?" Buck teased.

Lou smirked, "No! … Well maybe a little."

"You have no need to be, I've only ever saw you," Buck said leaning closer to her to brush his lips across hers.

"Read your letter," Lou stated with a grin as she got comfortable by his side again.

Buck brought the lit candle closer before breaking the seal and pulling out the single sheet of paper. Jenny's familiar childish script filled the page.

Buck,

I received your letter and honestly it came as no surprise. I always knew if Lou ever came back into your life I'd lose you. I have a confession to make, even though you were always the one I wanted I knew I was your second choice and you were gone so much of the time that I've been seeing other people for years. I never allowed them to get too serious because I still held out hope that one day you would marry me. But now that I know you are a lost cause I have moved on and by the time you read this I will have married Joshua Fairbanks.

I know you and he never got along because of his hatred of your Kiowa blood but I really don't care. I'm not marrying him for love, but for his money. As you know the Fairbanks are, one of the wealthiest families in St. Joseph. I shall have the best of everything, things you would never have been able to provide for me. So enjoy your life with your whore as you try to earn a living in the dirt just like a dirty breed like you deserves. I was always too good for you anyway, so tell Lou thank you for saving me from a life of destitution and scorn, I would have had if we had married. Goodbye Buck.

Jenny

Buck looked down at the letter in his hands and at the woman beside him. "You know I loved you so much before but I think I love you even more now."

"Really, why's that?" Lou asked softly.

"Because you saved me from marrying a woman I didn't love who would have made me miserable," Buck said folding the letter.

"Just what did that letter say?" Lou asked sitting back up to look at his face.

"Here read it," Buck said as he handed it over to Lou.

Lou took the letter and quickly scanned its contents. "Why that little hussy … oh the nerve … I oughta…" Lou muttered as she reached certain comments. "She never deserved you Buck. She was never good enough for you," Lou said after finishing the letter and balling it up.

"She's unhappy and bitter Lou, but deep down she's a good person. She was just never you," Buck stated knowing that Jenny didn't mean the harsh words she had said. He knew that she was just hurt because she had truly loved him, but he could never love her like she wanted because his heart has always belonged to the woman by his side.

"You're a good man Buck and far more forgiving than I ever could be," Lou replied before stretching back out and snuggling against Buck's side.

Buck blew out the candle and hugged Lou closer to his body, "I love you."

"I love you too," Lou whispered in the dark.

Just under a week later the small group arrived at their new home. Lou set the break on her wagon just as Buck came up beside her. He reached up and lifted her down to the ground. Hand in hand they walked away from the others to overlook their new home. Standing on a hill they could see for miles. The land was fresh and green and fertile. The river ran along the border of their land providing an excellent source of water. There were plenty of trees they could cut down to build their houses and still leave plenty of woodlands to hunt in. there was a valley that was perfect spot for the vineyard.

"It's perfect Buck," Lou whispered in awe.

"You really like it?" Buck asked.

"Like it? I love it! I want to build our house right here so we can look out and see everything. We can plot a garden right next to it and a barn for the animals can be down there. We can all use the same barn for now," Lou said as she pointing in different directions.

"That sounds like a fine plan to me but we should make sure the others are ok with that," Buck said.

"Son, this land maybe in all our names but it's more yours than anybody's. Besides, I'd like to be down there near the tree line," Teaspoon stated as he came up behind them.

"And I would like to be over there," Emma said pointing across to another hill top.

"What about you Rachel?" Buck asked.

"I don't need my own place. I could stay with Teaspoon and Polly if they don't mind," Rachel said.

"We don't mind Rachel, but are you sure? You might finally meet someone out here," Polly suggested.

"I'm sure," Rachel stated, in her heart she didn't think anybody could replace her husband.

"How about this Rachel, you pick a spot you'd like to have a house and we'll build a bunkhouse for our hands there and if you ever change your mind and are ready to live there, you'll already have a place built," Lou suggested.

"Well I guess I'd like to be a little closer to the river but not too close that I'd have to worry about flooding," Rachel relented.

"Alright then let's get started," Lou stated clapping her hands together signaling she was ready to get to work.

"Now hold on a minute Lou, the only thing I want you to get started on is a nap," Buck said as grabbed her shoulders to keep her from walking away.

"A nap no way, I want to get cracking on our house," Lou exclaimed.

"Forget it Lou, that's not gonna happen," Buck stated his tone brooking not arguments.

"Don't you dare try to tell me I can't do the work because you know damn well I can, Buck Cross!" Lou seethed her eyes flaring.

"Lou, that ain't what I'm saying at all. I know you can do the work and normally I'd let you work to your heart's content, but honey you've got to think about the baby. You don't have to do everything on your own. You ain't alone in this. I'm here to help you. Please just this once let me take care of you," Buck pleaded softly.

Lou, whose temper had started to rise, felt it quickly fade away at those words. Buck wasn't trying to control her and change her. He only wanted to take care of her and their baby. She had been strong enough to take care of herself for so long but she hadn't been strong enough to save Kid's baby, she couldn't let that happen to this child. So for once in her life Lou was going to let someone take care of her for a change. "Alright Buck, we do this your way … but just so you know once I have this baby I plan to work the vineyard right by your side."

"I wouldn't have it any other way sweetheart," Buck replied before kissing her.

"If ya'll are through with the smooching we should at least mark out your house before lunch and then maybe get started felling the trees," Sam stated with a small chuckle when they broke apart blushing having forgotten the others were still standing there.

"That's a good idea," Buck said with an embarrassed, grin.

It didn't take long for them to mark out their house and prepare the area to build on. The location they had picked out was perfect for the small cabin they had planned for the time being. Any additions would be easy to add on when the time came.

After lunch the men went to start cutting trees. It was a dangerous job and would be much easier with more men but they wanted to get started since they had no idea when men would start responding to the ad the women put in the paper.

The women in the meantime set up a more permanent camp and took clothes to the river to wash while the kids played nearby, as far from the working men as they could get. That night an exhausted group of settlers slept their first night on their new land… their new home.

After two days of work the men only had about half the logs they needed to build the first cabin.

"Ain't no way round it Buck, we need more men and we need them now. At this rate we won't get the cabins done and a garden planted before the first snows. We really should have had a garden in the ground last week. We can't afford to buy food supplies to last through the winter." Sam stated that night as they sat around their campfire, the worry clear in his voice.

"I know, but don't worry about it Sam. I'll make a run into town before winter sets in and buy the supplies we'll need to get through," Buck said as he sipped his coffee.

"Buck, son, I can't let you do that. Maybe the town needs a marshal," Sam said lowly.

"Even if they do, you'd be stuck in town all winter. Do you really want to be away from Emma that long?" Buck asked. When Sam shook his head no, Buck smiled. "I didn't think so. We're all in this together, we're a family, and families take care of their own. I have the means to buy the supplies we will all need so let me buy them," Buck said stressing the word all.

"Fine, I guess there really is no other option because you'll just do it anyway," Sam muttered, Buck, just grinned his trademark lopsided grin.

"That don't change the fact that unless we have some men show up soon we won't get all the cabins done before the first snow. I can feel it in my bones that it'll be coming before we know it," Teaspoon stated a few minutes later.

Lou was just about to open her mouth to say that if push came to shove they could always share for the winter when a new voiced called out.

"Hello the camp!"

The men were immediately on their feet, guns in hand. "Come in nice and easy," Sam called back.

The men stood protectively in front of the women and children as the strangers entered the camp. "We mean no harm. We're here about the ad that was posted in the Portland paper." The first man stated.

He was tall with shoulder length dark hair, the strands of grey just visible in the firelight; it had a slight curl to it. His face was ruggedly handsome with a firm jaw and a bushy mustache that did nothing to hide the dimple in his cheek when he smiled. Even in the dark, his blue eyes shone. And with the husky quality to his voice it was enough to make all the women swoon.

The men lowered their weapons but kept them in hand just in case. "I'm Buck Cross, that's Marshal Teaspoon Hunter, and Marshal Sam Cain. What are ya'lls names?" Buck asked shaking the man's hand.

"I'm Justin McGee." The tall man stated, "This is…" He said placing his hand on the young man's shoulder that stood next to him.

"Jeremiah?" Lou's strangled voice interrupted.

The young man locked eyes with Lou. Lou stood shakily to her feet when he had yet to say anything. "Miah is that really you?"

"Louise? I thought … we … we were told you died," Jeremiah choked out.

"You know her, Jerry?" Justin asked him.

"She's my sister," Jerry responded.

"I'll be damned, it's a small world. Sorry ladies done forgot my manners," Justin said tipping his hat to the ladies.

The men holstered their weapons completely this time as Lou walked closer; her hand's going to Jeremiah's face. "I can't believe it. I never thought I'd see you again. Who told you I was dead?"

"The sisters at the orphanage, they read the name Lou McCloud on a list of the dead during the war. They thought it was you since that was the name you were going by," Jerry explained.

"It was … it was Kid, my husband, he used my name when he joined up," Lou stated brokenly.

Jeremiah looked down at Lou's baby bump and grabbed her arm pulling her off to the side. "Lou that was years ago, who's the father of your baby and who are all these women. You ain't a working woman are you?" He whispered harshly.

"No! I'm married to Buck and the other women are Polly Hunter, Teaspoon's wife; Emma Cain who is married to Sam, and Rachel Dunne, she's a widow. Sam and Emma have children but they are sleeping in the wagons," Lou explained quickly.

"Thank God, I was worried for a moment that I'd have to shoot someone," Jerry stated before pulling Lou into a hug. "You've no idea how much we've missed you."

"Yes I do because I missed you too. I came back for you before but you were gone. I looked for you but I didn't know where you gone too. Where's Theresa?" Lou asked, tears in her eyes and voice.

"In Canby, she's at the hotel. I wasn't sure if there would be a place for me here and if there was if I could bring her so I had her wait for me there," Jeremiah explained.

"Well looks like tomorrow we are going to go get our sister," Lou stated with a grin.

"Looks like it." Jerry replied before slinging his arm over Lou's shoulder and walking back over to the others just in time to hear them hire Justin.

Justin who had taken a seat next to a blushing Rachel looked up at their approach. "I told ya this was the place to go boy."

"Yeah, yeah, you were right … like always," Jeremiah said muttering the last part under his breath.

"So how do you two know each other?" Rachel asked Justin.

"Met Jerry and his kid sister Resa working a claim in California, they were panning for gold. Never did find none. We got out when the getting was good. Just in time too, not a week later the whole camp came down with the pox." Justin explained never taking his eyes off of Rachel's face.

"What a lucky break," Rachel replied.

"What about you Mrs. Dunne, how'd ya'll meet?" Justin asked.

"The Pony Express Emma was the station mother in Sweetwater and Teaspoon the master, when Emma married Sam they left and I took over. Buck and Lou were two of the riders," Rachel explained.

"No kidding? A girl rode for the express, well I'll be," Justin said looking over at Lou.

"She was the best rider to ever ride for the express," Buck stated with pride.

"I've no doubt about it, if she's anything like her siblings she's a spirited filly," Justin said.

"She is that … and then some," Teaspoon replied with a wink at Lou.

"If you're through talking about me, I'm going to bed." Lou sated as she struggled to get up, Buck standing to help her.

"Ma'am it's real nice meeting you," Justin said with a tip of his hat.

"And you too Mr. McGee," Lou said before turning to Buck, "You coming?"

"I'll be right there," Buck whispered.

"Mr. McGee," Buck started.

"Justin, please," Justin interrupted.

"Justin, you and Jeremiah can bed down here by the fire for tonight. And welcome aboard. Jeremiah it's good to see you again," Buck said shaking both their hands.

"Mr. Cross," Justin said.

"Please just call me Buck," Buck stated.

"Buck," they both said in way of goodnight.

Buck told the others goodnight before joining Lou in their wagon for the night. The next day Buck, Lou, and Jeremiah went into Canby and not only got the supplies they would need for the winter, but also Theresa.