THE HOME COMING – CHAPTER 2
See warnings posted in Chapter 1.
Once back at the hotel, Buck packed up his, JD and Sophia's belongings and headed to the livery. When he got there, he found everyone saddling their horses. Sophia was waiting for JD to saddle Achora. Buck dropped the gear and went over to Sophia. "You best behave on the trip home, no wandering off, you hear me?"
"I won't, I promise," she said emphatically.
"Gonna hold you to that," Buck said sternly.
Sophia just nodded her head. While Buck went over to saddle Lady, she touched JD on the arm. "He still seems mad, how long is he gonna stay mad?"
JD looked at her and sighed, "I don't know Sophia, usually as soon as he punishes ya, it's over and done with."
"He already punished me," Sophia complained.
JD looked at her. If she thought that was a punishment, she had another thing coming. "That one swat?" JD asked incredulously.
Sophia nodded her head in agreement.
"Sophia, that ain't nothing. He probably did that because you're a girl and all. I wouldn't bank on that being the worst punishment you'll ever get. Just mind him, so you won't get in no trouble and get anything worse." JD advised.
"JD, does he beat you?" Sophia asked fearfully.
JD laughed, "No, but he has tanned me a few times. Not too many times, mostly I just get a talking to, but if you make him really mad, he'll tan ya."
"What'd ya do?" she asked curiously.
"Well, with Buck don't lie, I mean don't ever lie and don't take off without telling him. Those are the two worst things in his book."
"Oh, ok."
"And Sophia, you're just as likely to catch it from Chris or Josiah if you don't mind. You know, they're like the grownups of the peace keepers."
"Aren't Vin and Ezra grownups and what about Nathan?"
JD almost choked, "Naw, Vin says he's 25 and Ezra says he's 21, but I'm pretty sure they're both a lot younger than they're saying. Nathan, I ain't sure. He doesn't normally unless you make him really mad. He only gets really mad if you put yourself in danger and get hurt. But then, you're usually too hurt for him to do anything but fix you up."
Sophia just nodded her head as she digested all this information. JD gave her a leg up on Achora and turned to mount Danger.
As Buck and Chris finished saddling their own mounts, they looked around to make sure everybody had everything and that they were ready to go.
"We ready to go?" asked Buck.
He got a chorus of "yes sir and yeah."
"Let's head out," said Chris.
The five turned toward the edge of town and headed back. Chris and Buck road upfront, while Sophia road between JD and Vin.
The first night, they didn't make it to Red Salt Flats. It was just too far with Sophia along. She was a valiant soldier, but she was completely exhausted after a half a day's ride. Chris and Buck really didn't want to stop, but they stopped anyway and made camp about a half day from Red Salt Flats. That gave them plenty of time to make supper and set up camp before it got dark. Buck pulled Sophia off of Achora and put her down on the ground.
"You stay right there, until I get the saddle off," he warned her as he started untacking Achora.
Sophia nodded. She was almost asleep on her feet. Chris had already finished with Pony and grabbed her as she was starting to sway. She was asleep. Chris chuckled and looked at Buck.
"You're girl's gone," he said.
Buck looked at Chris holding Sophia in his arms, she sure looked small, almost like a China doll. He grabbed her bedroll and laid it down near where Vin had started a fire. Chris laid her down and put a blanket over her.
Buck shook his head. "I hope it don't take two weeks to get home, she's not very strong."
Chris grimaced. The thought of being on the trail for more than 3 or 4 days didn't appeal to him. "We might have to take turns letting her ride with us."
Buck nodded. As they gathered around the fire and fixed supper, JD asked Buck, "Should I wake her up for supper?"
"Naw, if she wakes up we got apples, bread and cheese. She can have a cold supper."
JD nodded as he dug into his meal. They had brought fresh food from town and were able to have a great supper. The cook at the hotel had packed vegetables and some ham. As they finished up supper, Chris looked at Vin, "You boys go wash up the dishes and yourselves and then hit your bedrolls, it's gonna be another long day tomorrow."
JD started to whine, "It's barely dark, it's too early…."
Chris cut him off, "Ya done whining, because I'm done listening."
JD opened his mouth to retort, when Vin grabbed his arm. "We're going Chris. C'mon JD."
JD followed in Vin's wake because he had no choice, Vin had his arm in a vice grip. "What'd you do that for?" JD blustered.
Vin shook his head. The kid really had no thought of self-preservation. He's lucky that Buck hadn't whipped him yet and he could have a nice comfortable ride home. Smarting off to Chris was not going to help his case. "JD, don't you ever think? You were on Chris' last nerve afore we left, he rode all the way here to get us, he ain't too happy. Mouthing off ain't gonna help. If you want to ride comfortable on the way home, if I was you, I'd just do what he tells ya to do."
JD sucked in a breath, he supposed Vin was right, "Yeah, I guess so."
Vin and JD washed up the dishes and themselves and returned to the camp. JD glanced over at Sophia, she was out like a light. He glanced at Chris. Chris gave him a hard stare. "Sorry, Chris," he mumbled.
Chris nodded.
Breaking the tension, Buck said, "Goodnight boys."
"Night," they returned as they settled on their bedrolls.
"Night boys," Chris said softly.
"Night Chris," the boys said in unison.
Both boys fell asleep quickly. Chris knew that Vin didn't normally sleep too heavy, but he'd been watching out over JD and probably felt like he had to keep himself awake or mostly awake. Chris smiled when he looked over at Vin. "I guess playing big brother plumb wore him out."
Buck looked over and grinned, "Yeah, he probably feels like he can really rest with us here."
Chris nodded, "I'll take first watch, wake you up in a couple of hours."
Buck nodded and snuggled into his bedroll.
The next morning Sophia woke up to the smell of bacon and biscuits. Her mouth watered. She saw Vin cooking the bacon and didn't see Chris or Buck. "Good morning, Vin," she yawned and stretched.
Vin looked up from the pan of bacon he was frying, "Morning Lil Sister."
Sophia smiled wide at him, she liked the sound of that. She started to get up and walk away.
"Where ya going?" asked Vin.
"I need, um, well, I was going to…" she hesitated.
Vin caught on, "Oh ok, but you need to tell someone your leaving camp, you can't just walk off."
Sophia just rolled her eyes.
Vin caught the eye roll. "I wouldn't be doin' that to Chris or Buck," he advised.
Sophia sighed, there sure seemed to be a lot of rules.
JD woke up shortly after Sophia came back to camp. She was sitting on her bedroll with her chin sitting on her knees and her arms wrapped around her legs. Her long hair almost reached the ground. JD got up to go snitch a piece of bacon from the pan, Vin smacked his hand. JD grabbed his hand back, "Heh, what'd ya do that for?"
Vin looked at his brother with disbelief, "Cuz you're gonna burn your hand. I keep tellin' ya but ya never listen." Vin said shaking his head.
"I'm hungry," JD complained.
"Don't care, I ain't lettin' ya get burned."
"Hmph," said JD.
Just as JD let out a hmph, Buck and Chris arrived back at camp. Buck surveyed the scene. JD looked put upon, Vin looked annoyed and Sophia looked sad. What in the world is going on, he thought? "Somethin' a matter boys?" he asked.
Vin looked up, "No, JD's just being an idiot." Vin grumbled.
"Am not," shot out JD.
"Are to."
"Am not."
"Stop it, both of ya. What happened?" Buck growled.
"Nothin'," JD muttered.
Buck looked from JD to Vin and back to JD. Vin just shrugged his shoulders. He wasn't going to tattle tale. Sibling code and all, don't rat out your brothers. You can smack your brother, but you don't want the "parents" doin it.
Buck eyed both of them suspiciously. "I ain't in the mood for ya'll two to cut up. Whatever was going on, it ends right now. Comprende?"
Both boys nodded.
Buck nodded and headed over to Sophia. Now, what was wrong with her?" he wondered. She hadn't even been paying attention to the spat between Vin and JD. Buck sat down next to Sophia. "Darlin' is something wrong?" Buck asked her softly as he touched her shoulder.
Sophia jumped.
"Sorry darlin', I didn't mean to scare ya," Buck said.
Sophia looked up, "I guess I just miss my mama," she whispered.
Buck looked at her with sadness in his eyes. He knew she was exhausted and had probably been through hell in that orphanage. She really had nothing to occupy her time, so her mind probably wandered to her mama. Buck pulled her into his lap. "I know its hard, but at least your gonna be with your brother and now you have brothers and uncles and a whole family, right?"
Sophia nodded into Buck's chest. "And a Pa?" she whispered.
"And a Pa," agreed Buck.
Vin called them for breakfast a few minutes later. Buck pushed her off his lap. "Come on, let's eat," he said grabbing her hand and heading over to the fire.
After they finished breakfast, the group packed up and headed out. Chris and Buck were hoping they could make it to Red Salt Flats and ½ day pass that. Chris and Buck rode up front, why the boys and Sophia lagged behind. Buck was uncharacteristically quiet. Chris was always quiet, so that was no surprise, but Chris felt like the silence was getting uncomfortable. He sensed something was wrong with Buck. He wasn't sure. Normally, he didn't pry into other people's affairs. He figured if someone wanted to talk, they would talk. But this time, it seemed like Buck was really struggling. Seemed like Buck could use a big brother's shoulder or a sounding board or something.
"You all right, little brother?" asked Chris.
Buck looked at him surprised. Chris used to call him "little brother" all the time when Chris was bringing him up. But, he hardly ever did it anymore. It used to make Buck feel so special. "Wow, you haven't called me that in a long time," Buck smiled looking away.
Chris gave him one of his rare smiles, "Seems like something's weighing you down. I'm just reminding you your big brother is here for you, just like Vin was there for JD."
Buck sighed.
"Want to talk about it?"
Buck ran his hand through his hair, "Sophia wants me to be her Pa, like for real, not like playing in Rock Creek Station."
Chris looked at Buck, he wasn't the least bit surprised, "That a problem?"
"Well, I ain't never raised no kids, especially a girl."
"Ya raising JD already."
"Well, you know Chris. There's things a boy's got to learn. My reputation with the ladies and well you know…."
Chris laughed at that, before JD, there had been a different lady in Buck's bed every week, if not every night. "You think you need to settle down?"
"What? Hell NO!" Buck sputtered.
Chris laughed at that emphatic statement from Buck. "Then what's the problem?"
"Not sure how to continue my um…you know relationships, if I've got two kids." Buck said stumbling over his words.
"You've already got one, what's the difference in having two?"
"JD is 17, he knows….."
"Guess you're gonna have to reign it in," said Chris grinning like a fool.
Buck looked at him disgusted, "Oh, shut up. You're no help."
Chris almost fell off his horse laughing. He got serious for a minute, "You saying you don't want Sophia?"
Buck shook his head, "No, no I'm not saying that at all. I already love her like she was mine. I'm just trying to come to grips with the idea that I gotta change my ways. You know that kind of thing isn't good when you have a little girl to raise."
Chris nodded, "You'll do fine."
By this time, it was getting toward noon. Chris felt, rather than heard Vin ride up behind them. "Heh Chris!" Vin called.
Vin stopped Pony and turned toward Vin. "Yeah?"
"I'm thinking Sophia is getting tired. Maybe it's a good time to stop for lunch and let her rest a bit?"
Chris looked at Buck. Buck nodded. "OK, there's a stream about a mile off, let's stop there."
Vin nodded and kicked Peso into a trot back to JD and Sophia.
"Chris says there's a stream about a mile off, we're stoppin' there for lunch."
"Thank God," Sophia murmured.
They all arrived at the stream and started to dismount. Sophia swung her leg over and held on to the saddle horn as she tried to slide to the ground. Vin noticed her dangling by the horn, it was a long way to the ground for a little thing like Sophia. Vin caught her around the waist. 'Whoa there little girl, you're going to fall."
Sophia tried to elbow Vin and struggled out of his grip, "I can do it! I'm not a baby!" she said testily.
Vin backed up as she caught him in the gut with her elbow, "Ooph. Heh, I was just trying to help," said Vin backing up with his hands in the air in the universal peace offering sign.
Sophia stalked over to where Buck was starting a fire, with Vin and JD trailing in her wake. "Buck, can me and Vin go fishing?" asked JD excitedly.
Buck looked at the sun. It was about noon, he figured maybe they take a couple of hours and let Sophia rest a little. They could ride until it got dark and fresh fish sounded really good. "OK with me, ask Chris."
JD went in search of Chris and found him taking the saddles off the horses and giving them a little rest as well. "Chris?" JD called.
Chris looked up, "Yeah, JD?"
"Buck said me and Vin could go fishing, if it's ok with you."
Chris nodded, "You got maybe an hour. We need to be going, I don't want to make this an all day thing."
JD and Vin nodded, "Ok, thanks."
Chris chuckled as the boys wandered off toward the stream. They probably needed a break from babysitting. Well, they better get used it, now Vin had to watch out for Ezra, JD and Sophia and JD wasn't the youngest anymore, so he had to watch for Sophia. He finished with the horses and walked over to Buck. Sophia was already laid out on her bedroll fast asleep.
Buck looked up, "You let the boys go fishing?"
Chris nodded, "Figured they needed a break from babysitting."
"Yeah," grinned Buck. "JD ain't the baby no more. His world's about to change."
"Don't make him have to grow up too fast," Chris warned.
Buck shook his head, "You mean like Vin or Ezra?"
Chris nodded, "You know neither of those boys is as old as they claim to be. They just had to grow up faster than some."
Buck laughed, "Wonder when you was going to figure that out."
Chris smiled, "Oh, I figured it out a while back, I just waiting to see if they were going to spill the beans on their own. I suspect they both would be under a guardianship if Travis knew."
'What'd ya gonna do about it?" asked Buck.
Chris shook his head, "Not sure, yet."
"Think 'Siah knows about Ezra?" asked Buck.
"Pretty sure. That's why Josiah keeps him so close." Chris said.
Buck and Chris stretched out on the ground to get a quick cat nap while the boys were fishing. With each one of them taking a watch last night, they were tired and could use a little rest themselves.
JD and Vin walked toward the stream. They each cut a willow branch to use as a fishing pole and tied a line with a hook to it.
"Vin?" asked JD as he dug up a few worms and handed Vin a couple.
"Hmm?" asked Vin baiting his hook.
"Thanks."
'For what?"
"For coming with me, for watching out for me, for getting Sophia. I forgot how hard it was being a big brother."
Vin smiled. "Glad I get to be one, never had no brothers or sisters before."
"Vin?"
"Yeah?"
"You think we're still in trouble?"
Vin laughed cynically, "Oh yeah, Chris already told me that I'm on jail duty for a month."
JD shook his head, "I'm sorry Vin, I didn't want you to get in no trouble. That really stinks! A whole month, huh?"
Vin sighed dejectedly, "Yeh, a whole month."
"You don't think Chris will ease up?"
Vin snorted, "You met Chris Larabee?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right. At least he didn't tan ya. I'm pretty sure that's what I got coming from Buck." JD said sadly.
Vin wasn't too sure there wasn't some of that in his future as well. "You'll survive, ya always do. Plus you knew the minute you took off, he was gonna tan ya."
JD nodded morosely, "yeah…" The JD grinned, "So, worth it…."
Vin hit him on the shoulder, "Yep, gotta agree with you there."
After about an hour, Vin looked up in the sky. "I bet it's been an hour. How many fish ya got?"
JD looked down, "I got 4, how many you got?"
Vin looked at his string, "I got 8," he boasted.
"For real? How'd ya get so many?" JD asked in awe.
Vin laughed, "Cuz I'm quiet and don't scare all the fish away."
JD responded by throwing dirt at Vin. Vin dodged as he stood up. "C'mon we don't want to rile the old men any."
JD laughed as he stood up. "I'll race you back to camp."
Vin laughed as he took off after JD. Sometimes, he got to act like a kid. He let his guard down a little, knowing Chris and Buck were close by and he could relax a little.
The boys arrived breathlessly back in camp to find Chris and Buck tending the fire and Sophia still sleeping. JD and Vin handed Chris their fish.
"You boys have a good time?" asked Chris accepting the fish.
The boys nodded. "Thanks for letting us go," said Vin.
Chris nodded, "You gonna clean your fish?"
Vin and JD shook their heads, "We caught 'em, you clean 'em," JD smirked.
Chris playfully swatted JD, "Don't get sassy, brat."
JD danced out of Chris' way. He headed toward Buck eyeing Sophia. "Buck, she's so tired. I'm not sure how much she can ride today."
"It's ok, she can ride with me. I don't want to be on the trail for the next 3 days. We can't just ride ½ day at a time."
JD looked doubtful. "I know." JD didn't necessarily want to get home anytime soon. He knew he and Buck were going to have a discussion that probably involved a lot of standing afterwards. "But she ain't very strong."
Buck rolled his eyes. "Stop worrying, it'll be fine. Wake up Sophia and take her down to the stream to wash up."
"OK," JD agreed as he went to wake Sophia up. "Sophia, Sophia, wake up," JD said shaking her shoulder.
Sophia yawned and stretched. "JD?"
"Yeah, come on. Let's go wash up. Chris' making lunch."
"What are we having?" she asked putting her hand in JD's outstretched hand.
"Fish," said JD.
"Fish? I've never had fish," Sophia said wrinkling her nose. "What's it taste like?"
"Fish," said JD.
Sophia slapped at him, "You're soooooo annoying."
JD just laughed. He stopped at a clump of trees, so Sophia could take care of business. He then led her down to the stream and handed her flannel and soap. "Wash," he instructed.
Sophia washed up and handed back the flannel and soap. They headed back toward the camp. When they arrived, JD could smell that fish. His mouth was watering. Chris started handing out plates of fish. He started to hand one to Sophia. She wrinkled her nose. "I don't think I like fish."
Chris' eyebrows went up. For a child who had only been eating porridge at the orphanage, he was surprised that she would turn down good fresh food. "Eat it anyway," he said sternly.
"But…." She started to say.
"Now, little girl."
Sophia scowled, but took the plate from him.
Buck watched with amusement. "Sophia, what do you say?"
A confused looked pass over her face, then she caught on. "Thank you," she said quietly as she headed toward her bedroll.
Chris handed Buck his plate, "Better make sure she doesn't dump it," Chris advised.
Buck nodded, he had figured the same thing. Just as Sophia was about to dump the plate behind a tree, Buck walked up to her. "You dump that plate little girl, you gonna be in a world of trouble."
Startled Sophia turned around. "But I don't like fish," she whined.
"Chris told ya to eat it. You best mind." Buck cautioned her, the rest going unsaid.
Sophia scowled as she sat down on her blanket.
"Eat," Buck ordered.
Complying, Sophia brought a fork full of fish to her mouth. She was surprised. It actually tasted really good. "Wow, this is good," she said.
Buck shook his head. Why are kids always whining about not liking something before they even try it. "So ya never had fish before and you were whining about it, but you like it? Don't you be pulling that nonsense on me."
Sophia looked down, "Sorry," she said contritely.
"Remember what I told ya about arguing with me?"
Sophia nodded her head.
"Same goes for me, Chris, Josiah and Nathan or any other adult. You understanding me?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, finish your lunch. We need to get to moving." Buck said as he stood up to go have lunch over by the boys and let her think about what he said. He sat next to Chris. "She was about to dump it. She ain't never even had fish before." Buck said disgustedly.
Chris laughed. He'd remembered when Adam pulled that a few times. Except he would try and feed it to the dog. "Yeah, that's what kids do."
"Not my kids," grumbled Buck.
"Sure Buck," Chris smirked.
They quickly finished lunch. "C'mon Sophia," Buck called, "roll up your blanket and bring it here."
Sophia quickly rolled up her blanket and brought it to Buck. Buck took the blanket from her and tied it to the back of her saddle. Buck reached down and picked up Sophia to put her on Lady.
"Heh, what are you doing?" she demanded.
"We need to make time, so you're gonna ride with me awhile."
"I can ride Achora. I don't need to ride with you!" Sophia retorted as she tried to dismount.
Buck caught her leg as she tried to swing it over Lady's saddle. "Little girl, you're going to do as your told. You aren't gonna talk to me with that tone of voice and if you raise your voice to me again, you ain't gonna be very happy." Buck said angrily as his eyes narrowed and completely focused on Sophia.
Sophia back down immediately. "Sorry."
Buck just swung up in the saddle behind her and grabbed Achora's reins.
All the while JD was watching with a stunned expression. What was wrong with that girl? Sophia had never really had a temper. He wondered if that orphanage ruined her. He wasn't sure quite what to think. He just wanted her to settle down before Buck gave her a spanking. He couldn't ever remember his ma spanking her, him, yes, her, never.
As usual, Buck and Chris rode ahead and the boys lagged behind. Vin looked at JD, JD looked upset.
What's a matter?" asked Vin concerned.
"Huh, oh, I'm just worried about Sophia. She's trying Buck's patience. I just don't remember her ever being that way," JD said shaking his head.
"Listen JD, she's probably went through hell in that orphanage. Your ma died. You two got ripped a part. She's just angry. She'll get over it."
"I hope so before Buck gives her a whipping. If I talked to him like that, I'd sure get one. Do you think he'd whip her? You know her being so young and a girl and all?"
Vin shook his head, "I doubt it. I'm not sure what he's gonna do, but I wouldn't be taking any chances, you best warn her."
"Yeah," JD agreed.
The group rode hard until they got ½ day beyond Red Salt Flats. Only ½ day more and they would be home. Sophia seemed subdued. She just did exactly what she was told and didn't say much. When they were done with supper, JD got up to go wash up the dishes. He snagged Sophia. "Sophia, come help wash up the dishes," JD said as he gathered up the dishes.
Sophia sighed, stood up and followed JD. JD slowed down so Sophia could catch up with him. "Sophia, I don't know what's gotten into you, but you better watch that sassy mouth. Buck ain't gonna put up with it."
As Sophia followed JD, Chris turned to Vin. "Go keep an eye on your little brother and sister. I don't want them getting in any trouble."
"They're fine Chris, they're just going down to the stream." Vin countered.
"Now!" Chris growled.
Vin sighed, the job of a big brother was never done. As he approached JD and Sophia, he hung back a little. He wanted to see what was going on before he met up with them.
"I'm not trying to be sassy," Sophia argued.
"Don't matter, that's how it sounds," JD said shaking his head.
"I was really good all afternoon. I didn't say a single word," Sophia said stomping her foot.
"I was talking about earlier. I know your tired. I know that you don't understand most of this. I'm just trying to tell you, it's nice having a family and if you would give it a chance, you would like it."
"I thought it would be just you and me," Sophia said scuffing her shoe in the dirt.
JD sighed, "It can't just be you and me. I'm not old enough. Even if we take off, if someone figures it out, they'd just stick us in an orphanage. You don't want to go back to an orphanage or even worse one of them work houses do you?"
Sophia shook her head, "No, I never want to go back."
"Ok then. You need to straighten up. I know mama never spanked you, but Buck ain't a pushover like mama. You gotta try and behave."
"I am trying," Sophia whined.
"Try harder," JD advised.
"It's not like you don't get in trouble all the time," scoffed Sophia.
"How do you know?" asked JD.
Sophia rolled your eyes, "You used to be in trouble all the time, JD."
"I know, but I'm older now." JD said seriously.
Vin scoffed quietly at that. JD still was in trouble half the time.
Sophia just eyed her brother. "JD, I'm sorry. I'm so tired, I miss mama, Chris scares me and I'm afraid to meet the others. What if they're all scary like Chris? What if they don't like me? I just wish it was you and me."
"Well it can't be that way, so get used to it. You'd rather be in that orphanage?"
She shook her head sadly.
JD had finished up the dishes by this point. "C'mon. We've taking long enough. Let's go before they have to come down here and get us."
Just then, Vin made noise and appeared at the stream. "C'mon you two, the old folks are getting worried."
"C'mon Sophia, let's go," said JD walking past her.
Sophia turned toward the camp and started walking behind JD. Vin waited for her and offered her his hand. "Sophia, give them a chance. They all ready love ya. 'Sides Chris is all bark and no bite, well he don't bite much." Vin promised.
Sophia just nodded and let Vin lead her back to camp. Once they got to camp, Buck just nodded toward the bed rolls. The three younger ones just headed to their bed rolls. Buck went to tuck Sophia in and she just turned away. He caught JD's eye. JD jerked his head so Buck would come over to him.
"What's wrong?" asked Buck.
"She's scared," JD whispered.
"'Bout what?" asked Buck.
"Everything. Chris. The others she hadn't met yet. Getting home. Everything," JD whispered.
Buck nodded. "I'll talk to her in the morning, ok?"
JD nodded, his eyes swimming in misery. Maybe it wasn't such a great idea that he got her. Buck palmed JD's face, "It's ok son, I promise it will be ok."
Buck turned to go to his own bedroll, Chris was taking first watch. He would've kissed JD on the head had the others not been around. He did it often enough at the boarding house when JD was going to bed. He liked their little bed time routine. It was always ended up with him kissing JD on the head, JD pretending he didn't like it and Buck laughing.
Chris woke Buck up a couple hours later for his turn at watch. "Chris?"
"Yeah Buck?"
"JD says Sophia's scared of everything, including you."
Chris' eyebrows went up, "Me?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
"Don't know."
Chris sighed. "I'll see what I can do to change that," he promised as he lay down.
"thanks," said Buck gratefully.
The evening passed quietly. Chris and Buck were up fixing breakfast. They only had ½ day ride until they got home. Both of them were looking forward to a hot bath and their own beds. Vin was already up and washing up down at the stream. As usual Buck's two were sound asleep. Buck went to wake up JD.
"JD, JD, c'mon son. Time to get up," Buck said shaking JD. Bleary eyed, JD sat up.
"I'm up, Pa." JD said rubbing his eyes.
Buck grinned, when JD wasn't quite awake or really sick, he called Buck, Pa. Buck didn't even think JD realized it, so he never called him on it. Buck stuck out his hand, "C'mon boy, we're almost home. Be home by lunch time."
JD got up quickly and then sobered up. Once they reached home, Buck was gonna tan him, just like he promised. If Buck promised ya something, good or bad, it usually was goin' to happen come hell or highwater. He sighed as he went toward the stream. He wished he could just get it over with, so he could move on.
Buck went to wake up Sophia once he made sure JD was awake enough to get washed up without falling in the stream. 'Sides Vin was down there, he'd watch for JD. "Sophia, darlin, time to wake up," Buck said gently shaking her. Sophia opened her eyes up slowly.
"Ummm…I need…"
Buck knew immediately. "Go on, then come on back here. You can wash your hands with the water from the canteen."
Sophia needed and went to take care of business. She got back to find Buck folding up her bedroll. "Sophia, I want to talk to you for a minute."
Sophia looked at him warily.
"C'mon over here," Buck said motioning her to sit in his lap. Sophia went and stood by him and he pulled her into his lap. "Now, I know that it's a little scary meeting all these new people in town, but I promise I'll be right there with you the whole time. I'll talk to the judge that made me JD's guardian about me being your Pa. It's all going to be ok, I just need you to trust me. Can you do that, can you trust me?"
Sophia just looked up at him. Those big green eyes of hers brimming with uncertainty.
"JD trusts me, don't he?"
Sophia nodded.
"Do you think you can trust me?"
Sophia looked at him.
Buck saw the uncertainty. "What's wrong?"
"I don't want a spanking."
Buck looked shocked, "Who said you was getting a spanking?"
"JD," she said her eyes looking down at the blanket.
Buck hugged her, "I'd only do that if you were being naughty or disrespectful. Like when you were talking back to me. I expect you to be respectful to the adults around you and that means not talking back. I love ya enough to teach you to act right. You understand?"
"You really love me?" she asked.
"Yep, the moment I laid eyes on ya. I love you and JD like you was my own and that ain't never going to change." Buck said hugging her.
"I love you too," she whispered as she gave Buck a kiss.
Buck stood her up, "C'mon let's get breakfast and head for home."
There's that word again, she thought. "Home". She hoped it was as nice as it sounded.