Buck Wilmington was not a man that was easily shocked. In fact, he rather prided himself in the idea of being unflappable. Able to adapt to any given situation, and react accordingly, without jeopardizing the task at hand. But something about the feel of Chris Larabee's little sister in his arms had possessed the capability of freezing him in place, as though whatever skill he possessed at keeping on his toes had simply left him before he had a chance to stop it.

Of course, the belated realization of Chris' slightly narrowed eyes as he watched the embrace last for longer than it truly should have did not help.

Somehow, that discovery did prove to be enough to allow Buck to gently disentangle himself from Sadie's hold around his waist, the twinge of regret at the loss of contact going ignored, at least for the moment, as he inadvertently caught himself looking directly at her face, instead. Gone was the chubby-cheeked little girl that used to run after Chris everywhere he went, blonde curls in disarray no matter their mother's attempts to urge her to be a lady. That little girl had been replaced, it seemed, by a woman, and although Buck was nowhere near being ready to reconcile with that fact, he found that he could not seem to look away from the reality standing right before him.

Or at least, he could not look away until he noted the appearance of a familiar large hand placed upon Sadie's shoulder, and forced himself to look up at his friend, instead.

"Buck?"

"Uh-yeah. Yeah, right," Buck stammered, shaking his head just a bit in hopes that it would rid him of the fog that seemed determined to stick in his mind, compromising his ability to form a sentence, much less appear as though he were in any way normal, "Good to-to have you back, Sadie-girl."

The smile Sadie gave in response to the familiar nickname very nearly bowled Buck over, though he was careful to at least make the attempt at avoiding allowing that reality to make itself known in his expression. He would have been a fool to ignore Chris' almost immediate appearance at her side, or the way in which Sadie seemed to instinctively lean into the hand he had placed upon her shoulder. And although he truly wished Chris might not have been so stalwart in his apparent need to keep a close eye on the young woman in question, Buck would have been the first to admit that he, too, felt an almost compulsive need to keep Sadie safe.

He could recall feeling that way almost from the first moment they met, and now that she had somehow become a lovely young woman, that desire clearly was only likely to grow.

"Maybe you could-could join us-JD and I, I mean-for a bite?" Buck offered, then, eyeing Chris to determine his reaction to the suggestion, and allowing a faint sigh of relief to escape when he noted that his posture appeared to have relaxed, albeit very minimally, in response. Of course, Buck was not really surprised to observe Sadie glancing up at her brother, as well, a few curls of blonde hair falling over her shoulder as she turned her head to better gauge his reaction. But when she frowned a bit, and turned back towards him as though she was truly torn over how best to respond, Buck found himself caught with the unsettling sensation of regret.

She had been moving towards a table with Chris and Josiah, before she noticed him, so it seemed only natural that her dining arrangements had already been made.

"I-I'm sorry, Buck, but I think Chris was already-"

"It's alright. It is," Buck assured, nodding once, out of a desire to persuade himself that yes, this was fine, and he had a job to do anyway, so loitering around to ogle his best friend's sister was likely not in his best interest, "I uh-I need to go meet the judge, anyway."

"The judge?"

"Judge Travis," JD supplied, the suddenness of his words at Buck's shoulder causing the older man to flinch as he attempted to figure out exactly what had persuaded his companion to intervene in the first place, "Chris, I thought maybe I could go along, too. Give Buck some backup, if he needs it."

"Don't need any backup, JD."

"Just an offer, Buck. Didn't mean nothin' by it."

"Take the kid with ya," Chris interceded, ignoring the slight scowl Buck gave in response to both the instruction, and the elated whoop JD gave mere moments after, "Might help."

"Yeah. Yeah, alright," Buck relented, sparing one final glance towards Sadie, and managing a smile for her benefit while simultaneously reaching out to pinch her cheek, as he had so many years ago, just to make her laugh, "Good to have ya back, Sadie-girl."

As he had hoped, she smiled readily in response, though the soft laugh she did allow was far different from the boisterous giggles she used to give as a girl. But of course, he was not about to allow himself to become too preoccupied by that realization at the moment, with Chris standing right there, a persistent shadow at Sadie's side, and more importantly, a job that needed doing as well.

Whatever strange ideas Sadie had prompted by her reappearance in his life, Buck knew better than to spend too long contemplating them with Chris watching on, and so he resolved to simply give his friend a firm nod by way of parting, before donning his hat, and heading towards the saloon door with JD in tow.

Anything not directly related to the task at hand could be thought about in more detail at a later time.

…

Some time later, Sadie moved alone through the small room Chris had taken her to before having to head out on a task of his own, her attempts at unpacking her things to make it into more of a home going, at least for the moment, unheeded in favor of simply drinking in her surroundings, first-hand. Though the room was nothing compared to her former lodgings in Philadelphia, Sadie still felt a small thrill of satisfaction roll through her as she recalled Chris mentioning something about securing this room specifically because it was right beside his own. After so long apart, just knowing he was there-that all she had to do to secure his presence at her side would be to venture next door-filled Sadie with a sense of contentment that she had honestly not even realized she was missing.

It was not that she had lacked camaraderie in Philadelphia. To the contrary, she had found it rather simple to devote herself to the task of making friends, and she had often marveled at the fact that though she had feared it with all her might when she first came to reside there, she had never once truly felt lonely. Sadie had not fully understood why Chris had sent her to the city, of course. That particular realization had not dawned on her until years later. And although sometimes, she still caught herself wondering if she had done something to prompt the decision, whether consciously or not, Sadie was still resolutely determined to withhold any blame from him at all.

He had done the best he could, in the wake of unspeakable tragedy. She could not fault him for that.

Frowning as the memory of that day snuck its way into her mind, Sadie perched upon the edge of the bed, her hands absently smoothing over her skirts as she bit her lip against the recollection of the confusion that had swept over her as soon as she had learned the truth. Three years later, she still could not identify what had pained her the most-the knowledge that she would never speak to Sarah, or curl up in a rocking chair with little Adam ever again, or the hollowness that had slowly wormed its way behind her brother's eyes until it was all she ever saw when she looked at him. She could remember the pain of feeling Chris had only sent her away to free himself of the obligation of caring for her sorrows, as well as his own. And now that she had returned, hopefully wiser than she had been when she left, Sadie could only admit to feeling one thing when it came to her brother and the choices he had been forced to make.

Guilt that she had not been understanding enough to recognize them for what they were at the time.

A sigh escaped before she could stop it, though Sadie still possessed the wherewithal to force herself to stand and move towards the window that overlooked the street below, her reflection in the glass panes hardly garnering her attention at all. Instead, she focused on the people milling about below. The way a blonde woman's skirts belled out around her as she moved along, handing what appeared to be papers out along her way, and the retreating form of the man she thought she recalled introducing himself as Vin, heading towards a covered wagon a few feet away.

It was far easier to do that, she supposed, than to spend too much time dwelling on things that could not be changed.

Steeled, at least a little, by the thought, Sadie soon turned from the window, and redirected her energy towards withdrawing what little remained of her belongings to place about the room, a soft smile spreading across her features as her fingers brushed against the familiar shape of the small wooden figure at the bottom of her satchel. It had been with her on the journey to Philadelphia, which was only sensible given that she had rarely allowed the miniature carving of a horse to leave her sight ever since it had come into her possession not long after her seventh birthday.

Chris had always teasingly griped that it had taken him days to get the thing exactly right, and Sadie had never thought to stop treasuring it, ever since.

Withdrawing the small carving from the confines of her satchel, Sadie clutched it tightly in both hands as she peered about her room, to determine a suitable place for it to rest. She briefly considered the corner of the small desk, where she had already placed a small packet of paper, and a few spare ribbons for tying back her hair. But almost immediately, Sadie found herself rejecting the notion in favor of turning to face the window she had been gazing out of mere moments before, the way the sunlight streamed through the panes giving her every reason to believe that a more appropriate resting place for the little horse had just become apparent.

As soon as she had placed the carving on the windowsill, which just so happened to be elevated just a bit beside the edge of her bed, Sadie stepped back to admire her handiwork, arms crossed against her chest while she allowed a satisfied grin to pull still more at her already upturned lips. The way in which the sun bathed it in its light almost reminded her of the room she had inhabited in the home both she and Chris had shared with their parents, so very long ago. And although some small part of her was not entirely certain how her brother would react to the blatant display of the memory, should he decide to enter her room himself, Sadie was determined to believe that he would appreciate the idea of her keeping the horse he had given her, even after all of this time.

She knew he would never say it out loud, but she highly suspected that it would mean every bit as much to Chris that she had kept it as it would that she had chosen to so blatantly display it for anyone to see.

…

After she was satisfied that her room was arranged how she liked it, at least for now, Sadie ventured back downstairs, and out into the dusty street beyond, her eyes squinting in response to the sudden brightness of the sun after so long indoors. One hand lifted on instinct to shield her eyes, as she glanced up and down the street, in hopes of finding some ready indication of which direction she should proceed in, first. And although she knew that Chris would hardly approve of her venturing out on her own, Sadie felt she could hardly be faulted for simply moving up and down the singular street at her immediate disposal, her feet beginning the task of carrying her off to the right, so the sun would be at her back, and she would no longer be required to shade her eyes to see.

A part of her thrilled in response to the commotion created by the other people moving around her, remnants of her life in the far busier Philadelphia bringing a soft smile to her lips as she allowed her fingertips to trail idly against the swishing fabric of her skirts. She could recall venturing out like this on many afternoons there, either on her own, or with the companionship of one of the girls from school, or one of the kindly individuals that had taken her in. They would either walk in companionable silence, or chatter away about some mundane topic or another, sharing in somber realizations, or affectionate laughter, depending upon the conversation at hand. And for a moment, she simply allowed herself to become lost in the memories of a far busier time, her brow furrowed as she attempted to discern whether she would truly miss the bustle of the city, in light of the family she had been reunited with earlier that very day.

She had been surprised at how pleased she felt upon realizing that Chris had found a group of men that would likely stand at his side, no matter the cost, particularly as, had he possessed the same in the days before sending her away, her reaction likely would have been altogether different. She did not particularly relish the idea that she was a jealous woman, but jealous was precisely what she had been, as a young girl, when something else far bigger than herself had called Chris away.

Now, however, all she could feel was relief that her brother had not been alone in her absence, despite some sort of instinctive realization that the men he had chosen to surround himself with were perhaps every bit as burdened with their own demons as he was.

Doing as best she could to divert her mind away from such thoughts, particularly as they related to exactly what Chris had involved himself in, after sending her to the city, Sadie chose instead to redirect her attention to the other man she had known ever since she could walk. The one person she had never been envious of, as it pertained to sharing her brother's time, Buck Wilmington had been another welcome sight to be greeted with upon her return. She could recall his persistent teasing of her when she was a small girl, as well as the easy way he would scoop her up, squealing, to twirl her in small circles in his arms just to hear her laugh. Slowing her steps, Sadie also took a moment to remember the surprising strength in his arms as they had wound about her frame earlier that day, her smile faltering as she struggled to come to terms with why it had somehow felt different than all of the other times before.

As soon as the thought came to mind, however, Sadie was forcing it aside, her gaze resettling upon the storefronts she could see as she walked, even in spite of the slight burning in the skin of her cheeks. True, the place was far smaller than she had grown accustomed to in the past years, but she could tell already that the people who lived here seemed to possess an unspoken sort of connection, readable through the soft conversations they held with one another, and even the ready smiles some of them gave her as she passed. She was proud, she decided, that the place had become worthy enough that her brother had decided to call it home, and hopeful that eventually, she would come to do the same.

After all that the man had been through, it was no small relief to know that perhaps, at long last, he might just stand a chance at finding peace.

Smiling once again at the thought, Sadie set off down the remainder of the street with renewed purpose, her eyes lifting at the last moment to glance towards the sky as a flock of birds wheeled overhead. For a moment or two, she was so distracted by their flight that she paid little heed to where her feet were carrying her, oblivious to the appearance of a man attempting to depart from the nearby general store with a small paper bag in tow. Continuing to walk while her gaze remained upon the birds, Sadie found herself emitting a sharp gasp as she collided with that man, and very nearly fell from the wooden boards extending between the stores, and into the dust of the street, instead. But almost as soon as she recognized the fact that she was toppling sideways, a pair of strong hands curled themselves around her arms, righting her far quicker than she anticipated, and causing her eyes to go wide as she looked at her would-be savior for the first time, and another flush adorned her cheeks.

"I'm-I'm sorry," She began, glancing down at where the man's hands still rested upon her arms, and finding that she did not entirely mind the lingering sensation of their presence, despite not knowing him at all, "I was not watching where I was going, and I should have been. Please-please forgive me."

"There's nothin' to forgive," The man assured, stepping back once he was relatively certain that the young woman in his grasp was not in danger of falling over, and offering her a ready smile as one of his hands lifted to tip his hat before he spoke again, "Happy to help."

"I am grateful for it. Thank you, sir."

"Any time. And ya can call me Kit. Sir is a bit-"

"Formal?"

"Yeah, reckon that's the right word for it."

"Well, Kit," Sadie began, a smile turning her lips upward beneath the weight of the man's green-eyed gaze, despite the small voice lingering at the back of her mind that urged her not to proceed to quickly, "I suppose you may call me Sadie."

"Sadie," The man repeated, the softness inherent in his voice as he said her name only causing Sadie's flush to deepen, though she was at least grateful that the brightness of the sun shining directly on his face seemed to prevent him from noticing at all, "Pleasure to meet ya, of course."

"Likewise."

Watching as her newfound acquaintance offered her an arm, and a startlingly disarming smile, Sadie spared only a moment before she took it, and allowed him to continue to lead her down the boardwalk. At the back of her mind, she marveled at the simple ease with which he drew her into conversation, making polite inquiries of her apparently recent arrival in town, as he swore he would have recalled seeing someone like her, had she been around for any longer than a day. And although she knew that it was perhaps foolish to be allowing a mere stranger to know even the minutest details about her, Sadie could not seem to resist the man's questions, particularly in the wake of the warmth in his gaze, and the occasional laugh that he would give her in response to whatever innocuous thing that she said.

Even had she known of the older man watching the entire interaction from across the way, or taken heed of the occasional diversion of Kit's gaze as it slid in that direction, Sadie might not have been capable of resisting the urge to form another new connection in a town she still only barely knew.

…

Well hello, angels! And welcome to another new chapter in Sadie's tale! I have to say, this one definitely got away from me, no matter how many times I tried to corral the muses back towards my original plan. So, with that said, I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me since there truly wasn't much in the way of time together, for either Sadie and Chris, or her and Buck, either. I promise, more of those interactions will come! But I just couldn't help but sort of jump-start her interactions with Kit first (his appearance will make sense as we go along, I swear). I promise, I really do have a plan, even though it may seem rather random, at the present time!

As always, my heartfelt thanks go out to each and every one of you that have taken the time to read, follow, favorite and review this story thus far (and special thanks to those who dropped a review the last time around: sibylla29, Hollie733, ChiTown4ever, and Guest, this means you!) I truly do appreciate the support, and I really cannot wait to see what you think this time, as well!

Until next time, dearies...

MOMM