The first night after rescuing Amanda and Lou; the Riders, Teaspoon, Jane, Amanda and Hack make camp not far from the old mission. Lou having changed into her regular clothes walks over and sits down next to Kid. She catches Bucks eye and then looks at Jane. Buck nods and said quietly to Jane, "Want to go for a walk?"
"Sure." Jane said with a smile. She can't seem to explain to herself what it is about this man that makes her feel so safe and comfortable. Until recently the only man she'd ever been alone with had been her father and now she finds herself thinking of reasons to spend time with Buck without making it look obvious.
Buck smiles down at her as she stands. Without realizing it he places a steadying hand on her back as they walk. "What will you do now?" he asks as they enter a copse of trees.
"Go home." Jane says automatically. She stops and swallows heavily and looks down. "I don't really know. I hadn't thought about it. I'm not sure how bad the damage really is. If it's salvageable I guess I'll re-open the shop." A tear ran slowly down Jane's cheek as she spoke.
Buck reached his thumb out and brushed the tear from her cheek. "You're not alone." He said softly and then pulled her into his arms holding her as though she would break. He felt her tightening up her shoulder muscles and worried that he had overstepped. Letting go and stepping back he said, "I'm sorry." But then he looked at her face and saw her eyes were red and filled with unshed tears, she was biting down hard on the insides of her cheeks trying to keep herself from crying.
Buck took Jane's hand in his and led her deeper into the trees until he was sure that no one would be able to see or hear them. There was a stream nearby and he walked over and dipped his bandana into the water knowing her skin would be burning at this point. He walked back and saw she was losing her battle to control her emotions. "It's only you and I Jane. No one will know. You're safe. I'll leave if you'd prefer." He offered handing her his bandana.
At his soft gentle words, Jane finally broke and wrapped her arms around Buck and buried her face in his chest. She let out all the tears, pain, sadness, anger, fear and everything else she'd been feeling since Pike had come into her father's shop that horrid night. Buck wrapped his arms around the small woman and held her tight. Slowly he sat down on the ground his back against a tree so that he could support both of them for however long it took Jane to begin to heal. Jane was nestled between his legs and he used his whole body to give her comfort.
After several minutes, Jane's breathing began to return to normal. "I'm sorry Buck."
"For what?" Buck asked as he looked down at her and began to gently brush her hair away from her face.
"Behaving so inappropriately." Jane said. "Soaking your shirt." Jane looked at how she was situated turned several violent shades of red and added "everything."
Buck gave a half smile, "My shirt was due for a good washing and now it's half way there. You haven't done anything inappropriate. You needed a friend and I'm honored that you think of me as one." Buck took his bandana and began to dab at Jane's eyes and cheek's
"You are a wonderful friend. I'm lucky you found me." Jane said as she reached for the bandana and Buck's fingers and hers touched. A spark shot through Jane's body and she gasped and jumped.
"Jane." Buck said watching her eyes widen as she jumped back.
Jane struggled for a second to catch her breath and then stepped back "m, maybe maybe we should head back?" Jane said suddenly nervous and unsure.
Buck nodded and realized how sweet and innocent Jane was. He promised himself that he would do what was necessary to make sure she stayed that way. He would protect her. As they walked back he found himself fighting the desire to put his hand on her back again or to slide it into her hand and interlace their fingers and he cursed himself. He was meant to look after her, his desire to hold her, to kiss her could not be he told himself. She was too innocent.