A difficult man
Chapter 12
The next few days Jane and Buck spent all the time they had free together, planning their wedding, fantasizing about their life together and making plans for their home. Buck, as promised, began arranging the two extra rooms preparing them for the future children and Jane set about organizing the garden outside.
She planted flowers and fruit trees and set aside a large part for sowing the lawn, thinking that one day she could put games for the children there.
When she wasn't working on the house, she was with Lou and Rachel to find the details of the ceremony and prepare the trousseau: she hadn't brought anything from Italy.
One afternoon the following week they decided to go all three to a wedding dress shop. It was a lot of fun and in the end Jane was the one that suited her best. Simple yet elegant at the same time, not too glitzy but gorgeous as a whole.
"I'm so happy for you, honey", said Rachel, "it's time you both found some happiness. Deep in my heart I knew you were made for each other ".
"You are a very close couple", added Lou.
"Thank you girls, you are like two sisters to me" and they hug.
Buck and Jane decided that Teaspoon accompanied Jane to the altar, Rachel and Lou would be the two bridesmaids and Kid and Jimmy would be Buck's witnesses.
Jimmy had decided to stay until the wedding and then he would leave to join Cody and his show.
Jane transformed Buck's house in a more feminine way, hanging curtains on all the windows, adding doilies and paintings and began to bring the things she knew she didn't use shortly thereafter, to transfer only the objects and the necessary clothing a few days before the wedding.
Buck let her do it without problems, he was happy that Jane was settling into what would become their love nest.
Jane had also put her house up for sale, as they had planned.
Buck was staying with her every night now to sleep,, trying not being caught together the next morning by Jane's neighbors who often came by to snoop around since they had had a wedding. Buck always got up early in the morning and went back to his house, even though they figured people suspected the truth, but they didn't care. There was little time left for the wedding and even if Jane had stayed, it would not have been a problem.
The week before the wedding, Lou and Kid decided to organize a dinner at their house with the excuse of celebrating the upcoming wedding, but in reality, during the evening, at one point Lou drew everyone's attention and said: " Kid and I wanted to share with you some wonderful news: we are expecting a baby ".
"But that's fantastic!" Rachel and Jane exclaimed in chorus and ran to hug the future mother.
The women talked about the unborn child all evening and when they returned home, after making love, Jane said to Buck: "Lou and Kid have given us wonderful news. I hope that we too will soon have a baby after the wedding ".
"Well, how often we get together will be very likely", Buck joked.
"Fool", Jane said, patting him on the chest, "I'm talking seriously"
"Me too", he replied, making fun of her.
"Really, Buck, I want to have children with you, so I have decided that tomorrow I will go to Dr. Pearson to check that everything is okay and that we can have a family."
"If it makes you feel calmer, that's fine. Do you want me to accompany you? ", He asked thoughtfully.
"It is not necessary, my love, thanks, it is just a routine check".
They hugged and made love again.
The next morning, while Buck was in his office, Jane went to the doctor.
"Oh good morning Jane, what a pleasure to see you"
"Good morning doctor, I'm pleased too and I haven't thanked you yet for revealing Kathleen's deception to Buck"
"It wasn't voluntary, I really thought Buck was aware of it. However it was better that way it seems. But why here? Not feeling well?"
"Oh no, Doctor, it's okay, I just wanted to get a check up to make sure I can build a family with Buck soon. We both want it so much ".
"I understand, come on and let's see if everything is okay"
After examining her, the doctor said to her: "Have you had any discomfort in the last few days?"
"No, doctor, why? Is there something wrong? "Jane asked alarmed.
"No Jane, in fact, you look great, you are in perfect shape for a new mother!"
"What?"
"Yes Jane, you are almost 3 weeks pregnant"
"Oh my God doctor, this is wonderful!"
"I am happy for you and you will not even have to silence the gossips, the first child can easily be born a little premature ..."
"Thank you Dr. Pearson, you are an angel. Are you sure that both the baby and I are okay? "
"Sure, you have to be calm and enjoy the moment. See you for the next checks "
"Thank you doctor, have a nice day"
"Good day to you, Jane."
Jane was no longer in the skin, all her dreams were coming true.
She decided to go to Buck right away to give him the good news and they would celebrate that night.
While she was thinking about how to communicate the happy event, she was reached by words that chilled her blood in her veins: "Finally we found you ungrateful that you are. We will take you home immediately and see if you don't do what we tell you to do! "
It was her father's voice. Jane was petrified. How the hell had he found her? Then it occurred to her that instead of sending a letter to her friend she had decided to telegraph the news of her marriage and probably her father had intercepted her in one way or another. How it had arrived so quickly from Italy remained a mystery.
When she recovered, while her father approached her threateningly, she resumed the use of the word and told him: "You won't be able to bring me back, now my life is here"
"Shall we bet?" and he took her arm hard to drag her into his gig.
Jane felt a strong pain and screamed: "Leave me, you're hurting me"
"Oh it's nothing compared to what you'll feel if you don't come with me immediately"
"I'll never go with you, let's leave I told you"
The screams drew Kid and Buck out. When the latter saw Jane being yanked by that man he did not know, he rushed towards her and punched him.
Jane's father was stunned for a moment and then yelled: "Who the hell are you? What do you want from my daughter? ".
Buck was frozen: Jane's father: how had he found her?
"He is my future husband, we will get married next Saturday", shouted Jane in turn.
"What? A half-blood? I will never let you! Now you will come with me to the hotel to pick up your mother and we will instantly return to Italy and marry whoever I tell you, certainly not this miserable ".
These words hit Buck in the stomach more than a hard punch. He had to deal again with his race and with the family of the woman he loved.
"Forget it dad! I will never go with you ".
In response, the man gave her a slap that almost made her fall to the ground.
"Sir, please, let's go into my office for a moment, you are putting on a show in front of everyone", Buck suggested.
Jane's father realized that at least the boy was right about this. He tugged at his daughter and followed him into Buck and Kid's office.
As soon as they entered, Kid, who seemed to be the most lucid, took the situation in hand and asked: "Sir, please, would you like to explain to us calmly and without shouting the situation? Otherwise I will be forced to arrest you "
"What? Arrest me? Are you kidding boy? "
"I'm not kidding", Kid replied, "I'm Buck's deputy marshal and I can arrest you for violence and insulting a public official."
"Oh well, the half-breed is also a marshal", Jane's father exclaimed.
Buck clenched his fists but did not react. He had already regretted punching his woman's father.
Kid intervened again: "Sir, I'll tell you again, moderate your tone or you will end up in the cell"
"All right, all right. I am the father of this shameless woman who ran away from home to not get married and now I find her engaged to an Indian. It is my right to bring her home and no one can stop me, especially since she stole money from me to escape "
"Dad, please, I love Buck and he loves me, why can't we get married and be happy? I don't want to marry a man who you have decided and whom I don't love. Don't you care about your daughter's happiness? "
"Of course I want your happiness and that's why you can't marry him. How many problems will you have due to his race? Have you thought about the children you will have? They will be misjudged and cast aside, if not worse and you "and turned to Buck," don't tell me you're not aware of it. If you love her as you say, let her go and avoid an endless series of suffering. To you and your children. They will never accept them as whites ".
Buck felt dying, what he had always thought and feared was being slammed in his face by the father of the woman he loved. He was convinced that the man was right.
Jane tried to protest: "Dad, we know it won't all be an idyll and that we will have difficulties, we are aware of it, but we love each other and we will overcome them together, right Buck?" and turned hopefully towards him.
Buck caught her off: "Jane, your father is right, if you marry me you will only go through suffering and I don't want your children to suffer this because of me. I'm not the right man for you. Go back to Italy with him ".
Jane was petrified as Buck left his office. She recovered seeing him go out and shouted: "No Buck, don't give up on us, don't do it again, we can do it, don't throw away all our love."
Buck's eyes were full of tears and he didn't turn around. He got on his horse and ran off fast.
Jane fell to her knees and at that moment Teaspoon, Jimmy, Rachel and Lou arrived who had been warned by the Reverend about what was happening.
They rushed over to her and asked her what was happening.
Jane could only say: "She gave up on us again" and then her words turned into violent sobs.
"Let's put an end to this antics please and get out of here. Let's pick up your things, reach your mother and leave immediately ".
Rachel, guessing from what the Reverend had told her, that this was Jane's father, said to him: "Can't you see she's sick? Give her a few moments to recover at least "
"Okay, but only 5 minutes. I'll wait for you out here but don't play jokes or you'll regret it "
When he was out, Jane clung to Rachel and said: "I can't go with him, when he finds out the truth he'll lock me up in a convent or worse"
"Jane, don't fret like that, you'll see that everything will work out", Rachel said.
"No, you don't understand, I'm pregnant, I just found out and I was about to come and tell Buck when I met my father. When he finds out, he'll force me to have an abortion and lock me up in a convent. I don't want to lose my baby, I couldn't stand it, it's the only memory of Buck that I have left after he abandoned me "
"Oh Lord what a disaster. It would have been wonderful news, but at this juncture it complicates things. "
"I can't leave with him, he'll take it off me and I'll die".
"You will see that we will find a solution. First of all we need to inform Buck and then we will work out something to stop your father. Have faith"
Jane kept sobbing and couldn't stop. A little later her father entered again and told her to get into the gig with him. Jane pleaded with him, but he was adamant. He dragged her into the gig and carried her away.
As soon as they were gone, Lou turned to Teaspoon and asked him: "What can we do, Teaspoon? We have to help her "
"Unfortunately, if Jane really ran away from home with her father's money, there is nothing we can do. He could report her and she would end up in jail. Unless… wait a minute, if Jane were married to Buck, her father could do nothing if she returned the money. He could report her but she would have the protection of a man of the law and by playing her cards right could prove that she was forced to do so by the impositions of the family. We have to find Buck and explain the situation to him, above all he must know that he is about to become a father ".
"How do we find him?" Kid asked.
"Follow me", Jimmy said, "I'd bet my head he went to where Ike is buried. He always goes there when he wants to think and ask advice from Ike's spirit "
"You're right son, let's go. Lou, you stay here, in your condition it can be dangerous "Teaspoon said.
"Well ...", she tried to protest but was silenced by Kid.
"Good luck, guys, bring both of them back", Lou greeted them.
Rachel went with them, because if Teaspoon's plan went through, they would need a woman too. Kid went to the Reverend to explain the situation and he offered to accompany them to celebrate an emergency wedding.
They headed to Ike's burial site and in fact found Buck there.
He had ridden relentlessly to this point, crying and cursing himself for believing he could be happy. He collapsed on the place that kept his friend's ashes and remained there in silence for a while. Then he turned to his spirit: "Ike, what should I do? I love that woman more than myself but her father is right, what future can I guarantee her and our children? But why does it always have to be so difficult? " and cried again.
His friends found him like this. Teaspoon put a hand on his shoulder and said: "Take courage son and fight back. We have to bring Jane home "
"No, Teaspoon, that's right, I can't condemn her to a life of unhappiness"
"You just did it with your escape", the man told him.
"She will forget me, she will have a happy life with a suitable man and beautiful children. She won't think of me anymore "
"Oh yes she will and she will hate you because she will hold you responsible for the loss of your child"
"What? A son? Well ... "
Rachel intervened to explain: "Jane went to the doctor today for a check-up and knew she was pregnant. She was coming to you to share this joy together, but she met her father and she couldn't tell you. Now she is desperate because she fears that when he finds out he will have her aborted and will lock her up in a convent. We have to bring her home ".
"Oh my God, I've been an idiot again. She will never forgive me this time. I abandoned her in time of need. This changes everything, we have to chase them, let's move "
"Wait son, we have to explain things to you. If you try to take her away from her father by force, you will be charged with kidnapping and he will report her for theft. Instead, we must reach them, convince Jane to marry you immediately and so her father will no longer be able to claim any rights and if he denounces her, we will prove that she ran away so as not to submit to blackmail "
"She will never want to marry me now, Teaspoon, not after I have abandoned her"
"She will do it, she must protect your child and she will understand that it is the only solution. Then you will have time to solve your problems "
"I hope with all my heart that you are right, I don't want to lose my family!"
"Come on son".
They set out to join Jane and her family. The latter, after having quickly passed to Jane's house to take the necessary for the journey, had headed to the city and had taken the first diligence.
By the time Buck and his friends set out to join them, the stagecoach already had a good advantage.
Teaspoon, after riding all day, wanted to camp for the night, considering that the Reverend and Rachel also traveled with them, not used to those rhythms, but Buck was adamant. They would stop only long enough to eat something and let the horses rest and then they would leave.
Jane, in diligence with her mother and father, never stopped crying, arousing the anger of her father and mother who never stopped reproaching her for her reckless behavior.
The stagecoach stopped for the night in a small town where Jane's father paid for two rooms: one for him and one for Jane and her mother: he did not want to leave his daughter alone during the night, for fear that she would try to escape again. Jane was closely watched by her mother who gave up sleeping in order to control her. Even Jane could not sleep, worried and anguished for her fate and that of her child.
The next morning, the diligence left, but in the late morning, the travelers realized that something was wrong: they heard the sound of horses' hooves that were getting closer and closer and suddenly they heard shouts that ordered the driver to stop the vehicle.
Jane's father was about to lean over to see what was happening, but did not have time, because suddenly the door of the stagecoach was opened and Buck appeared.
Jane thought she was dreaming and exclaimed: "Buck!"
"Get off the coach, Jane, I need to talk to you", he said.
"I won't let you boy, you have no right to her", replied the father.
"You can't stop me from talking to her for at least 5 minutes, if only to say goodbye to her for good. Do you want a scandal to break out and everyone to know your private affairs? "Buck said to him in a low voice.
Jane's mother, terrified by Buck's threat, told her husband to allow her daughter to talk to that Indian for a few minutes. The contempt she felt for him was evident, but Buck did not care at the moment.
Jane got out of the diligence and the two separated, while Teaspoon and the others kept the situation under control, also reassuring the other passengers.
"What do you want Buck, what you had to tell me you have already said. You gave up on us again and broke my heart "
"I know Jane, forgive me. I know what you were coming to tell me. Please trust me again and everything will be fine "
"So you came back just for this, because you found out that I am pregnant. If the baby hadn't been there, you would have let me go "
"Maybe yes or maybe no, maybe I would have realized that I was wrong and I would have caught up with you. Your father's words made me go back in time, I again felt inadequate and useless "
"We had worked a lot on your self-esteem, but at the first difficulty you ran away. How can you expect that I still trust you and that you trust my son's life? "
"Of our son, Jane, our son, even if I'm not worthy"
"Exactly, you are not worthy. What will you do when there are difficulties? Will you abandon us again? I need a man who trusts us and protects us, not someone who runs away from obstacles and gives up fighting ".
"You are right and I promise you, I swear to you on the life of our son that from now on it will be like this, believe me".
"I don't know if I have the strength anymore, Buck"
"We will talk about it later and I will show it to you, but now there is only one solution to prevent your parents from dragging you to Italy and endangering the child's life and yours too. Marry me now, Jane. We brought the Reverend and Rachel with us to be your best woman. So your father will no longer have any rights over you if you are my wife and if he should report you for theft, we will play on the dishonor of the family and you will see that your mother will convince him to give up. So we will be free to go home and then calmly celebrate the wedding as we have arranged. It's the only solution, Jane "
Jane was silent for a moment and considered Buck's words. She wasn't sure she wanted to marry him again, not after he broke her heart again. She stopped for a moment to reflect and to evaluate if there was another way out and agreed that there was not.
"Okay, but I'm only doing it for our son, not for you"
"You will see that everything will be fine and I will regain your trust"
Jane didn't answer. She only considered that marrying him would save her baby. Once her parents left, she could have pulled back and had the wedding canceled with some quirks. She really wasn't sure she wanted a life with him anymore, she should have considered it very calmly when the danger was over.
Buck went to Teaspoon and the Reverend to tell them that Jane had agreed to marry him. Jane's father, seeing that the two had finished talking, got out of the diligence to pick up his daughter and leave, but Jane said to him: "I will not leave with you. I'll marry Buck now, in the presence of witnesses and the Reverend. I am of age and you cannot oppose it. Everyone is witness that this is my will, even the passengers of the stagecoach. There is nothing you can do to stop me ".
"No, we will never let you."
"Try to stop me and I'll start a scandal here. You don't want to oppose "
Jane's mother begged her husband not to put on a show.
"We can't let them!" He growled.
"We will find a legal technicality, you will see, but for now we have to give in".
The Reverend prepared for the quick ceremony. The stagecoach passengers were dropped off as witnesses and Rachel and Jimmy were chosen for the official roles of best man and maid of honor.
The Reverend asked Jane for her real name to make the marriage legal and then declared the two boys husband and wife. Jane, when Buck was about to kiss her, pulled away and let himself be kissed on the cheek. It was certainly not the wedding she had always dreamed of.
"We will find a technicality that will put an end to this farce and you will return with us to Italy, you will see if we do not", shouted the father.
"I'm sorry to contradict you sir, but marriage is perfectly legal, isn't it Reverend?" Asked Teaspoon.
"Absolutely yes, more legal than some pompous ceremonies I've witnessed. Jane and Buck are effectively married and she no longer has any rights over the girl ".
"You can only accept it, dad"
"And attend the official ceremony in town next Saturday if you want to see your daughter happy", added Buck.
Jane did not contradict him, but as soon as possible she would have communicated to Buck that most likely that ceremony would not have taken place ...
"We will never accept it, for us you are as if dead" and he got back into the diligence. The mother did not even greet her. The diligence set off immediately.
Jane, despite the pain of losing her father and mother, was relieved that she had saved her baby. Now she only had to deal with her heart bleeding for her parents, but even more so for Buck's behavior. She had certainly not imagined that things would turn out like this.
She decided she didn't want to think about it for now, she just needed to rest.
"Tomorrow I will try to take my life back in hand and find the right words to explain to Buck that something is broken between us and I'm not sure our relationship will mend", she told herself.
Buck, for his part, after the departure of the stagecoach had hugged Jane in a hug and whispered to her: "It will be okay, honey", but Jane was rigid, she had created a wall between them.
It was up to him now to bring it down and try to regain her love and trust. He knew it was going to be tough, but he would never give up on his family again, not now.
They took all the horses back, Jane mounted in front of Buck and set off to go home.