Chapter 13
The next morning, when Melissa, after waking up, went downstairs, she found Mary and Rachel who had just gotten ready and were waiting for her.
"Did you sleep well honey?" Rachel asked.
"I haven't slept so well in weeks and I dreamed all night about my wonderful future husband and our life together"
"How nice to finally see you so happy. Are you sure it's all right, no more grudges or misunderstandings? "Rachel asked again.
"No Rachel, I'm really happy and the past is over. Now I just want to look to the future ".
"Congratulations", Mary told her a little embarrassed.
"Thanks Mary and I must also thank you for helping Buck in choosing the ring, it's wonderful"
"I'm glad I was helpful, I owed it to Buck after he saved my life. I'll never forget it. I'd love to write to you once I get to Chicago "
"It would be nice, we'll wait for your letters then", Melissa replied.
The three women then headed to the bunkhouse to prepare breakfast. The boys were already awake and intent on their activities. Melissa went to Buck who was saddling the horse for Noah's ride and greeted him with a kiss.
"Good morning my love, did you sleep well?" She asked him.
"As it hasn't happened for some time. And you?"
"The same. Here comes Kid, now you will have your work cut out, you will have to tell him everything. Rider's coming ", she shouted towards the bunkhouse
Noah came out ready, greeted them and set off on his run.
"I'm going to help out for breakfast. Hi Kid "and kissed Buck.
Kid looked at them astonished, since he was also unaware of the dinner organized the night before, and asked Buck: "Are you back together then? It's wonderful"
"Get off Kid and cool off a bit. There are several things you missed yesterday…. "
"The bathroom can wait, come on, tell me"
"You know Rachel and Melissa would never let you in for breakfast this dirty. Go wash and we will tell you everything comfortably seated at the table. Then we have to accompany Mary to the diligence "
Kid nodded and went to wash, not taking his eyes off Buck, almost to stumble. Buck laughed and walked into the bunkhouse.
When Kid entered, he wanted to know everything about the night before and when he was informed, he warmly congratulated the couple.
Lou did not miss the opportunity to throw a dig at him: "There are those who have courage and those who don't"
"What do you mean Lou?" Kid asked.
"Oh no Kid, just not all men have Buck's resourcefulness. Melissa, you are very lucky. Some women have been waiting for the proposal for years ... "
Kid cleared his throat and changed the subject: "What about the honeymoon?"
"Yeah, any ideas?" Rachel asked.
"Actually yes", Buck said, "Melissa has come up with a good idea, let's hope it can be realized"
"Oh my God Meli, where on earth do you want to drag this poor man!" Cody said, making fun of her.
"Fool", she exclaimed, throwing him a napkin.
Buck laughed and said: "No no, this time it's a really nice idea: she would like us to spend some time with my brother Red Bear in his camp, but first I have to go to him and ask if it can be done"
"You in a Kiowa camp?" Jimmy asked, almost choking on the cake.
"Why sorry?" Melissa asked irritably.
"Because you are the furthest thing from life in an Indian camp, as little as I know," Jimmy replied.
"I know Jimmy, but it's important for Buck to share this joy with his brother too, so I can do it and then I'd like to learn some of their traditions"
"Sounds like a great idea to me, though", Lou pointed out.
"Thanks Lou", Melissa said with a tongue out at Jimmy.
Rachel looked at them happy: it was nice to see that serenity had returned between them after the bad story of Ike's death and she silently said a prayer for him.
After breakfast, they all moved to the stagecoach stop to greet Mary and promise to write to each other. Melissa then went to school and Buck started looking around the house.
When Melissa came out after class, he told her: "I heard there are two for sale: one right in the city center, near the Thompkins general store, and the other closer to the station. Here we go?"
"I can't wait"
The two set off excited but nervous. They reached Mr. Curlington who was in charge of selling the houses and he showed them both, honestly highlighting their strengths and weaknesses: the one in the center cost more but was ready, only the garden had to be rearranged; the other cost a little less but had been uninhabited for a longer time, so it certainly needed more work both inside and outside.
"What do you think?" Buck asked her.
"Mr. Curlington, can you give us a few moments alone to discuss?" Melissa asked.
"Sure, take your time, I haven't had any other requests for these two buildings so far"
"Thanks", Buck said.
When Curlington was gone, Melissa said: "I really like the one next to the station. I know it will take some time to fix it, but I already have improvements in mind that could make it beautiful. It would be close to the station and Rachel and we shouldn't even build it from scratch. What do you say? It also has a lot of land around it and we could make a vegetable garden, a garden and if you want a small ranch ".
"I was thinking exactly the same thing. We would also save some money and the boys could help us. In a few weeks it would be ready and we could get married soon. I'll give you carte blanche on internal improvements, outside I could take care of it "
"We had the same idea. Gone? "
"Gone!" and they kissed.
They returned to Curlington and communicated their decision to him. He congratulated the couple and told them that within a couple of days he would sort out all the necessary paperwork and the house would be theirs.
They thanked him and returned to the station for lunch, happy to have taken the first step towards their new life.
"So, how did it go?" Rachel asked impatiently.
"Well, we found it. As soon as we saw it, we fell in love with it ", Melissa replied.
"It actually needs some improvements, but it's the right house for us and it's right back here", Buck said.
"Isn't that the old Richardson house?" Teaspoon asked.
"In fact it seems to me that Mr. Curlington mentioned that name, doesn't it, Buck?"
"I think so. Do you know Teaspoon? "He asked.
"Yes, I've been there a couple of times when they lived there, then they moved to Texas and the house was left uninhabited. It is really close to the station "
"That's what we wanted", Melissa specified.
"We would need your help to do some work"
"Of course, we will be happy to help you. When will it be officially yours? "
"In a couple of days. Then we can go see it together and decide how to organize ourselves ", Buck said.
Everyone congratulated the couple on the luck they had had.
Buck and Melissa were back as they were, in love and happy, full of plans for their future.
Two days later, as promised, Mr. Curlington gave them keys and papers. The two put some signatures on the contract and the house was theirs.
In the afternoon they all went to see it: Melissa said she wanted to move some walls upstairs to have three bedrooms and the boys agreed that it could be done. By calculating the work to be done and the time available, they estimated that within three weeks the house would be ready. Melissa was no longer in the skin. The boys, Rachel, Lou, and Teaspoon left them alone in their new home.
"What would you say to inaugurating it?" Buck said mischievously to Melissa.
"Mmmm, I was just thinking the same thing ..." and she started kissing him passionately.
The two moved upstairs and entered one of the two rooms, what would have been their bedroom and made love over and over again, with overwhelming passion and without inhibitions.
"Are you going to wear me out like this every night?" Melissa asked, laughing.
"Didn't you say that I have to do it to keep you from hearing that I snore?" Buck replied, teasing her a bit.
"I love you Buck and I can't wait to live here with you"
"By the way, we can fix the date now. In exactly one month? "
"In exactly one month" and they returned to make love.
The next day the boys went to buy the materials for the works while the women took care of the garden and the vegetable garden. They all worked hard as soon as they could and no one was spared.
Buck a few days later, on the occasion of one of his runs, told everyone that he would go to Red Bear to tell him the news and to talk about their stay in the camp. Melissa wanted to go with him and they agreed to be on the hill where Buck had first stopped her.
So it was: the Kiowa camp was still there, they had not moved, also because for the moment the situation with the Indians was still calm and there was no need to move.
Buck and Melissa were welcomed in peace because almost everyone remembered them.
Red Bear met them with a big smile on his face and greeted them saying: "I hope the circumstances of our meeting are better than the last time"
A big smile appeared on the faces of the two young people and Red Bear immediately understood everything but said nothing, he did not want to take away from his brother the satisfaction of giving him the announcement.
They embraced and when they were in the tepee, Red Bear resumed: "So, what new ones bring you here?"
"Well, here, do you remember what you told us when we broke up last time? We are here for this. We'll be getting married in less than a month ", Buck announced.
"Congratulations" and he hugged them both.
"Well, now you are officially my sister, although I suspect you have been for some time ...", he said, alluding to their traditions.
Melissa blushed and thanked him. She wanted to inform him of their decision: "Red Bear, well, we were wondering if it was a problem for you and your tribe to host us for a while"
Red Bear looked at them worriedly and said: "There is something wrong with the city, is your marriage not welcome?"
"Oh no", she hastened to say, "we would like to spend our honeymoon here, ten days at the most. I know Buck wants to spend time with you and I'd like to learn some of your traditions. It would be a problem?"
Red Bear gave an obvious sigh of relief and replied: "You are welcome here, it will be nice to spend time together. We will transform you into a perfect Kiowa woman "
"Here on this I would have some doubts with the character she has, but it will be nice to share our traditions"
"Buck!", Melissa shouted at him pretending to be offended and everyone burst out laughing.
"I can't believe it brother, sorry if I allow myself sister but from what little I've seen ..."
"It's not nice that you two gang up against me like that, just know it," and they laughed again.
They spent a nice afternoon in company and towards sunset they said goodbye to Red Bear telling him that they would be there towards the end of August, a couple of days after the wedding.
In the following days men and women continued to work at a good pace to make improvements to the house of the two future spouses. Lou, Rachel and Melissa went together to buy the wedding dress but they did it to Seneca, so that Lou could wear women's clothes and act like a girl.
Melissa tried many but in the end she chose a white one with lace inserts, with short sleeves and a not very deep neckline. She decided not to wear the veil but to weave some wildflowers in her hair.
Kid saw Lou happy when she was with women, but very melancholy, and putting the pieces together, he understood why. He was said that he would resolve the situation immediately after Buck and Melissa's wedding.
The house was ready in time and the three women took the last few days to arrange the curtains, lace, knick-knacks and all.
The boys helped Melissa transfer all her belongings, while Buck didn't take long: his baggage could hardly be compared to that of his future wife.
"Do you think you can leave me a small space for my clothes and personal effects or do I have to leave everything at the bunkhouse and go back and forth?" He asked, teasing her.
She played along and replied: "Well, actually you won't need clothes much at home, so if you want to leave them at the bunkhouse…."
Buck replied in kind: "Oh then if these are the plans, I'm going to tell the boys to bring back the trunks!".
They laughed and he hugged her from behind pulling her to him and kissing her hair.
Melissa turned and captured his lips greedily.
"I can't wait for our wedding day to arrive ...".
Buck smiled at her as he did and she melted into his eyes.
The night before the wedding, Buck was taken by the boys to the saloon to celebrate but Teaspoon had to promise Melissa not to get him drunk.
The three women remained on the porch chatting and noticing Lou's melancholy, Rachel told her: "You'll see that sooner or later Kid will take courage"
"Oh I don't know, I'm losing hope. I enjoy the life I have and I know I would hate to give it up, but I love him so much that I would like to build a family with him, while obviously maintaining my independence. It's so complicated ... "
"And why? I too will keep my independence, I don't even dream of quitting my job to just take care of the house, Buck and future children. Buck knows this and he hasn't even asked himself the problem "
"Kid is not Buck Melissa, he dreams of a woman who just lives for him and maybe that's why he doesn't want to take the plunge. He loves me but he can't accept my independence "
"You'll see that things will change soon"
"But I didn't want to sadden you, we have to celebrate the bride!"
The three women chatted happily again, and Rachel and Lou did not fail to throw digs at Melissa about Buck's physical prowess.
"I know, I know, I'm so lucky" and smiled.
When they heard the boys return, they withdrew and went to sleep.
The next morning, Lou quickly joined Rachel to help Melissa get ready. She was very excited.
The boys struggled to keep Buck still, he was very agitated and feared that something would go wrong: "What if someone intervenes and stops the wedding?"
"But who would Buck?" Asked Jimmy.
"I don't know, a half Indian who marries a white woman and what's more the teacher of the city ..."
"And do you think they should wait until you are at the altar to do it? The people you invited to your wedding because they are dear to you? Think Buck ", Kid told him.
"You're right, I'm babbling, it's just that it still doesn't seem true to me after all the mess I've made"
"Son, let someone who has been through it say six times, this is the fucking fear that assails the groom just before going to the altar. You will see that all worries will vanish the moment you see her cross the threshold of the Church. It is true, you had a dark period, but it is all over and you are ready for a wonderful life together. Come on, let's go before you really go crazy ", Teaspoon told him, taking him by the shoulders.
Buck stood outside the door waiting for Rachel who arrived shortly after. Buck had asked her to accompany him to the altar and she had accepted with joy.
As soon as Buck was inside and everyone was settled, Noah went to pick up Melissa who was arriving in a carriage decorated for the occasion and driven by Thompkins who had been chosen to accompany the bride to church.
Noah said to her: "Buck's legs will give out when he sees you."
"Thanks Noah, you make me blush. How is he?"
"Teaspoon struggles to keep him still, this morning he was delirious with nervousness"
"Oh Noah, I can't believe we got there"
"But did you agree? We've been putting up with Buck repeating these words all morning and now you. Come on, let's go and put an end to all doubts "
She smiled, took his arm and walked through the doorway accompanied by the wedding march.
When Buck saw her coming to his side, he had to lean on not to waver: that angel was about to become his wife. He smiled and rolled his eyes to ask for Ike's protection. Melissa saw it, understood and did the same. The two looked at each other and smiled. Nothing could have gone wrong with Ike protecting them from above.