CHAPTER 6

Buck and Dani sat gazing out at the field that surrounded them. The picnic Rachel packed was simple, a couple of sandwiches and a couple pieces of her famous blueberry pie. Random questions were tossed back and forth to each other between bites and loving looks. As they finished up the meal Dani propped herself back on one arm looking around at the open field, occasionally picking up the eyes of the young Kiowa lying beside her.

"You always take your gun out to picnics?" Buck inquired. He noticed she had it strapped on when he attempted to help her into the buckboard earlier which, of course, she pushed away. He didn't feel like broaching the subject until things were more comfortable between them.

She looked down toward his ankle, "You always bring your knife?" He knew he was caught. "I guess I do. I think I'd feel naked without it."

"I'd have to say that's the same reason I carry my gun." Buck noticed the shift in her expression as she explained. "An old friend gave it to me. He said it reminded him of me; a beauty to look at, but deadly to the touch. Haven't gone anywhere without it since."

Buck removed the knife from its sheath, "My brother gave this to me when I left the village. Told me it would be a reminder of where my loyalty lies. I live in this world, but my heart is with the Kiowa, though it doesn't seem like either side wants me. I'm trapped somewhere between two worlds." He paused. "It gets hard." "Don't guess you would understand that?" he stated passing the knife to her to inspect.

"You'd be surprised," she shot back a glance at him. Buck sensed this statement wasn't just in passing. "Would I?" he smiled back at her.

"Well, I'm a woman gunfighter. That alone is two different worlds. Seems every man I come across either wants to make me a notch in his bed post or his gun belt. One way or another I end up staring down a gun." He laughed as he picked up her insinuation. "So, you wanna teach me how to handle this thing?" She asked using her good arm to balance herself up to her feet.

"You sure you're up for it?" Buck rushed to her side to help her balance. "Well, I ain't dead and like I said, I have one good arm. I don't think learning to throw a knife's gonna do much damage. I see a good target right over there." Buck followed her finger to a tree off in the clearing. He took the knife from her hand, the same hand that had been resting in a sling since they returned to Sweetwater.

"Follow me." He nodded his head in the direction of the indicated tree. They approached the towering trunk that now blocked the sun from their sight. Buck stepped back 10 paces from the tree while Dani stood off to the side observing. Buck quickly turned and threw the dagger hitting the trunk square in the center directly at his eye level.

"I would clap," she said, "but that might be painful." She walked up to him requesting he hand over the knife for her to give it a shot.

"You can either hold it by the blade or by the handle depending on the distance you're throwing. It's hard to explain other than you learn the feel of the knife with practice. Eventually you'll be able to hit your target every time without thinking about it." She looked at him intently as he gave his lesson.

She turned to the tree and began counting off 10 paces. Just as quickly as Buck she turned on the tree and hit it only an inch from his initial mark. "Like that?" She smiled to him as his jaw dropped. He then shot her a 'you tricked me' look as he started laughing.

"Beginner's luck?" She laughed at him. "Sorry. I couldn't resist."

"Where did you learn that?" he cocked his head to the side. "Same person who gave me this," she motioned to her gun. He shook his head as he realized just how intriguing she became every day.

They approached the embedded knife still protruding from the tree. Both went to grab the handle when their hands locked around the knife. Neither one went to remove their hand from the others. They stared deeply into each other's eyes as their hands gripped tighter on the handle. Dani let out a little smirk as Buck used his other hand to remove her hat then slowly stepped into her body putting his arm around her waist. Not once did he break her gaze. He leaned in catching her lips with his.

She pulled away catching Buck off guard. They stared at each other. Buck felt like he should apologize but he wasn't sorry for kissing her and he wasn't going to say otherwise.

The tension between them grew, but Dani wasn't ready to walk away. For some reason she wanted this moment. As she continued to stare she felt the warmth that hid behind his eyes. This man didn't see her as a trophy. He saw her as a person and for some reason she trusted him.

This time she leaned into him and as their lips joined she felt the whole world around them slip away. It was just her and this handsome and warm man embraced in a loving kiss that she didn't want to end. Buck began to deepen the kiss and she allowed herself to be overcome by power. He pulled her in closer.

"Ow," she mumbled, now upset that she couldn't tune out the pain that surged through her arm. They quickly broke the embrace. "Sorry," he was truly concerned that he had hurt her. He was so lost in the moment. "It's alright," she said softly. "I think we should head back though." She turned walking back to their picnic spot.

Buck retrieved the knife from the tree trunk as Dani began gathering up their things as best she could. Buck jogged over to her and collected the rest, threw them into the back of the buckboard and again, attempted to help her on. This time, however, she didn't push him away.

He climbed on beside her and grabbed the reins. She used her right hand to turn his attention back to her and gave him a long passionate kiss. They broke the exchange and she continued to stare into his eyes. "Thanks, half breed," she whispered with a smile. He let out a little chuckle as he led the horse into motion.