CHAPTER 9
Noah smoothed down the mane of his loving horse as Dani took a seat on the hay bale to his left. She stared off straight ahead while chewing on a random piece of hay, her right foot propped up beside her. Noah caught a glimpse of her expression, put down his brush and took a seat next to her.
"What's on your mind?" he asked.
Dani just shrugged her shoulders not breaking eye contact with the wood planks in front of her. He continued to stare at her hoping to reveal any emotion in her face. They continued to sit in silence.
Dani, frustrated with Noah's constant staring, turned her eyes to the floor in front of her, put down her foot and let out a sigh. "I'm not so sure tellin' everyone was such a good idea."
"Why do you say that? I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary." Noah stated.
"You haven't noticed anything?" She turned her head to face Noah, the look of anger on her face apparent. "These people won't stop staring at me. Worse yet, Buck won't make any attempt to talk to me. I'm not sure exactly what I said that has got everyone so riled up. This is one reaction I never thought I'd get. Maybe a bullet to the head, but not this."
Noah chuckled, "Dani, it's just a lot to take it. Look at us, if someone came into a room claiming we were related, I would sure think they were joshin' me. Lucky for you, I know the truth. Give it some time; it's only been a day."
"A long day," she quickly interrupted. "Look, as soon as my arm heals up, I'm moving on. Just doesn't feel right intrudin' on your life like this and I can't take these stares much longer. I said I'd come for a visit, well, I'm here. Now it's time to move on." She rose from the hay throwing the strand she was chewing on down to the ground. "Doc says it should only be a few more days and just be careful with it after that."
Noah, now standing, "You don't have to go. I'm sure in a few days things'll be fine and the looks will have disappeared. I mean, really, how long can someone keep staring at that ugly mug before they go blind?"
"Thanks, Noah. You really know how to cheer a girl up." She gave him a playful punch on the arm. Footsteps behind them drew their attention away from each other.
"Dani?" Rachel entered the barn. "I drew you a bath. I know things today have been a little tense. Figured it might help."
Dani had to smile at the good hearted and wise woman before her. "It couldn't hurt." She turned back to Noah, "I'll just take my ugly mug upstairs." She gave him one last smile as she turned to exit the barn behind Rachel.
Noah approached his mount and bent down to pick up the brush when he noticed a pair of legs planted on the ground five feet behind him. He quickly shot up and turned to face whoever was there. "Buck!"
"Sorry," Buck stood in defeat as he stared at Noah, "I didn't mean to sneak up on you."
"It's fine." Buck went to take a seat on the exact hay bale Dani had been sitting on not 30 seconds before. "Somethin' on your mind, Buck?"
"How's Dani doing?" Buck asked. Noah smiled to himself as he noticed the look of concern cross his face. "She's fine, Buck. Why don't you go ask her?"
"I'm not sure she wants to talk to me, right now?" Buck began playing with the hay around him.
"Why would you think that?" Noah looked back at his horse after finally picking the brush up and began getting back to the task at hand.
"I acted like a fool last night. I didn't mean to shut her out. I just hadn't expected any of that. I was a shock, but I got to thinking and I'm glad you two felt that you could trust us. I know that isn't something Dani's used to."
"Buck why are you telling me this; why not just tell her? I'm sure she'll understand," Noah attempted to convince him.
"I wanted to talk to you because," He paused taking in a deep breath, "I want to know how you feel about me asking her to accompany me into town tomorrow."
"Buck, if you're asking my permission to court her, that ain't really none of my business. She leads her own life. That's something only she can answer."
Buck smiled at him, "I just wanted to be sure, you being her family and all." A look of excitement took over his face, "Where is she?"
"She's in her room, but…" It was too late; Buck had already run out of the barn and was heading in the direction of Rachel's house. Noah smiled and shook his head as he continued brushing, "This should be interesting," he said to himself.
Buck ran quickly up the stairs to her room and without even thinking to knock, threw the door wide open. He stood in shock as he now saw his love sitting naked with her back to him in the house wash basin. His expression changed from excitement, to embarrassment and then to concern. There, running up and the down the length of her back, were obvious thick pink scars.
Dani slowly and calmly turned her head to glance him. "Buck? Did you need something?" He continued to stare, his thoughts wandering. When he finally realized he was still rudely staring at the naked woman he turned his gaze away, "I'm sorry. I needed to ask you something, but it can wait." With that, he turned to walk out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Dani continued to sit, soaking in the now tepid water as she collected her thoughts on what Buck had just seen. She wasn't angry. In fact, she was kind of flattered that he was intrigued enough to keep staring at her. It wasn't the first time a man had busted through her door unexpectedly, but it was the first time, she wasn't remotely upset by it.
She stood from the water, dried herself off as best she could and made her way over to her bed where there was a fresh set of clothes awaiting her. She quickly changed and headed downstairs with her bandana in hand. In the kitchen, she found a very red Buck sitting at the table. He turned to the doorway, "I'm sorry," he repeated.
Dani smiled at him, "It's alright Buck. It takes a lot to embarrass me." She lifted up the cloth, "Could you help me get this on?"
Buck stood from the table and walked over to her taking the bandana from her hand. He grabbed both ends and leaned into her putting both ends behind her neck. Her eyes caught his and they stared deeply at each other. Her emerald gaze kept him entranced and he lost track of what he was doing.
"Buck?" she questioned. He was brought out of the stare and finished tying the cloth off in the back as she slipped her arm into the side. "Thanks," she smiled at him.
Buck picked up his hat from the table, "Do you want to go for a walk?"
"I'd like that," she responded. He nodded to her and headed through the parlor out the front door. She quickly followed.
As they began walking down the front steps Buck offered his left arm to her. She smiled at him, wrapped her hand under the nook of his elbow and they began their walk in silence for a few minutes taking in the beautiful sunset that was now sweeping over the terrain.
Buck let out a loud sigh catching her attention. Dani pulled him to a halt and questioned, "What's wrong?"
Buck replied hesitating "I'm sorry."
"You can stop apologizing. It's fine, Buck." He blushed and turned his whole body to face her shaking his head. "Not about that." She could tell it would take him some time to get out what he needed to say so she motioned for them to continue walking.
"I'm sorry about how I acted last night and about avoiding you today. I don't know why what you said affected me so much. I shouldn't have treated you the way I did."
"I'm sure it was a shock to find out so much about me so quickly. I should have just come out and told you earlier, but I didn't want to ruin the moment. My past isn't something I like replaying, but you needed to know. I needed you to know."
He nodded his understanding as she continued, "When you talked about being caught between two worlds, I had to stop myself from telling you then. I know exactly what it feels like. I'm stuck between the white world and my mother's world everyday. I was lucky enough to be able to hide behind my skin and eyes, but I still feel it. Whenever I see a slave following close behind his master or happen to come across a town holding a slave auction, I feel it. I see my mother's face. That's what drives me on; knowing that she wanted more for me than that life. Unlike the mistress, my mother never resented me for my skin color. I think she was relieved that I could hide in this world and not have to face that life."
"The scars on your back?" he questioned. "The mistress had a particularly hard day and my spilling milk all over her new table didn't sit well with her. She decided to show me how she would have treated my mother if she had done such a thing. She used my father's cane. It wasn't too long after that my mother came for me."
They continued to walk as he listened intently to her words.
"Those scars are a reminder of a world I don't ever want to go back to. The only problem is I walked into an equally horrifying world. At least living as a slave you know exactly who hates you and how to prepare for when they show it. In this world someone could be smiling to your face and the next second putting a bullet in your back. I learned quickly how not to trust anyone I came across."
"And me?" he looked at her intrigued. They stopped walking as she turned to face him. She stared longingly into his eyes.
"There was just something about you. You didn't seem too interested in who I was, just wanted to help; the sign of a sincere man."
He smiled at her finding himself again lost in her gaze. He raised his hand to her face brushing it lightly against her cheek. She couldn't take the look anymore. She pushed herself against him and they began kissing passionately.
Little did they know, they had 5 pairs of eyes fixed on them from the bunkhouse window. All except Rachel and Jimmy watched as the couple finally admitted their feelings for each other without fear of who would be watching. Rachel motioned for them to come out of the window and sit for supper. The eyes left the still embracing pair and moved around the table.
Buck pulled back from the kiss and looked back into Dani's eyes. "Would you join me for a meal in town tomorrow?" She smiled at him, "Of course." He leaned in kissing her again, more passionately than before as the sun finished setting behind them.