34
Buck took Jenny back to the station. She went into the house while Buck walked over to the marshal's office to see Teaspoon. He took a can of milk and a bottle with him.
"There's my little Grandbaby!" Teaspoon greeted when they walked in. Teaspoon took the baby from Buck. "Jimmy, warm up his milk for him." He directed Jimmy who had been playing checkers with him.
"I just came back from the Family M. Went inside the cabin for the first time." Buck explained.
Teaspoon pat Buck on the back. "These things take time and it gets easier, Son. I promise."
He said with fatherly concern, then immediately changed to making funny faces at Baby Ike.
"It's not the house that's bothering me, it's what happened after." Buck said sitting down on the bench.
"What happened?" Jimmy asked.
"Jenny and I went outside then she told me she wants to wants to go back to the Lakota. And she wants me to take her." Buck said.
"I thought she was happy here." Teaspoon said.
"I thought so too. But then everything got so mixed up and confusing. Then I yelled at her and I may have made a mess of things. I had no idea what I was doing with Emily but with Jenny, it's even more crazy. With Emily, everything was calm, with Jenny, I can't even think... it's like riding through a storm, you don't know if you'll get thrown off your horse or what will happen because you can't see a thing in front of you. She asked me to take her to the tribe. I can't take her to just leave her there. I want her to stay this time."
"Son, there's an explanation as far as the difference with Emily than Jenny. The difference is, you didn't love Emily."
Buck was appalled that Teaspoon would suggest that. "How could you say that I didn't love Emily? I married her didn't I?" Buck said standing up.
"Now simmer down Buck. I'm not saying you didn't do good for her. I know you did. I know you cared about her. I ain't saying you did nothing wrong. You did everything you could. But there's love, then there's love." Teaspoon said emphasizing the last 'love'. "We all loved Emily. Now as far as Jenny goes, she just wants to be accepted. She don't want to be trouble for nobody." Buck sat back down.
"I want her to stay here." Buck said miserably.
"With Emily, you didn't have passion. I've never seen you so riled up over anything before. When you love someone, really love them," Teaspoon said putting a hand on Buck, "You think about what's best for the person. What they want, what will make them happy. Even if it costs you. 'Sides, maybe she won't want to stay. Maybe she just wants to visit her little brother. She ain't got no other kin. Well no other good, worth while kin."
Jimmy sat there listening. Teaspoon took the baby from Jimmy and pat him on the back to burp him. "I already let her go once. Watching that stage coach leave with her in it," Buck shook his head. "I don't think I can do that again."
"But she came back, didn't she?" Teaspoon said. "Took a while, but she came back."
"Sometimes, they come back, huh?" Jimmy said.
"Sometimes they do." Teaspoon said looking at Jimmy. "It's getting on to be supper time soon, let's head back to the bunk house." As they walked, Teaspoon said, "Now, Boys, one thing I learned 'bout women is when you yell at 'em, that don't go over too well. So do yer best to not do that. One time it got me hit over the head with a frying pan. But it didn't really teach me nothin' cause with the next one, she just stood there and cried and that was worst."
During supper, there was the usual chatter but Buck was pretty silent. No one seemed to notice but Jenny did. She felt more uncomfortable as the meal progressed. So she also became more silent.
"I got a newspaper from Chicago. Some feller passing through left it." Teaspoon said. "It's dated from three weeks ago, but it'll be something til I can figure on somethin' else to read."
Buck didn't even listen to the happenings of some states wanting to secede from the Union. He was thinking. Jenny didn't sit next to him like she usually did. Most times they sat so close together, their sides would be touching. Not tonight. Tonight Jenny sat on one of the porch chairs next to Rachel. Rachel said she was going to head to bed early, so Jenny jumped up and said she'd go too.
"I'll walk you over." Buck said and left the baby in Lou's lap.
"Are you still angry with me?" Jenny asked when they were on Rachel's steps. "Forget I said anything. I'm sorry. It was just a foolish idea. I'm sorry." Jenny told him. "I had a great time today on the trip. Can't we focus on that?"
He stopped and looked at her. "I'm not angry with you. I never was. And I'm really sorry I yelled. So very sorry. Can you forgive me?"
"Forgive you? Of course, I thought maybe you were mad at me. You were so quite all evening. I thought we were ok on the ride back here but now, I just don't know."
"I was thinking." Buck said.
"What about?"
Buck took in a deep breath. "If I were to help you find the Lakota," he held up his hand, "I have several conditions. First, Ike goes with us."
Jenny nodded, "Sure."
"Since he will be going, we can't leave anytime soon. At least not until after he's a year old. Maybe late summer. And third, I'm only willing to be gone from Rock Creek for two weeks. I think that's reasonable enough time to be away, and still keep my promise to Emily to keep Ike here. If we don't find them, we come back. I can't promise we will find them. And if we don't, we can try again."
Jenny was bouncing on her feet with a smile. "Yes. Absolutely reasonable." She threw her arms around him. "Thank you. That's one of the things I love about you, you're always so reasonable. Thank you."
Buck just held her next to him. He had over half a year left with her. He was going to enjoy every minute of it. "I enjoyed the day with you too, especially this," and he kissed her.
When he walked back into the bunkhouse, Noah smiled at him and pat him on the back. "Helping Rachel with more wood?" He asked.
Buck felt better about everything. Of course kissing Jenny had been the best part of all.
—
"I've got a run later, so I can't stay long." Buck told Jenny as they walked to the store. He carried Ike in one arm.
"It's fine. Thank you for coming." Jenny said holding onto his arm.
"Good morning, Miss Tompkins, Buck." Eric greeted when they walked in. "I posted the letter to the Lawyer, just waiting to hear back. How can I help you? Maybe you want to look at the home above us?" He asked motioning up stairs.
"Yes, I'd like that." Jenny said.
"Here's the key. It's now all yours." Eric said cheerfully. He was a friendly man. He was about 5 years older than Buck.
"Did you meet my father when he first moved here to Rock Creek?" Jenny asked as they walked up the stairs.
"Well, it was right about a year ago. He needed someone to look after the store while he went to St. Louis to visit you." Eric replied. "He only went twice. But I'm sure you know that. Other than those trips, he'd only need the help maybe one full day a month or an afternoon here and there."
Jenny almost missed a step but was holding on to the rail. Eric didn't notice. He unlocked the door that led to a parlor. There were several comfortable seats, a table and off to the side was a kitchen with a small dining table. It was a nice plush living area.
"The two bedrooms are over here. Only one has a bed. The second room, Mr. Tompkins was using as an overflow storage. I could help you move the things out if you needed the space. That is , if you were going to stay here."
"Um, I'm not sure Mr. Dobbs. I just wanted to see everything first." Eric handed her the key.
"I'll head down stairs to see if anyone comes in. See you around, Buck." Eric said as he passed him.
"This is a nice place." Buck said looking around.
Jenny walked into her fathers bedroom. She noticed the photograph of them all, sitting by his side table. She gently picked it up and touched her mother's face. She had to have been seven or so when it was taken. She didn't remember. She looked at the dresser and the desk. In the desk drawer were many letters and correspondences. She might look through some, try to get an understanding on who her father really was. She carried the photo frame with her.
"I can go for now." Jenny told Buck. "I just wanted, for now, to see what his personal space looked like." Once they got downstairs Jenny said, "Thank you very much for the key. I'll return again. And when I do, I'd like to learn about the store."
"Of course, Miss Tompkins. What part did you want to know about it?"
"Everything."
"It's quite a bit, I know business is real complicated for women." Eric said.
"I'm sure if you talk real slow, I just might be able to grasp a tiny bit. I'd very much like to give it a try. It is evident you have done such a good job keeping this store running efficiently, I'm sure you'll do just fine in showing me how you do things. Good day, Mr. Dobbs." Jenny said, what that, she put one hand around Buck's arm and held the picture frame and they walked out the door.
"Maybe when you leave on your run, I'll come back." Jenny said. "It'll give me something to do until you return."