40
"I looked at where the stable is that your Pa's horse is at. It's just a few miles East." Buck told Jenny in the morning. "I shouldn't be too long on my run today. When I get back we can put Ike on a horse and maybe even see how he does on a trip."
Jimmy whooped. "Cody, you gotta take my run." Jimmy pleaded to Cody.
"I don't gotta do nothin'. Today's my day off. I plan on doin' nothin." Cody said laying back on his bunk with his hands folded behind his head.
"I promise to take the next run you don't want." Jimmy offered.
"No." Cody said like a little child.
"Kid, you're off too. Can you take my run?" Jimmy asked turning toward Kid.
"But I was planning on going over to put a full day's work on Buck's bunk house." Kid replied.
"Ok, I'll go over there, do some work til mid morning, then I can be here when Buck puts the baby on the horse. Then next day off I promise to go help you all day on the house."
Kid thought about it. "Well, ok. I suppose."
Jimmy pat Kid on the back. "Thanks Kid. You're the best!" He said with a huge smile, then he turned to Cody on his bunk. "Unlike some people..." as he shoved him toward the wall.
"Hey! You ever think maybe I wanna be around when the little feller gets on a horse too?" Cody said sitting up.
Jimmy paused. "No, I didn't. You coulda just said so. Now for your teasing, come help with the house then we'll both come back."
"Fine." Cody said disgruntled with his arms crossed across his chest.
"I'd kinda like to be around too." Lou said. She smiled over at Kid.
He sighed. "If I get back in time, I'll take your run too." Lou hugged him and kissed him quickly. "But no promises."
"I'm just happy you're gonna try." Lou said.
"Come now, don't you boys go breaking any more bunks." Rachel said. "You all still got chores to do, runs or no runs." Everyone dispersed to get started on their day.
—
Lou was ready for her run but she was at the corral when Buck brought out the most mild tempered horse; A mare named Cherry. Jimmy held the baby while Teaspoon, Rachel and the rest watched. After triple checking all the buckles, Buck mounted the horse and motioned for Jimmy to bring the infant over. Cody whooped and Lou cheered. Just taking a few steps forward, the pair slowly moved around the corral. Ike didn't protest or cry. In fact, he didn't do much at all. Also noted was there were no smiles.
"Good job, Baby!" Lou called.
"You'll be running mail in no time!" Yelled Cody.
Buck made it around one full rotation. "You did well, Ike." Jenny cheered as she stood on one of the rails. She leaned over and grasped his tiny hand. Ike turned to her and smiled.
"We got a smile." Teaspoon observed. "And it was for Jenny."
Buck made another circle around the coral. After completing four rotations, Jimmy asked if he could. "Aww, let me try," Lou interrupted. "I gotta get going any minute now."
With an exaggerated sigh, Jimmy handed over the reins. Buck handed the child to Teaspoon, who had entered the coral. Buck dismounted and with lightning fast speed, Lou was on the horse. It didn't matter that the stirrups were lengthened for much longer legs. Teaspoon handed off the child and Lou happily made two laps.
"Rider comin." Called Rachel.
"My run is done. It was fun while it lasted." Lou told Baby Ike as she lifted him up enough to give him a kiss on his cheek. Teaspoon took back the baby while Jimmy excitedly stood by.
"Lightning is saddled and ready to go." Buck told Lou. "He seems to be doing ok, don't you think?" He asked motioning his head toward the horse and child.
Lou nodded. "Yeah, he's not scared or nothin'. Cody's right, he'll be running mail in no time." Lou pat Buck in the back. "You're doing a great job with him. See ya all later. Gotta run!" Lou said immediately mounting her horse.
Jimmy was up on Cherry. He had adjusted the saddle straps and held out both arms motioning his hands toward himself in a 'give me' motion. Teaspoon lifted the child up to the rider. Jimmy went in a smooth trot. Ike gave a toothy grin as Jimmy was obviously talking to him but too far away to hear what was being said.
"Not sure who's grin is bigger." Jenny commented standing on one corral rail and holding on to the top rail. "Ike's or Jimmy's". Buck was right next to her.
"Jimmy's. Definitely Jimmy." Buck responded. It felt so nice doing something with all of his family, well, most of them. Noah and Kid were missing.
After the fourth tour around the coral, Cody started to protest. "Let me have a try."
Jimmy pretended not hear and went around another time. "Hey!" Cody whistled and yelled. "You heard me the first time! Stop hogging the baby!"
Jimmy stopped and handed the baby to Teaspoon. Obviously displeased. "Fine!" He grumbled.
Cody took a few rounds then Teaspoon went around once. "If we're going to get to the stable today, we should get going." Buck announced. "Do you want a try?" Buck asked Jenny.
She shook her head. "I'm actually I'm.. working on something." Then she added quickly, "I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities in the future and I'd rather get going to the stable before it gets too late."
Buck turned to Jimmy, "Want to come along?"
Jimmy's grin was just as big as before, "Of course! I'll be saddled up in no time."
—-
On the road, Jenny would run Dakota up ahead of Buck and Jimmy, who was slowly walking with Ike. Then she'd run back and meet up with them. On occasion, Buck would race her. Jimmy kept his slow pace constant. Currently, Jenny was up ahead and even dismounted to give Dakota a rest.
"Jimmy, I asked you to come along to ask you something." Buck began. Jimmy was looking down at Ike and his one index finger was wrapped inside Ike's tiny palm. Jimmy looked up without saying anything. So Buck continued, "I've been thinking about the guardian thing. The lawyer said the most important thing you got is a child and you should name a guardian in case something happens to a man." Jimmy still remained silent. "I want to write to the lawyer to name you guardian in case something happens to me."
"Buck, I'm honored but you gotta put someone else. Like Teaspoon or any of the other guys." Jimmy replied, then he put his head down and pretended he was looking at the infant, "something's probably gonna happen to me before it'd ever happen to you."
"Teaspoon's getting older, but you'd love him the most."
Jimmy looked down again and held Ike a little tighter to himself. He couldn't verbalize it, but he agreed. "I don't know what to say. I still think anyone would be better than me."
"I don't." Buck replied. They rode in silence. "So can I put you down? I don't want to force you, I want to make sure he's taken care of. Make it legal." Then buck smiled, "he owns property. The Family M is in his name."
"I don't want the Family M. That's yours." Jimmy said. Then he lifted up Ike. "It's his. It was his Ma's."
"I know. And that's why it's in his name. I just wanted you to know all the facts. And this is just in case something happens. Tompkins didn't think anything was ever going to happen to him."
They were silent again. "Would you put Teaspoon down if something happens to me?" Jimmy asked.
"Yes." Buck replied.
Jimmy nodded.
They rode along in silence. Every now and then Jimmy would point out a tree or a flower and name it to Ike. "He loves you too." Buck said motioning toward Ike. Then he quickly said, "Jenny told me you said you weren't going to write to Penny any more."
"That's right." Jimmy said firmly.
"Why?"
"Cause I ain't." Jimmy said. Buck waited for him to continue. "I ain't no good for her."
Buck scoffed. "That's not true at all."
"If her Pa don't want Cody visiting, you think he'd want me?"
"Cody is young and not interested in commitment right now. You, there's not anything wrong with you. You're a good man."
Jimmy gave Buck a sideways glance. "Danger follows me. Everyone around me can get hurt on account of" Jimmy paused. "On account of who I am."
"Who you are is a kind, thoughtful, good person." Buck said. "At least that's what I see. Seems to me, it's probably what Penny sees too. There's no harm in writing her. Talking about all those books. It makes you happy."
Jenny rode back. "Looks like we're here" she said motioning toward the building up ahead.
Then she eyed Buck. "I'll race you." She said with a smile. Her long blonde hair flowing in the breeze behind her.
"Sure." Buck said and Jenny immediately turned and was off.
"Did you ask me on this trip just to get all personal?" Jimmy asked.
"Of course." Buck said and raced after Jenny. "See you there."
—-
Of course Jenny won. Buck tells himself he let her. They dismounted and Buck hugged Jenny , picking her up and turning her around in a spin. Since no one was around he quickly pecked her on the lips and she smiled so sweetly. Buck held her hand to lead her into the stable's side office.
"Howdy there. I'm Jack Smythe. How can I help you folks?" A man inside said.
"I'm Buck Cross and this is Jennifer Tompkins. We're here to pick up Miss Tompkins' horse." Buck told the man inside. "Mr. Eric Dobbs set up housing a ..." Buck pulled out the paperwork. "Mare named Pretty Girl. We'd like to take her home."
"Well nice to meet ya. Yeah, I got that Mare. Right over here." Mr. Smythe led them to the large barn and to a specific stall. "Paid up front for the rest of the month. I can give you a refund of," he paused, "37 cents."
Buck noticed Jenny hadn't said a word. She just stood there with a white face. She didn't respond to the owners offer. "That sounds fair." Buck answered even if the offer wasn't fair, there seemed to be something wrong with Jenny. She was perfectly fine a few minutes ago. They moved forward a few feet but Jenny looked like she was dazed and her mind was far off from where they were.
"Well, here she is. I'll leave you be." Mr Smythe said a walked off.
"Jenny, are you ok?" Buck asked very concerned. He put a hand on her arm.
She looked off in the distance. "I never looked at the horse's name." She said quietly. It was almost as if she wasn't even aware Buck was there.
"What about the name?" Buck asked puzzled as he took the paper. "It says her name is Pretty Girl."
Jenny slowly put her hand out to rub the head of the horse. In a whisper she said, "It's what
he used to call me. He used to call me 'Pretty Girl'. " Jenny looked over at Buck with tears in her eyes. "Buck, Why do all this and never make a move to contact me?"
Bucks heart broke for her pain. "I don't know, Jenny. When I first met you and your Ma and she showed me his picture, she described him like a man strong as iron. He DID love you. That I'm certain of. Maybe contacting you was just too hard for him."
"All I ever wanted was for him to show me he cared. I'd give this all back for him to have an actual conversation with me. I just wanted him. His attention. His love." And with that she broke down in soul wrenching sobs. Buck held her as she cried. Tears flooded her face and he could feel their moisture on his shirt. Jimmy could be heard in the distance approaching. He was saying something to Ike.
"So, let's see where we can find your Pa and Jen-" Jimmy said happily holding the infant. He took in the scene and quickly halted. "Uh, you know what? I think I saw a pretty field of wildflowers right outside. Let's go take a look at those." Jimmy turned and left giving the couple some privacy.
"I'm so sorry Jenny." Buck murmured, holding her tight. He stroked her long, loose blonde hair. "Maybe he knew how wrong he treated you and he felt regret."
Jenny stopped crying after a while but still stood in Buck's arms. "Thank you Buck."
"Any time." He replied still holding her close. "Just remember, you were loved by both your parents. You are so very special and precious. Even if you didn't hear it from him, I'm sure he felt that way. You're so easy to love."
"I'm all alone now." She said so pitifully. "I've got no one."
"Jenny Tompkins that is not true. I want you. You have me and Rachel and Teaspoon and everybody else at the station. You'll always have us to comeback to, no matter where you go. You'll always have me." Buck said still holding her. Her tears had dried as she wiped the dampness away. Jenny hugged Buck tighter. "You ready to take your horse home?" Buck said emphasizing the word 'home'.
"Yes." She simply said.
Buck found the sable owner and they settled the balance. "Do you want to ride her home?" Buck asked as he handed Jenny the coins. "I can switch the saddle."
Jenny nodded. "That would be nice." She said with a smile. Pretty Girl was a much larger horse than Dakota. "She's a sweetheart." Jenny said rubbing her nose.
"You'd probably say that about every horse you meet. Even Powder Keg." Buck said.
"Yes I would." Jenny said mounting the large horse. She didn't need a lift from Buck even though he offered.
"Ready to head out?" Buck asked Jimmy.
"Sure thing. I think Ike will be out any minute." Jimmy replied. Jimmy handed Ike to Buck, then mounted Sundance. Once on top his horse he reached out for the infant. Within minutes after leaving the stable, Ike was fast asleep. Jimmy held him in the crook of his arm.
"You sure you're ok with him?" Buck asked. He was holding onto the ropes leading Dakota.
"He's fine. He don't weigh more than a feather." Jimmy replied.
"I had finally got the material I had ordered from several towns over. It's from a different Lakota tribe. Since the day the inspector came, I realized how much easier life would be with a wrap to carry Ike in. I'm still finishing up some stitching but it should not be too long before I can use it. It'll make carrying him so much easier. Usually the babies go on the back but it can also be used on the side."
Jenny explained. "I wonder why my father never did any trading with the local tribes for their materials and such. It seems like it would be good business for both parties. No matter now. Once I get control over the store I'll set up trade with them." Both men just listen to her.
After a while, Buck said "Ta", to Jimmy.
"Huh?" Jimmy asked.
"Ta, it's what I'm going to Teach Ike to call me. Earlier in the stable, you called me his Pa. I'm not, I'll make it very clear to him that Ike McSwain is his Pa. Ta means father in Kiowa. I never got to call anyone that."
Jimmy nodded. "Sounds good."
The ride home was much slower and it was just about dark by the time they reached the station.
"I'll have to pitch in for more feed for her." Jenny said handing Buck back the coins. "See how much we can get with that at the feed store."
"How was your trip?" Rachel asked.
"Well we successfully got the horse and brought her back home." Jimmy said handing the sleeping infant off to Teaspoon.
"There there," Teaspoon consoled as Ike complained in his sleep at being moved around.
"He didn't have a bottle." Jimmy said. "He'll be starving by the time supper is served."
"Which is now." Rachel said. "Come on in."
Buck led all three horses into the station's barn. Jenny walked with him. "Thank you again. For everything." Jenny said.
"It's my pleasure." Buck said. "What are you going to do with her?" He asked as he set up a stall for the new horse. "Do you want to sell her?"
"Oh, no!" Jenny replied vehemently shaking her head. "As long as it's ok with Teaspoon, I'd like to keep her. I still love Dakota the most, but I want her too."
"I'm sure it won't be a problem." Buck replied. "I have a feeling anything you want would be fine with Teaspoon.