Crossed fates

Chapter 2

Sweetwater, June 1870

How much desolation around them, it seemed that the war had ended recently and not for a few years. Deborah was afraid that her house and that of her friends had been completely destroyed and she didn't dare hope to find something still standing, she and Buck would have to rebuild everything and probably Kid and Lou would have to do it too. The two couples would soon be reunited in their old homes, built before the war near the pony express station. Deborah and Buck had returned from Rock Creek, where they had spent the last few years with their 4 children, 8-year-old Ulisse, 7-year-old Calipso, 5-year-old Nausicaa and 3-year-old Achille. Buck, when the war broke out, had avoided for a couple of years to take part, aware that he was not well liked as a half-breed, but then he was forced to enlist and fought for the North. Before leaving, they had left Sweetwater and moved to Rock Creek, where Rachel and Teaspoon had been since the war, because Buck didn't want his wife to be alone with small children. Lou and Kid had moved to Virginia because Kid had enlisted for the South. The two young men had prayed never to face each other in battle.

Deborah had been through the time Buck had been away very badly, but luckily she was comforted by Rachel who had been very helpful with the children.

After some time, Buck, seriously injured in the leg, decided to return and drop the case. After he was completely healed thanks to the loving care of Deborah and Rachel, he had worked as a deputy sheriff of Rock Creek because he was still afraid to move his family to Sweetwater, due to the Indian guerrillas and violent fighting that took place everywhere.

Deborah missed her previous life a lot and so Buck, once the war was over and things calmed down, after saving some money, decided to return to Sweetwater, where Kid and Lou were also coming, like this last he had written in a letter to Deborah. The two women, as they could, had always kept in touch. Soon, Rachel and Teaspoon would be back too.

They were traveling with a caravan, the 4 children were sleeping inside, while Buck and Deborah were seated in the front. She was completely immersed in her thoughts and Buck asked her, "What are you thinking honey, are you worried?"

Although they had been married for 9 years now and he had been marked by the experience of the war, he continued to love her as on the first day and was always worried that she was happy and well.

"No love, I was just remembering the good times before the war broke out and I feel a little nostalgia, it will never be the same again and we will probably have to start all over again, but this time there will be no more boys to help us build. our house"

"Don't worry, we'll make it. Kid and I will help each other and pay someone to give us a hand and as soon as the house is rearranged, we will start our ranch. You could find a job if you want, I know how much you liked to feel useful, but only if you feel like it and if it makes you feel good, you know that luckily money is not a problem for now "

"Thanks honey, I know. I really wanted to tell you about it. It would be nice if I could go back to work at school, as I used to do, but if that wasn't possible, I'll find something else. I love to take care of you and our children, but you know I want some independence ".

"Anything you want love, I just want us to be happy and leave this bad experience behind. We will then return to Italy to visit your family as soon as possible, okay? "

"Thanks Buck, I love you like the first day. It seems like an eternity has passed since that afternoon in our little house, remember? "

"How could I forget it? You seduced me with your wonderful body ... "

"Stop it, I didn't seduce you, it was you who started it!"

"Do I have to remind you who kissed me first?"

"It's true, I kissed you, but the rest ..."

"The rest was so natural…" and he kissed her passionately, remembering their first time.

They had a wonderful relationship, they supported each other, they confided in each other, they loved to make fun of each other and they loved each other passionately: this was the strength of their marriage.

They soon arrived at the old Sweetwater pony express station: the shack had practically been smashed and destroyed by fire, but the three houses, theirs, Rachel's and Lou and Kid's, were still standing miraculously. At least they shouldn't have started from scratch! They approached their house with the caravan: Deborah was very excited and anxious to see how it was reduced inside. The window panes were broken, the veranda railing no longer existed, around there was only scrub, but the walls were still standing and this was already a great thing!

Buck got out first and helped his wife. The children were still sleeping, it was now sunset, and they decided to leave them in the caravan to rest while they came in to take a look. When they were in the doorway, they paused for a moment, looked into each other's eyes, remembering the first time they walked through that door as a husband and wife, they smiled and he lifted her into his arms.

"What are you doing Mr. Cross?" She asked laughing.

"What does it look like to you, Mrs. Cross? I'm respecting tradition again! From today a new life begins in this house, so it is as if we were married again ".

Deborah looked at him in her beautiful black eyes and kissed him greedily.

"Unfortunately, this time we won't be able to head straight to the bedroom, also because we don't even know if we have one left ...", he said a little dejectedly.

They entered, placed it over the threshold, and looked around. The furniture was still there, but the curtains were gone, the sofa was broken down and there was a lot of desolation. The staircase leading upstairs was devoid of some steps and a bit unsafe but allowed you to go up to the rooms. In the kitchen the sink was broken and the oven was no longer functional, but it was not completely damaged. They took courage and went up: the bedroom no longer had the chest and the bed was without sheets but still standing, the tub remained in the bathroom, even if filthy. Probably the soldiers who had taken refuge there had used it.

Tears came to Deborah's eyes seeing their love nest so violated. Buck noticed it and said softly to her, "It could have been worse honey, we knew it, but nothing and no one can take away the good times we spent here, where we brought Ulysses into the world together. Do you remember the shocked faces of our friends when we announced that I would attend the birth? ".

They both laughed, then she said, "You have been a support to me and always will be. We will rebuild our nest and we will return to love each other as in the past "

"Well, technically the bed is there, we brought the sheets with us, the children are asleep, time to arrange them at home and then we could start the dances ..."

"Buck Cross, I love your indecent proposals which I absolutely share" and laughed heartily, relieved that things really could have been worse.

They went to the nursery which had been left empty because they had taken everything away when they moved to Rock CreeK and thought about how to arrange the children.

Buck went into the caravan to get some beds they had brought with them and the linen trunk. Deborah tried to sweep and clean the two rooms and the bathroom as well as possible and then helped Buck carry the children to their room.

They put the sheets on their bed and Buck said, "Here we are, back to square one!"

He walked over to her and began to unbutton her dress. Deborah did the same with her shirt. Every time they undressed and made love, they always felt very strong emotions, as if it were the first time. She loved the touch of his fingers on his skin and he shivered at the touch of his hands on his chest. They slowly undressed, savoring every minute moment in their home they had dreamed of for so long. He placed her gently on the bed and told her. "Welcome home Mrs. Cross" and then they made love greedily and sweetly, merging as always their souls as well as their bodies.

The next morning they were awakened by the cheerful cries of the children who, after the long and restful sleep, were full of energy. Deborah tenderly kissed Buck and quickly put on yesterday's dress, just for the time to go to the boys and tell them to stay a little quiet in their room until breakfast was ready.

"But mom, we want to explore the new house!", Said Ulysses pleading. When her son looked at her with those big eyes she couldn't say no and conceded: "Okay, but be careful, don't go out alone and give me and dad time to get ready and get off. We haven't slept as many hours as you have and we are still a bit stunned. Pay attention to the staircase because there are some steps missing "

"Promised mum and I'll take care of Achilles too!".

"Bravo my little man of the house," smiled Deborah ruffling his brown hair.

"Am I on a war footing already?" Buck asked as she entered the room.

"Yes, they want to play little explorers but Ulysses promised me that they will be careful and they will not come out. I managed to gain some more time just for us, "she said, locking the door behind her.

"Mmm, it seems like an indecent proposal ..."

"It is Mr. Cross!" and took off her dress and slipped back into bed where he was happy to oblige. They heard the cheerful voices of their children playing in the house and believed they were almost in a dream.

Deborah got up, went to the bathroom and got ready by taking the first comfortable clothes that had come into her hand from the trunk.

"I go down to prepare breakfast with the few provisions we have left. Today we will first have to go to the general store in the city "

"Yes, I've already thought about it. While you prepare the boys, I will do a quick inventory of the things we will also need for the house and then we will go to town. Ready to start over? "

"I can't wait," Deborah exclaimed, kissing him tenderly on the cheek.

Then she went down to the kitchen but on the stairs she was attacked by her children who wanted to inform her of all their discoveries.

"Hey, hey, calm down, one at a time," he said, laughing at their enthusiasm.

"Mom, but the house is dirty, the glass is broken and all the curtains are missing," Calypso noted.

"I know honey, we've been away for a long time but today we'll go to town with dad and buy everything back, you'll see"

"Shall we go to town? How beautiful! Can I buy myself a new doll? "Nausicaa asked hopefully.

"Honey has a lot of them!"

"I know mom, but I don't have one of this place."

Deborah sighed and just said, "We'll see, we'll ask Dad. Now let me prepare breakfast ".

Meanwhile Buck had come down the stairs and he too was attacked by his children: "Dad, can I buy a new doll please, Mom told me to ask you!"

"Sure darling you can, but wouldn't you prefer something else since you already have so many as your mother said?"

"Oh I don't know," the thoughtful little girl replied.

Buck proposed while he was picking up his youngest son: "Let's do this, when you are at the general store you will choose what to buy, okay?"

"Yes dad, thank you"

"Me too, me too," said the other children in chorus and Buck nodded amused as Deborah went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast, immensely happy with her family and finally back home.

After breakfast, as planned, Deborah washed and dressed the children and Buck made a list of the first things to buy in town. They took the wagon and headed for Sweetwater, curious to see what had changed in their absence.

When they arrived, they found some things as they had left them, but some houses and some shops had been replaced by others. They went to the general store and felt a pang when they saw the new owner because they couldn't help but remember Mr. Tompkins, who also moved to Rock Creek but then died in an ambush while out of town.

The new manager, Mr. Adams, welcomed them by asking if they were passing through or if they had just moved, and Buck told him that they had returned home after the war. Mr. Adams, while meeting the requests on the list, asked them a few questions about what the city was like before the war and in turn updated the couple on the latest changes.

Meanwhile Deborah accompanied the children in choosing their small gift and evaluated what she could add to the list to fix the house.

When they finished in the shop, Buck wanted to go to the sheriff's office to introduce himself and the latter was happy to see him because he had been told very highly of the ex-boys of the pony express.

The sheriff, Mr. Parker, offered Buck to be his deputy because he was left without one, as the man who had joined him in recent years had married and had just moved to his wife's town, but Buck declined. offer: he had had enough of shooting and violence, he wanted to build his ranch with Kid and finally live peacefully. The deputy understood but told him that his offer would stand if he changed his mind.

Buck, Deborah and their children returned home and in the afternoon the woman began to rearrange one room at a time. She started from the kitchen, the most essential, after Buck had arranged the sink, and was helped by Calypso and Nausicaa who felt like little women of the house, while the children accompanied Buck who began to rearrange the exterior of the property.

The first days were spent working hard to restore their love nest, but Buck and Deborah, despite the physical fatigue, were very happy because they saw their life and history rise from the ashes like a phoenix.