CHAPTER THREE

I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING EXCEPT THE ORIGINAL CHARACTER OF ERIN

Supper that evening was uneventful. Buck sat in his usual chair between Kid and Ike, and Erin ate in her spot by Emma and Cody. After the social Buck had wanted Erin to move next to him, or he next to her, but Erin asked that the seating arrangement stay the same. She explained that he and Ike deserved some time together without her nearby. Her kind nature is what I love most about her, Buck thought, as he devoured Emma's fried chicken. He smiled as he reached for his fork, noting that since Erin's arrival his utensils had been set on his left side for each meal. I love that she notices those little things. She is the sweetest woman I've ever met. No one had ever bothered to do that, even knowing he was left-handed.

After supper was finished Buck went to the barn to complete the rest of his chores while Erin stayed in the house to help Emma with the dishes. Some of the other riders were present, mucking stalls and pitching hay. Jimmy was supposed to be there, but was suspiciously absent. Buck immediately felt his temper flare up. After 30 minutes of vigorously mucking the stalls, Ike asked him what was bothering him.

*Jimmy's not here and he should be,* Buck responded, choosing to use sign so the other riders wouldn't here the conversation.

*So? He probably switched with chores with Cody and is out mending the pasture fence.*

*He'd better be.*

*What? Why?*

Ike sighed at Buck's knowing look. *You have to be careful. No woman likes an overly jealous man. You will lose her.*

It was Buck's turn to sigh. *I know. I'm trying to stop. She's everything to me and I just hate the way Jimmy looks at her and takes up her time.*

*She's teaching him to read!*

*I know Ike! I feel awful enough as it is! Look, I need someone to understand. I've always been the outsider, the one who never gets the girl and now for some reason the spirits have blessed me with the best one I've ever known. I just wonder when the other shoe will drop. When will she wise up and see what being with me will mean? When will she realize she doesn't want me after all?*

Ike dropped his shovel long enough to stalk over and slap Buck on the side of his head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

*That, Buck Cross, is because you are the biggest fool I have ever known! She is one of the finest people I know and anyone with eyes can see how much she adores you! She is not going to 'wise up,' you idiot, and you should be grateful. Jimmy is still infatuated but that's not her fault and it's certainly should not be affecting your thoughts and relationship with her.*

*I know you're right, but thinking and believing and actions are different things*

*Yes, but you'd better wise the hell up before this gets the best of you and you lose the best thing that ever happened to you. Besides me, of course*

With a chuckle, Buck realized that he had finished his chore. As he put away the shovel, he couldn't but still wonder where Jimmy was. He'd better not be following her around again. Immediately he felt disappointed in himself. He resolved to do better.

Two days later Buck's horse ran at breakneck speed into the yard. As he handed off the pouch to Lou, he couldn't help but reflect on how good it felt to be home. He knew he was covered in trail dust but he wanted to go see his girl before he did anything else. It had been a two-day run and the desire to see Erin was greater than his need to sleep—for now, anyway.

Before he could reach the house, Emma stepped out with wet laundry in her arms, headed for the clothes line.

"Why, hello, Buck, I didn't know you'd come in. Did your run go okay?"

"Just fine Emma, but I missed your cooking," Buck replied, earning a smile and a blush from the older woman. "Do you know where Erin is?"

"Ah, the impatience of young love. Last I saw her she was in the root cellar, trying to get some vegetables off of the top shelf. I think Jimmy went in to help her," Emma said, calling over her shoulder as she walked toward the clothesline. She didn't see the dark look that crossed Buck's face at the mention of Jimmy's name.

Buck was furious. Of course Jimmy is following Erin around now. Jimmy wouldn't do it if I were around so he waited until the moment I left. And Erin? What is she doing? Why does she allow Jimmy to gaze at her like some lovesick schoolboy and be around her constantly? Why doesn't she tell him to back off? Buck had had enough.

Stalking to the root cellar, Buck noticed the door was open and voices were carrying from inside. Erin and Jimmy were in there alright. Buck stomped down the stairs and found a scene right out of his nightmares. Erin was in Jimmy's arms, facing his chest, their entire bodies touching and lips close together. Buck saw red. He didn't even pay attention to their conversation.

"Are you ok?"

"I think so. I didn't bump my head so I must be alright. Just unsteady. Th-"

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!" Buck yelled. "I KNEW IT!"

Jimmy set Erin on her feet and turned to Buck. "Now hold on a minute here, Buck. Nothing bad happened. She f-"

"I KNOW WHAT I SAW!" Buck yelled at Jimmy. "THE MOMENT I'M GONE YOU MAKE A MOVE ON MY GIRL! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY FRIEND AND MY BROTHER, YOU BASTARD!"

Hearing Erin's sharp intake of breath at his language, Buck turned to her. "AND WHAT WERE YOU DOING? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY GIRL! NOT HIS! BUT EVERY CHANCE YOU GET YOU'RE WITH HIM AND NOW I WALK IN WHEN YOU TWO ARE ABOUT TO KISS? WHAT TYPE OF GIRL ARE YOU?"

Erin took a deep, calming breath. "One who trips and is grateful her friend caught her. And if you'd been paying attention to us instead of being jealous, you'd had realized that."

Buck thought back to the scene when he came in.

Jimmy spoke up, but in a quiet voice, "She's telling the truth Buck. I know you know that I'm in love your lady, but that's just it. She's your lady and I would never try to end that. It's painfully obvious that you're the only one she wants." His head dropped and he stared at the ground.

Buck felt the raging inferno that was his temper flare out as Erin stared at Jimmy with a surprised and hurt look on her face.

"Jimmy? Really?"

Jimmy nodded.

"I'm so sorry Jimmy, I thought you had a little crush but I never thought your feelings would go that deep. I thought a crush was harmless and would peter out any day now so I never openly discouraged you. I never meant to lead you on or anything. You know I don't feel that way about you. I just didn't know how you felt and I am so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. You've always made it clear that you love Buck and only Buck. I would never do anything to compromise your and his relationship, but it seems I did anyway."

"No," Erin replied. "The only thing you did was to hurt yourself. Buck has done enough compromising of our relationship."

An ache started in Buck's chest.

"Erin," Jimmy began hesitantly, "If the situation was reversed and Buck was with my girl, I'd get mad too."

Buck felt even worse now.

"Oh? And tell me, would you accuse your girl that you supposedly loved so much of being some type of two-timing whore?"

It was Buck and Jimmy's turn to gasp. Buck recovered first. "Erin, I'm sor-," he began before Erin whirled on him.

"Oh I know you're sorry. Right now you're very sorry. How could you think those things of me?"

Buck tried to speak but she kept going.

"Well? How could you? You claim to love me so much but you don't even trust me! All you do is walk around all green-eyed and possessive! I AM NOT YOUR PROPERTY, DO YOU HEAR! I AM MY OWN PERSON AND I DON'T BELONG TO ANYONE! THIS HAS GOTTEN RIDICULOUS!"

Erin took a deep breath and continued in a quiet voice, "I don't know if you're ready to be in a relationship as serious as I has hoped this one was. Maybe you should take some time to think about things and if being with me is what you really want. If you can't control your jealousy then this is not going to work."

Buck was shocked and felt his heart breaking in two. "Erin," he whispered hoarsely. "Please baby, I know what I want. I have no doubt—"

Erin held up her hand, silencing him. "I need to leave," she said as her eyes filled with tears. She ran past Buck, dodging around him when he reached for her, and went up the stairs.

Buck looked at Jimmy, only to find the man already staring at him.

"I'm sorry Buck," Jimmy ventured.

"I am too," Buck whispered, as he turned to look up the stairs.