A/N Please see Chapter 1 for Warnings and Disclaimers. A BIG thankyou to Wolfpyre for all the help on this chapter!
Chapter 18
Buck sat at the bar in the deserted saloon, staring at the amber liquid that he had barely touched. It had been two weeks since True and Casey had made their attempt at framing Naomi and things had settled down fairly well. Honestly, for a few days the lady's man had actually believed they'd turner a corner. The girls were getting along, or at least weren't showing any open antagonism towards one another. Buck had really thought he and Naomi were forming a legitimate bond and he knew he'd gone and lost his heart to the little rascal.
Then with no warning, Naomi had become moody and downright contrary. He knew Chris was more than ready to take the girl over his knee for an attitude adjustment and quite frankly Buck wasn't far behind him. Still the tall mustached peacekeeper had tried to be patient and understanding, though there had been more than a few warning swats administered to temper the outright disrespect. Something was going on with the little gal and the lady's man just wished he knew what it was and how he could help her.
"Why the long face?" Inez asked in her lovely accent. "Were you rejected by a beautiful women?"
The corner of Buck's mouth lifted, causing his mustache to twitch, but the smile did not really reach his eyes. "Well, she's pretty as a picture but I don't know that I would call her a woman. Truth be told, I thought we was gettin' on pretty well, but..." Buck just shook his head, letting his statement go unfinished.
"Ah," Inez nodded. "You are having troubles with your daughter."
"Yeah, I thought things was goin' good and she was settlin' in but the last three days she's been as feisty as a rattler that's been stepped on."
Inez put a gentle hand on Buck's larger one. "It has not been so long since she has arrived. She will need time to adjust. I have seen you with her and you are a good father. You love her very much, sÃ?"
"Reckon I do," Buck answered, eyes looking down.
"Not all women, young or old, can be wooed quickly with smiles and sweet words. She needs time to come to trust you. Continue to be there for her and she will come to know that she is safe and loved."
"Just not sure I'm goin' about things right. She's had a rough life."
"And you feel guilty for not being there for her?"
Buck's brow furrowed, unable to speak the truth but still wanting desperately to share with the beautiful bartender what was in his heart. "Not exactly. Kind of hard to explain but I know there weren't much I really coulda done about her past. I just don't know much about bein' a pa and I do really want to make her future better. I want to see her happy and smilin' the way a kid should. I don't wanna mess this up."
"You need to have more faith in yourself Buck Wilmington. You are a good and brave man who has chosen again and again to do what is right instead of what is easy. I have seen the changes in you since Naomi has arrived. I see you put her needs above your own desires. You are a good father."
Buck grinned and a twinkle finally returned to his eye. "If I'm so wonderful, why is it I can't get you to come out to dinner with me?"
Moving away, Inez rolled her eyes heavenward and gave a perturbed sniff at Buck's flirting, but before she retreated to the kitchen, she looked over her shoulder almost coyly. "Some women are not so easily wooed. Only time will tell."
With that the lovely former native of Mexico disappeared leaving a speechless Buck behind to ponder her words.
M7***M7***M7***M7
"What's all this hoo-ha about?" Buck asked JD as he approached the assembled crowd on the outskirts of town. Given the cold weather, such an assembly was more than a little surprising.
"Bit of a travelin' show," JD explained enthusiastically. "The feller says his boss is openin' up a first rate theatre house in San Francisco. Guess he's scoutin' for girls with some talent for acting."
"I doubt there will be many families around here willing to send their daughters off for such a thing," Josiah commented, the censure obvious in his voice. He had had his own experience with performers and knew only too well where the profession could lead.
"Now, now we need not be judgmental," Ezra said with a smile, his gold tooth flashing. "A thespian with the correct representation can in fact become a highly respected and well to do person within his or her community."
"If yer seein' dollar signs we know this is troublesome business," Nathan stated wryly.
"What can it hurt to set up a few auditions? Give the good people of this town something to at least dream about." Ezra demanded in an offended tone.
"Uh, huh. How much you gettin' paid for each person you bring in to one of these auditions?" Nathan wanted to know.
"And do you have parental permission?" Josiah queried sternly.
"I assure you gentleman any business transactions which I conduct will adhere to the highest moral and ethical principles."
M7***M7***M7***M7
As the children exited the school with the unabridged enthusiasm that only an upcoming weekend can bring, Rhianna paused to watch Naomi slowly gather her things with a long face. She waited patiently until the dark- haired girl exited the small building to speak with her.
"Not only is it a bad idea, but it will not garner the result you are seeking," she stated matter-of-factly coming up behind Naomi.
"What are you going on about, Rhianna?" Naomi asked crossly.
"Buck has something fun planned for the two of you this weekend and you have plans to stir up enough trouble to not only forestall those plans but you hope to push him further away so that he will stop caring for you."
"Stay out of my head! You don't know what you're talking about anyway!" Naomi stated hotly turning to face the other girl.
"Getting in a physical altercation with me would indeed land you in trouble, and myself as well. It will not, however, change Buck's growing feelings towards you."
"Shut your mouth and stay out of my head!" Naomi yelled dropping her things and clenching her hands into fists.
"We sleep in the same room. Your nightmares are too emotionally laden for me to shield completely, especially once they began to change."
"I'm warning you, Rhianna!" Naomi took a threatening step toward the older girl.
"It is not the sign you believe it to be. It is just your own subconscious fears taking form in dreams. Allowing yourself to care for Buck and him to care for you will not bring about his death nor that of the rest of us."
Naomi's fist flew, but it did not take a telepath to read the other girl's telegraphed actions and Rhianna easily dodged the punch. Unfortunately, they did not have time to finish their conversation as the green-eyed girl sensed the approach of her irate cousin and friend. Twirling to forestall True's reaction to Naomi's clumsy attempt at a blow, she said with all the authority she could muster, "Stop right there, True. This is between Naomi and myself and is none of your concern. Do not insult my more than apt abilities by assuming you need to defend me."
"Oh, shut it Rhi! She's been pissin' me off with her moping and shit and now she's tryin' to start with you! Someone's gotta put an end to it an' I'm just the person to do it!"
"Like to see you try," Naomi challenged.
"Knock it off! Both of you!" Rhianna insisted firmly. "True, butt out. This is not your business," Rhianna sent an almost imploring look to Creed.
"Sounds like Rhianna has this one under control, True," Creed said with a shrug. "Come on, let's get outta here."
True looked incredulously at her best friend. "The hell you say! Since when ya think ya kin order me about?"
"Since I'm the guy that sticks with ya whether yer bein' all types of stupid or not. Also the one always willin' to put up with yer crap, cuz yer my best friend, which don't mean I'm a rag rug you can wipe yer feet on anytime ya like. I'm also the guy ya promised you'd help make a new slingshot and practice with tomorrow which ain't gonna happen if you end up sittin' in yer room with a sore backside all weekend. She took a swing at Rhianna, not you. Let Rhianna deal with it!"
True stared at Creed completely speechless and not sure how to react. In all the time they'd been friends he'd never stood up to her...NEVER. Oh she knew he didn't like some of the stuff she did or got him into but he always sighed and accepted it. She wasn't sure she liked this new side of Creed but he was right, she did agree to help him make a slingshot. Lord only knew what contraption he'd come up with if she wasn't there to supervise. She'd think on all of this later.
The other two girls looked in wide-eyed surprise at the boy in front of them. Rhianna was the first to react with a small grin. This little speech had been a long time coming and she was pleased that Creed had finally delivered it. A voice behind the group cut in before anyone had the opportunity to respond, however.
"Sounds like the voice o' reason ta me," Vin drawled. He pulled a coin from his pocket and flipped it towards Creed who caught it with no problem. "Why don't ya take True over an' buy yerselves a sarsaparilla?"
True paused, looked first at Naomi and Rhianna, then Creed, and finally Vin and gave a small shrug. Creed gave her a wink and a grin, then nodded in the direction of the shops. The next second, the two were racing off through the street, Vin just shaking his head. He should call after them to slow down but then again one had to choose one's battles and he had another situation to deal with.
"So what exactly's goin' on here?"
"Nothing," Rhianna assured the tracker. "Just a small disagreement."
He turned to Naomi, "Ya take a swing at Rhianna?"
"Yeah," the girl answered with almost a sneer and a flip of her mahogany locks.
Before Naomi realized what was happening the sharpshooter had closed the distance between them and laid down three powerful swats to her backside. "You wanna try that agin?"
Naomi swallowed down her smart retort and looked down to her boots. She didn't interact much with Vin and he hadn't done so much as scold her since she had arrived. Until today, she thought he'd be quite happy to ignore her very existence. "I mean, yes sir."
"She missed," Rhianna stated simply. "No harm no foul."
Ignoring the blonde's attempt to make light of the situation, Vin queried, "Naomi why'd ya try ta hit her?"
"She won't stay the hell outta my head!"
"You'll watch yer language or I'll be washin' yer mouth out with soap," Vin warned sharply before turning to Rhianna. "That true?"
"Not exactly. We sleep in the same room. It can be difficult."
"But ya have been tryin' ta give Naomi her privacy?" Vin asked knowingly. "Cuz that's somethin' Chris has warned ya about before."
"I was trying to help."
"Don't need your help!" Naomi interjected hotly.
"Rhianna, go on to the boarding house and up ta yer room. I'll be along ta talk to ya in a bit."
Rhianna paused. She wasn't sure if she should tell Vin what she knew of Naomi or not but his blue eyes turned icy as he looked straight at her and she had no problem picking up the ultimatum. With a sigh she did as she was told with a quiet, "Yes, sir."
Vin turned to Naomi, "Now, I kin see where havin' yer privacy invaded would get yer dander up but I know Chris has made it real clear you gals ain't ta be fightin'. Don't take Rhianna's abilities to know somethin's been eatin' at ya. Ya wanna talk about it?"
"NO! What do you care anyway? I know you hate me for the trouble I caused between you and True."
"Now that's where yer wrong. Guess we ain't had much chance ta sit and talk since ya come but I don't hate ya an' truth be told, I don't really even blame ya. I made my own mistakes there. 'Sides, Buck an' Chris took care o' that with ya an' so far as I'm concerned it's done and over."
"Yeah, whatever," Noami said with an eye roll. "I don't need you pretending you all the sudden care about me. Just go ahead and tell Buck - or better yet Chris - that I tried starting fight, okay?"
"Well, ya kin be tellin' 'em yerself and ya kin also tell 'em I've already dealt with it," Vin said resolutely, taking the girl by the arm and walking her back into the school house. "Sorry, Lauren, but can I use yer school room for a spell?"
Lauren looked from Vin to the dark-eyed girl in his grasp and understood immediately. "Of course. I had just finished anyway," she replied gathering up her things.
"I was comin' ta ask ya if ya wanted to go fer a cup o' coffee but I might be awhile. Kin I come by an' see ya later?"
"Of course, Vin," the pretty school teacher replied with a slight flush to her cheeks before she took her leave.
Vin found a seat and pulled Naomi over his lap, ignoring her struggles and complaints. "Yer attitude o' late has more'n earned ya this, little girl, an' you've been told out right fightin' won't be allowed."
With that Vin wasted no time in bringing his hand down with a mighty SMACK to the girl's skirt clad backside. Honestly, a failed punch wasn't that big in his book and he had debated internally whether to do this or not but the girl had sealed her own fate with her words and attitude. He spanked hard and fast, making sure she'd feel this at least through supper time before putting a calming hand on her back and rubbing small circles as she sobbed. Finally, he lifted her into his lap and tipped her chin up, looking into her eyes.
"I don't hate ya. Fact is I care 'bout ya."
The girl shook her head determinedly, not wanting to hear this from the longhaired peacekeeper.
"Yeah, I do. Yer part o' my family. Which means when ya do wrong I'm gonna correct ya like I jest done, but it's over an' we gotta clean slate."
"I don't want you to care," she whispered with a hitched breath.
"Well, that's jest too bad," he pulled her into a hug which Naomi sullenly returned. Yet another person she was bound to hurt if she stayed. People she cared about or who cared about her died. That's way it was destined to be. She knew that's what the dreams meant. She just didn't know how to stop it from happening.
M7***M7***M7***M7
Dinner that night was quieter than normal. True was worn out from playing with Creed. Rhianna was sullen because she'd been grounded for using her abilities to read Naomi, even though she had been trying to help. Naomi was still puzzling how to get out of the special outing that Buck had planned for them as well as trying to figure out how to successfully run away so that everyone wouldn't end up dead. Neither Nathan nor Ezra were there at dinner tonight and the other men seemed content to keep their thoughts to themselves.
"So, anyone goin' over to see the show that travelin' bunch is putting on tonight?" JD finally asked.
True perked up. "I'd like to go see it."
"I think it best we make sure it's appropriate first," Josiah suggested.
"Ah, 'Siah, I ain't no baby."
"True," Vin warned, "Don't start. Josiah's right."
"Actually, I want you kids staying away from that bunch altogether," Chris stated firmly.
"Are you afraid we will want to join up and seek our fame in San Francisco?" Rhianna asked with a laugh.
Chris cast a warning glare at the blond girl and she quickly focused on her food. "We know nothing about them so you will keep your distance."
"But Chris," True started to whine.
"I said, no. You want to discuss this upstairs?"
"No, sir," she capitulated with a pout as she viciously stabbed at a carrot on her plate.
"How long are they planning on staying?" Josiah asked.
"Just a couple days," Buck answered, having spoken with some of the people from the troupe. "Then they're headed north before they circle back and head west to the coast."
Naomi perked up at hearing the word, "coast." She loved the ocean!
"Just as well," Josiah said with a nod. "I don't like the idea of taking wholesome young ladies and turning them into showgirls no matter what Ezra says about it being a respectable profession."