Chapter 19
A/N Please see Chapter 1 for warnings and disclaimers. Short chapter…but better than no chapter!
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"You want to talk about it?" Chris asked his blond charge as he leaned against the open door-frame of her room.
Rhianna looked up from her position on her bed where she'd sat since dinner just stewing over her predicament.
"Not particularly. Am I in trouble with you as well?"
Chris entered and shut the door behind him. "Don't think so, but I suppose that depends on what you have to say for yourself. I'm willing to let Vin's punishment stand, but I'd like to know if this is something you make a habit of or just something you did out of concern for Naomi."
"The latter," she answered with a sigh. Her nightmares have been frightful, so I was," she paused and shrugged, "Checking up on her."
"I suppose I can understand that. Not sayin' I approve, but I can understand it. So the nightmares are worse?"
"Not worse exactly, but they are changing. Now she sees Buck, JD, and even the rest of us among the dead. She thinks it's an omen."
Chris sat on the bed next to the girl and pulled her somewhat reluctantly into his lap. "So she's worried about letting us get too close? About starting to care?"
"Yes," the girl answered laying her head on the gunman's shoulder.
"Do you really think it was necessary to invade her privacy to figure that out? Seems a bit obvious to me."
"I suppose it wasn't, but I was worried about what she might do."
Chris gently rubbed his hand through her blond curls. "I can understand that, too. I suppose if I had your abilities, I would be hard pressed not to check up on all three of you girls pretty regularly."
Rhianna was absolutely aghast at the very thought, but held her tongue.
"Guess it's good for you all that I don't have your abilities, huh?"
"Definitely!"
Chris chuckled. "I understand there are times when it is in people's best interest for you to use your abilities, but I think you need to be real cautious. For the most part, I think people have the right to privacy inside their own heads. I know I wouldn't appreciate you delving too deep into my mind without my permission."
"I understand."
"Good girl," he said placing a kiss on her head.
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Buck entered the sitting room and smiled at the dark haired girl curled up by the fire practicing tiddlywinks. As she flipped one of the winks into a cup, Buck took a seat beside her.
"Hey, Rascal, looks like yer gettin' pretty good. Care for a game?"
The girl gave the slightest shake of her head.
"Well, can we talk for a bit maybe?"
She looked at him and tears actually stung her eyes. He was so good to her. If only he really could be her pa and she could stay without bringing about his death.
"Sure. About earlier today? With Rhianna and Vin?"
The mustached peacekeeper nodded, "Partially."
"I shouldn't have taken a swing at her. I know that and I'm sorry."
"I think Vin dealt with that, but darlin' I'd sure like to know what has you so upset these past few days. I thought we was gettin' on pretty good but the last few days," he shook his head. "I just don't know what's gotten into you."
Naomi had decided pushing Buck away wasn't going to work, but she had a new plan so just a bit of truth might carry her a long way. "Nightmares, I guess," she looked at Buck directly. "You're in them, and you die. I don't want you to die, Buck."
Buck reached out and pulled the girl into his lap. She didn't fuss like she often did at being, "manhandled." In fact, she leaned against his broad chest and let herself be held without any objection at all.
"Hey now, nothin's going to happen to me. Don't you worry," he rubbed comforting circles on her back as he spoke soothingly to the girl in his arms, just glad she had finally opened up to him. "And tomorrow, I'm gonna take you to a real special place. There's a hot springs up in the hills and where it meets the river, there's a pool that's nice and warm to swim in year round. Takes some time to get there but I figured you'd think it worth the trip."
"Oh, Buck, that sounds great! I can't wait! What time do we leave tomorrow?"
"Won't have to be up at the crack of dawn, but we'll want to be out well before noon."
"One of the girl's at school has a cat that has kittens. Can I go see them before we leave?" she asked innocently.
"Sure, we got time for that," Buck replied, pleased to hear that Naomi was making friends.
"And, Buck, um," her voice faltered.
"What is it, darlin'?"
"Can I sleep in your room tonight. I think that might help with the nightmares. I can use a bedroll."
Buck smiled and gave her a hug. "Of course you can, Rascal."
Naomi gave her own smile as her guardian seemed to fall right into her plan. A plan which Rhianna would know nothing about because she planned on avoiding her clan member completely for the foreseeable future.
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Naomi was up early and grabbed a quick bite, having informed Buck she would not be at the breakfast table as she wanted to see the kittens and then be ready to go directly to the hot springs. When she met Buck at the livery, she was all smiles, bubbling with excitement for their little adventure. The tall peacekeeper couldn't believe the difference in the girl. They made their way to the hot springs and had an incredible day.
Returning late, they stopped in to get a bite from Inez at the kitchen in the saloon. Naomi chattered about the day's little adventure with her, "Daddy," and made sure Inez knew that she thought Buck hung the moon. Similarly, Buck sounded every bit the proud papa as he shared Naomi's swimming prowess with the saloon manager. When Inez said goodbye to the pair, she had a big hug for Naomi and a soft kiss to bestow upon the mustached peacekeeper's cheek.
As they walked slowly back to the boarding house, Naomi sent Buck a sly smile. "So why is it you aren't courting Miss Inez?"
"Might be because the lady has turned me down flat every time I've asked her to so much as coffee."
"Hmmm…well, if you ask me, you might want to try again."
"Don't recall askin' you," Buck said with a chuckle.
Naomi shrugged, "Just a suggestion. Can, I sleep in your room again tonight? I didn't have any nightmares last night." Surprisingly that was a true statement. Naomi had had a peaceful dreamless sleep last night. Once again, she took it as an omen. She was doing the right thing.
"Of course ya can, Rascal," Buck replied with a smile.
"I was wondering, um, I know that tomorrow is supposed to be church and all, but um, it's kind of a, well a, special sorta day for me. I, ah, kinda didn't want to say anything, but after today…"
"You can tell me anything, darlin'," Buck said sincerely.
Naomi bit her lip. After the wonderful day they'd had, and Buck being so great, the girl really hated to lie to him, but she strengthened her resolve. This was to save his life after all. People who cared about her died. "Well, tomorrow is the anniversary of the day my parents died. I always spend it alone, um, kind of talking to them, ya know? I know it sounds sorta crazy but…"
Laying a hand on her dark hair, Buck's voice caught as he answered, "Don't sound crazy at all. I still talk to my ma now and again. Though I don't have a special day for it."
"Can I just go to the lake tomorrow? I won't go in or even too near it. I just want some time with Mama and Papa and sort of, you know explain about my new life, and about you and everything."
Buck smiled, his heart swelling at the trust Naomi was showing him. He could almost hear Chris in his head telling him it was a bad idea, but he didn't always agree with his austere friend or his ideas on childrearing. If he was going to be Naomi's pa, then he needed to make these decisions, not Chris.
"I think that might be okay. We're all gettin' together at Nettie's for lunch tomorrow afternoon."
"I know. I'll be back by then, I promise."
"Okay, little one, sounds good to me, but let's keep this between you and me, okay? I'll tell the others we're spending a little more one on one time and make myself scarce tomorrow morinin' then we'll meet up and go out to Nettie's." Even as the words came out of his mouth, Buck recognized them as wrong. Making decisions for Naomi was fine, but if he felt he had to hide them from the others, then obviously there was a problem. Still the ladies' man didn't feel he could back out now, though he promised himself there'd not be a repeat.
Giving Buck a spontaneous hug, Naomi readily agreed, "Sure thing."
The happiness on the little girl's face dispelled the last of Buck's lingering anxiety. It was so good to see Naomi smiling not to mention having her little arms wrap around his waist so trustingly. After all, if he wanted her to trust him, then he had to show her some trust as well.
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The following day, as Buck road back into town he was cursing himself for being a gullible saphead and wishing he could kick himself in the ass, though he figured Chris would be doing that for him once he returned with the news that Naomi was not at the lake. Despite trying to make himself scarce, Chris had finally caught up with Buck to suggest that they all ride out to Nettie's together. The gunslinger had become immediately suspicious when Naomi wasn't with his friend. Upon getting the truth from the other man, he'd immediately sent Buck out to retrieve his charge, hoping that the girl would indeed be where she'd promised.
Slowing his horse, Buck dismounted before the animal even came to a full stop in front of the jail where the peacekeepers as well as Rhianna and True were assembled. A quick shake of his head was all it took to relay the information.
"Damnit!" Chris swore. "She's nowhere in town either. Buck how could you be so stupid?" he demanded angrily.
"Chris," Josiah admonished, able to see the worry and guilt etched on Buck's face.
"No, Josiah, he's right. She played me for a fool and she's up and run. Naomi's in danger because I was a brainless idiot!"
"Might I suggest that recriminations, both self and other, be put aside for now in favor of determining where the girl might have run to," Ezra said wryly.
"She left with the theater troupe," Rhianna stated definitively. "They were headed toward the coast after they went north and the coast is where she would want to go."
True nodded her head, "Ain't no way she'd steal a horse, she's too f-ah-freakin' scared of 'em to be able to handle one. She musta hitched a ride."
"And except for church, no one's really been in or out of town today," Nathan added.
"The potter boy said he saw her coming away from the troupe's wagons early on Saturday," JD mentioned.
"Why that little-" Buck broke off, thinking about the lie she told him about the kittens. Obviously, Naomi had been planning this the whole day that they'd spent together and probably before. "When I get my hands on her she's gonna be one sorry little girl," he stated darkly.
"If it is any consolation, Buck, I am certain that she honestly believes that her departure is necessary to save your life," Rhianna stated trying to ease the sense of betrayal she felt emanating from the mustached man regarding his ward.
"That's not gonna change the fact that she won't be sittin' comfortably anytime soon after I find her," Buck replied.
"They headed out 'bout five hours ago, but their travelin' with two wagons. We should be able to catch up to 'em by this evenin' ridin' horseback. Should be easy 'nough ta track," Vin stated.
"I'm goin' with you," JD insisted.
Chris nodded, "Josiah, Nathan, Ezra," you stay here in town."
"I would like to accompany you, as well. Having supported the troupe's efforts here, I am vexed that they would allow a young girl to run off with them in this manner," Ezra stated in an icy voice.
Chris nodded. "Josiah, Nathan? You okay watching the girls until tomorrow?"
"Sure," Josiah agreed, looking to Nathan who nodded his head in assent.