"Hey, Gemma!" Buck shouted from across the road the moment he spotted the young woman standing in front of the hotel pulling on her long laced gloves. He got to her before she finished and started tickling her mercilessly. She shouted and screeched and laughed loudly trying to slap him with one of the gloves at the same time. It felt good to be around each other again.
"I have someone here who wants to talk to you," Buck regained seriousness first. He motioned to Chris who had followed the gangly man slowly.
Gemma and he looked at each other's eyes. Chris tried to find the words, any words, but couldn't bring himself up to say he was sorry, that he missed her, that he loved her so. The most he could do was stretch out his right arm and hold up a reconciliatory hand.
Gemma took it and there was an unspoken understanding between them. The bonds between them reignited like wildfire. Gemma took a step towards him unconsciously and he grabbed her in his arms firmly. Buck was so overjoyed he nearly joined in. Gemma understood and she held out her hand to him. He squeezed it for a moment then released it only because he needed both his hands to wipe away a few happy tears forming in his eyes.
Chris was still hiding his face in Gemma's neck while he wrapped her around his chest.
"I'm sorry," she was the first to come out with it.
"Nothing to apologise for," was as far as Chris could get.
The words, although comforting, served as a wakeup call. They stepped away from each other now.
"We should have dinner before we leave," she suggested.
"When are you off?" Buck asked.
"We're taking the morning coach. So, six o'clock tonight? I want the two of you to meet Monty."
They both nodded. Before they could say anything else, they were interrupted by a loud bang of the saloon door.
"Gemma!" Montgomery Monterrey was shouting down the street. "Gemma, darling, cherub!"
She tensed up enough for the two men who knew her put their hands close to their weapons.
"Come, let's inspect our property!" he boasted.
"Come again," Gemma's voice was flat.
"Unpack your bags. I've just bought us a hotel." he exclaimed as he entered.
Gemma smiled brightly at the two men in front of her. She and Ezra shared the ability to smile with charm in the face of disaster.
"Excuse me," she informed the two cowboys who tipped their hats to hide smirks on their faces.
As Gemma turned on her heel, she shouted at the top of her lungs: "Monty!" And followed him inside.
The peacekeepers were grateful not to be in Monty's shoes.
THE END