Chapter Three

Buck woke and stretched. Today would be the day he would go horse trading hoping to find the perfect horse for Cricket. The other riders hadn't seen any horses with the black and white coloring he was looking for. Buck needed to get an early start if he was going to get his chores done in time. He had a lot of things to do today.

Buck moved quietly around the bunkhouse trying not to wake anyone. As far as he knew nobody else would want or need to be up this early. He carefully opened the door and exited the bunkhouse. He turned around just in time to see an unconscious Cricket sprawled out on the porch. Her clothes were dirty, her hair was full of tree bark and sticks, and her hands and forearms were scratched and slightly bloody.

"Oh, hell," Buck muttered as he knelt down next to Cricket's limp body. "What did you get yourself into this time?"

Buck gently shook Cricket's shoulder. "Hey, wake up," he said softly.

Cricket woke with a start and then panicked. The sun was up and she was a mess. She had to get ready for school too. "Oh no!" she said scrambling around, "I was just going to rest a couple of minutes. My parents are going to go crazy. Well if they even notice."

"Calm down," Buck said quickly. "It's still really early. I can take you home, just let me saddle up a couple of horses. Hopefully you can sneak back in before they even realized you were gone."

Cricket jumped up and started to run for home. "No time!" she called as Buck watched her run away.

Buck shook his head. He was pretty sure he did not want to know what that was all about. Buck did his chores in record time and was soon saddling up a horse for his first attempt at finding the perfect horse for Cricket. He had some money in his saddle bags as well as some coffee and glass beads. In his experience the tribes he dealt with were looking for money but often lured by other goods. Coffee and beads were especially popular among the Lakota tribe he was visiting today. This particular tribe held a trade day every week and that day was today. They would meet with traders at an abandoned trading post every Tuesday. Since today was Tuesday, Buck decided to go out. The odds that they would have horses were good, but slim they would have one there with the coloring he desired. He would look them over anyway and maybe negotiate to see more. That is where the coffee and beads would come in the most handily.

Buck arrived at the trading post while it was still early in the morning. There were many crafts laid out on tables and blankets. Woven baskets seemed to be a popular item today as well as furs and buckskin. There was a small herd of horses in the paddock of the trading post being attended to by a large stern looking man. Buck scanned them quickly and his heart leapt seeing a horse of the coloring that Cricket said she liked.

Buck rode up the man and dismounted. He knew this man, his name was Black Fox. He was stern but fair and best yet, he loved coffee. Buck greeted Black Fox and the two spoke in Lakota for a few minutes, just catching up on things, and then Buck turned to business. Black Fox turned and went inside the paddock and moments later returned leading a beautiful black and while pinto. Buck started to look it over and ran his hands down its legs and checked the teeth. The horse was pretty young. Buck would guess the mare to be around three to four years old. The horse was more black than white on the body with long white stockings on all four legs. The tail was black, but the main was white with a few black streaks in it. Her face was black except for a tiny star in her forehead and a white snip on her nose. She was very friendly and affectionate. Buck was pleased.

Buck asked Black Fox many questions about the temperament of the horse all of which Black Fox answered. The horse was generally good natured with a bit of spirit. She wasn't saddle trained but Black Fox had ridden her bareback a couple of times and she seemed to tolerate a rider well. After a little haggling, Buck had given Black Fox the coffee and the beads plus fifty dollars. Buck looked pleased and pet the horse's neck as he slipped a halter over its head. A smile spread across his face. He got off easy on the price. The horse was a fine animal. Now he just needed to saddle break it. Hopefully Cricket wouldn't figure out the rouse. He didn't want to spoil her parent's birthday surprise. On the flip side he hoped Cricket didn't become upset because he had picked out the exact horse she wanted. He didn't want her to be jealous because she believed the horse to be his. He would need to be careful. Maybe Lou could help him out on that front. He really had no idea what it was like to be a girl Cricket's age. Hopefully letting Cricket help train it and name it would be enough for now.

Buck led the beautiful Pinto away from the trading post. The horse wasn't stubborn or ornery. That pleased him. It did have a light in its eyes that reminded him very much of Cricket. It was sort of mischievous and independent but also friendly. Buck thought this horse must be fated to be owned by a horse loving girl like Cricket.

Rock Creek was getting closer as Buck rode back. If he hurried, there may still be lunch on the table. As much as Buck wanted to be home, he slowed the horses when he saw a covered wagon sitting in the middle of the trail. A team of draft horses was still hitched up at the front and a gentleman was out surveying the damage.

Buck approached cautiously and kept his gun in his holster. The man looked anything but hostile.

"Do you need some help?" Buck asked as friendly as he could. He knew sometimes his heritage scared people.

"Jag kan inte tala engleska," the man answered in a singsong sort of lilt.

Buck looked confused. He had no idea what the man just said, but the man sounded frustrated. Buck pointed at the wheel and asked, "Help?"

The man let out a long breath and thought for a second. "Ava, hit!"

Buck hesitated to jump down from his horse. The man seemed to be calling to someone in the wagon. He supposed that he should wait until he was invited to help. That was really the best course of action.

A young beautiful blonde woman poked her head out the back of the wagon. Her crystal blue eyes sparkled in the sunshine. He had never seen a woman with such perfect alabaster skin. Her hair was pulled back into a loose bun with strands falling out of it. She looked a bit harried.

"Vad pappa?" she asked, "Vad är det?

"Kom hit," the man said.

The young woman rolled her eyes and got out of the wagon and went over to the older man. Her dress was the same color blue as her eyes. Buck couldn't help but smile. The man pointed in Buck's direction. "Säger mannen att vi inte behöver hjälp," he said.

The young woman looked over to Buck and smiled weakly. She smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress and attempted to straighten her hair. She hadn't realized they had company.

"Pappa vi behöver hjälp," she said rather insistently, "Vi kommer aldrig att göra det till Oregon utan hjälp."

"Som du vill," the man said sounding slightly defeated.

The young woman turned to Buck and smiled sweetly. "You can help us?" she asked in heavily accented English.

"Yes," Buck answered. "My name is Buck Cross. I ride for the Pony Express."

"Pappa, han heter Buck Cross," she told the older man. "Han rider på Pony Express. Han kan hjälpa oss."

"Tack," the man said nodding. "Välkommen."

"My name is Ava Lindström and this is my pappa, Swan," she said. "We would be grateful for any help you can give us."

Buck jumped from his horse, staked out both his horses, and went to the wheel to look at the damage. It was pretty bad. The wheel would need to be replaced. They could get a new wheel in Rock Creek, but getting them there would take some work. Mr. Lindström unhitched his team of horses from his wagon and he and Buck worked on taking the wheel off the wagon. They used a piece of sturdy furniture off the wagon to jack up the wagon. Buck was sure he could repair the wheel well enough to get them into town and told Ava that so she could tell her father. He explained it to her and she relayed the information to her father.

"Vi måste gå till stan för att köpa en ny hjul," she said. "Han kan fixa hjulet för att ta oss dit."

"Okej," Swan said.

Buck and Mr. Lindström worked on the wheel together. During the course of working, Buck found out the Linström's were originally Sweden and had left their homeland to make a better life for themselves. The trip had cost Ava her mother and an older brother and now she and her father were all alone. Buck felt sorry for their losses and hardships. The Lindström's were finding a lot of people showed outward disdain for them because they were immigrants. Swan was finding many things very difficult because he did not speak English. An hour later they had the wheel remounted on the wagon and were ready to go.

"Tack så mycket, Buck," Swan said.

"My pappa said, 'thank you,' and I would like to thank you too."

"It was no trouble," Buck said graciously. "I think you should ride with me. We need to save as much weight as possible on that wheel."

Ava nodded and told her father. He nodded in agreement.

It was finally recess time and Cricket was over anxious to corner Jesse and interrogate him on his brother. Jesse had been avoiding her all morning.

"So tell me about Frank," Cricket said bluntly as she sat next to Jesse.

"He's gone," Jesse said, "So you don't need to worry."

"Will he be back?" Cricket asked.

"I suppose eventually," Jesse said shortly. "He would have stayed longer if you hadn't of followed me."

"I'm sorry, Jesse," Cricket said sincerely. "I was just curious and you were being so secretive."

"Cricket, there are things that just ain't your business," Jesse said angrily. "Why don't you just leave me alone."

Jesse turned and stomped away.

Cricket's mouth dropped open and her eyes started to turn glassy. Jesse had never been angry with her before. Cricket turned to find Violet and frowned when she saw Violet on the steps of the schoolhouse talking with Rachel. The hurt and panic rose in Cricket and she felt the need to go someplace safe and quiet. She didn't want people to see her cry. She decided the Pony Express barn would be a good place to hide. She walked swiftly toward the barn and was just in time to see Buck riding his horse into town. He had a beautiful blonde girl riding with him. She had her arms around his waist and she rested her chin on his shoulder. Her day just got infinitely worse. They were laughing and talking and it looked like they liked each other. Cricket felt a hot tear fall down her cheek. This day was turning into a disaster.

Cricket walked through the back door of the barn and climbed up into the hay loft. Her chest ached from the tension. She suddenly wondered if this was what it felt like when your heart was breaking. Jesse was mad at her and Buck had a girl with him on his horse. Cricket brought her knees up to her chest and let her tears fall. She tried to keep her sobbing quiet because she really didn't want to talk to anyone right now. He best friend and the man of her dreams both seemed lost to her.

The door of the barn squeaked open and Cricket dried her eyes and held her breath. She hoped it wasn't anyone looking for her. She could hear voices below.

"Thank you so much for all your help, Buck," a female voice said. "I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't come along when you did."

"Why don't you and your father join us for supper?" Buck asked. "There's more than enough food to go around."

"Oh that's very kind of you," the woman said, "But I couldn't impose like that."

"It's not an imposition," Buck said, "Besides Rachel would have my hide if I didn't ask. I would like for you to meet my friends."

"I would like that very much," she said.

Cricket felt her heart break a little more. Buck and a girl were almost flirting with each other just below her.