Chapter five

Cricket had the hardest time sleeping. Her parents had been especially nice to her since she and her father arrived home, but they were still acting as if they were keeping a secret from her. That wasn't enough to distract her from all the excitement she was feeling surrounding the end of the night's events. She was much too excited to sleep. She would get to see Buck every day and he would teach her how to take care of a horse! It was like a dream come true and she desperately wanted it to be morning so she could to the Pony Express barn and be with Buck. Perhaps she would do her hair special. She could find a style that looked really smart and kept the hair out of her face. She may even look a little older.

Even though rest was eluding her, Cricket knew she would need it. She looked over to the table next to her bed and grabbed the small stuffed red bear that Buck had won for her at a carnival over a month ago. She tucked it in the crook of her arm and snuggled it. All she could think of was Buck's beautiful smile and how much she liked it when he smiled at her.

Cricket was up and moving just as the sun was rising. She dressed quickly and put her hair back in a simple yet elegant braid that was tied off at the bottom with a dark green ribbon. She still wore her trademark trousers and button down shirt, but she looked a little more like a girl. Cricket checked herself in the mirror and pinched the apples of her cheeks like Violet taught her. She thought she looked rather pretty today. A smile spread across her lips and she knew she was ready. Cricket bounded out of the house full of renewed excitement about the coming events of the day.

Cricket skipped and hummed her way into town and stopped short when the station came into view. Buck was out in the corral with his new horse and the girl he brought into town was seated on the corral fence watching him and cheering him on. Buck looked like he was trying to impress the blonde woman. Cricket felt the urge to run away and she was just about to when Buck saw her and waved at her to come to the corral. She was trapped now. Cricket swallowed hard and took a deep breath. She started walking toward the corral trying to pretend that the pretty blond woman didn't bother her.

Buck smiled and walked over to Cricket when she arrived.

"Cricket this is Ava," he said introducing the girl on the fence. "Ava, this is Cricket."

"It is nice to meet you, Cricket," Ava said in her heavily accented English. "Buck has told me a lot about you."

It took Cricket a moment or two to understand what Ava had said, but when she did she blushed slightly.

Buck had Cricket come inside the corral. He had Speedy on a lead rope. After giving Cricket some quick instructions Buck walked over to the fence and hopped up next to Ava. Cricket all of sudden found it hard to concentrate. Buck wanted Speedy to get used to being led around by a halter and rope and Cricket knew she needed to pay attention to the horse, but everything in her wanted to know what Buck and Ava were talking about. She felt a twinge of jealousy as she watched them get on so easily. Cricket was startled back into reality when she heard Buck shout some encouragement her way. She took a deep breath and started the exercises Buck told her about.

Speedy was a pretty calm horse and did almost everything Cricket wanted her to do. There were a couple of times that Speedy was just a little stubborn and ornery about but eventually Cricket got her to come around.

At the end of the session, Buck took the rope from Cricket and sent her off to school. "Come back after school and we'll put a saddle on her."

Cricket beamed at the idea of helping Buck saddle break Speedy. She hoped Ava wouldn't be around for that. She wanted to help Buck but without the audience. When he asked her to help she was hoping it would be special time spent together…This morning she felt like she was intruding on his time with Ava.

Cricket tried to put the whole thing behind her. She had something to do at school that was really important. She had to make things right with Jesse. Her birthday was a week away and she didn't want to spend it being on the outs with Jesse. He was her first friend in Rock Creek and they had some wonderful adventures together. They caught counterfeiters together! Theirs was a friendship in trouble and for Cricket, it was one worth saving.

Cricket waited patiently for Jesse to emerge from the jailhouse. It seemed like Jesse was taking his time this morning. When Jesse finally did start walking toward the school, Cricket ran up to him.

"I'm really sorry, Jesse, for all the trouble I caused you, please forgive me," Cricket pleaded.

Jesse stopped walking and let out a deep breath. "Cricket, I'm sorry I snapped, but I'm very sensitive about my brother Frank. Teaspoon and the others want to see him out of my life. They want to see him in jail or at the end of a rope, but he's my family and the only blood family I got around here."

"I guess I can understand that," Cricket said. "Are we friends again?"

"We're still friends," Jesse said as they met up with Violet and went inside the schoolhouse.

Cricket wasn't sure if Jesse really meant it. She was happy that he said they were still friends, but something between them seemed forever changed.

Cricket kept looking out the school window hoping the school day would be over soon. It had to be. Lunch and recess took forever to get through and Cricket kept seeing Buck and Ava together. She felt almost like she was losing her chance to be Buck's sweetheart. She couldn't deny that the two of them made a handsome couple -that was obvious. Buck would look great with any beautiful girl on his arm. Cricket was just hoping that someday she would be that girl. She tried not to panic. Buck and Ava just met. It wasn't like they were in love or anything. Still it didn't sit well with Cricket that they were always together whenever she looked outside.

When school was finally out, Cricket ran over to the station. Buck was again inside the corral. Speedy was secured to the top rail of the fence and Buck had a saddle and bridle all ready for her. Speedy was sniffing at it curiously.

Cricket's attention was rapt as Buck went through all the parts to a bridle. When he was done he let Cricket try to put it on Speedy. Speedy was less than enthusiastic about this and tossed her head about trying to avoid capture. Buck smiled but did not laugh. He then taught Cricket a trick to putting a bridle on a reluctant horse. Once he got Speedy's head in the bridle he took it off again and Cricket tried. This time she was able to do it.

Next, Buck showed Cricket all the parts of the saddle and what they were used for. He put the saddle on Speedy's back and showed her how to tighten the cinch. Speedy was pretty calm through the whole process so Buck felt confident enough to let Cricket have a crack at putting on the saddle by herself. The saddle was a little heavy for her, but Cricket managed to get it settled onto Speedy's back. She then tightened the cinch just like Buck showed her.

"Now what do we do?" Cricket asked.

"We let her get used to the saddle," Buck said. "Come on, I think there's some lemonade in the bunkhouse."

Cricket followed after Buck. She was just about to walk into the bunkhouse when someone caught her eye. She saw Frank, Jesse's brother spying on him from just outside of town. He moved suddenly when Cricket saw him. Frank put his finger up to his mouth as a warning not to tell Jesse or anyone else he was near.

Inside the bunkhouse Cricket took a seat at the table as Buck grabbed some glasses. She was so lost in thought she didn't even notice the other people in the bunkhouse with them.

"Cricket, are you alright?" Lou asked, "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Cricket looked up and smiled weakly. All the riders were in the bunkhouse. She blushed. "I just thought I saw someone I knew."

"Well, it is possible," Jimmy said, "Rock Creek is getting to be a big town."

"I thought it was someone I knew from Chicago," Cricket lied.

"So, Buck, are you two gonna break that mare today?" Cody asked changing the subject.

"I think we'll give it a try after we've finished our lemonade," Buck said as he handed Cricket a glass.

"Hey, where are Ava and her father?" Kid asked.

Buck shrugged his shoulders.

"I think they went to see about getting their wheel replaced," Jimmy answered. "It must be hard for her Pa not speaking English."

Buck finished his lemonade and looked over at Cricket. "Are you ready?" he asked.

"Sure," Cricket said nervously. "I mean, I'm not the one getting up on Speedy..."

"Why not?" Cody asked with a grin. "That horse is practically broke already."

"But, I've never broken a horse before," Cricket gasped, "I don't know what to do."

"You'll be fine," Jimmy said, "Even Lou could handle breaking Speedy."

Lou punched Jimmy in the arm.

"Ow!" Jimmy cried in mock pain.

"You deserved that one, Jimmy," Kid said, "Besides Cody, is right. Speedy is almost saddle broke already."

"What do you think, Cricket?" Buck asked encouragingly, "You want to give it a try?"

Cricket swallowed hard. She was scared out of her mind at the possibility of getting thrown from a horse, but at the same time she felt really special that Buck would almost encourage her to try.

"But Speedy is your horse, Buck," Cricket rationalized, "You should be the one to break her."

"Oh I've broken lots of horses," Buck said. "Let's go out there and see how Speedy's doing with that saddle. If she seems calm, I think it would be alright for you to try. I won't let you get hurt."

Cricket eyed Buck suspiciously and looked around the room eying the rest of the riders the same way. She felt something was going on here although she couldn't put her finger on what.

"Come on, Cricket," Lou encouraged, "Show them boys that we girls can do anything they can."

Cricket gave Lou a determined nod and followed the riders out the door. They all met back up at the corral fence. Cricket walked up to where Speedy was tied and pet her velvet nose. She lowered her head against the horse and silently prayed that the horse would be calm.

Buck climbed in the corral with Jimmy following. Jimmy untied Speedy and held the lead rope while Buck checked the saddle to make sure everything was secure.

"Get in there, Cricket," Cody urged.

"Yeah, Buck and Jimmy won't let anything to you," Kid reassured her.

Cricket looked to Lou for support and Lou smiled and nodded to her. "It's gonna be alright. You can do it."

Cricket crawled over the fence and jumped down into the corral. Cricket felt immediately better that Speedy didn't get spooked when she landed.

"Are you ready?" Buck asked with a calming smile.

"I guess as ready as I'll ever be," Cricket answered nervously.

Jimmy held Speedy's halter and bridle while Buck gave Cricket a leg up. Speedy was still calm by the time Cricket was settled into the saddle. Jimmy handed Buck the lead rope and handed Cricket the reins. Jimmy stayed inside the corral to jump in case he was needed.

Buck led Speedy to one end of the corral and then slowly let some slack in to the lead rope. He let the rope get about ten feet long and he settled himself into the middle of the corral.

"We're going to try a lunge line," Buck said. "She's had a rider a couple times before just not with a saddle, so we'll train her and she'll know what it means to have a saddle and rider."

Cricket breathed a sigh of relief and patted Speedy on the neck as a reward for being calm.

Buck asked Cricket to do each new thing they were teaching Speedy, like stops and starts, and changes in gait. Cricket did most of the work from the saddle while Buck just held the rope. Cricket was doing great and the Riders yelled encouragement and Buck looked proud.

Cricket loved the proud smile on Buck's face. It made her feel all warm and tingly as well as special. Buck had trusted her to train his horse and she felt like they made a great team. Maybe he would let her help him all the time.

After a nice long session, Buck helped Cricket down.

"You should get home," Buck said, "But come back tomorrow and we'll work with Speedy some more."

"Thanks Buck!" Cricket said beaming. "Can I bring Speedy a treat tomorrow?"

"Sure," Buck said.

Cricket skipped home excitedly.

"Cricket's going to be over the moon happy when she finds out Speedy is her horse," Lou said to Buck as he led the mare back into the barn. "Be careful."

"I know, Lou," Buck said wearily. "I don't think it matters what I do, I always seem to encourage her."

"Maybe you don't want to discourage her," Lou suggested. "You know, she isn't that much younger than us."

"Lou, it wouldn't be right," Buck said cautiously. "She has such an innocent view of the world. I don't want her to lose that too soon. So much changed for me when I left the Kiowa, I grew up too fast. Like when you left the orphanage."

"You care about her," Lou surmised.

Buck smiled. "How can I not?" he asked rhetorically. "She grows on you."

"That she does," Lou said.

"I just want her to be a kid as long as she can be. She's never really stared down the evil we have. There are times when I wish I could go back. Every time she comes around here, I wish I could have had a childhood like hers."

"I know me too," Lou agreed. "Even her worst problems aren't so bad compared to what we've all been through."

"I feel like I need to protect her from growing up too fast," Buck said. "Kind of like we all do with Jesse too."