When next Cricket woke up it was the next morning. Her mother was going back to her quilting circle so Cricket would have the whole house to herself again. She hoped Violet would come back to visit her. She hoped she hadn't scared the poor girl too much.
Most of her week of banishment from school was over and she needed to devise a plan of revenge for Maryellen and her followers. She knew some would say that the score was about even. She got harassed and she beat the snot out of them, but that was only half of the issue. She had been blamed for a fight they provoked. She had spent this week at home alone and been branded a troublemaker and a bad influence. These things needed a response. Perhaps she could find a way to expose Maryellen for the truly vile human being she was. She would need help.
She knew she could count on Jesse. He was always up for a good plan. She would need more than just his help though. She wondered if she could trust Violet to help. She thought maybe Violet might turn up today then she could ask her.
Cricket spent most of her day catching up on her school work. She wasn't sure that Rachel didn't just add in some extra punishment homework. There was a lot more work here than normal. Another reason Maryellen would need to be exposed. She wanted Rachel to like and trust her again.
Cricket was just finishing up a theme writing assignment when a knock came at the door. She slid off her chair and hurried to the door. She hoped she would find Violet on the other side.
Violet and Jimmy Hickok were standing on the other side of the door when Cricket opened it and she saw the look in Violet's eyes when she looked over at Jimmy. She and Violet had more in common than she realized. She welcomed them both in and exchanged completed homework for new assignments with Violet. Cricket put on some tea and pulled out some cookies her mother had made yesterday. The three sat down at the table and Cricket looked at Jimmy and wondered if she could trust him.
"I'm sorry, Jimmy," Cricket said as Jimmy shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I'm just not sure if I can trust you."
"I can leave if you want to talk to Violet alone," Jimmy offered.
"I might need your help too," Cricket said, "I just need to know whose side you're on."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jimmy asked almost wounded.
"Well, everyone needs to know what a horrible person Maryellen is," Cricket said. "I'm going to show them and I need to know if you'll help or hinder."
"Cricket, you know Rachel ain't gonna stand for no more mischief on your part," Jimmy warned.
"Jimmy, has anyone ever said bad things about you and someone you care about and then when the fight happens blamed you for it?" Cricket challenged.
Jimmy flashed back to a time at Tompkins' store and decided that he really had no moral authority to advise Cricket against her plans.
"Ok, what do want me to do?" Jimmy asked as he nibbled on a cookie.
"I don't know yet," Cricket answered. "First I need to get back to school and get Rachel back on my side. The school carnival is coming up, if nothing else that would be the perfect time and place to set a revenge plan in motion."
"Oh I don't think you'll have too much of a problem getting Rachel back on your side," Jimmy said smiling. "After the words she and Buck exchanged the other night."
"She's been keeping both eyes on Maryellen and the others," Violet added. "She caught them passing notes yesterday."
Cricket was pleased to hear of Rachel's change of heart and even more pleased to hear what caused it. It did her heart good to hear of Buck defending her. She would have to be careful not to give Rachel a reason to doubt her. Perhaps Rachel would even let her sit next to Jesse again. She really missed her friend, or maybe she would start sitting next to Violet. People ignored Violet way too much and Cricket wasn't going to be one of them anymore. Perhaps if her mother let her she could have Violet over for a sleepover soon. They could stay up all night and talk about Jimmy and Buck. Buck had been her champion again and she really needed a friend to talk to who understood. Violet just might be that person. Jesse was a boy so he couldn't possibly understand. Cricket again wished it didn't take so much time to grow up. She had all these thoughts and feelings that weren't of a child, but nobody treated her like an adult.
As promised, Buck showed up at the end of the week to look in on Cricket. He knocked on the door and Cricket answered it.
"Hey Buck," Cricket said greeting him, "Would you like to come in?"
Buck looked around and it looked like Cricket was all alone. "Are your parents here?" he asked.
"No, Mama's gone back to work on quilts with the ladies at church and Papa's working," Cricket answered.
"I shouldn't stay then," Buck said. "You look much better."
"I feel better," she said, "Don't go, come in and stay a little while."
"I can't, Cricket," Buck stressed gently "It wouldn't be proper for us to be together here alone."
"Oh," Cricket said suddenly understanding. It wasn't proper for Helena to be alone with a man either especially not Tristan. Cricket also remembered a talk she had with Rachel about caring about her reputation when Jesse got caught in her room in the middle of the night. It was all innocent of course. This meant Buck cared about her reputation. She smiled and was suddenly shy. He wasn't treating her like a child.
"Maybe I'll see you some other time then," Cricket said to her shoes. They had suddenly become very interesting. She pointed her toe to the ground and started to twist her ankle back and forth.
Buck gave her a nervous laugh and said that he would probably see her around next week. He wasn't sure what had changed but he felt the need to get back to the station as soon as possible.
Cricket spent the rest of her week pining for her favorite Pony Express rider and also finishing her mother's racy book. The book ended with Helena and Tristan together in secret. It was very romantic. She replaced the book and selected the second book in the series, Stolen Summer. She just had the chance to start it and wasn't very far into it. She thought she might bring it to school with her next week. When she was required to read on her own she could tuck it inside her McGuffey Reader. She was sure it would be more interesting than anything McGuffey had inside it. She might even share some of the book with Violet. She didn't think Jesse would be interested. The language was very flowery and it was very romantic not really something a boy like Jesse would like.
Cricket accompanied her parents to church again on Sunday. Her mother had taken some time to alter her Sunday dress so it would fit better across the shoulders and she would be a little more comfortable. It hadn't made the sermons any more bearable, but at least she didn't feel like she was being restrained.
When church was over, Cricket saw Buck come out of the barn. She saw him do a little bit of a double take at her appearance and she was sure he just wasn't used to seeing her in a dress. She waved to him and he smiled and waved back.
Cricket woke up early the next morning. She was a little nervous to be going back to school. She hoped that Maryellen and her friends would leave her alone. She was also missing Jesse something fierce. He hadn't been by all week to see her. That made her a little upset. She hoped she could ask him what was going on when she got to school.
Cricket had asked her parents if she could have Violet come over and spend the night at the end of the week. They could take her to church with them on Sunday morning. They said yes, so Cricket was going to ask Violet first thing when she got to school. She was excited about the prospect. She really never had a girl best friend before. Actually Jesse was her first best friend ever.
Cricket started to walk faster on her way to school. She didn't even see Maryellen so it came as a rude awakening when Cricket tripped right over Maryellen's foot. She fell hard on her hands to break her fall. Cricket stood up fast and clenched her injured and bleeding hands into fists. Her eyes were narrowed in hate.
"Careful there, Cricket," Maryellen said snidely, "You wouldn't want to get suspended again so soon."
"You aren't worth the effort," Cricket said trying not to cry. Her hands really hurt and she could feel some blood begin to gather in her clenched fists.
Cricket didn't have to worry about dealing with Maryellen all by herself for long. Jesse and Violet happened along with Rachel following after them.
"Mrs. Dunne," Maryellen proclaimed, "Poor Cricket tripped. I was just helping her up."
Cricket's jaw dropped at the calmness at which Maryellen could lie.
"Jesse, why don't you take Cricket over to the station so she can clean up," Rachel said, "And have one of the boys put some salve on her hands. Come back to school when you two are done."
Jesse opened the door of the bunkhouse and Cricket walked in and sat down at the table defeated. She had been looking so forward to coming back to school and Maryellen had ruined it. Jesse put a small pot of water on to boil and put some cool water in a basin. It would be a couple of minutes and then Cricket would have some warm water to wash the dirt from her hands.
The bunkhouse door opened and Cricket jumped a little in surprise. She didn't know who had come in until they spoke. Her back was to the door.
"What happened?" Lou asked, "Why aren't you guys at school?"
"Maryellen tripped Cricket and she hurt her hands," Jesse reported. "Rachel told me to bring her here."
"How bad?" Buck asked with concern.
"Not too bad," Jesse answered, "We just came over to wash the dirt out of the scrapes. Rachel also asked me to ask one of you if you could put some salve on her hands."
All Cricket could do was listen to the conversation happen around her. She couldn't speak as she was trying desperately not to cry. She saw Lou sit next to her and take one of her hands and look at it. She unbuttoned the button on Cricket's sleeve and started to roll it up. She was about to move to the other side when the call of "Rider coming!" was heard.
"That's me," Lou said getting up and rushing out the door. She gave Buck a look on her way out.
Since he was the only rider left at the station that didn't have chores to do, Buck took over where Lou left off. He unbuttoned her other shirt sleeve and rolled it up. Jesse brought the basin of warm water over so Cricket could wash the dirt out of her wounds. Cricket could feel her pulse quicken as Buck rolled up his own sleeves. Last night before she went to bed she read a little of Stolen Summer and Helena had forgotten her riding gloves. She had injured her hands and Tristan had taken care of her. He had gently washed her hands and then massaged some salve into her blisters and cuts. This time with Buck was almost the same except the cause of her injuries wasn't nearly as romantic and a torrid affair wasn't about to follow. Buck wasn't going to kiss her and make it better. Though a girl could dream and she would later if math was boring.
Cricket was finding washing her hands too difficult to do by herself so Buck took over and carefully washed and dried Cricket's hands while Jesse watched intently. He walked over to the cupboard where Rachel kept bandages and other medical supplies. Buck rummaged around until he found a small jar of salve. He grabbed some bandages and sat across from her. He kept his eyes down concentrating on her hands. He didn't want Cricket to read anything into this. He knew that was largely out of his control, but he still worried a little. He didn't ever want to break her heart. He was still holding out hope she would focus her romantic attentions elsewhere.
Cricket gasped quietly as he rubbed salve on her injured palms. She raised her eyes to look at his face, but his eyes were looking intently on her hands. He bandaged them up and asked her if the bandages were too tight. She shook her head 'no' and retracted her hands.
"Come on, Cricket," Jesse said, "Let's get to school."
"Thanks, Buck," Cricket said and grinned shyly as she left.
Cricket was quiet for only a few steps out of the bunkhouse.
"Jesse," Cricket said determinedly, "I've got to get Maryellen back. She is mean and spiteful and she must be dealt with. Are you in?"
"Blackening her eye wasn't good enough?" Jesse asked nervously.
"She started that fight and she seems to be itching to start another one," Cricket answered dryly.
"Well sure then," Jesse said cautiously. "You know I always got your back."
"Thanks, Jesse," Cricket said.
Jesse and Cricket arrived at the schoolhouse after roll had been taken, but since Rachel sent them over the station she hadn't marked them tardy. Violet had picked up Cricket's books and set them on a desk next to hers.
Between the swelling and the bandages, Cricket could not hold a pencil very well at all. She could barely hold open a book. She was miserable. She looked over at Maryellen, who when Rachel's back was turned and stuck her tongue out at her. Cricket's eyes narrowed and she broke a piece of chalk in half and sent it sailing across the room. It made contact with the middle of Maryellen's forehead.
Maryellen whimpered and clapped her hand to her forehead. Cricket just smiled proudly as the rest of the class started to laugh. Rachel turned quickly trying to catch whatever trouble may have occurred, but missed it. From what she could gather it looked like Cricket and Maryellen had just had an exchange of some sort. Rachel hoped that whatever Cricket just did would keep the waters calm until recess. Maryellen didn't make eye contact with anyone for the rest of the morning.
At recess, Cricket was finally able to ask Violet if she would like to stay over on Saturday night and attend church with her family on Sunday. Violet promised to ask her parents, but she was sure they would let her. They had been trying to get her to be more social for months now especially after Carrie left.
The rest of the day went on without incident, but on the way home, Cricket felt like someone was following her. She was scared it might be Maryellen so she quickened her steps until she reached home. Her mother gasped at the state of her hands when Cricket walked through the door. Cricket told her mother that she tripped and the bandages were just to keep dirt out. She told them that Buck had told her to take the bandages off when she went to bed.
After dinner, Cricket pretended to do her homework and started to reread the part in Stolen Summer where Tristan tended Helena's injured hands. When she found the passage in the book she laid down on her bed. She wanted to imagine the scene as if she was Helena and Buck was Tristan.
Helena placed her injured hands gingerly into the basin full of warm water. Her wounds stung her as she submerged each hand. She hoped to gently wash the dirt and sweat out her wounds, but the pain made in nearly impossible. It was silly of her to have ridden away on her horse without riding gloves but she was angry with her father for threatening to dismiss Tristan. She didn't hear the door open behind her as she gasped and winced from the pain of the water hitting her raw broken skin.
A shirtless Tristan came up behind her and trailed kisses down the creamy expanse of her neck. He reached his strong arms around her caressing her curves. She soon forgot the pain in her hands.
Cricket was pretty sure she would have forgotten all about the pain in her hands too if Buck had come up from behind her and started to kiss her neck. She could remember how gently he rolled up her shirt sleeve and how he carefully dabbed the salve onto her skin. His hands should have felt rough on her skin, but he was so gentle she didn't notice the work hardened calluses. She knew the moment didn't mean to Buck what they meant to her, but she treasured it all the same.
Her breathing became ragged and her eyelids grew heavy. She wanted to touch Tristan but she couldn't. All she could do was enjoy the caresses and touches he was giving her. Then it came to her. She couldn't touch Tristan with her hands but she could explore him with her lips that were swollen with need like two ripe plums. She started by just brushing her lips against the sun bronzed skin of his arms. She turned and laid feathery kisses all the way up to his neck until she found his lips. They were soft and quickly parted for her assault. Her tongue danced and made swirling motions inside his mouth. He moaned softly at the sweet invasion of his senses. He tasted the sweetness of her soul in every thrust of her tongue.
Cricket had only kissed Buck once and there wasn't any tongue dancing or swirling. She wondered how that would feel. She wondered if Violet had ever kissed a boy with her tongue. She thought she might ask her tomorrow and hopefully Violet would also tell her if she could spend the night on Saturday. To say she was looking forward to it was an understatement. Cricket had missed out on so many things being a sickly child. She had never been to a birthday party much less ever had a friend over.