Chapter 14

The large, wooden door creaked as Buck pushed it open and slipped quietly inside. The warm, sweet smell of hay and horses greeted him and he drew an appreciative breath. One of the horses whickered softly in anticipation of its morning feed.

Having spent nearly a week cooped up in Rachel's house, being fussed over and fed up like a Thanksgiving turkey, Buck had woken early and managed to escape to the sanctuary of the livery. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate what Rachel and Lou had done, he just felt he needed some time on his own, time to think and reflect.

As the days had gone by he had begun to feel more at peace with himself, as his anger and shame subsided. It was good to back with his family. It was why he had returned to Rock Creek in the past. He had come to accept that this was his home and where his heart truly lay, amongst his friends from the Express. By coming to rescue him they had once again shown their loyalty and, what he could hopefully call, love. For that he would be eternally grateful, as there had been a time when he thought no one cared about him at all, with the exception of Ike. But he and his friend had found themselves family of sorts with the Express and now, even though Ike was gone, there was still a place for Buck to call home.

Being back made him appreciate what he had here was too good to lose. Lou had done a good job of looking after the livery in his absence and it wouldn't take much to build it into a thriving business, one of which he could be proud. It would set him up with a decent living and as a man with prospects.

Now his hands had healed he found himself revelling in the simple task of scooping grain into a bucket and filling water buckets. He didn't even mind mucking out the stalls because he knew it was his, something he had worked hard for and now owned. For too many years he had seen the animosity and distain with which many people regarded him, both amongst the Kiowa and in the white world, but now he had the livery he hoped he would be more readily accepted. As he looked around at what he had achieved, realisation dawned how close he was to losing it all.

Being amidst the stalls, with the musty smell of hay and horses, he was suddenly reminded of standing in Neville's stable block. The memory sent a cold shiver through his body as he relived the moments the noose had been put around his neck. He couldn't say his whole life had flashed before him but what he did remember was thinking about his friends here in Rock Creek, reaffirming that this is where his head and his heart told him he should be. The realisation brought a wealth of emotions to the surface, which brimmed into his eyes.

Buck was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't immediately hear the door opening and someone come in.

"So this is where you got to." Lou's words startled him for a moment and he spun around to see her standing just inside the doorway. As she stepped closer and her eyes adjusted to the dim light of the livery she could see the threatening welling in his eyes, which he quickly tried to wipe away.

"You okay, Buck?" she asked, concerned. It had near broken Lou's heart to see him when Teaspoon, Jimmy and Kid had brought him home. When Kid told her of what had happened and how the bounty hunter had treated Buck she was beyond angry. She was furious that anyone would do this to her gentle, proud and dignified friend. The fact that neither Brody nor Neville had suffered the consequences of their actions infuriated her even more. Kid had physically had to restrain her from riding out to shoot them herself.

She had insisted she stay with Rachel to help look after Buck and while the older woman had taken care of his physical needs, preparing his favourite food, heating hot water for deep baths and generally making sure he was comfortable, Lou had been there as a friend and confidant. She knew Buck would never show weakness, as he saw it, in revealing his emotions to the boys and Teaspoon but as a girl she hoped he would be more able to open up and talk to her. He had been stoic for the first couple of days and she began to think he had been brought so close to the brink that he might never be the man he had once been. But she also knew he had an inner strength which, once he'd found and held on to, would bring him back to them.

Over the days she just sat with him, saying little at first but then she started talking to him about passed times, reminding him of some of the good things which had happened and the fun they'd had with the Express. She also discussed the possibilities of what the future could hold for both of them, the prospects for the livery and possibility of families of their own. Slowly he had listened and started communicating once more. Jimmy and Kid came by to spend time with Buck but only mundane topics were discussed, like the latest goings on in town, the price of grain and the new saloon girl. When he was alone with Lou they talked about more personal things: their friends - Cody and his latest exploits with the army, Jimmy's more regular visits to the saloon and Kid and his annoying habits. The also talked about Noah and Ike and Buck came to realise that if he did leave Rock Creek he'd have no one with which to share these talks.

One afternoon while sitting slicing beans for the evening meal and laughing about Teaspoon's latest procrastination, Lou had been taken aback when Buck suddenly put his arms around her and gave her a hug and simply said, "Thank you." She had looked at him and was about to ask 'What for?" but the look of contentment on his face said it all.

She could see the same look on his face now, as he stood in the livery, though his eyes still belied the inner sadness and struggle he felt.

"You going to stay with us Buck?" she ventured tentatively.

Buck smiled at her and nodded.

Lou grinned back at him. "Did I ever tell you it's real good to have you back with us?"

"Real good to be here," he replied sincerely.

"Come on. Breakfast'll be ready by now. Best not let it get cold."

"I'll just finish off here and be there in a minute," he told her, picking up the rake and spreading a pile of clean straw in one of the stalls.

"Well, don't be too long or Rachel will get to fretting," Lou answered as she made her way out the door, keen to get back and tell the others the good news that Buck had decided to stay.

When Lou had left, Buck stopped raking and rested his arms on top of the implement. He took a deep breath and his eyes darkened and hardened.

He knew he was doing the right thing staying in Rock Creek but he would never forget what those men had done to him. The humiliation and resentment he felt ran deep and he would not be able to forget it easily. He understood Neville's actions as he had been only seeking vengeance, for the death of his son but Brody had acted purely out of greed and downright cruelty. The animosity Buck felt towards that man was insurmountable.

His Kiowa blood demanded he seek retribution and he would not fail his ancestry.

Somehow, some day he would have his revenge.

The End?

So I've stopped being mean to Buck and he's very understandably still feeling hacked off! So do I let him have his revenge? Let me know what you think. Thanks again for reading.