Chapter 5

Sam Cain sat behind his desk with his feet propped up and his hat hanging low over his eyes. To anybody looking, it would appear he was fast asleep but those that knew him, knew he wasn't, he was just resting his eyes as he would say, the snore escaping his mouth was all an act, he'd never sleep on the job. At least that is what Sam would say, Emma however knew better as she stood in the doorway of his office trying to hold in her giggle. "Oh Sam" she called to him, the laughter evident in her voice.

"Huh what?" Sam grunted before he jerked to attention to take in his visitor.

Sam looked up at his wife, she got pretty every time he looked at her. He swore that in the twenty years they had been married that she hadn't aged a day. "Come over here darlin'" Sam called to her.

Emma walked over and sat on Sam's lap, placing the plate of cookies she had brought him on his desk. "Are you still happy with me Sam?" She asked after giving him a quick kiss.

"What kinda question is that? You know I am. Never been happier." Sam replied kissing her lips.

"I dunno, I'm just feeling lonely I guess. Ya spend so much time here, it feels like I hardly see ya. And I never was able to give you any youngins." Emma replied softly hanging her head.

"I know I ain't been around much lately. I thought coming back here would give me more time at home with you. And I know ya wanted a lil'one but the good lord decided against it." Sam replied.

"I had a whole bunkhouse full of them at one time. Now all I've got left is Cody and he don't visit no more. I had such hopes when Loulabelle said she was coming, I know something bad had to have happened to her for her not to show and it kills me the never knowing." Emma cried, tears rolling down her soft cheeks.

"I know darlin'. I wish I could have found her for you. I wish that I could make Cody come home. I wish that we'd hear from Buck just to know he was alright." Sam said, brushing the tears away with his thumbs.

It was at that moment that the messenger came in carrying a telegram. "Telegram for ya marshal from Omaha."

"Thought you was through having to deal with Omaha?" Emma asked.

Sam took the telegram from the boy, "Thought I was too." He muttered before opening it. "Well I'll be damn."

"What is it Sam?" Emma asked concerned.

Sam grinned, "Think the good lord been listening to our prayers. It's from Buck. He's found Lou alive. And according to this telegram they are only a few days from here!"

"What?! How did he know we were back in Sweetwater?" Emma asked snatching at the telegram.

"He didn't, it was sent to Omaha. Marshal Tucker passed it on here." Sam replied before picking his wife up and spinning her around in a circle. "I think it's time we go for a little trip."

"Oh Sam can we leave right now?" Emma begged.

"Afraid not, but we can leave first thing in the morning. Go on back to the house and pack us some clothes. I'll make the arrangements for the stage and to get someone to cover my duties while were gone." Sam replied giving her a kiss before shooing her out the door.

He couldn't stop the smile on his face from growing. It had been a long time since he'd seen Emma so happy. Her girl was alive and with Buck. He didn't know how and why but he thank God for it. He left his office to send a telegram to Buck to let him know they were coming to see them and to make arrangements for the trip.

The next morning Lou awoke to find Buck was already up. She quickly got out of bed and changed into her dress before he came back in from the barn. When Buck entered the house about ten minutes later it was to find Lou at the stove making breakfast.

"Smells good." He stated with a grin.

"It won't be long before its ready." Lou offered over her shoulder.

Buck moved to the table and sat down after pouring a cup of coffee. "Lou, I know ya probably wanted to get started on your sewing but I could use your help this morning if ya don't mind."

"Sure Buck, what are ya needing?" Lou asked as she dished up a plate and sat it in front of him at the table before turning back to the stove to fix her plate.

"I've got several mares that need to be brought into the corral. They will be birthing soon and I could use some help getting them all round up." Buck explained after taking a bite of his food. "This is good."

"Thanks...Buck why don't you have any hands to help ya on the ranch?" Lou asked curious how he managed on his own.

"Can't afford em. When I take my selling stock to auction I hire a few guys to help me get em there but I can't afford to pay someone as a steady hand." Buck explained.

"Oh I see. Well ya know I'll be glad to help as much as I can. It's been awhile since I've been in the saddle but I think I can still manage just fine." Lou stated with a grin.

"I'm sure you'll do fine Lou." Buck replied.

After finishing up their breakfast, Buck helped Lou clean up the dishes before going to the barn to saddle up his horse and one for Lou to ride. Lou was waiting on him when he led them from the barn. It didn't take her long to find her rhythm in the saddle again, she had never felt freer than when she was on the back of a horse with the wind blowing in her hair.

"If ya want, we can go for a ride this afternoon." Buck offered.

"I'd like that Buck." Lou replied with a grin.

It didn't take the two of them long to separate the pregnant mares from the rest of the herd and lead them back to the corral. In fact they had just put the last on in just before noontime. "I'll go in and make us a quick lunch." Lou offered.

"Sounds good Lou. I'll take care of the horses." Buck replied as he took her reins and led both horses into the barn.

Buck was in the middle of brushing down his horse when he heard a rider approaching. He stepped out of the barn and spotted Jeb Spencer riding up to his house. "Over here Jeb!" Buck hollered to get the man's attention.

Jeb spotted Buck and walked down to the barn. "Howdy Buck, Pete sent me out with a telegram for ya. It came in late yesterday afternoon."

Buck took the offered telegram from Jeb and looked down at it to see it came from Sweetwater. Now who would be sending him a telegram from Sweetwater he wondered. "Thank ya Jeb. Let me finish with my horse here and then I'll take ya on up to the house to get you some money for your trouble and a bit to eat."

"Thanks...umm Buck I was ah wondering if ya got any work I might do?" Jeb asked, his hat hanging in his hand.

Buck looked to the man standing in front of him. He had hired Jeb on many occasions to help get his stock to the auction and the man had worked hard but he had a drinking problem and would lose his temper quite often. But all Buck saw when he looked at him was a man who looked to have not eaten in days, his clothes were filthy and worn. He looked to be very down on his luck. "Jeb...I wish I could help ya out but you know I can't afford to have a steady hand. Come back in a month and I'll hire ya to help get the stock to auction."

Jeb hung his head in shame, "I know that Buck but well I ain't got no where else to go. Ya ain't gotta pay me just give me a place to sleep and some food in mah belly."

"Well ...I guess you can sleep in the hayloft. I could use a hand to help out." Buck relented, a little uneasy about the whole thing though he was unsure why.

"Thank ya Buck! I won't let ya down, I swear." Jeb said shaking Buck's hand before his stomached gave a very loud growl.

"Come on up to the house and get some lunch." Buck said leading the man up to the house just as Lou poked her head out to call him in to eat.

"Oh Buck, I didn't realize ya had company." Lou said when she spotted the man behind Buck.

"Lou this is Jeb Spencer. He brought a telegram out to me. Also he's gonna be staying in the barn for a while to help out on the ranch. Jeb, this is Lou McCloud an old friend of mine." Buck introduced the two.

Lou held out her hand to the dirty man who took it eyeing her up and down. He had seen her somewhere before but couldn't place where. "Ma'am", he said shaking her hand.

After she dropped his hand, she discreetly wiped it on the dish towel she was holding as she followed the men into the small house. Lou served the men at the table and fixed a small plate for herself to eat afterwards. Buck gave her a small smile in apology. After Jeb had finished eating Buck gave him instructions to check the fences to see if there was any places that needed to be repaired. Once he left he sat Lou down in his own chair and served her her meal. "Sorry bout that Lou."

"I thought you said you couldn't afford a steady hand?" Lou asked.

"I can't. Told Jeb that but he apparently is desperate. He's working just for a place to sleep and food. I think from now on we can eat outside on the porch. I'll fix up a bench or something out there." Buck said sitting down across from Lou.

"What did the telegram say?" She asked after a few minutes.

"Oh I didn't even read it." Buck exclaimed having forgotten about it for a moment. He pulled it from his pocket and opened it up. His breath caught in his throat. "Sam and Emma will be here in three days."

Lou looked up in surprise, "It takes longer than three days to get from Omaha to here don't it?"

"They ain't in Omaha no more, this was sent from Sweetwater." Buck replied, "I guess the Marshall's office in Omaha must have forward it to Sweetwater."

"I can't believe it...Emma will be here in three days...Buck what is she gonna think about me?" Lou asked her face paling at the thought of seeing the woman who had been a mother to her. Yes she was happy that Emma was coming cause she had missed her terribly but she was scared that Emma would be disappointed in her once she found out everything.

"Lou, Emma ain't gonna care bout all that. She's just gonna be happy you're alive and safe. But ya don't have to tell her everything iffn you don't want." Buck offered.

"No...I can't lie to Emma. Never could." Lou replied with a small laugh.

Buck just smiled at her. He was panicking inside. He hadn't spoken to or contacted Emma or anybody really since he left Rock Creek. He was terrified that she would be furious and disappointed in him, that she would take Lou away from him after he had just found her. He was terrified that Lou would want to leave him. She had no reason to want to stay with him after all. Buck didn't know if his heart would be able to take it, if Lou did decide to leave with Emma. But there was nothing he could do about it but wait and see.