Chapter 7
The following weeks passed without any particular news. Buck and Joy had their own daily routine: he went to the shop for lunch and in the evening they all had dinner together. He took her home and they stayed on their own for a while. When Buck had his runs, they'd have dinner alone in the evenings either at Joy's or at the saloon and sometimes on Sundays they'd have picnics with the others, alone or sometimes with Lou and the Kid who were getting closer and closer.
One day they saw a banner hanging above the saloon building announcing a benefit dance for the following Saturday.
When Buck saw this, he told Joy: "It's going to be the first dance we go to as a couple and so everyone knows we're officially together."
"Yes, our official debut in society. Do you feel it?"
"Is it possible that you still have doubts about my feelings for you?"
"No, I know you love me, but it always seems too good to be true. I've never been so happy in my entire life" and she kissed him affectionately. Around they preferred not to flaunt their feelings too much, they wanted to avoid gossip.
In the evening at dinner the main topic was dancing. Rachel talked with Joy about the preparations and the boys teased Buck a little because they knew he didn't like parties very much but it would have been an opportunity to formalize his relationship with Joy and this put him tremendously in turmoil: not because he wasn't sure of their love, but because he didn't like to be the center of attention.
Joy told Rachel: "I'm really sorry about Lou, who knows how she's going to suffer, especially now that she and the Kid are so close." Lou wasn't there that night, she was out on her run for a couple of days.
"Already! I'll have to think of a solution"
"Yes, but which one?"
"I don't know yet but something will come to my mind"
After dinner Joy and Buck went out on the porch to read a book: Buck continued to be interested in medicine and Joy tried to urge him not to abandon this passion, but he didn't feel up to it.
The week went by quickly and on Saturday morning, Thompkins said to Joy: "Take the afternoon off too Joy, get ready calmly for tonight, I know it's an important occasion for you and Buck"
"Thank you Mr. Thompkins, but are you sure you can do it yourself?"
"Before your arrival I always managed, a Saturday afternoon alone what will it be?"
"Thanks" and hugged him before walking out to meet Buck.
"Mr Thompkins has given me the afternoon off to prepare more calmly for tonight. He's very kind, I really look at him as a father."
"Good, then I'll know who to contact when I decide to ask for your hand"
Joy widened her eyes in front of Buck's words: she had never even dared to think about marriage with him and the fact that he made this joke left her stunned.
She decided to be as natural as possible and replied: "Good idea!".
They looked at each other and smiled, aware that sooner or later the time would come to build a life together, but for now they dropped the subject, they had to think about making their relationship official first.
After having lunch together, they separated and went to get ready for the evening. Buck would be picking her up by 6.30 p.m.
Joy took a nice relaxing bath, styled her hair in a half-updo and tried on dozens of dresses before choosing the right one: a pale blue dress with a ribbon at the waist that fell down the back of the skirt, ¾ sleeves ending in white silk inserts and a pair of white ankle boots. In her hand she carried a small purse the same color as the dress. On the neck and ears the usual parure of the father.
Buck knocked at 6.30pm sharp and presented himself with a stupendous bouquet of white roses.
"Mademoiselle", he said, handing her the flowers.
"Thanks darling, come in while I put them in the vase" and closed the door behind her.
Buck wore his buckskin trousers, a white shirt fastened at the neck with a black string, and a black jacket. His long hair was loose and it looked beautiful to her. You could tell he was nervous, but he tried not to show it. When she had placed the vase of flowers on the living room table, he said: "Ready? Let's go"
"No Buck, wait a minute" and took his hands.
"What happen?"
"Are you really sure you want to do this? You don't owe me anything, if you don't feel ready or have any second thoughts, I'd understand. Don't do it just to please me"
Buck took her face in his hands and gave her a very tender kiss, then said: "Joy, never doubt my love. Maybe I'm not good at showing it to you, but I love you dearly and I want everyone to know my feelings for you. It's true, I'm a little nervous, but not because I'm insecure, it's just that I don't like having eyes on me and this is exactly what will happen tonight. You need to stop being insecure about my feelings."
Joy had tears in her eyes and replied: "I know you love me Buck, I really do, but I can't help but be incredulous at all the happiness I feel. I promise I won't give you these speeches again. Let's go!".
She took him by the arm and they both went out excited. When they entered, Joy held his arm and he let her know that nothing could go wrong. They noticed that Teaspoon, Rachel and the boys were at the back of the hall and walked towards them.
They ran into Mr. Thompkins who kissed Joy on the cheek and said to Buck: "Don't forget, I'll keep an eye on you" and then smiling continued: "Enjoy yourself guys, you deserve it". Joy and Buck thanked him and continued on to their friends.
"Here are the two doves", teased Teaspoon. "So, how are you feeling?"
"I don't know if I'm more excited or happy, while Buck would run away instantly if he could, right honey?" and pressed even closer to him.
"In fact, I can't wait for the evening to end and for everything to go back to normal, but I know that an endless series of dances awaits me first"
"Sure! You have to recover the ones you didn't give me last time because you couldn't stand me"
"It's not true, it's just that I was a little wary..."
"A little suspicious?", Jimmy teased him, "let's say you looked more like a rabid dog!"
"Don't overdo it now! But you're right, I deserve it" and this laughter helped Buck to ease the tension a bit.
"But where are Lou and the Kid?" Joy asked.
"They'll join us shortly with a surprise…", Rachel said mysteriously.
Joy tried to get some information from her but Rachel was adamant.
A few minutes later, they saw Kid entering the hall, accompanied by a beautiful girl in a dark blue dress. As they approached amidst the admiring gazes of many young men, Rachel announced: "This is Miss Louise, cousin of our courier Lou. With him being off on a special run, Kid volunteered to drive her to the dance. She's leaving tomorrow morning to meet Lou in Seneca."
Joy glared at Buck who, like all the other boys, had his mouth open in astonishment and then said in Lou's ear: "You look beautiful, congratulations. You had a brilliant idea"
"The credit goes to Rachel", Lou replied excitedly.
The couples began to dance and Joy and Buck, Lou and Kid hogged the attention of almost everyone present.
Buck felt very uncomfortable, but then he decided to enjoy the evening thinking only of the love he felt for Joy and managed to relax a bit. Lou and Joy danced with all the couriers and with Teaspoon and refused many invitations from young men who were very disappointed. Naturally there was someone who did not look kindly on the relationship between Joy and Buck and who tried to give birth to some gossip, but Teaspoon, Rachel and Thompkins were always in the right place at the right time to avoid unpleasant episodes.
The evening proceeded well for a while, everyone was enjoying themselves, eating and dancing, but suddenly, while Buck and Joy were on the dance floor engaged in a dance, a sudden commotion was heard and a young girl fell to the floor in a faint. A young man was heard screaming for Dr. Stevenson, but was told that he was not present because he was busy in a nearby house delivering a baby. Without thinking twice, Buck followed his instincts and rushed towards the young woman. Joy understood his intentions and created space around the girl and Buck. The latter tried to feel the girl's pulse, examined her and began to scream: "Quick, someone undo her bodice and let her breathe! She is pregnant and the too tight corset made her pass out. Hurry, there's no time to waste", he shouted as the girl's face began to turn blue.
Joy rushed to do as Buck had said, aided by two other ladies, while suddenly a man was heard shouting: "How dare you thus discredit my daughter damned half-breed, my Abigail is an honest girl and cannot be pregnant! You will have to answer for this slander!"
Teaspoon and Thompkins rushed to hold back the man who was about to lunge at Buck and in the meantime, the young girl, freed from the oppression of the corset, began to breathe again and her color was gradually returning to normal.
Dr. Stevenson, who had been called by some men, entered immediately after and approached the girl. He confirmed that Abigail Johnson, this is the girl's name, was most likely pregnant and that if Buck hadn't intervened to let her breathe, she would have died of asphyxiation.
"It can't be, it can't be!" the father kept yelling who was escorted out by Noah and Jimmy as the doctor, Abigail and her mother, crying and red with shame, went into the doctor's office. No one had noticed a young man who had remained petrified in the face of what had happened and who as soon as the family and the doctor had left, looked at Buck, held out his hand and said: "Thank you!". He was the boyfriend of the young woman, in an evident state of shock, but not so much as not to understand the importance of Buck's intervention.
He too immediately went out to join his fiancée and Teaspoon spoke: "Well gentlemen, luckily Buck's intervention prevented a tragedy. We all thank him and we can resume the party. The girl will be fine and let's all remember that we are here for a noble cause: to raise money for the children of the orphanage. The dances are reopened"
People struggled to get back to dancing, but gradually the chaos died down. Joy hugged Buck and asked: "How are you honey?"
"I'm just happy to have been helpful, but do you understand why it's useless for me to cultivate my passion? I will always be considered less than a white man"
"Don't say that, Abigail's father was in shock and lashed out at you, but you see that everyone, starting with the doctor and her boyfriend, thanked you. Rather, how did you understand that she is pregnant?"
"When I was at the mission I saw many girls in those conditions taking refuge with the nuns until they gave birth. They tried to hide their condition by tightening their corsets more and more and often fainted like Abigail."
"To hell with silly conventions! The birth of a child should always be something joyful."
Buck held her close. They stayed there for a while longer and Buck was approached by many curious people who wanted to understand how he knew about the girl's condition and he gave everyone the same explanation. After a while, Joy noticed that he was tired of those attentions and said to him: "Honey, I'm starting to get a little tired, do you want to drive me home?"
"Of course my love and thank you" and winked at her. He knew she was doing it for him.
They said goodbye and left and as they were going to Joy's house, they met the doctor returning from his office.
"Oh Buck, your intervention was truly providential. Thank you. Look, it's not the first time I've noticed your expertise in the field, what would you say to helping me sometimes in my studies?"
"Oh really doctor, I don't really think it's the case"
"Don't answer me right away, think about it. Have a nice evening guys"
"Good evening doctor", Joy replied, and then she turned to Buck: "See? I don't want to pressure you, but I think you should accept."
"I don't know Joy, I don't feel like thinking about it now, we'll talk about it at another time. Now I just want to drive you home and be with you" and kissed her passionately. Joy didn't have to repeat it twice.
When they got home, they went upstairs and made love. Buck decided to stay until before dawn, like the first time they had been together, and told Joy that he didn't want to feel bad: if the boys noticed it the next morning, he wouldn't deny or confirm anything, provided that she agreed.
"We have nothing to hide from our friends, they are our family and they certainly won't judge us. For me there are no problems"
They fell asleep embracing and again it was Joy who woke up first: the emotion prevented her from sleeping much but waking up next to the man she loved was the most exciting thing in the world.
Buck woke up and before leaving they made love again. When he returned to the station, he didn't slip away like the previous time, but calmly undressed and went to bed. Noah noticed and just said: "Welcome back lovebird" and smiled. Buck smiled back and said goodnight. At that moment the crowing of the rooster was heard.
"Good morning I would say friend" and he turned away for another half hour.
Life went back to normal after the ball and Buck had taken into consideration the doctor's proposal: he had decided to go to him sometime to assist him and the doctor had also lent him some books to read. Joy was happy about it.
A few days later, while they were having lunch in the saloon as they often did, Teaspoon came in and walked towards them.
"Heh Teaspoon, why here? Is there nothing to do in the office? Want to join us for a sandwich?" Buck asked.
"I wish I had come here to put something between my teeth son, but unfortunately I'm here for a very serious matter", replied the marshal.
"What happened to Teaspoon? Everything seems calm today, there have been no problems, at least since we entered"
"No, nothing happened here. Damn, I don't want to do that but it's standard practice and I really don't know how to avoid it."
"Teaspoon, you're making me worry. Did something happen to one of the boys?" Joy asked anxiously.
"No, I'm here for you Buck"
" For me? What do you mean?"
"Remember the girl you saved at prom?"
"Yes, how is she?"
"She's fine thanks to you but the father doesn't agree"
"What do you mean Teaspoon? Don't keep us on our toes, I'm getting really worried", Joy asked.
"The thing is, he accused you of raping her daughter, so I'm here to arrest you for rape"
"What?" Buck and Joy said in unison.
"Unfortunately yes and until we find the evidence that exonerates you, you will have to stay in your cell. I'm sorry son, I can't help it. I tried to vouch for you but Mr Johnson was adamant"
"He can't really damn it! Buck saved her, it has nothing to do with it!" Joy cried in tears.
"Joy, don't worry, don't make things worse, you'll see that everything will be fine and that we will prove that I'm innocent. You believe me?" Buck told her.
"Of course I believe you, you're a wonderful man and you would never hurt a woman!", Joy yelled again.
In the meantime, people fell silent to listen to the animated conversation and understand what was happening.
"Teaspoon come on, let's not make it any harder, I trust you and I know you will prove my innocence."
Teaspoon nodded and started to handcuff Buck.
"I won't allow it, you have to go over my corpse", Joy tried to hinder him.
"Don't make it any harder Joy, I need you to be clearheaded to help Teaspoon and the boys get me out. Whatever they do or say, always remember that I love you" and offered his wrists to Teaspoon. They had to hold her back to keep her from lashing out at Teaspoon himself. The latter took Buck to prison and Joy fainted: they were taking away the most beautiful thing she had ever had in the world.