Chapter 13

Buck stayed with Joy all night. The boys returned to the station to resume their regular work now that Joy was out of harm's way. Only Rachel was left to prepare their meals.

Joy wanted Buck to lie in bed with her that night. Buck was recalcitrant, he didn't want to hurt her by moving inadvertently, but she was adamant. Buck watched her all night and fell asleep only towards morning. He was still afraid that if he closed his eyes, he would wake up without her.

The next day Mr Thompkins came to see her.

"What are you doing to me Joy! I want to have the honor of walking you down the aisle, please, don't play any more jokes", he said.

"Thank you Mr. Thompkins and I'm sorry to have to take off work again. I don't know if you got a big deal hiring me. First Buck's trial and now this."

"Oh, from the moment I saw you hanging out with this guy and his friends I knew you were going to give me a hard time, they have always been a source of trouble for me!" and laughed.

"Seriously, I did the right thing I could do hiring you, I found a new daughter" and took her hand.

Joy was moved and was able to say only: "Thank you".

Joy recovered quickly, thanks to the loving care of Buck and all her friends. After a few days she asked Buck to resume his runs.

"I don't want to leave you alone honey", he protested.

"I am never alone, there is always someone with me. You can't take advantage of the kindness of others yet, they're working double runs to cover for you. In two weeks we will also have to leave for our honeymoon".

"Agree. But you have to promise me that you will listen to the doctor's advice and that you won't do your own thing"

"I promise. Listen, speaking of the honeymoon…"

"Have you got any ideas?"

"Yes really. I want to go and meet your brother"

"Really? It's been a long time since I've seen him"

"And don't you think it would be appropriate to fill this gap and inform him of our marriage?"

"Yeah, maybe you're right"

"We could spend a few days with him and the rest of the time we could go enroll you in medical school and take the opportunity to visit the surroundings. When you have to take the exams we will have to spend the night there"

"Of course your little head is always moving even when you're sick, huh? You've thought of everything."

"Come on Buck, what's the point of going on a journey to who knows where when we have priorities. The important thing is to spend time together to enjoy our marriage, and I intend to make up for the time lost due to this injury, I warn you. We will go out very little from the tepee and from the hotel room. If in the meantime we can also do something useful, what's the harm? Do you like the idea?"

"I would say yes, especially the part where you lock me in the teepee or the hotel room…" and he leaned down to kiss her.

They kissed eagerly and Joy tried to draw him to her.

"Joy, I'd love to, but you're still recovering. You don't want to compromise your recovery, do you? We have to get married in two weeks!"

"Ugh, okay, this time, but only this time, you're right"

"Oh, but what a kind concession" and the two burst out laughing.

A few days later Joy was able to get up and started going downstairs for meals.

The doctor was very happy with her progress, and Rachel also kept Dr. Jefferson up to date with Buck's consent.

One day Joy said to him: "Do you know that you have to make a decision about your father?"

"I don't want to talk about it Joy"

"But we have to. You can't keep it pending. You let him stay and that's fine, but if you remember he offered to help you with your studies and to work here as an assistant to our doctor. You owe him an answer. What do you want to do?"

"What would you do in my place?"

"You gotta decide honey, you gotta follow your heart"

"My heart still bleeds for my mother. After the violence, she never recovered. Jefferson was certainly not her first man, she had already had my brother and was a widow, but the way she was taken by him marked her deeply. Red Bear told me that her beautiful smile has vanished from her face and in fact I remember a veiled smile of sadness when she looked at me. I believe that her death was also caused by this pain "

"You never told me what she died of"

"She just let herself die. She was very loving to me and my brother, but she ate little and as soon as I was old enough to survive on my own, she gave in to death."

"I'm sorry Buck"

"Do you understand why I hate that man?"

"Yes, I understand, but you owe him my life too"

"Already…."

Silence fell and after a while Buck resumed: "Okay, I'll tell him that for me he can also work here, but about medical school, I want to do it on my own"

"And about our wedding?"

"What do you want to say?"

"Don't you think he should participate?"

"But Joy"

"Not in the role of your father, just as a guest, but it would be a way to allow him to be close to you"

"Is it possible that you always manage to find a way to convince me to do as you want?"

"Well, it's the role of the wife…"

"Not in the Kiowa world…."

"Are you sure? Remember what your father said about Red Bear's wife..."

"Actually… Seriously Joy. All right, you convinced me"

"Perfect! Let's go tell him"

"What? You can't go out!"

"Oh come on Buck, we're getting married in a week and I have to get my life back in my hands. If I don't get out of here, I'll enter the Church pale as a corpse. I need to get some sun. We have to go nearby and I remind you that we still go to see a doctor"

"Alright, I have no hope with you!" and kissed her.

Joy dressed and the two went out. Arriving at the hotel, they found Jefferson in the lobby reading the newspaper.

"Buck, Joy, I'm really surprised to see you here. How are you?"

"I'm much better, thank you, I'm almost fully fit again"

"To what do I owe your welcome visit? Come, sit down"

Joy nudged Buck.

"Um, well, we've come to tell you that we have…I've made up my mind. You can stay and work here if you want, but I don't want any help with my studies. I want to do it by myself"

"I really appreciate it Buck and I thank you and I'm proud of you about your studies"

"On Buck, go on", Joy prompted.

"There is one more thing…. Joy would like you to attend our wedding and I want to oblige. Don't expect anything, you won't play the part of the father and I won't introduce you as such, you'll be just one of the many guests"

" Thanks guys, it's more than what I expected. I owe you" and held out his hand to Buck. He hesitated, looked at Joy who nodded her head yes and Buck squeezed his father's hand but with such force that he could crush it. He understood the meaning of that squeeze.

When they walked out, Joy said to him: "Don't you feel better now?"

"Better I don't know, but certainly lighter"

"Well. Let's go for a walk, okay?"

"Won't you get too tired?"

"No do not worry. I promise that when we return we will go to the doctor for a checkup. All right?"

"All right"

They joined hands and strolled just outside the city towards a field of flowers.

Joy weaved wreaths and placed one around her neck and one around Buck's. They sat down with each other and cuddled for a while.

"I can't wait to be your wife Buck, I love you so much"

"I love you too Joy"

"When we met I never thought we'd end up like this. I felt unwanted by you and even when we got together I was afraid I wasn't enough for you"

"How could you think that? I remember the first time we made love. I had to convince you that I really wanted to be with you. If anything, I wasn't enough"

"Fortunately we have stopped making these speeches and we have understood that our destiny is together".

Buck nodded and kissed her.

When they returned, they stopped by the doctor's office as Joy had promised.

"I can confidently say that you have fully recovered Joy. I have to congratulate you. With the wound you received, it could have been worse. You've had an impressive recovery."

"I had a good reason to do it, my wedding!"

"Right. Almost there now"

"Already. And… uh… speaking of this, well… I wanted to ask you a question…"

"I understand what you want to ask Joy. Don't worry, everything is in order, there are no more dangers"

"Oh thank you doctor!" and kissed him on the cheek.

"But please! If this is the reward, I'll give you more good news from now on." They both smiled.

"And can I also go back to work?"

"Well, I would say yes, but without getting tired"

"Promise and thanks again"

They went out and told Buck that Joy was fully recovered. Buck wanted to communicate his decision about medical studies to the doctor.

"I decided to enroll in the medical school of Nebraska"

"But well, congratulations! I'm really happy boy, you have talent and you show it every time you help me. I am at your complete disposal should you need anything. But you already have your father"

"No, he has nothing to do with it. I know he'll be working here, but I don't want him intruding on my studies. I hope I can count on you if I need to."

"Absolutely yes, I would be proud" and they shook hands.

When they got home, they found Rachel waiting for them.

"How are you Joy? You've been out a long time, I was worried"

"I'm fine Rachel, I just went to the doctor for a checkup and he confirmed that I'm completely healed. I can even go back to work"

"Oh what a relief" and hugged her.

"Thank you for all your support and help Rachel, I love you"

"I love you too darling, both of you. Come here" and hugged them both.

"If you want you can go back to the station, I'll be fine from now on"

"Safe?"

"Yes, and then I have Buck here"

"Right…." and winked at her.

Rachel said goodbye and Joy, as soon as the door had closed, said to Buck: "So, Mr. Cross, how about making up for some lost time?" and started fumbling with the buttons of his shirt.

"Joy, I don't know if we should, you…"

"We have the doctor's permission"

"What? You asked him..."

"Well, not directly, I let him know that I was worried about our wedding night and he assured me that there is no longer any contraindication…."

"Are you sure?"

"Stop talking honey, use your mouth for something better" and she pulled off his shirt as she kissed him passionately. Buck wasted no time in picking her up and carrying her into the bedroom. He slowly removed her dress and underwear as she slipped off his boots and pants, which had become tight from his arousal.

"I missed you", she whispered in his ear and kissed his neck as he cupped her breasts in his hands and began to play with her nipples. He laid her on the bed and caressed her belly going down to her intimacy, while he bit now one nipple, now the other. Joy held the sheets tight and moaned until Buck dug his fingers inside her making her feel the extreme pleasure. She screamed his name as he positioned himself between her legs and penetrated her with desire. Their rhythm equalized and they reached pleasure together.

When Buck pulled away from her, Joy saw that he was still hard and straddled him. With one hand she caressed his chest and with the other she massaged his manhood. When she realized that Buck was about to explode, she positioned herself on him and rode him with all the strength she had until they both screamed their names in ecstasy.

They lay next to each other exhausted but happy to be able to enjoy their mutual love again.

They fell asleep shortly after and dreamed of their life and their family: they could hear the voices of many little children running around in an immense garden, outside a house built on the prairie on the edge of the city, much bigger than the current one, to meet the needs of a large family.

They woke up much later with smiles on their faces.