Chapter 4

Buck and Jinny were silent for a while. Buck closed his eyes and Jinny held his hand.

After some time, Rachel came in and asked: "Are you resting? I brought some hot broth. He ate nothing"

"He's been asleep for a while. If he wakes up, I'll give it to him. Rachel?"

"Yes?"

"Can I stay here tonight? I don't want to leave him alone and I know I wouldn't sleep in the hotel"

"Of course honey, consider it your home. But try to rest too. Teaspoon and the boys have made arrangements for tomorrow. In the morning they will go to Thompkins and ask him to cooperate. We'll catch them, you'll see"

"I hope so. Thank you very much"

Rachel went downstairs to dismiss everyone, explaining that Jinny was staying with Buck all night.

After a while Buck opened his eyes.

"How are you feeling?"

"Aching but alive"

"Rachel brought you some broth. Make an effort to drink a few spoonfuls. It's still warm"

"I do not want to"

"Honey, you have to feed yourself if you want to regain your strength. I'll help you"

"All right"

Jinny held the spoon to his mouth, Buck took a sip but coughed in pain.

"Easy Buck, this reaction is normal, they hit you on the chest"

Buck listened to her and could hardly swallow some broth.

"I'm fine Jinny, go rest"

"I already told Rachel I'm staying all night. Now I'll help you lie down and then I'll get into that chair. If you need me, I'll be here"

"You don't need to stay, go to sleep, you can come back in the morning"

"It's not necessary but I want to do it. I want to stay here with you, I'm calmer"

"Okay boss" and they smiled.

Jinny carefully helped him to lie down and soon Buck fell asleep. She kissed him on the forehead and settled into the chair. They slept peacefully all night.

The next morning she was awakened by Rachel entering the room. Jinny opened her eyes and immediately looked at Buck. He was still sleeping and calmed down.

"I didn't want to wake you up", Rachel told her.

"No, it's fine, don't worry. He was quiet all night and last night he already managed to send a few spoonfuls even if with difficulty"

"Well, that's a good sign. I'm preparing breakfast. In the meantime, if you want to freshen up, I'll accompany you"

"Thanks but I don't want to leave him alone"

"It'll take a moment, Lou is coming up. Just time to refresh your face. I'll also give you a spare dress and you can change here if you're more relaxed."

"Thank you Rachel, you are a sweetheart. The boys are lucky to have you"

Rachel touched her shoulder to let her feel her support.

Lou arrived soon after: "How is he?"

"He had a quiet night"

"Well. Go freshen up, I'm here with him"

"Thanks, I'll be right back"

Rachel showed her where she could wash her face and gave her a dress of her own.

She then went downstairs to bring the boys breakfast and said to them: "I've already told Lou about it. You know that in a couple of days I will have to leave to join my cousin who is about to give birth and her husband is far away. With Buck like this, I thought I'd ask Jinny to move into my house and look after you for me. Buck told us she's looking for a house and a job, she could start here. Lou agrees. I think Buck would benefit from that."

"I think that's a great idea", Noah said and everyone agreed.

"Fine, I'll let them know when I bring them breakfast."

Meanwhile Jinny had freshened up and returned to Buck's room.

"Go ahead Lou, I'm with him"

"Okay, call if you need anything. Rachel will bring you breakfast soon. I'm going to call the doctor to check Buck"

"Thank you"

Jinny undressed and started putting on Rachel's dress. When she was done, she turned to Buck and saw that he was awake and looking at her.

"How long have you been awake? How are you?" she asked blushing.

"I am fine thank you. I've been awake long enough to admire how beautiful you are."

"Buck! You should have told me you woke up! It's not good to spy on a girl changing clothes!"

"But you're not just any girl, you're my girlfriend and sooner or later I'll see you even more undressed than that..."

Jinny blushed at Buck's hint.

He regretted the words spoken and said to her: "Sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you. Anyway, I didn't see anything, you were already practically dressed"

"Do not apologise. It means that you care about our relationship and that you think we can get to that step…", she replied shyly.

They smiled.

"So, how are you feeling? The doctor will be arriving shortly to examine you and change your bandages and Rachel will bring you breakfast."

"I have a lot of pain, but I think it's normal. Do you know if there is any news about those responsible?"

"Not yet, the boys and Teaspoon are going into town this morning. You will see, they will find them".

She approached him, helped him sit down and they kissed.

"In this whole story, the beautiful thing is to see you here when I wake up in the morning and fall asleep looking at your face"

"I will stay here as long as necessary"

"And even more", Rachel added as she entered the room at that moment with the breakfast tray.

"What do you mean?" Buck asked.

Rachel set the tray down, sat down next to them, and said: "We just talked about this. Buck, you know I have to leave to join my cousin in a couple of days and I'm staying with her for a while. We've decided to ask Jinny to move in here and look after you and the boys if you want Jinny. Buck told us that you're looking for a home and a job, it might be a solution for now. What do you say?"

Jinny and Buck looked into each other's eyes and Jinny, still surprised, replied: "Are you sure? You don't know me at all"

"Buck trusts you and that's enough for us. We will have plenty of time to get to know each other better. You can stay in my room in my absence. We will inform the company and you will receive a small salary. It's not much but you would have room and board"

"Oh but I don't want to be paid to look after Buck and the boys, that would be my pleasure", Jinny objected.

"You say that because you don't know them yet! Plus you need an income, so what's wrong with the company paying you?" Rachel added.

"It doesn't feel right"

"Honey, accept. You could put something aside and then we'll see. You wouldn't be paid by us, but by the Russell, Major and Wadell company, what's wrong with that?" Buck added.

Rachel looked at Buck in surprise and asked: "Honey? Did I miss something?"

"Well, well… Jinny and I are together. I decided to give it a try…", Buck answered embarrassed.

"But it's great! I'm so happy for you! But please! In my absence, be good, I wouldn't want to go back and have to look after another mother…."

"Rachel!" they both exclaimed.

"Rachel, Rachel! We know how these things go, we're all old enough not to be so embarrassed to talk about it", said the amused woman.

"Well, in these conditions, I could do little even if I wanted to…", Buck pointed out.

Jinny's face was red with shame and embarrassment and she didn't dare to speak. Rachel teased her a bit: "If you're going to live with boys you'll have to get used to these conversations in front of everyone, they certainly don't have problems with them, the only shy one is your boyfriend... Well, I'll let you have breakfast. The doctor will arrive shortly. The boys and Teaspoon are off to the city to find the bastards who did you like this. Jinny, then we are in agreement. Whenever you want, you can pick up your things at the hotel and transfer here. See you later guys" and left the room.

"Well, welcome then!" exclaimed Buck.

"Oh Lord, it doesn't seem real to me. I will have to write to my parents about this news"

"Maybe wait to write about us…"

"Why?"

"Because you've only been here for a few days and you're already with a guy. They wouldn't take it well. At least wait to write it in the next letter"

"Hmm…"

"Nothing but Jinny, listen to me on this one. They would be calmer. They'll already have to digest that I'm not a white man..."

"Let's not talk about this now, I'll do as you like if it makes you feel more relaxed"

"Thank you".

A little later the doctor arrived. He visited Buck, changed his bandages and left some medicine for pain.

"Injuries are fine, it will take some time but you will recover fully. Just try not to get tired. Take pain medicine only when absolutely necessary, you may become addicted to it, it is very strong. You have the necessary for dressings. I'll be back to see you in a week, but if there's any problem, you know where to find me. I'm so sorry about what happened Buck, you were still lucky nothing was broken. See you soon and good recovery. You are in good hands I see"

"Thank you doctor", Buck replied and they said goodbye. Rachel walked him to the door.

"Well, now you can go to the hotel and get your things and you can get some rest", Buck said.

"I don't want to leave you alone"

"You heard the doctor, I'll be fine. It won't take long, I'm in good hands, don't worry"

"Okay, I'll be back as soon as possible"

Jinny got out and informed Rachel: "Buck wants me to go and get my things at the hotel now"

"He's right, it's useless to linger. Don't worry, I'll go up now. Take your time and then you need to rest a bit"

"I'll rest at Buck's, really, that's okay. You must also instruct me where things are and what I shall do in your absence. Thanks Rachel"

"I am happy that you come here. I know you'll make Buck happy, you're a nice person. Now you go".

Jinny said goodbye and went to the hotel.

Meanwhile, Teaspoon and the boys had reached Thompkins' shop.

"Good morning Teaspoon, guys. I wanted to tell you that I am very sorry about what happened to Buck. We've never gotten along very well, but that boy doesn't deserve it, he's an honest person."

"Coming from you, it bodes well for Thompkins", commented Teaspoon.

"Speaking of which, we would like to ask you a favour" and Teaspoon explained their plan.

"Are you sure it will work?" asked the man.

"I don't know, but it's the only way we have to identify those offenders", Jimmy said.

"Agree. I'll let you know if I'm successful"

"Thank you Thompkins", said Teaspoon extending his hand.

The man squeezed his and nodded his head.

Thompkins was a gruff man by his conservative beliefs and when he first met Buck he kicked him out of his shop, but over time he got to know and respect him, especially when he helped him clean up his shop after an arson and when he reported back from a Lakota encampment his wife and daughter who had been kidnapped 7 years earlier and whom he believed dead. The wife had died tragically, the daughter had never forgiven her father for not having welcomed them back immediately and had gone away. However, Thompkins had been grateful to Buck for trying to get his family back together, too bad he hadn't listened to him right away.

He got into action that same afternoon, when he saw a group of young men enter who needed to stock up on ammunition. It seemed suspicious to him that just shortly after Buck's attack a group of young men came to buy just that, especially on the basis of what Tespoon and the boys had told him.

He casually turned the conversation to the assault.

"Have you heard what happened to that half-blood courier? Finally someone dared to teach him a good lesson"

"Strange that you talk like that, you often serve it in your shop", one of them commented.

"And what am I supposed to do? He works for the Pony Express. I serve the company, not him directly, and if you recall, I have also kicked him out of my shop more than once."

"Yeah…people like that need to stay away from us", observed another.

"And from our women…", sneered a third.

The others chuckled in satisfaction. Thompkins realized that those kids had something to do with Buck's assault. He joined in the laughter and changed the subject. He recorded the names of the young men in his mind and noticed that one of them didn't seem so calm after hearing the statements of the friends. If Teaspoon leveraged him, he was convinced that he could gain some valuable information.

When the shop closed, Thompkins went to the Pony Express station. Lou saw him coming and went towards him: "What's new?" and he nodded.

"Yes, but I would like to talk about it in front of Buck, how is he?"

"You can imagine, he'll recover anyway", Lou replied.

He rounded up all the boys and Rachel and they went up to Buck's.

Jinny was back and after packing up her things and walking around with Rachel to see what she would be doing in her absence, she was back at Buck's and was reading him a book.

They heard a knock and answered: "Come in"

Thompkins came in and took off his hat and astonished to see her, said: "I didn't know you were here too. Hi Buck. How is it going?"

Buck stiffened and replied: "You see for yourself. Jinny's here because she's my girlfriend. Any problems with that?"

Teaspoon, Lou and the boys looked at each other. They didn't even know that Buck and Jinny were together now. They smiled pleased.

"Oh no, I didn't know, sorry. Well, I wanted to tell you that I'm so sorry, even though I haven't been very nice to you in the past, you don't deserve this", Thompkins replied.

Buck, always on the defensive and very stiffly, replied: "Thank you"

"So Thompkins, do you have something to tell us?", prompted Teaspoon.

"You were right. Today a group of young people came to the shop to ask for ammunition. It seemed strange to me and I conducted the speech on the attack of Buck pretending to agree with the assailants. From how they reacted and what they said, I could swear it was them. I would leverage one in particular, John Davis. He seemed very fearful and uncomfortable. If pressed well, it could spill the beans. I hope I was helpful"

"You don't know how much", replied Teaspoon.

"So it's just like we thought, it was my fault", Jinny said mortified.

"It's not your fault, it's those bastards. I swear they'll pay for it", growled Buck.

"Buck, don't even think about it", Teaspoon said, "let justice take its course."

"Justice? There will never be justice for those fellows", Buck hissed.

"I swear boy they'll get what they deserve, but you stay out"

"But Teaspoon…"

"I told you to stay out of it. Think about healing. Thanks Thompson. If you know anything else, please bring it back to us", said Teaspoon.

"Agree. Now I'm off the hook. I hope you get better Buck soon."

"Thank you", he replied.

When Thompkins had gone, Teaspoon turned to Jimmy: "Hichock, let's go get that Davis guy and make him sing."

Jimmy nodded.

Buck was silent when the others had gone. Jinny didn't disturb him for a while, then she said: "You're not thinking of taking revenge on your own are you?"

"It's none of your business"

"Of course it concerns me. Please don't be silly"

"Should I accept what they did to me without batting an eye?"

"Teaspoon guaranteed you they will be punished"

"What do you think they will do? A few days in prison if it goes well or maybe they will only have to pay a negligible fine. Don't forget they attacked a half-blood, not one of their own."

"Teaspoon won't allow it"

"Teaspoon can't do anything against the law"

"Buck, please do it for me"

"It is for you that I will avenge myself. I'm half Kiowa and that part begs for revenge."

Jinny realized that she couldn't change his mind and gave up: "At least promise me that whatever you do, you'll be careful. I just found you, I don't want to lose you for a matter of pride"

Buck nodded. Jinny had understood and accepted it. Maybe she really was the right woman for him. She would not try to change his nature but would always try to understand and respect his Indian side. Maybe it was really his time to be happy despite shady individuals like those sons of daddy.