Chapter 7
The days passed peacefully at Rock Creek station. Buck and Jinny managed to find moments to be alone together and for this they had to accept the jokes of the boys. Her parents' letter didn't arrive and Jinny was very worried. She decided to talk to Rachel about it.
"Can I talk to you?" she asked her one day while they were arranging the clean laundry.
"Sure darling, tell me"
"I am very anxious. I wrote in the letter to my parents that I'm with Buck, I explained to them who he is, what he does and that he's half a Kiowa. He would not have wanted me to inform them of this, but I preferred not to omit anything because I am absolutely not ashamed of him. Now it's been a long time since this was sent, but I haven't received a reply. Buck says there may be some delays, but I sense he's worried too. I think he wants my parents' consent to ask me to marry him, but I fear that if this consent does not arrive, he will not want to go against my family and will think of giving up on us."
"You don't even have to think about it, Buck loves you and even a blind man would notice. He loves you, you make him happy, we've never seen him so serene and relaxed"
"I know he loves me, but I also know that he has demons in his soul and that he doesn't feel good enough for a white woman, even though I tell him that his Kiowa soul is an added value in my opinion, it makes him the person I love more than anything in the world. I'm afraid he doesn't want to come between me and my family and that if my parents don't approve, he'll step back."
"You have to trust him and them. Don't jump to conclusions. If you don't receive an answer in a while, try to write again, the letter could also have been lost, the distance is considerable"
"I will do as you say. Thanks Rachel"
"Whenever you want honey"
One afternoon, Teaspoon asked Jinny, who had stopped by to say hello after shopping at Thompkins, to go to the saloon and call Buck because he needed him. Buck didn't like to go there, but sometimes he would accompany Jimmy, Ike or Cody who liked to spend time there playing poker or just people watching.
She walked in and saw Ike and Buck sitting at a table while Jimmy and Cody were just playing poker. She approached them and after greeting Buck with a kiss, she said: "Honey, Teaspoon is looking for you, you should join him in his office"
"Did he tell you what he wants?" he asked.
"Actually no and I didn't ask him"
"Okay, I'll go right away. Will you join me there or go home?"
"I'll be right there" and kissed him again. Ike laughed and Jinny addressed him saying: "Sooner or later you too will fall in love sir and we will see if you still laugh at our kisses"
Buck smiled at this joke and walked out.
Jinny was drawn to a drawing Ike was making and said: "It's handsome, is that Buck?"
Ike nodded and while she was examining her friend's work, a girl entered the saloon who, furious, went to the poker table and yelled at her father to stop playing. Jinny looked up from the drawing and saw Ike mesmerized by that girl. She smiled to herself.
The girl's father replied that he would join her immediately but first he had to unmask a man who was cheating. The situation became difficult but in the end the man, a certain Neville, apparently agreed to return the money to the girl's father. The two went out and after a while Neville came out too. Ike signaled to Jinny: + I follow them, I don't like that man+
"Okay, but be careful" and Ike nodded.
Jinny came out of the saloon and joined Buck and Teaspoon. She informed them of what had happened.
"Let's hope there's no trouble ahead", commented Teaspoon.
Buck told Jinny he was going with Teaspoon to see some horses. The two said goodbyes and Jinny went back to the station where she joined Lou for a chat. After she and Kid had been together, their relationship had been fine for a while, but then Kid had started to be more and more possessive and Lou suffered a lot from it, so much so that the two eventually broke up but then luckily they got back together, but Lou was always worried about Kid's possessive attitude and often talked about it with Rachel and Jinny, drawing comfort from it.
In the evening, before dinner, Buck and Jinny asked Ike how it went with Neville and he said that he had followed father and daughter and had tried to attack them, but he had intervened and Neville had gone.
+Don't say anything to the others, I don't feel like listening to their jokes+, Ike signed. Buck and Jinny nodded but when Ike had entered the bunkhouse Jinny said to Buck: "I think he has a crush on that girl. He was shocked when she entered the saloon"
"I hope it's reciprocated for him", Buck replied.
"We'll see" and they too entered.
The next morning, the girl in question arrived at the station and asked for Ike. Her name was Emily and she wanted to thank him for what he had done the day before. Noah, Cody and Jimmy watched their conversation and teased him a bit. Ike invited Emily to the dance next Saturday.
During lunch, obviously Ike was pelted by Cody and Jimmy who could not stop teasing him.
After lunch, Jinny and Buck went out for a short walk before resuming their respective jobs and Jinny told him: "How nice that Ike is coming with Emily to prom on Saturday"
"Yeah… by the way… do we really have to go?" Buck asked
"Of course, why shouldn't we? Lou will come as Louise and then there will be Ike and Emily!"
"Last time we went to a dance, I ended up in a bed for weeks"
"Oh darling, but by now everyone knows that we are together, you will see that everything will be fine and that we will have fun"
"You know I don't like public outings"
"Are you ashamed of me perhaps?"
"But no, don't be silly, on the contrary, it's a source of pride for me to have you by my side, but I don't like being the center of attention and inevitably we will be"
"Look, by now everyone in the city has gotten used to us and then you didn't like dancing before because you didn't dance with any woman, now that I'm here it will be different"
"I know it's useless to contradict you anyway, right?"
"When I'm right yes and this time I'm right"
"I love you Jinny for your temper"
"I know" and they kissed.
The next day a discussion arose between Buck and Ike: the latter wanted to go to Emily to help her with the arrangement of the house, but according to Buck he shouldn't have done it, he had already invited her to the dance and he should have been satisfied with this.
"Ike, I'm not saying you're a fool, but you don't have much experience with women and…"
At this statement Ike came out angry.
"No, Ike, sorry, I meant that…" and he tried to go after him but it was useless.
"Bravo, you covered the subject well", Cody teased.
Buck turned to him to explain and caught Jinny's eye.
"What's up? I didn't mean to offend him but…"
"Buck Cross, just because you didn't have to lift a finger to get me, that doesn't mean all men have to have your luck, you know, it usually works out that the man comes forward first, so shut your mouth and let him and if I were you, I'd apologize to him tonight" and Jinny walked out of the dorm.
Cody burst out laughing, Buck glared at him and called out: "Cody!"
"Well, Buck, Jinny's right, if it were up to you you wouldn't be together and Jinny wouldn't be working here. You're dead wrong this time."
Buck walked out slamming the door but knowing that Jinny and Cody were right.
Ike spent the afternoon with Emily helping her around the house, and in the evening Buck apologized. Ike understood that Buck was protective of him and the two ended up hugging.
The next morning, Ike went to Emily's again but found part of her property destroyed in a fire. They realized it was Neville but they had no proof. Emily sent Ike away who tried to be close to her, but the girl wanted him to leave.
On prom night, everyone went to the ballroom, while Ike pretended to stay at home. He had actually decided to go get Emily anyway. When she saw him coming, Emily was delighted and went with him to the dance. As they entered, the boys congratulated the couple.
After a while, Ike and Emily walked away and Buck said in Jinny's ear: "What if we leave too? We could take advantage of the empty house…"
"Great idea honey, just let me please Jimmy and Noah asking me for the next two dances and then we'll sneak away"
Buck kissed her tenderly and Jinny was happy about it: it was the first time Buck had officially kissed her in public without first checking that no one was seeing them. Perhaps the quiet of the evening had made him realize that the city had truly accepted their relationship.
Jinny danced with Noah and Jimmy, ready to leave with Buck, when suddenly a shot was heard. They all ran outside and saw that Neville had just shot Emily's father, but a witness had ensured that it was in self-defense: the man had first pulled out the gun that had jammed and Neville had shot in turn, killing him.
Buck rushed to call Ike and Emily and the scene was heartbreaking: the girl did not want to acknowledge her father's death and Ike had to take her away by force. He drove her home and stayed there all night.
The next morning, Emily told Ike that they had no future and he left disappointed.
When Buck found out, he tried to go to Emily to talk to her, but the girl was still too shaken to make a decision.
The man's funeral had been arranged for the afternoon and Emily, after the ritual, said she had a matter to settle.
The boys returned to their activities but at one point Cody returned to the bunkhouse and said that he had seen Emily at the saloon very upset. Ike understood that Emily had gone to get revenge on Neville and stormed out, followed by the others. Jinny was about to go with them but Buck told her to stay at home and she dared not contradict him on that occasion.
When Ike arrived at the saloon, he found Emily about to shoot Neville. He drew his gun and fired to defend himself but the bullet took Ike who had thrown himself in front of Emily to protect her. Ike's chest flooded with blood and Buck yelled to get the doctor right away. Traspoon threw Neville in the cell but knew he would get away with it again because it was self-defense again.
Ike was taken to the doctor's office who was pessimistic about his condition. Buck was seized with a nervous breakdown, and after seeing and talking lovingly with him, as only a brother can do, he took his horse and galloped out onto the prairie to pray for Ike. Jinny and Noah's attempts to hold him back were useless.
Buck built a sacred circle and prayed for him, but when he returned, the doctor said Ike was in very bad shape and he feared he might not survive.
Teaspoon went to the prison and released Neville, ordering him to leave because he feared that one of his boys, especially Buck, would kill him. Neville walked out of the office to find Buck holding a gun.
Neville taunted him and had contemptuous words for Ike, enough to drive Buck over the edge. He pulled the trigger and killed him, in front of Jinny's eyes who had followed her man, worried he was going to do something stupid.
Buck turned to her and saw the terror in her eyes. At that moment he thought he had lost her forever: he would never marry a murderer and above all her parents would never let him.
He looked into her eyes and murmured: "I'm sorry, but I owed it to Ike"
Teaspoon had come out of the office after the shot and seeing Neville on the ground, he looked at Buck, realized what had happened and asked: "Did anyone see anything?"
Nobody spoke.
"Jinny?" he asked her.
She shook her head, she wasn't going to report her man. Teaspoon walked over to Buck and said: "You've crossed the line son, there's no going back."
Buck walked off to the doctor's office. Jinny tried to take his arm but he walked away and said: "It's over Jinny"
She looked at him wide-eyed and asked: "What do you mean."
He looked at her with tearful eyes but didn't answer.
"Buck, wait!" she yelled but Teaspoon caught up with her and said: "Let him go, he's at the mercy of his demons. There will be time"
In the background there was the sound of a stagecoach. Moments later, Jinny heard herself called: "Ginevra!"
She turned and saw her parents. Her heart stopped: not now, not after what had happened.
"Mom, dad, what a surprise! What are you doing here?" she yelled so that Teaspoon would hear what she was saying and not leave.
"After what you wrote to us, we preferred to come and see what you're up to. We couldn't just answer your letter!" said her mother.
"Actually I was worried because I didn't receive your answer"
"Something wrong? I see you upset", her father asked.
"It's actually not a good time. One of the guys on the station, Ike, almost a brother to Buck, my boyfriend, is dying, the victim of a shooting and there has just been a murder outside the saloon. But come on, this is the marshal and station chief of the Pony Express where Buck and I work!" Jinny replied.
Her mother exclaimed: "Good heavens, a shooting, a murder! Where were you! "
"In the wild west mom but it's not that bad after all, I assure you, I've settled in very well. I'll put you up at the hotel for tonight and tomorrow I'll introduce you all and especially Buck. He's now at Ike's bedside."
Jinny was trying to look serene even though she had a heavy heart from what had just happened and she feared that Buck had just broken off their relationship.
She led them over to Teaspoon who had stopped to watch in amazement as Jinny's parents arrived.
"Teaspoon, meet my mother and father. They're coming to the station tomorrow to meet Rachel, the boys and especially Buck", Jinny said trying to signal to Teaspoon.
"Very pleased gentlemen. We are very proud to have Jinny…, oh Ginevra, with us. As she has already explained to you, we are in a very delicate moment, but tomorrow you will come to us for lunch at the station and we will get to know each other better"
They shook hands and then Jinny said to her parents: "Excuse me a moment, I have to tell Teaspoon what to report to Rachel, the other woman who runs the station, since I will be back later tonight". The parents nodded.
"Teaspoon, please tell Buck I'll join him later at Ike's and we need to talk. My parents must not understand that things are not going well, otherwise they will take me back to Italy with them. I absolutely need to talk to him."
"Sure darling, we really didn't want their arrival right now, but you'll see that we'll get out of it".
Jinny thanked him and joined her parents.
"Come, I'll take you to the hotel"
When they were settled, her mother told her: "We shouldn't have brought you here. Just a half Indian you had to go get and then always in the midst of danger! We will take you home!"
"Mom, wait to judge. Buck is a good guy and we are very much in love. He has serious intentions with me and I feel comfortable here. As for the dangers, it's not that things are very different from us, just perhaps here they are a little more accentuated, but if one respects the rules, he manages to stay out of them"
"Then how come one of your friends is dying?"
"Because he sacrificed himself for the love of mom, but it's not the time to explain everything to you. Go to sleep now, tomorrow I'll take you to the station, so you'll see where I work and you'll meet everyone and you'll see that you'll change your mind"
"We hope so" her father added.
She said goodbye and joined Buck at Ike's. She came in and asked him: "How are you?"
"There are no changes", he replied without looking at her.
"We can only pray. Buck, come out for a moment, we need to talk"
"There is nothing more to say Jinny"
"Yes there is, especially now that my parents are here"
"Teaspoon told me"
"Let's go out please, or I'll speak here in front of Ike, but it doesn't seem appropriate given his condition"
Buck was convinced.
"Why do you treat me so?"
"Because after what I did tonight for us there is no future Jinny"
"Don't be silly, I love you and my feelings won't change just because you killed Neville"
"Jinny, I'm a killer"
"It's certainly not the first time you've killed a man"
"But never in cold blood"
"If I was in your shoes I would too. You have done justice where justice cannot reach. I don't condemn you for this, I understand you"
"But I condemn myself and I don't want you to live with a murderer. Your family would never allow that. You are too much for someone like me"
"My family knows nothing and never will. Please don't throw our relationship away like this, just now that my parents can see how much we love each other and accept our relationship."
"I am sorry"
Jinny felt her heart break and her eyes filled with tears.
She took courage and said to him: "If you've ever loved me, at least do me a favor. Pretend you love me until my parents leave. If they know that it's over between us, they'll take me back to Italy and force me to marry a man I don't love. I would die of it after knowing true love. Play my game until then and then I'll disappear. I'll leave and you'll never see me again if that's what you want, but I'm begging you, don't let them bring me back."
It broke Buck's heart to see her like this and to hear her words and he wavered in his decision, but he knew it was better for her that their story ended there. He acknowledged that he owed her at least what she was asking.
"Okay, we'll pretend everything is fine until they leave and we'll make arrangements with the others to keep up with us, but when they're gone you'll be free"
Jinny replied: "Thank you. They will come to the station tomorrow for lunch. They know about Ike but they don't know you shot Neville. I really hope you can change your mind about us. I will always continue to love you and you will always be in my heart." She turned and walked away.
Buck cursed himself for the harm he was doing to her and even more for having hoped to be happy and for having believed it at least for once.