Chapter 6
The next morning they woke up still embracing and Buck said to her: "Good morning beauty, how are you?"
"I should ask you this question…Anyway I'm fine, you don't have to worry. I'm so happy I could burst. I really think I'm falling for you Buck Cross, you had a spell on me that night at the ball. Are you sure there isn't some potion in this bag?"
He smiled and replied: "Well, maybe….I don't want to reveal all my secrets to you!"
"Ah, so you have secrets…."
Buck took her face in his hands and confessed: "I have laid bare not only my body, but also my soul in front of you, I could not hide anything from you. I don't want to scare you, but I'm already madly in love with you"
She smiled at him and kissed him, then said: "I'm glad you're transparent with me and I'm just as transparent and about baring your body…well, I confess I couldn't wait. You are so beautiful and sexy!"
Buck blushed, took her in his arms and told her: "Well, let's use this body then" and they made love passionately.
Jinny rolled onto her side and said: "I'd like to spend all day in bed with you Mr. Cross, but I've got a station to run and a breakfast to cook and you need to get back to the dorm before your friends start speculating."
"I'm amazed that they've actually left us alone so far. They weren't so generous with Kid and Lou..."
"Then it is true that they have a history! I had noticed something, but with everything that happened I didn't dare bring it up with Lou."
"Yes, they have a somewhat tormented history and let's say that we don't make life easy for them from this point of view, we like to tease them a bit, so be prepared that sooner or later it will be our turn too"
"Maybe they're holding back because of what happened"
"I believe it too. I fear that after the trial they will recover…"
Jinny laughed and said to him: "Well, patience, we have nothing to hide… By the way, do you think I can tell my parents about us now?"
"Can you wait after the trial?"
"Why?"
"Because I will be more serene and ready to face their criticisms"
"Here we go again, you already think they won't be happy"
"Well, I guess they really don't expect a half-Indian fiancé for their daughter..."
"Fiancé?"
"I mean… boyfriend".
Buck blushed. Even though they'd only known each other for a few weeks, it had gotten to the point where Buck knew he wanted Jinny to be his woman for life. He wanted to propose to her but after knowing her family's opinion and wanted to be focused only on that, that's why he asked her to wait after the trial.
Jinny, overjoyed at Buck's slip of the tongue, replied: "I hope things get to that point between us."
They looked into each other's eyes but said nothing.
"Well honey, it's time to get up. Time to get dressed and I'll go prepare breakfast. I'll give you half an hour to go to the dormitory"
"Are you kicking me out?"
"I'd hold you here prisoner in my arms if I could, but you know you gotta get back to the boys"
Buck kissed her again and they stood up.
Jinny was ready in a moment, went down to collect the clothes left in the living room the night before, rearranged them, left Buck's on the sofa and went out to prepare breakfast.
"Good morning Jinny, did you sleep well last night?" Cody asked her mischievously.
Everyone was convinced that something had happened between Buck and Jinny last night and the light in the girl's eyes confirmed it.
Jinny ignored the double meaning of the question and replied: "Always with an ear to Buck's needs, Cody, like last night"
"Did you hear how he snores?"
"Well yes, I noticed"
"So you were in the same room…"
"Do you remember nursing him in the chair the first few nights? How could I not hear it? Do you have to ask me something Cody? If so, do it, otherwise let me make breakfast if you want to eat"
"It fits you right", Noah joked, turning to his friend.
No one commented on Cody's questions, also because immediately after Noah's joke Buck entered the room with his things.
"Welcome back Buck", Lou told him and Ike went over to hug him.
"We were just talking about how much you snore, so we really didn't miss you…", Cody pointed out.
"Thanks Cody, I'll remember!" Buck joked.
They were all happy that he was back among them.
The day before the trial, Rachel came home and everyone went to greet her.
"Welcome back Rachel", Jinny told her.
"Hi honey, how are things? Did you survive?"
"Absolutely yes, it was nice. Come on, there's a good lunch waiting for you, even if it won't match your stew", Jinny said.
Rachel then hugged Buck and asked him how he was.
"I have fully recovered, thank you. I'm tense for tomorrow"
"You will see that everything will be fine. For the rest?" and looked at Jinny
"I'm happy with her, while it lasts"
"It will last a long time, you'll see" and she winked at him.
They went to the station and over lunch Rachel told of her journey and her little cousin, a handsome, strong, healthy boy.
"Tell me about you, how was it here?" Rachel asked.
"Very well I would say", replied Teaspoon, "Jinny was faultless, she looked after us all very well and got Buck back on his feet"
"No, it wasn't because of me, Buck had a strong will", Jinny scoffed.
"Yes, but your closeness was crucial", Buck said taking her hand.
They smiled at each other and then Jinny said: "I'm going to miss all of this. In the afternoon I will gather my things and move to the hotel"
'Why the heck would you do that?' asked Teaspoon.
"Well, because Rachel is back and my help here is no longer needed", replied Jinny surprised by the marshal's question.
"You haven't told her yet?", Rachel asked.
"Said what?", Jinny asked who wasn't understanding anything anymore. She looked at Buck but he shook his head to let her know he knew nothing about it.
"That you will stay with us! We talked about it and we all agree. Rachel really needs help, the work gets more and more every day and a hand is always needed. Besides, Buck would surely be happy about that, wouldn't he, son?" Teaspoon explained.
"I don't know what to say, I really didn't expect it", Jinny said emotionally.
Buck shook her hand and said: "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because we knew you would agree and we wanted to surprise you. Besides, you were too busy flirting with your girlfriend", Jimmy said.
"Oh oh Jinny, I think the truce is over," Buck said with a laugh.
"How nice to see all this fellowship, like a real family", Jinny observed.
"Family that you are now part of and you don't know how grateful we are. Buck's less gloomy since you've been around. Now we just have to wait for those bastards to be convicted tomorrow and then our life will resume as normal and…brother….you will have to make up quite a few shifts…" Noah observed.
"Yeah, if they'll pay", Buck pointed out.
"it will be so", Teaspoon assured him.
The next day, the trial of Buck's assailants opened in the morning. The judge read the confession of John Davies who was interrogated and confirmed his version, while the other young men tried to deny it, but their explanations were not very convincing.
The jury withdrew and the next day they met to read the verdict: "The jury recognizes the defendants guilty of the crime charged against them. The penalty will be 15 days in prison for all, given that the defendants have already spent a longer period of prison than the norm pending trial, with the exception of John Davies who cooperated and who will therefore be released today, and the payment of fined Mr. Cross $50 each. The session is adjourned"
"What? 15 more days in jail and we have to pay that bloody Indian too?", Pearson yelled, supported by his friends.
"Order! Order! Gentlemen, shut up if you don't want the trial to be reopened and the sentence increased!" the judge shouted.
The families tried to calm their sons and apologized to Buck who answered no one. John Davies approached him shyly and said: "Buck, I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
Buck looked at him icily and said: "You're just a coward" and turned away. He was contemplating his personal revenge.
Returning to the station, Ike marked: + At least you earned some money +
"I won't keep it for myself Ike, it's blood money and hate. I will make them available to the station for your needs", Buck replied.
"You're not even going to get Jinny a nice present?" Cody asked teasingly.
"No Cody, not with that money", Buck shushed him.
Jinny took his arm and squeezed it, making him understand that she supported his every decision.
When the agreed 15 days had passed, the young men were released from prison and Buck was paid. As promised, he put the money in the station's common purse and didn't keep a cent for himself. But he wanted to give something to Jinny. All that history had prevented him from courting her properly and he decided to give her a medicine bag like his, on which he had their initials engraved and put part of the herbs contained in his staff.
When he gave it to her, he said: "The one who protects me will protect you too, we are one now"
Jinny was moved and told him: "I will never take it off, it will be part of me"
"Even when we make love?" Buck asked teasing her remembering that their first time she had told him to hold it.
"Especially when we make love" and kissed him passionately.
Over the next few days, Buck worked out his revenge. He spared Davies who had shown some common sense, but joined all the others: they were thrown off their horses one by one during the night and covered in pork fat, then placed in a pit dug in the earth, leaving only their heads and colonies of spiders and ravenous ants were poured near them. They were found the next morning in terrible condition but alive. It took a long time for them to heal but they managed. Everyone knew who had done it, but in the absence of concrete evidence, no one was accused and above all no one felt like condemning the author of the act, not even Teaspoon who said to him: "Now I hope you will be satisfied"
Buck replied: "Now I can devote myself to my happiness."
Teaspoon only nodded.
Jinny meanwhile had received a letter back from her parents who bombarded her with questions about her new job and the people she was dealing with.
She answered all the questions and in Buck's company, chose the words to inform them that she was deeply in love.
The letter left next day in the hands of Buck who had resumed his regular runs. Jinny secretly hoped that her parents didn't mind. Buck would have preferred not to tell them right away that he was half Kiowa, but Jinny was adamant: she wasn't ashamed of him and she never would, so they wrote the whole truth waiting for her parents to give her their blessing. Buck decided that if Jinny's parents had no objection, he would propose to her and they would get married as soon as possible.
Jinny and Rachel collaborated harmoniously in the management of the station and the girl had settled in well with the others. The relationship with Rachel and Lou grew more and more and they had established a beautiful friendship, so much so that Lou often confided in her about the Kid.
"You know Jinny, I've decided to make love with Kid", she told her one afternoon as they sipped a cup of tea on the veranda.
"I'm happy for you. Giving yourself to the man you love is the most beautiful thing in the world", Jinny replied.
"Are you speaking from personal experience or hearsay?"
"Are you asking if I've been with Buck before?"
"Well, yes, if you want to answer me…"
"Of course I like it, we're friends, aren't we?"
Lou nodded happily at this statement.
"And by the way, I thought you guys took it for granted", Jinny pointed out.
"Well, we suspect it, but Buck never told us anything about it", Lou said.
"I would have been surprised otherwise! He's so secretive even with me about certain things. I struggled a lot to be told about his life before the Pony Express. He had said a few things to me when we went to the picnic the day after our first dance, but it took a long time to open up. Now I finally know everything about him and he knows everything about me. Anyway, to answer your question, yes, Buck and I have been together before and we make love whenever we can."
"And how was it?"
"Marvelous. He knew it was my first time because I told him I'd never had a boyfriend and he was so sweet. He gently guided me to discover pleasure and took me to Heaven. Then he immediately asked me if I was okay, worried I might have done something wrong. He asks me all the time. I feel loved and protected. You know, I've never asked him if he's ever done that before. I know he was in love with other women, but I don't know how far he got or if he had any women at the saloon."
"On this I can reassure you: every time Cody and Jimmy have tried to convince him to take a woman from the saloon upstairs, Buck has always refused. He says he doesn't have sex with women, he makes love and there can be no love with a woman you don't know. I let you imagine Jimmy and Cody teasing"
"I imagine! I love that boy Lou, he can be sweet to me and ruthless to his enemies. I love his double nature, his traditions that he doesn't abandon, his way of teaching me to communicate with Ike, his…"
"I get it, I get it" and they both laughed.
"So, when are you going to tell the Kid?"
"I won't tell him. I'll just do it. Two couriers are due to leave tomorrow on a special mission to Fort Laramie and I've asked Rachel and Teaspoon to send me and Kid. We'll spend the night out and..."
"You will see that Lou will be beautiful and if you want to share your experience with me, I will be here"
"Thanks Jinny, how nice to have another friend to confide in" and they embraced.
Jinny thought back to what she had said to Lou: she didn't know if she had been the first woman Buck had made love to. She was debating whether to ask him or not when he joined her on the porch. He had finished his work, had freshened up and seeing that Lou had gone, he had decided to join her.
He kissed her goodbye, sat next to her on the swing and said: "What were you and Lou talking about if I may ask? I saw you hugging each other. Everything is fine?"
"Yes, we are happy to have become friends. Lou confided in me that she wants to, well, make love to Kid during their trip to Fort Laramie."
"Oh, I thought they already did", Buck replied.
"No, Lou didn't feel ready"
Buck nodded. He saw that Jinny was thoughtful and asked her: "Are you all right, honey?"
Jinny decided to broach the subject: "Yeah, it's just that, talking to Lou, something came to my mind"
"What?" he asked curiously.
"Well, well, it's a little embarrassing"
"You know you can tell me everything"
"Here, I was wondering….well…"
"Jinny, you're talking to me, there's nothing you can't tell me or ask me", he said softly, cupping her face in his hands.
Jinny loved his sweetness and her love for him grew more every day. Buck was right, she shouldn't be ashamed to ask.
"Here... I was your first woman?"
Buck looked at her in surprise and replied: "Well, I told you I fell in love a few times before I met you. Actually, now that I'm with you, I think those were just infatuations because I've never felt anything like it. I love you with every fiber of my body and soul"
Jinny rejoiced hearing these words and after kissing him, she answered him. "I feel the same way about you, you stole my heart and I love you like I never thought I could, but that's not what I meant…"
Buck cocked his head a little, raised his eyebrow in confusion, but then he understood. He smiled and asked her: "Do you want to know if you were the first one I made love with?"
She lowered her eyes and nodded. Buck smiled again, made her look up and replied: "Yes honey, you were the first, the only and the last. I thought you understood that"
"Actually no, you didn't tell me and I never dared to ask you"
"I didn't tell you because it seemed obvious to me, I wasn't that expert if you remember…"
"Are you kidding? You were amazing and so sweet, I couldn't have wished for anything better"
Buck kissed her and they both felt the desire building in them.
"Do you think anyone would notice if we disappeared for a while?" he asked her.
"Even if it were, I wouldn't care….", she replied.
They got up, looked around, and seeing that no one was around, they went into the house and went up to Jinny's room, the one in which Buck had been convalescing.
Buck took off her dress and let her undress him. He laid her on the bed and started caressing and kissing her. He sucked her nipples and then descended along her body to her intimacy and slipped his tongue into it, making her moan with pleasure. When he realized she was ready, he positioned himself between her legs and penetrated her gently. When she had adapted to him, they began to dance passionately, as if they wanted to penetrate each other's bowels. They joined in pleasure and shouted their names so loud that they feared they would be heard by their friends outside the house.
When Buck came out of her he was still hard. Jinny admired his virility and straddled him. She began to kiss his member and lick it until she realized it was about to explode. Then she positioned herself on top of him and mounted him making him explode with pleasure.
She collapsed on his sweaty, work-sculpted chest and whispered to him: "I love you to death Buck Cross, swear to me that we will be together forever"
"I swear baby, I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, but we have to wait for your parents' response"
"Yeah... and it's taking a long time to arrive..."
"Have patience, it comes from far away, it's normal that there is some delay", but Buck was also starting to be a little worried about the fact that the answer didn't arrive.
"Are you okay with everything else?" he asked
"Oh Buck, I love that about you, but you don't have to ask me all the time. Does it seem to you that I might not be comfortable in your arms or that I have to complain about something? I'm with the sweetest, kindest man in the world, how could I not be fine?" and kissed him.
He smiled happy and serene as he had never been. Finally he felt loved and satisfied.
They dressed and went downstairs still hot. They went to the dormitory where Jinny was to start preparing dinner and found almost all the boys there, except Kid and Lou who had left on their mission. Jimmy looked at them, guessed their recent occupation and said: "Hot huh today?"
Buck just nodded and Jinny, without answering, devoted herself to dinner while waiting for Rachel to come back from the city to help her.
In the evening, in bed, Jinny thought back to the afternoon with Buck and to what they had said. She understood that Buck wanted to wait for his family's consent to ask her to marry him, but she was aware that, despite what he had told her about the possible delays of the mail from Italy, a long time had now passed since the letter had been sent. She very much hoped that her parents weren't against her relationship with Buck. In that case, she would be ready to fight tooth and nail for him. She had found true love, the one she had always dreamed of and desired, and she had no intention of giving it up because of unnecessary prejudices about Buck, especially from her family. Immersed in these thoughts, she fell asleep deeply and dreamed of building a large family with the man she loved.