Chapter 14

Rock Creek, Nebraska

July 1866

"So what exactly is going on with you two?" Hickok asked suspiciously as Buck leaned against the doorway.

"I told you, she's an old friend and we are just spending time together."

"You haven't seen the sun set in two weeks without that woman." Jimmy looked at him seriously. "I just want to make sure you know what you are doing."

"I'm a big boy."

"Uh huh."

"Morning Deputy." Kaylie smiled at Hickok as she took Buck's hand in hers before standing on her toes giving him a chaste kiss on the cheek.

Buck lifted Kaylie onto a horse and handed her the reins, then mounted his own steed as he led her out of town. He knew his friend's heart was in the right place. They had spent almost every moment together, talking about their shared past, their memories of growing up at the mission.

While Buck shared vivid details of his childhood, Kaylie's recollections were scant, and what she did remember often troubled her deeply. Together, they agreed that if she couldn't recall certain aspects of her past, it was perhaps better to leave them buried. With each passing day, their bond grew stronger.

In the week prior, Buck had shared with Kaylie the news of Ike's passing. Throughout their conversations since, he had recounted fond memories from their time at the mission school, hoping to stir Kaylie's dormant memories. He understood the special bond she shared with Ike, and confiding in her about his loss provided a small measure of solace amidst his grief. Sharing their memories together not only honored Ike's memory but also strengthened the connection between Buck and Kaylie.

Buck tied the horses near the stream and laid a blanket under a sprawling tree, gesturing for Kaylie to sit. As she unpacked the basket, he tended to the horses with practiced care, then paused to pluck a few wildflowers from the nearby meadow. Making his way back to where he found her, he approached quietly, handing her the delicate blooms before sitting down across from her.

"Thank you." She grasped them and smelled their sweet scent.

Buck reclined on his side, propped up by one arm, as he watched Kaylie with a soft smile playing on his lips. Her laughter filled the air as she popped a fresh strawberry into her mouth, her warm brown eyes twinkling with joy. As they ate, he told her about his experiences after the war and his eventual settlement in Rock Creek.

Buck recounted tales of his time scouting for the army, vividly describing the rugged landscapes and daring adventures he had experienced. With each word, he hoped to offer Kaylie a glimpse into the life he had lived, sharing the excitement and challenges he had faced along the way.

"Buck?" Kaylie ran her fingers through his long hair as he rested his head on her legs as he lay on his back relaxing.

"Mhmm."

"What's this?" She touched his earring delicately.

"It's just an earring." Buck tested her.

"No, no this is familiar." She scrunched her eyebrows up and tried to picture it in her mind.

"Is it?" Buck asked.

"It looks like bones of an animal."

Buck's fingers gently twirled a strand of Kaylie's hair as she probed gently.

"You're not telling me?" she asked, sensing his reluctance.

"You'll remember in time," Buck replied softly, evading her question with a faint smile.

"Buck how am I suppose to remember if you don't help me."

"You'll remember." He said confidently. 'If I just tell you, it's my memory not yours."

Buck felt a surge of desire wash over him. He longed to take her into his arms and lose himself in the sweetness of her lips, but he hesitated. Despite the undeniable connection between them, he couldn't shake the fear of misinterpreting her signals. He wanted to be certain that her memories were her own, her feelings were current and born from her own desires. Not simply a reflection of his own longing. Resolved to tread carefully, he restrained his impulses.

"Why did you never marry?"

Buck chuckled softly at Kaylie's innocent yet probing question, recognizing the familiar curiosity in her eyes. Despite her memory loss, she still possessed the same inquisitive spirit he had always admired.

"I just never found the right woman," he explained simply.

"I overheard Mr. Hickok say something about other women," she remarked, her expression turning sour. "He hasn't been very nice to me, and I can't help but think that he thinks poorly of me for some reason."

Buck shook his head reassuringly. "Oh, Kaylie, you are nothing like them, I promise you," he said earnestly.

"Where there many?" Kaylie's eyes searched his. "Other women?"

"Hardly." He couldn't help but laugh at her wide-eyed innocence. "Hickok was just there for some rough times, that's all."

"I'm sorry."

Kaylie's apology was met with a gentle smile from Buck, who reached out to gently brush a strand of hair from her face. "No need to apologize, Kaylie. You have nothing to be sorry for."

As Kaylie's lips parted slightly and she leaned forward, Buck felt his heart race with anticipation. With a tender touch, he tangled his fingers in her long curls, cradling her neck gently and pulling her closer to him. Closing the distance between them, their breath mingled as just out of reach he paused and took a steady breath.

"Kaylie, I don't want to rush,"

Before he could finish his sentence, Kaylie moved forward with such suddenness that it nearly took his breath away. Her hungry lips found his eagerly, and in that moment, all doubts vanished. Buck's tongue gently teased her lips apart, igniting a frenzy of passion between them. Lost in the intensity of their embrace, they surrendered to the fire that burned within.