Ike woke early, so early in fact it was still dark out and found his fingers still entwined with Joes. He smiled and brought their hands down to his chest and held them for a moment. He felt his body, which was responding to Joes being so close to him begin to respond more pressingly at her touch. Then as she slept, her fingers began to dance lightly over his skin, teasing the thin hairs that remained. Ike shut his eyes and breathed slowly until he realized he couldn't stand a moment longer. He quietly sat up and placed Joes hand under her blankets and then pulled them up around her. He kissed her lightly and felt her breathe his name on his lips. At that moment, he truly thought he was done. He shut his eyes tight and counted until he was able to stand and then quickly and quietly made his way out of the bunkhouse wearing only his long-johns and boots and headed to the sanctuary of the trees out behind the outhouse. Where he knew he would be alone with his thoughts and imaginings of last night and possible nights to come.

--_--_--

Joes woke before dawn the next morning and snuck out of the bunkhouse. She made her way silently down to the corral and looked around and then to the barn. She wasn't sure where exactly she should go.

"Good morning." The soft voice said behind her, and Joes jumped away and turned.

"Morning," She said hesitantly, slightly startled.

"I won't hurt you." Buck said not moving, "I'm always awake at this time. I come out early to pray."

"I was trying to find a place myself," Joes admitted.

"Come with me," Buck offered.

Joes shook her head, "I don't want to intrude."

Buck smiled and offered his hand out palm up, "You won't be." Then without another word Buck turned and walked into the barn and chose two horses and began to ready them. He wasn't surprised when a moment later he felt Joes' presence sidle past him to the second horse.

"She's beautiful," Joes breathed her hands gently stroking the horse.

Buck watched, impressed as the normally indifferent Aspen turned and began to nuzzle Joes' cheek and hair. "She likes you. She doesn't do that for just anyone."

"Kindred spirits," Joes said softly as she cinched on the saddle. "Women have a natural way of understanding each other."

Buck nodded and the two led their horses into the yard and Buck showed the way east to the quiet place he liked to pray in the mornings. He guided them for a few miles and eventually up a fairly steep rise. Buck was impressed at how well Joes kept up with him. "We'll leave the horses here," he said, taking Joes' reins and tying them to a nearby tree. They went the rest of the way on foot walking through a copse of trees. As they emerged on the other side of the trees, Buck smiled as he heard Joes gasp.

"I wouldn't have thought this was here," she said, standing on a cliff. She looked out over the just rising sun, where a valley spread before them so that they felt like they were floating above the world.

"This is why I come here to pray. Why I wanted to share this with you. I thought you would appreciate it the way I do."

Silently, Buck walked off to the left and sat down and began his morning prayers, quietly singing and chanting to himself. Joes watched for a moment and then feeling safe she stepped away and sat down off to the right, near the edge so she truly felt as if she were about to take flight and began her morning prayers.

Buck finished and turned his head to watch, interested as Joes sang softly to herself. She was keeping the beat of her song by tapping her hand over her heart. He smiled as he watched her realizing how different and yet similar their traditions were. As her song ended, Joes slowly opened her eyes and then stood and said something softly as she turned in a circle. As she faced again to the front as Buck heard her say something that sounded familiar to him and wondered if it could be the same word.

Turning Joes looked at Buck and said, "Thank you. I needed this moment with the Great Spirit."

Walking over to where the path back to the horses was, the two met, "I'm glad I could help. I always feel better after praying, so I understand. May I ask you something?" Buck asked, as they began walking through the trees.

"Of course," Joes said, feeling oddly safe with Buck.

"What was the last thing you said?"

"Um?" Joes shut her eyes for a moment remembering what she had said and done while praying and then said simply, "I thanked the Great Spirit for bringing me safely on my journey."

"Great Spirit." Buck said thoughtfully, "What is your word for that?"

"Ki-tchi" Joes said pausing to look at Buck, her head cocked slightly and intrigued at Buck's smile "Why?"

"The word Da-Chi means Great Spirit in Kiowa, when you said it Ki-tchi it reminded me of our word. It's interesting that we are so far apart and our words for the Great Spirit are so close."

"Perhaps it means that the same Great Spirit is true for all of us, no matter the name we give him."

Buck nodded but said nothing as they came through the trees and saw their horses happily munching leaves and grass. "I'm thinking they have the right idea. Wanna go get breakfast?"

Joes' stomach grumbled in response. "Well, I guess that's one answer," she replied laughing.

The two laughed lightly as they began the ride back to the station in companionable silence. When suddenly Aspen started pulling at her reins and bucking around nearly unseating Joes several times. She held on through several good jumps and even a few raring ups but at some point, she simply couldn't keep her grip any longer and flew out of the saddle, landing several feet away face down in the mud.

Buck quickly grabbed the reins on the terrified horse and pulled her away from the path. Then he ran over to where Joes was laying very still. His heart was in his throat, the idea of having to tell Ike that something had happened to her, may very well kill him before it destroyed Ike. How his brother felt for this small woman was very clear to everyone after how he reacted in the bunkhouse last night.

"Joes?" Buck said softly as he lightly laid a hand on her back. "Joes, are you ok?" His hand slid up her back to her neck and he didn't feel anything odd as he cupped her head. "I'm gonna turn you so it's easier for you to breathe."

As Buck slowly began to turn her, Joes became more aware of what was happening and tried to pull back but realized quickly that she was injured.

"Be still, Little Sister." Buck said to her softly. "You're with family." Buck watched as she closed her eyes tight and then blinked rapidly several times and smiled when it looked like the confusion on her mud covered face was starting to clear.

"Buck?" She said with a groan. "What happened? Why did Aspen react like that?"

"There was a snake on the ground in front of you and if she had gone forward like you wanted her or you could have been bit so she fought you." Buck explained.

"She saved both of us." Joes said with a smile as she started to sit up.

"Careful, Little Sister. You had a good fall and I've seen Ike when he's mad and I don't want to be on the receiving end of his temper," Buck added teasingly.

"I'm fine – a bit sore and I think I'll be seeing stars for a bit but I'm fine. As for Ike, why would he get mad? He's got no right. I don't belong to him."

"He's got feelings for you. Ike's been real careful about getting close to anyone ever since I've known him but the two of you just seem to fit like a key in a lock."

"Why would you say that?"

Buck angled his head as he studied the petite woman. "What, that Ike cares for you? Because he does. Joes, it's evident in everything he's done since he brought you to the station. Ike's my brother, we've known each other most of our lives and we understand things about each other without ever talking about it." Buck picked up Joes hand, "He taught you to sign in his hand?"

Joes nodded, a look of confusion filling her face.

"He did that so you two could talk privately. So I don't overhear all your conversations. He wouldn't have done that if he didn't care for you."

Joes looked down at the ground and fought not to shake or run. She didn't want Buck or anyone to know how much his words scared her. "I care for Ike too. That's the problem."

"How?" Buck started but Joes kept going as if he hadn't spoken at all, "Everyone who has ever been important to me. Who I have ever cared for, who has cared for me, has died and not an easy death either." Joes looked at the ground seeing and hearing things she wished she could scrub from her memory. Taking a steadying breath she said, "I can't allow that to happen to Ike. He's too important to too many people."

Buck carefully wrapped his arms around the small woman and thanked the Great Spirit for bringing her into his brother's life. "Talk to Ike. Tell him. I promise you, he's faced death too many times to keep track of. He's not going to risk losing you for that. Scarlet Fever didn't take, and the men who destroyed his family didn't either, the Mission School only made him stronger despite its best efforts. Joes, I promise you, Ike is strong enough to fight and win."

Joes looked up into Buck's warm brown eyes and saw only truth lying there. "You truly believe that." She stated as she observed Buck. "You would be willing to risk Ike's life for his happiness?"

"Ike would," Buck said simply.

Joes nodded silently, knowing that Buck was correct. That is exactly what Ike would do.

"So breakfast?" Buck asked, "Before Cody eats it all."

Smiling Joes nodded her agreement but as she tried to stand her ankle and ribs chose that moment to protest any sudden movement. "Buck, I may have a small problem."

"Can you walk?"

"I don't think so."

"Can you stand?"

"Questionable?"

"Can you ride?"

"Not without pain, but that's not about to stop me."

"You are definitely related to Lou," Buck teased as he stooped and scooped Joes into his arms and carried her over to Aspen. "This isn't going to be a pleasant experience for you."

"Welcome to life," She teased back as she got herself situated in the saddle and picked up the reins.

Buck came up alongside her and took Aspen's reins from her and led them the short distance home. "I can handle the reins, Buck."

"I know," Buck said for what felt like the 15th time in 15 minutes.

As they walked into the station, Ike came running out of the barn, Lou close on his heels. Ike immediately was tapping his chest hard and fast, his fear and anger evident as he was signing and running towards Buck and Joes.

"Where have you been?" Lou demanded as she ran to Joes. "What happened?"

Ike, seeing Joes was covered in mud, ran to her and reached up to help her down. Just the simple act of helping her down with his hands gripping her sore ribs, caused her to involuntarily gasp out in pain. *What did you do to her?* Ike said holding Joes to him but looking daggers as he signed in Buck's direction.

"He didn't do anything, Ike" Joes said through gritted teeth.

Ike acted as though he hadn't heard her and realizing he was supporting most of her weight asked instead, *Is your leg hurt too?*

"A little. I'll be fine. I just need to wrap it." Before she could say another word, Ike scooped her off of her feet and carried her to Emma's house and knocked with his knee on her door.

"Ike?" Emma said caught off guard, "What's wrong?"

It's her side and leg and I don't know what else.* Ike signed rapidly, his hands still mostly under Joes.

"Ike maybe you should put Joes down first and then explain," Emma said thoughtfully

Ike followed Emma into the sick room off of the kitchen still holding her mud-caked body against his and watched as she laid multiple layers of blankets on the bedding and then an old sheet she used when dying things went on top. "Put her down carefully Ike."

Ike laid her down as though she were made of spun glass. Afraid to let her go for fear she might be hurt more. He kneeled down next to the bed and held tight to her hand.

"Alright, Ike." Emma said smilingly gently, "she knows you're worried and you care about her. Go on outside and wait with Buck and the others and…."

The mention of Buck was enough to get Ike out the door.

"That's odd," Emma said

"I think he blames Buck for Aspen throwing me when she saw a snake."

"I'll be right back," Emma said with exasperation pouring off of her in waves.

Stepping onto the porch, she saw Mr. Spoon already headed over to where Buck and Ike were rolling around like two pigs in a mud trough.