Chapter 6

Over the next few days, life returned to normal and Buck and Bea loved not having to hide their feelings anymore. Of course they were the butt of the boys' jokes, but they accepted them willingly. When they could, they took time to spend together and often sat on the porch in the evening to read a book or simply chat and cuddle a bit.

Sometimes they would sneak out at night and meet in the barn. They made love and stayed together for a few hours, then returned to their beds with the tacit consent of those who pretended not to notice.

Buck was still embarrassed about exchanging affection with Bea in front of others, but little by little he got used to it.

Ike was very happy for them and so were Lou and Emma.

The evening of the dance arrived and Bea entered the room on Buck's arm, arousing quite a few glances and comments, not all of which were positive and nice, but Bea didn't care. She loved that boy and nothing could scratch that love.

He was wearing his usual buckskin trousers, a white shirt and a black jacket with a string of the same color around the neck that ended in a buttonhole, his hair tied in a ponytail.

Bea loved his long loose hair, but when he tied it up he looked even sexier and she didn't refrain from pointing it out when he knocked on her door: "Mr. Cross, you're so sexy that I would gladly avoid going to the ball to lock myself in the stable with you . I love when you tie your hair up because I imagine how nice it would be to let it down and run my fingers through it."

Buck blushed violently and Bea teased him: "Will you ever stop blushing at compliments darling? Get used to the idea that you are a handsome and sexy guy, you can't do anything about it. By the way, please, I don't want to fight with the girls tonight, so all your dances are occupied with me, do we understand each other?", she said jokingly.

"I really don't think there will be any problems with this, no one will want to dance with me, I guarantee it. Rather, I wouldn't want to be judged worse than they already do because I will have to intervene and remove the young men who will be buzzing around you"

"Don't worry, I won't leave you even for a moment, we will be together all evening, so everyone will understand that I am madly in love with you"

"Are you ready to accept criticism and contemptuous remarks?"

"Even if they do it, I won't even notice, I'll only have eyes for you" and she kissed him tenderly.

Bea wore a peach-colored dress with a full skirt and a bodice that left her shoulders bare but covered the neckline with lace ruffles of the same color.

She had a handbag of the same color and wore her hair tied in a low bun at the nape of her neck, from which curls were sticking out.

When Buck saw her he was speechless and couldn't believe that this beautiful girl wanted to be with him.

He took her arm and they joined the others ready to go and have fun.

When they arrived, Emma entered on Sam's arm and Bea and Buck followed, then the other boys entered.

As they entered, all eyes turned towards the strange couple.

Someone in the city had understood that there was something between them, but they didn't believe they would have had the courage to show up at the ball together.

Buck was very uncomfortable, but Bea squeezed his arm and whispered in his ear: "We are worth much more than these guys all together, don't ever forget that"

Emma and Sam went to say goodbye to some acquaintances and didn't miss the opportunity to introduce Bea, Buck and the other boys: that was the first official outing for everyone. The citizens of Sweetwater had learned about the Pony Express riders, but had never yet attended an official event.

The boys began to invite the ladies to dance with them, only Kid and Lou kept to themselves and while they were dancing, Bea noticed that at a certain point Kid had said something in Lou's ear and the two went out. She thought about how difficult it was for her friend to attend the ball without being able to reveal her true nature. She promised herself to spend some time with her when she returned, so as not to make her feel too alone. She talked to Buck about it and he agreed.

Half an hour later, the two returned and Bea took the opportunity to approach Lou. Buck followed her and kept nearby, not wanting anyone to bother his girlfriend seeing that he wasn't around. He realized for the first time that he was truly jealous of her: he loved her so much and was so happy that the thought that someone else could take her away from him made him feel bad. He realized his thoughts and smiled to himself, saying to himself: "What the hell am I thinking? I feel every minute that passes all the love she feels for me, I think it's a feeling so strong that nothing and no one will ever be able to erase it, let alone one of these white dandies", but he still kept close by.

Bea approached Lou and asked: "Everything okay?"

She nodded and replied: "Yes, thank you, I would also like to wear a nice dress like yours and dance with Kid, but for now that's fine. You know, he was so nice to me, he asked me out, he invited me to dance where no one could see us and we kissed."

"You can tell he loves you Lou, you're lucky"

"Like you anyway", she replied.

Bea nodded and turned towards Buck: it hadn't escaped her notice that he had remained next to them the whole time but discreetly distant to allow them to chat freely.

Suddenly she saw that a girl with black hair and a very pale complexion approached him and said something to him. She saw Buck's face light up for a moment, but then take on a resigned expression as the girl opened her mouth in terror.

Bea said to Lou: "Excuse me a minute" and walked over to Buck.

Lou followed her with her gaze and saw her heading like a fury towards Buvk and the girl, so she decided to follow her to stop her in case she committed something stupid: she had learned that Bea had a very impetuous and instinctive character at times...

Bea approached Buck and asked: "What happened? Why was that girl so horrified and scared?"

"Nothing happened, don't worry", he replied, trying to divert the conversation.

"Buck, you don't know how to lie to me and then I saw her expression, so I ask you: what the hell happened?"

Buck knew that if Bea put her mind to something, she wouldn't give up until she won, so he preferred to give in immediately.

He said to her: "I'll tell you but will you promise to stay calm and not make a scene?"

"I don't assure you. Spit it out, otherwise I'll go straight to her."

Buck knew she would be able to do it, so he gave in: "All right. She approached me asking if she could ask me a question and I kindly said yes."

"AND?"

"And she asked me if I had ever scalped anyone."

"What? But is she stupid?"

"No Bea, that's what everyone thinks of us Indians. I laughed at her and told her I only had one and pointed to Ike. At that point she left in horror."

"You were a gentleman, but I won't do the same" and walked towards the girl. Buck and Lou just had time to grab her and drag her away without anyone noticing. As soon as she was outside, Bea, when Lou and Buck took their hands off her arms where they had grabbed her to drag her away, started to go back in but Buck stopped her by the waist and she kicked like a rebellious mare, while shouting: "Let me go, I have to tell something to that idiot, but how dare she treat my boyfriend like that?"

People began to hear the screams and move closer to the entrance, so much so that Lou had to yell back to make her stop: "Bea, stop, everyone is noticing your behavior, stop while you still have time."

Hearing Lou's harsh tone, Bea calmed down and heard Buck say to her: "If I let you go, will you promise to be good?"

Bea nodded. When she had calmed down a bit, she said: "Does a question like that seem normal to you?" she asked, still indignant.

"Yes darling, it's normal, I told you that this is what they think of us, if you want to be with me you have to accept it"

"No Buck, I will never accept it and I will fight this ignorance with all my strength, starting now" and without Lou and Buck being able to stop her, she went back into the room and went to the girl who was tasting some pastries.

"Excuse me, can I talk to you for a moment?" she asked her.

The girl, amazed, replied: "Huh? Are you telling me? Of course"

"I witnessed the scene earlier with my boyfriend. But are you and your friends really that ignorant? Before you air your mouth, count to ten and inform yourself by reading something about Indian culture before making shameful figures like the one before. Unfortunately, it is because of ignorant girls like you that the world leaves no room for women: who would want to involve such ignorant people in the daily life of the city or nation? Listen to me, if you don't want to make a fool of yourself with people even more influential than my boyfriend, learn to read and become educated. Have a good evening and have fun, miss."

The girl gasped, as did Buck and Lou who had joined her fearing a scene.

Elegantly, Bea turned to Buck, took him by the hand and said: "Come darling, let's go chat with intelligent people" and they joined Teaspoon, Emma and Sam.

The people around the girl went to congratulate Bea and Buck: "Miss, we wanted to compliment you on the speech you gave to that young girl. We don't know what happened, but you're right, some people just talk to keep their mouths off. Mr. Cross, congratulations, you have found yourself a truly great girlfriend. Have fun and good luck"

Buck could only utter a shy "Thank you", then turned to Bea and said: "Do you know how amazing you are? You always manage to make the best of situations. I love you so much!"

"I love you too darling and I won't let anyone offend you"

They danced and had fun all evening and never spoke of that unpleasant episode again.

A few days later, Lou said she wanted to take advantage of her two days off to visit her brother Geremiah and her sister Theresa at the orphanage, whom she hadn't seen for a few years. She had Kid accompany her to buy a suitable dress and some gifts and left happy, but returned unexpectedly early because the two brothers had been taken from the orphanage by their supposed father: Lou had always told them that their father was dead, but she had lied so as not to tell them that he was a criminal, also wanted by Sam.

The boys helped the marshal in his task as usual and when Lou came face to face with her father, she was forced to admit that she was a girl, to the amazement of everyone, except Buck and Kid who knew it.

Lou's father was fatally wounded by Jimmy who couldn't help it and Lou didn't blame him.

On the way back, before reaching the station, the boys joked about not realizing that Lou was a girl, and Buck was forced to admit that he already knew. They all promised to have no more secrets from each other and promised that they would not tell Teaspoon anything to avoid him firing her. Emma had sensed it straight away and a few days earlier she had talked about it with her and Bea and also in this case there had been a promise not to say anything to Teaspoon.

Some time later, the news arrived from Italy that the documents signed by Aunt Rose had arrived and everything had gone well, Aunt Rose had received her share of the inheritance.

Emma decided that the following Sunday she and Bea would visit the woman to tell her the news. Bea wanted to bring Buck too, to tell her aunt that they were together and decided to write the news to her family: it was time they knew that she had found the man of her life. Buck was worried about both things, but Bea reassured him: "My aunt already thought we were engaged last time, so you don't have to worry about her and as for my parents, I remind you that they satisfied me by not letting me get married the gentlemen who introduced me; they have blind faith in me and when they get to know you, they will learn to love you, don't worry"

Buck, however, remained worried not so much for his aunt, but for Bea's parents: he believed that when they had sent her to America in search of adventure and great love, they certainly hadn't thought of their daughter getting engaged to a half-Indian … He hoped Beatrice was right, after all she knew them.

Emma, given Buck's presence, asked Sam to accompany her and he was happy.

Her aunt welcomed them all with pleasure and when Bea told her about her relationship with Buck, she exclaimed: "I told you you are a nice couple. Congratulations guys. And you Sam, when do you plan to marry my friend Emma? You don't want to be outdone by these two!"

Sam muttered, Emma smiled and Bea, embarrassed, replied: "Aunt Rose, slow down, Buck and I just got together, don't rush"

"Why, wouldn't you like to start a family?" urged the aunt.

"Well, yes, but maybe it's not worth talking about it here and now", Buck replied embarrassed.

"Anyway, I wrote to mum and dad and we have to wait for their response first", Bea cut short.

As they returned to the station, Sam mused to himself that it was already the second time in a short time that they had pointed out to him that it was time to marry Emma and in fact he had been thinking about it for a while too. He decided that the time had really come to marry the woman he loved and who had made his heart beat after the death of his first wife. Emma had also had a husband, but he too had died tragically in a firefight: they were both free to start a new life. He thought about inviting her to dinner one of the next evenings and proposing to her.

That same evening, while they were out on the porch alone, Buck asked Bea: "What do you think of what your aunt said today?"

"Which of the many things?" Bea asked jokingly: her aunt was a volcano of words. She was always at home alone with Lively Eyes and the few times she received visitors, she let off steam.

"When she talked about Sam and Emma's wedding"

"Well, she's right, I don't understand why Sam hasn't asked him yet, they've been dating for a long time."

"Do you think time is important?"

"No, I believe that two people should get married when they are ready"

"I think so too. Did it bother you that she was talking about us too?"

"Absolutely not, I tried to divert the conversation because I didn't want you to feel embarrassed or obligated."

"I don't feel obligated, if I could I would marry you tomorrow too, after all you are already my wife right?"

"Already! I would marry you right away too, I love you so much"

Buck got emotional hearing those words and said: "Let's see how your parents react and then maybe we can think about a life together, what do you think?"

"Okay, but if I were you I'd start thinking about it, you'll see that my parents will give us their blessing"

Buck struggled to believe it, but he wanted to be confident. They kissed and arranged to meet for the night in the stable: they needed to enjoy each other and feel the union of their bodies. Neither of them had ever felt such strong emotions and they wanted to savor every moment of this happiness.

When they were lying in each other's arms after having loved each other, Bea asked him: "Buck, I've been thinking about this for a while..."

"At what?"

"I would like to meet your brother and spend time at his camp. I want to see you even in your second world"

"You catch me off guard, I don't know what to say, it's not that simple"

"But do you know where his camp is?"

"Well yes, but…"

"No buts, if we want to build a family, it's right that I know yours too and then I'm convinced that your brother would be happy to see you again and know that you're in love"

"Maybe yes, but…"

"No buts, let's take advantage of next week when you have the day off around Saturday and Sunday, we could spend a couple of days with him"

"Can I ever say no to you?"

"Let me think…NO!" and they started laughing.

Buck was ultimately happy to see his brother again and to have a woman who loved both him and his traditions, not rejecting any element of his being. He fantasized about proposing to her once he got her parents' consent, if he ever got it, but decided to have faith in a happy future.