Chapter 23

San Juan Capistrano, CA - 1872

Five months had passed since Halona's disappearance, and Buck found himself glancing around the porch of the house he had built. Every little detail was a silent reminder of the future they would never get to share. As he thought back to the first day he had met her, a small smile crept across his face, a fleeting recollection of a bygone happiness.

He remembered taking in Halona's appearance - her long dark hair, bronzed skin, ripped white top, and tight blue jeans. She had looked completely out of place, especially the way she'd awkwardly sat on the horse. He watched as his brother nudged her to dismount, her legs shaky after days on horseback. Halona had reached for the mane and slid down clumsily, her foot searching for ground several inches below.

Joyous shouts had erupted from the house as Isaac, and his sister, Megan, rushed out to greet their uncle.

"Ee taun, you're growing so fast," Red Bear had said, ruffling the boy's hair.

"Me too!" Megan had chimed in, arms up for a hug.

"Yes, you too ee tah," Red Bear had laughed.

Buck shook his head, why on earth was his brother here with a small war party and a stranger? "Who is she?"

"My warriors found her while hunting." Red Bear explained. "They brought her to our village." He had searched for the English words, falling back on his native tongue. "Ahdle koiye daw."

Buck stared blankly, trying to remember what those words meant. It had been many years since he had spoken his native language. Funny? Could be. "What do you mean she's funny?"

"Not funny," Red Bear signed this time and repeated the words. " Ahdle koiye daw."

"Crazy?

Red Bear nodded. "She had black tears."

"Black tears?" Buck's eyebrows shot up.

He had watched as the woman knelt on the ground, a gentle smile softening her features as she interacted with his children. Turning back to his brother, "While you're here, there are some supplies in the barn."

Red Bear bristled. "I do not need your charity."

"It's not charity, p'ah-be." Buck insisted, squeezing his shoulder. "Think of your women and children."

Buck watched as his brother Red Bear and the few men with him turned toward the barn. With a deep exhale, he shifted his attention to their new guest, Halona, who Megan was busily entertaining.

Buck couldn't help but wonder what Halona had been through to end up here, on the doorstep of his humble home. The "black tears" his brother had mentioned still weighed heavily on his mind, a mysterious detail that only fueled his curiosity about this woman's past.

"You gonna introduce me?" He smiled, patting Megan's head.

"Papa, this is Halona," Megan had said.

"Buck Cross," he greeted, shaking Halona's hand.

"Halona Blackwater," she replied. "Sorry to bother you. May I use your phone?"

"Phone?" Buck echoed. What on earth was she talking about.

"What's a phone, Papa?" Isaac asked.

"You... don't have a telephone?" She asked.

Buck watched Halona closely, his eyes drawn to the strange object she pulled from her pocket. Her mannerisms were odd, unfamiliar to him, but it was the small metal object that truly held his attention.

"I don't suppose you have a charger then?" Halona asked, her brow furrowed with uncertainty.

Curious, Buck reached out and took the device from her hand. He turned it over, rubbing his calloused fingers across the smooth, glassy surface, utterly perplexed by the strange contraption. Carefully, he handed the device back to Halona, his gaze filled with a mixture of bewilderment and fascination.

As Halona held the phone in her palm, Buck couldn't help but wonder what purpose it served. Was it some kind of tool, a new invention he had yet to discover? The fact that she had inquired about a "charger" only added to his growing intrigue.

"When my brother leaves, I'll take you to town," he assured her. "For now, let's get you cleaned up and some fresh clothes."

"That sounds amazing," Halona had sighed. "I'd kill for a proper shower after a month of creek baths."

"Isaac, show our guest to the... uh... shower," Buck said, the words stumbling a bit as he gestured towards the makeshift bathing area behind the house.

Buck watched from the front porch as the strange woman, Halona, followed his son Isaac to the outdoor shower setup out back. Curiosity piqued, he kept a watchful eye on the scene unfolding.

He saw Halona toss her dirty clothes over the fence post, her brow furrowed in concentration as she examined the unfamiliar apparatus. Suddenly, she reached up and yanked down on the dangling chain, and Buck couldn't help but chuckle as a torrent of icy water came cascading down, drenching the poor woman from head to toe.

Halona's surprised scream pierced the air, and Buck hurried around the back of the house, towel and clean dress in hand, a grin spreading across his face. This city-dwelling stranger was certainly in for a rude awakening when it came to the realities of frontier living.

As Halona scrambled to release the chain and avoid another icy deluge, Buck approached, offering her the much-needed towel and dress.

"It's freezing!" Halona shivered, looking up at him with a plaintive expression. "How do I make it warm?"

Buck simply chuckled and handed her the items, amused by her bewilderment. The concept of warm water on demand was pure insanity.

"What's this?" Halona asked, holding up the bottle of shampoo he had provided.

"Shampoo," Buck replied, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards in a barely-contained smile.

"Thanks," Halona muttered, her words more a reassurance to herself than a genuine expression of gratitude. Buck could see the uncertainty and slight embarrassment written all over her face as she glanced at his own long, well-kept hair.

"Any chance you've got conditioner?" she ventured, her brow arched in a hopeful question.

Buck couldn't resist the urge to arch one questioning brow in return, the very notion of such a specific hair care product amusing him to no end. "Pretty sure I don't," he replied with a slight shake of his head before turning and heading back to the house, the sound of Halona's frustrated sigh echoing in his ears.

What a strange woman she was, he mused. The way she reacted to the most basic elements of frontier living, from the outdoor shower setup to the lack of modern conveniences, was positively endearing.

As he closed his eyes, lost in the memories, Buck couldn't suppress the small chuckle that bubbled up within him. Halona's bewilderment, her obvious discomfort, and her relentless pursuit of even the most basic creature comforts - it was all so refreshingly different from the stoic, self-reliant lifestyle he and his kin had grown accustomed to.

In a way, her presence was like a breath of fresh air, a reminder that there was a whole world beyond the boundaries of his homestead. And while the cultural divide had proven challenging at times, Buck knew his heart had found its home in her. He would give anything to hear her over-the-top, dramatic flourishes or the astoundingly foul language that spilled from her lips. The stark contrast between her city-dwelling sensibilities and the rustic simplicity of his own life was a constant source of entertainment.

A small voice broke through his thoughts. "Papa?" Megan stood at the doorway, holding out a plate of empanadas like a hesitant peace offering. "Rosa brought these."

Buck forced a smile. "Maybe later, sweetheart. C'mere." He opened his arms, and Megan launched herself into his embrace. "You're growin' up so fast," he murmured, hugging her tight.

"You always say that," she giggled, squeezing him back.

"You'll always be my little girl," Buck said, holding her close.

"Papa?" She looked up at him, her eyes shining with pure, unconditional love.

"What is it, sweetheart?"

"Do you still miss her?" Such a simple question, but it carried the weight of the whole damn world.

Buck gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Mhmm," he admitted, his voice thick.

"Me too," Megan whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek. "But sometimes," she went on, wiping her nose with the back of her hand, "when I think of her, I don't get so sad no more. I remember all the fun stuff we did, and it makes me happy instead."

Buck felt a smile tug at the corner of his mouth. "We did have a lotta good times, didn't we?" He closed his eyes, picturing Halona's bright, beautiful smile. "Remember when the wagon's wheel broke?" Buck prompted, grinning wide.

"And mama fell right into the creek!" Megan shrieked with laughter, the happy memory chasing those shadows right out of her eyes. The memory flickered to life, vivid and warm…

The wagon lurched violently, jolting Halona from her daydreams. She gripped the makeshift seat, knuckles white. "Buck, what was that?"

"Hold on," he said, already jumping down. "Let me check." He handed her the reins, his eyes calm despite the sudden stop.

"Earthquake?" Isaac poked his curious head out from under the canvas cover.

Halona laughed, a breathy sound. "No, sweetie. More like a giant pothole, I guess. Earthquakes feel a little..." she demonstrated by grabbing the bench and shaking it playfully.

"I can't wait for an earthquake!" Megan scrambled onto Halona's lap.

"Looks like a wheel came loose." Just then, Buck emerged from under the wagon, swearing under his breath. "I'll be back soon."

""What? Panic spiked in Halona's voice. "Where are you going?"

"To the town we passed," Buck reassured, unbuckling a lead horse. "It should be a quick fix, a couple of bearings."

"Are you high?" Halona's voice rose slightly. "Leaving us here in the middle of nowhere?"

Buck chuckled at her dramatics. "Hey, relax. It's a small town, just up the road. I'll be back before you know it."

"Freddy F'ing Krueger could be in those bushes over there just waiting until you leave!" Halona threw her arms up.

Megan giggled, clearly enjoying the unfolding drama. "Who's that?"

Buck ignored the question, trying to calm her. Megan's laughter grew louder as Halona ranted and paced back and forth. Buck reached out to soothe her, but she stormed past him towards the creek. Her anger was short-lived when she misjudged the muddy bank, she slipped and landed with a splash in the murky water. Isaac and Megan erupted in laughter, while Buck rushed to help her out, mud clinging to her clothes.

"This is worse than a one-way Southwest flight…" Halona grumbled, emerging bedraggled from the creek. "No… no this… this is like a Spirit flight!"

Buck took her in his arms, his voice firm yet gentle. "Darlin', I need to get that wheel fixed and I need you to stay calm. Issac and Megan need you."

Halona met his gaze, her earlier panic replaced by a quiet resolve. She nodded, then surprised him by pulling him into a tight hug.

"I can handle this," she whispered fiercely.

Buck smiled, handing her a pistol hidden beneath the seat. "Good. Now, take the rifle too."

"Don't worry, Mama," Megan piped up, her earlier fear forgotten. "I'm not scared."

"Me neither." Isaac puffed out his chest. "And I know how to shoot!"

Halona forced a smile, her bravado masking a knot of worry in her stomach. "We'll be fine," she declared, her voice stronger than she felt.

"She was covered in mud for several days," Megan giggled, her eyes sparkling with the memory.

Buck chuckled, "Yeah, she wasn't too happy about that," he agreed, his mind wandering back to that moment. He could still see Halona, drenched in mud.

"I'll never forget the look on her face when you rode up through, Papa," Megan said, her voice softening with affection.

"Oh yeah?" Buck's eyes twinkled as he looked down at his daughter. There was that same determination, the same fierce loyalty that had drawn him to Halona in the first place.

"When I get older, I want to be just like her," Megan continued, tilting her head up to meet her father's gaze. Her smile was wide, full of the kind of admiration that only a child could have.

"You do?" Buck smiled warmly at her, feeling a mix of pride and longing swell in his chest.

"Yeah," Megan nodded earnestly. "And I want to marry a man just like you, Papa."

Buck's heart skipped a beat, touched by her innocent declaration. "Thanks, sweetheart," he said, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled her into a gentle hug, kissing the top of her head. "You've got a big heart, just like your mom."

Megan beamed up at him, her small arms wrapped tightly around his waist.

Buck laughed softly, ruffling her hair. "You're too sweet for your own good, you know that?" He teased, his heart feeling a little lighter than it had all night. Standing up, he stretched, the weight of the day easing just a bit. "I think it's about time for those empanadas. What do you think?"

Megan grinned, squeezing his hand as they walked toward the kitchen together. The memory of Halona was still fresh in their minds, but in moments like these, it felt less like a burden and more like a warm blanket, wrapping them in comfort and love. The ache in Buck's heart was still there, but it was softened by the sweetness of his daughter's laughter and the promise of more memories to come.