Chapter 34
Omaha, Nebraska 1872
The waiting room of the doctor's office was thick with tension as Buck, Joaquin, and Night Wolf sat in anxious silence. When the doctor finally emerged, Joaquin was the first to his feet.
"How is she?" Night Wolf asked, his voice steeped with concern.
"She's sleeping now, but she's going to make it," the doctor assured them.
"Can we see her?" Buck interjected, his heart racing with anticipation.
"Yes, but try not to wake her. She needs her rest," the doctor cautioned before allowing them entry.
Buck waited patiently, the weight of regret heavy upon him. As Night Wolf spent a few minutes with Lara and Joaquin's visit stretched to twenty, Buck felt each second acutely. The loss of his brother Red Bear was still a raw wound, and the fear of losing Lara had brought everything into sharp focus.
"Tell me," Night Wolf broke the silence as he emerged from Lara's room. "Why did you change your mind about Lara?"
Buck's response came from a place of deep reflection. "I was a fool. I let doubt cloud my heart when I should have believed her."
"You love her?" Night Wolf's question was direct, his gaze searching.
"Yes," Buck affirmed without hesitation, rising as Joaquin stepped out of Lara's room.
As Buck slowly opened the door, a smile tugged at his lips at the sight of Lara's restored color. He quietly took the chair beside her bed, its warmth a reminder of Joaquin's vigil. Gently, he clasped her hand in his, the contact grounding him in the moment.
For several moments, Buck remained silent, offering prayers of gratitude and contemplating the second chance he desperately hoped for. The loss of Red Bear had taught him the painful lesson of time's fleeting nature, and his near miss with Lara hammered that lesson home.
"Lara," he began softly, his voice barely above a whisper, "I can't imagine a moment without you. I know I don't deserve another chance, my love, but I'm begging you to forgive me. I lied about not loving you."
Buck brushed his lips against her warm, soft cheek, then rested his face in her hair, savoring her scent as if committing it to memory. "I will love you for the rest of my days, Lara," he confessed, his words carrying the weight of a solemn vow.
As he sat there, holding Lara's hand and listening to the steady rhythm of her breathing, Buck made a silent promise to himself. He would no longer waste time on misunderstandings or let doubt come between them. Life was too short, too precious to squander on pride or fear.