Curse of White Buffalo

By Renee Novak

Sweetwater, Wyoming…. 1999

Peace fell across the land shrouded in darkness. There was no moon in the night sky, only stars glittering high above, like diamonds against black velvet. A fog settled itself gently upon the rolling pasture and grassland, between the buildings and upon the trees. It was autumn in Sweetwater. The smell of burning leaves filled the cool night air.

Buck watched her, as he always did, as Jessica left Cross Publishing. Granted, he had plenty of great grandchildren he could watch over, but there was something about Jessica that pulled him to her.

He followed her like no mortal could. No one could see him, unless he wanted them to. His long black hair flowed down his back and moved slightly as the gentle breeze blew. Over the years, his bronze skin remained flawless. No sign that he was a vampire, except for the occasional pesky appearance of fangs.

Jessie turned off her bedroom light. She was safe, for now, tucked under the covers. Tomorrow was another day.

Chapter 2

"Kyle," Jessica shouted out her office door. "Get in here!"

The red headed man entered her office, bracing himself for her wrath.

"Of all the stupid things," she began, shutting the office door. Her voice was calm, not a good thing for Kyle. "What were you thinking?"

"I’m sorry…"

"Sorry?" she asked, gripping the desk to keep from yelling. "Kyle, I’ve got ten rolls of unexposed film. I can’t just re-shoot that footage."

"I know…"

"You know?" This was getting her nowhere, except more frustrated. "Go home, Kyle. Go home now, before I get more pissed off."

"But…"

"Now, Kyle!" She said sitting down.

"Am I fired?"

She sighed and glared at the young man. "If you leave now, no."

Without another word, Kyle left. Jessica ran a slender hand through her jet-black hair. Could today get any worse?

Chapter 3

It was very late, around nine o’clock, by the time Jessica was able to leave. She’d finished replacing the photos that Kyle had ruined and left it for the printer. Again, fog settled in every crack that it could fine, giving the deserted parking lot an eerie feeling.

"Hello, Jessica," a male voice said from somewhere in the fog.

"Who’s there?" She asked, putting her hand in her pocket. He cool metal blade of the knife she’d gotten from her grandmother, brushing her finger tips.

"You don’t recognize my voice?" The voice slurred.

Quickly, she pushed the fear from he mind, centering herself. Her hand gripped the hilt as she withdrew the knife from her pocket.

"Enough games," she said, her voice surprisingly calm. "Who are you?"

The man laughed. "You’ve gotta chill out!" he said. "It’s only me."

Kyle laughed again, emerging from the shadowy fog. Jessica slipped the knife back in her pocket, unnoticed by Kyle.

"Y’know," she started. "You’re gonna get yourself killed doin’ that."

"I just wanted to say I was sorry."

Jessica could tell he’d been drinking. "Not a problem, Kyle," she said. "I was able to put in some different photos. You’ve gotta be careful. When the red light is on, you can’t go in."

The air changed around her. It became charged with an energy she hadn’t felt in some time. Jessica only experienced it one other time in her life that’s why she carried the family heirloom.

"Why do you do that?" Kyle asked.

Jessica’s green eyes searched the fog for the explanation for the feeling she had. "Do what?"

"Talk to me like I’m five."

"What’re you talking about, Kyle?"

Again he laughed, only this time there was something evil underneath it. "You know what I mean. Always treatin’ us like we’re beneath you."

"Kyle," she repeated her question. "What’re you talking about?"

He walked closer to her. There was something in his eyes, a shadow she hadn’t seen before. When he spoke, his breath was hot on her face and reeked of scotch.

"You’re not my boss anymore," he said. A sharp pain in Jessica’s stomach accented his last words. "Rot in hell, bitch!"

All of the air seemed to escape from her as she hit the ground. She saw a blur rush past her. Now what? Quickly she pulled the knife from her stomach, causing the blood to spill out in a crimson gush. Darkness closed in, as the fog seemed to swirl. She welcomed it with open arms.

Chapter 4

Buck paced the floor, cursing the fact that he’d let Kyle go too far. It was his fault that his granddaughter laid on the mat near the fireplace. He’d lived among the white man for so long, yet he was never comfortable in a bed.

He paused long enough to look down at Jessica. She looked as if she were sleeping, her raven spirals fanned out upon the pillow.

"She’d have made a beautiful Kiowa," Christian said.

Buck looked at his nephew. Christian reminded him of what he’d look like if he’d ever reached 49 years old. Regretfully, he’d never gotten older than twenty.

"She is Kiowa," Buck replied. "Same as you." His tone was scolding, yet mildly so.

"Will it take her long to recover?" Christian inquired, changing the subject.

Buck checked the bandage on her exposed middle. "The wound is almost healed," he said. "I’m more worried about afterwards.

"How so?"

Buck looked at Christian, his eyes full of worry. "How do you explain the fact that I’m one hundred and fifty eight years old, that I’m a vampire, and that I just happen to be a relative?"

Christian looked deeply into eyes that mirrored his own. "The same way you told me."

Chapter 5

Rain fell outside he ranch, drenching the Rock Springs land. Lightning lit up the slate gray sky, thunder filling the air. Buck watched as Jessica stirred. The wound healed, only because of the drops of his own blood he’d mixed in with the other herbs. It was only a matter of time before he would have to confront her.

There was something else. Something had entered his home. Something of another place and time, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Not even smudging seemed to drive it away. It was too early for White Buffalo to start his quest. He’d worry about it later.

"Christian," he called the man who mirrored him in almost every way. "She’s waking."

In an instant, he was at Buck’s side. "This isn’t gonna be pretty, is it?" he asked.

Buck smiled. "I don’t think so."

"Well, at least she knows me," Christian assured him. "Hopefully you won’t freak her out too badly."

They watched as Jessica sleepily opened her eyes. For a moment, she looked around, unfamiliar with her surroundings. Her green eyes fell upon Christian.

"Chris?" she asked, her voice hoarse. "Is that you?"

"Hey, Jess," he replied, sitting down next to her. "How’re you feelin’?"

She didn’t answer, her eyes fell untrustingly upon Buck.
"Oh," Christian said with a small smile. "That’s Buck…he’s your grandfather."

Buck closed his eyes with a sigh. Why didn’t he tell her he was a vampire while he was at it?

Jessica shook her head, a wave of dizziness flooding over her. "My grand parents are Peter and Sarah on my fathers side, and Kenneth and Rosalie on my mothers…"

Buck had no choice but to interrupt her. "Jessica Nicole Cross," he said her name softly. "I am your great grandfather, four times over."

She sat up carefully, and looked at the clothes she’d been changed into. It was a buckskin dress, decorated richly in Kiowa bead designs. On her feet, buckskin boots.

"We changed your clothes this morning, Jess," Christian explained. "Your shirt was ruined."

She looked at him blankly, then looked to Buck. "You’re telling me you’re over a hundred years old?"

He simply nodded.

"Impossible," she said standing. The room began to spin violently. She steadied herself on the mantle. "That’s just freaking impossible."

"If you sit back down, I promise to explain things to you. You have to promise me you won’t get all worked up over this."

She looked from Buck to Christian. The latter was urging her to do so with his large brown eyes.

"Fine," she replied, glad to get off her feet. There was something else. It was energy, similar to what she’d felt before. That didn’t matter now. She’d listen to this man. He looked trustworthy. His eyes were friendly and soft. They were her fathers’ eyes. "I don’t freak out easily," she aimed her comment to Christian who sat next to Buck.

"I never thought you would," Buck replied. "You have your great Grandmother Nicole’s eyes," he recalled fondly. "I was twenty when Red Bear, my brother, called upon me. Your grandmother begged me not to go. Our daughter Elizabeth was only a few months old, and the Pony Express was becoming to be a thing of the past. War was coming, and she was afraid, and pregnant with your great grandfather, three times over. It was a difficult decision, but I went. Red Bear had told me had a vision and he needed my help. When I arrived at the reservation, Red Bear was no where to be found. I was ushered into the teepee of White Buffalo, the seer of dreams. He gave me something to drink, chanting something I’d never heard before. I finished this drink, and became violently ill…"

"He poisoned you?"

He shook his head. "No, I was cursed. If I survived the illness, I would live forever. I later found out that my bother had no idea what was happening. It seemed White Buffalo didn’t think I was worthy of being Kiowa. He thought I’d lived too long in the white mans world…"

Jessica looked at him unbelievingly. "He meant to kill you? I thought Red Bear sent for you."

"I received the message through a brave who thought he was doing the right thing. I can’t blame him to listening to an elder. White Buffalo never expected me to survive, now I will never die…"

"You’re a vampire?" Jessica asked, trying to understand.

"Yes, only, I can go out during the day. Nothing can harm me."

Jessica stood up again. No dizziness, thankfully. Buck watched her wander to the door. She had his penchant for avoiding situations until she felt comfortable with them. He watched her fight against opening it and running. Instead, she looked out the window. The flashing lightning reflected off the glass. Her eyes looked far away, deep in thought.

"So, you’re doomed to wander this land forever. To watch your family as it dies away."

She was like Jimmy, always finding the dark side of every situation. "To protect them," he countered.

"You kill people to survive?"

"No," Buck replied. Now came the technical part of his existence. "In the beginning, I needed the blood. Then over the years, the desire disappeared. I can function like any normal human. It’s part of White Buffalo’s curse. There’s really no other explanation."

The room became cold, as if the winter wind had begun to blow inside. Christian stood next to Jessica, while Buck stood in front of them both.

"What’s…" Jessica began, only to be stopped by Christian.

The light’s that had been on went out, leaving the threesome in pitch-blackness. Lightning from outside, giving them brief sight.

"No one move," Buck ordered, grabbing hold of Jessica’s hand. "Everything will be all right."

Jessica stood still, as still as her shaking body would allow. She felt something cold on her shoulder. It was a hand, she observed turning her head to the right. A man dressed simply in a breechcloth stared back at her with empty midnight blue eyes. She squeezed Buck’s hand hard, causing him to turn his attention to her.

"Jessica," he whispered. "Don’t look into his eyes."

It was too late. "They’re so beautiful," she whispered, as if in a trance.

"No!" He shouted. "Jessica!" He shook her.

Laughter echoed off the walls combining with the thunder. Jessica blinked, as if waking from a dream.

"What happened?" she asked, her head throbbing. She felt exhausted, unable to stand.

Without a word, Christian brought her a chair. Everything had returned too normal.

"Are you all right?" Buck asked.

Jessica nodded. "Who was that?" she asked.

"That was the ghost of White Buffalo," Buck confessed. "He was trying to enter your mind. He could’ve entered your body…"

"No," Jessica countered. "He’s gone."

Christian was clearly upset. "How do you know? You’ve never been through this before…"

Jessica pleaded. "I’ve been through this before! Just not so strongly, and I felt him leave."

Buck and Christian looked at each other.

"What did you say?" Buck asked.

"I felt him leave."
Buck shook his head. "Before that."

Jessica knew what he was getting at. "When I was ten, the same thing happened to me…"

Christian didn’t believe her. Standing he questioned, "How?"

"I was playing in the attic and found this box of old photos. One was of Wild Bill Hick…"

"Jimmy," Buck said, his voice low, sad. "Please, his name was Jimmy."

"Sorry," she continued. "Jimmy, one was of him. I closed my eyes, and pretended to talk to him," Jessica smiled as if she was reliving the occurrence. "Then he answered me. I opened my eyes and there he was. There was a twinkle in his eyes, and he had this cocky little grin…"

"Did he say anything to you?" Buck asked, silently relishing the strong Kiowa traits that she held.

"He said that I’d make Buck proud," she recalled. "God, I didn’t even remember that part until now."

"You suppressed it until you needed it," Buck said, his brown eyes shifting to Christian. "I told you she was special."

Chapter 6

Finally, the rain stopped. Buck sat outside on the porch enjoying the cool air. Stars appeared occasionally between the clouds. Silently, he tried to figure out just what White Buffalo had in mind for this portion of his life.

When he was a child, he had been the deciding vote upon Buck’s future. When he’d returned, in exchange for Ike’s life, White Buffalo had tried to get one of the braves to kill him. Then, the time he’d sealed Buck’s fate. The time he’d never forgive him for. He closed his eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over him.

"Buck," the breeze whispered. "Come to me."

He opened his eyes, the night hadn’t changed. The door opened behind him. He stood and pulled his knife from his boot in one fluid motion.

"Sorry," Jessica said, stopping in her tracks. "I heard something…"

Buck looked at her. She still wore the outfit he’d put her in, only now, her hair was pulled up into a ponytail. A single feather hung from the strand of leather she’d used to secure it. She’d have made Red Bear proud. "What did you hear?"

"Buck," the voice came again. "Come to me."

"Um," she said. "That."

Buck began walking toward the forest, only to be joined by Jessica.

"What’re you doin’?" He asked stopping.

She looked into her grandfather’s eyes. "Goin’ with you…"

"No!" He answered. "This is my fate."

Jessica persisted. "I can hear the voices, so I’m going."

"Jessica…"

"Buck," she replied, then softened her voice. "Grandpa, let me help you."

How could he argue with that? He’d waited for so long to hear that from any of his grand children. "Fine, but don’t be a hero."

She smiled Nicky’s smile. "Who, me?"

"Jessica…"

"I won’t," she assured him, but there was a familiar twinkle to her eyes. Silently he wondered if Jimmy had left something of himself in her.

Without another word, the pair made their way into the forest. Fog impaired their vision, yet they were able to move quickly over the wooded land.

"You’ll have to defend yourself," Buck said, handing her a knife.

From her boot, she produced a matching one. Buck recognized it as the one he’d used while working for the Pony Express. "Family heirloom," she said. "You go through this all the time?"

Buck smiled. "Only on Halloween."

Jessica shook her head, and readied herself for a fight. The air around them became still, almost too still. No wind blew, not a single animal stirred. The tiny hairs on the back of Jessica’s neck bristled.

"Okay, now I’m a little worried," she whispered.

Buck put his hand on her shoulder. "I won’t let anything happen to you."

Their eyes locked. For a moment, Buck swore he was looking into the eyes of his wife. White Buffalo’s laughter brought him back to the matter at hand.

"Don’t get hit by any arrows," he said as they took cover. "Not unless you wanna end up like me."

Jessica centered herself. "I’ll remember that."

The woods came alive as spirits emerged from the fog in front of them, taking on a physical appearance. Indians and gunfighters fought against them, side by side. Jessica slashed her way through them, amazed at how easy it was for her to kill them. It was as if she was being driven by a force she’d never possessed before. They ducked arrows, and avoided stabbings. Buck felt his pulse race, his heart pounded so hard, he was sure it would come out of his chest. In the distance, he saw White Buffalo. He was laughing at him. Never had he felt the energy that he felt now surrounding him. He ran forward, slashing at the spirits who tried to stop him. If he could just get to White Buffalo, he could end all of this.

"You will never reach me, Running Buck," he said in Kiowa. "Your love of the whit world will keep you from me."

As White Buffalo finished his sentence, a flurry of arrows sprang from his hand and soared through the foggy night. Buck looked up, watching them. In his heart, he knew where they would end up. His eyes closed as they found their mark on Jessica’s back.

"Buck, behind you," he heard Jessica shout.

His brown eyes flew open as a knife flew through the air, finding it’s own mark behind him. He watched as Jimmy removed the arrows from Jessica. She’s saved his life, and he’d ended hers.

"Jimmy, don’t touch the…"

He stood up, his eyes glaring. "I’ll take care of her," he shouted. "Go take care of your business."

Buck began to protest, but the laughter from behind him reminded him of the matter at hand. He turned and threw his own knife, in one fluid motion, at the unsuspecting medicine man. The knife stopped, imbedded in the place where his heart should be.

"Time for me to send you where you belong," Buck said in Kiowa, pushing the knife in further.

He watched as White Buffalo fell to the ground and turned to go back to Jessica. His work was done now. He froze in his tracks, hearing a familiar war cry from behind him. Turning, he saw White Buffalo, tomahawk raised, only a few inches from him. There was no time to react. Silently, he said good-bye to the mortal world he’d lived in for so long, then closed his eyes. The war cry stopped in mid-shout. Bucks eyes opened, White Buffalo was gone, but standing a few feet away was Red Bear, his brother. They spoke in Kiowa.

"Thank you, my brother," Buck said approaching him.

Red Bear didn’t meet his eyes, instead, he looked past him to Jessica. "I am sorry, my brother…"

"Jessica knew what she was getting into," he said, trying to convince himself as well as Red Bear.

"You will not be able to join us, Running Buck. You must stay here to help her…"

"I understand," he replied. Truthfully, he didn’t want to leave. He was interested in his Granddaughter, and wanted to spend time with her the way he should.

Buck embraced his brother. He missed him, and part of him would always belong to Red Bear. "I will see you, brother," he promised. "Be well."

Red Bear broke free of Buck. "You as well."

Before his eyes, Red Bear vanished. Buck felt his heart grow heavy. He always missed his brother. Moments later, he turned to go back to Jessica.

Chapter 7

Buck had carried Jessica inside, Jimmy following close behind. He carefully placed her on the bed he seldom used. Her eyes were closed, her body cold.

"Now what?" Jimmy asked.

Buck looked at his friend. He was the same age as him, and looked just as he did when they rode together. The same look in his eyes, the same grin on his face.

"Why haven’t you disappeared yet?" Buck answered his question with a question, and a smirk of his own.

Jimmy looked down at the floor, his thumbs through his front belt loops. "Can’t."

Buck’s demeanor turned serious as he approached his friend. "Where?" he asked knowing what happened.

"Left arm," Jimmy replied. "It’s all healed now. Was healed before I helped Jess."

"You know what this means…"

Jimmy’s eyes sparkled mischievously. "Yep."

Buck turned back to Jessica. Slowly she began to come to.

Jessica’s green eyes looked around the room. They stopped on Jimmy who had retreated to the doorway. "Am I dead?"

Buck smiled. "I a way," he confessed. "You’re like Jimmy an’ me now." Silently he wished Christian were there to explain things. He’d sent him home the night before, not wanting him to get involved in the fight.

"I’ll have to drink blood?"

"No," Buck replied, his voice soft, fatherly. "You were shot with an arrow…"

Jessica corrected him. "There was more than one!"

Buck laughed. "You’re right. The arrowhead contained the same substance that made me, only because it was thrown by White Buffalo, on this night, you’re immortal."

"What about Jimmy?"

Buck looked to his friend.

"Just thought I’d stick around for a while," he said, avoiding the technical side of his existence.

Chapter 8

Jessica didn’t hire anyone to replace Kyle, taking on the photography duties herself. She explained to everyone that she’d spent time with family for the week.

"Hey, Jess," Denise’s voice came over the intercom.

"Yeah, Denise," she replied, scanning pictures into the scanner.

"I’m not sure who they are, but, there’s two men out here to see you."

Jessica smiled to herself. "Send them in."

In moments, Jimmy and Buck were standing in her office. Buck admired the Indian artifacts that decorated her office.

"Where’d you get this?" Jimmy asked, holding a framed photo of the Pony Express riders he loved like family.

Jessica smiled and took the sterling silver frame from him. Gently she ran her fingers over the glass. "It was in the box in my parents attic. It’s my favorite."

Jimmy watched her put the photo back on the shelf. A prickly feeling washed over her, causing the tiny hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end again.

"Stop it, Jimmy," Buck said, standing next to him.

Jessica turned to face Jimmy. "That was you?"

Jimmy just smiled.

"All those times?"

"Yep," he confessed. "Bet you thought I forgot about that ten year old girl that talked to me in the attic."
"Yeah, I did," she replied. Only then did she notice he’d changed his clothes. She looked him up and down, not able to hide her smile of approval. He wore a black tab-collar shirt, tight fitting jeans, and cowboy boots. "I’ve got the perfect thing for you."

"Geeze," Buck teased. "You put on decent clothes, and you get a gift. I make her immortal, and I get squat!"

Jessica planted a kiss on his cheek. "You’ve got my undying love."

She left Buck’s side, and pulled a gift bag out of the closet. "Never mind him," she said handing him the bag.

"Thank you," Jimmy said taking it from her. In moments, he’d pulled out the black Stetson and put it on. "Hey, Buck, how do I look?"

Buck looked from the photo to him, and smiled. He was the old Hickock again. "It suits you." There was something in Jimmy’s eyes as he thanked Jessica again. When he kissed her lips, his lingered a little too long. "Jimmy, that’s my granddaughter you’re kissin’!"

Color rushed to his cheeks. "Sorry."

Jessica sat down at her computer. "So, have we figured out a last name for Jimmy yet?"

"Huh?" Jimmy asked dumbfounded.

"You can’t go around callin’ yourself James Butler Hickock…" Buck began to explain.

"But that’s my name."
"James Butler Hickock died in 1876…" Buck reminded him.

Jessica looked up from the computer. Seeing the confusion in Jimmy’s eyes she said, "He doesn’t hafta decide now…"

"Yeah, see?" He asked, pointing to Jessica.

"Fine," Buck gave in. "You ready?"

She stood up and turned off the computer. "Yep."

The threesome walked out the door, Jimmy holding Jessica’s hand, to the surprise of Buck. He didn’t say anything. The two had been through a lot, they shared just as much.

"Night, Denise," Jessica said. "See ya Monday."

"Night," she replied, then noticed she wasn’t alone. "Hey, Jess, who’s your friends?"

Jessica looked at them both. "This is my brother, Buck," she lied, knowing Buck would understand. "And this is…"

"James," he replied. "James Hunter."

Buck smiled.

"Nice to meet you both," Denise said. "Have a good one."

Together, they stepped into the Wyoming night. Buck looked up at the full moon. White Buffalo was finally at peace. Silently part of him wondered if he’d ever join him. The other part was content being with his oldest friend, and his granddaughter.

The end (or is it…)