Chapter VI
By Lisa
Dinner went as well as could be expected for Sarah, although no one mentioned the incident that had happened, the memory of it lingered. After dinner everyone talked about old times. Sarah met Jimmy, who had come straight home after hearing that Kid and Lou had arrived at the old Way Station. From the reaction she received from him, Sarah assumed that Jimmy didn't like her, but she was assured by Rachel that Jimmy was wary of strangers in general and would warm up to her as the others did once he got to know her.
As the friends gathered after dinner to continue their storytelling, Sarah felt odd and excluded. She explained she was feeling warm and left to take a walk and get fresh air. An hour later Buck, who had begun to worry after she didn't return quickly, excused himself to make sure she was okay. As he left, everyone shot knowing looks at each other.
"Now I know why he's so caught up with her." Hickok said, when everyone looked at him questioningly he continued, "well she's smart and-uh-well if I was sweet on someone who looked like her, I'd never let her out of my sight."
"Jimmy!" Emma gasped "mind your manners."
Teaspoon laughed at Hickok's sorry expression, but agreed "Did you see that boy fussing? I thought he was gonna bolt right on after her, I'm surprised it took him this long to leave."
"I think he was trying to be polite" Lou said
"You mean to give her time to be alone after what happened this afternoon?" Kid asked his bride.
"No, to us, I don't think he wanted to leave us so soon. After all, we've known him longer, and maybe he felt it wouldn't have been right to leave us to go with her."
"Sounds like Buck," Jimmy said, "his heart's always pulled in two."
"So Rachel, do you think anything will come of them?" Emma asked.
"I don't know, we don't understand much about her. I just hope she is what she seems." The other woman said.
"Tomorrow Buck, Kid, Jimmy, Sam and me is goin' into town, and she asked to come along so's she could send a telegram to her grandfather. So I guess we'll know soon enough." Teaspoon added as the sound of a baby's cry pierced the air.
"That would be little Noah Isaac," Lou said as she left to feed her son.
Rachel looked at Kid, "It was real nice of you two to name him after them Kid."
Kid smiled, "If he grows up to be just half the man that they were, I'll be a happy and proud man." Everyone nodded in silent agreement.
It didn't take Buck long to find her, Sarah was sitting on the top rail of the corral staring into the night. She turned and offered him a kind smile as he approached.
"Am I interrupting you?" he asked.
"No, I was just thinking."
" 'Bout what?"
"Home-" she glanced at him and saw he was looking at the bunkhouse, "-are you sorry you asked?"
Buck turned to her and shook his head, "No, do you want to be alone?"
"Not really, but I feel sort of . . . well- " she stuttered.
"I understand."
Sarah turned and jumped off the railing, "Do you ever think of the future Buck?" she asked looking up at him.
Buck quickly turned away, "I - well - uh - what do you mean?"
"I mean, we've always talked about our pasts. We've never really talked about our hopes and dreams for the future."
"Oh."
It's now or never, Sarah thought, "Do you ever think about getting married and having children?"
Buck blushed four shades of red. "Sure, I've thought about it a long time ago."
"Any time recently?"
Buck wasn't sure if this was her way of telling him she had feelings for him. He had never known anyone so forward before. "Well Sarah, we hardly know each other and-"
Sarah's heart sank, she would have to save herself before she lost his friendship. "Not me!" she lied, " Well I mean it could be me," Sarah said quickly. "What I mean is, if it makes you feel more comfortable to think in general, do you want to get married and have children?" Good Sarah, now he'll really think you're crazy, she thought.
"Well in general, then yes I would like to get married if the right woman came along." It could be you, he thought, "And I'd like to have children too."
"Me too," she sighed.
They both stayed silent and stared once again into the darkness, unsure of what to say next. When Buck saw Sarah shiver after a breeze, he offered to get her a shawl.
That's not what I want, I want you to take me in your arms and kiss me, Sarah thought, unsure of where such a wanton thought had come from. She simply shook her head.
"Well maybe we should be getting back inside, we've been out here for a while." Buck said softly.
Sarah nodded and turned toward the house only to find him staring at her intensely. He wants to kiss me, but he's unsure. How was she going to let him know it was what she wanted too? Just then Buck broke the eye contact and looked toward the house. Sarah would not let him do that to her, slowly she cupped his face in her hands and turned him to face her.
"Sarah, we can't-" Buck whispered unconvincingly when he realized her intent.
"Buck you've kept me sane through all of this. I just want you to know that I appreciate everything you've done for me, please give me a chance."
When he still did nothing Sarah tilted her face up to his and kissed him lightly on the lips. She knew as she pulled away it was not enough. Before she realized what had happened, Buck had his arms around her and was kissing her. It was better than any kiss she had received before.
The spell they had woven around each other was broken however when images entered Sarah's subconscious. Pictures of other men kissing her, holding her, and more! Sarah tensed and her eyes shot open. Buck feeling the sudden change, released her.
"I'm sorry Sarah, I should never have done that."
"No,-" she touched his cheek, "no it's alright. I was enjoying myself," She regretted the words as they left her mouth, when had she become so lewd? "What I mean is. . . well I don't know, but I thought I had a memory only now it's gone."
"Are you okay? Was it like the nightmare?"
"No, nothing like that," she shrugged, "it was- " How do I describe it? Would he become very jealous or hurt that images of other men rushed through my mind? Better not to take the chance, she thought. "-I don't know. It doesn't matter anyway."
"You're sure"
Sarah nodded.
"Are you certain?" he asked her again.
"Sure- yes. But not certain, there is one thing you could do to make me certain."
"What's that?"
"Kiss me again" she said shyly then giggled, "what you must think of me Buck Cross."
"I think you are the loveliest, bravest woman I've ever known Sarah Morales," he said as he once again embraced her, "and I promise I'll do anything to make certain you're okay.
Rachel saw Buck kiss Sarah for the second time and smiled.
"What are you staring at?" Teaspoon whispered from behind her, "Oh!" he said secretly.
"Shh! I don't want anyone to intrude on them."
"Then maybe we should keep everyone talkin' until those two come inside." He said as he gently moved her away from the window.
Fifteen minutes later when Buck and Sarah had finally come back into the house, Lou asked if it had gotten chilly outside after noticing both of their flushed faces. When they both blushed even more deeply, Rachel and Teaspoon laughed.
TO BE CONTINUED...Chapter VII
Copyright 1998-This work is not to be reproduced without the permission of the author
The Way Station
Campfire Tales
