Buck paced lightly from the hotel to the Johnson residence at the far end of Rock Creek. He had awoken with an overwhelming feeling of loneliness when he stretched out in bed that morning, and though he had only slept beside Cami twice he still knew he would explode if he didn't see her soon. Like the previous day the sun was warm and beckoning, the sky a clear blue with few clouds, and the dust in the streets whirled up under his boots when he walked. He knew soon it would be winter, but gazing out over the land on this day made that hard to believe. The picket fence shone in the sunlight and he opened the gate with one swift movement of the left hand. The gravel made a comforting sound under his boots when he walked toward the front porch.

The door was open and Buck was struck by a feeling of unease. There was no one there to be seen and he jumped the steps two at a time with a questioning frown on his face. He knocked on the door post and peered inside.

"Hello?" he called carefully.

There was a long moment of uncomfortable waiting before he finally heard footsteps.

"Oh my, Mr. Cross!" Maggie Johnson called cheerfully when she saw who it was. "What brings you around?" she asked and wiped her hands on a towel that hung from her apron pocket.

"Hello, Mrs. Johnson. I was wondering if perhaps Cami would want to join me for lunch today," he said, watching his language closely. This woman was the last person he wanted to have turn on him.

"Oh," Maggie exclaimed and finally let go of the towel. "Why don't I ask her," she smiled and waved for him to follow inside. "You may wait in the kitchen, and please, help yourself to the rolls. I just made them!" she called and Buck fell into pace behind her.

The kitchen was bright and spacey, with a long table draped in a bright yellow tablecloth and five straight-back chairs. The smell of rolls just taken out of the oven filled his nostrils even as he walked through the hall. If he ever had a kitchen of his own, he would want it to both look and smell that way! There were windows in two directions and the petite curtains were of the same fabric and color as the tablecloth. At one wall sat the stove and a kitchen sink. They actually had water running from the water tower outside straight into the house! A hole in the wall with a thick pipe and a pump of sorts; at least that was what it looked like. Buck knew Rachel would die to have a kitchen with indoor pluming!

His thoughts were broken by Maggie returning.

"She's on her way down," she announced and Buck couldn't stifle the relief and joy that coursed through his body. "Now, please," Maggie continued and Buck cleared his throat to remained straight-faced.

"Yes?"

"How come you want to spend lunch with Cami? Surely, after the days you spent together in Cottonwood, you must be yearning some adult company?"

Buck couldn't help but frown at the question. Didn't she know how adult her daughter behaved with strangers? Couldn't she see through his feigned, polite facade that he was head over heals in love with Cami? And what's the deal on Cottonwood? He asked himself, wondering if that was what Cami had told her parents. It had to be.

"Well," he began and tried to come up with a good explanation fast, one that wouldn't give him away. "She's good company. And I'm somewhat lost in Rock Creek all by myself," he nodded to appear certain of the lie; Maggie frowned back at him.

v"I thought you've lived in Rock Creek for over a year?"

Buck bit his tongue. So Cami had told her that...

"Yeah, but... Well... The things is..." Buck was exasperated and mighty red-cheeked. The words just wouldn't come to him.

"You've been a rider for the pony express, have you not?" Maggie asked. "Or is that just something Cami made up, to make you more of a hero?" she laughed suddenly. "She does that sometimes, she's got it after her father!"

Buck chuckled embarrassed and shook his head. "No, I've ridden for the express. Just... Well, I've... just recently... I..." he stuttered and scratched his chin, ignoring the cold sweat up his back and forehead. He didn't hear Cami enter the kitchen.

"...broke the connection with the other riders," she explained for him.

"Right?" She smiled warmly at him and his cheeks grew hotter still.

"Right," he nodded and Maggie's frown finally disappeared.

"Well, I hope your afternoon turns out good then!" she smiled and rose from her seat at the table. "Want a couple of rolls with you on your way?"

Cami nodded eagerly and grabbed two instantly, biting one and handing the other to her secret lover. "They are great, thanks mom!" she smiled and gave her mother a fast hug.

"Don't you go riding off to a stranger town again, y'hear!" Maggie hollered behind them as they moved out of the kitchen.

"I won't!" Cami promised and gave Buck's hand a quick squeeze. If she only knew...