Buck, Kid and Lou watched the scenario before them with great amusement; Jimmy sat atop an all green young horse, or actually - he was bouncing above an all green young horse. The filly wanted him off her back, and badly too. Less than five seconds after he had mounted her he got to bite the dust again.

"Next!" Lou shouted and all heads turned to Buck.

"You're up!" Kid encouraged and opened the gate to the round pin.

Buck took a few deep breaths and looked into Jimmy's eyes for confirmation. Jimmy nodded and held the horse firmly, waiting impatiently for his friend to mount so he could get out of there; to seek cover. This sure was a stubborn filly.

Buck's heart stopped beating and his breath got stuck in his throat. His head spun and he couldn't sit up; he had to remain lying on the ground, groaning. His left hand lay before his eyes; bloody, dusty. Lou reached his side in a flash, kneeling by his head.

"Buck?"

He looked up, weary, his eyes unfocused. He felt cold all over and his legs wouldn't stop shaking.

"Are you alright?" Lou asked, looking over her shoulder.

The least said dangerous filly was being trapped against the fence, both Jimmy and Kid approaching her carefully.

vBuck nodded, sitting up with her help. His hand throbbed and when he tried to bend his fingers he winced.

"Let me look at that," Lou offered and carefully took the bloody limb in her two hands.

Buck winced again and yanked it back, cradling it against his chest.

"I think it might be broken," Lou said and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

v"She stepped on it," Buck stated. The memory was only a blur, but he remembered the pain when her hoof had pinned his hand against the hard dust ground.

"Here, lean against the fence," Lou said and helped him to find a comfortable position. She could see on his pale face he was mighty shocked.

"Kid! Get the buckboard, he needs to see a doctor!" she called.

Kid nodded in acknowledgement and hurried toward the barn, leaving Jimmy with the troublesome filly. Buck leant back into Lou's arms, keeping his gaze horizontal; mainly to keep from fainting. He watched the people passing by in the street, wishing Cami would appear somewhere. But it was Sunday, and she was most likely in church. He started to swoon like so many times before, wishing her luscious body was all his. Oh, the things he would do if that were reality!

Just then Kid stepped into view, leading a horse and buckboard. Lou clapped his back and his train of thoughts were broken. She helped him to his feet and brushed him off.

"Let's get you over to doc's!" she spoke and helped him hobble over to the wagon.

Cami ran across the lawn. Her two dogs followed her happily, barking in excitement. Her five years younger brother tried to keep up with his sister, but she was so much faster. Her long, strong legs carried her across the freshly cut grass and her hair lifted in the warm breeze; flying all around her head like a bright brown veil. Pain broke her sense of freedom and she crumbled to the ground, hearing only the sound of one of her dogs, yelping in pain too.

Her brother reached her side and watched his sister rub her left ankle.

Their youngest dog, the schnauzer puppy Gordie, was looking at her with a crossed expression on his fluffy face. His right hind leg he held high as if in pain.

"Gordie!" Cami cried and collected her friend in her arms, her sprained ankle all forgotten.

The pup licked her face and she smiled again. She had only stepped on his paw; nothing serious. Puppies forget quickly. Too bad she tripped over him, though.

"You alright, sis?" her brother Michael asked and again her ankle hurt.

"Not really," she sighed and rubbed it again. Touching it hurt now and it was turning color.

"Perhaps you should let daddy drive you to the doctor?" Michael said.

"I don't think it's broken," Cami assured him.

"I'll get dad," Michael said anyway, running off in the next breath.

Cami smiled. Her brother was growing into such a caring individual. Much like someone else she knew about. Someone she would die to know. Someone who stayed in her head both night and day. Someone she loved...