The look on Buck's face was a one of a kind. It was a mixture of relief as well as anger. "Where in the world have you two been?! I was worried sick and we heard in town that there had been a mudslide! Why didn't you let someone know that you were alright!?" Ike and Callie just stood looking at Buck, waiting on him to finish. When he was through talking he looked at them expectantly, waiting on an answer. Ike looked and Callie and she shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes. Grinning slightly, Ike looked at Buck and mimicked Callie's actions. Buck just sighed and shook his head. "Well, I think it's time we headed back. Everyone's probably standing on their heads by now worrying about you two." Buck told them. Callie and Ike looked at each other guiltily. (He's right. Maybe we should have gone back earlier.) Ike signed. Callie glanced at his injured arm and shook her head. "You couldn't even mount the horse, how in the name of God did you expect to ride it from here to Rock Creek? It's several hours ride over rough ground." She whispered to him under her breath, for some reason she didn't think Ike would want Buck to know he was hurt. Ike shrugged. (I've done harder things before. I can do this. I don't want everyone worrying. We need to get back as soon as we can). "Fine, but as soon as we get back, I'm taking you to see a doctor. No arguments." She hissed. Ike nodded his agreement. Checking to make sure that they hadn't left anything behind, Ike and Callie mounted their horses. Callie kept her eyes on Ike, just in case. But besides the pained look on his face, he seemed fine. They started out at a slow gallop riding towards Rock Creek.
**********
All throughout the ride back to Rock Creek, Callie kept her eyes locked on Ike. Why had she never noticed what an outstanding shade of green his eyes were? She wanted to just get lost in them. Sometimes, Buck would try to start a conversation with her, but seeing as how he rarely got an answer to his questions, he finally gave up. That was exactly how Callie wanted it. The quiet helped her focus her thought and feelings, which were currently in a sad state of turmoil. She had suddenly realized that she was falling for Ike McSwain. This was a bad thing for a gunfighter, as she was rarely ever in one spot for very long and was always in danger of being killed. For as long as she could remember, she had told herself that she would never fall in love. At least not with someone who didn't lead her lifestyle. Ike had responsibilities to the Pony Express, he couldn't just leave to go with her wherever she decided to go. And she didn't want to risk breaking his heart by loving him and leaving. And she didn't want to put him through the ordeal of her death, should that ever happen. She was always on the lookout to keep herself out of these kinds of situations. Scarlett had always told her that her heart had eyes that could see whether or not someone would suit Callie's needs. Well, this time they hadn't worked. Well, she supposed that the old saying was right. Love really was blind. Oh God, had she just admitted that she loved him. No, no, no. This can NOT be happening. But something in the back of her mind told her "It can, it has, there's nothing you can do about it." Oh damn. She thought. Oh well, better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. By this time she wanted to hit herself over the head with something. She was NOT in love with him. She just liked him. A lot. She chuckled at herself. Ike turned and looked at her with confusion in his eyes. "Nothing, Ike." She said. He just shook his head and turned back around. By the time they had reached Rock Creek, Callie had finally convinced herself that she really did like Ike a lot. One problem, she didn't know if he liked her. Oh well, no matter, she'd find out sometime soon.
TO BE CONTINUED
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