By Melissa and Lisa
Copyright 2000
“Now, remember what I told you.”
Sidney reviewed everything that Rachel had told her about Buck and the children silently and quickly. It had been three days since she had been offered the job by Rachel and they were now on the way over to the Lazy M Cross Ranch to meet Buck and the kids. Part of her couldn’t help but be excited while the other part was terribly frightened.
Rachel pulled on the reins and the buckboard came to a stop in front of the ranch. The two women climbed down from the buckboard and brushed the prairie dust from their clothes. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
Sidney followed Rachel to the house and up the porch steps, the butterflies growing more anxious in her stomach. As they entered the house, Sidney took notice of how quiet it was. “Are you sure they’re home?” She asked cautiously.
Rachel nodded. “Buck! Buck, come on out, there’s someone I want you to meet!”
Whatever Sidney was expecting disappeared from her mind the minute the man Rachel called Buck walked into the parlor. Sidney knew he was half Indian, and that much was apparent from his appearance. But other than that, she couldn’t tell much else about him. She guessed he would be handsome if it weren’t for the scraggly beard, the long unkept hair, the gloomy eyes and the disheveled clothes. As Buck made his way over to them, Sidney couldn’t help but notice the faint stench of whiskey that trailed after him. She felt sorry for this poor man. How terrible it must be to lose the love of your life. Sidney’s pity was cut short the minute Buck opened his mouth.
“What the hell is she doing here?”
Sidney’s eyes widened and Rachel reprimanded him. “Buck, that is no way to speak to your new nanny. Remember? I told you I hired one a couple of days ago.”
“Nanny? I don’t need a nanny. I can take care of my kids just fine.” Buck answered defiantly.
Rachel laughed sarcastically. “Oh no? With me working full-time at the schoolhouse again and you drinking yourself into oblivion every night, someone has to be here for the children.”
Sidney felt very uncomfortable witnessing this exchange and wished that there was somehow she could slip out without anyone noticing. Almost as if Rachel had heard her silent plea, she turned towards her. “Sidney honey, would you do me a favor? My wildflowers are blooming and I’ve been meaning to gather some together for the kitchen. Can you pick me a nice bouquet?”
Sidney smiled. “Certainly. It was, um, nice meeting you Mr. Cross.” Sidney curtsied quickly and turned to walk out of the house. Once the door was closed, Rachel turned to Buck, her eyes flashing full of rage.
“How dare you? How dare you be so inconsiderate and rude?”
Buck dropped his gaze to the floor. It was funny, but even after all these years since the Pony Express ended and Rachel stopped being in charge of him and the rest of the riders, he still felt like he was being yelled out by his mother. She just had a way with them. “Hell Rachel, I’m sorry. I am. I just don’t think I need anyone here takin’ care of my children.”
“Yes you do! Miguel, Ike and Star are growing up fast, but what about Little Angel? She needs a motherly figure in her life now!” The second the words left her mouth, Rachel knew she had made a terrible mistake.
“Mother?!? Oh, so that’s it! Listen to me Rachel, the only mother that child, or any of them for that matter, is dead!” As the forced-to-be-forgotten memories of Sarah came flooding back to Buck, he couldn’t keep the tears from swelling up in his eyes. His body was wracked with heart-wrenching sobs as he collapsed on the couch. “Dammit!” He cried out as he tried to compose himself.
Rachel sat down next to him. “I know it still hurts honey, and I won’t lie to you, it probably will hurt for some time. But you have to live on, for yourself, the children, and Sarah.”
Buck looked up at Rachel through miserable, defeated eyes. “She can stay, but I won’t be happy about it.”
Rachel smiled triumphantly. You’ll learn to accept it, but that’s not what, or who, I’m worried about, she thought to herself.
Sidney was humming silently to herself while she picked the wildflowers for Rachel. So far she hadn’t heard any more yelling coming from the house so she hoped that everything was okay. She was just about to stand up and turn around when she felt something moving on her shoulder. She turned her hed slowly and was met face to face with a pair of wide, curious eyes.
“Ribbit!”
Sidney jumped and let loose a scream that she would swear was heard back in England. “Bloody hell!”
Buck and Rachel both heard the scream, jumped up and ran outside. There they found Sidney screaming and shaking, Ike’s pet frog Hopper sitting on the ground looking up at her.
“Ribbit!”
Sidney screamed again.
“Issac Flying Hawk Cross, you get out here this minute young man!” Rachel ordered. A few seconds later, Isaac, or Ike as he was more affectionately called, appeared from behind the bushes, a sheepish grin on his face. Rachel walked over to him. “What is your frog doing out here serenading Miss Bennet?” Ike just shrugged. “Don’t give me that young man.”
“It’s was Star’s idea.” He finally admitted.
“Why you little rat! Oops!”
Rachel heard the little girl’s outburst, then gasp, followed by the sounds of two more voices giggling. “Front and center, all of you!” Clara “Morning Star” Cross walked out from her hiding spot, followed by her brother Miguel “Little Wolf” and sister Angel. “Children, I’d like you meet your nanny, Sidney. Sidney, the boy you just met is Ike, and he’s one of triplets with Miguel and Clara, but we call her Star. And this little one,” Rachel bent to scoop up Angel, who giggled happily, “is Angel.”
Sidney smiled warmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.” Sidney noticed that the three triplets all stood close to each other, all wearing the same distrustful expression, their eyes shining with mischief. Sidney had a feeling that the frog was only the beginning of her adventures here. Things are bound to get interesting, she thought wearily.
On to Chapter Two
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