By Suzy
'Buck, say something, it's not every day that a girl proposes.' She laughed nervously.
'Jenny, you hardly even know me.' He spoke, his mind whirling, of all the things he had expected her to say to him, that was nothing like any of it.
'That's not true, I now that you are good and kind and caring.' she slipped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. I know that you have the soul of an angel, the wisdom of the heavens, the courage of the bravest warrior, a pure heart.' she looked up into his stunned face. 'I know that we could have a good life together' she hugged him.
'Jenny we,' He stopped pushing her arms from him and walking a short distance trying to clear his thoughts.
'Buck I came back here for you.' She spoke.
'Jenny I hardly know you, I have thought about you a lot, but I think we should court for a little while. Don't you?' he reasoned with her. He watched her head drop and her
bottom lip quiver.
'Of all the people in this town I thought you would understand.' she almost sobbed. 'Understand what Jenny? You are the most beautiful person I have ever met' Raising his hands when she tried to interupt 'both spiritually and physically. That's why I can't let you marry me. A half breed who can't even find his own place in society.' he turned his back on her, stuggling with his own emotions.
Jenny realised then what this noble warrior was trying to do. She closed the gap between them and placed her arms around his waist.
'Don't you see Buck, we are the same. My blood might not be mixed, but my heart is. I don't fit in with my white family. I dare say, I wouldn't fit in if I went back to my tribe and my brother. The only place I have found acceptance since I returned is with Lou and Kid and the other riders. Just as I know the only man I could ever marry is you.' Buck turned and took her into his arms. Resting his head on the top of hers for a short time, simply saoking up the affection she offered. After a short time he pulled from her embrace and held her by the shoulders.
'You know that the townsfolk will treat you badly if we court' he spoke seriously.
'You mean things could get worse then the whispers I already hear behind my back as I walk through town. Worse then the people who are supposedly my father's friends staring and pointing. Worse then my own father not wanting to touch me to hug or kiss me the way he does his other child because I am dirty or tainted in some way.' she explained her eyes full of tears.
Buck watched her fo a moment, then lifted his thumb to collect the one fat tear that had overflowed. Then he sank to one knee in front of her, looking up at her expectantly 'Miss Jenny, would you do the honour of courting with me, and think about becoming my wife.'
'Mr. Cross, nothing would please me more' she sank to her knees in front of him and hugged hime tightly. He turned her face to his and kissed her gently.
'Would you like to dance?' he asked as he stood and helped her back to her feet'I would love to. But first we have to go and find Lou' she smiled.
'Why?' he frowned.
'I have become good friends with her since I returned. I want her to be the first to know.' Jenny answered, Buck was sure he had been tricked in some way, but he could not complain about the outcome, so he didn't mind in the least.
He offered her his arm and she looped hers through his, both content to walk slowly back to the party. It didn't take them long to find Lou who was dancing with Kid. They waited for the dance to finish before catching Lou's eye and gesturing for her to come to them. Lou smiled and grabbing Kid by the hand dragged him from the makeshift dance floor. The four of them wlaked into the barn to talk in peace.
'What is it?' Lou asked gently, Kid smiled crookedly almost certain he knew what the announcement would be.
'I wanted you two to be the first to know' Buck answered her seriously.
'Buck' Lou hit him playfully, Kid pulled her back into his embrace to try to stifle her impatience.
'Miss Jenny has agreed for me to court her, and eventually marry her.' he put his arm around her shoulder as he spoke drawing her deeper into his affection.
'Buck I'm so happy for the two of you.' Lou almost squealed, breaking free of her husband's embrace she almost knocked Buck over as she threw herself into his embrace to congratulate him. Disentangling herself from Buck, she hugged her good friend Jenny. Kid shook Buck's hand and drew him into an embrace, before embracing Jenny and kissing her gently on the cheek. When the congratulations were complete Kid spoke seriously
'Have you given any thought to where you will live?' he watched their faces carefully.
'We've only just decided to court!' Buck spoke incredulously.
'Lou and I are purchasing the Rock Creek Way Station from Russell, Majors and Waddell when the Express winds down. There is a sizable chunk of land that goes with it. We would be honoured if you would like to share the property with us, and we'll help you build a house near ours.' he explained
Buck and Jenny both looked at each other smiling, before Buck spoke 'I couldn't think of aywhere we would rather live' he answered truthfully.
'What do you say that we get back to the party?' Kid spoke softly, contented to be gathering his family back around him once more. finding the Pony Express had been the best thing he had ever done, it had provided him not only with a job, but a roof over his head, the love of his life and a family he would do anything for.
They returned to the party, for the first time he could remember Buck actually enjoyed himself socialising. He and Jenny became inseperable, dancing every dance together. As it grew later, and they grew tired he drew her into the shadows of the bunkhouse, content to embrace each other and sway in time to the music.
'Get your hands off her you filthy Injun.' Thompkins bellowed as he found them there.
'Father. No' Jenny cried as her father stalked up and pulled her from Buck's loose embrace
'No Injun will ever touch you again.' Bill Thompkins raged as he pushed Buck to the ground. Infuriated Jenny pulled herself out of her fathers grip, racing to kneel at Buck's side.
'You are coming home with me Jennifer.' Thompkins spoke clearly.
'Go Jenny' Buck spoke quietly 'He's your father, we'll sort this out tommorrow.' Buck was dismayed by Thompkins attitude, but he was crushed by the devestation on Jenny's face as he sent her away.
'He can't treat you like this.' she cried as Buck lifted himself from the ground.
'Jenny, please do as he says, we can talk to him together tommorrow when we are all calm.' he hugged her tightly then released her, desperate to ease her pain.
Jenny pulled herself out of his embrace and stalked past her father away from the party and across town. Buck watched her go and then turned on her father. 'I don't care how you treat me but don't you ever treat her like that again' Buck spoke his voice full of venom.
''I'll treat my daughter any way I see fit' Thompkins answered.
'She told me how you treat her. How the thought of touching something that an Indian has touched repulses you. How you can't bring yourself to touch her the way you do your other child. How your friends whisper about her behind her back. You are such a good father.' he spat.
'What do you expect?' Thompkins tried to explain 'she has lived like a heathen. She isn't pure anymore. I'll never find a man who wants her' he stopped ashamed of what he had just said.
'I asked your daughter to marry me tonight, and she accepted. So you can stop looking for a man who will overlook her lack of purity' he accussed 'Jenny is pure and sweet and good, I love and accept her, and she will be my wife.' Buck pulled himself up to his full height waiting for an argument from Thompkins.
'My daughter will not be marrying an Injun.' Thompkins spoke, turned and walked back into town.
Jimmy who had been standing in the shadows, listening and waiting to come to Buck's assistance if he needed it, came forward and patted Buck on the back
'Are you alright?' he asked softly.
'Yeah, I forgot this town and it's hatred' he spoke.
'You can't blame them, the indians are stealing their livestock and crops, and killing people.'
'Only because they are being herded onto reservations with no food and no hunting' Buck explained flatly.
'What are you going to do about Jenny? Did you mean what you said' Jimmy asked changing the subject.
'Every word. I'll go and see him in the morning, see if I can make him see sense, and ask for Jenny's hand' Buck spoke.
Buck walked away from his friend and passing the others silently, he walked into the bunkhouse. Flopping onto his bunk, he stared at the ceiling going over in his mind, the events of the evening playing over and over in his mind. He hadn't thought that the one person could be so happy and so devastated in one night. He thought he knew Thompkins and his hate of Indians. He had even understood some of that hatred when he found out that his family had been stolen and held captive. Hearing the door open, he closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep, not wanting a long drawn out conversation with Jimmy.
'Buck I know you're awake' Kid spoke 'Lou sent me to find you.'
Buck rolled over and rested his head on his hand 'What does she want?' he smiled not able to be angry with Lou.
'Jimmy told us what happened. What are you goin to do?' he asked pulling a chair up to Buck's bunk side.
'I'm going to go and see Thompkins in the morning, and asked for Jenny's hand in marriage.'
'He'll never agree to that.' Kid replied.
'Well I won't be going away. He'll have to give in eventually. It dawned on me tonight that Jenny and I are meant to be together, here with our family. Now that I know that, Nothing will ever stop us. We're like two halves of the one whole.'
'Don't have to tell me. I know how that feels. You know that Lou and I will help you in any way that we can' Kid spoke holding out his hand to Buck to help him up. 'Lou said to bring you back to the house for some coffee and cake.'
'I'll be over in minute, I just need a couple of minutes alone.' Buck spoke softly.
'Sure, but don't be too long.' Kid put the chair back and walked out of the bunkhouse.
Several minutes later, Buck entered Kid and Lou's house and found them seated entwined on the sofa in the living room, a pot of coffee and a large chocolate cake on the coffee table in front of them.
'I hadn't realised it was so late' he apologised.
'Everybody went home about an hour ago, nobody was very festive anymore.' Lou answered.
'I'm sorry I spoiled your first party Lou.' Buck apologised, sincerely sorry for spoiling her night.
'Buck, you have nothing to be sorry about, Tompkins spoiled the night, not you.' she smiled as she spoke as she cut a piece of cake and handed it to him, then turned more serious.
'What are you going to do?' she asked.
'I have to wait and see what Thompkins will do when I ask for her hand. But first I want to ride over to Blue Creek in the Morning and buy her a betrothal ring. I want to do things properly.' He tried to appear happy for his friends sake but he knew that his immediate future would be stormy and troubled.
'Kid and I have spoken about it, and well we have decided that if she wants to leave her fathers home, she is welcome to stay here with us. She doesn't have to feel alone in the world' Lou explained to him.
'He'll cut off the station's credit.' Buck shook his head at their plans.
'You let us worry about that.' Kid answered 'He knows what it means to cross the Pony Express.'
They talked for a while, Buck finally seeing that with his friends help He and Jenny may be getting the start in life together they needed. He returned to the bunkhouse hours later for a little sleep, before setting out for Blue Creek to buy the ring that would signify the start of his new life.
On to chapter Chapter Six