By Suzy
Buck had returned to the way station by lunchtime, his purchase in his vest pocket. He knew that he was ready to take on Thompkins and anything else that the small minded, prejudiced townsfolk could throw his way. Leaving his horse hitched to the bunkhouse hitching rail, he walked inside to clean up beofre he went to confront Thompkins. As he walked through the door, he saw Kid Lou and Jimmy seated at the table eating lunch with an extra place set for him. He washed his face and hands, took off his hat and gunbelt and sat at the table to eat a meal with his friends, just like he had at mealtime here since joining the Expess.
'Did you get it?' Lou asked expectantly, at his nod she continued.
'Well show me....please?' she asked. The three men laughed at her impatience.
'I hope she likes it.' he pulled a small jewellers pouch from his vest and passed it to Lou.
Lou took the pouch and opened it, tipping the ring onto her palm. Two tiny entwined silver bands set with turqoise stones and laced with delicate engraving sat on her palm. 'It's beautiful Buck, she'll love it.' Lou showed Kid and Jimmy and put the ring back into the pouch, then handed it back to him.
'I hope so, none of the other rings suited her.' he answered.
'When are you going to go and see Thompkins?' Jimmy asked.
'As soon as I finish lunch and clean up a little.' he answered.
The four of them fell silent as they ate their lunch and worried about what would happen with Thompkins. Shorlty after they finished eating Buck showered and dessed in clean clothes. After receiving a good luck kiss from Lou he walked across town to Tompkins General Store. Entering the store, he was surprised to find Tompkins wife and not Thompkins
'Morning Maam' he spoke politlely 'Could you tell me where I can find your husband?' he asked.
'He'll be back soon I'm sure, would you like me to tell him you called.' she backed away from Buck, almost as if she was frightened of him.
'That would be nice thank you Ma'am he spoke politely, seething inside at the fact that she had never met him but was afraid of him.
Buck walked from the store and walked to the outskirts of town trying to not to lose his temper as people avoided him, some even crossing the street to avoid him. Understanding their fear he truly felt sorry for them and their petty insecurities. Walking back to the Way station, he was surprised to see it looking relatviely deserted. Crossing to the bunkhouse, he pushed open the door and walked inside. He was taken aback by what he saw as he entered.
Kid, Lou and Jimmy were seated at the table with a distraught Thompkins.
'What does he want?' Buck spat as he dropped his saddle bags on his bunk. 'Buck, Thompkins has something to say to you.' Jimmy spoke calmly.
'Lad I'm sorry. I know I have siad some things to you that I regret, but I meant well. I do love my daughter, I realise that she might not believe that but I do.' Thompkins started
'Fine way you have of showing it.' Buck accussed him as he sat beside Lou.
'Jenny and I had words last night after I went home. I said some truly hurtful and nasty things which I regretted the moment I spoke them. This morning when I went to apologise for the things I said, she was nowhere to be found.'
'What do you mean?' Buck stood, fearful of what he was about to hear. 'I mean I have searched the town, she is no where within the town. I thought that maybe she might have gone for a ride to think, it often makes her feel and think better just to ride across the plains, but when I returned I found this letter on her bed.' he indicated the paper that Kid was holding in his hands.
'What does she say?' Buck asked his voice shaking 'Please' he almost begged Kid to read it.
'Dear father' Kid began ' I realise now that my dreams of a happy life in your world with Buck, will never be allowed to reach fruition without you causing us and our friends to suffer. I will not allow you to hurt my friends either emotionally or financially. Just as I will not allow you to hurt Buck.' Kid paused swallowing convulsively, this obviously hard for him to read 'Buck is a good and kind man, a man of mixed blood certainly, but his soul is as pure as if he were born of one race. He brings together the best of both of his races. His kind and gentle nature would never allow him to treat you the way you treat him. Because of this I cannot allow you to continue treating him like this. It breaks my heart to see you cause him such suffering. So, I am returning to my other family. The family you so despise, yet they are the only family I have really ever known. The treated me with more love and kindness than I can ever remember recieving from you. Please tell Buck that I love him, I know that he cannot live with his red brothers and I respect him for that, but I cannot stay here and continue to live a lie if I am not permitted to have him. Your Daughter, Jenny' Kid finished. Lou rubbed his arm as he read, tears falling freely down her cheeks. Kid and Jimmy's eyes were both tearglazed.
Buck crossed to his bunk and began to throw his belongings into his saddlebags. The other occupants of the room watched him silently, waiting for him to break. He returned to the table and dropped his bags heavily on them. 'I have one question for you Thompkins' he spoke curtly, the fire in his eyes evident 'If I find her and bring her back, will you consent to our marriage.' he spoke softly
'I see now that I was wrong son. I may not have any respect for your people but see has made me see that you are different. I should have seen it long ago, but my hatred for the people who destroyed my first family blinded me. I am sorry. I just want my daughter back, and I want her happy. If that is with you, then you have my blessing.' Thompkins explained.
'Good, because if I find her and if they haven't harmed her already, I will be bringing her back and with or without your blessing we will be getting married.' Buck stated.
'What do you mean harmed her?' Lou asked quietly.
'She's a white woman riding alone in Indian territory. Finding the tribe she was with then will be almost impossible, if she rides into the wrong tribe, they could kill her or worse.' he stated.
On to Chapter Seven