Kid came galloping into the yard past the doctor in his buggy. He passed off the pouch to Henry, a rider from the station to the east, and pulled Katy up to a halt as Cody reached for the reins.

"I'll cool her down for ya Kid."

"Thanks Cody." Kid jumped down off Katy's back and reached into his saddlebags to withdraw a leather wrapped bundle.

"What's that?"

"Message for Buck." Kid strode across the yard, up onto the porch and tapped on the door. He opened it as Emma called "come in".

Kid noticed at once that the bandages had been removed from around Buck's eyes and broke into a wide smile.

"Hey Buck! Look at you!" He walked over to the bed and sat down in the chair Emma had just vacated. "I was stopped on my run by Red Bear and some of his braves. He wanted to know how you were doing. And he sent you this." Kid held the bundle out, waiting for Buck to take it from him, then placed it near his hand, a puzzled look coming over his face.

Buck reached out with numb fingers to touch the bundle. He tried to pick it up, but his fingers still weren't working quite right and it slipped through his hand. Kid reached over, picked up the bundle and untied the leather thong. He laid it out for Buck to see.

"There are some sort of symbols on it. What does it mean?" Kid asked

"Kid... I can't see." Buck replied softly. Kid glanced up at Emma, who shook her head. there were tears gleaming in her eyes.

"We'll describe it to you." she said. "What was inside it, Kid."

"An eagle feather, some sage I think," he sniffed the dried plant material them waved it under Buck's nose, who nodded in agreement, "some other dried plants, some corn, a bear claw, and some kind of clear rock."

"It's a power bundle. It gives a person strength." Buck told them as he ran his fingers over the eagle feather.

"Wrap it back up, please. The symbols are probably a plea to the spirits for strength and courage." Kid put the bundle back together and slid it under the mattress.

"So..., " Kid said, uncomfortable and not knowing what to do next, "What did the doctor say? I thought maybe with the bandages off..."

Emma gave a brief run down of the doctor's visit. Kid went about finding some light weight objects for Buck to exercise his fingers with, then left to do chores before lunch.

The spoon went flying across the room and clattered against the wall.

"Well, do you feel better now?" Emma asked, her hands on her hips as she looked from Buck to the spoon and back again.

"No... not really."

"Then I suspect it won't happen again." she said as she picked up the spoon and placed it back in Buck's right hand.

The exercise was not going well. Buck had very little feeling in his hand yet and was having a hard time grasping hold of things. Add to that the fact that he was left handed not right and the result was frustration. He had spent the time since lunch moving uncooked beans with the spoon from one bowl to another and the spoon kept slipping from his hand.

He let his hand drop to the table, the spoon slipping yet again from his grip.

"I'm sorry."

"It's all right,' she answered him then glanced at the door as a wagon pulled up outside.

"Who could that be?" She got up and pulled the curtain aside a crack. "Well. I'll be. It's Geneva Campbell."

Buck turned his head away from the door and Emma slipped out.

"Geneva, how are you?" She greeted the woman as she walked down the steps and approached the woman's wagon.

"I'm doing well, Emma. I hope you don't mind my just dropping by like this." Geneva climbed down off the wagon seat and clasped Emma's hands.

"Not at all. Would you like to come in for tea?"

"I really came out to see the boy. His name is Buck, right?"

"Yes. He's in the house. Come on in." The two women walked up the stairs. Emma stopped to tap on the door to let Buck know she was opening it and they entered.

"Buck? You've got company."

Geneva Campbell looked uncomfortable as she took the seat Emma offered her.

"Buck, I'm Geneva Campbell."

"Miz Campbell. How are you doing?"

"Kind of you to ask. I'm well. I, um... I wanted to thank you for what you did. Saving my life." She looked down at her hands. She was very nervous about being here. this young man had riked hi life to save her, but he was an Indian and that made her uncomfortable. His sacrifices were obvious to her, with burns still visible and his leg propped in chair. Guilt weighed her down.

Emma handed her a teacup and pulled a chair up to the table to join them.

"It's all right." Buck replied. This was awkward. He knew she was bothered by the fact that he was a half breed. By now he knew all the signals for that. He wished he could get up and walk away.

"I... I feel I owe you an explanation. Emmit set that fire. He'd been acting strangely." She paused, her hands playing with the teacup.

"Anyway, " she said looking up at Emma, then at Buck and back to her hands, "He'd been saying strange things, accusing me of hiding things from him. I'd cook him a meal and an hour later he'd get mad 'cuz dinner wasn't on the table. He'd just eaten! That last day he accused me of poisoning him. he hit me and I must have been knocked out. When I woke the romm was full of smoke. Well, that's when you came along."

"Geneva, that's horrible." Emma touched the older woman's hand.

"I owe you my life Buck. Thank you."

Buck didn't know what to do. He mumbled a throaty "You're welcome." Emma stood and walked behind the woman, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. Geneva had tears running down her face.

"He's a special young man," Emma said. "All my boys are special. He couldn't have not helped you."

"Is there anything you need? Anything I can do to help?" Buck shook his head. She turned to Emma. "You'll let me know if there is anything, won't you?"

"Of course."

"I'd best be going then. Take care, Buck." Emma walked her to her wagon.

Buck threw the spoon across the room.

The next morning Emma was especially busy in her kitchen. When Buck asked what she was doing she said it was a surprise. By mid morning she was done. Teaspoon came by and they helped Buck finish dressing, then wrapped his eyes with bandages, still not answering his questions. He could hear the door opening and closing as Emma and Teaspoon came and went. Then Teaspoon stood before him.

"Okay Buck, it's time to learn to use these here crutches. How about going for a little walk?" He didn't have to ask Buck twice. The boy pushed himself up from the chair and Teaspoon helped him position the crutches. Leading him away from the furniture, Teaspoon directed Buck toward the door. Buck was surprised when they helped him outside. He hadn't been out in almost three weeks. When they got near the steps, Jimmy moved up and he and Teaspoon lifted him down, then let him proceed on. It was exhausting. He hadn't had this much exercise in a long while. he could hear the jingle of harness and a horse stomp.

"We, " Emma said coming up behind him and placing his hat on his head, "are going on a picnic."

He felt hands lifting him up and placing him in the back of the wagon, his back propped against the side. Pillows were placed under his leg to prop it up. He felt Emma climb in beside him as Teaspoon climbed onto the seat and picked up the reins.

"What's the occasion?" Buck asked softly as the wagon started to move.

"It's Sunday. And it's a beautiful day. Isn't it boys?" Emma called out as the other riders joined them on horseback.

They rode for about a half an hour. Teaspoon tried to avoid as many bumps and holes as he could, but Buck felt everyone he hit in his leg. Emma noticed and insisted that he drink some of the pain tea she had brought along. She considered turning back, but Buck insisted they go on, the pain wasn't more than just from moving around and wasn't bad.

Shortly after they started out Sam joined them. Buck could tell a slight change in Emma's voice after his arrival. She was truly happy when he was present.

Buck had awoke the night before with a cramp in his leg. Out of habit he had looked around the room without moving, knowing he couldn't see, but doing it out of instinct. his ears were tuned to the sounds around him and he realized quickly that he was invading Emma's privacy by being awake. Every so often he could pick up Emma's voice, or Sam's.

He moved his foot to try and ease the cramp. It took some time to stretch the muscle out. By then he was wide awake. He started a chant in his head, somewhat like counting sheep and regulated his breathing. He had distracted himself this way many times before in his brother's teepee. There was very little privacy in an Indian village.

Buck had a feeling that if Emma had her way there would be wedding in her future!

The wagon came to a stop. Everyone was talking and laughing. Jimmy and Kid helped Buck out of the wagon as Emma spread out a blanket under a big oak. They settled Buck against the trunk, Lou helping to hold his leg up, Ike right there with pillows. Buck was more than a little tired of the fuss and had to struggle to keep from getting mad. They were his family and just trying to help. But it got old. It was no one's fault, it was just the way it was.

Cody made some crack and Jimmy took off after him, tackling him to the ground. Buck heard an "oof" sound and laughter, but picked up also the sound of an unshod horses hooves. Everyone grew suddenly silent and he heard the rustle of Emma's skirt as she stood and walked toward the horse.

"I'm glad you came." she said. Buck cocked his head, trying to hear exactly what was happening. he heard moccasined feet approach.

"You are doing well little brother?"

"Red Bear?"

"Yes my brother." His hand reached out and touched Buck's face.

"I can't believe you're here."

"Your friends are very kind to ask me."

"We were about to eat. You will join us won't you?" Emma asked sitting back down. Red Bear nodded then sat cross legged next to Buck.

There was tension in the group as Emma unpacked the picnic lunch she had prepared. No one knew quite what to do with Red Bear there. Cody, always the clown and performer, made yet another crack, resulting in a punch in the arm from Jimmy. It seemed to break the tension and soon everyone was laughing and talking again, including Red Bear in their conversations. Lou seemed to think this would be the perfect opportunity to hear stories about Buck's childhood and asked Red Bear several questions. He divulged a few stories about childhood antics that Buck wished he had kept himself. He knew Cody at least would never forget.

After they ate, the men got up and went out into the open field before them to play a game of baseball, a game Teaspoon had sent away for a few months back. Emma got up to watch them, leaving Buck and Red Bear alone.

"You did not answer me before." Red Bear asked in Kiowa. "Are you doing well?"

Buck hesitated before answering. He hated to admit any weakness to a war chief. It was extra hard since the war chief was is brother.

"Tell me little brother."

"I.... can't see. It's as if I'm in a thick fog. I can see light and dark, but that's all."

Red Bear paused before replying. "Then perhaps you were meant to see differently. Maybe you were meant to be a shaman and not a warrior."

"But I don't have visions."

"Perhaps you have not looked for them."

"Even if I did the Kiowa would not accept me as a wise man. They would not trust my visions. And the whites do not believe in them."

"Then you would have to make the Kiowa accept or the white men believe. This may be your destiny."

"If only it were that easy."

"It may not be that hard."

Emma glanced over her shoulder occasionally, the mother instinct not letting go even though she knew that Buck was in good hands. She saw the two brothers talking, one regal and self confident, the other looking a little vulnerable. At one point she saw that Buck had laid down on the blanket, using Red Bear's leg as a pillow. Red Bear's hand rested protectively on Buck's shoulder. She turned back to the game, a smile on her face.

She felt, more than heard, Red Bear approach and turned to him.

"He is asleep." Red Bear stated.

"He could use the rest." Emma replied. Red Bear stood watching the game. As she saw his interest she tried to explain the rules, as best as she knew them. Kid saw them watching and during a time out convinced Red Bear to join in. Emma had to laugh at the sight of this stoic Indian trying to hit the ball and running the bases.

She was so caught up by the game that she didn't see Buck stir behind her, but Red Bear had and he left the game, trotting toward his brother. Emma followed him when she heard Buck begin to cough. He'd had very few coughing attacks the last few days, but they had been severe ones.

This time was no different. As she drew closer she could already hear the wheezing start in between the coughs. She veered off to the small fire she had insisted Teaspoon build, dipped out a cup of boiling water, reached into the bag of herbs near the fire and tossed a handful into the cup.

She moved quickly to Buck's side, grabbing a spare blanket as she went and threw it over Buck's head as well as her own, placing the mug of steaming liquid under Buck's nose. Red Bear pulled the blanket down around them both to trap the steam inside. Buck was really struggling by now, the coughing barely slowing enough for him to drag in a ragged breath.

Before she could ask, Red Bear's hand appeared under the blanket with a fresh cup of steaming herbs.

Red Bear handed in two more steaming cups before Buck's breathing was under control. She knew he would still wheeze for awhile but he was getting air into his lungs. She finally pulled the blankets off their heads. Red Bear was kneeling beside them, concern on his face. Teaspoon was behind him and the others were about ten feet away. Emma forced a smile on her face, concern and fear still in her eyes.

Buck leaned his head back against the tree. These attacks scared him. His head would hurt for hours after one and he was still struggling some for air.

Emma looked over her shoulder at the riders, then back at Teaspoon. He stood and walked over to them, leading the boys back to the game. they began playing again, but it was a subdued group, only pretending to play. Only Ike refused to go, sitting on the ground near his friend, watching him.

Red Bear sat down behind Buck and gathered him into his arms. Buck leaned against his brother's chest, his head on Red Bear's shoulder. Red Bear took the mug of herbs from Emma and she got up to brew tea. She handed the cup to Red Bear, who placed it against Buck's lips.

"Drink." he commanded. Buck took a sip. "Again." Red Bear made Buck drink half the cup before sitting it down. He kept his arms wrapped around his brother. Eventually Buck slept.

Buck floated in and out of sleep. He felt the movement of the wagon, heard snatches of conversation. He felt strong arms lift him from the wagon and heard the low timbre of his brother's voice.

He stirred, fighting to wake up.

"Yes, you are right, " he heard. "Running Buck?"

"Mmm." He opened his eyes. The bandages were off, for all the difference there was in what he saw. He took his right hand, rubbing it gently over his face as he struggled to sit up. He felt very sluggish.

"Red Bear? You're still here. Is it safe?"

"I will leave before morning. Are you hungry?" Buck shook his head no.

"Here. Drink."

"No tea."

"It is water." He felt a glass pressed into his hand and Red Bear's wrap around his as he helped Buck lift the glass to his lips.

"Thank you." He swung his legs over the side of the cot. He leaned against his right knee, feeling groggy and a little dizzy. Red Bear and Ike helped him stand and took him over to a chair.

They spent the next several hours reminiscing. Emma came down the stairs and sat on the lower one listening to them. They talked in english so Ike could understand them. When Ike signed a comment Red Bear translated for him so Buck would know what he said.

Shortly before daybreak, Red Bear stood to leave. He and Ike helped Buck back to bed and they said their good byes, each not knowing when or if they would see each other again.

On to Chapters 8-10