Buck and Ike looked at each other with a wry grin, they had only been trying to help by returning, what they realised was probably some poor stranded families only source of transportation, and now they were being confronted at gunpoint for their troubles. Almost two weeks ago two large wagon horses had meandered in to the way station, he knew that somebody would be missing them and was more than likely in some sort of trouble so he and Ike had been travelling several miles each day trying to find their owners. Casting his keen eye over the scene before him he knew that his intuition had been correct this was indeed where they had come from and unless he missed his guess these people were in serious trouble.

"We don't mean you any harm Ma'am' Buck spoke quietly, his interest piqued by the fierce protectiveness of the young girl.

'If you come any closer I'll shoot.' Bernice spoke more forcefully than she felt, the mad dash across the clearing had rapidly expended any reserves of energy she had left.

'We have found your horses, we were merely trying to return them.' Buck continued to speak calmly as he dismounted and handed his reins to a bemused Ike.

'You found Nelly and Sally?' she paused almost forgetting to be wary of these men who seemed so caring. Next to her mothers death she was hurting most keenly from the loss of her beloved horses whom she had cared for since their purchase four months previous. She remembered vividly what her mother had told her about trusting strangers but she seemed to somehow know that these men would not hurt her especially if they were trying to return her beloved Nelly and Sally.

'Are they alright?' she asked less forcefully remembering her promise to her mother to protect Jasper.

'They're fine, they're in our corral at the Pony Express way station. Are you all right?' he asked as he watched her sway, as he had walked slowly closer he had begun to notice small things. Although she was a beautiful young girl, she appeared to be older than she first appeared, but her face was pale and a little too gaunt, dark purple shadows ringing her eyes, her hands trembled with fear and exhaustion, her hair obviously once her pride and joy was tangled and lacklustre, small clumps of dirt clinging to the near hip length ends, her clothes were filthy and streaked with mud

'Can we help you? Maybe we could take you back with us to get your horses' he spoke calmly trying not to distress her as they inched closer to the wagon. He could see that the girl was hanging on to her composure by a gossamer thread, glancing across at Ike, he watched as Ike faintly shrug his shoulders also at a loss at how to help this young family.

'No mama told me not to leave the wagon, its our home' she explained 'we can't afford to lose it' she explained as she recalled her mothers exact words

'Is there anyone else travelling with you? Where is your mama?' he asked gently, tempting fate and moving slightly closer. His sharp eyes did not miss the young girls furtive glance into the trees at the side of the gentle stream the girl had run from before she shook her head sadly, her bottom lip trembling as she tried to control her emotions. Turning slightly, he picked out the shape of a cross and a fresh grave in the shade of the trees. Cursing silently, he wondered which of this girls family members had died here.

'Can you tell me your name?' Buck asked softly trying a different tack as he watched the threatening tears well in her eyes and trickle down her dirt stained cheeks.

'Bernice' she murmured in a near sob her composure almost at breaking point 'Please don't come any closer, mama told me not to trust anyone.' raising the shotgun a little higher she pointed it directly at Buck's chest. Buck hated himself for prying and pushing her past her emotional breaking point, but he had to do it to ensure that she got the help and friendship she and the young boy under the wagon needed.

'Is that your Mama's grave Bernice' Buck spoke his voice full of compassion trying to understand the fiery waif in front of him

She nodded tearfully and choked back a sob as she explained 'Mama was thrown from the wagon two weeks ago, her neck was broken'

'That was good advice your mama gave you Bernice, but when you get to know us, you will realise that we only want to help you. My name is Buck and my friend here is Ike, we are riders with the Pony Express, if you let us we can help' he paused and walked a step closer, by now he was almost close enough to wrestle the gun from her weak grasp, but he wanted to gain her trust and prove to her that he meant her no harm, so he made no attempt to touch it. He could not help but compare Bernice to the other strong but vulnerable woman that he knew, Lou.

Realising that she stood no chance against these men if they did indeed mean her harm, she gave in to the inevitable and handed the gun to Buck. Standing there forlornly, tears streaming down her cheeks, violent sobs racking her tiny frame, Buck put the gun on the ground and standing in front of her enfolded her in his embrace. She stood stiffly in his arms for several minutes, but then gave into her instincts that had been telling her she could trust this gentle quiet man, and sank bonelessly into his embrace releasing the tears and agony she had been bottling up since her mothers death. As Buck stood holding Bernice, Ike went to the side of the sleeping boy and lifting him gently he cradled his slight weight in his arms, carrying him back to his horse, he mounted then waited to see what Buck was going to do.

'Ike can you go home and get the others and the supplies we'll need, we'll have to change the axle before we take the wagon back, I'll stay here with Bernice until you get back.' Buck explained and watched as Ike rode away as quickly as he could with the small child on his lap.

Buck lifted the limp Bernice into his arms and carried her into the shade of the trees, knowing that she would be more comfortable at her mothers final resting place.

He sat there with Bernice cradled on his lap until she had finally stopped sobbing, her breath coming more evenly. Her ragged sobs and heart wrenching tears bringing sympathetic tears to the gentle Indians eyes.