Jane lightly pulls away the sheer curtains to her upstairs bedroom at the Hunter household from the windows that overlook the barn and corrals. From the window she gazes down at the sight of the man that has been making her nights a torturous nightmare even before she falls into a restless sleep.

Every move that Buck makes causes her heart to race! Her eyes travel the length of his body from his rich dark brown hair all the way down to his booted feet. There isn’t a single inch of his body that is uneasy on her eyes. Jane closes her eyes and thinks back to the feel of his warm hands caressing every inch of her body until the uncontrollable aching he was bestowing onto her reached a violent climax that left Jane completely satisfied, but wanting more of him!

Jane remembers how she had initiated their lovemaking the second and third time. She certainly didn’t have to arouse any desire in Buck. Her single touch to his body caused Buck to shudder with desire for her. At first the intensity of their lovemaking had frightened her, but now Jane’s only thoughts are how she is going to live the rest of her life never feeling that intensity, that passion, and that heat again!

The wind hitting harshly against the pane of glass in front of her causes Jane to jump out of her naughty thoughts of Buck Cross. Jane watches Buck intensely as he and Kid are guiding their horses out of the barn and into the pasture. The horses are in need of much fresh air before the billowing winds, and the immeasurable amounts of snow due to winter keep them confined to the barn most of the day and night.

Already the late autumn wind is whipping briskly around the two men as they unleash the horses from the confinement of the barn.

Kid has kept his mouth shut concerning the morning that Buck had brought Jane back to the ranch after he had stole her away from the ranch. He knows that his adoring wife was in on the entire ordeal that has in the end caused Buck more heartbreak. Like everyone else, Kid suspects that Buck and Jane were finally able to consummate the deep love that they feel for one another. The only problem with Buck and Jane giving in to their desires is that Jane upon being forced to deal with Cody’s fierce temper went back to him claiming her undeniable love for Cody, and not for Buck. 

Kid watches Buck knowing that his mind isn’t really on his work. His friend hasn’t really smiled much the past two weeks since his overnight stay with Jane out in the wilderness.

“I wish you would talk about what it is that’s bothering you,” Kid spoke his voice almost demanding that Buck open up to him.

“There’s really nothing to talk about,” Buck spoke stubbornly.

“Like hell there isn’t!”

Kid’s tone of voice has Buck halting the mission he is trying to finish, and instead he reluctantly gazes at Kid.

“Jane has made her choice. I’m not going to stand in the way of that choice any longer. I tired to make her see that we belong together, but I guess my trying wasn’t convincing enough,” Buck spoke disheartened.

Kid makes a motion with his eyes toward the window that Jane is peering out of. 

“Is that why Jane can’t stop watching every move you make? Open your eyes Buck. Her eyes follow you everywhere you go.”

“Jane isn’t watching every move I make.”

Kid points up at Jane’s bedroom window.

Buck looks at Kid with a confused expression, but then he turns quickly, but he only witnesses curtains flowing back into place in front of the window. He sees the shadow of a figure walk slowly away from the window. Buck turns his head to view Kid.

“I’ve noticed Jane peeping on you a lot lately over the past couple of weeks,” Kid spoke knowingly.

“It’s all in your head, Kid. Jane is infatuated with Cody. She has no interest in me at all.” 

“Jane certainly took interest in you the night you kidnapped her,” Kid spoke assumingly.

“I never really told you what happened that night. You’re only assuming what you hope happened,” Buck spoke disheartened.

“When you brought Jane back the next morning, you both looked as if your love had been renewed. It was obvious to everyone, including Cody, that the two of you didn’t spend the night arguing,” Kid spoke amusingly.

Buck’s eyes glisten over with moisture as he recalls the night of loving and passion between him and Jane. “Yeah. Well you’re right. We didn’t spend the night arguing, far from it actually.”

“That’s what I thought,” Kid spoke smiling, as he slaps Buck on the back with his approval of Buck’s actions with Jane.

The two men walk into the barn ready to start the day’s work.

After the nausea eases, Jane bustles quietly into the kitchen where she stumbles upon Rachel all alone preparing the feast for the Holiday. 

“Do you need a hand, Rachel?”

Rachel who is at the oven basting the turkey turns around abruptly to face Jane. “That is the best thing I’ve heard all morning.” She smiles warmly at Jane, but then quickly returns to pay attention to the bird she is roasting.

“I would have thought that Louise would be over helping out.”

Rachel slides the roaster back into the oven and shuts the oven door. She turns back around to face Jane. Rachel brushes her hand across her forehead to wipe off the moisture gathering there from the steam that came from the roaster. “She’ll be over soon. You’ve been keeping pretty much to yourself lately. I haven’t had much of a chance to chat with you.”

“I have to admit I’ve been avoiding just about everyone,” Jane spoke softly.

Rachel walks to the sink and continues cutting up vegetables for the salad that she had started to prepare before attending to the turkey.  “Ever since your little argument with Louise?”

“I wouldn’t exactly call it an argument. We just don’t agree on who I’m in love with and who I’m not in love with. I’m sure you don’t agree with my choice either.”

“Jane, no one can tell you who to love. All of us hopeless romantics around here had just thought that we saw an undying love between you and Buck.”

Louise walks into the kitchen carrying a large basket full of goodies for the Thanksgiving Day dinner. “Good morning Jane, Rachel.”

“Good morning Louise,” Jane spoke smiling brightly.

“Good morning Louise. What do you have good in that basket?” Rachel asked with a starving expression.

Louise begins to unpack the basket. She first takes out one each of an apple and pumpkin pie. 

Rachel makes her way over to the counter and peeps underneath the cloth coverings over the pie plates. “They look simply delicious, Louise.”

Jane takes one look at the pumpkin pie and begins to feel the heaving feeling in her stomach again. She grasps her stomach tightly and stumbles out of the kitchen.

She leaves both Louise and Rachel confused by her actions. They both stare at Jane until she disappears out the back door and into Rachel’s garden.

“I guess she needed a quick breath of fresh air,” Louise spoke unknowingly. She takes the pies and places them on a counter by the sink well out of the reach of young children’s hands.

Rachel continues to gaze at the closed back door that leads to her garden. She wonders about the brief bout of nausea that Jane had just suffered through. Later her plans will be to question Jane on her brief need for fresh air.

Buck had finished with the morning chores rather quickly feeling the need to get back to the house to celebrate the day with his Pony Express family. The thought of having to deal with Cody all day had almost made him think about spending the day at the marshal’s office, but Teaspoon had convinced Buck that he and Rachel would have a lousy holiday if he weren’t present.

Buck decides to wash up at the well that is located at the back of the Hunter house. The well that Rachel uses to water her many blossoming flowers in the spring and summer seasons of the year. 

Jane watches Buck silently from behind him as he washes off the morning chores from his hands and face. He uses an old towel from the barn that he had carried along with him to dry off. 

When Buck turns around to head into the house his eyes meet the eyes of the woman that haunts his days, and torments his nights.

He notices how Jane has her hands clasped in front of her trying to ward off the bitter cold air.

“Kind of chilly for you to be out here without a coat on,” Buck spoke as he sheds his coat from his body and drapes it around Jane. 

As soon as Buck’s body presses gently against her own, Jane feels so hot that the idea of a coat stifles her breathing. 

Buck promptly notices the gasps of air that are between him and Jane. It is a known fact that the two of them can’t get within a few feet of each other without passion heating up between the two of them. 

Buck decides to use the moment to his advantage. After draping the coat around her shoulders, he brings his hands around the front of her face and lightly caresses her cheeks and throat. 

Jane moves her head backwards to give Buck complete access to the flesh of her throat. She closes her eyes and dreams of the two of them without clothing coming between them, lying on a bed passionately entangled with one another!

As Buck slips his hands around her waist and pulls her close to him, Jane suddenly realizes that Cody could be on his way over to the Hunter home at any moment! She pushes Buck away from her heated body!

Buck is once again confused, but this time he doesn’t plan on letting Jane off the hook by simply walking away from her with hurt feeling like he normally has done in the past. 

“I’d really like to know what the hell you see in Cody?” Buck spoke angrily.

Jane has to think about the question that Buck has thrown her way. She is well aware that it is an effort on Buck’s part to try and make her realize what they have between the two of them that is obvious to everyone that she doesn’t have with the blonde past Pony Express Rider.

“I see in Cody a man that knows what he wants and he goes after what he wants. Nothing holds Cody back from getting what he wants.”

A naughty smile plays across Buck’s face. “Oh. So then you’re saying that I should just take whatever it is that I want.”

Jane answers Buck without thinking about the ramifications that her answer will bring her. “Yes.”

Buck grabs Jane to him and kisses her passionately not allowing Jane to react by walking away from him. When he hears soft moans of desire coming from her, and feels Jane pull him close and hold him tightly to her, Buck pulls her close to his body and suddenly Jane feels like a prisoner to the intoxicating hunger for him that he embeds deep in her soul! 

Buck’s coat slides from Jane’s shoulders and onto the ground as the heat of the encounter once again becomes unbearable. She feels his manhood begin to strengthen with every movement she makes against his body! She hears the deep moans come in succession from deep within him! Jane brings her hands around the front of Buck where she fumbles to unbutton his shirt!

Buck tenses up. He can’t allow this to happen between them because making love to Jane is not a promise that they will share a life together. Since a lifetime promise is what he wants and needs from her, he halts their kiss.

Now it is Jane’s turn to be confused by Buck’s actions. She watches him as he picks his coat up from the ground. 

“You don’t want me?” Jane asked confused.

“I want you for a lifetime. The problem here is that you don’t want me for the same length of time. I can’t keep doing this. I can’t make love to you, and then the second it’s over you’re running into Cody’s arms! I can’t believe that you can even turn your feeling on and off that quickly. But, I can’t do that!” Buck spoke adamantly. 

Jane tries to reach out to Buck. He in turn backs up from her. Jane stops when she notices the overwhelming amount of pain echoing in Buck’s eyes.

“I don’t turn my feelings for you on and off as quickly as you might think I do.”

“Then why are you always running back to Cody? What? Are you afraid that I won’t love you for a lifetime?”

Jane tries to walk past Buck to get into the house. Buck grabs hold of her arm and turns to face Jane. 

“Don’t walk away from us,” Buck spoke as he searches the depth of her eyes telling him that she truly does love him. “I love you and my love for you is forever. I’ll never be able to love another woman as much as I love you.”

The haunting look in Jane’s eyes causes Buck to loosen his grasp on her slightly. Jane doesn’t want Buck to back away from her. All she really wants is to take him inside to his bedroom, and make love to him. Her mind has been clouded with memories of the cave and their intense night of lovemaking ever since the second he had brought her back onto the ranch. Jane forces her body tautly close to his. She reaches her hands around to Buck’s head and neck. She slowly reaches her lips to his, and begins to ignite another fire deep in Buck’s soul. 

Buck follows Jane’s lead and swoops his arms around her waist. The two are so wrapped up in the sensations that they are making each other feel that they are oblivious to their surroundings. 

Buck and Jane suddenly tear they lips away from one another, and gaze toward the back door when they hear it slam shut. Cody stands boldly in front of the two that are showing their deep love for one another.

Buck looks back at Jane. She doesn’t utter a single word of love to him. Buck slowly lets go of her arm and walks away from Jane and Cody. He makes his way into the house through the back door not feeling guilty at all by the problems that he may just have caused Jane.

Cody walks over to stand in front of Jane who hasn’t taken her eyes off the closed back door that Buck just went through.

Cody reaches a hand down to her saddened face and forces Jane to look up into his eyes. “Am I ever gonna be able to make you forget about him?”

“Are you going to try?” Jane asked, her voice shaken from her heated encounter with Buck, and from the unsatisfied love that is between them.

“I thought I was trying. But, the way he just walked out of here and the look in your eyes tells me that I might as well give up on my quest to capture your heart.” 

Rachel had made the dining area into a feast of all feasts. She had brought two tables together to create a cozy family atmosphere that she had hoped would bring all them close together again as a family. 

Unfortunately the sitting arrangements were not to Cody’s liking at all. Rachel had Teaspoon sitting at one end of the table while she had placed her self at the other end. On the front door side of the table, Rachel had seated Addison and Daniel close to her. Next to the two young Hunter boys she had placed Jimmy, Louise, Kid, and Buck next to Teaspoon at the other end. On the opposite side of the table next to Teaspoon, Rachel had placed Jane, Cody, Charlene, Abigail and Emma, Kid and Lou’s two girls, and finally Jack she placed next to her. Since that first introduction to Jack, Rachel has become quite pleased that Jack has stayed on in Rock Creek as long as he has. She finds his stories of the past humorous and exciting, and they also have kept her family from fighting amongst themselves on one or two occasions. 

Jane had said grace and immediately afterwards the table had become a frenzy of hands passing dish after dish around the enormous table until everyone had a plate full of the holiday meal. 

Jack had been the first to dig in and taste the tender turkey that Rachel had baked to perfection.

“Anytime Teaspoon that you want to give this lady away, I would be more than pleased to take her off your hands,” Jack had spoke with a teasing smile aimed at Rachel.

“I think I’ll be keeping her around for a lifetime,” Teaspoon spoke adamantly.

“Cody, when are you planning on sending for a judge so you can get this trail for Hannah over and done with?” Jack asked demandingly.

“I’m just trying to tie up a few lose ends. A judge has already been summoned, but he is booked with other trails until a week from tomorrow,” Cody spoke softly trying desperately not to arouse the anger in Charlene concerning her sister’s plight. 

“The truth is that Cody here doesn’t have enough evidence to bring Hannah to trail,” Jimmy spoke assuredly.

“I have more than enough evidence. Your problem Jimmy is that after turning Hannah in to the law, you’re feeling guilty as hell about the fact that she will hang after you’ve spent numerous weeks sleeping with her,” Cody spoke angrily.

“Cody! I would prefer the dinner conversation be a bit more suited for the young ears that are seated at this table,” Rachel spoke adamantly.

Cody gazes down at the busy faces toward Rachel’s end of the table eating their dinner. “I think the young ones are busy digesting their dinner, Rachel. I don’t think they are paying much attention to the adult conversation that is going on,” Cody spoke with a smile.

“Cody, you heard Rachel, mind your manners or exit yourself from the table,” Kid spoke with authority. 

Cody becomes quiet, and takes the time to notice that through all the babbling he endured with Rachel that Buck and Jane are having a rather difficult time taking their eyes off one another. Their plates are both completely full. It seems to Cody that their only hunger is for one another.

Cody clears his throat giving Jane the opportunity to peel her eyes away from Buck.

“I’m sorry Cody. Did you say something?”

Buck can only smile at the obvious way in that he had distracted Jane, causing Cody to become embarrassed by the way his woman can’t keep her eyes off other men.

“Are you ready?”

“Cody, give Jane a chance to enjoy her meal. We just sat down,” Lou spoke smiling over abundantly. 

“Momma, can we please be excused?” Abigail asked softly.

The sound of Abigail’s soft child voice causes all the adults to quiet their mouths from chewing and talking. Louise gets up from the table and walks around the other side to her two daughters.

“Of course you can be excused. I’m so proud of both of you. You finished everything on your plates.”

“Momma can we be excused too. We ate everything on our plates too,” Addison asked loudly.

All the adults except for Cody laugh at Addison’s plea to be excused from the table.

“Wipe off your mouths and then you may be excused. Perhaps the four of you would like to go outside and play,” Rachel spoke in a motherly tone.

All four children slide out from their chairs and race for the front door. 

“Make sure you stay in the front yard,” Kid spoke with authority.

Jimmy gets up from his chair and closes the door behind the four spirited children. Louise sits back down in her chair next to Kid. The entire family goes back to eating their meal for a few minutes in absolute silence.

Jack and Teaspoon both watch over the situation brewing at the table. The clatter of silverware to enamel plates, with no conversation, eventually gets on both Teaspoon and Jack’s usually calm nerves.

“Jack when do you think you’ll be ready to resume your unique line of work?” Jimmy asked trying to break up the silence at the Thanksgiving Day table.

“Doc says maybe a few more days and I’ll be able to ride for days at a time. I actually feel great, but the doc is just being a bit over-cautious. Why do you ask Jimmy?”

“I was thinking that maybe I could give you a hand bringing in Jesse and his ruthless gang of outlaws,” Jimmy spoke assuredly.

“Jimmy that might not be such a good idea,” Louise spoke softly.

Jimmy looks at Louise in a confused manner, and so does just about everyone else at the table.

“I figured most of you wouldn’t want me healthy and able to continue my search for Jesse,” Jack spoke quizzically.

“Jesse no longer has a home here,” Teaspoon spoke adamantly as he takes an uneasy glance at Buck knowing that the outcome of Jesse’s shooting Buck could have ended up being a lot more tragic then what it was.

“Teaspoon, you don’t have to act like you don’t still care about Jesse in front of me,” Buck spoke softly.

“Jack, I would prefer that when you do find Jesse and his gang that you take them to Plum Creek for their trail. That is actually the last town where they robbed the bank and shot the marshal,” Teaspoon spoke calmly.

An uneasy silence clouds over the room. Jimmy glances around the room at his family. Jesse who had once been a scrawny kid that they were all a little over-protective of has turned into their worst enemy. Jimmy gazes back at Jack. “ Actually Teaspoon, Jesse’s last shootout was with us, and he shot one of Rock Creek deputies. The offer still stands Jack. If I can be of help in any way with the James Gang, just let me know.”

“I’ll keep that in mine Jimmy.”

The family of the Kid & Buck Horse Ranch finishes their Thanksgiving Day meal in silence except for the clatter of silverware against enamel plates.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Cody adamantly wipes down his rifle as Hannah watches him through the enclosed bars of her jail cell. The blonde army man gives Hannah an uneasy feeling. He doesn’t seem like he belongs in the family back at the Kid & Buck Ranch. He seems like a man that is more like Jesse James. Hannah has noticed in the short time that she has been kept a prisoner that not many of Cody’s family members have anything nice to say when they come to the marshal’s office to visit with him. Most of Cody’s conversations with anyone end up in an all out verbal battle.

Hannah turns her head toward the office doors when she notices Charlene waltzing through them looking as if Cody isn’t going to have an easy day. 

Charlene slams the glass door, and Cody shrieks with concern that the glass will suddenly shutter in hundreds of tiny pieces. He looks around slowly to make sure the pane of glass didn’t crack from Charlene’s abuse. 

Charlene walks over to Cody, and gently takes the rifle out of his hands. She places it on the marshal’s desk.

“The rifle isn’t loaded Charlene,” Cody spoke flatly.

“I’m not taking any chances. How long do you plan on keeping Hannah locked up?”

“There is a judge arriving in Rock Creek in a few days for Hannah’s trail. I can’t just free Hannah on your assumption that she is innocent.”

“Cody, isn’t a person innocent until proven guilty?” 

Cody shakes his head. “In my book Hannah is guilty. I’m not letting her walk the streets of Rock Creek. I can’t allow anymore lives to be put in danger.”

Charlene glances over at Hannah who is sitting calmly on her cell bunk. “I’m getting my sister out of jail if it’s the last thing in my life that I accomplish!”

“I’m sorry Charlene, I was under the assumption that your main goal in life is to accomplish the impossible feat of getting Buck Cross to marry you,” Cody spoke quietly so Hannah can’t hear their conversation.

“You’re only hoping that I marry Buck, so you can get your greedy hands all over Jane. Wasn’t it you Cody who once told me that true love always prevails?”

“So, you’re giving up?”

“I didn’t say I was giving up, but Hannah’s predicament is just a little more important at the moment.”

Charlene walks angrily away from Cody, and heads over to the cell that Hannah is in.

The breeze is blowing lightly through Jimmy’s hair as he sits on the ground of the embankment that leads down to the creek near Kid and Lou’s home. He silently sits, and watches the turbulence of the creek. The winter winds will soon be settling in, and the water will soon freeze along the edges of the creek. By the time winter fully arrives Hannah will be taken from his life. Her own life will be just a memory to him, and to everyone who knows and loves her. 

Louise stands at the edge of the embankment wondering if she should make the attempt to be a friend and console Jimmy. If she chooses to be a true friend, her consoling could get her into unwanted trouble with Kid. On the other hand, she really feels bad for not helping Jimmy through all the sorrow, and guilt that he is feeling concerning Hannah’s arrest.

Without hesitating another moment longer Louise finds that her legs are carrying her down the slope of the embankment and nestling her body close to Jimmy.

“I sort of thought it was you even before you sat down,” Jimmy spoke quietly.”

“How long have you been sitting out here? It sure is cold.”

“I can’t feel a thing,” Jimmy spoke flatly.

“I know that you are feeling terrible over Hannah, but Cody isn’t giving up on Hannah being the killer. He’s going to see that Hannah hangs for her crimes unless someone can prove that she’s innocent. Cody isn’t going to be that someone who searches for Hannah’s innocence. He isn’t looking for new evidence that will prove he is wrong.

“Yeah, I know,” Jimmy spoke quietly.

“Yeah, I know isn’t going to free Hannah,” Lou replied softly.

“I suppose I’m just feeling sorry for myself. I finally allow myself to fall in love with a woman, and look what happens. She ends up being a killer. I’m really trying not to love her anymore, but these feelings won’t go away.”

“Do you think Hannah is guilty?”

“I saw the bloody gloves in her purse. I should have just took her away from here.”

“Hannah may have eventually killed you,” Louise spoke sadly.

“It really doesn’t matter. Hannah is in jail, and the judge will be here within a few days. Cody will finally be able to put these murders behind him, and move on. I’ll just have to get used to living without Hannah the same way I have lived my life without you.”

Louise is speechless for what seems like forever. The shock of Jimmy’s admittance is quite difficult to digest. Lou is convinced that her face must be fifty shades of pink and red.

“I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have actually blurted out my feelings for you. It’s just that I’ve kept these feelings inside for so many years that I just can’t hide them any longer. You have to admit though that you have suspected all these years that I’ve had feelings for you.”

Louise can’t seem to utter any words to Jimmy. She finds herself being suddenly swept up by romance with Jimmy’s admittance of love for her, and by Kid’s absence in her life. Without thinking about the consequences of her actions she teasingly sweeps her lips across Jimmy’s. In turn Jimmy embraces Lou close to him. A kiss of pent up passion between the two of them heats up the stormy day. Within moments Lou finds that her body is pinned beneath Jimmy’s on the cold, damp ground that doesn’t feel cold at all! 

Louise can’t believe that she is actually allowing her deepest secret feelings for Jimmy to surface. She struggles to pull her body away from Jimmy, and she stumbles nervously as she runs up the embankment toward home.

Jimmy watches Louise as she hurriedly tries to get away from him. At long last after all these years he knows that Louise has had romantic feelings for him as well. 

Teaspoon is in the barn working on saddling his horse when Jack Morgan comes walking through the open barn doors. Teaspoon gazes away from his chores to let Jack know that he acknowledges his arrival.

“Getting ready to finish the job that you came here to do?” Teaspoon asked disheartened.

“Doc Barnes still insists that I rest for another week. You seem a bit disturbed about my resuming my work.”

“Like I said before, just don’t bring Jesse back to Rock Creek. My family doesn’t need to go through Jesse’s trail, and then his eventual hanging.”

“Is that all there is to it?”

Teaspoon can’t figure out exactly when it happened, but somehow Jack Morgan can penetrate into his thoughts. “I don’t want Buck to have to deal with Jesse, and that is all there is to it!”

“You’re very fond of the Indian,” Jack spoke voicing his opinion as a statement of what he has noticed between Teaspoon and Buck rather than a question for Teaspoon to answer. 

“Buck is like a son to me. I’ve caused him so much pain since Jesse has come back into my life. I’ve treated Buck like he is the stranger when in reality Jesse has become a stranger to me. I can’t even remember the boy that Jesse once was.”

“You love Jesse just as much as you love Buck.”

“Not no more,” Teaspoon spoke adamantly.

“You may be able to say you don’t care about Jesse anymore, but if anything were to happen to him, you would grieve.”

Teaspoon gazes at Jack for a very long time before trying to continue their conversation. He doesn’t want to actually say that he doesn’t care about Jesse, but he simply doesn’t want Jesse in his life to do anymore damage then what he has already done. “If you aren’t leaving to hunt down Jesse and his gang why did you ride out here today?”

“I have other business in Rock Creek besides Jesse James.”

“We both already know that. So, since you’ve opened up the book sort of for me to ask about your arrival some more, I’m gonna do just that.”

“I’ve managed to provoke your interest,” Jack spoke with a smile.

“When you arrived, and first meet Buck you made a rather thought provoking statement about him. You said to me that I’m surprised you hadn’t told me that you found him. You were watching Buck walk away from the house. You were referring to Buck that night.”

Jack takes a deep breath. The time has finally come that Teaspoon’s curiosity has overwhelmed him. “I was. I had merely thought that somehow the Indian woman had found you, and left you with your child. Buck would be the right age.”

“I see,” Teaspoon spoke flatly, but not really thinking about what Jack is implying. 

“I didn’t mean for my knowledge of your child to bring you misery. That wasn’t my intentions. I just felt that perhaps you would like to know that you have a child out there in this world somewhere.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it, Jack. I’m glad you told me.”

“Well, I guess I’ll get back into town. I better get that rest that the doc insists I get before heading out in about a week.”

“Yeah, I guess you better,” Teaspoon spoke, his mind absent of any thoughts of Jack at the moment.

Jack exits the barn to leave a bewildered Teaspoon to figure out the truth of his child for himself.

After Jack is clear of Teaspoon’s voice, he begins to figure out the dates of his past. “I was with the Indian woman in early February of 1843. A child between us would have been born in November of 1843, and that child would be twenty-four this month. Buck was born in November of 18……1843. Buck just turned twenty-four while he was recuperating from his bullet wound.” Teaspoon takes a deep breath. “Oh Lord.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

It has been far too long since Buck had been able to relax in his own home without Rachel trying to do her best to make him feel comfortable. Even though he knows Rachel and Teaspoon both wanted him to stay longer at their home, it was way past the time for Buck to move back into his home. His only reason for dreading the move is because Charlene has made herself comfortable at home in his house once again.

Looking around his home this morning had been like many mornings before Jimmy’s arrival several months back. With Jimmy’s arrival came the complicated mess of Charlene moving into his move for protection. Then came Jane. She came back into his life like the storm that broke Teaspoon’s leg. She took his heart, and has yet to return it. 

Charlene stands angrily at the edge of the kitchen table and flops burnt toast onto Buck’s plate of cold eggs, and burnt bacon. 

Buck gazes up into Charlene’s eyes wondering if there is any compassion in her heart at all. She really can’t expect him to eat the breakfast that she has prepared for him. He wouldn’t give Charlene’s cooking to his worst enemy. At this very moment that enemy would happen to be Cody.

Charlene is holding a coffee pot in her hands. “Would you like some coffee? Perhaps my discolored coffee won’t be as bad as my cooking,” Charlene spoke while making a horrible face as she peers into the pot of watered down coffee.

“Sure,” Buck spoke as he pushes his coffee cup to the side where Charlene can reach the cup. 

Charlene pours the coffee in Buck’s cup. He watches the weak almost water like liquid pour into his cup.

Charlene backs away from the table to place the coffeepot back on the counter. She watches Buck intensely as he tries to muster the strength to give her coffee a try. 

“Doesn’t my coffee appeal to you either?” Charlene asked somewhat disappointed that Buck seems frightened to try the weak black mixture that she has poured into his coffee cup.

“It’s a little too weak for me,” Buck spoke quietly not wanting to hurt Charlene’s feelings.

Charlene walks close to Buck, and bends to put her arms around his neck. “My cooking may have caused you to lose your appetite, but I can assure you that your appetite will increase once we are in bed together.”

Charlene leans closer to Buck, and runs her lips softly against his. 

Buck is somewhat shocked by Charlene’s actions. He tries without much success to unleash her hands from around his neck. But, Charlene strengthens her hold, and with Buck’s still weaken physical state, he is having a difficult time fending for himself. Charlene continues her seductive assault on his luscious lips.

The back door that is in the kitchen opens up with Cody and Jane standing in the doorway. Jane can’t take her troubled eyes off the way Charlene is unreserved at the way she is behaving with Buck in front of her and Cody. 

Buck sees the horrified look on Jane’s face. He slightly pushes Charlene away from him. He has no intentions of making Jane think that he and Charlene are now together as a couple. The thought of making Jane jealous doesn’t appeal to him.
Charlene backs off with a disapproving gaze toward Buck. 

“I’ve brought Jane over because she would like to collect some of her things from the bedroom that she occupied while she stayed here,” Cody spoke in a monotone voice. 

Charlene turns and faces Jane with a smug look on her face. “Jane knows where she slept. She may go upstairs, and retrieve her things. It probably would be best if everything she owns were removed from Buck’s home. After all, we all know that little Miss Jane won’t ever be staying in this house again.”

“Charlene, do you have to be so damn rude to everyone that walks through the doors of this house?” Jane asked taken back by Charlene’s obvious claim to Buck’s home.

Charlene walked out of the kitchen without answering Jane. 

Jane gazes down at Buck. She had thought she would find a smug look on his face too, but all Jane sees is pain in his eyes. 
“I won’t be long, Cody.”

Jane walked out of the kitchen leaving Cody and Buck alone.

“I know that it probably doesn’t really interest you, but I thought maybe because at one time I had accused you of these murders that you might care to know that Hannah will soon be found guilty of all these crimes,” Cody spoke bluntly.

“You’re right Cody, I really don’t care to hear about it. In my opinion you haven’t done anything to prove that Hannah is guilty,” Buck spoke adamantly.

“Haven’t proved that she’s guilty! Buck, open your eyes! You are just as blind as Jimmy. Why can’t the two of you see that Hannah is our killer?”

Buck can only gaze at the blonde rider that he once knew and cared for like a brother. He isn’t so sure he ever really knew Cody.

Jane with suitcase in hand stops at the top of the stairs that lead to the downstairs of Buck’s home. She gazes down at his bedroom. The bedroom that someday she had hoped that she would share with him. Her thoughts briefly go back to the night they shared together in the cave. How she longed for his hands to caress her bare skin again. The thought was making it unbearable for her to stay in this house another moment longer. As Jane starts to take one step down onto the stairs, she witnesses Charlene walking out of Buck’s bedroom with the linens from his bed gathered up in her arms.

When Charlene spots Jane watching her with bewilderment in her eyes, she decides that this is the perfect opportunity to drive the space between Buck and Jane even further apart.
Charlene slowly walks toward Jane. “The linens needed to be changed after my passionate encounter with Buck last evening.”

The hurt that swells over in Jane’s eyes is even difficult for Charlene to watch. Charlene walks away from Jane and rushes past her down the stairs. 

Jane can’t help herself but to walk over to his bedroom. She stares looking in at the bed that has been restored with fresh linens. Jane walks into the bedroom, and gazes down at the bed trying to block out the images of what happened in this bed last night. Thoughts of Buck making love to Charlene turn her stomach inside out.

“What are you doing in here?” Buck asked softly.

Jane turns around rapidly at the sound of Buck’s voice. She makes her way over to stand in front of him, and she roughly pushes Buck in the chest. “You bastard!”

Jane rushes away from him. 

“Jane!” Buck hollered in a confused tone.

Jane stumbles into Charlene on her way out of Buck’s bedroom. She pushes Charlene away and all Buck can hear is Jane making her way down the stairs. 

Buck tries to go after Jane, but Charlene eases him back and over to his bed. “Let her go. She doesn’t want you anymore. Why don’t you give in, and let a woman who wants you show you what love is really all about.”

Buck is confused. He is so tired of not knowing what it is that Jane really wants. One minute she wants him, and then the next minute all she can think about is hurting him. He allows Charlene to push him backwards onto his bed!

Charlene manages to lean her body into Buck’s, and as he descends onto the bed, Charlene goes down on top of him! She begins to feverishly kiss Buck hoping that he will lose his senses, and allow her to make love to him. 

Buck brings his arms up around Charlene, and holds her down tightly to his body. He returns her kisses, but with little passion in them. He can’t help that his feelings for Charlene are not even close to lukewarm in the bedroom. He just can’t make himself feel love that is not there. 

Charlene thinking that she has Buck under control takes a free hand and begins to run her hand up and down the length of his body! What she gets in return isn’t exactly what she had been hoping for. Buck rises up from the bed tossing her aside. He stands up, and quickly gathers his thoughts and strength.

“Your plans to seduce me aren’t going to work, Charlene. I don’t want to go to bed with you, and I don’t intend on allowing it to happen just because Jane isn’t in my life anymore.”

“My feelings for you have nothing to do with Jane,” Charlene spoke in a fretting tone.

“What did you say to Jane that made her run out of this house like she had been hurt in the worst possible way?” Buck asked convinced that Charlene had told Jane some sort of lie that connected him to Charlene.

Charlene stands up and with her hands she smoothes out the wrinkles in her dress. She walks close to Buck, and stands directly in front of me. “It doesn’t really matter. Her trust in you is all but gone,” she spoke as she walked past Buck and out of his bedroom.

Buck stands alone in his bedroom wandering if he’ll ever find a woman that will truly love him for just him.

The evening had taken over the day so quickly. Jimmy had stayed with Hannah through the evening, but just before midnight Cody had ordered some of his men to relieve Jimmy of his duties. Jimmy had actually wanted to stay all night, but in the end it was best that he had left. It wasn’t like Hannah will have anything at all to do with him. As a matter of fact, she won’t even speak to him.

As he strolls down the wooden walkway of the town Jimmy decides that he could use a drink. Instead of retrieving his horse he decides that a long walk to clear his head of all the guilt he is feeling about Hannah will be good for his soul.

As he walks toward the saloon an unusual noise from behind him makes him slow down his pace. He doesn’t want to stop walking completely for fear that whoever is behind him will realize that he is aware of his presence. Jimmy tries to gather his thoughts on how he will deal with this assailant. But, be Jimmy can really put a plan together the man is pounding into the back of Jimmy, and bringing his body down onto the ground with such a force that it knocks the air right out of Jimmy! 

His attacker backs up slightly. Jimmy tries to catch the breath that had been snatched from him. He slowly makes his way onto his feet only to be attacked with a man clinging onto a knife! He thrashes the knife at Jimmy!

Jimmy is rather quick, and manages to get out of the way of the knife aimed for his mid-section! 

For a brief moment Jimmy is able to look up toward the face of his attacker. He sees that his face is covered with a black mask!

The person attacking Jimmy raises his knife into the air to bring it down onto Jimmy, but Jimmy is able to jump backwards away from the apparent penetration that the knife had intended to make! 

As Jimmy jumps backwards he takes his eyes off his attacker for just a brief moment, but it is long enough for the man with the knife to cut Jimmy open with the horizontal motion of the knife across Jimmy’s mid-section. Blood quickly absorbs onto Jimmy’s shirt! 

Jimmy can no longer play games with this man. He obviously has no intentions of allowing Jimmy to escape without being fatally wounded. Jimmy gathers his senses, and rushes his assailant kicking the knife from his hand!

The attacker barrels into Jimmy knocking him flatly to the ground! Then the attacker makes the mistake of searching for his knife in the darkness of the night. As he is combing the ground with his hands, Jimmy pulls his gun from his holster, and cocks the gun at the attackers head.

The attacker slowly stops searching for a knife that he will never find in the dust bowl that he has created. 

“Get up real nice and slow,” Jimmy spoke behind clinched teeth. 

Jimmy spies in the distance Cody and a few of his soldiers coming to see what all the commotion is about. 

Cody stands in front of the person wearing the black mask. He looks over at Jimmy. Jimmy nods as if giving his approval for Cody to remove the black mask. Cody takes both hands and slowly takes the mask up over the man’s face. 

Jimmy is stunned to see that the man behind the mask is none other than Phillip Anderson!

Back at the jailhouse Hannah stands up from her bunk when she sees Jimmy, and Cody bringing Phillip in the jail with handcuffs on. 

“What is going on?” Hannah asked in a demanding tone. 

Phillip won’t even acknowledge that he hears Hannah’s voice. Cody escorts Phillip to a cell in the back of the jailhouse away from Hannah. He pushes Phillip into the cell, and abruptly locks the jail door.

Jimmy walks over to Hannah’s cell. She looks away from her brother to get an explanation from Jimmy. 

“Apparently Phillip has been the one doing the killings all along,” Jimmy spoke softly.

For a long moment Hannah can’t find any words to deal with what Jimmy has just told her. She looks from Phillip to Jimmy several times before keeping her eyes glued on Jimmy. “That can’t be true. Phillip wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

“It seems that Phillip believes that his two sisters need protection from the men that live here in Rock Creek. Hannah Phillip tried to kill me tonight. He has already confessed to the crimes.”

Hannah shakes her head as tears stream down her face. “No. That can’t be true.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Jane strolls into the Hunter kitchen, and immediately finds herself backing out of the kitchen clutching her arms around her stomach. The smell of Rachel cooking breakfast doesn’t agree with her stomach this morning.

Rachel witnessed Jane’s strange behavior and followed her out of the kitchen after removing her frying pan of fried eggs off the stove.

She places a hand on Jane’s arm as Jane tries to straighten her body up from bending over with obvious nausea.

“Are you alright?” Rachel asked with a worried tone.

“I’m fine now. I need to get into town. The children are anxious to get this last day over with before their Christmas Holiday starts,” Jane spoke a smile across her face hoping to make Rachel relax a little bit.

“Alright. But, you and I need to talk later today after you come home.”

“Sure.”

Jane makes her way out the front door. She leaves Rachel staring out the window at her as she leaves the ranch on the buckboard. 

After Jane is out of her sight, Rachel turns around and wonders what secret Jane is hiding now. But, Rachel’s thoughts of Jane disappear when Teaspoon walks down the stairs apparently in a bad mood already this morning.

“What is wrong with you this morning?” Rachel asked calmly.

Teaspoon places a meek kiss on Rachel’s cheek. “I just got a lot of thinking to do.”

“Well, you might think better on a full stomach.”

“I think I’ll pass on breakfast this morning. I need to get into town, and get a few matters cleared up.” 

“Suit yourself.” Rachel plants a kiss on Teaspoon’s cheek, and walks back into the kitchen.

Just as Teaspoon opens the front door to leave, Jack is ready to pound his fist on the outside of Teaspoon’s front door.

Teaspoon gives out a heavy displeasing sigh as he stares back into the anxious eyes of his friend from the past, Jack Morgan. “What did I do to deserve this wonderful early morning visit from you today?” Teaspoon asked with a scowl.

Jack suddenly gets a look of disappointment on his face. “I thought you’d be happy to see me leaving town for a few days.”

Teaspoon steps outside onto the front porch of his home. “You don’t have to kiss me good-bye everytime you decide to leave town for a day or two. I can survive your leaving.”

“My someone is grouchy today,” Jack spoke as he makes room for Teaspoon to walk past him, and head toward the barn. Jack picks up his pace, and before long he is able to keep up with Teaspoon’s swift stride. 

“I’m real happy for you Jack that you can continue your life’s work. I know that shooting outlaws in the back is what keeps the blood pumping in those cold-hearted veins of yours,” Teaspoon spoke with a sarcastic tone.

“I came hear to say good-bye for a few days. I really didn’t expect to find a bear waiting for me.”

Teaspoon halts his progression to the barn, and turns rapidly to face Jack. “Look Jack, I told you before that I don’t really want to know about your hunting down Jesse and his gang. I told you to keep any news about it to yourself. But, for some reason you ain’t hearing what I’m saying. You have to come over here to my home, and announce your intentions everytime you’re ready to saddle up and ride on out of here.”

“I came by to give you some more information to think about while I’m gone. I thought perhaps you might want to know the Indian woman’s real name that you fathered a child to.”

Teaspoon once again gets a wave of disgust over his facial features. “How do you know that I don’t already know her name? I mean I did sleep with the woman for gods sake Jack.”

“But, she kept her real name from you to protect the child that she might be carrying. She told you that her name was Gentle Spirit. Am I correct?”

Teaspoon doesn’t want to admit that Jack is correct. How would Jack know that Gentle Spirit is the name the woman gave Teaspoon if he hadn’t talked to the Indian woman? Teaspoon isn’t too sure he wants to know the Indian woman’s real name. He could open up a can of worms that might best be left unopened. 

“Her real name was Six Moons,” Jack blurted out before Teaspoon could object.

By the shocked reaction written all over Teaspoon’s face, Jack knows that he has caused the earth to move under Teaspoon’s boots. Teaspoon Hunter’s life will never be the same.

Jack stands silently next to Teaspoon wondering if he will ever speak again. He clasps his hand onto Teaspoon’s back, but the lawman still doesn’t open his mouth to vocally mount an excessive amount of questions. Jack mounts his horse with the intention of riding out. 

Jack gazes down at Teaspoon Hunter one last time before heading off the ranch, and out into the wilderness to track down Jesse and his gang. “I hope you’ll do the right thing Teaspoon.”

Teaspoon gazes up at Jack sitting firmly on his horse. “Right now I don’t know exactly what the right thing to do would be Jack.”

“I know you Teaspoon Hunter better than you think. You’re a man that always does the honorable thing,” Jack spoke calmly as he leads his horse off the ranch, and leaving Teaspoon feeling quite lost.

Jimmy and Cody are watching Doc Barnes examine Phillip Anderson from outside Phillip’s jail cell. 

“So Doc, did you ever sleep with one of my sisters?” Phillip asked Doc Barnes in a very monotone voice.

“I have a wife and children,” Doc Barnes replied very proudly.

“That makes no difference to my sisters, or the men they have slept with,” Phillip replied.

Jimmy and Cody turn around when they hear Teaspoon enter the marshal’s office. 

Jimmy walks over and greets Teaspoon. “Phillip Anderson has admitted to all the killings. I really don’t think it is necessary to keep Hannah locked up any longer.”

“Cody, I’m going to allow Jimmy to free Hannah. 

Cody glances over at Hannah who has been watching her brother the entire morning. Her tear-stained eyes have become even redder than last evening. “Yeah. I guess we should have let her free last evening.”

Jimmy grabs the keys from the hook on the wall, and proceeds to Hannah’s cell. He unlocks the door, and opens it to allow Hannah access to her freedom.

The very moment that Hannah steps out of the cell that has been her home for a brief part of her life, is to slap Jimmy swiftly, but strongly across the face!

Jimmy’s reaction is not shock. He rubs his tender cheek, and gazes into Hannah’s liquid eyes. “I guess I deserved that.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Buck and Kid had been up all evening pacing silently in the barn while awaiting the birth of a new foul, but so far the happy event had not taken place. The horse that is ready to deliver had all but given up on having her foul last evening, and is resting peacefully in her loft of hay. 

“We could be waiting all day again,” Kid spoke wearily.

“And all night,” Buck spoke even more wearily.

“I guess that pretty much means we’re waiting,” Kid spoke unsure of his exact words.

Jane and Cody briskly walk out of the bunkhouse. Jane had arrived early with the excitement of a new foul being born into the world. She really wanted to watch the birth. “Come on Cody. A foul being born doesn’t happen everyday.”

“It happens quite often on any ranch including this one,” Cody remarked stubbornly.

“I haven’t witnessed the birth of a foul since I arrived. Just walk over to the barn with me so we can at least find out if the young one has been born yet,” Jane pleaded with Cody as she drags him by the arm toward the barn.

When the two of them walk happily into the barn, their presence hurts Buck. Buck hadn’t expected Jane to come strolling into the barn wanting to watch the birth of the new foul. He had forgotten that she loves animals, and nature in general. 

Jane’s eyes become locked onto Buck once she enters the barn and sees that he is near. Cody is once again disappointed that Jane can’t seem to forget that Buck Cross exists. 

Cody is about ready to say something about the two of them leaving when Jane’s stomach begins to heave, and she grasps her waist tightly to control the nausea that tries to make its way to her throat. She tears away from Cody’s hold on her, and runs out of the barn!

Buck witnesses Jane’s upset reaction to his presence, or at least that is what Buck believes has upset her. Buck starts to run after her, but on his way out of the barn Cody halts his progression. 

Cody holds Buck back with a hand plastered to Buck’s chest. “You stay away from her. If there’s any comforting to be done I’m the man that’s gonna do it!” Cody shoves Buck as he turns, and walks out of the barn after Jane.

Buck can only stand silently, and wonder what had been wrong that had upset Jane so badly.

Hannah and Jimmy are sitting at a table in the saloon. He had talked her into breakfast, and a brief moment away from the marshal’s office where she had been a prisoner for quite a few days.

Jimmy takes notice to the fact that even though Hannah has taken a few sips of the tea that she ordered, she hadn’t taken one bite of the pancakes and sausage that Jimmy had ordered for her. “There isn’t much that you are going to be able to do for Phillip. He has confessed to all the crimes, and once a confession like that is made the case against him is pretty well closed. It won’t do Phillip any good if you make yourself sick worrying about him.”

“Why couldn’t you just let Phillip go?”

“Hannah, Phillip would have killed again. His mind isn’t stable. Would you honestly want someone else’s life to be in danger?”

Hannah doesn’t answer Jimmy. She slowly allows herself to taste the sweetness of the pancakes and maple syrup placed in front of her.

Cody runs like the wind, and finally catches up with Jane just outside the bunkhouse. She won’t stop running from him so he lightly grabs onto Jane’s arm, and forces her to turn around and face him. 

“Why are you always running from me?” Cody asked as he tries to catch his breath.

“It isn’t you Cody that I’m running from.”

“Buck?” Cody questioned almost regretting what Jane’s answer will be.

Jane doesn’t answer Cody. She looks down to the ground knowing in her heart that she will never love Cody the way that she loves Buck. 

Cody looks defeated. “You are never gonna stop being in love with Buck, are you Jane?”

Jane gazes back up into Cody’s hurt filled eyes. She takes a deep breath before beginning what will be the end of a relationship with a wonderful man, but with a man that she merely likes as only a friend, and nothing more. “Cody, there are some things in life that you just have no control over. The emotions and feelings between two people who are deeply connected is something that we have no control over. I’m very sorry Cody.”

“We can make this work Jane. Now that my investigation is complete here in Rock Creek I’ll be moving on. I had thought that you would join me.”

Jane isn’t sure how she should reply to Cody’s intention of leaving Rock Creek. She isn’t too sure that leaving Buck behind is what she wants to do. Perhaps being away from Buck and not being forced to see him everyday would lessen the love and desire that she feel’s for him. Tears begin to swell in Jane’s eyes. She knows in her heart that distance will only make her want Buck more. There is no way that she will be able to walk away from Rock Creek, and the man that she truly loves.

“I’m pregnant Cody.”

Cody is speechless for what seems like an eternity. He looks Jane up and down, and then purposely stopping at her abdomen for an extended length of time to see if he notices a swelling belly.

“When?” Cody asked hurt overcoming in his voice.

“The night that Buck had kidnapped me.”

“The night that we were to make love. You lied to me. Why?”

“I didn’t want my admission of passion with Buck to hurt you.”
“Buck raped you, didn’t he?” Cody spoke anger building in his body. He turns and starts to head back toward the barn, but Jane rushes to stand between Cody and the barn.

“No Cody! Buck didn’t rape me. Buck doesn’t have it in him to be cruel to another human being. He would never force himself on a woman. Buck is a gentle man. I made love to Buck that night because I wanted to make love to Buck.”

Cody begins to calm down, and realizes that Jane is telling him the truth. She has never stopped loving Buck so why wouldn’t she want to make love to him. “Why haven’t you told him?”

“I’m not sure how I’m going to tell him.”

“He’ll be thrilled Jane. You don’t have to worry about Buck turning you away.”

“I’m just not sure how Buck feels about me anymore. I’ve hurt him so much. I won’t live with a man that only wants me because I’m carrying his child.” 

Cody starts to gather his senses, and realizes that another prefect plan has entered his mind. The fact that Jane hasn’t told Buck about the baby yet brings a whole new picture of his life with Jane into view.

“Jane, we could get married. Buck would never have to know about the baby. We could simply tell everyone that the child is mine.”

Jane smiles warmly at Cody for once again putting her feelings before his, or so at least that’s what Cody wants Jane to believe.

“Don’t you think everyone will know the truth when the baby is born? I don’t think a child between Buck and I will have blonde hair and blue eyes, not to mention the fact that the baby will have Indian blood in him or her. The baby will have Buck’s completion.

“Who said we would stay in Rock Creek? We’ll stay here long enough to get married, and then we’ll leave Rock Creek.”

“You make this problem of mine sound so simple to solve.”

“It will be solved if you’ll just allow me to take care of everything.”

“Cody, what about the baby and Buck. Is it really right to keep Buck from his child? Is it right that I keep a child away from his natural father?”

I have the prefect solution for that to. Later, when the child is older we’ll break the news to Buck, and his child. By then Buck’s feelings for you, and your feelings for Buck will be nothing but a mere memory.”

Jane gazes at Cody’s excited face. He has come up with the prefect plan to keep her in his life. But, Jane isn’t so sure about Cody’s prefect plan. The love that she feels for Buck is deep in her heart and soul. Buck is now more a part of her than ever before. His child is growing inside of her. No Cody, you are wrong. Her love for Buck will never die. If anything the distance between them will make her longing for him even stronger.