Striking Bear was thrilled. He knew that eventually something would come out of haunting the
half-breed’s property. He’d hoped that something would be finding the girl alone, but this suited
him just fine. The stranger could put an interesting spin on things. He watched the altercation
between the breed, and the stranger. Something was wrong, and it had to do with the woman.
Bear followed him to the saloon and was more than happy to approach him over a few drinks.
Much to Bear’s disappointment, the man just got a room upstairs. He didn’t even bother with a
whore. Maybe this one wouldn’t go along with his plan after all. Well, he intended to find out
anyway. He launched himself up the stairs, and noted the number of the door that was in the
process of shutting. Then, he couldn’t help himself any longer. He was in a saloon. He had to
have a drink.

Buck’s hands were knotted into fists. Rage was coursing as thick as blood through his veins. He
minimized his reaction for Kayla’s benefit, but he wanted to find Ben, and tear him apart with his
bare hands. He eyed Kayla, who had fallen into the sleep of the emotionally exhausted soon after
she had relived her story. How could anyone want to destroy innocence like that? He never had
been able to comprehend how there could be pleasure in someone else’s pain. He was going to
find Ben tomorrow, and he was going to pay for what he did to Kayla.

Ben couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This Bear character was a godsend.

"Let me get this straight. All I have to do is lure this Cross person away from Kayla, you’ll kill
him, and I get Kayla?" Bear nodded. "What do I have to do?" Bear had been keeping an eye on
the goings on in the little town of Rock Creek. He knew exactly how to play things. "Go to the
deputy, Barnett. Tell him that he needs to send word to Mr. Cross that a Mrs. Rachel Hunter has
been injured. Tell him to send Mr. Cross to the doctor’s office. Cross will go, the doctor will tell
him that she’s not there, he’ll come back to the school for the girl, she’ll be gone with you, and
I’ll take care of him."

"But I don’t understand how this helps you." Ben insisted.

"I’ll know exactly where he’s going to show up, and when. That makes my life easier. Bear
glared down at the smaller man. He seemed to believe that. Of course, Bear had no intention of
giving up the girl, but Ben didn’t need to know that. He knew he couldn’t waltz into the
Marshall’s office again after what he did to the deputy, and not be recognized. There were
wanted posters up for him, but they hardly resembled him. So he didn’t have to worry about the
town folk, just the deputy. The sweetest part of the plan was that the Mayor, the Marshall, and
all of the deputies would rush to the doctor’s office as well. If anyone heard the woman
screaming, and went to get help there would be no one there. And when they all arrived at the
school house, he’d already have the girl. He’d hatched the perfect plan. "Kayla won’t be in
danger will she?" His marble like eyes flashed with the promise of malice, but Ben was too busy
entertaining visions of marital bliss to notice. Bear smiled the friendliest smile he had in his arsenal.
"Of course not."

Buck loved having Kayla with him in the morning. Early that morning, Buck had moved her from
the hard, wooden couch into his bed. He hadn’t slept at all. He knew that if he gave in to sleep
he’d have nightmares all night about Kayla trying to fend off Ben. He’d watched her sleep for
what seemed like a moment. The hours from three a.m. to five a.m. had gone that quickly for
him. She was like an angel when she slept. He knew he would always remember that night, and
how ethereal she looked asleep on his pillow. Now, she bustled around the kitchen making
chocolate chip pancakes. Noah was delighted to have chocolate for breakfast, and Buck was
delighted to know that as soon as they were married, he’d have Kayla. His heart swelled at the
sight of Kayla and Noah dancing crazily around the kitchen singing "Old Susanna." He was highly
annoyed that it was Kid’s day to go with Kayla to work. He had an out of state buyer coming to
take a look at some stock, so there was no way he could do it. At least he’d get to spend the
time with her it took to take her back to Kid’s place. They were probably worried about her
right now. He supposed they hadn’t sent out a search party because they knew she was with
him, but he was surprised that Kid hadn’t come by to make sure. Lou probably warned him
against it, using what she found in her pantry as the perfect reason not to go barging into Buck’s
house looking for Kayla. He laughed out loud at the memory, earning an inquisitive look from his
betrothed. She was so beautiful, and she was his. Everything in his life would be perfect as soon
as they caught Miss Patterson’s killer, and as soon as he had a few private words with Ben.

Ben eyed the big Indian. "Are you sure this is going work?" The larger man grunted his assent.
Ben eyed the gash in Bear’s hand. He wasn’t about to ask about it. He probably got it in a
drunken brawl anyway. Ben was edgy. "Where were you when I was with Barnett?"

"Running an errand." Ben knew not to ask any more questions, but his nerves had been getting
the best of him. They had been ever since the other man had shown up reeking of alcohol. He
just looked forward to the day that he was married to Kayla, and all of this pesky business was
behind her. He even intended to forgive her for what she had done with that Buck person. In
fact, it might make his life easier. She wouldn’t be half so reticent to share his bed before their
marriage if she’d no honor to protect. He did hope that she didn’t throw too much of a fit about
her dead lover though.

Barnett was frantic. The man that had called Kayla his fiancee had shown up just a few minutes
before to tell him to get Buck because Rachel was hurt. Well, that was just plain cuckoo. He
needed to get Teaspoon first, or maybe Teaspoon already knew and that’s why the fellow told
him to fetch Buck. Just in case Barnett rushed into Teaspoon’s office, and the two were soon on
their way to the Doc’s office. As Teaspoon and Barnett raced across town, all thoughts of telling
Kid, Lou, and Buck about Rachel being hurt, were left behind in the frantic rush to check on
Teaspoon’s beloved wife.

Buck was worried about Kayla. He’d been carrying around a feeling of dread all day long. He
wanted to get to the school to relieve Kid, certain that if she were in his site the worry would
dissipate. He was doing his best to get rid of his buyer, but the man was overly friendly, and
wanted to chat, and chat, and chat! He’d already agreed on a good price for five of Buck’s
stock. It was an extremely lucrative deal for Buck, but he couldn’t think of anything but Kay. He
planned to get to the school house as soon as the talkative man was gone.

Kid tapped his fingers on a desk. He was getting very impatient. Teaspoon was supposed to
relieve him early today. He needed to get some shopping done for Lou’s birthday, but the Mayor
had yet to show up. Kid was torn. He knew he needed to protect Kayla, because if his and
Teaspoon’s guess was right, then the killer never really left town. That of course meant that
Kayla was still in danger, but he needed to get his wife a birthday gift or his life would be in
danger. Today was the only day he knew for sure that he would be able to get off without her
looking over his shoulder. He was beginning to worry. Teaspoon was as dependable as the
sunrise. This wasn’t like him. He waited for Kayla to finish handing out her tests, and approached
her. Mindful of the concentrating children, Kid whispered, "I’m worried about Teaspoon. He
was supposed to meet me here an hour ago. I don’t think our man will make his move with all
these kids here, so do you mind if I go check the Mayor’s office for him?"

"Oh, no, Kid. You go ahead, I’ll be fine."

"What in the Sam hill is goin’ on here?" Teaspoon glared at his deputy. Barnett was just as
confused. Doctor Ingram had just informed them that not only was Rachel not there, as far as he
knew, she wasn’t injured at all. Teaspoon scratched at his whiskers thoughtfully. None of it made
sense. Why would someone say she was hurt if she weren’t? The strangeness of it all made him
want to check in with Kid about Kayla. "Kid!" Teaspoon wheezed. "Oh, no. He’s gonna be
spittin’ fire by the time I get there." Barnett glanced his way, "Huh?"

"Nothin’, let’s get a move on."

Kid was confused as all get out. The Marshall’s and the Mayor’s office was locked up tight.
What was going on? Something was up, Kid could feel it, but he had no idea what it could be.
He did know that he needed to find Teaspoon though. He was relatively certain that Kayla was
okay at school, at least until it was over. She didn’t usually let the children out until around three,
so he had a few hours to look. Kid mounted Katy, and took off.

Kayla was worried about Kid and Teaspoon. Kid had left several hours ago to look for the older
man, but had not come back to tell her if he was okay. She decided to just wait around the
school for his return. After all, it’s not like she didn’t have things to do. She had test papers to
grade, and the room could definitely use some sprucing up.

She’d just finished sweeping the large classroom, when she noticed a very large presence
standing quietly in the back, next to the door. Assuming it was a parent, she smiled politely.
"Hello there. I’m Miss Lambert, the new teacher. How may I help you?" The man stepped out of
the shadows. He had a huge grin plastered across his face, but there was something about the
way that smile didn’t reach his eyes that put Kayla ill at ease. He instantly reminded her of Ben.
Even though this man had obvious Indian features and Ben was lily white. Even though this man
towered over her and Ben was only a few inches taller than was she. His bearing, even the way
he stood seemed so much like the man she had tried to leave to her past in New York. She was
searching her mind for the word to pin on the presence they both had. Predatory. Ben had made
her feel like she was being hunted, and this man was sending the same dizzying terror driven chills
up her spine. She tried to remain calm, hoping he couldn’t see her shaking.

"Well, Ma’am, I was just looking to meet you so I could decide about moving here. You see, I
have a little girl, and I want to make sure she’ll get a good education where ever I move.

He was lying. She couldn’t figure out how she knew it, but she did. Searching the room for her
quickest exit, she almost cried out aloud. The windows were all too high in the wall for her to
reach as well as being too small to admit her. Her only other option was the door that he was
blocking. Her mouth had gone suddenly dry. She swallowed convulsively, trying to dampen her
throat. "I-I’m sure," she stammered, "that your daughter would be very happy here." She decided
to play along.

"Yes Ma’am, I’d be happy too if I had a teacher pretty as you." He stepped closer, the enormity
of space his long stride conquered lead Kayla to drop her broom and take several steps back.
"I’m sorry, Mister, uh…"

"Bear," he supplied. Striking Bear did not like the way this was going. Usually white women
either spat on him or fawned all over him. He’d expected to make nice with a story about a kid,
then have her drooling all over him lusting for the savage adventure of being with an Indian. If she
would spend her time with a half-breed, then why not a full blood?

"I’m sorry Mr. Bear, but I don’t think that’s appropriate."

"What’s the matter, little lady, you don’t like compliments?"

"Well, if I’m to be you child’s teacher…er..well" She couldn’t finish her statement for his
interruption. "If you’re to teach my child what?" He took another impossibly long step toward
her. "Is it cuz ‘o my color you don’t want me to tell you how pretty you are? Cuz I happen to
know you like Indians." Kayla’s blood ran cold. It was he. This was the man that left that poor
woman’s body on Buck’s porch so many weeks ago. Her breath came in strangled gasps. She
had never been so terrified in her entire life, not even when Ben had gone berserk on her so many
months ago. She looked about the room in search of anything she could use as a weapon. There
was nothing.

"He obviously isn’t here." Came a voice from the doorway. The voice was all too familiar to
Kayla. What was Ben doing here?

"Ben." She called out.

"Yes, honey I’m here to take you home."

"What?" Her voice was almost a whisper. She didn’t know what was worse, being trapped in a
room with a teacher killer, or being trapped in a room with Ben. That’s when she realized that it
was worse to be trapped in a room with both, which she was. "What do you want?" She eyed
both men warily. Bear’s smile seemed rigidly affixed to his face. First, girl, I want you. Then I
want you to watch me kill your lover."

"Wait a minute. Now, you wait just a minute! You said-" Ben’s protestations stopped abruptly as
Bear’s knife seemed to imbed itself into his chest. Kayla couldn’t process what her eyes were
telling her. Bear was across the room from Ben, but then she realized Bear had thrown the knife
with devastating accuracy.

Buck was furious. He knew to yield to those instincts in him that said something was wrong, but
he’d stood around in the barn talking with some stranger about the best horse feed and the best
liniment, and every pointless thing he could think of. A soon as the man had gone, Buck rushed to
his house to change out of his sweaty clothes before he saw Kayla, but something stopped him
dead in his tracks. There was a note nailed to his door. It had no actual word, but a bloody
handprint stained the paper. It was an omen if ever there was one.

Buck leapt onto his horse, and urged him as fast as he could go. He had to get to Kayla. He was
furious that he hadn’t listened to his instincts. If something happened to her, he’d be a dead man
walking. There would be nothing left of him. A broken heart could be mended in time, but a
shattered one was a hopeless cause. His anger undiminished, he still had to smile at the thought of
Kayla. She was proud, strong, intelligent, and she didn’t know how to back down. She was a
lioness, and he liked that about her. She would be all right. She had to be. Doggedly, he headed
toward the school, hoping she hadn’t left yet. Spying the schoolhouse with Kid’s buckboard in
front, Buck took a relieved breath. She was there still. Then he noticed that Katy wasn’t there.
Where Katy was, Kid was.

Dismounting, Buck tied his horse next to the buckboard, and made his way into the school. On
reaching the top step, Buck could feel there was something wrong. Crouching, knife in hand,
Buck peeked through the door. What he saw sent slivers of rage tearing through his system.
Kayla was sprawled across the desk with a knife to her throat. The huge man’s right hand held
the knife, while his left hand was threaded into her hair, pulling her head back, exposing a pale
column of satiny white skin. The sight of her tiny graceful hands wrapped around his knife arm,
trying to relieve the pressure there, only increased his fury. Her attacker had wedged his hips
between her knees to further pin her to the desk with his body. He was whispering to her, Buck
was so far away that the words were unintelligible to him. Silently he inched forward. The
stranger laughed. "What took you so long, Buck Cross? I was startin’ to think I was gonna have
to start the festivities without you. Sure is a pretty lady you got here. I had me a pretty one too,
but you came along and stole her. I don’t take too kindly to that." Dumbfounded, Buck couldn’t
make much sense of what the man was saying. He stepped over Ben’s body, unmoved by his
death, but curious as to his part in this mess. "Who are you, and what are you talking about?"

"I’m Striking Bear," he bellowed. "And you bedded my woman."

"I’m guessing you should have treated her better." Kayla squeaked.

"Shut up, Bitch!" Kayla felt the blade bite a little deeper into her flesh.

She was a lioness all right, Buck thought grimly. "Kayla? Are you okay?"

"Peachy."

"This is not chat time! Is that all you people do? I’d be more’n happy to show you some fun
games." He sneered, forcing his hips tighter against Kayla.

"Just let her go." Buck implored. "A real warrior would not threaten an innocent woman."

"An innocent woman wouldn’t be caught with the likes of you." Swiftly shoving Kayla off of the
desk, not caring if his knife slit her throat or not, he faced Buck. "Did you enjoy Robin? Huh,
breed?"

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. Miss Patterson hated me."

"That’s not what she told me." Buck’s mouth was agape. All of the pieces fit now. She hated him
that much. She despised him enough that her last words were a condemnation to he who had
done nothing to her. Now, he could lose Kayla, and his piece of mind all for the hate of a
vengeful woman. Buck kept eyeing the area behind the desk to see if his lioness was okay. He
caught her stirring. He hoped she had the good sense to stay down. She didn’t.

As soon as Kayla got her bearing after her fall, she decided that she’d take advantage of the fact
that she was behind Striking Bear. She planned to take the desk chair, and hit him with it. It
wasn’t much of a plan, but it was all she had. As quietly as she could, she shot up, grabbed the
chair, and hit Striking Bear as hard as she could with it. The chair seemed to disintegrate before
her eyes, and the impact of wood on flesh jarred her to her bones. Striking Bear didn’t go down.
Instead, he wheeled on her, punching her, putting all of his considerable weight behind his
clenched fist. Kayla was airborne, sprawled on the air. She hit the ground with a sickening thud.
One of her arms was hidden behind her back at an impossible angle. Her left leg was twisted at
the knee behind her body. Her hair was fanned out all around her head, and a gash from her trip
off of the desk bled freely into the tousled mass of shiny black satin. The part that killed Buck
though, was the fact that her beautiful gray eyes stared empty and unmoving at the ceiling. He’d
broken her neck. Buck’s little lioness was dead, lying battered on the ground. A battle cry rang
from his throat. Even to his own ears it was a wild inhuman sound. He rushed Striking Bear.

Striking Bear ran forward to relieve the breed of his life, but as he lunged forward something
caught his foot.

Buck was having difficulty believing his eyes. He thought he saw Kayla reach her good arm out,
and grab Striking Bear’s foot with it, but that was impossible. She was gone. Blinking, stupidly,
Buck shook his head to clear it. Then he was on his foe with his knife raised for the strike.

Striking Bear was laughing. Buck couldn't figure it out. He knew he was about to die but he was
laughing. Did he have some tricks left that Buck was unaware of?

Striking Bear read the question in Buck’s eyes. "She always wanted me to be what you are, but
she died hating you." With a swiftness that defied reality, Striking Bear took hold of Buck’s knife
hand, and drove it into his own chest. Shocked, Buck just kept staring at the big man with a knife
embedded in his chest. He was still alive. Rattling breaths sounded from his destroyed chest.
"Finish this," he gurgled. With a startling efficiency, Buck dislodged his blade from the chest of his
enemy, and slit his throat with it. A deafening silence filled the room. Buck staggered up from the
dead man, and ran to Kayla. Her face was equal parts pain and victory. "Are you okay?" She
asked him. Always a lioness, Buck thought. "I’m pretty sure I’m better off than you are,
Lioness." Her eyebrows knotted together. "Lioness?" She croaked, the pain growing unbearable
in her broken arm. Buck was afraid to touch her. He wanted more than anything else, not to
cause her more pain. "What can I do?"

"Well, help me straighten my leg. It’s not broken, I’m just really limber." Buck obliged her. "So I
take it you’ve been taking lessons from Toby?"

"Yeah, he really was a smart dog."

"I’m going after Doctor Bob."

"No!" Alarm rang through her pain-wracked body. "Please don’t leave me alone with them." She
pleaded.

"Kayla they’re both dead. Besides, I have to get the doctor. Who knows what kind of damage
he did to you." He eyed her oddly angled arm. "I would take you, but I’m afraid to hurt you
more."

"It will be fine to take me. In fact I think I can walk." To demonstrate her point, she began to sit
up. She uttered an oath fit for a sailor, and fainted. Buck scooped her up into his arms, taking
care not to touch her broken arm, all the while thanking any and every god listening for not taking
her from him.
 
 

Halfway between the doctor’s office and the Marshall’s office, Kid spied riders. As they neared,
he recognized Teaspoon and Barnett. "Where have you been?" Kid nearly yelled.

" I got a message that somethin’ had happened to Rachel. We went to the doc’s office, but he
hadn’t heard nothin’ bout it. Did ya stow Kayla at your house?" Teaspoon asked assuming his
statement as fact owing to the post school hour.

"Oh no!"

"Son, you didn’t leave her alone did ya?"

"I was worried about you." Kid threw behind his shoulder as he mounted. "Today’s mess is all
startin’ to make sense." Teaspoon fretted under his breath. "I just hope that girl’s okay."
 

Chapter 11

Buck paced Doctor Ingram’s waiting room. He couldn’t figure out what was taking so long. He
knew Kay’s arm was broken for sure, but what other damage had she sustained that he had
been unable to see. Buck interrupted his own chain of thought with a strong reassurance that
Doctor Ingram was a wonderful doctor and a dear friend, and he would help Kayla. He had to
help Kayla. There was just no other way about it for Buck. If he lost her, he feared that Noah
would be left with only a hollow shell of a father. Buck twisted around, knife in hand when the
door was thrown open. As soon as he recognized Kid, Teaspoon, and Barnett, he sheathed the
blade, and promptly turned his back on the trio.

Kid took a tentative step forward. "She’s here isn’t she?" He had known as soon as he caught
sight of Buck’s horse outside of the doctor’s office that something awful had happened, so he
didn’t expect Buck to reply. "Is she gonna be all right?"

"Don’t know." Buck replied tersely.

"I don’t even know how to start with an apology, but I know damn well not to give you any
excuses Buck. I failed her. I failed you. I failed in my duties as the Marshall. I know it may take a
while, but I need you to forgive me this one thing Buck. I’ll never let you down again."

"No you won’t." Buck stated firmly.

"Now boys-" Teaspoon tried to intervene, but the doctor strode into the room.

"Quite a crowd we’ve got here." Buck was on him in an instant. "Is she okay? What took so
long? Is she in pain? Is she awake yet?"

"Whoa there! Hold up. Let me say that she’s going to be fine. Right now she’s in a lot of pain. I
gave her something for it, so she’s not entirely lucid, however she is conscious. She’d like to
speak to you Buck. I’ve a warning, my friend. The walls in this clinic are thin, and you haven’t
made an attempt at being quiet out here."

"What’s that supposed to mean." He mumbled, as he went into the room.

The air in the room was thick with an antiseptic odor that made him immediately queasy.
"Honey?"

"You dolt!"

"What."

"You are stupid!" Kayla slurred. "S-t-u-p-i-d." She elaborated.

"Kay what are you saying?"

"I thought I was very sink. Sue sink? Succinct! Succinct!" She cried triumphantly. "You’re
s-s-s-t-, oh hell, you’re stupid!"

"Kay?’ Buck began feebly.

"Kid’s not his fault."

"Huh?"

"Happened supposed to." She nodded sagely.

"Kayla honey, are you feeling okay?"

"You’re pretty."

"Pretty stupid?"

"Yup." She smiled sweetly, her eyes completely glazed over. Buck almost laughed. She was
making no sense at all, but he knew exactly what she was saying. He didn’t know whether to be
exultant, or frightened.

"I’ll apologize. Will that make you happy?"

"That snowman’s wearing my dress." She mumbled.

"Do you need anything?"

"You." She smiled into her pillow as she fell into ever intriguing drug-induced dreams.
 

Epilogue

"Buck!"

"Kid!"

"Buck!"

"Kid!"

"Buck, I don’t deserve this."

"Yes you do!"

"No I don’t." Kid shuffled his feet, leaning heavily on the woodwork that surrounded his porch.
Due to Kayla’s stubborn insistence that family is family, as well as Lou’s iron will for Kayla to
recover at home with Lou and Kid, Buck and Kid’s friendship was well on its way to being
normal again. "Ask Teaspoon to do it."

"He’s giving her away."

"Well, have Noah do it."

"Too much attention. He might explode."

"I can’t"

"Yes you can. It’s easy Kid. All you have to do is stand up next to me. You just stand there!"
Exasperation was coloring his words.

"You really forgive me? Not just ‘cause Kayla made you, but ‘cause you really do?"

"She’s fine now. Ben and that mad man are dead. I understand that you thought she’d be safe
with the kids there. I also understand that you didn’t realize how long you’d been gone, and I
hope you realize that I’m not asking you to be my best man again. You’re forgiven, you’re
irritating and forgiven."

"I’ll do it."

"Good, I’ve got to go check on the future Mrs. Cross."

"You really love her don’t you."

"From her first smile. Everyday I love her more. The way she loves Noah just makes me… well
you know. The way she’s so dedicated to her friends and her students just makes me so proud
to be hers. Most of all it’s the way she loves me. She puts everything she has into it, into me, into
us. She’s, she’s…"

"Everything."

"Yeah." Buck said quietly, and more than a little dreamy eyed. Kid just shrugged, and shook his
head. He knew the feeling.
 
 

Kayla’s sore arm throbbed. It was almost healed, but when she used it for long periods of time it
proved to be vindictive of all the time she hadn’t used it. A huge pile of white satin was piled in
her lap. She was dead set about making her own wedding dress, no matter how complainant her
arm became. All she had left was the intricate beadwork on the hem. Intricate was an
understatement. She was almost ready to burn the dress, and get married naked. Then again, that
might make the groom a little antsy. She laughed at the though. Every time she saw Buck lately,
he left in such a state that she was half-sure the next time he’d have a preacher in tow. At first he
hadn’t even wanted to touch her, but then he figured out that she wasn’t made of glass. As long
as he stayed away from her broken arm, he could kiss her silly all night if he so chose. She stifled
another giggle. She hoped nobody was in the hall listening to her cackling to her self in an empty
room. Then they would know for sure that she was nuts. She was just in a state so far beyond
joy that she could not contain herself. Soon her mother and father would arrive to meet her new
family. Her father was delighted about her impending marriage, and her mother, upon hearing that
Buck saved her life, was taking the news rather well. Kayla was certain that as soon as her
mother met Buck, she’d be as happy as her daughter was. In less than a week she would be
married to her dream man. Her smile broadened. In less than a week, she could retire her corset
from its duties as virginity protector. A knock sounded at the door. "It’s me." Came a muffled
masculine voice.

"Just a second." She began frantically shoving yard after yard of white satin under the bed.
"Okay, come in."

"Hey, honey." Buck strode in with a hand full of roses and the most delightfully sexy smile the
artist known as God had ever created. "How’s the arm?"

"Achy."

"Anything I can do to help?" Her smile took on a lascivious intimation.

"Well, now that you ask…" She purred as she took him by the collar with her good arm. Every
time she kissed him was like the first. Her stomach was aflutter with butterflies, and her skin was
awash in the fire of passion, chemistry, and most of all love. This was her future. This was bright
and alluring beyond her wildest fantasy. This was Buck.