The Christmas dance at the Rock Creek town social hall is the largest Holiday event of the year. Everyone from parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, sweethearts, and children dress up in their fancy outfits to attend the Christmas dance. 

For this years dance, Rachel, Louise, and Jane had been chosen for the decorating committee. The doors of the social hall open, and with her arm entangled in his, Rachel and Teaspoon walk through the doors. Rachel is in awe over the fabulous job that her and the girls did to make the hall look its absolute best. Rachel is praying that the warm atmosphere of the social hall assures everyone of having a great time while dancing, eating, and drinking the night away. 

Teaspoon leans in to whisper into Rachel’s ear. “You and the girls did a fine job with the decorating this year.”

Rachel smiles back at Teaspoon showing her appreciation for his complement. “Thank-you Marshal Hunter.”

Rachel gazes at the interior making sure one last time that all the decorations are beautifully displayed. On the ceiling twists of red, green and gold paper come together in the center, and are attached all together with a silver star. At each table there is a red, white, or green tablecloth adoring the table. A floral centerpiece of evergreen, holly, luscious cranberries, and pinecones rest on each table. At the back of the social hall where the band will be playing, Rachel gave the stage a little decorating with paper bows made from the same paper that drapes from the ceiling. Rachel inhales a deep breath of the fresh evergreen smell that is explicitly noticeable throughout the social hall. 

“It smells wonderful too,” Teaspoon spoke softly.

“It certainly feels like the Christmas season in this hall tonight,” Rachel commented excitedly. 

The social hall has many citizens of Rock Creek already mingled together in small groups chit chatting the evening away. The band starts to play its first slow tune.

Teaspoon faces Rachel, and takes her hand. “Would you care to dance Mrs. Hunter?”

“I would love to dance with you Marshal Hunter,” Rachel spoke with a teasing smile.

Teaspoon escorts Rachel to the back of the hall where a dancing area has been cleared away in front of the band.

The two begin to dance, and Rachel notices that Cody and Jane are already present, and sitting at the table reserved for the Hunter clan. 

Teaspoon notices Rachel watching the couple closely. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“What am I thinking, Mr. Hunter?”

“You’re thinking that the two of them don’t really belong together.”

“I was also thinking about how strange Jane has been acting over the past few months, and especially since the morning Buck brought her back to the ranch after he had kidnapped her.”

“I know that woman loves Buck, but for some reason that none of us will probably ever find out about, she won’t allow herself to love him back.”

“Don’t look now, but Buck, Charlene, Jimmy, and Hannah have just come through the front doors. Oh and Louise and Kid are right behind them,” Rachel spoke calmly.

“Good. All our family has arrived then,” Teaspoon spoke wearily, but with a slight smile.

As quickly as Buck enters the social hall his senses immediately realize that Jane is sitting down next to Cody. His eyes meet with her eyes for a brief moment. Jane quickly turns her eyes back to Cody when he leans in close to her, and whispers something endearing into her ear.

Buck feels hurt and disgusted at the same time. Charlene sees the disappointed look on Buck’s face, and practically drags his body to the table. Charlene makes sure that she and Buck are seated at the opposite end where Jane and Cody are sitting. Kid sits next to Buck, and Jimmy with Hannah are seated across from Buck and Charlene. 

Louise sits down next to her husband, but her eyes keep bouncing from Kid to Jimmy. Ever since Jimmy’s admittance of love for her, she hasn’t been able to think straight. She had thought that Jimmy was really in love with her, but now the fact that Hannah is free, and he is back seeing her makes Lou wonder if Jimmy has been playing games with her emotions. Lou’s problem is that why does she even care? She has the most wonderful man sitting right next to her. She shouldn’t be thinking about romance with another man other than her husband.

Jimmy and Hannah suddenly excuse themselves from the table, and make their way to the back of the social hall to share a dance. In the meantime Teaspoon and Rachel have joined the rest of their close-knit family back at the table.

“I’d like it very much if we could start this relationship of ours over. I mean I think we deserve a fresh start,” Jimmy spoke softly.

Hannah smiles affectionately at Jimmy. In her heart she truly loves him, but her heart also is telling her that she has another destiny to fill before she can truly be happy with her life. “You know that you are the first man that I have ever given my heart to.”

“I’d like to think that I would be the only man you’ll ever give your heart to.”

“You are a sweet man James Hickok.”

“Sounds like there is a but in there somewhere,” Jimmy spoke flatly.

Hannah takes a deep longing gaze into Jimmy’s eyes before beginning. She sees the love in his eyes that is so obviously meant for her. Once again in her life the timing is wrong. “I would like nothing more than to continue a relationship with a fresh start, but Phillip needs me. He is very sick mentally Jimmy, and I can’t leave him alone to defend himself against the doctors, lawyers, and judges that he will have to face in New York. I will be accompanying Phillip to New York.”

Jimmy is really not surprised by Hannah’s act of responsibility toward Phillip. “I have to admit that I’m a little upset by your decision, but I totally understand why you must be with Phillip right now. So, I guess my next question is will you come back to me and Rock Creek after you tend to Phillip?”

Hannah reaches over and brushes her lips lightly across Jimmy’s. “I can’t make any promises that far ahead in the future. I don’t know how long Phillip’s recovery will take. The point is Jimmy that Phillip may never recover from his mental breakdown. All I can offer you is one more night.”

Jimmy brings Hannah close to him in a tight embrace. Hannah gladly accepts his embrace. 

Rachel nudges an unobservant Teaspoon while he looks down wearily at the table, and then causally glances down the table at Buck and Kid. 
After a few nudges with no respond, Rachel realizes that something very serious must be bothering her husband. 

“Teaspoon.”

Teaspoon pulls his eyes away from Buck, but he can’t stop his mind from thinking that Buck is indeed his son. How will he ever tell Buck the truth? Or a better question to answer might be should he ever tell Buck the truth about his parentage? 

“Yes Rachel?” Teaspoon muttered quietly.

“Something troubling on your mind?” Rachel asked with a concerned tone for anything that might be upsetting her husband.

“I just have a few things that need clearing up, but right now isn’t the best time to be clearing them up.”
“Are you referring to our notorious outlaw, Jesse James?” Rachel asked sounding cynical toward Jesse.

“Your heart has grown cold for Jesse, hasn’t it? Teaspoon asked wearily.

“Buck could have died from that bullet he received from Jesse. I can’t tolerate that. I don’t know how you can,” Rachel spoke mindfully.

“I don’t feel the same way about Jesse. At one time a thought that Jesse could do no wrong in my eyes, but shooting Buck proved to me once and for all that Jesse never had good intentions about changing into a law abiding citizen.”

“Then I guess Jesse’s lies, and deceit are bothering you?”

“Jesse, and a few other things are heavily burdening my mind and my heart. Right now I just need time to think everything through so that I make the right decisions.”

Rachel stares at Teaspoon with a very puzzled look upon her face. The only problem is Rachel sees that same puzzled look on Teaspoon’s face.

Cody and Jane make their way back to the table after sharing a slow dance. Upon sitting in her chair, Jane catches Buck looking her way. The look on his face tells Jane that he doesn’t love her anymore. He doesn’t look hurt the way he used to every time he glanced her way. Instead when Buck gazes her way his features are cold, and filled with contempt for her. 

Jane quickly peels her eyes away from Buck. She doesn’t want the father of her baby to loathe her as much as Buck apparently does. 

Cody sees the distress in Jane’s eyes. He gazes down toward Buck, but finds that Buck isn’t looking Jane’s way. “Is it just the fact that you’re keeping the baby from him that is upsetting you so much?”

Jane’s eyes meet with Cody’s eyes. “Just keep telling me that I’m doing the right thing by keeping father and his child away from him, and someday I may be convinced.”
Cody squeezes Jane’s hand. “Once we make our little announcement Buck won’t be able to do anything but to accept the decisions that you have made. He’ll never question the parentage of your child.”

“I hope you’re right, because if Buck ever sees the baby, he will know upon sight that the child belongs to him and not you,” Jane spoke wearily.

Cody once again gazes down at Buck. If he has his way Buck won’t see Jane’s baby until the child is a teen, and perhaps not even then. His plans are to change Jane’s mind about telling father and child the truth when the child is old enough to understand about his true parentage.

It was quite easy for Charlene to leave Buck sitting alone at the table. He is still in mourning over totally losing Jane to Cody, and he has absolutely no intentions of inviting her to his bed tonight. 

Charlene rounds the corner of the social hall, and runs right into Jesse James!

“You sure have guts. If the law were out hunting me down I wouldn’t show up in town begging to get handcuffed,” Charlene spoke in a strong, but quiet tone. 

“So, I’m to believe that Buck has recovered very well from his gun wound,” Jesse spoke with a smile playing across his face.

Charlene smacks him lightly in the chest. “You’re very lucky that Buck recovered. Otherwise I would have been part of the hunting party.”

“I love a feisty woman, and one that also knows what she wants, and goes after it.”

“I can’t stay out here too long. You said you have another plan that will put an end to The Kid & Buck Horse Ranch for good. I need to know what you have in mind,” Charlene spoke with optimism.

“You’re going to like this plan Charlene. If everyone does their part correctly, Buck will be yours, and Jane will be out of his life forever,” Jesse remarked with an evil smile.

Teaspoon had asked Hannah to dance. He wanted to break up the long silences that were developing between her and Jimmy. Teaspoon had already known of Hannah’s decision to leave town with Phillip. He also knew that this decision would upset Jimmy.

Lou slides into Hannah’s chair while Teaspoon has her out on the dance floor. 

“You helped get Hannah out of jail, but yet you don’t seem very happy tonight,” Lou spoke softly.

“Hannah has made a very important decision concerning our life together.”

“What is that?”

“We won’t be having a life together,” Jimmy stated as he takes a deep breath before giving Lou an explanation. “Hannah has decided that she will travel with Phillip to New York, and stay there with him as long as he needs her. That could end up being a very long time,” Jimmy spoke disheartened.

“I see. There is a rather simple solution to your problem.”

“Yeah, and what would that be?”

“You could move to New York with Hannah.”

“I already kind of thought about that, but I don’t think I would fit in very well. Lou, I’m just not meant to live in a big city. Rock Creek is about the largest town I care to live in.”

“There isn’t really much I can say to make Hannah’s leaving Rock Creek any easier for you. I understand her decision. Phillip is her brother, and he needs her right now. Hannah probably realizes that neither one of her parents would give up their life to be with Phillip.”

“I understand Hannah’s decision, but it doesn’t make her leaving any easier,” Jimmy spoke softly putting his arm around Lou’s shoulder for support.

Kid’s eyes glare quietly down to where Jimmy and Lou are sitting. He wants to interrupt their nice conversation, but he doesn’t want to cause a scene with Buck being upset over Jane being with Cody, and looking very happy with the fact that she is with Cody.

As Teaspoon is escorting Hannah back to the table he spies Jack motioning for him to come outside. Teaspoon looks quizzically at Jack.

“Rachel, I’ll be right back. Jack is outside, and apparently too shy to come inside.”

Rachel just laughs softly at Teaspoon’s joke.

Once outside the social hall, Jack closes the door tightly behind Teaspoon’s departure from the hall.

“Why am I being dragged from the biggest social event of the year?” Teaspoon asked in an aggravated tone.

“I’ve been tracking Jesse.”

“Yeah, I already know that. I also told you that I didn’t want to be kept informed concerning his whereabouts, or his capture.”

“Even if his whereabouts are right back here in Rock Creek?” Jack asked with a concerned tone for Teaspoon and his family.

Teaspoon stares Jack blindly in the eyes. “Why can’t he just leave my family alone? All I ever did for that boy was give him a place to sleep at night and food on his plate. Why is he trying to hurt the people that I love?”

“My guess is because Buck, Jimmy, and Cody found out that you were helping him. Jesse probably got it in his head that Buck would be able to persuade you to turn him into the law. My guess is that is why Jesse than shot Buck.”

“But why?” Teaspoon asked baffled.

“Jesse, and his gang needed a quiet town to hide out in until the law became tired of searching for them after what they did in Plum Creek. Jesse found the town, and a marshal that loved him like a son. What could possibly go wrong?”

“Jesse didn’t count on Buck being my deputy, and a very honest one at that,” Teaspoon spoke flatly. 

“Teaspoon, if Jesse has come back to Rock Creek it only means more trouble for you and your family. He didn’t come back to Rock Creek to say good-byes to everyone. He came back because he’s about to wreck havoc on you and your family again. Putting it bluntly it wouldn’t surprise me if Jesse already has put his next plan into action,” Jack spoke calmly.

Teaspoon gazes at Jack. Deep in his heart he knows that Jack is right. He can’t give Jesse the benefit of the doubt ever again. Jesse has come back to Rock Creek to destroy lives. Teaspoon figures Jesse won’t be happy until everyone’s life is just as miserable as his own. At any cost, Teaspoon decides right now that he will do whatever he must do to prevent Jesse from hurting any member of his family. Even if that means he will have to hunt down Jesse James!

Back inside Cody has dragged Jane to the dance area in-between songs.
Jane seems a little taken back by the fact that everyone’s eyes in the social hall are glued on her. She sees Teaspoon step back into the hall from outside. 

“We have a little announcement to make to all of you,” Cody spoke cheerfully.

Many of the townspeople clap for the happy young couple standing before them.

“Jane has accepted my proposal of marriage!” Cody spoke overjoyed by his own announcement.

Jane’s eyes meet up with Buck’s, and suddenly her happiness disappears when she sees the overwhelming amount of pain in his eyes. Jane also witnesses the bountiful smile that is playing across Charlene’s face. Jane also witnesses the disappointment in Rachel’s expression, the sadness in Teaspoon’s expression, the doubtfulness in Lou’s eyes, and the concern in Kid’s eyes for Buck. Jane suddenly starts to feel lightheaded from the excitement, and from the hurt she is causing Buck. She leans into Cody to keep from passing out onto the floor!

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Riding in the buckboard home, Jane lightly leans into Cody pretending to need rest more than conversation. She thinks back to this evening’s heart wrenching events. Jane had noticed in her state of weakness that it took Buck all but three seconds to grab Charlene, and whisk her out the front door of the social hall after Cody had announced her acceptance of his marriage proposal to the entire town of Rock Creek. She had never intended for their lives to be this twisted, and filled with so much utter torment. 

Jane thinks back to the romantic evening she had spent with Buck in the cave. Everything had been so perfect between her and Buck that night. She allowed herself to love him, and Buck certainly loved her back. But, in the morning after all the candles had burnt out, after light replaced the moonlight something changed between them. That something was riding back onto the ranch and the scorn, animosity, and mistrust that she could see in Cody’s eyes. He really looked down on her that morning. In his heart Cody knew that she had spent the night before loving Buck. He never really said a word. Cody never asked what had happened between her and Buck. But, Jane knew at that instance that she had already hurt Buck, and that she couldn’t hurt Cody too. Now, two months later she is willing to allow Cody to marry her, and raise Buck’s child. Jane clinches her abdomen tightly. Thinking to herself, Jane vows that someday she’ll make things right between father and child. She makes this promise to her unborn baby.

Rachel walks through the front door of her and Teaspoon’s house jumping slightly after Teaspoon walks through and abruptly slams the door causing the entire house to shake and creak. Rachel lights kerosene lantern and places it on the dining room table while Teaspoon paces back and forth before her. 

“You’re wearing a hole in the floor isn’t going to change the fact that Jane has promised to marry Cody,” Rachel spoke softly trying to calm her husband down. 

Teaspoon stops and looks at Rachel. “I can’t believe what is going on around here. How can Jane promise to marry Cody when it is obvious that she loves Buck?”

“Teaspoon, you’re barking up the wrong tree. When it comes to love, and the foolish things that people will do for love, no one really knows what a person is thinking or feeling for another.”

 “What kind of nonsense is that?” Teaspoon asked bluntly.

“That kind of nonsense is called love. Teaspoon, you can’t say for sure that Jane doesn’t have feelings for Cody.”

“There has to be something else driving that woman to marry Cody and turn away the love that she feels for Buck.”

Rachel places a reassuring kiss on her husband’s lips. She looks into his eyes. “If there is something going on with Jane other than blind love for Cody, it isn’t likely any of us will ever discover the truth. I think what we all need to do is to stop meddling in Jane’s life.”

“I’m going up to bed. You coming up too?” Teaspoon asked disheartened over a situation he can’t fix.

“I’ll be up shortly. I have something I need to do in the kitchen first,” Rachel spoke softly.

Teaspoon gives Rachel a kiss, and then Rachel watches as Teaspoon concedes to a battle that he surely can’t win, and walks quietly up the stairs to their bedroom.

“I just can’t believe what Jane is putting Buck through. When she looks at him, and let me tell you Lou, Jane looks at Buck a lot more than she looks at Cody, she must be able to see how much everything she is doing is damn near killing him!” Kid spoke shouting as he engages the stairs with Lou right in front of him. 

The two enter their bedroom. Kid lights a lamp, and begins to get ready for bed. 

“I mean you’re a woman Lou. How can a woman love two men at the same time? Does Jane really love Cody, or is this just some kind of game she’s playing to see how much she can break Buck’s heart?”

“Shouting so that the entire town of Rock Creek can hear you isn’t going to give you the answers that you’re looking for.”

“I’m sorry. But, I would really like some answers. I see the way Jane looks at Buck whenever his eyes are turned away from her. There are feelings of love for Buck when Jane looks at him.”

“I know there are. I see the love for Buck in her eyes also, but there are also secrets and fears hiding in Jane’s eyes,” Lou spoke just above a whisper.

“Secrets? Fears? What kind of secrets and fears?” Kid spoke loudly.

Lou slips on a silky nightdress, and walks over to her side of the bed that she shares with her husband. “There are plenty of things going on in Jane’s life that none of us are aware of. As a matter-of-fact I’m willing to bet that Cody may be the only person who could actually shed some light on to the reason why Jane is so eager to marry him.”

“Cody isn’t going to tell any of us a thing about any secrets that Jane is keeping,” Kid spoke as he climbs into bed. 

Lou settles into her side of the bed next to Kid. She gazes at her husband who is lying on his back at the moment.

“What about being in love with two men at the same time? Women can’t really have intense feelings of love for two men at the same time can they?” Kid asked calmly.

As Lou is about to answer Kid’s question, he places a kiss on her cheek, and then proceeds to get comfortable by turning onto his side, and facing away from Lou.

Lou is somewhat stunned by Kid’s actions. “I think it is possible to be in love deeply with one man, but have some thoughts about another at the same time. In Jane’s case I believe she has intense feelings of love for Buck, and I think Cody is just an excuse to not feel those intense feelings for Buck.”

“But why?”

“Maybe Jane is afraid of getting hurt. Her intense feelings for Buck make her feel alive, and uninhabited. Her feeling’s for Cody simply slows down her feelings for Buck. Cody gives Jane a sense of security.”

“Buck can give Jane security. He owns half this ranch. Buck has a home large enough to support half a dozen children. What other kind of security could she need?” Kid asked confused.

“Yes, I agree. Buck can give Jane security with a home to live in, food on the table, and the fact that he works hard. It is the powerful passion between the two of them that scares Jane away from Buck.”

“Why?” Kid asked with a yawn.

“Because Jane would be devastated if she ever lost Buck,” Lou spoke as she glances at her husband who is sound asleep beside her. “Just as I could never bare losing you,” Lou spoke as she wiggles down next to Kid and puts her arm lovingly around him.

Jimmy and Hannah walk onto the front porch of the home that she shares with her parents, and at one time two siblings. Hannah turns and faces Jimmy for one last time. She takes Jimmy’s hand into her hand, and squeezes tightly as if never wanting to let him go. 

“Cody and Jane certainly shocked your entire family including you tonight with their unexpected wedding announcement,” Hannah spoke softly.

“I mostly was in shock because I just figured it would be Jane and Buck getting married someday,” Jimmy spoke somberly.

“We have come a long way since we first met.”

“Yes, we have.”

Hannah pauses for a moment trying desperately to gather her final thoughts on her brief, but fierce relationship with a man that will always have her heart. “I don’t want you to be their tomorrow when the stage arrives to take Phillip and I to the train station. Tonight will be good-bye for us. It will be easier for both of us this way.”

“I hope good-bye isn’t all that is left of us Hannah. I hope that you will always hold the thought that we can have a long, and happy life together,” Jimmy spoke adamantly.

“You will stay in my heart forever. That is all I can give you. I don’t want you to spend your life pining away for me with the hope that someday I will return to you. I want you to live the life that you are meant to live James Hickok. Do this for me. Do this for you,” Hannah spoke tears flowing from her eyes.

Jimmy softly wipes the tears from Hannah’s cheeks. “I can promise you that I won’t pine away waiting for your return, but I can’t promise that I won’t think about you everyday for the rest of our lives.”

Hannah reaches over, and teases Jimmy with one last deep kiss. The two share a passionate embrace, but Hannah soon pulls away not wishing to make their departing any more difficult on either one of them than it already is.

“You need to go now,” Hannah whispered softly.

Without saying another word, or looking back on the woman he truly loves, Jimmy rides off the Anderson Ranch with no regrets of ever meeting, or falling in love with Miss Hannah Anderson.

Hannah stands quietly on the front porch watching Jimmy ride off her parent’s ranch. “Have a good life sweetheart. Good-bye my love,” Hannah spoke quietly as she throws a kiss into the evening breeze.

Buck reaches his hands around Charlene, and pulls her full force onto his body! Charlene quickly tries to unleash the passion in Buck by running her hands up and down his manhood! She figures tonight is the best opportunity that she’ll ever have to get Buck into bed! 

The sofa that they are wrestling on suddenly becomes too small and confined when Charlene tries desperately to untangle her body from the many layers of clothing that she has on! The sudden uneasy movements that Charlene makes cause Buck to realize that he is on the sofa with Charlene and not Jane. 

Cody’s announcement that Jane had accepted his marriage proposal had dug deeply into Buck’s heart. The announcement took the breath out of Buck’s body, and left him pretty much defensive less to ward off any passionate thoughts of Jane. The moment he and Charlene entered his home thoughts of making love to Jane, and believing that they were actually the ones getting married flooded his mind so rapidly that he couldn’t help the sudden urgency to make love to Jane. His mind filled up so quickly with the scent of Jane, the touch of Jane, and the feel of Jane that Charlene became Jane! 

Buck upon comprehending what his mind, and body are doing quickly stumbles off the sofa, and into a standing position. He leaves Charlene breathless in a heap of clothing on the sofa. 

“I’m sorry Charlene. I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Buck spoke his voice cracking with emotion. 

Charlene pulls all her clothing to one side, and slowly forces her legs to stand. “Why can’t you let thoughts of Jane go? She’s never coming back to you!”

“I don’t mean to constantly make you think that we have a chance at a future. It would be best for both of us if you were to move out of this house. It can’t be good for either of us to be subjected to my persistent haunting feelings of Jane,” Buck spoke honestly.

“I can’t accept the fact that you can’t get over Jane. I could make you forget about her if you would just give me a chance,” Charlene spoke with anger that Buck always has Jane on his mind, and in his heart.

“It would be best if you just made plans to move out Charlene,” Buck spoke adamantly as he proceeds toward the stairs.

Jane stands at the open door of the Hunter house, and watches as Cody walks over to the bunkhouse. “Good-night Cody.”

She closes the door tightly, and turns around to come face to face with Rachel. Jane clutches her hands across her chest. “Good lord Rachel, you frightened me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I only wanted to make sure that we got that chance to talk before you went on up to bed for the night,” Rachel spoke quietly.

“I guess we haven’t had a chance to have that woman to woman chat that you’ve been wanting to have with me since Thanksgiving Day.”

“You seem a little tense to be talking with me Jane. I’m only looking out for your best interests. If something is wrong, or bothering you than I want you to know that you can talk to me about it.”

“Rachel, every woman has problems or concerns about things when she goes through them for the very first time.”

“Like sex with a man?” Rachel asked knowingly.

Jane nods her head positively. “Making love to a man can be the most wonderful feeling in a woman’s life, but it can also leave you feeling pretty miserable about the episode.”

“Are we talking about Buck or Cody?” Rachel asked calmly.

“I guess I am referring to both Buck and Cody,” Jane spoke unsure of how she is going to convince Rachel that the baby she is carrying actually belongs to Cody, and not Buck.

“My guess is that Buck was your first, and that making love with him bought you to heights that you never imagined before. I’m also guessing that making love with Cody is flat in comparison,” Rachel spoke with the ease of a mother talking to her daughter.

“When I made love to Buck I felt like a woman possessed with pent up passion. I was sure that that passion would disappear after the first time, but it didn’t. Now that we have parted, I can’t seem to acquire that same amount of passion with Cody. Does that mean that there is something wrong with me?”

Rachel admires Jane’s honesty concerning the two different men in her life. “It doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with you. What it does mean is that your feelings are not the same for Cody as they are for Buck. I truly believe that you need to explore closely the feelings that you have for each man before you totally commit to a life with Cody.”

 “I have already committed my life to be with Cody. I’m pregnant Rachel,” Jane spoke flatly as she watches closely for a surprised reaction from Rachel, but no shocked reaction happens. “You don’t seem too surprised by my sudden baby announcement.”

“I have suspected for quite some time now. Your sudden bouts with nausea gave your pregnancy away,” Rachel spoke with a soft smile.

The tension and nervousness in Jane’s body suddenly leaves her, and she lets out a deep breath. “I have been so afraid to tell any of you that I am pregnant. I assumed you would all think terribly bad of me.”

“The question is, is Cody really the father of the baby you’re carrying, or is Cody taking the place of the natural father so that Buck never has to know the truth?”

Jane is stunned by Rachel’s question. She hadn’t prepared herself to have to answer a question concerning the parentage of her baby. She simply assumed that her new family would believe that Cody is the father without asking any questions. Now Rachel is asking the question that she must lie to. She can never tell anyone the truth concerning the natural father of her baby. Even Rachel would not respect her wishes that Buck never be told the truth. 

“Because you are not answering my question, I will assume that Buck is really the father of your baby,” Rachel spoke calmly. 

“No Rachel!”

Rachel is taken back by Jane’s demanding tone that she not think what she would like to believe. “Don’t you think you owe it to Buck to tell him the truth?”

Jane calms down before she ends up giving the secret away that she
is trying so hard to protect. “Rachel, the baby is not Buck’s. Cody is honestly the father of this baby that I’m carrying.”

“I have to admit I’m surprised that Cody is the father. I actually thought that perhaps you and Cody hadn’t consummated your unique relationship yet.”

“I don’t want to disappoint any of you, but to make this news easier for Buck, Cody and I will get married here in Rock Creek, and then we will leave Rock Creek for good. We will make our home far away from Rock Creek. ”

“I see. I suppose it would be asking too much for the two of you to reconsider, and stay in Rock Creek until after the baby is born. It would be better for your health and the baby’s that you don’t travel too much right now.”

“Rachel, that is why Cody and I will be getting married rather quickly. We need to be on our way to our new home before the hardest part of winter settles in to stay.”

“Then I guess I should start the preparations for your wedding,” Rachel commented disheartened.

Jane starts toward the stairs, but she does stop by Rachel, and kisses her lightly on the cheek. “Thank-you for everything you’ve done for me Rachel. I’ll never be able to repay how you took me into your home, and watched over me like a daughter.”

“You don’t have to repay me for anything Jane. I enjoyed having you here. I hate to see you leave.”

“Good-night Rachel,” Jane spoke softly as she makes her way up the stairs to her bedroom.

Rachel quietly sits down in a chair wondering how Jane’s news of a baby will affect Buck’s already broken heart.

In the deep sleep of the night Charlene finds herself unable to breath. She gasps for breath after breath until her lungs are about to explode, and she awakens from her sleep. She finds the presence of a man in her bedroom covering her mouth with his hand. 

Jesse motions for Charlene to be quiet as he slowly removes his hand from her mouth.

“How did you get in this house without Buck awaking up?”

“You’re precious boyfriend has gone for a ride. I’ve been waiting to see you for a few hours. I knew eventually his anxiety over Cody’s announcement of marriage to Jane would be more than Buck Cross could handle.”

“What do you want Jesse?”

“Have you forgotten the next phase of our plan so quickly?”

“No. I just don’t need Buck finding out that I’ve been working with you all along. He would surely kick me out of this house, and his life for good.”

“The next part of our plan will be carried out on their wedding day. You know what you’re suppose to do,” Jesse spoke as he exits Charlene’s bedroom from her bedroom window.”

Charlene suddenly hears the gallop of a horse getting closer to the ranch. Buck must be returning home to her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR 

The next morning Teaspoon watches Buck from the front door of his home wondering if the Kiowa should be left alone to bear the burden of the news that shocked all of them last evening at the Christmas Dance. In one week Christmas Eve will be upon them along with Cody and Jane’s wedding day. 

Teaspoon decides that no man should have to endure the amount of pain that Buck has had to endure over the past few months. He grabs his coat from the coat hook, and walks out of his home, and towards the corrals where Buck is sitting watching a few grazing horses.

As Teaspoon walks closer to Buck he realizes that Buck isn’t aware of the fact that someone is approaching him from behind. When he reaches Buck at the corrals, Buck is slightly startled out of his thinking by Teaspoon’s presence. 

“I should reprimand you for not being more alert. I could have been Jesse sneaking up on you.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Buck spoke disheartened.

Teaspoon climbs up onto the corral, and sits next to Buck. Lately since discovering Buck’s true parentage, he has felt the need to interfere more in Buck’s life, and especially when Buck is hurting so badly over Jane. “You know I don’t like hearing that you’re giving up on life. It kind of makes me nervous. It starts to sounding like you may be thinking seriously about leaving this ranch, and your family. That prospect doesn’t sit well with me,” Teaspoon spoke trying to discourage any thoughts that Buck might be having about leaving.

“I don’t like the idea of running away from life, but I can’t stay here if Cody and Jane plan on living here in Rock Creek. I can’t see Jane everyday wondering what kind of life her and I could have had,” Buck spoke his voice cracking with emotion.

“I do believe that Cody and Jane are planning on moving on. Besides you have a family here, and responsibilities. Kid is away at this very moment selling a few more horses to that ranch up north that you did some business with last winter. He wouldn’t be too happy when he comes home to find out that you are leaving.”

“Yeah, I know. Kid would run this ranch into the ground inside a month.”

“I was kind of thinking inside a week,” Teaspoon spoke with a smile.

Both men laugh quietly.

Rachel watches the two men embrace from a downstairs window of her home, and tears find their way down her cheeks.

Jane watches the two men laugh and embrace from her upstairs bedroom window, and she gently wipes the tears from her face.

Lou had wished that Kid had sent Buck to sell their horses up north. He promised he would be home in time for the wedding, and Christmas. Lately she wasn’t holding too much faith in any promises that her husband made to her, and the children.

A sudden knock at Lou’s back door startles her into dropping a glass that she had been drying with a towel. The glass shatters across the floor, and Jimmy bolts into the kitchen thinking that Lou is in danger! 

Lou looks up from the floor where she had begun picking up the broken pieces of glass to see Jimmy standing over her with a worried expression on his face.

“I thought you were in trouble,” Jimmy spoke somewhat out of breath.

He takes Lou’s hand as she reaches for his and he helps Lou up from the floor. Lou places the broken glass down on a kitchen counter.

“I was just picking up the pieces of my shattered marriage,” Lou spoke seriously.

“Kid away again?” 

“This ranch, the horses, and Buck get more of Kid’s attention and time than I do.”

“Well if it helps at all, I get less of Kid’s time than you do,” Jimmy spoke in a joking manner.

Lou rolls her eyes at Jimmy. “Since when do you and Kid spend time together?”

“That’s just my point. Kid never has time for me,” Jimmy spoke trying to console Lou.

Jimmy takes Lou’s hand and guides her out of the kitchen and into the living room. “You need to sit down and relax,” Jimmy spoke as he forces Lou to sit down on a chair while he takes a seat on the sofa.

“Why is it that Kid doesn’t see that I need a husband, and not just a man that supports his family well?”

“The ranch grows larger each year, and soon Kid and Buck will probably hire a few ranch hands to help out. But, until that day comes Kid and Buck pretty much have to contend with all the work. At least Kid doesn’t have to be a deputy too.”

Lou gets up from her chair and walks over to the sofa where she sits down next to Jimmy. “I need a man that stays home and tends to the things his wife needs and wants.”

Jimmy is taken back by Lou’s confession of wanting and needing a man other than Kid. His own feelings over Hannah’s departure have him torn with mixed emotions on his feelings toward Lou. He would like to act on what he has felt for her since the day they met, but she is also a married woman, and that means something more to him than what it ever did before since being in love with Hannah. The truth is Jimmy realized through Hannah that he wouldn’t want another man compromising Hannah while he where away at work.

Lou decides to take the matter of the pent up passion between herself and Jimmy into her own hands. She selfishly begins to kiss Jimmy feverishly not allowing Jimmy to make up his own mind about the passion between them. 

Jimmy can’t seem to stop what is happening between the two of them, and before he can object he finds his clothes as well as Lou’s clothes lying on a heap in front of the sofa, and the two of them engaged in the desires of sex that have been surfacing between the two of them for quite a long time. 

Fully engaged with making love to a man makes Lou feel totally whole again even if that man isn’t her husband. She replaces her guilt feeling with the fact that she needs a man to love her occasionally, and if Kid doesn’t want to make love to her than she knows that Jimmy will. 

Feeling completely alive again Jimmy doesn’t want to stop the lovemaking that is going on between him and Louise. He knows it is wrong, and in the morning he’ll have regrets, but right now the lovemaking feels to good to stop.

“God Lou, I want you,” Jimmy spoke his voice husky with passion.

The two entangle their bodies until they are one, and moans of passion don’t stop until morning light comes. 

Lou nudges Jimmy awake to get him out of the house before Rachel brings the children back home from staying overnight with Addison and Daniel. 

“Jimmy, you need to wake-up. Rachel will be bringing the children home soon.”

Jimmy groans, but opens his eyes to see a smiling Louise in his arms. “I’m glad that I woke up to see you smiling.”

“Why wouldn’t I be smiling?”

“Last night.”

“Don’t you mean last night, early morning, mid-morning, and just an hour ago. I haven’t had this much activity in bed since my wedding night to Kid.”

“You don’t seem to feel at all upset about what we did.”

“I’m not sorry. I have feelings too Jimmy. I need a man once in awhile in my bed. Kid has made his choice. He is only in our bed to sleep not make love. He’s too busy making love to this ranch.”

“Does that really make it alright for you to sleep with another man?” Kid spoke tears subsiding to anger from the open front door of his home.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Jimmy practically throws the broom he had been sweeping the marshal’s office with clear across the room as Teaspoon steps into the office from the bitter coldness of Christmas Eve Day. 

Jimmy looks at a startled Teaspoon, but doesn’t say a word, and only looks more angry and bitter that Teaspoon has stopped in to see how he is doing.

“Well nothing like taking your frustrations out on a beat up defenseless material object such as that their broom you just about put through my office window,” Teaspoon remarked boldly.

“Don’t you have a wedding to get ready for?” Jimmy spoke flatly.

“Yes, I do.” Teaspoon walks apprehensively toward Jimmy who is now leaning his backside against Teaspoon’s desk. “You need to swallow your pride, and just make an appearance at their wedding. It is important to Cody that his family be there,” Teaspoon spoke adamantly.

“Teaspoon, I slept with Kid’s wife. I can’t believe that you’re not giving me one of your hour long lectures,” Jimmy spoke an upset tone in his voice.

“Yeah. Jimmy, I don’t agree with what happened between you and Louise, but I could see it coming back when you first came back to town. It’s almost like this thing between you and Louise was destined to happen, and now that it has we all have to find a way to move past it. It will take a lot of hard work for Kid and Lou to put their marriage back together, but I believe they can do it. Lou has just got to lay it all out for Kid. Her being lonely in their marriage, and insecure about his love for her.”

“What about Lou’s feelings for me?”

“Well that is a whole another chapter. Lou also has to decide if she wants to save her marriage, or if she wants to be with you. But, I don’t put the blame on you totally for what happened. The blame is equally shared by both of you.”

“What about Buck? I know my actions with Louise are upsetting him too.”

“Buck and Kid have been building their ranch together for a few years now. They spend a lot of time together, and they have become closer than two brothers could ever be, but I had a chat with Buck about you and Louise. Buck knows how Kid spends so much time working the ranch that he hardly knows that Louise exists. I think after all Buck’s ups and downs with Jane he is more able to understand the feelings between you and Lou. He doesn’t seem to be that upset by what happened.”

“But, I’m sure he still believes that what Lou and I did was wrong?”

“Yeah, well like I said Buck and Kid are very close. But, if what you’re asking is if Buck despises you right now. I would say no he doesn’t.”

“I still don’t know if it is such a good idea that I be at that wedding. Kid will be there, and Lou. I hate the idea that this wedding is hurting Buck so much.”

“Jimmy, I don’t want this wedding to happen, but I’m going to be there for Cody. Goodness knows something still don’t feel right to me about Jane’s reasons for marrying Cody, but there ain’t nothing any of us can do to stop this wedding from taking place this evening.”

Before Jimmy can promise that he will make a quiet appearance at Jane and Cody’s wedding, the door to the marshal’s office flings open, and Jack walks in from the windy morning.

“Jimmy, how you been?” Jack asked flatly.

“Good. Teaspoon, I’ll let you and Jack talk. I’m going to head back to the ranch,” Jimmy stated flatly.

Jimmy grabbed his coat off the coat hook as he exits the marshal’s office. Both Jack and Teaspoon watch Jimmy get on his horse, and ride out before Jack turns to face Teaspoon.

“So, how did Buck take your news?” Jack asked seriously.

“What makes you think I ever plan on telling Buck my news?” Teaspoon asked disheartened.

Jack looks totally shocked that Teaspoon has not told Buck the truth about his parentage. “Why wouldn’t you tell Buck is what I’m wondering?”

“There is a lot about Buck that you don’t know, or understand,” Teaspoon spoke somberly.

“Now is your chance Teaspoon. Make me understand why you wouldn’t tell Buck that you are his natural father!”

Teaspoon is a little apprehensive about telling Jack anything about Buck, but what can Jack do now. He’s already delivered to Teaspoon the best news of his life, but Teaspoon’s good news would only bring more pain to Buck.

“The truth Jack is that Buck had a very painful childhood, and if I would have been in his life from the beginning a lot of that pain would not have reached him. I can’t tell Buck the truth because the realization of my not being there for him when he needed me the most would be too much for him to handle.”

“What kind of childhood did Buck have?”

Teaspoon paces for a moment. He then stops, and stands directly in front of Jack. “Buck lived in a Kiowa village with his brother, and he was treated badly by the other children as well as the adults. He left the Kiowa, and ended up at an orphanage where he was also treated badly. My point here Jack is that Buck has never really had the support that a father can give his son. Buck needed that support more than anything else in his young life, and I wasn’t there to give it.”

“You didn’t know he existed,” Jack stated boldly.

“I slept with his mother Jack. Buck believes that his natural father raped his mother.”

“That is a damn good reason why you should clear this matter up with Buck. Don’t let Buck live his entire life thinking that his father was a bastard that destroyed his mother’s life.”

“Jack I’m asking you as a friend to let this matter be,” Teaspoon spoke adamantly.

“Teaspoon, it isn’t my place to tell Buck the truth. It’s his father’s place to tell him the truth,” Jack spoke quietly as he exits the marshal’s office, and leaves Teaspoon to rethink the decision that he has made concerning Buck’s right to know the truth about his father.

Jane tosses her wedding dress and undergarments onto Lou’s bed. She stares blindly at the heap of clothing for a moment wondering if she’ll really be able to go through with a wedding to a man that she has no desire to spend the rest of her life with. “The rest of my life. That surely could be a very long amount of time,” Jane spoke quietly to only her. She turns and stares at the woman reflecting back at her through Lou’s vanity mirror. So much has happened in her life since the day she arrived in Rock Creek. So much has been good, but so much has gone wrong. 

She recognized him right away, but she still felt the need to protect herself from him.

“I’m a much better shot then what I once was Buck,” Jane spoke with fire in her voice. 

The look on Buck’s face had made her almost want to laugh, but she had kept her laughter from bursting out.

“Does that mean you are going to shoot me?” Buck asked calmly. 

“I will if you take one more footstep towards me.”

But, Buck didn’t believe that she had it in her to shoot him. She fired a shot above his head, and it about frightened him right out of his boots.

“That was a warning. The next bullet won’t be,” Jane spoke seriously.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Buck insisted.

“How do I know that?”

“Jane, you do know me. I haven’t turned into a monster over the past seven years.”

“You’re always sneaking up on me. What’s your excuse for sneaking up on me this time? Let me think. The last time you snuck up on me, you said it was because I was shooting at you and your friends.”

Jane snaps out of her memory of the day she realized that Buck was once again back in her life. Had destiny brought them back together again?

When Cody had asked her to the dance, she could see the hurt in Buck’s eyes, but the night of the dance before Cody had arrived to escort her to the dance it was Buck that stole her heart. 

He had taken her breath away! Every last inch of him had her appetite for passion sneaking up on her! Never before had she had these sorts of feelings or thoughts for a man. Buck had thought that she was simply too warm and needed a glass of water. What she needed was to have Buck take her in his arms and escape to his bedroom where he wouldn’t stop loving her until the morning light!

Jane remembers how Cody’s arrival had interrupted a rather intimate moment between her and Buck.

During the evening of the dance they had gone for a walk while Cody was attending to official army business. They discussed what each of them had been doing over the past seven years. Before either one of them could think about what they were doing, Jane found herself entangled in Buck’s arms and kissing him passionately. Once again Cody’s arrival had put a halt to anything more intimate happening right in the darkness of that alley!

But, later that evening after Buck took her back home to his place, he gently backed her onto the sofa as he kissed her passionately, and before she could stop what was happening Jane found her body underneath Buck’s!

Should she have stopped what was about to happen? She had made up her mind by placing her hands on Buck’s hips, and forcing his body completely onto hers! All she could hear were the moans of passion and desire coming from both of them!

Jane laughs at the interruption first from Charlene, and than from Jimmy. She had wanted Buck desperately that night. She could feel the waves of passion consuming her entire body! 

The day in the clearing where he had said good-bye to his best friend Ike had been a pleasant surprise for her. Buck was sad, and she felt compelled to take him in her arms, and make passionate love to him. 

She insisted that Buck make love to her in the clearing that day. She wasn’t going to stop the assault on his body, or his senses until he surrendered his love to her! 

She had pulled his shirt from his trousers, but without any warning gun shots had been fired at the two of them, and all Buck could then think about was getting her back to the ranch, and out of harms way.

Jane chuckles out loud thinking about the looks that everyone at Rachel’s dinner table had given her and Buck when they burst into the Hunter home with their clothes in disarray.

The night that Buck and she had planned an evening of romance, she had wanted him to make love to her before they went out to dinner. There would be no interruptions that night. But, even though dinner had been a wonderful prelude to a night of making love to the man that she loved, it wasn’t meant to be. 

Cody had ended their night of magic by arresting Buck for the murders that had been going on around Rock Creek. Of course everyone including Cody knew that Buck was innocent, but Cody still was determined to make it a memorable evening! 

It had taken a lot of hard work to get Buck free from the false accusations that Cody had made against him. On there way back to the ranch she couldn’t help igniting the fire between them again! She had become quite daring with Buck on the road back to the ranch wanting him more than ever, and not wanting to wait another moment longer. She had teased Buck until there would be no way that he could say no to her! 

Of course the sound of approaching horses lead Buck to halt the passion once again between them. It turned out that Jimmy and Teaspoon had once again managed to interrupt their lovemaking. Jane was seriously beginning to believe that a conspiracy between Buck’s family members was going on to keep the two of them from consummating the love that was becoming quite intense between them.

Jane chuckles once again out loud at the thought of Buck trying to hide the appearance of his passion from Jimmy and Teaspoon. Teaspoon had been blind to what had been going on, but Jimmy wouldn’t allow Buck to live it down, sort of speak. 

Jane finds herself sitting at Lou’s vanity staring at a woman that she no longer knows. No longer really cares to know.

She had awoken from a nightmare where her father had been killed by the hands of a ruthless outlaw, and now Buck was lying out in the wilderness in the same state. She couldn’t reach him. The only thing she could see was a trail of his blood running through town!

“No!” Jane shouted.

“Having second thoughts?” Lou asked as she startles Jane out of her thoughts.

Jane abruptly glances back at Lou through the mirror. “I was thinking about the past. How the years just seem to fly by.”

“Yes they do,” Lou spoke sadly.

“If you could do your life over Lou, would you change the way it has turned out?”

“I would change the hurt, and mistrust that I have put in my husband’s eyes. What would you change Jane?”

“I would change the many ways that I have hurt Buck so badly.”

“There is still time to do that.”

“No Lou. Things have changed between Buck and I, and Cody and I. I can never allow myself to look back on the past ever again. Today is a fresh start for me. I need to take this fresh start and thank Cody for giving it to me.”

Kid and Buck are outside the barn rounding up the few horses that were trying desperately to nibble the last of the dried grass away from the cold ground.

Kid has had a permanent scowl on his face since the day he had came home without going on his projected trip because Lou had wanted her husband at home. What he found was his wife lying naked with another man in her arms. He was no kind of fool, and he could easily figure out that Jimmy and Lou had spent the entire evening making love. 

No matter what Lou’s reasoning was for being with Jimmy in a way that a woman only gives to her husband, Kid had told her that their marriage was over. He stayed in the house with Lou and his two daughters, but at night Kid slept in the spare bedroom. He simply had no desire to even sleep in the same bed with Lou. 

“So, you planning on going to the wedding?” Kid asked Buck not really sure how his best friend feels about Jane anymore.

“I can’t,” Buck spoke disheartened.

“Yeah, I understand. I don’t really want to go, but Teaspoon has been begging me to attend. He says Cody will be upset if his family doesn’t attend his wedding.”

“Honestly Kid, Cody doesn’t feel like family to me anymore.”

“Yeah, I know exactly what you mean,” Kid spoke thinking about his relationship with Jimmy.

Lou continues to brush Jane’s hair trying to keep Jane from making the biggest mistake of her young life.

“I once asked you if you truly love Cody the way you once loved Buck.”

“I remember,” Jane replied softly.

“Now would be the time to think about the answer to that question. Jane, don’t make a mistake that you may have to live with for the rest of your life,” Lou pleaded softly.

“I’ve thought about that answer for many weeks Lou. You are more than aware of the many different feelings that a woman can have for more than one man.”

“Yes, I guess I am quite familiar with that.”

“They say confession is good for the soul, so I’m going to try and put my feelings for these two different men into words that will put your mind to rest about my decision to marry Cody.”

“I’m listening,” Lou spoke softly. 

Rachel and Teaspoon are dressed up in their best clothes, and literally pacing back in forth in front of Rock Creek’s humble white church. Cody comes from inside the church, and smiles at the two who seem more nervous than what he is.

“I hope the two of you don’t dig a trench around the church so poor Jane can’t make her way to the alter in her wedding dress,” Cody remarked with a wide grin.

Both Teaspoon and Rachel stop pacing, and look at one another before they begin to laugh at their own foolishness. 

“We do seem to be a bit more nervous than you today Cody,” Teaspoon spoke admiring Cody’s calm control.

“Jane is going to be nervous enough. I really need to be in control of my emotions to make sure she has me to lean on.”

“Why is that Cody?” Rachel asked bewildered by Cody’s statement.

“What I mean is that Jane has this way of allowing herself to get nervous over being the center of attention. She’s just not used to everyone fusing over her.”

“I see,” Teaspoon remarked knowing that Jane’s love for Buck is what her real problem is.

Kid and Buck are getting the last of the horses into the barn, and supplying each of them with fresh water and a stack of hay to nibble on. Neither man has much to say, but both men have a lot on their mind.

Jane is about to tell Lou the truth about her love for Buck as well as her feelings for Cody when suddenly a sweaty palm reaches around her and clasps her mouth shut. A blindfold is quickly put around her eyes, and the hand that covered her mouth to keep her quiet is replaced with a gag.

“We weren’t told to bring both of them,” one man quietly stated to another man.

“We’re taking both of them. We can’t leave a witness. We either take them both or kill one of them,” the other man spoke quietly.

“We’ll take them both. I don’t want no murder hanging over my head,” a third man replied quietly.

Three men drag a squirming Louise and Jane from Lou’s bedroom, down the stairs, and through the kitchen. In the kitchen Charlene is present holding the door open while the men manage to get the two women out of the house! Once outside, Lou and Jane are each placed on a horse, and tied down to that horse. The five ride out through the woods behind Kid and Lou’s home!

Buck and Kid are going their separate ways as they approach their own home.

“Good-night Buck,” Kid spoke somberly.

“Enjoy the wedding Kid,” Buck spoke disheartened by the thought of Jane marrying Cody.

Charlene sneaks into Buck’s home through the back door. She had already started to prepare dinner so that Buck later wouldn’t have any suspicions about her being involved with Jane’s, and now Lou’s unforeseen disappearance.

Before Buck makes his way into the kitchen of his home, he hears Kid scream out his name.

“Buck!” Kid screamed from his home.

Buck rips through his home, and back out the front door. He meets up with Kid as Kid is flying down the front steps of his porch!

“What’s wrong?” Buck asked as he halted Kid’s fast approach toward him by placing his hand on Kid’s chest. 

Kid is having a difficult time catching his breath. “It’s Lou…..and Jane….the house……”

“What about Jane and Lou?” Buck spoke nervously.

“They’re gone! The inside of the house is a wreck, like they…both put up a… struggle,” Kid spoke hysterically.

Buck leaves Kid’s side, and tears into Kid’s home. He halts his progression when he sees the destruction inside the home. The banister leading up the stairs has been broken in several spots. Buck walks further into the house. He steps cautiously into the kitchen where dishes have been smashed onto the floor. The chairs at the kitchen table are lying on their sides and broken. The back door is slamming against the frame every time the wind howls. 

Buck rushes out the back door where he picks up the tracks left by the five horses that made their way away from the house, and then across the creek! He rushes back inside the house!

Rachel, Teaspoon, and Cody are headed onto the ranch in the buckboard that Rachel and Teaspoon had used to get into town for the wedding. Jane hadn’t showed any signs of making it to the church for her own wedding. Cody had become quite the nervous bridegroom, and decided that perhaps Buck Cross is the reason for his bride’s delay!

As the three enter the ranch and come to a stop in front of Kid and Lou’s home they find that Buck and Kid are saddled up and ready to ride out.

“Where is she Buck?” Cody spoke loudly as he jumps off the buckboard, and heads over toward Buck. 

Teaspoon senses the oncoming fight. He gets down from the buckboard as well, and chases after Cody.

Buck and Kid both get down from their horse. 

“Cody, we really don’t have time for this right now,” Kid spoke his voice cracking with emotion.

“Where is she Buck?” Cody spoke demandingly.

“Both Lou and Jane are missing,” Buck spoke softly trying to avoid a confrontation with Cody. “We need to start tracking their horses now before it gets dark.”

“You’re lying!” Cody spoke boldly.

“Cody, let Buck and Kid explain,” Teaspoon spoke adamantly.

“Buck and I were in the barn finishing up for the evening. I had entered the house to get ready for the wedding. The house is in shambles. I ran outside to get Buck. He found tracks at the back of the house running through the creek.”

“I don’t believe one word of this!” Cody spoke loudly.

“I don’t really give a damn what you believe,” Buck spoke angrily.

Buck starts to walk away from Cody, but Cody grabs onto his arm to halt Buck’s progression to his horse. “You kidnapped Jane once before!”

Teaspoon senses trouble. He tries to get to Buck’s side, but he is too late. Cody charges into Buck and lays him out flat on the ground! Kid and Teaspoon hurry to separate the two men that are literally punching one another in the face! 

“This isn’t helping our search to find Lou and Jane,” Teaspoon spoke adamantly. As he tries desperately to hold Cody back from hitting Buck again.

Buck struggles to get free from the grasp that Kid has on him! “Kid, let go of me so I can kill him!”

Rachel steps in-between the men. “It’s about time that all of you start growing up and thinking about the danger that this family has been in for quite some time now. I’m willing to bet that Jesse James and his gang have everything to do with Jane and Lou’s unanticipated ruthless disappearance.”

The men settle down. Kid is able to release his strong hold on Buck, and Teaspoon slowly releases Cody. 

“I’ll give you your chance to find Jane. But if I find out that you had anything at all to do with her disappearance, you’ll hang!” Cody remarked as he turns his back and walks away from Buck Cross and the rest of his Pony Express family!

The five horses ride into a well-hidden camp in the mountains long after dark. The outlaws halt the horses and attempt to untie the two captive women. Both Lou and Jane struggle making it almost impossible for their captors to release them.

“Stop struggling, or you’ll stay tied and gagged!” one outlaw shouted.

Lou and Jane both comply, and soon they are standing on their own two feet. Both women feel the hands of a man taking the blindfold away from their eyes, and the gags from their mouth. Once released both women find their eyes staring into the evil, loathsome, unmerciful eyes of Jesse James!