Chapter 4

Damn, Buck swore silently, as he eyed the young woman nervously standing beside William F. Cody, army scout and former Pony Express rider. She was small, the top of her head barely reaching Cody's shoulders. Her head was a riot of red-gold curls that she tried to tame into a severe knot but a few lucky tendrils have escaped the chignon. Her face was impossibly lovely. Delicately arched eyebrows framed huge green eyes. Her nose was straight, her red lips shaped like the bow Buck sometimes used to hunt with.

She was the exact of image his treacherous wife, Laura.

She was Cody's wife, Louisa.

Despite knowing the difference, Buck felt a flash of resentment towards her.

"Buck," Lou called out. "What are you doing standing there? Come on over and greet our guests."

Buck wondered briefly if he could convince Lou that he needed to go horse trading. He had successfully avoided the couple that way in the past, when they sent word before arriving at K&L. It wasn't that he didn't like Cody and Louisa. Cody was his friend, part of his family and Louisa was too quiet to bother anybody. But seeing her everyday was too much for Buck's healing heart. He had no need to be reminded of the wife who betrayed him.

"Of course, she's welcome to stay here." Lou leaned over to hug Louisa, who sat beside her. "And pregnant? I'm so happy for both of you."

An early lunch of Southern-style fried chicken, mashed potato and gravy was spread on the table. Reminiscent of his Express days, Cody was the first to heap food on his plate. It was only after his first bite when he told his friends the purpose of their visit.

"Maybe Louisa can even teach Lou here a thing or two about staying off her feet," Kid said, pinning Lou with a look of mild reproof.

Lou responded with a roll of her eyes. "Kid is acting as if this is the first time I'm with child. We've already had Jamie and Marylou, so I don't understand why he is so worried," she told Louisa.

"You've never been this big," Kid insisted hotly. "Not even with Jamie."

"Big?!?!" Lou repeated incredulously. "You think I'm big?"

Aware of the rising temper in his wife's voice, Kid tried to reason out. "Well, you're pregnant. You're supposed to be big."

This time it was Buck who rolled his eyes at Kid. His friend wouldn't be so dumb as to antagonize his ready-for-battle wife, would he? He shook his head slightly. He glanced towards Lou but it was Louisa's laughing eyes that caught his attention. She must have felt him looking at her for she turned her head to grin at him. Buck felt like a horse kicked him squarely on the stomach. His smile faded and he looked away abruptly.

Louisa's own smile faltered when she saw the amusement in Buck's face slip. She averted her gaze and focused her attention on the conversation.

"It'll only be for a couple of months," Cody was saying.

"Sure, don't worry about it," Kid assured him. "We'll take care of Isa," he added, calling Cody's wife by her nickname.

"Where are you headed to anyway?" Lou asked.

Cody paused to chew on a piece of chicken. Lou's cooking sure has gotten better, he thought as he eyed the leftover pieces. Maybe I can wheedle a snack to take with me. "Fort Laramie. I'm taking my orders from the army captain stationed there."

"Scouting business?" Kid asked.

"Going after a group of Comanches which has been making trouble for soldiers. Those savages ..." Cody stopped abruptly as he remembered that Buck was sitting in front of him. The Indian had been so quiet Cody had forgotten he was there.

Lou's fork clattered on her plate as she sent an involuntary glance towards Buck. Buck's face didn't change expressions, but fury stole beneath his handsome features, his black eyes hardened. Only the thin line of his lips hinted at the simmering anger within. With exaggerated care, Buck put down his knife and fork beside his plate. He dabbed his lips with the napkin before looking directly at Cody.

"I'm sorry, Buck. I didn't mean that," Cody said quietly. "You know I didn't mean what I said."

Everybody around the table -- Lou, Kid, Louisa, even Cody -- held their breath as they waited for Buck's response. But it was a long time coming. Buck stared silently at Cody like he was trying to read the apology in the other man's heart.

Finally, Buck shifted his glance towards Louisa before addressing Lou and Kid. "You'll have to excuse me. I remembered something I needed to do." Buck pushed his chair away from the table and walked out of the room.

Lou shot a furious look towards Cody before standing up, intent on following her friend. But Kid pulled her down and motioned with his head for Cody to follow Buck. He caught up with Buck in the living room.

"Buck, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"But you did, Cody."

"You know I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just mouthin' off..."

"No, you weren't just 'mouthin' off'. Maybe you didn't want to say it out loud, but I'm sure you thought it or you didn't go on and say it. We're just savages to you."

"You're not a savage, Buck. Besides, the army is not looking for Kiowas."

"Does it matter, Cody? Does it really matter what my tribe is? Because anybody who looks at me sees only my color. They don't care if I'm Lakota or Cheyenne or Kiowa. We're all the same to them. I'm an Indian. Something they are afraid of. Do you know that mothers tell horrible stories about us to frighten their children into obedience. Fathers warn their daughters not to look at Indians lest we take them forcibly back to our teepees and rape them. And when people see me with one of my brothers, they immediately think we're having ... what do you call it? A powwow. They suspect we are planning to attack the town. I've been living in Sweetwater for years, Cody. But most folks in town have been anything but sweet. So when my own friend starts talking about savages, it really hurts." Buck turned away from Cody and walked out the door, leaving the army scout standing dejectedly in the middle of the room.

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