True Love, One Soul

Chapter 8
By Jocelyne

Smiling Sarah said, "Yes! I would love to take a walk with you young man. I just need to get my shawl from the house."

Helping Sarah to her feet, he handed her the crutches.

As they started out the door Steven said, "Now you two don't be out to late. I want to see both of you before I leave in the morning. Have a good time."

They walked into the yard, as they got close to the house Buck said, "Wait here. I'll be right back." He ran up the stairs and opened the door. He ran in and grabbed her shawl off the hook right inside the door, and then he ran back to where Sarah stood in the yard. He placed her shawl around her shoulders.

Smiling at him, Sarah said, "Thank you. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong idea about me and Jimmy."

Offering her his arm for support, he took her crutches and leaned them on the railing, saying "I know you didn't. I guess it serves me right. Last night I did a lot of thinking about you and what you mean to me. I know that the way I treated you yesterday was wrong. Please don't be angry with me."

Slipping her arm around his waist as they walked into the prairie behind the house. Sarah said, "I was very mad and hurt. But I'm not now. I try not to stay mad at someone I care about for very long. Besides I’m very flattered that you think of me as your gal. I feel like you’re my guy."

Smiling Buck stopped and turned to face her and said, "I guess I’m going to be a little protective of you if you are willing to be my girl. The thing of it is I’ve seen the others date very pretty girls. But all the girls seem to be scared of me, because I’m a half-breed. You, Lou, Emma and Rachel are the only ones that have look passed my skin color and see the real me."

Circling her arms around his waist Sarah said, "I was never scared of you. I don't know how to explain it but it’s as if something drew me here. When I was thinking of running from home, I had no idea where I was going to go, but I heard a voice calling me and it lead me here to you. I do wish you wouldn't talk about yourself like that. You have a lot to offer a girl. I am willing to be your girl as long as you will have me around. The other girls lost a good man."

Giving her a hug he said, "Well I plan to hold onto to you for a very long time." Then he kissed her very passionately. They stood there looking at the stars. As the night wore on they were happy to sit together and watch the stars in each other’s arms. All of a sudden Sarah jumped at a noise she heard. Slowly turning around as he pushed Sarah behind him, Buck pulled out his gun. He wasn’t for sure what or who made the noise, but then Buck saw Cody standing there. He said, "Cody you should know better then to sneak up on someone like that."

As Buck put his gun away, Cody said, "I’m sorry I interrupted you two but Sarah your father sent me out here after you two. He says it’s late and you need to come back to the station now."

Placing a finger against Bucks lips to silence him, Sarah said, "Okay, thanks Cody. Please tell my father that we’re on our way back now." After nodding yes Cody turned and walked back in the direction that he had come. Turning her attention to Buck Sarah said, "Now be quite he was only bringing us a message from my father. Now he will be gone tomorrow and we can spend more time alone after he leaves." She leaned into him and kissed him.

Smiling Buck said, "Well I guess I can deal with that. I just wanted more time alone with you is all."

Sarah smiled at him saying, "I know but remember my father is still here. When he is gone, I don't think the others will mind us spending a lot of time alone together. As long as you don't neglected your runs."

Pulling her close Buck said, "I know. It’s just that I have a hard time letting go of you at night. I guess I feel that if I let go that you will be gone in the morning and everything I feel is all a dream."

Standing Buck helped Sarah to her feet. He reached down and picked up her crutches and handed them to her. As they walked back to the station Buck said, "I know what I said a few minutes ago sounds dumb. But when it happens to you time and time again you start to believe it."

Leaning her head on his shoulder as they walked Sarah said, "If I wanted to leave, I would have done it when you rode out of here mad at me. But I stayed because my heart is here with you." As they reached the station no one was there to greet them, so Buck helped her up the stairs and then he handed her the crutches. As she got settled on both crutches Sarah reached up and cupped Bucks face with both hands and said, "I never knew I could be this happy. Or feel this good. I love you, Buck Cross."

Pulling her close he said, "I love you too, Sarah Jones. I’ve never felt this happy before either."

Turning to see if her father was standing at the door. Sarah said, "Well I better get into the house before my father comes out here after me. Well, you go with me to see him off in the morning?"

Smiling at her Buck said, "Yes I’ll go with you tomorrow. I want to spend tomorrow with you since I have a run the day after. Good night my love."

Leaning towards him Sarah said, "Goodnight my love." They kissed and then Sarah opened the door and went inside. After Sarah closed the door she saw her father sitting there at the table.

Buck went over to the bunkhouse to wait on the porch to see if Sarah would come to her window again.

Back at the house Sarah’s father said, "Well, I’m glad to see you back in one piece. Now off to bed with ya. Tomorrow will come early." Nodding yes Sarah climbed the stairs and went to her room.

Lighting the candle by the door, Sarah changed and went to the window. After looking up at the stars she tilted her head downward toward the bunkhouse and saw Buck standing on the porch looking up at her. She smiled at him and waved. He smiled and waved back.

Sarah turned to go to bed, but suddenly she felt like she needed to turn back and look at Buck once more. Looking at him she thought she could hear him saying something to her. She smiled at him and nodded yes to him. Then she watched him turn and go into the bunkhouse. Then she turned in for the night, too.

As she climbed into bed she just knew that Buck was the one for her and that her mother was smiling down on them. Her mother knew that she was happy and very much in love.

Meanwhile in the bunkhouse Buck sat down next to Lou who was sitting at the table writing in her journal. Thinking for a few minutes Buck said, "Lou can I talk to you a minute?"

Looking up from her journal Lou said, "Sure what’s on your mind?"

Thinking a minute, Buck said, "Well, I don't know what to do. I feel so lost when Sarah isn't by my side. But yet I’m also afraid that if she stays here with me, she is only going to get hurt. What am I going to do?"

Shaking her head Lou said, "You know Kid has said the same thing to me before. But what you need to do is look in your heart. Do you want to be with her? I know she wants to be with you. She has told her father that his money means nothing to her. All she wants is to be happy with the man she loves. What do you want?"

Looking lost Buck said, "I want to be with her. Till I met Sarah I never realized how lonely I was. I love her but is it fair to ask her to give up everything her father can give her."

Turning to him with a look of disgust on her face Lou said, "Can her father give the love you can? Can he make her happy?"

Shaking his head Buck said, " No, he can't give her those things. Thanks for helping me, Lou. I know that she loves me and is willing to leave and never talk to her father again if he forces her to do something she doesn’t want to do." His mind resolved he said, "I want her to stay here." He smiled at Lou and then went to his bunk to turn in for the night.

As the sun broke the horizon, Buck was standing on the porch watching it rise. Sarah woke to a feeling she had never felt before. She rose and went to the window. Looking towards the bunkhouse, she knew that Buck would be there watching the sun come up.

Feeling someone watching him, Buck looked up at Sarah’s window and saw her standing there. A big grin arose on his face, and she smiled back. Watching her turn from the window Buck thought, I know Lou was right. I do need to follow my heart. I think I’ll go pray and see what the great spirits say. Maybe they’ll agree with my heart.

As Sarah turned from the window, she saw her father standing in the doorway. Smiling at him she said, "Good morning father. It’s a beautiful day. How are you today?"

Coming in he sat down on the bed and said, "Honey I need to talk to you."

Chapter 9 in next week's issue!