Chapter XVIII

"Cassie, I'm so glad you were able to come."

"I don't have much time before Quinn gets home from school but I came as soon as I got your message."

"I'm sorry to pull you away...I know you're busy but I needed someone to talk to."

"What's wrong Charlotte? I've never seen you like this."

Cassie took Charlotte by the hand, her brow donning a slight, concerned frown. This was very unlike Charlotte who was always the bouncy, chipper, giggling personality of the bunch.

"It's Buck."

"Buck? What do you mean? Is he alright?"

Charlotte had her sit. "He's fine...for now."

"What do you mean for now? Charlotte what is going on?"

Suddenly the aura in the room felt dark. An ominous feeling of uneasiness crept through Cassie and though she hadn't the foggiest idea what had affected Charlotte so, the name of Buck thrown in the mix of it all left little to the imagination.

"Oh my God," she gasped. "Have you two...?"

"I don't know Cassie. I don't know what's going on anymore but that's not why I'm scared."

Cassie sat up straight as a pin. "Okay, now you're really scaring me. Tell me what is it, what's been happening? Quinn speaks so highly of Buck, please don't tell me I've reason to think otherwise."

"No. It's nothing of the sort. I'm worried about him. He's been so edgy lately you know with everything that's gone on...and then when he agreed to this school assignment from Rachel, I thought everything would be okay but..."

Cassie followed along, trying her best to listen carefully but not comprehending the depth of the situation that now seemed to have Charlotte on the verge of tears.

She placed a hand over her friend, quietly asking, "But what?"

"My father is thinking about asking Buck not to teach at the school anymore."

"What?!"

Charlotte heard herself whimper. "Oh Cassie, it's going to kill him. I don't want Buck to be any more bitter than he already is. It's come between us, this color line he insists on drawing and now...if this is taken away...just when he's starting to see a bit of good, he'll leave...he'll leave me."

Tears couldn't be witheld any longer. She covered her eyes with her hands and wept. Cassie draped her arms around Charlotte; more than an embrace would be needed. Her friend's body shook against her shoulder. Cassie felt her own tears well. How could this happen? How could it be allowed?!

"Shhhh...he's not going anywhere. If I know anything about Buck Cross, he's a fighter. Look at me. I'm going to be straight with you." Once the embrace was broken, Cassie left no stone unturned as to what she was about to say.

"Buck loves you. And you love him. That is a fact. He is a man of color. You are white. These relationships are not easy as you well know. People don't see the man Buck is. How special and wonderful he is. They don't see what we see. They don't see the love you share. They probably wonder why, WHY? I live with prejudice every single day of my life. I see it all around me. I hear it, I read it, I breathe it. I know the world Buck lives in. I am nothing but a nigger to most of these folks out here. I can't change who they are and I can't change what they choose to think of me. They live in hate. They want to drag us down that same pit. We have to fight tooth and nail for their thinking not to become part of us. It's not a place I want to ever see again because I've been there. Buck is hurting because folks can't understand it. How can you reason that a man's color makes him any less than his white neighbor? It's so unreasonable that it hurts my head just to talk about it! But it is our world. You don't know what it's like. You've only tasted a fraction of what it is. But until you live it, you can't understand it."

Charlotte sobbed quietly. "But I...I try to. I've been shunned because people disapprove of our relationship. I've seen it first hand."

"True. But you've been judged for your choice...not for your color. There is a big difference."

Charlotte rested against the back of the sofa, her eyes now glued to the ceiling. Cassie made sense. It wasn't because she was white that some had turned their noses up at her. It was plainly a matter of choice. In their judgmental eyes, she was guilty of committing an unforgivable trespass.

"I'm going to lose him aren't I? For good. If my father goes through with this...I will never forgive him."

"Why would your father all of a sudden decide to strip Buck from the children at school?"

Charlotte sat up and related the entire incident from the morning. It stung to retell it but also provided an outlet for frustration on her part. It didn't suprise Cassie the least. She remembered what a furious battle she'd waged when Quinn was allowed entrance into the all white school. The racial slurs slung her way sounded loud and clear down to this very day. Angry faces. Shouting voices and balled fists waved angrily in mid-air had been visions that had claimed her sleep on several nights. Those awful nights when she couldn't sleep. A rifle at her side, Noah standing guard at times so she could at least sleep a wink. She was afraid for him. One wrong move and he'd be just another excuse for blood. But their friends stood by them. Kid, Cody, Jimmy, Buck, Teaspoon...all of them had put their necks on the line for her and her little brother. They didn't see a color. They saw people.

"Your father is a reasonable man if I ever met one. He'll do the right thing. You have to trust him to do that. And you have to trust Buck to be strong."

It was an oddity how nightfall transformed a town from the life of everyday responsibilities to one of gaiety and revelrie. Victoria watched the scales of people down below from the balcony, resting her hip against the wrought iron work.

She looked out to the vessels laying still on the river bed. She wondered if he was there. She wondered if he was close...or far? A slight breeze brushed across her face, making her body shiver, the shawl about her shoulders now hugging her tighter as she pulled it to warm herself.

Their meeting would be imminent. Her own insecurities plagued her thoughts. This money they sought, was it really worth so much danger? Was it so important that their lives would be the stakes in place to gain it? She found herself answering no. No it wasn't worth this. Separation. Desperation. Condemnation.

It was no time to waver now, she scolded herself repeatedly. He would never be quite happy living off of her. He'd made it perfectly clear. She understood his reasons and she would do anything for him. It was the only reason she stood here now. For him.

'"Who do you think he's doing all of this for? For me? For Kid?" she recalled Lou asking her recently. "No miss...this is all so he can ask you to be his wife."' It was a comfort of sorts to remember that. Yet, with such a good thought, there was an uneasiness she couldn't shake.

"Are you ready?" Lou asked, stepping foot out onto the balcony.

She merely nodded, her eyes turning from Louise back to the river.

"How ya holding up?"

She shrugged. A mock smile appearing. "As best as I can Lou."

"He'll be there you know."

"I know," she stated. "Let me know when we're leaving."

Lou breathed a silent sigh. Louise supposed this was harder for Victoria to deal with than for the rest of them. This brood had shared so much. Through shootouts, kidnappings, false accusations, assaults, even near death experiences, they had been there for each other. Down to the last. They had shared blood and sweat. Sleepless nights and bickering fights. This would be quite a chapter added to that collection. Lou, she had an advantage Victoria didn't. She'd lived through each episode, side by side with those boys.
There was no doubt in her mind that all would turn out for the right. Even so, fear was her companion as confident as she felt. The game was real. And dangerous.

"Alright."

Louise returned to Kid, leaving Victoria alone. He asked how she was doing, Louise gave a shrug, "I don't know. I hope she can do this. I think Carson's visit this afternoon really shook her up."

Kid glanced from the pocket watch hooked on his vest back to Louise. "Well it's no time for second-guessing now. We're on that boat in less than an hour."

Lou crossed her arms, a seriousness shrouding her face. "The game has begun."

"And it's time to play."

Those were the confident steps of a gambler. Sure footed, relentless, persistent. A barmaid brought a round of whiskey to the table, placing one at Jimmy's side, the other at his opponent's. He sat unwavering, his mental game solidly in play, even though he took the second to thank her for the drink. She smiled and went on about her duty.

The man's eyes jumped from the cards before him, to the pot in the midst of the table, to the eyes of the man that waited a decision. Some men were not cut out for this sort of trial. A heart of stone and nerves of steel weren't just clever idioms to be thrown about. They were truth. They were the difference between winning and losing.

Jimmy picked up his glass, taking a swallow, a smirk marring his mouth, his eyes back on the man who remained undecided. He couldn't just fold. If he lost at least he would go down fighting. "Well?" Jimmy asked, patience now a luxury he was taking back.

The swallow of whiskey went down his opponent's throat smoothly. A slight sweat built on his upper lip. His fingers moved to the chips beside him and counting a few threw them in the pile. "I'll raise you forty."

"I'll see your forty." The chips clinked as they too joined the pile in succession.

The confidence exuding from the younger man made his opponent uneasy. "Come on...let's see what you got?" he demanded of Jimmy.

"My pleasure." The cards were laid down with similar confidence. Spades. The three, four, five, six and seven...all in a row.

The man snickered. "You win some, you lose some I suppose."

Jimmy's brow crinkled a bit. His hand was strong...very strong.

"Enjoy," he was told. The man then stood, taking his drink along.

The dealer looked at Jimmy behind long, dark lashes. She reached, turning the cards over. "Hmmm...guess it's going to take more than a flush to beat you tonight," she smiled.

He blushed. "Some nights you got it darling." His winnings were quickly scooped into a velvet bag, his signature required on a piece of paper and off they went.

As he stood, she gave him a crooked smile sweetly saying, "This one must be yours."

He knew that look all too well. That tone of voice too. "If you want that luck to carry on, you can come see me later," she invited.

He grinned. Being a knockout only added to her sassiness. "If I want my luck to continue, I won't."

She watched him as he disappeared outside.

There, he leaned against the railing, his forearms resting on the cold metal of the boat. It was nice being outdoors. Fresh air made him think better, most of the times.

His head turned slightly as he heard footsteps from behind.

"Is she here yet?" he asked.

"No."

Jimmy turned his focus back to the still water watching the reflection of the moon against the black mat.

"She'll be here, don't sweat it."

Jimmy snickered, shaking his head as if warning Lewis he had no right telling him how to feel.

He neared, standing a couple of feet behind Jimmy. "Look, you're doing well so far. I don't want you losing your head is all. Carson's keeping his eye on you, don't you forget that."

Jimmy felt his jaw tighten, his brow slightly furrow. Lewis was trying to helpful but he wasn't in the least. Jimmy knew the games he was now playing. He didn't need reminders.

"I'll arrange for you to see her soon enough...safely," he emphasized. This was going to be a challenge knowing Jimmy's disposition. Doing things his way was Jimmy's way. He waited for no one and that was a rein Lewis knew he had to take hold of right away. Being sure if he could hold on to it? He himself didn't know how long he could.

"I don't want you forgetting the reason why you're here," Lewis continued.

"I ain't forgotten Lewis," he retorted. "Believe me I ain't forgotten. Do you think I want to be called Mr. Sutton for the rest of my life?" he asked, defending his pride. "I'm walking a fine line Lewis. I love her, but her money is a curse to me."

It was now Lewis' turn to shake his head. "If you aren't the damndest fool I ever met. So what? She's got money! You could call me a monkey's uncle for all I care. If anyone here should be thinking twice is her." The statement was harsh but Jimmy knew it to be true.

"And that's exactly why I haven't forgotten why I am here."

The hunt drove him. The gold. The answer to all his problems. Everything else was consequence but the gold was the pot he itched getting his hands on.