ROCK CREEK ADVENTUROUS TALES
PART 2

GHOSTS FROM THE PAST

by Debra © 2001

CHAPTER FOUR

A few mornings after Jimmy and Buck discussed what to do about Charlene Anderson, Jimmy is halting the buckboard he is seated on from going any further than the front of Buck's home. He jumps down from the buckboard where he had been seated next to Charlene. A hesitant moment passes through him. Before advancing to the other side of the buckboard to help Charlene down, he thinks about how this will undoubtedly change his and Buck's life drastically. He's never actually had a woman living in the same house that he occupied, other then when Lou bunked in with the boys when they all rode for the Pony Express. Of course it wouldn't be nothing like being married to a woman. However, it would involve dealing with her every emotion. Jimmy has to admit, he isn't very good dealing with women and their emotions. His mind snaps back to gaze at the woman still seated on the buckboard. Not only is she battered on the outside, but also inside she must be feeling daunted and frangible. Staying here she will be able to acquire her strength back, both body and mind. None of his feelings really matter at the moment. Her safety is all he should be concerned about at this point.

Jimmy walks around the buckboard to the side Charlene is seated on. He reaches his arms up to her, and she gladly befalls into his awaiting arms. He places her feet securely on the ground, and takes her hand to guide her onto the porch of the house.

Just as Jimmy is about to open the front door to Buck's home, the home Charlene will reside at for the time being, she finds herself unable to take the next step forward.

Jimmy glances down at her with concern. "Is there a problem?"

"You're sure that Mr. Cross is all right about my staying here?"

"Why are you worrying yourself about Buck? I already told you that Buck is fine with you staying here for a while," Jimmy spoke as he grasps her hand a little tighter to give her some assurance. All he can feel is the trembling of her tiny hand in his. "Are you afraid to stay here?"

Charlene isn't quite sure how she should answer the marshal's question. He has been so kindhearted towards her. She really doesn't want to spoil her first day in her new home. In her mind she has to be optimistic that she will be safe here, even though her emotions and mental state are shattered. "I don't really know quite how to say this without sounding callous. I really do appreciate what you have done in an effort to save me from the evilness in my own home."

"Just say what's on your mind Charlene. I'm not about to judge you. I know you've been through a lot of torment these last few days. Actually I'm guessing you've had to deal with Simon's rage for a long time."

"I'm not sure I can stay here."

"Why not?"

"He's an Indian is he not?"

Jimmy hadn't expected the fact that Buck is an Indian to be what is troubling Charlene. He can't help but be angry by her prejudice toward Buck. "Buck is a human being just like you and me. Before we go inside I want you to understand that. He certainly doesn't go about beating up women like your so called fiancée does."

"I'm sorry Mr. Hickok. I didn't mean to make you angry," Charlene spoke as she lets out a few quiet sobs.

Jimmy reaches out and hugs the frightened woman. "I didn't mean to raise my voice with you." He pushes her lightly out of his arms and holds onto her forearms while looking into her eyes. "Buck is a good man. You don't have to be afraid of him. As a matter of fact, Buck is about the gentlest man I know. You do trust me don't you?"

"Lets go inside."

Kid and Louise are sitting at the table in the kitchen with Buck. The three are drinking their morning coffee while they wait the arrival of Charlene Anderson. Buck has been extremely quiet which makes Lou a little nervous.

"You don't seem too elated about your new house guest Buck," Louise spoke softly.

"Louise, I think you should leave this alone," Kid stated softly to his wife who seems just a little too thrilled that Buck will have a woman living in his home.

"It's all right Kid. I'm not too happy about it Louise," Buck spoke disheartened.

"Why not? It ain't like you'll be married to her, not that that would be such a bad idea."

"Louise," Kid spoke behind clinched teeth.

"You want me to be saddled down with the town whore?" Buck asked Louise trying desperately to keep calm about his present situation with Charlene Anderson.

Louise would rather Buck find a woman that's more decent than his new intended guest. The only problem Lou is having with that is that it isn't happening fast enough for her. She figures that if Buck were a newlywed, then she could have her husband back. But, Charlene probably wouldn't be the best choice of a wife for Buck. Louise doesn't want to see Buck married to a woman he couldn't trust much less love. "You're right. Charlene is definitely not the woman for you."

"I'm glad you agree with me. She's a houseguest who needs my protection only. I intend on keeping it that way."

Before the trio can utter one more word, Jimmy opens the door to the kitchen and allows Charlene to enter. He follows right behind her. Kid, Louise and Buck all gaze up from their cups of coffee to study the woman before them. Buck and Kid both stand to greet her.

"I'd like all of you to meet Charlene…"

"Jimmy, we all know Charlene," Louise spoke softly not wishing to embarrass Jimmy or Charlene.

"I guess I didn't realize with all of you living close to Rock Creek that you would already know one another," Jimmy stated with a slight grin.

Charlene doesn't take her eyes off Buck the entire time they are in the kitchen. Jimmy is a bit worried that Charlene will say something that will annoy Buck. "Charlene why don't I show you where your bedroom is," Jimmy spoke nervously.

"I'd like that."

The two turn to leave the kitchen.

"Charlene?" Louise spoke wanting Charlene's attention.

Charlene turns her head around to glance at Louise. "Yes Louise?"

"The girls and I are going swimming later this afternoon. Since Jimmy will be in Rock Creek and Buck will be helping Kid with work around the ranch, I thought perhaps you would like to join us."

"Yes, I would. But, I don't have anything to wear in the water."

"I'm sure I have something that will fit you," Louise spoke friendly.

"Well, you should be well occupied with Louise and Kid's two girls," Jimmy spoke thrilled that Louise as offered her friendship to the woman that is under their protection. As long as Charlene gets over her initial apprehensiveness concerning Buck's heritage, her life at the Kid & Buck Ranch should go auspiciously.

Oliver Anderson is slamming shut the door of his study after he enters the room in an enraged manner. The two occupants that were summoned to the study jump in a nervous manner. Phillip and Hannah Anderson haven't witnessed their father's frenzied temper of late. Of course none of his three children have disobeyed him of late either. He obviously isn't content with the marshal interfering in family business. The marshal made it his business to take Charlene to his home stating that Oliver's daughter needs protection from him and her fiancée.
Oliver Anderson doesn't take kindly to the law making his family any of the law's business.

"I want your sister brought back to her home before this day comes to an end. I am leaving that mission to the two of you. She trusts the both of you. You can persuade her better than anyone could to come back home where she belongs," Oliver spoke gruffly.

Phillip Anderson, who looks like a twin to his sister Hannah, clears his throat nervously before speaking his mind. "I'm not sure that it's a good idea to bring Charlene back here."

"Are you defying my orders?" Oliver spoke angrily as he approaches Phillip and Hannah.

"Father, Phillip and I will talk to Charlene this afternoon. But, I'm not so sure the marshal will allow her to leave. You said yourself that the marshal made it perfectly clear to you that he believes that Simon is the one who beat Charlene up," Hannah spoke calmly. She is trying to make an impression on her father so he doesn't become violent with her or Phillip.

"Simon did not beat that girl! Hannah, you are aware of you sister's hatred toward Simon. Why she is that way to him, I do not understand. I am convinced that Simon truly loves her. Why else would he want to make Charlene his wife?"

"You are right father. All I'm trying to say is that Phillip and I can't over-ride the marshal. I promise that I will make an effort to get Charlene home. That's the best I can do," Hannah spoke calmly.

Oliver bends slightly to give Hannah a kiss on the cheek. "You Hannah are the sensible one in this family. Without you the rest of us this family would turn to dust and blow away." He leaves the study without speaking another word to his two children.

"Thanks for the save sister. I truly thought I was going to meet my maker," Phillip shuddered at the thought of his father's rage aimed at him.

"It is becoming more and more tedious with every passing day to be a member of this lunatic family," Hannah spoke more to herself than to her brother standing right beside her.

"Tedious isn't quite the word I would use," Phillip remarked his voice still hoarse with nervousness.

"Sure it is. Father isn't much of a game player anymore. It doesn't take much to have him eating out of the palm of my hand. There's no exhilaration to his madness anymore. His outbursts of derangement no longer stimulate my mind to a higher challenge," Hannah spoke solemnly.

Phillip stares confusingly at his sister. Hannah is definitely their father's daughter. He reluctantly doesn't want to think about Hannah being a duplicate of their father. The mind games are part of her warped personality, but the rage has not seethed her yet.

The creek behind Louise's home is warmed from the heat of the scorching sun. Louise and Charlene are teaching Abigail and Emma how to swim. The two young girls would much rather splash their mother and Charlene.

Louise watches Charlene closely with her two daughters. She appears to really enjoy spending time with the children. It could be that everyone including her has misjudged Charlene.

"Mother, I'm getting tired," Abigail whined softly.

Charlene glances over at Louise, who doesn't appear to want to leave the warmth of the crisp water just yet. "I'll get out with the two girls for a while if you want to stay in the water a bit longer," Charlene spoke softly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I hate to admit it, but I'm still a little weak from my ordeal with Simon Davenport."

"Oh, I'm sorry Charlene. I hadn't thought of you needing your rest after everything you're been through," Louise spoke upset with herself for not watching after the woman better. Jimmy would scold her thoroughly if Charlene came down sick on top of what she's already had to endure. "If you don't mind."

"Of course not. We'll just sit up on the bank and watch you swim," Charlene spoke with a friendly smile. She truly likes Louise. She is able to communicate better with her than with her own sister. Hannah is much more intelligent than what she is, and she lets Charlene know it in everything they attempt to do. Louise isn't conceited at all. It's almost as if everyone is an equal where Louise is concerned. That includes her friend Buck Cross.

Charlene takes the two girls by the hand and guides them out of the water and onto the bank where they have a blanket spread out on the ground. She wraps a dry towel around each girl, to control her shivers from the coolness due to leaving the warm water.

Charlene watches Louise swim about the creek, but her thoughts are on the half-breed Buck Cross. He had once asked her to dinner a couple of years ago, but she had turned him down. The Indian in him didn't agree with her lifestyle. He never attempted to talk to her after that. She thinks how ironic it is that she is now living in his home with him and Jimmy as her protectors. Perhaps this is a way for the powers that be to put the two of them together after she told herself that she wouldn't have anything to do with the likes of him. He is quite handsome. Truth is, he is down right gorgeous! She thinks of how he'd be in…She shakes her head to end the naughty thoughts of him that she's having. She has to stop thinking that way all the time. Hannah has told her more than once that she needs to get control of her lustful thoughts about every man she meets. Well not every man. She isn't having these same thoughts about the marshal, just his deputy!

"Charlene."

Charlene turns slightly to see Jimmy gazing down at her.

"You look as if you were miles away from here," Jimmy spoke amused by the pale redness creeping onto her face.

"I was just thinking."

"Must have been some interesting thoughts. How's the water?"

"Why don't you join Louise and find out," Charlene spoke wanting to be alone with her thoughts of Buck.

"Oh I don't know if that would be such a good…"

"Jimmy!" Louise hollered from the water.

Jimmy turns his attention to a bathing Louise.

"Join me. The water is just right this time of year," Louise spoke with a teasing smile etched upon her face.

"All right. I guess it can't hurt anything for me to take a dip with a friend," Jimmy spoke as he strips down to his long john bottoms. He quickly makes it to the edge of the water and jumps in.

Louise watches for him to submerge from the depths of the creek. She anticipates that he plans on scaring the daylights out of her. She is correct. When Jimmy comes up for air, he comes up right along side of her. The splash he makes causes her to lose her balance and yell out! Jimmy grabs hold of her and brings her shivering body close to his!

"What the hell is going on here?" Kid asked his temper seeping out onto his face.

Kid and Buck, along with Phillip and Hannah Anderson are watching the playful scene from the top of the bank that overlooks the creek. Both Kid and Buck are looking extremely shocked over the episode they are witnessing. Phillip and Hannah are simply amused that something is wrong with the picture even though they have no idea what it is.

Louise and Jimmy both are in shock from the anger in Kid's voice. They are still locked in a tight embrace when Kid storms away!

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