STANDING
BETWEEN LOVE AND BETRAYALSTANDING
BETWEEN LOVE AND BETRAYAL
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Buck and Kid had been up all evening pacing silently in the barn while awaiting the birth of a new foul, but so far the happy event had not taken place. The horse that is ready to deliver had all but given up on having her foul last evening, and is resting peacefully in her loft of hay.
"We could be waiting all day again," Kid spoke wearily.
"And all night," Buck spoke even more wearily.
"I guess that pretty much means we're waiting," Kid spoke unsure of his exact words.
Jane and Cody briskly walk out of the bunkhouse. Jane had arrived early with the excitement of a new foul being born into the world. She really wanted to watch the birth. "Come on Cody. A foul being born doesn't happen everyday."
"It happens quite often on any ranch including this one," Cody remarked stubbornly.
"I haven't witnessed the birth of a foul since I arrived. Just walk over to the barn with me so we can at least find out if the young one has been born yet," Jane pleaded with Cody as she drags him by the arm toward the barn.
When the two of them walk happily into the barn, their presence hurts Buck. Buck hadn't expected Jane to come strolling into the barn wanting to watch the birth of the new foul. He had forgotten that she loves animals, and nature in general.
Jane's eyes become locked onto Buck once she enters the barn and sees that he is near. Cody is once again disappointed that Jane can't seem to forget that Buck Cross exists.
Cody is about ready to say something about the two of them leaving when Jane's stomach begins to heave, and she grasps her waist tightly to control the nausea that tries to make its way to her throat. She tears away from Cody's hold on her, and runs out of the barn!
Buck witnesses Jane's upset reaction to his presence, or at least that is what Buck believes has upset her. Buck starts to run after her, but on his way out of the barn Cody halts his progression.
Cody holds Buck back with a hand plastered to Buck's chest.
"You stay away from her. If there's any comforting to be done I'm the man
that's gonna do it!" Cody shoves Buck as he turns, and walks out of the
barn after Jane.
Buck can only stand silently, and wonder what had been wrong that had upset
Jane so badly.
Hannah and Jimmy are sitting at a table in the saloon. He had talked her into breakfast, and a brief moment away from the marshal's office where she had been a prisoner for quite a few days.
Jimmy takes notice to the fact that even though Hannah has taken a few sips of the tea that she ordered, she hadn't taken one bite of the pancakes and sausage that Jimmy had ordered for her. "There isn't much that you are going to be able to do for Phillip. He has confessed to all the crimes, and once a confession like that is made the case against him is pretty well closed. It won't do Phillip any good if you make yourself sick worrying about him."
"Why couldn't you just let Phillip go?"
"Hannah, Phillip would have killed again. His mind isn't stable. Would you honestly want someone else's life to be in danger?"
Hannah doesn't answer Jimmy. She slowly allows herself to taste the sweetness of the pancakes and maple syrup placed in front of her.
Cody runs like the wind, and finally catches up with Jane just outside the bunkhouse. She won't stop running from him so he lightly grabs onto Jane's arm, and forces her to turn around and face him.
"Why are you always running from me?" Cody asked as he tries to catch his breath.
"It isn't you Cody that I'm running from."
"Buck?" Cody questioned almost regretting what Jane's answer will be.
Jane doesn't answer Cody. She looks down to the ground knowing in her heart that she will never love Cody the way that she loves Buck.
Cody looks defeated. "You are never gonna stop being in love with Buck, are you Jane?"
Jane gazes back up into Cody's hurt filled eyes. She takes a deep breath before beginning what will be the end of a relationship with a wonderful man, but with a man that she merely likes as only a friend, and nothing more. "Cody, there are some things in life that you just have no control over. The emotions and feelings between two people who are deeply connected is something that we have no control over. I'm very sorry Cody."
"We can make this work Jane. Now that my investigation is complete here in Rock Creek I'll be moving on. I had thought that you would join me."
Jane isn't sure how she should reply to Cody's intention of leaving Rock Creek. She isn't too sure that leaving Buck behind is what she wants to do. Perhaps being away from Buck and not being forced to see him everyday would lessen the love and desire that she feel's for him. Tears begin to swell in Jane's eyes. She knows in her heart that distance will only make her want Buck more. There is no way that she will be able to walk away from Rock Creek, and the man that she truly loves.
"I'm pregnant Cody."
Cody is speechless for what seems like an eternity. He looks Jane up and down, and then purposely stopping at her abdomen for an extended length of time to see if he notices a swelling belly.
"When?" Cody asked hurt overcoming in his voice.
"The night that Buck had kidnapped me."
"The night that we were to make love. You lied to me. Why?"
"I didn't want my admission of passion with Buck to
hurt you."
"Buck raped you, didn't he?" Cody spoke anger building in his body.
He turns and starts to head back toward the barn, but Jane rushes to stand between
Cody and the barn.
"No Cody! Buck didn't rape me. Buck doesn't have it in him to be cruel to another human being. He would never force himself on a woman. Buck is a gentle man. I made love to Buck that night because I wanted to make love to Buck."
Cody begins to calm down, and realizes that Jane is telling him the truth. She has never stopped loving Buck so why wouldn't she want to make love to him. "Why haven't you told him?"
"I'm not sure how I'm going to tell him."
"He'll be thrilled Jane. You don't have to worry about Buck turning you away."
"I'm just not sure how Buck feels about me anymore. I've hurt him so much. I won't live with a man that only wants me because I'm carrying his child."
Cody starts to gather his senses, and realizes that another prefect plan has entered his mind. The fact that Jane hasn't told Buck about the baby yet brings a whole new picture of his life with Jane into view.
"Jane, we could get married. Buck would never have to know about the baby. We could simply tell everyone that the child is mine."
Jane smiles warmly at Cody for once again putting her feelings before his, or so at least that's what Cody wants Jane to believe.
"Don't you think everyone will know the truth when the baby is born? I don't think a child between Buck and I will have blonde hair and blue eyes, not to mention the fact that the baby will have Indian blood in him or her. The baby will have Buck's completion.
"Who said we would stay in Rock Creek? We'll stay here long enough to get married, and then we'll leave Rock Creek."
"You make this problem of mine sound so simple to solve."
"It will be solved if you'll just allow me to take care of everything."
"Cody, what about the baby and Buck. Is it really right to keep Buck from his child? Is it right that I keep a child away from his natural father?"
I have the prefect solution for that to. Later, when the child is older we'll break the news to Buck, and his child. By then Buck's feelings for you, and your feelings for Buck will be nothing but a mere memory."
Jane gazes at Cody's excited face. He has come up with the
prefect plan to keep her in his life. But, Jane isn't so sure about Cody's prefect
plan. The love that she feels for Buck is deep in her heart and soul. Buck is
now more a part of her than ever before. His child is growing inside of her.
No Cody, you are wrong. Her love for Buck will never die. If anything the distance
between them will make her longing for him even stronger.