STANDING
BETWEEN LOVE AND BETRAYALSTANDING
BETWEEN LOVE AND BETRAYAL
Buck tries to figure out where he is as he adjusts his eyes to the light. He tries without success to sit up in the bed. But, the pain in his chest and Jane’s gentle hand pushing him lightly back down keep Buck from moving around too much.
Teaspoon races back to Buck’s bedside. “Rachel, get Doc Barnes!”
Rachel has already left Buck’s room to retrieve the doctor.
Teaspoon tries to help Jane hold Buck down as he continues to want to get out of bed. “You have to lay still, Buck.”
“What happened?” Buck mumbled quietly.
“You were shot. You remember Kid, Jimmy, Jack you and I were all tracking Jesse and his gang. We got caught in a crossfire,” Teaspoon stated, hoping the Kiowa remembers.
Buck shakes his head that he remembers. “Yes. I remember.”
The news that Buck can remember the events that put him in this bed brings a smile to Teaspoon’s face. At least Buck’s memory was not altered from the bad fall that he took when he was shot.
“It was Jesse who shot me, wasn’t it?” Buck asked softly as he tries to stop a cough.
Doc Barnes bursts into Buck’s room with Rachel tagging along behind him. He makes his way over to Buck’s bed. “I need to examine my patient. You can wait out in the waiting room,” Doc Barnes stated with authority.
“Can’t I please stay with Buck,” Jane asked pleadingly.
Doc Barnes turns to face Jane, Teaspoon and Rachel. “The three of you will wait outside,” he spoke demandingly.
Doc Barnes is so insistent with his words that Jane, Teaspoon and Rachel all make their way, walking backwards not wanting to take their eyes off Buck, slowly to the door that leads out of Buck’s room.
Doc Barnes gently presses on Buck’s ribcage to check for possible bruising or breaking of any ribs. A loud groan from excruciating pain escapes Buck’s lips, and has Rachel, Jane and Teaspoon stopping just as they reach the door. With their eyes wide open with fear, and their feet unable to move their bodies, they never make it out to the waiting room.
“I’m sorry. I’m trying not to hurt you, but I really need to see if anything is broken,” Doc Barnes spoke quietly.
“I’m alright,” Buck spoke in a whisper.
The doctor continues his examination of his patient while Teaspoon, Jane and Rachel look on nervously. Everytime Buck makes the slightest moan from the pain he is feeling, all three of them are nearly jumping out of their shoes.
Doc Barnes covers Buck back up with the coverlet, and quietly turns around to leave the room. He is stunned to see that Rachel, Teaspoon and Jane have not left the room as they were explicitly ordered to do.
“I thought I made myself perfectly clear. You were to wait in the outer office,” Doc Barnes spoke in a scolding manner at the three concerned family members of Buck Cross.
Doc Barnes practically pushes the three of them out of Buck’s room, with him following close behind them. He shuts the door to Buck’s room quietly and turns to face Buck’s family.
“Does Buck’s waking up mean that he will survive his wounds?” Jane asked almost pleading for the doctor to tell her yes with absolutely no complications attached to his answer.
“It is a good sign that Buck has woken from unconsciousness. But, Buck still has quite a bit of healing to do.”
“Meaning that we can’t take him home yet?” Teaspoon asked somberly.
“I can’t force him to stay here, but it would be best for him to stay for a few more days. Buck needs to regain the strength he has lost from the profuse amount of blood that he lost. The trip back to the ranch alone will put added stress onto his wounds.”
Rachel turns to look at both Jane and Teaspoon. “Doc Barnes is right. The both of you know that if we took Buck home, he wouldn’t get the rest that he needs to make a full recovery.”
“Buck would be up out of bed in no time figuring that he was letting Kid down with the work that needs to be done on the ranch,” Teaspoon spoke assuredly. He has known Buck for a good many years, and he knows that Buck doesn’t like being bedridden anymore than he does.
“In a few days, if he makes progress on healing, I will allow him to go home. Now, I think we’ve had enough excitement for one evening. I think it’s time you all go home. Of course, Jane you may stay with Buck if you’d like,” Doc Barnes spoke with gentle authority.
Rachel and Teaspoon both bid Jane a goodnight and silently leave the doc’s clinic both praying unspoken words that help Buck make it through another night.
Teaspoon puts one arm around Rachel’s waist and with the other hand he opens the door. “We have to have faith that Buck’s waking up is a good sign. A sign that he’s gonna be fine,” Teaspoon spoke softly as they both vanish out the door.
Jane glances back at the door to Buck’s room. She smiles warmly. She knows that his waking is a good sign. There is no doubt in her mind about Buck’s recovery now. They will have that long and happy life together.
Charlene hadn’t wasted anytime shedding herself from Cody’s presence. It isn’t that she dislikes him, but Cody has far too many guilt feeling about what they are doing. She needs a man that is strong and has the backbone to see this job through. Cody may be an army man, and he’s seen plenty of death, but he doesn’t have the stomach to capture the heart of the woman he loves, even if at first it would mean hurting her. Eventually Jane would forgive him.
Charlene stands impatiently in the midst of the barn at the ranch waiting for the man that has the backbone she needs in order to make Buck Cross hers once and for all. The night sounds keep her twirling about in every direction wondering just what waits for her just beyond the barn doors.
As she made her way over to the barn she had to be careful not to awaken anyone from the three households that reside at the ranch, and that included Cody who resides inside the smallish bunkhouse. She had actually tip toed out of Kid and Lou’s home, and walked the distance from their home to the barn without a lantern to guide her. She hadn’t wanted the light to arouse anyone’s suspicions as to where she was going, and whom she is meeting.
The howling wind of November had almost swept her off her feet more than once. She had kept her nightgown on and simply thrown a robe over her revealing gown. In case there are any eyes watching her, she wants to make this whole scene look as if she couldn’t sleep, and just needed a little fresh air to make her drowsy.
She quickly turns to face the barn doors when she hears them slowly creak open. A pleasing smile spreads across her face.
“You should smile more often. It brightens up your entire face. You are a beautiful creature when you smile,” Jesse spoke as he makes his way towards Charlene, and lightly caresses her cheek with the back of his hand.
“Thank-you. But, at this moment I am quite angry with you. You hadn’t informed me that your plans included shooting Buck!” Charlene spoke louder than she had intended.
“It wasn’t part of the plan to shoot Buck,” Jesse spoke as sincere as he possibly could not wanting to arouse the suspicious nature in the woman that he has shrewdly managed to convince to plotting against this family with him. And, poor dumb Cody, he doesn’t even realize that he is actually taking his orders from Jesse.
“I won’t go along with anymore of your schemes if the man that I want ends up dead.”
“Is he recovering?”
“Earlier this evening Rachel and Teaspoon came back to the ranch after being with Buck. He woke up while they were with him. The doctor says that he believes that Buck will survive.”
Jesse must not let his disappointment over Charlene’s news appear on his face. He’ll just have to make sure that the next time he aims a little more to the right. “Then why are you berating me about shooting him?”
“I just don’t want it to happen again. I want to make myself perfectly clear. I am helping you out because you promised me a plan that would make Buck mine. But, I only want him alive. He is no good to me dead!”
“I have come up with another plan that will make Buck yours forever.”
Charlene’s eyes become as wide as saucers. She is as excited as a child about to open a Christmas gift. She is actually hoping that Jesse’s plan is something quite like a Christmas gift.
Kid couldn’t sleep as the bright moonlight radiates brilliantly into his and Louise’s bedroom window. The rustling of dried autumn leaves shivering on the branches of the many trees around the ranch should rock him gently into a peaceful sleep. Instead, tonight there are at least a dozen thoughts running rampant in his mind. Most of these thoughts that are keeping him from closing his eyes and drifting off into a vulnerable sleep are thoughts of Buck and Jesse’s plans for his family.
He can’t stop thinking about Buck finally waking up, and that he wasn’t there. He should have gone right into town after he had heard the wonderful news. Louise had made him see reason. She knew that Buck would already be asleep for the night, and that it would be a bad idea to awaken him just because he wanted to make sure that Buck is really out of danger. If there isn’t anything else that Kid is sure of, there is one thing he is sure of, and that is that his best friend, and business partner will be back on the ranch working along side him. He actually can’t wait until sunrise so he can ride into Rock Creek to check on Buck.
“I should just ride into town right now. Jane would be there making sure that Buck sleeps,” Kid whispered quietly.
“Hmm?” Louise spoke still asleep.
Kid reaches over and kisses her forehead. “Everything’s all right. Go back to sleep.”
Kid waits until he is sure that Louise has drifted back into a deep sleep.
He throws back his blanket and crawls quietly out of bed not wanting to wake his lovely wife up again. He knows from past experiences that if Louise is awoken too many times during one night, she is rather moody the next day.
Kid makes his way over to their bedroom window that overlooks the ranch. His face suddenly becomes tense with fear etched on it. “Who could have forgotten to blow out the lantern in the barn?” Kid mumbled a little louder than he had intended. He turns around to grab a pair of pants while hesitating to move when he notices that Louise is tossing and turning in their bed. He waits again quietly until she finds a comfortable sleep position.
He leaves the bedroom in a hurried fashion as he stumbles down the hallway trying to put on his pants.
“That is a brilliant plan, Jesse!” Charlene remarked with excitement etched on her smug face. Her smile quickly vanishes when she starts to realize the danger this new plan of Jesse’s could bring to Buck. “How do I know that Buck will be kept safe?”
“You don’t. But, once Buck has had time to get over losing Jane, you should be able to get him right where you want him.”
“What is going on in here?” Kid spoke boldly as he draws his gun on Jesse and Charlene.
Jesse thinks very quickly, and grabs Charlene by the throat. He draws his own gun and rests it gently against Charlene’s now pale face. “Drop it Kid, or you will force me to shoot her.”
“I should have shot you the second I walked through this door after all the pain you’ve caused Buck.”
“He’s going to live,” Jesse spoke with sarcasm.
“How do you know?” Kid asked wondering if Charlene had told Jesse that Buck has woke up.
“I have my ways of knowing everything there is to know about the goings on of Rock Creek,” Jesse stated boldly.
“Why are you here?” Kid asked his temper showing through in his voice.
“I need a fresh horse.” Jesse pushes the gun into Charlene’s face to cause her cheek to indent. “I found this lovely creature walking around outside. I just needed a little insurance to get out of here just in case you or Jimmy decided to stop me.”
“Kid please, just let him go. He’s a mad man!” Charlene spoke her voice laced with fear.
Kid hesitates for a long moment wondering if the two of them are in cahoots together. Jesse knows too much about their lives. He must have someone working for him on the inside of this ranch. As for Charlene, she has been the sole detrimental force that has been trying to keep Jane and Buck apart. Even though Charlene has been trying her absolute best to conceal her evil ways, Kid has seen through them time and time again. He just had figured that Buck could handle Charlene and her deceitful ways. That will change once Buck is back home again.
“Get out of here Jesse,” Kid spoke trying to hold onto his temper.
Jesse makes his way cautiously over to the barn door with Charlene grasped in his arms. “I’ll just take this pretty little thing with me until I get on my horse.”
Kid doesn’t disagree. He would like it very much if Jesse would ride off with the troublemaker and never bring her back. Kid figures they couldn’t be so lucky to get rid of Charlene from their lives so easily.
Jesse and Charlene vanish from Kid’s sight and out of the barn. Kid stands perfectly still with his arms folded in front of his chest waiting patiently for Charlene to make her way back into the barn.
It takes only a brief moment for Kid to hear Jesse gallop off into the darkness of the night on yet another one of their horses.
Charlene strolls back into the barn. She keeps her mind guilt free so that Kid can’t see her guilt plastered all over her face.
“Are you working with Jesse James?” Kid asked without a moment’s hesitation.
“I couldn’t sleep, Kid.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“I love Buck. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt him.”
“Why can’t you just answer my question, Charlene?”
“No! I am not working with Jesse James!” Charlene spoke loudly. She doesn’t wait for Kid’s response. She huffs out of the barn leaving Kid still wondering just how honest this woman is really being with him.
The evening had turned out all right after all. The man attached to her arms happens to be the sole most important person in her life. He accepts her totally for the way she is. Not the all frill young woman that most young ladies at her age are. Instead, of chasing boys around town, she’d much rather put on a pair of pants and work along side him in the jewelry store.
He clasps her hands into his. “I hope you aren’t too disappointed about none of the boys from school asking you to dance.”
She leans her head onto his strong shoulder. “There will be plenty more dances for me to attend. Besides Papa, there really aren’t very many boys at school that would have asked me to dance.”
“That’s nonsense. You were the prettiest young lady at the dance tonight.”
She laughs that joyous laugh that makes his heart warm. “You’re just saying that because I am your daughter.”
“Jane, you must not go through life thinking that you are less than someone else. You are a beautiful young woman and very smart too. I won’t always be here to guide you. Don’t let this world knock you down just because you are a woman. Your understanding of this will allow me to go someday without any regrets that I may not have taught you the things you’ll need to know to survive in this world. I would like to believe that you wouldn’t let anything or anyone stand in your way when getting what you truly want from life.”
“I don’t think we have to worry about you’re not being around to guide and protect me. Papa, you are built like an ox. You’ll probably live longer then me.”
“Daughter, you aren’t listening to what I am trying to teach you,” Papa spoke with authority.
“Papa, I always listen to what you say, but I don’t want to discuss your sudden demise.”
“That is one thing in life Jane that you never take for granted. Life is fragile. You must live life to the fullest each day because you never know when life will be taken from you.”
“All of this because I wanted to attend this dance by myself.”
“Oh, so now I’m a lecturing old fool.”
“I didn’t say that Papa.”
He stops their progress to the jewelry store. He turns and faces his lovely tomboyish daughter. He places his hands on her shoulders. “It isn’t that I don’t want you to get involved with a young man. When I am gone, I hope that there will be a young man in your life that would protect you with his own life if need be. But, I am an old fashioned fool and I just want my daughter to have the best of everything. I have yet to see a young man in this town that I would approve of for you. Of course, they are all still very young themselves. The point I’m trying to make to you Jane is that you have plenty of time for a man. I would prefer you think about being self-sufficient. An education back east would be my choice for you after your elementary schooling is finished here in Church Falls.”
“Papa, I’m not sure that further schooling is really for me. But, to keep peace with you and ease your mind, I will give a further education some thought.”
He smiles warmly at his young daughter as the two stroll through the moon lit night streets of Church Falls.
“Papa! Papa! Papa!” Jane screamed in her sleep startling her body to wake up when she hears Buck struggling to breath next to her.
Jane hurriedly throws the blankets from her trembling body as she makes her way to Buck’s bed. He is coughing so badly that he can’t catch his breath.
Jane grabs the glass of water by Buck’s bedside and brings it up to his lips.
“Take a drink of this,” Jane spoke softly.
As Buck drinks the refreshing liquid, his coughing settles down. Jane can’t shake the dream she had. Why does her Papa have to invade her sleep every night? Is he trying to tell her something? She simply refuses to believe that she will lose Buck the same way she lost her Papa. If she has to kill Jesse James herself to keep Buck safe then she will!