"Through Kiowa Eyes"

CHAPTER FIVE

As the days continued to slip by Clara became better and better at using the Kiowa sign language and Buck felt the soul burning pain of losing Ike lessen a bit more with the dawn of each new day.

Early one morning, Buck once again found himself standing just outside the corral. This time however he was watching as Clara rode Ike's horse joyfully around the ring. She no longer needed a guide to help her.Buck smiled to himself at the remarkable progress she had made since coming to Rock Creek and befriending himself as well as the others.

As he continued watching her in comfortable silence a lone eagle flew through the sky. Sensing the sacred animal's presence he glanced up and was once again reminded of Ike's silent yet spoken words all those years ago.

*Even in death my brother I will never leave you. Look to the skies and you will know that whereever I am I will be watching over you.* Buck had spoken the same promise in return.

The memory of Ike once again filled his mind as he turned his eyes back to Clara. Seeing her sit atop Ike's horse, Buck knew that that through his Kiowa eyes he saw the spirit of his white brother was indeed with him and it always would be.

"I am with you Ike as you are with me." Buck whispered as he brushed a single tear from his cheek then smiled.

Later that night Teaspoon cornered Buck in the barn tending to the horses. "How ya doin' son?"

"Fine" Buck answered honestly feeling better then he had in months.

"Good" Teaspoon replied with a smile.

"Rachel says Clara's birthday is comin' day after tomorrow and Rachel has a big surprise for her. She won't tell a one of us nothin'. Says we'll all find out when she tells Clara." Teaspoon finished with a sigh, curiosity evident in his bright blue eyes. Buck knew the same curious expression was mirrored in his own exotic features.

Buck eyed his father figure thoughtfully before speaking "Teaspoon is there anyway that Kid can take my run tomorrow?"

"I reckon'. Why?" Teaspoon eyed his renegade rider with a raised eyebrow.

Seeing Teaspoon's expression Buck continued quickly. "I would like to take Clara on a picnic she hasn't left

the station since she arrived I think she will enjoy and so will I." Buck admitted.

"Alright then ," Teaspoon smiled I'll tell Kid he'll be takin' your run for ya."

"Thanks Teaspoon," Buck said as the older man turned and left the barn.

The following afternoon Buck had Rachel prepare a lunch for himself and Clara then he happily placed his young friend atop Ike's horse and was content in guiding the mare to the place of his choosing. Once there, the unlikely pair enjoyed a wonderful lunch in which Rachel had packed both of their favorite foods. Now Buck was resting against a tree and was peacefully watching as Clara ran about picking flowers from here and there.

When she decided she had enough flowers to give to Rachel she seated herself across from Buck and looked at him with questions in her eyes. Without waiting for him to speak she began signing.*Uncle Buck tell me about your people and uncle Ike Please?*

Buck was briefly surprised by the instant affection she had expressed for Ike then he remembered just how big Clara's heart was and simply signed *Thank you Ike would have liked to be called uncle.*

Buck drew in a deep breath of the fresh air surrounding him and began telling Clara what she wanted to know. For some strange reason Buck found himself speaking as well as signing his words.

*"Well I grew up in a Kiowa village with my Indian brothers my mother was Kiowa her name was Evening Dove and my father was a white man. Anyway, One day our encampment was attacked and my mother was killed. Shortly after her death my brother Red Bear thought it would be good for me to learn the ways of my white brothers. So when I was about ten I found myself in a Catholic mission school."*

*"One afternoon some of the older boys decided to pick a fight with me because I am half Indian and they didn't like that much. The next thing I know there is this skinny white kid (Clara smiled at these words) fighting

right beside me. It was Ike and we became best friends. Ike had no hair because of scarlet fever and he could not speak no one really knows why.*"

*"So one day I decided I was going to give a way to talk and I taught him to speak with signs just like you*" (Again Clara smiled.) Buck paused and waited for her next question. He looked up at her and sensing her slight uneasiness he signed *It's ok go ahead ask.*

*How did Uncle Ike die?*

Drawing another breath of the sweet scented air he began again, continuing his earlier method of speech and sign at the same time. *He met and fell in love with a young lady and died saving her life.* Unable to speak anymore of losing Ike without the salty taste of tears on his lips he stopped and waited for his little friend to respond.

Clara sat in silence for a few moments then asked *you miss him don't you?*

*Yes I do everyday*

*Do you ever cry for him?*

*Yes sometimes.* Buck hated admitting that he still cried for Ike but his mind reasoned that maybe by admitting his heart's secret it would help Clara to grieve for her mother.

Suddenly Clara's hands moved so quickly Buck had trouble catching her words. *I miss my mama too. I want to cry for her.* She finished quickly and threw herself into the waiting arms of her uncle.

Buck held her gently, rocking her as silent sobs wracked her tiny frame. Suddenly Buck felt a fresh wave of heartbreak wash over him and he let loose a sea of fresh tears. He cried not only for his own pain but for the pain of the small child which he now held gingerly in his arms.

Sometime later all the seas of tears shed and dry and with a fresh clean feeling in their hearts the unlikely pair of friends Buck Cross and Clara Parker headed back to the waystation feeling ready to face whatever came their way. Or at least they thought so.