Camille took a deep breath, not only to clear her lungs, but also her thoughts. It had proven to be as beautiful an afternoon as the morning had been. She took Buck’s arm in hers as they strolled through town. She pointed out Doc Miller’s office, the Dressmakers Shop and the new Telegraph Office. Camille had made some friends in the months she had been in Cedar Falls, and it was with great pride that she introduced Buck to a few of them as they passed on the boardwalk. As they passed the Marshal’s office, they heard someone yell out Buck’s name.
"Buck!" he yelled again to get his attention.
Buck turned to see who could possibly be calling for him. Then, with a huge grin on his face, he rushed into the office. "Jimmy!" he said, embracing his old friend with a slap on the back.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Jimmy asked.
"I’m here to see Camille," Buck said, turning and reaching his hand out for Camille to come beside him.
"Jimmy…you remember Camille. She came through to visit us at the station about a year ago." Buck asked.
Jimmy looked at her, remembering. "Yeah…I do…how are you, Camille?"
Reaching out to shake the hand he offered she said, "Good… thank you."
"You came through with your fiancée …Bill was it? So… the two of you decided to settle here in Cedar Falls?" he asked.
"Well…I have been here for a while, but Bill died several months ago," she answered, as she held tight to Buck’s hand.
"I’m sorry to hear that, ma,am," he said sincerely.
"What about you Jimmy, what are you doin' here?" Buck asked and motioned to the badge on Jimmy’s shirt. "…and wearin' that?"
Jimmy looked down at the badge and then back to Buck, "Ahh…I guess I just pinned on this thing one too many times for Teaspoon and now I can’t seem to unload the job."
"How long you been here?" Buck asked, wondering why he had not seen him earlier.
"Just got in today….I’m fillin’ in for a friend of mine for a few days. You know him, Buck. A man by the name of Dan Patterson. He ran for the express out of Ft. Laramine."
Buck nodded, "He’s marshal here?"
"We all had to find work after the Pony Express died," he said. "Hey…speaking of work, how is that ranch of yours? And Kid and Lou?
"Good! We’ve got some nice horses, and we’re lookin’ to make our first sale real soon. Kid and Lou are doing the same as always. You should come and visit, it’s been a while."
"Maybe I will do that," he said with that big smile that made his eyes twinkle.
Jimmy just looked at Buck for a minute. "Damn it’s good to see you Buck," he said. "How long ya here for?" he added.
"Not sure…couple of days maybe," Buck was being careful what he said in front of Camille. Camille had just agreed to leave with him, he had not yet approached the subject of when.
"Listen, meet me over at the saloon later tonight for a drink," Jimmy said, "we can catch up."
"Sounds good," Buck answered with a smile, it was good to see his old friend….his brother.
*******************************************
As they left Jimmy in the Marshal’s office, Buck was amazed that despite the different directions he and the other riders of the express had taken, their paths always seemed to cross. It was as if the Gods had a hand in it, reminding them that no matter the time and space between them they would always be a family.
Camille and Buck continued to the end of the boardwalk where the livery was. The Cedar Falls Livery was a typical cedar sided barn that had become gray and dingy from the weather. Beside the livery was a large corral that held several horses. They had walked over to the corral, stopping at the fence to admire the animals prancing around.
Camille pointed to the bay colored Quarterhorse, with the blaze down the nose, as her horse. "That’s one of them," she said, "I sold the other one to pay for burying Bill."
Buck just looked at the horse, not saying anything. There wasn’t much to be said. Camille had faced a terrible situation and had done what was needed. Buck looked at her as she watched the horses trotting back and forth. He admired how she could cope with whatever life threw at her. She had the keen ability to accept and adapt her life to its many changes, whether good or bad.
"Do you want to see the wagon?" her voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Yeah," he said with a wink.
As they walked into the barn there was a young boy, toward the back, cleaning a stall. He was a lanky brown headed boy about 13 years old. He heard them come in and stopped what he was doing to approach them.
"Howdy Miss Camille, can I help you?" he said, looking at her but then noticing Buck beside her.
"Hello Henry, I am here to see Mr. Jobes," she said smiling at the young boy.
Henry’s eyes were fixed on Buck even though he spoke to Camille. "He ain’t here, he’s in Robert’s Creek, won’t be back till in the morning."
"Oh…" she said thinking to herself.
"Is there something I can do for you?" he asked, still staring at Buck. It was then that Camille noticed Henry’s fascination.
"Henry, this is my friend Buck," she said, then addressing Buck, "Henry works here for Mr. Jobes."
"Nice to meet you Henry," Buck said as he offered his hand to Henry.
Shaking Buck’s hand he said, "Howdy," then asking curiously, "You a real Indian?"
Buck just nodded.
"You ever scalp somebody?" Henry asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Henry!" Camille exclaimed.
"Sorry, ma’am," he said looking down at the floor embarrassed. "I was just wonderin’…"
Buck couldn’t fault the boy for his comment. Other people’s perception of Indians was something that he had always dealt with. From adults it usually bothered him because they should know better, but children only knew what they were taught.
He smiled at the boy, "I am Kiowa, my tribe does not practice scalping."
"Oh…," Henry answered, looking almost a little disappointed.
"Henry," Camille said, getting his attention and not wishing to allow Henry to ask another question like the last one, "I need you to let Mr. Jobes know that Buck is going to be helping me prepare my horse and wagon for travel."
"You goin’ on a trip, Miss Camille?" he asked.
"Yes, I am," she said, not offering any more information.
Not one to give up easily, Henry asked, "Where to?"
"Just let him know that Buck and I will be in and out over the next few days," she said ignoring his question. "Can you do that?"
"Yes, Ma’am," he said, knowing he would get no answers to his questions.
"Thank you, Henry", she smiled at him as they went to the back of the barn to inspect the wagon.
