A
LOVE REBORNA
LOVE REBORN
Buck slowed his horse down as he approached the entrance to the Kiowa camp. He walked his horse through and climbed down. After making sure that his horse was secure, Buck walked over to the Chief's teepee. He didn't have to ask for Red Bear because he was already waiting for him, standing at the entrance.
"Running Buck!" Red Bear's face lit up with a smile as he held out his arms. "What brings you back here my brother?"
"Red Bear, I need to talk to you." Buck stared at his brother's face, the urgency evident in his voice.
Red Bear's eyes changed and his face took on a serious expression. "Is there something wrong?"
Buck nodded. "Very."
Red Bear nodded back. "Let us go talk somewhere private." He motioned to Buck to enter his tent. Once inside and seated, Red Bear continued. "You seem very distressed my brother, what is wrong?"
Buck sighed. "A strange girl came into town today, and insisted that she knew me. She claims to have been married to me 170 years ago, but was murdered because she was a witch."
Red Bear's eyes widened. "I see. And what do you think about that?"
Buck laughed. "I think she is crazy."
"Crazy, I see. Then what brought you here? If you have already decided that she is crazy, why come to see me about it?"
Buck blushed. "She knows something very personal about me, that only you, my mother, Song Bird, and Lily know about." When Red Bear gave him a confused look, he continued, blushing an even brighter shade of red. "She knows about my birthmark."
"Your birth-, ahh… your birthmark?" Red Bear looked down towards Buck's bottom, a smile playing across his face.
Buck nodded quickly. "Yes, that one."
Red Bear chuckled.
"Do you mind?" Buck said accusingly.
"I am sorry my brother." Red Bear tried to hide his smile. "Now what were you saying about this girl?"
"She knows about it. She was trying to convince everyone that she was telling the truth, and when nobody believed her she mentioned the birthmark." Buck shook his head. "How can that be? Red Bear, I've never seen her before in my life."
Red Bear nodded. "Maybe not in this life my brother. Maybe this girl is telling the truth."
Buck's eyes widened. "You mean?"
"I think we need to call the Man of Dreams for this. He will show you the truth."
An hour later, Buck was seated in the medicine man's teepee, along with Red Bear. There was a fire burning in the center of the tent, and Buck was shirtless with paint on his face and chest. The Man of Dreams sat across from him and held a small bowl full of liquid in one hand and a long pipe in the other. He chanted in Indian tongue, and leaned down to kiss the bowl and the pipe. He handed the pipe to Buck and instructed him to take a deep breath. Buck did, choking on the thick smoke. The Man of Dreams then handed him the bowl, and instructed him to drink all of the liquid inside. Buck raised the bowl to his lips, and had to force himself to swallow the thick chalky liquid.
"Now you are to close your eyes. Let the spirits guide and show you what you need to see." The Man of Dreams told him.
Buck closed his eyes, and at first he didn't see anything. The suddenly a woman appeared before his eyes. She had masses of thick curly black hair, and crystal clear violet eyes framed by long black lashes. She was standing in the middle of the woods, and was in the middle of performing some sort of ritual. She turned towards him and smiled, and Buck felt his heart leap from his chest. Devon! The next few scenes seemed to flash by in a matter of seconds. The scene changed and he saw himself, dressed only in a breechcloth and buckskin leggings, running up and freeing Devon from the gallows, where she was about to be hung. Marrying her in an Indian ceremony. Kissing her, making love to her, reveling in the wonder and beauty that she was. Hearing her tell him that she was pregnant, and feeling like the luckiest man in the world. And finally seeing her kiss him goodbye, as she left to collect fruit and berries for dinner that night.
Suddenly Buck was filled with the sick feeling of dread, for something told him that was the last time he would ever see his wife alive again. Buck tried to force his eyes open, but found he could not. Everything swirled around in front of him, and finally stopped and landed on an image of a blindfolded woman hanging from the gallows. He saw himself run over to where she was hanging, take his knife from his boot and cut her down, but it was too late. As he pulled the cloth from her eyes, he already knew that this was his wife, lying in his arms like a limp doll, her neck broken, their unborn child also lifeless inside of her. He closed his eyes and let out an animal howl of pain and horror. When he opened his eyes he was back in the medicine man's tent, and he was still screaming.
"Running Buck! My brother, calm down, it is okay!"
The sound of Red Bear's voice brought Buck back to the present and he looked around the tent frantically. "Red Bear, she was telling the truth! I saw everything!"
Red Bear nodded. "I know."
Buck scrambled to stand up, but Red Bear grabbed his arm. "I need to get to her!"
"No, you need to rest first!" Red Bear said sternly.
Buck shook his head and pulled his arm free. "No, I have to get to her now." Buck turned, picked up his shirt, vest and hat, and stumbled out of the tent. He was still very weak, but he wouldn't let that stop him. I have to let her know that I believe her, he thought to himself as he climbed up onto his horse. I just hope that I'm not too late. Please let her still be at Rachel's.
Back at Devon's, Jimmy and Devon had just finished some tea. Both had calmed down, and were mounting their horses to return to the way station. It had taken a lot, but Jimmy had finally convinced Devon to go and talk Teaspoon. Jimmy now feared for her safety, and knew that if anyone could help her, Teaspoon could.
Fifteen minutes later, the two of them rode into the way station. Rachel and Lily were busy hanging up freshly washed clothes to dry, and Devon didn't miss the perplexed look that Lily gave her. They both climbed down off their horses and ran over to Rachel, Devon sure to avoid Lily's eyes.
"Rachel! Where's Teaspoon?" Jimmy asked.
"Jimmy! Devon! What's going on? You two ride in here like bats out of hell!" Rachel exclaimed.
"There's big trouble. Is Teaspoon here?"
Rachel nodded. "He's in the bunk-"
Jimmy ran off towards the bunkhouse, pulling Devon along behind him.
"-house." Rachel finished. She looked at Lily, who shrugged.
Buck rode into the way station, walked his horse into the corral, and ran over to where Rachel and Lily were still hanging clothes. Lily's eyes lit up when she saw Buck and ran over to him.
"Buck! You're back!"
But Buck just walked right past her and over to Rachel. "Rachel! Please tell me that Devon's still here!"
Rachel looked at him and nodded slowly. "Yeah, she just got back here with Jimmy a few minutes ago."
Buck's eyes hardened. "Jimmy?"
"Buck, what's going on?" Lily asked, the hurt visible on her face.
"Where is she?" Buck asked, still talking only to Rachel.
"She's inside the bunkhouse. They're talking to Tea-"
Once again Rachel wasn't able to finish before Buck took off in the direction of the bunkhouse.
Rachel sighed. "-spoon."
"Rachel?" Lily asked quietly, tears filling her beautiful eyes.
Rachel held out her arms and Lily practically ran into them.
Buck ran over to the bunkhouse, flinging open the door. "Devon! Devon, I need to talk to you!
Prologue ~ Chapter
1 ~ Chapter 2 ~ Chapter 3
~ Chapter 4 ~ Chapter 5 ~ Chapter
6 ~ Chapter 7 ~ Chapter 8
~ Chapter 9
~ Chapter 10 ~ Chapter 11 ~
Chapter 12
