Chapter Twenty-three

Buck settled into an uneasy sleep. His dreams brought him different versions of the life ahead of him. He awoke with one thing clear to him – he needed to make a decision soon. He either needed to send Summer Sky back to the village and a life as Red Bear's second wife, or figure out what to do with her here in Sweetwater. If she stayed he had two choices: keep her as his wife, or help her find someone else who would make her happy.

As he thought back to the night he'd spent with Summer Sky, he realized that she hadn't tried to stop him and had in fact done much to encourage him. Maybe he... no he'd used her to make himself feel alive, not because he cared for her. Ike was wrong – he wasn't fighting any attraction; he was just trying to keep from hurting her again and – he had to admit – from being hurt himself. He sighed and sank back onto his pillows as he realized that Ike might be right after all – maybe he was fighting an attraction for Summer Sky. There was a time when he had found her interesting.

He lay on his back and stared at the ceiling. As he thought back to his childhood he realized why he had fought this idea of marriage – especially to Summer Sky – so fiercely. He had been intrigued by her when they were both children, but had been told that there was no way he would ever be able to have her – she was too good for the likes of him. He remembered how the other boys would take it upon themselves to remind him if he stepped out of his place – many times it was because he had forgotten and spoken to Summer Sky during class. But that was a long time ago. So much had changed. He had changed. The more he thought about it the more he became convinced that no matter his feelings for Summer Sky it was better to let her go. Besides, he would only bring her more unhappiness. Contemplating the matter, he had just decided to release her from her bond to him and help her find someone who would care for her the way she deserved when Emma and Summer Sky entered the room. Summer Sky placed a tray of food on the table next to the bed. She smiled shyly at Buck before going across the room and sitting in the chair by the window.

Emma helped Buck to sit up so he could eat without making a mess. As he settled back into the pillow, she said, “Can I talk to you for a few minutes?”

Buck nodded.

Emma handed him the tray and helped him adjust so he was comfortable. As he started to eat, she continued, “Summer Sky says that it's up to you what happens to her.”

Buck quickly swallowed his food. “In the village, that would be true,” he said. “Here, it's really more up to her and what she wants to do.”

Emma smiled. “I'm glad you feel that way because the one thing I know for sure is that she doesn't want to go back to the village. She said that being the second wife of anyone...”

Buck interrupted, “It's not good. She would be little more than a slave to the first wife, and Five Horses would be a hard task master. Red Bear would not be much help because he does not see what he does not want to.”

“That's the impression I got from her,” said Emma. “She seems to fear your brother.”

Buck nodded. “He's an important and powerful man.”

“So,” Emma said with a smile. “Since she's going to stay here, I have a favor to ask you.”

Buck took a deep breath and looked up at Emma. He waited with dread to hear what she was going to ask of him.

“I want you to teach her how to speak English,” Emma said. “You aren't going to be able to start making runs for a few weeks still, and while Ike can help with understanding he can't teach her what to say. You can.”

Buck breathed with relief. “I'd be happy to help her,” he said.

“Good,” said Emma. “She's learned some the past few days, and seems anxious to learn more.”

Buck nodded. “I think it would be good for her to learn,” he said. “Then she can better decide what she wants to do.”

Emma smiled as she stood and took Buck's now empty breakfast tray. She motioned for Summer Sky to come over and made her way across the room. She paused at the door to watch their first exchange – she wanted to see if she agreed with Ike's assessment of their relationship.

Summer Sky smiled faintly at her husband and Buck managed a weak smile in return. He found that he was actually looking forward to having a chance to talk to Summer Sky alone. They had much to discuss. He watched her move from the chair by the window to the one nearer the bed. She looked stunning in a blue dress with her black hair simply tied back from her face. He felt his heartbeat quicken as she moved. As she settled into the chair, he asked, “Where did you get the dress? You look really nice.”

Summer Sky smiled at the compliment. “Your friend Lou let me borrow it,” she replied.

The look of confusion on his face troubled Summer Sky. “Why would Lou have a dress?” he asked.

“She..” Summer Sky started, but stopped when Buck's expression became even more confused.

Emma came back across the room. “Is something wrong?” she asked.

“Why did Lou have a dress to loan her?” Buck asked.

“Oh,” said Emma, with a smile and a sigh of relief. “Because Lou is really Louise. We found out while you were gone. All the boys know, but Mr. Spoon hasn't any idea so please don't tell him.”

Buck nodded. He'd always wondered a bit about the way Kid and Lou acted around each other. It now made sense – Kid had found out Lou's secret that time those men had stolen the horses and mail pouch.

Buck turned his attention back to Summer Sky and explained to her what had just happened. She smiled when he told her that he hadn't known Lou was a girl until just now. “I am not surprised that you did not know – men often see only what they expect to see.” As they were talking, Emma left the room quietly.

Buck had to agree with her. That was his argument with Red Bear about what had happened the whole time he was growing up. “You're right,” he said with a smile. “We can all easily be fooled by simple things.”

Summer Sky giggled, but quickly became serious. “I am glad you have agreed to let me stay. I was afraid that you would send me back because it would be easier for you.”

Buck winced at the statement, but did not argue its truth. It would have been much easier if he’d just told her to go home; to tell the Kiowa they were right – he was dead. He still wasn’t sure why he hadn’t done just that. He knew she would have gone without an argument. “It is only fair that you see this world and make your own decision as to where you wish to live,” he said.

Summer Sky smiled her thanks. “I will try not to make you regret your decision,” she said.

Buck nodded. “I will do my best to teach you how to speak so the others understand you. I think it would be wise for you to study the way Emma acts also. She can do much to help you learn the role of women in the white world.”

“You will please help me ask her,” Summer Sky whispered.

Buck smiled at her. “I will teach you how to ask her,” he said. “Then you can speak to her on your own.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A few days later, Emma watched smilingly Summer Sky’s attempt to make the evening meal as Emma worked at cleaning the bench. Finally, she decided to come to the girl’s rescue. “This is a bit heavy,” she said as she helped turn the casserole around, effectively hindering water from splattering on the floor.

“I’m sorry,” Summer Sky mumbled. It was so different cooking on the stove in the big heavy pots and pans than working over the simple cook fire in the village. She felt certain she would never learn.

Emma smiled encouragingly at her. “Don’t be – the first few times I did this I had to wash the floor afterwards. You’re doing just fine, and with your English too,” she added.

Summer Sky blushed. “Running Buck is a good teacher,” she said.

Emma dried the last plate and pulled out the coffee pot. “Feel like a cup of coffee?” she asked friendly. “We sure have earned one.”

Without waiting for Summer Sky’s reply she quickly placed the pot on the still warm stove. “Now, sit down and talk to me while we wait,” she said encouragingly.

Summer Sky hesitated for a second before she joined Emma at the table. As she settled in, Emma smiled and asked, “So, the English lessons are going fine?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Summer Sky replied.

“You’ve done a good job caring for Buck,” Emma continued in a friendly manner. “He’ll be up and walking any day now.”

“I did not do much,” Summer Sky objected. “He really just needed to rest.”

“Well, I think your presence did him a lot of good.” Emma looked at the young lady who had turned her eyes to the ground.

“Is there something wrong?” she asked gently.

“No,” Summer Sky mumbled trying to hide the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.

“You love him, don’t you?” Emma asked softly, reaching out to touch the girl’s hand.

Still not certain on how to behave in the white world Summer Sky simply nodded. “My feelings are not important,” she whispered. Unable to talk more she quickly rose. “I… I should go and clean the table in the bunkhouse,” she said quietly and in the next second she was gone.

Emma sighed and shook her head. She agreed with Ike that there was an attraction between Summer Sky and Buck, but she feared that there was a lot to be done before the relationship between Buck and Summer Sky was mended. She was beginning to wonder if there was really a relationship to mend.