Author's Note: Third installment of the Lou & Kid - Return To Sweetwater series. This story is a sequel to Times of Trouble.

Emily and Buck walked down the road through the gate leading to the ranch. Both made small talk about the weather and the breaking of the horses, avoiding the subject they knew needed to be addressed.

As their walk led them away from the KL&E, they chose a path up the hill and out of the valley, through the pasture land the horses used to graze. The hill was steep, so Buck took Ike from Emily to make the hike easier for her. He placed the toddler on his broad shoulders, resulting in squeals of delight from the youngster.

"Tall!" Ike exclaimed, patting Buck's hat with his chubby hands. "Mama short!"

Neither Emily or Buck could resist laughing at the little boy's happiness. All at once, Emily realized how children easily recognized simple pleasures that were taken for granted by adults - how the beauty of the day often escaped them, or the importance of trusting friendships. The courage she had been lacking earlier in the day to face Buck suddenly claimed her and she abruptly changed their discussion from trivial to one of meaning.

"Buck, about last night," Emily began.

"Em, really. There's no need," he replied.

"No, there is. Please, Buck. Let me say what I have to say. I need to get it off my chest," she answered.

He looked at her quizzically, but held his tongue and allowed her to continue.

"It was wrong of me to treat Jenny the way I did. She was a guest of yours and I should have kept my thoughts and words to myself," Emily confessed. "I had no right to say what I said. I just wanted to apologize to you, and I hope this won't keep you from becoming our partner with the ranch. I know Kid and Louise are counting on it."

"And how do you feel about it?" Buck asked gently.

"Feel about what?" Emily questioned.

"About me becoming a partner. You said Lou and Kid were counting on it. What about you?" Buck asked again.

"I, I don't know," she answered honestly. "I thought I knew. I thought I knew for sure until last night."

"What about last night changed your mind?" Buck inquired.

Emily couldn't believe how open their discussion had become. She had only meant to apologize to him, but now she was about to confront him about what Jenny had related. Emily's emotions ran high as she answered, "Buck, you still blame me for Ike dyin', don't you?"

"Whatever gave you that idea, Em?" he asked in dismay. He and Emily had become very close friends in the past two years since the birth of her son. He almost felt like a surrogate father to his slain friend's son. Buck felt so strongly about both Emily and her child, he knew he could easily lay down his life to protect either one of them, if necessary.

Tears fell softly down Emily's cheeks as she answered, "Jenny knew everything, Buck. How could she have known unless you told her? Why did you tell her, Buck? I don't understand."

Buck stopped, reached up and lifted Ike from his shoulders, gently placing the little boy on the ground. He turned Emily to him, seeing the pain deep in her blue eyes. He felt awful, knowing confiding in Jenny had hurt Emily seriously.

"Em, we both know how I felt when Ike died. Yeah, I blamed you, but I was wrong. The minute you let me hold Baby Ike, the pain, well, it didn't end, but it started to heal," Buck explained. He gently wiped the tears from Emily's cheeks as he continued. "I told Jenny the whole story, but I guess she only heard the parts she wanted to hear. I thought I could trust her, simply because she grew up Lakota and could understood how torn I am sometimes. We both know now I was wrong."

Emily's emotions were beginning to get the best of her. She weakly sat down on the ground, and Buck crouched beside her.

"Buck," she said softly, "I want you to stay at the ranch. Please don't leave us."

"You're sure that's what you want?" he asked gently.

Feelings she hadn't felt since Ike tightened her throat and made it difficult to speak. "Only if you want it, too," she answered, looking into his gentle face. She reached for his hand, taking it in her own. "Is that what you want, Buck?" she questioned hopefully.

Buck remained quiet as he stared at the beautiful young woman before him, so full of love, and hope, and understanding. He silently hoped his best friend would understand what his heart was compelling him to do. He gently lifted Emily's chin and, ever so softly, their lips met in a tender kiss. Buck fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around Emily's waist, his kiss becoming stronger as she responded in kind. Deep feelings both had been denying were finally coming to the surface, and they could no longer ignore them.

Emily felt a tug on her shoulder and pulled away from Buck, startled. Ike looked at her intently. "Hoseys, Mama!" he demanded.

Buck and Emily looked at each other and laughed. The child that had nearly driven them apart was now, at least in part, responsible for bringing them together, helping them admit to their true feelings for one another.

"Okay, Ike," Emily promised him. "We'll go back and see the horses."

Buck stood up and offered Emily his hand, pulling her to her feet. He reached down and picked up Ike, carrying the little boy in his right arm and holding Emily's hand with his left.

"So I guess all's forgiven?" he asked, smiling slyly.

"I suppose," Emily answered, her whole face beaming. "Considering."

To be continued..

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