I somehow managed to get back to Sweetwater before the outlaws. I explained to Teaspoon and the others what happened, how many men there were, and the direction I figured they would be coming from. We set up a plan and got ready for action. We didn't have long to wait.

The men came at us from two directions, but we had the town ready. The people from Sweetwater came together and defended the town in such a manner that very few people even got injured. It didn't take long before we had all the outlaws locked up in jail.

"Go have Doc take a look at your arm," Teaspoon told me as he locked the last of the Tucker gang in jail. "Then go on back to the way station and get some rest."

*I can't rest, * I managed to sign. *I have to go get Buck. *

"From what you told me," Teaspoon said, "he'll be fine. Won't do him no good if you aren't in one piece when you get there."

I realized the wisdom of what Teaspoon said, but decided that I couldn't wait. I simply nodded and made my way over to Doc Barnes' office. After he patched up my arm, I headed toward the way station. I quietly slipped into the bunkhouse and grabbed a change of clothes for Buck, then I just as quietly slipped out; mounted my horse, and went to go get Buck and bring him home. My only concern was getting into the village before the Kiowa killed me. I figured once I was in, I could make them understand that I only came to help.

It turned out that the Kiowa were waiting for me. I wasn’t sure why, but I was happy about it. As soon as I rode into the village, I was greeted by Buck’s half-brother, Red Bear. He took me to where Buck was resting.

“Maybe you can help him,” Red Bear said, as he pushed aside the skin covering the teepee opening. “He has been asking for you.”

I followed Red Bear inside. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting, but I could make out Buck’s form lying on the ground. I moved to his side and gently touched his shoulder.

“He is in the land of dreams,” Red Bear said as he moved to sit beside me. “I do not understand all that he says, but he is troubled; I feel he is worried about you because of the way he calls for you.” He looked at me closely a few seconds before continuing, “He did the same for Little Bird when she was taken from us; that is why he left. He felt he could not rest until he found her.”

I nodded. Buck had told me a little about the reason he’d left the village. He’d mentioned that his dreams told him to go out on his own. That’s how I knew how highly he held the knowledge that dreams shared with him.

*I will do my best to help him, * I reassured Red Bear. *Do you mind if I stay here with him? *

“I think that would be best,” Red Bear answered. “What do you need from us?”

I started to say nothing, but realized I was suddenly very hungry and thirsty. I also wasn’t feeling too well myself; I probably should have listened to Teaspoon and waited a day of so before making this trip. *I could use some food and water, * I replied. *Also, something to rest on; I’m really…* I couldn’t continue my signing as the little strength I had simply left me, and I collapsed to the ground next to Buck.

Some time later, I awoke. It was dark and at first I didn’t remember where I was. I laid very still listening to the sounds around me. At first there were a lot of sounds far away, but finally I heard one nearby – Buck’s even breathing. When this sound registered, the events of the previous day came flooding back to me. I carefully sat up; as I moved I realized that my clothing had been removed. I let my eyes adjust to the dim lighting of my surroundings and then looked for Buck. He was lying a few feet away from me. I moved to his side and checked on how he was doing. He seemed to be resting easier than he had been when I first arrived.

I decided to find my clothing before I did anything else. This was too much like the dreams I’d had before. I wasn’t sure how the Kiowa felt about this type of relationship, and I wasn’t ready to find out. As I moved away from him, Buck reached out and touched my arm.

“Ike?” he whispered. “Is that really you?”

I turned to him and moved so he could see me. I smiled at him and nodded. *I’m here just like I promised,* I told him. *How are you?*

“Fine, now that you’re here,” he whispered. “Do you think you could get me some water? I’m really thirsty.”

I nodded and looked around the dwelling we were in. I quickly spied the water bag and helped Buck to drink. “Thanks,” he said as he let his hand run down my arm and come to rest on my knee.

I started to pull away, but when I looked at his face I couldn’t bring myself to do it. The desire I saw there was too much. I’d longed for that look to be in his eyes again; I decided to not worry about the dreams as I put the water bag aside and lowered my head. I gently kissed him and moved so I was on the ground beside him. He smiled as my lips left his and my hands began to move over his body. He moved to sit, but I gently pushed him back to the bedding. *Lie back down,* I signed quickly, as I began to trail kisses down his body. I made my way to his chest. Here I gave special attention to his nipples before continuing my way down to his growing member. I could feel Buck’s desire growing and smiled as I thought of the treasure that awaited me.

I took Buck’s throbbing member into my mouth all the way to the hilt. As I pulled back to give special attention to the head, the opening to the teepee was pulled aside. Sunlight filled the chamber and Red Bear entered. I quickly released Buck and moved as far away from him as possible.

My breathing quickened and I tried to find something to cover myself. I waited to be yelled at, dragged from the teepee to be killed or punished. I desperately wanted to just disappear and offered up a silent prayer that Buck wasn’t punished for my actions.

Buck struggled to a sitting position. “Ike,” he said calmly, “It’s alright, Ike.”

I tried to listen to the words Buck was saying, but I couldn’t understand him. I just stared at Red Bear and waited for his anger to fall on me. He finally let the skin covering drop behind him. He went and sat next to Buck, “Rest, my brother,” he said. “I will talk to him.”

He moved from Buck’s side toward me. I scooted as far back as I could. My back was against the skin of the teepee; it was rubbing on my backside reminding me that I had no means of escape. *I…* I started to try to explain, but Red Bear interrupted.

“It is alright,” he said. “When he first got here, Running Buck was very ill. He kept calling for you and saying he was sorry for hurting you and turning you away. In order to help him, I had to share the dreams that haunted him. I saw the two of you in the meadow before he was injured.”

I stared at Red Bear in horror. He’d seen what I’d done to Buck. I knew he was going to kill me for sure. I just wondered how much pain I would have to endure first.

“I wanted to punish you for what you did to him,” Red Bear said as if he could read my thoughts, “but Running Buck insisted that it was his fault, and that you were not to be punished. He told me of the other times and the many dreams the two of you shared.”

Red Bear stopped speaking and moved to sit beside Buck. “I hope that you can both relax now,” he said. “I have discovered you secret, and will keep it as my own.” He turned and moved toward the opening. “I will make sure no one bothers you,” he said as he left.

Buck smiled at me. “Are you alright?” he asked when I didn’t move from where I was sitting staring at the place where Red Bear had just exited.

“Ike,” Buck said. “Please, talk to me.” He struggled to sit up again. The movement broke the spell I had fallen under and I moved to his side.

*Don’t, * I said. *You’ll hurt yourself.* I helped him lie back down. He was sweating. I looked around the teepee again and found my clothing. I grabbed my bandana, wet it, and began to gently dab Buck’s face. As I touched him, he relaxed a bit and smiled at me; the desire in his eyes was still strong. “We’re safe now,” he said. “Red Bear has given us his blessing.”

I smiled at him and moved to take his mouth with my own. Soon our bodies were lost in a dance of love – we were totally unaware of anything except the two of us and the pleasure that we were giving one another.