1851

The sun was starting to set in the distance, silhouetting the group of tipis slanting toward it in the distance. Smoke was rising from the tops of the tipis, and the scent of cooking game wafted along with it. The two little friends had spent the better part of the day chasing butterflies on the prairie and wading in the creek, avoiding the other children, but hunger was bringing them back to the camp. Running Buck smiled at Little Bird, his lone friend ever since the day her Kiowa parents had taken her in to raise, an orphan from the white man's world. The other children had little use for either of them, since Running Buck was known to carry the blood of a white father, not that of his mother's husband Standing Bear. Because of this, the village elders had already agreed, the pair would be an ideal match in a few years' time.

Standing Bear was crouched by the door of the family's tipi, silently smoking a pipe, as Running Buck and Little Bird passed by toward the center of camp, where the evening meal was being prepared for the village by a number of women. Running Buck respectfully nodded to his mother's husband, and was startled when he spoke suddenly and quietly.

"Your grandfather is dying."

Running Buck stared at him.

"He has spoken to Red Bear, and is asking for you next."

Little Bird looked at Running Buck with stricken eyes.

"Fly away, Little Bird," Standing Bear ordered gently. "Island Man has little time, and much to say to Running Buck."

Running Buck pulled the buffalo-hide flap back over the door to the tipi and stood a moment, taking in his mother and half-brother kneeling by the bedside of the wisest and saddest man he had ever known, his grandfather Island Man. He let the flap fall and entered.

Island Man's tired eyes lit up at the sight of his youngest grandson. He lifted a finger with difficulty and beckoned the boy to him.

"Sparkling River knows the story as well as I do . . . better, since she was there when they came," he said weakly.

Running Buck's mother dropped her head wearily on her hand, and Running Buck cast his eyes down.

"Father, please, it was not your fault," Sparkling River begged.

Island Man glanced at her fondly and sadly. "You've had a life of suffering, daughter. Your name should have been Weeping River," he observed.

Buck above all knew how true his grandfather's words were. Sparkling River survived a massacre years before, at the hands of the Osage. His grandfather, then the principal chief of all Kiowa, had taken the men on a hunt in preparation for the annual Sun Dance, leaving the women and children undefended in their camp. Sparkling River, then a young girl, saved herself by hiding under a heap of animal hides, watching in horror as her own mother and brothers and sisters were run down by shrieking, red and blue-painted Osage warriors , none less than six feet tall, their heads shaved clean except for tufts of black hair flying backwards from the tops of their heads as they thundered by on horseback. The women, the children and the elders alike, were all beheaded mere yards away from where she cowered, terror-stricken.

"When we came back, the camp was silent. The bodies left scattered where they fell , but the heads, the heads of our families . . . lined up in cooking pots all along the center of camp," Island Man said, his voice fainter and shakier with every word. His eyes squeezed shut. Buck knew that the Kiowa had blamed his grandfather, and he had been stripped of his title of chief. His life had been lived out in shame from that day forward. He was tolerated, but even the children of the tribe regarded his wise, kind grandfather with disdain, unlike the deep respect they showed every other elder member of the tribe.

"It falls to you and Red Bear, now, Running Buck, to restore our family's honor," his grandfather mumbled. His eyes held Running Buck's. "And avenge our disgrace by our enemy. Remember this, Running Buck, Red Bear," he instructed the boys, who nodded solemnly. "Always remember," he murmured, just before his spirit left his body.

Late spring, 1861, Rock Creek

Rachel glanced out the bunkhouse window, and turned back to the table. "Looks like they're here, Teaspoon," she smiled. "Just in time for dinner, after all." She started setting an extra two plates on the table as an eager Teaspoon rushed to the door and flung it open.

Passing by Noah, Lou and Kid on the porch, he strode down the stairs, bellowing, "Nicholas Gunn, bout damn time you got here."

A middle-aged man grinned from beside the covered wagon that had pulled up to the station. "Good to see you too, Teaspoon," he shouted back, as the two shook hands vigorously, slapping each other on the back.

Jimmy and Cody, curious, wandered over from the corral as the other riders and Rachel gathered.

"Boys, Rachel, this here's my good friend and brother-in-law Nick Gunn," he said proudly. "Now where's that niece of mine?" he demanded.

A tall, beautiful girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen years old came around the side of the wagon. She had long, straight black hair and large, warm brown eyes, with golden brown skin. She wore a buckskin dress and her hands and feet were bare. She looked uncertainly at them, and down at her attire, but Rachel immediately rushed forward.

"And this must be Mina," she said, putting her hand out to the girl. "I'm Rachel."

Mina smiled back at Rachel, and looked with more confidence at the riders as Teaspoon introduced them.

Teaspoon hugged the girl warmly. "I can't believe it," he said, a little wistfully. "When I left the village you were no bigger'n a minute, and now, you're a lovely young lady. Makes me feel downright old." He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and shook his head. "You look like your ma and . . . and your aunt," he said, his voice breaking a little as he thought of his lost, final wife. "I was sorry to hear about your ma's passin' on, Mina. She wasn't just a sister-in-law, she was more like a sister to me, you know."

Mina nodded, her voice choking a little too. "I know, Uncle Teaspoon."

"Well, enough reminiscin'," Teaspoon recovered. "Let's head in to that fine dinner I smell cookin'."

The boys, especially Cody and Jimmy, buzzed around the pretty newcomer like bees around a prairie flower. They escorted her into the bunkhouse, with Jimmy claiming the seat at her right and Cody the one on her left.

"Our visitor is popular," Rachel whispered behind her hand to Lou, who grinned back, as she helped Rachel put food on the plates from a table behind the group.

"She certainly is. But I don't think Cody or Jimmy would be her type," Lou mused, watching the quiet, but self-possessed young woman. Now that she was engaged, Lou was eager to see all her friends find their own happiness. Mina seemed like the perfect solution to a dear friend's woman troubles, she thought.

"Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" Rachel said archly.

"I think so," Lou answered, winking. "That Buck hasn't had any luck with the town ladies since that awful Kathleen Devlin back in Sweetwater did him wrong. But Mina, well - - "

"She'd be perfect for Buck," Rachel agreed. "It's a shame he ain't here to meet her, though."

"We can fix that easy enough. There's the dance at the end of the week, is Buck scheduled to come back in time?" Lou wondered.

"Just barely," Rachel said. "But I think - - "

"You know what I think?" Noah interrupted teasingly, taking a bowl of beans out of Rachel's hands. "I think that just because two folks have the same color skin, that don't follow that they're destined for romance."

Rachel glanced at the table with a guilty expression, but was relieved to see that between Teaspoon and Nick's boisterous continued reminiscing Cody's and Jimmy's eager attentions, Mina had not overheard their conversation. "It's not just that they're both half Indian, Noah," Rachel defended herself and Lou. "It's just they've got so much in common, and -"

"Well, I think if two folks are meant to meet and make friends, they will, with or without any meddlin' from two amateur matchmakers." Noah flashed his handsome grin at the two, who tossed their heads and resumed their matchmaking unabated.

After dinner, Teaspoon went back to his tack room and returned to the bunkhouse with a small picture album.

"Here it is, Nick," he said, handing the book to his friend.

Nick opened the small black-bound book and held it so his daughter beside him could see.

"September 17, 1850," Nick read. "That's your Aunt Whispering Dove a few weeks after she married Teaspoon, Mina. And you know that's your mother next to her."

"Yes," Mina said, gazing at the picture of two beautiful Indian sisters. "They look so happy."

"Well, that's cause they married up with two fine upstandin' young Texas Rangers like Nick 'n' me here," Teaspoon said.

"Those were good times," Nick murmured. "Look, here's a picture of you when you were just five, Mina."

"I look so sour," she chuckled. "What on earth could I have been that upset about?"

"You just look serious," Nick protested.

Mina shook her head. "Looks like a tantrum about to start, unless I miss my guess. I had enough of them as a child."

"You were never any trouble," Nick said affectionately.

"Mina, we were just thinkin'," Rachel said, coming over to the chairs with cups of coffee on a tray, followed by Lou.

"There's a dance this Saturday at the church," Lou finished. She sat down on Kid's knee, and stuck her small feet out in front of her, admiring her new button-up women's shoes poking out from under her new blue serge skirt. "How would you like to go with us? It'd be a fine way to meet folks in town."

"Well, I -"

"And Louise and I would be glad to go shoppin' with you for a dancing dress tomorrow, or lend you somethin' if you'd rather," Rachel said, a little too eagerly.

Mina looked down at the intricate beading on her dress. "I suppose what I have wouldn't be fitting, at that," she said. "But I'd rather not spend any money on clothes or borrow anything. But thank you," she said, her voice dignified.

"Now, Mina, we can spare some money for a new dress for the dance, and a few extras to wear into town. It's important you join in the doings in town, and that you look proper," Nick interjected. "I'll be workin' as Teaspoon's deputy starting this week, so we'll have a regular paycheck coming in soon enough. You go with the ladies. And thank you, Miss Rachel."

Mina subsided with a slight sigh. "Well, if you think so, Father."

Kid walked his fiancée back to Rachel's house, where she was staying with Rachel until the wedding, and they stopped a moment in front of the porch steps. "Mina seems nice," he commented.

Lou nodded, playing absent-mindedly with the buttons on Kid's shirt.

"What is it?" he asked, turning her chin up.

"Well, I don't think Mina really wants to go to the dance. And I think we might have offended her by suggesting she needed to change her clothes for it ," Lou worried.

"That was Rachel, not you," Kid pointed out. "And her pa seems to want her to look proper for the dance, too."

"I just don't want her to think she needs to change to fit in. I know what that feels like."

Kid kissed the top of Lou's head, smiling. "I reckon you do. You've had to make a lot of changes yourself since you stopped ridin', and I suppose it's hard for you." He nibbled on her ear, taking her in his arms.

"Sometimes," she admitted, enjoying the feel of his mouth running down her neck toward her lacy collar. "Part of me is enjoying dressing like all the other girls, too."

"I'm enjoying it too, though I sometimes miss those tight pants of yours," Kid teased, pulling her closer around her small-cinched waist. "And why are you so . . . so hard around here, now?" he asked, curiously feeling the corset through her clothes.

"Never mind, young fella. You'll find out soon enough, on our wedding night, like a proper gentleman," she said demurely. She kissed him deeply on the mouth, and then pulled away and turned to go up the stairs.

"Sometimes it seems like the wedding'll never get here," Kid grumbled, watching Rachel's porch door swing shut behind her.

Stepping past the guestroom door, Lou hesitated, and then rapped softly.

"Who is it?"

"It's Louise, Mina. I just wondered if you needed anything."

Mina opened the door and smiled. "That's very nice of you, but Rachel already took care of everything I need. Would you like to come in?"

Lou stepped in and curled up on the rocking chair Mina offered in the corner.

"I - - I'm sorry about the loss of your mother," Lou said awkwardly. "I lost my mother a few years ago, too."

Mina looked up. "You're getting married in a few weeks, you said at dinner. It must be hard to know she won't be there to see it."

"Maybe in some way, she will," Lou said a little tremulously. "But I'm lucky to have Rachel and your uncle and the boys there. They're like my family now." She looked out the window. "I had a brother and sister too, but they passed on about a month ago." She looked back. "So, I kind of know a little about how you must feel, losing your family and coming here to start a new life."

Mina's eyes were troubled. "Yes, at least I have my father, though."

Lou tried to brighten the conversation a bit. "Well. When we asked you to the dance, we didn't ask if there's anyone special in your life back home."

"Not anymore," Mina answered quietly. "I'm a widow."

Lou gaped. "But . . . but you're so young," she cried.

Mina shrugged. "Women of my people marry as young as twelve summers," she said. "I was nearly thirteen summers."

"I'm so sorry," Lou said.

"You couldn't have known," Mina said, plaiting her long black hair for bed as she spoke. "He was a great hunter and warrior," she commented. A faraway look came into her eyes. "My father did not approve, because I was so young. But it was true love. He promised I would be his only bride - a great honor, since a brave as tall and strong as he would be allowed as many as he wished." Tying off the end of the braid, she sighed. "He was killed in battle, after we were married only a few months. That was four years ago. I moved back to my parents' tipi when it happened. There was no one else in the village I could care for after my husband died."

Lou's eyes misted over. "Will it bother you to go to the dance?" she asked, hesitantly.

Mina paused a moment, and then pulled out a small carved pendant from under her dress, suspended by a cord around her neck. "My husband gave me this," she said, smiling. It was a tiny carving of a fleeing deer.

"It's beautiful," Lou noted, holding it in her hand.

"His memory is beautiful now too, not painful anymore. But I don't expect to ever fall in love again," Mina explained. "That's why at first, I was not sure I would want to go to this dance of yours, among strange men, but . . . if you and Kid and the others will be there, I will look forward to it."

Buck breathed a peaceful sigh as the sun finally rose over the distant horizon. His yearly vigil was now concluded, his grandfather Island Man's memory properly honored. He carefully gathered his totems and medicine bag, and put out the low fire he'd prayed over all night, as he did every year on the anniversary of the terrible day of the cut throats so many years ago, as his grandfather had done before him. He had eaten no food and drunk no water on his prayer vigil, and emptied the canteen thirstily. Swinging up on his horse, he started back toward home. He would get home just at dark, and was looking forward to a restful night's sleep while the others were at the monthly social and dance. The last time he'd gone would be the last time he went to any social, he'd decided after being turned down for dance after dance by all the young ladies in town except Rachel and Lou. Even so, after disdainfully refusing to dance while her friends were listening, Rebecca Johnston had pressed a note into his hand asking him to meet her in the livery, "but not to tell anybody." Cody and Jimmy had encouraged him to go ahead and take her up on it, but the thought that the outwardly prim and proper Rebecca would meet him for just a quick roll in the hay, but pretend not to know him the next day, repulsed him somehow. He sighed again, figuring he'd just as well get a good night's sleep and some peace and quiet tonight.

That evening, Lou sat on her bed in Rachel's house, watching as Rachel unwound the rag curlers from Mina's shiny black hair, preparing for the monthly town dance. The thick tresses fell around her in long ringlets, and Rachel set to work pinning them up, stopping periodically to insert small flowers and ribbons. Lou's brow knitted in concern as Mina looked nervously at the elaborate creation in progress.

"There," Rachel said, taking the last pin from her mouth and securing the last tendril. "Now stand up and let's get a look at you."

Mina stood up and turned, her hands fluttering to the low-cut bodice and the cinched waist on her white muslin dress, purchased that day in town. "Is it supposed to be so tight?" she asked uncertainly. "And isn't it a little . . . a little low?"

"Nonsense. I've always said, if you got it, then it pays to put it on display," Rachel said firmly. "You've got the figure to carry it off, so don't worry. How about that hairstyle, isn't it stunning?"

"It's . . . it's very fancy, Rachel," Mina said, staring at herself and noting silently that her head looked about three times its normal size.

"Wonderful! I'm so glad I could help," Rachel said happily. "I'd better get going if I'm going to be ready in time, though. "

When the door shut behind Rachel, Lou coughed delicately. "Umm, Mina." She pulled a lace shawl from her drawer. "Here. I think you might catch a draft in that, it's a chilly night. Would you like to pin this on?" Mina took the shawl gratefully, and Lou pinned it strategically over the top of the dress. "That's much better," Mina said, relieved. "Though I still don't recognize myself like this. I guess I'll just enjoy being somebody different for one night."

"I know the feeling," Lou commiserated.

Buck opened the door to the bunkhouse, to find Rachel sitting impatiently at the table.

"Rachel? How come you aren't at the dance?" he asked, hanging his hat on the wall.

"I've been waiting on you, Buck. I'll be out on the porch while you change for the dance tonight." She indicated toward his bed. "Your good suit is there, all pressed and ready."

"Rachel, I appreciate that, but I was up all last night and riding all day. I'm calling it a night."

"Buck, come on. The church only has these dances once a month, you can't miss it."

"After last month, I can."

"I know it was disappointing last month, but maybe it'll be different this time. Maybe there'll be a new young lady there for you to meet."

"I doubt that. I've met every girl in town, and none of them are interested in being seen anyplace with me, not in public anyways. No, I'll stay here and catch up on my sleep."

Rachel crossed her arms sternly. "That's well and good, Buck, but I'll be needin' somebody to walk me to the dance. I waited here for you, so it's the least you can do."

"You can't walk by yourself?" he asked wearily.

"You wouldn't really let me walk all by my lonesome through this rough town, would you?" she wheedled.

"Well, if you're ready, I'll walk you now -"

"No. Change first."

Buck studied the determined woman. She was up to something, that was certain. Buck knew well enough that Rachel had his best interests at heart, but he was naturally suspicious of why she was so insistent that he go to this silly dance. She kept coaxing.

"Come on, Buck. All the other riders and Teaspoon and Jesse are there. It wouldn't be the same if we're not all there havin' a good time. And I really have a funny feelin' your luck's about to change with the ladies tonight."

He rolled his eyes, but gave in. "All right, if you insist. I'll change and walk you there, but I'm not promising to stay the whole night."

She hopped up and gave him a peck on the cheek. "You'll see, Buck. I'm sure you'll have the time of your life tonight."

The town hall was ablaze with lanterns and lamplight borrowed from every house in town, and the band that the mayor had hired for the occasion was playing merrily in the corner, when Buck and Rachel arrived. Lou grinned over Kid's shoulder at Rachel, as Kid spun her around the dance floor; Kid was as awkward a dancer as ever, clomping past like he was wearing horseshoes. Rachel grinned back, and scanned the room for Mina.

"There's the fellas," Buck said, heading over toward the dessert buffet. Noah greeted Buck as Cody nodded, shoving a piece of cake into his mouth.

"Wasn't expectin' to see you, Buck. Figured you'd be plumb tuckered out," Cody said, spraying a mist of crumbs as he spoke.

"You know Rachel and Lou made up their minds he was coming," Noah chuckled. "So there wasn't no way he wouldn't show."

"What's the big surprise those two have cooked up for me?" Buck sighed, dreading the answer.

Before Noah could supply a response, though, Buck's attention was drawn to a new girl dancing with Jimmy across the room. He hadn't seen the willowy beauty at a dance or anywhere in town before, and he stood openmouthed in admiration. Noah rolled his eyes, knowing that the women-folk were never going to let him hear the end of it about how they were right and he was wrong. But just the same, he nudged Buck, whispering, "Well, close your mouth and get over there and ask her to dance, why don't you?"

Buck grinned bashfully, and started over. As he walked, weaving between the dancing couples, his surroundings seemed to slow down and blur around him, as he had eyes for no one but the beautiful stranger. Halfway across the room, she glanced at him over Jimmy's arm, and stumbled to a stop, staring back openly.

A young brave, handsome, with brooding eyes and a sensitive smile, walking toward her. Something about him, familiar and yet exciting all at once. She hadn't felt like this in years, since her husband, and yet she hadn't spoken a single word to him yet, or heard his voice. She shook her head and apologized to Jimmy. "I'm so sorry, Jimmy, I'm not used to dancing like this. You must find me so clumsy."

"Hello, Jimmy," Buck said, his eyes still fastened on Mina's face. Buck was encouraged to see that she seemed friendly, unlike the town ladies who often acted scared or disdainfully toward him. "May I have the honor of being introduced to your new friend?"

Jimmy glanced back and forth between the two, and sighed in resignation. "Sure. Miss Mina Gunn, may I introduce Mr. Buck Cross. He's another rider at the station."

"It's a pleasure, Mr. Cross," Mina said, offering her hand.

"The pleasure is mine," Buck said. "May I have the next dance?"

Mina looked hesitantly at Jimmy, whose name was on her dance card for the next dance.

"Go on ahead, Miss Mina. I wouldn't want to monopolize your time all evening," Jimmy said, with exaggerated formality, slapping Buck on the back with a grin as he turned to scan the wall for a new dance partner.

Somehow Buck found himself dancing with her, the most beautiful girl in the room. And somehow it felt as if they had danced together a thousand times before, as she followed him effortlessly, around and around the dance floor.

Lou and Rachel sidled up, one on each side of Noah, and grinned at each other across their friend. "Well, I guess we're not too bad for a pair of amateur matchmakers, wouldn't you say, Louise?"

"At the risk of sounding immodest, I must agree with you, Rachel," Lou said.

"Okay, you two win. They seem to be taking a liking to each other," Noah said grudgingly. "But it's up to them how it goes from there; I still say other folks should stay out of it."

Lou and Rachel smirked, and watched contentedly as Mina and Buck twirled around the dance floor, oblivious to anything but each other.

Part 2

A special thanks to my wonderful betas Shauna and Dee for their suggestions and encouragement!

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