Part Five:

Old Flames

Buck Wilmington was nervous.

He paced up and down the floor of the jailhouse, occasionally pausing at the barred windows long enough to ensure that no one was making their way into the building. Although there was no prisoners occupying any of the cells, he nonetheless felt comforted by the bars on the window and the sturdy doors that would keep away any unwanted visitors who got it in their minds to see him even if he did not wish it so. Buck realised that he was probably being just a little bit paranoid but unfortunately, he could not risk Millie finding him here.

He had spent much of the morning after she had come to the Standish Tavern with her shock announcement that she had returned to Four Corners in order to rekindle their romance, trying to ensure that he did not run into her again. Buck had faced outlaws, insane Ku Klux Klan fanatics, terrorists, alien creatures and mechanical monsters and none of them had him as fearful as facing that pretty young woman with her dark hair and sugary smile. Buck had prided himself in his ability to stay faithful since he had married Inez and even though he had been a notorious philander prior to that, he had always promised himself that when he took his marriage vows, they would not be just words to him. His marriage to Inez meant something. He did not want to betray her trust in any way, least of all for a young woman he hardly knew.

The last few months had been sheer bliss. Buck had not envisioned that he could be so happy but the truth was, he was thrilled with the domestic turn his life had taken. He loved going home to Inez after working at the ranch or taking care of the trouble that came riding into town all too frequently. Walking into the house, with the sounds of her and Elena and taking a deep breath of supper cooking was as close to heaven as he had ever dreamed. Buck had never though the family life could suit him so well but it really did make all the difference when one was passionate in love with one’s wife and the child she borne him. Just thinking about Elena Rose was enough to bring a smile to Buck’s face, despite his present troubles. At five months, she was a beautiful child although Buck had to concede his opinion was rather biased.

He did not want to lose all that by being tempted by Millie nor did he want to hurt the young woman by telling her the truth that he had moved on with his life. After all, the poor thing had dragged her entire family back to Four Corners in order to rekindle their relationship. How was he supposed to tell her that she had remained in his mind approximately two hours after her departure from town before he was in the company of Erica the newest saloon girl at the time. With the exception of Inez, Buck never really did have that much of an attention span when it came to women.

Now she was back, expecting to start up with him and Buck had no idea how to tell her the truth that he was deliriously happy and already married with no chance whatsoever of anything else taking place between them. Millie was a nice girl and while he had no intention of starting anything with her, Buck was determined not to leave her a scarred shell of a woman by his refusal. Somehow, he had to think of some way to avoid her and break it to her gently without crushing that tender, willowy spirit inside her chest.

Sometimes this animal magnetism was such a curse.

His mind was still whirling around his situation when suddenly the door burst open and the surprise of the sudden sound, made Buck jump in his chair with such force that he fell backwards.

"Goddamn!" Buck swore loudly as he crashed heavily into the floor.

"Hey Buck, you okay?" JD Dunne asked in concern as he hurried to the desk and peered over it to see the amusing sight of Buck Wilmington attempting to untangle his long legs from around the wooden chair in an effort to pick himself up off the floor.

"Boy!" Buck hissed getting up to his feet, trying to maintain his dignity while dusting himself off and straightening the hat on his head. "How many times have I told you not to barge in on me like that?"

JD merely stared at Buck. "Now that you mention, never it." The youth said smugly. "What’s the matter with you Buck? You’re looking like you’re half crazy."

"There ain’t nothing wrong with me," Buck barked, looking out the window to make sure no one else made any surprise visits. As it was, he was quite annoyed that he had been day dreaming, allowing JD to just sneak up on him like he had. "What are you doing here anyway? I thought you and Casey were going riding or something." He asked in an effort to change the subject as he sat down on the chair once more.

JD did not miss Buck’s attempt to detract from the topic at discussion but decided he had very little time to linger upon it since he had promised to join Casey at the livery in about five minutes so they could get going to the farm. Shaking his head and attributing this as one of those bizarre traits that was just plain Buck, JD tried to remember what he had come here for in the first place. "I just came to tell you that I’ll be at the farm with Casey if anyone’s looking for me."

"At the farm?" Buck looked at him. "Weren’t you taking that little girl out riding? Now come on JD, I’ve told you once and I’ve told you a dozen times, you can’t go breaking promises with a girl. If you promised to take her riding, you can’t get lazy on her and do something else."

"Hey it ain’t my idea to skip the ride." JD retorted, offended that Buck would think he would treat Casey so shabbily. He loved the girl dearly and had no intention of breaking her heart with such disappointment. "Besides have you looked outside?" He glanced at the window.

Buck had been so preoccupied by thoughts of Millie that he had not bothered to take close stock of the climate. However, as he gazed into the sky, he could see why JD might think it prudent to abandon his idea of taking Casey for a ride in the country. While the storm looked as if it might pass Four Corners, the same could not be said for the outlying areas. Judging by the dark shades of the cumulous clouds in the distance, Buck did not think it was advisable for anyone to brave such weather.

"Yeah," he had to admit. "It does look plenty nasty out there."

"Anyway," JD continued now that Buck had the full picture. "Casey wants me to go with her to the farm for the afternoon. Probably has some chores she needs helping with."

"Nettie still away?" Buck asked offhandedly, finding something strange about that because Casey was one of the most independent young women he knew. However, considering the fact that Four Corners had more than its share of fiercely self reliant women, he supposed she was not that much of a stand out. Still, Buck was always of the opinion that Casey would never ask JD for any help especially because of the way she felt about him.

"Yeah, she won’t be back for a few days." JD answered as he started to withdraw out of the room. "I should be back before nightfall." He replied.

"Okay," Buck said watching the street outside for any signs of Millie, not really listening to the youth in any detail. "You have a nice time now."

"Are you still trying to dodge Millie?" JD asked, suddenly realising the possible reason for Buck’s odd behaviour. He recalled how panicked the big man had been when the young woman had come into the saloon and tried not to laugh as images of a terrified Buck Wilmington appeared in his mind and he was forced to stifle a smile at the memory.

"I ain’t trying to dodge Millie." Buck growled, not wanting the boy to think that he was running. JD was very impressionable and Buck did not want him to get the wrong idea that he could be afraid of a woman because he was definitely not. "It’s my turn in the jailhouse that’s all."

"Oh really?" JD gave him a smug look that indicated that he did not believe Buck for one minute.

"Get that look off your face." Buck scowled at him. "I’m telling ya, I’m not trying to dodge Millie."

"So why don’t you just tell her that you’re married Buck?" JD questioned, feeling a little wiser than Buck because he knew that for once inexperience did not lack for a clear understanding of this situation. As far as JD was concerned, Buck had only one course ahead of him and it was the most obvious one of all.

"I can’t just tell her that!" Buck exclaimed, wondering whether or not he was the only sensitive male in the entire town. "It will break her heart. What kind of heartless monster do you think I am? You heard her, she convinced her daddy to bring her all the way back here so that she could be with me! If I told her that I done and got married on her, it will crush her poor soul and I ain’t ready to do that."

JD thought that Buck was seriously overestimating how Millie would take it but there was no convincing Buck when he was like this and the young man was eager to meet Casey at the livery. "Whatever you say Buck," JD replied opening the door. "I’ve got to get going."

"You do that." Buck retorted, deciding he did not want to discuss this subject any further with the kid.

JD pulled open the door and suddenly exclaimed, "Hey Millie!"

Buck quickly ducked for cover beneath the desk until he saw the chuckle on JD’s face and glared at him through narrowed eyes. "You keep that up and you ain’t gonna be in no position to help Casey with any chores."

"See you Buck." JD grinned and left.

Buck was still under the table about to climb out when he heard the door open again and wondered what JD wanted this time.

"Buck, what are you doing down there?" He heard Inez’s voice asking as she walked into the jailhouse. Buck stood up too hastily and slammed his head into the underside of the table cursing wildly as the pain flared across his skull.

"Owww!" He cried out as the impact of his head against the wood made a loud thud.

"Buck!" Inez immediately set down Elena Rose who was in her bassinette on the floor, along with the bag containing all the incidentals a baby would need for a period of time away from home. "Are you alright?"

She rounded the desk and helped him out from under it. Buck grimaced as he emerged, rubbing the tender spot on the top of his head as he regarded his wife. "Inez, what are you doing here?"

"I need you to look after Elena." Inez explained as she helped Buck into his chair. "What were you doing?"

"I was looking for a pencil." He said hastily as she examined his head for any signs of injury. "Its okay, darling I’m fine." He declared as she started moving her fingers through his hair in search of a wound.

"What for?" She asked pulling away once she was satisfied that he had not injured himself.

"I was filling reports." He said thinking up the first excuse that popped into his mind before he realised that his desk was utterly devoid of any paper and his wife was looking at him as if he had taken that bump to his head just a little too hard.

"Right," Inez shook her head, deciding that this was just one of those weird things she had to put up with upon marrying Buck Wilmington and chose not to ask any further questions on the subject. Leaving him in his chair, she hurried back to Elena Rose and lifted the child’s bassinette from the floor before placing her on the table before Buck. "I know you’re on jailhouse duty today but I don’t have much of a choice. Rain is so worried about how Nathan will do I really don’t want to force the baby on her and with Mary and Alex out of town and Julia almost homicidally angry with Ezra, I don’t think she can cope with baby sitting. I’ve got to get to the bar already and get started on the lunch menu."

Buck saw his little daughter smiling and chortling inside her wicker basket and immediately felt his heart melt. There was no way he could refuse that cherubic face smiling at him through a mess of dark curls and a toothless grin that was nonetheless enchanting. "I think I can spend some time with my little girl." He smiled warmly as he reached into the bassinette and enclosed his large hands around the small life staring at him with his blue eyes. "You want to keep daddy company Rose?" He asked and the baby rewarded with another giggle before he turned back to Inez. "You go on and do whatever you got to, we’ll be fine." He said turning back to his daughter as he held her against his chest. "Won’t we Elena?"

"Thank you Buck," Inez smiled at him and pressed her lips against his in a gentle kiss. "Now I’ve got two bottles prepared for her and clean diapers in her bag, try and get to her to take a nap after you feed her or else she’ll be up all night and so will we." She replied as she headed for the door.

"You don’t worry about a thing now," Buck called out to her as she started out of the building. "Me and Rose here will be just fine."

"I know you will," Inez flashed him one of her killer smiles that Buck could always feel down to his toes. "Oh do you want me to send some lunch up here?"

The thought of Inez’s fine cooking made his stomach lurch in response. "Yeah, do that." He called out and heard her sing out that she would just before the door closed behind her.

Buck let out a sigh after she had gone and fell into his chair once more with a heavy sigh. He placed Elena on his lap and regarded his daughter who had taken one of his digits and was gnawing prodigiously upon with her toothless gums.

"I tell you honey," Buck said to Elena, attracting the child’s attention with the sound as her eyes met his for a moment, still chewing on his finger. "It don’t pay to be a faithful man sometimes."

***********

While most men would consider feeding and burping a baby to be a solely feminine pursuit, Buck had learnt that he was not of that opinion after close observation of how Chris Larabee had approached fatherhood when Adam was born. Although was thrilled that Chris had moved on with his life by marrying again and now was expecting a child to his new family, Buck had to admit that Chris was still a shadow of the man he had been. When Adam had born, Chris was so full of determination to be the perfect father. Buck had no doubt that when the baby was born to him and Mary, he might take the same interest he did before but even Buck knew that he would never see the unbridled enthusiasm that had been when Adam was born.

In those days, Buck could never see what was so wonderful about feeding a child, changing diapers or watching it sleep. He supposed it really did mean something when people said that you never knew until it happened to you. Well it had and Buck had started to understand why Chris took such an interest in Adam’s life from the moment he was born. Buck did not have to ask but he was sure Chris remembered the date that Adam had sprouted his first tooth, when the child had taken his first steps and possibly even his first word. Perhaps that was why Chris had been hit so hard by the loss of the child and his mother. Lord knew that if were Buck, he’d be similarly devastated.

After feeding Elena Rose and burping her, Buck lulled her to sleep and the little girl soon drifted off while still lying against his chest. Buck saw no reason to move her when she was so comfortably nestled there. He reached for newspaper he had picked up earlier and began leafing through it, taking note of Mary Larabee’s writings on the progress of Four Corners and the general goings on around town. Not much was happening as he could personally attest to as it had been a quiet few weeks. The most interesting thing in the whole paper seemed to be Mary’s editorial on the progress of the town. The newspaper had diligently listed the up and coming businesses in town and was pleased to note that the Lucky Seven horse ranch appeared to be one as well. Although the ranch was new, it was still the only place that new horses could be bought locally without potential buyers having to go Sweet Water or Bitter Creek.

Buck was busily leafing through the pages when he glanced briefly out the window and noticed Millie crossing the street. It was obvious by the direction of her gaze that she was about to make her way towards the jailhouse.

"Hell!" He swore and almost sprang up from his seat when he realised that Elena was still on his chest. Picking her up gently but as swiftly as he could, Buck placed his daughter in her bassinette. The sudden removal from her father’s warmth roused the baby from her sleep and she immediately let out plaintive wail at her change of sleeping place.

"Oh come on now darling," Buck pleaded with the child as the cherubic face wrinkled into a heart breaking cry of unhappiness. However, his entreaties fell on uncomprehending ears as she started to howl, inciting Buck to hastily collect all her things and shove them into the bag Inez had provided for the purpose. Buck found himself scrambling for rattles, face cloths and bottles and cursed out loud at how much stuff children, especially infants, needed to travel and suddenly felt guilty about yelling at Inez to hurry up whenever they had to go anywhere with Elena.

In record time, he managed to gather all her things and slip them into her bag just as he saw Millie stepping onto the boardwalk outside the door through the window. Wasting no time, he picked up the bassinette from where Elena was still screaming her discontent and hurried to the back of the jailhouse to the small window that would empty out into the alleyway behind the building. Pushing it open, Buck dropped Elena and her bag onto the ground first before climbing through just as he heard the door open, allowing Millie to breach the walls of his supposedly secure bastion away from her.

Once inside the alleyway, Buck wasted no time in putting as much distance between himself and the jailhouse, making his way through the streets of Four Corners while trying to decide where he ought to go in order to continue his attempts to keep himself from Millie’s clutches. Finally, he decided that he needed a drink and the Standish Tavern was good enough for the moment. Besides, it was well after lunch and he was certain that Inez could handle taking Elena for at least twenty minutes while he took a breather.

Knowing that she would not be impressed if he brought their baby through the front door, Buck opted for the safer choice of the back entrance that led into the kitchen area. As he skimmed the side of the building, he could smell the aftermath of lunchtime cooking filling the air with its aromatic smells. Buck took a deep breath of it and let it fill his lungs, feeling a renewed bout of hunger despite having eaten only a short time ago. Elena had stopped crying and had settled down a bit so she did not give away Buck’s arrival as he walked through the door.

Inez was in the process of cleaning up the kitchen following the end of the lunch menu and was wrestling with dirty pots and pans when Buck walked into the room. "Hey darling." He greeted cheerfully as he entered and lifted the bassinette just high enough for her to see Elena gnawing on her fist. "Look who I brought to see you for a few minutes."

Inez wiped the soapy water from her brow and dried her hands on her apron as she came forward to meet them. "Let me guess," she gave him a look. "You thought to come visit me just after you realised you needed a drink?" She remarked with a knowing smile that indicated that she was not annoyed but wise to his ways.

"Now Inez," Buck retorted with a wounded expression in his voice. "Would I use our little angel for something so underhanded?" He looked at her innocently.

"In a minute." She said, unswayed by his attempt to convince her otherwise as she advanced Elena after Buck had placed her bassinette on top of the counter. "Hello there little Rose." Inez peered over the edge of the wicker and scooped up the little girl with her hands and cradled her closely to her body for a few seconds. Elena seemed happy to see her mother and Inez forgot all about what she and Buck had been discussing as she delighted in a few minutes of pleasure with her baby.

"I won’t be too long." Buck said smiling at the sight of both of them and felt a warm glow as he retreated out of the kitchen and left his wife and daughter to their own devices.

"We’ll be fine." Inez’s voice sang out to him as Buck emerged into the saloon and surveyed the immediate area.

The afternoon crowd had dwindled after lunch and while the scent of food had been quickly replaced with that of cheap whisky and beer, Buck could see some patrons still indulging themselves with their meals. Saloon girls were making the rounds of the floor, paying special attention to a bunch of cattle drovers who were in town after coming out from the trail. Still despite the lively atmosphere of the Standish Tavern, the happenings were pleasant and far from rowdy, thus not requiring the presence of the seven lawmen who were charged to protect the town to keep things from getting out of hand.

Buck searched the room for anyone he knew and saw the table normally occupied by the seven to be vacant except for Josiah who seemed deep in thought. This was hardly unusual for Josiah because the man was always philosophical about things but today, there seemed to a specific point of contention that furrowed his deep brow. Buck strode over to the table, wondering what on earth could make the preacher so reflective and thinking it would be nice if he forgot about his own troubles by perhaps helping Josiah with whatever was bothering him.

"Hey there Josiah," he greeted as he gestured for one of the saloon girls tending bar while Inez was working in the kitchen. "You look kinda bothered." He said pulling himself a chair.

"Hi there Buck," Josiah sidestepped the inquiry easily. "You still running from Millie?"

Buck bristled visibly and frowned. "I ain’t running from Millie, I’m just keeping out of her way so that I don’t got give her any news that might hurt her feelings. You know how fragile some women can be and you know how hard they fall for me. I could devastate by telling her she came back to Four Corners for nothing. I don’t want to be responsible for driving her into ruin."

Josiah rolled his eyes to the Lord and wondered if it was always sunny in that magical land of illusion that Buck Wilmington lived. "Yeah, I can see how that would be a problem." The preacher said neutrally.

"So what’s wrong?" Buck asked after he had served his beer and tipped his hat in gratitude at the saloon girl after giving a little tip.

"There’s nothing wrong." Josiah’s deep voice rumbled.

"Come on Josiah," Buck nudged, not ready to give up yet. Unlike the rest of the seven, Buck found that he could often talk to Josiah about insecurities he admitted to no one but the preacher. Josiah had a good ear and a somewhat non-judgemental when the occasion warranted it and he was capable of giving sound advice. Buck very much wanted to return the favour. "Even a preacher needs a friendly ear and it looks liked you need one even more."

Josiah frowned because Buck was right and while the man could be an utter juvenile at times, Buck Wilmington was surprisingly sensitive to the needs of his friends and was not afraid to say what needed saying. Anyone who could put his nose into Chris Larabee’s business and still have it attached to his face and not any other part of his anatomy was a fool.

"Its Audrey." He admitted reluctantly.

"You and the pretty lady had fight or something?" Buck inquired.

"Nothing like that." Josiah replied, looking more uncertain that he was upset and Buck wondered what could have possibly rattled that tranquil demeanour that seemed to offer everyone spiritual and inner calm when everything about them was going to hell in a hand basket. "She just came up with something very unexpected today and I’m not sure how to deal with it."

Despite himself, Buck was burning with curiosity to know what that might be but nevertheless bit his tongue because Josiah might clam up if he became to insistent and then he would never know. "I take it this is something pretty important that could change your relationship completely." Buck ventured a guess.

"How did you know?" Josiah looked at him.

"It’s usually the way with women." Buck shrugged because for once his vast experience women was being put to use for something other than soliciting the attentions for a little company. "So are you ready for something like that?" He asked, without actually inquiring what that something was.

"I could be." Josiah admitted. "But I don’t know if this is the way it’s meant to be or is it someone’s manipulation that had brought this about."

Now Buck was starting to get confused but he still did not press too hard. "Josiah, it might help if you sort of cleared things up a bit. I mean, who’d have reason to play games like that with you and Audrey anyway?"

"It ain’t a game," Josiah sighed, wishing he could explain all about Lilith’s predilections for spells and magic but held his tongue since it was not the quite of thing you just up and told someone. After all, he was the only one who remembered the strange spell that Lilith had conjured up when she had tried to give them their fondest wish. It had not been done of malice but rather of a desire to help her friends get something they wanted dearly. She was too young to understand that not all dreams were meant to come true and those that did, sometimes were not what one expected. Of course Buck knew nothing of this and Josiah had no wish to tell him. A hundred years ago, Lilith’s hobby could get her burnt at the stake, even more so because she was not a fake but a genuine dabbler in the arcane art. "Its been done to help things along."

"Do things need helping along?" Buck inquired. "Seems to me that you and Audrey were doing just fine pacing yourselves. Hell, I didn’t even get a chance to court Inez and I would dearly have loved to have done that before being saddled with a wife and kid. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my family but I think me and Inez missed out on something."

"You’re right," Josiah agreed but he was not as young as the others were and he was at a stage of life where moving slowly had its disadvantages. Unfortunately, with Lilith’s interference, Josiah had no idea what he was going to do. "Perhaps it ain’t such a bad idea to pull back a bit."

Buck was glad that he was able to offer Josiah something of a solution and made let his gaze sweep nonchalantly over the room when he noticed that there was a lot more people in the saloon then there was ten minutes ago. It seemed as if there was a fresh influx of patrons entering the place and taking seats in anticipation of something happening.

"Hey Josiah," Buck remarked. "Is it me or did it suddenly get crowded in here?" The big man asked the preacher who blinked and let his own eyes survey the room to see what Buck was talking about.

"I think the town’s heard about Ezra’s card game." Josiah volunteered.

"They came here just to see Ezra playing ‘go fish’ with an eight year old?" Buck declared incredulously and took stock of the new faces to see that most of them were glancing at the door or in the direction of the felt covered table he and Josiah were occupying which was known to all as the table of choice for the gambler.

"If you’ve been beaten as many times as they had been by Ezra, wouldn’t you want to be here to witness such an embarrassing event for Mr Standish?" Josiah pointed out.

"Which embarrassment would that be?" Buck looked at him with devilish grin. "The fact that he’s playing go fish with an eight year old or the possibility that he might lose?"

Both men descended into hearty laughter at the absurdity of the situation. It seemed all the more amusing because it was centred around the polished gambler who liked everyone to believe that he was in perfect control of a deck of a cards as well as the emotions he hid behind that facade he wore like a cloak over himself.

"So what are you gonna do about Millie?" Josiah asked once they had stopped laughing.

"I guess I got to come clean with her," Buck sighed, aware that he could not continue this running indefinitely. Sooner or later he was going to have to face her but he did not want to hurt the young woman and more importantly, he did not want Inez knowing about it either. Even though he had done nothing to be guilty about, Buck could not help feeling a little fearful of Inez finding out about another one of his girlfriends. It was not as if she had seen him parade through this place with a bevy of women since her arrival in town. Millie had left Four Corners before Inez had made her arrival in town and Buck did not want her to be introduced to another one of his former paramours. "I just don’t want to hurt her." Buck confessed.

"That’s admirable Buck," Josiah praised and honestly meant it. "But sometimes you got hurt someone to be kind. She ain’t gonna be no happier knowing that you’re hiding from her. Weren’t you the one who told me you always prided on being straight with your gals? If I recall correctly, I remember you saying something about always letting them know what to expect and not treating them like fools."

Buck scowled wishing Josiah had not remembered that golden piece of information because Buck did feel that way still even though he was married. A lady had right to know where she stood with a man when it was al said and done and certainly Millie deserved that same consideration.

Sometimes, Buck had too much damn advice for his own good.

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

"Buck!" Inez exclaimed as she saw her husband practically running into the kitchen a short time later. She glanced past the door as he scooted in past her and looked outside to see Ezra nestling himself at their usual table for his infamous game of cards with Billy Travis and wondered why Buck had come scurrying like he did. Inez was looking at him suspiciously now after he had made his unceremonious return to her kitchen, skulking in as if he was trying to escape something on the saloon floor. "What’s the matter with you. You’re as nervous as hell!"

"Me?" He stared back at her as if unable to imagine what she could be talking about and pretended to feign ignorance as he straightened up to show that he was as normal as could be. "What gave you that idea?" He asked taking a step towards her.

"You did." She met his eyes sceptically, her hands on her hips in a clear indication that she did not believe him. "I have known you long to know when you are spinning me a story Buck and right now, you’re like a spider with a web. What’s happening?" She demanded.

"I’m telling you darling," Buck tried a different tact, exuding charm instead in an effort to sway her belief that anything could be wrong.. "There ain’t nothing to tell." He placed his hand on her shoulders and drew her to him in a gentle kiss. Buck delivered to her the most searing kiss he could produce in order to drive all thoughts of his odd behaviour from her mind. When he parted from her, Buck offered her a smile. "I promise you darling, I ain’t getting up to no trouble or am I in any."

Inez blinked, savouring the kiss but not quite prepared to dispel the notion that there was something wrong either. However, it did not look as if an explanation was forthcoming and she had too much to do in the saloon without having to unravel the idiosyncrasies of her husband’s psyche. Besides knowing how this things usually turned out, she had the idea that eventually whatever he was involved in would blow up in his face and she would hear about it any way.

"Fine," she threw her hands up in a gesture that indicated she was washing her hands of the subject. "Whatever. Look just take Elena out of here for awhile." She ordered. "I have to go tend to the bar for the next hour or two until Rain get here."

"No problem," he said with a broad grin, determined to give her no room for suspicion as he picked up the bassinette where Elena was sleeping soundly. How she managed to do that with the rumble of noise emanating from the floor of the saloon was beyond him and Buck attributed the talent to one of those skills familiar only to babies. "I’ll take her to the jailhouse again. It’s nice and peaceful in there."

"As long as you don’t get into any trouble." She warned.

"Would I do that?" He said innocently.

Inez did not even bother to dignify that remark with an answer and chose to move on to another subject instead. "I finish here in two hours so be back then. I want to get home to start cooking supper." She reminded him as he backed away towards the door.

"I’ll be here to get you." He replied and hurried out of the place before she had any further questions for him.

**********

Once he was out of the saloon, Buck allowed himself a sigh of relief at having eluded Millie yet again. He knew this was ridiculous. He could not keep this up indefinitely and yet he had reached the point where he was willing to face Millie and tell her the truth. Buck wondered if it was safe enough to go back to the jailhouse in order for him to lay low for a couple of hours. Buck just wanted to get through the rest of the day without running into Millie so he could get home tonight and figure out what he ought to do about her tomorrow. While the idea to remain hidden was tempting indeed, Buck knew that Inez was no fool and eventually, she would learn about Millie’s solicitations towards him. His wife was suspicious enough about his ability to remain faithful without his adding fuel to the fire by doing anything stupid.

Buck had presumed that Millie was in the saloon. Since Ezra had indicated to him as much earlier and had precipitated his premature flight from the Standish Tavern, missing out on the gambler’s infamous card game with Billy Travis. Thus, Buck did not even notice the petite figure advancing towards him as he made his return to the jailhouse until she was right on top of him.

"Buck!" She gushed.

"Millie." He swallowed hard and looked up, almost stricken with fear at being caught, especially with him carrying a bag full of Elena’s things not to mention Elena herself, who was nestled in the folds of swaddling inside the bassinette he was carrying. "Why hello there." He tried to say as if her sudden appearance was a pleasure instead of bolting like his initial instincts upon sighting her was instructing.

"Buck Wilmington, what are you doing with that baby?" She asked before descending into typical feminine delight at seeing anything small that drooled. "Oh isn’t she beautiful?" Millie asked, all in the same sentence.

"She sure is." Buck had to agree with her and wondered if this was not the best opening to let her in on the truth and then decided against it. "Her name’s Elena Rose." He could not help boasting."

"Who is she Buck?" Millie raised her blue eyes to him.

"Well…I’m babysitting." Buck said quickly before he adequately think up a better response. "That’s it, I’m baby sitting for Inez who works at the saloon."

"Isn’t that sweet of you." She touched his cheek and wrinkled her brow in confusion when he took three steps back like a man scalded and looked positively terrified of her. "Buck is something wrong?"

"No!" He exclaimed. "Nothing at all Millie," he laughed off the suggestion. "I’m just real anxious to get her indoors, her mother’s mighty annoyed if she’s late for her nap."

"Just who is this Inez?" Millie asked suspiciously, her pink lips curling into a pout. "Is she another one of your girlfriends."

"No, of course not!" Buck retorted. Well technically it was not a lie. Inez was not and had never been his girlfriend and Millie had never asked him specifically whether or not Inez was his wife so by non-disclosure he was not lying. "Inez is a friend of mine and she’s working at the saloon today and her regular sitter is away so I’d look after her baby for her."

What are you doing? Buck asked himself as the words tumbled from his lips, sinking him deeper and deeper into the mire of his own making. He had the perfect opportunity to tell the truth and instead he had lied and was continuing to lie.

"You’re such a sweetie, ain’t you darling." She beamed and touched Elena’s nose lightly. The little girl’s eyes batted open and she stared at the new face in question before looking up at her father and offering a little smile, since he was someone she recognised.

"Oh Buck, can I hold her?" Millie inquired. "Do you think your friend Inez will mind?"

Buck did not know what to say but decided it could not hurt so he merely nodded mutely in response. Once given leave to do so, Millie immediately scooped Elena out of her bassinette and cradled the baby in her arms. Elena not liking the unfamiliarity of the face before her started to squirm and wanted to be free of the stranger.

"She’s just a little shy." Millie started making cute faces at her which Buck knew was just going to annoy his little girl rather than pacify her. He started shifting slightly in his stance as he saw Elena starting to make those baby grumbles that indicated that she was not happy and about two steps away from howling. Elena glanced at Buck with those familiar eyes and seemed to implore her father to rescue her from the clutches of this stranger whom she did not like.

The sight of that tiny face begging him to take her with him was more than he could stand and before he knew what he was doing, he was stepping towards Millie. "Let me take her for a minute Millie," he said almost wrestling his daughter away from his old flame. "She’s a little testy around new people." He tried to explain as held Elena Rose in his arms the way he knew from experience she liked being held and immediately quelled any further murmurs of disquiet from her.

Millie was singularly impressed, not at all seeming offended mostly because she had a throng of relatives that included babies to know just how temperamental newborns could be if they did not feel comfortable. She saw Buck holding the child and felt her chest fill with warmth, pleasantly surprised with how good he was with children. One would not think it to look at him but Millie was always sure that Buck would be an excellent family man when he chose to settle down. "You’ll make a terrific father Buck."

Buck shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "So many women say that." He laughed nervously, wondering how he could make a quick getaway.

"You know," Millie noticed looking at Buck and the little baby. "She sort of looks like you."

"Really?" Buck swallowed thickly. "Imagine that?"

"Yes" Millie not considering it any further than just surface observation. "Especially in the eyes and I think she’s got your hair colour too."

"Well," he quickly thought of an explanation. "I did spend a lot of time in the saloon when her mother was carrying, you know they say that being close to a mother before her time can effect a baby."

Millie had not actually heard of the term but then Buck was not to bright and he did occasionally have some crazy notion about things. "Oh Buck," she chuckled as he made his excuses. "One would think that you had a family to hide or something. I mean I believe you and I think it’s awful nice of you to offer to help your friends with this little darling of a baby."

"Thank you." Buck responded. "I’ve got to take little Rose here to her sitter so if you don’t mind, I gotta be going." He said placing Elena back into her bassinette and gathering his belonging to make his escape once again, hoping that their next encounter would be any time soon.

"I understand." She said coming towards him and planting a kiss on his lips before he had a chance to shirk away from him. Her lips were as soft and enticing as he remembered and Buck found himself counting tables like he had not done since he was a little fella in school just so that he would not become lost in that kiss. "I know you got to protect the town and all, not to mention baby sit for this little angel."

"Yeah, you know me," he replied. "Busy as all hell."

"You should not talk like that in front of the baby," she said with a hint of disapproval.

"She’s too young to understand me." Buck cast his daughter a look and knew that Inez would say something similar if she were here. Of course, if Inez was here, he might as well kiss his ass goodbye if it were known what Millie’s intentions to him were all about. "I best be going." He said starting to withdraw.

"Well I’m gonna be in town all day so I’m sure I’ll run into you after you’re done babysitting." She threw him an enchanting smile that could melt a man’s resolve if he did not already have a spectacularly beautiful wife not to mention the loveliest child in creation staring up at him from her bassinette.

"I’m sure you will." Buck waved quickly before turning on his heels and hurrying away. He had not put very much distance between himself and Millie when he looked into the wicker basket and saw Elena staring at him with a frown on her face that could either mean two things; gas or the semblance of understanding that was beyond her ears.

"Now don’t look at me like that," Buck grumbled as he saw her bow shape mouth curved into the slightest hint of a pout. "I didn’t say you weren’t my little girl. I just didn’t admit to it."

Elena’s frown deepened.

"Come on Rose," Buck said dismayed by the disapproval on her little face. "You know that you and your mother are the most important things in my life, it’s just that things with Millie is real complicated. When you’re old enough and you’re chasing after a man of your own......" Buck’s thoughts faded away with that picture in his mind before he was forced to remark. "Nevermind that, when you’re old enough, there ain’t no way in heaven or earth am I’m letting you anywhere near someone like me."

***********

Ezra Standish was very pleased with himself.

All in all, his day had not been quite the disaster he thought it would be when he had first been challenged by Billy Travis to play a game of ‘go fish’ for the hand of Julia Pemberton. Now that it was all said in done, Ezra felt that he had emerged the winner even though he had lost the game. Billy really did deserve to give Julia his prize and the lady had been so pleased at Ezra’s gracious cry of surrender that she had promised him all sorts of delight during their appointment this evening. In the meantime, he had a gift to return because he still intended to turn up at Julia’s home tonight bearing a birthday present of some kind. Even though Julia had indicated that his present to her this evening would most likely be in an exchange of service, Lord he loved how that woman phrased things, a gentlemen did not turn up at a lady’s door empty handed.

He was on his way to the Emporium to return the supposedly one of a kind pendant he had bought Julia with every intention of bringing it up with the sales clerk through which he made his purchase, when suddenly he saw Buck Wilmington skulking through the back streets,. The man was trying to make his way to the jailhouse without emerging into the main street while carrying his daughter in her bassinette.

The humour of the situation was not lost on the gambler.

Stifling the smile that threatened to steal across his features, Ezra stealthily fell into pursuit behind Buck and soon caught up with the man when he was a two or three alleyway from the jailhouse.

Ezra snuck up right behind Buck and exclaimed loudly. "Oh Buck!" He said in a singsong voice full of feminine overtones.

"Hell!" Buck nearly jumped two feet off the ground as he swung around and faced Ezra, fully expecting to see Millie instead of the well-dressed gambler. "What are you doing sneaking up on me like that!" Buck hissed at Ezra upon discovering that it was not Millie behind him. "You could get shot you know."

"Please Sir," Ezra pretended to drop to his knees and beg. "Have mercy on me. Don’t hurt me with your dangerous baby."

Buck could have shot him then.

"What do you want Ezra?" He growled as he started walking again.

"Hello there Miss Rose," Ezra tipped his hat at the little girl and noticed she had a wide, toothless smile for him when she saw his face. "Do you mind if I rescue her from that contraption since you have her swinging in like a sack of potatoes?" Ezra asked.

Buck paused and nodded. "Sure go ahead." He replied.

Ezra picked up the little girl and was rewarded with a giggle as he held her in his arms. For a hardened gambler, Ezra did not mind admitting he had a soft spot for children even though the ones who tried to steal the affections of his ladylove could some times erode even his sentimental core. Besides, he had this feeling that Elena Rose liked him because she never cried like she did when other people picked her up nor did she throw up as often she did (as Vin could personally attest) when he carried her.

"Now Miss Rose," Ezra asked as he held her in his arm. "Is your daddy still attempting to escape the clutches of the lovely Miss Millie?"

"I ain’t trying to escape." Buck protested and did not like the way his daughter responded to Ezra so readily. He liked it even less that the little girl was as affectionate towards the gambler as she was to her own father and that planted a suspicion in his head that Ezra would bear watching, especially when his Rose turned sixteen. "I’m just laying low and trying not to hurt her feelings."

"I see." Ezra replied sceptically, his attention still focussed on Elena who was touching his lips and pulling at it. "Am I to assume you have been dragging this little flower all over the country side in your attempts to ‘not hurt her feelings’ as it were?"

"I have not been dragging Elena anywhere." Buck said offended that Ezra could even suggest such a thing. "I’ve been babysitting." He retorted, full of dignity.

"Mr Wilmington," Ezra said a moment later after he replaced Elena in her bassinette once more. "Do you not think it might be simpler if you simply told Miss Millie the truth? That you are now a married person and that she did after all disappear from your life two years ago without any indication that she would be back. You were under no obligation to wait for her."

"I know that." Buck retorted, wishing everyone would stop reminding him of that fact. The truth was, he still felt much for Millie and he did not want to crush her hopes especially since she had harboured them for quite some time. "I’m working my way up to it. In the meantime, I’m going to stay in the jailhouse for the rest of the day so that she won’t find me."

"Oh please." Ezra rolled his eyes in disbelief. "Other than the saloon, that would be the second place she would look to find you."

"Well unfortunately, I’ve got to take Inez home in an hour or two so I can’t very well skedaddle it out of town can I?"

Ezra thought quickly and discovered that he had something of a solution to Buck’s problem even though he hated the idea and almost dismissed it as being unworkable. However, when he stared into that cherubic face in her bassinette appealing to him for help instead of being carted around town, caught helpless in her father’s attempts to escape his paramour, Ezra found his insides melting in capitulation. Never one to abandon a lady in a time of need, Ezra felt the words escaping his lips before he had even time to give it any deep thought.

"Here." Ezra reached into the folds of his coat and produced a set of keys.

Buck regarded the keys and remarked with a little bit of a wicked smile. "I’m sorry Ezra, I’ve told you before, I ain’t that easy."

Ezra gave him and look. "Even if I were inclined that way Mr Wilmington, I have better taste. I am offering you the use of my lodgings as a temporary sanctuary from Miss Millie. Perhaps the offer will incite you to take your daughter out of this heat since my room would be the last place anyone would go in search of you."

"That’s for sure." Buck said, not proud enough to refuse such a perfect solution. "Thanks Ez." He grinned at the gambler before adding with a little wink. "I’ll be waiting for you with only my wicked, wicked thoughts to keep me company."

"Just leave the keys at the bar when you and Miss Inez go home for the day and never, ever say that again." Ezra retorted shaking his head as he parted company from father and daughter, hoping that Buck’s genes were no hereditary or Elena Rose was going to be very disadvantaged in life.

***********

After being unable to find Buck Wilmington anywhere, Millie decided to brave entering the Standish Tavern once again in order to find her former love. Although she had not minded entering the establishment earlier in the day, she was somewhat cautious about frequenting such a place at this time of the evening when the saloon would be full of drinkers and the rowdy types that frequented such a place. She wondered how she would wean Buck of such establishments when they were finally married. Although she had to admit, she had never known Buck to be as elusive as he had been during the last few hours. Every time she ran into him, he seemed to have somewhere to go and had to confess that she did not like how he spent so much time with babies that did not belong to him and not to mention the whole question of his friends. They did not seem at all like men who should be associated with good Christian folk.

Of course there was a time when Buck could hardly be considered as such himself but Millie decided that all he needed was a good woman to set him straight and that woman ought to be her.

Entering the saloon, she tried not to be too conspicuous as she moved through the space of saloon girls and drunken revellers, gambling and indulging in all kinds of sinful vices. It was no wonder papa was so affronted by the idea that she might love Buck. However, Millie could not help how she felt about him. As she made her way to the bar, she wondered what kind of woman this Inez was to be working in a place like this when she had a little baby to care for. While the reputation of the mother was in question, Millie could not deny that the little girl seemed very well looked after. She supposed the baby would be that way with good friends like Buck helping this Inez out.

She reached the counter and immediately saw a very beautiful, dark haired Mexican tending bar. The lady cast her glance at Millie’s direction before her brow furrowed in interest. Serving the customer before her a drink, she put down the glass and quickly came towards Millie.

"Can I help you?" She asked Millie.

"I’m looking for someone." Millie asked, trying to be heard over the sound of some loud drinkers in the background.

"I know most people around here," the lady said politely, able to see that Millie was very uncomfortable in the place and wanted out as soon as possible. "Maybe I can help you? Who are you looking for?"

"Buck Wilmington." Millie answered. "I understand he was babysitting for one of the saloon girls here."

The woman said nothing for a moment but her eyes narrowed. "Babysitting." She said coolly. "How do you know Buck, may I ask?" The lady inquired.

"Well I don’t see how its any of your....

"I’m his wife." Inez Rosillos Wilmington said shortly.

Millie’s eyes widened. "His wife. Buck’s married?" She felt her heart sinking with dismay as she looked into this fabulously beautiful woman with the wild dark hair and sexuality oozing from every pore of her Latin frame. Suddenly, Millie was unsurprised that Buck would chose someone who looked like Inez. "How...when...?"

Suddenly Inez realised that the pain she saw in this young woman’s eyes was real and the anger she felt at the girl’s question began to diminish a little in the face of the shock. What on earth had Buck been up to? Despite her rising anger at her husband, Inez reminded herself to be calm and not jump to conclusions. Buck had been faithful to her ever since he had learnt about the baby and unless he was conducting the best performance of his life, Inez did not think he was being unfaithful now. However, the situation did warrant an explanation. Looking around, she gestured to one of the saloon girls to take her place behind the counter while Inez invited Millie into the kitchen for a private talk.

Once away from the crowd and Inez had settled the girl down in front of the kitchen table while preparing them both a cup of tea, she regarded Millie once more. "We’ve been married for almost five months. We have a daughter." Elena confessed.

"Why didn’t he tell me?" Millie said sadly. "It explains why he’s been avoiding me all day and why he almost jumped out his skin when I saw him with your baby."

Inez would like to know herself and as Millie explained it to her, Inez began to understand something of what had been happening and the fact that she had married a complete idiot. After a moment of reflection, Inez found it in herself to explain. "Millie, Buck Wilmington is the sweetest man you’d ever meet but you know that already."

Millie nodded.

"Unfortunately," Inez frowned. "Bright is not a word usually associated with him and trust me, we are going to make him pay for this but I think he did not want to hurt you by telling you the truth. Buck hates to see any woman hurt even though sometimes it is necessary."

"I would have understood," Millie replied after a moment, feeling immensely grateful at Inez that she had not taken Millie’s feelings the wrong way. Some women could be extremely territorial about their husbands, especially to old girlfriends. However, Inez was behaving with surprising tenderness and Millie could understand why Buck love her so. "I know it was too much to expect him to wait for almost years for me."

"Are you all right?" Inez asked gently.

"Yes I am," Millie said with a sad smile. "I’m hurting but its nothing I won’t get over and you have been so kind." She felt genuine gratitude towards Mrs Wilmington. "You also have an absolutely darling daughter."

"Gracias," the bartender said gratefully. "I just hopes she inherits her brains from my side of the family."

**********

Buck Wilmington returned to the saloon at the appointed hour to retrieve his wife in order to make the journey back to their home with a proud smile on his face. Elena was fast asleep in her bassinette and Buck had spent two restful hours in Ezra’s room, safely hidden from the clutches of Miss Millie. After the day he had today, Buck was really looking forward to going home with his wife and daughter and not have to worry about the young woman for the next week since he did not intend on surfacing in town until then. He was certain that a week was more than enough for Millie to have learnt from someone in town that he was otherwise unavailable, thus sparing him the nightmare of telling her himself that he was now a married man with a wife and child.

Coward.

His inner voice had been calling him that on numerous occasions today but Buck did not care. If being a coward meant he did not have face the ordeal of breaking Millie’s heart then slap some paint on his back and call him yella because that was how it was going to be. Better that than to see her crying because all that would do was weaken Buck’s resolve to stay away and who knew what could happen if he succumbed. He loved his wife and daughter too much to risk endangering their happy home by letting his attentions stray. Buck had made no idle promise when he had taken his wedding vows and no matter how tempting it might seem, he was not going to break them. Besides, he loved Inez too much and knew with complete conviction that if he were caught tom catting around on her, she would kill him.

His little Rose was enjoying her slumber quite peacefully and he felt somewhat guilty at the day he had put the child through. Unfortunately at five months of age, there was very little he could do to make it up to her since she had no teeth to speak of and preferred mashed carrots to candy or liquorice. Dresses meant nothing to her because she mostly threw up on them and for some reason, Elena did not like stuff toys. He remembered coming home with a stuffed bear and hearing her howl for hours until it was finally removed from her sight.

Such thoughts occupied Buck’s mind as he took the back entrance into the saloon. Even as he had been approaching the establishment, he could hear that it was a lively night in the Standish Tavern with music being played on the clunky old piano that was in severe need of tuning. Buck missed the action and the excitement that was no doubt taking place inside the saloon but was glad to know that he could indulge himself in it if he wished. Inez was not a strict taskmaster as some wives could be and she did not complain when he chose to indulge himself with libations in the company of his friends.

Elena did not stir at the noise, which was a firm indication of how tired she was when Buck finally entered the kitchen where Inez would no doubt be after taking care of the dinner preparations. It was her habit to do the cooking and leave it to Rain to serve to the clientele for the rest of the night. As always, the smells of her cuisine seem to eclipse the stench of smoke and liquor that reeked from the front floor of the saloon.

He had no sooner stepped inside when he stopped short in his tracks.

Millie was sitting at the table with Inez and both women were laughing out loud over a pot of tea. For a minute Buck thought that the reason for their amusement might be because they were both planning his horrible, horrible death when they noticed his presence and cast their gaze on him.

"Well hello darling." Inez said sweetly. "Look who I ran into?" She regarded Millie.

"Hello Buck." Millie said just as innocently. She had more than recovered her shock at his marriage but now was the time for a little bit of fun. At his expense of course.

"Millie...what.....what ...what are you doing here?" He stammered.

"I came looking for you and your wife was kind enough to offer me a cup of tea." The woman said with a look in her eyes that were perfectly predatory.

"Oh and we had a long talk." Inez added. "Didn’t we, Millie?"

"A long talk?" Buck swallowed thickly. "About what?"

Both women exchanged a look of pure evil before meeting his gaze once more. "About things." They said in unison. "In fact, Millie is going to come have supper with us tonight and we’re going to talk some more."

"Suffice to say Buck," Millie offered Inez a conspiratory wink. "I’m sure Inez and I will find a lot of things in common."

Oh Hell.

Buck looked at his wife and his former girlfriend and had this awful feeling that his night was just beginning.

TO BE CONTINUED...