1CHAPTER 1

The early morning rays peaked over the vast horizon giving a small glimpse of the bright light that was sure to follow. The open valley seemed so calm and peaceful at daybreak that Buck couldn't help but get caught up in the beauty of the area surrounding him. Below him to the front sat the house he and his family spent months building. The same house he spent over a year sharing with them and it was that house that finally made him feel at peace. He had felt he at last belonged somewhere and the hard times had passed on.

Behind him, on the opposite side of the small peak, lay a second house, the small building he know called home. When she had finally returned from Boston meeting him in Sweetwater it was his wedding gift to her and the last 2 years where her gift to him. They were married right there on the spot he was currently admiring his surroundings from and she had recently given him a lovely daughter with his dark brown hair and her awe-inspiring green eyes and she was now expecting their second child. His daughter was the greatest gift anyone could ever give and at five months old she was their little armful of joy and he couldn't wait to look into the eyes of another little girl or even little boy.

Buck met eyes with his entrancing wife as she not so gracefully scurried up the hill to meet him. She was clad in a simple flowing brown skirt and tan shirt, her hair pulled back in a long sandy braid. At first the shadows had cast across her face, but as she made the final steps up the hill those beautiful rays illuminated not only her sparkling eyes, but the matching eyes of his daughter. He reached out to help her up and she gladly accepted his hand still balancing the young one on her right hip. Motherhood had given her a glow that he would never have imagined the beautiful former gunfighter would ever have.

A sudden jolt from his horse behind him set in the reality of his parting ways with her and why they were atop this hill.

"I wish I didn't have to go" he confessed to her.

"You have been on longer rides than this and I've survived just fine."

"But I haven't been away since Sally came, it just doesn't feel right leaving."

She placed her hand upon his cheek and gleamed into his saddened eyes.

"This is what you have to do and I know that. I can't tell you not to worry,

you will anyway," she smiled to him.

He couldn't help but stare into those piercing eyes. It was times like these where he wondered how they could have ever been separated for the 3 years after Noah's death when she had left Rock Creek and returned to Boston. Since Sally came he couldn't picture spending one day apart from either of them, but she was right. For the good of the ranch they had to pick up two new mustangs. A two day ride didn't sound like much, but the thought of the distance that was going to be put between him and his family always made him cringe.

The realization only solidified as his business partner approached on horseback heading up from the homestead Buck first called home a few years ago

Dani dropped her hand from Buck's cheek and used it to wave in the direction of the approaching rider.

"Morning, Kid," Dani shouted out.

As he brought his mount to a halt he also threw in his greeting.

"Morning, Dani. Lou wanted me to tell you that she'll be over after breakfast

to head into town."

"That's perfect. I have some laundry I need to attend to and hopefully Sally

will take a short nap before then."

Kid turned to his partner.

"You ready, Buck?" Kid tapped him on his shoulder.

Buck looked over at him, but it didn't seem as if he intended to answer the question.

"Don't mind him, Kid. Cat's got his tongue. You take good care of

him while you're gone. Don't let him sulk the whole time," his wife spoke

for him.

Buck shook his head at both of them as all three let out a chuckle.

"I won't," Kid assured her giving Buck one final slap on the shoulder

as he once again mounted up.

Buck continued to stare into the sparkling eyes of the two ladies in front of him. He reached down to Sally first letting her grab his finger, matching her smile with his and placing a small kiss on her forehead. He then placed his hand on his wife's still flattened tummy. He paused for a second knowing the next set of eyes would not be as easy to move on from. He raised his brow to meet Dani's gaze, she too smiling at his tensing expression.

"Enjoy the time away. We'll be here when you get back," she again

attempted to reassure him.

He finally pushed out the only thing he could say at this moment.

"I love you," he stated plainly.

"I love you, too," her smile only getting bigger as the words escaped

her lips.

He leaned in, catching her lips as she embraced him. He removed his palm from her stomach and returned the embrace wrapping his arm around her and his daughter and holding on as tight as he could. Nothing was going to ruin this moment. It had to last him the two day trip.

"Come on you two. We have to get going," Kid finally interjected.

Buck and Dani separated as Buck pushed himself toward his mount. He knew that if he didn't get up there at that moment he might not have been able to force himself to finally leave. He quickly turned his horse in the direction of their destination and slowly trotted away too afraid to look back. Kid and Dani smiled at each other as Kid turned his mount in the same direction and trotted off to catch Buck.

Dani simply shook her head, then turned her attention to her daughter who was now resting her head in the crook of her mother's neck and slowly closing her eyes.

"Well, young lady. It looks like I will get that nap out of you after all."

She turned her attention to the simple two bedroom home that lay just down the hill and began making the trek back to it. She had a pile of laundry calling her name.

Bill "Long Tooth" Johnson and Martin Shipner cautiously starred out over the distant cliff. They glared as the half-breed wrapped his arms around the homely woman down below, neither holding back the look of disgust as they watched the scene unfold. An Indian being intimate with any woman was wrong, but with this particular woman - it just pushed their ill will even further along.

The Indian finally mounted up and road off, his friend taking off with him. She was all alone now with no one to protect her, exactly as they had planned.

"Are you sure that's Jane Marks?" Martin questioned.

"Sure as day, besides - the drunkard said she had married a half breed and they were

living in Sweetwater. How many white women in Sweetwater have married

an Injun? It's her," Long Tooth confirmed.

"What if they come back?" Martin's question filled with concern.

"Folks in town said they had been planning this ride for weeks. Said

they were gonna be gone for a few days. We shouldn't have any problems."

Martin, still unsure, but much too frightened of his larger co-hort continued to peer down watching the blonde woman head toward the homestead so plainly in view. He wasn't too happy that a baby was going to be involved, but there was no way he was going against Long Tooth. He had watched other men lose their lives for crossing him. Whatever he wanted is what was going to happen.

"Let's go," Long Tooth ordered. "By the time we get down there they'll be

long gone."

Martin nodded and retreated from his prone position, wiping off the dirt from his knees and approaching his stead.

"Jane Marks is gonna pay," Long Tooth nodded to him as they turned

their horse in the intended direction.