"Read it!" He insisted.
Buck took the paper from the parson and began reading it and his eyes got big as saucers, and then he let out a yell and laughed so hard the parson thought something was wrong.
"You mean you aren't mad about it, Buck?"
"Mad? Are you crazy? This makes me the happiest man alive."
"But I guess I forgot to…"
"I know. You certainly did. And I'm more than a little happy you did. If you were a girl, I'd kiss you, parson." Buck laughed.
"What are you gonna do now?"
"Well, I’m gonna take it to her myself, that's what I'm going to do. She probably won't believe it." Buck laughed again. "And if all goes well, we won't have to do a thing about it."
"So you're in love with the girl, are you?"
"I guess I am" Buck smiled from ear to ear. "I guess I have been since the day I set eyes on her, parson. It's like she lit up my world for me."
"I remember now. She was a pretty little thing, with long dark red hair and soul searching brown eyes. And that's why we gave you that room together…Now I remember. I could see from the looks in your eyes that you were meant to be together. I just couldn't picture her with Hershel, not that there is a thing wrong with Hershel, but not with her."
"I wondered about that. And about how you told me good luck. But I never figured on this."
The parson smiled slowly. "Maybe I'm better at reading people than anything else, Buck."
Buck glanced at him once more. "Maybe you are."
"What about her? What do you think she'll have to say about it?"
"I can only hope." Buck smiled again.
"I said it once, I'll say it again, good luck." The parson smiled back now.
"Thank you, thank you very much…" Buck said and gathered his gear.
"You leaving now?"
"Yep, it's time. I'm going to take this personally to her." Buck said.
The parson nodded. "Good idea. And good luck, son."
~*~
Rachel's stage pulled into Cripple Creek early afternoon. Rachel tried every boarding house in town, they were full. Not knowing anywhere else to go, she went inside the saloon once more to find Lilly.
Lilly spotted her the minute she walked in, as did several cowboys that were more than a little interested.
"Well, now sugar, what can we do for you today?" One young cowboy asked as he grabbed her around the waist and hauled her against him.
"You can take your hands off her, cowboy. She doesn't work here." Lilly said calmly standing only a few feet away.
The cowboy whirled around to see Lilly and loosened his hold of Rachel.
"Sorry Lilly…"
"Have a beer on me, Tom." Lilly smiled and took Rachel by the hand.
She led her down the hall and pulled her into one of the bedrooms. "Now what on earth are you doing back here?"
Rachel was still reeling from all the attention. "I-I came back. I like it here, Lilly. So I came back…"
"Why on earth would you do such a thing?"
Rachel hung her head. "I love the mountain….what can I say."
"No…I think you love the cowboy on the mountain, I'd say. And I'm not talking about Hershel. No woman comes back to a place like this for a mountain." Lilly narrowed her gaze. "You're in love with Buck aren't you?"
"Can everyone see it, but him?" She asked, embarrassed that she was so transparent with her feelings.
"Probably, yes." Lilly put her hands on her hips and turned away for a moment. When she whirled around to look at her, she shook her head. "But honey, you got some troubles now."
"I do…what?" Rachel looked anxious. "Has something happened to him?"
Lilly's brows raised another inch and she shook her head. "I guess something has. He was here not long ago, a few days at most. He said he was taking a girl up the mountain to the preacher. I think he meant…to marry her."
Rachel's eyes widened. "Oh!" And the light of hope went out of her brown expressive eyes.
Lilly saw the hurt on Rachel's face. "Look honey, I might be wrong about this. But he did say he was taking her to the preacher on the mountain."
"I see…well…I guess that settles that, doesn't it." Rachel tried to control her appearance. She'd die if she cried.
"I don't know. Buck isn't fickle, Rachel. Maybe I'm mistaken."
"Well…" Rachel swallowed hard. "I'm grateful for you telling me this. Before I made a complete fool of myself."
"Honey, women have been making fools of themselves ever since time began. You certainly aren't the first."
A tear fell onto her cheek and Rachel tried to dash it away before Lilly saw it. "I guess I was too presumptuous."
Lilly eyed her. "I don't know about that. Tell me, how did Buck treat you?"
"Treat me?"
"Yeah, did he use his manners, did he kiss you?"
"Yes…to both…" Rachel turned away.
"Wow…that's something. No wonder he turned your head. So what are you going to do now?"
Rachel stiffened a bit then slumped her shoulders and looked Lilly in the eyes. "I'm staying until I get my marriage certificate, and then I'll leave for good."
"You still don't have the paper?"
"No…Buck was supposed to send it to me," Rachel explained.
"Where you staying?" Lilly asked.
"I don't know. I've checked the boarding houses and all of them are full up. Maybe I should just go home and forget this ever happened." Rachel shook her head in desperation.
Rachel started for the door, but Lilly stopped her.
"Wait…you gotta hang around until you get that paper. Why don't you stay here, I can put you up."
"Oh no, I've inconvenienced you enough." Rachel paled.
"No, you haven't at all. But…I could use a cook. Tootie left, got married to some prospector. Would you be willing to work here in the back for me? You could eat all you want and have a room."
"You mean it?" Rachel asked surprised by her offer.
"Sure I do."
"Then I'll do it. Only…promise me something."
"What that?"
"If Buck comes here, I don't want him to know I'm here. Just take any message he might leave. As soon as I get the paper, I'll be leaving for home, and this time for good." Rachel insisted.
"You're not even going to let him explain?" Lilly narrowed her gaze once more.
"There's nothing to explain. He owes me nothing. It's the other way around actually. But…I don't want to see him again."
"Afraid you might end up admitting your feelings?"
"Maybe…"
"I won't tell him you work here," Lilly promised.
"Good. So…when do I get started."
"In the morning, right now, I'd say you need a good rest." Lilly smiled at last.
"Thanks, Lilly…for everything. I owe you so much."
"We girls have to stick together, now don't we?" Lilly smiled. "I still think you ought to talk to him once more though. Maybe it was just another girl he was taking to the parson."
"I don't know. It'll be less painful this way…"
"Will it? I doubt it. You aren't the kind of girl to just forget about him. No ma'am you aren't. I knew that the minute I laid eyes on you. You are one of those one man kind of ladies. I admire that. And I think you owe him a chance to explain. Maybe I have it all wrong."
"I doubt it. He kissed me, several times in fact, but he never said anything. Not once. But he had time to say something, he didn't, that should have told me all I needed to know."
"Don't beat yourself up over this, kid. A lot of women fall for men who don't reciprocate the feelings. But Buck…I wouldn't expect this of him. 'Course I didn't expect him to come in one night with another girl on his arm taking her to the parson either." Lilly almost laughed.
"Maybe he just decided since Hershel is so happy, he'd be happy too," Rachel said sadly.
"Well honey, you are still married to Hershel. How can a man claim you like that?" Lill
y defended Buck to her. "Buck might have considered Hershel's feelings in this. You were married to Hershel, it's quite gentlemanly of him not to take an advantage. If he'd just wanted a romp in the hay, he wouldn't have cared probably."
"That's true, and it was my mistake. So I lost…" Rachel sighed.
Lilly grabbed her and hugged her to her. "Let yourself cry a little, it won't hurt so much that way. Is this the first time you've been in love?"
"Yes…" Rachel felt the tears coming.
"First loves are hard to get over." Lilly nodded.
"You've been so kind to me. How do I ever thank you?" Rachel asked. "I've met so many nice people on my little adventure here. That's why it's so hard to leave."
"Then maybe you shouldn't go at all." Lilly smiled and patted her on the shoulder. "Maybe you were right to come back after all."
"I don't know…I'll think about it. I do love that mountain."
"It's Buck's mountain too." Lilly shook her head. "I think the two of you were destined for each other."
Rachel felt the tears falling and turned away. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be, honey. We've all been there."
"I'll be ready in the morning. What time?"
"Well, that's the bad news, about four thirty, we have to get breakfast going early around here. Some don't have anything until nightfall."
"That's okay, just knock on my door if you are up." Rachel tried to smile.
"Okay, get some rest now…" Lilly encouraged and left her.
Rachel turned around in the room and looked at the bed. It invited her to indulge, so she lay down across it and went to sleep.
Her dreams were filled with might have-been's.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Buck didn't stop to talk to anyone once he hit town. He went straight to the stage depot and bought a ticket. He was headed east to Philadelphia. Nothing would deter him now. He couldn't wait to show Rachel what had happened, he only hoped she was as happy as he was about it.
The stage pulled out about noon and he was glad to be on it. He knew getting back east would take some time, but he felt he had time on his side.
He rode the stages all the way to St. Louis, then he traveled north by boat. When he reached Illinois, he bought a horse and decided to ride the rest of the way on horseback. It was a long and tedious ride.
When he finally reached Philadelphia, he found it big and full of people dressed in many different ways. He couldn't take his eyes off some of them. There were things he'd never seen before here.
It was a big city, full of industry and buzzing with activity.
He inquired about the address he had on one of the envelopes in his coat pocket.
Finally directed to the estate, he was overwhelmed by the huge house that belonged to her father. He stood in front of it for a long while. He never once imagined Rachel's folks being rich. She never spoke of it.
He straightened his collar and knocked on the door. He clutched some wild flowers in his hand to give to Rachel.
A gentleman in a strange looking suit came to the door. "May I help you sir?"
"Yes, I would like to speak to Miss Landers, please." Buck was holding flowers in his hand and the butler seemed surprised by that.
"Miss. Landers?" The butler repeated.
"Yes, this is the Landers house, right?" Buck asked.
"Yes it is, but I'm afraid Miss. Landers isn't in." The butler said staunchly.
"I see. Well, when do you expect her?"
"I'm sorry. You don't understand. She isn't here. She went west I believe."
"Yes of course she did, but she's returned." Buck insisted.
"I'm afraid she hasn't sir."
Buck look puzzled. "She's not here?"
"No sir, hasn't been for a while now. Can someone else help you?"
Buck fidgeted for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I'd like to speak with her father then."
"Mr. Landers?" The butler asked. "Whom may I say is calling?"
"Huh?"
"Your name sir?" The butler made a face.
"Buck, Buck Daggett." Buck hated the way people acted here, so stuffy. No wonder Rachel hated it here.
The butler nodded, "Very well, you may wait in the library."
He escorted Buck inside.
Buck had never seen any house so grand in all his life. The beautiful winding staircase, the rich polished woods, the regal carpets, and the chandeliers were impressive to say the least. It reminded him of a hotel he'd seen once. Rachel's folks had to be rich. This was no shack. And she had never let on that she had money, or they did.
He walked into a huge room full of books and a study. The room smelled of old paper and Buck had a notion to open a window for fresh air.
He waited for what seemed like hours, when a tall man with a big build came in the room and stared at him.
"Your name Buck Daggett?" The man asked.
"It is. Are you Mr. Landers?" Buck asked.
"You seem to have an advantage, I don't recall meeting you before," Mr. Landers said as he went to the desk to sit.
He motioned for Buck to take a seat.
Buck sat down in front of him.
"Now…what is it you are here to see me about?"
"Well, sir…your daughter." Buck said as though the man should know.
"My…daughter?" He repeated. "My daughter no longer resides here, I'm afraid. She left without much notice. I haven't seen or heard from her since."
Buck sized the man up quickly. He saw a little pain cross the older man's face and a lot of disgust.
"I met your daughter in Colorado sir. She was there to marry a friend of mine."
"Marry? Why that's absurd. She was engaged to marry Frank. Of course, her absence has changed that too." He answered in a desperate voice.
Buck nodded. "She wasn't in love with this Frank fella."
"How would you know this?"
"She told me." Buck smiled.
"So…she married someone in Colorado?"
Buck hung his head. "Well…she was set to, and she thought she did. But actually, she married me…."
"Good God, man, impossible."
"I'm afraid it's very possible. It was a mix-up, sort of…" Buck began.
"Look, I don't know what you are after, probably my money, but you won't get a dime. I know nothing of you. Nor do I want to." He stood up, his stance poised for a fight.
"That may be, but I want to set a few things straight with you sir. And I didn't come for your money. In fact, I had no idea you lived in such a grand place. Rachel never said a word about it. You see, she's my wife now, and I feel I have the right to say a few things to you. She only came out to Colorado because she found living here too unbearable. Excuse me sir, but…she loved Arkansas. She told me she did. She had fond memories there. But your new missus wanted to make a grand lady of her and I'm afraid Rachel didn't want to be a great lady. She just wanted to be a lady."
"Now see here, I don't know who you think you are, but you have no right to talk to me like this."
"I have every right. I'm her husband. You don't even know where she is, do you?"
"No, I don't…But that certainly isn't my fault."
"She didn't come home?"
"No…."
"Can't say as I blame her. This is the coldest house I ever did see. Pretty, but cold. I can see why she left. I guess it's up to me to find her though."
"Find her? Is she lost?"
"If she isn't here, she is. She left on the stage to come home over a week ago. I figured she'd be here that's why I'm here, to take her home."
"Home? In Colorado?" The man huffed.
"Yes, she loves it there." Buck said with a smile.
"Enough…I don't know who you think you are, or what you want from me, but this is enough."
"I don't want nothing except to tell you that your daughter loved you very much once. She might do so again if you give her a chance. But I can see now, she belongs in Colorado. She loves the mountains. And she's a s
urvivor too. Why…this place is way too stuffy for a girl like her. She needs to be outside, enjoying the countryside."
"She always loved the mountains," Mr. Landers repeated almost to himself.
"She still does."
"You say you are married to her?"
"That's right, only…she doesn't know it." Buck smiled brightly.
"You aren't making a bit of sense." The man protested.
"I guess I'm not. I'm so crazy in love with your daughter, I suppose I might not make a lick of sense. But let me tell you a few things about her. She loved Arkansas, and she loves Colorado. She loves climbing the mountain and being close to nature. She enjoys the view from the top too. She misses what she had in Arkansas with you sir. But when you moved here, everything changed, except her. You've lost her sir, and I’m sorry for you."
Mr. Landers stood up once more. "You cannot speak to me like this! I don't deserve this."
"I figured you would want to know the truth."
"You got any proof that you are married?"
"Yes sir. I do. The marriage certificate." He pulled it out of his coat pocket and handed it to him.
Mr. Landers read it, and his eyes rounded on Buck.
"I'll have this annulled."
"I'm sorry," Buck stood up took his hat in his hand and shook his head. "No sir, you won't. I'm married to her, and she's my wife. I aim to claim her as soon as I find her."
"You don't know where she is?"
"Nope, like I said, I saw her get on the stage to go home. I figured she'd be here that's why I'm here."
"And why did you insist on me speaking to you?" Mr. Landers bowed up like a blowfish.
"Because I wanted you to know that I fully intend making her a good husband, and taking care of her, so you don't have to worry about her at all anymore. It wouldn't be fair, you not knowing what happened to her. Rest assured, she loves Colorado, and I hope she loves me just as much."
The man stared at him until Buck wasn't sure what to do or say.
"You didn't come here for money?"
"Money?" Buck frowned. "I came here to collect my wife, sir. And that's all."
Mr. Landers seemed to relax all of a sudden. "Your name is Daggett?"
"That's right."
"You in love with my daughter?" He asked his brows nearly meeting in the middle of his forehead.
Brides of the West-Part One Page 39
