The return

Chapter 7

The following weeks passed without any particular news. Buck and Joy had their own daily routine: he went to the shop for lunch and in the evening they all had dinner together. He took her home and they stayed on their own for a while. When Buck had his runs, they'd have dinner alone in the evenings either at Joy's or at the saloon and sometimes on Sundays they'd have picnics with the others, alone or sometimes with Lou and the Kid who were getting closer and closer.

One day they saw a banner hanging above the saloon building announcing a benefit dance for the following Saturday.

When Buck saw this, he told Joy: "It's going to be the first dance we go to as a couple and so everyone knows we're officially together."

"Yes, our official debut in society. Do you feel it?"

"Is it possible that you still have doubts about my feelings for you?"

"No, I know you love me, but it always seems too good to be true. I've never been so happy in my entire life" and she kissed him affectionately. Around they preferred not to flaunt their feelings too much, they wanted to avoid gossip.

In the evening at dinner the main topic was dancing. Rachel talked with Joy about the preparations and the boys teased Buck a little because they knew he didn't like parties very much but it would have been an opportunity to formalize his relationship with Joy and this put him tremendously in turmoil: not because he wasn't sure of their love, but because he didn't like to be the center of attention.

Joy told Rachel: "I'm really sorry about Lou, who knows how she's going to suffer, especially now that she and the Kid are so close." Lou wasn't there that night, she was out on her run for a couple of days.

"Already! I'll have to think of a solution"

"Yes, but which one?"

"I don't know yet but something will come to my mind"

After dinner Joy and Buck went out on the porch to read a book: Buck continued to be interested in medicine and Joy tried to urge him not to abandon this passion, but he didn't feel up to it.

The week went by quickly and on Saturday morning, Thompkins said to Joy: "Take the afternoon off too Joy, get ready calmly for tonight, I know it's an important occasion for you and Buck"

"Thank you Mr. Thompkins, but are you sure you can do it yourself?"

"Before your arrival I always managed, a Saturday afternoon alone what will it be?"

"Thanks" and hugged him before walking out to meet Buck.

"Mr Thompkins has given me the afternoon off to prepare more calmly for tonight. He's very kind, I really look at him as a father."

"Good, then I'll know who to contact when I decide to ask for your hand"

Joy widened her eyes in front of Buck's words: she had never even dared to think about marriage with him and the fact that he made this joke left her stunned.

She decided to be as natural as possible and replied: "Good idea!".

They looked at each other and smiled, aware that sooner or later the time would come to build a life together, but for now they dropped the subject, they had to think about making their relationship official first.

After having lunch together, they separated and went to get ready for the evening. Buck would be picking her up by 6.30 p.m.

Joy took a nice relaxing bath, styled her hair in a half-updo and tried on dozens of dresses before choosing the right one: a pale blue dress with a ribbon at the waist that fell down the back of the skirt, ¾ sleeves ending in white silk inserts and a pair of white ankle boots. In her hand she carried a small purse the same color as the dress. On the neck and ears the usual parure of the father.