The return

Chapter 15

The next morning, they all gathered at Buck and Joy's house to say goodbye. They would head to Sweetwater and from there to Red Bear's camp. Buck's father had told him he stayed where Buck had last seen him. Before leaving Joy had wanted to go and say goodbye to him and Buck had consented.

"Apologies again to your brother Buck"

"He won't accept them", he answered stiffly.

"I know, but I feel like I have to do it again. Enjoy, rest and good luck with your entry"

Buck only uttered a cold: "Thank you", as Joy hugged him. Buck didn't like these displays of affection from Joy to his father, but he knew her wife was a good soul and let her do as she pleased.

Once they left, Joy asked Buck to explain more than what he had already told her about the Kiowa way of life and Buck explained some of their traditions to her, which Joy listened eagerly.

"I love your interest in my culture", he told her.

"Oh really huh? Now you love it. Do you remember how you hated it at first and thought I was faking it?" she pointed out.

"Joy, you know I'm really mortified by my behavior, please don't keep throwing it at me"

"Only if you give me a kiss on the spot", she joked.

"Here you are satisfied" and kissed her tenderly.

The two smiled and Buck continued to educate her about his culture.

"Promise me you'll tell and teach all this to our children", she asked.

"I will do it with great pleasure if you agree. I would like them to know my past and my culture too"

"They must know it, it is part of you and it will be part of them"

Buck smiled at her.

"Do you know what else I would like to learn?"

"What darling?"

"The sign language you used with Ike and that you often use with the other tribes"

"Okay, I can start teaching you now."

Joy was happy and while they traveled Buck gave her the first teachings. Joy wanted to try to make the Kiowa understand her when they were in camp.

They took it easy and arrived in Sweetwater in four days' travel, staying overnight in comfortable hotels.

When they were there, Buck went to say hello to some old acquaintances and introduced Joy to them. Buck told her some adventures that had seen them as protagonists and also told her in detail about Sam and Emma who unfortunately she had never met again but who perhaps would have come for Lou and Kid's wedding.

The next day they left the wagon at the hotel, took only the necessities and galloped back to the Red Bear camp. They passed by the old Pony Express station which was now abandoned and Joy wanted to visit. Everything was a mess, but you could still see their bunks, the table where they ate and Emma's house, which was also now abandoned.

"Emma would be sad to see this degradation and I believe Rachel too who lived there after her"

"It's such a shame they let this place decay like this"

"On the other hand, this station was no longer needed and living here is not very convenient for going to the city, we know something about it"

When they were in the bunkhouse, Joy wanted to know which was Buck's bunk. He pointed to her and she drew him there.