The return

Chapter 16

They reached Rock Creek by late evening. They hadn't wanted to spend another night out but had preferred to travel home. They unloaded their bags and then went to sleep exhausted.

The next morning Joy woke first and without disturbing Buck, exhausted from riding the horses all those hours the day before, went downstairs and began to unpack and do the laundry.

When she had hung out the clothes, she went to prepare breakfast. When she went up to her room, Buck was still sleeping. She would have liked to stay and contemplate him for a while longer, but it was already late and they still had many things to do, first of all going to say hello to their friends who didn't know they were back.

She lay down next to him, stroked his hair and said to him: "Good morning sleepyhead, it's already very late, wake up. Breakfast is ready"

"Mmmm, 5 more minutes, please", Buck muttered as he buried his head under the pillow.

Joy didn't answer and Buck, intrigued by her silence, stuck his head out of the pillow, rubbed his eyes and looked around.

Joy sat next to him watching him amused.

"I was sleeping so well, dreaming about you", he told her.

"Well, you don't need to dream about me, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Come on, let's have breakfast and say hello to Rachel, Lou and the others.

"Mmmm, after breakfast I have to do something first"

"What? The luggage is unpacked and the laundry is already hanging out. What will you ever have to do?"

"What we didn't do tonight because we were exhausted...."

"Oh, that! Well, I totally agree with you on this point! Come on though, let's eat before everything gets cold"

Buck literally devoured breakfast, then took the tray, placed it on the bedside table and turned to Joy who was drinking the last sip of coffee: "I want you Joy, I want you now" and they made love happily.

They got up, got ready and walked hand in hand to the station. They found Noah and Cody trying to tame a wild horse. When they saw them coming, Cody yelled: "Hey folks, the newlyweds are back", walking over to give them a hug, followed by Noah.

The door of the house opened and Lou and Rachel ran out and joined the others: "Welcome back guys, how are you? How did it go?"

"Slowly, slowly, we will tell you everything. Kid? What about Jimmy?", Buck asked.

"Hey, who said my name?". Jimmy's voice was heard as he came out of the barn.

"Oh, welcome back brother" and hugged him, then turned to Joy: "Hi sister, how are you? Kid is out for his run"

"We're fine, thank you"

"Come on in, don't be asked. Noah, go get Teaspoon and tell him to leave his deputy at the office. Tell him I need him but don't inform him of their return, I want it to be a surprise!"

"Your orders, boss!" Noah laughed.

"Come on guys, you obviously stop for lunch, right?"

"Okay Rachel. Where can we put these?".

They had brought with them a sack with gifts for their friends.

"What are they?" Lou asked.

"Gifts for you of course", Joy replied.

"You've been very kind", Lou commented.

As they waited for Teaspoon to arrive to tell them about their honeymoon, Joy asked Lou: "So, how are the preparations going? Soon it will be your turn"