SKYFIRESKYFIRE© Miss Raye
Less than an hour later, everything was paid for and the clothes that weren't on her back were in the packs strapped to Plainsrunner. Skyfire stopped to look at her reflection in the cracked glass of a store window. She adjusted the round, wire rimmed glasses again.
Part of her heart sank into the new boots she wore, the person staring back at her looked very much the dust covered boy the store owner thought she was. This was to be her fate until .... until.... it seemed as if this would be her reality for a long time.
They walked along the sidewalk, silence was their companion. Buck found himself feeling extremely nervous... at least when Ike was around, Buck knew what he was thinking. Skyfire was still much of a mystery to him. "Hungry?"
Skyfire looked up at him, over the small oval frames. She nodded and they headed off across the street to a small hotel.
They were shown to a table near the back of the room. They sat down and Skyfire stared at the crisp white tablecloth and the shiny silver on the table. It had been two years since she'd sat at a table like this. She was almost scared to touch the utensils laid out before her.
She laughed to herself and Buck looked up to see a smile for the first time since they'd left the village. He could feel a small smile tug on his lips as well.
"What's so funny?"
She straightened when she heard his voice, then almost as quickly she slumped her shoulders down... trying not to draw any attention. "This..." she opened her hand indicating the table, "it's been quite some time."
"I imagine it has been."
She nodded and turned her attention to the menu on the table. "Thank you."
He looked back up at her. "What?"
"Thank you for helping me." There was a slight melancholy tone to her voice. He knew that it wasn't directed at him. "Red Bear," she paused as she said his name, "said you'd be willing, I didn't believe him."
"Why? He doesn't lie."
"I know... its hard to think someone else would do so much for me."
"Where we're goin' you'll meet quite a few people like Red Bear, the boys I work with, well we watch out for each other..." He began to tell her about each of the riders. Buck started with Ike, his close relationship obvious by the light in his eyes, then Jimmy, Kid, and Cody.
Fear began to shrink from her shoulders as she listened to his stories of his friends. She was just as involved with the dinner set down before her. The stew was thick and stuffed with meat and vegetables.. she could barely wait to begin. She picked up her fork and began to eat, oh my goodness, it was so wonderful!
Buck tried not to smile... she looked as if she'd been starved. She sat quietly listening to his stories, all the while savoring each bite of the meal. As he watched her he realized that there were a few things they needed to discuss.
"Skyfire?" he spoke in a near whisper. She continued to eat, unaware that he'd spoken to her.
"Skyfire?!" he kicked her leg under the table.
"What!" (cough * cough) He had startled her and a piece of carrot caught in her throat.
He leaned over to pound on her back.
"Enough!" she choked out... "I swear you're trying to kill me before we get to Sweet Water!"
"No," he tried not to laugh at her 'outraged' face. "I'm just trying to get your attention."
"You have it now..."
"A name-"
"What name?"
Buck shot her a look across the table, he had a feeling she'd be interrupting him again. "YOUR name, we should find you a name to use when you're a rider."
She looked at her plate, her appetite was waning. "What do you think?"
He didn't understand her saddness. "What is your birth name, maybe we can use a variation of it?"
"Really? Why don't you just pick one?"
"I wouldn't if I were you... I'll pick the worst one I can think of... and then the boys will make fun, and -"
"Louise."
He looked up at her soft reply.
"My name is Louise... Louise McCloud."
He reached a hand across the table. She returned the gesture and gripped his hand firmly in hers, "Glad to know you, Lou."
