JUST
ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE DAYSJUST
ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE DAYS
Millie hid behind the barn, and changed into her old male clothing. She hid the dress under a bale of hay. She walked around the barn, leading her horse to the corral.
"Just where have you been?" Sally was standing on the porch, waiting for an answer.
"I had to go into town for awhile," Millie said as she hurried into the cabin.
Shaking her head in wonder, Sally shouted, "Next time you tell me where your going! I'm on my way into town now." She walked over to the corral to get her horse. After saddeling the old gray gelding, she rode into the direction of town.
Buck looked up as Millie entered the cabin.
"Oh…I didn't mean to startle you." Millie said in a shy manner.
She had trouble looking Buck in the eye. She was afraid that if she blushed too hard, she might faint.
"Was Sally upset about my leaving?" She kept her eyes focused on the fireplace.
Buck grinned. "Yeah. She threw a fit."
He could sense the hesitation in her voice, as she struggled to speak.
"Buck…can you dance?" She felt herself redden with embarrasment.
"Dance?" Buck arched his brow.
"Yeah dance. You know…with a…woman." She closed her eyes. She couldn't believe she was asking these questions.
"Sure. I have danced before," Buck said in a gentle voice.
"With a woman," he added.
"Would you…would you do me a favor?" Millie asked. She walked to where Buck was sitting, and knelt next to him.
"What is it?" Buck grinned, as he looked at this sweet, fragile woman. He couldn't understand why she would ever want to be labeled an outlaw. Running with the wrong person. Another outlaw by the name of Sally.
Millie sighed. She looked Buck in the eye, and slowly asked, "Will you teach me how to dance?"
He smiled at her request. She stood up and walked to the kitchen window.
"Sure, but I can't dance with my hands and legs tied…can I?"
Millie turned around with a look of surprise. "You will?" She walked over to Buck, and gave him a hug.
"Here let me untie these ropes. I'm sure you'll want to stretch your legs a bit."
As Buck stood up, he grabbed his side, and groaned in pain.
"Are you all right?" Millie asked with concern.
"Uh…yeah. It's from the fall I took the other day. The horse stumbled, and we both landed on the ground pretty hard."
"Okay," Buck cleared his throat. "Stand in front of me, and put your left hand on my shoulder…now let me have your other hand…I'll hold it in mine."
Millie felt her face redden. Her heart was beating faster too.
"Now what?" She asked softly.
He looked at Millie and grinned. "Uh…well, we move or sway to the music…you know…like this."
Buck and Millie swayed together in rhythm. They looked like the perfect dance partners.
"I thought you didn't know how to dance?" Buck had a look of surprise in his eyes.
"I really don't," she said with a giggle. "Maybe, I just have a knack for this?"
Buck stopped abruptly, and grabbed his side. "I better sit down. This pain is worse than I thought."
As he sat back down, he asked, "Who's been watching over my horse?"
Millie smiled. "I have."
"Thanks."
With a look of couriosity, Buck asked, "Why would a nice lady like yourself, want a life as an outlaw?"
She hesitated for a moment. After gathering her thoughts, she glanced at Buck. He sat silent waiting for an answer.
"I…I never wanted to be an outlaw. It just happened. I was engaged to be married to a man I never met. I was what you called a mail-order bride. I was stuck in a town where I knew no one…didn't have any money to go back home. That's when I met Sally. She gave me a roof over my head, and a hot meal."
Buck shook his head with understanding. He sensed her sencerity, and confusion in her voice.
"I think we were both looking for a true friend," she concluded.