Silver Eagles by the poet

Chris was dressed in a suit and tie. He felt like the damn thing was choking him as he twisted at the knot.

“Here let me help you with that Stud” Buck said with a grin. He had fashioned it just so and it no longer felt like a noose.

Chris smiled and ran his fingers through his hair. He was nervous as a groom, which was what he was. He was marrying the woman of his dreams: the one he fell in love with the moment he laid eyes on her. He took a deep breath and smiled back at his best man.

“Buck am I doing - ” Chris was about to ask but his friend interrupted him.

“You're doing the right thing. Any man with eyes can see that the only one she sees is you and the only one you see is her. Her Pa be damned if he don't show. It's his loss."

“Thanks Buck. I'm glad you're standing with me. I know Sarah is too” Chris said as he bowed his head slightly.

“I'm just there to make sure your knees don't buckle under the strain of carrying her” Buck said with a wink as they made their way down the aisle to stand next to the preacher.

“Oh and one more thing. Don't spend em. Keep em in a safe spot for luck, not that you need it. You're marryin' the sweetest thing this side of heaven. If I'dve seen her first -”

“You wouldn't have stood a chance” Chris said as he took the two newly minted silver eagles and put them in his coat pocket. Minted the year they married, he would make sure that they'd be in a safe place. He'd make the box special.

Each year Buck gave him a pair of eagles. Not that he was superstitious, but 'just for luck.' He remembered every year but the last. Sarah and Adam were murdered a month prior.

Chris remembered and got a pair on the day so long ago. He placed them in the box. No matter how desperate things were, he kept the tradition going so he wouldn't forget. He kept it to himself and never shared it with Buck. It was too painful for him, and he couldn't bear the thought of putting Buck through it. No matter the circumstances, Buck would never know.

He put the box in the bureau of his room, got undressed and went to bed with tears falling where they may and the memories lulling into a restless sleep.

finis