A Thistle for Muscles

Petra Swage came in on the stage,

and opened Buck's life to a brand-new page.

A clean slate and a brand-new start,

a brand-new girl with a broken heart.

She was flirty, but she was kind,

and she was putting Buck out of his mind.

"Do you like peaches and cream muffins?"

She stuck out her tongue.

"Apple cinnamon's what I like -

spicy and sweet and can't be wrong."

He took her out to Hugh's to see the windmill'n,

and they started talking about Lou and children.

"Don't talk about kids! Have you no heart like all the rest?"

Buck pulled her hand around to his chest.

"I've got a heart right here. See?"

"Oh, Muscles, stop showing off for me."

They talked about kids and settling down,

Buck wasn't sure about the notion,

and Petra's smile turned into a frown.

You're interested in Lou, right? 

Oh...it's no business of mine."

"Let's head back to town and share some muffins...if that's alright?"

Petra hedged and avoided the topic of Lou,

and what Lou had told her about Buck, too.

"I didn't expect you to be so... so...wonderful. I knew

there had to be something Lou saw in you.

She's the last person to just fall on a whim, but

everything she said... it just doesn't add up.

You've been nothing but sweet and kind and funny.

I owe her so much but I want nothing

more than to forget all that so I'd be free

to show you that she isn't right for you...

and that I could be."

When they got back to town, Petra stifled a sob.

"Look, I think it's best that I look for a different job."

"Petra...why?" Buck couldn't believe his ears.

Petra sniffed and Buck was tempted to wipe away her tears.

She pulled her collar aside and a black diamond tattoo could be seen.

"I'm a Black Diamond, Buck. I owe Lou everything.

This isn't a mark of servitude, it's a mark that means I'm free.

When Lou freed herself from Talulah Grey's,

She came back for us and freed us from that horrible place.

This mark is a reminder and a promise to pay her back, but I'm not sure if I can.

She gave me this great opportunity and what am I doing? Falling hard for her man.

I don't deserve the job. I'm going back to Oh Aces."

"But Petra...you're the perfect fit!"

She gulped. "You don't understand a bit!"

"Tell me how am I suppose to hide

all I feel inside,

when I've fallen hard for you.

How do I keep that from Lou

who you know can see through

just about anyone!

Tell me why I should stay?"

Buck couldn't say.

She turned went inside, then had an idea.

Showcasing the muffin box, out the window she leaned.

"Hey, Buck! Muffins?"

His eyes lit up and gleamed.

"Muffins? I'll be right up!" Buck rushed upstairs,

and found Petra on her bed with the box sitting there.

Buck sat beside her and inhaled the delicious scent

of the Apple Cinnamon muffins that Miss Myna sent.

He tasted one and his eyes grew wide.

"This almost beats Peaches and Cream!"

Petra mumbled, "Story of my life."

Petra's mind was made up, she would leave BG

and go back to Oh Aces for the time being.

She handed Buck a box as he left her room.

"Don't open it here. Wait until you get home."

When Buck opened the box and looked in,

He found a cunningly crafted thistle pin.

He grinned and pinned it to the pocket of his shirt

Lou wasn't here, so what could it hurt?