Candle of Love

Written by Helen

Disclaimer: This story is in no way meant to infringe on the rights of the creator of the series The Young Riders, Ed Spielman and Ogiens/Kane. All other characters are copyrighted by the author.

The fight between the Dog Soldiers & the Kiowa was short & successful. The Kiowa had a few fatalities & several wounded, while the Dog Soldiers retreated after the majority of them were killed. Swims Like Fish was badly beaten, but Buck knew most of his wounds would heal, but his eye did not look good at all, even after they cleaned it up. "He'll probably loose that eye!" he told Lou who was bandaging a cut on Bucks arm. She too was injured, but didn't want to worry Buck. He was worried enough about his nephew. After she finished tying off his bandage, Buck turned and gave her a kiss. It was long & tender, their soft lips massaging the others. Buck wrapped his arms around Lou's waist only to have her yelp in pain.

"Lou, what's wrong?" he asked, lifting up her jacket to reveal her blood-soaked shirt. "Oh, Lou, why didn't you say anything? It could be infected!" Buck cried.

"I didn't want to bother you. You've been so worried about Swims Like Fish, that I didn't want to worry you more. I'll just go down to the river & wash it. It'll be fine." She explained.

"Like hell it will be. Lou, just give me a look." Buck ordered, ripping her shirt up the back. "Oh my god, Lou. I can't get that out. I'd better get Red Bear" he stood up & left before she could object.

When Buck returned, Lou looked terrible. Within just a few short minutes, Lou had become pale, was sweating & seemed to be unconscious. "Lou!" Buck screamed as he saw her. She started fitting as he stepped closer. Feeling her forehead, she had a souring temperature. Her wound was definitely infected!

Buck wasted no time in gathering Lou up into his arms, & holding her, whispering to her to come back to him. "Please Lou, Don't leave me. You're my light. If you leave me, I will forever be living in darkness. Please Lou? " He sobbed, hoping to all the gods that he believed in to help Lou.

As Red Bear removed the bullet from Lou's back, Buck refused to leave her side. "If something happens, if she dies, I want to be there. Hopefully she wakes up. I can't live without her, brother!" Tears streamed down his face. How was he going to tell Teaspoon, Rachel & the boys, if anything should go wrong? How was he supposed to face them? Jimmy would kill him before he finished telling them the news. He swallowed hard at the thought of losing Lou. She had become his life.

Chapter 17

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