DISCLAIMER: The Young Riders is the creation of Ed Spielman, and the property of Ogiens/Kane productions in association with MGM/UA television. This Story is created for entertainment purposes only, no infringement intended. Not to be copied without permission from the author.
Buck dozed fitfully, trying valiantly to stay awake, he found himself often awakening with a start as his head fell forward against his chest. Knowing that he needed to sleep, but unwilling to actually give in to his drowsiness, he looked around the bunkhouse trying to clear his mind. By the gentle light of the sun he knew was rising, he could see Jimmy slept in the same bunk he had always slept in, apparently sleeping well if the gentle snoring Buck could hear were any indication.
Kid and Lou were sleeping on another of the bunks gently entwined. The evidence of Lou's tears as she had cried herself to sleep evident on her face, as well as the faint blue smears under her eyes, put there by her lack of sleep. Buck hated what this was doing to her, especially while she was pregnant. She and Kid should be enjoying the joyous experience, yet he knew that Lou wouldn't tell him until she knew everything was okay.
Standing, he limped to the window, the stabbing pain in his thigh with each step welcome to him as it shook the cobwebs of drowsiness from his mind. He knew that he was becoming obsessive but he couldn't help himself. In the three days that he had spent back at the station, had been the most turbulent days he had experienced since Ike was killed. Smiling to himself he remembered his best friend. Ike had always been there for him, just as he had always tried to be there for Ike. Ike, who was not reserved in his judgement of the women that Buck had courted, had thought a lot of Jenny. He closed his eyes in a solemn prayer for his departed friend. If only they had both had the opportunity to really get to know each other. Jenny was perhaps the best thing to happen to him. He now that he should have told Eagle Feather as he always thought of her how he felt before she went back east. Maybe then they could have avoided this tragedy. She was possibly the best thing that had ever happened to him and he refused to even contemplate losing her.
Lost in his own thoughts, Buck turned back to resume his seat at her bedside, gently entwining his fingers in hers, he let his gaze travel upwards to her face. Seeing her eyes open and looking at him shocked him so much he almost fell from his chair. Ignoring the pain in his thigh, he fell to his knees beside her, his hand gently caressing her forehead.
"Eagle Feather.' he murmured, as his lips pressed against her cheek in a gentle kiss 'I've been so silly Buck' she whispered hoarsely her mouth dry, her mind cloudy 'Ssh, don't worry about it now.' Buck answered her 'It's over now and we are here together. It's over.' he murmured again.
'How did I get back here?' she murmured 'The last I remember Spotted Wolf was beating me for having the audacity to interrupt their hunt' she closed her eyes, frowning slightly at the pain in her head.
'We went looking for you.' he spoke 'We were very lucky we found you, Cody and a detachment of soldiers were on the way back from Fort Laramie and found you quite by accident.' he looked deeply into her confused green eyes. 'If he hadn't have seen you, you would have been a slave in a Sioux camp by now.' he closed his eyes against that thought
'Does my father know I'm here?' she asked softly.
'Yes. Jenny he was very worried. He came to me and asked me to find you.' Buck explained.
'Will he accept our marriage?' she asked.
'I don't know Eagle Feather.' he pressed his forehead against her's, 'We will just have to wait and hope.'
'I think that he should know that you are awake now.' Buck spoke rising to go and alert Thomkins.
'I'll go Buck' Jimmy swung his legs from his bunk and slipped into his trousers and shirt, picking his hat from the hat peg by the door, he slipped out. Neither Buck nor Jenny had realised that the other occupants of the room were awake, so absorbed were they by the other. Kid and Lou both stood and walked over to the bedside to stand beside Buck.
'It's so good to see you awake Jenny.' Lou spoke sincerely.
'Now we might be able to get this stubborn indian to rest now.' Kid laughed jokingly
'Why?' Jenny frowned realising that there was something she wasn't being told.
'Doc Barnes told him to rest, he was shot while he rescued you.' Kid answered quietly
Jenny understood that she should have realised that Buck was hurt, he was pale, his skin having a faint greyish tone to it, and since he had been standing he was swaying slightly. Moving her loving but critical gaze down his body, she realised that he had a large wound on his thigh and it appeared to be bleeding again. The pain he felt from his thigh inconsequential beside the joy he felt at her waking.
All conversation stopped as Jimmy opened the bunkhouse door and was followed closely into the room by a hastily dressed Bill Thomkins. Kid and Lou, discretely backed away from the bed and started to leave the room closely followed Jimmy. Reluctantly Buck left his betrothed's side and started to walk away.
'Buck, there's no need for you to go, what I am going to say I need to say to both of you anyway.' Thomkins looked contrite.
'I think you should talk to your daughter alone Thomkins' Buck did not hide his distaste of this man.
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