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 and is family looked on with worried eyes as their blonde friend approached the guard, greeted by a salute. They couldn't hear what was said, but very soon the gate guard left his post and hurried toward the nearest building. Cody waved for his friends to come, it was now or never. Gray Moon and her son pulled Buck to his feet and lead him toward the gate, Cody impatiently waiting for them. Well outside, he pointed toward the south, made them run off a bit before turning back inside. Buck struggled to stay on his feet, threw an eye over his shoulder to see Cody disappear into the Fort.
"Where's he going?" he mumbled, his wife pulling his arms and urged him to keep moving.
Cody stood silently by the gate, waiting for the guard to return. When he did so, he wore a frown on his face.
"There was no disturbance in there!" he cried, Cody looking bewildered.
"No? But I'm sure it was when I left," he said, acting troubled.
"Well, it sure wasn't now! Good thing no one caught me leaving my post.
That would sure have caused some disturbance… You ain't gonna tell, are ya?" the guard asked Cody, who shook his head, clapping the young man on the back.
"Of course not. I'm sorry to have mislead you, I thought it looked a bit out of hand in there before. Oh well, it's over now. Good night to you, private," he smiled, walking off.
The guard looked after him for a few moment's time, wondering if he was drunk or just getting old.
Cody smiled under his hat. Once again he had successfully helped his friends, and lying to the guards had only been kind of fun. But he swore he would never do it again, unless it was to help out a friend in need, of course.
When Cody strolled out the gate a few minutes later, nonchalantly looking down on his shirt, brushing off some dust, he had but one thought in his head - where did they go? He looked around, the darkness revealing nothing but silhouettes of the Fort. He walked a few hundred yards south, softly calling their names.
After a few minutes he finally heard something. Gray Moon answered him with a whisper, sending out her son to take his hand and lead him into the blessed shadows. Buck lay on the ground, looking up weakly as Cody came closer. His head fell back against the grass, a slight moan in his throat. Gray Moon sat by his side, stroking his hair, humming a song. Cody listened to her singing, sitting down on the opposite side of Buck. When the Kiowa brave seemed to have fallen into a healing slumber, she stopped her singing and turned to the man who had saved her and her family.
"What do we do now?" she asked, reaching out to touch her son's back, pulling him down beside her.
"It's not much we can do. I told you about a hideout, and there's where we'll go. Soon, when the sun is about to rise. That's usually when the solders are as most tired. They won't have very sharp eyes looking out the Fort right then. I suggest you all get some sleep. I'll keep guard, and don't worry. I think we're safe here," Cody spoke, making himself comfortable against a rock.
The blankets were spread over the Kiowa family, the three of them soon fast asleep.
Buck had that dream again that night, where his family and friends were starving to death or killed by the army. In a reservation. He woke several times with a rapid heartbeat, staring into Gray Moon's calm eyes, feeling her steady comfort as she hushed him. She rested on his arm, stroking his chest until he had gone back to sleep. Minutes later the same thing would happen all over again.
Cody knew Buck couldn't sleep very well, and he had a feeling it had something to do with his Kiowa friends being captives. He watched his Express riders friend wake up with a scream in his throat, fall back to sleep, back to the dreams haunting him. Only Wild Buck seemed content in his sleep, where he lay by Cody's feet.
The blonde man looked up at the still dark sky, stating dawn was several hours away. He sighed, leaning against the rock, his gun pulled and ready to be fired in case of danger.
When the first streaks of sunlight hit his face, Cody was wide awake, looking up at the Fort. No soldiers were seen, and nothing was heard. He carefully woke Wild Buck with the tip of his boot, motioning for the young boy to wake his parents up. Gray Moon was instantly on her feet, looking down at her husband. Buck lay motionless, eyes closed. She knelt by his side, stroking his face lightly.
"Running Buck, we must move now," she said, her husband moaning as he tried to rise.
He fell back against the ground, which he was considering to call rather comfortable, moaning again.
"Buck, come on, we don't have much time. Get up," Cody spoke, kneeling also, pulling his arm.
Both of them knew Buck wasn't the type who hated early mornings, why they glanced at each other with concern. Gray Moon had a steady light in her eyes, calm but yet a slight bit wild. Cody looked deep into those eyes, for a moment attracted by her looks, but shook those thoughts out of his head and turned back to Buck.
"Buck, can you hear me?"
Buck looked up with a tired look all over, eyes teary from obvious efforts to stay awake, breath strained.
"Cody," he began with a dusty voice, gripping Gray Moon's hand. "I can't."
The last words were so low they could barely hear him, and first now Cody saw the distress in Gray Moon's eyes. She squeezed her beloved's hand, begging him in Kiowa to rise.
Cody removed the blanket still covering his friend, looked down on the growing stains of blood.
"Buck, dammit," he sighed, unbuttoning the shirt.
"Cody, take my family to that hideout you mentioned. I won't make it that far, there's no use," Buck said, all of them knowing he was right.
"I'm not leaving you," Gray Moon spoke earnestly, shaking her head firmly.
"You're gonna have to," Buck mumbled, rising a hand to touch her face.
She grabbed the hand, pressing it against her face. Tears welled in her eyes, but she kept her composure like the strong woman she was.
"I'm staying if you're staying," she said, voice loud and clear.
"But you have to,-" Buck began, cut off by Cody's innocent comment,
"Never argue with a lady, Buck…!"
The Kiowa sighed, shooting the blonde scout a dirty look.
"Get them away from here, that's all I'm asking!" he suddenly cried, using all of his last strength to make the words as heavy as possible. Cody looked up from the bandaged wounds he was tenting to, eyes lingering from Buck's face to Gray Moon, to Wild Buck and back.
"Just get them to a safe place…" Buck spoke weakly, voice trailing off.
His eyes closed and he felt weaker than in long. His muscles wouldn't obey any more, and his every breath caused the wounds to pound with pain. Cody looked over his face, which was getting paler by the minute, then up at Gray Moon again.
"Alright."
Buck was hid with the blankets and some leaves. He could rest safely there until Cody returned. Gray Moon and Wild Buck both protested, but Cody was persistent.
"You have to come with me, or he'll do something that will make him even weaker," he pleaded, carefully pulling the Kiowa woman's arm.
Gray Moon looked over her shoulder constantly, Wild Buck by her side and Cody in front. She couldn't believe she was actually leaving her husband behind, but she realized she had no choice. She wondered if she would ever see him again, thinking he could die from the blood loss. But still she realized it was better this way.
The morose three walked briskly toward hideout Cody had mentioned, occasionally stopping to breathe. Gray Moon wished she could go back, wondered what was happening at the Fort, but realized there was no return now. She kept a close eye on her son, who glanced back with those calm dark pearls his father had. Despite the scary situation, he seemed okay with walking across the prairie land. He knew why they were running, but he missed his friends in the Kiowa prison camp, and he knew his mother did too. Gray Moon thought of Red Bear, wondered if he would forgive Running Buck for running off with his family. She knew he would never blame him or his wife, but still it felt as if they were saving themselves without helping their family and friends. She had a brother and both parents in the Kiowa camp, and though she missed them, she knew they would wish for her to be in a safe place with her new family. As she sat there on a rock, resting her feet, she thought of her mother's wide warm smile and her father's kind words. Cody's voice calling her name seemed far away, as she thought of the people she was leaving behind, to probably never see again. The blonde man's hand on her arm startled her, but she soon realized he was right - they had to keep moving.
Buck woke several hours after his family had left with Cody. He knew better than to move, as he was still close to the Fort, and also very weak. He thought of his wife and son, hoping they were okay, and most important of all, that they were safe. The bluecoats may not have known about their disappearance, but if his family and Cody ran into a bunch of riders out on the prairie they were all done for. Unless Cody's smart lies could help them once again.
He closed his eyes, taking a few deep breaths as the pain rose through him. He still couldn't make his body move, and wondered how long it would take before he could follow the others. He was falling asleep, but he didn't want to, even if he needed it. All he could think about was the horrible dreams that continued to haunt him, involving a reservation, dying Indians and bluecoats. Lots of bluecoats.
"It's not very far now," Cody encouraged, patting Buck's son on the head.
"Are you sure we are safe in this place we are headed to?" Gray Moon asked, but received no answer.
A few hundred yards in front of them appeared seven riders, all bluecoat soldiers from the fort. The three stopped suddenly, all dropping their chins.
"What do we do?" Gray Moon whispered, Cody holding his breath. He moved closer to her, taking a hold of her arm.
"Just stay calm, maybe they didn't see us," he said.
The leader of the soldiers pointed fiercely at Cody, shouting for them to stay still. His horse was kicked into a gallop up the slope, the other six riders following.
"Guess they did, huh?" Cody whispered, swallowing nervously.
"Mr. Cody, who are these Indians?" the first rider asked angrily, pointing with disgust at the Kiowa family.
TO BE CONTINUED
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