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.
With each day that passed, Bernie grew sicker and sicker; fearing for her safety Etienne pushed them all as hard as he could. He knew almost immediately that they were being followed but he also realised that they could not stop until they reached the relative safety of Bernie’s friends. By the time they reached Rock Creek, Bernie was pale and weak, barely ever awake. Cradled in Etienne’s arms, they rented two rooms in the hotel and while Etienne stayed with Bernie while Isabelle went in search of Louise.
Walking towards the Pony Express station, she watched the man on the porch appreciatively. Tall blonde and well dressed, she watched him hungrily, and different to any man she had ever seen before she could not help but like what she saw. Cody was carrying out a similar appraisal as he watched her approaching. Casting furtive glances at the barn and the bunkhouse doors, he wondered how long it would be before Jimmy, Lou or Buck came out to investigate their visitor, so taking the bull by the horns, he walked down the stairs towards the vision that approached.
“Can I help you ma’am?” he asked politely smiling brightly, his interest in the young woman evident
“I wonder if I might speak to Louise McCloud please?” she asked quickly her nerves making her gentle Irish brogue even thicker.
“If you’d like to come in out of the sun, I’ll get Lou for you” he extended an arm to the statuesque stranger and smiled in delight as she looped her arm through his, walking by his side until they reached the porch.
“I’ll just be a moment ma’am” he spoke as he left her there “Should I tell her who is seeking her?” he smiled at his own ingenuity
“Isabelle Dupre” she frowned “but she wasn’t expecting me’
“I’m sure she won’t mind” Cody tipped his hat and walked into the bunkhouse closing the door behind him
Lou and Jimmy looked up from the cards in their hands when they heard the door close. Neither of them could hide the humour they felt when they saw the look on Cody’s face.
Unable to suppress a giggle Lou spoke “What is wrong with you Cody?” she smiled
“I think I have just seen an angel,” he murmured as he leaned back against the door, a blissful expression on his face
“What the hell are you talking about Cody?” Jimmy laughed
“The best looking lady I have ever had the pleasure of speaking to just arrived and spoke to me” he feigned swooning as he spoke “By the way Lou she is looking for you” he remembered
“Did she say who she was?” Lou smiled at Cody’s histrionics
“She has a beautiful name.” Cody continued
“Well out with it Cody.” Jimmy was growing tired of the whole saga
“Isabelle Dupre” Cody breathed
“Isabelle?” Lou whispered then stood so quickly she knocked the bench seat flying “That mean’s Bernie is here!” she ran towards the door eager to meet her new friend and find Bernie again, knocking Cody almost off his feet in her rush
“Isabelle” she started as she ran onto the porch and saw her guest “Is Bernie with you?” she called as she rushed closer closely followed by Jimmy and Cody none of them noticing that Buck had left the barn and was approaching the porch
Isabelle a little taken aback by the fact that Lou was wearing men’s clothes, was speechless for a few seconds and then realised that she now had four faces looking intently at her, waiting for her response, pained expressions on their faces at the thought of what could have happened to their vibrant young friend.
“I’m sorry Louise, your clothing confused me for a moment” she explained then realised that they were all waiting to hear of Bernie’s whereabouts. “Yes she’s in room 12 at the hotel, but she needs a doctor” she looked up seeing the pained expression on the face of the man she knew was Bernie’s lover “She’s very sick Buck but we couldn’t stop she’s not safe anywhere but with her friends” but Buck hadn’t heard the rest of her words, as soon as he had heard the room number Buck started towards the hotel at a run. The other’s knowing that Buck’s emotions were on a fragile path looked at each other and than began to run after him, Cody stopping long enough to take Isabelle’s hand in his and drag her along with them. Buck mind was in turmoil as he ran down the street to the hotel, in the last six months not only had he lost the love of his life and his soul mate, but not one month ago he lost his blood brother as well. First the first time in his life he felt truly and completely alone in the world, none of the others had been able to fill the void that had been left in his life. His only solace had been his work, but not even that was as fulfilling to him as it once had been.
Running up the stairs, paying no heed to angry calls of the desk clerk, he paused only briefly outside the door to gather his thoughts. Opening the door, the sight that greeted him, hit him like a sledgehammer in the chest. Bernie lay on the bed dressed in a plain cotton nightgown cradled in the arms of a man he had never seen before. He hungrily drank in the sight of the woman he loved, her fiery curls subdued and limp against her head, her skin so pale and translucent it appeared that he could almost see through it. Her face thinner than he remembered it, a thick gold band circling the ring finger of her left hand as it lay against the heavy burden at her waist. Tears welled in his obsidian eyes as he realised that Bernie must have married the man that held her so tenderly in his arms, the man who must be the father of her child.
“You must be Buck” Etienne spoke from beneath the sleeping Bernie “Bernie has spoken so much of you” he spoke awkwardly trying to ease the moment
“Who are you?” Buck croaked the pain of his crushed heart almost too much for him to bear
“My name is Etienne Dupre,” he murmured watching Bucks face pale “we didn’t know who to turn to, but Bernie seems to trust you people” he spoke watching as the others arrived behind Buck
Buck used the distraction to turn on his heel and run from the room, needing to be away from everyone, none of them needed to witness the breaking of his heart.
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