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 moved to extend a strong hand to the man who had brought his love home, Etienne took Buck’s hand and shook it firmly, glad to be this noble man’s friend and not his enemy.
“Thank you for bringing her home to me” Buck spoke softly knowing that without Ettienne’s help Bernie never l have made it back to him.
“It was nothing” he spoke his voice almost too casual “She deserves to be happy.” He spoke softly laughing at his own derision of himself “I could never make her happy Buck” he spoke “You are the only man she will ever love”
“As she is the only woman for me” Buck spoke looking deeply into his new friend’s eyes “I would die for her”
Ettienne knew that Buck was not lying, he would defend her to his dying breath, the longevity of her life, and the welling being of their baby, of tantamount importance to him. He also knew that without a doubt the man before him and the young woman now sleeping upstairs belong together as no other before them.
Isabelle and Cody stood at the far end of the porch watching the events unfolding around them. She saw the friendship that her brother and Bernie’s lover were forging, their mutual love of Bernie pulling them together, forging what she knew would be a strong and enduring bond. Isabelle’s eyes filled with tears at the uncertainty of their futures.
Cody watched as tears filled her eyes, frustrated by his own inability to ease her pain. He could not recall seeing a young woman as beautiful as Isabelle before. Eyes the color of the evening sky just before the sun sinks behind the mountains, surrounded by thick lashes as lush and ebony as coal dust, her face as pale as the fluffy white clouds that float in that sky, surrounded by masses of blue black ringlets. Helpless against the feelings that were coursing through him, as he watched her fight her fear and her sorrow, feelings that until she had arrived at the station had been foreign to him. Feelings that he didn’t particularly want to feel for the beautiful young woman at his side. Up until yesterday he was sure that he was the love em and leave em type, content to have his fun and then leave the young woman in question pining for him. Seeing her tears gathering on her thick black lashes, he shook his head at his own stupidity and drew her into his embrace, pulling her unresistingly against him and into his strong protective embrace. Not sure why but desperately wanting to protect the young woman in his arms.
“What’s wrong Isabelle?” he spoke softly against her ear
“He frightens me Billy” she murmured “Not what he can do to me, but what he will d to all of you” she pulled out of his embrace “I can’t let you do that for me Billy” she pulled out of his embrace and started to walk away from the man with whom she felt so safe.
Cody, amazed at the shiver that went down his spine when she spoke his name with her lilting Irish brogue moved without thinking and quickly grabbed her by the arm spinning her around and pulling her into his embrace.
His crystal blue eyes looking searchingly into hers before he lowered his head, his lips meeting hers gently. Their lips caressing each others sweetly, neither prepared for Cody’s actions but not distressed by it either. Isabelle’s fears were completely buried by the sudden yearning she felt for the strong willed young man who held her so tightly in his embrace. Never before had she felt this way, so safe and protected, her heart in her throat, her stomach tied in knots but finally she was beginning to understand the passion in Bernie’s voice when she spoke of Buck.
Cody, his mind filled with sensations he had not felt before, breathing like he had just run a marathon race, slowly pulled his head back from the vision of beauty in his arms.
“Nobody is going to hurt you or anyone at this station Isabelle” he murmured his warm breath feathering across her cheek as the back of one gloved hand wiped her tears from her face.
“Not while William F Cody is around” he spoke more firmly, his eyes still gentle as he looked into hers
“I can’t let you do that Billy” she spoke as she pulled out of his arms, his name a gentle breath on her lips, her tears flowing afresh “I like you too much to see him hurt you” she paused “or worse”. She looked long and hard at him and then turned on her heel running past the curious glances of the others and into the house. Jimmy walked up the porch to the befuddled Cody, a smile in his voice as he spoke .
“You handled that well Cody” he murmured laughingly intrigued at the lovesick expression on his friends face.
“Shut up Hickock” Cody spoke and almost ran from the porch toward the barn, intent only on getting away from the others before they could rib him the way that he always ribbed them. His newfound emotions in turmoil, he finally understood how his teasing words had always upset Lou and Kid. He knew now that he had often hurt and confused them and one day he wold make it up to them, but at the moment he needed to get away from the people he called family, try to make some sense of the confusion that was swirling through his body, the turbulent thoughts in his mind in chaos.
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