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 had been unable to settle for the rest of the day, confused by his own surging feelings and Lou’s fragile emotions, so he set about completing some of the menial tasks that were left around the ranch. Just after supper, the children in bed, he sat at the bunkhouse table, with his back to the door, his physical exhaustion clear to both Rachel and Cody. Lou hadn’t come down to supper but he knew the moment that she opened the door. His heart beat faster in his chest, he was almost convinced that everyone in the room could hear it, as he waited for Lou to speak sure that she was going to break his fragile heart. He had never hoped to fall in love again after Jenny and now that he had, he felt sure that he was going to be hurt.
He was surprised, however, when she walked to stand behind him, her tiny hand on his shoulder. He leaned into her tender embrace, encouraged by her gentle touch.
“Thank you Buck” she murmured as she leaned down to place a soft kiss on his cheek, her lips lingering for just a moment longer than they would normally.
“Cody when do you go back to work?” Buck refused to even mention the show that Cody was the proud proprietor of.
“I can stay for a little while longer…why?” he asked, confused by the way the
Buck and Lou were still touching, he knew that something was going on between the two of them and frankly he wasn’t sure about it. He hoped that nothing could have ever come between Kid and Lou, but this sudden affection for Buck from Lou startled him and the thought of them both betraying their mutual friend angered him.
“I wanted to ask you to stay and look after Lou and Rachel and the kids for me Cody” Buck spoke, truly sorry that he had upset her when Lou tensed beside him.
“Why?” Cody asked thoughtfully wondering exactly what his friend was up to
“I won’t let you do it Buck” Lou spoke hitting him on the shoulder, her face full of her fury
“You’re not letting me do anything Lou.” He paused “I’m doing the duty I swore an oath on.” He flinched as he felt her anger and she retracted her embrace
“You are not going anywhere, we will all go, just like in the old days, we can look after each other.” She spoke more calmly “I can’t let you go alone. Please Buck?” she pleaded with him her eyes liquid.
“I don’t want you in any danger Lou” he paused looking deeply into her eyes
“You’re too important to me Louise, please. If I can give you nothing else, I will find the man who killed your love.” he almost begged her, both of them forgetting the other occupants of the room.
“Dammit Buck” she cursed at him “I thought you of all people would understand me” she lifted her skirts higher and ran out of the bunkhouse, tears falling anew.
Buck sat silently at the table his head in his hands, he knew that he had handled that badly but he honestly didn’t want her in any more danger than was necessary.
“What’s going on Buck?” Cody spoke his voice more aggressive than he intended.
“Nothing Cody” Buck spoke carefully hearing the tone of his friend’s voice, wondering where his anger was coming from.
“Don’t give me that bull, I want to know if this was going on before Kid was killed. I want to know if you’re glad he was killed.” He paused his blue eyes filled with angry tears “I want to know how you could do this to him” he spoke his voice angry punctuating each statement by hitting the table in front of him.
“Billy” Rachel admonished seeing the way that his words wounded the gentle man in front of her.
“Cody No” Buck shook his head dismayed by his friend’s thoughts eager to right his opinion of Lou
“Well what the hell is going on now?” he asked his expression perplexed
“Nothing yet Cody” Buck held both of his hands up in front of him “Honestly Cody, nothing.” He paused trying to formulate what he wanted to say to Cody “This is all new to me, but I swear to you I never consciously thought of her that way while Kid was alive, I could never have hurt Kid like that” he paused his heart in his throat as he tried to explain his feelings “I don’t know how or why it happened Cody but I do love her, and when she is ready I am going to court her, properly” Buck’s voice grew wistful “But in the meantime, I am going to catch the man who made her a widow” he spoke firmly seeing the look of grudging acceptance on Cody’s face Rachel spoke.
“You don’t know what she is talking about do you?” Rachel asked softly from where she had taken a seat across the table from him. Buck shook his head as he looked up at Rachel
“God Buck, you of all people should know her by now” Rachel almost cursed, “She has loved two men, she never got to say goodbye to either of them, before they were snatched away from her. She is frightened Buck, she wants to give you her heart, but she doesn’t want to say goodbye” Rachel explained “You know she can handle herself and a gun, what harm can it do to take her with you”
“Nothing is going to happen to me Rachel, but if I have to take her with me, I won’t concentrate, I’ll be worried about her. I know how much she loves Kid I don’t want to put her in that position” He spoke trying to explain why he wouldn’t take her with him
“Well go and tell her that stupid” Rachel stated
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