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 was becoming more and more frustrated with the pursuit of Kid’s killer. It seemed that no matter what he did, he could not catch up with this man, and more and more innocent lawman were losing their lives in every town he passed through.
It had been almost six weeks since he had seen Lou and with each day that passed he became more and more unsure of Lou’s emotions. shaking his head he sat by his small campfire, his bones weary from weeks of tracking and sleeping on hard packed earthen floors, but still he looked into the crackling flames, drawn into his own misgivings about their relationship.
Looking deep into his own soul he knew that, should she have turned to him out of grief, or even just the need to feel loved or needed again, he would not hold her to the things they had said in the one night they had shared. It would break his heart for him to let her go, but her would if that was what she wanted, or what she needed to make herself whole again, he would gladly let her spread her wings and fly free just to see her return to her old self again. Okay, so maybe not gladly, but if it meant she was happy, that was all the incentive he would need. Picking up the peices of his shattered heart would not be easy, but he would get over it somehow. Hell, just having her in his life, after having tasted the nectar of her love just once would be torture, but he didn’t have the strength to remove himself from her life completely.
Settling into his bedroll, he turned his thoughts to his other problem. How on earth was he going to tell Lou that he had failed in his quest to catch her husband’s killer. He knew that she wouldn’t hold it against him, but still he had failed himself. He had promised himself that he would give Lou her husband’s killer, if he could give her nothing else. Now, two days away from home he realised that he would not be able to give her the one thing he thought she needed.
--oo0000oo--
Lou sat on the bunkhouse porch, a napping Mary cradled in her arms, weary but unlike her previous pregnancies, she hadn’t suffered from a moment of sickness. Knowing that they were alone at the station, Rachel, Cody, Starr and Noah having gone into town to do some shopping she had spent the afternoon playing with her daughter. Supper was no ready and waiting, so as Mary slept she tilted her head back against the wall, and dozed off, her mind drifting to thoughts of Buck as they now oftern did when she slept, her hand lightly caressing the slight bulge already forming in her belly. Her mind consumed with her own thoughts of how Buck would react to her news. She hoped that he would be happy for the both of them as Rachel told her daily, but there was still the niggling feeling in the back of her mind that he would be disappointed with her impending motherhood.
Startled by a noise, she lifted her head to find a a horse approaching the bunkhouse. Wary of all strangers while she was alone at the station, she lifted her tiny daughter and quickly moved inside placing Mary in one of the bunks to sleep on in peace. Lifting the shotgun that was kept by the door, she walked back to the porch and stood at the top of the steps waiting for the rider to get closer. Watching carefully, her smile widened at the visitor got even closer, until she dropped the gun unnoticed to the ground, running down the stairs and towards the rider, tears of joy spilling down her cheeks.
--oo0000oo--
Buck watched the woman he loved run towards him, realising that no matter what demons he had thought up, he was wrong. Slipping one leg over his horses neck, he slid from the saddle to the ground, his only thought to take Lou into his arms again. Lou ran into his arms, their lips meeting as they met, he lifted her from her feet and swung her into his arms. Their initial joy of reunion passing, he lowered her to the ground and hugged her close against his chest.
“I missed you” she spoke softly
“I haven’t caught him yet Lou” Buck spoke real disappointment in his voice, he wasn’t sure what disappointed him more, the fact that he hadn’t caught him or that she hadn’t told him she loved him, as he had often witnessed her doing when Kid returned from a run.
“You will Buck, I know that you will.” she murmured feeling his disappointment, wanting the joy she had felt in him to return.
“Dad” Starr called as she rode into the station, closely followed by Rachel and Cody in the buckboard. Starr jumped from her horse and ran to her fathers embrace, as he reluctantly released Lou for long enough to embrace his beloved daughter. Taking one of his beloved women under each arm he walked towards the buckboard and his remaining family.
“Buck” Cody nodded and shook his hand briskly before drawing him into his embrace. Then embraced Rachel tightly
“We’ve missed you Buck” Rachel spoke for all of them as she watched him take Lou back into his arms again.
“All I want is to sleep in a real bed again. I’ve almost forgotten what a real bed is, or real food” he spoke wistfully
“C’mon, Supper is ready” Lou spoke as she grabbed him by the hand and dragged him into the bunkhouse. They all sat down to a sumptuous meal of steaming beef stew and fresh biscuits. Mary waking when she heard her beloved
Uncle Buck’s voice, she refused to relinquish her place on his lap until her eyes were once again closing, missing him more than her young mind knew how to accept.
The night seemed to go on interminably, neither Buck nor Lou being able to think of an excuse to extract themselves from the family reunion. Finally, long into the night Buck carried the sleeping Mary back to the house, Lou following close behind him, his hand firmly grasped in hers eager to spend some time alone together, just the two of them.
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