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.
'What Oil?' Jimmy asked coming around to sit on the coffee table in front of his friend
'We had some Assay tests done, a few months ago on a couple of acres of our land.
There is apparently a lot of oil underneath us. Enough to make us very rich people and not have to work another day of our lives' he paused to collect his thoughts, closing his eyes to fight the pain coursing through his body.
'Buck, don't drift off on me now' Jimmy gently shook his shoulder. Buck opened his eyes and struggled to rise until he was seated against the back of the sofa
'We were going to surprise the girls, especially Lou, its nearly her birthday. They know nothing about it.' the tears in his liquid black eyes began to overflow 'Jenny has no idea what they want. She had no idea we had the tests done' Jimmy was uncomfortable with seeing his friend from so long ago so utterly defeated and emotional. He could count on one hand the number of times he had seen Buck so distraught and the thought that Buck believed their situation was beyond hope was unthinkable to Jimmy.
'We are not giving up on them Buck.' Lou demanded from the stairs 'You hear me, they are coming home and no-one is going to say otherwise. Our children all need two parents and they will have them' They all looked up to see Lou her face pale and tearstained, still dressed in Kid's shirt. She ran to Buck's side and placing her head against his chest she sobbed their common pain, he painfully lifted his arm and enfolded her in his embrace
'Is he alright?' she asked 'Is Jenny alright?' she lifted her head to look into Buck's bruised face
'They've beaten him, badly I think, but he told me to tell you he loves you and he will be home. They had left Jenny alone, but its only a matter of time before they start playing games with her' He rested back against the cushion on the sofa closing his eyes wearily 'Does Starr know I'm here?'
'No she was asleep when your horse came in.' Lou answered, neither of them noticing when Jimmy enfolded the teary Theresia in his arms.
'I don't want to have to tell her I left her mama in danger, It will break her heart to think mama is not coming back.'
'Rest Buck' she smiled as she gently stroked his face. 'We'll work out a way to save them when you wake up.' she soothed
Lou tears in her eyes, stood and taking her son from Jimmy she walked out onto the porch, trying to regain her composure before she had to face the others and Starr. She watched as Buck wrapped in a blanket hobbled over to the bunkhouse with Jimmy, and the occupants of Buck's house began to stir. She watched as Buck's tiny daughter ran out of her home and up her porch steps, waving happily to her as she ran inside to find her new playmates, Emma's twins.
Teaspoon found her there a thirty minutes later cooing to her tiny baby.
Daddy loved you just as much as mommy does. Mommy will always love you. No matter what happens Daddy will always love the both of you too' she murmured as her tears fell on her son.
'Everything will be alright Lou.' Teaspoon leaned against the railing as he spoke
'Will it? How do you know?' she turned on her old station manager
'Lou, we are all here, You know as well as I do that no-one can come between us.' Teaspoon rationalised
'We aren't riding for the express anymore, we haven't done this sort of thing for a long time.' she angrily explained to him
'Lou, you have three US Marshalls here for Gods sake, Buck is the best Indian tracker in the territory, between the four of us, we can find them and we will bring them back.' Teaspoon explained
'Five. I'm going too' she stated 'You'll need an extra gun and you needn't think that you are going to leave me at home like a good little woman. This is my husband and friend you are talking about' she paused in her angry tirade, seeing the sceptical look on Teaspoon's face 'I can't stay here not knowing Teaspoon, please' she begged
'Lou. Louise. You've just had two babies.' he began
'and if I don't go and help their father I won't be able to look them in the eye when they get older.'
'Alright, we go tommorrow morning, we have to formulate a plan and stick to it. I don't want no emotional heroics from you when we find them. Those babies need two parents.' Happy with the results of their chat Lou walked inside and began to prepare a bottle for the babies. She took two baby bottles and her babies back to her bedroom and fed them, putting them back to sleep. She dressed and seated at her dressing table to fix her hair, she put her brush back on the dresser and ran her fingers over a photograph of her beloved that she kept on the table. Tears welled afresh in her eyes but resolved to find him, but she composed herself, braided her hair and went downstairs.
She was surprised to find everybody except Theresia, who was happily watching the children in the shade of the barn, in the bunkhouse, seated around the table. As she pushed the door open, Emma embraced her as did Rachel. Nobody in the room was sure what to say to Lou, but she firmed her resolve and went to the table and sat beside Buck, hugging him tightly when she was settled.
'Buck, tell us everything you can about them?' Sam asked softly
'There's four of them, they are heavily armed, I've never seen them before, theyre holed up in the old mine shaft on the edge of our land. There's something I think you all should know.' he spoke
'Eagle Feather is pregnant. We were going to tell everyone when we got home.'
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