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.
Teaspoon was woken deep into the night by the sound of footsteps. Reaching quickly, almost automatically for his ever present gun he pulled back the hammer and tipped his hat slowly back from his face. Glancing around the campsite, he soon realised where the noise was coming from, he gently replaced the hammer and dipped his gun back to his holster and rolled slowly to his feet.
He moved to the smouldering fire and gently stoked the embers until they burned a little stronger, checking the coffee pot he placed it onto the fire and waited there for the coffee to brew. Squatting beside the fire, he watched two of the boys he had come to think of as his children as they tried to get some rest. Both of them sleeping restlessly, tossing and turning, mumbling in their sleep, but at least they were safe. As he hoped was Ike, somewhere out ahead of them, sleeping in the darkness, intent on finding his best friend. It was the fate of the others that Teaspoon had trouble coping with, three of his boys hurt and captured by savage Indians, he only hoped that the three of them could hold on until they found them. Then there was Emma. His brave, tough and competent station mistress, he knew what Indians did to their female captives, he hoped they were in time to save her from that indignity.
He shook the thoughts from his mind, knowing that someone had to keep a clear head and poured two tin mugs of coffee, then stood and walked towards where the horses were tethered. “Sam” he murmured “Sam” he called a little louder “Over here Teaspoon” Sam called softly from the darkness.
--oo0000oo—
Jimmy was woken by the smells of brewing coffee, although he was never really sure that he had been asleep. Reaching out he hit Cody to wake him, needing to talk to his friend.
“You awake?” he whispered
“Yeah” Cody replied
“Billy we’ve got to tell Teaspoon about Lou”
“We made her a promise Hickock. We can’t tell Teaspoon” Cody spoke quietly shaking his head.
“Cody this is more at stake here now than her damn job or her independence. This is about Lou and her life” Jimmy’s eyes were full of worry “You know what they do to woman captives”
“Buck and Kid won’t let anything happen to her Jimmy” he replied his voice full of certainty
“You know damn well that both of them would die before they would let anything hurt Lou”
“What if they can’t stop them?” Jimmy’s face was tortured “What if they already have?” he spoke praying that he wasn’t right and all three of his friends were still alive.
“She’ll be fine Jimmy, we’ve got to trust her” Cody spoke as he laid back against his saddle, content to try and get what little sleep they could. Jimmy was not happy with what Cody had said but he knew that they had to protect Lou’s secret for as long as they could.
--oo0000oo—
“You alright Sam” Teaspoon asked quietly as he handed same a cup of coffee
“Yeah” Sam spoke shortly sucking deeply on the butt of his cigarette
“She’ll be fine Sam” Teaspoon stood quietly beside him watching the sky silently
“Damn I hope so” he spoke not yet willing to face his friend
“You know as well as I do Sam, she can look after herself and the boys will protect her.
“Teaspoon” Sam turned his teary eyes on his friend “I have already lost one wife, if it is possible I think I love Emma far more than I ever have another person, I don’t think I could survive losing her Teaspoon” his tears overflowed as he watched the man who was like a father, confidant and best friend all in one.
“You’re not going to lose her Sam, those boys love her like a mother, they won’t let anything or anyone hurt her”
“Teaspoon” he spoke softly “what are the chances of them still being alive honestly” he asked
“I dunno Sam, I truly don’t know” he spoke “It depends on a lot of things, if they killed any braves, if it was a war party” he looked into Sam’s face “It’s too hard to do Sam, we just have to believe that they are still alive and waiting for us to rescue them”
“And if they’re not?” Sam asked for the response that none of them wanted to her
“Then we bring them home Sam” he spoke sadly “We bring them back to where they belong and the people who love them”
TO BE CONTINUED
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