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.
The diminutive young lady sat at her dressing table staring into the cheval mirror in her bedroom and gently brushed her shoulder length hair, watching the reflection of her handsome and equally young husband as he changed into a clean shirt for their Christmas Eve dinner.
She smiled softly to herself as she fondly remembered the previous two years. They had all been naive children really when they had signed on with the Pony Express, but they had quickly forged a bond as strong as any family. Occasionally, they had had their differences of opinion but essentially they were all as close as any blood kin could be. Sometimes, in the past, her eyes would wander to Jimmy, as different from Kid as night and day. She and Kid however, had always had a special bond, ever since the first time he had rescued her she had known that they were meant to be together for the rest of their lives. Tears welled in her eyes as she realised that this would be the first Christmas since they had first met that their family would be spending apart.
Kid seeing his beloved Lou's chocolate eyes liquefy, crossed quickly to her side and nudging her gently across her bench seat, he enfolded her into his embrace, resting his chin on her head.
'What's wrong?' he asked softly knowing full well that she was fretting for their friends.
'This will be the first Christmas we have all been apart. Since the express closed down, our family has broken up and scattered into the wind. It just made me a little sad.' she murmured against his chest
He, too, had thought about their friends and what they would be doing for Christmas this year and had felt the pangs of loneliness for his friends.
'We have Rachel and Teaspoon and Theresia and Jeremiah will be here on the stage tomorrow. It's not as if we'll be alone. It will be a good Christmas' he spoke almost as if convincing himself.
Lou pulled herself from his gentle embrace and stood, smoothing the wrinkles in her new green velvet skirt. Since admitting to the town she was actually a woman, she had not been able to help herself from buying several beautiful new dresses and skirts. Crossing to the window she frowned grateful that they didn't have to leave the house. Outside the wind howled and icy sleet fell in sheets against the side of the house.
'C'mon Rachel and Teaspoon will wonder what has happened to us' she spoke extending her dainty hand to Kid.
They walked hand-in-hand down the stairs and found Rachel and Teaspoon seated on the love seat in the living room waiting for them. Their faces aglow with health and happiness.
'We have a surprise for you two younguns' Teaspoon spoke his smile widening
''What would that be Teaspoon?' Lou asked smiling, wiping a lingering tear from the corner of her eye.
'We managed to find our way back here, do you think you could find a place for us at your Christmas table?' a familiar deep voice asked.
'Jimmy.' she squealed and ran across the room throwing herself into his embrace, then hugged his companion just as tightly
'Cody What are you doing here?' she took in their tired and wet appearances, waited for Kid to shake their hands and hug them then melted back into his embrace a huge smile plastered across her face.
'We thought we'd surprise you.' Cody spoke his tired eyes bright with genuine happiness
'We met up again just outside of Denver and decided that it might be nice to come back for Christmas before we go too far away. On the way here we stopped by Sam and Emma's place.'
'How are they?' Kid asked still grinning like a fool
'Emma is going to have a baby, they would have come too but Em can't travel.' Jimmy explained
'She's huge' Cody interjected
'Cody don't be rude' Rachel admonished laughingly
'They gave us a letter to give to you.' Jimmy reached inside his coat and extracted a thick envelope, which he handed to the eager Lou
'Anyway, here we are. Cold, wet and tired but we're here.'
Lou was torn between her desire to read her letter or look after her guests but her good manners got the better of her and she handed Kid her letter and led Jimmy and Cody into a small laundry room just off the kitchen where she handed them fresh towels which she took from a cupboard just inside the door.
'You boys can dry off and freshen up then we can have some supper. There's some of Kid's things in that basket that should fit you. I'll get you a hot drink while you're doing that.' She busied herself making them both a hot coffee laced with good whisky to warm the blood in their veins. The others walked into the kitchen, Rachel and Lou seated themselves at the table, Kid and Teaspoon leaned against either side of the door frame, waiting for Jimmy and Cody to return. They walked out of the laundry room both dressed in fresh trousers and one of Kid's fresh dry shirts each.
When they had taken the other two seats at the table and their mugs of coffee were cradled in their hands, Kid handed Lou Emma's letter.
She opened the letter her hands quivering and began to read out loud.
'Dear Lou, Mr Spoon, Rachel and all my boys, I'm sorry I can't come and be with you all at Christmas this year. You see I have a baby due just a few days after the new year and Sam has forbidden me to travel. I know he's right, but I can still be a little grouchy about it can't I. We have made ourselves a good new life here, we have a beautiful homestead, Sam has a good and relatively safe job now, even if sometimes I am a little lonely for you all. I hope you all know that you are welcome to visit anytime you are nearby, we miss all of you desperately, and I hope that after the baby is born we can visit you. Love and best wishes. Emma and Sam.' the tears in Lou's eyes had overflowed and now cascaded down her cheeks. Rachel stood and walked to Lou whom she hugged tightly
'C'mon Lou we'll serve dinner and then we can all get some rest, things will be brighter tomorrow, it's Christmas.' The two women went about their business and proceeded to serve a huge dinner of fresh baked turkey and vegetables, refusing all offers of assistance from the men, who eventually gave up and went to stand on the porch and watch the dismal weather unfolding around them.
A short time later, when Rachel and Lou called them back into the dining room, they seated themselves at the table, Teaspoon at the head of the table ready to carve the bird. Before they started the meal Rachel insisted that they say grace and gave the honour of saying it to Kid.
'Dear Lord, thank you for the bounty we are about to accept. Please look after the souls of Ike and Noah, hopefully they know that not a day goes past that we don't think about them. Please keep Buck safe, wherever he may be. Finally bless all who eat at this table, all of us are thankful for everyday we have together. Amen'
At Kid's quiet closing, they all lifted their eyes again, and began to eat. They quietly, for them anyway, ate their meal, until even Cody was sated.
'That was quite a meal Rachel' Cody spoke leaning back in his chair his hands clasped over his full belly.
'I had nothing to do with it Billy' Rachel spoke softly waiting for the penny to drop
'Lou, I didn't think you had it in you.' Jimmy spoke his eyes twinkling
'Neither did I' she smiled back 'but apparently I did' she finished
'We'll clean up ladies' Kid spoke ' You go sit in the parlour and rest, we'll bring you in a coffee when we're finished.'
'That's nice of you boy's' Rachel spoke quickly quieting Lou's protest
She led the younger woman into the parlour where they both sat in silence for several minutes until the others brought a pot of coffee with them and they all sat and had a coffee before they retired for the night. Jimmy and Cody bunking in the living room until the weather was fine enough for them to venture across to the bunkhouse.
Early the next morning, Lou who hadn't slept well, crept down to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee for the boys and Rachel when they awoke. She was filling the Pot from the pump, when a knock at the kitchen door startled her. Thinking that one of the boys had gone outside for some reason she threw the door open and was overjoyed to find a wet and bedraggled Buck before her.
'Buck.' she squealed throwing her arms around him, uncaring of the fact that he was wetting her clothes 'It's so good to see you.' she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.
'I couldn't bear not to come back for Christmas. I missed you too much' he explained hugging her back tightly.
'Jimmy and Cody made it back as well' she smiled as she heard the rest of her family enter the room behind her, awakened by her squeals of delight. She relinquished her hold on Buck to enable him to greet the rest of his friends.
Lou drifted back to the stove top and placed the Coffee Pot on the hot plate, banking the fire as she listened to the others greeting Buck. She smiled happily, knowing that now, her Christmas was complete, her entire family was back. Later in the day they would all visit the graves of Ike and Noah, but for now she would prepare breakfast for her family, content in the knowledge that at least at the moment, until they were blown to the four points of the compass again, they were a happy family.
THE END
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