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.
Lou swallowed convulsively as she faced Schmidt, the only thoughts in her mind Buck's safety and the only clear thought in her head was that she had no idea how Jimmy stood the stress and tension of facing down a gunman.
'Not so cocky now are you, you little tramp.' he sneered at her.
Lou lifted her other arm to grasp the butt of the pistol, her shoulder screaming in pain, but she would not give in. Her mouth and throat so dry she couldn't form a word to rebuke him.
'Say your prayers girlie, you are about to meet your boyfriend.' he nodded his head towards Buck as he spat a stream of tobacco juice on the ground at his feet and pulled back the hammer of his six shooter with his thumb.
Almost at the same moment, Schmidt was distracted by a shower of pebbles from the cliff above them, dislodged by an eagle coming to rest on the crest surveying for prey. Lou saw her chance and took it, she fired her pistol twice, both shots hitting Schmidt square in the chest, he fell to the ground his eyes gazing sightlessly at the sky
Lou, however, hardly noticed she stumbled to Bucks side and lifted her cumbersome skirts falling to her knees beside him she dragged his inert form onto her lap.
'Buck, Buck I'm so sorry, please forgive me' she murmured over and over again as she caressed the hair back from his handsome face.
It took all of Ike's strength to hold Kid and Jimmy back from charging out to help their young paramour. His struggle was momentarily abated as Teaspoon entered the bunkhouse.
'Whats going on here?' he asked seeing the concern etched on all their faces.
'Lou's taken off to find Buck' Jimmy almost spat frustrated at not being able to get out to help her.
'We can't let them go Teaspoon.' Rachel spoke softly clutching Lou's note in her hand 'We don't know if Lou remembers, if we go charging in after them, we may do more damage.'
Teaspoon looked deeply into Rachel's face and knew that she believed her words to be the truth, he mulled over his choices for a few seconds and then spoke. 'She's got two hours, if they are not back by then we go looking. By God I hope you are right Rachel.' he stated 'Teaspoon you can't just leave them out there alone.' Kid almost wailed
'Kid, much as it pains me to say either she will succeed or she won't, now I pray that she beats him and they ride back in, but if not we will find them when we get there. There's not a lot we can do.' Teaspoon finished
'I'm going anyway' Jimmy spoke his tone speaking volumes
'Then I hope you're willing to be the reason why they die.' Teaspoon tried to calm the savage protective instincts of his boys 'You don't know what she's up to, you may get in the way and get either one of them hurt.' he paused for a moment 'The first person to leave here without my express permission will be fired on the spot and not welcome here again. Do you all understand me?' Teaspoon watched as Ike, Noah, Cody and Jimmy nodded he had to wait for Kid reluctant agreement, but he did give it grudgingly.
'What do we do now?' Noah asked quietly
'Now son, we wait' Teaspoon spoke as calmly as he could as he walked back out the door, to wait, watch the clock and pray for perhaps the bravest of his riders.
It took several moments but Lou's gentle concern, husky voice and the faint moisture from her tears falling on his face roused Buck from the murky depths his consciousness had taken refuge in.
"Lou' he moaned, wincing he reached up to cup her face in his hand
'Buck' she kissed his cheek in gratitude that his dark sombre eyes had opened
'Did he hurt you?' Buck spoke the words that his heart dreaded hearing.
'No...I killed him Buck' she murmured her shame at killing a man in a face to face shootout evident in her voice.
'You had no choice Lou, he would have killed both of us.' Buck spoke gently reassuring her
They were silent for several moments, Buck drinking in the sight of Lou and cherishing being held in her arms, Lou content to hold him and wipe the grime from his face, still not quite believing that he was alive.
'Do you really remember everything?' he spoke softly as he tried to sit upright
She nodded her head, and caught her bottom lip between her teeth
'Why the long face?' he asked lifting her chin with one hand, so he could look into her face.
'I've treated you all so badly, Kid and Jimmy were so hurt, Teaspoon probably thinks I'm crazy and I expected things of you that I never should have. I'm sorry.' she looked into his eyes, her own full of tears.
'Lou, I have given or done nothing for you that I would not do again. I meant it when I said that I loved you dearly. You are the closest I have ever come to a sister and I cherish that.' inwardly he winced at his own lie but he knew that to reveal his feelings to Lou would only confuse and hurt her. That was something he would not risk. Lou seemed to accept his words and hugged him tightly apologising profusely as she realised that her bearhug was causing him great pain.
'Do you think you can ride?' she asked quietly
'I'm sure that we can muddle our way home.' Buck smiled at her as he painfully rose to his feet and extended a hand to her.
She happily took his hand and walked, haltingly down the hill to where she had left Lightning. Buck held Lightning's reins as Lou gingerly mounted her shoulder still giving her pain. Buck mounted even more gingerly than Lou, he sat behind her and held the reins with one hand the other going around her waist so she could trustingly lean back into him and relax. The pain in Bucks chest increased but he was reluctant to give up the closeness they were sharing as he knew it was a liberty he would no longer have when they returned to the way station.
'Let's go Home Buck.' she murmured wearily against his neck.
With a gentle shake of the reins, Lightning started the slow and painful trek back to their family.
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