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 knelt by Lou's side, not wanting to upset her further but knowing that the longer they stayed there the worse their grief would become. After several minutes he turned her to face him, her tear glazed eyes staring sightlessly at Teaspoon, so absorbed in her grief she was unaware of the world around her.
'Lou sweetie please,' he spoke 'You have to let him go honey'
'Lou shook her head stubbornly, gripping Buck tighter against her chest 'Please Lou' Teaspoon begged her wiping tears from her cheek with his thumb 'Please don't make this harder than it already is'
'Teaspoon he did this for me' she sobbed ' If I could change places with him, I would. Why did they have to take him.'
'Sweetheart only the good die young, this only proves that he was so very very good.'
The others watched their sorrow preventing them from interfering in this exchange, but nodding in silent agreement.
'I need to take him from you sweetheart' Teaspoon moved around to kneel in front of Lou as she shook her head 'Please Lou, We have to take him home'
Teaspoon took him from Lou, cradling him with all the love of a father cradling a fallen son. He shook his head in disbelief as he imagined he felt a tiny fluttering breath against his chest, but knowing that the breath that he felt was in his imagination, no one could survive a bullet wound to the head from such a close range. He hugged Buck's limp form against his chest, turning to the boys to tell them to go home. Curly, a sheen of sad moisture in his eyes, had brought their horses while they were sharing their moment of grief, the other Indians also silent stood on the crest of the ridge watching sombrely. They had tied Schmidt's body across the saddle of his horse, to be taken back and dealt with in the white world. The four of them watched realising the depth of the sombre moment in silence. Waiting for a sign from the man called Teaspoon, they stood patiently not wishing to intrude. The riders all mounted, Teaspoon cradling Buck's broken body against his chest, Kid and Lou doubled up on Lightning's back, the others all seated on their own horses waiting patiently for their boss and 'father' to lead them home on their final journey as a complete family.
'We will take care of the others' Curly spoke as he clasped Kid's hand in farewell, his eyes meeting Teaspoon's. Teaspoon nodded, almost unable to speak with the pain of their loss.
'I will see you again' he nodded to his friends and watched as they rode out. They rode steadily to the way station, the wind drying the tears on their cheeks. Arriving just after sunrise the sorrow filled riders rode wearily into the station, Rachel had heard the approaching riders and walked out onto the porch to greet them but she took one look at the pain on the faces of her family and knew that something terrible had happened.
Casting her eye quickly around the riders, she mentally checked each of them and seeing Buck cradled in Teaspoons arms, she feared the worst. Her eyes met Teaspoon's over the top of Buck's head, he shook his head not quite ready to voice the words and Rachel knew that the worst had indeed happened.
She choked back a sob and dropping her shawl, she ran down the stairs to be with her family. Lou slid from Lightning's back and ran into Rachel arms, her shirt still damp with Buck's blood, sobbing furiously. It took Rachel a moment to realise that the blood was not Lou's before she folded her tightly into her arms and stroked her hair trying to soothe her pain. Cody dismounted and walked over to hold the reins of Teaspoon's horse as the station manager slid from his horse.
He carried Buck into the house and laid him carefully on the sofa. Walking back on to the porch, he knew that it would be along time before the station returned to normal, he crossed to Rachel who still cradled Lou in her arms, and spoke softly to her.
'I'm going into town to get the undertaker' he spoke quietly, gently settling into the role of the father that Buck had never had.
Rachel nodded the lump of emotion in her throat stopping her from speaking. She stroked the large bloodstain on his sheepskin jacket, silently asking Teaspoon if he wanted to go into town like that.
Teaspoon merely shrugged 'I'll clean up when I get back' he murmured as he walked down the porch stairs, feeling as if he had aged 50 years in the last few hours. Rachel put Lou aside from her and knowing that she was beside herself with her grief, she pushed her into the arms of the rider nearest to her. Cody pulled Lou into his embrace too numb to realise anything that was going on around him content to just have the human contact they all so desperately needed.
Knowing that someone had to take charge of the situation, she walked into the living room and stood for a moment just looking at Buck's bruised and battered body, shaking her head at the senseless waste of a promising young life, she moved through to the kitchen and returned with a basin of water and a cloth. Intent on trying to make Buck look as close to his handsome self as she could she placed the bowl on the table beside the sofa, she perched on the edge and gently brushed his matted blood soaked hair back from his face, frowning as she felt his feverish skin. She lifted the hand that lay across his chest and moved closer, resting her ear against his chest, a wide smile crossing her face. He was breathing, only the tiniest and shallowest of breaths, when she placed her head on his chest she could hear his bones rattling as he struggled to draw in the almost ineffective amount of air he was getting. She leapt up so quickly that she upended the table the bowl of water flying across the room and shattering into a thousand shards as Rachel ran to the porch flinging the door open.
'Quick, get the doctor, hurry Buck's alive!"
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