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.
'Buck' Kid spoke as they rode to the mouth of the canyon 'If anything should happen to me' he started and swallowed tightly 'I want you to tell Lou that I loved her' he spoke almost embarrassed to tell Buck of his deepest feelings.
'She knows Kid' Buck answered him 'Besides nothing is going to happen to you'
Kid and Buck both dismounted and slapped their horses rumps to send them out of danger, then continued to walk into the canyon looking warily up the sides of the cliffs
'That's far enough Marshall' a booming voice called from the back of the blind canyon
'Why don't you come out and face me like a man Lambert?' Kid called back
'Such a pleasant request' Lambert laughed 'How can I refuse.' he stepped from behind the rocky ledge
'What do you want with us Lambert?' Buck asked
'It was a pleasant surprise to find that Cain sent you to do his dirty work.' Lambert started to explain
'I thought I would only be able to avenge my father, but instead Cain served you up to me on a platter' he laughed as he moved closer to the now stationary Kid and Buck.
'I don't understand how a good man such as yourself can turn so bad so quickly, people looked up to you Lambert.' Kid tried to placate him
'Looked up to me, they hated me, they were afraid of me.' Lambert snorted
'There is one thing I have to tell you Marshall, which I must say that I will enjoy' Lambert spoke his eyes full of venom as they bored into Kid's
'Which is?' Kid spoke tired of the constant bantering and hoping for a rapid end to their conversations
'That pretty young thing from the saloon.' he started and watched Kid's colour rise as he struggled to keep his temper
'What about her?' he spoke through gritted teeth
'I hope she's much nicer to you than she was to me, downright inhospitable she was.'
'If you have hurt her in any way I will kill you' Kid spoke, Buck physically restrained the furious Kid. Jimmy who was standing beside Lambert watching the events unfold with interest, watched the fury on Kid's face and knew that he wouldn't stand much more taunting.
'I really couldn't resist, I couldn't help myself, I didn't want her, but I knew you have claimed her as your own, so I had to have her. It's sad really, for a girl who makes her living that way, she really wasn't very hospitable.'
It all happened very quickly after that, Kid's temper finally exploded and Kid and Lambert both drew on each other , Jimmy knocked Lambert's arm trying to save the life of his best friend, and hoping that Lambert's shot would go astray, Buck seeing the outcome of a gunfight flung his body into Kid's trying to move him from the path of the bullet. Lou jumped up screaming at the top of her lungs, Sam trying to pull her back into cover and Cody and Ike both fired on Lambert from their vantage points high in the canyon.
As the smoke cleared, it was obvious that Lambert had not survived, Jimmy knelt to check on him and found that both Cody and Ike's shots had found their mark in his chest and had killed him. All their attentions were then drawn by the tangled heap that was Buck and Kid. Believing that the worst had happened, Lou, heedless of her injured feet ran down the incline to where her beloved lay. By the time she reached his side, Kid had come to his senses and regained the breath that had been knocked out of him, he was trying to revive Buck.
"Buck, Buck are you okay?' he frowned as he felt the wet sticky blood on Buck's shoulder and the bump of his temple where his head had struck a rock as he landed on the rocky ground.
'Yeah, but next time you lose your temper, could you try not to be standing in front of a gun.' he laughed weakly trying to lighten the moment as he rubbed his throbbing temple.
'Thanks mate' Kid embraced Buck and rose, taking the hand that Buck extended he pulled Buck to his feet as well.
Both, however, were nearly knocked back down as Lou careened into them closely followed by Sam and Jimmy. Lou, her tears flowing freely, could not help herself she hugged Kid tightly crying against his chest and reluctant to let him go. As Ike and Cody arrived on horseback, Sam spoke.
'Are you okay Buck?' he asked and at Buck's nod he continued
'I know you are all tired of this whole thing, but we need to go and catch his partner.' Sam spoke
'He's in the saloon, Lambert forbade him to leave it.' Jimmy spoke for the first time since the gunfight
Kid and Buck both glared at him not sure if they should trust him again or not.
'The sooner we get him locked up the sooner we can get home.' Sam spoke
They all mounted up, Taking Lamberts body back across his saddle, and not willing to be separated for long, Kid lifted Lou onto Katy's back, and drew her into his embrace as they rode in to Willow Creek to bring the rest of the gang to justice. On the trek into the township, Sam formulated a plan to put into action when they arrived, and whilst not happy with it, the boys all agreed that they would do their best to carry out Sam's instructions.
As they rode into town they split up, Jimmy took Lambert's body back to the saloon, Sam and Ike continued on to the Marshall's office and Kid, Cody, Buck and Lou skirted around the back of the township to the rear entrance of the livery to try to avoid as much attention as they could.
--oo0000oo--
'Donovan get out here' Jimmy raged as he carried Lambert's body back into his office
Donovan walked in from the balcony where he had been sipping a drink waiting to hear the outcome of the days events.
'What happened?' he mouthed as he entered the room seeing Lambert's body on the sofa.
'You should know, that idiot that is supposedly dead ambushed us, I barely got away'
'Who ambushed you?' he seemed genuinely confused
'That bartender you were supposed to have taken care of.' Jimmy growled
'Cody' he spoke 'I gave orders for him and the girl to be beaten and dumped in the desert' he spoke not understanding why his orders hadn't been followed.
'Thank you' Jimmy spoke drawing on the spineless little man in front of him.
'Jimmy, don't even think about pulling the trigger' Sam spoke from behind him in the open doorway
'Why not Sam, no one would miss him, he hurt Cody and Lou. My God he was going to kill them all' Jimmy answered
'Because you would have to live with it for the rest of your life' Sam tried to reason with the hot headed young gunman
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