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 sat in silence occasionally crooning gentle soothing words in Kiowa
to the unconscious girl in his arms.
he stroked her dishevelled curls, he pushed them gently from her
face and vowed to himself that she would not leave his sight again until this
problem was solved. Teaspoon stood at
the door for several minutes watching, seeing just how their relationship was
changing and understanding more than he knew was good for either of them walked into the house silently.
'How's Bernie?' he asked Buck quietly moving close and sitting on the
other end of the sofa, not wanting to disturb them, but needing to know how
she was. 'I promised her today that I would protect her' he paused shaking his head
in disbelief at his own stupidity 'That didn't do her any good did it' Buck
looked up at Teaspoon, self derision clear in his eyes. 'Nobody could have known what would happen son' Teaspoon spoke softly,
knowing that no amount of words from him would soothe Buck's tortured soul. 'I should have known it would happen.' Buck stated flatly, turning his
attention back to Bernie. 'If he's right, if their father is trying to kill them, they could both be
in a lot of danger, maybe more danger than we can protect them from.' Teaspoon
stated, needing to try and keep Buck's feelings in perspective, but
instinctively knowing that it was too late. 'Is Jasper alright?' Buck asked quietly completing ignoring Teaspoon's
last statement. 'He's worried about Bernie, but I think Rachel managed to shield him from
most of it. 'Ike and Lou are looking
after him at the moment. 'Jimmy and
Cody are taking the body to the undertaker, Kid and Noah have gone into town
to see what they can find out.'
'His name is John Cassidy. 'He was the wagon master that threw Mama out.' 'I never liked him, he was always nasty to us' Bernie spoke hoarsely against Buck's shoulder. Buck lifted her gently so that she could talk to them without turning her tortured neck, his hand caressing the ugly red marks left by her captors hands against the delicate alabaster skin of her slender neck.
'Buck slipped his hand under her chin and tilted
her face up to his 'I'm sorry Bernie' he apologised as both of them forgot
Teaspoon was there, absorbed by their feelings for each other, feelings which
until now had been unspoken.
'For what Buck?' she asked 'Protecting me?'You could not have done anything more than you did' she murmured sinking into the soulful depths of his eyes, neither of them noticing as Teaspoon quietly left them alone.'
'I should have been with you, then he wouldn't have touched you.He wouldn't have gotten near you' He stroked her russet curls back from her forehead his fingers gently tracing the beginnings of a nasty purple bruise on her forehead.'
'He would have hurt you, maybe worse, I couldn't live with that Buck,' she lifted a hand to cup his face 'You saved me didn't you' she smiled knowing instinctively that Buck was the one who had removed her from danger.' The anger and hatred she had seen in his eyes before she had passed out had truly frightened her, so much that she had been concerned for him and had tried to tell him that she wasn't hurt, but when she had struggled to speak to him Cassidy had thought that she was trying to escape and had tightened his hold on her. 'Her last conscious thoughts had been concern for the young man who had come to mean so much to her.'He won't be hurting you anymore.’ Buck spoke, truly sorry that he had been forced to take a life but he wouldn't have let anyone hurt Bernie. They fell silent each content to hold the other close and soothe their shattered nerves, content to put it out of their minds for a few minutes, but Buck couldn't remain silent for long, he had to know as much as he could about her attacker to be able to protect her.'What do you know about him?’ Buck asked, needing to find out as much as he could, the only way to do that was ask her, no matter how much he regretted having to upset her again.'He was the wagon master of our wagon train, he was the one who accused Mama of doing horrible things and attracting the wrong sort of attention to the train. Papa spent a lot of time with him before he disappeared. He wouldn't let us look for Papa, he said that it would hold the train up and he could catch up with us when he came back. 'We kept seeing him in towns along the way, I just thought it was because we were travelling in the same direction, but maybe I was wrong, maybe he was following us.' She spoke softly fat tears overflowing from her luminous eyes, collecting on her thick black lashes, her obvious sorrow breaking Buck's heart 'Maybe if I had noticed Mama would be alive now.' She sobbed as she burrowed back against Buck's chest.'
'Buck grasped her by the shoulders and turned her so he could look into her face. 'None of this is your fault Bernie, not one thing, you and Jasper are the victims here, Teaspoon will find him and he will pay for killing your mama, you'll see' he spoke trying not to sound angry as he spoke to her.'The last thing he wanted was for her to feel the seething anger that was coursing through him, anger caused by a man who was trying to harm his children. Running his thumbs under her eyes to collect the fat tears trickling down her cheeks he smiled at her, 'I'll take you back to the bunkhouse now and Jasper can see you are alright.'
'Can you stay with me tonight Buck?' she murmured as he moved to place her on the couch and kneel at her feet so he could check the welts on her delicate neck
'What?' his eyes flew to her face, wondering if she knew just how alluring she appeared'I don't want to be alone Buck, please stay with me' her teary eyes overflowed sadly.'
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