Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

The Locket

by Allison K. East.

Chapter 7

Lydia placed something into Emily's hands. "I want you to have this."

Emily looked down in confusion. Nestled in her hands was a gold locket. "What's this for?"

"It's to say that I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that I did. I never meant what I said. I... I don't hate you."

"Then why did you say it?" While Emily's voice wasn't exactly cold, neither was it cordial. Her expression remained impassive.

"I don't know! Somethin' inside of me just snapped. Anyway, I didn't mean it. And I'm sorry that I said it."

"And the locket?"

"To show you that I mean it. I didn't apologise before because when Louise came out after me, I felt that you would think I didn't mean it when I did. The locket was a gift from Ike... just before I was sent to Baltimore."

Emily's eyes closed in pain. "Lydia..."

"Open it."

With shaking hands Emily complied, although she didn't really want to. The locket was just one more reminder of the past that Ike and Lydia had shared, and all that she had lost. Seeing Ike's embarrassed smile was almost her breaking point. "Lydia, I can't. Ike gave this to you..."

"Emily please. Givin' this to you isn't gonna change the memory of what we had. But I know that they're just memories now. You shared somethin' with Ike that I never could. You have his son. The locket should be a legacy for Ike's children, so I'm givin' it to you, for you to pass on." Tears were streaming down her cheeks, but Lydia held firm to her decision. It seemed like the hardest thing she'd ever had to do, but she knew that Ike would've understood, and that made it easier to bear.

"Oh Lydia." Emily had no idea what to say. She was unprepared for this kind of selflessness from Lydia, especially after everything that had happened. Emily knew that Lydia had loved Ike, as hard as it was for her to deal with. Judging from the way she was reminiscing with Buck, Emily would have expected Lydia to hold tight to a keepsake like that. Not give it away. She knew she would.

"Thank you, Lydia." Like Lydia, tears were streaming down her cheeks. "I don't know what else to say."

"That's enough." Lydia smiled, and suddenly it seemed like the gulf between them had lessened somewhat. Silence befell between them, but unlike before, it was comfortable. This was what Buck walked in on when he came to get a saddle. Needless to say, he was surprised.

"What's goin' on, ladies?" he asked cautiously. He didn't sense any tension when he walked in, but...

"Nothin', we were just talkin'." Emily replied.

Buck gave them a sceptical look. After all the tension over the last few days, there was no way he was going to believe that. Besides, 'just talking' did not explain the traces of tears on their faces. "Uh huh."

Lydia knew what Buck was thinking, and she did not want him bringing the subject up and sabotaging the newfound peace between her and Emily. "So what are you doin' here?" she asked pointedly, changing the subject, "I thought you had chores to do."

"I thought I'd have a go at breakin' that new bay filly in. I've got a couple of hours 'til supper." With that, Buck disappeared into the tack room.

Lydia looked at Emily. "Buck on that spirited bay filly? This I've got to see!"

divider

Just as the women thought, it was entertaining to watch Buck and Wilson attempt to ride the bay filly. The bay was a beautiful animal, named Vixen by Buck, and she would not keep a man on her back for long. Lydia watched, her heart in her throat as Buck was thrown time and again, but he always got up and re-mounted, determined not to let the filly get the best of him.

Soon, Emily found it more entertaining to watch Lydia's reactions than Buck's attempts. Every time Buck was thrown, Lydia would almost inaudibly gasp, bite her lip, and clench the corral fence so tight that her hands would turn white. Emily noticed something else too. Practically every time Buck picked himself off the ground and brushed himself off, he would look at Lydia and nod, as if to show her that he was all right. And when he did so, Lydia breathed a soft sigh of relief and would loosen her grip on the fence.

Emily watched this routine a while before leaning in close to Lydia's ear. "I think Buck likes you."

"What?" Lydia turned startled blue-green eyes on Emily. "Are you serious?"

"Uh huh. I've noticed it over the past few days. And I think you like him too."

That revelation proved to be too startling. All Lydia could do was stare at Emily, dumbfounded, until Buck was thrown again and her attention was diverted. Again she gasped inaudibly and bit her lip. Again she grabbed the corral fence and clenched it so tight that her hands turned white. The minute Buck stood again; she breathed a sigh of relief, and turned her attention back to Emily and the subject at hand. "I think you're way off the mark."

"Really? What about that?" Emily nodded her head towards Lydia's hands; she was still clenching the fence. "Every time Buck is thrown, you practically hold your breath until you know he's all right."

"So? That's just concern for an old friend."

"I think there's more to it than that. And I've seen the way Buck looks at you, the way his eyes follow you around; the way your eyes follow him around. I think..."

Lydia whirled on Emily. "Just what are you tryin' to say, Emily?" she asked ferociously, startling the younger woman with the force of her question.

Emily's mind went blank. She knew that if she said the wrong thing now, she would widen the gulf between them again, allowing Lydia to revert back into her defensive self. Besides, she wasn't sure exactly what she was implying. Luckily for her, Lou chose that moment to call everyone in to supper.

"We'll finish this later," Lydia promised Emily, somewhat ominously.

divider

"So you're sayin' that this girl robbed you? A pretty little thing like that?" McCaffrey was fascinated by what Loran and Forge had told him, though he did find it a little unbelievable. Lydia, a thief? She was askin' for the Marshal. Or was that just a cover...?

Loran watched the conflicting emotions flicker across McCaffrey's face, from initial disbelief to doubt to suspicion. Inwardly, he grinned. With just a little prodding, he would have the saloon owner fooled with this complete and utter fabrication; and then they would have a way of getting to this young Lydia Mitchell and silencing her for good.

"Every word I tell you is the gospel truth, Mr. McCaffrey," Loran said in oily tones. Forge bit back the urge to snort and gulped his whisky down. Loran wouldn't know the gospel truth if he fell over a Bible. Loran eyed him before continuing. "It pains me to tell you this, Mr. McCaffrey. I trusted her with my life. She was the daughter of my best friend. I took her into my home after her father died, and took care of her, and this is how she repays my hospitality. By robbin' me blind. By takin' all my momma's jewellery, things that I hadn't touched since she died..."

"Your mother's jewellery?" McCaffrey interrupted Loran's rather eloquent narrative. "Did you mother heave a gold locket on a chain?"

Warning bells went off in Loran's head. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, because Lydia was wearing a gold locket the night she ran away. She was real reluctant to take it off."

Now why didn't we see that? Loran thought while he fought to keep an outraged expression on his face, not letting his surprise show. A locket like he's describin' oughtta fetch a good price. Out loud he said, "Well how do you like that. Just wearin' my momma's locket in public, bold as you please. That girl's got no shame. Show her a little hospitality, and she shoved it back in your face."

"Yeah, she treated me like that too," McCaffrey added, getting into the swing of bad-mouthing Lydia. "Lettin' me look after her for a few days, then tryin' to have me arrested for kidnappin'."

"Yeah, I heard about that. How did you get out of it?"

"Marshal couldn't get the charges to stick. I was arrested for holdin' up the pXp though, 'cause that half-breed wouldn't let me take what she owes me. That lot always stick up for each other, and now I can't get what I'm owed. I can't go anywhere near the pXp."

"Oh, I think we can help you there, Mr. McCaffrey. All we would need is to borrow a few of your men."

"What do you have in mind?"

divider

Supper that night at the pXp was surprisingly light. The tension from the previous meals was gone, and Buck, Lou, and the Kid were amazed at the difference. While Emily and Lydia were not completely comfortable with each other, they were able to joke about and talk a little. There were a few tense moments when the conversation would drift to Ike or Buck, but that would soon fade with a change of subject.

After supper, Emily made everyone a mug of coffee, and took hers out on the porch. She sat on the swing and stared out into the night. A few moments later she was joined by Lydia, who was content to do the same. There were a few moments of silence as both women just sat there, sipping their coffee.

"What did you mean earlier?" Lydia asked suddenly.

"What?' Emily was momentarily confused.

"When we were watchin' Buck, you were sayin' that he likes me, or some such nonsense..."

"It isn't nonsense," Emily broke in. "I've seen it. Buck does like you! He's always watchin' you..." Lydia gave her a sceptical look, so she rushed on. "Okay, maybe not always, 'cause I don't think anyone else has noticed. But I have. He looks at you with such longin', he smiles when you're happy. He frowns when you seem sad. He..."

"Sounds to me like you've been watchin' Buck quite a lot yourself. "Lydia cut in dryly.

"Don't change the subject. Anyway, the only reason I noticed was that I was keepin' an eye on you, and I saw how you two were with each other."

"You were keepin' an eye on me?"

"Don't make it sound like that. I was envious of the time you spent with Ike, because we had such little time together. I'd watch you and Buck talk about old times, wishin' that I could have known Ike then."

Lydia was silent for a long moment, and Emily was afraid that she had put her foot in it. The truth was, Lydia did not know what to think. She had no idea she had been under such scrutiny, and while she understood the reasoning behind Emily's actions, it was a disquieting thought,

"What else did you 'notice' about us?" Lydia tried to keep her tone light, but the question came out a touch sarcastically.

"Just that over the last day or two, I've seen you do the same thing. Sneakin' looks at Buck when you think he ain't lookin'. This afternoon your heart practically stopped when you thought the bay was gonna stomp him. I think you really like him."

"So what? Are you sayin' that I like Buck now, so I couldn't have loved Ike? 'Cause that's just wrong, Emily." Lydia stood , and started to move past Emily. "I did love Ike."

Emily reached up and placed her hand on Lydia's arm as she passed. "No, Lydia. I'm not sayin' that at all. I know that you and Ike loved each other. But that was a long time ago, and Ike is gone now, and you hadn't seen him in such a long time, so..."

Whatever Emily had to say next was cut off as they heard riders approach the homestead. The women looked up to see Marshal Pierce ride up with an Army captain followed by several soldiers. Lydia shot Emily a nervous glance, "I wonder what's goin' on?"

"I'll go get the others," Emily stood and went inside, leaving Lydia alone on the porch.

"Good evenin' Lydia," Pierce said, dismounting. "This is Captain McMullen. He has a few questions for you about the stage massacre."

Lydia frowned. "I told you everything I know, Marshal."

"I know, Lydia, but the Captain here thinks you may have forgotten some small, yet important details that he would like to clear up. Do you feel up to it?"

Unlike the solicitous look that Pierce was giving her, Lydia noticed that McMullen was regarding her with a haughty suspicion that was rather blatant. She felt that McMullen had already made his mind up about her, and was not here to try and glean something new, but to grill her.

"I'm fine, Marshal," Lydia spoke finally, breaking her gaze with McMullen. "And I don't have a problem with answering the Captain's questions, but I really don't see the point. There's really nothin' more I can tell you."

Kid and Buck appeared on the porch. "Hello, Marshal, Captain," Kid said cordially. "What brings you out here so late?" "The Captain here thinks that I may have forgotten somethin' when I told the Marshal what happened to me."

"Have you?" Buck asked her.

She shook her head doubtfully. " I don't think so."

"You never know," Captain McMullen interjected. "Small, but significant points can slip through the cracks. It doesn't hurt just to make sure."

Lydia shrugged. "If you say so. Where would you like to do this?"

"Inside would be fine. If that's all right with you?" McMullen nodded to the Kid.

"Sure, come on in."

McMullen waited until they were settled in the sitting room until he started interrogating Lydia, and in her mind 'interrogating' was a mild word for what happened. Right from the start she felt that he was treating her like a criminal.

"Right, Miss Mitchell," he started formally. "Could you tell me about your travel plans?"

"My what?" Lydia asked, confused. This was totally unexpected.

"Your travel plans. The arrangements you made to come out west."

"Why?"

"Just humour me."

"Well, I caught a train from Baltimore to St. Joseph. I had to stay in St. Joseph for a few days, waitin' for the stage I booked passage on."

"And where did you book passage to?" McMullen interrupted.

"Old Bent's Fort, Colorado."

"Interesting," McMullen muttered, half to himself.

"What?"

"Oh?" McMullen seemed startled for a moment. "Oh, I'll get back to that in a moment. And you say that this gang of 'bushwhackers' just took you with them after the robbed the stage?"

She nodded shivering. "One of them said that I was a 'spirited lass', and that they could have 'fun' with me." Lydia's tone left no doubt as to what kind of 'fun' the bushwhacker had been thinking of. She closed her blue-green eyes in pain, barely noticing when Buck placed his hand on her arm and squeezed it reassuringly. For a moment she was lost in her memory of that experience.

McMullen noticed her discomfort and apparent loss of concentration, and took it to mean something else, more proof for his case. "So these outlaws just chose to take you with them, and leave the other passengers?"

"Well, Simon and Adele..."

"Simon and Adele?"

"The other passengers, Simon and Adele Waters. Simon was a childhood friend of mine."

"Oh," McMullen's eyebrows shot up as he remembered that the male passenger they saved had mentioned an 'Adele'. "Go on."

"Simon and Adele had already been shot. I was runnin' away when they caught me. That's when he said that I was 'spirited'."

"He?"

"One of the bushwhackers."

"Why didn't they shoot you? It would have been easier for them."

"I don't know! How am I supposed to know that?"

"Hmmm," McMullen regarded her sceptically before moving on. "Which stage do you take to get to Old Bent's Fort?"

Lydia frowned, puzzled, She had no idea what McMullen was driving at, and his jumping around in the conversation, only made everything more confusing.

McMullen saw Lydia frown and allowed himself a little smile. It was working! He was deliberately jumping around from point to point, trying to keep her off balance. "Well?"

"Er, you take the Santa Fe stage from Independence , Missouri." Lydia said finally.

"But you said you started from St. Joe.?"

"That's right."

"And you were attacked this side of Fort Kearney?"

"I've already said that to Marshal Pierce."

McMullen's behaviour was confusing everybody. "What are you getting' at, Captain?" Buck asked. "I though you were just clearin' up a few points."

"Oh, I am. Please bear with me. You'll find out everythin' in a moment. So, Miss Mitchell, what stage were you on?"

Lydia blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

"It's a simple question for those who aren't hidin' anything. Which stage were you on? You do know, don't you?"

"Of course I know! I was on the Overland Stage."

"The Overland Stage. Are you sure?"

"Yes, it left St. Joseph about ten days ago."

"But you just said that you would catch the Santa Fe Stage to get to Old Bent's Fort. If that's so, and you were going to Old Bent's Fort like you say, why were you on the Overland?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"You said that to get to Bent's Fort you catch the Santa Fe Stage. So why were you on the overland?"

There was a moment of silence as Buck and Kid turned to look at Lydia, who, for her part, had turned pale and was at a loss for words at McMullen's accusatory tone. "What are you sayin'?"

 

On to Chapter 8

 

Let the author know what you think!


Back to The Young Riders fan fiction
(Back to pXp stories)

Back toindex


The Young Riders was a television series created by Ed Spielman.
An Ogiens/Kane Production in asociation with MGM/UA television.