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 stood in the middle of the road, her hands sweating so badly that she could barely hold on to the gun she held in her hand as she slipped it back into the holster. Wiping her hands on her trousers and clearing her throat as she realised the stupidity of her actions.
God help her what was she doing, she’d always been the slowest of all the riders on the draw and now she had called out a man who was a professional gun fighter. Sure he was not as fast as he could be , but it would never be as slow as she was. She swallowed convulsively as she faced him.
“what do you want to do this for missy?” he spoke watching her nervousness with a laugh
“You killed my first husband and I refuse to let you kill my best friend” she spoke through gritted teeth hating the way that he was laughing at her.
“Not my problem that you spend your time with lawmen” he spoke
“I want you to remember my husband” she spoke “He was a good kind man, he never hurt anyone unless they hurt him or broke the law” tears flowed down her cheeks.
“That means what to me” Calder spat
“You shot him in the back, you didn’t even give him a chance to protect or defend himself” she screamed
“did Hickock give me a chance to defend myself” he spoke
“He shot you in a gunfight Calder” Lou called “If you hadn’t have shot Marshall Cain, things could have been different”
“Are you finished” Calder spat “Why don’t you just go home and let me alone little girl” he laughed at her
“No” Lou spoke “I’m going to finish what I came to do” she wiped the tears from her face and flicked her braids back over her shoulders “I won’t let you kill Buck. You took Kid from me. I won’t let you take Buck”
“Ah the halfbreed Marshall that has been trailing me all over the territory” his eyes widened in dawning recognition
“What is he to you?” he frowned
“He will be my husband, and the father of my children” she spat.
”You really should choose your lovers better – halfbreeds and marshals” he laughed.
”His skin colour has never mattered to me he is a kind honourable man. I won’t let you hurt him. I won’t have you hurt my children again” she vowed
“Too late for that missie, you have taken their mother away from them’ he shrugged
“Are you ready?” she spat through clenched teeth
--oo0000oo--
Buck stood in the shadows almost at Lou’s side wondering how to get her out of the situation she had found herself in. He didn’t want to present himself to her and distract her, or worse let her think that he didn’t trust her, but with every second that passed he grew more fearful that Lou would get herself killed. His heart swelled with love as she spoke so eloquently of him and the love they had fallen into.
--oo0000oo--
Calder and Lou stared each other down, Lou knowing that this time she had done something stupid, she could see her mortality in Calder’s eyes. She wished that she had taken the time to tell Buck she loved him, she wished that she had stopped to look just once more at her beautiful daughter. She wished that she was not taking the life of Buck’s unborn child with her. Swallowing convulsively her finger twitched on the gun. Calder saw her movement, an amused glint in his eyes as he realised the true depth of her fear, his hand moving for his gun. Neither of them expected what was about to happen. As Calder’s gun cleared his holster, Buck burst from the shadows his gun drawn, running towards Lou. He hit Lou with his shoulder, firing on Calder at the same time, sending her flying into the dirt. The shot Buck fired hit Calder in the chest , the force of impact sending him sprawling backwards into the dirt.
It took several minutes for Lou to get her bearings again but she pulled herself up out of the dirt and looking up the street she saw Calder lying on the ground quite obviously dead, the townsfolk creeping out of their homes and stores, a crowd gathering around Calder’s lifeless form. Turning her attention to the man who had made a habit of coming to her rescue, she crawled to his side thinking that he had hit his head on the ground and knocked himself out she pushed his hair back from his face as his eyes fluttered open.
“Is the baby alright?” he murmured as she brushed his hair back “Are you okay?” he spoke his voice growing weaker. Confused by Buck’s weakness, Lou rolled him over and pulled him onto her lap.
“We’re both fine Buck” Lou murmured looking down his body, her eyes widening as she saw a bloodstain widening on his chest. She realised that the shot that Calder had fired had not gone astray, but had hit Buck. Tightening her hold on him she rocked him in her arms, screaming frantically to the townsfolk.
“Somebody get the doctor” she screamed tears streaming down her cheeks
“Don’t let him die, please” she pleaded
“Buck, please hold on” she murmured into his hair rocking him back and forth in her arms
“Louise, let me take him please” Thompkins held her shoulder as she sobbed “We’ll get him out of the dirt and take him to the surgery it’ll be quicker” he pulled her away from the prone man in her lap. Lou seeing the sense of Thompkins words allowed him to take Buck from her.
Lifting Buck into his arms he cradled his former son in law and the father of his granddaughter against his body. Walking quickly to the doctors surgery, closely followed by Lou and half the town. Knowing that they were coming Doc Fletcher had prepared am operating table for them to place Buck on. Thompkins laid him down and backed away as Lou moved in to try and calm the semi conscious Buck.
“Buck, Buck why did you do it?” she murmured as his eyes fluttered open
“Promised Kid I would look after you” he mumbled “‘sides I love you” his eyes closed again as he swallowed tightly, his strength ebbing
“Buck don’t leave me” she shook him “I need you Buck” she grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly not even sure he was aware of her presence “your baby needs you” she cried
“Look after Star and Mary for me” she could almost see the light fading in his eyes “Tell them I love them”
“Buck, please hang on for me” she cried pressing her lips against his forehead trying to draw him back to her in anyway she could
“I love you Lou” he murmured as his eyes closed again.
“Buck don’t die I couldn’t bear to lose you too” she cried, Thompkins pulled her away from Buck to enfold her in his embrace as she sobbed uncontrollably/
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