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.
Early the next morning before the sun was even past the horizon, Buck placed a gentle kiss on the slightly parted lips of the woman laying in his arms, before he slipped out of her embrace and tucked the sheet around her.
He had laid for many hours watching her sleep, as he had done many times back when they were all riding for the express, if he had a dollar for half the times he or one of the other boys had almost been caught just standing watching Lou sleep he would be a wealthy man today. He still didn’t know exactly what it had been about Lou that had attracted all of them to her like moths to a flame, all determined to protect her, they all knew that she was perfectly capable of looking after herself, but she still had an air of vulneratbility about her, that none of them had been able to resist.
This morning, as he had lain there, a sheen of moisture across his eyes, her slightly parted lips like a rosebud, his fingers genrly tracing the lush fullness of her bottom lip. As she had stirred in her sleep, and her arm tightened around his bare chest, he had forced himself to slide out of her embrace before the feelings coursing through his body ran away from him again, he now knew how he felt about Lou, but it was so soon after Kid’s death, he didn’t want her to be confused by her own feelings,so he had made his own decision during the night.
He dressed quickly and quietly, then slipped across the hall to place a kiss on the forehead of the tiny cherub in her bed, he walked out of the house and slipped a halter on his horse, mounting it bareback he rode briskly out of the barn and across the open prairie before him to think as the horse ran beneath him. He rode for what seemed like hours until he found himself dismounting his horse in front of Kid’s office. Shaking his head, he wondered when he would think about it as his own office. He knew that he was probably the only person who knew exactly what Kid’s killer looked like. He took a seat at the desk that had been Kid’s since Teaspoons death and was now his own. He studied each of the wanted posters carefully, taking his time and comparing each face with the face of the hobo that had taken the life of his best friend. Deciding on one of the posters, he folded it carefully and placed it securely in his vest pocket.
It was close to noon when Buck rode into the way station, he tended to his horse and walked slowly across to the bunkhouse, pausing only long enough to swing Mary into his arms and hugging her tightly, smiling as she ggigled wildly at his tickling.
“Uncle Buck” she giggled “Where is Mama?” she became more seious as she saw Buck’s eyes cloud
“I don’t know honey” Buck spoke looking toward the bunkhouse he saw Rachel shake her head “but I’m sure she’ll be back soon.” Buck placed her back on the ground, steadyig her until her little legs were steady under her “Why don’t you go and play with Noah Mary”
“Okay Unc Buck” she spoke and went in search of her cousin Noah. Buck watched her go for a couple of minutes and then walked briskly up to where Rachel stood on the bunkhouse steps.
“where is she?” Buck asked without preamble concerned about Lou
“She’s up in the bedroom” Rachel spoke not sure where to begin “she’s upset about something. You wouldn’t have any isea would you?” she asked her shrewd eyes not missing the pain that flashed through Bucks face
Buck looked at the woman who was like a mother to them all and knew that he wouldn’t be able to hide his feelings from her “I love her Rachel, and I think she loves me” he spoke softly
“Buck I’m happy for you” Rachel started “But are you sure Buck, please don’t rush her, its too soon”
“Don’t you think I don’t know that” he spat more angry at himself than Rachel
“She kissed me last night, she meant it as a kiss of friendship, but something happened. Something that I didn’t expect and I couldn’t help myself, I kissed her back.” he looked at Rachel the pain in his eyes almost tangible as he sank to sit on the step “I never expected to feel this way, but I do Rachel. God help me I love her, I know now I always have”
Rachel sank down beside him on the step and cradled him in her arms she could feel his torment, feel his pain and she knew that not a soul could help either of them, this was something that they had to work out for themselves.
“Did she tell you how she feels?” Rachel asked
“She is confused Rachel, she says that she feels the same way, I don’t know what to do I don’t want to hurt her any more, so I am going to give her the only thing that I can. I am going to find the man who killed Kid” he spoke as Rachel absently stroked his hair, feeling his pain
“She will come back to us Buck” she spoke “Maybe you should go and talk to her, I tried, maybe you should, maybe she will listen to you.”
Buck stood and kissed Rachel on the forehead “Thanks Rach” he murmured as he started to walk over to the house.
Entering silently he moved up the stairs and stood outside the door of Lou’s bedroom, not sure if he should intrude, but still pushing the door open. What he saw when he opened the door nearly broke his heart. Lou sat on the bed surrounded by Kid’s clothes, Clinging to one of his shirts, her tears dampening it as she cried. Moving to the side of the bed he knelt there and spoke softly to her
“Lou, tell me what is it?” he murmured almost frightened of her answer
“You weren’t there this morning, I thought that maybe you were frightened of what I had with Kid.” she spoke through her sobs “I thought that I could pack his things away, so we could have a fresh start” she paused her sobbing getting worse
“but I can’t do it Buck” she murmured “I smelt the scent of Kid on his clothes and I just couldn’t do it” she held out the shirt in her arms “See it still smells of him”
“Lou, don’t do this to yourself” he spoke softly “You don’t have to do this at all” he moved to sit beside her on the bed as he indicated Kid’s belongings “Honey I loved Kid too, more than you will ever know. No matter what happens between us, I would never ever expect you to behave like he had never existed” he stroked her hair before placing one gentle loving hand under her chin and turning her face to his.
“Honestly” she smiled waterily
“Honestly” he answered “Whatever happens between us will happen because you want it too, and only when you want it to” he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and stood and walked out of the room not trusting himself to stay with her.
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