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.
By the time they arrived there was no sign of Cody, but there was the body of one of their abductors, a gunshot wound in his forehead, on the ground near Jenny's hideout. They sat there for a few moments trying to decide what to do when they realised that a horse was approaching them from the small stand of trees to their right.
'Kid' Lou squealed and slid from her horse to run to her beloved's side. Sam and Jimmy also slid from their horses to help Cody to lift Kid to the ground from his seat across Cody's lap. '
What happened?' Teaspoon asked as Cody, his eyes full of worry slid from the saddle. '
I was trying to cover up our tracks so they wouldn't find us. I don't know where he came from, but he was just suddenly there.' Cody spoke indicating the dead man.
'I'm not sure what happened, I thought he was going to kill me, but Kid shot him.' he looked at the prone Kid cradled in Lou's loving tear filled embrace.
'He's been like that ever since.' Cody spoke softly 'I thought since we had a horse now, we should try to make it back to town and get him a doctor'
'We should go Lou.' Sam spoke softly
Lou nodded and shrugged through her tears, before placing a gentle kiss on her beloved husbands forehead and rising. Crossing to Cody, she pulled him into her embrace.
'Thank you.' she murmured against his fringed buckskin covered chest.
'Thank you all' she turned to all her friends.
'It's not over yet sweet thing' Teaspoon spoke 'We must get these people before they try this again.
Rachel and Emma sat on the porch, drinking a cup of tea, worried about their husbands and their young friends. Theresia sat not far from them in the shade of the house, her neice cradled in her arms, her nephew in a cradle beside her. Emma and Rachel's kids playing happily with Starr not far from her. She was happy here helping with the children and planned to tell her sister and brother in law when they returned that she would like to live with them forever, if they would have her. After all she was almost of marrying age and despite the fact that she helped out with the caring and teaching at the Orphanage, more and more she was beginning to think she was only in the way.
Both older women watched warily as two horses they didn't know rode towards the house, Emma warily picked up the shotgun that was never far from her side and laid it across her lap, as added protection. '
Morning Maam' one of the riders tipped his hat at her and them Rachel
'What can we do for you sir?" she asked politely but bluntly
'Can you tell me would the owner of this fine house be home?' he asked as he dismounted and both of them walked onto the porch, coming to a stop mere inches from the wary Rachel.
'I'm afraid they're away on business at the moment.' Emma answered, not happy with the demeanour of these men at all.
The closest man in the blink of an eye had drawn his gun and pulling Rachel by the hair had it pointed at her temple.
'That's bull and you and I both know it.' he sneered, 'I think you ladies should come inside and we will wait for your stupid young friends to come home.' he pulled Rachel by the hair and near dragged her into the room as the second man took the shotgun from Emma and leaning it against the banister, pulled her to her feet and into the house.
Theresia had listened to the men ride up and was terrified by what she saw, but Jimmy had been right when he had noticed that she was like her big sister. She calmly and confidently quieted the children and rounded them up and into the barn. Worried about what would become of her friends, but she was unwilling to let the children walk become part of the dangerous game these men were playing with the lives of her family and friends. Not understanding what they could want with the property, she hoped and prayed that the others had found Kid and Jenny and were on their way home. She knew that she could not wait here and depend on the return of the others to save them, somehow she would have to try and warn them. Quieting the children and swearing them to silence, she left Emma's eldest in charge. Slipping into the bunkhouse through the rear door, she undressed and slipped into a pair of trousers and a shirt. Creeping towards the front of the house she reached up through the railings and pulled the shotgun down into her waiting arms. Creeping back into the barn she was unwilling to waste the time saddling a horse so grabbing a handful of mane she swung agilely up onto its back and walked it far enough away from the barn that the men in the house would not hear her leaving. She galloped hard and fast towards the location that Buck had described before they had left.
'What do you want with the land?' Emma asked quietly, from her position seated beside Rachel on the sofa
'This land is sitting on a kings's ransom in oil. They're simple dirt poor ranchers, they don't need it, they won't appreciate it. Two of them are half breeds for God's sake.' the arrogance of the man annoyed Rachel immensely
'What makes you think you deserve it more?' she sneered at him.
'I've worked in that tiny little assay office for the last three years, making a pittance. I knew when I saw the claim come in that this was what I wanted. They don't need it" he answered watching as Rachel rubbed her distended belly
'I hope one of you knows about birthing babies?' she glared at them
'Why?' the second man spoke gruffly
'I think I'm going to have mine.' she spat at them
'I told you this wasn't a good idea boss, I didn't sign on to hurt no pregnant women' he whined
'If you don't like it, find the half breed's brat and then leave.' the first man spoke unwilling to give up his fight.
He waited until the second man was out the door and lifted his gun and shot him in the back.
"where are the children ladies?' he spoke as he turned back to them 'I would suggest that you tell me bacause as you see I have no qualms about shooting any of you.'
'They were all playing in the barn, if you don't disturb them they will stay there until they are hungry.' Emma answered
'Thank you, see things are much nicer when we all cooperate aren't they' he spoke
He walked to the front door and still watching Emma and Rachel he lifted the beater for the dinner bell and rang the bell, watching as the children all walked towards the house. They had left the babies in the barn in a crib, unable to lift them. As Emma and Rachel saw the children and realsed that Theresia wasn't with them they knew that the intrepid young girl was just like her older sister and would get them help if she could.
Back to the last chapter
Back to Ridingtall
Back to Tall Tales
On to the next chapter
