Originally, "The Long Riders" was my lease favorite episode. I had a hard time with Slim and Andy treating Jess as if he was no longer their best friend. During this episode Jess appears angry, brooding and down right miserable. Slim is uptight about finances. Jess and Slim definitely need some cheering up after Andy leaves for St. Louis. Just picture our boys surrounded by women and of course a small boy.

After reading my reviews, I decided to rewrite my story. Laramie Station agreed to help. So after many corrections, rewrites and just plain changing my mind. I hope you will enjoy my new story.

All errors are my own.

This story is quite different than the original. I saved my original ending to maybe rewrite into a new adventure for our hero. I want to thank all the readers that took time to review my original story.

I do not own Laramie and only write for my own enjoyment.

CHAPTER 1 – FRIENDS - A LONG RIDERS EPILOGUE AND A STORY ABOUT FRIENDSHIP

Slim placed the blanket over Ed McKeever's lifeless body. "Where's Jess and Andy?" Slim glanced around the ranch yard.

"Inside Slim, they're OK." The deputy assured the rancher.

Slim rushed into the ranch house. As he entered, one of the posse called out, "In here, Slim!" Andy and Jess were huddled back to back on the kitchen floor. Andy was attempting to cut through the rawhide throngs binding their wrists with an old steel Indian arrowhead. Slim rushed over to his friend and brother pulling out his knife to cut the rawhide strips binding their hands and feet. Slim lifted Jess to his feet noting the blood running down the side of his face. Jess stumbled grabbing Slim to keep upright.

Andy stood, turned to Jess, and fell into his arms, resting his head against his friend's chest. The boy's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry Jess, I shoulda known you were right 'bout Luke. I treated you badly. You're my best friend." He sobbed.

Slim placed his arm around his partner's thin waist. "Andy, help me get him over to the settee." Andy released Jess and the brothers walked Jess over the settee, sitting him down. Jess had one hand pressed tight against the side of his head.

"Andy, get Jess a pillow will ya?" Slim asked. When the boy left the room, Slim moved Jess's hand off his forehead. "Can I take a look?" he spoke softly noticing blood dripping along the cowboy's hairline and a large lump was forming.

"Does it look bad Slim? Sure hurts, feel kinda shaky." Jess could feel the blood dripping through his thick hair and into his eyebrows.

"You sit here Jess."

Slim turned to Andy. "Stay with him," he ordered.

"I'll be right back, Jess. I need to hitch up the wagon for the deputies to take McKeever's and Luke's bodies into town and ask them to send the doc out. The other two men are able to ride. Andy will be stay here with you. Keep still so the bleeding will stop."

"K." Jess answered.

Slim hurried outside to hook up the buckboard and help the deputies place McKeever's and Gregg's bodies into the buckboard. The other two gunmen were tied up and secured to their mounts for the ride back to Laramie. The posse turned McKeever's and Gregg's horses loose in the corral.

"If it alright Slim, we'll leave McKeever's and Gregg's horses in the corral." The deputy asked.

"Sure," he agreed running his hand along the back of his neck as he watched the men ride out. Slim looked at the ranch house with the windows shot out and the chairs overturned on the porch. They were lucky that it wasn't one of them laying dead in the buckboard. What a fool he'd been. Jess had been right all along about Luke Gregg. He hoped Jess would forgive him? Slim picked up his pace, eager to get back inside.

"How's he doing Andy?"

"I'm right here Slim ask me." Jess fretted. "My stomachs jumbled up and my head aches somethin' terrible. Seems he hit me the same place Morgan did. Don't know if my head can take much more."

Andy sitting next to Jess, gave Slim a worried look while still keeping a tight hold of Jess. The boy was shivering.

"What happened Andy?"

"I was setting the table Slim." Andy explained. "Luke walked in with Jess slung over his shoulder all tied up. Jess' head was dripping blood. He wasn't moving. I thought he was dead." Andy choked back tears as he continued. Slim knelt in front of Andy placing his hands on the boy's knees. Andy let go of Jess and placed his arms about Slim. Through his sobs he continued his story.

"Luke laid Jess on the couch. McKeever yelled at Luke to move Jess onto the floor in the kitchen so his men could get a clear shot at you out the window. They were gonna kill you Slim."

"Here Andy blow." Slim held out his neckerchief. Andy blew his nose and looked up at Jess. Jess nodded for Andy to continue. He'd been out cold and didn't know what had happened either.

"Luke tied me up setting me down next to Jess. Jess started moaning so at least I knew he was alive. We were so worried about you Slim. They were set up to shoot you down when you returned from Laramie."

"Then Jess told Luke that McKeever was gonna kill us all." Luke seemed real upset at that and walked over to McKeever. I don't know what happened but the next thing we knew Luke was tied up and laying next to me."

Andy turned to Jess. "I'm sorry, I guess I should know to trust your gut feelings by now."

"Andy," Jess took the boy's hand in his." Luke tried to save Slim at the end. Gave his life for you Slim." Jess turned to Slim. "Guess he wasn't all bad. Heard him yell back at McKeever somethin' bout leavin' his son alone and that he'd repaid his debt. McKeever answered by saying he'd saved Luke's boy from hanging but he could change that."

"Yeah I heard him yell something like that too, Jess. Guess we'll never know the whole story." Andy agreed. Slim hugged Andy tight, then released him so he could stand.

"The posse's sending Doc Hanson out to take a look at you Jess." Slim went into the kitchen and returned with a wash basin of cool water. Taking a moistened towel Slim carefully wiped Jess' face then placed the cool towel on the large bruise forming on the side of his head. Gently he soaked the dried blood off his temple.

"Dad gum it Slim, that hurts." Jess flinched, then settled back as Slim shifted the towel to his neck. Jess rested his neck into the coolness of the towel. It felt good.

Jess moved to lay flat on the couch. "Thanks Slim, feelin' better." It wasn't long before he drifted off. Andy covered him with the light quilt from the foot of the settee then headed outside to finish the chores with his brother and pick up the mess in the ranch yard. Inside the house broken glass and dishes littered the floor. The front windows were broken out and chairs were tipped over. Slim and Andy hadn't wanted to wake Jess by moving the furniture back where it belonged or cleaning up the house. Andy grabbed the medicine bundle Luke had given him from the kitchen floor. The boy didn't want it anymore, it only made him sad. The medicine bundle reminded him of how close he'd come to losing his brother and Jess. Andy carried the bag out back behind the barn and buried it. He hurried back to the house; tears running down his face. Andy kept his face down not wanting Slim to see his tear lined face. Quietly opening the door Andy was surprised to see Jess staring up at him from the couch.

"Andy come here." Jess's gravelly voice was full of emotion.

Andy crawled up on the couch next to Jess and wrapped his arms around his friend. "I'm so sorry Jess.".

"It's OK, you took to Luke. He liked you Andy and died trying to save Slim. Maybe he coulda changed. You gave him the chance but he couldn't take it. Kinda like Slim gave me a chance to make a home here. McKeever, took Luke's chance away by gunning him down."

Andy turned toward the door hearing a wagon. "Must be the doc, Jess." Andy scurried up, wiping his eyes as he ran to open the door.

Jess could hear Slim talking to the doc in the yard. The men entered the ranch house.

Andy greeted the doc and followed them to where Jess was sitting.

"Let's see Jess." Doc Hanson turned Jess' head feeling around the cut. "Ouch." Jess chewed at his lip as he pushed the doc's hand away. "You gotta press so hard."

"Now Jess, calm down. Isn't this the same spot Morgan clubbed ya last year?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Slim, You'd best watch him close for a few days." The doc turned back to Jess.

"Son, you take it easy. You can do your chores but if you start feeling dizzy or sick to your stomach, go lay down and rest. No bronc busting till next week. Have you been keeping your food down?"

"Don't know Doc, ain't 'et nothin'. My stomach feels like it's turning somersaults."

"Andy, bring Jess a cup of coffee. Lucky for you, son, coffee's good for head injuries; not sure why. If you keep the coffee down then maybe try some toasted bread or broth. Understand Jess? No fooling around with this injury."

Jess answered softly, "Yeah, finally givin' me medicine I don't mind takin'. Thanks Doc."

Slim looked out the window. The men could hear the stage entering the yard.

"The stage is here. Come on Andy, give me a hand. We'll be back shortly." Luckily there were no passengers so the driver helped him and Andy change the team.

Slim returned to the house to see Jess sitting at the table drinking a coffee. Andy had followed Slim in and ran to stand next to Jess his hand resting on his shoulder. "Feeling any better Jess? The boy asked.

Jess smiled. "Yeah, Andy, but have felt better."

The doc and Slim walked into the kitchen. Slim picked up a chair and motioned Doc Hanson to have a seat and poured them each a cup of coffee.

"Slim, what day are you bringing Andy to town to catch the stage to St Louis?"

"Day after tomorrow, Doc. Figured we'd treat Andy to lunch in town. Then put him on the stage before we bring home the supplies. Kinda do all our town errands on the same day. Why?"

"Have, Jess stop in to see me. I want to see how he's doing. Keep him kinda quiet the next few days and don't give him anything he's gotta concentrate on. Make sure he rests up and doesn't over do it."

"OK, Doc, doesn't sound to hard. See you in a couple of day."

Doc Hanson entered the bunk room. Jess had gone to lay down as he could barely keep his eyes open. The doc told Jess about stopping in to see him when they were in town. Jess agreed and Doc Hanson waved to Slim as he headed out the door to his next house call.

The next day was spent cleaning up inside the ranch house and repairing windows. The afternoon found the three friends fishing at the lake. The sunshine and cloudless skies made for a beautiful afternoon even if Jess and Slim were still somewhat at odds. Jess was moody and Slim was feeling guilty. Slim felt he'd let Jess down by taking Luke's side and accusing Jess of being jealous of Luke.

Andy had tried his best to apologize to Jess, but it didn't seem to do any good. (He) was (still) having a hard time dealing with Luke's death. He knew Gregg had set up Slim to be killed, but Gregg had died trying to save Slim. The boy was confused and looking forward to talking it out with Jonesy. Andy toyed with the idea of discussing it with Jess; but Jess hadn't liked Luke and had been upset about him making friends with Luke. Yeah, Andy thought, it would be better to wait and talk to Jonesy.

Jess was taking Andy's leaving hard. After all the bickering over the last two weeks Jess was withdrawn and stand-offish. He did as Slim asked but not with his usual sly remarks and quick smile. Jess' being confined to easy chores with periodic rests throughout the day didn't help the Texan's attitude. Jess gaze was often fixated on the mustangs that needed breaking in the back corral. He worried if he'd be healthy enough to finish breaking 'em. Dang, he was still feeling dizzy when he stood, moved to fast or bent over to shovel manure or toss hay. Heck, he couldn't even put a saddle on a horse without feeling dizzy. The army was demanding delivery within the month. Well, it was down to him and he'd get it done, somehow.

Thursday morning dawned bright and sunny. The men hitched the wagon for their trip to town. Slim threw Andy's bag in the back of the wagon and everyone hopped aboard. They enjoyed the trip, talking about the upcoming summer plans and looking forward to Andy and Jonesy being home. The trip to Laramie passed quickly.

The two partners seemed to be getting along better and lunch at Mimi's was fun with Jess and Slim teasing Andy like old times. They finished up their lunch and headed over to the Station to await the stage. The stage arrived and Slim passed up Andy's bag to the driver and opened the door. As Andy was about to climb into the stage, two deputies walked by escorting the two gunmen from McKeever's gang over to the court house. Andy turned to Slim "Come on Slim." he pleaded, "We're studying law, can't I stay. I don't want to go." Slim smiling pushed the boy into the coach and closed the door. Andy hung his head out the window. "I don't want to go Slim, I don't want to be smart, I want to be just like you and Jess." The two friends chuckled and waved as the stage pulled out.

Slim looked at Jess. "What kinda backhanded compliment was that, he doesn't want to be smart, he wants to be like us."

Jess smiled. "Come on pard we got a business to attend to."