The Reunion
Chapter 1
(Author's note: And finally, here it is. The format will change. There will be a lot of conversations. Hopefully by the end we will have a good feel for where all the characters are going. And some real closure. Enjoy! And as always, I do not own any of the characters found in the show, The Young Riders.)
"Riders coming!" Buck had been standing on the porch, watching for so long we had almost forgotten he was there. It took a while, but we finally saw what his sharper eyes had spotted-a wagon with a rider alongside.
I think we all wanted to run down the road to greet our guests, but better manners prevailed. A few more minutes of waiting revealed that it was the Lee family working their way up to us. Lou was driving the wagon. There was happy chaos for a bit while everyone welcomed the newcomers. Buck and I both noticed that Lou looked thin and peaked. Loosing the baby had indeed been hard on her. And she was wearing a dress, not pants or even a split skirt! Bu Lou smiled and was genuinely happy to see baby Noah.
Teaspoon and Rachel were probably only a day behind them, Lou and Kid stated. The couple had stayed behind in Cheyenne an extra day so Teaspoon could take care of some "official duties." We had no idea when Cody and Jimmie would show up. But they said they were coming.
Since the two oldest boys were 4 years old now, we had set up a lodge for them next to the house. My brother and his family were living there, and they were happy to take care of the two. Ike was really excited about having someone his age around. The toddlers would mostly stay with us, but I know that my Katie would want to be around her big brother too. So it should work out.
With the kids camping, that freed up two bedrooms. Lou and Kid would go in one, Teaspoon and Rachel in the other. Jimmy and Cody could use the main room. It would be certainly more comfortable than what they had known during the War.
Our first arrivals were settling in (if the cheerful yells from the lodge were to go by) well, when our next visitors arrived. Cody and Jimmy rode up together. They looked road weary, but they were laughing and joking. The former Riders were so glad to see each other! As I had expected, the two newest arrivals were more than happy to bed down in our "living room."
I don't think the bunch of them stopped talking until well after supper. The main thing Buck and I were interested in was finding out what they all wanted to do now that they were finally here. Besides talk and eat.
We would need to get input from the Hunters when they got here, but there was agreement on several things. They all wanted to see our ranch. Jimmy states, "I'm tired of riding these sorry nags the Army kept giving us. I want to pick up a couple of good horses from you, if we can work it out." I'm sure we can. Cody felt the same way. Buck already had a couple of flashier horses set aside. Cody would probably want at least one of them.
There was also some talk about wanting to visit some of the Sacred lands north of us. There had been reports of the Yellowstone River area for years, but they seemed so fantastical that no one in Washington, D.C. believed them. There was talk about mounting a new expedition in the next few years to investigate. We'd feel safer with the U.S. government no where near the place, frankly. But a short trip is possible.
Of course, they all wanted to see Buck's printing press and catch up on his most recent newspapers. They are all so proud of what Buck has accomplished there. Cody was teasing him and telling him that he was "A right proper white man now." At which point Buck threatened to scalp him. I was so glad to see the laughter.
Just before lunchtime, Teaspoon and Rachel arrived. Trust him to arrive in time for food! Rachel immediately wanted to see the children. Our house party was complete.