*Note 1: I do not own anything associated with Young Riders...this is just my imagination running away with me...
*Note 2: itallics indicate a dream sequence.
The acrid aroma of coffee filled the nostrils of one James Butler Hickok and worked their way to forcing his eyes open. Having come from a deep slumber, disorientation was to be expected but he found himself thoroughly bewildered by his surroundings. He figured immediately that he was not in the bunkhouse but just as clear to him was that he was not in any hotel he had ever stayed at along his routes. Really the only differences between the bunkhouse and the hotels were the privacy and the beds were just a little bit softer. Where he found himself presently, was smack dab in the softest featherbed he had ever known and under a quilt lovingly crafted in an interlocking ring pattern usually reserved for wedding gifts. This was similar to when he would visit Celinda but this was no guest room. The other thing that quickly struck Jimmy was his own nudity. Now he always slept in his long johns and it was entirely outside his character to sleep naked but he was becoming more and more certain that his current lack of clothing was directly connected to the humming feminine voice from the next room. He scanned the room and located his clothes on a chair in the corner and his long johns on the floor and became even more puzzled that his guns were not close by.
Jimmy took a deep breath and started trying to put things together. He didn't seem to be in any danger and he was uninjured and not bound. He didn't have a headache but figured he must have been drinking the night before though what could have caused him to do that, he wasn't sure. At last he came to the conclusion that he'd just have to get up and get dressed so that he could ask that woman in the next room where he was and how he got there. Judging from his state and her contented humming, that might be an awkward conversation. Jimmy threw off the quilt and leaned down to grab his long johns.
"It's about time you were up and around. You're breakfast is getting cold and that's just not like you. I was starting to worry."
Startled and suddenly shy about being unclothed, Jimmy quickly snatched the blanket closer to himself in an attempt to hide his nakedness from her. While he did, he got his first good look at this woman he was pretty sure he had gotten acquainted with in a biblical way the night before. If he believed in such things he would have thought an angel to be standing in the doorway. She had tried to pin her blonde hair into a bun but it seemed a good amount of it was dead set on escaping into a mass of tiny curls around her face and the morning sun catching those curls certainly solidified the idea of angel. He remembered a book once that Teaspoon had shown him of art and there were cherubs with faces and hair like hers. He wished he could remember the name of the artist but at this moment in his current state, he wasn't sure he could come up with his own name. Though the thought of what most likely had gone on in this bedroom the night before had him embarrassingly coming up with something else.
The woman for her part began to giggle at him.
"What has gotten into you this morning, Jimmy? You sleep late and now you're looking at me like, well, I don't know what. And I thought we dispensed with the need for the shyness a while ago."
Jimmy's brow furrowed and his bewilderment must have shown because her expression changed immediately.
"Jimmy, are you alright?"
Dammit! Now it was obvious he ought to know her, but he just didn't and there was no delicate way to put that.
"I'm not really sure ma'am. I think I feel fine enough but I guess I must not be since you have me at the disadvantage."
"Ma'am? Did you really just call me, of all people, ma'am? You'd better just lie back down there James Hickok. You must not be well if you don't remember the woman you've been married to for the last six months."
Looking down, Jimmy noticed for the first time the ring on his left hand and the matching one on hers. He felt horrible and wanted to run but suddenly didn't feel quite well enough to stand. He fell back into the pillow just as she, his wife, hurried over to feel his forehead.
"Well, you don't feel warm but then you were acting a little funny when you got home for dinner last night. I'll send for the doctor and get word to Mr. Hawkins that he'll have to take care of things on his own. The town can just survive without you for one day."
She made to leave with tears standing in her perfect blue eyes and Jimmy felt like the worst person that could have lived for causing anyone such pain, especially someone he must love. He caught her hand and pulled enough for her to turn and face him again.
"I don't know how I could have forgotten anyone like you, but somehow I did. Could you at least remind me of your name so I don't have to keep calling you ma'am or Mrs. Hickok?"
"Melody. I really need to fetch the doctor for you now."
With that she bustled out of the room.
"Melody," he repeated as he fell into a fitful and dream-filled sleep.
Following a shootout that had taken place in the street in Rock Creek, Jimmy found himself helping to clean up the carnage that had so sadly taken the lives of far too many innocent bystanders. Kneeling next to the body of a middle aged, suit clad man was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and his heart nearly broke in his chest when she looked up at him with tears streaking her rosy cheeks. It made him want to go over and shoot the man who had attempted escape from the jail and caused this whole mess a few more times. Though Jimmy was pretty sure he was the one who had killed Hank Caldwell in the first place, he still felt the man needed punishing for making such a lovely creature cry.
"Miss, is there something I can do for you? Someone I can fetch for you?"
She shook her head and continued to rock back and forth crying in the middle of the street. Jimmy squatted down to get to her level.
"Miss, we need to get him out of the street, please, come with me and we'll find your family."
"He's my family. All I've got, anyway. I can't leave him, I just can't."
"You won't be leaving him. Look, their ready to take him to the undertaker now. He'll be fine, let me see to you."
Reluctantly the girl allowed herself to be pulled to standing and led to Rachel's porch where she had only the strength to make it as far as the rocking chair. Rachel had seen the fight and then Jimmy walking this girl toward her and ran to get some cold water for the young lady. She handed the glass to Jimmy for him to give to the visitor.
"Thank you. You're very kind," the girl said and then broke down in tears once again. Jimmy fished a handkerchief from his pocket to give to her. He gave an imploring look to Rachel who just sent a sad smile back in his direction. Once the girl's tears had quieted a bit again and she was sipping the water, Jimmy walked to the other end of the porch where Rachel stood.
"Can't you help her, Rachel?"
"Looks to me like you might have an interest in helping her yourself."
"How do I do that?"
"Sit down and talk to her, I think she needs a friend right now."
"What can I even say to her?"
"You might try introducing yourself. She might be inclined to do the same and then at least you'd know her name."
Rachel patted Jimmy on the shoulder as she walked into the house and he walked back over to where his guest was sitting staring straight ahead as if she had ceased to see or hear anything of the world around her. Jimmy pulled up a chair and sat down near her.
"Miss...um, my name's Hickok, James Hickok. I'm afraid we haven't met."
"We just got into town yesterday. Papa was taking over the newspaper," her tears renewed at mentioning her father but she continued, "His name is-was Erik Lingren. I'm Melody."
"That's an awful pretty name. I'm real sorry about your father. You don't have any other family anywhere?"
"No, Mama and Papa came from Sweden before I was born. Mama got sick right after I was born and never got better. It was always just Papa and me…"
Her voice trailed off and her eyes became distant, perhaps with memories and perhaps with the realization that she was truly on her own now.
Hello there, just recently rediscovered my love of this show and these characters...I was on the original bandwagon for this although that probably dates me more than I'd like. Suffice to say I am no youngster. Anyway, I usually write for a very different TV universe. This is a mere diversion as I figure out where to go with the novel I have been writing. This tale got stuck in my head and I couldn't get rid of it. This is really only the introduction to the tale. I do know exactly where it's going which, I have learned is not always the same thing as knowing what's coming next. So, I hope this is striking your fancy so far...I do very much love the feedback...-J