Author's Note: I don't own The Young Riders. My intention in writing this was not to change the finale episode "'Til Death Do U Part." I envisioned much of this story being able to take place around the actual scenes within the episode. Just imagine this as another sub-plot. Enjoy!
The final days of the Pony Express were winding down as the riders all prepared for the upcoming wedding. The tension at the station mounted daily with the approaching war and at times things were so quiet a pin could be heard dropping. All conversations about the coming war were kept to a minimum in order to keep the atmosphere upbeat for Kid and Lou as they prepared for their life together.
Though these discussions were set aside thoughts of the effects ran through everyone's minds. This war was tearing the country apart and it was going to very well do the same to the Express family. Everywhere you went now in Rock Creek there were soldiers petitioning for folks to join the fight. There was no way to escape the impending doom they were all facing. These thoughts and more ran through Buck's mind as he leaned up against the corral watching the town goers of Rock Creek walk by in the distance.
The coming war hadn't done much to stop the raids on Indian land and the disputes were continuing, if not worsening with every day. Though they were not a main focus anymore, Buck still felt the struggle of his people to find a place for themselves while their homes are ripped from them at every chance. With the fighting already going on between the North and South both sides have been spreading out through open territory trying to gather as much land in their favor, in turn causing more death and destruction to not only his people, but the land they are fighting to protect. His loyalty to both families was again being tested. On one side, he felt pulled to go back to the Kiowa and help with the struggle to find and keep land while this war spreads. On the other, he had Teaspoon, Rachel, Jimmy, Kid and Lou to think about, not to mention what will happen to Noah and Jesse once the Pony Express disappears. Where will they go and who will take them in? Buck was surely stuck once again between two worlds.
"Whatcha thinkin' about?" Noah questioned Buck as he approached the corral. "Nothing," Buck retorted as Noah gave him an inquisitive look. "Everything," he recanted letting out a little smirk in Noah's direction. Noah sat up against the corral fence beside Buck, "Thoughts like that can drive a man insane." Buck just nodded staring down at his boots.
"Rachel asked me to pick up a friend coming in for the wedding. Said she'd be arriving on the stage in about 20 minutes. Wanna keep me company while I wait?" Noah asked. Buck hesitated, but he knew there wasn't much else to do since he finished his chores and Cody's this morning. He shrugged his shoulders and Noah began walking in the direction of town.
They made the short walk to Tompkins' store and Buck took a seat on one of the barrels out front as Noah leaned up against one of the support beams to the left of the stairs. "Who is this friend we're meeting?" Buck finally enquired. "Just someone we used to know." Noah didn't go into anymore detail and Buck just didn't have the desire to push the question any farther. With all the tension around he was hoping it wasn't an old friend who would end up bringing more with them, but he figured, if they were here for the wedding, it surely couldn't be a bad addition to the group. Conversations of the wedding were the only positive things being discussed lately at the station and if anything would keep things on a positive note, Buck was willing to take it.
The two watched as Union soldiers set up a table across from them. Buck stared down at the dirty covered wood planks as Noah's eyes stayed fixed on the blue uniforms across the way. Neither one said a word to the other. The tension of the city mounted as they waited. Soon, in the distance, the big red coach could be seen kicking up dust while heading into town. Noah's attention turned to the oncoming stage coach and he let a slight smile escape his lips; a smile, it seemed to Buck, that Noah was trying to hide. Buck stood from the barrel and he soon wondered if there was something Noah was keeping from him. "Who did you say this friend was again?" Buck turned to Noah then turned his attention back to the oncoming stage coach. Through the window he could make out the blurry features of someone looking out.
The coach slowed to a stop in front of the store and the driver jumped down from his perch. Buck's eyes were fixed on the stage door as Noah quickly approached it. Buck froze in his spot not sure if he should or even could move closer. The door flew open and he could make out the delicate hand of a young lady protruding from the opening extended to a smiling Noah. A hand he was sure he knew and soon confirmed as he spotted the ring so subtly placed on her finger. The emerald and silver ring he had once given to the toughest and most beautiful woman he had ever met.
The arm of the young lady exiting the coach was wrapped in a fine purple velvety cloth. This was not the arm of a rough neck woman remembered adorning that ring. Noah helped her slowly make her way down the coach steps and into his arms. Buck watched as he picked her up off of her feet and spun her around, the air catching her long flowing purple skirt. She giggled. Buck just stared in amazement still unable to move.
Noah placed her gently onto her feet on the ground and she reached back into the coach to grab a parasol that matched her softly flowing dress. As she turned to face him Buck he could make out the small sandy ringlets that cascaded down behind her neck and into the small hat that also matched the purple of her dress and now blocked the sun from her eyes. This was the sight of a real city lady.
She turned her emerald gaze on him and dropped her parasol. Neither one of them could move as they stared deeply into each other's eyes. Noah just watched them both as he wasn't sure what was going to come next. The mixed feeling of joy and anger washed over Buck as he tried to understand the picture of the beautiful woman in front of him. They both stood motionless taking in the sight of the other.
Buck couldn't take the silence any longer. He had to be sure that what he was seeing was real. "Dani?" She let a soft smile release across her face. She slowly walked up to him and put her hand to his cheek. "Yes," she said as she continued to stare into his eyes. All the confusion melted away the second he felt her hand on his skin. He placed his hand over hers pulling it away from his cheek and wrapped his arms around her. They stood, motionless once again, but this time in a long and deep embrace. Both holding onto each other as if they had years of holding to make up for. Noah just watched as the two locked bodies, content in knowing that what could have been a disastrous reunion turned out to be a joyous occasion.