Author's Note: I don't own The Young Riders.
Buck and Dani continued to hold each other as the stage coach driver untied the luggage from the back of the coach. Noah picked up the parasol, took the carpet bag he was handed and walked over to the couple. He put his hand on Dani's shoulder, "Come on you two." They separated as Dani let out a soft laugh and Buck wiped the small tear from his eye. The three turned away from Tompkins' store and headed in the direction of the station.
As they walked Buck questioned Noah, "You knew she was coming? Why didn't you tell me?" Noah turned looking past Dani who was walking between them to respond when she cut him off. "I told him not to. When I wrote to you a few months back telling you where I was and you didn't respond I figured you were still upset. Noah said you weren't really talking about it so I wasn't sure how you would take me coming." She shot Noah an aggravated look, "I also didn't know you would be coming with Noah to meet me."
"I wasn't planning on asking him to come with me, but he seemed down. I was hoping this might cheer him up," he grinned at Dani, "or give me a good fight to watch." He motioned to Dani's hand which was now firmly grasped around Buck's arm, "And obviously it cheered him up."
Dani stepped closer to Noah putting her other hand around his arm locking herself between her two favorite men as they made their way past the crowd that was forming on the street. Noah and Buck weren't anxious to stick around and watch what they knew would eventually turn into a fight. They didn't want to ruin this moment the three were sharing. It was the happiest they had felt since they were told of Kid and Lou's engagement. As they walked Dani couldn't help but notice Buck staring at her. "What?" She smiled at him. "I just can't get over how different you look," he smiled back. "Is that good or bad?" They continued to walk staring at each other. "It is just very different from the gunfighter I remember."
"Well, a woman strapped with a six shooter sticks out in the big city. I bought a fancy dress and it seemed to suit me though I do miss wearing trousers. Don't have to worry about them creeping up when you sit down or sliding off a chair. I tell you, this fabric can make you land on your butt quicker than you can sit down." Buck got a good laugh at that image and as they both looked up they realized they had made it to the bunkhouse. Dani realized that there wasn't much difference from the Sweetwater station other than the fact that this station was in town. The walked passed by too fast, but she was relieved to evade the gathering crowd in town.
They approached the bunkhouse. "I'll put your things in your room," Noah said as he parted from the couple. Dani gave him a quick hug and he made his way to Rachel's. Dani lifted up her skirt and headed up the stairs into the bunkhouse. Buck followed close behind. "It seems bigger than the Sweetwater one; still pretty dark though." Buck just nodded and kept his eyes on her as she walked around the center table. She stopped when she realized he was again staring at her.
"What?" she stared back. "Just getting used to," he paused, "well, you." She blushed and turned back to the bunk in front of her. A silence swept the room. Dani let out a deep sigh and turned her attention back to Buck. "Buck, I'm sorry for," he stood up and walked to her, "everything that happened when I..." He placed his finger over her lips, "Shhh, I don't want to talk about that right now. There is nothing more I could ask for than to have you here to share Kid and Lou's wedding with us." The two lost themselves as they continued to gaze into each other's eyes.
The door slammed open interrupting the moment. Both pairs of eyes turned to the door where there stood a five foot six blonde teenaged boy staring back at them. "Jesse," Buck let out under his breath. Jesse's eyes never left the beautiful lady standing next to Buck. "I guess I need to introduce you two. Jesse this is Miss Danielle Dixon. Dani, this is Jesse." Dani put her hand out for Jesse to shake and as he reached for it he questioned, "Danielle Dixon? Noah's sister?"
Dani let out a muffled laugh, "The similarities are astounding, aren't they?" Buck shot her a grin and Jesse retorted, "It isn't that. You don't look like much of a gunfighter to me." Dani pulled her hand away and dropped her smile, "I'm not a gunfighter." She took a step back trying to control her growing anger. "But I heard Cody talking about you. You're Jane Marks, the lady gunfighter." Buck knew the look on Dani's face and realized he needed to intervene before she lost her lady-like manner. "Jesse, Jane Marks died almost a year ago. I think you need to let this issue go. Come on, Dani." Buck placed a hand on Dani's shoulder and escorted her outside.
She took hold of one of the poles on the deck and kept her attention away from the door and Buck. He let out a sigh and was just about to address her when a small figure walked past the front steps. "Lou?" Dani inquired. Lou turned to face her and their eyes met. Dani quickly forgot about the boy inside and walked down the steps to Lou. "Wow, I do have to say, you look better in a dress." They leaned in to hug each other and pulling away Lou replied, "So do you."
"Where's Kid?" Dani asked. "He's out on a run with Jimmy, but they should be back anytime now." "I was thrilled when Noah wrote and told me about the wedding. Thank you so much for inviting me. I'm sure it'll be lovely." Buck had to laugh as he watched the two women discuss the wedding. He remembered when they were ready to kill each other at one point when they first met, now they seemed like old friends. "Would you like to see the dress?" Lou asked. As Dani nodded they turned to the big white house opposite the bunkhouse and began walking. Buck was completely forgotten and Noah, just leaving the house, was ignored. The two chattered their way up to the house as Cody, Teaspoon, Rachel and Noah came from around the bunkhouse and made their way in.
The two women chatted on about the wedding plans in Lou's make shift room after gawking over the beautiful wedding gown she had specially made. Lou mentioned how different Dani looked, "Well, things are much different in Boston." Dani took a seat on the bed and removed her hat. "After everything happened here I tried to think of the one place that no one would come looking for me. No one would be expecting a gunfighter to live in a big city in the North, let alone a woman gunfighter. I made my way to Boston, put on my best lady–like manners and what you see is what you get." "It suits you," Lou pointed out and then asked how things were going between her and Buck. "Oh, Buck! We just left him standing there." They both giggled to each other. "Let me go apologize for leaving him like that. I'll be right back."
Dani made her way down the stairs and out onto the front landing. As she began to descend the stairs she watched as Noah exited the bunkhouse. She could tell something had upset him. She quickly made her way down the steps and headed in his direction. "Noah. Noah, wait!"
Noah continued to ignore her as he made his way across the station. "Noah, what happened?" He continued to gaze over the grounds, but finally acknowledged her. "He still thinks we're kids. Teaspoon thinks he can dictate what we can and can't do. The station is closing and this war is coming. It's time to grow up. I've fought too long to just sit by and watch this war happen without me. It's time I put on a uniform and take a stand. If Cody can do it, I can." Noah leaned up against the corral fence.
Dani just stared at him as she became just as serious. "There are other ways to take a stand Noah, without putting on a uniform." He turned his eyes toward her as she leaned against the corral fence. "I was going to save this conversation for later, but now seems as good a time as any. I want you to come to Boston with me. You can be a part of the Underground Railroad."