Disclaimer: I do not own The Young Riders or any of the characters. Though I wish I owned Buck. Just taking them for a ride for my enjoyment.
Chapter 2 – Buck's POV
It had been two years since Lou and Kid were married and left Rock Creek, along with the rest of the Pony Express family. Sometimes I wondered why I had stayed. I don't belong in the white world, but I don't belong in the Kiowa world either. So I stay, I have nowhere else to go. My best friend and brother is dead, killed protecting the woman he loved. The day Ike died, I wanted to join him. I know the baby I help delivered is what saved me. Somewhere there was a little boy named after Ike. Then Kid married Lou and Noah was killed. His funeral was the last time we were all together. They all left me behind. Kid wanted to serve in the confederate army, since Lou was married to him now; she went, although I know she really didn't like the idea. I could always tell what she was thinking. Cody went to serve as a scout for the army and Jimmy went north. Jesse ran away with his brother Frank the day of Noah's funeral. I stayed with Teaspoon and Rachel. I was bestman at their wedding. Teaspoon made me deputy marshal, and surprisingly the town did not object to a half-breed lawman. I had won their respect somehow.
A year after Kid and Lou left, we received a letter from Lou telling us about the tragedy of her siblings. I felt awful for her. I knew she hadn't wanted to leave them in the orphanage, but she did because she didn't want them in the war torn south even more. She had thought they would be safe there. I wanted to be there for her to comfort her. So I wrote back saying I would come if she needed me. When I got her letter back I was disappointed. She didn't want me to come, not because she didn't want me there. She just didn't want me to be hurt. She thought my life would be in danger there. She was probably right. But I couldn't help the feelings that were in my heart. I was hurt. I was in love. I knew it was wrong of me to be in love with my friend's wife, but I couldn't help it. I had been in love with Lou since I had found out she was a girl, hell even before then I would catch myself looking at her like she was one. Truth be told, I think all of us were a little in love with Lou. Who wouldn't be, she was one of a kind.
It's been a year since we have received any word from Lou, even longer from the Kid. I worry about her every day. It's not safe for a woman to be alone in the south right now. Every day we get reports of homes being burned by the Yankees and the women being raped by union soldiers. Of course we get the same kind of reports coming from the north as well. I don't know how much is exaggerated. I still worry for her. Today I find myself eating lunch with Teaspoon in the jail when the stagecoach arrives. "Stage is here." I say, getting up. Teaspoon followed me outside. We both always enjoyed watching the people coming to our town.
The first to step out was an older gentleman, judging from his expensive suit, he turned to assist an older well-dressed woman from the coach. She must be his wife, I thought. As the couple moved down the street the last passenger exited. I was shocked by the sight before me. I saw the most beautiful woman in the world standing before me. Her dark brown eyes looking up at me before a huge smile broke out on her face. It was Lou. She was home. She ran towards us. "Teaspoon! Buck! Oh you have no idea how happy I am to see you two!" she cried as she hugged first Teaspoon than me. Teaspoon had let her go quickly, but I found myself unable to. "Lou? What on earth are you doing here?" I asked, still not believing she was here. I see the hurt cross her face. Damn, I hadn't meant to hurt her. "I have nowhere else to go" she tells me quietly. Still not letting her go I say, "come on inside so we can talk." I lead her inside and make sure she is comfortably seated. I still couldn't let her go.
Teaspoon starts asking the questions, but I don't really pay attention to him. I just watch Lou. She is so beautiful. Her hair is a lot longer now, and there is no denying she is a woman. I watch as the tears slip from her eyes as she tells us that Kid had been killed in the war. She had come home to stay. While I was saddened by the loss of yet another 'brother' I was glad Lou had come home to us. To me. I put my arm around her shoulder as she cried; Teaspoon moved closer and placed his hand on her knee. Finally I help her to her feet and say, "Come on let's get you home." With my arm around her shoulder I lead her back to what was once the Pony Express station but was now Teaspoon and Rachel's home. I stilled lived in the bunkhouse. Teaspoon followed behind with Lou's bags.
As we approached home I saw Rachel on the porch. I knew the minute that Rachel realized it was Lou with us, because she had jumped to her feet and was running towards us. Lou left me and went to Rachel. I was a little concerned; with Rachel being pregnant I didn't think she should be running like that. I watched as Lou clung to Rachel and sobbed. Then I heard her exclaim when she realized Rachel was pregnant. I looked at Teaspoon who winked at me. I stifled my laugh. Together with Teaspoon we followed the two women into our home. The only real home I had ever had. The only real home almost all of us from the Pony Express had had. We were all orphans. Throwaways, strays, freaks some would say. But together, with Teaspoon and Rachel, we had become a family. I was glad to be a part of it, and even gladder that Lou had come home.
A/N: I know that was pretty much the same as the first chapter, I just wanted to put up what had been going through Buck's head during this time. Hope you enjoyed it.