I would like to THANK everyone for reading, following and reviewing my story. I have also appreciated the emails of support! My goal is to finish the story in the next week as the words are finally flowing again. Best wishes to all!

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Riders or any of its characters.

Chapter 2

Green. The color struck out at Buck Cross as he sat at the edge of the Station yard, the hair on his arms standing with the eeriness of the weather. His horse shifted beneath him, nervously pawing the ground, trying to pull against his expertly held reins. A movement in the distance caught both their senses. Buck's dark hawk eyes focused as the world around him paused, all of nature bending to the same point as a funnel seemingly dropped right from the sky, spinning and kicking up fury on the prairie floor.

Cursing under his breath, he kicked the panicking horse into action, his long black hair flying behind him as his black hat blew off his head. He held tight to the reins, fighting the horse's want to flee. Buck didn't take the time to tie him up as he leapt from the horse's back and blew open the bunk house door, the wind helping the bang that surprised the four occupants inside.

Time dire, he started towards Lou as he shouted "Twister headed this way." Teaspoon having been on edge from the start of the storm wasted no time in acting. He grabbed Rachel's arm in a fluid motion, quickly relieving her of the dishes she had started to clear. "To the barn" he commanded. Seeing Buck and Cody on each side of Lou, he led Rachel into pelts of hail, running as fast as they could to the barn.

Lou awkwardly moved under the helpful hands of Cody and Buck, time moving too fast for worry to set in. The world beyond the doorway had darkened, the barn visible only moments before having disappeared behind a swirling rage. "We aren't going to make it!" Buck screamed to be heard over the deafening sound of the tornado. Swiftly he and Cody moved Lou towards the corner. Cody pulled a mattress over them as they tucked Lou beneath them, protecting her with their bodies.

Time stopped, moving in a surreal way. They felt the moment it hit, coming as an enemy against them. Suction pulled against the mattress, Cody and Buck gripping with mights they didn't know they had, finger nails ripping in effort. Lou's screams barely registered to ears popping in pressure. A large thump of impact pushed them further into their sanctuary.

As soon as it came it went, leaving pounding hearts in its wake. It took Buck a moment to realize that they were trapped, a weight pushing against the mattress, the ceiling slanted over them precariously. It made a small hut of sorts, but cozy it was not. "You boys okay?" Lou's voice was soft, laced with shock. Buck reached out to clasp her hand, "I'm okay, how about you?"

She shifted to ease the aches of her body, the ache in her back having grown worse in the tight fit of their corner. "I'm ok, just a bit shaky. Can you help me up?"

"I'm fine if anybody cares," Cody's agitated voice reached out in the darkness. "Your concern is touching."

Buck ignored him as he answered Lou, "Sorry Lou, but we're kind of stuck, no standing room." His eyes had adjusted enough to see the grimace on her face. "You sure you're okay? The baby?" She nodded, biting her lip between her teeth. She adjusted her position again trying to find comfort. Cody moved as much as he could to afford more space for her, but being tall and broad there wasn't much space to offer. Buck tried to do the same, both uncomfortable in their hunches.

Cody assessed the situation, "Well Teaspoon said it was going to be a doozy." There were snorts between the other two. "So the question is, how do we get ourselves out?"

All three looked around, squinting in the dark to see any point of release. The walls to their backs were solid, the mattress wouldn't give to whatever held it in place and there was no pushing the collapsed ceiling from them. Although no one would speak it, they knew it would be a long while breathing the same air.

Cody and Buck continued to evaluate the situation, whispering and trying ideas between them. Lou watched and felt the shock wear away as rain began outside their shelter become prison, pounding in reality of the day. The shake surprised her not one normally rattled, but the streaking pain in her stomach and the rush of fluid into her gown terrified her.

As their relationship went, Cody and Buck had started arguing out their strategy, overwhelming the small space. Lou gasped against the pain, helpless to ease it. "Buck...Cody..." they were oblivious to her plight being focused on insulting one another.

Pain stressed her voice, "Boys!" The harsh sound caught their attention. Sweat had formed and a deep ache settled amongst the discomfort of soiled clothing.

"What?" They spoke in unison, distracted.

"My water just broke." Their blank stares drove her to madness, screeching "My baby is coming!"

Eyes grew larger, tongues dried, stomachs fell. Cody was the first to speak, his face panicked, backing up as far as he could from her "Now just wait a minute!"