'The Young Riders'

The Good Life (English)

Chapter 1

It was late March 1860 when the stagecoach arrived in Sweetwater when the tall, thin, blonde girl with green eyes stepped out. She carried a large bag and an even bigger trunk as if she knew she would be staying there for a long time.

The young woman was dressed in a somewhat unusual way for the far west; she wore a beige silk shirt and a black leather skirt that reached her knee. Her high black boots and nylon stockings showed off her long tapered legs, making her the object of prying eyes, but she could care less.

She entered the saloon to grab a bite to eat and to get a room, but as soon as she approached the counter, she was quickly mistaken for a prostitute, most likely because of her clothing. A man approached her asking: "Hey, beautiful, shall we have some fun together?"

The girl immediately stiffened and gave no response, but the man persisted again, trying to get his hands on her. Thankfully, famed gunslinger James Butler Hickok, better known as Jimmy, who worked for the Pony Express, was also in the saloon that afternoon.

Jimmy was an impulsive young man who didn't think long before taking action, especially when he saw a woman in danger. As soon as he realized the situation, he didn't think twice about intervening and punched the man who had molested the girl, sending him straight to the ground.

He turned to the girl, who was in shock, and asked her: "Are you okay? Did he hurt you? "

She looked at him bewildered, but only managed to say: "Thank you!"

Jimmy immediately made up his mind: "Come with me, I'll take you out of here."

The girl let him guide her, took her bag, but glanced at the trunk, telling her: "Don't worry, we'll pick it up tomorrow, I'll speak to the owner." He quickly went to the saloon owner, making arrangements with him, and then went back to the girl, taking her hand to lead her out.

He mounted her on his horse, and galloped to the Pony Express station, located outside the city. During the trip, the girl had recovered, and said to Jimmy: "Thank you. You were very kind. I don't know what I would have done without your intervention."

"It's the least I can do, ma'am. I can't resist a beautiful girl in danger."

He smiled, continuing: "Sorry if I point this out to you, but perhaps that man was misled by your clothing. You're not from here, are you? The women here dress a little differently, ... " , he said.

"I am Italian. I left my family and my job to move to the West. For us, it's normal to dress like this. I guess I'll have to take some fashion lessons!"

"What type of work did you do in Italy? Oh, by the way, I'm James, Jimmy for friends. Pleased to meet you."

"My name is Deborah, I come from the parts of Como, in Lombardy. I am a teacher of ancient literature. I hope to find a job here as a teacher and to rebuild my life."
She smiled: "Thanks again for saving me. Where are we going?"

"To the Pony Express station, I'm one of the riders. I'll introduce you to my friends and Rachel, the woman who takes care of us. You will be able to rest and eat something there."

"Thanks, Jimmy! You are very kind."

When they arrived at the station, it was nearly time for dinner.

Jimmy dismounted, helping Deborah do the same. The two entered the bunkhouse where the boys usually dined with Rachel and Teaspoon, the Stationmaster. As soon as the door opened, Jimmy and Deborah entered, and all eyes turned towards her, especially the boys.

She greeted them shyly as Jimmy explained that she had been harassed at the saloon, and that he had offered her help and a meal for the evening.

Jimmy then introduced all the boys: Kid, Cody, Noah, Hike, Lou, Buck, Jessie and then Teaspoon and Rachel. Everyone greeted her with warmth and amazement, except Rachel and Lou, who exchanged a knowing look.

Rachel asked Jimmy if he could go out with her for a moment because she needed to ask him a favor, but as soon as they were outside, she asked: "Why did you bring one of those girls home with you?"

He replied: "She's not one of those girls, Rachel,she's Italian who was about to be raped by an attacker. I certainly couldn't leave her there!"

"How can you say she is not a prostitute? Jimmy, have you seen how she is dressed?"

"Yes, and apparently that's Italian fashion."

Jimmy went on: "If you had given me time to talk, instead of attacking me, I would have explained everything, Rachel."

Rachel, who had a stormy and not exactly clear past behind her, realized she was wrong and apologized: "Sorry. You're right, Jimmy. I shouldn't have judged by appearances. I just don't want any of you to suffer! "

"Don't worry, Rachel. Let's get back inside."

Rachel had dated questionable men in her life, often taking her to saloons and gambling halls. But then, she got married, and started to lead an honest life. She got pregnant and thought she had finally found happiness, but her past had returned. Some men of dubious reputations, knocked on her door, and after some harsh words, had killed her husband. In the process of defending her husband, Rachel had lost the baby.
She had found her new family with the Pony Express, and she didn't want any of them to suffer the way she had.

Meanwhile, Lou had started directing questions to the newcomer, who began to tell her story.

As she had told Jimmy, she was Italian and in her country who taught ancient literature, Latin and Greek.

She was engaged to a young man, and they were about to get married, but he never put her first. Instead, he always preferred her family of origin and Deborah eventually realized that he probably didn't love her enough, and she couldn't love a man like that.

From her future husband, she wanted absolute dedication and had to be put first. So, a month before the wedding, she had decided to leave him. Even though she felt immense pain for that choice, and since her family had never forgiven her, she had decided to leave everything to move to America and rebuild her life.

The boys all listened to her story and asked her many questions.

Suddenly, Teaspoon had an idea: "Look, we've been looking for a teacher for our children in town. If you settle for the pay, you could take the job and stay with us and Rachel. You could help her with the housework and take care of the kids."

Jimmy immediately approved the idea and all the boys agreed.

Deborah thanked them all: "Guys, I don't know what to say, I'd be happy to accept, but you must all agree." She then looked to Lou and Rachel for approval. They nodded in agreement, and the deal was done.

After dinner, Rachel went to prepare the room where Deborah would sleep from now on. Deborah took advantage of the fact that Lou had gone out for a moment and followed them.

She wanted to understand why Lou was bothered by her presence.

"Sorry Lou, before I move in with you, I'd like to talk to you and to figure out what the problem is. I'm really not a prostitute. I just wanted to integrate here, understand how you dress, and learn what customs you have. I'd appreciate all your help and Rachel's."

"Why mine?" Lou asked.

"Because we are all women, right?"

Lou looked at her in amazement: "Did Jimmy tell you I'm a girl?"

"No, it seems obvious to me. Wait, do you mean someone doesn't know? "

"In the city they think I'm a boy, otherwise I wouldn't be able to work for the Pony Express."

Deborah understood: "Don't worry, I certainly won't be the one to betray you. I just wish we could be friends. I don't know anyone and I could really use your help. And don't worry, I have no plans for Kid… "

"Is that so obvious, too?"

"Well, for a woman, yes. Can we try to be friends? "

"All right, welcome aboard!"

The two girls shook hands and went inside. After chatting for a while and asking the newcomer a few questions, they went to sleep, but not before Deborah had agreed with Rachel to accompany her the following day to purchase her new wardrobe.

The next day Jimmy and Rachel drove Deborah to the saloon to retrieve her trunk, and the two women did some shopping. Deborah was a bit embarrassed by the clothes, but Rachel and Jimmy told her that as long as she was staying with them at the station, she could dress as she wanted, and that they certainly aren't formal folks.

Teaspoon, who was also the Sheriff of Sweetwater, went to the pastor of the parish and introduced him to Deborah, telling him that the following week she would be the new teacher. The pastor gave her a warm welcome.

Gradually, Deborah began her life Sweetwater, and learned about the character and habits of her new friends. Cody was the braggart on duty, he loved playing pranks on friends and bragging about his skills. He was the most cheerful and cheeky of everyone, but he never missed an opportunity to make even heavy jokes about women.

Kid was quiet and reserved. He was very conservative, and a strong Catholic boy. He loved Lou dearly, but she never made a decision about their relationship and it hurt him.

Lou had learned to trust Deborah, and the two had become very good friends. Lou helped her settle in, and Deborah gave her advice with Kid.

Noah was a very proud, but nice guy, treating Deborah like a sister.

Jesse was one of her pupils, but Deborah was also an older sister to him. He was an impulsive boy with an impetuous character, and a great desire to learn and grow up. For this reason he often had to be held back in his initiatives and Teaspoon, who for him was like a father, had his work cut out for him.

Teaspoon was actually a bit of a father to everyone, he had welcomed them as boys and helped them grow.

Ike was a very sweet and reserved boy, he knew how to deal with animals and children. He was very nice to Deborah, but in the beginning she had to depend on Buck, his best friend, because Ike couldn't talk, and used the Indian sign language that Buck, a Kiowa half-breed, had in turn, taught him.

Buck had offered to teach her the signs, and little by little Deborah started interacting with Ike as well.

Buck was a very sweet and reserved boy, tormented at heart by the fact that he was half Indian, a condition that often caused him problems with the citizens and the Army. He spoke very little, but was always kind to Deborah. He almost seemed to be in awe of her, but on the other hand he helped her whenever she needed it, and always asked her if everything was okay.

Rachel was nice to her, but Deborah knew she was keeping an eye on her and was still studying her.

Jimmy was hotheaded, impulsive, proud, passionate, kind and grumpy at the same time. He had a reputation as a savage gunslinger, whose image was created by a writer who had published books with false news about him, and who had made Jimmy's life very difficult.

From the beginning, he had shown a certain sympathy and attraction for Deborah, and the feeling was mutual. She felt protected by him, and little by little, she began to feel attracted to him, experiencing those sensations, that after the breakup with her boyfriend, she thought she would never feel again.

As time passed, Deborah felt more and a more part of the family of those boys and was grateful for the welcome they had shown her.

Her relationship with Jimmy grew closer and closer, and one evening, while they were sitting on the veranda reading the story of Lancelot and Guinevere (Deborah was helping him to learn to read more fluently, because Jimmy had just started learning), in the moment in to which Lancelot kisses Geneva, just as Dante tells us that it had happened for Paolo and Francesca, the two looked at each other, and exchanged the first kiss.

Jimmy immediately apologized, but she replied that she was happy, and that everything was fine and they kissed again.

They decided to keep what had happened to them at least for a while, to see how things would go. Too bad Rachel had seen them and in fact, as soon as they came home to go to sleep, she said to Deborah: "I hope you know what you're doing, I don't want Jimmy to suffer."

Deborah responded: "Don't worry, if I decide to let go, after what I've been through, it's because I'm sure of my feelings, otherwise I wouldn't have gotten involved."

"I hope so," Rachel replied, hoping Deborah was being truthful.