Thank you for your patience, sorry this chapter has so long I've been suffering from a bit of writer's block. I'm going to leave Season 1 here but once I've got those episodes of Season 2 that Buck would recall from first hand memories I'll start out on those.

Matt and Chester were returning from Pawnee riding slow as the day was so hot.

"You've been mighty quiet for the last couple of hours?" Matt asked.

"Well I guess I just ran out of things to talk about," Chester said. "Not that I was quiet on purpose just that…"

"Well it's been a long ride. We'll be back in Dodge tonight."

"We'll get back a couple of hours after dark. Just in time to go to bed."

"You got anything better to do?"

"No. Boy a tall glass of beer would sure taste good about now."

Buck was thinking along the same lines only he was thinking of water. He sniffed the air as a scent of burning wood drifted by him.

"What is that a brush fire?" Chester asked suddenly.

"With smoke as black as that?"

"Well could be…"

"Seems I remember a ranch over in that direction."

"Yeah a fella name Clayborne come here with his family about 4 years ago."

"We better check it out."

"Probably only burning brush," Chester called out.

Buck shook his head as he turned obedient to his master knowing that in all probability Matt was correct in assuming that it was something more serious than some rancher burning brush to clear a field. Chester reluctantly followed on Bob until they could see that it was the ranch that was burning. They rode on halting by a grove of trees. They dismounted and ran up to a clearing where they found the bodies of Clayborne and his wife with arrows in their backs.

"Wife too," Chester said. "Oh, I hope she went fast."

Matt looked off to where the children lay dead too.

"The rest of the family. Looks like they were trying for the cover of these trees here."

"No sign of a gun they must have caught them unprepared."

"Any man with a family out here has got to be prepared."

"Well I ain't heard of no Indian trouble out here lately."

"I haven't either, Chester, but there is now."

"This couldn't have happened very long ago them Indians couldn't be very far away."

"That's right. Come on let's look for a shovel."

They hesitated hearing the sound of approaching horses ran to retrieve their rifles. Watching from cover as the cavalry troop arrived.

"Well that's a goodly sight ain't it," Chester said.

"Troop halt."

"Hello Lieutenant," Matt said as he and Chester emerged from the cover of the trees.

"Oh, hello Marshal, what are you doing out here?"

"Well we were riding in from Pawnee when we saw the smoke. Got here too late."

"So, I see. Anyone hurt?"

"The whole family."

"Yeah, I was hoping we'd get here in time. Well we're pretty close on their trail now. Maybe we can catch them before they find another ranch."

"These arrows are Kiowa I didn't know there was any trouble with them."

"These are renegades. Can't be more than 8 to 10 of them. They got all fired up and jumped the agency. They've done some more damage but with any luck we'll catch them before nightfall."

"Well, I hope so," Chester said, "I don't much like grave digging."

"We'll take over for you our horses need a rest anyway. Sergeant take a detail help the Marshal."

"We were heading back into Dodge, Lieutenant, but we can ride with you if we can be of any help."

"That won't be necessary, Marshal, we can handle the Indians. The cavalry needs no help."

Matt got his bedroll from Buck and Chester's from Bob.

"He's a bit cocky ain't he Buck," Bob said.

"Yes, but that'll get knocked out of him soon enough," Buck replied.

Matt handed the blankets to the Lieutenant.

"You can use these to bury them with."

Matt and Chester remounted and rode on heading for Dodge.

"You know Mister Dillon a little while ago it was peaceful and quiet."

"I know."

"Oh, it's a shame them Indians can be as peaceful as anybody then some ornery white with a cheap jug of redeye…"

"Yes, I know Chester."

"What was that Lieutenant so uppity about anyway."

"Well he's wearing a mighty impressive uniform."

"Yes, brand new too."

"All the same I hope they catch up with them quick."

Matt stopped and rose in his stirrups looking down at a family packing their possessions into a wagon.

"That's a mighty pretty little valley," Chester said.

"Yeah looks like settlers down there."

"The Claybornes' must have had neighbors that I didn't know about."

"It looks like the neighbors are leaving."

"Maybe they heard about the Indians."

Buck snorted running from a war party he could understand but not from renegades and this valley looked like they could defend it well enough. The men down there looked up seeing them there they got their guns. At least they had the sense to have them close at hand Buck hoped they'd notice that Matt and Chester were white and hold their fire.

"Come on," Matt said urging Buck on down the slope. "Howdy folks," Matt said smiling.

"Howdy," the older of the two men said.

"I'm Matt Dillon, I'm the US Marshal over in Dodge City this is Chester Goode."

"I'm glad to know you. I'm Sam Fraser. This is my Ma, my wife Alice and this is Tad my brother."

"Howdy," Matt touched the brim of his hat to the ladies.

"We're heading into Dodge ourselves."

"Well it looks to me that you folks just got settled here."

"We ain't staying Marshal we're moving on west."

"Chasing rainbows, Marshal, farm folk like us."

"Now Ma."

"Don't you now Ma me Sam Fraser if your Pa was alive…"

"Well he's not. It's up to me to make the decisions."

Buck wasn't too all-fired happy about the way Sam Fraser spoke to his Ma. He'd observed humans and the way they behaved and knew that mostly men usually spoke to their mothers with a might more consideration.

"If you'll excuse me Marshal, I'll get back to loading up."

"Well…uh…If you're really set on going, why Chester and I can give you a hand."

"No thanks, Tad and I can manage."

Sam and Tad returned to loading the wagon as Matt and Chester dismounted.

"Looks like a nice piece of country you got here, Ma'am." Matt said. "I think it's a shame to go off and leave it."

"My husband settled it, not him."

"Now Ma, Sam did help."

"Marshal what do you think of a man who'd go against his father's wishes and him not hardly cold in his grave."

Buck listened on mother and father didn't mean the same thing in to a horse as it did to humans he accepted that humans usually held their parents in high esteem.

"Ma, please," Alice said sounding tired.

"When'd your husband die, Mrs Fraser?"

"3 days now he's lying right over there by that oak tree."

"I'm sorry to hear it."

"Only been here a couple of months come all the way from Ohio looking for a spot of good ground to till. Looking for a home, Marshal, and he found it here."

"Well it sure is a pretty place, Ma'am," Chester said.

"Called it Pleasant Valley said he'd be grateful if he spent the rest of his days here. Only the Lord didn't leave him many days denied him like Moses come to the Promised land."

"That's too bad, you know I guess it would have made a mighty fine homestead for you folks," Matt said.

"It would have only some people have ideas."

"Now Ma lay off," Sam said.

"You lay off talking to her like that," Tad said.

"Who are you to tell me," Sam said looking like he wanted to fight Tad.

"Stop it now," Ma Fraser called to the two men.

"Don't worry, Ma, he ain't got the guts to hit me," Tad said, Sam raised his fist ready to strike.

"Sam, don't!" Alice said. "Please Sam."

Sam lowered his fist and returned to loading the chest onto the wagon.

"Come on take a hold."

They struggled with the chest. Matt went over and helped them lift it into the wagon.

"Fraser, it's none of my business of course but you must have a pretty good reason for leaving this land."

"Reason enough."

"It's because of me, Marshal," Alice said.

"Now Alice you ain't to blame," Ma Fraser said.

"Sam's worried because of me. No Indians could scare him off it's just useful. It's me he's scared for, me and the child coming."

"It's a good reason."

"But this is only a handful of renegades, Fraser, the cavalry will stop them."

"And who's to say what they'll do before the cavalry gets them. And who's to say how many like them will come after. No, Marshal, my family's going to grow up in a safe place."

"My Ma bore me in the middle of the Ohio woods," Ma Fraser said, "thick with Delaware and Iroquois as fleas on a hound."

"Maybe so, Ma, but my wife ain't going to live like that. Come on."

"So, you're heading on west, uh?"

"California, he says, might even look for gold instead of farming he says. Dress his wife in silks and diamonds."

"You know I never asked for nothing like that."

"I know It, girl, you ain't to blame. Your better stuff than he is."

"I reckon most of that gold out there's been claimed already 20 years or more. Cause you might be lucky," Chester said as he helped carry some of the possessions from the house.

Buck didn't understand this obsession humans had over gold as far as he could see there was no earthly use for it to him it was just a rock that men found in streams or dug out of the ground.

"We could always find a piece of land."

"But nothing half so good this dirt's richer than molasses in cook pot. If it was me…"

"Well it ain't."

"I was just saying…"

"Shut up!"

"See how it is, Marshal?"

"Well now, he might be right. You know Fraser, California might be fine but there's an awful lot of open country between here and there. With your wife expecting a baby that's going to make it pretty tough going."

"I know all that I aim to stay in Dodge until the baby's born it won't be long now."

"I see…"

"Now look Marshal I ain't going to argue with you either."

"Fraser I just want to say one thing to you. Now we have trouble out here sometimes yes. But you know in a few years this country's going to be as it is in Ohio and it's going to be mighty prosperous country too."

"I know all that."

"Right now, you'd be safer here than you would on that open prairie."

"My mind's made up Marshal."

"Look Fraser anything's that good is worth fighting for. You've got a gun you'll find that those Indians are no tougher than anybody else once you make up your mind to fight."

"I ain't going to fight 'em Marshal."

"Well you will Fraser somewhere somehow or one way or the other you'll have to. Every man does but that's your decision. Come on let's get you loaded."

They finished loading the wagon then Matt assisted Alice up to sit beside Fraser on the box.

"Thank you Marshal," Alice said.

"You all set?" Fraser asked as he sat and took the reins.

"Everythings tied back here," Chester said.

"They all hitched Tad?"

"We're ready."

"Let's get started."

"Sam."

"Where's Ma?"

"She's over by the oak tree."

"Crying to shame me."

"Sam…"

"She ain't crying just standing staring. I tried to get her to come away but she wouldn't."

"Marshal maybe if you would…you know a stranger?"

"Sure."

Matt walked over to where Ma Fraser stood by the grave.

"Mrs Fraser."

"Marshal, maybe if you were to pass by again you'd just take a look see that the marker is still standing."

"I sure will, Ma'am."

"40 years, Marshal. All I ever asked was to lie there beside him. A lonely place."

"Well you know, Mrs Fraser, in the springtime that whole hillside is covered with a blanket of sunflowers pretty as you ever saw."

"Thank you Marshal, I'll go now."

Matt followed Ma Fraser to the wagon and helped her upto sit beside Tad.

"Ma, sorry…"

"No need son, we all do what we have to and you're no different. Now let's get this girl into town her times almost come."

"Alright, Ma. Well, Marshal?"

"We'll see you safe into Dodge, Fraser. Get going."

"Thanks."

Fraser chucked the reins urging the horses to pull the wagon up the hill.

"Now look, Chester, you ride point and keep a good watch ahead and to the north. I'm going up to the top of that hill and look around then I'll cover the south flank and the rear."

Buck was looking up that hill and knew that Matt would be doing no such thing as he saw the Indians sitting their horses waiting to charge. He snorted trying to warn Matt that they were there.

"You know it sure seems a shame Mister Dillon…"

Chester suddenly spotted the Indians.

"Look they ain't blue coats this time."

"Come on."

Matt and Chester mounted quickly and left at the gallop cutting up a trail that would get them ahead of Fraser and his family.

"Fraser," Matt called out. "Fraser!"

Fraser pulled up.

"Fraser, go on back!"

Matt pointed up the hill, Fraser urged the horse to start turning the wagon they raced back to the house. The Indians started to charge down the hill.

"Use your rifle," Matt said drawing his pistol.

"It's too far Mister Dillon."

"Let them know they've got a fight."

After a while the Indians stopped temporarily discouraged. Matt and Chester followed the wagon back to the house.

"Get them into the house!" Matt said.

Matt swung down from Buck and went to assist Alice down from the wagon.

"She's hurting," Fraser said.

Matt lifted her into his arms and carried her to the house. When he got to the top of the steps down to the house Alice tensed groaning.

"Agh, put me down."

Matt set her on the stump.

"Alice?"

"I'm alright, you go on."

"Ma?"

"Go on, boy," Ma Fraser said.

"I'm alright now Marshal,"

Matt assisted her down the steps and into the house. Buck watched all this he'd seen mares in Moss Grimmick's stable giving birth and suspected that it was the same with humans painful but he knew that humans loved their children. He also knew that this was a complication they could do without at this point but babies had a knack of coming when you least expected it. Matt came out and joined Chester, Tad and Fraser by the wagon.

"Fraser looks like you got a fight on your hands now whether you like it or not."

"Wonder where they are now, Mister Dillon, having a pow wow maybe," Chester said.

"Figure they'll rush us?" Fraser asked.

"No they know we got rifles. There's only 8 or 9 of them they'll either go away and leave us alone or they'll attack before dusk. We can use the time to unload the wagon."

"But Marshal…"

"No telling what time we'll get away from here now, Fraser, and they might be needing things in there. Let's go."

"Sam!" Ma Fraser called from the door of the house. "Get some water and make a fire quick. Don't stand there get moving."

"Alice!"

Fraser grabbed a bucket and rushed to get water taking that in the house. While Matt, Chester and Tad started unloading the wagon. Later Chester and Tad unhitched the horses and took them to stand with Buck and Bob well out of danger. Buck was glad that he could still see what was going on and hear them as they talked. Matt was lying prone with Fraser on the roof of the house while Chester lay prone on a roof a little lower down. Tad was in the house.

"This is just what I've been afraid of my wife's in there having a baby and they're out there."

"Fraser your wife's going to be all right, don't worry."

Tad emerged from the house carrying his rifle and a bucket.

"Ma's got to have more water, cover me."

"Go ahead," Matt said.

Tad took a look around and headed for the creek.

"I'll go with him," Chester said.

"I should have gone 2 days ago, I wanted her to have the best. That's why I talked of California."

"Now Fraser believe me you are going to have to fight in California as much as you have to fight here."

Tad got to the creek and started to dip the bucket in the water when an Indian poked his head up and shot him with his rifle.

"Mister Dillon," Chester called out.

Matt and Fraser got down from the house and rushed over to help. Chester finished getting the water.

"Tad," Fraser said.

"It's all right Sam," Tad said.

Sam helped Tad up and over to the wagon while Matt picked up Tad's rifle and carried back with him.

"You all right, son?" Matt asked.

"Yes, thanks marshal. How is she Sam?"

"I don't know Ma chased me away."

"Mister Dillon that cavalry patrol can't be very far away they was on their trail."

"I know I've been thinking about that. We'll have to signal them burn the wagon."

"You'll what?"

"It's like burning your bridges Fraser it's the only thing we've got."

"There's a can of kerosene in it," Fraser said nodding.

Matt and Fraser headed over to the empty wagon. Fraser got the kerosene from under the seat and started pouring the fuel over the front then Matt took over and poured the rest in while Fraser got down again. Matt struck a match and threw it into the wagon which was soon ablaze. They took shelter behind a barricade made of furniture.

"Marshal up there," Tad said pointing to the top of the hill.

"That's only a horse, keep watching."

Buck's sharp hearing had picked up on more than one pony and he knew that the Kiowa renegades were preparing to charge.

"If they're going to hit us they got to do it soon it's close to dark.

"There's one," Chester said.

"Hold your fire as if we didn't see him. Let them charge."

"Isn't that taking a chance?" Fraser asked.

"It's the chance we got to take, Fraser."

"Besides a running Indian can't shoot very good," Chester added.

Matt told them to hold it until all the Indians were in the clear and running at them.

"Now!"

They started firing until only 2 of the Kiowa braves were left to run back over the hill.

"Do you think we got them all?" Fraser asked.

"Well 2 of them went over the hill but I don't think they'll be back. We better check on the rest of them."

Matt and Chester went up and checked on each body all dead except the 2 who'd run off up the hill. As they returned to the wagon the baby cried inside the house. Fraser and Tad smiled and raced to the house. Matt and Chester joined them there to admire the boy.

"Well Fraser a might healthy looking boy."

"Yeah and Alice is fine."

"I guess we'll be moving along. Oh, I could send out a new wagon for you."

"There's no hurry Marshal we won't be going any place."

"Do you mean we're staying?" Tad asked.

"We couldn't leave now, could we? You were right Marshal, thanks."

"So long Fraser."

"Mister Dillon, will you look at that," Chester said as the patrol cantered in to the farmstead.

"Hello Marshal we saw the smoke any trouble."

"Trouble yeah we got some trouble. You'll find your Indians right over there. 2 of them went over the hill you better round them up. Come on Chester let's get home and have that glass of beer."

Buck shook his head while Matt mounted for the life of him he couldn't understand why cavalry horses didn't use the instincts they were born with or had they had that completely trained out of them. He wasn't going to let it worry him too much he was just looking forward to the comfort of his stall a bucket of water and his food.