A
Father’s TaleA
Father’s Taleafter a story line idea by Nesciri
Disclaimer: The characters of The Young Riders were created for television by Ed Spielman. The series aired on ABC TELEVISION from 1989 - 1992.
"Wilson, you get back to that station and find out when the next one
of them boys is headed our way. Then get back here so we can plan," said
Cutler.
"Right away, Boss," said Wilson. "I'm kinda glad he decided
not to help. Think I'm gonna enjoy watchin' him squirm."
"Just get goin'," said Cutler, "and don't let nobody see you."
Wilson left quickly. Buck glared at him as he rode past. The pain was helping
him fight off the effect of the tea. He was beginning to be able to think. He
had to figure out a way to get out of this mess before Wilson got back.
"Jasper, you stay here and be sure he don't get away. I'm gonna go check
the trail for a place to ambush the next boy through."
Jasper nodded. When Cutler left, he went over to Buck and offered him some
water. Buck refused. He glared at Jasper. "Why?" he asked.
"Gold," Jasper responded and walked away.
The next few minutes passed in silence. Buck tried to struggle against the
ropes, but the pain in his side and shoulder made him quit. When he finally
gave up, Jasper came over. "Here," he said, "it's just water."
Buck drank. Again he asked," Why?"
Jasper sighed. "Told you. Gold. It rightfully belongs to me, well part
of it does anyway. Guy who put it there stole my share. It's a long story and
we don't got the time.
"I'll do my best to make sure things don't get outta hand, but you're
gonna have to help. Look, Boy, I like you. I don't want you or anyone else to
get hurt, but I also want my gold. Been looking for it over ten years."
Jasper pulled Buck's arm, "Still hurts, don't it?"
Buck nodded.
"It's gonna get worse if you don't cooperate, and it's not only you that's
gonna pay. They plan on hurting your friend more than they do you. They need
you alive, they don't need him."
Buck hung his head. "I can't," he said. "It's scared. It would
be like destroying a church."
"They don't care," said Jasper as he cut Buck loose and pulled him
over to the edge of the campsite. "All you gotta do is go down there and
move that pile of rocks. Gold's underneath."
Buck shook his head, "I can't."
"Fine," said Jasper. "Do it the hard way." He pulled his
gun from his holster and hit Buck on the head. As Buck crumpled to the ground,
Jasper whispered, "I'm sorry, Son."
When Buck woke up, he was tied to the ground at his feet and waist. His hands
were tied together and stretched over his head. This rope was hung over a tree
branch and then tied to a stake in the ground. Buck glanced towards the fire.
The three men were busy planning something. Buck wondered how long he'd been
out.
"Next trip our way's tomorrow. That small boy's the one takin' it. Should
be passin' us round noon," said Wilson.
"Good. I found us the perfect place to ambush him. You and me will leave
at first light. Jasper will keep trying to convince our friend here to help
us.
"By the way, where'd you learn that little contraption over there?"
"Kiowa," said Jasper.
Buck again tried to struggle. "Looks like he's awake," said Wilson.
"Show me how this works."
"Simple," said Jasper, "Tighten this rope here, and he hurts." Jasper pulled the rope attached to Buck's arms. This caused his upper body to rise off the ground.
The pain in his ribs and shoulder made him moan. "See?" said Jasper.
After a few minutes he slowly let go of the rope, and lowered Buck back to
the ground. The pain lessened immediately. Cutler went to where Buck lay, "You
can always change your mind and help us."
Buck shook his head, "I'd rather die," he said.
"We'll see," said Cutler. "Wilson, let's turn in. We got an
early start in the mornin'."
The next morning as they were preparing to leave camp, Wilson went to where
Buck lay. He gave a tug on the rope and smiled when Buck flinched. He adjusted
the rope so Buck was just off the ground. "It's gonna be fun watchin' you
watch me work, Breed. I'm real good with my knife."
Jasper spent the day trying to convince Buck to cooperate. Shortly after noon the others returned. To Buck's horror they weren't alone, Lou was with them.
"Jasper," Cutler called, "any progress?"
Jasper shook his head.
"Then help Wilson get this one ready. We'll start with his feet and work
our way up."
Wilson pulled Lou off of Lightening. Buck could see a large bruise around Lou's
eye. He struggled, but only managed to cause his shoulder to hurt more. As the
began to take off Lou's coat there was a short scuffle and then Buck heard Wilson
laugh and say, "Well, well, look at what we have here. This is gonna be
a lot more fun that we thought."
"No," Buck yelled. "I'll go. You leave her alone and I'll go."
"Okay," agreed Cutler.
"Tie her over there where she can be seen from down below," suggested
Jasper. "That way he knows you ain't hurtin' her while he's gone."
"Do it," said Cutler. He went to Buck and cut him loose. "You
be back by daybreak or we start the party without you."
Buck rubbed his shoulder and moved it slowly. He could tell that it wasn't
where it should be. "I can get your gold, but I need to do it my way. I
need to go to the village and ask permission to use the land. I can't go until
morning because that's when I'd start a prayer cycle."
"Okay," said Cutler. "Wilson, tie him next to the other one.
Jasper, let's eat."
As Wilson tied Buck next to Lou he smiled, "I just love surprises. And
you had better stop spoilin' my fun or I'll have to hurt that dummy friend of
yours too."
Buck just glared at the man. When Wilson left, Buck asked, "You okay,
Lou?"
"I've been better," answered Lou. "I'm sorry things didn't work
out for you."
"Not your fault," said Buck. "You think you can hold on for
another day?"
"I think so. I figure they can't afford to hurt me until you're back.
After that, my guess is we're both in trouble."
"Maybe," agreed Buck. "A lot of that will depend on Red Bear."
"What?" asked Lou.
"I think I can get him to help," said Buck, "But I won't know
until morning."
"You two, shut-up," said Cutler, "Or I might just forget our
agreement."
The next morning Jasper cut Buck loose. As he helped Buck mount he whispered,
"I'll keep her safe as long as I can. You'd better be quick. I won't be
able to stop them if they think you're trying to trick them."
"I'll get your gold," said Buck, "And then I'll get all three
of you." He kicked his mount and rode off towards the village. Shortly
after he'd left, the men saw him enter the valley below them. He rode to the
pile of rocks and began to move them to form a prayer circle. This was slow
work because he couldn't use his left arm. When he moved the last rock, he found
a small hole. Buck reached in and pulled out a leather pouch. He lifted it over
his head, then in the four directions, finally he opened it and took a small
portion of its contents and put it back in the hole.
"What's he doin'?" asked Cutler.
Wilson shrugged.
"Making an offering," said Jasper.
Buck closed the pouch and put it in his saddlebags. He then knelt to offer up his prayers. When he did this, Lou glanced to the trees on her left, behind the three men. She would of sworn that she'd seen someone there.
"Why's he doin' that?" asked Wilson.
"Needs to be there the right amount of time," answered Jasper, "Else the others will know he came for some other reason."
"So?" said Cutler.
Jasper sighed, "Wants to get back here in at least the same shape he went
down in. If they think he was there for somethin' other than prayin', he ain't
comin' out real easy."
"How long we gotta wait?" asked Wilson.
"Probably not long," said Jasper. "Looks like he's finishing
up already."
Buck was standing. He began to return the rocks to their starting places. As
he walked his horse over to a small boulder, Lou felt a hand on her shoulder.
She turned and was looking into Red Bear's eyes. He motioned her to remain quiet
and cut the ropes that bound her. He then helped her crawl off towards the nearby
bushes and a waiting shaman who began to tend her.
Wilson turned just after she disappeared into the scrub. "What the . .
.? Where'd she go?"
As he stood, an arrow flew from the bushes and struck his chest. Cutler jumped
up and ran for cover. Another arrow came to rest in the middle of his back.
Jasper jumped behind a nearby tree. The arrow meant for him came to rest in
his lower back. The three braves came out of hiding just as Buck entered the
camp.
Red Bear stood staring at Jasper. He looked from Jasper to Buck and back again.
When he struck Jasper across the face, Lou gasped. She'd all of a sudden realized
why Jasper had seemed so familiar to everybody. He looked an awful lot like
Buck.
"Take him to the village," said Red Bear. "He must pay for what
he has done."
Buck dismounted. He went to Red Bear. "This is the one who did his best
to be kind," Buck said.
"This is the man who took our mother," replied Red Bear with contempt.
Buck stared at Red Bear. "How do you know?"
"I was a young man. I remember him. He lived with us in our house for
many moons. She nursed him back to health after his friends left him for dead.
He was like a brother to me. When he was well he took her and beat her,"
Red Bear said.
"It wasn't like that," said Jasper. "The story Cutler told you
was true. Only it weren't him. It was me. Go ahead, ask him. Ask him how she
was treated by his father."
Buck looked from Jasper to Red Bear. "He says your father beat her because
she had only you and he wanted another son. Is that true?"
Red Bear looked away and didn't answer. Buck continued, "He says your
father is the one who beat and forced her and that she ran away to be with him."
Red Bear nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Buck.
"She wouldn't let me," answered Red Bear. "She made me promise
to stay with her story so we didn't lose position in the village. My father
was dead and your's was gone. I needed to remain in a position of power for
us to live well, especially after she insisted on keeping you."
Jasper struggled to a sitting position. "Don't fault him, Son. He done
what he had too. I'm sorry I got you drawn into this mess, but I needed that
gold to repay a debt.
"When I was 'bout ten years old, my pa died. My ma took up with a man
I didn't like and who didn't like me. After a few years, they married. When
I was about your age, he took her into town to celebrate their anniversary.
He had a couple of his friends beat me up, tie me up and dump me in an old abandoned
barn. Don't know how long I was there, but a rain storm forced a couple of pioneers
into the barn for shelter. They found me and took me in. A year later I repaid
their kindness by stealin' all their money and going to California to search
for my ma.
"I fell in with a man name of Everett. We found some gold. Took out a
good amount. I found out my ma and her husband had died from a fever epidemic
that had hit hard in this area. I decided to take my share of the gold and go
back to repay the Jenkins. That's when Everett, Cutler and Wilson jumped me.
They beat me and left me for dead. Kiowa found me and took me in.
"Stayed there almost two years. Left in a hurry. After I left them, I
searched high and low for Everett and those other two. I knew they'd never recognize
me. I hooked up with Cutler and Wilson a few months back. Seems Everett had
set them up for a bank robbery and took all the money and gold for himself.
They wanted him as bad as me. When we caught up with him, he gave Cutler the
map to where the gold was hidden.
"Please, take that gold to the Jenkins. They live by your way station.
Tell 'em Horrace is real sorry. Please, promise me."
Buck looked at Jasper, "I promise," he said.
"Thank you. Also, try and forgive me. I never meant to harm you. Things
just went so fast," Jasper said and then he died.
Buck looked at Jasper, then Red Bear. Lou came to his side, "What now?"
she asked.
"I don't know," said Buck.
Red Bear told the others to go back to the village. He returned to Buck's side.
"We can bury him here," he said.
Buck shook his head. "We should take him to the Jenkins. They might want
to tell him good-bye."
"I will help," said Red Bear. While Buck sat with Jasper's body,
Red Bear and Lou prepared to the trip. It would take at least two days to get
back because neither Lou nor Buck was up to riding long distances at great speed.
Three days later, the group entered the yard of the way station. Kid and Ike
were across the yard quickly. Kid helped Lou dismount, and assisted her to the
bunk house. Ike glanced at Buck. Buck shook his head, "Take care of Lightening
for Lou. I'll be back by nightfall." He and Red Bear continued on their
journey.
Elias Jenkins looked up from his work on his hay pulley system. "Looks
like we got company coming."
"My," said Abigail. "Aren't we becoming popular all of a sudden?"
She came out of the barn.
"Wonder who that could be," mused Elias.
"Think it's Buck and another Indian," said Abigail.
"Sure enough," said Elias. "What's that they're pullin'?"
Abigail joined Elias at the corral fence.
"Hate to say this, Son," said Elias, "But you look worse than
you did the last time we saw you."
Buck smiled. He waited while Red Bear dismounted and came to help. Then he
took the gold from his saddlebags. "He wanted you to have this," Buck
said indicating the body of the man on the travois behind Red Bear's horse.
"Said he owed you."
"Nobody owes us anything I can recall," said Abigail taking the pouch.
"Who was he?" asked Elias walking towards the body.
"Horrace Jasper," said Buck.
"Oh," said Abigail dropping the pouch on the ground and kneeling
down beside it. "Poor Horrace."
Buck went to her side. He helped her stand. "He's been trying to return
the money he took from you for a long time," Buck explained.
"Kept runnin' into trouble, didn't he?" remarked Elias.
Buck nodded. After he told them Horrace's story, Abigail Jenkins smiled. "You
two brung him all this way just so we could pay our respect?"
Again Buck nodded.
"How thoughtful."
"Guess we could bury him out in the east meadow. He always did like it
out there," said Elias.
"Sir?" said Red Bear.
"Yes," said Elias.
"Would you mind if we honored him with a Kiowa ceremony?"
"Wouldn't mind at all," said Elias. "Somehow that seems appropriate."
As Buck and Red Bear prepared to leave after the ceremony,Elias put his hand
on Red Bear's leg. "You come back here anytime," he said. "Tell
your people they'll be welcome here too. Just mention Buck's name."
Red Bear thanked them and left. Buck watched him go.
"Thank you," he said.
"What for this time?" asked Elias.
"For understanding," said Buck smiling.
"Heck, Boy," said Elias. "The little lady and I just found us
a family. We should be thanking you."
"That's right," said Abigail. "It's true Horrace here weren't
with us a long time, but we still thought of him as a son. That would make you
our grandson. So don't stay away too long, hear?"
Buck smiled at the elderly couple. As he started on his way back to the way
station, it occurred to him that a few days ago he was thinking that he must
have done something to offend the gods of the wind because they seemed to be
tormenting him. Now he realized that he owed them a debt of gratitude. Without
that wind storm that had caused him to bump into Mrs. Jenkins he never would
have met his father. It was good to know that the story he'd always believed
was a lie. He felt much better about himself now that he knew his father's tale.
