by Karen

Author's Note: Thanks to Sameena for all her help with this story. You're the best!

Disclaimer: The characters of The Young Riders were created for television by Ed Spielman. The series aired on ABC TELEVISION from 1989 - 1992. This story is a sequel to my stories "Acceptance" and "Morning Sun" which took place six years after the Pony Express was disbanded.

Chapter Fifteen

"Your Honor," said Jeremiah as he and Anne-Marie entered the saloon, "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I think we may have some important information that can shed some light on this case."
All eyes turned towards the voice.
The crowd started murmuring as Jeremiah and Anne-Marie made their way to the front of the room. As he watched them approach, Buck noticed the protective way Jeremiah guided Anne-Marie. He knew then that he had been right in sending Jeremiah to find her.
When they cleared the crowd, Nicholas ran to meet them, "Mama?"
Anne-Marie moved away from Jeremiah and turned to meet Nicholas. "My baby, you're all grown up. Oh, Isaac, I'm so sorry." She pulled him to her and started sobbing.
Nicholas wrapped his arms around her and held her. "You're still alive. He told me you were dead that he'd killed you for trying to take me away from him." He too was sobbing.
Teresa came and lead Anne-Marie and Nicholas back to where the rest of the family was sitting. The judge worked at calming the crowd and regaining control of the proceedings. "I hope you have a good explanation for you actions, young man."
"Yes, Sir," said Jeremiah. He went towards the witness stand. "Shall I?" he asked.
The judge nodded and Jeremiah was sworn in. He sat down. "My name is Jeremiah McCloud. I am a deputy here in Mole Hill. I think I can help you understand what happened without making Nicholas testify. Would you like me to tell you what happened?"
The judge nodded.
Jeremiah continued, "A few weeks ago I was starting my afternoon rounds when Nicholas Jones came riding into town like a crazy person. He was yelling something about someone being dead, and someone trying to kill him. He was riding Buck Cross' horse so I figured something had happened between his father, Nathan Jones, and my brother-in-law, Buck Cross.
"I managed to get him calmed down about the same time Nathan came riding into town. Nathan was in about the same state as Nicholas. The sheriff took Nathan over to the jail to talk while I talked to Nicholas. Nicholas told me we needed to get the doctor out to his house because Nathan had shot Buck. The boy offered to go with us because the Jones' house is kind of hard to find if you don't know where you're going. We got Doc and went there.
"When we got there, we found Buck lying on the ground. He was hurt pretty bad. Doc worked on fixing him up and then we brought him back here and kept him confined at Doc's until your arrival."
Jeremiah paused and looked from the judge to his family and wonderful new friend. He took a deep breath and continued, "Since his father was in jail, Nicholas came to stay with my sister, Louise, and her family. While he was there, we learned that Nathan was not his father; that he had been taken from his mother by Nathan and that he would like to try and find his mother. He knew where he had been taken from and his mother's name; I went looking and found her. She agreed to come here and see if Nicholas was her son and if Nathan was the man who took him. That about gets us to where we are."
The judge nodded, "Thank you, Mr. McCloud." He turned to face Buck. "In light of this testimony do you still want to change your story? Do you still want to insist that you tried to kidnap the boy?"
Buck stood, "No, Sir."
"That's what I thought," the judge said. "Do you have any objections to the boy telling his version of events now?"
Buck glanced at Nicholas before answering. He seemed much more relaxed and not as frightened. "No, Sir," he said and he sat down.
The judge looked at Nicholas. The boy stood and made his way to the judge. After being sworn in, he sat down and waited all the while watching his mother.
The judge smiled at him and said, "Why don't you tell us what happened?"
Nicholas said, "Ever since Nathan and me first moved here, Mr. Cross has tried to keep Nathan from beating me. It hasn't always worked, and lots of times has made me get hit more once we got home, but he tried. It made me feel that it was possible to get away from Nathan and maybe have a place to go." He stopped speaking and looked at Buck. Buck smiled in encouragement. Nicholas dropped his eyes and continued, "I repaid this kindness by talking ugly about him and picking a fight with his daughter. Even after I hurt his daughter, he still came out to check on me and be sure that Nathan hadn't hurt me too bad. When he got there, he tried to get me to leave. I was too scared. If I'd gone when he first asked . . ."
Buck again stood, "Your Honor, please don't make him do this. He's only a boy."
The judge nodded. "I just want to ask you one more question then you can leave."
Nicholas looked at his mother. She nodded her encouragement. He looked at the judge.
The judge asked, "Did Mr. Jones shoot Mr. Cross to protect you?"
Nicholas shook his head, "Mr. Cross wasn't trying to hurt me. His gun wasn't out; we was just talking. Nathan shot Mr. Cross because he don't like Indians and he especially don't like Mr. Cross."
"Thank you," said the judge. "You may step down."
Nicholas stood and went back towards where his mother sat by Jeremiah. As he passed by Buck, Buck smiled at him. When he reached his seat, Jeremiah moved so he could sit next to Anne-Marie. She hugged Nicholas and said, "I'm so proud of you. That was a very brave thing to do."
The judge waited until Nicholas reached his seat. "After considering all the evidence," he said, "I have decided that Mr. Nathan Jones should be held to stand trail for kidnapping and attempted murder as stated on the wanted poster from Wichita." Nathan glared at the judge, but made no attempt to get away as the sheriff went to secure him.
"That taken care of," the judge continued, "The charges against Mr. Buck Cross will be dropped and he is free to go." With that statement he ended the trial and sent everyone on their way.

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