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 Sixteen

The whole family made their way out of the saloon towards the awaiting buckboards, horses and buggy. Buck made his way over to where Jeremiah stood watching Anne-Marie get reacquainted with her son. "She's something special, isn't she?"
Jeremiah nodded. "I just hope she can be happy. She's been through so much."
"I know," said Buck. "I'm sorry for what I put her through. You have to believe that I never meant to hurt her. I just had to move on. I'm sure she would agree with me that in the end things wouldn't have worked out." He paused and watched his family climb into the buckboard they had brought to town.
"You mind if I ride to the house with her?" he asked. "The two of us really need to talk."
Jeremiah shrugged, "That's up to her. I'll go ask."
When she agreed, Jeremiah helped them both get settled into the buggy and then went to go find Teresa so he had a ride home.
As they headed out of town towards the stock yards and home, Anne-Marie turned to face Buck, "You have a lovely family, Mr. Cross."
"Thank you, and please call be Buck," he said. "I'd like very much to be able to include Nicholas as a part of it; you too, if you want."
Anne-Marie looked at Buck and smiled. "I'm sorry I didn't let you know. I did try, but you had such a lovely family and I didn't want to ruin it. If it had meant to be, you would have come for me by then. I realized when I saw you with them, that you couldn't come for me because we wouldn't work. I'd pull you back down because I would be a constant reminder of where you had been. The same would be true of you for me. We couldn't be. So I left without telling you. I'm sorry."
"I understand," he said. "I only wish you could have told me so I could have kept you safe. I'm sorry I let you down."
"Why don't we stop worrying about the past, and decide what we are going to do about the future," she said.
Buck nodded, "That sounds like a plan."
"I'd like very much for you to be involved in Isaac Nicholas' life, but I'm not sure how." She glanced back at the buckboard where Jeremiah traveled.
Buck nodded. "You don't want me in the way if a certain someone decides to make you a big part of his life."
Anne-Marie sighed, "Am I that transparent?"
Buck laughed.
She joined him in laughter. "Anyway, I noticed that Mole Hill doesn't have a dress shop. I was thinking I could possibly start one and we would see what happened."
"That sounds really nice," said Buck. "I guess all we need to decide now is what do we tell Nicholas, I mean Isaac?"
"How about, for now, we tell him that you were a good friend of his father's? That isn't really a lie, you did know him," she said.
"That would work," said Buck. "I could become his uncle, an older man who helps guide him."
"That would be nice," agreed Anne-Marie. "That way if things work out with Jeremiah the way I'm hoping . . ."
"There won't be another father in the way," finished Buck.
Anne-Marie nodded.
"I would be happy to do whatever I can to help you," continued Buck. "I do owe you my life, you know."
She smiled.
"Now, where are you planning on staying until you get this dress shop up and running?" Buck asked as he drew the horses to a stop in front of the house he shared with Teresa and Morning Sun.
"I figured Isaac and I would stay in the hotel in town," Anne-Marie said as she climbed down and went to secure the horses.
"Well that's just plain silly," said Buck as Kid came and helped him down from the buggy.
"What's silly?" asked Teresa as she and Morning Sun joined the group.
"For Anne-Marie and Isaac Nicholas to stay in the hotel in town," said Buck.
"It certainly is," said Teresa. "Especially when we have plenty of room right here."
"Besides," said Buck with a wink at Anne-Marie, "You'd just be moving back here in a few months anyway if things work out."
Anne-Marie dropped her head and blushed as Jeremiah and the others came over, "But staying here wouldn't be right."
"Why not?" asked Louise. "Buck did."
"Did what?" asked Anne-Marie.
"Stayed here while he was courting Teresa. I see no reason why Jeremiah's experience should be any different. Besides, your son is already settled in. I would be a shame to make him move again," said Louise.
"Are you all sure?" asked Anne-Marie.
"We wouldn't have it any other way," said Teresa slipping an arm around Buck's waist. "Welcome home, Anne-Marie. Welcome home."

THE END

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