FAMILY
HONOR
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.
"Thank you, Miss Clarke. I'm
glad you understand," Buck said as he shook the new school teacher's hand.
As he let her hand go, he knelt so he could meet his daughter face to face.
"You be a good girl while you stay here and help Miss Clarke get things
ready. When you finish, if I'm not here, go to Jeremiah's office and I'll pick
you up there." He gave her a kiss on the check, turned and walked down
the steps from the schoolhouse, quickly mounted his horse and rode out of town.
Morning Sun sighed and turned to go inside with her teacher. She was to help
Miss Clarke catch up on the work that didn't get completed due to the ruckus
caused when Morning Sun and Nicholas fought.
"What's wrong?" Miss Clarke asked as she looked at Morning Sun and
noticed the worried frown on her face.
"He's going the wrong way," the child replied. "He's going to
go check on Nicholas. This isn't going to be good."
"Who is Nicholas?" Miss Clarke asked.
Morning Sun glanced up at her. "The boy from the fight yesterday. Father
is worried that he may have been beaten because of what happened. He's going
to check."
"Oh" said Miss Clarke.
The two of them entered the schoolhouse and began readying the books and supplies
for next week when classes would begin. Morning Sun kept checking the road.
She couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
Buck rode up to the home of Nathan and Nicholas Jones, being careful to take
notice of his surroundings. He'd never been here; he shouldn't be here now,
but he too couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. He drew his
horse to a stop and dismounted. He tied the horse to the porch rail and cautiously
walked up the steps. He knocked on the door and waited. He heard someone moving
inside, then silence. He knocked again. The door opened a crack. "Go away,"
a frighten voice said. "He'll be back soon. Go away or he'll kill you."
Buck gently pushed the door open until he could see the owner of the voice.
The boy was beaten and bruised. His left eye was swollen shut. His lips were
puffy, and there were marks where he'd been slapped hard across the face. Buck
knelt to get his face even with the boy's, "Where is he?" he asked
doing his best to keep his voice calm. He didn't want to frighten the boy any
more.
"He went to the upper pasture to check on the stock; he'll be back soon.
Please, leave," the frightened boy pleaded.
Come with me," Buck said. "You don't have to stay here. I'll help
you find someplace else to stay."
I can't," the boy replied. "He'll track me down and kill whoever I'm
with. He's done it before. Please leave."
Buck shook his head. "I can't leave you here like this. I don't care if
he is your father; he has no right to do this to you. I'm taking you with me."
He reached out and took the boy by the arm. That's when he heard the shotgun
click.
"What the devil do you think you're doing?" Nathan Jones asked leveling
the shotgun at Buck's head. "I'll thank you kindly to unhand my boy."
Buck slowly let go of Nicholas' arm. "Stay behind me," he whispered
before he carefully stood and turned to face the boy's father.
"I'm taking him with me," Buck said calmly.
"The hell you are," Nathan shot back. "You already stole one
part of my family; I'll not let you take anymore. He belongs to me; he'll stay
with me. Nicholas, get over here. You'd better move quick if you know what's
good for you, Son."
Nicholas started to move, but Buck stepped in front of him. "No,"
he said. "I'm taking him with me. We're going to the doctor to be sure
Nicholas is alright then he's going to stay with us until we can figure out
what else to do."
Nathan laughed. "What makes you think your pretty little wife is going
to allow you to clutter up her home with someone else's breed bastard?"
he asked.
Buck stiffened, but kept his growing anger in check. "You really don't
understand Teresa at all, do you?" he asked.
The shotgun's stability wavered; Buck noticed the dip. He took a small step
towards the edge of the porch, away from the house and closer to his horse.
Nicholas moved with him, never taking his eyes off the gun.
Just as quickly, the gun came back up. "What would you know about it?"
Nathan asked.
"I know she'd accept Nicholas into our home in order to help him"
Buck said. "It doesn't matter who his parents are or what people they are
from. I also know that she wasn't ever interested in you. The whole time you
were busy trying to impress her, she was waiting for me."
Again the gun wavered. This time Buck grabbed Nicholas and jumped towards his
horse. He quickly undid the reins and put the boy on its back. He handed the
reins to Nicholas and slapped the horse. "Go to my house," he yelled
as he turned to face Nathan once again. The last thing Buck remembered was the
fiery pain in his right side before he hit the ground.
Nicholas pulled the horse to a stop when he heard the blast. He saw Buck crumple
to the ground. He wanted to scream, but realized the man's only chance of survival
was for him to get help and get it fast. He turned towards town and spurred
the horse onward. He'd seen Nathan going to get his own mount as he turned.
He knew that as soon as Nathan had his horse under control he was coming.
From where he lay on the ground, Buck watched the older man gather and calm
his horse. He saw him mount up to go after the boy. "Ride safe, Nicholas,"
he thought. "Ride safe and bring help." He saw the boy clear the small
rise leading away from the house; he heard the other horse take off in pursuit,
and then he blacked out.