MORNING SUN
Author's note: Written for fanfic night 2002. Thanks to Sameena
for the idea to continue "Acceptance" and 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 story "Acceptance"
which took place six years after the Pony express was disbanded.
They all settled in around Teresa. Buck sat on the bed next to
her. He took her hand," You're going to do just what the doctor told you
or I'm leaving tonight. I can't -- I won't do this again."
"Do what again? What are you talking about?" asked Teresa.
Buck looked at her and then at her - no his -- no their family. He sighed and
began his story:
"After Lou and Kid's wedding, when the pony express ended I couldn't stay
in Rock Creek. It tried, but I didn't fit any place and everywhere I looked,
I saw Ike. I left and drifted from place to place. Eventually, I ended up back
at the village with Red Bear. Things there were better. I was accepted more,
and not teased like I had been before." He paused.
"There was someone special, wasn't there?" asked Teresa.
Buck nodded. "Fire Bird," he answered. "She was a white woman.
She'd been rescued from the Pawnee. Red Bear had taken her into his home because
he could communicate with her. She was like a daughter to him. She'd been with
them two, maybe three, years when I came back."
Buck looked at Louise. "She reminded me of you. Lots of spunk and a temper
to match her red hair," he smiled.
"We got along right from the start. Soon we were given permission to be
married. Red Bear was pleased. I would be staying and continuing the family.
Everything was perfect." Buck stopped. His eyes lost focus, and he seemed
to go away from them.
Teresa sat up and gently kissed him, and he slowly came back to the present.
"You were to be married," Teresa prompted.
"Shortly after our wedding Fire Bird was with child," Buck continued.
"She was doing well until she was about 6 months along. She started having
pains. The medicine man tried, but he couldn't stop them. The baby, my son,
was born too early. He," Buck faltered. He took a deep breath and continued,
"He only lived an hour or so. Fire Bird went to be with him the next morning.
"I had thought losing Ike was the hardest thing I'd ever have to do. This
was some how worse. I wanted to die. There was no reason to continue living.
I quit caring. Red Bear finally made me leave the village because of the bad
medicine I was causing." Again, Buck faltered. A tear slid down his cheek.
He fought with himself until he regained control of his emotions, the others
waited silently.
"I'm not sure what I did for the next few months," Buck continued.
"Then one night, I had a dream. Many people came to speak with me. When
I woke up, I realized I couldn't go on the way I was. I needed to move forward,
out of the past, or I needed to stop taking up space. Since I hadn't died yet,
I decided to move forward. I went back to Rock Creek to see if Teaspoon was
still there. He wasn't, he'd gone back to Texas. I realized that Tompkins was
still running his store. I went by, and he told me about you two buying this
place. I decided to come visit and see if maybe I could have a job. You know
the rest."
Louise held onto Kid. Jeremiah put his hand on her shoulder. They all three
turned from Buck to Teresa.
"Oh, Buck," said Teresa with tears flowing down her face. "I'll
do what the doctor says. I promise. I never want to hurt you," She hugged
him closer to her.
Buck laid his head on her shoulder and allowed her to comfort him. He sobbed
freely and held her without speaking.
Louise stood. "We need to leave," she said. "You two go ahead.
I'll be right out." Kid kissed his wife and left. Jeremiah followed.
Louise went to where Buck and Teresa sat. She helped Teresa lay back down, settled
Buck back into her arms, slipped his boots off, and then kissed them both gently
on the top of the head. "I'll be back in the morning," she whispered.
"You both rest."
Teresa smiled at her sister and hugged her now silent husband closer to her.
"We will," she said.