Disclaimer: This story is the copyright of nesciri and are published for others to read. Any abuse or infringement of the author's rights will be goverened by Swedish law. The characters have been borrowed from the TV-drama "The Young Riders" . This has not been done in order to violate the copyright of the authors of that show, however, if an infringement has been done, please notify and this page will be removed. Any drawings are the copyright of nesciri and may not be used without the written permission of .

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

to be continued

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James looked out over the farmyard from his hideout behind the pile of logs. Hid father was getting ready to get into town, and he was hoping to that he would be invited to join him. It had been two weeks since they had been into town and just staying on the homestead was boring. They had had only a few visitors, mostly by-passers, and the one the boy was hoping to meet again; Hickock had not been around. If he could get into town, he might have a chance to see the gunman again. Not that he would have any adventures of his own to tell him, he thought miserably. There was nothing here to do and he really missed his old friends. He was supposed to start school in town soon, and he was sure that none of the kids would measure up to his best friend Cory back home. Deep in thought he leaned on the pile of logs, only to cause some of them to fall down. His father immediately discovered him.

'James! What do you think you're doing!? Get over here, right now!'

James obeyed and walked slowly over the yard towards his father, who was standing by the wagon with a stern countenance.

'When I get back that pile should be as it was, is that clear?'

'Yes, sir', James mumbled, eyes downcast.

'And don't you make any trouble for your ma or your sister, you hear! I'll be back in a couple of hours.'

James decided to try his luck and looked up at his father.

'May I come with you?'

'After the mess you made? You better think again, boy! When I get back I want you to get the horses over to the pasture by the wood, and let them graze there until I get back - and don't leave them unattended.'

Discouraged, and deeply disappointed James nodded and stepped away from his father and watched from some distance his father hugging his sister before mounting the wagon and heading to town. James grimaced at the disappearing wagon and was to head out in the woods to find something more interesting when his mother called out to him.

'James,' she pleaded, 'please do as your father told you. You know what's he's like if he come back and finds things undone…?'

With a sigh James turned and started to place the logs back on the pile. When he was done he looked around for his mother and sister and found them hanging up the laundry s few meters from the house. They were too occupied to notice what he was doing and an idea was formed in his head. Finally ha had a chance to sneak into the house and get hold of his father's gun - then he could practise some shooting. Quickly he ran into the house and with his heart pounding with excitement his went directly to the cupboard where he had sin his father hide the gun. He found the gun wrapped in a cloth, and devoutly opened the cloth to look at the heavy and shining piece. Staring at it almost mesmerised; he finally wrapped it in the cloth and grabbed some bullets from a small tin-box. Holding his prey close to him, he looked around and seeing nobody he rushed out of the house.

Kid looked at the letter again. Sighing, he tore it apart. How could he ever have imagined that what he feared to say would be any easier to write down? Ever since he had kissed Lou at the dance nothing had been the same. He had hoped that she had felt the same, but now, it seemed even more difficult than before. What were they supposed to do now? He had asked Teaspoon, but it was hard, since he couldn't let the stationmaster know about Lou's identity. He had even considered asking Rachel for advice, but dismissed it. How did you know when you loved somebody - really loved somebody? Maybe he was supposed to ask Lou to marry him? But then he wasn't ready for marriage, at least he didn't think he was. But if you really loved somebody, shouldn't you be ready marrying her then? A voice from behind him broke his reveries.

'What are you doing? If that's a hobby of yours, then remind me to keep my books away from you.'

Kid looked down on the ground below him and realised that he had torn every piece of the letter into tiny bits, now all spread on the ground.

'I had something to think about,' he mumbled and bent down to pickup the pieces.

'What?' Cody wanted to know.

'What "what"?'

"What were you thinking about?'

'Nothing that concern you.' Kid shortly replied, but Cody was not to be dismissed.

'It's about Lou, ain't it?' he asked and smiled broadly.

'Why can't you keep out of other people's business,' Kid replied angry. Cody backed away and held up his hands defensively.

'I was only asking!' he objected and then he grinned. 'Then I'm right, ain't I? You're thinking of getting married, eh?!' He sighed loudly and looked at Kid with a mischievous smile and Kid eyed him suspiciously.

'What are you going to do?' Kid asked slowly.

'I? What could I do?' Cody replied, still smiling. 'There's Lou, by the way.'

Kid turned only to see a deserted yard. When he turned back, Cody had disappeared behind the barn, and his disappearance sent a feeling of uneasiness through the Kid. What was Cody up to? he wondered.

Buck rode slowly through the country, enjoying the rays of sun warming his face. He was on his way back from a run and was in no hurry. Suddenly sounds of horses made him stopped in his trail. He stood still listening, and soon he realised that the sound came from the other side of a hill. He urged his horse forward to get a better view from the top of the hill. What he saw on the other side made him smile. Two young boys were surrounding a couple of fine horses. Kiowa, by the look of it. They must have been able to sort the animals out from a larger herd, he thought, and then forgotten where they were in the hunt. This was too far from the camp that they should be. He wondered if he should warn them, but before he could decide he felt someone looking at him. He looked up and saw a warrior stare at him from the opposite of the valley. The distance was to far for there being any danger from a rifle, but by the hostile stare, Buck decided it was better he left. With an eye on the warrior he turned his horse and headed back to his original way. The sight of the two boys had brought back some memories, but so had the hostile stare of the warrior. He remembered what his brother had said to him the last time that they had met. 'Don't ever look back'. How easy it was to say, he thought, but so hard to live by. He wondered what his brother was doing. He probably had found himself a wife and started a family. He hoped that was the case. If anybody deserved the harmony of a family it was Red Bear. He had been thinking about his brother quite often the last few days. One of the reasons was of course the settlement on the border of the Kiowa land. And since the borders had been determined by the white man, he pondered, the Kiowa often ignored it, claiming hunting rights where there was game to be hunted. If they did this time there would be trouble, and Indian trouble often meant Army involvement. And the army very seldom meant anything good for the Indians.

Deep in thought he rode in at the station at Sweetwater.

'You took your time.' The irritated voice of Jimmy met him as he dismounted.

'What's wrong?' Buck asked calmly. He was back in time, and he knew it.

'Teaspoon wants us to fix the fence over by the pasture. Cody has disappeared and Kid is walking around as if he's walking on glass, and so is Lou. It will take us the rest of the day to finish, especially with them trying to help,' Jimmy muttered, taken aback by Buck's calm reply. Buck nodded.

'I'll just tend to my horse then I'll help,' he offered, thankful for something to take his mind of thinking of the past. He wondered a bit about Jimmy's foul mood, but they had all learnt to ignore Jimmy's quick mood changes. Especially if he was in a bad temper. It surprised Buck somewhat that Kid, who should knew better, risked getting in Jimmy's way when he was this way. Kid must have something serious on his mind; he pondered as he removed the saddle.

Teaspoon watched Jimmy's outburst from the porch and grunted, which made Rachel look up from the peeling of apples for an apple-pie. She looked questioningly at the old stationmaster.

'What's the matter with'em boys nowadays?, Teaspoon mumbled. 'Look like every one of them is carrying the world on their shoulders, well, except Cody of course. That boy wouldn't even recognise a burden if he saw it.'

Rachel smiled. She too had noticed the change in the riders. For two of them she thought she knew the reason. She had seen how Kid and Lou had looked at each other since she came her. For the rest, she hadn't a clue.

'I guess they're just adjusting,' she said simply.

'Adjusting? There's no need for adjusting for a job as a rider - besides they are among the best Express riders there are.'

'They're growing up, there are new members to their family and Emma and Sam ain't around here anymore. I suppose there's a lot of reason for feeling lost,' Rachel said softly.

Teaspoon looked at her. Never really having been a family man, her words struck him as odd at first, but then he nodded slowly.

'Bad memories, eh?'

'Or sad ones, I guess. And now they're making a new life for themselves, trying to find a new stability in life. It's hard for anyone, but I'd say the boys are doin' just fine.'

Jimmy hit the nails into the rail with such force, that Ike, who was holding the rail, looked at him with surprise. Jimmy glared back and picked up another nail. He looked over where Kid and Lou were trying to set down poles, but most of the time stood looking at each other as if they were afraid of touching or saying anything. He sighed as he picked up another nail. When he was about to place another nail in the rail, Ike put a restraining hand on his arm.

<It's easier if you don't place all the nails at the same place> he signed and raised an eyebrow. Jimmy looked down at his work and realised that he had placed the nails very close to each other, and placed like that they wouldn't do much good.

'Sorry', he sighed, and proceeded with more care. Ike looked at him and tapped his chest.

<What's wrong?>

'Nothings wrong', Jimmy mumbled, as he saw Buck approach them. 'Why don't you give Buck a hand. I'll manage here.'

Ike shrugged, and left him.

Jimmy placed the nail and started hammering. He knew what was wrong. Lou was wrong. Ever since he had found out that she was a girl, everything was different. He wasn't used to girls. Sure he had grown up with sisters, but they were older, and, well, he hadn't stayed around long enough to get to know them. And besides, Lou was different. There was something special about her that he couldn't put his finger on and it bothered him. Kid's behaviour bothered him too, although he wasn't sure why. He had great respect for Kid, but there was no one else among the riders that got on his nerve like Kid either. Sure, he could get tired of Cody's constant jokes, on Buck's stoic stubbornness and even on Ike's gentleness. But never on Lou, he thought sadly. Never Lou.

James ran into the woods carefully holding the gun close to him. When he was far away from the house he sat down to catch his breath. Sitting down he looked at the cloth he held in his lap, and slowly he unfolded the cloth to reveal the gun inside. He looked at the gun, feeling both intimidated and strangely excited about it. Slowly he reached for the bullets he had put in his pocket. He wondered for a while how to load it when he found the mechanism. He opened the gun and begun to place the bullets in their place. When he finally replaced the barrel, he had a feeling of being invincible. He stood up and using both hands he lifted the gun and aimed at a imagined mark. He tried to hold the gun as steady as he could, but the piece was heavy and although he held it with both hands, he was shaking. Angry with himself and determined to act as a real gun-fighter, he tried to brace his arms, and at the same time his finger squeezed the trigger. Suddenly a voice was heard through the woods.

'James! Where are you? Don't forget you promised your father to see to the horses!'

James quickly placed the gun in the cloth and hid it under a bush, before running back to the house, where his mother was waiting for him.

'Were you playing again?' she asked, while his sister smiled teasingly at him. 'Now go and get the horses.'

Realising that as soon he had obliged, his mother would be off his back, he went to the primitive stable without objections. While getting the horses ready and taking them out to the pasture, all that he could think of was the gun. He wouldn't dare firing it, since his mother would hear it, but right now it was enough just to think about holding it and aiming at imagined enemies and playing the hero. When he got to the pasture he let the horses go and ran back to where he had hid the gun. Knowing that he had promised to keep an eye on the horses, he brought it back to where the horses were grazing peacefully. After a careful examination, his imagination took over and soon he was running and chasing after outlaws and bandit or a war party of Indians. He was the gunfighter that never lost a fight and the trapper the always won the battles with the Indians - he was all his heroes at once as the time passed and the day turned into the late afternoon.

Soon he grew tired and realised that the sun had moved. His father could be home any minute now. Hasten to get back he started running, holding the gun close. Suddenly he stumbled and fell, and in the fall he frantically squeezed the gun in fear of dropping it. Not knowing what he was doing, his finger squeezed around the trigger.

Mrs. Craven lifted her daughter up, and looked around for her son. She supposed he was still by the horses, or rather she hoped that he was. If he had failed to do what his father had ordered him, she knew that the boy would be punished and her husband would put some of the blame on her. Maybe he was right, she thought morosely, maybe she had spoiled the boy. But he had been so sick when he was little, and had always been more of the dreaming kind than the out-spoken son that she knew her husband had wanted had. She sighed and opened the door into the cottage when a shot sounded from the pasture. Hugging her daughter hard, making the girl starting to cry, she yelled:

'James!'

Mr. Craven was in a good mood as he was on his way home. He had managed to get Tompkins, the storeowner, to give him a fair price on some of the merchandise, and he had managed to save some money. Enough to buy some candy for the kids. He hoped that his son had done what he should for once, or else he might be forced to exclude him from the candy, he pondered. He hoped that the boy would start to take responsibility soon and show some guts. Whistling slowly, he urged the horse forward, when a shot shattered the silence. Stiffening he realised that it came from the homestead and he forced the horse into a gallop, thinking about his wife and kids. Parts of the marshal's warning flew through his mind.

'Indians', he thought and urged the horse to go faster.

James heard the thundering sound and felt a burning sensation on his left arm. Staring wildly at his arm, that laid outstretched in front of him he saw blood, which upset him even more. Staggering to his feet, he kept his arm outstretched as if it was a foreign part of him. He looked bewildered around only to see his horses running wildly from the pasture. He had forgotten to close the gate. Suddenly the burn on his arm stopped hurting and he froze. His father was going to kill him. In the chock and fear he stood there shivering, too scared to move, until panic got hold off him. Dropping the gun, he started running as fast as he could towards the house, yelling and screaming incoherently. Suddenly a word appeared in his confused mind and screaming it over and over again he ran.

'Indians! Indians!'

'Dinner is ready!' Rachel yelled from the bunkhouse and seeing the riders approaching she returned to the stove. Soon all of them were seated at the table. Rachel looked around.

'Where's Cody?' she asked.

'He wasn't here for the work, so I see no reason why we should wait for him', Jimmy said reaching for the bread.

'It's not like him to miss a meal, though' Lou said.

'I suppose he'll get here', Teaspoon smiled. 'That smells real good, Rachel.'

'Well, we'll wait for Cody a little longer.' Rachel stated.

'What for?' Jimmy wanted to knew.

'You remember what I've told you about patience, son?' Teaspoon asked tucking his napkin into his shirt. Jimmy sighed and placed his elbows on the table.

'Elbows off the table!' Rachel ordered immediately.

'What's everybody nagging me for?' Jimmy complained.

<Because you're whining?> Ike suggested smiling. Jimmy frowned at him, but refrained from responding.

'What you're thinking about, Buck?' Rachel asked trying to get the attention away from Jimmy for a while. Buck looked up a bit startled. He shook his head.

'Nothing special. I saw a group of hunters by our run today', he added.

'Kiowa?' Teaspoon wondered.

Buck nodded.

'That's a bit off their normal hunting grounds, right?'

'Yes, but they were after some horses. I think it's just a coincidence.'

'Is there any danger for us?' Kid wanted to know. 'I mean if they're close to our run.'

'How many were they?' Teaspoon wanted to know and looked at Buck that wished he hadn't brought it up.

'It was only young boys.' he said and decided not to mention the warrior.

Teaspoon shrugged.

'I suppose your right. The hunt must have got the better off them. I don't think you boys are in any danger.'

Buck looked gratefully at Teaspoon, who smiled at him with more confidence that he really felt. If the Indians were forced to hunt horses closer to the settlement, there could be trouble even if the trouble was made unintentionally.

'Can we start eating now, Jimmy asked. 'With Cody gone, maybe there will actually be some food for the rest of us.'

Rachel smiled.

'All right. But save some for Cody, will you.'

'Of course,' Jimmy said casually reaching for the stew.

'We could hope', Lou said as the sound of hoofs were heard from the outside. 'I bet that's Cody.'

'And he must be hungry too', Kid added. 'Considering the hurry he seemed to be in.'

'Probably smelled your cooking from his hiding-place, Rachel', Buck smiled, as they could hear quick footsteps on the porch.

A second later the door was flung aside and a panting Cody was standing in the doorway.

'Teaspoon! Mr. Craven is looking for you! Indians have attacked his homestead!!