The Promises of Friends by Karen

© 2007

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It wasn't hard to discern the reason for the mood of the small band of men being subdued as they rode into town with their prisoners. The body of one deputy was draped across his horse, and a second was lying very still on the travois being pulled behind Buck's horse.

"I'm sorry. I know they were your friends."

"It wasn't your fault, Buck. No one could have seen that trap any earlier," Sam assured the young Kiowa.

"I should have realized…"

Sam interrupted, "It wasn't your fault; they'd been told to wait for you to give the all clear. You can't be held responsible for their decision not to listen." He paused and waited until Buck looked up from the ground and faced him. "The rest of us are here, and unharmed, because you figured out what was happening."

Buck smiled weakly. "Still…"

Sam raised his hand to cut him off. "No," he replied. "You did the best you could, and this isn't your fault. Now, get him," he indicated the wounded man behind Buck's horse, "and yourself over to Doc's before everyone in town wakes up and is over here."

Buck nodded and started his horse in a slow walk across the town. People were just beginning to stir in the early morning light. Buck was surprised at how much better he felt when Ike pulled along beside him.

* Sam told me to be sure you let Doc check you over too; he's worried about that blow you took. * He paused briefly. * So am I. *

"I'm fine," Buck said softly. "Just worried about how the town's people are going to feel once they hear the news."

*You're not fine. You got hit pretty hard. *

"I'll wait and let Doc look me over so you and Sam won't have to worry." He smiled at Ike. "But he's going to say there's nothing wrong with me."

The two of them were soon seated in the waiting room of Doc Barnes' office. They sat quietly while the doctor tended the wounded deputy.

After a brief period of silence, Buck looked at Ike. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't mean to get anyone hurt or to scare you. I just couldn't…"

Ike reached over and silenced his friend. * I know. * He paused a second before echoing Sam's statement from before. *It wasn't your fault; they should have waited like Sam told them. *

Buck nodded and looked back out the window at the growing crowd outside Sam's office. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as the scream of anguish from the dead deputy's wife filled the quiet morning. "I should have figured it out more quickly," he said. "If I had…"

Ike once more grabbed Buck's arm causing Buck to open his eyes and look at Ike. *They were told to wait; it's not your fault. *

Buck simply nodded. "I know that what you're saying is right, but still…" He let the sentence drop - unable to find the words to express his thoughts. He once more looked out the window at the crowd by Sam's office. They were getting restless and looking this way.

Without taking his eyes off the growing group of angry people, he continued, "Do me a favor."

Ike nodded. *Anything. *

"Don't forget to remember me as a good man when they come take me."

From a Challenge at Writers' ranch:
Challenge
Characters: Buck and Ike
Setting: conversation between them
Situation: just returned from chasing a band of outlaws with Sam
Mood: Sadness/pensive
Reference: Friendship
Required line: "Don't forget to remember me…"