A
LOVE REBORNA
LOVE REBORN
Buck rode fast, and furiously over to Devon's place. He had been thinking for the past hour, and it didn't take long for him to make up his mind. He felt like he had to let Devon know as soon as possible, he didn't like keeping her in limbo like she was. When he finally got there he was surprised to see the entire place dark. She can't be asleep already… it's not even six o'clock yet, he thought to himself.
Buck climbed off his horse and went to her front door. He knocked but there was no answer. He walked around to the side of the house, but it was clear that nobody was home. He walked over to the barn to look for Jimmy's palomino and Devon's horse Starlight, but both were also gone.
Buck walked back to his horse, jumped on, and started back in the direction of the way station. Maybe they headed back there, he thought as he rode off quickly.
Cody and Lou had never ridden faster in their lives. They reached the way station in record time, their horses barely still before they were off of them and running towards the bunkhouse calling for Teaspoon. When they ran inside they found Teaspoon and Noah sitting at the table examining rotten hay on the table. Both looked up in surprise when Cody and Lou ran in.
"I swear, y'all must be tryin' to give me a heart attack today. First Buck, now you two come flyin here like there's no tomorrow!" Teaspoon exclaimed.
Lou stopped and tried to catch her breath, while Cody answered.
"There may not be another tomorrow for Devon if Thompkins has his way."
"Thompkins? What are you talking about Cody?" Noah asked.
Cody started to speak, but Lou cut him off. "Thompkins is organizing a riot in town… they are determined to 'find the witch' and kill her! They have the gallows set up and they're prepared to hang Devon!"
"Oh hell, I swear I knew that man didn't have no sense in his head." Teaspoon sighed and looked towards the door. "Where's Lily? Didn't she go to town with you?"
Lou nodded. "Yeah, but she took the buckboard and figured she'd only slow us down. She's waiting for us there."
Cody nodded towards the hay on the table and covered his nose. "What is that?"
"That," Noah started, "is what we've been feedin' the horses. And that is also what was responsible for Jacob's death."
"Jacob? The new filly?" Lou asked, a note of sadness in her voice.
Teaspoon nodded. "Yup. And guess where the feed came from?"
Recognition filled Lou's eyes as she understood what Teaspoon was leading to. "Thompkins?"
Teaspoon nodded again. "That's right. The same place that everyone in this town buys their feed from."
"Except for Devon!"
All eyes flew to the doorway where Jimmy and Devon had just come through, Jimmy yelling that statement.
Jimmy walked in and sat down at the table with Teaspoon. "Devon grows her own feed. She doesn't buy it from Thompkins."
"I see," Teaspoon squinted thoughtfully as he looked at Devon. "That explains why your livestock is healthy, while everyone else's has been dyin'."
"I don't believe this!" Cody exclaimed. "Thompkins is in town organizing a witch hunt because he believes that Devon is responsible for the deaths of all those cows and horses, when it's actually him that's responsible! He's been supplying the bad feed!"
"What in the hell are you talkin' about Cody?" Jimmy asked. "What witch hunt?"
Lou turned to face Jimmy, her face serious. "Thompkins is leading a riot. They have the gallows set up and they're looking for Devon!" When Jimmy and Devon's eyes widened she continued. "We came back here to tell Teaspoon, and that's when he showed us the feed!"
Teaspoon stood quickly. "We need to get into town now before Thompkins does somethin' he might regret! Lou, leave a note letting the others know what's going on!"
While Lou scribbled a quick note, the rest of them ran out of the bunkhouse and saddled their horses. Within minutes they were all on their way back into town, praying that they would be able to stop the madness before it really got out of hand.
When Buck reached the way station he was surprised for the second time that night to find nobody around. The entire place was deserted! Where the hell is everyone? He thought to himself as he walked towards the bunkhouse. There he found the note tacked to the door.
Thompkins is leading a witch hunt in town. Wants to kill Devon. Lily's already there, we're on our way now.
-- Lou
PS - Thompkins has been selling rotten feed, that's why all the cattle and horses have died! Devon's didn't because she grows her own! Hurry!
Devon and Lily in town in the middle of a bloodthirsty crowd! Buck's mind went wild, and he felt like he could kill Thompkins with his bare hands. He ran back to his horse and rode like the wind into town. He'd better not lay a finger on either one of them or he's going to have hell to pay with me, he thought to himself as he urged his horse to go faster.
Lily's hands were tied behind her back as she was lead up the steps of the gallows. Her entire body was filled with fear as she looked out into the crowd of angry people. Is this my destiny? Am I to die like this without ever seeing Buck again? Without ever telling him that I love him again? These thoughts ran through Lily's mind as she sobbed, praying for someone to save her as the noose was placed around her neck.
Suddenly the sound of horses approaching broke her out of her thoughts. She looked up quickly and saw Teaspoon, Cody, Noah, Lou, Jimmy and Devon ride through the crowd yelling to Thompkins to stop what he was doing. What happened next seemed to happen in a matter of seconds. As Devon screamed for Thompkins to let Lily go, she jumped off of her horse and ran up the steps to the gallows. Someone in the crowd raised their gun and fired off a shot, causing Devon to fall at Lily's feet in a puddle of blood. A male voice screamed out and Buck came pushing through the crowd and ran up the steps to the gallows, sweeping up Devon in his arms. Cody came running after him, punched the hangman, took the noose off of Lily's neck and untied her wrists.
Jimmy's eyes were wide with emotion as he observed the scene in front of him. Devon! He screamed silently, watching the red stain spread across her body. Noooooooo!
Prologue ~ Chapter
1 ~ Chapter 2 ~ Chapter 3
~ Chapter 4 ~ Chapter 5 ~ Chapter
6 ~ Chapter 7 ~ Chapter 8
~ Chapter 9
~ Chapter 10 ~ Chapter 11 ~
Chapter 12
