And the nominees are:
| Author
and story |
Scene/moment/story |
Nominator
and motivation |
Debbie |
I shot and killed the Kid's brother, Jimmy said to himself once more, staring out into the night.
"Jimmy." Startled, Jimmy whirled around and saw Kid standing over him. It took him totally by surprise because he hadn't heard the door open or the sound of footsteps on the porch. "Couldn't sleep?" Jimmy asked, knowing full well what the answer was. Kid shook his head as he sat on the steps next to him. "Yeah, me neither," Jimmy muttered, leaning against the post once again. The two sat in silence until Kid softly said, "It wasn't your fault, Jimmy. The way I saw it, Jed left you no choice. You did what you thought you had to. He had a gun pointed at you, you figured he was gonna shoot you and you'd just heard him threaten to kill me - you had no way of knowin' he wouldn't have done it. " Jimmy closed his eyes for a moment as the scene came back into his mind. He shook his head and said, "If only I hadn't seen him go into the stable with you goin' after him, or if I'd just gotten there a few minutes later ... Kid, he was your brother, your family." Jimmy turned toward him, not wanting to hide the sadness he felt. Kid didn't take his eyes off the ground as he replied, "Yeah, he was." It hurt saying it in the past tense but he took a breath then continued, "And I tried to talk to him, brother to brother, tell him what he was doing was wrong, that his life wasn't worth trying to steal that gold shipment for the South. I pleaded with him to just forget about it, that we should concentrate on being together again after all these years and be thankful for that. He wouldn't listen to me. I was his brother and I was trying to help him. He got so desperate, he figured I'd let him go if he threatened to kill me. For the briefest moment, I actually wondered if he would do it. He told me my answer the second before he died." Jimmy sat up straighter, feeling more guilt and looked at him. "Kid, I only wanted to stop him, just like you, I didn't set out to kill him. I keep thinking about everything I took away from you," he admitted. Kid shook his head and explained, "No, Jimmy, he took it away long before yesterday, even long before he left me in Virginia. He was my big brother, he was supposed to look out for me and for a while he did but the only person he really wanted to look out for was himself. That's why he took off on his own. We never had the type of relationship brothers are supposed to have. I could see he needed me and I wanted to be there for him, like a brother should be, and he wouldn't let me. He took that opportunity away from me." "Kid, I've never had a brother but not a day went by when I didn't wish that I had one," Jimmy said, trying to understand. Kid looked at him and told him, "You do have a brother, Jimmy, right here, and you have three more in that bunkhouse. We may not be blood related but it's like Teaspoon's always saying, we chose to be a family. I thought I'd gotten something back when I'd found him, that maybe he'd changed but after a while, I realized, a person like that can't change." Kid stood up and added, "I wouldn't be able to get through this if it wasn't for the new brothers I have. They've never let me down yet and I hope if the time comes that I can do the same." Jimmy locked eyes with Kid as his words sunk in. Kid didn't blame him but it still hurt. "I'm gonna try to get some sleep," Kid said. "You comin'?" "I'll be there in a minute," Jimmy answered then watched Kid go inside. He stood on the porch, looking out into the great expanse of darkness, wondering when he'd start to feel better about what he'd done, assuming it was probably around the same time Kid felt he could get over it. Talking to Kid made him better understand what led up to that moment and how it couldn't have been changed. But he was still bothered by one difference between killing Jed and killing the other men he'd had to face. "He was a brother," Jimmy whispered into the night. "He was a brother." |
Wow..what an amazing short story. I could just feel the torment that Jimmy was in...Hear the conviction in Kid's voice when he told Jimmy that Jed hadn't left him any choices. |
Lisa L |
I started reading it and it was so touching, so heartfelt that I couldn't stop reading it! |
|
Karen |
"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 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. * 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." |
Wendy M I enjoy the way that Karen writes the TYR characters, especially Buck and Ike...how she plays up the close relationship between them. |
Debbie |
I couldn't have done this without you, Lou. Thank you."
She looked away suddenly feeling shy. She didn't want his praise as much as she wanted his love, she knew that now. "I meant what I said - I'll always be here for you." "I'm so lucky to have you," he said softly. He had felt so alone after Doritha's death but Lou now gave him hope, hope and a promise of a future together. They watched as the station came into view. Kid tied his horse to the post outside the bunkhouse and waited for Lou to do the same. He then went to her and offered her his hand. Lou smiled and slipped her small hand into his large one and blushed at the soft squeeze he gave hers in return. How could such a simple gesture mean so much? |
Wendy M What isn't a Kid/Lou fan to find appealing in this bittersweet story? Soft smiles, tender caresses, and heartfelt feelings. |
Raye |
It takes less than a minute and all they see is the metal star on my jacket.
I see the flash before my ears register the explosion. I know it’s going to hurt but what breaks my heart is the site of the woman coming in the door. The moments grind by and it almost seems like I’m the only one still moving. In the back of my mind I know I should feel the warmth of blood slicking down my chest, even though I can’t see it. I know he hit me square and it’s all but over. Falling to my knees I drop the deed and feel the crack of bone against wood. I can’t see the men but I don’t care, I just want her. I feel her hands on my shoulders, lowering me down to the floor and her hands pressing against the hole in my chest. A vain attempt, but somehow comforting…and still, not enough. "Lou?" She gasps out a cry and tears flow down her face, "Oh God, Jimmy, hold on." "No good... you should know that." Every word is such an effort. Her voice calls out to me, a long way off… miles away. "Shh... you just keep quiet and hold on, the doctor will come and-" We see the truth in each other’s eyes and I try to reach my arms around her. Only the right will move and I am content, just touching her cheek. "Love.. you." |
Wendy M Tears filled my eyes as I read this story, thinking how wonderful it was that Jimmy and Lou were back together again....and then in a flash their happiness was over. |
Tracy |
Lisa L It's a very poignant, moving story and I couldn't keep from crying! Love it! |
|
Laronda |
Noah laid on the ground covered with blood. She hit her knees. "Noah!" She picked up his head and cradled him closely to her. "Nooooooo!!!" she screamed. Jimmy touched her shoulder and she looked up at him. "Jimmy, he promised he would never leave." Jimmy's eyes suddenly filled with tears. "Noah, don't go!" She hugged him closely. Noah's funeral was filled with his new friends. Cassie stood near the back. She held a note in her hands. Noah had written to her a few months before his death. |
Wendy M Laronda did a great job in showcasing the feelings of Cassie as she grieves for Noah. |