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Author's Chapter Notes:
This is the start of the angst, sad to say.
Thank you for reading and for the lovely reviews.
REDEMPTION


Summary: Spike, Buffy and the gang ride on through Arizona. The posse catches up to ‘some’ of the Giles/Crawford family members. Cordelia enlightens Mr. Hank Summers on a few things. Buffy and Spike have a minor spat about something.

Let the angst begin!


Chapter 23: ‘I Do Not Regret It’


Buffy glanced back, only once as she rode side-by-side with her husband, away from the Quinn ranch. She tried, very hard, not to let the threatening tears in her green eyes fall down her cheeks.

In the very short time that she had been at the Quinn home, Buffy had learned to care about Cordelia, her husband Doyle and their four boisterous children. It hurt, slightly, to have to leave the comfort of the loving Quinn home and ride off into the unknown that was the Arizona desert.

Still, however, Buffy knew in her heart that she had done the right thing. By marrying her wild but loving husband, William, she had found the happiness that she had always searched for. Certainly, Caleb Montgomery was not the path that she should take and by marrying Will, she had thrown her past away, completely.

Elizabeth ‘Buffy’ Summers was just that, a Summers woman through and through. Her mother, Joyce, was a loving but tough farm woman who had to acclimate to a hard, unforgiving life. Surely if Joyce had succeeded in the ups and downs of the Nebraskan wilderness; then Buffy could do the same in the foreign wilds of Mexico.

The unknown did not matter, really, since Buffy would follow her handsome, brilliant husband to the depths of hell if she had to. Something in Buffy told her that the burning, desolate sands of the Arizona desert just might come as close to earthly hell as she might ever get. If so? Fine.

“I’m sorry baby,” William stated from the corner of his mouth as he rode by his wife’s side. “I really hate having to drag you off to…..”

“Don’t you dare William Giles,” Buffy snapped back abruptly. “It was my choice to marry you and follow you. I don’t regret it and I never will. Do you?”

“No bloody way!” Spike cried incredulously. “I could never regret any of our time together sweetheart,” he halted his horse, Midnight, and caught hold of Buffy’s mare’s reins. Buttermilk, the young mare that Spike had given his girl earlier, obediently halted in her tracks and quickly accepted Midnight’s adamant attention to her.

“I love you Buffy,” Spike stated earnestly as he reached out and took Buffy’s free hand in his. “I mean that and nothing that happens from here on in will ever change that!”

“I know,” Buffy whimpered softly, unable to meet her husband’s deep blue eyes with her green ones. “I know you love me, Will and I am sorry I ever even asked ‘that’ question of you. Forgive me?” She asked sweetly with a pout and finally meeting his searching gaze.

“Always,” he chuckled from deep down in his chest. “I couldn’t be mad at you if my life depended on it, Buffy Giles,” he added, skillfully reminding his bride of her recent name change.

“Well then, that being settled? Let’s ride,” Buffy quipped before she leaned over and gave Will a quick but heated kiss on his mouth.

‘I’ve gotten myself mixed up with a real wild cat,’ Spike chuckled heartily as he spurred Midnight into a full trot. He had to spur the steed up to a gallop, just to catch up with his minx of a wife.

’24 hours later’


Spike, Buffy and the gang rode up to a range fence that seemed to go on for miles. Buffy scrunched up her nose and glanced over to William’s cousin, Angel.

“Is this your friend’s place,” she asked Angel Crawford, her mouth set in a firm, no nonsense line.

“Yup,” Angel grunted in reply, spurring his horse to ride along next to the fence. “The gate up to the ranch is just about right over there,” the dark haired man pointed at a huge gated opening that looked to be about a mile away, at least.

“I see,” Buffy giggled mischievously. “Well,” she sighed, “I guess there’s nothing to do but to go in, eh?” She glanced over at her husband who was grinning at her warmly.

“What’s this bloke’s name anyway, Angel? Your friend that owns this spread I mean,” Spike asked his cousin curiously.

“Well,” Angel mumbled evenly, “the actual owner’s name, at least on paper? It’s Serranto, Jose Serranto, but he owns the place in name only. The guy that really owns it is another matter. He’s called Holliday; John Henry Holliday to be exact. The doctor is probably not even here, truthfully, but old Serranto will put us up for sure,” Angel continued sheepishly.

“Your friend, Mr. Holliday,” Buffy asked shyly, “he is a doctor then?”

“A dentist by trade, from the South, Georgia first, then Virginia,” Angel replied with a shrug. “Holliday came out here, to the Arizona Territory for health reasons.” Then Angel said no more on the matter.


“Why do ‘you’ have to go to Prescott!” Buffy snapped angrily at her husband. They were standing in Mr. Holliday’s guest room, their room, and arguing heatedly.

“I have to,” Spike sighed heavily as he tried to take his wife in his arms.

“But why,” Buffy whined liked a small child. She even stomped her foot, just a little in frustration.

“Because Angel trusts me and my dad,” Spike replied in an impatient tone.

Angel had asked Spike, Rupert Giles and Holden to go into Prescott and snoop around. The gang leader had to know what was going on with ‘that’ posse and certainly Prescott would be abuzz with news on it.

“I’ll be back before nightfall, sweetheart, I promise,” Spike murmured softly, finally triumphant in taking Buffy into his arms.

He snuggled her into his body and was pleased when she rested her head on his chest.

“I am frightened,” Buffy whispered mournfully. “What if something happens to you? I would just die without you Will, honest and…..”

“Nothing is going to happen to me Princess,” Spike chuckled then placed a kiss on Buffy’s golden head. “Nothing on God’s green earth could keep me from you, baby.”


‘Meanwhile, back at the Quinn ranch…..’


“So they were here then?” Hank Summers asked this Doyle Quinn and his wife. Buffy’s father was getting more then frustrated with this couple, no matter how well-heeled they appeared to be.

Marshall Merrick paced back and forth in front of his deputies; Hank Summers and Doyle and Cordelia Quinn. He was quickly losing his patience, also, just as Summers was. It had been a fluke that someone in Flagstaff had felt it their duty to inform the marshal and his posse that the Quinns had recent had visitors.

“Let me ask you something, Mr. Summers,” Cordelia Quinn asked quietly as she motioned her oldest child out of their parlor. “Do you ‘know’ your daughter at all? I mean really know her and what is in her heart?”

Hank stopped his own pacing and stared at the pretty Mrs. Quinn, a curious look on his face. He walked, slowly up to the small woman and gazed deep into her brown eyes.

“I know enough, Mrs. Quinn,” he replied evenly through gritted teeth. “I know that you are Angel Crawford and Spike Giles’ aunt; that much is for sure. Your Rupert Giles is your late sister’s widower and there is a man in Redemption who is also related to you. Wesley Pryce, or should I say Caldendar, is your brother and probably had a hand in puttin’ up the Crawford gang while they were there. I only wish……”

“Do you know that your daughter, Buffy, took vows with my nephew, William Giles, right through there in my living room?” Cordelia asked defiantly, her arms crossed over her chest. “Can you even fathom that, Mr. Summers? That your daughter is now married to her so called abductor?”

Hank reared back, an incredulous look of disbelief in his brown eyes. “No,” he gasped hoarsely.


“Oh, yes,” Cordelia snapped triumphantly. “You see, Mr. Summers,” she continued tartly. “My nephew, William, and your daughter are very married. I hate to say this, Mr. Summers, but if you go on, chase the gang all the way through Arizona? I have no doubt that it will end in somebody’s bloodshed, possibly your new son-in-laws. Is that what ‘you’ really want, Mr. Summers?”

“No,” Hank whispered harshly, turning to look at Marshall Merrick with pleading eyes.

“It makes no difference, Hank,” Merrick grunted gruffly. “The one called Graham is riding with the Crawford gang and that makes them ‘all’ accessories to the murder of Sheriff Wilkens. It’s that simple,” the older man shrugged indifferently.

As the group of men, Hank included, left the Quinn house; the anxious father stopped the marshal with his calloused hand.

“I don’t want any harm to come to this house or this family, Merrick,” Hank grumbled lowly.

“They harbored criminals, outlaws, Hank! I have to…..” Marshal Merrick growled as he pulled his arm from the larger man’s hand.

“No,” Hank hissed. “I won’t have it,” he continued in a menacing tone. “These people took in my daughter, whether you like it or not. I won’t have them intimidated or harmed, especially with four children to care for!”

Hank Summers was a quiet man, usually, but in this matter, he was vocal and determined. “The Quinns won’t be bothered anymore,” he commanded harshly.

“Okay then Hank,” Merrick agreed reluctantly. “I guess it’d serve no use to mete out punishment now. The gang is probably near the border by now,” he spat in disgust.



William had left with his father and Holden an hour or so before sunrise. Buffy was miserable, even if Senora Serranto tried her best to make the new bride comfortable.

“Senora Giles,” the kindly older woman clucked as she patted Buffy’s slim arm. “They will be back and soon, I promise. Try and have some food, huh?”

Buffy ate her breakfast quickly and nervously excused herself from the table. She hurried out into the beautiful desert morning air without a plan as to where she was going.

After walking a mile or so, Buffy came upon a rocky bluff and flopped down on a boulder. Something about the place gave her the creeps; as if it was a duplicate of the place she had had her accident, in Utah.

“Well, well, well,” came the unwanted voice of Graham, “what do we have here?”

“Go away Graham,” Buffy hissed, not even turning to look at the evil man. “I am so not in the mood to listen to your crap right now.”

“My, haven’t we gotten a mouth on us, Mrs. Giles,” Graham chuckled in a harsh voice. “Since you married that punk, Spike you……”

Now, Buffy turned to glare at the man behind her, her green eyes were filled with fire and anger.

“Do not speak my husband’s name,” she spat venomously. “You are not fit to mention Will’s name to anyone, much less me! If you hadn’t of shot Uncle Richard, no one would be in this much trouble! Everything might be fixed but…..”

“Doubtful,” Graham grunted as he flopped down beside Buffy, totally ignoring her order to leave.

“Go away,” Buffy hissed in her most menacing voice.

“I was thinkin’ Mrs. Giles, Buffy,” Graham corrected himself quickly. “Say Spike and old Rupert, even Hold? Say they get themselves caught in Prescott? It could happen you know,” he added maliciously.

“Get away from me,” Buffy hissed again.

“This song and dance are getting’ old Buffy,” Graham growled through narrowed eyes. “I think it’s time you played a new tune. Mine,” he spat viciously.

“I wouldn’t give you a song and dance if you were the last man in…..” Buffy choked out before Graham interrupted her.

“If Spike doesn’t come back, Buffy,” he continued in a syrupy voice, “then you’re kind of odd woman out. Ain’t ya?”

“Hardly,” Buffy quipped haughtily, but her voice trembled just a bit. Graham must have caught the slight tremor in her tone because he scooted closer to her.

“I’m thinkin’ Buffy, that a fine lady like you belongs in a fine, genteel setting. Like the South, say? Not in some hard spot in Mexico or even California. Yeah, I know you and your man have been gabbin’ about California, eventually. That’s all very well and good, but if Spike don’t come back? Well, I’ve got friends and family in Alabama, even more so then ever.”

Buffy shrunk away from Graham, but he caught her roughly by her arm.

“I got friends, family and connections, Buffy, still in Alabama. A real lady like you deserves silk and fine wine; a life of gentility and quality. I could give you that, Buffy,” Graham muttered lowly, harshly, as he stroked Buffy’s bare arm.

“ Get your damn hands off of me!” Buffy cried in a high-pitched squeal.

Graham tried to pull Buffy closer to him, but she struggled valiantly in his strong arms.

“I believe the lady said to get your damn hands off of her,” Riley Finn’s welcomed, deep voice stated the obvious.

Buffy managed to pull away from Graham and jump up from the rock. She scurried over to Riley, relieved that he was there to help her.

“This ain’t any of your business, Finn,” Graham growled as he stood up from his place on the boulder.

“Now, that’s where you’re wrong, Graham,” Riley countered coolly. “I respect and admire Spike and his wife, whereas, I don’t give a rat’s ass about you,” he grumbled through gritted teeth.

“Sorry Buffy,” Riley nodded at Buffy, but then gave her a good-natured wink.

“You know Finn,” Graham growled as he strode nearer to Riley and Buffy a murderous look on his face. “Oh you’re a real fucking hero all right, ain’t ya? But I bet if Spike don’t come back from Prescott, you’d jump Buffy here faster then…..”

“Take it back,” Riley roared angrily. “Take that back and apologize to Mrs. Giles! It insults Buffy, Spike and me. You’d better take it back, Graham or……”

Buffy watched the next few moments unfold in horror, as if watching everything in a slower, unrealistic motion.

Graham reached for his gun; Riley countered by reaching for his own on his hip. The two angry men pulled their guns at the same time and shot.

It was Graham that fell first, but Buffy could not have cared less. Riley fell right after him and she stooped to check her husband’s friend. There was bright red blood coming from a gunshot wound in Riley’s chest and it was pooling out, all over the ground.

Suddenly, Angel, Connor, Xander and Jesse were by her side, something Buffy would forever be grateful for.

“Oh, Angel,” Buffy cried mournfully, “Graham, he tried to hurt me; said awful things about Spike and…..”

“It’s okay, honey,” Angel cooed in an attempt to comfort his cousin’s wife. The older man knew, without a doubt, that the gunshot wound in Riley was definitely fatal.

Xander hovered over his best friend’s shivering body, trying hard to keep up hope but he was no fool. His childhood friend, Riley, was going to die for sure.

“What about Graham?” Jesse asked almost non-chillingly.

“We’ll deal with him later,” Angel growled, his brown eyes scanned Riley’s pale face. Angel held Buffy fast, even though she still hovered over Riley’s inert form.

“I wish Will was here,” Buffy murmured through quiet sobs. “I need Will,” she continued, weeping softly for the dying man before them.

“Riley,” Xander whispered hoarsely, a lone tear slipped down his cheek and he wiped it away.

“Xand,” Riley moaned his friend’s name, his pain contorting his handsome features. “I guess I’m not going to see those pretty senoritas in Mexico, huh?”

“Oh God,” Jesse whimpered softly from above the trio hovering over Riley’s body.

“Buffy,” Riley whispered in a raspy voice, “you tell Spike that I think he’s a lucky bloke, okay? He…..” Riley gasped harshly and tried to take a deep breath.

Riley wheezed and gasped and opened his eyes wide. He spoke two words before he took his final breath.

“Mama,” Riley whispered as his lids slid half-way closed. “Sam,” he gasped out just before his eyes closed all the way.

“Oh, God no,” Buffy began to cry mournfully. “Oh, Angel, no,” she sobbed fitfully, allowing her husband’s cousin to embrace her in his huge arms.

“He can’t be dead, he can’t,” Buffy wailed incessantly.

“Honey,” Angel murmured soothingly, “let’s get you back to the ranch house. Connor will take you to Mrs. Serranto, okay?”

“See that he’s buried, proper, Angel, please,” Buffy pleaded desperately.

Angel’s deep, dark eyes were filled with compassion and sympathy as he helped Buffy to her feet. Connor accepted Buffy’s arm from his brother and led her off, up the bluff to the ranch.

“What about him?” Jesse asked his leader once again as he eyed Graham’s slightly moving form. The remaining trio could hear Graham’s low groans of pain.

“Yeah,” Xander growled, his jaw clenched in rage and emotional pain. “What about fuck face over there?”

Angel looked over at Graham, then back at Xander and Jesse. He reached down to his hip and pulled out his gun.

“Give Connor a few minutes to get Buffy safely up to the ranch,” Angel ordered in his most stoic tone. “When we’re sure Conn and Buffy are out of earshot? We’ll all finish Graham off, for good.”


A/N: I promised angst, didn’t I? I just never said that it would be Spuffy angst right off, right???

I really wanted to make Riley a kind of hero in this story. Usually, I use him as the villain or the jilted lover of Buffy.

Thanks for reading and please review, spufette.





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