Damaged Hearts (3 page)

~IV~

The sound of cattle lowing got louder and louder as the four riders neared the mouth of the canyon.  Rick motioned for everyone to stop and he and Matt dismounted.  Making a sign that the women should stay there with the horses, Rick and Matt silently crept into the narrow ravine keeping as close to the shadows as possible.  A few minutes later, Matt nudged him after noticing small shadow moving not far from them.  Issuing a quiet explicative under his breath, he realized his mistake. 

Rick didn’t specifically get Kaitlyn’s agreement before slipping off; he had just assumed she would listen to him and trust him to know what was better to keep her safe.  Together, Rick and

Matt crept around the two women and had their hands over their mouths in a matter of minutes. 

The men however had once again underestimated the women and ended up on the ground with a knife to their throats before they could utter a sound of protest.

Seeing that it was Rick she held to the ground, Kat couldn’t help but let the smile loose.  She glanced at Angel momentarily and saw that she was letting Matt up. That short period of time when she dropped her guard gave Rick the opening that he needed. 

In the same instant that she decided to follow Angel’s lead and let Rick up, she found herself unexpectedly thrown to the ground herself.  “Not much to grin about now is there Kaitlyn?”  Rick seethed as he held her firmly to the ground. 

Having the history that she had and not being used to anyone else having the upper hand, Kat panicked and unconscientiously almost succeeded in burying her knife in Rick’s thigh before he secured her hands above her head in one of his large, strong ones.  Enjoying this situation at first, he thought about drawing it out a bit longer until noticed the scared, almost nightmarish look in her eyes.  Switching tactics he whispered, “Kaitlyn, I am going to let you up but you have to listen to me ok?”  Then he noticed that she had not heard anything he had said.

“What did you do to her?”  Angel asked concerned.  She walked up as Kat started to thrash around seeming totally unaware of her surroundings.

“I didn’t do anything.”  Rick answered just as concerned.  “She had me on the ground with the knife at my throat and I turned it more in my favor.  Next thing I know, she’s trying to bury her knife in my thigh so I trapped her hands and took away the knife.  After that, she just sort of went crazy.”

“Get away from her and let me see if I can snap her back to reality.  I think she’s having that old nightmare again.”  Angel ordered without realizing how much she had just given away.

Rick did as she asked and stepped back out of the way where he could be near Kaitlyn but she couldn’t see him.  “What happened?”  Matt asked as he came up behind Rick. 

“I don’t know, it’s like she’s trapped in some kind of nightmare.  I’ve never seen anything like this before.”  Rick answered frustrated.  “From the sounds of things she’s had a pretty rough past and it’s not the first time this has happened.”

The two men stood helplessly to the side as Angel spoke softly and calmly to her sister.  “Kat, it’s Angel; I need you to look at me and listen ok.  I’m here and nothing is going to happen to you.  Rick and Matt won’t let anyone hurt you.”  As she continued talking, the petrified look in Kat’s eyes slowly lessoned and a short time later, she blinked and began to look around wondering what had happened to her.  Seconds after this, Angel was helping her up and the men slowly approached with questioning looks in their eyes. 

Kat looked sheepishly up at Rick.  “I am so very sorry if I hurt you.  It’s an old reoccurring nightmare and when I happen to get trapped in it, I do things that I have no knowledge of when I come out.”  She explained. 

“Just what the hell just went on there Kaitlyn?  What caused the nightmare?”  Rick asked.  “One minute we’re hunting your cattle and the next you’re trying to bury your knife first in my neck, then my thigh.”

“I’m really sorry Rick but I can’t explain it to you.  At least not right now” she hedged.  “I’m not real sure what happened to bring it on like that but I’m feeling better now so let’s go see about finding that stock.”

“Wow Kat” Matt said.  “You really gave us a good scare.  Guess you gals showed us not to sneak up and grab you though.”

“So that’s what happened,” Kat said thoughtfully.  “I couldn’t figure out what would make me feel threatened enough to actually go after someone with a knife like that.  It must have been what triggered the nightmare and my defense mechanism.”

“Well Kaitlyn, if you’re not in the mood for explanations right now, let’s mount up, head into the canyon, and find the cattle.  Maybe if we’re really lucky we can get ourselves into some serious trouble.”  Rick ground out irritably.

“I agree with the riding into the canyon part but you don’t have to be so snide about the rest.  After all, I didn’t choose to attack you.”  Kat replied, starting to get a bit irritated herself.  She stormed back to the horses and was in the saddle before Rick could argue further.

“Damn females” he muttered under his breath as he stalked back to Warlock and swung up into the saddle.  “Let’s get going,” he said angrily as he kicked his horse into a trot and took the lead.

Kat followed behind him; Angel and Matt brought up the rear riding side by side talking quietly. 

“She was terrified Matt, I’ve never seen her like that before.”  Angel said.  “It was like she was trapped in that old nightmare again; but she wouldn’t tell me anything after she came out of it.  I’ve never seen her that bad off before and it’s got me really worried.  She’s normally unshakeable.”

“If I hadn’t seen it Angel, I wouldn’t have believed it.  I agree with you; she was scared beyond belief about something but I doubt if she’ll tell any of us about it.”  Matt agreed.  “That is what has Rick so fired up.  She won’t trust him enough to confide in him.  He’s been half in love with her since the first time I brought him to your place and he saw her working cattle.  I think he fell hard, headfirst when she sold him her stock rather than admit defeat back when you guys were fighting with the county over the property lines.”

“If only Kat could see it.  She won’t hardly look at a man let alone give herself half a chance to fall in love with one.  If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was scared of them.”  Angel laughed. 

They both knew Kat wasn’t afraid of anything.  “How’s your neck?  I am so sorry if I hurt you.  Kat taught me self-defense a long time ago and she wouldn’t let up until I could roll two hundred and fifty pounds without breaking a sweat.  I hope you’re ok.”

“The only thing you hurt was my pride sweetheart, only my pride” Matt replied.  “You sure surprised the heck outta me though.  Next time I’ll know better”

“I surprised the heck outta myself” Angel answered thoughtfully. 

“So really Angel, what happened back there?  You know you can trust me and I think I deserve to know.”  Matt entreated.

“Well the best I can tell, she was already shaken up pretty good from you guys sneaking up on us and grabbing us from behind.  Sheer reaction caused her to pull the knife and put Rick on the ground.  When he reversed their situation and held her down pinning her hands above her head, she went crazy and then kinda blacked out in that nightmare.”  Angel said thoughtfully. 

“Something happened to her when she was pretty young and holding her to the ground must have brought it all out again.  She hasn’t ever talked about it but I heard some people taunting her one time.  I’m not real sure what happened but it really affects her from time to time and I think it has a lot to do with why she avoids men like she does.”

“Wow, I never knew any of that about her but it sure makes some sense about why she froze up and then went crazy like that.”  Matt replied.  “Don’t worry Angel, I won’t say anything to Rick unless he asks specifically; but if he does, then I’ll have to tell him.”

They rode deeper into the canyon in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.  Kat’s biggest worry was how she was going to explain everything to Rick later after things settled down.  She knew he was going to ask and after almost stabbing him with her knife, twice, she figured he was entitled to an explanation why.  She just wasn’t sure she was ready to trust him that much yet although, he was out here in the middle of the night helping her try to find twenty head of cattle that shouldn’t mean anything to him after purchasing over thirty head himself.

Rick motioned for everyone to stop.  Kat sidled up next to him before stopping and looked up questioningly.  “Listen” he told her quietly.  “Your cattle are calling to us but I’m not sure how many men they have with them.”

“I guess there’s only one way to find out” she whispered back.

“No, there are actually several different ways to find out Babe.  That’s why the four of us need to discuss it first this time and agree on something,” He admitted.  “I’m sorry I tried to make the decision last time without talking to you first.  It won’t happen again Kaitlyn and I’m really sorry I didn’t think first earlier.  Like I told you before, we have a serious talk coming up but let’s get your stock first and get back into a more comfortable setting for all of us.  I don’t like this canyon; if I remember correctly it’s a box canyon but there is a secret passage deep inside that not many people know about and I don’t relish the idea of possibly being snuck up on.”

“I totally agree with you there Rick” Kat replied.  “And I really am sorry about everything.  I didn’t mean to go all crazy back there and when we have time to talk later, I will try to tell you everything you want to know.  I just hope you don’t hate me after I do.”  She finished in a whisper.

“I could never hate you Kaitlyn.”  Rick answered.  “Now let’s see what the other two think about the situation.”

~V~

“Ok, so let me get this straight” Matt said.  “You and Kat are going to take Wolfe, sneak further into the canyon, hide your horses, and try to see how many men they have with the herd.  Then, if it’s feasible, you’ll send Wolfe back to us as a signal to come on in.  Sounds simple enough.  We’ll make sure to keep an eye out just in case.  We don’t want anyone coming in and interrupting us rustling Kat’s own cattle.”  He half joked.

The decision made, Angel talked quietly to Wolfe and Kat came up to her.  The two sisters hugged and had a quick whispered exchange before Kat used hand signals to let Wolfe know they were leaving.  The three of them worked quietly and steadily through the canyon. 

They knew they were getting closer and there was a slight smell of smoke in the air.  Kat motioned for Wolfe to lie down and stay put under a bit of sagebrush that would hide the dog should someone come up.  Rick and Kat then snuck stealthily towards the camp.  Lying on the ground behind a small boulder, they silently listened to two men talking.

“W..W..What do you think George will t..t..talk to the “Boss” about?”  Frank asked James. 

“I’m not real sure Frank” he replied “But I have an idea that he’s going to want these beeves moved outta here and taken to a buyer and soon.”

“James, d..d..do you know why we had to st..st..steal them from Miss Kat?”  Frank asked.  “She is so n..n..nice I don’t know wh..wh..why anyone would want to take something away fr..fr..from her.”

“It’s just the way it goes sometimes Frank.”  James replied.  “I agree that Miss Kat is a real nice lady and I don’t agree with stealing from her either but there are times when you do what you have to do to get by.  I have to have a means to eat and I’m getting too old to work very hard anymore.”

“If you could w..w..work for somebody else James, w..w..would you do it?”  Frank asked.

“Well Frank, I have a bit of unfinished business to attend to but if I could find a job that gave me a warm bed and food in my belly I’d probably take it.  How about you?  Are you going to be

Georges’ gopher the rest of your life or are you going to move on?”  At Frank’s confused look he added, “Let’s put it this way Frank, if you had your choice what would you do with your life?” 

“I w..w..want to have a wife and k..k..kids.  I think if I could d..do anything, I’d want to have c..c..cows and make cheese and butter.”  Frank answered nodding as if he had just made a huge decision.

“Well that sounds really grand Frank.  Maybe things will work out so that will happen for you.” James smiled.

While the talk between the two men had been going on, Kat came up with an idea that would help all of them.  She and Rick circled around the would-be outlaws.  When James went out into the dark to relieve himself, they then snuck in and caught Frank by surprise.  “Drop your gun and stand up over there against that tree,” Rick ordered quietly.

“I…..I….I didn’t do nothing, hon…honest” Frank stammered as he backed up against the specified tree.  “I even told Ja..James that it..it wasn’t right ta..taking Ms Kat’s herd.” 

“I know what ya said to James, Frank.”  Rick said pacing.  “And I’m going to ask you a question that I want you to think very hard about before you answer.”

“Well I wondered when you folks would make it here.”  James said announcing his presence, hands high in the air.  “What kind of questions are you asking here?”

“Now that you’re back, maybe we should ask you the same question, James is it?”  Kat replied motioning for Wolfe to join them.  “I was just telling Rick how I have an empty bunkhouse back at the ranch and I’m going to need some help making sure my fence doesn’t “fall down” again after we get the stock back where they belong.”

Rick arched his eyebrows at her silently asking her what the heck she was doing but didn’t argue the point.  “How do you know we can trust these two when they are sitting here red-handed with your cattle pretty much all around them?” he asked instead.

“Well Rick, James did say that he wanted a warm bed and food in his belly so maybe we can work something out.”  Kat began to explain.  “I need someone that can help out around the ranch and add another set of eyes and hands in case my stock decides to “roam” half-way across the territory again; plus, being a cook doesn’t hurt either.  His cooking is bound to be better than mine.”

“You could also use someone to do some of the heavier chores and free you up to spend more time working with your stock and training those palominos you’re so fond of.”  Rick added

“So let me get this straight” James spoke up.  “You found Frank and I with your missing herd of cattle and now you want to hire us to help watch them and to help you around your place?”

“Ummmmm, I think that’s pretty much what I said” Kat laughed.  “See I have this terrible habit of overhearing conversations and from the information I gathered, neither or you are too happy working for George; not that I can blame you.  In fact, if truth be known I’d rather shoot that no account sidewinder as look at him.”

“Miss Kat?”  Frank said hesitantly.  “You know’s I aint g..g..got much smarts, what

wo..wo..would you want my h..h..help for?”

“Well, here’s the deal Frank” Rick interjected.  “Miss Kaitlyn needs some help hauling hay and feed, cleaning stalls and doing a lot of other heavy things that come up that she doesn’t have time for anymore.  It’s just been her and her sister taking care of thirty head of cattle and about as many head of horses.  Do you think you might be able to lend her a hand?” 

James looked thoughtfully at Frank.  Here was the chance he had been hoping would come for the boy, now if he were just smart enough to take advantage of it.  He, himself could probably put off the revenge that he had been planning for long enough to help out the young lady and he might even make some friends and find a warm comfortable place to hole up for a couple years. 

“I know one thing Mister; if you all want these beeves outta here and back where they belong anytime soon, we might aughta get them headed in that direction.  George is due back here tomorrow and I don’t really want to get caught between the two of you.”  James decided.

“How about you Frank?”  Kat asked.  “Are you in or out?  I could really use the help if you choose to or, I guess we’ll have to leave you tied to the tree waiting for your brother.”  She shrugged her shoulders, “it’s completely up to you.”

“Miss Kat, I d..don’t like trees that much and I’m pr..pretty sure your bunkhouse is warmer and softer then the d..d..dirt.”  Frank said nervously looking at Rick before finishing.  “If..If it’s ok with him, I think I’d rather h..h..help you.”

“It’s ok with me Frank.”  Rick affirmed.  “But you better work real hard for Miss Kaitlyn and not give her any reason to regret giving you a second chance.”

Kat motioned with hand signals for Wolfe to come sit at her feet.  The dog ran over happy to comply.  “Ok Wolfe, I need you to go get Angel ok pup?” she said as she rubbed his ears and scratched his ruff.  “Go get Angel and bring her here Wolfe.  Good dog, go now.”  Standing back up, Kat brushed off her denims and announced, “Guess we better go get those cattle moving then huh?”

She and Rick left the two men to clean up their campsite and plant the appearance of foul play while they went to go gather up their horses and meet up with Angel and Matt.  “For what it’s worth Kaitlyn, I think you made a good decision back there.”  Rick admitted quietly.  “I wasn’t real sure how to turn that into a positive situation if I even could have.  You’re one smart lady.”  He grinned.

“Oh my, was that actually a compliment?”  Kat giggled.  “Thank you kind sir” she bowed almost tripping as she continued laughing. 

“Fine, see if I do that again.”  He grunted as they approached the horses that they had left hidden and tied to a tree earlier.  Still trying to keep her off balance, Rick gave Kaitlyn a leg up as she mounted Golddust and let his hand linger on her calf a moment longer than necessary inflecting an edge of seriousness.  “All joking aside Kaitlyn, I really was impressed by your actions back there.  You gave those men an option without stepping on their pride; not many people could have pulled that off.  I’m not even sure if I could have.  You really are a special lady.”  He patted her leg and walked toward Warlock taking up his reins and swinging up on the stallion.  “You ready to do this Babe?”  He asked with a grin.

“Hell yeah I’m ready.  Let’s go get my stock back home where they belong.”  She announced. “And myself too for that matter.”