"We ran into them last time we were here.They're gonna hunt the cat, so am I, but alone."
"Oh man, that's liable to be a mess. Withthem drinkin' like they do. Did they ask who you were?"
"Oh yeah, they asked."
"And how did they act around Kate?"
"One of them couldn't take their eyes offher, you were right. They are a danger to her."
"At least now you know I'm serious aboutprotecting her."
"Yeah, anyway, they were drinking then, andthat's why I'm going it alone. You had any trouble out here?"
"No, but I keep my ears open." Dickensgrinned.
"You let me know if you do."
"Sure will. I can't afford to have a cat outhere; they'd get them hogs for sure. So, how are you getting' alongwith Kate?"
"Fine, why?"
"Well, she's a right pretty thing. Justwondered."
"She didn't have a very good marriage,Dickens." Wes told him.
"I knew that, just by watching her. Knowwhat was wrong?"
"Yeah, but I won't be tellin' you, so youmight as well quit snoopin'."
"Why not?"
"The woman just needs someone to talk to.I'm trying to encourage her to meet other people in the community,so when I'm gone, she'll have someone she can talk to and someonethat might help her if things get rough."
"Well, I reckon that is good. So sheconfided in you?"
"Yeah… I honestly don't think she meant to.I guess sometimes we carry things around that have to come out toget rid of it. Or it eats you up. But let's leave it at that."
"Okay, I respect that. But she trusts you,evidently, that's a good thing." Dickens eyed him.
"Just the slip of the tongue and don't askno more."
"Okay," Dickens smiled.
"Well, I better be running along. If youhave any trouble with that cat, let me know, I'm going after himnow."
"Alright, and be careful, son."
"I will… see ya!"
Dickens waved him away. Bubba came out ofthe barn and saw Dickens staring after Wes. "Everything alright,Mr. Dickens?"
"Yeah, everything is good, Bubba. Wes isfallin' for that little gal, just like I'd hoped he would." Dickenschuckled and glanced at Bubba.
Bubba smiled.
***
But when Wes pulled into the yard, he didn’tsee Kate. At this time of day she was usually out workingsomewhere, but he saw no signs of her. In fact, it was much toostill around here for his liking. The birds in the trees were notsinging, it was just too quiet.
He went inside the house and called out toher still no answer.
"Kate!"
No answer.
He called out again. This time he heard thehorses in the barn, they were making all kinds of racket. Somethingwas wrong they wouldn't be making those noises unless something wasin there that shouldn't be.
He walked toward the barn with caution.
Wes heard Moby barking like crazy and knewthere was something or someone in the barn.
He put his hand on his gun and again heheard the horses. Since the mule was hooked up to the wagon hedrove over to Dickens with, he tied him up and listened formore.
As he went to open the barn door Kate calledout to him, "Don't come in here! The cat!"
Pulling his gun, he swung the door openslowly and there was the cat staring down at Kate who was backedagainst the wall of the barn. Moby was barking up a storm, standingnot far from Kate, as if protecting her. The cat made that loudscathing sound and Kate searched for a weapon, but the pitchforkwas too far away. The cat wasn't that close to her, on the otherside of the barn, but one spring would be enough to get to her.
"Don't move Kate," Wes called to her.
"I don't think I can," she cried as sweatpeppered her forehead. "He hurt one of the horses… "
"We'll take care of it, just don'tmove."
He could only see the cat's head peeringfrom behind a stack of hay in the barn. Without a good shot, he hadno options. Suddenly he threw his gun at the cat, hitting him, butnot knocking him out, the cat sprang out of the barn and ran,screeching all the way and Kate slid to the floor of the barn.Tears running down her cheeks.
Moby came up to her and licked her face.
"I'm alright boy," she murmured.
"Are you?" Wes asked coming up to her.
She glanced up as the tears rolled down hercheeks.
He helped her up and she went straight intohis arms. Wes held her, and felt her shaking, and then he wrappedhis arms around her. She laid her head on his shoulder and put herarms on his back, her tears soaking into his shirt.
"I don't know how he got in. I mean, I leftthe barn door open, I was just going to feed the stock." She pulledaway to look up into his face unaware that she was in hisembrace.
Suddenly she stopped talking and her cheekswent bright red as she straightened away from him.
"It's okay, it's okay," He pulled her backinto his arms and held her a moment. His lips grazed the top of herhead as he pulled her closer. "It's alright, you are alright now."Then without looking at her he pulled away. "I've got to get afterhim. But let's take a look at that horse first."
The horse lay panting on the floor of thebarn where the cat had been. He was cut open badly and there was nochance of saving him.
Wes pulled his gun and shot him, as Kateturned away, putting her head against the stall gate. Moby whinedfor a few minutes as though he knew he'd killed him.
"It happened so fast Wes. One minute I wasjust going into the barn, then I heard him at the horses and thesounds they made."
"He couldn't be saved, Kate. I'm sorry." Westold her.
She raised up and nodded, "I know. We boughtthat horse when we sold my place. The other one was mine from myold place. But Jim wanted a mule to plow with."
"Mules are good."
He turned away as he started to leave andshe called after him, "Wes—Be careful."
"Don't worry," he looked over his shoulderat her, "I'll be back." He promised as he stowed his gear on theback of his horse.
***
But Wes was gone three days without a word.Kate
