She'd told the Tate's' about the cat pinningher in the barn, and how Wes had gone after the cat himself. Mr.Tate had gone to hunt him too.
"Cat's are bad. They mark their territoryand they'll be back, that's for sure." Mrs. Tate was telling her."You were fortunate that Mr. Dolan got back in time to run himoff."
"Yes, I guess I was." Kate agreed. "Hearingthe horse in terror, all I could think about was how bloodied Jimhad been."
Mrs. Tate offered her some coffee andhome-made cookies, while they sat and talked.
"So how did Mr. Dolan happen by yourplace?"
"Oh, well, when I delivered my first wagonfull of corn, I ask Mr. Dickens to send anyone he knew that mighthelp me, and he did. We got the corn picked and delivered, now wehave to get the hay gathered. Wes is a drifter, not prone to staylong, so I've got to get as much work done as I can while he ishere. I wish I could talk him into staying, but I'm not sure Ishould. After all, it is his life."
"That gathering hay is a chore, girl,getting all the hay and corn done up and sold. Glad you got somehelp on that place. It's too big for a woman to handle alone."
"Yeah, I gotta decide if I'm going to try tostay on or sell. I can't get much for it if I sell as we hadn'tpaid on it very long." Kate glanced around the big house withadmiration. "You've got a nice-looking house."
"We've been here a long time." Mrs. Tatesmiled.
"Are you planning on leaving?"
"I don't know yet."
"Well, perhaps you can talk Mr. Dolan intostaying a while longer, to plow your field before he leaves?"
"He's a drifter Mrs. Tate, I don't look forhim to stay after the hay is gathered and sold." Kate told her.
"Call me Annie, and maybe you can convincehim to stay on." Annie smiled at her.
"I don't know. I don't know if I have aright to try. He's got his own life to lead."
"Maybe he'll want to stay, I mean, you're afine-looking young woman." Annie smiled at her.
Kate suddenly realized what Annie wasinsinuating and blushed.
"Oh, I don't think so. I heard tell thatdrifters don't stay in one place long." Kate assured her. "And withJim not being in the grave long, do you think such a thing isfitting?"
"You are in a desperate situation."
"I don't know. You see, that's how I gotmarried the first time, by allowing myself to appear too helpless.If I ever have another husband, I want it to be something he reallywants. And Mr. Dolan is nothing more than a hired hand to me." Kateinsisted.
"Well why not. Heard tell he's righthandsome."
"Oh yeah, he is, but my husband is hardlycold in the ground, Annie"
Annie stared at her a minute. "Honey, youdidn't love that man. No woman could love a man like him. I don'tmean to talk of the dead, but he was arrogant and bragged all thetime. But he wasn't right for you, anyone could tell that."
"What do you mean?" Kate looked shocked thatshe would suggest something like that.
"He hung out at the saloons on the weekends,I know that much myself. That tells me what kind of man he was, andsome of what you put up with. He wasn't no husband to you. Anyonecould see that. He treated you… well, like a father treats adaughter. A very bossy father, at that."
"Still, it isn't respectful to start lookingthe minute he's in the ground. I want to try and stand on my ownthis time. I want to know that the man loves me. Truly loves me. Iwant a little romance, or I won't be throwing no rope aroundhim."
"Maybe, but out here you gotta grab what youcan out of life honey. Or you miss the boat." Annie chuckled. "Tellme, is it true you quilt?"
"Well, yeah, when I have the time, justdon't have much time for it now. Who told you?"
"Dickens showed us the quilt you made himwhen you first came. It was lovely. We women get together everyThursday evening and quilt a bit. Why don't you join us, it wouldbe a way to get to know some of the town folk? You see, my dear, itisn't that they don't like you. It's that they don't know you."
"It sounds kinda nice, are you sure you wantme though?"
"Why shore honey, we women have to sticktogether here abouts."
"Thursdays?"
"Yeah, you just come on over here nextThursday evening about seven and bring your sewing pieces along."Annie told her.
"Alright, I will, and thank you, Annie, forbeing so nice."
"Why you don't have to thank me for that.The only reason we were standoffish with you and your husband wasbecause of him, not you!"
"Oh! Well, I guess I can understand that. Hewasn't too social."
"I'll say." Annie laughed.
"I am a little worried about Wes." Kate keptfidgeting with her hands. Annie looked up. " I mean he went outalone, and I've not heard from him in days. I got to get the haystacked and no telling what has happened to him." Kate fretted. "Ihope I don't find him in the same position Jim was in."
As Kate went to the door to leave Anniefollowed. "Don't you fret. He's young and looks very capable ofhandling anything. He'll be back. If he said so"
"I hope your right." She turned to lookAnnie in the eye. Annie was a very handsome woman of about forty,with brown hair she wore up in a bun and she stared into her blueeyes. "I sure need him. Don't know what I'll do when he decides toleave."
"Don't you fret about that. I got a feelinghe won't be leaving at all."
Kate went home and seeing no signs of Wesreturning walked out into the hay field. She began raking the hayinto stacks. It was a hot summer day, and a mockingbird sang hispretty tune in the big oak tree out in front of the house. She wasdoing a fair job when Wes came up behind her. "Need some help?"Came
