"That cat needs to be stopped, had a ranchercome in with a badly wounded man just yesterday." The doc told him."I lost him. That cat really cut him up."
Wes looked at the doc, "Dickens will make itthough, won't he?"
"He'll need some care, and lots of rest. Hedoesn't need to be moving around until that wound heals up some. Isthere anyone that can take care of him?"
"Yes, me and Kate will take care of him. Ican take him there and she'll see to him." Wes assured the doc.
"Alright, let me help you get him in thewagon, he's kind of out of it right now. I gave him somelaudanum."
Wes nodded, and the two of them got him inthe back of the wagon. "See he don't move around too much for atleast a week, give that wound time to heal. I'll look in on him ina few days."
"Okay doc, thanks," Wes paid him and was onhis way. He headed for the Tate place.
When Mrs. Tate answered the door, shesmiled, "You must be Wes, come on in."
"I can't stay long but I need to take Katehome."
"Oh, so early?"
"Dickens was attacked by the cat." Wes toldMr. Tate as he came to stand behind his wife.
"Dickens you say. Anyone else hurt?"
"Bubba was killed and they got three of hishogs."
"Good grief. That damn cat has to be seenabout. Are you going out after him?"
"Yes, as soon as I get Dickens settled."
"Well, I hate leaving my wife here alonewhile I go, but if you could bring him in here, Kate and her couldlook after him while you and I go out." Mr. Tate told him.
"I'd appreciate that. Can you help me gethim inside, he's out of it?"
"Sure."
When Kate saw Dickens in their arms, shegasped. "My God, what happened." She cried. Blood was all over hisshirt
"The damn cougar," Wes told her, giving hera quick glance.
They put him in the spare room and when theycame out, Wes told them he went over to talk to Dickens and foundBubba dead in the barn, and three of the hogs killed. "When I sawthat, and couldn't find him, I went looking. He was way out in thepasture, I carried him to the wagon then took him to the doctor."Wes explained.
"Your going after him?" Mrs. Tate asked whenher husband went to get his good boots and gun out of thebedroom.
"Got to Annie," her husband told her as hecame out of the bedroom.
"The doc said the cat attacked some ranchhand too just yesterday." Wes explained. "We've got to get himbefore he does any more damage."
"Oh of course," Mrs. Tate grabbed her chest."But you two be careful."
"Don't you worry none, dear. We're going toget him. He's a sly one, but I got a notion where he might be holdup." Mr. Tate told them.
Kate stared at Wes.
"Can I borrow one of your horses Mr. Tate? Icame in the wagon." Wes asked.
"Sure."
As the men went to the barn Kate peaked inon Dickens but he was asleep and breathing okay, so she closed thedoor.
"This is just terrible. Bubba worked forDickens a long time. They were close." Mrs. Tate shook herhead.
Wes came back inside and looked at Kate.
"Look, the doc said to keep Dickens as stillas you can for a week, giving him time to heal up. He was rippedbad on the chest, so it's important." Wes told her. "We don't knowhow long this is gonna take, but don't worry, we'll be back. Butthis time we have to get him, he's just going to keep onkilling."
"We'll take care of Dickens. I guess I'll behere then until you get back." She told him her eyes meeting his.He stared a long time, as a slow burning smile lit his lips.
"Good, You two hear any noise of that cat,you stay inside. We don't know for sure where he is right now, sobe careful." Wes advised.
Kate nodded, "You too!" she touched hishand.
He looked down at her hand and smiled,"Don't worry, I intend to."
But the look in her eyes almost had himhauling her into his arms and kissing her for all she wasworth.
Mr. Tate came in and grabbed his wife,kissing her, then smiling. "Don't you fret honey. We'll befine."
"God go with you!" Annie told him.
In minutes they were gone.
Kate looked at Annie, "I'm sure glad Weswent over there. I had no idea he was going there, I thought he wasgoing to town."
"I guess they must be good friends too"
"Yes, they are, but I thought he was goingto town."
"That is strange isn't it. A man like that,a drifter, having a day off, you'd think he would go to town, nowwouldn't you." Annie smiled at her. "Did he have the whole dayoff?"
"Yes, he taught me to play poker thismorning, can you imagine!" Kate smiled.
"Really, that's interesting too, isn'tit?"
"Annie, there is nothing between us. He's ahired hand, a friend, that's all." Kate insisted. "He won't be herethat long."
"Maybe, but he could have gone to townearlier, then couldn't he, then gone to see Dickens."
Kate scoffed at that.
"We'll have a time keeping Dickens off hisfeet. He isn't a man to lay around." Annie snickered.
"That's true." Kate smiled.
"Someone needs to let the undertaker knowabout Bubba." Annie got to thinking.
"Wes told me he took care of that at thedocs." Kate smiled.
"Poor Bubba."
"Did you know him well, or something?" Kateasked curiously.
Annie poured them some coffee and offeredKate some fresh apple pie. "Of him. Bubba was a loner here in town.He came here ten years ago. No one would have much to do with himas he was kinda slow and some said touched in the head. But thatdidn't stop Dickens. No sir, Dickens asked Bubba if he needed a joband Bubba was anxious to work. So Dickens hired him. They were bestof friends after that.
