"Good." Kate smiled. "When Wes comes back,we can get you settled in then."
Wes and Mr. Tate were gone a long while andKate didn't want to alarm Annie, but she was worried about them.Since she read a lot, she had a big imagination.
A few wagons passed full of hunters, but noone stopped. The women figured they were just restocking theirsupplies or something.
Late one afternoon as Annie and Kate werecooking Annie muttered lowly. "I wonder what is taking them solong."
Mr. Dickens heard her and was quick todispel her fears.
"Tracking a cat can take some time. Theycover a lot of territory. It ain't as easy as you might think. Theyare more cunning than some animals."
"You ever killed one yourself?" Kateasked.
"A long time ago. And let me tell you, itisn't a bit of fun. They can almost outthink you. Took me nearly amonth of tracking to find him, and I was with a small crowd ofdrovers who wanted that cat dead, no matter what. He'd managed tokill off several of their cattle and one drover. So they werepretty angry."
"How did you finally catch him?"
"He was stalking the herd. He startedscreeching like they do. We cornered him. But let him think he hadthe upper hand. Just as he was about to leap onto another cow, Ispotted him and got my shot off. He fell dead." Dickens acted outthe scene and the women were breathless listening to him.
"My, I guess that made you a hero to thosedrovers then."
"Pretty much. I was the cook on the drive,and they used to bicker about my cooking. After that, they neversaid an ill word to me." Dickens laughed.
"How long you been a pig farmer?" Kateasked.
"Most of my life. My daddy was a pig farmer.It kind of runs in my family." Dickens chuckled.
"Didn't you ever want to do anything else?"Kate asked.
"To tell the truth, no. I mean, maybe thatsounds a bit funny to you, but my daddy always said, if you're goodat something, stay with it. And I'm good with my hogs."
"Yes, you are," Annie sat down at the tablewith him and chuckled.
Dickens looked at Annie, then Kate. "I wantto thank you ladies for looking after me."
"No thanks needed, you're our neighbor."
Someone knocked on the door and Annie wentto see who it was. It was the Reverend and both women looked a bitstunned to see him there. It usually meant there was a death andthey both grabbed their chests.
"Excuse me ladies, I came to talk to Mr.Dickens."
"Come in, come in." Annie told him relievedthat it wasn't their men he came about.
The Reverend was a tall man, and in hisblack suit he favored Abe Lincoln a bit, everyone in town thoughtso.
He took his hat off and walked towardDickens.
His face was gaunt, but rather handsometoo.
He saw him sitting at the table and Anniewent to get him a cup of coffee.
"Mr. Dickens, I came about your place theother day and well, I have some bad news."
Annie set the coffee down in front of him,and he took a sip before he told him.
Dickens looked straight at the man, "Wellspit it out."
"That cat came back and got all yourhogs."
"All of them?" Dicken's face screwed up in apainful frown.
"I'm afraid so. I got some of Joe Henry'sboys to clean the mess up. But they are all dead."
Dickens felt hot tears sting his eyes."Well, I… "
He lost thought for a moment as a tearrolled down his cheek. "I thank you for coming by and tellingme."
"I'm sorry. Are you feeling better, sir?"The Reverend asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Or will be soon."
"I thought you should know. And since you'vebeen hurt so badly, I waited to let you know that we buried Bubbafor you, in the cemetery by that old Oak tree he liked somuch."
Dicken's couldn't talk. He'd been avoidingtalking about Bubba and the women knew it hurt him deeply. "Thanksfor that Reverend, he'd have liked that. Sorry I couldn't be at hisfuneral. But soon as I heal up, I'll visit him there."
Annie and Kate looked at each other. Theyboth knew how much Bubba and those hogs meant to Dickens.
"I'm truly sorry Mr. Dickens." When Dickensdidn't lift his head, the Reverend glanced at the women. "Well, Ibetter be going." He finished his coffee and turned toward thedoor.
"Have you heard anything of them getting thecat yet?"
"No," he turned his tall lanky frame to thewomen now and put his hat on his head. "But Calvin Moore was killeda few days ago. Another boy was injured, he's at the doc's now. Oneof the Smith's boys."
"That's terrible." Annie cried.
Kate shook her head and a tear escaped downher cheek. "Is there anything we can do to help?"
"No, right now, the cat is still loose andit's best if everyone stays in their homes until he is caught." TheReverend said.
"Yes, I guess you are right about that."Annie nodded. "Thanks for coming by to let us know. And take caregoing home."
"I will. Dickens, I hope you heal upgood."
"Thanks." Dickens nodded.
"My husband and Wes Dolan are out lookingfor the cat too."
"Almost every able-bodied man is right now.I was asked to check up on everyone that I could. You ladies stayinside as much as you can."
Annie nodded.
When he left Dickens was silent for a longwhile. Annie seemed disturbed too. Kate took the cups and washedthem.
"The boys have been gone two weeks now."Annie mumbled.
Kate tried to console her, even though shefeared for them too.
"Don't worry they'll get that cat." Kateassured her.
"I wish I could get out there with them,"Dickens mumbled. "Poor ole Bubba, he was one of the best friends Iever had. I'll sure miss him." Dickens got up and walked to thewindow to stare out. "I hope they get that danged cat and get himgood."
Kate came up to him and put an arm aroundhim, "They will, I'm sure of it."
"I'm gonna lay down for a while now. I'mkind of tired." Dickens told her.
Annie and Kate stared at each other."Everything that old man cared for is gone now." Annie cried. "Itmust be a horrible feeling to know that."
Kate swallowed hard. "They
