"That's a good idea."
"Guess I don't have anything now to rushhome about, do I?" Dickens chuckled.
"I guess not." Wes said quietly.
They sat in the kitchen for some timetalking about things that happened as they tracked the cat. Thewomen cringed to hear the full story.
Annie and Kate did the dishes and the menall sat around watching them with smiles on their faces. "After anadventure like that, I'm glad to be home." Mr. Tate told Wes andDickens.
"Yeah, it makes you appreciate home, doesn'tit?" Dickens chuckled.
"Sure does."
Later that day, Dickens, Wes, and Kateheaded for home. Although Kate had borrowed some clothes from Annieduring the time she spent there, she put her own clothes on to gohome. Wes had some kids from town go out and feed the stock whilethey'd been gone, so the animals were taken care of.
As Dickson got off the wagon, he stared outat the crop. "Looks like we're all gonna have to work to get therest of the hay in, and the field ready for planting in thespring."
"Are you up to helping?" Wes asked.
"I don't see why not." Dickson replied."Give me another week and I'll be right there with you."
"Alright, we'll talk about that later. I'mgonna check on the stock."
Moby came up behind Wes and as he wentoutside, Moby went too.
"Well did you see that?" Kate askedDickens.
"What's that hon?"
"Moby followed Wes out. It's almost as if hemissed him or something."
"Didn't you?"
She thought about it and nodded.
"I'll get us some supper started." Kate toldhim.
Dickens followed Wes out to the barn. Hehelped Wes feed the animals and check on things.
"She's got a right nice place here," Dickenssmiled.
"Yeah, if she can hold on to it." Wes toldhim.
"How many acres she got?"
"Three hundred and sixty I think." Wes toldhim.
"Say, she was pretty worried you wouldn'tmake it back from that cat hunt." Dickens told him.
"Worried? About me?" He frowned.
Dickens made a slight face, "Well, you arethe only one that's been helping her out here, and she knows shecan't do it alone. Naturally, she was worried."
"I can take care of myself," Wesdeclared.
"She ain't never seen how good you are attracking cats, though. Every day she'd go to the window and stareout for the longest." Dickens declared. "Hey, I ain't asked buthave the Smith boys been over here?"
"Not that I know of, they were out chasingthe cat too." Wes told him. "I'm beginning to think she doesn'tneed my protection, Dickens."
"Well, that's only 'cause she ain't' beenhome and neither have they." Dickens told him.
"You know I should be moving on soon." Westold him.
"Who's gonna plow the fields for her?"Dickens asked.
"Maybe I should scout around and get hersome help out here." Wes told him.
"Getting antsy to travel?" Dickensasked.
"I don't usually stay this long." Wes toldhim.
Dickens dropped the subject and they walkedback to the house.
Later after supper Dickens went to bed earlyand Kate walked outside after doing the dishes. She thought Wes hadretired too.
She looked out at the hay that neededtending and knew she had a daunting job ahead of her. She shook herhead.
"Something wrong?" Wes asked right behindher.
She turned to look at him and suddenly shewent into his arms. Wes didn't know what to do with his hands. "I'mso glad you weren't hurt by that cat." She cried, snuggling herhead against his shoulder. "I was afraid you'd be hurt."
She cried real tears, and he instinctivelypulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her now.
"Just glad it's over with." He murmured."Before anyone else got hurt."
When he didn't push her away, she criedharder.
"Hey," he murmured softly. "It's okay now.You don't have to worry about the cat any longer."
She sniffed and raised her head. He handedher his bandana. She blew her nose hard. He chuckled. But the tearswouldn't stop, and he pulled her back into his arms.
"It wasn't the cat I was worried about."
He pulled her tighter but didn't say a word.She cried for a long time and he just held her in his arms.
"I can finally cry about Jim now." Sheblubbered.
"That's good. It means your putting himwhere he belongs now and accepting the fact that he's gone." Weswhispered into her hair.
She felt his lips brush the top of her hairand she closed her eyes. "Yes, I guess I am."
"Now you can get on with your life,again."
"Yes, but I've got a lot of work to dotoo."
"I'll help you… "
"Yes, but for how long? And when you getready to leave, what will I do then?" She whispered. "I've come todepend on you, in so many ways. I shouldn't. I should knowbetter."
"Well, that's natural. I'm your hired hand."He said huskily.
"I-I think of you as more of a friend than ahired hand, Wes." She cried.
"Well, thank you… " he said lowly.
In his arms she felt so protected, so safe.But he wasn't committing himself to her and she realized thatquickly. Perhaps he merely saw her as his employer. She thought ofhim much more.
"As soon as we get the hay in, I'll try tofind you some help. I won't leave you stranded." He promised.
She pulled away now and moved to put somedistance between them. "I'd appreciate that." She told him hervoice almost back to normal now. "Thanks for letting me cry on yourshoulder."
"Kate I—"
But she walked back to the house now,leaving him to stare after her. Her shoulders slumped, her headbowed, he wanted to say so much, but he wasn't used to caring aboutpeople and Kate and Dickens had grown close to him.
ChapterFourteen
The way things were going, Wes knew heshould be leaving now. But there was the hay to get in, and then hepromised to find her some help.
The problem was he was beginning to havereal feelings for Kate, and he knew that wasn't wise. He was aperpetual drifter. He had little money, and nothing to offer awoman. If he let things go much further, he'd have to marry her,and people would assume it was for her land, and not for thefeelings that were growing every day he was around her.
He could smell the sweet fragrance of herhair, the guarded looks she threw at him from time to time.
But despite his inner
