"Oh, but I really don't have the money tospend yet." Kate told her truthfully.
"Doesn't matter, I've got a dress, and I betif I took it in for you, you could wear it. It's a dark, dark red,and I bet it would look lovely on you."
"Alright, I'll get Wes or Dickens to driveme over."
"How's that foot?"
"Better, I can actually walk on it a bit,but I kind of like being carried around." Kate chuckled.
"So there is more to Wes Dolan than we allthought."
"Well, I think so, but I've got to see whathe thinks."
"Are you purposely making him jealous."
"A bit, I hope." Kate laughed.
"Good. It does men good to know you haveoptions." Annie chuckled.
Wes came inside and picked her up andcarried her to the wagon. Kate didn't mind at all. In fact, thenearer she was to him, the more she liked it. But it sure made himuncomfortable.
"So did you have a good time?" Wes asked ashe drove the wagon home.
"Yes, I did. We got a lot done; we're makinga quilt for a little gal in Tooley who is newly married."
"That's nice," he muttered.
"Yes, and Annie's going to fit one of herdresses to me, so I'll have something presentable to wear to thedance."
"Oh, is she?" Wes didn't sound as pleasedabout that, and Kate thought it amusing.
"Isn't that nice of her."
"Yeah, nice." Wes repeated.
"Well, I don't want to go looking like a ragdoll, you know." Kate told him.
"No, of course not."
"Can you take me over there tomorrow?"
"Sure, why not." Wes managed tightly.
"Well," she glanced at his frowning face."If you don't want to then I can get Dickens to."
"Dickens can't carry you." Wes told her.
"Well, my foot's well enough, don't youthink?"
"Alright, alright, Dickens can take youthen."
"Whatever, just don't want to bother you allthe time."
"You aren't bothering me."
"You know, you could even go into town atnight if you wanted to. We are about done with the hay for now."She told him.
"If I wanted to go into town, I would,Kate."
"It's just a suggestion, I thought you'd bepleased."
"I'll go when I'm good and damnedready."
"Alright, why are you so mad. I'm trying tobe nice. You've helped me so much. You deserve some time off. Infact, if you want to go to the dance, feel free. Have you askedanyone yet?"
"No, I don't usually go to local dances. I'mnot part of the community."
"Well, I'd say getting that cat made youpart of this community, Wes. You're a hero, don't you know?" Sheasked. "I'm sure there are lots of girls that would love to go withyou."
"I just did what I had to do, that's all.I'm no hero."
"Well, I think you are." She saidsoftly.
He glanced at her and a slight smile crossedhis face, "Well, I'm not."
ChapterSeventeen
But when Wes came back from her fitting, Weswas playing with a strange dog.
"Where'd he come from?" she asked.
"Just wandered over here. Didn't seeanything of him belonging anywhere, so I thought I'd see if I couldteach him a few things."
He demonstrated and the dog obeyed everytrick. Dickens and Kate looked at each other and laughed.
"Wow, he does mind you. Sure he don't belongto anyone around?"
"No, not sure at all, but if anyone asksabout him, tell them he's here." Wes instructed.
"Well, I hope for your sake he don't belongto anyone." Kate said. "I love Moby, and this dog seems to havetaken to you. What kind of dog is he?"
"I think he's a sheep dog." Wes declaredwith a smile.
"Well, ain't heard of no sheep herders inthis area." Dickens chuckled.
"Good."
"What are you going to name him?" Kate askedleaning down to pet the dog.
"I think Lucky."
"That's a swell name for him." Dickenssmiled and went in the house.
Kate lingered a bit to watch the dog do moretricks. But when she went inside Dickens looked a bit down.
"Something wrong?"
"Nah, just thinking about my hogs. I suremiss them. Man should always have a good pet."
"Yours weren't pets?"
"Well, in a way, I named them all. Raisedall of them from just pups."
Kate thought about it a while then smiled,"Why don't you sell your place, and stay with me, and get you somemore hogs to raise here."
Dickens looked at her seriously. "You wantme to stay on here?"
"I'd like it. Wes will probably move on, andI'd be alone if you left. I'm not sure I want to be alone anylonger. There's plenty of room."
Dickens looked at her for a moment. "That'sa nice offer, I'll think on it for a while."
"Good." She smiled at him.
But secretly she worried that Wes wouldleave, and she knew deep down, she didn't want him to go. She knewshe couldn't tie him down to one place, but she didn't want him toleave, she knew that. If she were truthful, she'd have to admit,she was falling in love with Wes. Everyday she worked with him, wasa pleasure. He never hollered at her or got angry because she wasslower. He actually seemed to appreciate the fact that she wantedto help. But the crops were in now, she'd be making a trip to thebank any day and paying Wes what she owed him for his help.
She feared when she paid him, he'dleave.
So she put it off as long as possible.
Still Dickens hadn't forgotten and let herknow it.
"Yeah, I'll go in first of next week, Iguess." She said rather softly.
Dickens looked at her, "You got enough topay this year's mortgage?"
"Yes, I do, thanks to you and Wes." She toldhim.
"Have enough to pay Wes?"
"Yes, I will."
"Well, that's good, you should beproud."
"I guess so. But he'll probably leave theminute I pay him." Kate let a tear spill.
"Hey now, don't fret so much. Things have away of working out." Dickens told her.
"I doubt that. He doesn't realize how muchhelp he's been to me. And I'll need him in the spring for theplanting."
"Maybe he'll come back and check onyou."
"With me making him jealous with FrankCampbell, I doubt that." Kate cried.
"Don't give up so easy." Dickens told her."And don't let him see you crying."
"I won't. He deserves
