This story is dedicated to Gunshy1
Choices
Chapter 1
Wild Bronco
Calleigh sat on the top post of the corral fence and hooked the heel of her boot onto the second rung for balance. She watched Lew Pitton work the new stallion, her face a mask of wonderment and excitement. Festus leaned on the top rail beside her, trying to decide which was the most fun to watch—Lew working the blue roan, or the candid exuberance Calleigh managed to carry with her in everything she did.
"Isn't he beautiful, Festus? I love watching the way Lew can garner trust with that animal, restraining all that untamed strength without breaking the horse's spirit." Calleigh reached down grabbing the hill man by the shoulder. "I want to ride him! Please..."
Festus pulled away from her grip. "No, Calleigh girl! That there horse isn't read-"
"Yes he is!" Her excitement overrode his objections. "Look at how calm he is. Lew has been on him for… at least half an hour."
"No, now! It's jest too dang dangerous." Festus turned away, knowing he was victim to those female Dillon eyes, just like every other man in Dodge. "If'n sumthin' were to happen to you…"
Calleigh slipped off the fence and bounced around in front of her friend. The look was there, she had even pulled out the sweet wheedling voice. "How could anything happen to me, when I'm with you?"
Despite the cynical skepticism planted firmly on his face, Festus knew he was going into this fight unarmed. His only chance was to walk away—quickly. "Not today. Now, come on, Calleigh girl."
Again Calleigh grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "Oh, please, Festus! I won't get hurt. I was in a rodeo—remember?"
"Yeah, barrel racing. Not a bustin' no wild bronco."
"Look." Calleigh pointed to the subdued animal walking around the corral. Lew had stepped inside the barn for something, but the horse was still saddled. "Just a couple of times around the corral. I'll be off before Lew even gets back."
Festus held a breath, as his gaze wandered from the horse, to the barn, to the annoying little redhead. "Jist a couple a times, then get off! Lew will skin us both if'n he ketches you."
The two approached the stallion with care and respect. Festus gave Calleigh a boost up into the saddle, then took two paces back. The first step filled with doubt, but the other in pride, as he watched the smile explode across her face. Calleigh was gentle, but firm with the mount—just as she had watched Lew do many times. The unfamiliar duo made several trips around the corral, both seeming to enjoy the company of the other. The scruffy man began to relax.
It was Lew's cries that drew Festus' attention away from Calleigh. The hill man started toward the horse-breaker, but stopped short when he drew his gun. "What cha doin, Lew?"
"It slipped right past me in the barn and headed toward the corral!" The words were breathless and frightened. "Get little Doc over here."
They both turned toward Calleigh, but Lew saw it was too late. The rattler had come close enough to the stallion to spook it. He managed to shoot before the snake could strike, but the damage was done. In the next instant, the previously serene stallion, reared up in terror, hurling his rider into the fence.
Festus made quick steps across the corral, with Lew right on his heels. He was instantly on the ground next the motionless redhead. As gently as possible, he rolled her over, bringing the bloody temple into view. "Ah, Calleigh girl, what have ya gone an dun?"
"Is she all right, Festus?" There was a tremor of fear in the seasoned cowboy's speech.
"Lew, I'm a takin' her to the bunkhouse. You go fetch Doc. He's with the marshal at the LadyK." Festus had Calleigh in his arms as he gave orders to Lew. "And hurry!"
Doc was only steps ahead of Matt when he pushed past the ranch hands gathered around the doorway of the bunkhouse. Fear always brought out his brusque bedside manner, and it was on full display, as he rushed in to get to his granddaughter. Festus was holding Calleigh's hand as he knelt beside the bunk.
"She hasn't cum to atol, Doc." Festus looked up at the two men.
"Get out of my way." Doc pushed the hill man aside to get closer to his patient. Skilled hands quickly examined the young woman. He seemed mostly concerned with the open wound on her head.
"Festus, what happened here?" Matt took a knee on the opposite side of the bunk. Like Doc, he tended to be short when he was frightened. Seeing his daughter's face covered in blood was enough to surpass frightened and jump right to terrified.
"Did you clean this out?" Doc spared only a quick glance at the pale, scruffy man as he pulled things out of his black bag to treat the wound.
"Yessir, Doc. I jest tried to stop the bleedin." Festus had to answer Doc's question first, then turned to Matt. "She wanted to ride that ther blue roan that Lew's been a breakin'."
"And you let her!" Matt knew, even as he snapped at the scruffy man, that controlling Calleigh was never an option. The wounded look that stared back at him verified the guilt plaguing Festus. With a heavy sigh, the worried dad tried to ease the other man's conscience. "It's not your fault. We all know how headstrong she is. You couldn't have stopped her."
"A rattler got in the corral and scairt the horse. It bucked her off an she whomped her head on the post. 'Til then, she was fine. She gonna be all right Doc? Is she?"
"She's going to need some stitches. That's a pretty deep cut." Doc's words were interrupted by the soft moans of his patient. For the first time since his arrival, his voice held a hopeful tone. "I think she's about to rejoin the world of the living again."
With every breath that Calleigh took, each of the men gave up one of theirs. They watched anxiously as heavy lids fluttered, each time revealing just a little more blue. Eventually, they were fully opened and aware. "What… happened?"
"Ya got throwed. That's what happened. How do ya feel?" Festus managed to convey relief, irritation and concern all in a few words.
Despite the pain, Calleigh grinned at her friend. "I told you I would be all right, as long as I was with you." She could see the anguish on his face and reached out to take his hand. "I'm sorry I didn't listen."
Matt and Doc shared a look of surprise. Had she actually apologized? For being Calleigh? "She must have hit her head pretty hard." The words popped out before Matt could stop them.
"Well, I need to get her back to the house." Doc announced as he gathered his tools back into his black bag. "Everything I'll need is there. Matt, you want to get your girl?"
Calleigh wrapped her arms around her dad's neck as he lifted her up from the bunk. His husky voice rumbled in her ear. "Just relax, Daddy's got you, everything is going to be okay."
TBC
