Ok... first let me apologize for taking so long to update. I know I promised one a month ago, but there is only so much time in the day. Things come up and some things have to be set aside for the time being. I've been writing bookoo midterm papers and taking exams for the last three weeks, am working two jobs, and am a full time student. So please understand if I am not updating constantly. On a lighter note... I hope you all like were I'm taking this.
CHAPTER 7
In two week's time, Gabriella had returned to her old, cheery, self. With the exception of the splint and sling that graced her arm she was back to normal, at least to the common. Her ribs were still tender but as long as she wasn't too rowdy they didn't bother her too terribly. Inside her mind was where the main problems lay. She longed to be active. Gabi hated not being able to do the things she was accustomed to.
Troy had watched her carefully for those two weeks. He could tell that she didn't like being restricted and was worried that she might overdue it. Mariana and Chelsea took over a lot of the chores she normally handled. The girls, of course, required supervision which Gabi was more than happy to provide. Watching the younger girls helped take her mind off of her idleness, but she was still terribly unhappy.
Catherine seemed to be the only one who noticed how Gabriella was truly feeling. One night, after the other children had gone to bed, she tiptoed downstairs where she found her parents sitting at the table.
"Cati? What are you still doing up?" Her father questioned. "You should have been asleep by now.
"I wanted to talk to you about something..." she replied quietly.
"What about, dear?" Her mother looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Well..." Catherine shuffled back and forth nervously, "I was wondering if Gabi and I could go on a picnic..." She looked up hopefully.
"I don't see why not," her mother smiled, "you girls could go out behind the barn. I'll pack you a nice lunch."
"Mother, that's not what I was thinking..." Catherine continued, "It's just...Gabi can't get out much, and... I don't know..."
"I think our daughter is trying to tell us that Gabi needs to get out and about," Mr. Bolton cut in. Catherine nodded gratefully. Her father understood.
"That's right!" Catherine smiled. "I was thinking that we could take the wagon down to the creek for an afternoon. It might cheer her up a little bit."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea." John nodded his head.
"John, I hardly think that she's ready," Kay continued. "She's been through so much. Besides, Gabriella couldn't handle the team with one arm, and Catherine isn't strong enough."
"Yes, you're right," her father replied.
The conversation stopped. Catherine lowered her head. Her mother was right. Gabi hadn't healed enough to handle the team and she was not strong enough. Behind the barn would have to do for the moment.
"Now just a minute," he continued. "I still think it's a great idea." He held up a hand, requesting silence, as his wife was trying to speak again. "As I was saying... I think that it would do Gabriella a lot good...getting out in the fresh air. I do, however, concede that neither she nor Catherine is capable of handling a team." He paused. "So, I propose that we get the girls an escort." He looked pointedly at his wife and then at his daughter. "Cati, you and Gabi may go on your picnic tomorrow, providing that you take either Troy or Eddie along to drive the wagon. How is that?" A wide smile immediately covered Catherine's shining face. "You can ask one of your brothers in the morning."
"Thank you!" She quickly hugged each of her parents and then bolted up the stairs.
"Be sure to get some sleep Cati..." he mother called after her. The little girl only nodded.
The next afternoon found Catherine sitting in-between Gabriella and Troy, quietly listening to the two young adults, happily chatting away, as the wagon bounced along the trail that led down to the creek. It had been cool that morning. Luckily, the sun had decided to come out and there was now a pleasant breeze in the air.
Catherine hadn't even bothered to ask Eddie along. Troy was much better suited for the purpose anyway. She saw the way he looked at Gabi and the way that Gabi looked at him. She was the only one that did. Catherine doubted that they had any clue. For only being six years old, she was very intuitive.
Upon nearing the creek, Troy guided the wagon over to the side of the trail.
"Cati, why don't you and Gabi go-on down to the creek?" He kicked the brake into place. "I'm going to unhitch the horses and let them rest for a bit." Both girls nodded. Troy hopped down from the wagon and reached up for his sister. He threw her over his shoulder and spun her around. Catherine screamed in delight.
"Troy!" Gabriella exclaimed, "Put your sister down before you make her sick." Troy laughed and set his giggling sister down.
"Yes ma'm..." he smiled, jokingly, "I wouldn't want to spoil your picnic, would I?" He pulled the picnic basket out from under the seat and handed it to his sister. Ruffling her hair he shooed her off towards the creek. "Come on..." He took Gabi's good arm and helped her to the ground the ground.
"What...I don't get spun?" She teased.
"Nope," he shook his head, "not with your ribs." He paused and raised his eyebrows, "I wouldn't get too confident though. You won't be so lucky next time."
"I'll keep that in mind." She watched as Troy began unhitching the team. "So tell me... how did Cati talk you into coming on our little adventure."
"Oh, she begged and pleaded... the usual stuff." Troy smiled, "by the time she got to the part about how my parents wouldn't let you two go without Eddie or me, I was sold... I can't stand to see my little sister cry."
"She didn't!" Gabi gasped.
"No, she didn't have a chance to get that far. She had me from the start." He admitted. Gabriella smiled. She could tell Troy was embarrassed by his admission.
"Well, I'm glad you came." She replied, "You're much more fun than Eddie."
"Thanks," Troy picked up the team's reins and they started off towards the creek. After a moment he spoke again. "You know... I'm glad that you're glad." He shot Gabi a smile. Gabi smiled and ducked her head.
By the time they arrived Catherine already had lunch spread out on the red and white cloth. Troy allowed the horses to drink and tethered them to a nearby bush. He plopped down between the two girls and reached for his plate.
"Mmm... fried chicken... it smells great." They all hungrily dug in. Soon the food was gone. Most of it was in their stomachs. Due to a small food fight, some of it was on their clothes and in their hair.
The afternoon was enjoyable. Troy regaled the girls with more of his stories from Tennessee. Catherine and Gabi told him all about what he had missed. Gabi had to correct Catherine at some points, though, as she tended to exaggerate.
"I'll be right back..." Troy stood up and brushed off his pants. Cati looked up at her brother and stuck out her lower lip.
"We don't have to go now...do we?" She whined.
"Cati, don't whine," Gabi scolded, "It's not a good habit to get into.
"Sorry," Cati lowered her head.
"No Cati, we don't have to leave yet." Troy replied. "I'm just feeling nature's call." His sister nodded in understanding. "I'll be over there." He pointed to the other side of the trail. "So, don't wander over that way." As he started off towards the brush Gabi found her eyes following his retreating figure. She shook her head, clearing her mind. He was only a friend.
Troy was soon out of sight in a small arroyo a hundred or so feet away. However, Gabi wandering eyes had not gone unnoticed. Cati had figured that something was up. Gabi's longing gaze had proven her theory.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you followed him..." the little girl giggled at Gabriella's shocked expression.
"Catherine! What has gotten in to you?" Gabi shook her head. Cati just shook her head and smiled.
"Don't you see it?" she asked, "because I sure do." Gabi tipped her head in a questioning manner. "You love Troy." Cati bluntly stated. "I know because you look at him different than anyone else. He loves you too." Gabi's eyes widened at the girls statement. She quickly recovered and was able to reply.
"No, Cati, your brother and I are just friends." Gabi quickly replied, "...only friends."
"Fine! Don't believe me." Catherine crossed her arms, "I know I'm right." Cati stomped over to where the horses were tethered and began to pet them, pointedly ignoring Gabriella.
As Gabi turned around and began putting the remains of their picnic away, she shook her head. In her innermost heart she had entertained thoughts of her and Troy together. In reality though, she had decided, it would never work. By expressing her feelings she would only be throwing away a perfectly good friendship. Some things were better left unsaid.
"Gabi..." Cati's voice was unusually quiet and uneasy. "Gabi..."
"What is it?" she replied. No answer came.
Gabi turned around and gasped. Not more than twenty yards away, across the creek, sat a good sized group of Indians. They, and the horses they were riding, were painted and adorned with feathers. Catherine, who had still been standing next to the horses, began easing back towards Gabriella, keeping her eyes focused on the newcomers.
"Cati, just keep quiet... maybe they're only passing through," Gabi ordered quietly. "We'll just stay back..." Her line of speech was interrupted by a shrill cry from one of the natives. Suddenly, the whole group was charging across the creek at them.
Gabriella did the only thing that came to mind.
"Troy!" She screamed as loud as she could, pulling Cati to her.
Troy was only about fifty yards down the trail when he heard the splashing followed by Gabriella's scream. He had been taking his time returning to the girls. He needed to sort some things out with Gabi and had been running over possible conversations in his head but now was not the right time to be thinking. He immediately broke into a dead run.
The Indians had moved quickly. By the time Troy arrived, Cati was already sitting astride Thunder, the far horse of the team. The reins were held by another mounted rider. Her small hands were bound and she gripped Thunder's mane tightly, her face white with fear.
A few yards away, Gabi was struggling to break free from a man who was trying to throw her atop of Lightning, the near horse of the team. It wasn't an easy task. Thunder and Lightning, despite their names, were generally calm and mild mannered. Then again, they also weren't used to being surrounded by Indians, their horses, and screaming girls. The horse danced nervously and attempted to evade his potential rider.
"Troy!" He heard his sister cry from her perch on top of Thunder. Her cry was echoed by an equally distressful call from Gabi. The Indians, now having noticed him, began to move out. The man leading Cati's horse was one of the first to leave. Gabi, now lying across her horse's back, was still putting up a fight. Troy lunged in her direction.
He didn't know what he was going to do but he knew that he had to do something. Somehow he reached her and was able to grab hold of her arms. He jerked her off the horse and started to run, pulling her along with him. He didn't get very far. A tall young Indian, with a crooked nose and a wide scar down the side of his face blocked his path. Gabriella was ripped from his arms and tossed to another man. The man with the crooked nose grabbed Troy and held both arms behind his back. Gabi's breath gave way as she noticed another large, looming man approach with a large stone. Her scream filled the air as he raised the rock and brought it down on Troy's head. The crooked nosed man released Troy, who slumped to the ground, a small trickling blood already present in his thick hair.
So... I hope you all like where I'm going with this...
