The Long Road Home 11
I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.
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Matt knelt down by Kitty and gently reached for her leg. But he had barely touched it, when she cried out. "You're right, Kitty," he told her once he examined it. "It's broken."
Kitty nodded, pain evident in her features, even in the pale moonlight.
"I'm going to have to set that leg, Kitty," he warned her. "It's going to hurt pretty bad."
"I know, Matt," she said, "do what you have to." Her breathing was labored and she was cold, but her head was up and she was trying not to show how frightened she really was.
Matt knew she was trying to be brave and his heart ached for her. He knew how bad this was going to hurt her but he had no other choice. Until he set the leg, he wouldn't even be able to move her. "Just sit tight for a minute, Honey." He told her. "I'll be back in a couple of minutes. "
"Alright," she said. She was in too much misery to object to much of anything.
Matt ran back down to the horse and cut off the reins, then casting around he found three stout sticks about the right length. Going back up to Kitty, he took off his coat. Laying it down as a temporary pillow he pushed her into a prone position.
"Kitty, I need you to lay back here while I do this, okay?" She nodded. Matt carefully pulled her skirt up to her knee and took her leg in his hands. She gasped in pain as he gripped her leg with both hands.
As quickly as possible, Matt snapped the leg bone back into place, then placed the three sticks around it to hold it in place as he bound them with the reins. "All done, Kitty," he told her. But she didn't hear him. The pain had been too great. Matt took her wrist in his hands. Thankfully her pulse was strong and her breathing not quite so labored.
Matt looked around. Though the moon wasn't full it did provide enough light for him to see the immediate area. There to the right, and down a ways, he saw just what he needed.
Matt picked Kitty up and carried her to the cave in the side of the hill. Once there, he gently laid her down outside of the entrance and went in to make sure there were no other inhabitants. The cavern wasn't overly large, but it was deep and, as far as Matt could tell, empty.
Going back outside, he picked Kitty back up and carried her in, taking her as far as he could. Going back outside, he gathered up the things he had laid aside, and also carried them inside. Thinking about it, he had one more task, at least for now.
Returning to the horse, Matt pushed and pulled until he had the saddle and blanket off, and had succeeded in pushing the beast even further down the slope. Once it stopped sliding, Matt went down to it and covered it as best he could with brush. It might not fool anyone for long, but maybe it would.
Matt stood for a moment, flexing his shoulders and back, both of which ached from his efforts. Once he had caught his breath, he took up the saddle and blanket, carrying them back with him.
Kitty was still out. Matt placed the saddle beside her and laid the blanket below it. Gently, he picked her up and placed her on the blanket, with her head on the saddle, finally covering her with the bedroll. He then lay down beside her. They would need a fire he knew, but right then he was just too tired. In the morning he would get one going and then take a look around.
Matt gently reached over & wrapped his arm around her waist. He didn't know how this was going to turn out but he knew he'd do what it ever took to protect her.
Though unconscious, Kitty seemed to feel his embrace, and drew closer to him. Matt reached over and kissed her softly. 'What ever it takes,' he thought, 'what ever it takes.'
TBC
