A Cowboy and an Angel

Chapter 11

Charles and Leman stopped their horses when they saw the two men riding towards them. They didn't realize these were the Barkleys and thought they would be able to lie to the men and then be on their way trying to find Angelica. Though Leman should have realized who the men were, but they were too busy wanting to find Angelica. Which was proving to be more of a challenge then they first thought. Charles thought it was a simple job; get Hank to kidnapped her from the Barkleys, have Hank hand her over, pay Hank off, then kill Angelica. Then the mix blood niece of his would be gone along with her stubbornness. Though, now it was proving more trouble then he wanted.

"What are we going to say to them?" Leman whispered the question to his boss.

"I don't know, but you let me do the talking." Charles whispered back to Leman.

Nick and Heath stopped their horse a few yards in front of the two men. Neither knew what the men would do or even say. However, they knew for sure whatever it was; it was going to be only lies.

"Heath, keep your mouth shut for a bit. Let us see what they have to say." Nick whispered, "Maybe we won't have to use these rifles. After all we want to get you back to your angel alive." Nick said with a smile. He was really glad for his brother.

Heath grinned and only nodded in agreement with his brother. If he could help it he wasn't about to kill Kel's uncle, but part of him wondered whether Charles would be able to leave her alone as long as he breathed. Heath hoped Charles would do just that.

"Hello, sirs." Charles spoke.

Charles voice made the skin on Nick's and Heath's necks crawl. The man's grin looked like he wanted to murder them instead of talking to them.

"What can we do to help you boys?" Nick asked.

"We are trying to find my niece. She's a little touched in the head." Charles explained.

Heath wanted to punch the man in the face. Kel was not touched at all. She just wanted to get away from the abuse this man; Charles had done to her.

"What's your name?" Nick asked pretending he didn't know the man.

"I am Charles DenBourgh." Charles spoke then pointed to Leman, "And this is Leman Collins. He works for me."

If it was even possible Charles nose went even higher than before making them wan to gag.

Heath could no longer keep his mouth shut as he spoke up, "Mr. DenBourgh your niece is not touched in the head and you know it. Just leave her alone. She ain't going to come near you or hurt your lifestyle in any way. Just leave here and don't come back," he ordered a clear warning evident in his tone and body language.

Nick could hear the cold tone in his brother's voice. He knew Heath would not stay quiet, but he would admit, he had hoped Heath would have stayed quiet just a little bit longer.

Charles gasped with an indignant air; one that said 'How dare you speak to me like that' and it made Nick and Heath wonder if his parents never told the man no while he was growing up.

"You know my niece, Angelica Inez Torrez?" Charles asked.

"I sure do." Heath spoke just as Leman realized who was before them.

"Boss, that's Nick and Heath Barkley." Leman gasped out.

The next second Nick and Heath would never understand why Charles and Leman chose to try and shoot them; drawing their guns from their holsters was no match against the rifles that Nick and Heath's had quicker access to with them laying across their legs. Neither Barkly thought twice as they fired at the men, before Leman or Charles could get a shot fired.

/

Rodney and Kel rode as the sun went down. Kel had gotten tired and they had stopped for a couple of hours, but Kel wanted to be back in the bed she thought as hers. So they started again after she took a small nap. Rodney offered to stop again, but the offer was turned down.

Rodney understood that she didn't want to be out there any longer than she had to be. He couldn't blame her; he didn't feel he could defend her if he needed to. He needed the men back at the ranch and besides he didn't want to face Heath if he failed to get her back to the ranch safely.

"Kel?" Rodney asked.

"Yea?" Kel replied.

"You love Heath don't you?"

Kel began to smile and answered, "Yea, I do and I will stand beside him no matter what. I know now what my mom meant when I read a letter she wrote me shortly before she died."

Over the weeks Kel had been at the Barkleys, Rodney had somehow become her big brother. When he had told her a few days ago she grinned, laughed, and told him she always wanted a brother and now she had one. He was glad she was happy and in love. She had chosen a good man to stand before.

Both of them were relieved when they finally arrived back at the ranch. Rodney figured the time to be around two in the morning. He dismounted in front of the house and helped Kel down. Kel went on inside to go to bed, while Rodney took care of the horse.

It wasn't long before Rodney was back in his bunk and sound asleep. Kel on the other hand; waited…