A Cowboy and an Angel
Chapter 12
Heath and Nick sat around the campfire thinking back on the day. He knew Kel and Rodney were back by now to the ranch or were close enough to be safe. Heath allowed his thoughts to turn to the minute the gunfire stop.
Charles and Leman lay dead on the ground. Though Heath had wished different; he now knew Kel would be safe from her uncle. Nick and Heath sat on their horses looking down on the dead men for a few seconds before they began looking for their horses that had gotten spooked at the sound of gunfire. It took a couple of hours to find their horses, but once they did Nick and Heath returned and draped the dead men over their saddles and started back on to the house.
The sun had set half way home and the boys decided it would be best to camp out until first light.
Nick was lying down on the ground as he looked at his brother who was looking up at the stars. He spoke softly, "Thinking about today."
"Yes, I am. Why couldn't those two leave well enough alone? If they had left her alone they would still be alive." Heath asked.
"I don't know why they couldn't, but I know Kel won't blame you at all when she finds out. Heath, there was nothing we could do different."
Heath sighed as he thought on what his brother said. He asked, "Do you think there are any relatives left on her mom side?"
"Maybe… Come on; let our bodies get some sleep." Nick said as he closed his eyes.
Heath laid down on the ground and closed his eyes, though it was a couple of hours before he was able to sleep. Part of him felt bad doing what he had to, but Nick was right; there was nothing they could have done to get them to leave Kel alone. He would mention to Kel about writing to her relatives letting them know she was alright.
/
The sun slowly went across Kel's face as she laid in the bed thinking about the last couple of days. She had been only awake the last couple of minutes and she didn't want to get out of the bed quite yet. Kel knew she needed to get up and dressed. There were things that needed to be done and laying here was not going to get them done. As she was leaving the room she looked in the mirror and realized that her aunt was right; it was time to go back to her birth name.
Angelica walked out of her bedroom leaving the name Kel behind. Audra opened her bedroom and saw Angelica. Audra smiled and hugged Kel and said, "Morning, Kel."
The girl smiled, finding confidence and warmth in Audra's sunny smiled, she asked, "Would you mind calling me by my birth name. I feel… I feel the time for the need to be called what my parents had christened me. I don't know why, exactly, but…"
Audra embraced the girl, "so how did you sleep…?"
"Angelica."
"Angelica, such a beautiful name, it suits you. So, you have slept well I hope."
"Better now that I am home." Angelica answered. 'Home' that word brought her joy. She had a house to stay in after her parents and aunt died but not a home. It was nice to have a home once again.
"When are Nick and Heath going to be home?" Audra asked.
"I don't know. Heath sent me here with Rodney while they waited for my uncle and Leman."
"Well, let us go get some breakfast." Audra said. She knew she needed to keep Angelica busy until Heath and Nick arrived home. Which she prayed was not too long. She had a feeling her brother Heath and Angelica would be getting together, though she suspected thay may dilly dally, well not if she could help it. Audra's match making abilities were second to none. Besides, it was obvious these two had a special bond.
It was noon when Heath and Nick arrived back home. The sun rays were beating down them. The cowboys in the yard yelled their 'howdy's' and then kept on working. None needed to say anything about the dead men on the horses. They were just glad it wasn't one of the Barkleys laying across the horses, again.
Angelica and Audra was talking on the porch drinking tea when the noise caught their ears. Angelica was not to found of the tea, but she drank it nonetheless. They turned their eyes towards the noise and that's when they saw Nick and Heath. Both of them put down their cups and ran to the men.
Heath caught Angelica while Nick caught their sister. "Kel, I'm sorry… We had to kill you uncle and Leman after they fired at us." Heath told Angelica, the sadness in his voice was clear. He hated having to kill her relatives regardless how bad they had treated her.
"I'm going by my birth name, Angelica. The time for the name Kel is gone. I had a feeling that my uncle would wind up dead if he didn't stop trying to 'deal' with me." Angelica said. She wasn't sad to lose the uncle she had grown to hate.
Heath shuddered at the thought on how her late uncle would have 'dealt' with her. He held onto Angelia with all his might as he couldn't handle the thought of losing his angel.
A couple of hired hands took the horses from Nick and Heath. Rodney and McCall who had just ridden up to the horse a few seconds before took the horses with the dead men on. After McCall and Rodney were told what had happened, they offered to take the dead bodies to be buried in the town's cemetery and then they would tell Sheriff what happened.
Heath and Nick appreciated the gesture. "Thanks McCall, tell Mark we'll bring our statements in later. Jarrod can witness them," called Nick as the two men headed out.
Nick, Heath, Audra, and Angelica went inside the house. Nick and Heath wanted a chance to bath and change before eating lunch. They parted ways; the men went to take their baths and the ladies went to finish their tea. It wasn't long before they were all gathered for lunch, talking about the day's events only briefly, before discussing the needs of the ranch.
Angelica smiled quietly watching the family chatter. Yes, this was a real home.
Epilogue
My parents were married about six months after dad had returned home. I was born just short of their first year anniversary. This was the story I was told every time I asked how my mom met my dad. I loved hearing it and decided to write it down in case my children ever started asking how their late grandparents met each other.
Angelica's uncle's ranch went to her late aunt's brother, Luke. He was much nicer then Charles. Luke never understood how his sister had ended up with Charles, but he never felt it was his place to tell her what to do. When asked why my mom hadn't gone to him when she fled her Uncle Charles she told them that he and his wife were busy raising their eight children. She couldn't bring herself to trouble them with her problems.
She always said whenever she was asked why she went from Kel back to Angelica she simply stated, 'That she no longer felt the need to go by the name of Kel'. My parents went to visit her father's family, Luke and his family, and visit where her parents and aunt were buried more than once over the time they were alive.
My mother did not lose her temper too often, but when she did you didn't want to be around her. I have been on that end a couple of times and it wasn't a beautiful sight to see. Once you let her calm down, my dad's angel was an angel once again.
I remember the day we had to bury my mother my father cried. This Cowboy had just lost his Angel. Now, just shy of eight months later, we are now burying my father beside his angel. Dad could not live without Mom; he tried to, but she had made such an impact on him I guess he couldn't live without her. The love that they shared was often envied by some of the strangers who passed through Stockton; people who had married only for comfort simply couldn't understand my parents. I was fortune enough to find a man that I was able to share their kind of love with. They were a gift to all of us.
- Cynthia Anne Inez Grant
