Surprising Detour at Whispering Winds PT.12

As the two friends sat eating and trying to think of what to do next, Mac appeared in the doorway. "Doctor, we need you up there. Looks like Frank Jr. is coming around."

Quickly Doc headed for the stairs. Kitty started to follow, Mac stopped her. "Maybe you should stay here, Ma'am."

"But Doc may need me."

Blocking her path, "You stay here."

Doc quietly entered the room, seeing Frank leaning in, talking in his son's ear. "Come on, son, I know you can hear me." Then he noticed Doc standing there. "Do something! Give him something."

Before Doc could say a word, Frank grabbed him by the arm. "Look, you cut up my boy and now he'll never walk."

As Frank was screaming at Doc and rough handling him, suddenly he heard a faint mumble. "Pa, Pa. It hurts, Pa."

Rushing to his side, "You're gonna be just fine son. I'm here."

Tugging his clothes back in order, Doc walked to the bed. "Son, I'm Doctor Adams. Now, Son, just try to lie still, no quick movements."

"Pa, my leg. It… it hurts bad, Pa." Now he was reaching down to touch his leg, with fear in his eyes. "PA! PA! My leg, Pa! What… where is my leg?"

Frank looked to Doc. "Look, Cameron, leave us, so I can examine him. He needs to rest."

Frank hesitated at first. "I should waste you, Ol' Man."

Kitty sat in the living room exhausted. She propped her foot up and laid her head back. She was thinking that if only she had sent off that message to Matt, he would know something was wrong, when they didn't return, and come looking for them. But now, since she never made it into the telegraph office, "Oh, Cowboy. You have no idea how much I need, no, we need you right now. Even if you do suspect something when we don't show up, you have no idea where we are. UGH!"

Mac had gone out to the barn to check on the animals for the night and bring in fresh eggs for morning, so the house was quiet. Kitty started to dose off when she sensed she wasn't alone.

Doc sat beside Frank Jr. and began checking him out. "Now, Frank Jr., I want you to try and be still. You've lost a lot of blood.

Frank Jr. looked scared at Doc. "But my leg?"

"It's gone, Son. That trap you got yourself into did some nasty damage. I couldn't save it. But I saved you."

"But how am I gonna live like this, Doctor? Me and Pa, we have this place to work and Pa expects me…"

Shaking his head, "Well now, Son, things will just be different from now on. Oh, you'll still be able to get around, just have to learn something different. And your pa has hands to help out. But for right now, I want you to stay in this bed and rest, nothing else, just rest. Get your strength back."

"My pa's not gonna like this, ya know?"

"We'll deal with your pa later. Right now you're the patient and I'm the doctor."

As she opened her eyes, Frank was standing, leaning over her. "Well, Little lady, looks like were alone."

"What do you think you're doing?" She tried to get up but he blocked her move.

"Not so fast, Honey."

"Don't you dare call me, Honey. And as for your plan, think again, Mister. As soon as Doc gets your boy better, we're out of here."

"Ha, Ha, Ha. Don't think so, Kitten. That Doc isn't long for this world after what he did to my boy. And you? You're staying. I figure you and me and Frank Jr. can make us a nice family here."

"You're out of your mind. I wouldn't stay with you, ever."

"I wasn't asking, Honey." Now laughing.

"I told you not to call me Honey."

Grabbing her face, "I'll call you what I want and you'll do exactly what I want. Got it?"

Trying to pull away, he leaned into her, stopping her from moving. "So is this what kind of husband you were? Brutal? Taking?"

"Oh, my Mary was a sweet obedient wife, as you will be. Just might take some breakin' but you'll come to understand the way it is."

"Not on your life, Mister!"

"Oh, Honey, I don't and won't take NO for an answer." Then forcing his mouth to hers.

Struggling to free herself, he leaned hard against her, knocking her back on the cushions. She could now feel his arousal against her. Breaking free from the kiss, "GET OFF OF ME! I'll never agree to stay here. Never!"

Still laughing, reaching to the front of her blouse, still holding her down, trying to undo the pearl buttons, giving up and tearing at them.

Still squirming, "Don't! Please don't." Trying to push him off. "Look, you maniac, you know, when I don't show up in Dodge, well…"

"Well, what? Someone going to come looking for you? Let um try!" Burying his face in the side of her neck and kissing at her breast.

"Stop! Stop you animal!" Trying hard to kick up at him, she heard footsteps. Now breathing hard from the fight.

In the room you could hear first Doc, yelling out, "Get away from her!"

Then also Mac saying, "Oh, Mister Cameron!"

Looking up at them, "Get out! Both of you. Get out and leave us!"

Doc lunged at him, pulling at his shirt. "Get off of her."

Then pushing Doc to the floor, now, he let up on Kitty long enough for her to move.

Just outside the door, Matt and John were approaching the house. Hearing the loud yelling from inside, John looked to Matt. "Matt?"

"Yeah, I heard it too. Let's go." Quickly dismounting and approaching the door, he noticed it was still open. And as they entered, a shot rang out…

TBC