Epilogue
"Laurie!"
Rick came into the kitchen and found his daughter getting things ready for dinner. "Hey, Pop, you're home early." she grinned, as he kissed her cheek then swiped a cookie off the tray she was emptying.
"No appointments, so your uncle and I gave ourselves the afternoon off. Where's your mother?" he asked, having a funny feeling.
"She's trying to get StarrDust ready for the man from "Knights" to see. I don't know, Pop, the temperament of this horse, he's not nice. I'm afraid of him myself, but you know Mom, never met a horse she didn't like." Robin told him, concerned.
"I know, he's a nice looking horse, but, then again, I didn't think that much of Brick when we first got him. But honey, if you're worried, I think one of us better keep an eye on her when she's training him." her father said, adding, "and today that's me, you go ahead with those skewers."
"Yes, sir!" she laughed, dodging his swat with the spatula.
As Rick went out the back door, he immediately caught sight of his wife limping around the back corral, and his heart sank. "Darn it, she knows she's not supposed to be on her feet that much yet, it's too soon!" Only a little over a week before she'd been wheelchair bound, due to the cuts and bruises her feet suffered in the caverns. Laurie'd been so good in staying off her feet, now he knew he'd have to make her take it easy, which was easier said then done with her.
Not wanted to startle the skittish colt she was talking to, he walked quietly toward the horse ring and "called" her name. Rick saw her turn, then smiling she went to the gate and let herself out.
"There's my love, you're early!" she called, then he opened his arms and she entered his embrace, whispering, "I missed you."
"I missed you too, sweetheart." he replied, his resolve melting before her kiss. Sweeping her up in his arms, he sat down on a tree stump and kissed her back.
"Did you and A.J. have a busy day?" she asked, resting against him. Shaking his head, he filled her in on the few cases they had to wrap up, having decided to take Easter week off.
"Laurie, are your feet bothering you today, I saw you limping around the ring." he braved, then felt her stiffen in his arms.
"Just a little, but they're much better, Rick. I have to start back to getting around sometime." she answered firmly, then seeing his worried expression, softened.
"I'm sorry, darling, I didn't mean to sound that way." she explained apologetically, then kissed him under his ear. "I know, angel, I just want you to take it easy until you're healed, please?" he answered, stroking her hair.
"All right, my love, I promise. I'll just ride StarrDust back into the barn, then I'll go in. I'm, well, I'm not sure about him, Rick. I think Robin's instincts about him might be right on, I just thought he might respond to hand training." she admitted.
"You always believe in the best in horses and people too, my tender heart." he gently teased her, lifting his wife to her feet then kissing her lips. A loud whinny interrupted them, and Rick pretended to frown at the coal black horse who was shaking his head at them.
"Jealous!" Laurie giggled at the horse, and then letting go of her husband let herself into the walking ring and prepared to mount the colt, now moving animatedly around.
As she put her foot into the stirrup and lifted her leg over, abruptly the horse started to rear, then coming back down, suddenly took off at a gallop, nearly throwing Laurie before she managed to grab his reins.
"Hang on, darlin'!" Rick called, as Laurie yelled "Ouch! No, Starr, whoa!" then let out a scream as the colt jumped the fence and took off toward the creek.
Panicked, Rick raced toward the barn, then not waiting to saddle him, mounted Brick then headed at a gallop out of the back door of the stable area. "Laurie, I'm coming!" he called, seeing her frantically holding on as the colt again tried to buck her off near the rushing water.
Riding at full speed, he caught up with them as the colt tried to bolt toward the hills, and coming alongside, yelled "Laurie!" She turned, frightened, then reached out and he grabbed her and pulled her onto his horse.
Safely in his arms, Laurie clung to Rick as the wild colt continued toward the hills, then finally stopped just shy of the rocks, throwing off his saddle, then turning and ambling back toward the ranch.
Reining in Brick then also turning him back to the ranch, Rick tried to comfort his wife. "Sweetheart, it's all right, you're safe, love." "Oh, Rick." she gasped, trying to catch her breath. "Shh, just breathe, darlin' I've got you." he assured her, tightening his arms around her for fear she'd slip.
"Darling, you saved me, my brave Rick." she murmured, then leaning her cheek against his face, started to cry.
"Laurie, what is it, precious?" he said, scared she was hurt. Coming to the barn, he rode next to the mounting block then carefully slid off the docile horse and sat down on shaking legs with her still in his arms.
"I'm sorry, my fault, Rick. I could have gotten you killed because I was so stubborn. I didn't want to admit I was scared of Starr." she wept, burying her face in his shoulder.
"No, angel, no, it's all right. I should have stopped you. You always face your fears, I knew you weren't comfortable with him, you wouldn't have said anything otherwise." he soothed her, feeling her calming down. Whispering, "You know me too well, darling." she took a ragged breath as Rick told her, "I know I almost lost you, my sweetheart, don't ever scare me like that again!"
Lifting her tear-streaked face to his, Laurie gazed at him with such love that it brought tears to his eyes. She wiped his eyes and kissed him then nestled against his chest. "I promise." Laurie sighed.
Rick stood up, lifting her in his arms. "Come on, sweetheart, I'm going to take you in, you've had a day." As they left the barn, Robin came running up to them. "Mama, what happened, did that horse throw you?"
"No, honey, he ran away with me then tried to buck me off. Your father came after us and saved me." she told her, then as Rick set her down, Robin hugged her mother, then embraced Rick.
"Pop, you are a real knight, only you could have ridden down that bad horse. Mama, the money doesn't matter, send StarrDust back to that farm." she pleaded.
"All right, my baby." Laurie smiled, raising her hand to smooth Robin's hair. Suddenly Rick caught sight of a gash on her arm, "Darlin', you're hurt, did the horse do that to you?"
She nodded. "When I reached for the reins, he bit me, that's when I yelled. I never hit him, Rick, I guess he's just not a people horse."
"No, mama, he's just not a good horse. Remember Brick was hard to train, but you had patience with him and he's a great horse!" Robin told her, kissing her cheek.
Rick took a deep breath, "That's it. That horse goes back tomorrow." he said firmly. Seeing the look in his eyes, Laurie put one arm around her daughter and one around Rick as they went into the house.
Behind them the horse in question stood still, then his ears pricked up as Rick came back out of the house, followed by Oscar. "Thank God you were here, son. Where is that horse?" the older man asked, then spotted it standing by the barn.
"All right, get in there, Starr, you bad horse. See if you hurt my Laurie again!!" Rick yelled. Meekly the animal went into the barn then into its stall. As he closed the barn door, both men were startled to see the spirit of Grandmother Kasey in the patio area.
"Uh, Grandmother, hi, listen, thanks for saving Laurie from Carr when he came after her." Rick said nervously.
"Don't worry, Richard, she will be all right. You rode like a real hero today, my son. My Gene did the same once for me, saved me from a runaway horse. It takes a great heart to risk all for your love, and you have that. You both learned a lot today, just be patient with each other." she replied, a gentle smile on her faded expression. She glanced at Oscar, then added, "Once a warrior, always a warrior. Thank you for taking care of our family."
Laurie was looking out the kitchen window as Robin bandaged her arm, watching her Great-Grandmother. "Mom, I'm going to call Uncle Rudy, he should give you a tetanus shot." she said, then gasped, "Mom- Grandmother's talking to Pop and Uncle Oscar. Are you going to go outside?"
"Yes, maybe I should." Laurie decided, getting up and going to the back door. Entering the patio, she stood patiently as her ancestor turned and smiled at her, then faded away.
"Darlin', did you hear what your Grandmother said?" Rick asked, noticing her when she sat down on a bench. "No, she wanted to talk to you two." Laurie explained, as Oscar sat next to her. "She smiled at me, I think just to let me know everything's all right."
"Honey, I want Rudy to look at that bite, you might need a shot." Oscar told her sternly. She moaned. "I know, Robin said the same thing. I'll call him now; I wanted to remind him about dinner anyway."
"That's my girl!" Rick beamed at her, then took her good hand and raised her up off the bench.
"Can I ask you what Grandmother told you, darling?" she asked hopefully, then giggled as he kissed her, saying, "Just that I did something your Grandfather also did. She said you'd be all right, that we just have to be patient with each other. And," Rick gave a sidelong look at her father, "that Oscar's a warrior." The big man just shook his head.
"Well, I knew that!" she grinned, then hugged Oscar. "And as for being patient, you both are with me!" she teased.
Just then Robin called from the door, "Pop, I've got Uncle Rudy on the phone!"
Surprised, Laurie looked at the two men, then a rueful smile crossed her face.
"Like father, like daughter!" she sighed, then squealed as Rick picked her up.
"And don't you forget it!" he laughed, carrying her into the house, followed by Oscar.
As he came to the kitchen door, Oscar turned to where the spirit had stood, then quietly said, "And I always will be."
"Laurie!"
Rick came into the kitchen and found his daughter getting things ready for dinner. "Hey, Pop, you're home early." she grinned, as he kissed her cheek then swiped a cookie off the tray she was emptying.
"No appointments, so your uncle and I gave ourselves the afternoon off. Where's your mother?" he asked, having a funny feeling.
"She's trying to get StarrDust ready for the man from "Knights" to see. I don't know, Pop, the temperament of this horse, he's not nice. I'm afraid of him myself, but you know Mom, never met a horse she didn't like." Robin told him, concerned.
"I know, he's a nice looking horse, but, then again, I didn't think that much of Brick when we first got him. But honey, if you're worried, I think one of us better keep an eye on her when she's training him." her father said, adding, "and today that's me, you go ahead with those skewers."
"Yes, sir!" she laughed, dodging his swat with the spatula.
As Rick went out the back door, he immediately caught sight of his wife limping around the back corral, and his heart sank. "Darn it, she knows she's not supposed to be on her feet that much yet, it's too soon!" Only a little over a week before she'd been wheelchair bound, due to the cuts and bruises her feet suffered in the caverns. Laurie'd been so good in staying off her feet, now he knew he'd have to make her take it easy, which was easier said then done with her.
Not wanted to startle the skittish colt she was talking to, he walked quietly toward the horse ring and "called" her name. Rick saw her turn, then smiling she went to the gate and let herself out.
"There's my love, you're early!" she called, then he opened his arms and she entered his embrace, whispering, "I missed you."
"I missed you too, sweetheart." he replied, his resolve melting before her kiss. Sweeping her up in his arms, he sat down on a tree stump and kissed her back.
"Did you and A.J. have a busy day?" she asked, resting against him. Shaking his head, he filled her in on the few cases they had to wrap up, having decided to take Easter week off.
"Laurie, are your feet bothering you today, I saw you limping around the ring." he braved, then felt her stiffen in his arms.
"Just a little, but they're much better, Rick. I have to start back to getting around sometime." she answered firmly, then seeing his worried expression, softened.
"I'm sorry, darling, I didn't mean to sound that way." she explained apologetically, then kissed him under his ear. "I know, angel, I just want you to take it easy until you're healed, please?" he answered, stroking her hair.
"All right, my love, I promise. I'll just ride StarrDust back into the barn, then I'll go in. I'm, well, I'm not sure about him, Rick. I think Robin's instincts about him might be right on, I just thought he might respond to hand training." she admitted.
"You always believe in the best in horses and people too, my tender heart." he gently teased her, lifting his wife to her feet then kissing her lips. A loud whinny interrupted them, and Rick pretended to frown at the coal black horse who was shaking his head at them.
"Jealous!" Laurie giggled at the horse, and then letting go of her husband let herself into the walking ring and prepared to mount the colt, now moving animatedly around.
As she put her foot into the stirrup and lifted her leg over, abruptly the horse started to rear, then coming back down, suddenly took off at a gallop, nearly throwing Laurie before she managed to grab his reins.
"Hang on, darlin'!" Rick called, as Laurie yelled "Ouch! No, Starr, whoa!" then let out a scream as the colt jumped the fence and took off toward the creek.
Panicked, Rick raced toward the barn, then not waiting to saddle him, mounted Brick then headed at a gallop out of the back door of the stable area. "Laurie, I'm coming!" he called, seeing her frantically holding on as the colt again tried to buck her off near the rushing water.
Riding at full speed, he caught up with them as the colt tried to bolt toward the hills, and coming alongside, yelled "Laurie!" She turned, frightened, then reached out and he grabbed her and pulled her onto his horse.
Safely in his arms, Laurie clung to Rick as the wild colt continued toward the hills, then finally stopped just shy of the rocks, throwing off his saddle, then turning and ambling back toward the ranch.
Reining in Brick then also turning him back to the ranch, Rick tried to comfort his wife. "Sweetheart, it's all right, you're safe, love." "Oh, Rick." she gasped, trying to catch her breath. "Shh, just breathe, darlin' I've got you." he assured her, tightening his arms around her for fear she'd slip.
"Darling, you saved me, my brave Rick." she murmured, then leaning her cheek against his face, started to cry.
"Laurie, what is it, precious?" he said, scared she was hurt. Coming to the barn, he rode next to the mounting block then carefully slid off the docile horse and sat down on shaking legs with her still in his arms.
"I'm sorry, my fault, Rick. I could have gotten you killed because I was so stubborn. I didn't want to admit I was scared of Starr." she wept, burying her face in his shoulder.
"No, angel, no, it's all right. I should have stopped you. You always face your fears, I knew you weren't comfortable with him, you wouldn't have said anything otherwise." he soothed her, feeling her calming down. Whispering, "You know me too well, darling." she took a ragged breath as Rick told her, "I know I almost lost you, my sweetheart, don't ever scare me like that again!"
Lifting her tear-streaked face to his, Laurie gazed at him with such love that it brought tears to his eyes. She wiped his eyes and kissed him then nestled against his chest. "I promise." Laurie sighed.
Rick stood up, lifting her in his arms. "Come on, sweetheart, I'm going to take you in, you've had a day." As they left the barn, Robin came running up to them. "Mama, what happened, did that horse throw you?"
"No, honey, he ran away with me then tried to buck me off. Your father came after us and saved me." she told her, then as Rick set her down, Robin hugged her mother, then embraced Rick.
"Pop, you are a real knight, only you could have ridden down that bad horse. Mama, the money doesn't matter, send StarrDust back to that farm." she pleaded.
"All right, my baby." Laurie smiled, raising her hand to smooth Robin's hair. Suddenly Rick caught sight of a gash on her arm, "Darlin', you're hurt, did the horse do that to you?"
She nodded. "When I reached for the reins, he bit me, that's when I yelled. I never hit him, Rick, I guess he's just not a people horse."
"No, mama, he's just not a good horse. Remember Brick was hard to train, but you had patience with him and he's a great horse!" Robin told her, kissing her cheek.
Rick took a deep breath, "That's it. That horse goes back tomorrow." he said firmly. Seeing the look in his eyes, Laurie put one arm around her daughter and one around Rick as they went into the house.
Behind them the horse in question stood still, then his ears pricked up as Rick came back out of the house, followed by Oscar. "Thank God you were here, son. Where is that horse?" the older man asked, then spotted it standing by the barn.
"All right, get in there, Starr, you bad horse. See if you hurt my Laurie again!!" Rick yelled. Meekly the animal went into the barn then into its stall. As he closed the barn door, both men were startled to see the spirit of Grandmother Kasey in the patio area.
"Uh, Grandmother, hi, listen, thanks for saving Laurie from Carr when he came after her." Rick said nervously.
"Don't worry, Richard, she will be all right. You rode like a real hero today, my son. My Gene did the same once for me, saved me from a runaway horse. It takes a great heart to risk all for your love, and you have that. You both learned a lot today, just be patient with each other." she replied, a gentle smile on her faded expression. She glanced at Oscar, then added, "Once a warrior, always a warrior. Thank you for taking care of our family."
Laurie was looking out the kitchen window as Robin bandaged her arm, watching her Great-Grandmother. "Mom, I'm going to call Uncle Rudy, he should give you a tetanus shot." she said, then gasped, "Mom- Grandmother's talking to Pop and Uncle Oscar. Are you going to go outside?"
"Yes, maybe I should." Laurie decided, getting up and going to the back door. Entering the patio, she stood patiently as her ancestor turned and smiled at her, then faded away.
"Darlin', did you hear what your Grandmother said?" Rick asked, noticing her when she sat down on a bench. "No, she wanted to talk to you two." Laurie explained, as Oscar sat next to her. "She smiled at me, I think just to let me know everything's all right."
"Honey, I want Rudy to look at that bite, you might need a shot." Oscar told her sternly. She moaned. "I know, Robin said the same thing. I'll call him now; I wanted to remind him about dinner anyway."
"That's my girl!" Rick beamed at her, then took her good hand and raised her up off the bench.
"Can I ask you what Grandmother told you, darling?" she asked hopefully, then giggled as he kissed her, saying, "Just that I did something your Grandfather also did. She said you'd be all right, that we just have to be patient with each other. And," Rick gave a sidelong look at her father, "that Oscar's a warrior." The big man just shook his head.
"Well, I knew that!" she grinned, then hugged Oscar. "And as for being patient, you both are with me!" she teased.
Just then Robin called from the door, "Pop, I've got Uncle Rudy on the phone!"
Surprised, Laurie looked at the two men, then a rueful smile crossed her face.
"Like father, like daughter!" she sighed, then squealed as Rick picked her up.
"And don't you forget it!" he laughed, carrying her into the house, followed by Oscar.
As he came to the kitchen door, Oscar turned to where the spirit had stood, then quietly said, "And I always will be."