Rating: PG.
Disclaimer: no one besides Cassie and her family belong to me, no infringement intended. There are also a few lines and a scene from the movie in this chapter -- they belong to their respective owners
AN: My apologies for any grammatical mistakes and colourful spelling errors. And the first part of this story will be Cassie pretty well added into the movie, but this is obviously not entirely on canon. So it could be considered an AU. I'm also not sure where it is going, so it could slip into more of an AU later on.
Enjoy!
Cassie was terrified, but she wouldn't dare show it. She was gripping the handle to the gate so hard she was surprised it didn't snap off in her hands. Jesse shot a look her way and grinned, Cassie tightened her mouth into a small line; worried she might be sick.
"Wait for my signal," Jesse directed, and Cassie nodded curtly. "And breathe." Cassie let out a deep breath and wiped a hand across her sweaty brow. "Take it easy," he quickly looked over in the direction of town, then back to Zee and Cassie. "He'll be all right." Suddenly without warning Jesse slapped his horses reins.
"Is that the signal?" Cassie shouted.
"I think so," Zee replied, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Open the gate!" Cassie did what she was told; she pulled open the gate and waited as Zee climbed over the fence. Zee ran into the pasture and began running around shouting loudly.
Cassie felt the earth pounding under her feet, and when Zee ran out after the last horse Cassie grabbed her and pulled her back beside her.
Zee grinned, "he'll be okay."
Cassie made a slight face, and the two stood there for a few minutes. "Well, what now?" She wondered, "I can't just stand around here."
"Me neither," Zee said. "Wait," Zee reached into her pocket, she pulled out a deck of cards.
"You, Zee Mimms, are too much," Cassie said.
Zee shrugged, "you're not so shabby yourself."
Half an hour later, two horses ran towards Daryll's farm. Cassie stood up and scooped her deck into her hands.
"See I told you," Zee said, nudging Cassie with her shoulder as Cole jumped off his horse.
"Jesse," Tom said, motioning to Zerelda, "he's hurt real bad."
"What happened?"
"He got shot," Cole said.
Zee turned to Cassie, "you take Cole to the treehouse," she began.
"I'll come back," Tom said as Zee climbed onto Cole's horse.
By myself! Cassie's eyes widened and Zee winked; turning Cole's horse around, she followed Tom away.
Cassie cleared her throat and tried to think of something intelligent to say.
"Cassie?" Cole demanded, dropping his hands onto his hips. "Cassandra Mae Weston?"
"What?" Cassie demanded. She glanced furtively back and forth and grabbed Cole's hand. "Are you hurt?" She wondered.
"Nope, but you are."
Cassie rotated her wrist, "it'll be all right." She took a deep breath. "The tree house is stalked with food. You're going to have to stay there a while until things cool down."
"You gunna stay with me?" Cole teased and Cassie blushed, despite herself.
"No!" She squeaked, "Tom…"
"I know," Cole replied and Cassie promptly let go of Cole's hand. She cleared her throat and wiped her hands across her skirt. She pointed to Daryll's farm. "Bullet's around back."
They made their way around to the back. Bullet caught Cassie out of the corner of his eye and whinnied, stomping his hoof impatiently. "I know, I know," Cassie mumbled, she untied Bullet's reins. She climbed up onto the saddle. "Get on," she directed and Cole opened his mouth to protest. "I know how to ride a horse Cole Younger, besides you don't even know where the treehouse is. Now get on."
"Yes ma'am," Cole climbed up behind Cassie. The saddle was a rather tight fit and Cole wrapped his arms around Cassie's waist.
"What are you doing?" She looked over her shoulder.
"Well you don't really expect me to fall off do you?" Cole retorted, blinking innocently.
Twenty minutes later, Cassie pulled on Bullet's reins and he stopped just as they reached the treehouse. Cassie winced, "it's a little run down…" she said.
"I can see that," Cole said, he rested his chin on Cassie's shoulder and surveyed the small pile of wood Cole assumed, used to pass for a playhouse.
Cassie got off Bullet. "Well," Cassie said, "I better be on my way. Mamma will be wondering where I'm at. Tom should be back around downfall." Cassie blushed, "Well…uh…" she mumbled, but before she had a chance to say anything else Cole grabbed her arm and pulled her into a tight hug.
Cassie shifted, trying to keep Cole's shoulder from crushing her windpipe and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Thanks Cass," He pulled away and Cassie's smiled.
"Just glad I could help."
"Better get home," Cole said and Cassie nodded.
She stepped into the stirrup and pulled herself onto Bullet. She turned and kicked her heels into his haunches, heading for home.
All righty! Let me know what you think but no flames please!