Cassie

Written with the help of Cougar!

Rating: PG.

Disclaimer: no one besides Cassie and her family belong to me, no infringement intended.

AN: My apologies for any grammatical mistakes and colourful spelling errors. Right…I suppose after this chapter is where it will start to be more of an AU. And I've decided that they come home a few times before the Lawmen and bounty hunters come around.

Thanks to: Cougar! Who got me started writing this story again and who helped me write it! Thanks so much! And also to those who reviewed!

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Cassie took a deep breath and knocked on the door. It was a few moments before anyone answered. Mrs. Younger answered the door, her face was drawn but when she saw Cassie it brightened.

"What you doin' here?"

Cassie held out two warm--if not slightly squished-- meat pies. "It's not much," she shrugged but Mrs. Younger smiled softly.

"Bless your Mama," Mrs. Younger smiled softly.

"If you need any help, any time, you don't worry about callin' on me."

"I wont," Mrs. Younger replied, "now, the boys are out back. Trying to salvage what they can. It ain't much," the older woman sighed, "but it'll be something." She disappeared for a moment, "I was just about to bring this 'round back." She handed Cassie a picnic basket. "You make sure those boys eat it."

Cassie nodded, "I will." She was holding her own basket, something her Mama packed for Jesse and Frank. She stepped off the front porch and into the hot mid-morning sun.

Zee had come to tell Cassie the news that morning.

Jesse and Frank would be staying with the Younger's--all ready a tight fit, with a family of eight--until they could build a new home of their own.

Cassie bit her lip as she walked up the destroyed barn. They had made two separate piles: wood that could be saved and wood that had been devastated by the fire.

Cassie put down Mrs. Younger's picnic basket.

"Y'all need some help?"

They all turned to her, the boys she'd known since she was a child (except for Tom of course). She sighed, so many things had changed. She took a deep breath and prayed that she wouldn't cry. She walked over to Frank, "I--" she held out the basket. "It's just some food."

"Thank you Cassie," Frank replied.

"I just wished there was more I could do," she said, shooting a glance at Jesse, who was by himself, lugging hunks of charred wood.

"You could start," Cole grunted, "by givin' me a hand."

Two hours later Cassie dropped onto the grass beside Cole, she rested her head on her arms. She felt Cole settled beside her.

She felt a rock digging into her hip and shifted onto her side to move it just as Cole reached over her to grab the lunch basket. They both stared, frozen; noses almost touching for a moment before they both turned and sat up quickly. Cassie grabbed the lunch basket and all but threw it at Cole. Cole caught it and muttered something unintelligible.

Frank look amused but didn't say anything. Everyone else gathered around and they ate quickly and silently. When they stood up Cassie grabbed Jesse's shoulder and pulled him over to the pile of charred wood.

"That Cassie Weston," Bob said. "She sure has grown up."

"What's it to you?" Cole snapped.

"Actually," Bob replied with a shrug, "I think I should be asking you that." Bob, of course found that quite amusing and began to laugh. Cole, of course, got pissed off and smacked Bob upside the head.

"Ow!" Bob yelped, still laughing.

Cassie and Jesse wandered back over and Cole saw that she had been crying. Cassie wiped her eyes and laughed at something Jim said.

"Hey," he said and Cassie looked up. "I'll give you a ride home."

If it had been any other day Cassie would have made some smart ass comment, but she didn't. In stead she gave Jesse a tight hug.

"Take care of yourself Cassie."

She nodded, "I will."

She and Cole walked to the pasture in silence, Cassie cleared her throat.

"So, how long do you think it'll take to rebuild the barn?"

"Coupla month's I guess," Cole replied.

"My Pa could help..." Cassie offered. "I could help--"

Cole grabbed her arm, "I don't want you getting mixed up in any of this."

"I already am," Cassie replied, she saw the tense look on Cole's face. She smiled with what she hoped was comfort and slipped her hand into his. Then she did something that surprised even herself, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

Cassie was mending her father's shirt on the front porch, when she heard the horses. She balled her hands into fists and cried out as the needle pierced her left index finger.

She leapt off the porch, clearing the three steps. "Pa!" She screamed, "Pa!" she screamed again. He must have been in the corn, too far to hear her. She turned on her heel and ran back up the steps. She flung open the door.

"What has gotten into you girl?" Mrs. Weston demanded.

"It's the Pinkerton's."

"Where's your Pa?"

"I don't know," Cassie replied and her Ma squared her shoulders.

"I'll handle this," Her Mama opened the front door and stepped onto the porch. Cassie gritted her teeth, then suddenly had an idea. She ran down the hall, and out the back door.

She saw her Father's shotgun he'd been cleaning that morning. She grabbed it with shaking hands. When Cassie was fifteen her Pa had took her out back and taught her the simple basics of shooting his shotgun. 'To scare of those damned coyotes', she'd never actually had to use. But at least she had some knowledge so she wouldn't make a complete fool of herself. She made her way back down the hall and heard her mother.

"I'm sorry, my husband isn't here right now--" Mrs. Weston said. Cassie heard muffled talking, "I can't make any decisions right now." There was more muffled talking and Mrs. Weston gasped, "I do not take well to threats young man! Your Mama should be ashamed, having a son with no manners. It will do you good to get off my property."

Cassie heard one of them more clearly as she marched to the front door which was open a crack.

"Now you listen--"

Cassie shook her head and pushed open the front door, she cocked the trigger of the shotgun. "No sir," she spat, hoping she wasn't shaking too bad. Mrs. Weston turned and gasped.

"Cassie!" She cried out.

"You listen," Cassie said, "get. Off. Our. Property."

The young men from the railroad looked at her blankly for a moment before they all burst out laughing.

"And what are you gonna do about little lady?" One of them countered.

Cassie narrowed her eyes, "what the hell do you think I'm gonna do about it?"

Before the man had a chance to reply Cassie heard a sharp shout, and she had never been so happy to hear her Pa's voice before in all her life.

"This here is private property," her Pa said, his voice even.

He looked a sight, his thinning black hair was sticking up around his head and his face was red and sweaty from a day tending to the fields. His fists were clenched and his eyes narrowed. "Now, get off this land before I call the sheriff!"

The men all glared at her father but Cassie saw a few of them shift uneasily. She'd never seen her Pa so angry.

"We'll be back," one of the men muttered.

Cassie watched as they rode away, then she heard her Father chuckle.

"That was mighty brave of you girl, but next time make sure it's loaded." He took the gun gently from her hands and opened the barrel. Which was empty. Cassie let out the breath she'd been holding. "They'll be back," Mr. Weston said, "and I don't think they'll be asking politely for farms no more."

Even though the barn was blown up, a few horses were out in the pasture. Also, I am assuming there are coyotes in Missouri. :D

Read and review, but no flames please!