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.

All right, this story isn't much about action or adventure, not until the last few chapters. Even then it wont be that exciting. Obviously Cole Younger is not such a chump in my story, but I don't think he's too much out of character. Just not as big headed.

Right, and this story follows movie canon (loosely, but it still follows it) if you haven't noticed. The time line for right now is right after their first few bank jobs.

And there's a little bit of violence in this story, but nothing too bad and score for Cole, who always happens to be in the right place at the right time!

Anyways, sorry this update has taken so long and the rating is going up, due to some swearing. So thanks again to all those who reviewed! And Cougar, you're my hero!

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 slipped out the back door and closed it behind her. She gripped Scout's leather leash and called out. "Scout? Scout?" She wrapped her shawl tightly around her shoulders. It was a cool night the full moon hung low in the sky. She heard a dog barking and made her way across the yard to the back fence which surrounded the perimetre of the forest.

"Damn dog," she muttered. Cassie leapt down from the fence and heard a rip. "Shoot," she yanked her skirt off the protruding nail and stomped into the forest. Cassie glanced over her shoulder, back at the house. She swallowed and stepped through the brush.

"Scout?" She cried, her voice echoing, a twig snapped under her boot and she froze. Cassie shook her head and was about to walk on when she heard something. She strained her ears.

Muffled talking.

Cassie took a careful breath and looked around. She was farther than she'd thought.

"C'mon!" A voice said, coming from somewhere to her left. She backed up.

It wouldn't be no good to run, but she had to get back to the house. Scout or no Scout.

"Damn dog," she cursed under her breath. Now which way did you come you silly girl? That'd teach her to be foolish enough not to bring a latern. That way, she decided. At least...I think. Cassie turned, going the way she thought she came.

Suddenly her boot caught under an overturned log and she fell to her knee's, trying to muffle her cry. She snapped through the brush and flinched.

"What was that?"

Cassie pushed herself to her feet, her knee's were throbbing but she pushed the pain to the back of her mind. She could hear them getting louder.

Must be the Pinkertons, Cassie realized, but she didn't have a chance to dwell on the fact when she heard a twig snap somewhere behind her.

She broke into a run and sprinted through the dead leaves, branches snapping her in the face. Her hair got snarled and she yanked it loose, tearing it out of its bun. She heard feet crashing behind her, and she turned sharply to her right. A shadow crossed in front of her vision and she ran into something solid.

A scream tore from her lips as she toppled onto her hip. "Scout!"

A lantern light flashed across her face and she closed her eyes.

"Well, well, well. What do we have 'ere?" The man she ran into asked, dark stubble shadowed his face and he grinned.

"Why Hank, I think this is the little lady with her Pa's gun," the other mans tone was mocking and they all burst into loud laughter.

"She don't look so tough now eh Ted," Hank said looking at the other man--who Cassie could see in the soft light from the lantern--was a few years younger.

"Don't you know it ain't safe for a lady to be out alone at night, with outlaws runnin' 'round town?"

Cassie whimpered.

"What are you going to do now?" Hank spat, spittle glistened on his chin.

"Don't you come near me," Cassie threatened, but her voice wavered. "Get your hands offa me!"

Hank wrapped his hand around her arm, pinching her flesh he yanked her to her feet. "Maybe we should teach this girl to keep to things she understands."

"Get your hands offa me!" Cassie screamed again, she stuck out hitting the man in the shoulder. She yelled and kicked his left shin.

Hank roared in pain, his hand slipped but he grabbed her again. The back of his hand cracked across her cheek, Hank threw her to the ground and Cassie clutched her hand to her face.

Then she heard another sound, that of a dog barking. She curled into a ball, struggling she felt fingers digging into her arms and another fist glanced off her back.

Hank grabbed Cassie's hair and yanked her head back. His eyes were full of malice and her turned to the others and was about to say something just as Scout burst out into the clearing.

Cassie screamed as Hank fell against her, someone yanked him off and she heard the sound of a scuffle and Hank gasp in pain.

"Get the hell off her, you son of a bitch!" Cassie heard Hank cry again and turned just as he crumpled to the ground. "Any 'a you other bastards want to give it a try?"

Scout snifffed Cassie's shoulder and when he pressed his wet nose against the back of her hand she jumped. Scout licked her elbow and Cassie grabbed onto his collar, burying her face into the soft fur of his neck.

Finally Ted and the other men hauled up their friend and ran off into the woods.

"You'll be sorry!" One of them shouted.

"I'll count on that as a promise!" Cole retorted. He turned and peered down at Cassie, who was curled against a fallen log, shaking. "Cassie?" Cole asked, dropping onto his knee's. "Aw, hell." He reached out and brushed her tangled hair away from her face. She turned to him her eyes filled with fear.

"Scout...ran away. He ran away and," Cassie mumbled. A darkening welt spread across her left cheek and Cole touched his fingers gingerly to the bruise.

"You all right?" He whispered and Cassie burst into tears. "Hey," he said, "hey now." He took her around the shoulders and helped her sit up. Cassie opened her mouth; "Shh," Cole whispered, brushing his thumbs against her cheeks. "I'm here now."

Cassie nodded and Cole helped her to her feet. He wrapped his arms around her shaking shoulders.

"What if they come back?" Cassie asked, grabbing Cole's hand. "They've been comin' round to farms all over the county for two weeks. They'll be back again, they'll burn down our barn, our house, they'll--"

"Hey," Cole said giving Cassie a gentle shake, "calm down. They won't be back."

"They will and--" Cassie began.

Cole took Cassie's face in his hands, "no they wont. We'll make that damn Pinkerton and Thaddeus Reins sorry they ever heard of Liberty. Sorry they ever heard of Jesse James and damn sorry they ever heard of Cole Younger." He smiled softly and wrapped his arm around her waist. "They hurt you too bad?"

Cassie shook her head, "nah," she replied shakily. Scout nudged Cassie's hand and she scratched his ears. "Good boy," she whispered. Cole leaned over and picked something up. He pulled a box of matches out of his pocket and lit the lantern carefully.

"C'mon," Cole said and they walked off the way Cassie was heading before.

"You sure you know where you're going?" Cassie sniffled.

Cole grinned, "nope, but these woods have to end sometime. Besides I like your company just fine so it's okay by me." Cassie clung to Cole's hand, and when they finally reached the fence at the beginning of the Weston's property Cassie was so happy she could have cried.

Scout crawled under and waited patiently for Cassie and Cole before trotting off a few metre's ahead. When they reached the back door, Cassie opened it and let Scout in before closing it softly behind him. She turned and tucked her hair behind her ears not sure exactly what to say.

"Thank you," she said finally.

"You'll want to put somethin' on that," Cole said his fingers brushed her cheek, Cassie looked up into his eyes and her breath caught in her throat. Cole stepped forward, "somethin' cold," he said leaning down, he pressed his lips gently to her left cheek. Cassie's face flushed and when he pulled away she wouldn't meet his eyes. She glanced up at his face and saw he was grinning. She opened her mouth to say something when he kissed her; softly, his fingers dropped to her chin and he turned her face up.

Cassie broke away and stepped back.

"Oh," Cole said quickly, "I'm sorry, I should've asked, I'm sorry."

"It's all right," Cassie replied, "I've just never..."

"What?" Cole demanded.

Cassie blushed.

"Never been kissed?"

"Not like the boys are breakin' down the door," Cassie replied.

"Well why not? You're so beautiful--"

"Cole," Cassie interrupted, "you..." she bit her lip. A silence fell over them and finally Cassie cleared her throat. "I should get inside," she said softly.

Cole nodded.

Cassie saw the look on his face and she reached out and took his hand, "maybe," she said, "sometime, you could," Cassie paused, "come 'round." She stepped back.

"Tomorrow?" Cole blurted as Cassie opened the door, Cassie grinned then nodded.

"I'd like that," she replied, closing the door behind her.

Please review, but no flames!