They both looked up in surprise at the first fat raindrops. The previously clear blue sky had turned into a churning mass of dark clouds with an ominous greenish yellow tinge underneath. The slight breeze was now a brisk wind, and the temperature was rapidly dropping.
Chester and Kitty looked at each other, then back in the direction of the relay station, now too far away to be seen. There was nothing else in any direction other than open prairie, scattered boulders, and hills on the distant horizon.
"Miss Kitty, I think we'd better head on back 'cause thar ain't nuthin' else around for shelter." He turned the skittish horse back towards the station, glancing over at the young woman in the light yellow, short sleeved cotton dress, now holding her wide-brimmed hat to her head with one hand as the wind increased.
Before they had traveled another one hundred yards, the occasional fat drops became a deluge too fierce to see through, and too noisy for conversation. Chester urged the wild-eyed horse on, but once the thunder and lightning began, the panicked animal was beyond control. Turning in circles, the horse took off across the prairie. By the time Chester could stop him, all landmarks were obscured by the wind and blowing dirt. Looking around, the young man had no idea where they were or what direction they were headed in. Suddenly, a thunder clap struck so close and loud that it shook the earth, and the terrified animal bolted.
"WHOA! WHOA there!" Chester hollered as he pulled on the reins in a vain attempt to slow the horse down. "Hang on ta me, Miss Kitty!" He gave his drenched passenger a quick glance, seeing that her hat had blown off and her red hair was plastered against her forehead. Her large blue eyes were squinted against the pelting rain and wind, but they widened in surprise as the careening wagon suddenly struck a boulder, dropped down at the back, then shot up under her as the rear left wheel flew off.
"MISS KITTY!" Chester hollered, his head whipping around to see the startled young woman cartwheel off the seat, landing in a tumbled heap on the muddy, rocky ground behind. Yanking on the reins with all of his might, he managed to slow the panicked horse until a close streak of sulfurous-smelling lightning made the horse rear and break free of its harness. The frustrated young man fell backwards into the now empty tilted bed of the wagon. Kitty's valise had disappeared into the stormy landscape. Shaking the long, wet hair out of his eyes, he quickly jumped out and hop-ran to where Kitty lay in the muddy rivulets. He knelt down on his left knee, right leg stiffly straight, and carefully lifted her upper body against his chest, supporting her lolling head.
"Miss Kitty?" he whispered. He could feel a large knot on the left side of her head. Looking around desperately, he saw that the nearest shelter was the three-wheeled wagon. It was the only thing visible by the frequent lightning flashes in the deluge of the dark, stormy sky. He stood up with the slender woman in his arms and slowly made his way to the wagon, careful not to slip or trip in the mud and rocks. Kneeling close to the wagon, Chester lowered Kitty down, crawled underneath, and gently pulled and lifted her into the most sheltered area by the missing wheel. He took off his dripping black hat, put it under her head, then took off his sodden shirt. After wringing it out, he draped it over her shoulders and chest.
"Sorry I ain't got nuthin' dry. Miss Kitty. Soons this storm stops, we'll start towards Dodge." He used an index finger to move strands of her hair from her face, wishing she would open her eyes. Then he settled down beside her, one arm behind his head, closed his weary eyes, and nodded off.
"Matt, I…I'm…so…so…cold! Hold me tight, please!" The words came out through her chattering teeth as she reached out her pale arms towards Chester. He awoke with a start when she touched his face.
"Uh, Miss Kitty, it's Chester. CHESTER. Mr. Dillon ain't here. I'm sorry we ain't got a blanket or anythin' ta cover ya with." He took her shaking hands in his, and worriedly felt how cool they were. His worry increased as he felt her hot forehead. Without another thought, he gently pulled her over against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. As he rubbed her back, her shivering slowly subsided.
Even in her fevered state, she realized that this man holding her didn't smell or feel like Matt, but she knew he was gentle, kind, and caring. Giving a shuddering sigh, she snuggled in against the comforting warmth, and soon fell asleep.
Chester stroked her wet, red hair and softly hummed a lullaby. When his eyes grew too heavy, he lay back, still holding the sleeping woman tightly against him.
"Where AM I?!" Kitty's fever had broken during the night, and with the first light of dawn, she tried to remember. She was lying wrapped in a man's warm embrace, but she knew he wasn't Matt. Moving her head slightly, she looked up at the man's unshaven face, and his closed eyes with thick, dark eyelashes.
"CHESTER?!" The young woman was thirsty and hungry, and her head, left wrist and ribs throbbed painfully, but she began to giggle.
"Huh?! Wha…OH! Miss Kitty!" The lean man jerked awake and quickly pulled his arms away, a deep blush rising from his neck and up into his hairline. His head banged against the underside of the wagon as he tried to sit up.
"Oh, Chester, please lie still, and tell me what happened? I remember us leaving the relay station, and then the rain storm. Why are we under a three-wheeled wagon? And WHERE are we?" She rolled away from him, grimacing a little, and peered out at the endlessly empty landscape being revealed by the rising sun. It was going to be a hot day, she could tell, and already the sodden earth was starting to dry into muddy patches as birds began their morning songs.