Karen woke up the next morning to find Heath sound asleep in a chair next to her bed. She struggled to sit up only to find that she had been changed out of her dress and into a nightgown. She looked at herself in amazement.
"Audra and Mother changed you when they realized that you weren't going to wake up for dinner. They sent me out of the room and changed your clothes. When I came back in, you were changed and tucked under the covers." Karen's eyes flew to meet Heath's. She felt a sense of panic welling up inside her. She hoped that Victoria wasn't angry with her.
"I'm so sorry I wandered off. I worried everyone, didn't I?"
"Well, Mother was a little concerned. Audra seemed more worried than Mother did when she sent the three of us boys out to look for you. I think Mother knew that one of us would find you. I just don't think she thought it would be Nick."
"That's right. Nick found me and pulled me up in front of him on his horse. I was so tired. My legs hurt too but I thought that was minor. Just muscle pains from walking so much. He told me that he had me in front of him just in case I fell asleep. That way he could hold on to me and keep me from falling off if I fell asleep. I was asleep when he brought me here, wasn't I?"
Heath nodded. "You were. Jarrod and I slid you from Nick's horse and Jarrod carried you inside. I set up camp right here next to you. At least, until Mother and Audra kicked me out so they could change your clothes. Outside of that, I've been right here since last night."
Karen felt tears burning her eyes. She hated that he would see her cry but she couldn't seem to help herself. "Heath, I was getting so tired. I was just hoping that I was heading in the right direction. I thought I was walking toward the smoke from the kitchen."
"Relax, Karen. Nick told us that you were definitely heading in the right direction. He said that you were on course to have made it back by yourself. He just sped up the process. That's all. And, with you being as tired as you were, that would be a good thing. Otherwise, you might have wandered a bit since being tired can affect a person's ability to walk in a straight line. That might have led you off into the wilderness and gotten you lost. That would have worried all of us. Me included. Mother probably would have sent everyone she could out to find you."
"That would have been awful. Do you think she's forgiven me?"
"I think that most likely, yes. Mother is not the type to hold a grudge. She forgives easily under most circumstances. And I think that, in this instance, she's probably already forgiven and will probably just ask you to be more careful where you wander in the future." Heath moved from his chair to sit beside her on the bed. "I would ask the same thing. After all, I rather like having you in my life. I'd like to continue seeing you there. And, if you got lost or hurt while you were here, your father might send your brothers to bring you home and lock you away from me forever."
"I would never let him do that."
"How could you stop him? He's your father and has care of you until you're old enough."
"Pa can try. But he knows that I wouldn't make things easy on him. He'd have to deal with temper tantrums, running away, and all kinds of other unpleasantness. I'm not always as sweet as I seem." She threw a coy look at Heath.
He laughed. "You are quite the young woman, Karen Elizabeth Cartwright." Calming down, Heath brushed a stray hair back from her face. "Are you ready to get up and get dressed for breakfast?"
She nodded just as her stomach growled. She giggled as a blush ran across her face. "I think my stomach has just put in its vote."
Heath chuckled and nodded. He stood up. "I'll step out into the hallway while you dress. Then, I'll escort you downstairs."
Heath stepped out and closed the door behind him. Karen quickly dressed in one of her easier dresses to get into and out of. It was a dark blue day dress with a simple zipper in the back. It even had a pull to help with getting it on and off. Pulling the zipper up her back, Karen slipped her feet into the shoes near her bed before opening the door to the hallway.
Heath stood right there against the wall on the opposite side of the hallway from her door. "Very nice, Karen. Are you ready?"
She nodded and took the arm he offered and they walked down the stairs to the dining room for breakfast.
When they arrived in the dining room, Audra and Victoria had already arrived and were seated at the table waiting for everyone else. "Good morning, Karen dear. Do you feel better after your sleep?" Victoria asked her as Heath held her chair for her to sit down in.
"I do. Thank you, Ms. Victoria. I'm sorry for worrying everyone yesterday. It was just such a nice day and I just started walking and, unfortunately, didn't pay attention to how far I had gone before I realized that I was rather far out from the house. That was the point I turned around and started back, following the sight of the column of smoke from the kitchen. I was so tired by the time Nick found me that I wasn't even certain that I was heading in the right direction anymore."
"But you feel alright now?" Victoria asked.
"Yes. I feel very well rested. My legs don't hurt anymore. I have no chill. And I feel much refreshed."
"I'm glad, dear. I'm very glad that you didn't get lost and that you didn't get sick from being out so late without a cloak or any kind of shelter."
"I am too, Ms. Victoria. Very glad indeed."
"There she is," Jarrod's voice rang out as he and Nick walked into the dining room. "We stopped by your room to make sure you were coming to breakfast since you missed dinner last night. No one was there."
"Heath walked me down here a little while ago. We were just talking to Ms. Victoria and Audra," Karen said. She looked at Nick. "Thank you for coming after me last night, Nick. I don't know what would have happened had you not found me. And I'm glad we didn't have to find out."
Nick took his seat across the table from Heath. Jarrod took his next to his mother, while Audra had already taken the seat at the opposite end of the table from her mother.
"Karen, I already see you as a little sister, much like Audra. I would have done the same for her as I did for you. That's what family does for one another."
"He's right, Karen. We all view you as another member of the family. We went out to find you last night because we knew that you don't know your way around the property very well yet. As time goes, we'll help you learn your way around here better." Jarrod smiled at her as he spoke, letting her know that he was serious but not upset. "I'm just glad that you were found before you got too chilled. Nick's always been the best tracker we have in this family. I'm not surprised that he found you."
"Jarrod's right, Karen. Nick is the best tracker we have here. Not that Jarrod or Heath can't track. They just aren't quite as good as Nick," Audra piped in. She smiled at Karen. She couldn't wait until they got to start planning a wedding for Karen and Heath.
Karen bowed her head with a blush and didn't say a word. She felt welcomed and treasured among this family just like she did with her own. Heath reached out and took her hand in order to make her feel that they weren't just teasing her to tease her. But she already knew that it was teasing in the sense that they were making her feel like she belonged. She was happy to have the Barkley's behind her as well as her family.
'At least, if someone else like Annabelle comes along, I'll be better protected. Heath and his brothers won't let anything happen to me if they can do anything about it.'
Raising her head, she smiled. "Thank you all for making me feel so welcome. I really do love it here."
"I'm glad you elected to come back to the house for weekends," Victoria said. "You brighten up the house so much."
"Thank you, Ms. Victoria. I appreciate that. I do know that there may be weekends that I need to stay at school in order to study for coming tests and such."
"And that is not going to be a problem. You just let whoever is coming for you that weekend know what's going on and we'll understand. Your studies come first for now. There will be plenty of time to relax later." Victoria smiled at the young woman who had come to find a place within the family just as Heath had. The only true difference between the two was that Heath was a Barkley by blood, Karen in spirit. She knew the two would make a strong couple once they got past her youth and his jaded state.
Heath also smiled at Karen but for a different reason. When she was around he found himself wanting to smile more. Wanting to see the answering smile on her face. He knew he was falling for her fast but he was determined to make sure that she was happy here before he tried to take their relationship to the next level. And he wasn't quite sure how he would go about that feat.
Both Nick and Jarrod smiled seeing their brother's discomfort. They could tell what he was thinking about and they decided not to tease him about it but rather to help him find his way. Both were glad to see that he seemed to be getting more than a little bit serious about Karen. And that she seemed to feel the same about him.
Karen squeezed Heath's hand as she smiled at him. She knew that she had a family here and it made her feel as safe as if she were back at the Ponderosa with her Pa and brothers. She was glad that the Barkleys felt this way about her.
Just then, Silas and the kitchen staff started bringing in the meal. Everything smelled so good that, once grace had been said, Karen, like everyone else at the table dug into the food in front of them. Karen almost wished she didn't have to go back to the school. But she knew that she would eventually need the education that she was getting there. If for no other reason then to run her home when she married and moved in to the home that her husband established for them.
"Heath, what time are we leaving for me to get back to the school?"
"Since it's only about an hour's ride from here, I was thinking we would leave shortly after lunch. That way you would be back in time for dinner and getting a good night's sleep. It would also give me time to get back here and get the team and carriage put up before it got too dark outside."
"That sounds good to me. Although a part of me wishes I was staying here longer." Karen looked down at her lap as she admitted to the last part.
"We understand that, Karen," Victoria said sympathetically. She really did. Part of her wished that Karen didn't have to go back to the school. And she knew that Audra felt the same. "But we're all proud of you for continuing your education."
"I know that I'll need the things I'm learning one day. If for no other reason than the fact that eventually I'll get married and these things will help me to run my home." She looked up at Victoria. "Plus, I won't be the reason that Pa doesn't follow through on his promise to my mother."
"I'll be honest with you, Karen. I don't think that anyone would blame you if you decided to take some time off from school after all that's happened to you. Least of all, your Pa," Audra said.
Victoria nodded. "I do believe that Audra's right. I know that I certainly wouldn't blame you. You have been through quite an ordeal. Just with the first time you were kidnapped. Not to mention the second time. You just remember that. And, if you decide that you need a few extra days off at some point, you just let us know and we'll make the arrangements and notify your father of the situation."
"Thank you, Ms. Victoria. I will remember that. I appreciate everything you've done for me."
"I'm sure you will, dear. You are such a wonderful girl. I enjoy having you here just as much as my children do. Just don't ever feel like you can't talk to me about anything that happens or that you think about. Will you promise me that?"
"I will. That will be an easy promise to keep. I always feel comfortable talking to you about anything that comes up."
"I'm glad. Now, eat up. Wouldn't want you to get hungry before lunchtime." Victoria smiled at Karen.
Karen smiled and nodded before beginning to eat from the plate in front of her. She knew that it would be a long day and she would be more than grateful to be able to crawl into her bed at the school that night for a deep sleep.
Once Karen was back on the wagon and Heath was ready to head out, everyone gathered on the front porch to wish her a good week at school. Audra and Victoria stood on the porch waving as Heath started the horses out on the trail to head back to the school. Karen waved back until the porch was out of sight and then she turned back in her seat and sighed.
"Are you alright, Karen honey?"
"I just don't want to go back. I enjoy being around your family so much and I hate leaving them. Your mother is so sweet. Audra is wonderful to me and your brothers treat me like I'm already a member of the family. I hate leaving there as much as I hate leaving my own family behind. I miss Pa, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe." Karen sounded like she was almost in tears.
"Karen, are you sure that you're okay? I don't like it when I hear tears in your voice. It bothers me more than I care to admit."
Karen sniffled. "I'm sure, Heath. Thank you for worrying about me. I guess I'm just missing my family and now I have to be separated from my other family for the week and I think I'm just feeling sorry for myself right now."
"Just remember what Mother said. If you need a few extra days away from school at any point, send word and we'll make all the arrangements and let your father know what's going on. Everything will be fine." He reached out with one hand and held hers for a few moments.
"Can you really control the team with just one hand?"
"When the trail is this smooth and well-worn, it's not usually a problem. But give me one that's not as familiar as this one and two hands become very definitely necessary." He turned to smile at her for just a moment. He turned back to pay attention to the trail they were on and just continued the ride. But for one instant, as he held her hand, Karen felt like the world was at her feet and she could have anything she wanted.
Heath had felt the connection between them as soon as he had taken her hand. To him, it just felt right to hold her hand in his. He found himself wanting more of that. But he also knew that he had to keep his mind on the trail and keeping the team on it. He couldn't be late returning to the house because he knew his mother would send Nick and Jarrod out to search for him. And he just couldn't worry her like that.
About an hour later, the couple pulled up in front of the school and Heath jumped down to come around to help Karen down from the wagon. She gladly accepted his help with an ulterior motive. She like the feeling of his hands on her waist as he lifted her down. Not that she would ever admit that to anyone, not even his mother or sister.
Once Karen was solidly on the ground, Heath was loathe to take his hands from her. He did so only because he knew that some of the girls from the school were watching and it wouldn't do for them to think ill of Karen. He couldn't dishonor her that way, not if he really cared for her.
He smiled at her, just feeling that, one day, he wouldn't have to let go of her as quickly as he currently did. He would be her husband one day and then it would be appropriate to hold on to her every chance he got.
He carried her bag inside and turned just inside the door. "How about I pick you up this Friday? It'll give you more time with Mother and Audra?"
"I'd like that, Heath. Thank you. What time should I expect you?"
"What time is dinner here?"
"Usually about 5 pm. We're usually finished about 5:30 most nights. Then, we study before lights out."
"I'll be here at about 3:30 pm. That way, we can be home before dinner. Would that be alright with you?"
Karen nodded with a bashful smile. "I'll see you then."
Heath smiled and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "I'll see you Friday." He climbed back up on the wagon and turned the team around, heading back to the Barkley spread.
Karen just stood there, watching him go until he was out of sight. Then, she picked up her bag and took it inside and up to her room. Once there, she looked out the window in the direction of the Barkley ranch and sighed.
It would be good to return to her second home on Friday.