Lost and Found – Part 12

Nathan and Josiah returned to Four Corners, enjoying the company of the other peacekeepers in the saloon. They filled Buck, JD and Ezra in on what had happened since the three returned to town. They were all shocked and outraged at the attack on Catherine and the loss of her home. Nathan quickly assured them that she was all right and that Vin was bringing her back to Four Corners. Josiah shared the plans that Vin had told them before they left Potterville.

"It seems Mr. Tanner has become quite taken with the young lady," Ezra said as he shuffled his ever-present deck of cards.

"That he has, Ezra," Josiah confirmed. "She is an amazing woman."

Nathan nodded. "Chris was worried he wouldn't want to come back at all even if he regained his memory. Seems he was seriously thinkin' 'bout stayin' till her house burned down."

"You think he really would've stayed?" JD asked incredulously.

"Guess we'll never know," Josiah said.

JD looked around the table at his companions. "You think we should tell Miss Nettie what Vin has in mind? Warn her? She may not like havin' some stranger livin' with her."

"I don't know, JD," Buck replied. "I think she'd do 'bout anything for Vin."

"Indeed, Mr. Wilmington," Ezra put in. "However, I think Mr. Dunne has a point. It might be prudent to inform the woman beforehand."

Josiah agreed. "Might oughta head out there then. They should be here in the next couple days. Give her time to prepare."

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Nettie Wells was on her front porch as the five men rode up. Nettie's niece, Casey came out of the small house to stand beside her aunt. Eyeing the men, Nettie stepped forward and asked, "You boys bring Vin back?" as they pulled up their horses in front of the house. JD had informed Nettie and Casey about Vin one afternoon when he came by to see Casey after Buck, Ezra and he had returned from Potterville.

Josiah chuckled. The old woman always went straight to the point. "Evening ma'am," he said, touching the brim of his hat. "They're headed back now. Should be here in a couple days."

"We've got some news for ya ma'am." Nathan added. "Mind if we come in?"

"I'll put some coffee on," she said, turning and walking into the house.

The five men dismounted and tethered their horses before following the woman inside.

Sitting around the table sipping their coffee, Nettie asked, "This news about Vin? He all right?"

Nathan put his cup down on the table. "He's fine ma'am. He seems to remember everythin' now." He paused to look at Josiah who nodded for him to continue. "Catherine, the woman who took care of him, he's bringing her back with him. He wants her to stay with ya a while. Till he finds her a place."

Nettie surveyed the men around her. "You met this woman?"

"Yes, ma'am," Josiah took over. "She's a fine woman. Took real good care of him." Josiah and Nathan went on to tell the old woman about Catherine and everything they knew.

Nettie Wells had taken to Vin on their first meeting, and she doted on him like a mother. She listened intently and asked questions as they told their story. As the men left, her mind rolled over the things they had told her. She would take in this Catherine for Vin. She found it difficult to say no to the man she thought of as a son. Tomorrow, she and Casey would get ready for their guest.

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Chris sipped his coffee and listened to the sounds around him. They would be in Four Corners sometime in the afternoon. He was almost sorry the trip would be over although he was tired of sleeping on the hard ground, looking forward to his soft bed at the boarding house. He glanced at Vin and Catherine, sleeping head to head around the low fire. A smile graced his lips as he remembered waking to her hand in his short-cropped hair one morning. When he asked her about it later, she blushed shyly, telling him she did not like waking up not knowing where she was. It helped her stay oriented to know one of them was close by at night. He could not imagine what it must be like for her, blind and moving to an unknown place with strange people.

Things had changed. Chris wondered what Vin would be like once Catherine was not around all the time. Vin had always been wary of anyone touching him, yet he was at ease with Catherine's touch. He too had become accustomed to her gentle and mindful touch as she moved about their campsites. Vin also talked a lot more than before. Chris thought that was because Catherine was blind and Vin was being considerate of that. Of course, Vin had been more talkative with him as well on this trip. They would talk quietly by the fire after supper while Catherine cleaned up from their meals. Chris thought of something that Vin had said one night. 'Feel like I've lived two lives. One with you and the boys. One with Catherine. One stuck in the middle of the other.' Chris could understand that. Loss of memory had created a second life for him with Catherine. It had changed Vin and Catherine also, he supposed. Vin also shared with him that Catherine had not realized she was lonely until Vin was there. He could understand that too. Hadn't he been lonely and on his own not caring about anyone or anything until the longhaired Texan came along? He could not imagine being blind, alone and fending for himself for two years. He had to admit it was probably better for Catherine that they brought her back with them. Who knew what might have happened to her if they had not been there when those three men attacked her. Chris felt guilty about that though. Those brothers might not have found her if they had not been going back and forth from town to her homestead all the time. He suspected the brothers found the homestead because of them.

A while later, Chris wondered what was keeping his two traveling companions, the sun was well over the horizon, so he knew their morning ritual should be finished. From a distance, he could see that Catherine was huddled in Vin's arms.

Vin and Catherine enjoyed their sunrise together, but Catherine seemed reluctant to return to camp. She turned into him, and he could tell she was nervous about something. Before he could ask her about it, she asked him apprehensively, "Will we really be there today?"

He pulled her closer, hugging her tightly to him. "Yeah," he whispered.

She snuggled closer, nuzzling his neck and inhaling his scent deeply. "Mo cridhe," she whispered in a sigh against him, hugging him tighter.

"What?" he asked softly, his breath warm against her forehead.

"Mo cridhe," she repeated quietly. "It means my heart." She nuzzled him again. "You're my heart."

For a moment, Vin thought his heart stopped beating at her softly spoken declaration before he thought it would burst in his chest at the rush of feelings that overwhelmed him. My God, did she know what she did to him? He could not speak. He could only hold her tighter and kiss her hair, amazed at the depth of these strange emotions flowing through him. Shifting to look at her, he gently caressed her cheek, tipping her head back slightly. His thumb traced the outline of her bottom lip as he studied her upturned face. Her light brown eyes held question and wonder at his touch, and he gently pressed his lips to hers. Her response was hesitant and shy as he drew away only to kiss her softly again before pulling her in close to his chest. Looking at the sky, he noted the height of the sun. With a sigh of resignation, he said softly, "We should go."

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…..To Be Continued in Changes… Thank you for reading.