Ok, so this is when things get bad for Katie, I've tried to make it as ungraphic as possible considering Katie's age and tried to make it more about Harrison psyche than the event, however I know it may upset some peeps so viewer discretion is advised etc.

That being said I hope those of you that do read it enjoy it (well as much as you can) comments welcome. Also I've been dithering over the rating, if you think I should upgrade it to an M let me know

Kate

Chapter 2

Katie looked up from her school work as the lanky post master strode into the mercantile.

"Sorry Katie" Horace apologised seeing her hopeful look. Katie sighed, her parents had been gone for two weeks, and while they sent her messages every few days, it was not like having them with her; inwardly Katie cursed herself for being so stubborn when her parents had left. She hadn't even given her mother a hug. From the tone of the messages she knew the visit was not going well, the fact that Sully had said that Charlotte was holding on, did not fill Katie with any hope that she would ever see her niece again.

Dorothy noticed the young girl's forlorn expression and carefully placed her arm around the girls shoulder. "They'll be home soon" Katie laid her pencil down on her book and gazed up at the woman that she had come to look at as her grandmother. Katie nodded. Dorothy smiled kindly at the young girl and gave her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.

"I just want to know that everything will be alright" Katie sighed, her brilliant blue eyes filling with tears.

"Perhaps you would like a change from all this school work, you could help me with the set the type for the gazette" Dorothy offered.

Almost reluctantly Katie nodded her head. The gazette had changed so much in her lifetime, and even though Dorothy was technically retired as editor, she still wrote articles and set the type for every issue.

Loren watched his wife and pseudo grandchild leave his store. It had taken him a long time to make his mind up and propose to Dorothy again, and a long time for her to accept as she struggled with her feelings for the absent Cloud Dancing. Their relationship was more for companionship than anything else, but they were happy, and really that was all that mattered.

He glanced to his left and frowned, a man stood staring out of the window. Loren seized him up, he was of medium build, with dark straggly hair and probably in his mid forties. It wasn't however the man's appearance which Loren objected to him, it was the way he was staring almost lustfully out of the window, staring it seemed at Dorothy. The man realised that he was being watched and gave Loren a beaming smile.

"Those girls at the Gold Nugget sure are something" the man offered.

"Uh-huh" Loren muttered taking the goods that the man was carrying "That'll be $2 and 42 cents"

"Might it be possible to set up an account" the man asked "I just got a job at the hospital"

Loren eyed the man uneasily "Payment is due on these but I can get an account set up, got to provide me with an address though, Mr?"

"Wheeler" the man held out his hand "Harrison Wheeler"

Harrison checked round the corner, he was half way through the long list of chores that the flustered male Doctor had given him. The hospital was busy which served him perfectly, as it meant that no one was really keeping tabs on their new staff member. Quickly he slipped into the drug log up, a small cupboard sized room which housed the drugs in orderly fashion. Surreptitiously he pocketed the drug that he needed and slunk out of the room.

"Hey Harrison"

Harrison jumped at the sound of his name. "Katie" he smiled at the beautiful girl, "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to sit in Ma's office," Katie gave him a warm smile "How are you liking it?"

"Fine thanks" Harrison fell in step with her, his heart was pounding and he could barely make out the words that her beautiful lips were forming.

"...well I'll see ya" Katie told him brightly reaching her mother's office.

Harrison nodded and watched the girl slipped into the office. He exhaled slowly desperately trying to bring his emotions in check. The thoughts that had been rushing around his had since he first arrived into town two weeks were almost too much to bear. It had been two years since he had felt this way, and it was becoming impossible to deny his urges.

Katie eased her horse Star into a gentle trot; it had taken all her persuasive powers to get Dorothy to allow her to return home, though the older woman had insisted that she come along too. It was the first time in Katie's life that she was pleased the Loren had broken a jar. With her guardian's occupied with Loren's bleeding hand, she had been able to get out to the home she missed so much. It had felt strange to be back at her home with no family, knowing they were so far away. She had thought that it would make her feel better but in reality the visit home had just made her miss them more. She had not expected to be so long, she had not expected to fall asleep on her parent's bed, but the feeling of comfort that had come from being near things that were theirs had relaxed her.

She kicked Star in the flanks urging her to move faster, the road was bathed in twilight and she knew that Dorothy would be concerned about her, considering that she had promised she would not be too long. As she sped up the cold winter air bit into her as the horse picked up speed. She was beginning to get concerned that her parents would be away for the holidays, which would mean there would be no celebrations. Not that celebrations were important, and any that was held this year would most likely be sombre affairs if the worst was to happen to Brian's family

Her musings about the approaching festive season, coupled with the early evening gloom and the speed in which she was travelling, meant that Katie was not giving the road her full attention. With a scream she hit a branch; a branch which had her mind been able to process what was happening she would know should not have been there. The force of the impact caused her to fall from the back of her horse and she landed on the cold hardened ground heavily. She winced, struggling to get her lungs to operate properly her breath not seeming to reach deep enough into her lungs for her to be able to function. She was battling to remain conscious, a consciousness that was robbed from her as an ether soaked cloth was forced over her mouth.

Dorothy marched the streets of Colorado Springs again, she had checked all of Katie's school friends, and none had seen her. Dorothy was sure she would have returned from the homestead by now, as despite the headstrong ways that Katie had inherited from her parents, she was sensible enough to know she should not be riding in the night.

"Dorothy!" Dorothy turned to Grace as her friend called her name. Grace was leading a horse, one that even in the encroaching darkness, Dorothy could make out as Katie's horse Star. "She's just run into town"

Dorothy gasped in shock, her mind racing with a million things that could have happened to Michaela's daughter. "Dorothy where was Katie going?" Grace pressed, beckoning to her husband who was banking down the fire at the livery.

"She went to the homestead" Dorothy whispered panic coursing through her veins.

"Robert E get a group of men together" Grace called to her husband as he moved towards her, "I think Katie's fallen from her horse"

Harrison carefully peeled back Katie's clothes revealing her pale chest to the night air, her breasts were just buds seemingly waiting to be plucked and it thrilled him. He had got to her just at the right time, before she became ravaged by womanhood. Quickly he did what he needed to do, bringing himself to climax in only a few short minutes. He had been gentle, careful not to damage her soft flesh in any way that would arouse suspicion. He surveyed her for a few moments in the flickering light of the fire he had constructed. He knew he did not have much time, but he wanted to savour this moment. Savour it so he could replay it over and over in his mind; savour it so he could keep his urges at bay.

As quickly as he had revealed her he covered the girl back up, covering her now tainted flesh. Now he was done with her, he no longer felt the desire for her that he once had, she was spoiled for him. He turned kicking out the fire with dirt. As the darkness fell in the woods he set about making his plan come to fruition. Carefully he raised a rock above his head, and brought it down gently on the young girl's skull, he did not hit her hard, just hard enough to cut her skin and cause an injury that would explain her unconscious state to the search party that would undoubtedly be looking for her. Next he seized her by the arm and yanked it, making sure to pull in a way that would dislocate her shoulder but would not leave his finger marks on her forearm. His work complete he gently lifted Katie into his arms and made his way back to the road. In the distance he could see torch light and he knew he did not have much time. Carefully he arranged her still body in a way that would corroborate her injuries. His work complete he reached for his knife and cut through the thread that held her silver button of her cloak to the fabric. Tucking his keepsake in his pocket, Harrison bade his prize one last look before running into the woods to hide.

"Whoa" Jake called bringing his horse to a stop as he spotted the unnatural hump in the road. With vigour that he had long thought had left him he leapt from his horse breaking into a run as soon as his feet touched the ground. He fell to the ground beside Katie, closely followed by Hank and Robert E

"How is she?" Robert E asked anxiously, as Jake carefully lifted Katie so she was facing skywards.

"She's breathing" Jake breathed a sigh of relief, without hesitation, he lifted Katie into his arms, a sick feeling passing over him as he noticed the unnatural movement of her arm. "We have to get her to Fischer"

"Give her to me" Hank called jumping onto his horse and holding his arms out to accept the girl. Jake eagerly handed her up to him. Hank positioned Katie in his arms so he could ride at speed and keep a good grip. "Shouldn't expect anything less considering your parents, kid" he muttered slamming his heels into the flanks of his horse.

Dorothy watched Katie intently, watching the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed in and out. She had remained at Katie's bed side since the men had found her. Dr Fischer had set her shoulder and stitched the wound on her head, but there was nothing he could do for the unconsciousness that came with the head injury. Now all they could do was wait. Dorothy was mortified, and she knew this above anything would damage her friendship with Michaela, nothing was more important to Michaela than her children, and here through her own neglect Dorothy had almost caused her to lose one. She knew that Katie's accident had been just that, but she never should have let the girl go alone, she should have forced her to wait while Loren's hand had been stitched.

Dorothy sat up as Katie gave a small moan. "Katie?" Katie moaned again her hand reaching for the egg shaped mass on her forehead. "No No leave it Katie" Dorothy caught Katie's hand and guided it back to the bed. "Katie can you open your eyes"

Slowly the young girl peeled her bruising lids open revealing her blue eyes irises surrounded by bloodstained whites. Dorothy stopped herself from gasping, but inside she felt like crying at how bad the young girl looked.

"Where's Ma, Pa?" Katie whispered her voice catching in her throat.

"They're in Boston sweetheart, but we sent word, they promised to get back as soon as they could" Katie closed her eyes again, a pained expression on her face. "Katie?" Dorothy asked concerned.

"It hurts" Katie whispered pushing her good arm beneath the hospital covers.

"It will do sweetheart, you dislocated your shoulder and that's a nasty bump on your head"

"No," Katie whispered, "My stomach hurts, it feels strange" slowly she brought her hand above the covers, her fingers showing a trace of blood "What's wrong with me?"

Dorothy smiled with compassion at the young girl, if she didn't have enough to deal now she was going to have to deal with the joys of womanhood. "Nothing is wrong with you, Katie, you've started you monthlies"