A Rancher's Touch

Chapter 13

Two years later, I found myself on the road again, dragging my feet along. As I had feared, Curley had gotten me canned about two months after George's letter had found me. Although, he was kind enough to let me finish up my work so I could get my months pay, but still. I'd say that leaving Slim was the hardest. He had become my only stability, so after I was fired, I didn't know what to do. I just found myself traveling again, going from county to county, all the way up the coast into Oregon and Washington, even venturing into Utah's Salt Lake City. I never felt at home though, just felt lost. The only thing that kept me going was the occasional letters from Slim and George if I managed to stay in one place long enough.

My problem had been keeping my gender a secret. I'd messed up a few times and gotten canned because the owners hadn't been very open minded. They thought I should be inside a house somewhere, having children, cooking, and sewing clothes. In fact, one of them tried convincing me to marry them. It was ridiculous. Unfortunately, all my traveling to find jobs left me with little money after buying food at times. This was why I was heading away from Tecopa city in Inyo County, heading straight for Fresno.

If I was lucky, I'd manage to find George, but that was only if I could make it through the cold. Winter never was very kind and right now I was freezing. I was already sick as it was from traveling around in the chilly rain. My legs burned like fire as I kept walking, the rain pelting down on me, soaking through my hat and clothes. I'd probably been walking for at least three or four hours now without stop, just trudging through the rain. It was the one thing that I hated about these country roads, sometimes there would be a house for miles around.

I groaned when I slipped, falling straight into the mud, the muck now covering my face and clothes. I shivered as I laid there for a moment, slowly pushing myself up with my hands. I felt so weak, my breath coming out in heaves. I was afraid of what would happen if I didn't get inside somewhere soon.

"I…I can't…stop now," I told myself, hesitantly pushing myself up onto my feet.

I then grabbed my bindle from the ground, placing it back on my shoulder again, before stumbling forward. I couldn't stop, not now, not when I was so close. So, I slowly pushed forward despite the chilling down pour, the water splashing beneath my feet.

T

George sat there by the stove, the fire burning bright. It was cold outside and raining, so he decided to say the hell with work and stay inside. Candy had passed away in his sleep the previous winter, so he was by his self now with no one to talk to, merely resting in his solitude. At least he had accomplished his dream though, having a place of his own. It's what he had always wanted, but never thought would really happen. He was then reminded of Chris and her generosity. Without her help, he never would have made it this far. Without her help, he likely would have given up on all of it.

Over the last two years, they'd been sending letters back and forth with one another, keeping each other updated. He could honestly say that he wasn't happy when he found out that Curley had gotten her canned or that the little punk had torn up his letter in front of her, but that was neither here nor there. At this point, he probably had over a dozen letters that had been collected through the last couple of years. While he had stayed in one place, Chris had traveled all over. She had gone all over California, up into Oregon and Washington. She'd even gone as far as Nevada and Utah, then back again through California. Last he knew, she was over in Tecopa city over in Inyo. It had been over a month since her last letter though, leaving him a bit worried. She had made it clear that she wasn't happy though and that's why she never stayed in one place, so he was never sure if his letters would reach her or not. If they didn't, he was left waiting until she wrote him one instead.

With that thought in his mind, he stood up, making his way up the stairs to his room. He then went over to his nightstand, pulling the draw open to reveal a pile of letters. Each and every one was from Chris. He sat down and pulled them out, letting his fingers trace over the delicate handwriting that was hers. Some of her letters were short, others were longer. The longest had probably been about two pages. He didn't mind though, he loved reading them. Sometimes, he'd even find himself reading them at nice when he had nothing else to do, just something to take his mind off of things. That was George for you. He still wondered if he'd ever see her again though. After all, it had been two years. At this point she would have moved on with her life. There was even a chance that she'd already met someone and maybe that was why he hadn't gotten another letter. Perhaps, she'd finally forgotten about him.

George sighed as he rummaged through them, eyes flitting over her handwriting. It made him realize just how much he missed her company, even though he had only had it for a short time, it was still special in his mind. He just found it sad that he had forgotten what her laughter sounded like, though he would never forget her smile, that he knew. He could still see her smiling face in his mind's eye. From her gentle blue green eyes, her soft light brown hair, and the glow of her face. He could see it all as if it were yesterday. Her face would be forever in his memory.

T

I didn't stop until I saw the house in the distance, a little blue two story house with a windmill and a barn. A smile pulled at my lips as I stood there, my eyes becoming watery. I was almost there. After walking for so long, it was finally in my sights, just down the path.

I felt relief wash over me as I got closer, trudging up what would have been a dirt trail had it been dry out. My feet pushed through the mud, carrying me toward the house. My legs were tired and heavy, my breath pulling in and out. I was so cold, so tired, so exhausted. It felt like I couldn't even take another step, but when I saw the light in the house, it helped push me just a bit further.

"Almost…there…" I breathed, pushing forward until I was right in front of the house.

I just hoped that he was awake. So with one final pushed, I climbed the steps of the porch, making the last couple of steps to the door. I was ready to collapse any second as I knocked on the door a few times, shaking my head to keep myself awake. I could hear shuffling upstairs and the sounds of hurried footsteps. Within seconds the door was open, leaving the man before me shocked beyond belief.

"Chris?" he choked out, his eyes looking me over almost in a frantic manner as if I weren't real, like he was dreaming.

"I…made it…" I breathed, my legs giving out a moment later.

"Chris!" he cried, his arms wrapping around me and catching me before I could hit the porch.

At this point I couldn't even stand, my voice nearly failing me as my head found his shoulder.

"My God, you're soaking wet," he cried, pulling me inside and out of the cold.

I shivered as I stood there in his arms, my mind going in and out of consciousness. I was so tired.

"Chris, how did you get here?" he asked, sitting down with me on the floor in front of the fire.

"I…I walked…" I breathed, trying my best to stay away.

"You walked? You walked all the way here?" he asked in disbelief, his hand coming to rest on my cheek. "Chris, how long were you out in the rain?"

His hand felt nice against my skin, the warmth radiating off of his touch.

"I…I don't know…" I whispered, leaning into his touch. "Four…five hours at least."

"You walked all the way from town, didn't you?" he asked quietly.

I just nodded my head before letting out a groan. I was so tired. So very, very tired.

"You're crazy, you know that?" he said, his hand brushing lightly against my cheek, before pushing the wet hair from my face.

"I'm so cold…" I whispered, shivering as I closed my eyes.

"I'll be right back, okay? I'm gonna get you some dry clothes, alright?" he said.

I nodded my head quietly as he got up and went upstairs, my head coming to rest against the floor, the heat from the stove comforting me. It felt so nice.

T

George ran upstairs quickly, his body on autopilot. He rarely ever had visitors, nonetheless ones when it was raining. So, he was obviously shocked when he'd opened up his door and found who it was. Chris was the last person that he had expected to see. Granted, he wasn't complaining, but she looked terrible. That, and she had the sense to walk over fifteen miles to his home in the cold winter rain of all things. She was completely soaked to the bone and covered in mud. To make matter worse, it looked like she was already sick, and if he didn't get her out of those clothes soon then he took a chance of her catching pneumonia. That was a risk that he wasn't willing to take.

"Alright, I have…" he stopped as he got to the bottom of the stairs.

She was laying there curled up on the floor in front of the stove asleep.

He sighed at this, quietly stepping forward, clothes in hand. He's grabbed one of his shirts and a pair of cotton pants from his dresser, only to find her sleeping.

"Chris," he called lightly, kneeling down beside her and shaking her shoulder.

She didn't stir though, so he tried again.

"Chris."

Again, nothing. He sighed at this, running a hand through his hair. Unfortunately, he knew what he had to do, he just hoped she didn't smack him for it later.

Okay everyone, that was chapter 13. I REALLY hope that everyone liked it? After two long years, Chris finally made it back to George. What will happen next though, especially since she's sick? REVIEW or MESSAGE and find out. You do NOT have to have an account to submit a REVIEW. Anyway, thanks everyone!