I do NOT own The Big Valley nor any of the original Big Valley characters. Thanks to my Beta Reader, though all mistakes are my own.

*I apologize, I should have said this at the beginning. There are small skirmishes in this story, but not any huge drama. On the other site I post at, it's listed under Hurt/Comfort, Romance, and Angst.

End of the Rainbow

Chapter Six

Milton Clayson, Rockville's brand new sheriff, sat behind his desk listening to Cat and her cousin telling him about the incident from the night before. He shook his head. "From what Sheriff Larson told me before he retired and moved away, Matthew Miller's been nothing but trouble since the day he stepped foot into this town. I'll do what I need to let everyone know he's a wanted man, but I'd keep my eyes open if I were you."

Patrick didn't know why the lawman thought it necessary to tell them something they already knew, but he wasn't going to say anything either. When Cat and he turned to leave, the lawman spoke up. "Are the two of you coming to the town social tonight?"

Cat looked at Patrick. The social sounded like fun, but she wasn't going to go alone, and she jolly well wasn't going to demand that he go; that idea was utterly ridiculous. Patrick smiled. "We just might do that. It would be great to get to know more of my cousin's neighbors."

The lawman smiled as Patrick opened the door for Cat and then left. His smile turned to a frown as he started filling out the necessary paperwork needed to get other lawman notified that he was looking for Matthew Miller.

After closing the lawman's door, Patrick walked towards the livery stable with Cat; they'd left their horses there when they rode into town. "So, tell me, haven't you ever been to one of the socials?"

Cat was surprised and she jerked backwards slightly. "Why are you sayin' that?" She hadn't been to but three of them, but how had he known?

Patrick chuckled. "The way the sheriff looked at you when he asked the question and the way he looked at me. He had an expression that said 'Get her off that farm!'." He found himself a bit amused when she blushed.

"I've not been for years, always had one of me parents or somethin' else to be doin' when the socials were bein' 'eld. Oh," and Cat shrugged her shoulders, "guess that not be quite true, there 'ave been times where I could 'ave gone, but," and she turned up her hands, "the three times I did go, all I did was sit on the side lines so why be tryin' to go a fourth?"

Now it was Patrick who found himself shaking his head. "You're too beautiful to be sitting on the sidelines. What are the men around here, blind?" She was too. Her dark brown hair was done up in a bun matched her brown eyes and set on the top of her head, while the dress she wore could have blended in with the sky just perfectly.

Cat stared at him and then started smiling. "I've been called pretty before, but never beautiful. You best be careful with your words, don't want to go about givin' young girls the wrong idea." She silently chastised herself as soon as she spoke the words. It felt as if she was trying to flirt with the man, and that was not becoming to a lady. At least, she didn't think it did, so why was she doing it?

Patrick didn't seem care as he, mimicking her accent, with a grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye, said, "I'll not be takin' it back, you be beautiful and anybody 'round 'ere 'as to be flat out blind not to see it."

"You're makin' fun of me, now," Cat shot back as she put her hands on her hips, only there was a smile a mile wide on her face and laughter in her eyes. "Folks 'round 'ere might be gettin' the wrong idea about me and me cousin if you keep that up."

Patrick laughed and batted his hand through the air. "Let them talk, we're not doing anything wrong; we're just enjoying life." He smiled at the woman who was fast becoming a very good friend. Nothing more was said as they entered the livery stable picked up their horses and headed back towards the small farm.

As soon as they were home again, Patrick headed for the barn and Cat headed for the house. It was getting close to noon, and she needed to get lunch. "'Tisn't good for you to be stayin' out here by yourself." Tara, Cat's older sister who, unlike Cat, had been born and raised in Ireland, stood in the front room talking firmly to her sister. "You be twenty three years old and unmarried. What will people be a sayin'? You belong with your family, 'tis true." "I can take care of me self, I can." Cat put her hands on her hips, not daring to tell her sister what she had begun to suspect; after all, the woman would have marched her to the doctor's, and then hounded her to go back with her and her husband. "This 'ere farm be fine with me. I 'ave what I need and I 'ave what I want. Me and the 'orses will be just fine!"

"I stood me ground and won." Cat looked out the window and watched Patrick come out of the barn. "And it looks like you've sent a guardian angel to be watchin' over me, but what about 'im? 'e's got family somewhere, and they probably be worried 'bout 'im. 'e needs to know who 'e is." She glanced up at the sky and then sighed, "and to be 'onest, I'd like to know too, or at least where he be belongin'." She'd best get lunch cooked. Mr. Smitt would be arriving in a few hours to get his horse and she didn't want food still on the table when he got there.