Chapter 5

Caitlin was exhausted after her first full day of working on the ranch. She sat down on her bed too tired to change clothes. Sarah was once again sitting on her bed reading.

"Tough day?" asked Sarah.

Caitlin fell back onto the bed. "Yeah, I think I found muscles that I didn't know I even had," she replied.

Sarah laughed. "You'll get use to it," she replied. "After awhile, it becomes kind of fun."

"Fun?" asked Caitlin. "Maybe that's because you're only nineteen."

"Seems to me you did have a little fun today," replied Sarah.

Caitlin sat up on one elbow and looked over at Sarah. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Come on now," she replied. "Every time Aunt Kim and her friend Hawke walked by I saw you checking him out. I don't blame you. He's a pretty sexy guy."

Caitlin blushed. "Sarah!" she yelled. "Okay, yeah, he's definitely my type," admitted Caitlin.

Sarah laughed. "Well, whatever you do," she said. "Don't let Kim catch you looking at him. She went ballistic when Lisa flirted with Mr. Lewis."

"Paul Lewis?" asked Caitlin. "That land developer?"

"Yeah," said Sarah. "Kim used to date him. That's when she was going to sell the land. It wasn't until he broke it off with her that she changed her mind. He still thinks Kim had something to do with Lisa's accident."

"Oh, I thought that happened after she refused to sell," said Caitlin.

"No, that happened just before," replied Sarah. "I don't know if Mr. Lewis is right about it or not but I wouldn't put it past Kim to do something like that. She's pretty protective over her men."

"I'll keep that in mind," replied Caitlin. "Right now, I really need some sleep."

"Me too," said Sarah.

Sarah turned out the light in their room and Caitlin moved up to lay her head on the pillow at the top of the bed. Still dressed, she decided to wait until Sarah went to sleep to go and tell Dom what she had found out. "Her men?" she thought to herself. "He's not her man."

Meanwhile, back at Kim's living quarters in the main house, she had invited Hawke to join her for a glass of wine before calling it a night. Kim sat at one end of a long white couch while Hawke chose to sit in the large chair across from her.

"Oh, why not join me over here?" asked Kim. "It's much more comfortable than that old chair."

"I'm fine," replied Hawke. "I need to go and get some sleep in a minute. It's been a long day."

"Oh String, I'm so happy you came to help me," said Kim. "I feel a lot safer now that you're here."

Hawke smiled. "I'm glad," he replied. "Don't worry, we'll get this guy and he'll leave you alone for good."

Hawke stood up and placed his glass on the coffee table. "I guess I should call it a night," he said. "What time do you need me in the morning?"

Kim stood up and walked over to him. She slipped her arms around his neck. "Why don't you just stay the night with me and we'll get up together," she said as she reached up and kissed him.

String quickly pulled away from her. "Kim, I understand you're scared and you've been through a lot but I'm not the one to comfort you like that," he said. "I'm with Caitlin now."

Kim began to pout. "I know you said that String," she replied. "I'm sure she's a nice girl but she just doesn't seem like your type."

"She's exactly my type," he said. "Would you have gone to one of my ex-girlfriend's place to help them out? Not many women would but Caitlin did. That's the kind of person she is. That's the kind of woman I want in my life. I want to be with someone that cares as much about others as herself."

Kim frowned. "I'm sorry," she replied. "You're right. I'm just scared and you're here. I just thought we might still have a spark."

"Look Kim," he said. "Eventually you'll find the right guy for you. It's just not me. Right now, let's concentrate on getting whoever is causing all these accidents."

"Okay," she sighed. "I guess I'll go to bed now. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," he replied.

After leaving Kim, Hawke couldn't get Caitlin out of his mind. He decided he would go and see if he could sneak her out of bed and take a long walk under the moonlight. He missed her and felt the need to be near her. Hawke went around the back of the building to look into the window and see if she were still awake. As he peeked inside, he noticed she wasn't there. Before he could move away from the window, something hit him hard on the back of his head knocking him unconscious.