CHAPTER 8

Divided Loyalty

Gaith had decided to have it out with Cicely's father. He was going to ask for her hand and take her away from this abusive situation. He had dismounted and was fortifying himself for the confrontation when the front door burst open and a frantic, screaming woman came running towards him.

It took Gaith a second to realize it was his Cicely. She was obviously terrified by something or someone. Instinctively the young man opened his arms offering security to the girl he loved.

"Cicely, what is it? Did your father hurt you?" He held the sobbing girl closer, gently trying to assure her he would protect her.

She clung to him even tighter as she began to relay the horrific scene she had walked in to when she had returned from town. "They're all dead. Gaith, my family is dead."

"Dead?" Gaith held the young girl back to see her face. "What do you mean – dead?"

"That man killed them. All of them." She buried her face in his chest again.

Gaith wanted to console her but he really needed to find out what was going on. Someone might be alive in there and need help. "You stay right here while I go inside."

"NO. Don't leave me." Cicely grabbed the front of his shirt squeezing the cotton between her fingers.

In an effort to calm her, Gaith held her close for a moment and kissed her forehead. "Stay right here. I will be right back." He stepped away from her and disappeared inside the house.

Cicely took advantage of his absence. Exhausted from such a dramatic performance she drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She hadn't counted on Gaith showing up but he was so easy to manipulate it shouldn't be a problem. The young man in question stumbled out the front door and ran to the end of the porch. She rolled her eyes in disbelief as her knight in shining armor emptied his stomach's contents into her mother's flower bed.

Gaith braced himself against the wooden porch railing. He fought back tears as the image of that little girl haunted his thoughts. Quickly swiping the back of his hand across his eyes, Gaith knew he had to pull himself together for Cicely's sake. She needed him.

He walked down the few steps and returned to the frightened blonde. "We need to go get Marshal Dillon. He'll know what to do."

Cicely balked and pulled away when he took her arm. "Oh, Gaith I can't. I just can't go through an inquisition." Tears began to flow.

"Honey, you're not in any trouble. The marshal just needs to know what happened."

"But don't you see, I don't know. I was in town all day and…this is what I came home to."

Troubled eyes traveled repeatedly from the house to Cicely as if he couldn't let them rest. "But we have to tell-"

"Gaith, please." Those violet eyes that knew how to touch his heart began to beg. "You can do this for me. Let me go into town and get myself together before I have to face anyone. Then you can come and get me. I didn't really witness anything."

"It would mean lying to the marshal." Gaith anxiously brushed his fingers though his loose blonde locks. His ambivalence regarding her request stemmed from the respect he held for Matt. "He's been like family to me and my brother."

"I thought - I - was going to be family? Sensing that she could possibly lose this argument, Cicely brought out the big guns. She jerked free of his embrace. "I guess this means you never did really love me. You never intended to marry me, did you?"

"I do love you and I want to marry you." Gaith pulled her back. "I'll do what you want. You go on into town and I'll take care of this. The marshal will understand that I want to be the one to break this terrible news to you."

Cicely leaned in to kiss the duped young man. "Thank you. I'll be waiting at the Prairie Rose."

Lady K Lady K Lady K

Kitty put on a fresh pot of coffee as she readied for what was coming. Matt had stopped by home to tell her of the brutal killing of the Ragger family. Her first thought was for the child. Sadly, even little Trisha had not been spared. Kitty was stunned when her husband revealed the fourth dead body at the crime scene. None other than the rude man from New York.

Matt had agreed to let Gaith go into Dodge and get the only surviving member of the family. He figured the girl would be more comfortable answering questions at the ranch instead of at the jail. Both Dillons felt it best to offer their home in place of the Dodge House. In usual Kitty fashion, her heart went out to the suddenly orphaned girl and she didn't want Cicely to be alone.

"Momma is she going to live with us?" Cooper helped his mother ready the guest room for Cicely's arrival.

"No, she's just going to stay for a few days." Kitty smoothed the corners of the bedspread on her way out of the room.

"Did that man shoot her whole family? Even her little sister?"

Kitty cast a disapproving glance at her son as they walked down the stairs. "Cooper Dillon, have you been listening in on adult conversations?" A slight flush of color spread across the young face confirming her allegation. Try as she might, it seemed impossible to shield the boy from the cruelties of life. "I don't know who did this terrible thing but I'm sure your father will figure it out."

When they reached the foyer, Kitty could see riders coming down the long road. "You go get your sister and take her outside to play. And Cooper, I don't want you eavesdropping anymore."

"Yes ma'am." Cooper had only taken a couple of steps toward the kitchen when he suddenly stopped and rushed back to his mother. He grabbed her hand, pulling her down to make her cheek available for a kiss. No words were exchanged as he ran back toward the yard.