CHAPTER 11

Suspicions

The short trip in to Dodge was quiet to say the least. Cicely was silently fuming when Kitty threw a wrench in her plans to be alone with Newly. It appeared as though those two little beasts were going to come along until the boy literally begged for him and his sister to go with that old doctor. At least she was spared that aggravation.

Kitty cast a sideways glance at her traveling partner. It hadn't surprised her that none of the men picked up on the young blonde's genuine lack of emotion. To a man, the equation pretty plus female equaled innocent. Add to that young and blonde and it was upgraded to helplessly innocent. Normally, Calleigh would have seen through the façade but the situation had completely blindsided her. The thought of losing Cooper or Hadley along with her parents skewed her perception of Cicely Ragger.

Part of Kitty's irritation was the fact that she had actually wanted to help the girl. That was definitely a lapse in judgment. When she had told Matt to bring Cicely to their home, she had expected to see a traumatized girl. On the contrary, the tears only seem to fall when in the presence of a man. She was quiet and offered a heartbroken smile from time to time but nothing that would exemplify the loss of an entire family.

It was just woman's intuition, until this morning. Something had happened between her children and Cicely. Cooper's strange reaction to their guest and Hadley sudden burst of tears were clear signs to a mother. Kitty had also noticed the way Newly had piqued Cicely's interest. This girl was not the young innocent she pretended to be.

"Have you talked to Gaith?" Kitty was hoping that little romance would die a natural death.

"Gaith?" Cicely pulled her attention away from her private musings repeating the name as if he were a stranger. It was a mistake she instantly rectified. "Oh, I'm sorry, I was thinking about the arrangements I have to make. No, I haven't seen Gaith for a couple of days. Not since that awful day when he came to tell me about…about my family."

"Oh really. I thought he had been by the house several times." Kitty sensed a game of cat and mouse unfolding.

"He has but I just haven't been up to talking to anyone."

" It's just that my husband tells me that you two are planning to get married." The unflappable Queen of the Lady K assumed a mocking smile. "I would think he would be the one person you would want to be with."

Cicely defiantly faced her antagonist with a crisp icy smile. "Gaith is so sweet but he has a tendency to exaggerate. He has mentioned marriage but I don't think I'm ready for such a big step. Especially now."

"Of course."

Cicely attempted to change the subject as they reached Front Street. "Is that the undertakers shop?" Kitty nodded a silent response. "Is my family in there?"

"Yes. Matt had some of the men take your family in to Percy's…that afternoon." Whether she liked the girl or not, this surely had to be a difficult time for her. The edge in Kitty's tone softened and she assumed a more compassionate air. "Were you wanting to have a service for them?"

The buggy had come to a stop and the two sat in silence while Cicely contemplated her answer. "We don't really know many people here in Dodge and…" When she turned to face Kitty tears were pooling around the violet centers. "I just don't know if I can go through much more. I need to have this over."

OOO000OOO000OOO

Matt was on his way into town when he passed by the Ragger home. It was there that he found Gaith sitting on his horse staring at the empty homestead. The boy was so deep in thought he failed to hear the marshal approach.

"Gaith? What are you doing out here?" Matt couldn't help but notice his startled reaction.

"I was…" A pale blush spread across his face as if he had been caught misbehaving. "I'm not goofing off, honest Marshal. Festus sent me in to town for a couple of pounds of square nails."

A patient smile crept across the lawman's face. "It's okay son. I know you had a reason to be away from the ranch but why did you stop here?"

"I just can't forget how horrible a sight that was. That little girl and all. I sure wish I coulda protected Cicely from seeing it."

Even though the words were surprising, Matt kept his casual gaze on the house. "When did she see them?" Gaith had maintained that he had been alone when he found the grisly scene. He had come looking for Cicely but she was in town.

Lying did not come naturally to Gaith but he gave it his best shot. "I guess I meant just the image of it and all. You know, after hearing about it, she must have some picture in her head." He pulled the reins on his horse to the left pulling away from the ranch. "Are you going into town Marshal?"

"Yeah, want to ride along with me to keep me company?" Matt could see the young man was struggling with something. He figured Gaith would tell him when he was ready.

Gaith's nervous smile eased into a comfortable grin. "I'd like that. I was thinking maybe I could go on the round up next time."

"Well, that is Festus's decision but I could probably put in a good word for you."

"Thank you." Gaith glanced at the big man riding next to him. "Not just for that, for everything."

"You're welcome. I hope you know, I'm always here for you son."