CHAPTER 12

Plans Change

If Kitty had any doubts, they were resolved when she walked out of Percy Crump's funeral home. She had waited in the parlor, watching Cicely sign papers and make arrangements. The orphaned girl had shown no interest in saying good-bye to her family. Of course the stream of tears fooled Percy into believing her inconsolable grief. But from where she sat, in the adjoining room, Kitty had a front row seat and could see the change in emotion each time Percy looked away.

Cicely dabbed at the corner of her eye as she stepped out onto the boardwalk. "I'm glad that's over. They will all be at peace now." She tucked the kerchief into the wristband of her sleeve. "I hate to be a burden to you but do you think you could help me sell the ranch? I don't know the first thing about business."

Kitty's brain had completely lost contact with her mouth. It failed to relay even the simplest of words. She was so stunned by the cool tone of this woman that had just made arrangements to bury her entire family. Before she could find her own voice, a familiar one sounded behind her.

"Hi. I was hoping to catch up to you two." Calleigh slipped up behind them and linked her arm through her mothers. "I thought maybe we could all go to the Prairie Rose for some lunch."

The sweet kiss on her cheek was a reminder to Kitty of how a real daughter behaves. "That sounds good but actually I have an errand to run. Why don't you two go ahead?"

It was not more than a flash but Kitty saw the relief on Cicely's face that the marshal's wife would not be joining them. Calleigh kissed her mother again and began to chatter as she led the young woman toward the restaurant.

000OOO000OOO

The giant window of the Prairie Rose offered a perfect view of two lovely young women. The expression on the face of the redhead was one of compassion and understanding. From all appearances, the young blonde was pouring out her heart. Periodically a long, slender finger would gingerly whisk away a tear. The image it projected was touching until the young cowboy blundered in.

"Gaith." Calleigh was quick to offer him a place at the table. "What a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?"

"Festus sent me after some nails and I saw you two in the window." He tried to pull his chair closer to the girl he loved but she seemed to pull away. "Cicely are you all right? I've been coming by the house."

"I know. I've just been so…upset."

Calleigh suddenly felt like the third wheel. It was obvious that these two needed a bit of privacy. "I'm going to give you two some alone time." She made the announcement and before either of them could object she was up and out the door.

Gaith moved closer and this time Cicely didn't pull away. "I am sorry, Gaith. Everything has just been so confusing for me."

The concerned young man took her hand in his. "I know. I just to want help. I was talking to the marshal on the way in-"

"What do mean - you were talking the marshal!" Cicely jerked her hand free of his. "You didn't tell him I found the bodies – did you?"

"No of course not." He let his hand drop back into his lap. "But it is getting harder to lie to him. Cicely he won't be angry with you or anything. I think we should tell him the truth."

She bowed her head as if to pray but unless there was a Patron Saint for liars her thoughts were not those of forgiveness. In that moment of silence however, Cicely did find a solution to her problem. Slowly, she lifted her head and once again he was greeted with the face of an angel. "Maybe you're right. We do need to talk. Why don't you meet me tonight at Nubbins Peak and…we'll settle this."

Gaith wore a lovesick expression as he squeezed her hand. "We'll be heading back to the bunkhouse at dusk. I can slip out then. Is that too late?"

"No that will be fine. I'll see you then."

000OOO000

"Honey calm down." Matt wasn't about to make the same mistake he made last time the subject of Cicely Ragger came up. "I don't know what you want me to do."

"She is evil Matt! You should have seen her at Percy's." Kitty was too angry to stand still as she paced around the small office.

Matt gingerly slipped his arms around her shoulders. He was using his years of experience in dealing with a deadly rattler as he carefully pulled her closer. She could strike at any time. "Sweetheart, everyone handles grief in their own-"

"GRIEF!" Kitty jerked away from his grasp and those long brawny fingers quickly retreated. "You are not listening to me. She – is – evil." Her small hands curled into fists and found their way, one on each side of her waist. The stance was taken. "Didn't you learn anything from Dolly Winters? Jillian Killeman? How about Cara-"

"Okay." Matt winced as if he had been struck. "You've made your point."

"My point is – you stick a pretty face on it and you men just stumble all over yourselves." One hand left its post only to point a finely manicured nail in his face. "And I'll tell you something else. I think she's after Newly!"

"Newly? Matt drew back. The viper had made its first strike and he was not prepared for this bit of prophecy. The shock on his face only verified that fact.

"Yes. Did you see the way she tried to wheedle a ride into town with him?" Kitty paused only for a second but it was long enough to see that her husband, the brilliant Marshal of Dodge City had not noticed anything out of the ordinary. "Of course you didn't!"

"Now Kitty…" Caution led the way as he reached for her again. "I believe you but I don't know what you want me to do. There is no law that says she has to be a devoted daughter."

"Who's a devoted daughter?" Calleigh repeated the words through laughter. "You must be talking about me." She stepped into the room armed with a giant grin and closed the door behind her . It only took a second to see THAT look on her mother's face and the grin dissolved. "Uh oh. What?"

Kitty knew her adrenaline was pumping on woman's intuition only. At this point, she wasn't ready to share her doubts about the Ragger girl with anyone but Matt. Especially since Calleigh's heart was caught up in Cicely's tragic loss.

"Your father and I were just discussing…" She cast an exasperated glance at her husband then continued. "…A difference of opinion."

"Hmmm." Calleigh studied the two faces and quickly decided this wasn't a situation she wanted to be involved in. "I just wanted to tell you that Cicely is going to come and stay at the Double O for a while."

Matt actually took a step away from his wife, mostly out of self preservation. Once again, he could only watch in awe as his beautiful wife reined in her rage with a smile for their daughter. "Oh" The voice was sweet. Too sweet he mused. "And why is that dear."

Tiny wrinkles furrowed across the young redhead's forehead. She knew that tone as well as Matt did but was confused by its presence. "Are you sure you're not upset about something?"

"It's not important." Kitty managed to project a calmer demeanor. "Why is she leaving the Lady K?"

Finally accepting her mother's mood, Calleigh wandered over to the stove. She picked up one of the ironstone mugs and carefully tested the side of the pot. "Is it fresh?"

"Was yesterday." Matt volunteered.

Kitty quickly stepped between the two and took the empty cup from her hand. Caught in a private battle to maintain a calm façade she forced a casual tone. "Calleigh, honey, never mind the coffee. Why is she moving?"

"It's the kids. Cooper reminds her so much of her little sister and she says it's just too hard to be around them. I felt so bad for her. She didn't want to come. She was going to go back to her ranch but I wouldn't stand for that." Calleigh was bold, sometimes brash and always outspoken. But she was also compassionate, loving and in a strange way naive. She reached for her mother's hands, surprised by how cold they were. "I just couldn't let her go back there. Cicely said you suggested she sell the ranch because of all the terrible memories. And you even offered to help her with the sale." Calleigh pulled her mother in for a hug. "You are so wonderful. I am so grateful for my family and I love you both."

Kitty was still more or less in a state of shock as the young woman kissed them both and then flitted out the door. Matt stood motionless, afraid to move or speak as he waited for the explosion. Silence held the room captive then suddenly in the far corner of the room under the bunk, the marshal heard the frantic scurrying of the little mouse he had been trying to catch. If only he could shrink down to the size of that tiny rodent and disappear through that hole.

But…the explosion never came.

Without turning around, Kitty picked up her reticule from his desk and walked toward the door. She spoke so softly he could barely make out the words. "This isn't over."