"He Restoreth My Soul"
by Lilyjack
Chapter 2
Kitty's eyes opened with a start, and for one disorienting moment she didn't know where she was or how she'd gotten there. Then it all came flooding back in an angry, disappointing, frustrating flash. Damn that female Mike. Damn amnesia. Damn Matt for forgetting her so easily.
She attempted to sit up. Ohhh, her aching bones... She was stiff in places she didn't know she had. She and Matt used to come out here and lie on a faded old quilt for hours, making love and napping the sultry summer afternoon hours away. Seems the old gray mare ain't what she used to be, honey, Kitty thought wryly. She stretched like a cat, trying to slowly work the kinks out from lying on the hard-packed Kansas prairie.
Sitting up, she unsuccessfully tried to rake the hair out of her eyes and finally decided to take the few remaining pins out of her ramshackle updo. She muttered a few choice oaths under her breath when her tangled curls would not easily cooperate, but after a few minutes of gentle persuasion with skilled fingertips and a thorough shaking of her hair, sending more hairpins zinging haphazardly about, Kitty's thick mane was at last flowing in one general direction, tumbling down her back in a fiery waterfall. She now only wished for a brush to tidy it and a ribbon to pull it neatly back from her face. She settled instead for simply tucking it behind an ear.
Her throat felt parched, and the cool, refreshing pool beckoned to her again. Kneeling on the warm, flat rock, she leaned over, cupping her hands and drinking deeply of the sweet water. Then she splashed more on her face and neck, rinsing away all vestiges of her previous tears. She stood and squared her shoulders, spotting her white shirtwaist a couple of steps away, when a man's rough hand clamped over her mouth, his voice hissing in her ear, "Quiet! Don't move!"
Her eyes widened in fear, her breath quickened when she saw the sun glinting on the barrel of the gun he gripped before her.
Again he whispered insistently in her ear, "Be very still..."
She stiffened as his gun moved, his beard stubble scratching her cheek. He was aiming at something in front of the bushes where her white shirtwaist was draped. She held her breath when she realized what his gun pointed at, saw it sinuously coiling and heard its distinctive rhythmic rattle. He chose that moment to fire—once, twice, and again for good measure. The acrid smell of spent gunpowder burned her nostrils and made her feel lightheaded.
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Reuben Tucker watched to make sure the rattler was in its death throes before holstering his gun. Of course he released the beautiful lady's mouth, and she let out a soft little noise. It seemed her knees kindly gave out on her all of a sudden cause he had to catch her lickety-split. Scooping her up in his arms just like she was nothin' a'tall, he set her back down in her spot in the shade. She'd protested the whole way that she could walk all by her ownself, but he wasn't about to take no chances since she'd had such an awful bad scare, and Reuben knew she was already in a heap of a state since she'd been a' cryin' all that mornin'. Reuben just wondered what on earth such a purty lady could have to cry so much about?
And now he was settin' right beside her on the ground, as close as was proper, speakin' of which, frettin' about propriety was mighty humorous come to think of it since she was currently just wearin' her flimsies but, law, she smelled so good, and her hair was just a wonder. Reuben Tucker had never seen anyone with hair the like before. It was a sight to behold, all tumbled down long and shiny, the color of a blazin' sunset out on the range. When he'd watched her let it down earlier, he'd felt a pain squeeze tight in his chest, she was just such a sight to behold. And her eyes—now that he was close up, a feller could look into eyes that big and blue forever. Nosiree, the girls back home in Jackrabbit Flats shore couldn't compare to this here lady, not by a long shot.
"Say, cowboy, I asked you what your name was. I can't rightly thank you until I know your name."
Reuben started, wondering how long he'd been staring at her like a blame fool. Her voice was low for a woman's, but musical and sensual and pleasuresome to the ears. "I...I..." He swallowed to wet his dry whistle, then started fresh. "My name is Reuben Tucker, ma'am. Pleased to make your acquaintance." He stuck out a hand and gave her a bright, white smile. He was immensely pleased when she returned his handshake firmly. No weak, spindly handshake from this fine lady, and her hands were soft with no callouses. He found himself in no hurry whatsoever to let go.
"I'm mighty pleased to meet you, too, Mr. Tucker." The warm smile she gifted him matched her sincere tone.
"Oh...oh, please." He shook his head adamantly. "You can call me Reuben. Nobody in my entire life has ever called me Mr. Tucker." He gave her his charming, unassuming wide grin again, and Kitty couldn't help but return it. He chuckled, "In fact, I think you may be the very first."
She laughed aloud, gently extricating her hand from the young man's grip. "Well, you are mighty young, Reuben, so perhaps you haven't had too awful many opportunities to be addressed as Mr. Tucker yet."
Reuben gazed at her levelly. "Until now."
She echoed with a smile, "Until now." Then she added gravely, "I thank you, Reuben. I'm greatly obliged to you."
The young man's tone matched Kitty's. "You're very welcome..." He left the ending hanging, waiting for her to tell him her name.
"Kitty."
"Kitty?" He wanted the rest.
"Kitty Russell."
She watched him glance up and notice his battered chocolate brown hat, hurriedly remove it for he was indeed in the presence of a lady, and scrub at his mop of sandy brown curls that seemed to have a life of their own. His hair reminded her with a pang of how Matt used to wear his own unruly curly locks years ago. Reuben took a breath and asked her pensively, "And would that be Mrs.? Or Miss?"
Kitty turned her thoughts over in her mind for the briefest moment and then looked at her handsome young rescuer, his brown eyes sparkling. "Miss," she stated without an inflection of any kind whatsoever.
The dawn of a beatific smile lit Reuben's face as he exclaimed happily, "Ahh, Missss Kitty, I am so happy I could be of service to you."
Kitty began shaking her head, placing a hand on the young man's arm. "Now, Reuben, don't you go gettin' any ideas. Yes, I'm beholden to you for savin' my life, but honestly, I'm old enough to be your..."
"Aw, now Miss Kitty, don't say that. Listen, do you live in Dodge? That's not far from here, right? That's got to be where a fine lady like you lives. I can come callin'..."
"Reuben, I don't think that's such a good idea." He was talking crazy. The young kid, he'd just met her five minutes ago. She had to explain about Matt. That is, if Matt was still interested. The thought pierced her heart. And there was still the notion that she was old enough to be this boy's...
"I've got to go to my mama's house, that's where I was headin' when I stopped here, to my mama's place. She's been poorly and needs help on the farm. My ranch boss, he let me off work for a while to go help her for a piece."
Kitty snapped to attention at the mention of someone else's troubles. "Oh, Reuben, I hope your mother is going to be alright."
Reuben looked surprised at Kitty's look of genuine concern. "Oh, Miss Kitty, the doctor says she's gonna be fine and dandy. She just needs rest is all. Ma's got a small farm east of here." He chuckled. "In Jackrabbit Flats."
One corner of Kitty's mouth turned up. "Jackrabbit Flats, huh?"
"Yep. Bet you'd never take me for a small town boy, now, would you?"
She affirmed with a deadpan expression, "Never."
"She does real good generally with my younger brothers and sisters helpin' out, and I send her a little money each month ever since my pa died of the grippe. But then I got a letter yesterday from my little sister Sadie."
Kitty asked, "How old is Sadie?"
"She's fourteen and the sweetest of the whole bunch. Big brown eyes and long brown curls she keeps tied back in a great big bow. She smiles pert near all the time."
Kitty's eyes crinkled at the corners. "She sounds a lot like you."
"Yeah, well, maybe 'cept for the bow part. I never was partial to bows in m' hair."
"You got me there, but I think maybe she got some of your sweetness though."
"Aw, shucks, Miss Kitty. How you do run on."
Kitty gave him a wink. "I guess I'm just a born flatterer. What did Sadie say in her letter?"
"Sadie said our Ma'd been down with the ague for a week, and would I come home and help out with the work. Ma didn't know Sadie had writ that there letter. Ma would never ask me for help. She's a hard-workin' woman."
Kitty tucked her hair behind one ear and asked, "Did she raise a hard-workin' son?"
"Yes, ma'am." He nodded firmly. "Which is why I got to get you back safe and sound to Dodge...or..." He scratched his sandpapery chin. "...wherever it is you live. So I can go to my homeplace and help out for a little while. But soon as things get straightened out..." His whole face lit up. "I'm comin' back here to meet up with you."
Kitty frowned and shook her head thoughtfully, not wanting to hurt the young man's feelings, "Oh, Reuben, I don't think so..."
"But why not?" Reuben entreated. "You said you ain't hitched, right?"
"Well, yes, but..." Kitty didn't know how to explain her complicated relationship with Matt Dillon without giving too much away. She wasn't used to explaining anything about the two of them. This boy was mighty persistent.
"But, what? Kitty, I saw you cryin' your purty eyes out here this mornin'." Reuben ventured to urgently touch Kitty's bare arm, and it was soft and warm and smooth, and the contact turned his insides to gooseberry jelly. "Was it over a feller? If it was, he's not worth it! Nobody should make you cry like that! You deserve better!"
An auburn brow slowly rose. "Crying... You mean you saw me crying?" Kitty balled a fist on one hip. "Exactly how long were you watching me, young man?"
"Well, I... uh..." Reuben's adam's apple bobbed hard and his lip curled as he realized he'd let something slip he shouldn't have.
Kitty's tone was highly indignant and more than a bit scandalized. "You were spyin' on me!"
Reuben's explanation rushed out in a torrent as Kitty listened with her jaw hanging open. "No! No, ma'am, not really, I wasn't... What I mean is... Okay, listen. Here's how it happened. I was just ridin' along, mindin' my own business when I felt the call of nature, if you'll pardon my sayin' so. I got off my ol' horse Rusty over there. See, he's back in the bushes? Way back so's you can't see him actually so I guess that sounds bad on my part, huh? Anyways, I did my business and then I caught sight a' you over here, cryin'. By the stream bank. Cryin' yer heart out. And it like t' broke mine. And I thought you was the purtiest girl I ever laid eyes on my whole entire life."
Kitty sat eyeing him askance, arms testily crossed. "Your whole entire life, huh? You know, compared to my life, that hasn't been too terribly lengthy."
"Aw, Miss Kitty, don't say that. You shouldn't keep sayin' things such as that."
"Well, suffice it to say one way or the other, you were still spyin' on me, Reuben Tucker. You oughta be ashamed." Reproachfully, her voice raised a notch. "What would your poor mother say?"
Reuben's cheeks pinked a bit at the thought but he vehemently protested, "I only wanted to stay and make sure no rapscallions came by here and took advantage of you in your state of..."
A highly arched brow was aimed his way. "My state of what?"
"Your state of...distress! And your state of..."
"Mm-hmm?" She pursed her lips.
His face was beet red now. "Undress." His voice came out in a great rush and he pointed at her adamantly, "I swear to you, I didn't see nuthin'. I was scoutin' around the general vicinity to make sure no one else had accompanied you, and the next time I came back to check on ya', BAM, you was in the water."
"And you didn't watch me while I was swimmin'?" She stared a hot hole in him.
He declared staunchly, "No, ma'am. My mama taught me better." Kitty noticed that he was sweating a little.
"And you didn't see me get out and get dressed again?" The reproving eyebrow again.
"Well, I mighta accidental-like caught a tiny bit of a glimpse, but I turned my back real quick so I don't hardly remember a thing, I swan to goodness."
"Reuben!"
"Consarn it, Miss Kitty, I had to stay to protect you, didn't I? A lady don't belong out here on the prairie all by her lonesome, especially when she's all het up about somethin' with a broken heart. Somebody needs to be takin' care of her, don't they? What if I hadn't a' been here? That ol' snake woulda'... Well, I don't even wanna think about it, do you?"
The look in his dark eyes, equal parts devastation and earnestness, was her undoing. "Well, I guess I'll have to forgive you for a little peek..." She tilted a glance up at him, trying not to crack a smile. "...because you did save my life, after all. And I do hate snakes."
He blew out a sigh of relief, placing a hand on his chest. "Oh, thank you, Miss Kitty! You know, I think under the circumstances, perhaps I should just propose marriage to you here and now-"
Her mouth dropped open once again. "Propose marriage! Reuben, have you lost your mind?"
"No, ma'am, I surely have not. I mean, I have compromised your virtue and all..."
"Virtue?" She had to choke back a laugh.
"Yes, ma'am, virtue...although I did not set out to do so, I did accidentally see you..." The young man's cheeks were flushed red and the color was rapidly spreading down his neck.
Kitty decided to help him out. "Naked," she stated flatly with arms crossed.
"Naked," he repeated in a strained voice, and he hurriedly added, "but not for very long, honest. I did turn m' back as a gentleman should. Although I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that you were a vision of loveliness that I shall never forget for as long as I live, so I guess I strung a whizzer earlier when I said I didn't remember. You'll have t' forgive me again, Miss Kitty. Your..." He swallowed hard before he continued, "...glorious naked beauty will live in my memory if I should live to be a hunnerd. There. I said it."
Kitty sat stunned at his speech. Not a single word could she utter.
He hopefully added, "So will you marry me?"
"No!" she finally burst out.
"Why?"
"You don't even know me!"
"So! I know that you are the most loveliest lady I ever seen." Reuben's voice became soft and soothing. "I know you are kind. I can tell that much just by talking to you."
"And I don't know you, Reuben!"
"Whatta you want to know about me?" Reuben threw his arms wide. "Just ask!"
"It's not that simple." Kitty shook her head in frustration. "Really it's not."
"It is fer me."
Kitty searched the smooth, unlined face of Reuben Tucker, trying to find an answer that could satisfy him, and could come up with none. "Oh, you're so sweet, Reuben. And so young. And life is still uncomplicated for you."
The young man exclaimed in vexation, "It's that other feller, ain't it? The one you were cryin' for. Miss Kitty, he ain't worth it! No man should make you cry like that!"
Kitty sighed, "It's a long story, Reuben, and it ain't a pretty one, I assure you."
He implored, "What did he do to you? Miss Kitty, I'll make him pay, I swear on my daddy's grave I will. Did he hurt you? Did he lay a hand on you?"
"No! No, he would never do that, Reuben, he's a very gentle man, really, he just... I can't talk about it."
"How long have you been his girl?" Reuben plucked a piece of grass and stuck it between his teeth.
"Um...let's see, that would make..." Kitty figured in her head. "...about eighteen years, give or take."
Brown eyes widened and dark brows reached skyward.
She quipped, "Yep, you nearly coulda' been our son, huh?"
He burst out, "And the man hasn't married you YET? What in tarnation is he a' waitin' for?"
"Ya' got me."
He cried out indignantly, "Doesn't he see the beautiful treasure he has sittin' right smack in front a' him?"
"Obviously not."
The young cowhand threw up his hands in disgust and stated flatly, "Well, obviously, I think I'm the better pick of the two of us, pretty lady, 'cause he does not appreciate you." Then Reuben Tucker got down on one knee before her and took one of her hands gently in his. "Miss Kitty, I promise..." With this word he dramatically placed a hand on his heart. "...I will never ever make you cry like your old man used to."
Kitty had to stifle a snort at this. She wondered what Matt would think of being referred to as her "old man." She managed to keep a straight face as he continued with his oration. "I will make you happy to the end of your days, I will take right good care of you in sickness and health and all that business, if you will only marry me, Reuben Horatio Tucker, I will be a most lucky man."
Just then Kitty uttered a colorful oath under her breath, just loud enough that Reuben was able to make it out. He cleared his throat a bit uncomfortably at this unexpected reaction to what he considered a very fine proposal, but nonetheless he responded, "I admire a lady who can speak her mind. I can see you've got plenty a' backbone. I just hope you'll take my proposition under due consideration..."
"No, you don't understand." She pointed, and that's when he saw a big man riding up on a buckskin horse. "Here comes my old man..."
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