Kathryn hesitantly opened her eyes, thinking herself dead because the pain she had expected to feel? There was none.
The man lay facedown in the mud to her right.
"Are you OK, ma'am?"
Kathryn looked up and sighing in relief, smiled gratefully. "Sheriff."
She took the proffered hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet, since she didn't trust her body to not be shaking with how close that had been.
Glancing at the corpse, she told him "I'm sorry about your man."
He crouched down, balancing on the balls of his feet, so as to not be kneeling in the mess of the street. Easing him onto his back, he stated simply "I don't recognize him."
Kathryn inwardly sighed in relief, before her brow furrowed in confusion. "Do you have any idea who he is?"
The sheriff straightened and stood up. "Nope... but we had a... rowdy group pass through a few days ago. Could be he was part of that group and stayed behind for some... fun."
The man sure was careful what words he used. She secretly groaned. He probably was more interested in gaining people's favor than actually doing his job.
The look he focused on her was searching. "Come to think of it... I haven't seen you before in my town either."
'Grin and bear it' she ordered herself. "That's correct, Sheriff. I've only been an employee of the Barkleys since September."
His eyebrows rose. "From Stockton?"
She nodded in affirmation.
"I know the Barkleys. Nick and Heath have helped me out from time to time; Jarrod, too."
"As a lawyer?" Kathryn asked. The man gave her a genuine smile. "That, and as a man of the land." Before Kathryn could comment, he inquired "So what brings you to Niles?"
"Mr. Heath Barkley was in Lathrop on business. When he didn't return home when expected, I went looking. Found him about 18 miles east of here. He'd apparently found some trouble on the road. He's at the doc's right now and I was on my way to send a telegram letting the family know I'd found him when I came across Annie being accosted in the alley by that slug." She nodded down at said man.
The sheriff nodded thoughtfully. "Let me get that written down; just to have all my paperwork in order. You think you can swing by and sign it before you leave Niles?"
Kathryn smiled. "Happy to. After all, it's the least I can do after you saved my hide."
Kathryn was plowed into. Looking down at her left side she saw-
"You're alright! Thank goodness!"
'Annie' Kathryn's brain supplied.
Gently resting her left hand on the honey blonde curls, the bonnet from before nowhere in sight, she looked up to see Annie's father approaching, a fond smile on his face.
"I had to practically sit on her when that... man, aimed his gun at you."
She smiled back. He had his hands full with this one, no doubt about it. "Well, sir, I could have told you how brave she is." She was purposely ignoring how the girl's young shoulders shook as she, well, sobbed. "We were never properly introduced. My name's Kathryn Quinn." She offered, extending her hand.
He took it; a nice, firm handshake without crushing her hand in his grip that easily dwarfed hers. "Adam Rickett; and you've already met Annie." He turned serious. "Again, I really have to thank you for what you did. Ever since my wife passed... she's all I got left."
"My condolences."
His smile returned, although a sad one. "We get along just fine. And I don't have time to wallow as my little "Nanny Annie" keeps me on my toes."
Said Nanny whirled around, out of Kathryn's side, to stick her tongue out at her father.
Kathryn chuckled and returned the smile Annie was beaming up at her.
"We'd be honored if you'd come have dinner with us tonight."
"Please say yes!"
Kathryn knelt to one knee in front of Annie who bore no taint from what had occurred minutes before. "I'm sorry, Lasair Choille, but I don't think I'll be able to. I'm here with a friend and once he's OK, I'm pretty sure he'll want to get home. His family's been missing him something fierce and I reckon he's been feeling the same." She looked up to meet Adam's gaze, trying to ignore Annie's crestfallen countenance. "If that changes, I'll let you know."
He have her an understanding smile. "Just know the offer still stands." Extending a hand to her and raising her to her feet he stated sincerely "You'll always be welcome with us."
At that moment, the sheriff interrupted. "If you don't mind, miss, I'd like to talk to Heath."
She waved in the general direction that she'd come from. "He's at the doc's. Let me finish sending this telegram and then, I'll swing by and sign my statement."
Bidding Adam and Annie good bye, she continued on her errand.
When she walked back into the room she had left Heath in, she found him trying to get up from the bed... with no one in sight.
Kathryn rushed to his side and taking his bulk, eased him back on to the bed. She was a little disconcerted at the fact he didn't put up a fight. "Woah there; I know you want to get home, but let's wait for the doc's say-so."
"I was gonna start looking for you."
God, grant her patience. "Why?"
He eased back into a more reclined position. "Heard the gunshots earlier. Thought you promised me you'd stay out of trouble."
Kathryn smiled mischieviously. "As you no doubt recall Mr. Barkley, I don't carry a gun." After sending the telegram, she had quickly cleaned her knife and had signed her statement of events for Sheriff Bell. Now, they just had to wait for Dr. Briggs determination.
"I know. I was there at Nick's little competition for you; which reminds me... we were so blindsided about the herd and I left first thing the next morning without collecting my share of the wagers."
Kathryn rolled her eyes. Of course, it had been a family machination. "No doubt Mr. Jarrod is keeping it safe for you."
"Which leads me back to what I said earlier. You may not shoot a gun, but that doesn't mean you didn't find trouble with someone who does. You have a knack for landing yourself in it."
She arched an imperious eyebrow. "Says the man who's laid up in a doctor's office bleeding all over the place, not to mention what are probably busted ribs."
Heath opened his mouth-
"Right you are, young lady." Dr. Briggs boomed as he strode into the room. Kathryn smiled victoriously.
"He's got three broken ribs; and a good-sized gash in his leg and on his head, both of which required stitches. The only thing that really worries me is infection and a possible concussion."
Kathryn took all the information in. "Is he fit to travel?"
The doctor hesitated, wincing in sympathy. "Yes... although the jostling is going to hurt like h**l on the ribs..." he tried to reason.
Kathryn gave Heath her attention. "We can wait for them to come. You could probably get home on the train or in a wagon."
Heath gave her his trademark dazzling smile. "Home sounds really good."
Kathryn turned back around, giving the doctor a "What can you do?" shrug of commisseration.
He sighed heavily, obviously displeased. "I'll wrap the ribs up tight as I can. When you get home, rewrap them and have Joseph make a house call." At Kathryn's confused look, he smiled "You know him as Dr. Merar." Kathryn nodded; that made sense. He turned to Heath. "And for God's sake young man, do try to keep yourself out of trouble."
As he left the room, Kathryn grinned triumphantly. "See? Even the doc agrees."
She easily dodged the thrown pillow.
It had been slow going, but Kathryn was sure they would still beat the telegram back to the ranch.
"Doc said to get Merar."
Kathryn smiled. "I remember."
"... You're going around Stockton..."
"I figured we'd get you back to Mother Hen and then, I'll come back into town."
She felt a slight pressure on the fist she had made in front of Heath to hold him in place in the saddle. "That bad, huh?"
Kathryn's smile turned fond at the obvious affection and love the two brothers had for each other. "Let's just say you're going to get a taste of your own medicine. This revenge for making me stay in bed while I healed — and then some — is so perfect, I couldn't have planned it better myself."
Heath gave a genuine laugh, promptly followed by a pained groan. "Don't make me laugh. It hurts too much."
As they rode past the gate, John came out of the stables.
"Kathryn! Boy, am I glad to see you! Ever since Jarrod told Nick you had left, he's been stomping around, hollering and thundering, and..." He trailed off. "You found him." He breathed out so softly that Kathryn almost missed it.
"I did. However, I think the road has done more harm than I planned on. Can you take Mr. Heath inside so I can go back to Stockton and get Merar?"
John's expression turned to dismay. "No need, Miss. He was on his way to the Armstrong homestead for a home visit and stopped in." Approaching Vacquero, he said "Let me help you get Mr. Barkley to the door and then, I'll ride out and get the doctor."
Between the two of them, they managed to maneuver Heath to the front door.
As John headed back to the stables, he squeezed her shoulder. "You did good."
Kathryn lifted her hand to knock when the door swung open revealing-
"What kind of telegram is that?! 'Found him.' Two words... two words! She's lucky we know where it came from! And don't even think of trying to claim that you had no idea she was going to go looking for Heath when she asked about her time off! I swear that..." Nick trailed off when he turned his attention to the door and found Kathryn's smile of amusement. But next to her, leaning heavily against her, one of his arms slung about her shoulders was "Heath." He breathed out softly in the same, almost whisper-like awe John had.
Heath's smile was bright as he said "It sure is good to see you, Nick."
Kathryn pointedly ignored the choked emotion in his words.
She walked Heath forward; Nick snapping out of his shock to help on Heather's other side.
"John went to go get Merar at the Armstrong's place. Since I heard you got my telegram, you know we were in Niles." As they reached the circular table in the foyer, the rest of the family emerged from the drawing room off to the side.
"Heath!" Victoria exclaimed, her face filled with horror. Audra's mouth turned down as she frowned in concern. Jarrod rushed forward and relieved Kathryn, easing underneath Heath's arm. "Jarrod, you're gonna have to go easy since you're on the side of his busted ribs and injured leg. He's got a wound on his head as well. Dr. Briggs in Niles said to keep watch for a concussion and infection in the wounds."
"Geez, Heath... being that hurt, why didn't you just stay in Niles?" Gentling his voice, Jarrod added "We would have come picked you up. In fact, Nick and I were just leaving to do exactly that."
As Kathryn opened her mouth to reply, Heath beat her to it. "I wanted to come home." He whispered, sounding vulnerable and childlike; hesitant, as if there was doubt that he would be welcomed. As if! Kathryn couldn't begin to comprehend why he would question his family's celebrating his return.
Heath's response seemed to be what was needed to spur Victoria into action. "Nick, Jarrod, get Heath situated in his room. Listen to Kathryn and mind his injuries."
Turning next to Audra, she directed "Go find Silas; see if we have any ice for Heath's pain. Then, get some hot water, bandages, extra blankets and pillows, and bring them to Heath's room. I'll send someone for Dr. Merar-"
"No need, ma'am," Kathryn interrupted. "Doc Briggs said he was fit to travel. He wrapped Heath's ribs tight as he could when we left; however, he's been suffering for some miles. When we came through the gate, John met us. I told him I was going to go back into Stockton for Dr. Merar and he said that the doc was at the Armstrong place. He left after we got Mr. Heath to the door."
"So then, we wait." She walked over to Heath. "Alright, you poor boy. You're home."
"I missed you, Mother."
Her eyes misted with unshed tears as she smiled and cupped his cheek.
"I'll get Gal and Vacquero settled in."
"Kathryn, someone else can-"
"It's alright, Audra." Kathryn assured her as she turned around, heading to the open door.
"Kat."
She turned back around slowly, taken by suprise at Heath's nickname.
He smiled tiredly. "Thank you."
She wore a gratified expression as she informed him. "My pleasure."
She eased the heavy door shut behind her.