The days went by slowly as Eleanor recovered from being shot. It was a rather boring existence, filled with eating and occasionally being helped from her bed and into the parlor. It grated on Eleanor, having to rely on others. She yearned for her independence back but the Cartwrights kept a watchful eye over her. It seemed as though someone was always ready to offer her assistance or to remind her to rest or stop her from doing too much too soon.
"Careful Eleanor, you don't want to tear those stitches!"
A phrase she often heard, most commonly from Adam and Ben. But this time it was uttered by a less familiar voice. Eleanor looked over her shoulder to see a dark haired man with blue eyes grinning at her. His demeanor was casual.
"What's this? A different jailer?" Eleanor inquired, eyeing the man up.
"The name's Candy," he replied. "It can't be that bad here, can it?"
"No... I've been in worse than this." Eleanor mumbled back. Candy raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "I'm just bored. I want to get out of here. Go outside. Do something." At this point there was a hint of desperation in her voice. "I'm not used to sitting around all day."
Candy looked at her thoughtfully for a moment.
"Tell you what, why don't we go sit on the porch for awhile? At least then you'll be outside," he said.
Eleanor nodded, "I would like that."
Candy moved to help Eleanor get up without straining herself. With a hand around her waist, he slowly helped her walk outside and to the bench, the wound in her back reminding her that it was there every step of the way. He took his seat beside her and they shared a rather comfortable silence as Eleanor looked out over the Ponderosa. She watched the chickens in the yard and heard cattle mooing in the distance and once in a while, the soft neigh of a horse.
Horses, she loved horses.
Eleanor wondered just how vast the Ponderosa was. She had been told plenty about it but she hadn't been out the front door of the house until now. The land that she could see was beautiful with the mountains in the distance and the pines all around. It was peaceful, a good setting for contemplation.
"So... the Cartwrights..." Eleanor started quietly. Candy nodded, glancing over at her, patiently waiting for her to go on. "Are they really as nice as they seem? Or is this just a show?"
A small smile formed on the ranch hand's face. "They are," he said simply. "They've done a lot of good for people around here, especially those in need."
Eleanor considered this. She found it hard to believe that there was anyone in the world that could genuinely be that nice, though she figured if anyone was, it would be Ben and his sons.
"It just all seems so unreal," she continued quietly, mostly to herself. "Like I'm going to wake up and find this all to have been a dream." She didn't know why she was saying this, especially to a man she knew so little about. Something about his presence seemed safe and reassuring.
Candy gave her a sympathetic look. "I know what you mean," he said. "But I know Ben and his sons. They're good folks and very much real. You're safe here, they'll take care of you... we all will." He smiled softly at her and continued. "When I first came here, I was certain I'd be leaving soon. I always had other places I wanted to wander to."
"Why didn't you?"
"I recon its because Ben's treated me decent... I respect him a lot. I can look up to him more than I could my own father."
The pair sat in silence, considering both past and present.
"I've got some chores to tend to," Candy said, rising from his seat. "Want me to help you back inside before I go?"
"No, thank you. I'll stay out here awhile longer," Eleanor replied kindly. "I like watching the chickens and listening to the horses." She looked wistfully in the direction of the barn.
"You wait right here," Candy said, an almost mischievous smile forming on his face.
"Can't very well go anywhere," Eleanor teased. "Recon if I tried, pa or Adam will be on me about my stitches again."
Candy chuckled as he quickly headed off in the direction of the barn. It wasn't long before he came back with a horse. Eleanor grinned seeing the majestic animal. Candy quickly tied the animal to the post and went to help Eleanor over to it.
"Candy, you didn't have to do this," she whispered as they slowly approached the horse. She reached out and stroked its head and neck. She didn't have to say she was thankful for Candy to know it, he could see it in her face and in the way she petted the animal. "What's his name?"
"Champ" he replied, petting his horse and enjoying Eleanor's gentle and quiet enthusiasm at interacting with the horse. Watching her, he could tell that she must have a lot of experience with horses.
After some time, the strain on Eleanor's back was becoming too much. "Thank you, Candy," she said, stepping away from Champ, looking regretful. "I wish I could stay out here longer but I'm afraid my wound has got other plans."
"Anytime, Eleanor. Anytime," Candy replied sincerely as he helped Eleanor back inside the house, every step of the way aching and increasing her fatigue.
Candy helped Eleanor settle on the couch before going off to do his chores, he promised he'd be back in for supper. Eleanor looked forward to it, she decided Candy was indeed a good man, just like her father and brothers. Something about him made him seem more approachable though, almost like maybe, just maybe, he was someone she could trust.
With some of her restlessness relieved, Eleanor settled back into the couch. A feeling of contentedness spreading throughout her as she dozed off.
