Damaged Hearts

by Angel Wolfe

  “I can’t believe you are being so ungrateful and unreasonable! I raised you and gave you every possible privilege available. As of this moment, you are no longer my daughter!” Storming out of the building, Sarah Jamison headed for home on foot.

  “Oh Ruby, I am so sorry.” Anna whispered as she pulled her new friend into a tight hug. Sobs racked through both young ladies, as they stood in each other’s arms offering what comfort they could. “None of us feel like she tried to make it sound.”

  “Trolley’s here. Let’s get loaded and get out of here.” Jacob announced.

  Stunned by the turn of events and Sarah’s outbursts and accusations, the quiet group gathered the food and gifts, and boarded the trolley for the short journey to the Andrew’s home.

  “Here’s the house.” Willie pulled the lever to operate the brake, bringing the trolley to smooth stop. Hopping out, he and Jacob helped the women down. “If you want to stay here with the women Jacob, I’ll get the trolley returned and be back here shortly.”

  “I’ll do that. With a majority of the men chasing Henry, it’s probably better to be cautious.”

  “Just don’t be hitting on my girl while I’m gone. You’ve got your own now.” He winked playfully, knowing full well Jacob had no interest in Frances. “Just don’t break her heart or you’ll answer to me.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I have a feeling that if Kat and Angel have their way, we’ll be brother-in-laws in a few months anyway.”

  “I suspect you’re probably right. Just do me a favor and make sure that Anna is ok after that altercation with her foster mother.”

  “She’ll be fine. I realize you’re her brother but you haven’t had much contact with her in the past several years. I’ve been watching her off and on during that time and had already decided that I was going to call on her before the Jamison’s thought to help me along. She used to walk by my office twice a day going to and from the school and I was trying to get up the courage to ask her to dinner.”

  Clapping Jacob on the back he laughed, “What have you been waiting for? Better get to it.”

  “You’re one to talk. If I’m seeing things for what they are, I figure you have had your eye on Frances for quite some time yourself.”

  “Well, your situation is just a bit different from mine. At least you have something to offer Anna.” He sighed dejectedly. “Yes, I’ve been watching Frances. But, what do I have to give her though? I mean...She’s the Mayor’s daughter for cripes sake. I’m just a groom.”

  “Not anymore you’re not.” A happy feminine voice spoke up from behind them. “If I’m not mistaken, you’re a deputy sheriff now. Not that it matters but Papa isn’t like that. He was just a farmer before he met and married my mother. He only became Mayor because he was in the right place at the right time. Had I known you were even half interested, we could have already been married.” She threw her arms around his neck kissing him soundly on his surprised lips.

  “Ummm...Frances. I hate to say this but usually it’s the man that asks the woman to marry him. I haven’t even had a chance to buy a ring yet.”

  “You mean you’ll do it?” She asked, her turn to be surprised. “You really want to marry me?”

  “Of course I do. Like Jacob, I just hadn’t been able to get up the courage to ask you out, let alone propose.”

  “I...ah...I think I’ll leave the two of you to your planning.” Jacob quickly made his escape only to bump into Anna as he rounded the corner of the house.

  “I thought Willie was going to take the trolley back to the station.” She said swaying as he attempted to keep both of them on their feet.

  “He was. I mean he is. I mean heck, I don’t know.” He ran a frustrated hand through his normally neatly combed hair. “Let’s get inside where I can keep an eye on everyone until Willie and Frances come back. I’d hate for something to happen, let alone on my watch.”

  After helping Josephine put the cake down in the cellar to keep cool, and arranging to have someone get their belongings from the hotel rooms, Kat and Angel came back up and said their goodnights before slipping upstairs to some peace and quiet.

  Sure is nice to be alone again. With so many people here, it’s hard to get a quiet moment to yourself.” Kat said. “If you want to share this room with me, it might be our last night together. Plus, I could really use the help with these bindings and the bandage.”

  “I can’t believe we’re both married. Tonight was supposed to be our wedding night but instead of spending it with our husbands, we’re spending it with each other. I suppose it is kinda fitting though based on the way our lives have progressed.” Angel sighed. “Well, let’s have a look.”

  Kat stepped out of her wedding finery and carefully laid it on the chair. She untucked the edge of the binding and slowly unraveled it until as expected, Angel gasped at the sight of the bruising. “You’d think you would be used to that by now.” She told her sister, wincing as she chuckled.

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was getting worse. The colors are darker and more spread out then they were before.” Angel nodded toward the bed. “Why don’t you lay on your stomach and I will take a look at your leg. Being up on it surely is not helping with the healing.”

  “Nothing ever helps with that.” Kat grumbled as she lay down. “I don’t think this burn will ever quit blistering. I felt my leg get damp earlier but there was nothing I could do about it, short of coming back here or going to the room. Once it’s unwrapped, it’s going to hurt like the dickens.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. The bandage is stuck to the wound.” Angel said sadly, turning to leave the room. “Let me go grab a basin of water and we can try to soak it off, little by little.”

  Kat poked and prodded on the bandage but like her sister said, it was stuck. A few minutes later, Angel returned with warm water and a sponge. Setting it down, she soaked the sponge then gently applied it to the soiled dressing.

  Slowly, she worked at one corner then another, steadily moving inward until the entire bandage was loose. “Well, it doesn’t look great Kat but I don’t think it’s infected. The wound is having a hard time scabbing over though since it’s always covered and no air is getting to it.”

  “Let’s leave it uncovered tonight then and I’ll see what I can do with it after I get moved it over at Rick’s.”

  “That should help it along.” Angel agreed, drying the back of Kat’s leg after closely inspecting the blistered skin. “I think once it has time to breathe, it will heal up nicely.” She set the pan and sponge outside the door and pulled the call rope to signal one of the maids.

  “I could just lay here for days.” Kat announced drowsily, face down in the cool linens. “This bed is so soft.”

  “You’d be bored after a day. I know you better than that. Inactivity makes you stir crazy. You can’t even stand being cooped up in the house during a snowstorm.”

  “I have to make sure the cattle are ok. I just can’t wait out the storm.” Kat protested. “But you’re probably right. One night will be enough.” She yawned and scooted over, making room for Angel.

  “Good night Sister. Let’s hope our men make it back soon.” She said sliding under the covers.

  “’Night Angel.”

  ~XXXIV~

  Kat stretched and yawned. She couldn’t believe she had slept the entire night through. “You awake?” She nudged Angel who appeared to have had the same luck.

  “Yeah” she sister replied with an answering yawn of her own. “If our beds were this soft, we’d have never gotten any work done.”

  “We’d better get up and get dressed if we want to get back to the ranch and start moving today. It’s going to be a long one.”

  The girls got up and because they would be doing quite a bit of riding, Kat bound her ribs again.

  “If we were staying out of the dirt, I’d say to leave your leg but with so much going on, I’d better dress it for you just to keep out infection.” Angel offered, pulling the r
ope after she was dressed.

  In no time at all, the girls descended the stairs and went into the kitchen looking for coffee and breakfast. Both took a slice of cake and Kat poured some cream into her coffee while Angel dumped in sugar before taking the pitcher from her sister.

  “I thought that if it were ok with you, I’d get Brutus and the herd headed toward your ranch.” Lilly said as she entered the kitchen. “It won’t take you long to catch up and then you can show me where you want them.”

  “Sounds like a good idea.” Kat agreed. “I’m about ready so; see ya at the edge of town?”

  “I’ll be there.” Lilly turned and left with Patrick at her side.

  “I’ll be out later with the stuff you girls have here. Jacob picked up everything from the hotel so you should be all set.” Josephine told them. “Morgan, Ali, and Emily will come with me and Frances and Anna will be out this evening.”

  “I guess we better hit the road then.” Kat grinned. “See ya all out there.”

  She and Angel set their dishes in the sink and each gave Josephine a hug before heading for the door. “Thanks for everything Auntie.” Angel called over her shoulder. “See you soon.”

  GoldDust and Star both stood saddled and waiting. Kat, checked the cinch strap and did a quick once over of the horse’s hooves before swinging up into the saddle. Each day the motion got easier and easier as her burn healed.

  “Well, let’s go.” She said taking up the reins. They backed their horses from the post and turned to head out of town. “The weather is nice enough.” Kat smiled.

  They rode quite some time in silence before Angel spoke. “I hope it doesn’t turn hot before we get everything moved. What have you decided to do about the cattle?”

  “I was hoping to get a chance to talk to you about that.” Kat looked at her sister, impressed with how much she had grown up. “Rick bought the Angus and Matt has been talking about cross breeding; and while I can’t deny that I’d love to get the opportunity to work and merge bloodlines with Lilly’s herd, I think I am going to focus on the horses and leave our cattle ranching to Rick.”

  “But what about the cows we just brought home?”

  “Once the calves have been weaned, I figure they will be a good group to use to start your cross-breeding. Lilly has offered the use of Brutus in exchange for temporary grazing rights.”

  Confused, Angel questioned, “But...What about...”

  “Hang on, I haven’t signed any contracts. I told her we would talk about it but the ultimate decision will be left up to you and Matt. It’s not my home anymore and it’s time to hand over the reins.”

  “But Kat, how will I know?”

  “Just trust me; the two of you will be great at ranching. I will miss this place and everything I worked for but it’s not like I’m throwing it away.” Kat pulled up and sat for a moment to admire the view that stretched out in front of them. “All of this is yours now. I had Jacob draw up the paperwork. My only request is that we share water rights in the dry seasons.”

  Angel buried her face in her hands. “This all seem...seems so sudden; so final. Almost like you are leaving forever,” She sobbed.

  “Don’t look at it like that. I am leaving forever, but I’m only moving to the next place over. We will still see each other and I’ll be there whenever you need me.” Kat said reassuringly. “Things were bound to change; it just wasn’t like either of us thought.”

  “I know. It’s...It’s ju...just that I didn’t think it would happen so...so fast.” Angel wiped her eyes on her shirttail. “I’m sorry. It must be the baby.”

  Kat smiled to herself. “The men better get back before we make all the decisions without them.”

  As they approached the house, Wolfe ran to meet them, only limping slightly from his injuries with George. Sliding out of their saddles, Kat and Angel hugged and loved on the dog, ruffling his fur while telling him how much they missed him. They rode the rest of the way in companionable silence, each lost on their own thoughts. Angel was worried about being left to make the ranching decisions on her own while Kat was thinking about a Palomino-Paint cross.

  “There’s Lilly with her herd. What do you think about putting them in the paddock where I repaired the fence? That would be my suggestion.”

  “I have no argument there, might be easier to have her herd in a field adjacent to mine if we agree on the crossbreeding.”

  “I’ll grab the gate then if you want to let her know.” Kat wheeled GoldDust around and took off for the pasture gate, eager to do some actual work while Wolfe followed close at her heels.

  ~XXXV~

  Kat unsaddled her horse, gave him a good rub down, and turned him loose in his corral. After forking him out some hay and giving him a double scoop of oats, she hauled the tack to the barn.

  She peeked into the vacant stall and was surprised to see Belle’s pups nosing an empty pan, their bellies round and full of food. Belle raised her head from her spot in the corner, her tail wagged tentatively.

  “What’s up girl? How you feeling?” Kat knelt down and ran her hands through the dog’s fur, checking her injuries.

  “Simmons and Cook have been taking care of the two dogs as well as putting mush out for the pups a couple times a day.” James stuck his head in the stall. “I think they will be a fine fit to help your sister and Matt.”

  “I hope so James.” Kat stood up and hugged the hand. “I’ll have you and Consuela to help me and I was just a bit worried about leaving Angel here with no one to help her through this pregnancy.”

  “You won’t be too far away. I’d wager you will be right here beside her when the baby comes.” He smiled to himself, and couldn’t believe how much these young people had come to mean to him. He hoped the other men found Marie and that she came to her senses about Frank; he was a good kid and would love her no matter her shortcomings.

  “I guess I don’t need to worry about feeding the dogs.” Kat grinned. “I should probably pick out a pup though; this is Wolfe and Belle’s home and although I’ll miss them, I think they will be happier here.”

  She looked down at the roly-poly little balls of fur then sat down and waited. Finally, a pitch-black pup put his nose in the air and cautiously approached her sniffing deeply, eliciting a chuckle from her as it scratched at her leg. It growled a puppy growl as she picked it up and looked inside it mouth. “Well Little Girl, you might just be the one. Brave, feisty and your mouth says you’ll be a good dog.”

  She set the pup back down and rather than returning to its littermates, it backed up barking at her before rushing forward again to sink her sharp little puppy teeth into her pant leg. Growling savagely, she shook her head back and forth. “You’ll do Little Girl.” Kat laughed as she picked the pup back up again. “I think I’ll call you Voodoo. You’ll fit in great at my new home.”

  She returned the pup to Belle and smiled as James gave her a hand up. “Let’s go get some grub,” he told her.

  She patted Wolfe on the head as she passed him. “I’m going to miss a lot of things about this place James. Can you imagine what it’s like to build something up only to leave it behind?”

  “I can at that, Kat. I haven’t told you about my previous life but I was married. Beautiful woman she was; had a little boy too. Had everything taken away from me all in one swipe. George killed them like he wanted to do to you. I spent a long time working my way to George. Planned on killing him, dragging it out, and making him suffer for all he did. Instead, you offered me a job and a new start. I’m glad I took the offer too. Never would have met Consuela if I hadn’t. Never would have come to love you like a daughter either. Yup, I figure you gave me a new chance at everything. For that, I’m eternally grateful.”

  “Oh James, I’m so sorry about your family. I wish I had known.”

  “Why? It wouldn’t have changed anything.”

  “I suppose you’re right. I am glad I’ve gotten this chance to know you though and I’m sure Consuela is too.” She grinne
d impishly. “Last one to the house has to wash dishes.” She nudged him as she broke into an ungraceful trot.

  By the time they reached the house, they were out of breath from laughter. “Sure smells good.” James announced.

  Consuela turned and swatted him with a towel. “It’s about time you two showed up.” She scolded. “We were about to eat without you.”

  Angel hopped up and grabbed another chair. “Here, sit here Kat. James, there’s an open spot right next to Consuela”

  Kat sat where she was instructed; her mouth watered at the sight of the tamales and taco fixings. “Sure glad you waited. Looks great.”

  Consuela quickly said Grace and the only sound was everyone scraping bowls as they loaded their plates. “Sure is tasty Ma’am” Lilly offered. “A mite better than camp chow for sure.”