Homestead and Heart(one on one)

The sinking sun began its slow descent into the belly of the horizon,the dust cloud formed atop the nearby hill. The thundering of hundreds of horse hooves met the ears of the people watching from the wooden fences along the corral they were nearing.The mighty horse snorted and stamped as the lead rider guides his own mount with strong legs and knees. Hands free from the reins as he held the ropes just in case one broke from the herd. His knees hitting and tightening around the painted pony,the pony taking each signal well trained. Turning to the right,the rider spied the young mare that broke free from the herd,whistling and kneeing his mount he tore off after the prised animal. Man and horse became one,moving together in fluid movements,one knowing what the other wanted.

The lasso came up,the noose spinning quickly,not to lasso the animal but the scare the animal into turning its run into another direction,one guided by the rider. The spooked mare meighed and stomped as it turned sharply,its sides heaving as it returned an the path towards the crral. Finally joining the other horses inside the corral,another ranch hand sliding the gate into place,sealing them in for the people to inspect. The lead rider rode slowly over to the corral and then slide from his horse,he was much smaller than what he appeared on his mount. Standing at around 5 foot 4 he was much smaller than the other hands,but walked with enough confidence to not be argued with. The body was dressed in a long trenchcoat,dusty from the trail ride. Worn black boots covered the feet,what was visible of long strong legs were covered in faded denim. A pistol hung loosely around the narrow hips.

Drawing up next to the crowd of people the hand stopped,reaching up to pull the sunglasses from the tanned face,long blonde hair tumbled freet o show this man was actually a woman. Her blue eyes met the teller of the men standing before her and she grinned. 'Well,Dad..how did I do?"She asked with a mischevious grin. The taller man grinned then hugged the small woman before him,turning to the others."Gentlemen,May I present my daughter,Katherine or Kat. She is my only daughter and most repsected ranch hand."He said beaming with pride.

"The next horse drive across Texas will be led by her and 4 of her trusted hands. These horses you see before you are of my own stock,born and bred. She has not had any horses not get through to their delivery point."He said as she punched him lightly in the ribs."Be quiet ,Dad."She said looking at the men before her."Gentlemen,I take as much pride in what I do than my father does trusting me to do it.I will get your horses to where they need to be."She said firmly and without hesitation. Noticing one man in the bunch. A rugged,taller than them all,if she was not mistaken he knew alot about horse driving from the way he watched the horses and her crew work. Something about him made her leery,why did he seem too intense on them all.Her thoughts were interuppted by her fathers voice.

"Kat,MR. Wilson's son will be joining you on this trip. He wants to make sure they get to where they are going."Her father said with a hint of sarcasm to his tone. Kat looked up at her father,her cheeks flashed red from anger."Father! you know I dont ride with strangers..they dont know my routine."She said firmly looking back to Mr.Wilsons son,her piercing blue eyes not leaving his."I will have no arguing..it is to be as I say so."Her father told her abruptly then turned and looked at the horse.Kat felt her temper rising and slammed her hat back down on her head."This will not work out well..I already have a bad feeing about this."She growled out and without a farewell to any of them grabbed her horses reins and began a strong stride towards the stables.

Lawrence Masters watched his daughter march across the yard,he knew she was upset. Hell he didnt like this any more than she did. He had no choice with the papers that the snake of a banker held over his head for the ranch. He had to make sure these horses got to California to save his family ranch. Kat was not his natural daughter,he had married her mother when she was 4 years old,he had been the only father she had ever known. He could not get her to act like the lady she was,she preferred to be around her horses and out on the trail. She hardly accepted party invites or gentlemen callers,most calling her uptight or even preferring the same sex. She definately preferred males,but most of them were as smart as their shoe size. He shook his head as she vanished into the barn.


((need a male to play the son..I would like for this to be a story of not liking each other at first,falling for each other then having all the hardships of life sink in to them,..must post one paragraph at least..send me a sample intro through IM please.))

**bump

The heat of the sun pounded away at the small party that watched her ride, storm, if the truth were to be told, off. Cy was beginning to hate hot weather, and wondered, what type of living he could make in the Dakotas.

She obviously knew her horses, and knew her team and had good command and control over both. But this wasn’t driving horses up to Dallas, or down to San An. Desert crossings were another breed of hell. Between the temperatures, the Indians, the US Army, the Mexican Army, and Pancho Damned Villa, no trip across the desert with anything of value was easy. And that doesn’t cover the things that DO go bump in the night. A shiver slithered its way from his anus up to his head as fear that ate through him reasserted itself over him.

Cy looked at the two older men and said, “You both are sure? You want to risk a desert crossing instead of driving them up to Kansas City or Omaha and sending the herd by train? A little more expensive, but Kat and her crew would be able to move them from Sacramento to Los Angeles without any problems.”

“Yes, “ Phineas Wilson said. “You have made the tripe across three times now; you can get them across the desert.”

Cy yanked his white felt hat off his head and swiped his forehead with the crook of his arm. Clearing his throat, Cy looked at Lawrence Masters and said, “What my father isn’t telling you, is that more than half the people in each trip die. Animals too. The last trip all but two died. Me, and the caravan cook. The rest didn’t listen, and they died.”

Looking back at his father, Cy said, “Regardless if I can talk Old Man Masters or his daughter out of the trip, it is my last trip. No more, a man should have to face death once in his life.”

It was Mr Masters that answered, “It has to be done this way Cy. If the heard is shipped by rail, I won’t make enough on the sale after expenses, as it is it’ll be close on keeping the ranch.”

Cy’s eyebrow snaked up and he said, with a wry laugh, “Shoot the damn banker then. No jury in Hill County would convict you.” Seeing his father’s face blanch at the statement, Cy’s laughter rolled down the paddock in front of him, as he rode toward the stables looking for Kat.

Lawrence MAters grinned at the young mans remark,he didnt know Kat like he did. The young man was in for a eye-opening experience with her. She was stubborn and headstrong,always had been. He cleared his throat at the bank remark then lowered his voice so just they could hear him. "Please keep this from Kat,she has no idea the bank is hovering over my head for the ranch.It is the only home she has ever known and I dot want her to worry about it and get careless."He asked the men,watching them,waiting for their answer.

****************

Kat threw her gear onto the gate,her hand reaching for the brush to groom her horse. She leaned her head against its side and sighed. "Thunder..what am I going to do?"She asked the horse knowing she wouldnt get an answer but feeling better voicing her worries. She stroked the brush across the warm skin of the horse,his soft neighs filling the stable. Kat smiled as he nudged her,waiting for his treat she always had for him.Kat laughed and lifted the apple from her pocket and watched as the horse took it from her hand hungrily. She looked up when the stablehand entered to take over grooming and feeding Thunder.

"Kat,you father wants you to dress for dinner with his guests.NOW."Came the short but firm order. Kat grinned at the older man and hugged him tightly. "I'm going Chet,dont be such a stick in the mud."She called over her shoulder on her way out of the barn. She entered the house through the back toa void anyone for now and made her way to her room.

She showered quickly,pulling out a long light blue dress,her hair hung freely held back away from her face with a blue ribbon. Looking into the mirror the person looking back at her was 100 percent different from the person she was earlier. She hated this look and would have preferred her pants and shirts,but her father insists she act like a woman when guests were present,sighing she turned and walked out of her room. She entered the dining room,and felt all eyes look over at her. She moved over and kissed her father on the cheek and nodded to the guests as she sat down quietly.

Cy had made it about half way across the paddock to the stables when he heard a horse approaching from his rear. Turning easily, and unhurriedly, Cy looked at his father approaching him, still on his roan gelding. Cy waited the couple of moments it too his father to arrive. Phineas reigned in about five feet from Cy and asked, "What do you think?"

Whether it was the sun beating on his back, or the casual disregard of the two older men about the trip, Cy didn't know, but he was irritable and his answered reflected it. "You don't get my years of life unused by sending me off to die with a she cub and four green horn hands."

Phineas fidgeted in his saddle and asked, "Not all bad as that is it?"

"It only took six months to recover last time, and I was lucky at that. That many animals and far too few people to guard them is beggin' for trouble. And, Ah'm sure we'll get plenty of it."

"Well, ya kin piss and moan later. We have dinner with the Masters' in a bit. Ya have about enough time to clean up and put on your city duds." Phineas said flatly.

Cy laughed, as he headed back to his horse, and quipped, "What? A last meal?"

A little later, Cy was standing in the dining room with Masters, his father and a handful of people he didn't know. They were milling about getting acquainted and Cy locked away each name into his memory, just in case they were important in the future.

When Kat walked in, every man in the room turned their eyes toward her. Wearing a dress the color of the east Texas sky just after dawn, her hair tussled up in a ponytail, her green eyes, shot fire across the room, daring any man to mention she was a woman, or even that she looked good dressed as she was.

Begrudgingly Cy admitted to himself she looked good in a dress, though it was clear from her gait that she was far more comfortable in boots than the pumps she was wearing. Brushing off imaginary lint, or hair, or whatever, from his black suit with multi colored vest, Cy shielded his eyes long enough to reset them to neutral, and once satisfied nothing could be seen in them again, he looked up to notice her standing a couple of feet away from him.

Straightening himself to his full 6'4" while wearing his boots, Cy nodded, doffed his hat, and said, "Miss Masters."

It seemed to Cy a snort came out of her in reply, and then they were called to the table, and Cy noticed that he and Kat were done for, everyone settled in leaving the only two chairs open side by side in the middle of the table. Approaching the chairs, Cy pulled the chair on the left out, holding it for Kat.

"It seems our father's have arranged this whole shenanigan." Cy said, with a tone somewhere close to amusement.

Kat gave Cy a half grunted Hello,she was still sore at her father for making her feel like she was unable to handle herself. She had made many runs in her life and she was not about to fail this one. She turned on her heel as dinner was called. She groaned when she saw where she was to sit,and then Cy pulled her chair out for her. He looked about as thrilled as she did.

She nodded quickly to him as she sat down,her father already talking about the trip that was to happen the day after tomorrow. He talked as if she was not even a part of it to the men. She felt her anger rising as one of the men she had just met,his name sounding foreign to her..Phineas she thought it was. She had seen him earlier with Cy but had left before names were tossed about. "My little girl here broke her first horse at 12 years old,'She vaguely heard her father saying proudly. His tone caught her attention when he turned to serious talk.

"Now,Cy,my boy..you will elad the ride..the hands have been given their orders to listen,but Kat knows the terrain aorund here better than any of them."he said and Kat had heard enough,she stood,the chair pushing back lodly. "Father..I.. will not be considered a hired hand....This is ridiculous."She cried out to him,looking at the men and their wives aorund them she turned on her heel and left the room,her hair fanning out behind her as she disappeared around the corner. The slamming door echoed through the house a few minutes later.

Cy scooted aside as Kat's plate perilously clattered on the table as she shot back at what ever the old men were saying. Cy's amusement was at a near all time high as she stormed out, everyone watching her as she went. Her father stood to chase after when Cy, in a voice that carried more authority than volume, said, "Sit old man. You have done enough damage to this trip."

Masters looked at Cy his face contorting in rage as he sputtered, "You dare! She is MY DAUGHTER."

Cy;s blue eyes bored holes through Masters, and said in the same low authoritative tone, "Be that as it may, you are all more the fool. You can't push her anymore than I can. A willful woman like her needs to be lead, and shown, what you want from her."

Standing up, Cy picked his hat off of the back of his chair and placed it on his head, covering his black wavy hair and said, "I'll be back with her shortly. If not, then you two old fools need to find another way to get them horses to California."

It wasn't hard to find where Kat went. She was stomping, roaring and Cy had not problems imagining she was bucking for all she was worth. Cy leaned against the wall in the hallway and bided his time, waiting for Kat to settle some.

About ten minutes later, the sounds subdued greatly, and Cy knocked on the door. "Miss Kat?" Cy asked. "It's Cy Wilson. May I come in? You and I need to work some things out, and let the old fools be."

Kat had changed into a pair of worn tan leather pants and a light blue denim shirt,she was puling her hair back when the knock and voice came. She stormed over,her boots thudding on the wood floor. She pulled the door open to glare at CY,she was closer to tears than she had ever been. She didnt speak to him but turned and walked back into her room,leaving him to enter on his own as she reached for her hat.

"Speak what's on your mind fast..I am giong for a ride.'She said as she placed the hat on her head and turned to look at him,her hands folded over her chest."Until 2 days ago,my father had never acted like this..now he is a stranger to me and it makes me spitting mad."She added as she watched him. She suddenly felt crowded in her small room.

Cy leaned against the door frame his eyes lighting along her body, which he had to admit was very appealing.Tilting his hat back, Cy said, "This is easy Kat. You and I don't need a pair of old fools dictating to us how to drive a herd of horses, we know how to do that."

Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, Cy continued, "It's your train. From here to the desert do what you will with them. But I humbly submit, if you don't heed my advice once in the desert, one or both of us won't come back to tan our fathers' asses."

A blush crept across his face as he muttered, "Pardon the expression."

Cy took one step in the room and said. "We have blood on this; they don't. They don't make any decisions after you and I come to some accord."

"Now do you want to go eat before you bolt out on a horse?" Cy asked.

Kat listened to his words,she supposed they made sense. She pushed her hat back on her head and grinned finally. She stepped forward to him,holding out one of her small hands. "Deal,but I am not gittin' back in that damned dress."She said as she moved past himand out into the hallway,the surprised looks they got when they re-entered the dinig room was worth it. Her father looked like he was ready to have a fit,and the others looked the same. One of the women fanned herself with her napkin as Kat st down and began to eat,casting a glance at Cy and grinning.

Cy walked down the hall behind Kat and keeping his eyes above her belt proved problem some. A sweet apple shape that had an enticing sway as she walked, Cy bit slightly into his bottom lip, to keep from whistling.

Cy sat next to Kat and winked at her at her smile as she ate. Looking around the table, Cy locked gazes with any and all that would, willing them into shutting up.

Furtively Cy glanced at Kat, noting her flat stomach, shapely thighs, and wondered momentarily at the size of her breasts. It was hard to tell with the blouse she was wearing, loose and concealed everything.

In a near whisper, where only Kat could hear him, Cy said, "We have a lot of preparation to do, route to settle on, provisioning, and so on. Do you want to start in the morning or tonight after your ride?"

Kat wiped her mouth,giving her father one of her I will win looks before looking over at Cy. His words softly spoken for her only. She gave him a smile before pushing back from the table. Softly she spoke to him,"I would think tomorrow would be soon enough."She turned and nodded to their guests,kissing her still irate father on the cheek,strolled out of the room. Her bootsteps fading as she headed out of the house. Lawrence Masters was livid as his daughter defied him in front of all their guests. Then he had to admit to himself she did him proud. Not backing down to him as he told her Cy was trail leader. He glanced around the table,noting some of the womenfolk whispering about her behaviour.

"Please forgive my daughter's behaviour. She has bit of a headstrong temper."He said trying to lighten the moment. He slowly stood and the older men followed suit as they left the table and moved towards the study for after dinner drinks. He turned and looked to Cy,"Will you join us,Son?"He asked watching him.

*************************************

Kat stormed into the stables,grabbing the saddle and blankets from the posts. She tossed the blankets onto Thunder and then strapped the saddle down. She didnt hesitate as she grabbed the pommel and swung herself up into the saddle. Giving a loud whistle the horse burst out of the barn. The moonlight cast its glow across the now quiet plain as the horse and its rider thundered across it. She kicked the horse into a full gallop letting the wind cool her temper as she rode.

Several minutes later she slowed Thunder near a waterign hole and slid from the horses back. SHe leaned against a tree,watching her horse drink. She looked out across the plain wondering if this journey would be much differetn then the others,she grinned. Of course it would be,Cy would relaise she was just as capable as any of the toher men accompanying them.

Cy sat, slowly chewing his food for all the world he seemed disinterested in what Kat was doing. He could tell by her stride that she wasn't happy still, but her out right anger had dissipated during the meal.

As the meal finished, Phineas asked Cy, "Will you join us,Son?" Something about the way Cy's father stood looking at him, elmost expectantly, Cy nodded his head once and excused himself from the table.

The men all retired to the study and soon brandy had been poured and those that smoked, lit cigars. Cy walked the perimeter of the room looking at the handful of men now lounging around listening to the conversation, until one of the men that Cy really didn't know asked, "So Cy, how long will it take for you to get the horses to California?"

Cy looked at the younger man and said, "Assuming we avoid all of the dangers associated with the trip, it will take six months if we miss snow in the Sierra Nevada's. If we don't we find someplace in Arizona and hole up for the winter. Making it next May or June, depending on snow melt"

A shadow of anger crossed the younger man's face as he turned to Masters and said, "I have to wait a year? Maybe more to marry her?"

Cy's rolling laughter, drew all eyes to him as he headed toward the door. Stopping just before walking out, Cy said, "Boy, she'll chop your balls off and serve them to ya for dinner, if you try to make her marry you."

Shaking his head, Cy walked out, closing the door behind him.

Kat hobbled Thunder,the turned and began to walk up the small outcrop of rocks. She had hiked these rocks and caves many times,sometimes usuing them to hide from her father or whoever else she didnt want to find her. Several times an indian scouting party had passed so close to her hiding hermshe thought for sure she would be caught,but they had journeyed on. She cursed when her footing slipped and she hit her knee on a pointed rock. "Damnit!"She hissed continuing on to finally hit the summmit.

She stood there looking out over the plains,the moon casting a white glow over the quietness. A quietness she knew could be decieivng,she dropped down to sit indian style on the smooth ledge,looking out over the world she would soon be once mor venturing out into. Maybe she would make this her last run,think about settling down and giving her father a grandchild or two. She smiled as the image of raising her children on the ranch she grew up in,she loved that piece of land.She pulled her hat from her head and leaned back against another rock,just looking out over the land,closing her eyes.she let the anger she had earlier drain from her body.

Cy continued through the house, giving the ladies a wink nad a smile as he left the house. A pressure immediately lifted from his chest. Being in another man's house always felt like a bull sitting on his chest. In that he didn't own his own house, perhaps it was being in any house that caused the sensation.

Breathing deep and rolling his shoulders, the last of the pressure sliding off of him. Whistling a piece that he had heard in Houston a couple of years ago, Cy headed out to his horse and mounted. One last hot bath and shave were on orderbefore the trip west.

Spurring the horse forward, Cy's whistling stopped as the horse crossed the property line and his eyes began their constant non stop sweeping across the landscape. Front, right, front, left, front, glance back. Over and over, Cy repeated the process, the only change in cadence occured for the glance behind himself. Sometimes one sweep to the front and sides, sometimes three sweeps, sometimes, as many as five sweeps of the landscape.

Kat finally rode her horse back onto the ranch,sliding off. She brushed hi down and fed him,beofre starting out of the barn. She stopped and leaned against the doors and looekd out over the corrals. She could still hear some laughter coming from the house,mostly sounded like the men still drinking. Sighing she pushed away and walked over to the fence,tossing one leg up and over,hoisted herself up to sit astride the top post.

She cocked her head as she heard soft noises..must be a coon. SHe thought to herself pulling her hat from her head. She heard the noise again and this time really listened. It sounded like someone shifting through the tall grass along the fence. She slid quietly off the post and moved along the fence. Her cry was cut off as she was tackled to the ground,a hand covering her mouth as a male voice hissed for her to shut up.

"Dangit,Kyle,,she heard us."Came the voice as Kat was toissed onto her stomach hard,the breath whooshing from her lungs. "Well,shut her up,we have to let theses horses out."Came the reply. Kat knew if the rustlers got the horses loose,the ride would never happen. She struggled under the man holding her. Her teeth biting down into the hand over her mouth hard. The fist that connected with the bakc of her head made her see stars.

Cy glanced behind himself as was customary and saw a shadow flit across the light from the house window. His face scrunched up as he wheeled the horse around. He could faintly hear the nickering and snorts of the horses in the corrals. Something doesn't sound right.

With a "tchk" and a small tap to the horses flank, Cy rode back toward the corrals. Not far into the property Cy slid off the saddle and slapped the horses rear. The horse took off and Cy crouched down getting a feel for what, or who, was out here.

He could hear four or five people moving around near the stables and corral. Off to his right, a low moan of pain sounded. Crawling over, Cy saw Kat lying face down on the ground, some man sitting on on top of her rubbing his hand.

Kat's groan gained a little strength and the man sitting on her cocked his arm back.

Cy stopped moving and raised to his knees and let loose with his knife. Thrown a little wider than intended, the knife sliced through the man's bicep as he was throwing a punch at Kat's head again. His scream of "OW SHIT!" rang through the night. Cy leap to his feet and closed the distance between them in a second. His booted foot slashed out catching the man in the jaw. A sickening sound erupted from the man's face as blood and a tooth spewed from his mouth.

Cy eyed the collapsed man, and then turned to Kat, rolling her over and helping her sit up, "Are you okay?" he asked

Kat groaned and sat up,accepting his hand to rise. Her head swam and she gave the man on the ground a good swwift kick to the ribs. "Sonuva..."She stopped the curse before it escaped totally from her mouth. She looked aorund for the other rustlers,she could hear them running but couldnt see them. She looked down at the man lying motionless in front of them. "Jasper Davis..."She said hatefully turning to lean against the fence railing."He is one of our neighbors sons."She said reaching up to rub the back of her head,frowning when her fingertips came away with blood on them.

She looked over at Cy and let out a hiss. "I should gut him right here."She growled moving towards the down man. Her eyes glowed with her anger. She stopped inches from the man,deciding to let her father deal with him instead."I really dont want to deal with my father again tonight. Could you handle this?"She asked him softly finally controllingher anger. Her head had started to ache as she looked at him. "Just please dont tell him..I got bested."She added softly,blushing,glad for the cover of darkness.

Cy pulled his knife from the man's arm and turned and looked at Kat. "Yeah, I can take care of him. First let me look at that head of yours."

Cy stepped behind Kat and gently probed at her scalp, it was a small laceration, but not bad. "You'll be fine." Cy declared.

Cy kicked Jarvis' foot and said, Come on boy. Otherwise I'll ask this polecat you pissed off to whup you some more."

Kicking Jarvis' feet every couple of feet Cy herded him to the back of the house. Stepping inside Cy tracked down old man Masters and gave him a run down on what had happened.

They then stepped outside looking down at the groaning Jarvis

Kat walked into her room through the back entrance,she heard the men moving outside. She didnt want to be aorund when her dad got done with Jarvis. She pulled her clothes off and drug on a thin nightgown the dropped to the floor,flowing around her. SHe wlaked over to the mirror and looked at her jaw,it was red,hopefully no bruising. She lifted her hand to the back of her head and felt the drying scab. It had stopped bleding but was sore as ll getout.

She moved to her bed and sank down on it,sighing. Tomorrow was going to be a long day. She would have to deal with her father over her attitude tonihgt,then the rustlers..finally mapping out their course of riding. She thought of Cy and then frowned. Why was she thinking about him so much..she had to stay focused on this ride. Plus she had to deal with the marriage hungry neighbor. She rubbed her brow and lay back on the bed,closing her eyes.

Cy watched a few minutes as old man Masters laid into Jarvis verbally. As Master's was losing steam Cy walked off toward his horse, Master's concern switched from the horses to Kat.

"How's Kat?" Masters asked.

"She's fine, I think she was headed inside as I brought Jarvis to ya." Cy replied.

"She okay? Odd for her to not be here for this." A dubious look was creasing Masters' face.

"Jarvis here did way lay her. I'm sure she is resting." Cy replied.

"He hurt her?" Alarm now shone from Masters' face.

"Less than she hurt him." With a growing exasperation Cy replied.

"I should go check on her." Masters said.

"You want him dead then?" Cy asked tilting his chin toward Jarvis.

"NO!" Masters yelled. "I want him taken to the sheriff."

"Not my job, I don't babysit horse rustlers." Cy replied. "Maybe you should take care of him first, and then Miss Kat."

Cy walked off from Masters, leaving him there with Jarvis. Walking back to his horse, Cy saw a shadow cross a window and watched as he saw Kat walk from one side of the room to the other and flop, presumably on the bed.

Mounting his horse, Cy headed back to town, wondering idly why his fingers tingled when he had touched Kat, and more importantly, why did they still?

Kat tossed and turned the rest of the night,her dad had knocked on her door once but she had told him to go away. She didnt want to deal with him at that moment.She sighed and kicked the blankets loose from her legs and slid out of the bed. She walked over to the vanity,her face looked like she had a sleepless night,her eyes held dark circles under them and a faint bruise formed over her right cheekbone. She splashed the cool water over her face,sighing at the initial wake-up sting. She patted her face dry and then turned to her closet. She pulled out the normal wear for her,riding pants,button up shirt,and her dusty boots. She attatched her pistols to her hip and finally grabbed her hat. Her hair hung loose this morning and down her back as she walked out of the room.

She stopped in the dining room and saw noone there,maybe she would get away without running into her father for now. She sighed when his voice boomed from the kitchen. She turned and walked across the dining room and pushed into the kitchen. her father sat at the small dinette table sipping coffee. He looked her up and down the frowned deeply. His eyes darkened with his anger as he set the cup down."I should have strung that snot nosed kid up last night."He growled as he stood coming over to raise her face in his hand. His eyes stopped ont he bruise and she felt herself pulling away form him.

"Daddy,Im fine. I got careless and they got the upper hand."She said sitting down and lifting up a cup to fill with coffee. She sipped the hot liquid and bit back a gasp. "I guess Cy and I will plan the trail today,mark the herd,and get things ready to go Friday.She looked over at him,giving him a soft smiling,loving him dearly but hating how careful he was with her. Standing she moved towards the door.."Dont worry,Daddy. Ill be careful today. "She said as she blew him a kiss and headed out the door before he could say anything.

Kat moved across the yard,pausing long enough to bend down and pet the scraggly dog that ran around the ranch. SHe stood back up and looke dout over the corral,the horses were out and moving about anxiously,not a good sign. Usually a sign of a storm brewing,she looked to the sky as she walked across the dirt. She walked into the barn and nodded to Carlos,grabbing her tack gear. She moved to Thunder's stall and began to ready him for a morning of work. She moved quickly and efficiently and soon was riing out of the barn.Her body moved fluidly in her saddle as she rode out along the fence to gauge all the damage,happy that her hands had fixed the minor damage.

She turned reins and Thinder moved out across the pasture at a run,happy to be running for the moment. Kat loved the morning ride before she pulled him up and turned back to the barn,she held her hand over her eyes and noticed horses had come in while she was out. Must be Cy,she thought as she rode back towards the corral.

It was a solid, if dream filled sleep. For what ever reason visions of Kat tumbled about in his head. The smell of her as he examined her wound, the feel of her skin against his, Cy woke before dawn first thought was the same as his last thought and most of the dreams between the two: Kat.

Downing a quick cup of coffee and grabbing a sausage and biscuit sandwich, Cy headed back to the Masters ranch. The early morning ride allowed Cy to clear his head and get everything back in perspective.

Arriving at the ranch Cy learned that Kat was out riding, and with a sigh, turned to the foreman to find out if any of the herd needed marking, then set about the task of doing so.

Cy heard a horse coming back quick, its hooves thundering. Looking over he saw Kat on her horse, moving in an easy grace, her hair trailing behind her, a large smile at riding on her face. Her breasts leaping up and crashing in time to Thunder's stride, causing Cy's mouth to dry up.

As she pulled up, Cy cleared his throat and said, "Morning Kat. We started marking the herd already. We should be done in another half hour or so, do you want to go over provisions then?"

Kat slid from her horse and nods as Cy began talking. She looks out over the herd and smiles,knowing they are off to a good start in preparations. "Yeah,Ill get started on those as soon as I rub Thunder down."She said moving off towards the barn,leading the panting horse. Her neck felt the heat of his gaze as she walked away from him and vanished in the barn.

Once in the barn she gave in to the urge to look back over her shoulder towards him,knowing he was out of sight from her gaze. She shook her head,scolding herself for letting her mind roam about Cy. They were business assosciates..nothing more. She felt the nudge from Thunder's muzzle,knocking her off balance and back to the present. Laughing she lifted his feed bag and hooked it over his nose,grabbing the brush and running it across his sily coat.

"Well,boy..looks like this is going to be your retirement ride. After this there wont be any need for wranglers herding with the trains and all moving in."She said softly feeling a bit down at the thought."You have earned a good retirement though."She whispered to the horse as she brushed him down,her mind wansering and closing out everything else around her.

Cy watched Kat as she walked to the barn to rub Thunder down, some part of his mind muttered, "Lucky horse."

Turning back to the task at hand, marking the horses. It was long hot work the sun beating down on them like a hammer pounding on an anvil. The half hour turned into an hour a couple of the horses proving spirited.

Covered in dust and sweat Cy caught Kat walking out of the barn out of the corner of his eye and forced himself to not stare at her. It was proving hard, and Cy wasn't sure why. Sighing, Cy dusted himself off and walked toward her.

Walking up to Kat, Cy said, "There's a creek back that way, right? I want to take a quick dip to clean up some, then we can sit down and work on provisions. That all right with you?"