{Chapter 18}

Katie put up the last of the breakfast dishes and wiped her hands on her apron before untying it and tossing it into the back of the chuck wagon. The morning air swept over her and she smiled. It’s wasn’t a hot, stifling air but a cool, gentle breeze that calmed a person’s nerves. The bright blue sky was clear and spotless, not a cloud in sight. The grass waved in the wind and the rustling sound it made the day perfect.

“Perty day, ain’t it?” a voice said from beside her.

Katie smiled and turned to the voice. “It sure is, Adam.”

“Want to take advantage of it?” Adam asked.

“Depends. What are your plans?” Katie gave him a look. “Ones that include vandalism or destruction of public property as usual?”

Adam put a hand on his chest, pretending that he was deeply hurt. “I’m a changed man, Miss Morris.”

“I don’t believe a word of it,” Katie teased.

Adam gasped, and then stopped his façade. “Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to go for a ride since it’s just a gorgeous morning.”

“Sure. Just let me throw on my riding skirt” Katie turned to the wagon.

“I’ll get the horses” Adam turned in the opposite direction.

Within the next few minutes, the horses had been saddled and Katie was changed. Adam helped her up into her saddle and mounted Blondie beside her. The rode so that the wind blew against their backs, taking in the wide Kansas terrain. Katie smiled as she looked over the flat and wide expanse of the lans. For the past three weeks, she had been surrounded by God’s country. It seemed that He was more evident when there wasn’t another soul around to hinder His voice and movement. It was nearly as if you could see Him in each blade of grass as it rustled in the wind.

“I’ve got something to tell you” Adam’s voice interrupted her.

Katie turned her head to look at him. “What’s on your mind?”

“Well, yesterday I got to thinking about what you said. About revenge not solving anything. You were right. I think I knew that all along, but my mind was just telling me something different. I felt like I truly listened to God last night. I finally decided to give Joel’s murder and my hate and bitterness up to God. I feel so free now” Adam smiled. “I feel like there’s nothing stopping me from doing anything I take a fancy to. I can honestly say that I’m trying to forgive Brant… or whoever killed my brother… and let the chips fall where they may.”

Katie smiled. “I’m happy for you. What now?”

“I don’t know. There are so many different directions I can go with this. I can confront Brant, but that would probably lead to gunplay and get another murder. I could try to figure out things on my own, but I would more than likely get caught… they already think I’m suspicious” Adam sighed.

“You could talk to Mark about it,” Katie offered.

“No” Adam shook his head. “Mark is up to no good.”

Katie nodded. “I knew it. What’s he done?”

“Well, he’s got Toni to sign a paper of some sort for him. Back before we left, he brought a paper in and forced Toni to sign it quickly before she read it. I asked Toni about it and she told me that she trusted her uncle. Something’s up. I can feel it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?” Katie asked.

“I don’t even know why I’m telling you now.”

Katie huffed. “No one ever sees fit to tell me anything. I’m just the nosy, annoying cousin.”
Adam smiled over at her. “You’re not annoying.”

“But you admit to the nosy part?” Katie leveled him with a look.

“You might be a little bit nosy,” Adam said slowly.

“I’d watch my step if I were you, young man” Katie took on a scolding tone.

“You said it, not me.”
“I’m allowed to say it. You’re not” Katie grinned.

Adam laughed as they topped a rise that lifted them higher than the rest of the otherwise flat ground. . One could see on for miles as the land spread out wider and wider off into the morning horizon. Sunlight caught the golden strands on shin-high grass and made them glisten. Adam stopped his horse and dismounted. They were well away from the campsite but not far enough so that they could get lost.

He came around and helped her off her horse. She slid down the length of his body and he placed her feet on the ground. She smiled up at him and he took her hand in his, leading her to a place a few feet away from the horses where he sat on the ground. Katie sat beside him.

“Have you ever thought about picking up where we left off?”

Katie stiffened. His question startled her.

“Wh-Where we left off?”

Adam sighed. “It might be wishful thinking. After all, I don’t guess you just court a person after hating them for so long.”

Katie’s heart softened. “I never hated you, Adam. I was just mad at you for five years, is all.”

Adam smiled. “I don’t blame you.”

Katie sighed. “I feel so ashamed of that. Are you sure you’d like to pick back up with me?”

“I’ve never been so sure about anything before in my life,” Adam stated as serious as he could be, with not a hint of an emotion on his face.

“But there are so many others who are just perfect for you. Millie Jennings, for instance, is a wonderful…”

“You’re the only woman for me” Adam interrupted. “In the past years, I have never had eyes for any other woman. No woman in the world can hold a candle to you, sweetness.”

Katie felt herself smile sheepishly like a schoolgirl. “I don’t think you know what you’re saying…”

“I know exactly what I’m saying, Kate. I mean, Katie,” Adam corrected himself.

Katie smiled and put her palm flat against the side of his face. “I don’t mind ‘Kate’ so much now.”

Adam smiled and turned his head to kiss her palm. “I don‘t know how I lived without you.”

He leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose. Then, after a moment’s thought, brushed a gentle kiss on her lips.

Are you gonna take all day?” Ben turned around, sitting tall and erect on his horse, watching her bounce up and down on her old mare.

“I’m trying but… this horse is killing me!” Katie bounced down hard on the saddle.

“I do believe you’re terrible at riding a horse in a normal position,” Ben laughed.

“Normal? What’s normal about this? Things are in places they normally aren’t, and that includes my innards,” Katie protested.

“What’s normal about being coiled up like a rattler when you’re ridin’ a horse?” Ben retorted.

“No lady ever questions propriety” Katie stopped her horse and slid off. “I need a break, my legs are killing me.”

“Then you must not be too much of a lady, huh?” Ben grinned, hopping off his quarter horse.

She shot her eyes at him. “I’m a perfect lady, thank you very much.”

“Yeah, and you’re also wearing jeans” Ben grinned.

Katie huffed. This was the first and last time she would ever take a riding lesson from Ben.

“These are the result of a desperate attempt to fit in” she stated.

“Of course. Let’s not even mention the fact that you’re out here in the middle of nowhere, alone, with me. How does that set with the propriety book of etiquette?” Ben grinned mischievously at her.

“It sets under the category ’mistake made by a woman who’s a sucker for green eyes’, that’s what” Katie huffed.

Ben stepped closer. “Mistake? I don’t think so.”

Katie looked at him as he stopped right in front of her, his face only inches from hers. “You set this whole thing up, didn’t you? You never thought I was going to need to learn to ride.”

Ben acted like he was thinking. “No. No, I’m pretty sure I set this thing up. How else was I going to get past the Boss Lady?”

Katie socked him on his chest. “You’re a sneak, and a…”

“Coward, cad, moron, ignoramus… Yeah, I get it. You’re mad at me” Ben smiled, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“What are you doing?” Katie tried to tug free.

“What I know you want me to” Ben answered.

She didn’t like that look in his eyes… or maybe she did.

Then, he did the unthinkable.

Katie jumped back as if she had been burned. She felt like the worst traitor in the world. Blinking back the hot tears that stung behind her eyes, she ran for her horse, resisting Adam’s calls to her. Before she could ride away, he grabbed the bridle to her horse.

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I-I had no right.”

Katie took several shallow breaths. “It’s not you… it’s just… I have to go” She turned her horse and rode back to camp, letting her tears flow freely.

Thank you for reading, my lovelies!

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