Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Cat and Dog (09/04/14)
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TITLE: Gun Shy | Previous Challenge Entry
By Rachel Barrett
09/11/14 -
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The driver, to his credit, hadn't wanted to leave her. But some townsfolk with ruffled tempers outvoted him. When a couple of them had recognized her, the insults smarted.
“Only one reason that kind of gal comes to any town.”
“Sooner we're rid of that cat, the better.”
And with that, they left her standing at the lonely crossroads, miles from anywhere, wondering if her past mistakes would always haunt her like this.
Dispirited, Cheyenne began walking. Nothing to do but get out of this wilderness. She'd try, anyway.
********
Evening found her sitting on a rock beside the road, sore-footed and hungry. Spending the night alone in this wild country made a saloon shootout inviting in comparison.
Hooves clattered behind her. She spun in alarm, and dodged frantically as a large horse burst out of the trees almost on top of her. It reared in fright, dumping its rider off into the brush, and came down snorting nervously.
Cautiously, Cheyenne approached the rider, who lay where he'd fallen. Concern struck her at the sight of dark stains on his shirt. A tumble into sagebrush shouldn't hurt that much.
Kneeling, she saw telltale blood seeping from the man's shoulder. Sure enough, a bullet's work. No wonder he'd been thrown when his horse spooked. Cheyenne sat back on her heels, exasperated. Being stranded out here was bad enough. Now this? But she couldn't just leave him here.
She heaved a sigh and took the knife from the man's belt to cut a strip from her petticoat. It would serve better than no bandage at all.
As she knotted it into place, the man stirred. Seeing her, he tried to get up. “What the... Ow!” Wincing, he sank back.
“Hurts, does it?” Cheyenne eyed him. “Looks like somebody shot you.”
“You don't say.” He glared at her. “Who are you?”
Some gratitude. Her hackles went up. “Who cares?”
His lip curled in a faintly canine snarl. “Seeing as you've bungled up my business...”
“Well, I'm sorry I didn't let you bleed to death on the roadside.” Sarcasm colored her words.
“Dadgummit, lady, I don't need your—” He started up again, but couldn't make it. “Ouch!”
“Sure you don't.” Cheyenne bit back another smart remark. No use bickering like cats and dogs. “We're both stuck here. We may as well make the best of it.”
He lay still, studying her. “Don't I know you?”
A rough character like you, and a woman like me? Probably. “No.”
“I remember that red hair. Last year, in Abilene. I met you in a...” He blinked. “Oh.”
She wondered if her face might actually catch fire from turning so hot, and whether he felt as awkward as she did. “Well, now that we've established who I am...” He did seem familiar.
He took the hint. “Colt Matthews.” Gingerly, he shifted his injured shoulder. “Just a trail hand. I got framed for rustling. Thought I'd left the posse behind. After they nailed me, I figured I'd keep on long as I could.”
“So you're wanted.”
“Wrongly.”
Her old distrustful nature flared. “How do I know you're not lying?”
Colt scowled. “You don't. For that matter, how do I know you're not here hunting for some unsuspecting gent to fleece?”
Stung, Cheyenne drew up stiffly. “For your information, I...wanted to start over.”
His frown dampened into cynicism. “That makes two of us, then.”
Cheyenne hugged her arms around her knees. She was tired of arguing, and tired of trying to climb out of the pit she'd dug herself into. Even if she made it out of here, she couldn't escape her past.
“Listen...” Colt's voice broke her gloomy meditations. “If you can catch my horse, there's some food in my saddlebags. Soon as I can ride, we can get away from here.”
His offer baffled her. “You'd help me?”
Colt shrugged his uninjured shoulder. “I owe you one. Looks like we've gotta take a chance on each other.” He pondered. “Ever been to Arizona?”
“No.” How she would make it completely on her own, in Arizona or Timbuktu, she had no idea.
“What say we head that way? I was thinking...” He hesitated. “Might be nice, not trailing alone for a change.”
Hope rose unbidden in Cheyenne's heart. Maybe there was still a second chance waiting for her. And maybe – just maybe – she wouldn't have to find it alone.
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Nicely done,
God bless~
God bless~
Woo hoo- cowboy hat off to you.