Unspoken Pleasure

“What the hell is going on?” Bill demanded to know from his perch on top of the horse. He was looking down at the three men laying face down on their stomachs.

“Seems that some of Wilson’s hands decided to pay us a visit. I followed their tracks from the fence line to here. Caitlin was taking a swim and these three were trying to sneak up on her.” I had walked over to my prisoners and I pushed the barrel of my rifle into the littler guys neck. “I think this one here has something he wants to tell you.”

I prodded him one more time. “We did it. We took some of your cattle. But it was Wilson that made us do it,” he wailed plaintively.

Bill cocked his hat back and gave me a big smile. “You know, when my grandfather started this ranch they would just hang horse thieves and cattle rustlers. Seems like that was justice. Shame we have to be civilized now a days.”

Sam kept watch over the uninvited visitors while Bill and I talked quietly. We decided to march them back down. Bill and I followed them with rifles in hand as they walked in front of us. Sam tethered their horses together and brought up the rear. When we reached the buildings we took the rustlers inside the barn and put them in separate stalls next to each other and had them sit. With the stall doors open we could see them but they couldn’t see each other. Bill went into the house and called the sheriff while Sam and I stood guard.

Less than half an hour later the sheriff came speeding up the mile long drive. I went out and talked to him with Bill and we told him what had transpired. I suggested we bring the little fellow out first and let sheriff talk to him. He agreed and I quickly had my prisoner standing outside. The smell left no doubt who had shit his pants. It seemed he had second thoughts about his confession and refused to talk at first.

“Seems to me Bill, that all we have here is a simple case of trespassing. It really is a waste of my time to have to deal with it. I guess I can just leave them here and forget I ever saw them and you can handle things as you see fit,” the sheriff said.

The little rustler’s eyes widened in fear and he suddenly started talking. The sheriff soon had the truth. He called in backup and before long there was a line of sheriff vehicles streaming onto Wilson’s ranch. Wilson’s ranch was close to sixteen thousand acres but the sheriffs knew where to look. The rustler had told them what part of the ranch they had been holding the stolen cattle. In all they found almost one hundred head with the Rocking B brand. Before the day was out Wilson and his hands were behind bars.

With all the excitement it was after nine before we got to sit down for supper. Caitlin sat at the table but kept her eyes on the plate in front of her.

“Just what were you doing up there?” Bill asked her as he hadn’t had much of a chance to talk to her.

“I was just taking a swim. I didn’t think that anyone was going to come spy on me.” She gave me an accusing glare as she said that.

“First of all, Caitlin,” I began. “I was not spying on you. I followed the tracks of their horses to the stream. And second, what do you think what would have happened to you if I hadn’t been there. I don’t think those three guys were planning on having a picnic with you when they saw you swimming naked in the pool.” Caitlin’s face turned bright red.

“Thank God you got there when you did, Carson,” Colleen said. “I hate to think what might have happened.”

Everyone dropped the subject and we hurriedly and ate. We still had to be up early in the morning. I left the kitchen for my cabin and was halfway there when Caitlin called out to me. I stopped and waited for her. “So, did you enjoy the view today,” she snapped rudely at me.

I guess it was too much to think she might actually be grateful. “Let’s just say that I would be lying if I told you I didn’t find it to be breathtaking.” Caitlin just let out a “humpff” and turned on her heels to stomp off towards the house. I stood shaking my head. I guessed there was something about me that just pissed her off.

The next day Bill had to go into to town to formally press charges against Wilson. It was going to be several days before we could drive the stolen cattle back to where they belonged. The prosecutor was going to have to document everything first. Sam and I spent the day putting a fresh coat of paint on some of the outbuildings. We ate lunch in the kitchen but Caitlin didn’t join us which suited me fine. Bill got back in the early afternoon but waited until dinner to tell us what had happened.

He told us as this wasn’t a capital case that Wilson and his hands would be let out on bail. He didn’t really think they would try anything again but for us to stay on our toes. Bill looked over at his daughter and gave her a big grin.This content © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

“If you’re going to go up swimming naked any time soon maybe you better take Carson to watch you. I mean to watch out for you,” he said with a chuckle as he teased Caitlin.

Caitlin’s face again turned bright red and she started sputtering as she stood up kicking her chair backwards and raced from the room. Bill and Sam roared with laughter and even Colleen giggled. I couldn’t help chuckling myself. When everyone calmed down again we resumed eating. Bill wasn’t through teasing though.

“I really want to thank you Carson. Wilson could have ended up really putting this ranch in financial trouble. You’re definitely worth every penny I pay you.” We all shared another laugh at that.

Three days later Bill received the word that he could reclaim his cattle. We loaded three horses in to a trailer and drove around to Wilson’s main gate which identified the property as the Flying W Ranch. We were given a sheriff’s escort to where the rustled cattle had been isolated. Colleen had come along to drive the truck and trailer back once we had the horses unloaded. Bill, Sam and I began to push the cows back towards his ranch. I felt like I was in a western movie on a cattle drive. When we neared the Rocking B ranch I rode ahead and loosened enough of the fence line so the cattle could cross over. Once all the cattle were back on the right side we put the fencing back in place and rode back to the main house feeling good about the days work.

Caitlin had applied for her license to becoming a practicing vet. As that normally took around forty five days to be approved, all she could do was tend to the animals on her father’s ranch. I would see her out and about at times and of course at the table at meal time. She still gave me the silent treatment but if I could catch her eye I would give her a big grin and wiggle my eyebrows. This was always enough to cause her to blush. It was two weeks after the incident at the waterfall when we happened to be in the barn at the same time.

“Done any swimming lately?” I said wiggling my eyebrows suggestively. Caitlin walked over and stood inches away and glared at me.

“Why are you such an asshole?” she snapped at me.

I shrugged my shoulders and grinned. “Why are you such a bitch?” I replied.