Finding Kate

by Pollitt, Julie

  The paramedic felt Emma’s wrist. “She’s got a pulse.”

  Kate sat back and ran her hands back and forth along her thighs. She swallowed hard and choked back tears.

  “Thanks Tom,” Will said to the paramedic.

  “We need to get her to the hospital, stat. You want to ride with her?”

  “Of course.”

  Kate watched as the men lifted Emma onto the lowered gurney and ran wires from her body to the heart monitor before lifting her up to move her to the ambulance.

  A blue line bounced up and down on the monitor, showing a consistent heartbeat. Kate relaxed her hands, not realizing they had been drawn up into fists. She let out a breath of air and the tears began to flow.

  As the two men wheeled Emma toward the front door, Max walked inches behind. His tail hung low, and he whimpered all the way. Before they stepped outside, Max leapt up on his hind legs, trying to reach Emma.

  “You’ve got to stay here, buddy.” Kate slipped her hand through his collar, stopping him at the door. Her hands tightened as he tugged against her grip, hoping he would not try to run. His cry became louder the further Emma went from his sight.

  Will placed his hand on Kate’s shoulder before walking out the door. “I can get someone to finish cleaning the stalls. Can you feed the chickens like I showed you?”

  She nodded her head. “I can handle that.”

  “Thank you.” He paused for a moment in her stare before following the others outside.

  Will climbed into the back of the ambulance before they slid the gurney inside. Tom stepped up on the bumper and sat on the bench next to Emma before the other paramedic closed the back doors and climbed into the driver’s seat.

  Kate closed her eyes as a tear fell, and prayed.

  The house fell silent as the ambulance drove away. Kate closed the door and released Max, lingering at the door still whining.

  “She’ll be okay.” Kate knew Max would most likely stay at the door until her return.

  Kate’s pain in her ankle increased, throbbing from her spill on the porch. She limped to the freezer, packed a plastic bag full of ice, and sat on the back porch. The cold gave momentary relief from the physical pain. It did nothing for the ache in her heart.

  ***

  Seed lay scattered around the bag where Will tossed it to the ground before running inside to save Emma. It was too heavy for Kate to lift. She found a bucket on the inside wall, took it to the spill, and scooped up the feed.

  Once the sack was half empty, she dragged it to the metal feed bin. She gathered some seed out of the bag and dumped it into the bin.

  She gripped the wooden handle and carried the bucket to the chicken coop. The creatures’ heads bobbed up and down pecking the hard, dusty ground. “Emma said you guys are lovable. I’m not getting that vibe.”

  Max sat several feet away, watching Kate feed the chickens. She figured he doubted her abilities as much as she did.

  “I am your friend,” she said to the squawking foul. “Don’t peck me, or I may just freak out and run and then you won’t get anything to eat.” She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath.

  She slipped her finger around the latch of the coop, unhinged it, and inched her way inside. Max barked and Kate screamed, sending the chickens scattering to the back of the pen. She burst out laughing, releasing her nerves. “Thanks, buddy. That helped.”

  Seed filled the palm of her hand and she stretched out her arm, tossing the food a few feet in front of her. A mass of white and brown feathers meshed together. Kate hopped back, leaving the chickens to their meal.

  I did it. She tipped her head to the side, back and forth, in a little happy dance before digging her hand in the seed again. Her confidence level continued to rise.

  “This isn’t so bad. You stick to your eating area and we might stay friends.”

  A sense of pride rushed through her. Sure, it wasn’t anything to write home about, but staying in the chicken coop long enough to feed them was a feat Kate never thought she could manage.

  Max barked again. At least someone acknowledged her accomplishment.

  ***

  “Will she be all right?” Will asked his friend as they sat on the black vinyl ambulance bench.

  Tom swiped Emma’s arm with an alcohol swab. “Her vitals aren’t stable.” He inserted an IV into her arm and held it in place with clear medical tape. “Give me as much of her recent medical history as you know.”

  “She has a brain tumor.”

  “I don’t want to ask this,” Tom paused for a moment. “Does she have a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ order?”

  “I don’t think so. She was just diagnosed last week.” Will ran his hand along the side of Emma’s cheek, hoping for a response. Nothing.

  Tom placed his hand on Will’s arm. “I’m sorry.”

  He nodded.

  Tom pressed buttons on the heart monitor. He pulled out the pen resting behind his ear and marked the report. “Is that all that’s going on with her health?”

  “That’s it. She’s actually been doing great up until now. I didn’t expect this.”

  “We never do, but it’s something we have to be ready for, as much as we don’t want to.”

  Tom continued his routine and lifted the handheld radio connected to his shirt, and let the hospital know of their impending arrival before speaking again to Will. “Who’s the girl at the ranch?”

  “Oh, that’s Kate. She’s helping revive the Wintervale Times, and she’s staying at my rental house. She’s been helping out at Emma’s ranch the past few days.”

  “She looks a little too stylish to be doing manual labor. She also looks too cute for you.” Tom winked.

  Will knew his comments were in jest. “Don’t get any bright ideas. She’s only here for the summer. Besides, it seems like she has a thing for Trevor. They both worked for her father at a newspaper in Chicago.”

  “Sounds like a pretty great gal to me.”

  He shook his head back and forth. “She’s not the girl for me.” Will didn’t want to admit that his feelings were changing toward Kate. Could she be a part of his life? Everything seemed to work against him. Why would Kate be any different?

  A high-pitched alarm squealed on the heart monitor. A solid line crossed the screen. Will’s pulse quickened, and sweat beaded up on his face. He stared down at Emma, helpless.

  Tom grabbed a tube of gel and squeezed it on Emma’s chest. “Emma’s coded. She’s in ventricular fibrillation.” He grabbed two V-fib paddles, placed them on the gel, and sent an electrical shock to her heart. He glanced at the monitor. “No change.”

  “C’mon Emma,” Will said. “You can’t go. Not now.”

  The ambulance picked up speed, the surge pushing Will backward.

  The muffled cry of the ambulance siren reverberated in Will’s head. He closed his eyes and prayed. God, I’ll do anything. Anything at all. Just let Emma live.

  Chapter Nine

  “You want me to write a feature story on a cattle drive?” Kate asked Trevor as she coughed between words.

  “There’s just one catch,” he said.

  “And that is…?” Kate said, rubbing her forehead as if she was helping the idea penetrate into her brain.

  “You have to be on a horse.”

  “Oh, no. That’s not going to happen.” Her vision darted back and forth across the room.

  “Trust me, you’ll love it.”

  “How about I ride behind the others in my car?” That sounded like a good, safe alternative.

  “You wouldn’t feel like you’re part of the drive that way. Come on, it’ll be fun.”

  “I can’t get on a horse. They’re huge.”

  “You can do this. I know you can.”

  Kate knew he wouldn’t make her go on the cattle drive if she didn’t want to. But he was famous for talking her into doing things that challenged her comfort zone. Each time, she’d been thankful for it.

  “Let me call you back. We can ta
lk more,” he said. “That’s Victoria on the other line.”

  “Okay, I’ll—“

  Her cell phone flashed “End Call.” Apparently, Victoria took precedence. Strangely, it didn’t bother Kate as much as it would have a week ago.

  ***

  “Where am I?”

  Will stood up from his chair, hurried across the room to Emma’s bedside, and slid his hand into hers. “You’re in the hospital. You gave us quite a scare.”

  The color hadn’t returned to her face. “I remember talking to Kate in my kitchen. Everything after that’s a jumble.”

  “Doc says you’re doin’ a lot better. Your vitals perked up this morning.” Will glanced at the monitor, lines bumping up and down in a variety of colors.

  “I can’t check out yet. The Wintervale Days annual celebration is next month. I’ve never missed one so far.” Emma smiled at Will.

  That woman could turn fear into humor faster than anyone he knew.

  “Did I miss the cattle drive?” She raised her eyebrows.

  “It’s today.”

  Emma wrapped her wrinkled hand around the railing on the side of the bed and tried to sit up.

  “Oh no, you don’t.” He gently held her shoulders down. “You’re not going anywhere.”

  She relaxed into her pillow. “But if I can’t, I want you to go.”

  “The other riders can cover for me.” He grabbed the chair, slid it closer to Emma’s bed, and sat down.

  “I’ll be just fine. I bet I have the best docs watching out for me here.”

  “I still wouldn’t feel right about leaving.”

  She tapped his hand with her fingers. “You look forward to this drive all year. Besides, you’re one of the best wranglers out there.”

  He looked at the floor and scooted his boot around, flipping the brake up and down on the bed. “Fine. But I’m coming right back after.” Being away from her would make him impatient, worried.

  “Just take a shower first.” Emma winked.

  “It’s a promise.” He squeezed her hand. Guilt set in for leaving, but he knew Emma wanted him to go on the drive. He could get back to the hospital by late evening and stay by her side.

  ***

  Kate drove a short distance from town before spotting the cattle-filled pasture, and swerved into a makeshift dirt parking lot already filled with pickup trucks.

  The sun broke through the morning clouds, shining in waves across the emerald pasture. A mass of brown-and-white cows grazed among the grass, eating and mooing. She grabbed her camera and stepped out of the car.

  A young woman in black leather cowboy boots and a denim jacket approached with an outstretched hand. “You must be Kate. I’m Nancy. Trevor called and said to watch for you. He was right, that is a shiny red car. Nice.”

  “Thanks.” Kate tried to stifle her nerves and appear calm.

  “I can show you to your horse and give you a rundown of how everything works on a cattle drive.”

  Kate slung her camera strap over her shoulder. “I hope you’re going to tell me how I can watch the drive from the sidelines.” Kate chuckled at her own joke.

  “Not a chance. You have to experience this firsthand. Besides, what good would a story be if you’re not in the thick of it?” She tucked a strand of blonde hair back into the ponytail poking out from under her cowboy hat.

  At this point, Kate’s knees could signal an SOS in Morse Code as they knocked together.

  “We’ve got a horse saddled for you. Follow me.” Nancy zigzagged between parked pickup trucks and walked toward the pasture. At least ten horses were hitched in a line along the fencepost. A grouping of cowboys holding mugs and chatting stood close to a food cart. They stopped talking long enough to watch her walk by.

  “This one’s yours.” Nancy ran her hand along the flank of a short, chubby brown horse like it was a fine leather jacket. “I figured this might be your first time. Mabel will take good care of you.”

  “Mabel?” Kate laughed. “With a name like that, she shouldn’t buck too much, right?” She inched up to the horse, half expecting her racing heart to leap from her chest and splat onto the ground.

  Mabel whinnied and rocked her head up and down. Kate muffled a scream and pulled her hands close to her chest.

  “She’s harmless. I promise.” Nancy scratched Mabel’s mane.

  “Let me help.” Will’s deep voice boomed behind her. She turned and saw him and Trevor both walking toward her. Her stomach settled at bit, but she wasn’t sure which man’s presence dispelled her fears more.

  “I’ll do it,” Trevor said, budging past Will. “I know how she feels about this.”

  Will stepped in front of Trevor. “Maybe, but I’ve got a lot more experience than you do.”

  “I’m the one who talked her into this, so I feel responsible for her. Besides, she knows me better.” Trevor jokingly elbowed past Will.

  Will placed his hand on Trevor’s shoulder. “I said I’d help her.” He smiled and winked at Trevor.

  Feeling flattered these two men were arguing over her, Kate crossed her arms and leaned back. As she did, she felt the warmth of the horse behind her. While the men continued arguing, she hiked up her leg, slipped her foot into the stirrup, and grasped the saddle horn. Nancy leaned down and helped boost Kate upright in the saddle.

  “Kevin Costner makes this look a lot easier than it is,” Kate giggled. She raised her hands above her head and wiggled her arms like a champion. Mabel moved beneath her and she threw her hands back on the horn, gripping it tight.

  She looked down at the two men staring at her. “Let’s get going. We have a cattle drive to do.”

  “I’m proud of you,” Will said. He patted the horse’s shoulder and walked toward his own mount.

  “See, Kate? I knew you could do it.” Trevor looked up and smiled. “You’re capable of a lot more than you think.”

  ***

  The sun scorched Kate’s skin, sending prickles of pain to her exposed neck. She hadn’t covered it with a bandana or wide-brimmed hat as the others had. Her backbone ached from the movement of the horse, and her sore legs hung loose over the saddle, in spite of Nancy’s warning to keep her feet in the stirrups. She now understood why cowboys ended up walking bowlegged.

  But her heart felt surprisingly free as she sat atop the horse. The hum of the cattle mooing actually soothed her. The deep green Wintervale valley stretched for miles in every direction.

  The wranglers moved in constant motion, corralling cattle whenever they shifted directions, steering them back to the assigned path with a surprising amount of help from cattle dogs.

  Dust stirred in the dry air, casting a light brown haze.

  “What do you think so far?” Will said, riding up next to her.

  “I could get used to it.” The mountains in the distance were majestic and breathtaking. “The views are amazing here,” Kate said.

  “I bet Chicago is beautiful.”

  “It is, if you can see past the buildings. The quiet solitude here is mesmerizing. I’ve never felt anything like it.”

  “Too bad you have to go back to the city in the fall.” Will said.

  “Right.” Part of her felt at home. In the short time since arriving in Wintervale, she felt a peace she’d never felt before. Maybe the quiet calm of the country had something to do with it.

  Who was she kidding? She didn’t belong here. Sure, riding a horse was incredible, but she was a city girl. Kate wanted to fit in here. But as she looked around at the others riding, she felt like an outsider. She’d watched them all morning. They helped each other and had a camaraderie she hadn’t experienced before.

  Will wiped his face with a handkerchief. He handed her a yellow bandana. She took it with thanks and wiped her sweaty brow. Then she tied it around her neck, adjusting the camera strap. By now, she must’ve taken one hundred pictures. She couldn’t wait to sit down someplace air-conditioned, with a seat that didn’t move beneath her, and write the story. With the
solid lead she already had in mind, she knew it would be a great story.

  Trying to stave off the thoughts of returning to Chicago, she asked Will, “How is Emma doing?”

  “She’s got a bit of her spirit back. That woman’s a fighter. Unfortunately, it’s just a matter of time.”

  His face softened as he talked about Emma. She wondered if tears were mixed in with the sweat. Kate knew brain cancer usually spelled the end. She just prayed Emma’s death wouldn’t break Will’s heart. His willingness to watch over her proved how much he cared for the woman.

  “We’ve got a stray on the west side!” One of the wrangler’s voices came through on the walkie-talkie Will carried.

  He stood up in his stirrups and scanned the area. He spotted a calf and pointed. “He’s heading toward the river.” His fingers clutched the radio and he said, “I’ll get him. I just hope it’s not too late.”

  Chapter Ten

  Will pulled back on his reins, heading west toward the stray calf. He slid the tips of his fingers into his mouth, letting off a high-pitched whistle.

  A dog shot out from behind some cows and ran up alongside Will’s horse.

  “Attaboy, Max.”

  Will winked at Kate. “You want to see him get the calf?”

  “Definitely.”

  With a nod at the other wrangler, Will galloped away from the drive. Kate yanked on the reins to follow. Mabel jerked right, throwing Kate off balance in the saddle. She edged her left foot back into the stirrup and righted herself.

  Will bolted ahead. Not wanting to get left behind, Kate flipped the reins against her horse’s neck. Mabel lunged forward. The thrust tumbled Kate’s body backward. The reins slipped from her grasp. Her thighs squeezed the sides of the saddle as she scrambled to grab the saddle horn.

  “I thought you were a calm horse,” Kate muttered, bouncing up and down. Her camera, strapped around her neck, flipped behind her and hammered against her back. A jolt of adrenaline coursed through her body. Everything she knew about horses came from western movies. That knowledge wasn’t much help at the moment.

  The ground beneath Kate blurred as Mabel picked up her speed. The horse’s hooves thundered against the earth. Kate fought against momentum to lean forward in an attempt to reach the reins. The reins flopped alongside the horse’s head, repeatedly eluding Kate’s grasp. Unable to grab anything but mane, Kate gripped a handful of horsehair. Her fingernails dug into her palms. The next good bounce yanked Kate backward, but she held on tight.