Two Broken Souls, Part Iv

...When he awoke, she stood by his side, pointing down at him with his shinny Colt, said,”You’ve just prolonged the pain that I’m in, now stop following me, you damn dolt!” With that she stomped off across the prairie, he watched as she grew smaller in his view, Cole shrugged and had a leisurely breakfast, then mounted up his horse to pursue. When he caught up with her he started talking, of his future farm and what he would build, how he’d make a cabin and plant potatoes, that there would be plentiful game to kill. He would ramble about his long-term plans, a big house with a wrap-around porch, clearing fields so he could plant more acres, and a large barn to keep safe his horse. The woman would just keep trudging on, as the shadows grew long she would get weak, in her delirium Cole would give her food, and then the whole cycle would repeat. For four days this just went on and on, until they drew within sight on the Rockies, and beneath those grey and frosted peaks, the sun-burnt woman just dropped to her knees. She let out a pained, heat-rending wail, and it brought relief to Cole’s tired eyes, people resigned to death didn’t cry like that, you have something still living inside. Cole leapt off his horse, ran to her side, and wrapped her up safely in his arms. He held her in silence as she left go, no more words of the future and his farm. She cried out her pain for half an hour, before she collapsed, exhausted, on his chest. Cole said,”What say I get you something to eat? Right now I’m thinking that would be best.” She nodded and ate half of his jerky before she refused to take any more, then without a word he lifted her up and carried her over to his horse. She was so petite she fit easily behind him, perched up high on the saddle, he said,”Riding with a woman behind me sure as hell beats driving other men’s cattle.” He hesitated, said,”Folks call me Cole,” then waited for her to do the same. She whispered,”I was born Eugenia… it’s been so long since I’ve used my real name” He smiled,”Well, I think first thing we do is find a town and go get you some clothes.” With a light spur, his horse started walking, making west, headed for Idaho.