Written by: Julie Dieck
Chapter 12 “The Gift”
Kathy sat at the small table in the guest’s quarters, whittling half-heartedly at a small chunk of wood. Her face held the expression of deep thought; and had ever since the episode with the Indian brave. She had pretty much returned to her usual self since then, but had spent a lot of time thinking. The captain’s words had made an impression on her too, only she had taken them to heart; going over them again and again.
A knock at the door drew Kathy from her thoughts and she paused her whittling.
“Come in.”
The door opened and a slight smile came to her lips as Alan walked in. It disappeared slightly though when she noticed the silver diamond rifle in one hand. The memories of what had happened a few days before came back; ones she wasn’t proud of.
“Hi, Alan,” she tried to say pleasantly, not wanting to create an awkward situation.
Alan closed the door behind him. “Hello, lass,” he greeted back and strode over. He laid the rifle on the table as he sat down across from her. “Well, now that both our Irish spirits have had ah’ bit of time ta’ simmer down, captain says ya’ can be havin’ this back. After all, it be rightfully yours now.”
Kathy stared at it a long moment before her hand finally came up to stroke the silver engraved diamond on the handle. She looked up at Alan and tried to smile. “Thanks. Dad had always said I could have it someday.” Her gaze dulled and fell to the tabletop. “I’m ... sorry about what happened. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Ah, you got no call ta’ be sayin’ that.” Alan consoled. “After all, I didn’t exactly put on ah’ pretty show out there meself. My feelin’s be just the same as yours. We both got reason ta’ hate the blasted devils and ah’ right ta’ act the way we did.”
Though it was barely noticeable, Kathy shook her head as she said softly, “After what the captain said … I’m not sure.”
Alan stayed silent and Kathy said nothing more as she returned to whittling. She knew how Alan felt and that he hadn’t changed his mind about anything. It would only create friction if she tried to make him understand why she felt the why she did. A minute of silence elapsed as both wished the other would say something. Finally, Alan picked up the rifle and looked it over. He held it up as if to fire it, looking down the barrel; then brought it down and looked it over again. Good balance, well made, and beautifully decorated.
“Must say, I’d give a month’s wages for ah’ rifle like this be.”
“Thanks,” Kathy said, feeling a bit more at ease. Then an impish light twinkled in her eye. “I’m actually an excellent shot, you know.”
“Are ya’ now?” Alan’s brow went up.
“Yup,” Kathy nodded. She leaned back in her chair and casually stated, “Bet I could beat just about anyone.”
“Could ya’ now?” Alan said playfully, knowing what she was trying to do. “Well, I just might take ya’ up on that bet. I be the best shot in this here fort so far, and I can’t go havin’ me title be takin’ away without fightin’ for it, now can I? We’ll just have ta’ be havin’ ourselves a little competition sometime.” He grinned at the wide smile that spread across Kathy’s face. He stood to his feet. “But it’ll have ta’ wait ‘cause I didn’t just come ta’ chat ya’ know. I got somethin’ for ya’.”
Any somberness that could have been left washed away as Kathy’s face lit up with curiosity. “What?”
Still keeping the rifle in his hands, Alan motioned her toward the door with a cock of his head. “Come with me and I’ll show ya’.”
Laying the whittling aside, Kathy jumped up and the two walked out the door. She didn’t have to wait long to find out what the secret was. A crowd of soldiers were gathered just outside, all eyes shining in anticipation. As Kathy stepped off the porch, Alan gave a nod. They sidestepped, opening a gap through the middle of the group. Kathy stopped short, eyes wide and mouth dropped open. In the gap, Fredrick held the reins of a sleek black horse with a beautifully engraved saddle. On the skirt of the saddle were imprinted the letters “K O’C” with a small shamrock beneath them. With a gasp of delight, Kathy rushed ahead of Alan and laid her hands on the warm black hide.
“Is he … really for me?!” she finally got out.
“Well, I don’t see anyone else clamin’ him,” Karson joked with a smile as they all crowded around.
Alan stepped up. “Well, I just be thinkin’ the other day that a lass lovin’ horses like ya’ do should have a good one of her own. Plus, I don’t have ta’ go sharin’ me Blarney with ya’ all the time. So, here he be.” He slipped the silver diamond rifle into the saddle scabbard; adding a beautiful touch to the outfit. He turned to her. “So what’d’ya’ think?”
“He’s beautiful!” Kathy could hardly get out the words through her excitement, wrapping her arms around the muscled neck as the gelding brought his head around to nuzzle her.
Hayes spoke up. “We all chipped in on the saddle.”
“Even had your initials put on it.” Gavin pointed to the stamped letters.
Foster wiggled his way to the front as he proudly added. “The shamrock was my idea.”
“I love it, Foster!” Kathy looked around at the group with shining eyes. “Thanks everyone! You guys are the greatest! This is the best gift in the entire world!”
“Why don’t ya’ try ‘em out,” Karson suggested.
“Right!” Kathy agreed heartily and swung into the saddle with natural ease.
They all watched with large grins as she rode around the compound in a wide circle and gradually brought the gelding up to almost a full gallop. Both moved easily and fluently as though one; it was obvious she was an expert rider. Alan spotted Linda on the headquarters porch, also watching. Even from the distance he could see the radiant smile on her pretty face. After a few more laps, Kathy slowed the black gelding down and brought him to a halt before the group of grinning men.
“He’s wonderful!” Kathy praised, patting the arched neck.
“You two sure look good together,” Fredrick said. Then asked, “What’ch ya’ gunna call him?”
Kathy ran her fingers through the silky black name as she bit her lip in thought. “I don’t know yet, but it has to be something good.”
“How ‘bout naming him after the fort,” Gavin suggested.
Karson wrinkled his nose. “No good. Can you imagine trying to say “Bravado” every time you want him to come? Too hard ta’ say. It ain’t fitting for him nohow. Needs to be something more daring; more bold and courageous.”
“Throw in “bragger” and she could be callin’ him “Karson”,” Alan teased. Karson scowled as the others broke into a hearty laugh.
“Maybe it could be after something or somebody special to you,” Hayes suggested.
Kathy looked around at her friends; then her eyes lit up. The others saw it and pressed close.
“What is it? You got something?” Foster asked excitedly.
“I’ve got the perfect name,” she grinned.
“What?” they said in unison.
Kathy patted the sleek neck. “Trooper. Then he’ll be named after all of you – all my trooper friends of Fort Bravado.”
A ripple of excited agreement went around. Alan chuckled as he patted her leg. “Well now, Kathy, that’s mighty nice of ya’. I don’t think there be ah’ more fittin’ name for any horse in any fort.”
“Thanks. And I’m going to take him out for a good ride and we can get to know each other,” Kathy announced. “Why don’t you come with me, Alan? We’ll have that shooting contest while we’re at it.”
An Irish laugh rang out. “Intent on bein’ the little sharpshooter, are ya’? I think I’ll just be takin’ ya’ up on that. But I give ya’ fair warnin’, I’ll not be givin’ up me title that easily.” Alan started toward the corral as he glanced over his shoulder. “Now don’t ya’ be goin’ off and startin’ without me.”
“Oh, I’ll be here!” Kathy called back with a grin as she watched him hurry off.
“That was splendid, Kathy!”
She turned at the new voice to see Linda, face wreathed in smiles.
“You two look wonderful together,” Linda praised as she came up beside them.
Kathy gave Trooper a pat. “Thanks. He’s great.”
Linda stroked the sleek black hide. “I’m glad you like him. I helped Alan pick him out. We did it when your other soldier friends took you out to town for a couple of hours the other night.”
Kathy laughed. “So that’s why they were acting so suspicious-like.” Then she looked at Linda in surprised. “I never ask who picked him out. I guess I just figured it was Alan. I didn’t know you knew horses.”
“Oh yes. I’m actually a very good judge of horses. We went through quite a few to find just the perfect one.”
“I’m sure you didn’t mind,” Kathy said cagily.
Linda detected a double meaning. She peered up at Kathy with curious puzzlement. “What do you mean?”
Kathy shrugged casually. “Oh, nothing. Just an entire afternoon looking over horses with a soldier. Did you have a nice time?”
“Of course we did. There were many beautiful horses to choose from.”
“So you were only looking at the horses.”
Linda tipped her head. “Yes. What else was I supposed to be looking at?”
Kathy’s brows went up as she shook her head. “Oh, nothing,” she sighed again, then leaned down low in the saddle and asked softly, “Did he take you out to dinner?”
“Now really, Kathy,” Linda started, but stopped when she couldn’t hide the grin. She snickered. “Oh, alright. Yes he did.”
Kathy grinned. “Was it the hotel or the café?”
“Well, not that it’s any of your business, but it was the restaurant down the street.”
“Wow! That’s the fancy place where you have to wear your best clothes to get in! Did Alan wear his dress uniform?”
“Of course. How else would we get in?”
“How’d he look?”
“Just fine.”
“Did he say anything to you?”
“We had a pleasant conversation if that’s what you mean.”
“I mean did he say anything important.”
“Like what?”
“Like maybe a four word sentence that starts with “will” and gets something on your finger that usually ends with happily-ever-after.”
“Kathy!” Linda slapped at Kathy’s leg, pretending to be miffed. “What puts such notions in that head of yours?”
Kathy tried to suppress a grin. “Just that you two have grown real fond of each other lately.”
“What?!”
“Sure. Everyone knows it.”
“Why that’s not … I mean …” Linda gave up and flipped a hand at the laughing girl, trying to look reprovingly at her, but it too failed to hide the smile that was shining through. “Just get out of here and go have a good ride and stop thinking such foolish thoughts. I will see you later.” She spun on her heels and started away with her chin up, but peeked back just long enough to give Kathy a wink and a short wave.
A few moments later, Alan came cantering up on Blarney.
“Beat you to the crossroad!” Kathy challenged as he came up beside her.
“Oh ho! Will ya’ now?” Alan answered back. “Think ya’ can lick Alan Branegan at both shootin’ and ridin’, do ya’? We’ll see ‘bout that!” He motioned with an arm. “Fredrick! Give us ah’ startin’ signal, now will ya’!”
The chestnut and the black lined up before the open fort gate, chomping at the bits, as Fredrick stood by with hat held over his head. Both riders leaned forward in the saddle, tense in anticipation. Then the hat was brought down with a loud “GO!” and there was a wild pounding of hooves and a cloud of dust. By the time it had swirled away on the wind, Alan, Kathy, Trooper, and Blarney were long gone.
“Say!” Hayes announced to the rest. “Let’s go to town and celebrate our gettin’ something named after us! Even if it is just a horse.”
Gavin gave him a playful push. “What do you mean “just a horse”? That’s Kathy’s horse, and what’s more, I’m proud to be part of his name.”
“All of us are,” Foster added.
Fredrick waved his hands. “Who cares? As long as it’s just a chance to celebrate! I haven’t had a good drink in days! And while we’re at it, I’ve got 10 dollars that says Kathy and Trooper get to the crossroad first!”
“Branegan hasn’t lost a race yet! I’ll take that!” Hayes piped in. “And another 10 says Branegan wins the shootin’ match!”
“You got yourself a bet! Anyone else want to join in?”
With both hands, Karson slapped Hayes and Fredrick on the back. “Gents, let’s not stand here wasting good time. We’ll do our wagerin’ over a celebration drink. Soldiers, follow me!” He took off at a dead run as she shouted over his shoulder, “And the last one there buys!”
There was a whoop and another wild pounding, this time of boots, as the group rushed for their horses.
(The next chapter will be released next Saturday, February 3, 2024)
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