Maggie Cartwright: Book 2 Man In The Window

Not Real

Joe awoke early next morning and quickly got dressed, heading down the stairs. Adam and Hoss had already ate and headed off to bring in timber to split for firewood. Joe went out to the barn and saddled Cochise, riding out around the area to look for any signs of this mysterious man that was in the window. He shook his head, knowing he was right. It was just her imagination. He rode back to the house, dismounting and tying Cochise to the hitching post.

~

I woke late in the morning and pulled on my trousers and shirt. I was still shaken from last night. I looked at the door as Joe walked in.

"Find anything?" I asked.

"No. Not a dang thing. How are so sure of what you saw? You could have easily imagined it!" Joe sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You don't believe me. None of you do!" I yelled as I ran out of the house. The first horse I laid my eyes on was Cochise. I quickly hopped on him. I could barely reach the stirrups as I kicked my heels into his side.

"Whoa!" Joe yelled as he ran out of the house, trying to grab Cochise's reins. I ripped Cochise away from Joe and we lit off towards the mountains. I wasn't gonna run away, just to think. I stopped Cochise in a small canyon path. I slipped off him, letting him ground tied. A small pool of clean spring water ran against the side of it. I sat crossed legged by it, looking into the water. I wiped away a couple of tears, put I couldn't stop myself from crying. Cochise came over beside me and nudged my shoulder with his muzzle.

"Oh Cooch. Why won't they believe me! I know what I saw! A faceless man holding a knife. I know it was real. He just stood there." I let out a loud cry of frustration.

"They think I'm a lying fool! They weren't the one's who got kidnapped. They didn't have food shoved down their throats because they didn't want to eat it. It's not fair!" I brought my knees against me, burying my head in them. My shoulders shook violently, but I had been holding it in. I kept saying I was fine and I was trying to forget it, but last night's events didn't help.

"I had a feeling you had left out some things." Said a voice beside me. I jumped and raised my head to see Joe settling himself beside me. He put an arm around me, looking ashamed.

"What did they really do to you?" Joe asked.

"Well, the one day, one of them brought in a snake, and they wanted me to skin it. I said no. I did make a stew out of it, and earlier for breakfast, I ate some of the rabbit, and got in trouble because Lucky didn't say I could eat it. Then Lucky mentioned how I was listening by not eating supper, but I said I didn't want to get snake. He sat made down and forced me to eat it. I threw it back up, and they didn't let me eat for days after that. And then they would gag me, and gag me so tight, I couldn't sleep. Oh Joe, it was horrible!" I wrapped my arms around him, letting my tears fall into his shirt. He slowly rubbed my back.

"Why didn't you tell us? Or tell me?" He asked.

"Because I didn't want you're sympathy. Now I'm getting babied. I can't even go anywhere now. You followed me because of it, right?" I said, sitting up and wiped my cheek on my sleeve.

"That, and I wanted my horse back." Joe said, looking back at Cochise.

"Sorry I took him. I won't have been able to get Tulsa out in time." I sighed.

"Why did you have to run off though? Do you know how scared I was, thinking it would happen again? How I thought what if I find you with a bullet in you're chest, or not find you at all? Please, don't run off anymore, okay?" Joe said, shaking my shoulders so I would look at him.

"Do I have to promise?" I asked.

"Promise me." Joe said, looking at me sternly. I let out a sigh, not wanting to.

"I promise." I mumbled.

"Thank you. Now let's get back to the house." Joe said, standing up. He helped me up, and went over to Cochise. I looked to the enter and saw Tulsa standing. Without a saddle.

"Seriously?" I looked back to Joe.

"Sorry." He chuckled. I went over and grabbed a chunk of mane. I stepped back, and lurched toward, swinging myself onto her back.

"You make it look so easy." Joe said as I gathered my reins.

"Because it is." I said, clinging to her back. Joe rolled his eyes as he nudged Cochise into a canter. I followed him, clutching onto her mane. I tightened my legs around her stomach as she started going faster. I've never bareback galloped, and it made me nervous. She broke into a sprint, passing Joe. I pulled back on the reins, but I didn't have as much on control bareback as I did in the saddle. She ran into the yard and stopped suddenly at the water trough. I flipped off her neck and landed in the trough. Joe followed closely behind, laughing. Pa had just came outside to witness it happen, as did Hoss and Adam round the corner of the barn pulling logs with the Belgian team. I spit water out of my mouth as I flipped my hair back so I could see.

"I guess she decided you smelled." Joe said as he reached his hand out to help me. I glared at him as I reached for his hand, then pulled him into the water as I climbed out.

"Oh come on!" Joe shouted, slapping the water.

"I decided you smelled." I said with a smile, then led Tulsa into the barn.

"That's not fair! I was going to help you!" He said, climbing out of the water trough with his brother's and pa chucking at him.

"Oh shucks." He mumbled.