A Chance At Love

Chapter 4

Cassie was going to lose it...

Seriously, she was going to be convicted for murder.

Or

Maybe she could claim having a mental breakdown and then perhaps she would end up in the Looney bin.

Anything was better than this...

"Are you even listening to me?" A voice shrieked behind her, as she tried to walk in a fast pace towards the cabin. Ignoring the shrill voice behind her, was becoming more and more difficult for Cassie. She had attempted at being polite and avoiding confrontation. But...Mindy was not making it easy for her and now the crazy psycho was following her home, not taking the hint.

Enough was enough, there was just so much one could take. Stopping abruptly, Cassie took a deep breath, ready to confront her nemesis. Only to stop short, when she heard a sound in the distance, a sound that was out of place in this area...

"Finally..." Mindy screeched.

"Shut up!" Cassie ordered, still trying to pinpoint the sound she had heard, ignoring Mindy and looking around.

"Don't you dare tell me too...?" Mindy tried again.

"Oh...for the love of God," Cassie shouted out, turning towards Mindy, glaring the woman down, "I could care two hoots about you or Cole. If both of you dropped dead before me, I would do a happy dance." Trying to get her point across, "Now shut up and listen...do you hear it."

"Well...I never!" Mindy exclaimed, "And I don't hear anything...you are just trying to distract me!"

"Howdy Ladies..." A male voice spoke out.

Cassie sighed with relief, turning towards the voice, it was Pete, Cole's foreman and a giant old gentleman. Cassie was sure glad to see him, she had met up with him along her walks and often he had kept her company as she made her way home.

"Pete...!" Cassie exclaimed out gratefully, rushing towards him, "Please tell me I'm not going crazy and you hear it too?"

"What do you mean Lil Cas...?" Pete inquired, looking at the pretty little woman before him, he looked forward to their walks and he sure was glad that he came in time to save Cassie from that harlot, who seemed too not get the hint and just crawl back to wherever she came from...

"Please...just listen! I heard something out there!" Cassie begged, tugging on Pete's arms.

Looking down at Cassie, Pete could see that she was close to tears and he sure was a sucker for tears, especially from a kindhearted woman like Cassie, he still couldn't understand why his boss, Cole, couldn't see the saint she was. Shaking his head at that thought, he replied soothingly, "I believe you girl, just give this old timer a moment or two to adjust his hearing..."

"But..." Mindy could not just shut up, glaring at the pair.

Pete looked at Mindy, giving her a look that he usually reserved for the young hands, which they often got during the summer season, "Girl...you better shut it or you'll take a whopping to that derriere of yours and your father won't even try to stop me!"

Glad he got his point across, as Mindy stayed quiet, he listened to the noises surrounding him, and he had lived on these lands for many years and could tell if something was amiss...

Listening intently, he finally heard it, it was faint and coming from the east side of them, "I hear it...its faint, but I can tell it's coming from that way..." Pointing towards the east of them, "Follow me...I might need your help." Grabbing his horse's reins and walking towards the sound.

Cassie followed Pete and his horse, not bothering to look back to see if Mindy followed. She was more worried about the look of concern that crossed Pete's face, following him.

"Shit..." Pete swore, as he came upon the scene before him.

"Oh..." Cassie gasped in horror, stopping in her tracks, taking in the whole picture before her.

Adrenalin kicking in, she finally moved into action, "Pete...we've got to get him out of there! Do you have some rope?"

Nodding, Pete took the rope he had around the saddle, "What you're planning on doing?"

Taking the rope from Pete, Cassie began to tie it around herself, "I'm going to crawl over there slowly, while you tie this end to your horse and make sure he pulls us out, the moment I tell you too..." Cassie explained, not stopping for a moment.

"Are you crazy...?" Mindy shouted, "Why don't you wait for some help!"

"By then it will be too late..." Cassie replied, getting down on her belly, crawling ever so slowly towards the young boy, "It's okay...we are here!" Cassie said soothingly to the young boy, it seemed he had gotten into quick sand and was losing the battle in staying afloat, "Just stay still and you'll soon be out."

The boy had tears running down his face, "What's your name?" Cassie asked trying to distract him.

"Da..ve." He hiccupped out between sobs.

"Hey Dave, I'm Cassie. You sure tried a new way in getting my attention." Cassie attempted at a joke, as she got closer to the kid, happy when she was close enough to grab him under his arms and glad he was small enough for her to hold onto. Once she had a firm grip on the boy, she looked back, "Now Pete...start pushing!" She ordered, keeping a tight grip on the boy, as the horse began to pull them back, she ignored the strain on her arms.

Cassie was grateful, when she was able to let go of the little boy, they were now firmly on solid ground. Letting go of the boy...she flipped over onto her back, breathing hard.

"You did good Cas..." Pete spoke, rushing towards them, checking over the little boy, making sure he was okay, and noticing only a few scratches and bruises. "Little Dave...what you're doing way out here...?" Pete asked, when he recognized the little boy in his arms, "Your Mamma is gonna take a whooping to your ass for being so far from home."

"I'm sorry...we were playing outside...then I saw the baby fox...followed it...not looking where I was going!" Dave cried out, bowing his head in shame.

"You better thank Cassie, if it wasn't for her, you wouldn't be here with us." Pete spoke sternly.

"Thank you..." Dave mumbled, knowing he was in big trouble.

Cassie could only smile, she was still out of breath, her arms felt like leaden weights and she felt the adrenaline rush leaving her body.

Not liking the attention away from her, Mindy interrupted the interaction, "I called Cole...He should be here soon."

"Great..." Cassie mumbled out, sitting up, a thought coming to her mind...it would kill two birds with one stone. And then she would have peace, whispering to Pete, "Just go with the flow...Please." She begged, giving him her best puppy look.

Confused, Pete only nodded, wondering what Cassie was up to, as he watched her get up and move towards Mindy.