The Wandering One

Chapter 5

The next morning Adam was up by 5:30 and met his brothers and Ben at the breakfast table. While they were eating, Ben cleared his throat to get the boys' attention. "Hoss, I'm gonna need you for a few minutes before you head off and do your chores for the day." He cleared his throat again and looked mildly uncomfortable. "We need to change the young lady's bandage on her shoulder and, well you know how that went last time. Adam, I think you should be the one to do it while Hoss and I hold her if necessary. She's been around you the most, so hopefully she won't be as scared of you." Hoss and Adam nodded and finished their breakfast before gathering the supplies that Doc Martin had left.

Terrin awoke at 6:00 to the sound of footsteps approaching her room. Sure enough, when she propped her head up, Ben, Adam, and Joe all stood just inside the doorway with uncertain looks on their faces. Adam stepped forward, "Miss, I know you don't like anyone coming near you, but Doc Hickman left strict instructions to change your bandage on your shoulder today. If we don't, you could get another infection. I promise we'll be quick as we can." He used the most soothing tone he could, but still the girl's eyes went wide and fear filled them.

Adam decided it was now or never, so he took slow, cautious steps towards the bed. The girl moved surprisingly quickly and somehow managed to get herself sitting up against the headboard with her knees pulled up. It was a position that Adam knew must be hurting her ribs. Then he noticed that her fearful gaze was fixed firmly behind him. An idea clicked in his head. He held up a hand to stop Ben and Hoss's slow progression into the room.

"Pa, Hoss, go get Hopsing. I think that she might be a bit more open to him than you two." The two men looked at Adam in confusion, wondering what on earth was going through his head, but after a moment's hesitation went to fetch the cook. Hopsing came quickly and grinned at the young lady as he entered the room. He bustled up to Adam and past him to the girl. "Now Lady let Adam and Hopsing change bandage. Adam very good. Adam have to bandage up two little brothers many time."

Ben and Hoss stood dumbfounded in the doorway watching as the young woman allowed Hopsing and eventually Adam near enough to change the dressing. The girl let her knees down and held the nightshirt she was wearing so it covered her modesty, but allowed access to the bandage on her right shoulder. Adam worked quickly while Hopsing chattered away at her about the Ponderosa and soup and getting better. The girl flinched at every touch, but allowed them to change and clean the wound. She didn't make a sound throughout the entire ordeal, but when the two pronounced the end of the ordeal and stepped back, Ben saw the exhaustion sweep over her. He ushered everyone out of the room and addressed the girl. "Get some rest now. Myself or one of the boys will be in to check on you at lunch." He smiled as she began to succumb to the exhaustion and shut the door behind himself.

As Ben and Adam rode out to check on one of the herds, Ben drew up next to him and asked, "How did you know that she would allow Hopsing near when she wouldn't let the rest of us, or even Doc near her?"

"Well Pa, I saw that when Hopsing brought in her soup yesterday, she didn't shy away as badly and even smiled at him once. I think that her scars that Doc mentioned and maybe her current injuries must have been given to her by guys that looked similar to us. Hopsing doesn't look anything like us, and therefore doesn't look like whoever hurt her so badly, so he doesn't scare her."

Ben nodded in agreement. He wondered how long it would be before the girl was back on her feet and if she would trust them by then. He hoped that she would at least trust them enough to stay and let them help her. It was strange, but even though she wouldn't interact with them and hadn't so much as spoken to them, Ben was growing attached to the girl. He liked the way his boys were already growing protective of her and how much they cared for her wellbeing. He smiled, proud of the men his sons were becoming.

The next two days passed uneventfully for the Cartwrights and their guest. Terrin was still bed-ridden, but was gaining her strength back quickly. She was able to sit up on her own and spent much of her day reading a book Adam had brought her. In the evenings, Adam had started reading out loud to her. Terrin was slowly getting more used to the Cartwright men's presence and flinched only when they moved to quickly.

On day five of her stay with the Cartwrights, Terrin felt much better. The weakness that the fever had left her with had dissipated and the only thing causing her issues were her shoulder and ribs. She wasn't about to let that stop her from getting out of bed today. She was determined to go and see her beautiful stallion. They had been separated for far too long. When Adam and Ben came to check in with her that morning, Terrin mimed writing a note to them and Ben went to grab a pen and paper for her to write with. Terrin accepted the writing tools and shortly handed Adam a note reading, Where are my clothes? I'd like to get dressed please.

Ben exited and returned with her clothes in hand. They had been washed and mended by Hopsing. The two men stepped out of the room so she could change. Terrin emerged shortly after and handed Ben another note before slowly walking out the front door. "My name is Terrin. Thank you for your hospitality. I should be moving on so you can all go about your lives again."

After reading this, Ben shoved it into Adam's hand and ran out after Terrin.

"Terrin! Stop, please. Please stay longer, you are no bother at all. My boys and I all enjoy having you here and besides that, there is no way that your ribs and shoulder are healed enough to ride."

Terrin turned and looked into Ben's eyes. They held genuine concern and caring. Terrin was flummoxed. No one had ever looked at her like this, and it unsettled her. She shook her head slowly, she just couldn't keep staying here, not without earning her keep.

Adam's voice rang out with two words, uttered with a quiet desperation, "Please stay." Terrin sighed heavily and planted her face in her horse's neck. She knew Ben was right about her not being able to ride, she was tired already, just from walking outside to see her horse. With her face still planted firmly in the mane of her stallion, she nodded just slightly. She knew Ben and Adam had seen it when she heard Ben's voice pronounce, "Good." She turned to see him smiling as he turned to go back into the house. Adam took a few steps closer and stopped.

"That sure is a beautiful horse. Never seen one like him that's for sure. He hasn't let anyone touch him and has been waiting out here since you arrived. What have you named him?"

"Lash"

The response was so quiet and unexpected that Adam nearly fell over in surprise. Terrin had finally spoken! For the first time in the five days she had been there. She stroked Lash's nose and turned to Adam, leaning heavily on Lash as a wave of exhaustion overtook her. Adam was still standing there, gobsmacked at hearing her voice. When she raised an eyebrow at him, he quickly pulled himself back together and a small smile graced his lips.

"It's a beautiful name for a beautiful horse. Shall we go back inside?"

Terrin nodded and followed him back in.

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Author's Note:

Hey all. Hope you are enjoying the story so far. Just a heads up that it will include a few darker themes in the coming chapters. I will do my best to make the chapters non-triggering, but if you are easily triggered, please use caution. I'll leave a warning  before the start of those chapters and a tl;dr at the end of them. 

If you have constructive criticism or spot an inconsistancy, leave a comment and I'll see what I can do. Thank you.