The Wandering One

Chapter 6

The following week, Terrin began helping Hopsing in the kitchen to "Earn her keep." Ben insisted it was unnecessary, and each time he did so, was met with an unflinching gaze of determination. Ben would sigh, but accept it. Hopsing made sure Terrin took frequent breaks anyways.

As the days passed, Terrin slowly became more comfortable with each member of the Cartwright family. She still rarely spoke; when she did, it was in one or two word answers. Little Joe took the longest to grow accustomed to. He was more hyper and outgoing than the other three and often forgot to not move quickly around Terrin. However, he soon also won her over with his constant jokes and playful grin.

Hoss had won more of her trust when he brought her to the barn and showed her the lamb and kittens that he was nursing back to health. She knew then that he was a gentle giant. Ben was a very straightforward and friendly man. Terrin soon learned that while he could be stern with his sons, he had a big heart and loved to help people.

Adam was the easiest one for Terrin to spend time with however. He was almost always calm and collected. He was a thinker and was content to sit in silence, without trying to fill it. He also had similar taste in books to Terrin and reminded her of a boy she had met when she was a young girl, only about nine years of age.

She had been living with a band of Sioux during that period after she had run away from the orphanage, and a man and his son stayed with them for a few days after the man saved the chief's daughter from being shot. Terrin and the boy had gotten along famously and had many adventures and conversations in the few days they spent together. She couldn't remember his name, but she remembered him reading to her from The Old Curiosity Shop written by Dickens. The boy had given it to her when he and his father had left with a promise to find her again one day.

Terrin smiled fondly at the memory as she brushed Lash on a sunny afternoon. She had been with the Cartwrights for eight days now, it was June and the weather was beautiful, perfect for riding she thought with a sigh. Adam and Ben had been very firm about not letting her ride until Doc Martin cleared her to do so. Terrin scowled at the thought of the Doctor, or anyone for that matter, touching her. It always made her anxious and experience memories best left in the past. The doctor would be there that afternoon, and Terrin had plans for the moment that he cleared her to ride. Her things were still at her campsite, at least, she hoped they still were. It had been almost three weeks since she had been there.

She went in for lunch when Ben called and seated herself beside Adam. It was one of the rare days when all three boys and Ben were home for lunch and doing chores around the yard. Terrin suspected this was planned by them as a result of Doc coming out to check on her. The thought of them caring that much confused her and made her feel an emotion she couldn't quite pinpoint.

Sure enough, as soon as Doc arrived, all four Cartwrights magically appeared to greet him. Terrin on the other hand, quickly made her way to the kitchen to hide out with Hopsing. The cook took one look at her and said, "Doctor?". Terrin nodded and mumbled a "yeah" to which Hopsing simply nodded. He saw her fear and understood that she was trying hard to overcome it. He had quite quickly become fond of the young woman while she helped him in the kitchen. He gave an encouraging smile as she scrubbed a plate within an inch of its life. "Hopsing know doctor very scary for you. Hopsing also know that Doctor want to help you. He help you feel very better." Terrin nodded at his gentle admonition and reluctantly walked into Ben's study when he called for her.

DocMartin was waiting with Ben and smiled as she entered the room. "Well my dear, you are looking much better than the last time I saw you. I promise our visit today will be a very quick examination, if you promise not to fight me, deal?"

Terrin nodded, not trusting this man enough to speak to him just yet. Ben left them to it, closing the door to give them some privacy, but reassuring Terrin that he would be waiting right outside should she need him. Doc Martin was very professional and true to his word as he checked her ribs and then her shoulder. When he was done with his examination and Terrin had put her shirt back on, he called Ben back in.

"Her ribs are healing fine. They'll still be sore for a couple weeks, but need no further treatment. She should, however, avoid lifting anything even remotely heavy or doing anything strenuous. Her shoulder should be healed within a week, until then, make sure she doesn't lift anything with that arm. She can hold a book, but that's it. I'll be back next week to check it once more, but the infection is cleared up so there shouldn't be any more issues." He informed the concerned rancher.

Ben smiled and then, after a pointed look from Terrin, asked, "What about riding?"

Doc chuckled at the exchange. "Riding should be fine, so long as she takes it slow. Nothing faster than a walk."

Terrin managed to give the Doctor a small smile as he said this, and after he had left, she made a beeline for the barn. Ben chuckled and sent Adam after her, after quickly filling him in on the doctor's orders.

Adam found Terrin in the courtyard in front of the house, studying Lash and looking frustrated. He slowly approached and announced his presence by speaking. "What's troubling you? I thought you'd be up on that horse before me or Pa could stop you."

"No bridle." Her response was, as per usual, brief and without detail. Adam nodded, but before he could respond, she uttered another word as a question.

"Rope?"

It caught Adam off guard, but he quickly recovered. "Sure, I can get you some. We do also have extra bridles if you'd like to borrow one."

Terrin shook her head and Adam sighed. He went and grabbed a length of rope and brought it back to the young lady that kept him on his toes trying to figure her out. As she began to tie knots in it, he returned to the barn and re-emerged a few minutes later with Sport saddled and bridled. As he approached, Terrin somewhat awkwardly managed to get the makeshift bridle she had fashioned onto Lash. As Adam was about to ask if she needed help mounting up, she led Lash to the fence and climbed up and onto his broad back. Adam also mounted Sport and drew up alongside Terrin and Lash as she started off. Adam chuckled at how small Terrin looked, riding the large stallion bareback.

"Where are we headed?" He asked, curious. "Home?"

"Camp."

That made sense. Ben had questioned Terrin about her family when she first started speaking and writing them notes. She had simply written, My family is dead. They had left it at that. Ben and Adam knew it was far too soon to be asking how, and had simply informed her that she would then be staying with them until she was completely healed up. "No arguments," Ben had tacked on when he saw she was ready to argue. Adam and Terrin rode on in a comfortable silence with Terrin leading the way.