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Post by emschld on Feb 15, 2007 22:19:16 GMT -10
just posted to the other story now I will get back to this one and work on another chapter.
Regina
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Post by Lian on Feb 16, 2007 0:19:28 GMT -10
oh wow...you are a true centipede...that is a compliment. Lian
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Post by Horatio Caine on Feb 16, 2007 2:18:03 GMT -10
Great story again and good luck with your interview.
Manon ;D
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Post by emschld on Feb 16, 2007 9:13:03 GMT -10
you guys ready for a road trip I have one for you. Hope you like it.
Year 3 Month 9
As soon as the crops were in a small group was sent out to retrieve the supplies that had to be left behind when Horatio’s people had been forced to abandon their school bus. That morning we, left Horatio and I; arose and dressed in silence for the trip. I was in riding pants and loose green and white checkered shirt. Horatio for once wasn’t in a suit but a pair of jeans and long sleeve black with white stripes shirt. His side arm glock 9mm was on his hip and he had also gotten a 30/30 rifle from Calleigh the night before. I also had a side arm colt short barrel 45 strapped to me hip and my own 30/30 was in its saddle sleeve on my saddle.
The others in the party were John Goodal the head farmer, Gail Goodal, Col. Richard Degustie and four of the guard, Glenn Cooper. Except for Glenn we were all very good marksman. Some one had gone out to the far western part of the valley and brought back one of the elephants to help pull the bus back. We had packed provisions for two weeks. After the colonel had checked everyone over he gave the order to move out.
Our band had left the valley by the time the sun had reached it’s zenith in the sky. We stopped to take noon meal and give the animals a rest. Everyone was at an uneasy rest because we knew that there were nomad raiders outside the valley. We had all taken our rifles and kept them close at hand.
Horatio and I were sitting under a shade tree with Cooper and he was telling us that he had met a nice young woman from the MIT group that was into electronics and was not attached to anyone He had decided that when we got back he was going to ask her to join with him to start building a radio tower system. “Of course that will mean a lot of time together and we will see if we have other interest that we can share.”
It was just then that the horses began to get spooked. We all came to alert and began to scout the terrain. The colonel and Horatio using their binoculars looked around and thingy saw the cats before anyone else. “Big cats up on the ridge, right now they are just observing. I am not sure letting all those wild animals out of the zoo was the smartest move.”
Horatio had turned his binoculars on the ridge. He could see that the big cats were cheetahs. There were at least two full grown cats and about six cubs that were old enough to hunt but not yet ready to be away from their mother. “I would say two females and their offspring. If they have eaten recently they will keep their distance. Also that elephant is something they don’t want to attack. However, the females were probably in a zoo and don’t have any fear of man so we need to keep a guarded watch on them.” I stood behind H and had shielded my eyes so that I could scan the ridge. “Just makes riding that horse of yours a little harder.” H put the binoculars down and turned to me and grinned. “You would have to remind me of that. My butt is already going to need a lot of TLC when we get back from this foray.” I laughed at his announcement of how he felt riding about a horse instead of his faithful hummer.
thingy gave the order to mount up and ride and we did just that. The cats followed us at a distance and just as I had predicted all of us had jittery horses to stay on. We had talked about the practice of this particular type of big cat. At least we knew that they were not night hunters. Or at least they had not been before the war. So we kept a sentinel on duty that night.
We arose and repeated the previous day’s activity over again. They big cats were still pacing us at about the same distance. Just after lunch break I saw a few cows on the opposite side of us as the cats. I got an idea of herding the cows to put them between us and the cats. That way the cats would have an easier target to go after and maybe they would leave us alone. So I took a two of the guardsman and circled around the cattle and pushed them closer to the cats.
When we joined back up with the group Horatio pulled along side of me and had a smile on his face. “I was watching you and the cats. I could swear that the adult cats were smiling at what you were doing. They even moved off down wind so that you could get those few cows in their field of attack. Smart cats.”
“That type of cat is not only the fastest but one of the smartest. They learn and adapt quickly.” thingy said over his shoulder. “I think giving them the cattle was a smart move. It will give them food and possibly we can leave them behind us. H how far south do we need to go to find this bus your people had to leave behind?” thingy had rained in his horse so that he was now riding beside Horatio.
Horatio looked around at the terrain and then back to thingy. “We are only covering about ½ the distance that my caravan covered in a day so I would have to say it will take us another day maybe two to get there.” He pulled out an old map and studied it for a minute. “There is a small town up ahead. Do we want to go through it or around it?”
thingy thought about it a moment. “Did you go through or around before?” Horatio smiled and replied in one word. “Around.”
thingy rubbed his chin. Then he called out. “George, Bearcheif front and center.” Two of the guards men pulled up beside the colonel and saluted. “Recon mission. Check to see if there are any inhabitants in the town ahead. Come back with the safest route to go. We will continue along the main road.” The two men responded in unison. “Yes, sir.” Then turned their horse and rode out at fast gallop.
It was evening when Corporals George and Bearcheif returned with their report. It seemed there had been a fire sense H’s people had came this way and most of the center of town was burned out buildings. There seemed to be life signs in three of the house that they look at. They had taken a good look at all three houses and determined that it was people just trying to stay alive.
thingy and Horatio talked it over then came back to the camp site and ask for our input. “The three occupied houses are by people that probably could use help getting threw the winter. We think we would like to offer them safety in the valley. We can let them know that we will be returning within 4 days and that if they want to travel with us to be ready.” We all agreed that this was the right thing to do.
The next day the same two corporals left at a fast gallop to go and talk with the people that were occupying the three houses. They would wait for us on the edge of town. We had decided to go through it instead of around. It would save time. We reached the edge of town at about noon. So we took a rest period. Soon the corporals returned to camp. They reported that all three groups wanted to come back to the valley with us. They would be ready in three days when we returned back this way. If we weren’t back in six days they would strike out on their own to get to the valley.
We arrived at the school bus site the next evening. It was almost dark when we arrive, but Horatio knew that we were close and should be able to press on into the evening and be able to stay at the site and leave the next day for the return trip. There had been no tampering with the lab equipment as it had been hidden in a nearby cave, but the bus had been vandalized. We still could use it for a trailer. The elephant would be hooked up to pull it. The next morning we got busy and removed the engine and all the seats. The tires had been stored in the cave with the lab equipment. So we had to put them back on the bus and make sure they were road worthy. The front windshield was removed and one person would be inside to steer the bus while Toby worked the elephant. We were ready to start out trek back by mid day. So we saddled up and started back the way we came. Stopping off to pick up the three groups at the town and continuing on to the valley. It took us about two weeks to complete the trip.
We spotted the cheetahs on the way back but they didn’t try to fallow us. We did run across a small cub that had wandered away from its mother. Bearcheif said to leave it. But I could tell that it had been hurt and the mother had probably done just that. So we brought it back with us. I told Bearcheif he could shoot it later if it posed any problems. The rest of the trip was uneventful.
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Post by sanne on Feb 16, 2007 9:49:20 GMT -10
waiting for the next to come...
Sanne
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Post by Lian on Feb 16, 2007 9:52:40 GMT -10
You know it girl...do I really have to say it again...okay than...here it goes...I love it...write some more please.
Lian
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Post by emschld on Feb 16, 2007 20:16:13 GMT -10
Here is the day Kate finds out she is going to have H's child and other things. As always enjoy.
Year 3 month 9 last ½
Needless to say Horatio and I became the proud owners of the little cub, it was a male. We decided to name him Lightning, because he was fast and could disappear in our small apartment faster than grease lightning. Though he was a wild animal I had heard that in the past some tribes in Africa had trained cheetahs just like dogs. They were loyal and they were good hunters.
We did have some dogs and cats in the valley. One of the veterinarian, Dr. Robert Lathan; had brought all the animals from his practice. He had been a vet to some very nice show dogs and cats. So we had a good line of pedigree on the animals. He kept complete records of who had taken which dogs and which dog was bred to which. So he took great interest in our cheetah cub. And he informed Corporal Bearcheif that he would not be shooting any animals as long as he Dr Lathan had a say in it. So H & I knew that we would be raising this lightning fast ball of fur.
We had been back from our road trip about a week when I went to see Alexx with a complaint of sour stomach. As I sat on the table in her exam room waiting I began to think that I might have picked up some type of bug on the road trip. But I couldn’t remember doing or eating anything that H did do or eat. Finely Alexx returned and she had a smile on her face that showed all her beautiful white teeth. She closed the door and looked at me with that s- -t eating grin. I couldn’t stand it any longer. “What? Don’t keep me in suspense. What is wrong with me?” Alexx looked at the floor and shaking her head she began to giggle.
She held up her hand as her giggle became laughter. I was horrified that a doctor would be so callous about the health of a patient. She straightened up and collected herself. “Honey, there isn’t anything wrong. Actually everything is perfect. You are not ill. You are about 2 months pregnant and I can’t think of anything that is better for Horatio. Don’t wait to long to tell him. I don’t know that I can keep this a secret too long. For many of his friends we see this as a blessing for him. His family life has not been an easy one. A child for him is just so . . . perfect.” She walked over to me and gave me a bear hug.
As I got down off the table I started to cry. Alexx pulled out a tissue and handed to me. I thanked her and told her this was tears of relief. Then I ask if she was coming to the weekly feast in the town square. “Are you going to tell H before then?” I looked at her and smiled. “Like you I can’t keep this secret for long. As soon as I see that man of mine I will tell him.”
Alexx turned to leave then she turned back to me. “How is that cat going to react to a baby?”
I looked at her and thought about Lightning. He was about 9 or 10 months old and weighed in at about 25 lbs. He was showing signs of becoming a good watch cat. No one could come within 30 yards of our small cottage without him announcing them to us. “Well, cheetahs are a protective bred. So we will have to see.”
I walked out of the clinic office and went to get on my horse, Dragon. He was a Morgan by birth. I was glad to have him because his breed was the only true American breed. His stud service had been used over the last few years and true to his fore baring father Justin Morgan every colt or filly breed by him had the same features as he did. This breed was not only a hard workhorse but could also be a show piece. And my Dragon was a show piece as well as a workhorse. I knew that this might be my last ride on his back for awhile so I decided to take my time and have a long ride home. His shinny black coat seemed to shine even more as we rode. His gate was so smooth. He wasn’t a tall horse, only 14 hands high but he was compact and could outwork many of the draft horses about the valley. It was late when I arrived back at the cottage. H was out front with Lightning. As I rode up the cat ran out to meet me. He trotted along side Dragon. True to form Dragon gave a snort as the big cat began to trot along side of him. Dragon had no fear of Lightning, nor Lightning of him. They were good pals. As a matter of fact Lightning had ridden on Dragon back to the valley.
When I reined in at the front door I saw the look of disapproval that Horatio had. I dismounted and walked up to him took his head in my hands and kissed him. “I love you Horatio Caine.” Horatio’s expression didn’t change. “You think that will get you out of a scolding?” I laughed at the question. “No, but I know what will.” We were now embraced in each others arms. “OK. Let me hear.” I looked deeply into his blue eyes and then searched every line of his face. I wanted to have this picture in my mind until the day I died. “We are going to have a baby.” The next thing I knew I was picked up in his arms and we were dancing about the front yard. “Kate, Kate I love you.”
Somehow we managed to get Dragon unsaddled and the buggy hitched to him. He seemed to know that this would be his lot for awhile and he accepted it without complaint. We drove down to the town square. We had tried to leave Lightning at home but he would not have anything to do with that idea. He took his place pacing beside the black stallion as he always did. I had not made anything for the feast. But I knew that our news would make up for the fact we hadn’t brought anything that night. He would not leave my side all evening. He watched everyone as they came up and growled at a few that he felt threatened me. It didn’t take long for everyone there to know about the upcoming event. That evening was one that I would always remember. One of the happiest Horatio and I had.
It seemed that every man wanted to dance with me and all the women wanted to dance with Horatio that night. We tried to kind to everyone, but when they put on Rod Stewart’s ‘For The First Time’ we begged off from everyone and took the dance floor together. As we danced everyone else left the floor and watched us dance. When the song ended applause erupted from everyone of our friends.
On the drive home I leaned on Horatio and found myself nodding off before we got home. Lightning had gotten up on the seat next to me and his head lay on my lap and I could hear his loud purr. When we got home H told me to go to bed and he would put up Dragon then he turned to Lightning. “Go with Kate.” The half grown cheetah turned and patted after me. When I went into the bed room he fallowed and jumped up in the middle of the bed and lay down and began to groom himself. “You do not sleep there.” I told him, but he just yawned and kept a watchful eye on me. “I’ll let Horatio deal with you when he comes in.” He again yawned and went back to grooming himself. When Horatio came in he looked at the cat and snapped his fingers. Lightning jumped off the bed and went to his own bed that was against the wall. “Good boy.” He then reached over and grabbed me. “Did I tell you I love you tonight?” I smiled and kissed him. “Yes, at least 2 or 3 dozen times.” We both finished getting ready for bed and as I lay down H made his check of the house before he retired. He told me it was old habits and that many of them had saved his life so many times he wasn’t going to give up his watchful eye.
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Post by Lian on Feb 16, 2007 22:18:31 GMT -10
Speechless....I so love the idea of "H" becoming a daddy...that's so cool...I'm such a sucker for these kind of stories...don't wait to long writing another epi..please.
Lian
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Post by Horatio Caine on Feb 16, 2007 23:24:03 GMT -10
Ow it keeps getting better and better.......... as Lian said, don't wait to long with the next 1 Manon
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Post by sanne on Feb 17, 2007 2:46:52 GMT -10
it's getting better and better....waiting together with Manon and Lian
Sanne
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Post by lucymalta on Feb 17, 2007 3:06:41 GMT -10
This is great Regina - though I hope H doesn't get too protective over Kate riding.... If my husband had done that he would have driven me crazy..... (I rode up until 2 weeks before my daughter was born...)
Lucy
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Post by emschld on Feb 17, 2007 3:13:27 GMT -10
Kate will continue to ride Dragon. Morgans have a very smooth gate. It's the only reason that H lets her continue to ride. She also has a second protector. Lightning is fast becoming a main character in the story.
Regina
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Post by Lian on Feb 17, 2007 8:53:31 GMT -10
oh cool...I like lightning...think he's going to be very protective during the pregnancy...just like our dog..during my pregnancy's she wouldn't let anyone who she didn't know near me.
Lian
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Post by lucymalta on Feb 17, 2007 9:14:20 GMT -10
My horses were the same - I think its cool that you've used a Morgan, Regina - they are cracking little horses - impossible to get them to Malta - it would just be too expensive...
Mind you I do have a Welsh Cob... Morgans are supposed to be from the same ancestry - she's a terrific horse too...
Horses apart - this story is getting better and better.....
Lucy
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Post by pheonix on Feb 17, 2007 9:38:31 GMT -10
wow what a story to read and i like the name kate for those of you who know my real name lol and good for Horatio
cant wait for the next chatper Regina
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