“Four Corners Sheriff´s Department,” Chris said into the phone. “Sheriff Larabee speaking.”

“Hey Chris,” Nick Fitzpatrick said. “Can you boys head out here? We got some new ranch hands that are liquored up and causin´ a ruckus.”

Chris chuckled. “You mean Laura´s not tannin´ their hides?” he asked.

Nick let out a hearty chuckle. “Hell she´d pin ‘em down with that shotgun of hers,” he said. “But she´s out in the south pasture. Got some rumors of rustlers, and she´s checkin´ the fences.”

Chris signaled to the other with his hand. “How many ya got?” he asked.

“There´s about five of ‘em,” Nick said. “Burly bastards too, so be prepared.”

“Just like the boy scouts. All right, Nick, we´ll be there soon,” Chris said hanging up. He glanced at the men, grabbing his hat. “Got some trouble out at Laura´s place,” he said.

“She okay?” Josiah asked.

Nathan looked over, concern evident on his face for the woman that was his best friend. “Somethin´ must´ve happened if Nick called us,” he said.

Chris shook his head. “Easy, pard. Laura´s okay. Nick said she´s out in the south pasture, doesn´t know anything about the trouble,” he said.

Vin grabbed his hat from the hook it occupied. “Reckon that´s probably best,” he said placing his hat on his head. “Figure we´d be headin´ out there to make sure she didn´t kill them ranch hands for their stupidity.”

Josiah chuckled a bit heading to his car. “It´s that Irish blood in her veins,” he said.

Nathan´s brow furrowed. “She isn´t that bad, y´all,” he said.

Buck laughed looking at the man as he walked to his vehicle. “You got a soft spot for her, so of course you´d say that,” he said.

“She´s my best friend--,” Nathan started.

Buck looked at him. “She´s my best friend,” he mimicked. “Damn Nathan, I ain´t ever seen a man more in love with a woman and deny it then you.”

“Don´t start,” Nathan warned.

“Don´t start,” Buck mimicked in a teasing tone.

Chris looked over at the men. “Buck leave him be,” he said a warning in his tone. He knew just like the other men did that Nathan was head over heels in love with Laura Fitzpatrick, and she with him, but to get them to admit it was worse then trying to pull an abscess tooth from an ornery bull. Besides, Nathan had a tendency to get fiercely protective and he was almost certain he wouldn´t step in if Nathan decided to shut Buck´s mouth for him where Laura was concerned. “Come on, let´s get to them ranch hands before Laura does, or Vin´ll be right about why we´re goin´ out there,” he said, getting into his truck.

Nathan climbed into his Expedition and gunned the engine. He knew he loved Laura, he didn´t completely deny it. But there was no way in hell he would tell her. He knew how she felt. Friends only, and she wanted it to stay that way. But right now his heart raced for her. He would breathe a bit easier when he saw with his own two eyes that Laura was in fact okay and that nothing had happened to her because of those ranch hands.

**

Laura Fitzpatrick eased her black gelding to a stop near the farthest fence in the south pasture. It looked as if it had been tampered with. She dismounted and walked over, holding her horse´s reins in her hand loosely. The horse would have followed even had she not held onto the reins. She had been riding Midnight for the past five years, and had trained him herself. The horse was her protector and would do anything to keep her safe. He had never thrown her, even during his training. The one time he had attempted to, he had felt her gentle wrath, if there were such a thing, and knew that his mistress was in charge and had never attempted the move again. Her gratitude towards his attitude in return was loyalty to their pairing.

Laura walked closer to the fence, hearing Midnight whicker behind her, grumbling almost. She took a step and frowned. The fence actually looked like it had been kicked at, cracking it a bit. Probably one of the stallions smelling some of the mares that were in season from another pasture, kicking at the fence in frustration at not being able to get near her. Midnight tugged the reins back, trying to get her attention. “It´s okay, Midnight,” she said soothingly.

Midnight´s ears flickered back and forth, as if sensing something that Laura hadn´t realized yet. He grunted when he heard the first distinct rattling sound far too close to his mistress for his liking. He tugged more insistently on the reins, but to no avail. Finally he let out a high-pitched shriek and tugged as hard as he could. Laura was caught off guard and her shoulder snapped back. A grunt of pain escaped her, but so did a grunt of surprise as the motion her horse made sent her sprawling backwards, tripping over a fallen branch. She fell to the ground, her forehead connecting with a large protruding rock on the ground. She released Midnight´s reins to put a hand to the already swelling goose egg that had a slight cut and looked over where she saw Midnight pawing at the ground quickly, as well as stomping frantically.

Laura managed to get to her feet, her arm tight to her body, her shoulder at an odd angle. She pressed the heel of her hand to the streaming cut that was dripping blood onto her white tank top, wincing at the sting of it. Dust and a bit of mud covered her entire side where she landed on the ground. She glanced where Midnight stood, heavily breathing from the exertion of his task. She glanced to the ground where he had been stomping and saw the bloodied remains of what would have been a rattlesnake. Laura reached out and stroked Midnight´s nose, leading him away from the snake´s remains. She quickly assessed his legs, not seeing any bites, but the lump on her head was throbbing, and her vision wasn´t the best from the blow she took. Despite her injuries, her horse had saved her from a worse fate. Being bit by the snake was not on her list of to do´s today. She kissed his nose and he knelt down allowing her to get into the saddle without too much trouble to avoid aggravating any injuries she had. She turned her horse back towards the homestead and let the horse judge what pace to take back.

**

“You called the cops?!” one of the ranch hands slurred as he swayed, staring through blood shot eyes at Nick.

Nick looked at the man, his arms crossed over his broad chest. “Yeah, I did,” he said. “You boys are causin´ trouble and your boss won´t take to kindly to that?”

“What boss?” the man sneered. “That woman? She ain´t no boss. Jes some lady tryin´ to play rancher. She ain´t got a lick of sense when it comes to this.”

Chris walked up. “Actually she does,” he said. “Was gonna go with a sorrel gelding one year, but she talked me into a chestnut gelding instead, and that horse was one of the best I ever had.”

The ranch hand´s mouth gaped open. “You´re Chris Larabee!” he exclaimed.

Chris looked down at himself. “Last time I checked, yeah I am,” he said.

The ranch hand pointed, his finger wavering. “You were one of the best riders on the circuit ‘fore you retired!” he exclaimed.

Chris cocked his hip. “Guess you could say that,” he said. “But the man´s only as good as his animal, and the animal´s only as good as the eye of the person that breeds him. That person´s your boss, so I´d mind what you say ‘bout her.”

Nick chuckled, seeing the man back down a bit, especially when he got a good look at the other five men with Chris. Another of the ranch hands pointed at Buck. “Rusty look, Buck Wilmington,” he said. “He, he… I remember seein´ him in Abilene!”

Vin glanced at the two men. “Well, pards, looks like you´re famous,” he said with a slight grin. He turned his attention back to the ranch hands.

“Famous or not, you boys are causin´ Miss Laura trouble,” Josiah said, piping in.

One of the men wavered staring at Josiah. “We ain´t doin´ nothin´,” he said.

“But causin´ trouble,” Nick commented.

“We ain´t causin´ trouble!” another of the men said.

Chris shook his head, suppressing a grin at how idiotic the men appeared. Each of them were pretty drunk, and wavering back and forth as they stood. It didn´t take long for them to try and take a swing at each of the men, and they each were subdued. Nathan was the first to see Laura riding back slowly, holding herself very stiffly. He was also the first to notice the goose egg on her forehead; the mud caked to her side and the awkward way her shoulder was angled.

“Boss is back!” one of the ranch hands called out.

“What is going on?” Laura asked as she pulled Midnight to a stop in front of the six cops, five of which who were holding five of her new hands.

Nathan walked over to her, being the only man not holding one of the hands. “What did you do?” he asked moving to lift her down.

In typical Laura fashion, she wavered her good hand to him and Midnight knelt to allow her easier access to the ground. She slid off his back and stood, looking at the men. “What is going on?” she asked again. “If I have to repeat myself, I won´t be happy.”

Chris chuckled. “You don´t look too happy now,” he said.

“Watch it, Larabee,” she growled. “Well?”

Nick walked over to his sister. “Seems Joe and his buddies here thought they could get rip roarin´ drunk and cause a ruckus,” he said. “Had to call Chris and the boys cause there were so many of them.”

“You should have come and gotten me,” Laura said.

Nick looked at her. “Looks like you got yourself into enough trouble as is,” he said. “Why add this to it?”

Laura leveled her gaze at her brother. “This is my ranch,” she said. “Remember?”

“I would´ve told you, Laura,” Nick said. “You can´t handle everything ya know.”

Nathan waved his hands at them in an amusing display of frustration. “Hello, does it not matter that she´s in pain and she has a big knot on her head?” he asked. Finally he looked directly at Laura. “What did you do?” he asked.

Laura waved her hand as if in dismissal. “Oh nothing,” she said. “Midnight spotted a rattler while we were in the south pasture, yanked me out of the way, hit my head on a rock, did something to my shoulder. No big deal.” She looked at the five men who were quickly sobering up while being detained. “What do you five have to say for yourselves?” she asked.

“No big deal?!” Nathan said exasperated. “How can you say that?”

Laura looked at him. “Easily,” she said. “I open my mouth and the words come out.”

Buck snickered, hiding his smile as he bit his lip to keep from grinning at the two´s antics. It was easy to tell the two had feelings for one another, but Nathan and Laura had a certain camaraderie that was absolutely hysterical to watch. She refused to allow the man to tell her what to do, but she also allowed him to hover over her when necessary. It was apparent in the time that Buck had known Laura and since she began her friendship with Nathan that she adored the man enough to allow him to hover over him, but she´d be damned if she let him know it. “Laura, Nathan´s right, the way you´re holdin´ that shoulder ain´t just a big deal,” he said. “Why not head into town with us, Nathan can take ya to the new lady doctor while we take care of these ruffians.”

Laura raised her eyebrow at Buck. “Dictating my life now, Wilmington?” she somewhat teased the man.

“Just suggestin´, ma´am,” Buck replied with a wide grin.

Laura sighed looking at her employees. She had noticed that they rarely listened to her, and when they had they´d done so reluctantly. Perhaps she had merely been asking for trouble when she had hired them. With a resigned sigh she nodded. “All right,” she said. “I´ll follow you into town, take care of these men then see the doctor…”

“Oh no,” Nathan broke in. “You´ll ride with me, you´ll see the doctor and if you are up to it, then you´ll take care of these men.”

Laura put her one good hand on her hip. “Nathan Jackson you are not--,” she started.

“Why can´t you just say okay and not argue?” he asked.

“It´s not in my nature,” she quipped.

“Laura--,” Nathan started.

Nick stepped between the two. “All right you two, this is ridiculous,” he said. “Laura you can´t drive your truck, not with that arm. Even if it was an automatic you couldn´t. Let Nathan drive you, get your shoulder looked at, I´ll drive into town and take care of these idiots, Patrick can keep an eye on things.”

Laura sighed. She knew she was outnumbered. Nathan watched her as the other men loaded their queries into the different cars to head back into town. Laura looked at Nathan and finally nodded, following him to his car. He helped her get into the passenger side, and soon seven cars where following each other headed towards town.

**

“Doctor Darnell?” Nathan called as he walked into the still disarrayed clinic with Laura behind him.

Kenin came out from around a corner of boxes. “Hi Deputy Jackson,” she said.

Nathan smiled. “Hey there,” he said. “This here´s Laura Fitzpatrick, you´ll probably get to know her a lot better with the trouble she gets into-- OOF!”

Kenin chuckled as the lovely woman glared at Nathan. Laura turned her attention to Kenin. “Laura Fitzpatrick, doctor,” she said holding out her good hand.

Kenin noticed the awkward angle of her shoulder. “Broken?” she asked.

Laura sighed. “I think it´s dislocated,” she said. “Small price to pay for not being bit by a rattler.”

Kenin raised her eyebrow. “That is very true,” she said. “Let´s take a look.”

Nathan watched as Kenin examined Laura´s shoulder. Finally she nodded. “It´s dislocated all right,” she said. “Gonna take a bit, and it´s gonna hurt, but I can get it back in without a problem.”

Laura nodded turning her head. “Just do it,” she said.

Kenin placed her hands correctly and with a firm yank, a loud snapped ensured that Laura´s shoulder was put back in place. Laura wavered as the pain assaulted her viciously. “I´m sorry, I don´t have the proper anesthetic stocked up yet where I can get to it, at least not that I´d get to it before that dislocation caused nerve damage,” Kenin said.

Laura smiled weakly at her. “It´s okay, I´ve felt worse pain,” she whispered.

Nathan walked over putting a hand on her back. “You okay?” he asked softly.

Laura looked at him. “I´m fine,” she said.

Kenin watched the pair as she cleaned the bump on Laura´s head. Nathan distracted the woman enough so that she could clean the cut on her forehead. Nathan took Laura´s hand rubbing the back of it. “You sure you are okay?” he asked softly.

“My shoulder hurts, so does my head,” Laura said softly watching him. “But I am okay.”

Nathan watched her, sighing. “Laura you gotta take it--,” he started.

“Easy, yes I know this,” Laura said. “Nathan please I´m fine.”

“Okay, okay,” he said with a gentle smile. He caressed her cheek gently. “Just let me take you home, okay?”

Laura smiled. “You have to,” she said. “You´re the one who brought me remember?”

Nathan chuckled. “Yeah, guess I did huh?” he said.

Kenin smiled and finished bandaging Laura´s forehead. “There,” she said. “All done.”

Laura looked almost startled. She wasn´t sure if she was startled because she had realized Kenin was done, or if it was because she had forgotten the other woman was there, so enthralled in Nathan as he talked to her. “Thanks,” she said. “I think I better set up an account with you while I´m here for my ranch. Always sending someone over here or we´ll be callin´ you out to the ranch.”

Kenin nodded. “Don´t worry about that right now,” she said. “I´ll make note of it and you can fill out the proper paperwork in a couple days. Till then, keep your shoulder immobile for at least a week, take it easy, and keep that cut on your forehead cleaned. If your ribs keep bothering you, let me know and I´ll send ya to Ajo for x-rays.”

Laura nodded then winced, groaning a bit. “Oh man,” she said.

Kenin wrote out a quick prescription. “Get these filled, one´s an anti-inflammatory, the other´s a mild pain killer,” she said handing Laura the pieces of paper.

Nathan took them from her. “I´ll make sure they get filled,” he said. “She tends to not get them filled.”

“I do not do that!” Laura said smacking him in the stomach then winced. “Ow,” she said.

“That´ll teach ya,” Nathan said. Laura merely stuck her tongue out at him. “That was mature,” Nathan said.

Kenin couldn´t suppress the laughter in her throat. “Um,” she said. “If you have any further troubles, feel free to give me a call, if you have no others, you are free to go.”

“No I don´t have any questions,” Laura said, shooting a look at Nathan when he looked to say something. “Thank you for seeing me,” she said.

Kenin smiled. “My pleasure,” she said. “Take it easy on that shoulder.”

Laura got down with Nathan´s help. “I will,” she said. “Thanks again.”

Kenin waved to them as Nathan and Laura left. Laura groaned as she leaned back in Nathan´s air-conditioned car as they headed back to her ranch, first stopping at the drug store to fill her prescriptions. “So what happened?” Nathan asked.

Laura cracked her eye at him then closed it again. “Was checking the south perimeter´s fence. Midnight was having a fit, and I figured it was cause he could smell the mare´s in season,” she said. “He may be gelded but he can still smell them. Anyways, turns out it was a rattlesnake and he yanked me back. Hit my head and side on a rock, and the yank dislocated my shoulder. But like I told Doctor Darnell, beats being bit.”

Nathan nodded. “I´m glad you´re okay,” he said softly.

Laura looked over and touched his hand. “So am I,” she said.

Nathan smiled softly, continuing the drive to her ranch. He took comfort and joy in merely sharing her company in the car. Laura soon fell asleep and Nathan made sure in his mind that he´d take care of her when they got back to her ranch before he headed to back to the office.

.