Commandadmin at 21:52, 27 February 2025

2025-02-27T21:52:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:52, 27 February 2025
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	The Noose Tightens		{{TplBeneathRedTailWingsStory\|title=The Noose Tightens\|Author=Patricia I. Williams\|chapter text=<font size=7>'''The Noose Tightens'''</font size>

	Matt rode in with a stiff wind stirring up behind him. The temperature continued to fall. There would be more rain, or worse an early snowfall. He looked forward to none of it stuck in a cabin with a wounded man and his family. Cobby was side stepping and snorting every time the eddies stirred his mane. It didn’t take him long to wipe the old horse down and leave him to snap at the wind between cropping the scant ~~foilage~~. He had just reached out to open the door when it slammed open and Harlan stormed past him, red in the face and scowling. Matt tried to calm his racing heart and let go of his gun. He could have shot the young fool. The boy was absolutely oblivious to his surroundings. It could get him killed. Just the thought made Matt’s temper rise. He stepped inside to find Sarah tight lipped and furious. He avoided her stare and raised chin by crouching before the fire and adding more fuel to it. The broth had boiled down, so he added more water.		Matt rode in with a stiff wind stirring up behind him. The temperature continued to fall. There would be more rain, or worse an early snowfall. He looked forward to none of it stuck in a cabin with a wounded man and his family. Cobby was side stepping and snorting every time the eddies stirred his mane. It didn’t take him long to wipe the old horse down and leave him to snap at the wind between cropping the scant foliage. He had just reached out to open the door when it slammed open and Harlan stormed past him, red in the face and scowling. Matt tried to calm his racing heart and let go of his gun. He could have shot the young fool. The boy was absolutely oblivious to his surroundings. It could get him killed. Just the thought made Matt’s temper rise. He stepped inside to find Sarah tight lipped and furious. He avoided her stare and raised chin by crouching before the fire and adding more fuel to it. The broth had boiled down, so he added more water.

	“Kevin tried to follow you.”		“Kevin tried to follow you.”
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	Lightening, thunder and pounding rain curtailed any conversation. The trio sat, damp and sullen throughout the dreary day. Mr. Bethancourt roused once. He appeared to be attempting to sit up, but Sarah soothed him and managed to spoon some broth into his mouth. He was conscious enough to swallow, but the strength to speak seem to have eluded him. Realizing she wasn’t a dream accounted for his agitation. He was a very protective man. His wife and daughter never left the ranch without him or Gil riding escort. Gradually exhaustion caught up with him and despite his desperate denials, he was asleep once more.		Lightening, thunder and pounding rain curtailed any conversation. The trio sat, damp and sullen throughout the dreary day. Mr. Bethancourt roused once. He appeared to be attempting to sit up, but Sarah soothed him and managed to spoon some broth into his mouth. He was conscious enough to swallow, but the strength to speak seem to have eluded him. Realizing she wasn’t a dream accounted for his agitation. He was a very protective man. His wife and daughter never left the ranch without him or Gil riding escort. Gradually exhaustion caught up with him and despite his desperate denials, he was asleep once more.

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Commandadmin: Created page with "The Noose Tightens Matt rode in with a stiff wind stirring up behind him. The temperature continued to fall. There would be more rain, or worse an early snowfall. He looked forward to none of it stuck in a cabin with a wounded man and his family. Cobby was side stepping and snorting every time the eddies stirred his mane. It didn’t take him long to wipe the old horse down and leave him to snap at the wind between cropping the scant foilage. He had just reached out to..."

2025-02-27T21:23:02Z

Created page with "The Noose Tightens Matt rode in with a stiff wind stirring up behind him. The temperature continued to fall. There would be more rain, or worse an early snowfall. He looked forward to none of it stuck in a cabin with a wounded man and his family. Cobby was side stepping and snorting every time the eddies stirred his mane. It didn’t take him long to wipe the old horse down and leave him to snap at the wind between cropping the scant foilage. He had just reached out to..."

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The Noose Tightens

Matt rode in with a stiff wind stirring up behind him. The temperature continued to fall. There would be more rain, or worse an early snowfall. He looked forward to none of it stuck in a cabin with a wounded man and his family. Cobby was side stepping and snorting every time the eddies stirred his mane. It didn’t take him long to wipe the old horse down and leave him to snap at the wind between cropping the scant foilage. He had just reached out to open the door when it slammed open and Harlan stormed past him, red in the face and scowling. Matt tried to calm his racing heart and let go of his gun. He could have shot the young fool. The boy was absolutely oblivious to his surroundings. It could get him killed. Just the thought made Matt’s temper rise. He stepped inside to find Sarah tight lipped and furious. He avoided her stare and raised chin by crouching before the fire and adding more fuel to it. The broth had boiled down, so he added more water.

“Kevin tried to follow you.”

There was no follow up to the comment, so Matt turned to look at Sarah. The question was in the angle of his head. His eyes were obscured once more by his spectacles.

“He’s suspicious of you and thinks you have other motives. He attempted to follow you, I should say. He got lost.

“I wasn’t trying to hide where I was going. I would have been long gone and your father’s body still on that ledge if I had wanted money. I have things I need to be seeing to and this has delayed me. Another storm maybe moving in on us and I...”

Matt stood up, suddenly speechless with rising anger and frustration. He directed a hard stare at Sarah and stalked out of the cabin. She was startled but took off after him. A fight with Kevin was not a good idea. Only there wasn’t any confrontation. Matt once again disappeared into the forest. Sarah wondered how much more of this she could handle. Kevin was being an ass and Matt’s abrupt departures and silence irritated her to no end. Fuming, Sarah realized her impotence in the situation. Perhaps the women clamoring for the right to vote and make decisions usually reserved for men had it right. All this bullheadedness was driving her around the bend.

Two hours later Sarah’s mood took a lighter turn, when her father’s eyes opened. She spoke softly to him, easing his agitated movements. She rushed to spoon some of the broth into his mouth, elated when he appeared surprised and swallowed it. She sang to him until he appeared to fall asleep. He hadn’t looked directly at her but the sound of her voice did seem to calm him. She was determined this was a good sign. Another hour passed without a sign of either of her errant protectors. At least she knew Matt was around, because his wall eyed mount snapped at her when she went to see if he was still there. She laughed in relief.

Matt returned to the cabin with the ever present rabbits dangling from his hand. There seemed to be an excessive amount of the creatures. Good in this situation, but Denver was beginning to look better and better for the winter. He called out to the occupants of the cabin before approaching the door. He had been away for some time and Harlan may have returned. If Harlan was suspicious of him, getting shot would be too likely. Matt shivered inside his coat and the rising wind actually pushed him through the door when Sarah called his name. She was alone. Where was that fool? If he got himself lost in the woods again, Matt wasn’t going to go looking. Not even if Sarah asked. No absolutely not. With a grimace he hung the rabbits over the grate, took off his coat and built up the fire. It wasn’t long before the meat was roasting. He had made it a point to avoid Sarah’s gaze, unsettled by his attraction to her. He didn’t need this, especially since that puppy was so determined to let Matt see he had a claim.

Sarah sat on her bedding watching Matt cook the meat. He dropped some greens into the broth and added more water to it. He never said a word or looked in her direction. The quiet made her uncomfortable, but if he was still angry about Kevin perhaps this once she would leave it be. Rain began to fall in a steady patter. Just as she thought to go call out for Kevin, he charged through the door, looking shocked when Matt’s gun snapped up to cover him.

“Mr. Harlan, you should call out before you come in, considering the circumstances.”

“...Uh...uh, you’re right Matt. I wasn’t thinking. Wasn’t expecting the rain...”

Matt’s stare was hard and accessing for a long moment. Then his gun slipped back into the holster on his hip. He turned back to the fire to watch over the food. Kevin kept one eye on the man has he went to his bedroll and sat down beside Sarah. She was obviously still angry at him. His smile didn’t soften her this time. She frowned and turned away, fussing with the blankets on her father’s cot.

The remaining hours were tension filled as Kevin’s attempts at conversation were not acknowledged. Sarah probably told Matt he was under suspicion. That would explain the gun when he walked in. The man hadn’t been that guarded before. Damn, this would make things more difficult. They ate the wild greens and rabbit without comment and Matt cleaned up the area, all the while ignoring them.

“I, I forgot to mention, but my, my father woke up this afternoon.”

Kevin twitched at her side, his face blank for a moment. Then he turned to her with his dazzling smile.

“Why that’s fantastic Sarah, honey. Did he say anything? Any clue to who attacked him?”

“No, no he didn’t speak at all. But he had a few sips of broth and then he went back to sleep.”

Her expression was full of hope and lit up with her smile. Kevin took her into his arms and hugged her.

“Oh Sarah, that’s great. See I told you he would pull through. It won’t be long before we’re home and this misadventure will be behind us.”

“Thank you Kevin. I hope so I do.”

She couldn’t hold back her tears and Kevin pressed his wrinkled bandana into her hands.

Matt watched them interact, but said nothing. He acknowledged her information with a nod. She didn’t know whether to be angry or not at his lack of verbal response. She returned Kevin’s kerchief and tried to keep the frown from her face as he squeezed her hands a little too tight. Without any more comment, Sarah got into her bedding and tried to sleep.

Harlan and Matt didn’t speak again until Kevin made ready for bed.

“Mr. Travers...uh Matt...look I’m sorry alright? I guess Sarah told you I was trying to follow you around today. I, I don’t actually know what to say about that. I’m sorry to be, but well, I never felt for anyone before like I do Sarah and well, she, I mean I want her to see me as well...”

His speech trailed off into silence, his beseeching gaze directed at the blank features of the scarred cowboy. The silence held for a too long moment. A frown twisted Matt’s features before he sighed heavily.

“This isn’t the city Harlan. Things a man does tells more than what he says. I have business of my own. Once the old man is back with the cowhands you and your girl will be on your way, and I will be on mine. That will be the end of it.”

Matt went to his bedroll and stretched out. He left Kevin staring at him in consternation. So this man was just going to ride away without reward of any kind? No money, not even a job?

Kevin rolled up in his own blankets listening to the annoying plonk, plonk plonk of water leaking from the ceiling. The old man had woken up, that could pose a serious problem. Sarah was real resistant to his attentions today. How could she stay mad for so long? He needed to think. What could he do about all this? His ruminations provided no answers and late into the night he dozed off.

The sun never broke through the clouds heavy with rain. Matt woke to gray shadows. He slept poorly during the night, disturbed by his continued confinement and the cannon shot thunder overhead. The room was damp and very chilled. Matt considered his options, but leaving a wounded man and a woman helpless didn’t sit well. Tired of his indecision he dozed off, twitching now and then as the thunder continued to echo around the mountains.

It was just as dark when Matt woke again, but he rolled out shivering in the damp. After building up the fire, he broke his fast with a cup of the wild greens. Harlan woke, ignored him and staggered out into the rain. He came back wiping his face and hair down.

“Morning Travers.”

“Harlan.”

Kevin pulled a leg off the rabbit hanging over the fireplace, squatted by the fire and ate. No more was said. He occasionally glanced at Matt, but flushed and looked away if their eyes connected. Matt found this annoying, but was determined he wasn’t going to get more involved with the irritating easterner than he already had. The chill in the air was increasing so the warmest place was directly before the fire. He may have to ride the trail and find the old man and his hands. It would be best if this rescue happened before they were trapped. Putting on coat, slicker and guns he left the cabin.

Cobby was in a real disagreeable mood and attempted to bite him more than once. Matt didn’t win the stare down with his soggy mount this time. He had to admit his efforts were halfhearted. The idea of slipping and sliding down the mountain and ending over a cliff didn’t sit well with him. He finally left Cobby and the other ponies beneath the overhang behind the cabin and hoped the storm passed quickly.

Sarah was awake when Matt returned. She was picking over a bit of meat, leaning against the cot. It was obvious she was avoiding any interaction with Harlan and himself. After removing his slicker and coat, Matt settled onto his blankets. Another blast of thunder startled the occupants. Matt sat, one hand clutching the blanket and the other his sidearm. The sounds of cannon continued to echo and vibrate the leaky timbers. He couldn’t stop the minute twinges that gripped his muscles under the assault. He hoped no one noticed his trembling hands, when he took the short strips of leather and rope from his bag. Soon he was lost in the rhythm of weaving his Solomon knots. The low light didn’t obstruct his efforts. His fingers knew the task even when his mind was lost to the battlefield.

Lightening, thunder and pounding rain curtailed any conversation. The trio sat, damp and sullen throughout the dreary day. Mr. Bethancourt roused once. He appeared to be attempting to sit up, but Sarah soothed him and managed to spoon some broth into his mouth. He was conscious enough to swallow, but the strength to speak seem to have eluded him. Realizing she wasn’t a dream accounted for his agitation. He was a very protective man. His wife and daughter never left the ranch without him or Gil riding escort. Gradually exhaustion caught up with him and despite his desperate denials, he was asleep once more.

Beneath Red Tail Wings The Noose Tightens - Revision history

Commandadmin at 21:52, 27 February 2025