Mission: Accomplished Ages 13-17

 Picture Prompt #14 - Who lives in this shack?

Sierra foothills, April 4, 1884

 Whack.

A sharp stick dug into the flesh above Mitchell Carter's left eye.

"Ouch!" his gloved hand reached up and wiped the hurting section. When he pulled his hand away, he saw in the pale light of dawn, blood staining the leather.

"Chase, do you think that you could stop ramming me into tree branches?" Mitch said.

Chase merely nodded his head and nickered.

"Make sure you follow through on that." he chuckled. He looked up and surveyed the ever-growing light through the trees. "Chad told me the shack was around here somewhere." Mitch said recalling his older brother's instructions to chase out the 'ragga-muffin' who lived there. He stared at the fog trying to pierce the cloud.

Chase's ears suddenly perked up and he gave a shrill whinny. Mitch patted the gelding's neck.

"It's alright boy. Nothing's out here, or at least not that..." he was cut off as an answering call shot eerily through the fog.

His eyebrows jumped up, which he regretted as soon as they moved. Pain exploded around the cut.

Mitch pulled Chase to a stop, jumped from the saddle, and secured his horses reins to a low hanging branch.

Creeping along in the brush Mitch moved slowly toward the sounds of horses. A thorn caught his left pant leg and embedded deep into his leg. He clenched his fists and tried not to scream.

Oh, brother! Something's against my left side today.

Mitch carefully- avoiding the other thorns- pulled the offending object from his limb.

Looking out for any other dangerous plants, he made his way to the edge of the clearing. At the final tree of the wood, he surveyed the clearing. A shack that looked like it would become a rubble pancake in the next storm stood on the far end. Rope corrals with a few Clydesdales and an appaloosa lay before him.

Before Mitch could figure out who had camp set up there, a bomb- not literally, but close- exploded in his head. He fell over onto his back, and before he passed out, he saw a woman holding a frying pan over her head ready to finish the job she started.

And with that Mitch lost all conscience thoughts.

*******

Crawling out of the pit of darkness made Mitch realize that a girl had gotten the better of him. He heard murmuring in the distance slowly becoming louder and clearer.

"Kay-Anna Grace, you told me it was some bum you 'got rid of'! That is no bum, that's Mitchell James Carter, one of the most experienced ranchers in all California!" a male voice excitedly said.

"Well, I thought I hit HIM on the head. You, my cousin, are one of the most level-headed men I know-not that I know many, but it seems like I hit YOUR nerves!" a feminine voice softly called back. "Besides I don't like men lurking about with pistols."

"His family's never going to let me work on the ranch when they figure out my 'sweet' cousin knocked him out." a heavy sigh came. "I pray Mitch will be able to forgive..." the voice cut off.

Mitch's eyelids slowly peeled open. He was laying on the wet cold earth staring up at the heavens. A rustle of leaves brought a man to his side.

"He's waking up. Mitch... Mitchell Carter?"

A small pat to his cheek forced him to avert his gaze and bring a man's face into focus. He had a strong appearance, hazel eyes like two dusky pools of water, and dark brown hair that fell over his forehead.

A sharp bark from behind the man caused a shock to ripple through Mitch's head. He groaned. The man turned around.

"Tucker! Be quiet!" a black and white collie came forward and lay next to his master.

Who are you?" Mitch forced himself to mumble.

A woman came into view- the same that conked him out. She was around 5'8" with straight brown hair and dark brown eyes. Even though she dressed like a lady of stature in a light blue dress, her feet were bare and covered in dirt and grim.

"See, he doesn't even remember you. What makes you think that you can go and work...."

"Kay-Anna!"

So that's her name. It fits and is pretty! Mitch thought.

"Let me answer his question. I have grown up a bit since he saw me last," he spoke. Turning back to Mitch he continued. "I am...." he trailed off as he became aware of his friend's awkward position. With his head craned up and laying in the worst position possible, Mitch looked at the man and waited.

"Well, aren't you going to tell him or what?" the lady- or tom-boy, Mitch couldn't decide- said.

"Yes, I am. But I was going to fix his posture," the man said patiently.

Grabbing under Mitch's arms the man- with surprising strength- leaned him against the tree. After Mitch feebly thanked him, he continued.

"My name is Riley. Riley Prescott. I worked at your ranch while my mother was ill a while back."

Mitch's mind became a tornado of thoughts.

Riley wants to work at the ranch. I wonder what he's good at now, he used to be good at lassoing. Boy, he and Andi had a lot of fun together when they were little. Will Andi remember him? He has grown a lot I didn't recognize him!

A slight shake brought him back to the here-and-now. He licked his lips.

"Riley...wow, I didn't think I'd ever see you again!" he shook his head. "How long have you been living in that shack?"

"About a month. I..." 

"He's to chicken to approach you people!" Kay-Anna broke in.

"I'm not chicken. I was.... just.... a little.... intimidated." Riley sighed.

She snorted very un-lady like. "Yeah, right. Chicken... intimidated, same word in my book. "

Riley ignored her comment.

"Mitch this is my cousin Kay-Anna. Her folks sent her with me so that 'she can get the west out of her system," he gave Mitch a crooked grin. "Like that would ever work! My aunt's tired of her lack of lady manners. And Kay-Anna was glad to be out from under her mother's thumb, and the eyes of potential suitors."

Mitch smiled. "She would get along great with my sister, Andi!"

"Boys, I wish you would stop talking about me as if I'm not even here!" Kay-Anna had her hands on her hips and was giving her cousin a glare that could kill.

Mitch and Riley exchanged looks.

"I'm sorry, Kay-Anna, but his sister is- or at least was- just like you!" Riley said.

"Oh, she hasn't changed! Last fall she helped on a cattle drive, and before that she got mixed up with a family that was stealing cattle all over town- including her prized twin colts." Mitch chuckled.

"She has twin colts. And both survived?" Riley looked dumbfounded.

"Yes, she does! Well, she used to have both until she gave the other as a gift to the scoundrel's sister before she went out to Arizona," he replied with pride at his little sister's accomplishments. "They're out of Taffy by Sebatian."

Riley shook his head. "I'm glad she still has her first horse," a tear slipped down his face, and he hurriedly brushed it off.

Wonder what that's about. Mitch silently pondered the reason for tears.

Clearing his throat, Mitch spoke. "I'm not feeling AS tippy as I was. How 'bout you two saddle up and follow me to the ranch?"

Grunting he tried to stand up. Riley offered his hand and pulled Mitch to his feet. He stumbled a few steps then found his sense of balance. He glanced at his friend for an answer.

Riley pulled his Stenson off and scratched his head.

"I don't think I could. You see I have to take Kay-Anna to the station. Her mother want's her out of harm's way," Riley sighed. "I really wish I could, sorry."

Kay-Anna rolled her eyes and mumble something about how Riley should send a message to her mother saying she got lost in the "wilderness" of the Seirra.

"Well then, I guess I go with you to the station, send Miss Prescott off, and escort you to the Circle C," Mitch lowered his voice and leaned close to Riley. "Nobody needs to know about the 'accident'. And I'll even put in a good word for you!"

At the train station Kay-Anna and Riley exchanged goodbyes. Before she stepped onto the train, she turned to Mitch.

"I'm really sorry that I hit you on the noggin. Not the right impression I'd want to give Riley's new boss," she said.

"Well, you made an impression.... a headache and a bruised skull!" Mitch gave her a lop-sided grin.

Kay-Anna chuckled. She turned and pulled out of her luggage the frying pan. She handed it to Mitch.

"I want you to have this. Mother wouldn't want one of these things in her kitchen, and I wouldn't want to throw it out."

"Sure, you don't!" Riley mumbled under his breath.

The conductor's shrill whistle blew, reminding Mitch of his head injury yet again. Kay-Anna picked up her carpet bag and boarded the train car.

*******

Ten years later, after Andi and Riley are married and have children, what happened to Kay-Anna? 

*******

June 23, 1894

"Happy wedding day, Kay-Anna!" Mitch announced handing her a box wrapped in gold foil and tied with a bow.

"It's heavy. What is it?" she wondered, anticipation written all over her face.

"Open it and find out." he said impatiently. 

Kay-Anna ripped the foil and opened the package. She pulled out a black, cast-ion frying pan.

"Oh, Mitch! You kept it!" she smiled at him.

"Of course I did! I had to after you made such a hard impression on me!" 

Together they laughed and hung it on their bedroom wall, at the ranch, as a reminder that God always has a plan even if it includes a frying pan and a headache.