Chapter Text
Life moved at its own pace on the Enterprise Ranch. Though that had been a very quick pace during the previous spring and summer. Leonard McCoy looked out across the north pasture, and let his thoughts drift. Two gangs and a pair of villains taken out. A new addition to their family on the ranch in the form of Jaylah. And best of all, at least to McCoy, love in his life again.
McCoy couldn’t help a smile as he looked over towards where Montgomery Scott was working on the pasture gate.
“Len, look at this.”
McCoy turned to walk back to where Scotty was. His eyes widened as he saw the paw print Scotty was pointing at.
“Oh,” was all he got out.
“We’ll have to let the others know, and keep a lookout in case,” Scotty said.
McCoy moved in the direction the print was facing. “More over here,” he said, as he continued to follow the prints. “Just what we need,” he said sarcastically, “a big cat hassling the cattle.” He looked out at the land around them.
“Probably came down from the hills,” Scotty said, stepping up next to him.
“Hopefully it’s gone on its way and left us well alone.”
“Hopefully,” Scotty agreed.
“Where did they go?” James T. Kirk looked down the table at lunch.
McCoy gave his head a shake. “Didn’t follow them too far and besides the ground was softer by the fence.”
Jim rubbed a hand over his face. “Alright. Spock, we’ll check it out after lunch. Sulu, you and Chekov check on the east pasture. Make sure everyone is accounted for.”
“Can do,” Hikaru Sulu answered and Pavel Chekov nodded in agreement.
“Bones, you and Scotty check around the north pasture, see if you can find anything more.”
“Aye,” Scotty said and looked over at McCoy.
“What about me?” Jaylah spoke up.
Jim’s face gave a guilty start. Jaylah had learned much and quickly, and though Jim tried he did forget on occasion.
“Come with us lass,” Scotty said before Jim could answer.
Jaylah glanced at McCoy and he nodded at her.
In the north pasture, McCoy took off his hat and fanned himself for a moment. The late summer sun beat down.
“I’m not seeing anything,” McCoy called over to Scotty and Jaylah.
“Aye, same,” Scotty called back. They had spread out to cover more ground.
A sudden squeal from Jaylah had both men turning. She had closed in on one of the few trees in the pasture and was looking into its branches.
“What’s wrong lass?” Scotty cried as he began hurrying towards her. McCoy moved quickly as well.
“Look!” she exclaimed, pointing into the tree.
“Get away!” McCoy ordered, thoughts turned to a cougar leaping down at them. A chill went down his spine.
“Lassie!” Scotty yelled as Jaylah moved to the tree trunk.
In a flash she had jumped towards a low hanging branch and pulled herself up. McCoy grabbed onto Scotty’s arm as they stopped at the base of the tree and watched Jaylah climb higher.
McCoy’s heart began to slow its racing as he saw there was nothing but Jaylah in the tree. His fears had been for nothing.
“What are ye doing?” Scotty demanded next to him. He could hear the man’s own fear coming out now as frustration.
McCoy looked at Scotty as a tiny sound drifted down to them. Scotty gazed at him in surprise. Moments later Jaylah dropped to the ground in front of them, something tiny and noisy held in the crook of her arm.
“Look!” she said. She held out a small bundle of fur towards them.
“You scared the hell out of us for a kitten?” McCoy almost yelled.
“Shhh! You’ll frighten him! Look how cute he is!”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” McCoy muttered and turned around to walk back to the pasture gate.