Sourdough Creek (35 page)

There it was again, that knowing expression she’d come to adore.

“That’s good to hear,” he said, kissing the tip of her nose. “Now close your eyes and open your hand.”

***

It took a week of hard travel to reach Rosenthal. The town looked the same to Sam, but he knew he was no longer the man that had ridden out of here a month before. Several people recognized them, waving and following their horses toward Grace’s house.

Cassie slipped out of her saddle and hurried toward the door. “Wait for me,” Sam called as he tied their horses to the hitching post.

She was nearly frantic with excitement. “Hurry!”

Josephine must have been watching out the window because the door flew open with a bang and she rushed down the steps with Buddy hot on her heels, barking his own excitement. She flung herself into Cassie’s arms. “Sissy, you’re home! You’re finally here!”

Her hair, now long enough to swish around a little, looked pretty. She wore a soft blue dress with a white crocheted collar. Snippets of white tights underneath could be seen as the two girls jumped about in a sisterly embrace so close Sam couldn’t tell where one began and the other left off.

“Said I’d be back in a month, didn’t I?” Cassie’s voice was thick with emotion as she spread kisses across her sister’s forehead. She pulled back a little so she could see into Josephine’s face. “I couldn’t break my promise, could I?”

Exceptionally wise for her years, Josephine shook her head slowly. “No, you’d
never
do that. I’m so glad. I love you.”

“And I love you.”

Sam had to blink unmanly tears from his eyes before they slipped free, but he succeeded. He grinned, glad for his part in making this reunion come to pass.

Grace appeared with a wooden spoon in one hand and a smudge of flour over her forehead. “I came to see what was going on,” she said. “Hush now, Buddy!” Her smile was broad as she looked the three of them over. Didn’t take her but half a second to spot the little band on Cassie’s finger. “Well, I’ll be. You two went and tied the knot. Again.”

“Yes,” Sam said. “We stopped in Hangtown on our way here, where we registered the claim in both our names.”
And took the nugget to the assayer’s office
. He smiled at the memory of Cassie when she learned its worth was a little over a thousand dollars. Plenty to start their ranch with money left to boot. “After that, we went and found a preacher.”

“Actually, you didn’t have to. My father totally forgot to file the necessary papers after you’d left, and you’ve been married all along. Congratulations!”

Cassie set Josephine back and embraced Grace. “Thank you for taking such good care of Josephine. You were right about the river not being a place for a little girl. It was extremely dangerous.” Her glance to Sam said
flashflood
, but only briefly. Sam marveled as her eyes warmed and she smiled just that certain way, conveying without a single sound how much she loved him. It was special. A look reserved only for him.

“It’s me who should be thanking you,” Grace replied. “Josephine was a real pleasure to have, and this month has been one of the happiest I’ve ever known. That is, up until Arvid showed up looking to take her away.”

“What?” Cassie blanched. She hurried to Sam’s side and wrapped her arms around his middle, something he was getting mighty used to. “Uncle Arvid was
here
?”

Grace handed Josephine the batter-covered wooden spoon and wiped her hands on her apron. “Sweetie, would you run this into the kitchen for me, please?” Josephine hesitated for a moment, her eyes narrowing. Then, she nodded and obediently walked away.

“Yes. He showed up about five nights ago riding bareback and looked like he’d been through a twister. Jonathan saw him coming into town alone and felt there might be trouble. He took Josephine over to a neighbor’s house where Arvid wouldn’t find her. Your uncle was
very
angry, as you can imagine. He knew we were keeping her from him. I hope we did the right thing.”

“We’re indebted to you,” Sam assured her. “Thank God for your fast thinking.” He could feel Cassie shaking at the thought of her little sister with Arvid.

The other town-folk were now crowding around. Jonathan and Annabelle arrived hand in hand. The news had spread. “Come on inside everyone,” Grace called. “We’ll see how things ended up at the claim.”

Cassie laid her head against Sam’s chest and he looked down to see her eyes were closed. He couldn’t wait to see Seth and introduce his new family to his brother. How fast life could change. How wonderfully fulfilling it could be. He kissed the top of her head.

“Come on, sweetheart,” he said at last. “We don’t want to keep our friends waiting.”

Epilogue

Mendocino, California. Eleven months later
.

J
osephine’s shriek brought Cassie from her upstairs room just in time to see the younger girl bolt through the door and send Ashes scampering outside for cover. The cat had journeyed with them from Broken Branch to Rosenthal and on to their new home in Mendocino, riding the whole way in Josephine’s saddlebag. She was also present at the auction where Sam, Cassie and Seth had purchased over seven hundred acres of prime property.

The two brothers went right to work constructing a ranch house, followed by a barn and fencing. When that was done, they painstakingly renovated a small building on Main Street, less than a ten-minute buggy ride from home, where Cassie and Josephine—when the youngster wasn’t in school or studying—could spend hour after hour baking their little hearts out. Angels’ Sweets was a huge success from the first day it opened. Now Cassie had an employee watching over it for a couple of months.

“What’s all this noise?” Cassie called from the second-story landing.

“Come quick! Meadowlark is foaling. Sam wants you to see it.” Josephine was back out the door, running toward the barn.

Cassie placed the needlework she’d been stitching on her dresser and hurried down the stairs as best she could given her cumbersome size. As she approached the entryway, she glanced briefly at the still unopened letter on the mahogany sideboard. It was from Brewster Ridgeway. Sam and Seth had been corresponding with their father, and she felt it was only a matter of time before Sam would allow the senior Ridgeway a visit. At least Sam had a relative to forgive—she’d seen or heard nothing from Uncle Arvid. Not that she’d be too quick about warming up to him. He owed her an apology—a big one.

When she arrived at the barn, the brothers were in Meadowlark’s stall, quietly watching so as not to make the mare nervous.

Sam smiled his greeting and Seth nodded. Her brother-in-law was closer to her own age than Sam’s, but his resemblance to Sam was striking. On arrival he’d been shocked to find Sam married, but he had taken an obvious, instant shine to her and Josephine. Cassie now wondered what their lives had been like without his mischievous humor and handsome face.

“How is she?” Cassie asked quietly.

“Doing fine,” Sam responded. “Thought you’d like to see the birth of Triple R’s first foal.” His brows arched knowingly. “I’ll never be able to thank that stallion enough for his efforts.”

When he smiled at her, like he was doing now, an overwhelming joy filled her soul. So much so she had to look away, knowing he was thinking about the baby she carried and the love that had created it. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t dredge up what it felt like when she’d been suspicious of him. All that was dear to her he held safely in his hands. And that was just as she wanted it.

“You were right,” she answered, swiftly switching her thoughts from her fine-looking husband to her laboring mare.

Seth laughed. “My gosh, Cass. When are you going to get over all that blushing? I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

A lopsided grin crept up Sam’s face. “As far as I’m concerned, she can blush to her heart’s content.”

“I guess you’re right, big brother,” Seth agreed. “As long as she keeps bringing me more of those wonderful ‘Ain-gel’ doughnuts,”—he drew her name out for comic effect—“and cookies.” He closed his eyes and smacked his lips, pretending to swoon.

Blu, stabled in the stall across the breezeway, snuffled, drawing everyone’s attention. Cassie’s eyes went wide. “And how is your mare doing today? Will there be two foals born?”

“Her bag’s dropped and is waxing. I believe it won’t be long for her, either. Maybe two, three days,” Sam answered, glancing into the rafters at the dozen gray kittens playing there. Dust and straw filtered down onto them all and he shook his head in defeat. Ashes, free of her six kittens, rubbed affectionately back and forth on Josephine as the girl knelt in the straw. Josephine inched forward slowly and touched Meadowlark’s neck, stroking her gently. “Poor girl.”

Sam’s gaze snagged Cassie’s. The love she saw made her heart swell with emotion. She couldn’t believe how God had blessed her with Sam, and his brother, and this wonderful life she found herself in. Every day was an adventure, and soon there would be another little person to add to their happiness.

“Look,” Josephine whispered, barely containing her excitement. She was shaking. “It’s coming.”

Want to read more books by Caroline Fyffe?

MONTANA DAWN – Book One in The McCutcheon Family Series

2011 Laurel Wreath Winner, 2010 Maggie Finalist, 2010 Gayle Wilson Finalist, RWA Golden Heart Finalist, voted BEST WESTERN ROMANCE of 2010 by readers at Loves Western Romances

When Luke McCutcheon finds Faith Brown about to give birth in her rickety wagon, his first instincts are to ride for help. Instead, he stays and delivers a beautiful baby girl. Unable to leave the pretty young widow and her little son and newborn unprotected in the Montana wilderness, he brings them along on his family’s cattle drive, to the absolute delight of the other friendly cowboys.

"I enjoyed every minute of the book and that’s about as good as a book can get!"

—Philosophy of Romance

Luke, third son of Montana’s wealthy McCutcheon family, is different from his brothers. As the offspring of a Cheyenne warrior, he carries a chip on his shoulder for all to see. His flashing eyes and handsome face make Faith feel she’s stepped into some long-ago tale where men cherish their women--and keep them safe. If only she could trust him! Faith is on the run, and although she’s pampered and protected by Luke and his family, she just can’t risk the consequences of sharing the details of her past--one that’s hunting to take her back to the nightmare she’s just escaped. Happy-ever-afters are for fairytales, she reminds herself sternly as her heart feels the warm pull of his. Still, she can’t help but dream of a loving family, a home to call her own, a beautiful and bright…Montana Dawn

"Caroline Fyffe’s second tale grips the audience and never slows down for even a paragraph." – Harriet Klausner

"In the tradition of Classic Americana Romances, Fyffe has found her place alongside Lisa Cooke, Linda Lael Miller and Catherine Anderson." –RT Book Review

“Montana Dawn has everything. Readers will taste the dust, smell the gunpowder and feel the passion.” – Nationally acclaimed author Cheryl St.John

TEXAS TWILIGHT – Book Two in the McCutcheon Family Series

Fresh out of medical school, John McCutcheon finds his stagecoach under attack by brutal outlaws. With the help of a feisty acquaintance, Lily Anthony, he manages to fend off the assault. Lily is attracted to the charming cowboy-doctor, with his chiseled good looks and teasing ways, then heartbroken to learn he’s engaged to be married.

“I laughed. I cried. I didn’t want Texas Twilight to end.”

–Theresa Ragan, Bestselling Author

Once settled in Rio Wells, Texas, John tries to ignore the fact that his cousin has taken a shine to Lily. When a bounty hunter shows up looking for a priceless jewel that Lily has found stashed away in her aunt’s belongings, Lily fears her dreams of owning her own shop--and of finding true love--are about to go up in flames…or, could that just be the glow of a beautiful … Texas Twilight?

And Also…

WHERE THE WIND BLOWS –
Winner of RWA’s Golden Heart Award and Write Touch Readers Award 2010
.

Chase Logan is content. He’s free as a clear mountain stream and that suits him just fine. When he’s mistaken for Jessie Strong’s husband, he’s shocked, but her imploring gaze has him agreeing to play along—for three days—just until the adoption papers for darling three-year-old Sarah are finalized.

“Charming.” –RT Book Review

Jessie knows Chase’s sense of chivalry is the reason he’s stepped in, but her imagination can’t help but pretend what life might be like with a man like Chase. He’s handsome and kind—and a bit dangerous, too.

“Sweet and touching.” –All About Romance

The love that grows between Chase and Jessie defies the wildness of the land, the danger outside the door—but the secret between them is hurtful enough to shatter Jessie’s heart. Will it rip them apart? Or will their dream of being a real family come true at last, no matter…
Where the Wind Blows

“Every now and then a book comes along that is just so tender, so lovely, you can’t help the emotions that roll through you…this is one of those books.” –The Good, The Bad and The Unread

“An absolutely delightful tale penned by an author sure to make a name for herself.”

–Pamela Britton, Bestselling Author

“The love that unfolds in this tender and emotional story will touch your heart. Don’t miss this breathtaking debut.”—Patty Berg, USA Today Bestselling Author

About the Author

Caroline Fyffe grew up in the little town of El Dorado, CA, the youngest of five girls and whose main interest was the family’s horses. An equine photographer for over twenty years now, she has worked throughout the United States and Germany. Long days in the arenas present plenty of opportunity to dream up all sorts of stories. Her love of horses and the Old West is the inspiration behind her books. Her debut book, WHERE THE WIND BLOWS, was the recipient of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award and also the Wisconsin RWA’s Write Touch Readers’ Award 2010. MONTANA DAWN was voted BEST WESTERN ROMANCE of 2010 by readers at Loves Western Romances! Married for many years, Caroline’s most cherished achievements are her two grown sons.