Sourdough Creek (8 page)

“This isn’t necessary, you know,” he offered, gesturing to the new sleeping arrangements.

Cassie held her finger to her lips, looking at her little sister. “Do you mind? Josephine insisted on it. She’s frightened to tears.”

Josephine, Sam thought, looked pretty darn relaxed.

“Uh…I see.” He fidgeted and repositioned his saddle next to his bed. Once settled on his bedroll, he stretched out on his side, facing Cassie, with only Josephine between them. He cupped his head in the palm of his hand and smiled. “You should get back to sleep.”

“I will.”

“Be careful your blanket doesn’t catch.”

“I made sure it was far enough away.” She glanced back, checking the distance. “Plenty of room. I wonder where Ashes is. I hope the mountain lion didn’t eat her.”

“I hope it did.”

“
Sam
! Josephine would be heartbroken if something happened to her. Ever since our ma died, she and that cat have been inseparable.”

“Well, I guess I’m just teasing, or maybe not,” he murmured. “But be warned. There is a good chance the mountain lion has scared her off. We may not find her in the morning.”

Cassie bit her bottom lip. She looked very young in the firelight, her chiseled cheekbones and angelic profile enchanting. Her nose had almost returned to what Sam thought must be its normal size. Her hair glistened.

“I didn’t think of that.” Her brow furrowed.

She reached down and fingered the downy hair on her sister’s sleeping head. “I want to protect her, Sam. She’s already suffered so much for someone so young.”

For an instant he wondered what it would feel like to kiss her, hold her tight in his arms. More than a few thoughts had gone through his mind when he’d rescued her from falling. She’d smelled sweet, and her eyes were twinkling so much he hadn’t a clue to what she was thinking as she had gazed up into his face. Even with her short hair and baggy clothes she was a real beauty. She was on his mind now more often than not. He didn’t know what to make of it. “I understand,” he said quietly. “But, the world is a hard place. I hope you know that. It’s easy to get battered by it.”

She was lying on her back now, after climbing under the covers with Josephine. Still, he rested on his elbow, looking at the two girls. The campfire, a few feet away, picked up the golden highlights in her mahogany hair.

“I want to spare her all that pain. Give her a good life. An education.”

“That’s a tall order, Cassie.”

“But worthwhile. With God’s help it will happen.”

Out of the darkness stepped the cat. Without invitation she walked onto the blanket and curled up between Josephine and Sam.

“Well, I guess that answers that question,” Sam said. “Please, make yourself comfortable.” Ashes closed her eyes. Within moments she was purring loud enough for both to hear.

Cassie laughed softly. “Maybe she’ll be sticking closer from now on. I can’t believe Josephine had her stuffed in that saddlebag all day. Just getting her in without a fight must have taken some doing. And we didn’t even know it. That’s pretty amazing.”

Sam pulled his blanket around his shoulders. “No worries tonight. That mountain lion is long gone. Unless sick or hurt, they usually steer clear of humans as much as possible. Now, get some sleep. The sun will be up before you know it.”

A coyote howled in the distance, and was answered by a few more. Within moments a whole chorus erupted, sounding like hundreds.

“That’s pretty,” Cassie whispered. “Nothing like that cougar.”

The coyote song over the crackling flames was the only response. “Sam, you still awake?”

“Hmmm.”

“I know I said this already—but—thank you for helping me and Josephine. I’m glad we’re traveling together.”

Sam opened his eyes and looked out into the darkness.
How will she feel when I ask her to hand over the deed to my claim
? he thought slowly.
How thankful will she be then
?

Chapter Thirteen

“
I
didn’t take it, Pa. I didn’t
!”
Fear sliced through Sam as his father advanced and grasped him roughly by the arm.

“
Don’t you lie to me, boy
!
You stole the knife from my drawer. Now you don’t even have the guts to own up to your actions.” They started for the woodshed
—

Sam sat up with a jolt. Terror thickened his tongue and he thought he’d choke. Gasping, he blinked away his sleep. He’d never tell on Seth—no matter what. The whipping he got that day was one of many he’d taken shielding his little brother from their father’s anger. What galled him more than anything, and hurt deeply, was his father’s uncompromising disbelief in anything he said. Why wouldn’t he listen?

He breathed in a lungful of crisp morning air, trying to rid himself of the nightmare and the feeling of doom they always seemed to leave behind. What about the claim? His claim. The claim that was going to buy the acreage needed to get his and Seth’s ranch going. Seth had left two summers ago to push cattle for a spread in Texas, and except for the bare minimum, was saving everything he made for their land purchase. Sam worked as a saddle tramp too, until the night he’d won the claim.

Even now, that battered piece of paper called to him from Cassie’s saddle pack, so close at hand. What was he to do when they reached Sourdough Creek, the inlet off the American River? Cassie wasn’t going to just hand it over to him, easy as pie—that was for sure. And even more troubling, what would happen to her and Josephine if she did?

Josephine slept under the blanket, completely covered. Cassie was on her side, her arm wrapped protectively over her sister. Her bobbed hair fell over her eyes and her mouth was pursed into a little smile, making him wonder what she was dreaming about.

When his horse neighed, Cassie opened her eyes. For a moment, she looked confused, but as realization dawned, her eyes took on the smile that was still on her soft-looking lips.

“Good morning.” She pushed the hair from her face and sat up on her elbow.

“Did you sleep at all last night?” he asked, completely thrown off by her dazzling green eyes. What a dim-witted question. How could she be waking up if she hadn’t fallen asleep?

“Yes. It took me a while to settle down though.” She sighed and pulled the blanket up under her chin, warding off the morning chill.

“You?”

“Sure. But, I never get used to sleeping on the ground.”

She stretched her legs, a soft groan escaping her lips. “Oh, I know what you mean. It
is
hard. And bumpy. I think I was dreaming about a goose-feather stuffed mattress as tall as a barn.” She lifted up the blanket and peeked at her little sister. “Josephine doesn’t seem to mind.”

He’d never met anyone like Cassie Angel before. So open and honest. Well, that is, aside from her ruse to protect her sister and herself from the Sherman brothers.

“Sam?”

She was gazing at him now with her heart in her eyes. “You never said why you were going to Coloma. Why you’re traveling there. Is it family?”

Now! His mind screamed.
Tell her
! Now was the time to speak up. Even if it tore them apart, and she hated him for it, he should disclose the truth and have it out. He opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it.

“Sam?”

“No. Not family.”

That statement gave her pause.

“Do you have any family?”

He rolled to his back so he didn’t have to look at her anymore. “I do. A brother. He’s working punching cattle and I’m not sure where he is exactly.”

“What about parents?

“My mother has passed on and I haven’t seen my father for years.”

“Why not?”

“You ask a lot of questions, you know that?”

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“Good. Because I don’t. Give a man a chance to wake up.” He rolled out of his blanket and stood. “We best get moving. I hope we can make it all the way to the next town before nightfall. If you’ll get something out for breakfast, I’ll saddle the horses.”

The horses walked along briskly, single file, following the deserted road. Every once in a while Sam, with Blu ponied by his side, would break into a trot, slowing only when the horses were slightly winded. Josephine had awakened cranky and Cassie had a hard time getting her up and fed. Now the younger girl rode behind on Pepper, with Ashes buckled in her saddlebag.

When they stopped for a quick bite to eat at noontime, Josephine mainly kept to herself and her animals. They ate quickly and continued on, agreeing to give the horses a longer rest in the afternoon.

Sam pulled up and waited for Cassie to catch up. He pointed to the ground. “Look.” He ran his hand over the growing beard on his square jaw as he glanced back at Josephine. “Get on up here. Stay up with us.”

“What is it?”

“Our friend from last night.”

He dismounted and squatted, looking intently at the tracks in the dirt. He followed them a short way before returning to Cassie. “His right paw has been mangled. Could have got it caught in a trap.”

“How can you tell?”

“He only uses it every other stride. And when he does, he doesn’t put much weight on it.” He glanced about. “After seeing this I’m really glad you woke up last night.”

Josephine had stopped ten paces back. She sat listlessly in the saddle. “Come on,” Cassie called to her. “That mountain lion is still around. We have to stay close together.”

When Josephine didn’t respond, Cassie rode back. One look at her sister’s flushed face and uncharacteristically drowsy eyes and Cassie knew something was wrong. She placed the back of her hand on her moist forehead.

“Sam!”

In the time it took to dismounted, Sam was by her side. He reached for Josephine, laying her in the grass. Cassie unbuttoned her coat and threw it to the side. In an attempt to cool her, Cassie stripped her to her chemise, finding two red scratches on the inside of Josephine’s wrist.

Cassie sucked in her breath. “Ashes must have scratched her when they were on the cliff.”

Sam stood. “We need to get her to the next town quickly in hopes they have a doctor, and some medicine.” He grabbed the canteen from Pepper’s saddle and poured a good amount onto the child, covering her hair and clothing.

He gathered up the reins to all the horses. “I’ll take her with me and carry her in front. You’ll have to pony Blu and we’ll let Pepper follow on his own. He’ll not want to be left behind.”

She nodded.

“You think you can keep up?”

“Just get Josephine to a doctor as fast as you can. Don’t worry about me.”

Sam looked doubtful. “Leading another horse is not as easy as it looks. Takes some getting used to. Especially at the lope.” He went from one horse to another, checking their cinches. When he got to Pepper, he removed the pony’s bridle and stuffed it in his saddlebag. “You’re a good rider, so you shouldn’t have a problem. Just pay attention to your surroundings and you’ll do fine.”

Sam picked the child up, careful not to jostle her too much. Her head rolled over and lay against his shoulder. She never opened her eyes. He handed her to Cassie so he could mount, then took her back in his arms.

Chapter Fourteen

C
assie watched as Sam guided his mount a few feet down the road and then stop. Josephine wa s cuddled to his chest, small and vulnerable. “Don’t let the rope get too long. Keep Blu snubbed short. Actually, the closer she is to you, the safer it is. And, don’t tie the rope off. Just wind it around the saddle horn twice, and hold the end, so you can let it slide easily.”

He looked worried.

“Be careful of your fingers.”

“I’ll be fine! Just get Josephine to town.”

Cassie mounted, feeling a lot more tentative than she’d indicated. She took the lead rope and did as Sam had instructed. She nudged her horse forward. As the rope tightened it lay taut against her leg, and pulled on Blu too, bringing the mare along. Meadowlark pinned her ears at having the gray drawn so near.

“Let Meadowlark know right now you mean business,” Sam called from twenty feet up the road. “They’ll get used to each other quick enough.”

Cassie waved him on, her heart in her throat. It was unnerving having another horse so close. There were a lot of hooves down there to fall under. “Don’t worry about us,” she called back. “Just get moving and I’ll catch up.”

He waved. “Stay on
this
road. It can’t be that much farther to Rosenthal.”

“
Go
!”

Sam turned his horse and eased into a lope, quickly pulling away. Meadowlark jumped forward when Cassie squeezed with her legs, asking the mare for a trot. There was a moment of panic when Blu passed Meadowlark and the rope tightened. Her mare tugged the reins aggressively and again pinned her ears, wanting to be in the lead. Secure in her seat, she pulled Blu’s head back next to her knee and snubbed up the rope, and kept riding.

Pepper, who had been grazing by the side of the road, raised his head at the sound of his companions leaving. He nickered once before taking off after them, eventually settling into his spot behind Blu.

***

Josephine lay on the doctor’s table limp as a rag doll, while Miss Annabelle Hershey, daughter of the town’s doctor, hovered close. Dr. Hershey was out, but she had expected him back hours ago. She assured Sam he’d be walking through the door any moment.

“How long can she stay so hot?” Sam asked gruffly, feeling completely useless. They’d reached Rosenthal ten minutes ago after riding hard for several hours. As soon as he’d brought Josephine in Miss Hershey washed her wound and applied sulfur to the red, parallel lines. She now bathed her in tepid water from head to toe, being careful to keep the child discreetly covered. Keyed up, he went over to the window and pulled back the yellow eyelet curtain, looking down the street. All was dark, and quiet.