Sourdough Creek by Caroline Fyffe Read Free Book Online

being so, so…what was he being, anyway? Cassie shoved Sam’s hands off her saddlebag and faced him, plunking her hands on her hips. Irritation bubbled inside. “What do you think you’re doing? You can’t go looking through my things anytime you want. Didn’t your ma teach you any manners?” She took her things from his arms.
    A muscle in Sam’s jaw tensed. “It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?” The pleasant feeling when he’d so sweetly handed her a cup of coffee this morning was gone. “I’m trying to help. But I can see that wasn’t the right thing to do.” He crossed his now empty arms across his chest and glared back. “I’ve put you off again, right? I can’t seem to win you over.”
    Cassie jerked her gaze away as she felt her face heat. It was true. He was only being helpful and she was being as sensitive as a sore toe wedged in a boot two sizes too small. She needed to focus on Josephine and keeping her safe. If Sam could help her do that, then so be it. She’d made sure the deed to the claim was safely hidden away where no one would stumble across it easily. She needed him, and she couldn’t be such a sour puss all the time that he’d want to up and leave them on the trail.
    “Sam, I’m sorry.” She forced herself to look into his guarded face. “I appreciate all you’re doing for Joey and me. Really, I do.” And she did. Last night as she lay in her bed, she discovered in reality she was relieved that Sam was riding with them. And, maybe even more. She was excited to be starting this new chapter of their life with him. “I can do things for myself, though. Just because I’m small doesn’t mean I’m incapable.”
    A moment passed before a smile inched up his face.
    “Of course you’re not. I never meant to imply anything by my helping. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
    She straightened. “I’d appreciate that.”
    Sam walked over to his two horses and tightened Split Ear’s cinch. The horse pinned his ears in protest and rolled his eyes. Ignoring him, Sam untied both horses’ reins from the hitching rail. Then, sliding his boot into the stirrup, he mounted the gelding in one smooth motion.
    “Joey,” Cassie called out, looking to the house before he caught her gawking. Her reaction to his close contact had her senses humming. Sam was the kind of man any woman would fall for. A handsome face, winsome smile, kind and considerate. “Come on,” she blurted, wanting to change the direction of her thoughts. “We’re ready to ride out.” Finished with her saddlebags, she gathered her reins and mounted up. Their new home was calling from the west.
     
    ***
     
    Morning passed quickly. To Sam’s relief, the Sherman brothers hadn’t shown up for a sendoff. Cassie seemed deep in thought, so Sam left her to her musing. She moved easily in the saddle but he’d caught a grimace of pain every so often. Joey rode a few pony lengths behind, humming and chatting to himself. Sam had little experience with children, but even his lack of familiarity couldn’t stop him from recognizing that this youngster seemed more than a little strange. He blushed an awful lot for a boy. And he seemed to have the habit of batting his eyelashes. Could be that this little guy would turn out to be light in the stirrups, so to speak. Sam glanced back. Joey’s body was twisted in his saddle, his hand stuck deep into his saddlebag. When he saw Sam looking, he jerked his hand away and tried to whistle, but couldn’t through his face-splitting smile.
    Sam turned back to the road ahead. That boy was up to something. As sure as he was strange, he was up to no good. Hadn’t he been that age once, too? He’d better keep a close eye on him. Sam checked the thick cotton rope draped loosely around his saddle horn; the other end of it was attached to Blu’s halter. The mare walked steadily by his side, enjoying her hiatus. After several miles the two horses had lost their curiosity with each other and