Sourdough Creek by Caroline Fyffe Read Free Book Online Page A

settled in as if they had been stable mates for years. Amazingly, as crooked-legged as he was, Split Ear had a nice stride, and riding him felt much like sitting in a rocking chair.
    “Hungry?” Sam glanced at Cassie. She hadn’t complained once during the hours since leaving this morning, but he was sure she must be sore and uncomfortable.
    “I could use a stretch,” she replied, turning to look at her brother. “And I’m sure Joey must be hungry by now.”
    “Fine. We’ll stop up there by the alders and give the horses a break.” He patted his stomach. “I could use a bite myself. I have some jerky.”
    “And I have some bread.”
    She smiled at him, causing a capricious lightness to fill his head. He returned the gesture before forcing himself to look away. She was more often than not forgetting to use her deep-voiced charade. He should have told her immediately that Bristol had given her away. As time passed it became more and more difficult to fess up about it, and he felt certain she’d be spitting mad when she found out he’d known about her secret from the get-go.
    “Whoa.” He dismounted and hobbled the animals, then released them in the meadow so they could eat while they rested. They’d passed a stream earlier, where all four horses had quenched their thirst. He rustled around his saddlebag, looking for his bag of jerky, watching Cassie and Joey out of the corner of his eye. If she weren’t so proud he’d tell her to sit in the grass and rest while he took care of her horses himself—but he knew where that would take him.
    The meadow was small and just off the narrow road they traveled on. A tall stand of alders rimmed the edge of the grassy opening, their leaves rustling in the cool breeze. The only other sound was the twittering of a few birds and the chomping of the horses’ teeth.
    Cassie sank to her knees in the sweet-smelling grass, a sigh escaping her lips. She folded her legs beneath her and untied the napkin encircling a loaf of bread. Sam followed suit, stretching his legs out in front of himself and resting back on an elbow. Joey was still fumbling with his saddlebag, chattering away to no one in particular.
    Sam chuckled. “I don’t know much about kids.” He motioned with his head toward Joey as he handed Cassie a strip of jerky.
    She took the dried meat and ripped off a portion with her teeth. “He’s always been good at pretending,” she said between chews. “I’m glad he’s taking all this so well.”
    “All this?”
    “The move. Ma dying. Just everything.”
    Sam accepted the hunk of bread she offered and took a bite. The crunchy crust was nutty and the doughy soft middle melted in his mouth. It was good.
    “I see,” he answered, after swallowing.
    “Joey, come and eat some lunch,” Cassie called. “We won’t be staying long.”
    Joey seemed reluctant to leave his pony’s side.
    “Come on now, son. Do as your sis…,” Sam caught himself mid-sentence, “your seniors tell you,” he finished awkwardly.” He threw a chastising look in the boy’s direction. “Time’s short.”
    Joey ran over and plopped down beside Cassie and wolfed down his food. “I’m thirsty.”
    Cassie handed him her canteen. “Not too much. We aren’t sure when we’ll reach another stream.”
    Cassie finished up the crust she was eating and brushed her dungarees. “Should I pack things up?” She glanced up at him, her skin looking softer than a flower petal.
    “Not just yet. We can rest for a few more minutes.” He laced his fingers together behind his head and laid back. Huge white clouds drifted overhead without obscuring the warm rays of the sun.
    Joey ran off again and Cassie lay back too. For a moment all of nature was completely silent, and time seemed to stand still. The crisp mountain air felt good. Scents of freshly sprouted grass mixed with cedar and pine teased his senses. He closed his eyes as the warm sunshine slowed his mind.
    “Hmmm, a baker. That’s what