“I only wanted to help get the contract filled on time.
No other reason.
Honest.”
She’d pulled the rocking chair over by the bed.
“I’d rather be a few days late than have you risk your life.”
Two hours after he’d been thrown, Sam was wishing the horse had just stomped him into the ground and killed him.
Because that appeared to be what Doc Wright was trying to do.
But there was no way he was going to yell like a little girl with Cassie frowning at him from the end of the bed.
Doc removed the bandages Cassie had wound so tight about him and Sam felt as if all his ribs dropped in his chest and the only thing keeping them in place was his skin.
Doc ran his hands up and down Sam’s ribs front and back.
“It looks like you’ve bruised a couple of ribs, probably got a concussion and a lightly sprained ankle.
Good thing you took your boot off or I’d have to cut it off. I’m going to wrap you again, tight, feel free to yell all you want.
Won’t bother me a bit.
I’m used to delivering babies and if you think your shouting will bother me, well you haven’t heard a woman in labor.”
“It’s okay Doc.
Cassie’s got me on enough laudanum to calm a horse, I won’t feel a thing.
Besides she’s probably happy to see me get some payback for being so stupid.”
“Doc, if you want to make him yell like he’s birthing a baby, I have no problem with that.
Maybe he’ll thing twice next time.” said Cassie.
Doc wrapped him so tight he thought he was trying to break some more of Sam’s ribs. Sam shouted and if he’d been standing would have collapsed to his knees.
“Damn, Doc!
You trying to kill me?”
“No and once I get done wrapping your ankle, I want you to keep it up as much as possible for the next week or so.
You’ve got to give the ribs and the ankle time to heal.
And Sam.”
“Yes, Doc.”
“Once I get done wrapping your ankle.
No more bronc busting.
Call it doctor’s orders.”
“Whatever you say Doc.
You’ll get no quarrel from me.”
The doctor wrapped Sam’s ribs again, tight and his ankle less so.
“Cassie, give him laudanum at night for sleeping and willow bark tea during the day to help with the discomfort.”
“Sure thing, Doc,” said Cassie.
“And I’ll make sure he stays in bed for the next week.”
Sam groaned.
“You still in pain, Sam?” asked the doctor.
“Give it a few more minutes and you’ll be feeling better.
Sure he was in pain but that wasn’t what made him groan.
He wanted to stay strong for Cassie.
The look on her face was now one of fear.
This was hard on her.
If he’d only known before, he might have made a different decision.
“I’m already feeling better, Doc.
Just a little tough breathing.”
“That’s expected.
I’m going back to town.
You come see me in a week and I’ll check you out.
No work until then.”
“Okay, doc.”
The last thing Sam wanted to think about was work.
He thought the laudanum must be taking effect.
He started to feel woozy and could hardly keep his eyes open.
“See you
th
….”
Cassie looked down at the man sleeping in the bed.
His face was bruised and cut where he’d hit the ground.
His chest was wrapped in tight white bandages.
He had a sheet covering his lower body with his right foot propped up on several pillows peeking out from under the sheet..
He was a mess.
A dear mess.
“Don’t worry about Sam, he’ll be fine.
He’s not Michael, Cassie,” said Doc gently.
“I know.” she said quietly.
“I remember all too well that day.
You had to come take the him to the undertaker, not wrap his ribs.”
“I remember.
One of the saddest days of my life.
But Cassie, just because Michael’s life ended that day, doesn’t mean that yours did, too.
You’re young and have a lot of years ahead of you.
Make the most of them.”
Cassie looked down at Sam.
“It’s not as easy as it sounds…to move on.
I want to move on but I feel guilty, Doc.
Disloyal somehow.”
“Cassie, I’ve known you since the day you were born.
I brought you into this world.
You’re the most loyal person I know.
Even when you shouldn’t, you always see the best in people.
You were loyal to your brother, John, long after you shouldn’t have been.
Even after he betrayed you so badly, you remained loyal to him.”
Doc put his arm around Cassie’s shoulders.
“I think Michael would understand.
It’s time to let him go.”
“I hope you’re right, Doc.”
CHAPTER 8
Harry watched Colter get thrown from the horses.
Each time he hoped he’d break his neck and save Harry the trouble of killing him.
The last time was the best.
Colter didn’t get up.
Harry stood, hopeful and adjusted his spyglass.
Then he saw him move.
Damn it all to hell.
Couldn’t he catch a break, just one?
Colter wasn’t dead.
But he had to have help to get up.
Excitement built up in him as he realized that Colter was injured.
He might be able to get to him after all.
He just had to wait.
They’d have to leave him alone sometime.
Then Harry could make his move.
Just a little more patience.
*****
Cassie tried to take care of Sam and run the ranch.
In the end the thoroughbred training was postponed .
Delilah had to be taken to the rail head at Creede.
The army mustangs needed to be delivered to the rail head, too.
They’d take Delilah in the horse box, especially made just for that purpose.
The horse box was basically a small shed big enough for one horse, set on wheels.
By using it to transport the horse to the rail head, Cassie was sure that the horse wouldn’t get damaged by some unforeseen force.
No rocks in her hooves, no stepping in a gopher hole and breaking a leg.
Whatever happened after Delilah reached Kentucky, at least Cassie was sure she got to Kentucky unharmed.
Sam complained of a headache and was a little dizzy when he tried to get up.
Doc Wright had told her to look out for these symptoms because it would mean Sam probably had a concussion.
In which case she had to wake him several times during the night and ask him questions like what year was it and who was president.
He always got the answers right so she guessed the concussion was slight.
Cassie stayed in Sam’s room sleeping in the rocker, for what little sleep she got.
It was the only way she could tend to him.
By the end of the week she was dragging.
Sam used the crutches Doc left and got around pretty good even with broken ribs.
“You look like hell.”
Sam said to Cassie on Saturday morning, a full week since his accident.
It was after breakfast and they were having one last cup of coffee before starting the day.
“Thanks.
Just what I wanted to hear.
Luckily my appearance doesn’t affect my ability to run this ranch, so it is of little importance to me right now.”
Sam sighed.
“What I mean is you’re exhausted and it shows.
You’ve been taking care of me and doing all the ranch work you usually do.
We’re going to town for supplies and to see Doc.
Why don’t we stay over night .
You could use the time to rest.”
She thought about it for a minute.
“There’s an awful lot to do.
I need to start training again….”
“One more day isn’t going to make a difference.”
“I do like the idea of staying at Mary’s.
She always has such good food.
I love Bridget dearly, but cooking is not her forte.”
“Don’t I know it.
But I do think she’s getting better.”
“Don’t tell her that, she’ll quit trying.”
“I’ll tell everyone that Tom is in charge while we’re gone.
He should be able to handle anything that might come up,” said Sam.
“I’ve got to do some work with Goliath before we go, so give me an hour.
He’s the next one to ship and he’s still a little green especially after this past week.”
“We can take the buggy.
It’s more comfortable than the buckboard and we don’t need grain this trip.”
“Maybe I can get some sleep on the way.”
“I make a pretty good pillow and I promise not to take advantage.”
Cassie laughed.
“Now you’ve got me worried.”
*****
Cassie did manage to sleep for most of the trip and felt refreshed by the time they reached town.
“You look better with a little sleep.
At least now Doc won’t be putting you on bed rest.
Though maybe he should.”
“Tonight will help and tomorrow I’ll be right as rain, you’ll see.”
They visited Doc first.
“You appear to be healing very well, Sam.
You won’t need the crutches anymore and can start putting weight on that ankle now.
It’s going to be tender and a little weak, but you’ll be fine.
You should still prop it up and rest it at night.”
“Sure thing, Doc.
Thanks.”
Next was the general store.
Cassie gave Sadie her regular order of staples and added some tinned peaches, too, for a cobbler she intended to make tomorrow.
Sam asked Sadie, “Did that fella that was asking about me ever come back?”
“Nope.
Haven’t seen him since that day.
The only new face I’ve seen is the new school teacher, Mr. Beals.
Such a nice young man.
You should go meet him , since RJ will be going to school there.
I think you’ll like him.
My boys seem to.”
“Thanks for the information.
We will stop in on the teacher next trip.
If you hear anything else be sure and let us know.”
“Sure.
You staying at Mary’s?
You look a little ragged there, Cassie.”
Sam spoke up first.
“She’s been tending to me since I was thrown from a horse.
Afraid I’ve been quite the invalid.”
“Lord a mighty,” said Sadie.
“No wonder you look like something the cat dragged in.
Well
stayin
’ at Mary’s will put the bloom back in your cheeks.”
“I hope so.
Thanks.
See you later.”
By the time they got to Mary’s, got checked in and cleaned up, it was supper time.
Mary was serving fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits, fresh peas and green beans and peach cobbler for dessert.
Cassie made a mental note to wait till next week to make her cobbler.
Cassie excused herself and went to her room directly after supper.
She’d gotten into her nightgown when there was a knock at the door.
She put on her robe before she answered it.
It was Sam bearing gifts.
He had two cups of tea.
She invited him in.
“It’s chamomile.
I thought you could use it.
I know you’re tired but sometimes it’s still heard to relax.”
“That’s very considerate.
Thank you.”
“I can be a thoughtful guy when the occasion calls for it.
Besides it’s the least I can do since I’m the cause of your exhaustion.”
They sat at the table.
“I can’t deny that.”
“Are you going to forgive me?”
“I don’t know,” though she knew she would.
He reach over, clasped her small, cold hand in his big, warm one.
“Please.
Let’s start over.”
“I don’t know.
I don’t know if I can take it if you’re hurt again.
It scared the hell out of me.”
He made lazy circles with his thumb on her palm and she couldn’t concentrate.
“So you admit you care.”
“I didn’t say that.”
She wanted to snatch her hand from his grasp but it felt so good.
She decided she wanted him to keep it up forever.
She closed her eyes, just a moment, just to savor the touch.
The next thing Cassie knew Sam was picking her up out of her chair.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes again.
“You’re the sweetest thing,” he whispered.
“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind the first time I took you to bed.”
She cuddled against his chest.
His heat called to her and she wanted nothing more than to burrow into it.
Sam carried her to the bed.
Her slight weight no burden.
He bent to lay her on the bed but she would not let go of him.
Like mother like daughter.
They both like to hang around his neck.
She opened her sleepy eyes.
“Lie down with
me, Sam.
Let me feel you next to me until I go to sleep.
Please.”
How could he say no to her sweet request?
He laid down next to her and wrapped his arms around her.
She sighed and cuddled into him laying her head on his chest above his heart.
“I hear your heart beat.
It’s strong, just like you,” she said before she nuzzled into him again.
He pulled her closer ignoring the pain the movement caused him.
He could no more stop himself than the sun could stop rising.
The pain to his ribs was nothing compared to the pain of letting her go.
For the first time in years he felt content, even happy.
She instilled a sense of calm that flowed deep within him.
He’d never felt this way with Jane.
He loved Cassie.
For the first time in his life he was truly in love.
Really in love.
The knowledge would have brought him to his knees if he hadn’t already been lying down.
*****
School didn’t start till the fall and it was just June now.
The students were out for the summer to help with planting and they would go back to school after the harvest.
Harry didn’t plan on being around for the first day of school.
He’d be done with Colter and the pretty lady by then.
He’d watched the ranch.
He’d seen Colter get thrown and hoped he’d broken his neck, it would save him from having to kill him.
But his luck was holding and Colter survived.
What was the old saying, if not for bad luck he wouldn’t have any at all.
And the woman, she was never alone.
The closest he got to her was when she was with those big, fancy horses of hers.
He knew that was when he’d have to snatch her.
It would be dangerous but it was his only choice if he wanted to draw out Colter.
Today he followed them to town.
He guessed they needed some supplies.
The woman carried a valise though so maybe they were going to spend the night or catch the train.
That would be a good opportunity.
He could get on the train after her if Colter didn’t get on, too.
He needed leverage with Colter.
He knew he’d lose a one on one encounter with him.