It was fine with him if they were just spending a night in town.
He’d had a cold camp since he’d first followed them, rather than ride back and forth to the teacher’s cabin.
It was too dangerous to have a fire.
They would have seen the smoke and come to investigate.
All of his plans would be for naught if they found him.
Tonight though he could go back to the cabin and clean up before they saw him as Harry Borden.
The jig would be up then.
But as Joshua Beals he could move with them in polite society.
None the wiser.
He was looking forward to a hot meal and a soft, warm bed.
*****
Cassie woke slowly and gravitated toward the heat next to her.
Sam.
She remembered being so tired, he’d carried her to bed.
She moved her fingers and felt the cloth of his shirt so she knew he still had his clothes on.
She wasn’t surprised.
Sam would never take advantage of her.
“You can open your eyes, Sleepyhead.
I know you’re awake.”
“Good morning,” she said and started to roll away from him.
He tightened his arm around her.
“Good morning.”
Then he leaned down his lips finding hers.
“It’s a very good morning.
But I need to go change and mess up the bed in my room so it looks like I slept there.
Discreet or not, I don’t want to give Mary the wrong idea.
Cassie felt the heat in her cheeks.
“Thank you.”
He kissed her forehead then rose from the bed and headed to the door.
“And Sam, thank you for taking care of me last night.”
“My pleasure.
I’m yours for the asking.”
And he meant it.
She could ask anything of him and he would do it.
For her.
Sam closed the door quietly behind him and went next door to his room.
He’d slept like a baby next to Cassie, her lush body cuddled up to his.
Wearing only a thin cotton gown he’d felt every curve and been hard pressed not to explore each of them.
He laid down on the bed, pulled the covers over him, boots and all.
Then he laid there arms folded beneath his head and thought about the previous night.
He’d fully intended to go back to his room.
Just put her to bed and leave.
But then she’d ask him to lie down with her until she fell asleep.
He should have left then but it felt so damn good having her lying there next to him.
Then she’d cuddled into him and he was lost.
He wouldn’t have broken the connection he felt for anything.
*****
The night in his cabin refreshed Harry and he was now ready for another stint in a cold camp.
No fire, no coffee, no hot food.
Just watching.
Waiting.
His opportunity was coming.
Soon.
*****
Cassie felt wonderful.
She thought sleeping next to Sam had something to do with it and she couldn’t keep the smile off her face.
“You look like the cat who got the cream.
You must be feeling better,” said Sam.
“I am.
Thanks again for letting me sleep.
I know I wasn’t very good company but the rest was wonderful and that’s how I feel today.
Like I could conquer the world.
Goliath is going to get the best workout ever when I get home.
He’s in need of it too.
Only a week away from training and it was like he forgot everything he’d been taught.”
“That’s unusual isn’t it?
“Not really.
They’re young and obstinate at this stage of the game. like any youngster.
I’ll get back to training him and he’ll pick it back up right away.
He’s just like a kid after summer vacation.
He needs a refresher of what he’s already learned before you move on to teaching him something else.”
“We should be home in time for you to give him a short workout today.
That may make it easier when you begin full workouts tomorrow.”
“I know.
Although tomorrow, we’ll be short handed.
The mustangs and Delilah will be going to the rail head tomorrow, so I’ll have to do the feeding and mucking since Davy will be going with Delilah.”
Sam laughed.
“I can tell you’re looking forward to that.”
“I like mucking the stalls as much as the next person.
Which is not at all.
But my babies are worth the effort.
I’m anxious to see Trouble too.
According to Davy he’s been showing off .
Already taking over all the little fillies.”
“Smart boy.
Hi-yah.”
Sam slapped the reins on the horses rear ends.
“Better get going.
Daylight’s burning and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do as well.”
As soon as they got home Cassie went out to the stable to check on the thoroughbreds.
The new foals frolicked and pranced in the pasture, their mothers grazing nearby.
She never tired of watching the beautiful horses, magnificent, their bearing regal.
It was as if they knew they were special.
She called for Sheba, who came running.
She butted her hands looking for sugar.
Trouble ran after his mother.
Cassie gave Sheba the sugar and a carrot she’d brought for her, too.
She was her favorite mare, not that she’d ever admit it.
She scratched her behind her ears and petted her soft muzzle.
Trouble wasn’t as fearless as he seemed and nursed rather than come too close to Cassie.
It was all right.
He’d learn to trust Cassie as time went on.
He was only a month old after all and all the horses eventually trusted and were comfortable around her.
He’d be no different given time.
The next morning she stood beside Sam as they watched the mustangs be put on stringers.
They’d be led to town by seven of the wranglers.
Each man would lead a string of three to four horses.
Tom drove the horse box with Davy riding shotgun.
Davy would travel with Delilah to Kentucky.
Tom would go to Alamosa with the mustangs where the Army would pick them up.
He’d complete the transaction and bring the signed receipt back to Cassie.
For most of today and tomorrow, the ranch was going to be short handed.
With only three men left to care for the animals.
Cassie would care for the thoroughbreds herself.
Sometimes she actually liked mucking the stalls.
She could think when she was by herself.
Because of Sam.
She had feelings she needed to sort out.
There was no denying she wanted Sam.
He wanted to court her, marry her.
And she did want that.
She needed to feel his touch, craved it.
But marriage?
That scared her.
She was still traumatized from losing Michael.
She didn’t want to ever feel that kind of pain again.
*****
Cassie heard the horse’s scream.
She was out of bed, grabbing her clothes in nothing flat.
Sam was in the hallway already dressed and strapping on his holster when she came out.
She’d strapped her gun on as well.
RJ came out of his room next, rubbing his eyes.
“Mama?
What’s that?
What’s the matter with the horses?”
“Never mind, love.
Go into your sister’s room and stay there until I come back.
Keep her in there.
Understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
He nodded, fully awake, and went into Sarah’s room.
Cassie looked over at Sam.
“Ready?”
He nodded.
Cassie ran down the stairs and got the kerosene lamp from the entryway table.
There was a box of
matches next to the lamp and she got one and lit the lamp.
Then she and Sam ran out into the night.
There were lights in the bunkhouse and the door flew open as Cassie and Sam ran by.
As they approached the stable Sam passed her and opened the stable door, gun in hand.
Neither of them knew what to expect.
There was another lamp hanging on the wall next to the double doors.
Sam lit a match from his shirt pocket then lit the second lamp.
The screaming stopped.
They walked slowly, one on each side of the wide aisle, checking each horses stall.
Cassie reached Samson’s stall first.
The door was broken down where he’d kicked it free.
In front of Sheba’s stall the great fight was taking place.
Samson had fought bravely.
Sheba and little Trouble were both safe.
Cassie saw the big cat clinging to Samson’s neck, biting and clawing at him.
Samson was on the ground moaning, but no longer fighting.
A shot rang out from behind her and the mountain lion fell to the side.
Dead.
Cassie opened the stall gate and ran to Goliath.
The big horse had deep gashes along his side and back where the cat had used it’s claws to cling to him.
Deeper bite marks were on his neck.
Blood ran from the wounds.
Too many and too deep to be helped.
Her baby was dying a slow, agonizing death.
She couldn’t stand that he was in pain.
She unholstered her Colt but her hand wavered.
Suddenly Sam was there, holding her, her face pressed to his chest while he shot her baby in the head.
Ending his suffering and beginning her anguish.
Sam holstered his pistol and wrapped both arms around her.
He let her cry.
She hiccupped and sniffled, then started to turn around to look at the carnage.
“Don’t Cassie.
Don’t look.
Remember Samson as he was.
Flying like the wind around the track.
Prancing in his stall showing off for you, begging for some sugar.”
She nodded into his shirt.
“I will.”
Then she looked up at him.
“We’ve never had trouble with mountain lions.
What brought it in?”
“I don’t know but I mean to find out.”
That was when Sam noticed the north doors were open.
He went to close and lock them and found them propped open.
Then he saw it.
Meat.
Raw meat, the remains of some animal, outside the door.
Sam took the lantern and followed the big cat’s tracks.
He hadn’t gone 200 feet before he found the remains of a dead rabbit.
It didn’t take him more than a second to put two and two together.
Someone led the big cat here, let it inside, led it to Sheba.
That was the idea.
It was Sheba and Trouble that were supposed to die.
Samson really was protecting them.
He gave his life protecting them.