“No, I don’t.”
“What?”
Sam couldn’t believe his ears.
All women wanted to get married.
“I don’t want to marry again.
It’s not necessary for me to marry.
It’s not you.
I want you Sam, more than I’ve ever wanted anyone and that’s all the more reason not to marry.”
“You’re not making sense.”
“I know.
I’m messing this up.
I care deeply for you but I can’t go through that again.”
“Go through what.
I don’t understand.”
He grabbed his pants and tugged them on.
Cassie buttoned her blouse closed then pulled her skirt up.
“I don’t want to love you like I did Michael.
Don’t you see it would kill me.
I couldn’t survive that kind of loss.
Not again.”
She turned away from him as the tears began to fall.
Sam gathered her into his arms.
“That was Michael not me.
I’m not going anywhere.
You won’t lose me.”
She shoved out of his arms.
“How can you say that?
You already tried to kill yourself and the same way he did.
I can’t take it.
If we’re just lovers then I won’t get hurt again when you go.”
“Cassie.
Michael died.
I’m not going to die.
I learned my lesson.
And I’m not leaving no matter how much you try to push me away.
You’ve got me. You love me.
Even if you don’t admit it to yourself, I know it.”
“No, I don’t.”
She swiped at her eyes with the fingers. “I’ll never love anyone again.
Don’t fool yourself.”
Maybe Sam was fooling himself but he didn’t think so.
He’d make her realize she loved him.
He knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t have sex with any one she didn’t love.
She was afraid.
Not that he blamed her.
He was pert near terrified himself.
“I’ll be up front with you.”
Sam said to her while she buttoned her skirt and put her shoes on. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make you change your mind.
I’m going to make love to you every night and court you every day.
I’m going to prove to you that I’m worthy of your love.”
She shook her head.
“It’s not that you’re not worthy. You are.
Just not with me.
I don’t have it in me.
I can’t give you what I don’t have.”
Her tears started again.
Sam held her and let her cry.
He understood even if she didn’t.
Her tears were another sign of just how much she loved him but didn’t want to.
Scared, she trembled in his arms.
Scared of being hurt. she was doing her best not to let it happen.
He’d never hurt her but admitted getting thrown from the horse wasn’t the best way to show it.
Had he known he’d get thrown he wouldn’t have done it.
Had he known how it would affect her he wouldn’t have done it.
Looking back he saw it for what it was, a male ego trip.
An attempt to prove to the other men he could do anything they could.
It was stupid and he knew it now.
He was thirty-seven years old and should be over that kind of bullshit.
*****
Cassie loved the pearl hair comb.
She’d found it on her dresser that morning.
It was a beautiful gift from Sam.
She didn’t know when he’d put it there, sometime in the night because she was sure it wasn’t there the night before.
She was working with Goliath today so she couldn’t wear it but tonight at supper, she’d wear it and after supper she’d show Sam how much she liked it.
All day while mucking the stalls, grooming, training and racing Goliath she thought about the comb.
It was so beautiful with two rows of pearls separated by gold beads.
It must have cost Sam a fortune.
That night she dressed with care, wearing her best dress, the pink gingham she usually saved for church.
After bathing she brushed her hair till it shown.
Leaving it down, it waved and curled down her back.
She pulled one side up above her ear and secured it with the comb.
She checked her reflection in the cheval mirror, brought by her mother from St. Louis and was pleased with what she saw.
She hoped Sam would be too.
Cassie, RJ and Sarah were already at the table when Sam came in.
For the first time in years she was using the dining room and having a private family meal rather than one with all the ranch hands and Bridget.
Sam had washed up, his hair still damp when he joined them.
“Sorry I’m late.
I had more grime on me than a kid after losing a game of tug-o-war over a mud pit.”
He smiled at each of the kids and tweaked Sarah’s cheek.
They had a special bond, he and Sarah, ever since she’d been sick, they’d been inseparable.
He looked up at Cassie and his smile faded.
She watched the color drain from his face.
Something was very wrong.
“Cassie can I talk to you for a moment?”
He looked at the kids and as he rose from the table he said, “We’ll be right back.”
Once they were out of earshot, he grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Where did you get it?
Where did you get that comb?”
“Sam you’re hurting me.”
He immediately released her and put his arms down stiff at his sides.
“I’m sorry but where…?”
“It was on my dresser this morning.
I…I thought it was from you.”
He shook his head.
“I gave it to Jane.
I thought it was lost in the fire with her.”
Cassie shook her head.
“No.
That’s not possible.”
“You think I don’t know that.”
He shoved his hand through his hair.
“What really worries me is knowing someone came into the house, while we were sleeping and didn’t wake either of us.”
“Sam what does this mean?”
“Harry Borden killed Jane and the girls and he’s here.
In Creede.
He wants me to know I’m not safe.
None of us are.”
“What are we going to do?
We can’t just let this man scare us like this.”
Sam pulled her close.
“I’m sorry about this.
If I’d known….”
“Don’t.
That’s past and I wouldn’t change it but what are we going to do now?”
“We’re going to have to take turns at watch.
Stay vigilant until we can catch him.”
“Mama.” RJ called from the dining room.
“Foods getting cold and me and Sarah are hungry.”
“We’ll talk more later, after the kids are in bed.
Right now we need to keep things as normal as possible for them.”
She reached up and snatched the come from her hair.
“No. Don’t.
Keep it.
Please.
It looks beautiful in your hair.”
“I don’t know that I can wear it knowing he had it.
Knowing he invaded our home.”
“Keep it.
Some day after he’s caught and punished, you may want to wear it.
It just took me by surprise tonight.
If I’d still had it in my possession I’d have given it to you anyway.”
“Thank you.
It’s quite beautiful and the nicest one I’ve ever seen.”
She put it in the pocket of her skirt.
“Maybe, in the future, I’ll be able to wear it.
But not now.”
Sam leaned down and touched his lips to hers.
“You’re the loveliest woman I’ve ever seen, with or without the comb.”
Later than evening they were in Cassie’s office.
She poured them both three fingers of brandy.
“So do you want first watch or second?” Sam asked.
“I’ll take first.
That’s when Sarah usually get up and wants water anyway.”
“Okay, I’ll take second watch.
Wake me if you see or hear anything unusual.”
“I will.
I’m going to sit at the end of the hall by my bedroom.
I can see the hall and the stairs and be there when Sarah gets up.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Cassie and Sam took turns for two weeks and nothing happened.
Sam saw the toll it was taking on Cassie.
She needed rest.
Hell, it wasn’t doing him any good either.
Both of them were cranky as hell, snapping at the kids and the ranch hands for no good reason.
“Enough,” said Sam to Cassie after dinner.
“We’ve been watching and nothing has happened.
We’re losing our tempers with everyone and playing right into Borden’s hands.
Soon we’ll be turning on each other if we don’t get some sleep.”
“I’m too tired to disagree,” said Cassie on a yawn.
“We’ve put new locks on all the doors and windows.
If he can get in now he’s some kind of magician.”
Sam nodded in agreement.
He and Cassie lingered in the kitchen over a last cup of coffee before bed, he at the end of the table and she next to him.
It had become their habit after the children and Bridget were in bed to sit and talk about their day.
“Right now all I want is to sleep.”
He reached over and covered her small hand with his big one.
It always amazed him how she could work so hard and stay so soft.
“But when we’re rested, I want more than that.”
He leaned forward, begging her to meet him halfway.
When she did their lips met, tenderly, gently.
“Tomorrow.
Tomorrow I’m going to make love to you, sweet Cassie.”
She smiled before rising from the table.
“Tomorrow.
I’m going to let you.”
CHAPTER 10
Harry took his time.
He circled around to the back of the ranch where the thoroughbred stables were.
He’d been watching.
Knew the routine of each person on the ranch.
But hers was the most important.
Every day she went to the big stables.
She’d be in there by herself for a good twenty to thirty minutes before the stable boy showed up.
He watched, waited.
Then he made his move.
Cassie heard a noise behind her and turned quickly around.
Harry sprang at her from the shadows.
“Well now what do we have here?” he said as she turned.
“A pretty lady all alone.”
She went for her Colt but Harry already had his out.
“Don’t try it.
Drop the gun.
Now”
She did as he ordered.
“Now your belt.”
“I warn you now, I won’t be raped without a fight.”
“Who said anything about rape.
If I decide I want you, you’ll be begging for it.
They all do.”
“Then what do you want from me.
I don’t have any money, so there’ll be no ransom.
What else would you want me for?”
“Lady, he’ll come after you.
That’s all I want.
For Colter to come after you.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You’re Harry Borden.”
“Yup.
And I’m here for Sam Colter but you already know that since you know who I am.
You also know he’s been after me for years.
I only started tracking him down.
Guess I’m pretty good at it, huh?”
“You’ll never get him.
He won’t come after me.
He’s just my foreman.”
“You better hope you’re wrong, little lady.
Cause if he don’t come after you, I got no reason to keep you alive.
Now come on let’s get out of here.
I found me a little cabin, just perfect to keep you in.”
“No.
I won’t go.”
“Lady you come with me or I’ll get a rifle and shoot him in the back.
No warning, no chance to beat me in a gun fight.
Your choice.”
He could tell she was conflicted.
She chewed on her lower lip.
“How do I know you won’t ambush Sam when he comes to get me.”
“If I’d just wanted him dead, I’d have shot him when he fell off that mustang he was trying to break”
“You saw that?
How long have you been watching us?
Why haven’t we seen you?
“I’ve been watching since your first overnight trip to Creede.
You don’t see me because I’ve got a cold camp.
Though last night I had a roaring fire in the big old fireplace in the cabin.”
He grabbed her by her arm and shoved her in the direction of his waiting horse.
Borden gagged and blindfolded her.
He helped her into the saddle then got up behind her.
“Don’t think I won’t use my gun.”
He poked her in the ribs with it.
“I could kill you and be gone before anyone got here.”
She did as he said and they started riding away from her ranch.
*****
Sam hadn’t been able to get Cassie’s words off his mind.
They hadn’t made love since that first time.
Her words “I don’t want to feel that kind of pain,” still reverberated in his brain.
Cassie was afraid to get close.
Afraid to love again.
He wasn’t really sure how to convince her otherwise.
He didn’t want to be just lovers.
He wanted to be married.
He wanted kids, a home, a wife.
He wanted Cassie forever, not just for awhile.
Of course if he was going to be selfish about it, he could just make love to her and hope she changed her mind, but he wanted more.
He wanted her love, unconditionally.
He wanted her to be his wife, to be the father to the children she already had and the ones to come.
And there would be children.
Lots of them if he got his way.
He decided maybe the best way to get her to see things his way was not to make love to her.
He would court her, her and the kids but no more love making.
He wanted her to crave him as he did her.
The idea of having to sneak around behind everyone’s back was repellent to him.
He wanted to shout their love from the highest mountain.
He wanted everyone to know how he felt and what his motives were.
Especially RJ.
Sam needed to set a good example for RJ.
The boy was protective of his mother.
Sam had to acknowledge that and show the boy he respected his mother, too.
In the mean time he’d continue to court her.
He’d bring her flowers today,
breakfast in bed tomorrow.
Or he could ride to town and get her candy.
Some of those fancy chocolates Sadie was always trying to get him to buy.
Or material for a new dress.
Women always liked to get something new to wear.
Maybe some other things he could keep on hand so he could give her something every day.
For a while anyway.
He picked flowers from Bridget’s garden and hoped she didn’t catch him because there would be hell to pay if she did.
Heading to the stables he whistled.
He knew none of the men were in the stables.
Davy the stable boy had gone with Delilah to Kentucky.
Sam and Cassie would have the whole stable to themselves.
He imagined Cassie, face flush with excitement, lying naked on a blanket in a pile of fresh hay, just waiting for him.
“Cassie,” he called entering the stable from the south end.
“Cassie, love, where are you?”
There was no answer.
He went out to the paddocks.
There were plenty of horses but no Cassie.
Deciding he must have just missed her in passing, he went back to the house to check.
In the kitchen he saw Bridget cooking the midday meal.
“Have you seen Cassie?”
“Nope.
Not since breakfast.
She was going to muck the stalls in the stable since Davy’s gone for a while.”
“Okay, thanks.”
He went back to the stable and began searching every stall.
That was when he found it.
Her gun.
Sam knew immediately Harry Borden had her.
There was no one else who was a threat to them.
Sam was the best tracker he knew, next to Duncan McKenzie.
He went to the barn, saddled his horse rode to the house and told Bridget what happened and to ring the dinner bell and gather the men.
They were to spread out in all directions and search for Cassie.
He started at the north side of the stable because it was sheltered from view by the rest of the ranch.
He knew that Borden had to have left that way.
Duncan’s place was north and west of theirs.
He might pass it but just in case he left instructions with Bridget to send someone to both Duncan’s place and to Catherine’s father James Evans’ ranch.
Together they would be able to gather another search party to find her.
*****
Cassie was blindfolded but still knew they started out north.
There was no choice if he didn’t want to be seen.
He had to go north away from the ranch.
After that she wasn’t sure where they were.
He could have doubled back and they were headed south for all she knew.
She held tight to the saddle horn and leaned forward trying to keep her body from touching Borden’s.
He pulled her back against his chest and held the reins low so he rested his hands on her stomach.
They started out at a walk but it must have been just until they were out of ear shot.
Now they were galloping faster and faster, away from everything and everyone she held dear.
She was torn.
She wanted Sam to stay safe but she was scared and wanted him to come rescue her.
But she knew Borden would kill him if he did.
Sam being safe won out.
No matter what she wanted him safe.
The horse was walking now.
She’d gotten hit by a couple of tree branches.
Broken limbs cracked under the horses hooves.
Finally they stopped.
She wasn’t sure how long they ridden.
It seemed like forever.
Borden got off the horse then pulled her down.
She was afraid he’d let her fall and hit the ground but he caught her.
He removed the gag and blindfold, putting both in his pocket.
It was getting dark but there was enough light to see they stood in front of a tiny shack.
It looked to have been abandoned for a long time.
Maybe it was an old settlers or miners cabin.
There was a door and to the left of that one window with the shutters hanging askew.
Some of the mortar was gone from between the logs leaving gaping holes in the walls.
Borden shoved her inside.
He’d obviously spent at least one night here.
There was a cot next to the wall and his bedroll was laid out on it.
Along the wall opposite the door was a fireplace with wood and kindling next to it and a Dutch oven hanging in it.
She wasn’t close enough to see if there was food in it.
Just the thought made her stomach roil.
There was also a small table, one chair and a foot stool.
On the table was a bucket of water and some food stuffs.
“Get over there and start cooking.
There’s water, beans and salt pork on the table.”
She did as she was told.
“I need matches for the fire.”
He gave her a box of stick matches and watched her carefully.
She stacked the kindling into a teepee shape with some dry leaves and pine needles under it for tender.
Then put a match to the tender.
While the fire got going she added the water, beans and salt pork to the Dutch oven.
It had old beans in it from yesterday or maybe a week ago.
She didn’t know and didn’t care.
She didn’t plan on eating anyway.
Harry sat in the chair watching her.
She looked at him.
“You shaved your beard.
That’s why Sadie said there was another man.”
“Who’s Sadie?”
“She owns the general store.”
“Ah.
Yeah.
I went back there and the bitch didn’t have any idea she’d already seen me.
I changed clothes, got a shave and a haircut, too.
People always say I look completely different with the beard.”