In the evenings and at night Sam was with her.
He was determined to make her realize that she wanted and needed him all the time, not just for sex,
Though he had to admit that was pretty good.
But he wanted more.
She did too, he was sure of it.
One day after Cassie’d returned RJ went to Sam. “Can I talk to you?”
“Of course.”
RJ led the way to the barn.
Sam looked back at Cassie and shrugged his shoulders.
As soon as they entered the barn RJ turned to Sam.
“What are you gonna do about my mama?
You gonna marry her or what?”
“Whoa, Son, where did that come from?”
“People talk.
Bridget was talking one night.
I couldn’t help but over hear, even though she was whispering to Mama.
She said it would be a whole lot easier for Mama if she was married and Bridget said that you were a good man and maybe you could get through her defenses.
I didn’t know Mama had defenses.
Anyway, I figure if you married her and she had less chores ‘cause you do ‘
em
then she’d have more time to spend with Sarah.
She misses Mama something awful and you heard me tell Mama I’d always protect her and --“
“Hold up there and take a breath, RJ.” said Sam.
“Now what makes you think your mother wants to get married?”
“Well, I figure she took care of you all the time when you got thrown so she must like you a lot.
She’s never done that for anyone else but me and Sarah and I know she loves us.
Mama didn’t leave your side for a week.
Slept in your room and everything.
I figure that means she must like you an awful lot.”
Sam had to think a minute on how to respond so he could ease the boy’s fears without giving him false hope.
He knelt down to RJ’s level and looked him in the eye.
“I like your Mama very much and nothing would make me happier than to marry her.”
RJ started smiling.
“But,” Sam went on, “it’s up to her whether or not she wants to get married again.
I know she loved your daddy very much.”
RJ nodded his face solemn.
“So how’re you gonna convince her you love her?”
“I what?”
“You love her.
You do love her don’t you?
‘Cause
iffin
you don’t then you ought to leave her alone so she can find someone who does.”
“Well, I, uh.”
Love her?
Did he?
He sure as hell felt something more than ‘like’.
He wanted, and needed, to be with her.
The thought of her being with anyone else…no…not going to happen.
“You’re right, RJ.”
“I am?
So you gonna leave her alone?”
“No.
You’re right that I love her.
But I need to convince her of that.”
RJ kicked a rock on the ground.
“Why do grownups have to make everything so complicated?
Why can’t you just tell her you love her and get married?”
Sam stood and ruffled RJ’s hair.
“I will do everything in my power to convince your Mom.
Thank you, Son, for sharing your concerns with me.”
RJ stood up straighter, puffed out his chest and said, “I
gotta
watch out for my women folk ‘cause until you marry Mama, I’m the man of the family and I
gotta
tell you I won’t mind going back to just
bein
’ a kid.”
He turned and walked back toward the house.
Smiling, Sam watched him go.
Then wondered how it was that a nine year old boy was smarter than all the adults around him?
*****
“Yes, ma’am.
I’ll always protect Sarah.
You can count on me.”
“Thank you, Son.”
Her little man.
So much like Michael it made her ache, but not like it used to.
It was getting easier.
Much easier.
Because of Sam.
She wasn’t a fool.
As much as she didn’t want it to happen, didn’t want to admit it, she was falling for Sam Colter. Hell, she’d already fallen.
In the parlor that evening, after the children had gone to bed, Sam and Cassie discussed the situation.
“So what happens next?
Do you just sit and wait?” asked Cassie.
“Well, we know he’ll try again.
It’s just a matter of when and where.”
“We can’t just stand by and do nothing.
I can’t even go to the outhouse by myself.
I can’t live in fear like this.”
Sam paced.
“We have to do something to force his hand.”
“What about the cabin where he took me?
Maybe you could trap him then capture him there.”
“He’s moved on.
I sent men there as soon as we got back.
There was nothing there, just some old furniture.”
“So he’s gone to ground again.
He’s got to be somewhere near the ranch.
Keeping watch, looking for another opportunity for us to let our guard down.” Sam said mid pace.
“That’s not going to happen.
You don’t go anywhere without a guard.”
Cassie nodded her head.
“Seriously, no where?
No where alone.
Do you know how embarrassing it is to visit the privy with a guard?”
“No, I don’t.
But I could track him,” said Sam.
“The sooner we find him the better.”
“No.
Absolutely not.
It could take weeks or months to track him down.
There is no way in hell, I’m going back to running this ranch by myself.
I’m sorry but there has got to be another way.”
Sam sat next to Cassie on the sofa and put his arm around her shoulders.
“You’re worried about me.”
“Of course, I’m worried you big lummox.”
Cassie said, then poked him in the chest.
“That doesn’t mean I’ve changed my mind about anything else.”
Sam gave her shoulders a squeeze.
“Of course not darlin’.
The thought never crossed my mind.”
“We need to set a trap for him and as much as I hate to say it our best bet is to use me as bait.”
“No,” said Sam.
“Now, Sam,” said Cassie.
“We’ve got to do something and I’m sure there’s a way to make sure I’m safe.”
“I don’t like it.
It’s too dangerous.”
“Well, I do like it.
I need to get my life back.
This will at least allow me to do that with a modicum of safety.”
“I know you’re right.
They’ll have to watch from a distance.
It would be best if those watching over you are some of Duncan’s men.
Including Duncan if possible.
Maybe they’ll find him and we won’t have to worry about it.
Until then, we don’t want to take away from our men.
It has to look completely normal.
I don’t want you to tell our men either.
I know you trust all of them, but the less they know, the better.
Just in case.”
“How will Duncan and his men watch without being seen?” asked Cassie.
“It’s what he does, darlin’.
And nobody does it better.” Sam answered.
CHAPTER 11
Cassie’s life finally seemed back to normal.
Or at least as normal as it could be knowing she was being watched constantly.
She never saw anyone so it didn’t bother her too much.
She didn’t have a guard with her anymore so she had her privacy back.
At least on the surface.
Goliath was having a great week.
She ran him every day and his times were better and better with each session.
Tom was back from Alamosa, the Army contract complete.
He’d brought the paperwork for the next one.
Fifty horses due six months from now.
They’d have to catch thirty more horses and break all fifty between now and then, but even though it was double the normal order, she thought they’d be able to handle it without any problems.
Now that he was back she had Tom help her in the stables in place of Davy.
Davy was still on his way to Kentucky or perhaps on his way back she wasn’t sure how long it would take.
Usually five or six days by train.
Tom was good with the horses.
They liked him almost as much as they did her because he always had sugar in his pockets, too.
“You spoil them,” Cassie teased.
“No more than you do,” he retorted.
They celebrated together when Goliath broke the ranch record time of two minutes thirty seconds for the one and one half mile track.
He took Goliath to cool him down while she when to change out of her silks.
From her bedroom window she saw Tom leave the stable and come toward the house.
She didn’t believe he could be done grooming Goliath and wondered what was wrong.
She hurried to change out of the silks and back into her shirt and pants.
She was putting on her gun belt as she went into the kitchen.
Bridget was outside hanging laundry on the line.
Cassie had to dump the wash tub and the rinse tub for her leaving them both under the kitchen window to dry.
Bridget wasn’t strong enough anymore.
Tom came into the kitchen his hat low on his head.
“Tom what’s wrong?” she asked quickly.
He looked up.
She gazed into the eyes of Harry Borden.
“Make a sound pretty lady and I’ll shoot Colter as soon as he walks through that door along with anybody else who might wander in.
Got it?”
Cassie nodded and swallowed hard.
“How did you get in here?
Where is Tom?
Did you hurt him?”
Borden smiled.
It was hard to watch something that evil and still call it a smile.
“So many questions.”
He pulled his gun out and nodded toward the table.
“Sit down, Cassie.”
She did as he said.
“Now in answer to your questions.
I rode in last night under cover of darkness and put my horse just where Tom said to.
In one of the unused stalls in the stable on the north end of the building.
And last, why would I hurt my partner.
He’s still in the stable.
There couldn’t very well be two of us walking around now could there?”
She didn’t believe it.
Couldn’t believe it.
Tom had been with her for over two years.
“Why would he help you?
He’s been a loyal employee for years.”
“And you rewarded his loyalty, how again?
Oh yeah, you hired Sam Colter over him for the foreman position.”
“This is about a job?”
“More than just the job.
He fancies himself in love with you.
He sees how you look at Colter.
And Colter lives with you in the house.
That apparently was the last straw.
So when I saw him in town a few days ago, he was more than willing to help me get rid of Colter.”
“It won’t work.
You’ll never beat Sam in a fair fight.
But then you don’t intend to fight fair do you?”
“Why would I want to do that?
I intend to kill Colter and the easiest way to do that is to get the drop on him.
I’m not as good with a rifle as I might have let on.
Fact is I can’t hit the side of a barn with one.
I need to have him close.
That’s why I need you , Cassie.
You’re going to bring him to me.”
*****
Sam couldn’t take it anymore.
He wasn’t getting any closer to having her accept his proposal than when he’d first asked.
He wanted to make love to her not just have sex.
But sex is all she would allow them so there was always a part of himself he withheld from her.
As she did with him.
If he hadn’t been so preoccupied with his own thoughts he probably would have seen Bridget sooner.
She was running toward him as fast as her ancient legs would let her go.
“Sam,” she said in a loud whisper.
“Sam.”
“What”
“Shhh.
He’ll hear you.”
“Who?” he whispered back.
“The man in the kitchen with Cassie.
He’s holding a gun on her.
And he’s dressed in Tom’s clothes.”
“Damn!
Bridget.
Listen to me and do exactly as I say.”
A few minutes later Sam was looking in the kitchen window.
Borden’s back was to him blocking his view of Cassie but he saw her gun belt on the floor in front of her.
Borden turned toward the window and walked to the sink.
“Beautiful view you have here.
I wish I had more time to enjoy it, but as soon as Colter gets here, I’m going to have to see that neither of you sees this view again.”
“Why not kill me now?
What are you waiting for?”
“Why Sam, my dear Cassie.
I’m waiting for Sam.
I want him to watch you die.
I want him to suffer the way I suffered.”
“You didn’t suffer.
You left your brother to hang.”
“Yes, I did suffer.
Well, I could have suffered.
Besides, I like the sound of it and the torture he’ll go through.
Maybe I’ll gut shoot you both and you can watch each other die.
Slowly.
Painfully.”
“You’re just evil.”
He laughed.
The sound evil, maniacal.
“So I’ve been told.”
“Just as crazy as your brother was.”
Sam stepped through the screened door to the kitchen.
“Glad you could join us, Colter.
Take off your gun belt,” he motioned with his left hand pointing from Sam’s belly to the floor.
He kept the gun pointed at Cassie’s head “And do it real slow.
I might get a twitch and the pretty lady would die right now.”
“Sam, don’t listen, shoot him.
He’s going to kill me, us, anyway.”
Borden backhanded Cassie with his left hand, sending her to the floor.
His gaze never left Sam.
“Do as I say.
Now.”
Sam unbuckled and dropped his gun belt.
He started walking to Cassie.
“Stop where you are.”
“She needs my help.”
Cassie sat on the floor, the metallic taste of blood on her tongue.
“I’m fine Sam.
Don’t give him an excuse.”
“That’s right little girl. You make sure he understands.
Now get up and both of you go sit on the bench at the table.
Face me, your back to the table and sit on your hands.”
Cassie got up and staggered to the table.
Sam, ignored Borden, went to her, put his arm around her waist and helped her to the table.
“Thanks.” she murmured.
They sat down and Borden watched them from where he leaned against the sink.
“I already told her, so you might as well know, too.
I’m going to kill you both.”
“No you’re not.” said Sam.
“And why not, Ranger.
Or should I say ex-Ranger?
But then I’ve heard that you’re never an ex-Ranger.
Once a Ranger, always a Ranger.
Eh, Colter?”
“Because if you do, you’ll never make it out of here alive.”
“Who’s going to stop me?”
“Those men outside.
And we got Tom.
He’s not going to be helping you again.”
Borden’s face went white and Cassie saw the panic.
“Give up and you’ll live to see another day,” said Sam.
Borden went to the window and saw the wranglers had the house surrounded.
Each of them with their guns out, primed and pointed at the doors and windows on the house.
Borden went to the window.
This was Sam’s chance.
He sprang up while Borden had his back to them and ran at him.
Borden turned, just as Sam tackled him.
Cassie watched in horror, then heard the gun go off.
“Sam!” she screamed, running to him.
Sam rolled off Borden, holding the gun in his hand.
Borden didn’t move.
“Is he dead?”
“I could only hope.
But he’s breathing.”
Sam got up and toed Borden with his boot.
Borden groaned. “Get up.
You’re going to live long enough to hang.”
“Just kill me now.”
“Unlike you I’m not a murderer.
Cassie.
Get something to tie him up with.
He can join Tom in the barn until I get ready to take them to town.”
Cassie moved, her mind reeling with all that had just happened.
She got some of the bandages that they’d made to wrap Sam’s ribs with out of the pantry.
She handed it to Sam.
“Pick up your gun and hold it on him while I tie him up.”
She did as he asked, her movements wooden.
“How did you know?
No one was here.
I was alone again.
How did you know?”
Sam quickly tied Borden with the strips of cloth and sat him on the kitchen bench where he and Cassie had just been.
Then he signaled the other men and all the wranglers came into the kitchen with Bridget leading the way.
“Bridget.
She saw what was happening through the kitchen window while she was hanging the laundry.
She came and found me.”