Sam rode toward home earlier than usual, anxious for a good feed. He pushed away the thought that he might be even more anxious to see a certain young lady.

The day had gone well. He’d instructed Billy to let a dozen or so cows wander away from the main herd and make it look like no one watched them. “Send some men ahead and have them stay out of sight. Maybe we can trick the rustlers into thinking the cows are easy prey.”

Billy had nodded. “Good idea.”

Sam had looked around but again found nothing to indicate he should be concerned—no unusual tracks, no distant riders…nothing, and yet his gut said it wasn’t over. But then, it wouldn’t be over until the guilty parties were arrested and justice meted out.

Satisfied he’d done all he could, he forgot about the cattle and looked forward to home.

He topped the last rise and came around the last bend. Elin stood in the garden. He smiled. She couldn’t wait to get out there and work. He looked again. Something didn’t look right. He pulled Sorry to a halt. Why was Elin standing there, staring at something out of his sight?

He guided Sorry off the path until he could see around the house. When he saw what Elin stared at, his heart slammed into his ribs.

Three men confronted her. Unfriendly, dangerous men.

His first instinct was to ride forward as fast as he could but he waited, assessing the danger. But when one man nudged his horse closer to Elin, he reacted instantly. He kicked Sorry into a gallop and raced across the yard and skidded to a halt in front of Elin, effectively blocking the man from reaching her.

The men sat up in their saddles. Their mocking smiles faded and their eyes grew guarded and watchful.

“Can I help you?” Sam’s gaze touched each of them. He rested his gaze on the man who had pushed his horse closer to Elin. The only help he wanted to give any of them was the feel of a whip. Young Andy carried a quirt with him and, for the first time, Sam wished he had one.

“Came to see Harry,” the front man growled. “Him and us has unfinished business.”

“Harry isn’t here.”

“Where is he?” The three crowded closer, but Sam didn’t move or let Sorry sidle away.

“Don’t know. Haven’t seen him in more’n a month.”

“Huh. Guess he’ll have to come back sooner or later.”

Sam grunted. “Don’t know why.”

The men looked at each other. “He better or we’ll find him. You see him, you tell him the Barton boys are expecting him to call.” They scowled at Sam for a moment as if they hoped to frighten him into revealing where Harry was. If only they knew that he’d gladly tell them if he knew.

They jerked their horses about and rode away.

Sam waited until they were at the bottom of the lane then jumped from the horse and pulled Elin into his arms, pressing her face to his chest. “Are you okay?”

“I am now.” Her voice was muffled against his shirt, her fingers clutching at the fabric.

“Did they threaten you?” If they had, he would ride after them.

“No. They had just arrived when you rode up. Thank goodness you did.” Her voice quavered and he understood she had been frightened.

He stroked her hair and rubbed her back. “Good thing I decided to head back a little early.” He looked about. “Where’s Joey?”

She lifted her head to look around. “He was playing by the house but when he saw the men he went inside. Smart kid.”

“Gus?”

“I don’t know. He’s been out doing chores most of the afternoon.”

Sam caught her chin and tipped her face up so he could search it. Her eyes were wide. “You must have had quite a fright.”

“I was a little scared.”

He drew a fingertip along her cheek to the corner of her mouth. “When I saw them I—” He didn’t finish. His heart was too full, his tongue too clumsy.

She smiled up at him. “I had a shovel and was prepared to defend myself.”

He chuckled. “You are one feisty gal. Are all Norwegians like you?”

“Of course.”

He laughed. “I know they aren’t. I don’t think there is anyone quite like you in the whole world.” He rubbed his finger along her chin, the tip brushing her bottom lip.

Her eyes darkened to the color of the sky just before sunset. Her hands slipped around his shoulders. “Am I to take that as a compliment?”

“You sure are. You are…” He searched for the words to say what was in his heart. “Special.”

“Thank you, kind sir.” She lifted her face toward him, her gaze on his lips.

He knew so little about women, their needs and wants, but he was almost certain she offered an invitation. So he followed his heart and lowered his head to claim her lips.

A thousand thoughts raced through his mind. She tasted sweet. Her lips were warm and welcoming. Her hands pressed to his back, each a blessing. She sighed. He felt it in his heart as much as on his lips. He’d kissed Luanne a time or two, but it had felt nothing like this. This was like honey and wildflowers and all good things, touching every corner of his being, every secret place of his heart.

She sighed again and he ended the kiss, slowly, reluctantly.

He was not mistaken in believing she was as disinclined to end it as he, for her arms tightened about him and she looked up at him, her eyes dark pools of emotion that made him want to shout jubilation, and at the same time, whisper sweet words.

Except he knew none and settled for, “I’m glad you’re safe and that you didn’t have to beat them off with a shovel.”

She laughed. “They would be, too, if they only knew the danger they faced.”

He joined in her laughter though a goodly portion of him still vibrated with fear.

She took his arm and led him toward the house. “We better check on Joey and make sure he is okay.”

They went into the house. The boy wasn’t in the kitchen or living area. “That’s strange.” She called, “Joey.” No response. “Maybe he’s in the bedroom.” They went there. Didn’t see Joey.

Clinging to Sam’s hand, she rushed to the door. It stood open to let a breeze through the house. “What if he went out and they—”

He was glad she didn’t finish. “I’m sure that didn’t happen. I watched until they were at the end of the lane.”

She flung about. “Where is he?”

Sam took her hand and drew her inside. “The first thing we are going to do is look in every corner of the house.”

She nodded, but didn’t speak, and he guided her into the kitchen. They looked in the pantry, behind the stove, and in the big cupboard beneath the work station.

“He’s not here.” She bit down on her lip.

Sam looked behind the armchair. He went again to Elin’s bedroom and looked under the beds. He rose and shook his head. Not wanting to further alarm her, he did his best to hide his growing concern. “Maybe he’s in Gus’s bedroom.” They looked there to no avail. That left Sam’s bedroom. He stepped through the doorway praying he would see Joey. His heart cramped when he didn’t. He looked under the bed and his lungs remembered how to work. Joey looked back at him with huge eyes.

“Joey, come out.” The boy didn’t move. “Come on. Elin and I are both here. You’re safe.”

The boy scrambled out and threw himself into Elin’s waiting arms. She hugged him tight.

Sam wrapped his arms around them both. Elin blinked back tears.

Sam guided the pair to the armchair. He sat and pulled them to his lap, holding them both tight.

They were still there when Gus walked into the room. He jerked to a halt and stared at them. “What did I miss?”

Elin pushed to her feet. “Three riders.”

“Bad men,” Joey added. “G’ma tell me hide from bad men.”

Three adults looked at the child. Sam wondered why Joey’s grandmother would say such a thing.

“Where were you?” Sam asked Gus.

Gus got a sheepish look on his face. “I went to the bunkhouse and checked the mousetraps and kind of fell asleep on one of the bunks.”

Sam groaned. “You need to make sure Elin is safe.”

Elin jammed her fists on her hips. “Gus had no way of knowing such characters would ride up.”

They waited until Joey had wandered away to give Gus the details.

Gus’s old eyes watered up and he spoke to Elin. “I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”

Elin patted his arm. “Nothing did.”

“I will stay at the house and stay awake from now on.”

Sam regretted making Gus feel guilty. “No one was hurt. I wonder if they’re responsible for the rustling.”

But of course no one could answer him. “I’m going to have a look around.” He strode from the house and went to the barn. Nothing seemed out of place. He went from building to building and looked for any signs the men had been there. He saw nothing, but it did not make him feel any better.

He returned to the house. “Everything seems okay.”

Elin let out her rushed breath. “I hope we’ve seen the last of them.”

Sam kept his opinion to himself that men like that didn’t give up, and until they found Harry they would be a constant threat.

He needed to warn Billy and the others to be extra vigilant, but he didn’t want to leave Elin alone.

That night Joey cried at bedtime. He cried when Elin and Sam left the bedroom.

“I’ll go to bed,” Elin said, after several unsuccessful attempts to settle the boy. “He’s been badly frightened by those men.”

He caught at her hand before she could leave. “I’m glad you’re safe. You, Joey, and Gus.”

She came closer, touched her fingertip to his lips. “I’m glad too.”

He cupped his hand to the back of her head and bent his head to brush his lips to hers. He lingered there a moment, in a kiss as soft as kitten fur. She lowered her head, ending the intimacy. But neither of them backed away.

“I can’t imagine what I would do if something happened to you,” he whispered.

She looked up at him, her eyes full of so many things…surprise, pleasure, hope…

He said nothing and backed away.

Joey called.

“Good night.” She hurried to the bedroom and closed the door.

He pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead. He’d said too much. More than he had a right too.

* * *

Elin leaned against the bedroom door, feeling as wrung out as a piece of laundry. Her emotions had been up and down like she rode a bucking horse. Fear and courage intermingled when she felt threatened by those men. Relief and gratitude when Sam came to her rescue. Those feelings had culminated in so much raw emotion that she had welcomed his kiss. Kissed him back.

He said he didn’t know what he would do if something happened to her.

If only he had said more. Said he would marry her. That would ensure both of them that she had a permanent place in his home.

And in his heart?

She sat down on the edge of her bed. Joey’s eyes drifted closed. Darkness closed in on the room. She reached out to light the lamp and then drew back. What if those men were still out there? She pulled the curtains tighter before she lit the lamp. She and Sam had agreed to read their Bibles. By silent agreement, they read the same passage and often discussed it.

She opened the pages and read the next chapter, seeking to regain the sweetness and peace she’d experienced that day, but only a portion of it returned.

It wasn’t only the fear of those men that disrupted her search for peace.

It was knowing that Sam might care, but not enough to put aside his fear of being hurt.

Please, God, help him realize that some things are worth the risk.

Like love?

She closed the Bible and climbed under the covers. Yes, like love.

Joey woke up cheerful the next morning, the events of the previous day apparently forgotten.

Elin sang as she prepared breakfast. She might not have all she dreamed of, but she had a place where she was needed and people who cared about her.

Sam came from his room, his hair all tussled. He yawned.

Elin set a cup of coffee before him at the table and watched him, liking the way he came awake slowly, by degrees.

Gus shuffled to the table and sat down, welcoming a cup of coffee.

Smiling, her heart full despite a few disappointments, Elin prepared breakfast and served it.

Gus said the grace and they ate.

Conversation was limited to please pass and thank you. Elin decided the men were lost in their own thoughts.

Sam finished and pushed his chair back, holding his second cup of coffee. “I think I better stay around here today.”

Gus nodded. “It ain’t like I sleep all the time.”

“No offense to you, Gus, but those three men left a bad taste in my mouth. No telling what they will do.”

“Guess you’re right. But what about the cows?”

“The men know what they’re doing.” Sam told of the trap he’d set. “We’ll catch them this time for sure.”

Gus hunkered over his coffee.

Elin kept her comments to herself. The truth was, she was glad to have Sam stick around, and not just for safety sake. But she had work to do. As soon as the kitchen was clean, she began the ironing.

Sam went outside and seemed to be doing repairs on the corral fences. Or was he simply trying to look busy?

Later in the morning, the ironing done, she went outside to enjoy the fresh air and Sam’s company. He looked up as she approached.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“It’s fine. But the day is too nice to spend it indoors. What are you doing?”

“Reinforcing this pen.” He indicated a spike he had driven in. “It needs to be solid when we break horses.”

“I have no idea what that means.”

He leaned back on the fence and grinned at her. “We bring in wild horses and someone rides them until the horse decides he might as well let them.”

She knew her eyes had grown wide. “That sounds like a tall tale.”

“Nope.”

“Don’t the cowboys get bucked off?”

He nodded, his grin a little crooked. “Lots of times.”

“Sounds to me like it’s the cowboys who get broken, not the horses.”

He laughed loudly, took her elbow, and pulled her close. “You’re right.” He trailed his hand up and down her arm. He sobered. His eyes grew serious. “You are right in so many ways.”

Warmth crept into her cheeks. When had anyone ever said things that made her feel so worthwhile? So valued?

Never.

Sam, we have something special here. Something worth keeping, making permanent. But she couldn’t utter those words. Not unless he gave some indication he would welcome them. Otherwise she might frighten him away.

His gaze was warm, full of promise.

The sound of a racing horse brought an end to anything more he might have said, and they looked toward the sound.

“Billy!” Sam said. “Something’s wrong.”