The Bouman boys rode in the next morning as Sam swallowed the last of his coffee. He welcomed their early arrival. Before he fell asleep last night he’d had a serious talk with himself. He’d crossed so many barriers yesterday, said more than he should, felt more than he should. And it must stop.

He jolted to his feet. “I’m going to check on the cattle. I won’t be back before supper.” He turned to Joey. “See you later, kid.”

He hurried out and indicated the Bouman boys should follow him to the barn. They waited outside while he went to saddle Sorry.

He straightened from adjusting the cinch to see Gus watching him, his expression sour.

“What?” Sam continued tacking up.

“Any reason you were so rude to Elin? Something happen between you two?”

“Nope.”

“Tell that to the horse. I’m not believing it.”

Sam moved around the horse, nudging Gus to the side. “I guess that’s your choice.”

Gus followed as he led Sorry from the barn. “You should have seen the pain in her eyes.”

Sam ground to a halt. “I can’t imagine it had anything to do with me.” He dare not think he was responsible or he would trot on back to the house and forget all about his cows and the cowboys waiting nearby.

“Then you are both blind and stupid. Seeing as you are neither, I say it again. I don’t believe you.”

Sam swung into the saddle. “I’ll be back for supper.” If he had a lick of sense, he would take his bedroll and spend a few days away from the house. But Joey might miss him.

He refused to think he had to force Joey’s name into that sentence.

“Come on, boys. Let’s ride.” He forced himself to a reasonable pace as they crossed the prairie and headed west toward the pasture where the cows were.

Billy saw them coming and rode out to meet them.

Sam reined up to speak to him. “Al and Bart are hiring on. Thought you could use a couple more riders.”

Billy shook hands with the pair. “Sure could use the help.”

“Any more cattle missing?” Sam asked.

“Nope. But the night riders think they’ve seen a man riding in the distance after dark. So far, having so many on at night has kept anyone from getting closer.”

“Good. Glad to hear it.” He studied the herd. Normally, the cows would have been allowed to roam free, but with the threat of rustling Sam had instructed the cowboys to keep the animals closer together than normal. “Grass looks good.” The cows had been slowly moved westward, finding new pasture when needed.

“Billy, show Al and Bart what you want them to do. I’m going to see if I can find any clues as to who is watching the herd.” He went to the trees to the north and searched for signs of a camp. He found nothing and moved on to a new spot and then another. He found nothing and stopped to share dinner with the men. Percy was a good cook. Or at least Sam had always thought so, but today the food seemed bland. What had Elin made back at the house? Would there be fresh bread for supper? He stopped his thoughts before they could go further and washed the food down with three cups of coffee and then returned to looking for clues as to who spied on them.

A creek ran through a line of trees to the south and he rode that direction, pulling to a halt and dismounting as he reached the trickling stream. He squatted at the water’s edge as memories of yesterday raced through his mind. The gazes he and Elin shared that seemed full of possibility. The way she’d held his hand as they walked. How kissable he’d thought she was. She chuckled as he thought of her clutching that colored bit of glass as a reminder of the day.

He looked at the rocks at his feet. There. One perfectly round and gray. The gray like the dress she wore. He picked up the rock and put it in his pocket. It would be his reminder of the day.

And here he was, dreaming away the hours when he had a task to do. He studied the ground along the creek. Saw horse hoof tracks. Someone had been here, whether one of his cowboys or the intruder, he couldn’t say, but he searched the ground more thoroughly. He found no evidence of a fire. Either the man lived on cold camps or he lived nearby.

Sam straightened. It pained him to think the rustling might be done by a neighbor.

He gave the area another thorough search, but found nothing more and rode on to search other spots. Again, he found nothing.

After some time, he glanced at the sun. It dipped toward the west. Time to go home for supper. He rode back to the herd to speak to Billy then turned his horse toward the ranch. When he was certain he was far enough away no one could hear him and wonder at his burst of joy, he sang.

Sorry flicked his ears and Sam gave him a pat on the neck. “It’s just me.”

Before he reached the outbuildings, he slowed, pushed his thoughts into submission, and then continued on at a sedate rate. He glanced toward the house as he reached the barn. Saw no one about and sighed. Had he expected to see Elin waiting on the doorstep, her hand shading her eyes as she watched for his return?

With a grunt of disgust at his foolishness, he admitted it would be kind of nice to receive that sort of greeting. He led Sorry into the barn.

He should change his own name to that of the horse. Sorry instead of Sam. Sorry is what he’d be when this pretend time came to an end. And it would. Sure as the sun rose in the east and set in the west. Elin would leave. Just like everyone else.

He didn’t allow himself to say everyone else had left because they got sick and died. Except for Harry. He hardly even counted. What he felt for Harry was more loyalty to Morty than affection for the man’s son. But if he didn’t keep believing everyone left and he must guard his heart, then what would happen?

He’d have to risk opening his heart and he wasn’t prepared to do that.

Like Elin had so accurately pointed out—he was afraid of being hurt. His heart went out to Joey as he acknowledged how deeply hurt he’d been by his ma’s death and then just when he thought it was safe to trust his feelings, his pa died. And then Morty. And of course, Luanne.

He did not intend to do anything foolish and invite a repeat of that pain.

He mumbled to himself as he took care of the horse and put away the tack. He mumbled to himself as he cross the yard toward the house. Just before the door, he stopped, straightened his shirt, dusted his pants, and took in a deep breath.

He opened the door and sucked in the aromas. It was good to be home.

Joey ran to him. Sam lifted him high in the air then perched him on one hip. “Howdy,” he said to Gus and last—but most certainly, not least—he let his gaze go to Elin.

She stood at the stove, tending something, and smiled. “You’re just in time for supper.”

Her words stirred something inside him but he ignored it, pretended it wasn’t so. “Good. I’m hungry.”

“Have a seat. I’m just about to serve up.”

“Truth is,” Gus grumbled, “it’s been ready a good half hour now and she kept waiting for you to come.”

Elin’s cheeks grew pink and he was certain it wasn’t from the heat of the stove. The color sure did look good on her.

He had promised himself to treat her like a housekeeper and yet he couldn’t help but chuckle his pleasure. Pleasure at far more than the food. He meant something sweeter and more satisfying. Best he ignore those thoughts.

He set Joey on his chair, then washed up and took his own chair. He glanced around at the little circle that had become a family and experienced a jolt of pleasure.

“My turn to say grace,” Gus said and bowed his head.

Sam did the same, his heart overflowing with gratitude for the good food and for the other good things in his life.

“Amen.” Gus reached for the bowl of potatoes and the food was passed around the table. “How is the herd?” Gus asked.

“No more cattle missing, though Billy says there’s someone watching them from off in the distance.”

“Huh. Should set some kind of trap.”

Sam’s hand paused partway to his mouth. “What sort of trap?”

Gus shrugged. “Maybe let half a dozen cows wander away from the others and make sure there are cowboys nearby to see what happens to them.”

“If this man has others helping him, I think we’d stand a good chance at losing those cows. But maybe we could at least follow and discover where they went.”

“Worth a try, I say.”

“I’ll see what I can arrange.” He enjoyed his meal in peace for a few minutes, but he felt like he had missed out on a whole bunch of activity. “What did you do today, Gus?”

“Had myself a nice long sleep, but I did manage to take care of the milk cow and the chickens. Something’s being getting into the hen house. I suspect a weasel, so I doubled the wire on the fence, blocked the holes, and generally weasel-proofed the place.”

“The hens are safe with you watching over them.” Sam tried not to think that he wanted to be the one to assure Elin and Joey the same thing. Though they were perfectly safe with or without him. This was Dakota Territory, not New York.

With a rustler or rustlers nearby.

He ignored the warning in his brain and turned to Joey. “What did you do all day, Joey?”

“See kitties.” The boy grinned. “I hold them.”

“You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”

Joey nodded. “You take me see them?”

“Maybe after supper if you don’t fall asleep.”

“I not sleep.” Joey sat up and widened his eyes and Sam smiled. He wondered if Elin found it amusing too and allowed himself to meet her gaze. His heart stalled at the sight of her smile and the blue of her eyes. Like a drop of sky dipped down from heaven and took up residence there.

He couldn’t look away from her. “I know you made bread.” He buttered another slice. “Good stuff. Sure was thinking of this when I ate Percy’s food, though he’s a fair cook. Just not a great cook.”

Elin’s cheeks grew pinker. “I kept busy.”

“I’ll say,” Gus said. “She spent most of the day doing laundry. Jeans are still drying on the line.”

The clothesline was behind the house, so Sam hadn’t noticed.

“It will take another day to get everything washed,” Elin said.

Sam noticed her hands were red and chapped. “No need to do it all at once.” He didn’t like to think of her working so hard, which was plumb silly. Wasn’t that why she was there?

Elin served a creamy rice pudding for dessert then Joey tugged at Sam’s shirt sleeve.

“See kitties?”

“Sure, if Elin will come.”

She looked about the kitchen. “I need to clean up.”

“Come with us and I’ll help you do dishes afterwards.”

Gus made his way to the armchair. “You go on now. You deserve to relax once in a while.”

* * *

“Very well.” Elin pushed away from the table and went outside with Sam and Joey, who scampered ahead with all the energy of a young colt.

“I thought he’d be tired,” she murmured.

“Gotten a second wind. It won’t last long.” Sam stayed in step with her, walking close enough that their elbows bumped.

She could have moved aside but she didn’t. She had missed Sam’s presence throughout the day even though she had repeatedly told herself it was silly. But so many times she’d heard something and looked up, a smile on her face, as if she expected him to walk through the door. Or Joey would do something cute and she’d wish she could share the moment with Sam.

“Joey missed you,” she said. “That’s why we came to the barn. He thought you were there.”

“I guess he’ll get used to it.”

“I suppose so.” They reached the barn and went to the manger that held the cats.

Sam lifted Joey into the straw-filled manger. “Sit very still and I’ll let you hold all of them.” He lifted them to the boy’s lap.

Mama cat followed and crowded in with her babies.

Joey laughed. “Nice kitties.” He gently touched them.

Elin pressed a finger to her lips. She would not cry. Not at the tender way Sam was with both the boy and the cats, nor at the pleasure of hearing Joey’s laughter. Nor at the way her heart opened to the joy of this moment. She edged closer and stroked the mama cat.

Sam did the same and their hands rested together.

Elin swallowed hard. Tried to keep her attention on the cat, on the kittens, on Joey… on anything but Sam. But her efforts were in vain. Her gaze made its way to Sam and stayed there, held firmly by the warmth in his eyes. Invitation? Affection?

She jerked away. She was here to take care of Sam, Gus, and Joey while she waited for Harry to show up. She was not—repeat, not—here to open her heart to disappointment.

She jerked her gaze back to the boy and the cats. “There was a nice breeze today. Good for drying clothes.”

“Sometimes the wind is enough to tear the clothes off the line.”

“Glad it wasn’t like that today.” She didn’t care about the wind, only about keeping her mind from thinking too much about Sam’s nearness. His knee pressed against hers. His fingers continued their contact. If she had the sense of a fish, she would move.

She didn’t. “I saw an antelope today. I saw some while I was with my brother and cousins in Grassy Plain. They’re curious, aren’t they? This one came close to watch me hanging clothes then jerked about and ran off. Gus says they can outrun a horse.” She was babbling but it was preferable to staring at him, with her heart, no doubt, in her eyes. Her heart must be kept firmly closed up.

Joey yawned. “I not tired.”

Sam removed the cats and lifted the boy from the manger. He bent over to dust the straw from Joey’s clothes.

Elin pressed to the nearby wall, but still could barely breathe for the nearness of Sam. He’d left his hat in the house and a lock of his hair fell forward. She squeezed her fingers into a fist to still the urge to brush it back.

He straightened and looked directly into her eyes. He must have seen her confusion…her longing, for his expression grew serious. His gaze went to her mouth. She forced herself not to lean forward. Not to invite a kiss.

Joey trotted to the door.

“We’re coming.” Sam strode after him, stopped at the door to wait for Elin.

She drew in a breath that shuddered to her lungs and followed him, keeping her eyes averted. Oh, he must think her a very foolish young woman. She could not find a word to speak as they returned to the house.

Gus slept in his chair and wakened as they entered the house. He pushed to his feet. “I meant to clean the kitchen for you but I drifted off.” He yawned. “I might as well sleep in my bed as here.” And he shuffled to his room.

Elin reached for Joey’s hand. “Come along. It’s time for you to go to bed too.”

Joey held back. “Sam come too.”

Elin was so startled by the boy’s request, so confused by her eager reaction that she could not have moved if the earth shook.

Sam smiled at the boy. “I’ll come and tuck you in when you’re ready.”

Elin released her breath. Sam had answered as best he could. She took Joey to the bedroom he shared with her. Once he was in bed, she read to him one of the Bible stories and said his prayers.

“Now Sam come?”

She kissed the boy. “I’ll send him in.” She left the room. “He wants to say good night.”

While she’d been with Joey, Sam had filled a basin with hot water and taken the soiled dishes there.

She wiped the table and put away the other things. By then, Sam was back and plunged his hands into the water.

“I can do the dishes by myself,” Elin protested even though the idea of spending a little longer with Sam beckoned. “You’ve put in a long day.”

“I said I would help and I will.”

“You always do what you say, right?”

“If at all possible, I do.”

If Elin needed any more warning against letting her imagination, her hopes and dreams run free, this was it. He’d made it clear he wasn’t interested in marriage. She wanted to wed in order to secure a home for herself where she would be valued. Harry had promised her that. But he turned out not to be a man of his word.

And now she was discovering she wanted more than to be an indispensable part of a home.

She wanted to be cherished for herself.

How had she managed to slip so far from what she knew was safe?