Free Sourdough Creek by Caroline Fyffe

clue to what she was thinking as she had gazed up into his face. Even with her short hair and baggy clothes she was a real beauty. She was on his mind now more often than not. He didn’t know what to make of it. “I understand,” he said quietly. “But, the world is a hard place. I hope you know that. It’s easy to get battered by it.”
    She was lying on her back now, after climbing under the covers with Josephine. Still, he rested on his elbow, looking at the two girls. The campfire, a few feet away, picked up the golden highlights in her mahogany hair.
    “I want to spare her all that pain. Give her a good life. An education.”
    “That’s a tall order, Cassie.”
    “But worthwhile. With God’s help it will happen.”
    Out of the darkness stepped the cat. Without invitation she walked onto the blanket and curled up between Josephine and Sam.
    “Well, I guess that answers that question,” Sam said. “Please, make yourself comfortable.” Ashes closed her eyes. Within moments she was purring loud enough for both to hear.
    Cassie laughed softly. “Maybe she’ll be sticking closer from now on. I can’t believe Josephine had her stuffed in that saddlebag all day. Just getting her in without a fight must have taken some doing. And we didn’t even know it. That’s pretty amazing.”
    Sam pulled his blanket around his shoulders. “No worries tonight. That mountain lion is long gone. Unless sick or hurt, they usually steer clear of humans as much as possible. Now, get some sleep. The sun will be up before you know it.”
    A coyote howled in the distance, and was answered by a few more. Within moments a whole chorus erupted, sounding like hundreds.
    “That’s pretty,” Cassie whispered. “Nothing like that cougar.”
    The coyote song over the crackling flames was the only response. “Sam, you still awake?”
    “Hmmm.”
    “I know I said this already—but—thank you for helping me and Josephine. I’m glad we’re traveling together.”
    Sam opened his eyes and looked out into the darkness. How will she feel when I ask her to hand over the deed to my claim ? he thought slowly. How thankful will she be then ?

 
     
    Chapter Thirteen
     
     
    “ I didn’t take it, Pa. I didn’t !” Fear sliced through Sam as his father advanced and grasped him roughly by the arm.
    “ Don’t you lie to me, boy ! You stole the knife from my drawer. Now you don’t even have the guts to own up to your actions.” They started for the woodshed —
    Sam sat up with a jolt. Terror thickened his tongue and he thought he’d choke. Gasping, he blinked away his sleep. He’d never tell on Seth—no matter what. The whipping he got that day was one of many he’d taken shielding his little brother from their father’s anger. What galled him more than anything, and hurt deeply, was his father’s uncompromising disbelief in anything he said. Why wouldn’t he listen?
    He breathed in a lungful of crisp morning air, trying to rid himself of the nightmare and the feeling of doom they always seemed to leave behind. What about the claim? His claim. The claim that was going to buy the acreage needed to get his and Seth’s ranch going. Seth had left two summers ago to push cattle for a spread in Texas, and except for the bare minimum, was saving everything he made for their land purchase. Sam worked as a saddle tramp too, until the night he’d won the claim.
    Even now, that battered piece of paper called to him from Cassie’s saddle pack, so close at hand. What was he to do when they reached Sourdough Creek, the inlet off the American River? Cassie wasn’t going to just hand it over to him, easy as pie—that was for sure. And even more troubling, what would happen to her and Josephine if she did?
    Josephine slept under the blanket, completely covered. Cassie was on her side, her arm wrapped protectively over her sister. Her bobbed hair fell over her eyes and her mouth was pursed into a little smile, making him wonder what she was