Free Sourdough Creek by Caroline Fyffe Page B

reached for Josephine, laying her in the grass. Cassie unbuttoned her coat and threw it to the side. In an attempt to cool her, Cassie stripped her to her chemise, finding two red scratches on the inside of Josephine’s wrist.
    Cassie sucked in her breath. “Ashes must have scratched her when they were on the cliff.”
    Sam stood. “We need to get her to the next town quickly in hopes they have a doctor, and some medicine.” He grabbed the canteen from Pepper’s saddle and poured a good amount onto the child, covering her hair and clothing.
    He gathered up the reins to all the horses. “I’ll take her with me and carry her in front. You’ll have to pony Blu and we’ll let Pepper follow on his own. He’ll not want to be left behind.”
    She nodded.
    “You think you can keep up?”
    “Just get Josephine to a doctor as fast as you can. Don’t worry about me.”
    Sam looked doubtful. “Leading another horse is not as easy as it looks. Takes some getting used to. Especially at the lope.” He went from one horse to another, checking their cinches. When he got to Pepper, he removed the pony’s bridle and stuffed it in his saddlebag. “You’re a good rider, so you shouldn’t have a problem. Just pay attention to your surroundings and you’ll do fine.”
    Sam picked the child up, careful not to jostle her too much. Her head rolled over and lay against his shoulder. She never opened her eyes. He handed her to Cassie so he could mount, then took her back in his arms.

 
     
    Chapter Fourteen
     
     
    C assie watched as Sam guided his mount a few feet down the road and then stop. Josephine wa s cuddled to his chest, small and vulnerable. “Don’t let the rope get too long. Keep Blu snubbed short. Actually, the closer she is to you, the safer it is. And, don’t tie the rope off. Just wind it around the saddle horn twice, and hold the end, so you can let it slide easily.”
    He looked worried.
    “Be careful of your fingers.”
    “I’ll be fine! Just get Josephine to town.”
    Cassie mounted, feeling a lot more tentative than she’d indicated. She took the lead rope and did as Sam had instructed. She nudged her horse forward. As the rope tightened it lay taut against her leg, and pulled on Blu too, bringing the mare along. Meadowlark pinned her ears at having the gray drawn so near.
    “Let Meadowlark know right now you mean business,” Sam called from twenty feet up the road. “They’ll get used to each other quick enough.”
    Cassie waved him on, her heart in her throat. It was unnerving having another horse so close. There were a lot of hooves down there to fall under. “Don’t worry about us,” she called back. “Just get moving and I’ll catch up.”
    He waved. “Stay on this road. It can’t be that much farther to Rosenthal.”
    “ Go !”
    Sam turned his horse and eased into a lope, quickly pulling away. Meadowlark jumped forward when Cassie squeezed with her legs, asking the mare for a trot. There was a moment of panic when Blu passed Meadowlark and the rope tightened. Her mare tugged the reins aggressively and again pinned her ears, wanting to be in the lead. Secure in her seat, she pulled Blu’s head back next to her knee and snubbed up the rope, and kept riding.
    Pepper, who had been grazing by the side of the road, raised his head at the sound of his companions leaving. He nickered once before taking off after them, eventually settling into his spot behind Blu.
     
    ***
     
    Josephine lay on the doctor’s table limp as a rag doll, while Miss Annabelle Hershey, daughter of the town’s doctor, hovered close. Dr. Hershey was out, but she had expected him back hours ago. She assured Sam he’d be walking through the door any moment.
    “How long can she stay so hot?” Sam asked gruffly, feeling completely useless. They’d reached Rosenthal ten minutes ago after riding hard for several hours. As soon as he’d brought Josephine in Miss Hershey washed her wound and applied sulfur to the red,