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gaze moved from her swollen nose to her eyes. “How do you feel?”
    Cassie forced herself to look away. The gentleness in his voice was something she had never experienced from a man before. “Looks worse than it is.” She explored the bridge of her nose with her fingertips. “But, I’ll admit, it hurts worse now than it did yesterday.”
    “It looks painful,” Sam replied. “How’s the rest of you? Sure you’re able to ride this morning?”
    Although staying was tempting, it was chancy too. How she’d love to crawl back into bed and pull the covers up over her head--and sleep for a week. But sooner or later Klem would be back. In his search for his watch he might find the deed. Once he had it, there would be no way of getting it back. Or proving it was hers in the first place. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed Sam, and she needed to get out of Broken Branch.
    “Yes. We’re leaving today. I’m not letting a few sore muscles or a puffy nose hold us up.”
    “Your ribs? As I recall, they were pretty tender yesterday.”
    “Better.”
    “If your mind is set then.” Again he handed Cassie the hot cup of brew. She took it thoughtfully and sipped.
    “I’m not changing course now,” she replied, keeping her gaze glued to her cup of coffee. Sam was a very likeable sort. Very likeable . But there was just that little something that told her to stay on guard.
     
    ***
     
    Sam was surprised how fast Cassie was able to get her little brother up, dressed and fed. They gathered the last of their belongings while he waited out with the horses. Split Ear, saddled with his rig, saddlebags, bedroll, rifle, and rope, would be his mount for however long it took Blu to recuperate. He’d lead Blu alongside for the next few days or until he felt sure she was sound.
    Joey ran out of the house, hefting his duffle bag. His baggy clothes engulfed his small body. A black felt hat tipped back on his head, secured with a rodeo strap under his chin. He groaned from the weight he bore, which nearly tipped him over.
    Sam met him halfway. “That looks heavy. Let me help you.”
    “Naw, that’s okay,” he responded, shaking his head, “I got it. My brother told me I’m supposed to pull my own weight.”
    The boy went directly to the opposite side of his small black pony and worked at getting his duffle stuffed into his left saddlebag. It was taking some doing and he glanced at Sam several times around his saddled mount as he tried to hurry.
    “Sure you don’t need some help?”
    Joey shook his head. He finally succeeded and snapped the buckle. Finished, he ran back up to the house. “I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
    Sam kept an eye out for the smithy. He didn’t want either of those brothers to show up, causing trouble for Cassie. If they did, they’d have more than a slip of a girl to contend with this time. Part of him wished they would come back looking for a fight.
    The sound of the door slamming brought his attention back to the walk. Cassie made her way to the horses, her arms laden with provisions.
    “Here, give me those,” Sam said as he strode to her side.
    “I’ve got ’em.”
    Determined, he wrestled the pack, a book, and several folded garments from her arms, but not before he felt her bristle. He smiled inwardly. “Go find that brother of yours and we’ll be on our way.”
    “I don’t need your help,” she answered as he walked toward her horses. “Just because I took a few punches yesterday doesn’t mean I can’t do for myself today.”
    “I know. I know. You’re as capable as the next man.”
    Beside Meadowlark, Cassie’s chestnut mare, Sam reached for the saddlebag.
    Suddenly Cassie was by his side. “I’ll do that.”
    Astonished that he’d so quickly forgotten the real reason he was here, he unhooked the flap of her saddlebag and looked down into the dark leather pouch before she could stop him.

 
     
    Chapter Nine
     
     
    D id Sam have corncobs stuck in his ears ? Why was he