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Authors: Caroline Fyffe
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sleepwalking or what? Wake up.”
She stepped back and nodded. “Yes. I’m awake now.”
Sam went over to Pepper, untied Josephine’s bedroll and then lifted her from her saddle. He carried her over to a level spot. When Cassie followed he handed her the blanket. “Spread this out.” When she did, he laid the littlest Angel down without waking her. “You two bed down and I’ll take care of your horses and start a small fire.”
When she started to protest he put a finger to her lips and her dream returned in a flash. She was glad he wouldn’t see the warmth in her face.
“Just for tonight. Tomorrow I’ll welcome all the work you want to do. Go grab your blanket. Josephine is cold.”
Without another word she did as he’d asked. She sank down by her sister’s side, welcoming the warmth. She listened as Sam went back and forth unsaddling the animals and putting them out into the meadow. When he returned he made a campfire and laid down too.
The ground was hard. Although time had passed, Cassie now found herself wide-awake. She reached under her blanket, feeling around for the pebble that was digging into her hip. She tossed it away.
Sam sat up.
“Sorry, that was just me.”
He lay back down and she gazed up at the stars glittering in the black sky, remembering how Sam had looked when he’d caught her, and held her close. She glanced at the fire. An owl hooted somewhere off in the distance.
“Sam?” Cassie whispered.
It took a moment for him to answer.
“Hmmm?”
“Thank you for everything.”
She heard him roll to his back.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Yes, you did.” The sounds of the night were the only response.
“Sam…”
“Cassie.” His voice held a note that she couldn’t discern.
“You saved me from Klem. You kept Josephine from falling to her death. You’re helping us get to California alive.”
“If it will make you stop talking and go to sleep—you’re welcome.”
“I’m really glad you’re with us. I…” A moment passed. “We do make a good team, Sam…”
“Cassie, please ”
“Well, good night, then.”
“Good night.”
***
Cassie opened her eyes a narrow slit, her head just inches out of the blanket. What time was it? It was still very dark. The dead of night. There was no sound, not even the crackling of the fire. Something had awakened her. She had the unnerving feeling of being watched from behind. She glanced across her sister’s head to the dim bed of coals that had been the fire a few hours ago, and let her eyes adjust to the thick, intimidating darkness.
Five feet farther would be Sam, curled in his blanket. Fifteen feet more would be the horses.
She listened. Everything seemed fine. She closed her eyes and willed herself to relax. Again, the hair prickled on the back of her neck. With a deep breath, she tried to fall back asleep.
One of the horses snorted.
No use. She was going to have to turn over and look. If she didn’t, her childish fears would keep her up until it was time to get up and ride. Gathering her courage, she scooted forward, nearer to Josephine, then rolled quietly to her back. She slowly turned her head.
Chapter Twelve
R elief flooded Cassie. There was nothing but trees in the distance. And darkness. The stars far above. Releasing a sigh she smiled to herself for letting her fears startle up like a spooky horse. Her eyes drooped.
“ Stay awake .”
It was as if someone had whispered into her ear. But then, that wasn’t possible. Josephine and Sam still slept soundly. Very slowly, she once again opened her eyes.
From the outer edges of the clearing she thought she saw something . Yes! Two golden orbs pierced the blackness. Cassie squeezed her eyelids together several times, straining to focus. Her breathe caught.
She needed to call to Sam but her voice had left her.
The eyes blinked. Cassie released the air locked in her lungs. Ashes ! Not some horrible monster waiting to pounce. That
She stepped back and nodded. “Yes. I’m awake now.”
Sam went over to Pepper, untied Josephine’s bedroll and then lifted her from her saddle. He carried her over to a level spot. When Cassie followed he handed her the blanket. “Spread this out.” When she did, he laid the littlest Angel down without waking her. “You two bed down and I’ll take care of your horses and start a small fire.”
When she started to protest he put a finger to her lips and her dream returned in a flash. She was glad he wouldn’t see the warmth in her face.
“Just for tonight. Tomorrow I’ll welcome all the work you want to do. Go grab your blanket. Josephine is cold.”
Without another word she did as he’d asked. She sank down by her sister’s side, welcoming the warmth. She listened as Sam went back and forth unsaddling the animals and putting them out into the meadow. When he returned he made a campfire and laid down too.
The ground was hard. Although time had passed, Cassie now found herself wide-awake. She reached under her blanket, feeling around for the pebble that was digging into her hip. She tossed it away.
Sam sat up.
“Sorry, that was just me.”
He lay back down and she gazed up at the stars glittering in the black sky, remembering how Sam had looked when he’d caught her, and held her close. She glanced at the fire. An owl hooted somewhere off in the distance.
“Sam?” Cassie whispered.
It took a moment for him to answer.
“Hmmm?”
“Thank you for everything.”
She heard him roll to his back.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Yes, you did.” The sounds of the night were the only response.
“Sam…”
“Cassie.” His voice held a note that she couldn’t discern.
“You saved me from Klem. You kept Josephine from falling to her death. You’re helping us get to California alive.”
“If it will make you stop talking and go to sleep—you’re welcome.”
“I’m really glad you’re with us. I…” A moment passed. “We do make a good team, Sam…”
“Cassie, please ”
“Well, good night, then.”
“Good night.”
***
Cassie opened her eyes a narrow slit, her head just inches out of the blanket. What time was it? It was still very dark. The dead of night. There was no sound, not even the crackling of the fire. Something had awakened her. She had the unnerving feeling of being watched from behind. She glanced across her sister’s head to the dim bed of coals that had been the fire a few hours ago, and let her eyes adjust to the thick, intimidating darkness.
Five feet farther would be Sam, curled in his blanket. Fifteen feet more would be the horses.
She listened. Everything seemed fine. She closed her eyes and willed herself to relax. Again, the hair prickled on the back of her neck. With a deep breath, she tried to fall back asleep.
One of the horses snorted.
No use. She was going to have to turn over and look. If she didn’t, her childish fears would keep her up until it was time to get up and ride. Gathering her courage, she scooted forward, nearer to Josephine, then rolled quietly to her back. She slowly turned her head.
Chapter Twelve
R elief flooded Cassie. There was nothing but trees in the distance. And darkness. The stars far above. Releasing a sigh she smiled to herself for letting her fears startle up like a spooky horse. Her eyes drooped.
“ Stay awake .”
It was as if someone had whispered into her ear. But then, that wasn’t possible. Josephine and Sam still slept soundly. Very slowly, she once again opened her eyes.
From the outer edges of the clearing she thought she saw something . Yes! Two golden orbs pierced the blackness. Cassie squeezed her eyelids together several times, straining to focus. Her breathe caught.
She needed to call to Sam but her voice had left her.
The eyes blinked. Cassie released the air locked in her lungs. Ashes ! Not some horrible monster waiting to pounce. That
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