Read Online Tame a Wild Wind by Cynthia Woolf - Free Book Online Page A

may be a wild goose chase,” said Cassie.
    “Oh, you never know,” said Sam from the creek where he’d gone to wash his hands.   “Come look at this.”
    Cassie walked over to where he stood, staring at the ground.   There were hoof prints entering the stream and exiting on the other side.
    “That could be from wild mustangs or another rider.”
    Sam shook his head.   “Definitely not mustangs, this horse is shod and the prints are too shallow for a horse and rider.”
    “How do you know this?”
    “I’ve been tracking outlaws for fifteen years.   I picked up a little something over that time.”   He winked at her.
    Cassie laughed.   “I wasn’t disparaging your tracking skills.   Who’d you learn it from?   Duncan?”
    “He did teach me a lot.   I also rode with one of the best Indian trackers I’ve ever seen.   His name was Red Shirt, he was an Apache.   That man could track over the rockiest ground you can imagine and find the outlaw every time.”
    “That’s amazing.”
    “He really was and I didn’t learn half of what he knew before he died.”
    “I’m sorry, Sam.”
    “He was old and ready to go.   I practically had to steal the body in order to accommodate his last wishes.   The Army was going to bury him there at the fort.   He wanted to be laid on Apache holy grounds.”
    “That was good of you.   Most would simply do whatever the Army wanted because he was an Indian.”
    It was Sam’s turn to laugh.   “Did I mention it was the objections of those good Christian people to having an Indian buried in their graveyard that finally convinced the fort commander to let me have his body.”
    “Well, regardless of the circumstance, I’m glad you were able to grant him his last request”
    “As am I.”
    Cassie looked down at the tracks “I think we better go.   Daylight’s burning and Samson is getting farther away.   I’ll follow you.”
    They crossed the stream and followed the tracks.   From the changes in direction , they could almost tell every time that thunder and lightning struck.
    Finally Sam said, ”Lets stop for the night.   It’s getting too dark to see the tracks and up ahead looks like a good place to camp.
    He was right.   The spot was in the trees, so it was sheltered from the wind.   It was flat and covered with pine needles so there was a little cushion from the cold, hard ground.
    Sam built a small fire and Cassie made coffee.   They shared some hard tack and jerky.   Then Sam brought out a surprise for Cassie…sugar cookies from Bridget.
    “Oh, this is a perfect way to end the day.   Coffee and cookies before bed,” exclaimed Cassie.
    Sam moved a little closer to her on the log they sat on.   “Does bringing the cookies deserve a kiss?”
    Cassie smiled at this request.   He looked like a little boy wanting praise for his good deed and she was more than happy to oblige.   “I think that can be arranged.”
    Cassie turned and gave him a kiss on the cheek.   “Thanks for bringing the cookies.”
    Sam didn’t press.   He could tell she wasn’t ready for anything more intimate.   But he would have preferred a kiss that was hot and fierce.   One where he could feast on her and she returned everything he gave.   Such was not to be.   At least not tonight.
    The next morning the tracks headed due west toward the camp of White Buffalo.   When they reached the camp, White Buffalo himself came to greet them.   “I know why you have come here, Cassie O’Malley.   Your horse escaped you.   A magnificent stallion.   Is this not so?”
    “Yes, that’s right.”
    White Buffalo eyed Sam, assessed him and seemed to find him lacking, from the looks of it before Cassie introduced them. “This is Sam Colter.   He is a friend of Duncan McKenzie.   He’s a friend of Duncan and to me.   Sam this is White Buffalo, Chief of the Ute people.”
    Sam held his hand out to White Buffalo, who grabbed it and shook it.   “McKenzie is a good man.