by Kate Morris
“If there’s anything at all that you need, just ask,” Henry says, interrupting her thoughts about Reese.
“Thanks, Henry,” she says. “I’ve got everything I need.”
It’s true. She has her uncle, a roof over her head, food, and security. Today, that’s a lot. So many are not as fortunate as she.
“I really like you, Samantha.”
“I like you too,” she says without looking at him. The mare is annoyed with the foal and walks a few feet from him. Sam smiles. Poor mother. He’s a pestering little guy. She knows if he bugs her too much, then she’ll push him away with her body language. She studied horse behavior extensively when she was younger, read every book and concentrated her studies eventually on the late and great Monty Roberts. The stud in a herd is not the boss. It is always an older mare, and she has the ability to banish other horses if they displease her.
“Sam,” he says, pulling her attention away again.
“Yeah?” Sam asks and looks up at him.
He reminds her, “You’ve been living here for quite a while now.”
“Yes, like four months or something.”
“Almost six,” he states.
“It’s been really nice, Henry. Thanks for letting me stay here.”
“Do you really want to live with your uncle in that cabin?”
Sam frowns. She hadn’t considered not doing so. Living there with Uncle Scott was assumed. She doesn’t want him to live out in the woods all by himself, even if one or two of Dave’s men decide to live there, too.
“I guess so. I wouldn’t want him to live there without me. He may have emergencies that he needs me for. Besides, we’re family. We need to stick together. I lost him before. I don’t want that to happen again.”
“You could stay here.”
She looks up at him and furrows her brow. His brown eyes are soft. “Hm, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You could live in my house instead of in the bunkhouse with the other women.”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that. I’ve made friends there. I wouldn’t want anyone to get mad at me and think I’m getting special privileges. Plus, there aren’t any other available bedrooms. Someone would have to move out.”
“Dave is going to finish up the house behind the horse barn soon. He wants the space for himself and his family.”
“Oh, yes, I’ve seen the structure. That would be great for him…and his wife and kids, too.”
“It’s just taking a little longer to erect because of everything that’s been going on.”
She smiles and says, “I’m sure you’ll be glad to have fewer people living in your house. That must be crowded.”
“It’s not so bad, but there is plenty of room up at the house for you.”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to have tension between the other girls and me.”
“I think they’d understand,” he argues softly.
Sam smiles patiently and says, “I’m perfectly comfortable where I am.”
He sighs hard and says, “I wasn’t just thinking of your comfort. I was also considering mine.”
“Why? Are you not comfortable there? I don’t understand.”
His frustration is evidently growing with her as his mouth turns down, and he sighs again.
“I don’t mean that. I’m saying there is plenty of room for you in the house. With me. In my room.”
“I don’t think that’d be appropriate,” she murmurs awkwardly and instantly feels less comfortable around Henry. What is he thinking?
“I’m in love with you,” he blurts with a lot less patience.
“What?” she whispers.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” he says with a wide smile. “Apparently not very successfully. You aren’t making this any easier, Samantha.”
“What?” she repeats with the same level of confusion.
Henry surprises her by taking her face gently between his hands that are rough and calloused from hard work. He quickly presses his mouth to hers. Sam is too shocked to move. She’s not frightened. She’s just taken aback. She can tell that he has kissed many girls in his past. He seems to know what he’s doing. His lips are warm against hers. His eyes are closed, but hers are wide open as he has startled her thoroughly. His thumb strokes her cheekbone. His kiss is gentle, and he seems very sure of himself. It feels wrong. She has no idea how this happened. Sam jerks away and takes two steps back from him. She’d go farther, but the fence panels are pressing against her back.
Henry looks down at her with an expression of disappointment.
“What was that?” she asks.
He grins and says, “It’s called a kiss, the last time I checked.”
Sam can’t help but smile, too. “No, I meant why did you do that?”
“I told you that I like you,” he says, leveling her with logic.
“I thought you meant as a friend.”
He frowns and then smiles again. “No, not exactly. Maybe just a little more than a friend.”
“Oh,” she whispers, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“I’m not great with communicating my feelings,” he says. “It’s my fault. I do like you, though. Actually…”
“That four-legged little stud ready to find a girl yet?” Cory yells loudly and obnoxiously as he enters the enclosed paddock, causing them to both turn with surprise.
Sam blushes, hoping her friend didn’t just witness Henry kissing her. Cory looks at Henry with suspicion, and her new suitor excuses himself and leaves them. She also hopes that Henry isn’t mad at her. Cory doesn’t say anything for a few minutes but watches the baby horse with her.
Just as Sam is about to bring up something mundane like the weather, Cory breaks his silence, “Do you like that guy?”
“Sure, he’s nice.”
“Do you like Gunny kissing you like that, is a little more what I was getting at.”
“Oh, geez,” Sam laments, completely humiliated. “I was hoping you didn’t see that. I should’ve known.”
Cory chuckles. “I see all.”
“I guess you do.”
“Are you his girlfriend over here?” Cory asks. “I see you two hanging out a lot. He likes you. I thought as much but didn’t want to bring it up and cause a problem.”
“Oh,” Sam says again. “No, I’m not his girlfriend. I just now found out how he feels about me. He’s never done that before. Apparently, I’m the last one to the party.”
Cory chuckles softly and pats the top of her head. “It’s ok, kiddo. Nobody expects you to be a love expert.”
“No, I don’t love him, Cory!” she vehemently whispers and shakes her head. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“It’s cool if you like him. I’m ok with it. He seems like a good guy from what I’ve gotten to know about him.”
“Yes, he is. Henry is a good man. He’s very generous.”
“Generous, huh?” Cory remarks. “Hardly sounds like the sparks are flying.”
Sam laughs. Cory is such a goofball. “No, I don’t love him. He’s just a nice guy. There are no sparks.”
Or are there? She’s never thought about him in that way.
“Could you love him?” Cory asks in a more serious tone.
Sam shrugs.
“Could you love him more than Simon?”
Her cheeks burn. “I don’t love Simon.”
Her lie burns her throat even more than the embarrassment of his assumption has flushed her cheeks.
“That’s fine if you don’t love Henry. I’m not here to judge, little sister. Just be careful. You don’t want to lead Henry on. If you don’t like him in that way, just be honest. You also don’t owe him anything, either. Don’t feel obligated to be with him just because he’s letting you live here. That had as much to do with Dave as it did with Henry. They run this place together. I’m sure that the decision to allow you to live here with your uncle was put to a vote between them.”
“
Probably.”
“Do you think you have any romantic feelings for him?”
Sam looks at her dirty riding boots and says, “I don’t know. I never really thought about it.”
“Looks like you’d better start. There are going to be men here on this compound that want to be with you. There are also going to be men who come to your clinic when it’s ready who will want to make a play for you, too. I mean, pretty much you’ll have your pick of the litter. You’re super sweet and also hot if I’m being honest, which is gross since you’re like my baby sister.”
“Thanks, Cory.” She also thinks of Cory as a brother, and he’s helped to fill the void in her heart where the love of her older brother used to live. “But I’m not hot. I’m just…not that kind of girl.”
Cory grins at her and says, “So you think. Take your time. Choose someone or choose no one. It’s up to you.”
“I think you’re giving me too much credit, silly,” she jokes.
“No, I’m not. Trust me. I’m not. You’re a real catch, kid. Any of these men would be lucky to have you. I think they all see it, too.”
“Yeah, right. I’m a mess. Men should run and hide. That would be a much better choice…for them!”
Cory covers her hand resting on the railing with his own. He smiles patiently and pauses before saying, “You aren’t a mess. What happened to you, doesn’t define who you are. You are a special person, Samantha Patterson. Nobody can take that away from you. Any guy would be blessed to have you. Besides, if people are still alive today, then chances are they’ve been through some rough shit, too. You aren’t the only one who’s had it bad out there. Everyone has lost someone. Everyone has had pain, either physical or emotional, inflicted on them. We just have to survive. That’s all any of us can do anymore. And we have to hold on to the people we do have, even if they aren’t our blood relatives. You’re important to me, Sam. I want you to be happy. If Simon wasn’t making you happy, then I’m glad you left. He’s miserable and being an asshole most of the time now because you’re gone, but I’m glad you’re happy here. I want the best for you, little sister.”
“Thanks, Cory,” she says and hugs him around his waist. He returns it with a strong embrace of his own and kisses the top of her head. “I want you to be happy, too. You deserve it. Em would want it, too.”
The tiny laugh lines around his eyes crease for just a second as he remembers his sister, her good and dear friend.
“Yeah, I know, kid,” he says. “I miss her, but I know Em would want me to move on and be happy.”
“You need someone to love, Cory.”
“I’m workin’ on it.”
He winks, leaving Sam to wonder what he’s been up to. Cory has always been private about his dalliances, of which she’s sure he’s had plenty. But he seems different lately, more settled, stiller, calmer as if something or someone has helped to quiet his demons.
“If any of these men attempt to mistreat you in any way, you get your uncle to bring you to the farm immediately. I’ll handle it from there.”
“I don’t think any of them are like that. I’ve never gotten that impression from any of them. They all seem very decent and respectable.
“Good. Now, let’s go find the Professor and torment him for fun, shall we?” he suggests.
“Cory!” Sam exclaims and giggles.
Sam follows him from the barn but leaves Cory to his devious plan of seeking out Simon and instead heads for the women’s bunkhouse after she has checked on a gelding with an eye infection.
Later, Sam lies awake in her bunk thinking about Henry’s kiss and what it means to her or what it could mean to her. She is genuinely confused and not sure what to think of him at all. A few times she’d thought he might be flirting with her, but she’s never sure of these things. He is a really nice man, but she just doesn’t think her heart is ready for a relationship. Maybe it never will be.
Courtney comes to the women’s hall next and slips into her bunk beside her. Most of the other women are asleep already. A few are snoring, which means Sam won’t find sleep for a while.
“Sam,” her friend whispers in the dark.
“Yeah?”
“Guess what?”
Sam rolls to her side and raises to her elbow. “What?”
“Thad proposed,” she says, her smile so evident, even in the dark building.
“Oh, Courtney!” Sam exclaims. “That’s so great. I’m so happy for you and Lieutenant Stevens.”
“Thanks,” her friend says.
The next thing she knows, Courtney is kneeling beside her bed and hugging her. Sam returns it with great affection. She has come to like her so well. She’s glad for her friend. Sam knows how much she loves Thad, the handsome Army lieutenant, who can’t take his eyes off Courtney. She knows they’ll have a happy life together. She can’t help but feel just a hint of jealousy. It is gone in the briefest of seconds later, and she is left feeling nothing but pure joy for Courtney.
She wonders if Cory will tell Simon what he saw but hopes he doesn’t. Sam would rather Simon not know what’s going on between her and Henry. Technically, nothing is going on, so there would be no point in making him think that there is. Her feelings for Henry are non-existent other than friendship, although he now wants something more. She’s not sure if she is able to feel more than friendship for him.
Sam lies awake, tossing and turning and debating the pros and cons of having a relationship with Henry. She still has feelings for Simon, but he does not want her. He’s made that clear, or somewhat clear. Henry is kind and giving and generous and maybe someone who could someday make her happy.
Chapter Eight
Cory
He leaves the next morning before dawn, making Simon promise to tell Sam goodbye for him. Cory doesn’t want to be on the road at the usual daylight hours of travel. He has a plan.
He drives west toward Pleasant View and the farm, out into the countryside on an old, bumpy, and not often traveled road. It is difficult in places to see where the pavement ends and the grass beside it starts. He took this road before with John a few years back when they were going on runs from house to abandoned house looking for any supplies that would be useful on the farm. He’s learned so much from his friend over the years, things like clearing a house, perimeter checks, hotwiring vehicles, setting up tripwires.
In the dark, quiet hours before the sun rises, Cory parks the truck on a high ridge and leaves it. The spot he has chosen is about eight miles or maybe less from Pleasant View. The main road below him runs virtually parallel to the freeway where they’ve left warning signs for travelers to beware the highwaymen. If the creeps avoid that road and take the less traveled one in hopes of catching more prey, then those murderous thieves could possibly run right below him. He’s been thinking about this all week while working on the new clinic for Sam and her uncle, who seems like a nice guy. So, he decided to leave early and perch himself on this ridge in the hopes of catching them in the act. Cory knows it’s a long shot, but it’s worth a try.
A screech owl in the distance cries out in the night as he descends the steep incline beside the road and into the forest. Prickers latch onto his jeans, mosquitoes fly toward his face, and he gets smacked in the back of the head with a branch, but the payoff at the bottom will be well worth it. The hike takes him a few minutes to get to the lower ridge where he finds a well-concealed position and takes up residence to watch over the road even further below him. Cory props his rifle against a tree base and removes the sack of food from his pack that Dave’s wife packed for him. He can understand why Samantha wants to start an herb garden over there. The smoked trout, dry, crumbly biscuit, something green in a jar, and dried berries and apple slices do not rise to the same level as Hannah and Sue’s cooking. He chokes it all down with a canteen of water anyway, knowing that he needs the sustenance to get through the day.
This quiet, still time allows him to reflect on Sam and catching her with that guy Henry. Cory has nothing
against him. He always seems like a good person whenever he’s been around him. Plus, he knows that Dave would never be friends with an asshole. That helps to ease his mind about the man throwing his hat in the ring for Sam. It’s just that he’d hoped she and Simon would come together. He’s not sure what keeps them apart, but Cory estimates that it has more to do with Simon than Sam. His friend has a tortured soul when it comes to Samantha. He doesn’t know how to fix their problems, or if they are even repairable, but he’d like to help. So far, he’s stayed out of it, steered clear of the issue, but he hates seeing her looking so miserable. Cory knows that some of her misery lately is because of the girl that hung herself in Henry’s barn but not all of it.
He can’t imagine thinking that was the only option left in life. He feels bad for that young woman. He’s been through enough to know that pain eventually does fade, though, even the kind so intense and agonizing that it seems as if it will never go away, that it will most surely kill you slowly first. Losing his little sister was the absolute worst thing he’s been through. Em was his whole world. Now he feels the same way about Paige, even though she does not seem to return a similar depth of feeling about him.
He consults his watch and begins packing leftover breakfast items away. It is nearly eight a.m., the sun having risen a few hours ago. The last thing to go inside the bag is the canning jar of green stuff, which he hadn’t felt brave or desperate enough to try. It looks like swamp water mixed with something the animated character Shrek would consume. The low murmur of a vehicle approaching on the road below him alerts Cory, and he tosses his bag down and snatches up his binoculars.
