wrong?”
“Look, Cassie,” Bridget took her hand. “You will always love Michael. He’s the father of your children. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a new love now that he’s gone. You can love Michael, just not in the same way you did. You’re allowed to fall in love with a new man.”
“You make it sound so easy. And it’s not. It’s not easy at all.”
Suddenly Cassie found herself crying and Bridget holding her like she was a child. Patting her back and saying “It’s all right. You cry.”
After a few minutes her sobs subsided and she felt better. Lighter. Maybe Bridget was right. Maybe all she had to do was figure out a way to let go. She closed her eyes again. She was getting a headache and just wanted to lie down in the dark and rest.
She took a deep breath. “I guess I better take Sam his laudanum and tea. He’s probably in a lot of pain.” Then she smiled and looked at Bridget. “Nothing like the kind of pain I’m going to give him after he’s feeling better. Then I think, I’ll kill him.”
Bridget smiled. “That’s my girl.”
By the time Cassie got to Sam’s room she’d calmed down a bit. She knew he was just trying to help but didn’t he remember that Michael had gotten killed doing the same thing? Did she tell him about Michael? She did didn’t she?
Sam was sitting up in bed taking fast shallow breaths. “You need to take slow deep breaths or you’re going to hyperventilate and pass out.”
“I want to pass out. I won’t feel anything then.” Pain made him grouchy. Cassie knew that and didn’t take offense.
“Cassie. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you or scare you. Bridget told me what happened to Michael.”
“I know you didn’t mean it but it did scare me. Guess I wouldn’t have to worry about Harry Borden if you killed yourself, would I? Of course, I could just kill you myself,” she put a few drops of laudanum in the tea she carried. “No one would be the wiser now would they?”
He took the tea from her and took a sip. “Should I be worried?”
She shook her head. “I figure the pain you’re in is punishment enough for now. Why Sam? We have pros who know what they’re doing. Why’d you feel the need to go risk your life?”
“It really wasn’t very smart. I guess a part of me wanted to prove I can do any job on the ranch. I wanted to impress the wranglers and you.”
She took his hand. “I don’t need impressing. I need a foreman and you promised me six months. I’m holding you to it.”
“I only wanted to help get the contract filled on time. No other reason. Honest.”
She’d pulled the rocking chair over by the bed. “I’d rather be a few days late than have you risk your life.”
Two hours after he’d been thrown, Sam was wishing the horse had just stomped him into the ground and killed him. Because that appeared to be what Doc Wright was trying to do. But there was no way he was going to yell like a little girl with Cassie frowning at him from the end of the bed.
Doc removed the bandages Cassie had wound so tight about him and Sam felt as if all his ribs dropped in his chest and the only thing keeping them in place was his skin.
Doc ran his hands up and down Sam’s ribs front and back. “It looks like you’ve bruised a couple of ribs, probably got a concussion and a lightly sprained ankle. Good thing you took your boot off or I’d have to cut it off. I’m going to wrap you again, tight, feel free to yell all you want. Won’t bother me a bit. I’m used to delivering babies and if you think your shouting will bother me, well you haven’t heard a woman in labor.”
“It’s okay Doc. Cassie’s got me on enough laudanum to calm a horse, I won’t feel a thing. Besides she’s probably happy to see me get some payback for being so stupid.”
“Doc,
“Look, Cassie,” Bridget took her hand. “You will always love Michael. He’s the father of your children. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a new love now that he’s gone. You can love Michael, just not in the same way you did. You’re allowed to fall in love with a new man.”
“You make it sound so easy. And it’s not. It’s not easy at all.”
Suddenly Cassie found herself crying and Bridget holding her like she was a child. Patting her back and saying “It’s all right. You cry.”
After a few minutes her sobs subsided and she felt better. Lighter. Maybe Bridget was right. Maybe all she had to do was figure out a way to let go. She closed her eyes again. She was getting a headache and just wanted to lie down in the dark and rest.
She took a deep breath. “I guess I better take Sam his laudanum and tea. He’s probably in a lot of pain.” Then she smiled and looked at Bridget. “Nothing like the kind of pain I’m going to give him after he’s feeling better. Then I think, I’ll kill him.”
Bridget smiled. “That’s my girl.”
By the time Cassie got to Sam’s room she’d calmed down a bit. She knew he was just trying to help but didn’t he remember that Michael had gotten killed doing the same thing? Did she tell him about Michael? She did didn’t she?
Sam was sitting up in bed taking fast shallow breaths. “You need to take slow deep breaths or you’re going to hyperventilate and pass out.”
“I want to pass out. I won’t feel anything then.” Pain made him grouchy. Cassie knew that and didn’t take offense.
“Cassie. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you or scare you. Bridget told me what happened to Michael.”
“I know you didn’t mean it but it did scare me. Guess I wouldn’t have to worry about Harry Borden if you killed yourself, would I? Of course, I could just kill you myself,” she put a few drops of laudanum in the tea she carried. “No one would be the wiser now would they?”
He took the tea from her and took a sip. “Should I be worried?”
She shook her head. “I figure the pain you’re in is punishment enough for now. Why Sam? We have pros who know what they’re doing. Why’d you feel the need to go risk your life?”
“It really wasn’t very smart. I guess a part of me wanted to prove I can do any job on the ranch. I wanted to impress the wranglers and you.”
She took his hand. “I don’t need impressing. I need a foreman and you promised me six months. I’m holding you to it.”
“I only wanted to help get the contract filled on time. No other reason. Honest.”
She’d pulled the rocking chair over by the bed. “I’d rather be a few days late than have you risk your life.”
Two hours after he’d been thrown, Sam was wishing the horse had just stomped him into the ground and killed him. Because that appeared to be what Doc Wright was trying to do. But there was no way he was going to yell like a little girl with Cassie frowning at him from the end of the bed.
Doc removed the bandages Cassie had wound so tight about him and Sam felt as if all his ribs dropped in his chest and the only thing keeping them in place was his skin.
Doc ran his hands up and down Sam’s ribs front and back. “It looks like you’ve bruised a couple of ribs, probably got a concussion and a lightly sprained ankle. Good thing you took your boot off or I’d have to cut it off. I’m going to wrap you again, tight, feel free to yell all you want. Won’t bother me a bit. I’m used to delivering babies and if you think your shouting will bother me, well you haven’t heard a woman in labor.”
“It’s okay Doc. Cassie’s got me on enough laudanum to calm a horse, I won’t feel a thing. Besides she’s probably happy to see me get some payback for being so stupid.”
“Doc,
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