Small Treasures (32 page)

Once the horses were tied securely under the far end of the overhang, Samuel brought his full saddlebags and dropped them beside her. She looked up, expecting to see fury on his face. And truth to tell, she wouldn't have blamed him. It had been a foolhardy thing to do, coming out into the woods with little knowledge and a small boy to look after.

Instead, though, she saw a relieved smile curving his lips. "Samuel, we sure are glad to see you," Luke said.

"Are ya?" His eyes never left Abby.

"Yes," she said softly. And though she was happy to see him, Abby couldn't help but wonder why he'd bothered to come after them. And how he'd found them.

But he ignored her unspoken questions.

"Luke," he ordered, "get me the biggest branch you can find." While the boy started poking through their meager pile of wood, Samuel told Abby, "You got your fire placed all wrong. Should have it backin' up against the rock. Then the heat'll ricochet off the ledge and throw more warmth at ya."

Abby nodded and watched as Samuel used the branch to push their small fire up closer to the rocks. Once that was done, he banked the flames and stoked it up with more wood. Then he spread a blanket over the fire's previous spot and told Luke to lay down on the warmed ground and cover up. Abby sat perfectly still before the now blazing fire while Samuel took some of the supplies he’d brought and made a pot of coffee. Neither of them said anything until the coffee was ready and he'd poured them both a cup. He glanced over at Luke and noted that the boy was sound asleep.

"Tired out, huh?"

She nodded. "It's been a hard morning."

Samuel looked down into the black liquid for a long moment before he said softly, "I'm, uh—"

"Samuel, I know what you're going to say," Abby cut in.

"You do?"

"Yes, and you're right." She took a sip of coffee and went on. "It was a foolish thing to do. Coming out here, I mean. I should have waited and taken the stage. I had no right to risk Luke's life like this and —"

"Dammit, Abby." Samuel set his cup down and moved to her side. "You talk more'n anybody I ever saw."

She stared at him and tried to edge away. His hand on her waist stopped her. "Please, Samuel, don't…"

"Abby…" His eyes moved over her face. Then slowly, tenderly, he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

She took a deep, shuddering breath. "Why are you here? I left so I wouldn't have to see you again."

"I know." He raised one hand and gently smoothed her hair back. Then his fingertips traced the line of her jaw. "I'm sorry, Abby."

Her gaze flew to his. In his pale green eyes Abby saw the tenderness, the love, that had been missing the last time they were together. "Sorry?" she breathed.

"For everything." His hand snaked farther around her waist and pulled her close. "Abby, I never did know much about women." He kissed her cheek with a featherlight touch. "And I ain't the brightest man God ever made…"

Abby kept quiet. "But I know enough to admit when I'm wrong."

"You saw the judge, then? You know about the letter I left?" Abby pulled harder and managed to scoot away from him.

"Yeah."

"And that's why you believe me now?" She watched him and was pleased to see the shamefaced expression cross his face.

"Shit, Abby." Samuel threw a piece of kindling into the flames and stared as it was swallowed up. I knew… even before the judge. I knew that you wasn't… all those things I said…" He stared helplessly down at his hands. "It's just that… I think maybe I was afraid to believe ya."

"Afraid?"

He snorted and let his head fall back on his neck. "Hell, Abby, look at me!" Samuel straightened and turned his gaze on her. "I'm just a big, homely man. Got no education. Don't hardly know what to say to a woman. Hell, I didn't even have a friend till I met up with you!" He dropped his gaze to the fire and muttered, "I just couldn't let myself believe that a fine lady like you would want the likes of me."

"But, Samuel —"

He shook his head. He filled his chest with air, then released it in a rush. Still staring at the fire, he said softly, "Don't ya see? If I let myself believe that and it wasn't true… " His voice broke when he finished, "It woulda killed me, Abby. Damn near did anyway."

"Samuel…" Abby inched a little closer. Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back. She still had to hear him say the one thing she'd waited for.

While I'm doin' all this talkin'," he added, might as well tell ya. I signed over the cabin to ya. It's yours. Just like your uncle Silas wanted."

"Bother Uncle Silas." "Huh?" He swung his head around and stared at her. "I said bother Uncle Silas." She shook her head gently. "And bother the cabin."

"You don't want it after all?"

"No, Samuel."

"But —"

"Samuel, why did you come after me?"

"Well, I had to tell ya about… everything."

"Is that the only reason?"

He looked away and rubbed his chin nervously.

"Samuel? Is that the only reason?"

"No," he muttered.

"Why else?"

He flicked a glance at her. "You ain't gonna let go o' this, are ya?"

"No."

As his lips twisted, Samuel sighed heavily, shot a look at the still-sleeping boy, then turned back to the waiting woman. Slowly Samuel moved beside her. Cupping her shoulders with his big hands, he met her steady gaze with his own. Taking a deep breath, he finally managed to say, "I, uh, love you, Abby. I want ya to marry me."

Abby Sutton looked into Samuel Hart's eyes and saw everything she'd ever wanted. She finally understood what it had cost him to say all this to her. How much he'd risked. How much he loved her. Raising one hand to his face, Abby stroked his jaw and smiled. "I love you very much. Yes, Samuel, I'll marry you."

The breath he'd been holding rushed out of him, and a wide grin spread across his face. Tenderly Samuel pulled her into the circle of his arms and lay his cheek against the top of her head. For the first time in days Samuel felt alive.

As his hands stroked her back, he whispered, "I'll get better at this, Abby. All I need is some practice."

She tilted her head up at him and smiled. Then suddenly she pulled away and reached for his drawn-up knee. Carefully Abby ran her fingers over his jean-covered kneecap until Samuel asked, "What the hell are you doin' now?"

Abby moved back into his arms and placed a kiss at the base of his throat. "Just checking," she said lightly. "Minerva was right. No permanent dents."

"What?" "Never mind," she told him and pulled his head down for a kiss. In his blankets Luke smiled, squeezed his eyes tightly closed, and turned over.

Epilogue

"Sam," Alonzo said heatedly, you got to do somethin' about them cowboys… "

Samuel sighed, nodded, and stood up. He walked around the edge of his desk and moved to the window. Staring out onto Main Street, he could see that Alonzo had a point. The boys that worked for the Triple K Ranch were in town again and causing another uproar. Looked like he'd have to take a ride out to the ranch and have another talk with their boss.

"Samuel" — Preacher Knight pushed Alonzo out of the way and stepped up close to the sheriff — "about the church picnic. Do you think you can manage to maintain order? What with the ranch hands coming in and all, I'd hate to see anything untoward occur."

Samuel nodded again, crossed to the door, and yanked it open. He stepped out onto the wide boardwalk and looked up the street at the road leading to his cabin.

Two years. Two years he'd been sheriff of Rock Creek. After he and Abby got married, it'd only made sense. What with Luke needin' school and Abby needin' folks around, it was really the only choice to be made. But sometimes, Samuel had a need to get back up on the mountain. To listen to the silence again.

He smiled and tipped his hat as one of the townswomen passed by. It was still something of a surprise to him how much everyone seemed to like him. But little by little, he was coming to believe that his mother had been wrong all those years ago. Oh, he told himself, she'd meant well. Wantin' to protect him and all. But still, maybe if she hadn't been so worried, maybe things would have been different. Maybe it wouldn't have taken him half his life to make friends.

But, he thought with a grin when he saw Abby headed his way, maybe he'd never have met Abby, either. Her hair piled on top of her head, his wife was wearing her new lavender and green gown, which wouldn't have been so bad all by itself. But, Samuel thought with a sigh, her latest hat really topped it off. Where she'd found those huge, artificial sun flowers, he'd never understand. Smiling, he sent a silent prayer of thanks to his own mother before reaching out to take his son from his mother's arms.

"Oh, thank you." Abby smiled. "I swear, that boy is getting bigger every minute!"

Little Sutton Hart reached out with one small fist and grabbed at his father's hat. Samuel caught the boy's hand in his own and kissed it. His son showed every sign of one day being as big as his father.

Samuel would never forget the fear he'd gone through waiting for Sutton's birth. Terrified that Abby would be much too small to deliver any child of his safely, Samuel had near lost his mind before Minerva came down to report that Abby had "slipped that child out as easy as shuckin' corn."

"Pa!" Samuel let the memory go and turned to face Luke. He wasn't quite sure just when the child had started calling him Pa, but Samuel surely did like it.

"Pa, Obadiah and me are goin' fishin', all right?" The tall, lanky twelve-year-old in the pale green shirt waited impatiently. "If it's all right with your mother." Samuel looked at Abby.

"Be home in time for supper?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Luke replied, grinning. "Wouldn't miss your stew for nothin'."

"All right, then."

"Thanks, Ma!" he called and raced off toward the Mercantile.

"It's a wonder I can keep that child in clothes, the way he's growing." Abby shook her head gently, then turned and smiled at Samuel. "That reminds me. Samuel, I've finished that new jacket for you. You can wear it to church tomorrow."

Samuel groaned inwardly as he thought of the blue-and-red-checked material Abby'd been working on for a month. Then he sighed and smiled. Some things, he told himself would never change.

As Abby reached for Sutton, Samuel looked once more toward his old cabin. Ever since moving to town Samuel had managed to escape to the mountain every once in a while. For him, that place would always be special.

His wife followed his gaze and moved up beside him. Cradling her son in one arm, she wrapped the other about her husband's waist. "Samuel?"

"Hmmm?" he said, absently stroking her arm.

"I know Minerva would watch the boys." She waited for his gaze to meet hers. "Why don't you and I go up to the cabin for a couple of days?"

A slow smile curved his lips. "How'd you know what I was thinkin'?" "Could be," she answered gently, "that I was thinking the same thing."

Samuel bent down and pressed a quick kiss on her lips. "Let's go talk to Minerva, huh?"

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