SAM

Hand Shake

Sam took a deep breath. She was happy to be outside her heart felt light after all those days of moodiness and pain. Her body still ached a little and she still couldn't see clearly from her left eye but she was out! Sam picing up  a blade of grass she placed it between her teeth and looked out taking in the view. She had always loved this view from the corrals where you could see the slopes and the mountains in the horizon. Hearing someone walking up, and instinctively placed her hand on the holster.

"Sam" Dan announced himself knowing everyone was a little tense these days. 

 He saw her drop her hand to her side as she turned to look at him. Dan tried not to stare at Sam's face knowing it bothered her beyond words but she looked like one of his boys after they went at each other.

"Your Dad wants you in the library--he asked me to fetch you."

Sam nodded and walked toward the house.

Dan frowned--she was extremely quiet these days, like she felt ashamed of what had happened, some of her openness gone.

Harry had asked them to treat her as always knowing that after they had seen her that day they had a hard time not remembering Sam was a woman. And a good looking one at that, he thought. Dan walked behind Sam and almost stumbled on her when she stopped suddenly. Sam turned around and asked him, "Will you ride with me later? Harry can't get on a horse--and Dad will only let me go out with him or with you." He nodded.

"Thanks Dan!" Sam exclaimed her face lighting with one of her famous smiles. 

 She turned and Dan noticed a slight spring to her stride. He shook his head, he hoped George didn't disapprove of her plans. Walking into the library she felt light hearted, she watched Bryan lift his eyebrows in surprise as she entered. 

 "And may I ask where you think you're going?" George asked her. 

 Sam looked at him in surprise, he had never asked her where she intended to go, or do--her whole body tensed knowing someething had changed all of the sudden, of course it had changed but still...

She looked at him, her masking her ansiety, she wanted to seem as relaxed as ever. "Why--to work of course, I haven't seen the cattle in five days and I really need to get out of the house." 

She swallowed her pride and decided to plead with him. "Please-- I feel like I am being punished for a crime I didn't commit." She took a step closer to him knowing he always had a hard time denying something to her when she faced him.

 "Please let me go--Dan will be with me, we are both armed and I won't set a foot out of our property." Sam looked at her father's face and saw him fighting his own feelings, she got even closer to him and stood in front of him, waiting for his answer.

George looked at his daughter's face still marred with cuts and bruises, he didn't want Sam out of his sight but he knew if he fought her on this she was bound to do something stupid like go out on her own when he wasn't expecting it. George decided it was safer to let her go do the rounds with Dan. He would just send two more men with them to make sure they were safe. George placed his hands gently on her shoulder. "You can go with Dan--but you will have two more men with you. No hiding, no stalking and no running after Henry--have I made myself clear?" he asked her. 

 "Crystal clear." Sam replied, she would have done cartwheels if he asked her in exchange for a ride.

"If you go off and disobey me-- I'll make life a misery for you." George said his voice low. Sam nodded and turned to leave.

"Stay Sam, we have to talk about something that affects you." Her father said. Sam looked at Bryan and felt a slight flush rise. She hadn't seen him since the day he carried her to her room and kissed her. Sam felt a tingly sensation as she remembered his mouth invading hers. She watched him sit down in front of her father's desk and she sat on the other chair. Her father sat on his desk facing both of them. Sam saw him rub his chin which meant something big was brewing. She looked toward Bryan but he just looked at her father ignoring her stare.