Chapter 4.
Marshall Haggard scratched his bristly chin waiting for Hank Boshop's response. Bishop was in the middle of a card game, his hand was good and he was in no hurry.
"I'll have more information soon, very soon" Haggard nodded eagerly.
"Nah I think they're on to you, can't see you bein' much use from here on in". Bishop said putting down another card.
"No, no they don't suspect a thing. They think it's a new kid. I've been workin there years. They'll never suspect me".
Haggards mouth went dry as he watched the card game unfold wishing he had just a few more bucks to join in. Just a few more ought to do it. A few more bucks and his lucky streak would kick in and he'd be on top again.
"Come back tomorrow" Bishop told him without looking up from the game.
"Chief?".
"Come back tomorrow I said, now get out of here" Hank Bishop growled as the others at the table sniggered.
~o~
Annie continued hanging clothes on the line in the back yard. She stopped to wipe her face.
"Sure is a scorcher today" Sam smiled as she cut back the bushes skirting the first field.
"That's hard work on a day like this" Annie told her "can I help?".
"No it's ok. It has to be done. Gorse like this can go up in seconds in this heat, set the whole ranch to flames".
Sam stopped her thrashing for a minute and leaned on her sickle wiping perspiration from her eyes.
"Besides I thought lover boy was taking you to town" she grinned "hadn't you better start getting ready?".
"He's late, probably got held up. I don't really want to go now anyway. It's too hot" Annie said.
"Ah go on" Sam told her, "do you good".
Annie smiled at her friend.
"And I do believe he is here" Sam smiled as she watched the distant figure riding up the fields towards them.
Annie headed into the house to remove her apron and fix her hair.
~o~
Joe came rushing in minutes later looking all flustered.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry I'm late Annie but if you'll just give me a minute I'll get cleaned up and we'll go" he told her, his chest heaving from exertion.
Annie just stood there looking at him. Tiny rivers of sweat were running down the side of his face. His bare chest peeking through the top of his shirt glistened with beads of perspiration. She'd never seen him looking so scruffy.
"Aw please Annie, I'm sorry. Just say something" he said looking a little like a kicked puppy.
Annie didn't say something. She pushed unsuspecting Joe through the door of the downstairs bedroom and closed it after them. Joe emerged an hour later and a chisel wouldn't take the smile from his face.
~o~
When she later told Sam the pair screamed in unison and hugged each other laughing happily.
"In the afternoon too, you brazen hussy, I'm so proud" Sam smiled.
"I know I can't believe I did that" Annie said grinning from ear to ear.
"Did it hurt much" Sam asked lowering her voice slightly.
"You know it didn't Sam. I was like a woman possessed. I don't know what came over me".
"The poor fella, he'll come to bed terrified tonight".
The both screamed laughing at that thought but stifled it quickly when they suddenly noticed Adam.
"I need you to help me with the branding" he told Sam, not very friendly like. "If you get a horse and meet me round front" he told her.
Adam was honouring his fathers wish and keeping a good eye on Sam Pender but he didn't like it. Something about the boy disturbed him. Adam couldn't put his finger on it but he found it unsettling. It had nothing to do with the fact that he was spying on their deals or even that he was too familiar with Joes new wife. Adam wasn't going to broach that subject with him just yet. Truth be known Adam was in conflict about this kid. He was a low down spy who flirted with other people's wives and yet there was an innocence about him. As if he felt in his own mind he wasn't doing anything wrong. Then Adam wondered again why he was so preoccupied thinking about this kid and pulled his thoughts to the work and the day ahead.
~o~
An hour into branding and the kid had disappeared. He was gone ages.
Adams jaw worked in annoyance as he wondered what he was up to.
Finally Sam returned looking a little suspicious.
"Where were you, we need more wood" Adam asked.
"I had to powder...I had to take a piss" she told him.
"That was actually true, she was bursting, and yes she went miles.
"What did you do, run all the way to Carson city" Adam smiled "come on get some wood will ye".
She returned with the wood soon enough as Adam pulled another struggling calf over.
"Do you think you can hold him" he asked Sam.
"Yeah" Sam shuffled over to take Adams place.
"Ready?" Adam asked.
"Yep".
Adam turned to get the branding iron.
In less than a second the calf had managed to get a foot free and kicked Sam full in the face.
Adam dropped the branding iron in shock.
She fell backwards clasping her mouth. She rolled in a ball her hands clasped to her mouth the pain bringing tears to her eyes.
"Alright let me see" Adam told her gently taking her hands down from her face. Two other hands branded the calf as Adam took Sam off to one side. He took a strip of cloth soaked it with water from his canteen and held the cloth to her bleeding mouth. Such was the pain and shock that tears streamed down her face as he tried to staunch the blood flow.
"Come on now" Adam patted her back gently "big men don't cry".
Finally the initial shock and pain subsided and she sat quietly on a tree stump wincing slightly as Adam applied an ointment to her swollen lip.
"You are going to have one hell of a bruise" he told her as he held her chin with one hand and dabbed at the cut with the other.
His face close to hers, she noticed for the first time he had very long eyelashes and very dark eyes.
He suddenly stopped his ministrations and looked at her for a long moment.
"Right come on" he stood abruptly and pulled her to her feet.
"You better go on home, I'll ride with you" he told her, feeling that weird unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach again.
~o~
That evening she sat on Annie's bed as Annie showed her the Cameo broach Joe had bought her.
"Isn't it precious, oh Sam I love him so much".
As much as she wanted to, Sam could not share in her friends enthusiasm.
Annie suddenly frowned "Oh Sam, how thoughtless of me. Here I am going on about my shopping trip with Joe and you had to work with his grouchy older brother and get kicked by a calf in the process".
"He's not grouchy" Sam snapped a little more forcefully than she had meant to.
"I'm sorry Annie it's just, what am I doing, what am I doing. I'm 23 years old. I should be thinking of dress patterns and youngins and here I am getting kicked by a calf and tended to by a man who thinks I'm a boy. I mean what's the plan seriously".
"Oh don't leave" Annie said feeling suddenly worried "Sam you're my best friend, please don't leave".
"I don't know Annie, I may...".
They both heard the front door slam and little Joe whistling as he put up his hat and gun. It was no problem for Sam to exit via the window, they'd had to do this once before.
But what was different this time was that Marshal Haggard stopped in his tracks and watched the exit from the window. He smiled to himself.
"least someone's gettin some action"