Tame a Wild Wind Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Yeah, I was thirsty, too.”
    “You have to wait for Mommy to put you to bed.   She’s got to do me first.”
    Cassie’s cheeks burned.
    Sam rubbed the back of his neck but smiled at Sarah.   “Don’t worry, Sweet.   Your Mommy will put you to bed as soon as you drink that water.   Are you done now?”   He reached for her cup.
    “Yup.   Done.”   She handed the cup to Sam who put it on the counter.   No doubt there would be another child who would need a drink before the night was through.   There was just too much excitement for them to fall asleep easily.
    No sooner had he thought it than Lizzie and Mary both showed up in the kitchen doorway.
    “I suppose you girls are thirsty,” said Sam.
    They nodded in unison.
    “I’m taking Sarah to bed.   I expect you two to be up as soon as you finish your drink.   Okay?”   Cassie admonished the girls as she carried Sarah from the room.   “Don’t dawdle, now.”
    Again, they nodded in unison.
    “G’nite Sam,” Sarah called and waved furiously over her mother’s shoulder.
    “Goodnight, Sweet,”   Sam smiled at the receding figure of woman and child.   It would be all to easy to get used to this.

CHAPTER 3

    Cassie had them on the road before dinner.   She’d gotten everyone fed, helped Catherine wash up and change her clothes, let all the kids ooh and aah over Conner and was putting the finishing touches on the kitchen when James and Alice arrived.   Of course, there were the customary ‘hellos’ and a quick rundown of their grandson’s birth but now Cassie was anxious to head home.  
    Without a foreman, it worried her to be gone for long.   Her wranglers were the best, but even the best needed guidance.   And Bridget needed a break.   The woman could only do so much by herself.   After all she was nearing sixty.   Bridget came with Michael.   She was Michael’s nanny and now helped Cassie do the cooking, was the housekeeper but most important of all, she was the Sarah wrangler.   Keeping track of Sarah was a full time job.
    Bridget stayed when Michael died.   She said she wasn’t going anywhere her babies weren’t.   RJ and Sarah were as attached to Bridget as she was to them.   She spoiled them rotten.   Always baking cookies and making sure they each got one with milk in the afternoon.  
    Cassie always thought it would ruin their dinner, but Bridget scoffed. “They drink their milk this way,” she’d say.   And she was right.   Bridget wouldn’t give them a cookie if they didn’t drink the milk.   They each tried it once and no cookies the next day.
    She drove the buggy and Sam rode beside them on his horse for the first few minutes.   Sarah was so excited she kept trying to talk to Sam and nearly fell out of the buggy.   Cassie finally stopped, Sam tied his horse to the back of the buggy and he climbed in.   Sarah was ecstatic and climbed immediately into Sam’s lap.   She chattered for the entire trip.   Who’d have thought she could talk for an hour.
    “I’m sorry.   She’s taken a real shine to you.    Sarah’s not normally this forward with strangers.”
    Sam looked down at Sarah and rubbed her little back.   His big hand almost covered her entire back.   Cassie felt her heart start to melt.   What was it with men and children?   When she saw a man who genuinely liked kids, she softened.   She hadn’t met that many men who did like kids.   James, Duncan, Michael and now Sam.   That’s not a lot.   They were special, these men.
    What did it mean that Sam, tall gorgeous Sam, with his wavy brown hair that she wanted to run her fingers through, was also so good with her kids?   What was it about him that attracted her like no one else since Michael?   It wasn’t just his green eyes, dimples and whiskey brown hair.   There was something deeper.   Something unseen that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
    The trip home took about an hour and due to Sarah’s incessant chattering