“Josh?”

“Yeah?”

“Did you ever hear any more about Tate Jordan?” It had been more than a year and a half since he left, but Josh just shook his head.

“Nope. Just another cowboy. Drifted off God knows where. He would have made you a good foreman though, Sam.” Not to mention a good husband, but Sam didn't say what was in her heart.

“How's the new man?”

“All right. But he's leaving. He's already had an offer. He told the lawyer that yesterday morning. He don't want to take no chances that you might sell the ranch and he might lose his job, so he's movin' on while he can. He's got a bunch of kids,” Josh said by way of explanation and Sam watched him thoughtfully.

“What about you, Josh? You staying?”

“Hell yes. This has been my home for too many years for me to go anywhere. You're going to have to sell me with the ranch.”

“Tell you what, if I don't, how would you like to be foreman?”

“You kidding, Sam?” His eyes lit up with interest. “I'd sure as hell like that, and my wife would be so full of herself she'd make us all sick. But I could live with that.” They grinned at each other and he stuck out a rough hand, which she shook.

“Sam?” Charlie peeked out the screen door then, he had heard her talking and wondered who it was. She wheeled quickly in her wheelchair, made the introductions, and they talked for a few minutes about the ranch.

And then finally Josh looked down at her again. He had forgotten her for a minute in the conversation that went on above her head. “How long you staying, Sam?”

“Just till Sunday. We have to get back. Charlie and I work together in New York. He's an artist.”

“I am not, I'm a genius.” They all grinned.

“Can you ride?” He shook his head and Josh smiled broadly. “We'll teach you. And Sam says you brought your kids.”

“Three of them. My sons.”

“How many you got in all?” Josh raised an eyebrow.

“Four. We left a baby girl at home.”

“Shit,” he guffawed, “that ain't nothin'. I got six.”

“God save me!” Charlie looked faint and they all laughed.

Josh came in then to meet Mellie and the boys, and then they all trooped out to the barn to look at the horses, and the boys were so excited that they were jumping up and down in the straw and squealing while the others laughed. Plans were made for the next day to give them lessons, and then Sam stopped for a few moments to look at Black Beauty, sedate and splendid as ever in his stall.

“He's a fine-looking horse, Sam, ain't he?” Even Josh looked him over with pride, and then he glanced at Sam as though he had just remembered something. “He's yours now, Sam.”

“No.” She shook her head slowly, looking at Josh. “He'll always be Caro's. But I'll ride him.” This time she smiled, but he didn't.

“No, you won't.”

“We can fight about that in the morning.” He looked doubtful but they wandered back to the big house, and he left them on the porch, with a last tender look at Sam. It was then that she realized that it had been a homecoming. That even if the others were gone now, she still had Josh. And she had the beautiful ranch that Caroline had left her, and the memories of what her old friend had shared with Bill, and her own memories of Tate in their cabin-none of that would ever leave her, especially if she stayed right here.

32

“Okay now, Sam… we got you…” Two cowboys made a seat for her and held her while two more held the horse firmly. It wasn't Black Beauty they held between them, and not even Navajo, but a new horse named Pretty Girl. But this time the name didn't annoy her. She was surprised herself at how squeamish she felt and the horse was supposed to be very docile. Suddenly she was glad. They hoisted her into the saddle quickly, and Josh tied a bunch of straps around her, and then she sat there, perched in her saddle, staring down at them in amazement.