Westward Dreams Read Online Free Page B

looked down at the street and saw Owl’s body length impression in the mud.  It made her chuckle as she thought about how he’d saved her from falling on her face in the mud.
    Hannah went on her way after thanking Bernie for his assistance.  Throughout the day, she thought about the handsome Lakota man and wondered when she might see him again.
     

Chapter Three
     
                  Dean eyed Owl as he came running up to Dean’s wagon at the feed mill.  He noticed that there was mud in Owl’s long hair.  “What happened to you?”
                  “I saved lady from falling in mud,” Owl said and pulled off his muddy shirt.
                  Dean rolled his eyes.  “There you go running around half-naked again.”
                  Owl laughed.  “You are jealous since I am more handsome than you.”
                  “Yep.  That’s right.  Are you gonna just stand there, pretty boy, or are you gonna help me load this wagon?” Dean asked with a smile.
                  Owl frowned at Dean.  “What do you mean ‘pretty boy’?  Those words do not go together.”
                  “I was just practicing that gentle shaming thing, Owl so that you would help me here.  Isn't that what I’m supposed to do with kids?” Dean said.
                  Owl gazed at Dean as he ran the sentence through his head and saw how Dean was making fun of him.  “You think you are funny, huh?”
                  Dean chuckled.  “I have my moments.”
                  “I will get you back.  You have to sleep sometime and I move quiet like cougar,” Owl said as he picked up a feed sack and promptly dropped it again because his left shoulder wouldn’t hold the weight.
                  Dean was concerned by the pain in Owl’s face.  “Are you ok?”
                  Owl held up an index finger to Dean telling him to give him a moment.  Dean didn’t say anything.  He just went back to loading feed into the wagon.  His brother Seth had gone through the same kind of thing after his leg had been hurt and it had always been best to just let Seth alone until the pain had passed.  Dean afforded Owl the same courtesy.
                  Finally Owl didn’t feel like he was going to pass out and was able to heft the bag without too much pain.  Dean knew better than to suggest that Owl leave the job to him.  Men were proud about stuff like that.  He decided to pick the conversation back up where they’d left off.
                  “Yeah, well, you come in our room and bother my wife and I’ll be scalping you, pretty boy,” Dean said.
                  Owl was grateful for Dean’s consideration and just laughed at Dean’s remark.
     
                  The next day, Hannah went to the sheriff’s office to return Sammi’s boots.  The lady herself sat on one of the desks swinging her legs and looking bored.
                  “Hello.  Are you Sammi?” Hannah asked.
                  “Yep.  That’s me.  Can I help you?” Sammi replied. 
                  Hannah held out the boots.  “These are yours.  Thank you for loaning them to me.”
                  Taking them from Hannah, Sammi said, “You’re welcome.  I’m glad they were here so you could use them.  You’re the lady that got hoodwinked, huh?  I felt so bad when Jack told us about it.  You want some coffee?”
                  “Thank you.  Yes, I’d love some,” Hannah said and sat at the table.  “Jack is quite the cook and host.”
                  Sammi smiled as she poured their coffee and sat down with her.  “Yeah.  He’s something else all right.”
                  Hannah couldn’t believe how beautiful Sammi was and how good she looked in blue jeans.  Seeing women in