Samantha and the Cowboy Read Free Page A

whispered about that he was the trail boss. The one she had to impress. The one who could crush her dreams with a single word—or give them flight.
    Suddenly the hairs on the nape of her neck began to prickle. Unease settled around her. Slowly she let her gaze wander…and then it slammed to a stop.
    A young man was leaning against the side of the building, a short distance away from the table. Why hadn’t she noticed him earlier? Had he been there allalong? Was he hoping to get hired on with this outfit? If so, why wasn’t he standing in line? Maybe he’d been hired before she’d arrived, and he was saving a place for the other hired men to wait.
    He had his arms folded across his chest, his hat brim pulled down low so she couldn’t get a good look at his eyes, but she knew those eyes were trained on her. She could feel his gaze boring into her, was acutely aware of him studying her. He had a hardness about him, as though he hoped to find fault with her. Was her disguise not as good as she’d thought it was?
    â€œNext.”
    Her breath started coming in shallow little pants as though it was as afraid as she was that the fella would figure out she was a girl. She brushed away the thought just as she’d brushed dirt on her cheeks and chin earlier. She was worrying for nothing. For pity’s sake, he probably wasn’t even looking at her. He stood so still that he might have been a statue…or asleep. He was probably—
    â€œNext!”
    She jerked to attention. The man behind the wobbly looking table glared at her, tapping his fingers impatiently against the flat surface. Swallowing hard, she stepped forward.
    He studied the top of her hat before slowly scrutinizing her, leaning over the table so he could see all theway down to the tips of her scuffed boots. With her brother’s shirt and jacket, she was certain that none of her curves showed, nothing gave away the fact that she was a girl. But knowing and accepting were two different things. And no matter how she appeared, she still felt like a girl.
    She clenched her jaws, trying to look as unfriendly as the fella standing against the wall did. Whatever it took to get hired, she’d do it.
    â€œI’m Jake Vaughn. You got a name?” he asked gruffly as he settled back in his chair.
    She nodded quickly.
    â€œAnd it is?” he prodded.
    She felt like such a fool. “S-Sam. Sam Reynolds.”
    â€œHow old are you?”
    â€œSixteen.”
    He leaned forward. “Well, Sam, have you had any experience herding cattle?”
    â€œYes, sir,” she answered quickly, comfortable with her answer. It wasn’t a lie, exactly. She’d herded Old Bess out to pasture each morning and then back to the barn each evening.
    He narrowed his eyes. “Why do I get the feeling you’re lying to me?”
    The fella standing against the wall shifted his stance slightly as though he was interested in her answer. Ignoringhim, she focused all her attention on Mr. Vaughn.
    â€œI ain’t lying. I swear.” With her finger, she made a cross over her heart. She almost repeated the childish refrain, “Cross my heart and hope to die…” but she figured a real cowboy wouldn’t do that.
    Slowly he looked her over one more time as though he was hoping to find some fault he might have missed the first time. Then he shook his head. “Sorry, Sam, but you’re a little too scrawny.”
    Only he didn’t look sorry at all. “But I’m strong,” she insisted.
    â€œMost of those fellas behind you are stronger. Sorry, son.”
    Sam’s stomach dropped to the ground. She hadn’t considered that he might tell her no. In the shadows of the night, with only the stars to wish on, her plan had seemed foolproof. She hadn’t considered that a fool had come up with her plan.
    â€œMove along now, son, we’re burning daylight here,” the man urged.
    She almost