Going Home

After traveling until dusk, Sarah looked out toward the horizon and saw a lone rider approaching. It didn’t look like her pa and this worried her. She made sure the rifle near her seat was cocked and ready in case there was trouble brewing.
Being alone on the trail was something Sarah wasn’t used to always having her parents and an alert brother to help in case of trouble. Now, she was on her own.
When the dust settled and she saw more clearly, Sarah couldn’t believe the man that had reached the Conestoga with his big chestnut colored bay prancing around restlessly.
He wore buckskin clothing fitting his strong muscular body tightly, with a pistol strapped around his hip looking a little menacing to Sarah. She was used to guns, but only when she was in control and wasn’t feeling threatened by someone with one.
The blackest eyes she’d ever seen on a person stared into her green alert gaze. He was handsome in a rugged sort of way taking her breath away. His jet black hair looked a little too long reaching his shoulders and glistening brightly.
His magnificent chest and muscled arms were revealed beneath the shirt unbuttoned down to the waist. She tried not to stare but the hair roughened chest held her spellbound. For the longest time she felt as if her tongue was glued to the inside of her mouth. She licked her dry lips.
“Hello,” she managed to keep her voice from sounding frightened of the newcomer. Sarah kept her hand near the rifle just in case she might need it, although she hoped this was a friendly encounter.
“Hello to you,” he answered his deep rich voice sending waves of awareness through her. “I’m Beau Rafferty and you are….”
“Sarah Castlebury,” she managed to find her voice.
“What are you doing out here in Indian country alone?” he wanted to know.