“Yes, ma’am. Sure does.”
After a breakfast big enough to feed them again at lunch, they hitched the animals and began rolling out of the fort. Marie caught up to Sam as he saddled Scamp. “I’ve not seen Del this morning. We’re not leaving him here, are we?”
“He has to stay, at the commander’s insistence.” He paused before resuming his cinching of the saddle. “He wants to catch up to us when he’s released.”
“How long are they keeping him imprisoned?”
“Not for too long, the commander said, but no, I don’t like it, either. He’s told them everything; I’ve vouched for him. There’s no reason why he can’t go with us.”
“Should we be worried about him?”
Sam looked down at her. “More like concerned until he is with us again. In the meantime, I have a job for you. While we’re in this part of the country, I’ll need you to drive a team of oxen. With one of us scouting ahead for the clearest road and the rest guarding everyone, you being in charge of the oxen would help a great deal. Can you do it?”
“Yes, I’ve driven our wagon a few times.”
“Good enough. Go on up and let Lefty know you’re taking over.”
She nodded and walked faster to the supply wagon as Sam rode to the front of the train. Lefty grinned as she approached, his green eyes sparkling. “I suppose boss wants me to keep watch?”
“You suppose right.” She waited as Lefty pulled the animals to a halt and hopped down.
“Just remember, they’ve had enough food, water, and rest these past few days and might be ornery,” he hollered while walking to the back of the wagon. He untied his horse and quickly mounted. “Be sure to keep a firm grip, and don’t let them get by with nothing.” With a click, he galloped off toward the river.
As she held the reins in a firm grip, she realized Lefty had been far too correct. The animals kept a quick pace, slowing every so often to rest up. She didn’t like the stop and go, so she tried to keep them subdued when they’d rather just hoof it onward. As the morning heated, sweat began beading on her skin. The dry air kept her from feeling soaked. Even so, drops tickled as they rolled down her cleavage and the back of her neck. The infernal sunbonnet didn’t help, being in the wagon and not on her head.
Noon approached, and the wind shifted from the north, carrying the smell of river to her. Once the animals caught the water’s aroma, they pulled in its direction. Marie hoped that during the noontime, she could eat and relax for a little while.
No order to stop for lunch sounded, though her stomach growled. She didn’t feel confident enough to tie up the reins to go into the back to search for leftover biscuits. Still, she kept the oxen on the road until reaching the American Falls late that afternoon. At last, the order to halt sounded and she put on the wagon’s brake. She unhitched both animals, intending to lead them to the river if the cliffs allowed access.
A few feet later, a breeze brought in a stronger scent of water. Marie breathed deep, enjoying the smell. The animals perked up and began trotting. She pulled back on them shouting, “Whoa! Whoa!” and digging in her heels. At that, both took off at a full gallop, jerking her from her feet and dragging her behind them. Stunned, she held on as they pulled her over rocks and sagebrush. She let go after what felt like a few miles. Her eyes ached from the dust in them. She blinked a few times to clear them, shock freezing her in place.
“Ma’am! Are you alive?” Lucky asked, jumping down off his horse. He knelt beside her, taking her hand.
“I think so,” she answered, holding on to him while pushing up to her knees. Both were skinned and showed through holes in her skirt. “Oh my! This isn’t good.” Marie glanced up to see the oxen drinking at the water’s edge, still hitched together. “I suppose they’re fine for the moment.”
Sam rode up and dismounted from Scamp in one fluid motion. “What the hell were you thinking, holding on like that?” He pulled Marie from her knees to her feet. “Can you walk? Goodness, woman, why didn’t you let go? They weren’t going anywhere.”
Her chin started trembling, and she tried not to cry. “I didn’t know how far they’d run. What if we never saw them again?” She turned toward the wagon. “Since they’re fine, I’m going to put on something decent.” Her legs ached as she hobbled back to the wagon.
Sam asked, “Lucky, could you see to the team?”
“Yes, boss.” The young man tipped his hat and galloped to the wayward animals.
“Thank you.” Leading his horse, he caught up to Marie. “Sweetheart, wait a moment, please. We’re going to have to clean up your scrapes.”
She shrugged. “I can do it.”
“I know you can.” His voice softened as he leaned in to add, “I’d like to help.”
Her dignity still bruised, she had to protest his offer. “You don’t have to. I already know how to clean a scrape and change my own clothes.”
“I’m sure you do.”
Not liking the amusement in his tone, she glanced at him to see a small smile playing about his face. She knew pain made her cranky but couldn’t keep from saying, “You can go help someone else. I just didn’t know how to stop charging oxen is all.”
He laughed. “No one does.”
She gave him a sideways glance. “I’ve never handled those types of animals before today. Charles thought I was too irresponsible, and I didn’t want to tell you. I suppose he was right in thinking so.”
Sam snorted his disbelief. “No, he was wrong to not teach you how. What if something happened to him out here and you needed to know? I’d say the irresponsibility is his entirely.” He helped her up to sit on the tailgate and didn’t ask before pulling off her boots and socks. “I’ve not seen anyone do as well on their first day. So much so, I didn’t know it was the first time you’d done anything like this.”
She smoothed down her skirt so he saw no more of her legs. “You flatter me.”
“I don’t.” He looked at her, smiling. “While I’d like nothing better than to help you undress and maybe dress again, it’s best if you’re alone. I’ll get some fresh water for you to wash the dirt from your scrapes while you change.”
“All right.” As he left, she climbed in under the canvas cover. Marie closed the canopy’s flaps. She searched her trunk for a dress and waited for a couple of moments before slipping off her torn garment. Her knees and forearms bore the brunt of the landscape, and she winced. Putting on the clean and whole dress, she was already planning on how to fix her torn clothes. She fastened the upper buttons.
Sam’s voice filtered in from outside. “Are you still dressed?”
“More like re-dressed, yes.”
He peeked in from around the flap. “Should I circle a few more times until you’re not?”
Taking the water from him, she chided, “No, it’s too late, and we’d both be in trouble if you did such a thing.”
As if he weren’t leaving, Sam added, “I could stay if you needed help. I don’t mind seeing your legs or anything.”
She laughed. “Go on already. It won’t take me long.”
“If you insist.” He disappeared.
She raised her skirt to mid thigh and began washing the blood and dirt from her skin. The salt in her sweat stung. Even with the sun bearing down on the canvas top, now that she was still and a little undressed, she shivered from the cold.
“How are you doing in there?” asked Sam. “I’m always ready to help a lady with her clothes.”
She laughed. “I’ll bet you are, you villain.” Opening up the flaps, she stopped smiling when seeing him and his serious expression.
He looked up at her. “I’m sorry about being so angry with you.”
His worried face charmed her. Marie shook her head before saying, “Don't apologize, I was foolish. Now that I know what to do, it won’t happen again.”
He climbed up into the wagon and sat with her on the bedding stacked there. “If they’d trampled you, it could have meant a slow, painful death. I’d hav
e to wait and watch you die.” Pinching the bridge of his nose, he said, “I couldn’t stand having to do that.”
“I’m fine,” she whispered, “and know what to do next time.” He’d been right about how serious her actions had been. Marie shuddered at what a death by trampling would mean. She’d heard enough stories to have a healthy respect for hooves. “Please, don’t worry about me.” Marie saw him blink a few times. On impulse, she leaned in and kissed his cheek. He didn’t move at first; just let her lips caress him. With a groan, Sam faced and held her, deepening their kiss. He left her mouth to nibble all over Marie’s face, and she laughed at the tickles. When his lips touched her closed eyelid, she smiled at how right he seemed for her.
“Damn, woman, you tempt me beyond all reason. People are out there expecting us to be together like this.”
“Oh, mercy. Are they really?” She chuckled.
He lightly kissed her lips and said, “They’re placing bets, dearest.”
She looked at her hands, pressed against his chest. “I suppose we’d better move about in here, so they know we're not improper.”
“We’d better before I say to hell with their bets.” A little louder, he said, “Bring it with your other wash tomorrow if you think the dress can be repaired.”
“It can,” she said as loud as he’d talked. Sam still held her. Marie’s skin tingled everywhere they touched. He lowered his head, pressing his lips against hers before tracing their outline with his tongue. She liked the game and did the same to him, making him shudder. “We could slip away tonight and do more in private.”
He exhaled and shook his head. “No, I need to marry you first.”
Marie smiled at his gasped declaration. How very chivalrous of him. “You don’t, not for tonight.” She slid her hand down to his belt buckle and tugged. “Married is for later, if ever. You don’t have to marry me, not for this.”
Taking her hand from his belt, he held it before pulling her so close she had no choice but to hug him. He pressed his lips against her ear and whispered, “I have no choice. Even if I treat you like a wayward saloon gal tonight, I have to marry you.”
She shook her head, reconsidering her answer to his proposal. “You might want to wait on hitching yourself to me like that. If you make my heart skip beats later as it is now, I’ll be asking you to make love to me every day. In a week, you’ll be begging me to leave you alone.”
“Is that a threat or a dare?” Sam took her lips with his, kissing her as if a thirsty man in the desert. He paused to say, “I’d like to see you try such a thing with me,” before leaning her back to nip at her earlobe and down her neck.
She held on to his shoulders, enjoying the feel of him through the cotton shirt. “You seem like a big, strong man. Why don’t you go first?”
He slipped his fingers under each side of her neckline, pulling the two sides a little apart. Speaking against her skin, he said, “Do you know how easy it would be for me to rip this off your body and take you right here?”
Burying her fingers in his dark, untrimmed hair, she said, “You don’t know how easy it would be to let you.” Marie trembled as his lips drifted down into her cleavage and drew him closer. “Besides, why not just lift my skirt and take me this second?” She put her hands back on his shoulders and gently pushed him away as she whispered, “Pin me down and make me take you.”
“Not now, because when I do attack you, I want every inch of your naked skin against every inch of mine.” He eased his way to the back of the wagon while continuing to hold her, taking Marie with him. “Every inch for hours upon hours. You know too well what it’s like to beg for love. You need to feel what it’s like to be so sated, you beg me to stop.”
He took her hand, kissing her palm. Chill bumps raced over her skin from his touch. Struggling to breathe, she gasped, “I can’t imagine asking such a thing! Must we wait until forever for this? How soon can we marry again?”
Sam gave her a wicked grin as he climbed over the tailgate. “As soon as we can find any sort of a minister, justice of the peace, or boat captain.”
She chuckled at the idea of one of the scruffy ferrymen they’d met officiating a wedding. “If wagon captains could do so, I’d ask you to marry us right now and end this torture.” Holding his hand for balance, she stepped down onto the ground with him.
“Don’t tease me, Marie.” He caressed her face. “If you don’t marry me, I’ll die an old man, an old man confirmed bachelor.” Narrowing his eyes for emphasis, he added, “Alone, unloved, wasted away because the one woman I wanted didn’t return my love.”
She laughed before turning her head to kiss his right palm. “That’s not true. You know I care deeply for you.”
“How can I be sure you’ll always love me?” he asked kissing her forehead.
Unconcerned with who might be watching, she pressed her lips to his. “I do, my darling Sam, and always will.”
He picked her up in his arms and twirled her around before kissing her. A few moments later, Sam broke away and said, “Let’s get packed. I want us married by this time tomorrow.” He took her hand, pulling her toward the others.
Marie laughed at his impatience and teased, “Why the rush, sir?”
“Shall I mosey now, ma’am?” He gave her a wicked grin and walked measurably slower.
“Not on your life, Granville.” She grabbed his forearm and pulled. “We need to make up for lost time.”
He resisted her efforts, leaning his weight back on his heels. “What if we can’t get there tonight and have to stop to sleep? Will you be agreeable?”
She let go of his arm to stand in front of him, her hands on her hips. Marie looked him up one way and down the other as if he were a tasty dessert. She licked her lips for emphasis, and said, “Only if I’m allowed a preview of our wedding night.”
Sam stopped as if frozen solid, except for his dropped jaw. His brows furrowed, making his blue eyes dark as any sea. He cleared his throat before hollering, “Hey, Lucky, Joe, Arnold! Anyone want to loan Miss Renaud his horse? Lefty, what about you?”
Seeing his desire at her suggestion took her breath away. He grabbed her hand, nearly dragging her to Scamp. His touch, his eagerness to be truly with her, thrilled Marie. She squeezed his hand, certain that marrying Sam would be the beginning of a whole new life for her.
Other books by Laura Stapleton
The Oregon Trail Series
Undeniable (The Oregon Trail Series) - Book 1
Undesirable (The Oregon Trail Series) - Book 2
Uncivilized (The Oregon Trail Series) - Book 3
The Oregon Trail Series Short Stories
The Very Manly Series
The Very Best Man (The Very Manly Series) - Book 1
The Very Worst Man (The Very Manly Series) - Book 2
The Very Rich Man (The Very Manly Series) - Book 3
The Nova Scotia Murder Mysteries
Imposter: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery
Holidays (A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery)
Betrayal: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery
Impatience: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery
Pleasures: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery
Surplus: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery (Future Release)
Appearances: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery (Future Release)
Rage: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery (Future Release)
Honeymoon: A Nova Scotia Murder Mystery (Future Release)
Other books by Laura Stapleton
Love’s Travel
Love's Prisoner (Love's Travels: Australia)
About the Author
With an overactive imagination and a love for writing, Laura Stapleton decided to type out her daydreams and what -ifs in order to share her lovable characters and their worlds with readers. She currently lives in Kansas City with her husband, daughter, dog, and a few cats. When not at the computer, you'll find her in the park for a jog or at the yarn store's clearance section..
If you enjoyed this story, pl
ease consider leaving a review. Find Laura online at https://twitter.com/LauraLStapleton, https://www.facebook.com/LLStapleton#, http://lauralstapleton.com and at Smashwords. Subscribe to my newsletter and keep up on the latest.
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