She grabbed her chest. She whirled aroundand saw him and on instinct she ran into his arms. Still, theminute she did, her hands came in contact with his chest as hisshirt was unbuttoned some. The feel of his skin against hers madeher too aware of the man. Embarrassed by her own actions, shepulled away and stared.
Moby came up between them and licked Wes'hand.
He broke out in a boyish grin, "Told you I'dbe back."
"I was worried. You been gone three days… "She said rather breathlessly as she took him all in.
"I know." His voice was a bit husky now, ashe seemed to be looking her over too.
"Did you get him?" She smiled up at himnow.
"No," He almost laughed. "I stalked him,cornered him and almost had him when a damn skunk walked by."
"A skunk?" She asked then laughed. "Thenwhat happened." She was glad he'd broken the tension betweenthem.
"Not much, as the skunk stood there watchingus, about that time the cat took off, and the skunk almost sprayedme until I got very still. I stood there must have been an hour orso, and he finally got disinterested and scurried away."
She laughed again.
"So you were worried huh?" He studied her aminute.
She blushed, "Well, I kept thinking he mightget you like he did Jim."
He grinned. "Got any of that lemonade youmake all the time?" he asked with a grin.
She smiled and nodded.
"Where do you get lemons, out here?" heasked her.
She turned to look at his smiling face."Well, I happened on them by accident. A fellow on one of thoseMississippi boats stopped off selling them, came from Louisianawith a wagon full of them. I bought as many as I could."
"You really do like those boats, don't you?"He mused with a grin.
"I guess I do. It looks so exciting to be onone and see all the country from it. The women, they are dressed sonice, and the men too, and they look so happy, riding down theriver like that. It must be grand."
There was a sparkle in her eyes as shetalked of it, and he couldn't help but stare at her.
They walked back to the house together withMoby between them and he told her all about the cat and skunk andhow hard it was to pin him into a spot so he could shoot him.
She wanted to loop her arm in his and skipall the way to the house, but that would have been childish. Still,it was the first time in a long time she felt really happy. Afterall, he was back!
Chapter Eight
They worked together every day in the fieldraking the hay into stacks, then loading the wagon full. It wasmuch harder work and he encouraged her to rest off and on.
It wasn't long before they had a bigwagonload of it, and Wes told her about some people.
"Do you know this rancher?" she asked.
"Dickens told me about him the other day. Hesaid he has a good size spread the other side of his place thatcould use some, and that he might know some others."
"That's a start, huh?" She smiled. "Ihonestly don't know what I'd do without you and Mr. Dickens." Shesighed.
"Well, it's a matter of putting yourself outthere and asking questions of the right people. Dickens has livedhere all his life, he knows everyone. So he's a good place to startabout anything." He smiled.
"You think a lot of him, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do." He said a bit solemnly.
"Me to!" she smiled at him
He glanced at her and smiled back.
They rode together in the wagon. Mobyclimbed up in the back and laid down.
Wes was glad she was going with him. Hethought she should get to know the people she could do businesswith, so he took her along. That was one reason, the other reasonwas to keep her safe from the Smith brothers. He didn't know howoften they stopped off at her place but leaving her alone wasn't agood idea, especially since now they knew her husband was dead.
"Did you and Jim have picnics together, orgo to dances?" He asked out of the blue.
She glanced at him a bit startled that he'dask. "N-no, we didn't. I guess that's a bit hard to understand,isn't it? But our relationship was different in the first place. Hedidn’t court me if that's what you mean. It was just… well, he'dcome over, make sure everything was alright and talk with me a bit,and then leave."
"Then how on earth did the two of you getmarried?"
He chuckled.
"I don't remember exactly." She chuckledtoo. But when he shot her a strange look, she tried to explain it."I mean, one day he seemed to notice I'd grown up. He asked if Ihad a beau. I told him no. Then a couple of weeks later, he askedme to wed him. We'd known each other for some time so I said yes. Iguess it's not how most people get hooked up together."
"The two of you didn't love each other, didyou?" His smiled disappeared.
She seemed to study that question beforeanswering. "Well, no, I guess we didn't." She saw how he reacted tothat and she went on. "Jim wasn't romantic. Far from it. He workeda lot, and that's where his mind was most of the time. He was avery serious kind of man."
"You were that lonely?" he asked staringnow.
"Well," she began a bit frustrated at theway he said that. "You don’t understand, there wasn't anyone therebut me, Moby my dog, and my horse. No people. I lived out in thesticks, alone for over five years. I knew a few girls, but theylived way on the other side of my place and I only saw them everynow and then. After my parents died, Jim got my supplies for me, soI didn't even have to go to town. I felt a bit indebted to him, ashe checked on me, made sure everything was alright. I had verylittle money for pretty dresses or anything else. I felt indebtedto him because when I ran low on money, he'd pay for the supplies Ineeded. I didn't want him to, but he did
