“Corporal Stevens was cleaning his gun and it went off, right into Corporal Hale’s chest. You’d think the army would have trained their soldiers better than that. Hale is damn lucky he didn’t get himself killed.” He glanced briefly at Emma. “Pardon my language, ma’am.”
Abigail came out of the wagon clutching Dr. Bennett’s medical bag. As she walked up to them, Dr. Bennett placed his hands on his hips and spoke to Davis. “So, what do you say, Cooper, can Hale stay with you for a few days?”
“I don’t like Emma having the extra work right now, but if he can’t be moved, then I guess we don’t have a choice, do we?”
Abigail smiled at Emma, most likely guessing why he’d mentioned his reluctance for her to have extra work. Emma briefly touched her stomach.
“All right, then it’s settled. Miz Cooper, do you think you can nurse him without passing out on us again?” He patted her on the shoulder.
“Yes, Dr. Bennett, I can do that. It was just the heat, and all that blood, and, well, you know.” She finished lamely.
“Yes, ma’am, I know. I think you’ll be fine. Maybe if you need to, you can get one of the other women to change his bandages each day. Come walk with me and I’ll let you know what you need to do for Corporal Hale.”
Davis scowled as they both walked off. He glanced at his wagon, and shaking his head at fate, stalked off to get the animals to hitch up to the wagon for the day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Starting out later than usual due to the wounding of Corporal Hale, the wagons skipped the noon break and went straight through to five o’clock before they stopped for the day. Emma was hot and sweaty and more than ready to collapse. She spent the day crawling back and forth from the front seat of the wagon to where Nate fitfully slept. She put cold cloths on his head, and gave him sips of water. He had been feverish all day.
The wagons circled for the night, and darkness covered the group as they readied for bed. Campfires had burned down, and children tucked in. Emma hurried from the nearby bushes where she’d changed out of her dress and into her nightgown. Caring for Nate in her wagon was going to be a problem. When she had been nursing Davis, she had washed and dressed in Sarah’s wagon. It looked like she was going to have to return to that routine for a few days.
Davis knelt under the wagon, spreading their bedroll. Drops of water fell from his freshly washed hair. Emma scooted underneath, and after stepping away to remove his pants, Davis joined her. As soon as they settled in, he reached for her. Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her deeply, moving his tongue teasingly over her lips until she opened her mouth. Emma was soon lost in the feelings running through her. Her heart beat faster, and she ran her hands over Davis’s back, her fingers kneading the ripple of strong muscles.
“Davis, no!” Emma suddenly shoved him away.
Dazed, he looked at her. “What-why?” He shook his head as if clearing it.
“Nate.” Emma motioned with her head toward the underside of the wagon.
“Nate, what?” Davis asked.
“Nate’s up there. He can hear everything we do.” She smoothed her hair back, and straightened her nightgown, like a frightened virginal schoolmarm.
“He can’t hear anything. We’re down here, he’s up there, and there’s a wooden floor between us. Now stop being silly and come back here.” He reached for her again.
Emma moved backwards, holding the neckline of her nightgown in a bunch. “I can’t. I feel too funny. Please?”
Davis groaned and lowered his head into his hands. “Emma, you’re killin’ me here.” He sighed and looked into her face, his expression softening. “Honey, you’re my wife. I won’t force myself on you.” He slanted her a look. “Can I try to change your mind?”
She shook her head.
He dragged his hand down his face. “All right, I can deal with it.”
Pulling her to him, they lay down, Davis on his back, with Emma cuddled in the space between his arm and shoulder.
”But that arrogant soldier better heal himself fast,” Davis said as he got comfortable. “He’s been sticking in my craw since I first set eyes on him in Fort Laramie.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It wasn’t long before he felt the steady breathing of his sleeping wife, her warm soft breasts pushed up against his ribs. He inhaled the sweet scent of her body. That was a mistake. His manhood took notice and complained. Maybe he should take a walk and plunge himself into the cold creek. Or instead, get his gun and shoot Corporal Nathan Hale, this time where it counted, and be done with it.
His thoughts wandered to Emma’s condition. Her body already showed changes that he’d noticed. The weight of her breasts and the small swelling in her stomach warmed him. His plans were starting to fall into place. He had money in his pocket to start his horse ranch. He had a wife who satisfied him in all ways.
The one hitch in his intentions was his wife’s desire to return to Indiana. Even though she hadn’t mentioned it in a while, he didn’t fool himself into believing she’d given up. He sighed and glanced upward. The soldier lying above him would be only too happy to snatch her away from him.
Well, he would have a fight on his hands, especially with a child on the way. Emma was his wife, and the babe she carried was his son or daughter.
Just as he drifted off, she shifted to her other side, pushing her lush bottom against his hip. He groaned. Lord, it would be a long night.