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The wagon train picked its way through a steep narrow path, the small space making it difficult for the oxen to move forward. Most everyone walked, but since Nate was still recovering from his wound, he rode in the wagon. The sun beat down on the canvas of the vehicle, raising the temperature inside, but as Emma felt his forehead, it seemed Nate’s fever had broken.
She fed him broth she’d made from dried meat. Five days had passed since he’d been injured, and although he looked better, it was still hard for him to move around.
“I appreciate you taking care of me,” Nate said between sips. “I hope it’s not causing problems between you and your husband.” His lips curled at the last two words.
Emma bit the inside of her mouth to keep from grinning at the frustration of the last few nights under the wagon.
“No, it’s all right. Davis understands.”
Nate lowered his cup. “It’s important for me to say this. I admit I was upset when you married Peter. I hated myself for not speaking up before he came along. But I wished you well and made a life for myself in the army.”
She moved back slightly, not comfortable with how the conversation was going.
“No, let me have my say.” Nate stared in her eyes, his expression tense. “I want you to consider getting an annulment, which I mentioned to you before.” She started to speak, and Nate held up his hand to stop her. “I can help you when we get to Oregon. We can get married there and go back to Indiana.”
She jerked at his words. Nate would be willing to take her back to Indiana? Then she thought of the speck of life she carried in her body, and shook her head. She took the empty cup from his hand and stood. “No, I’m married and we shouldn’t even be speaking of this. I need to go now.”
Nate leaned up and pulled her to him with a lot more strength than she would have thought, given his injury. She stumbled and fell on top of him, luckily missing his injury. Before she could say anything, he put his hand behind her head and lowered her mouth to his.
“Just what the hell is going on in here?”
Emma and Nate split apart and faced Davis, anger radiating from him in waves.
Chapter Fourteen
“You know, I’m getting mighty tired of seeing your hands all over my wife, Hale.” Davis leaped up into the wagon and slammed his fist into Nate’s face.
“Davis, no!” Emma pulled at Davis’s shirt. “He’s injured,” she yelled as she tried to separate them. Nate’s nose spurted blood.
“Nowhere near as injured as he’s going to be when I’m done with him.” Davis growled. “Now Emma, get out of the way.”
Davis reached down and pulled at Nate’s shirt. Nate struggled to get up, but fell back with a groan, holding his side with one hand, and his nose with the other.
Emma wrapped her arms around Davis’s waist and tugged. “Stop this. Stop this now. This is crazy. Davis, please!” The fear and panic in her voice finally got through his haze of anger, and he released Nate, and stood, hands fisted at his side, breathing heavily.
/> “I want you out of my wagon.” He turned, and taking Emma by her upper arm, marched her toward the back of the wagon. “And Mrs. Cooper, you and I are going to have a little talk.” He turned back to Nate huddled in the corner. “And it’s in your best interests to be gone when we return.”
A small crowd had gathered by the time Davis lifted Emma down from the wagon. Ignoring them all, they both walked quickly away from the campground. Emma glanced at Davis who still looked like he wanted to hit something. About a half mile away, he slowed down and turned Emma to face him.
“All right, let’s hear it.”
“Hear, what? I don’t know what you expect me to say.”
“Let’s start with why I come back from driving my wagon all morning and find my wife sprawled all over that soldier and him kissing you.” He pushed his hat back, feet spread, jaw clenched.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, I promise.” Tears gathered in her eyes. “He grabbed me when I started to stand up, and he kissed me. He says he wants to marry me.”
Davis stared at her, his jaw slack. “Ah, I hate to dash the hopes of one of our brave and dedicated military, Emma, but you are already married. To me.”
“I know that.” She dashed away tears. “But he insists since I was more or less forced to marry you, I can have the marriage annulled when we reach Oregon City.”
Davis felt all the air leave his lungs. He stared down at her. Two tracks of tears spilled over her eyelids and slowly ran down her cheeks. With a shaky hand, he reached out and tilted her head back. “And is that what you want?” His voice rasped.
Emma used the edge of her apron to dry her face. “I want peace and quiet. I want to feel secure, taken care of. I’m scared about having this baby all alone, away from my mama.” Her breath hitched as she twisted her hands in her apron.
Davis pulled her closer, her head to his chest, and rubbed her back. “Ah, honey, don’t cry.” He cupped her face, using his thumbs to wipe away her tears. “Is it Hale you want?”