River Lady (James River Trilogy 3)

Leah bent her knees and peeked through the arms of the chair to get her first glimpse of Steven Shaw. He was as lovely as Kimberly—blond, blue-eyed, cleft chin—perfect.

“Wesley, dear,” Kim was saying, “you must find a way. I can’t possibly leave anything behind. You wouldn’t want me to be unhappy, would you?”

Heaven forbid that catastrophe, Leah thought as she began untying the ropes across the goods in the wagon. If it was repacked from the floor up, they’d probably be able to get everything on.

When Wesley walked to the side where Leah was untying the ropes he gave her a look of surprise; then there was just a hint of disgust. He looked away. “Can you climb to the top of this mess and hand me that trunk?”

“Of course,” Leah said, smiling to herself. Maybe he did realize his precious Kimberly was little more than an ornament.

“Somehow I was sure you could,” Wesley said under his breath in a way that puzzled Leah.

Leah and Wesley worked well together, unloading then repacking the wagon, while Steven and Kim squabbled. Kim cried over her crushed hat while Steven complained about Kim’s lack of help.

A couple of times Leah felt Steven watching her, but he looked away just as she turned.

When they finished Leah looked to Wesley, in truth expecting some sort of thanks, but all he did was grunt. “You can ride with Steven,” he said as he tied the last rope.

Stunned, Leah watched him walk away. “With pleasure,” she called after him and fought down the urge to throw a rock at the back of his head. Maybe she should set fire to the fringe on his buckskins.

A hand touched her arm and she looked up into Steven Shaw’s dancing blue eyes. “May I?” he asked, nodding toward the wagon seat.

Instantly, Leah didn’t trust him. When she was a girl her two older brothers used to bring men home and sometimes they had looks in their eyes such as the one Steven now had. Of course, she told herself, she was wrong.

Wesley and Kim pulled out onto the road first. No one came from the house to say good-bye and suddenly Leah felt very alone—among strangers, traveling to more strangers.

“Will you miss your friends?” she asked Steven, but all she got was a sidelong look from him that made her stop talking.

They traveled west for hours, and Leah didn’t try again to talk to Steven. They stopped for an hour to eat sandwiches Regan had sent, and Wesley hovered over Kim, who cooled herself with a sequined fan and unbuttoned the top buttons of her pale blue silk dress. Wesley was appreciative and Kim rolled her eyes in modesty.

“That Wesley’s a lover,” Steven said to Leah. “Only he can’t have both of you.” He gave Leah a look from head to toe.

Frowning, she moved away from him.

In the afternoon as they neared a cluster of houses four men rode toward them. Wesley shouted and Steven halted the wagon.

“Send Leah up here!” Wesley bellowed back.

Leah froze in place. She had no intention of obeying this man who ignored her all day yet ordered her about when it was convenient for him.

Steven gave one look at her face and chuckled. “She wants none of you, Stanford,” Steven shouted. “Better leave her here with me.”

With a curse Wesley bounded from the wagon. “They’re coming to greet the newlyweds,” he said tightly, looking up at her. “Unless you want all of Virginia to find out about us, you’d better come to the wagon with me.”

“What do I care about Virginia? It’s your name that needs saving.”

“Damn you!” Wesley gasped as he grabbed her arm and pulled.

Leah wasn’t expecting violence and so was unprepared for his strength. With a gasp she went flying into Wesley’s arms just as the four riders reached them.

“Can’t keep your hands off of her, can you, Wes?” said one man, laughing.

“Just lookin’ at you, ma’am, I can see why Wes grabbed you off the church steps.”

“Put me down!” Leah hissed at Wes, who was holding her as if she weighed nothing at all.

“We planned a little goin’ away party and you’re the guest of honor. We’d be pleased if you’d honor us with some of your time.”

The fourth man was gawking at Leah. “Who’d think that one of those Simmonses would clean up to look like that?”