hand. He let go of me as the wagon shuddered to a halt, and I moved to step down out of the back end. But, before I did, I turned and looked at him, my chin held high.
“You forget, I’ve nursed you while you were unconscious and unable to fend for yourself. There’s nothing I haven’t already seen,” I lied.
“Then you have me at a great disadvantage,” he replied as his eyes locked on my calico-covered breasts. His heated gaze lingered there until I turned and dropped down to the ground, my heart hammering against my ribs.
* * * *
As usual Mrs. Young came by that evening to check on Mr. O’Hara’s condition. And though I was afraid she might find something amiss, she was full of praise for my nursing skills. She had other patients and didn’t stay long; a woman was due to give birth to her first child, and one of the men had cut his hand. I was sorry to see Elizabeth go. I enjoyed talking to her, especially about doctoring.
That evening Papa and I ate supper with the others over at the big campfire. Afterward, still feeling embarrassed by our last encounter, I carried a bowl of venison stew and three biscuits to our wagon where I found Mr. O’Hara awake and seated on his bed, his back against the side slats of the wagon. He didn’t look happy.
“I’d rather eat outside. I ain’t used to being cooped up all the time,” he complained, so I set his food aside and helped him climb out of the wagon. With his arm over my shoulders, I was still a head shorter than him, and his size made me feel almost petite…a feeling I’d never experienced with any man before, and I liked it.
Once I got Mr. O’Hara settled on the ground beside our wagon, eating his stew and biscuits, I went back inside to put fresh linens on his bed. When I came out, he addressed me in a deep voice that seemed to rumble from his chest and into my body. “I’m sorry I put your father and you out of your wagon. There’s no reason I can’t sleep out here from now on.”
“Nonsense. My father prefers sleeping outside when the weather’s mild, and many nights he’s with the cattle. As for myself, I can sleep almost anywhere.” In truth had passed the last few nights tossing and turning on the ground beneath our wagon, listening for sounds that indicated my patient needed me. Not that I was willing to admit it.
“I’ve been a lot of trouble,” he began again.
“No, you have not.”
“Darn it, I’m tryin’ to say thank you, if you’ll just let me,” he complained.
“You’re very welcome, but I would have done the same for anyone.”
“Then I guess I should quit feelin’ flattered. I thought maybe you did it ’cause you like me,” he said with a wry smile, the dimples in his cheeks making him look like a little boy. “I thought maybe you wanted to get to know me better.”
He seemed to know what I was thinking, and I could feel the heat rising up my neck. I silently cursed my mother for giving me her fair complexion. But it wasn’t just her fault I was blushing. The man had a way of making my body react in the most embarrassing ways. And it wasn’t just the blushing. My palms were sweaty, and my legs suddenly felt like the starch had gone out of them. And what was that moisture I felt between my legs? Surely I hadn’t wet myself! What was wrong with me? I had wanted to get to know him better, and now I had my chance, so why was I hesitating? I steeled my will and looked directly into his eyes.
“I’m sorry for being so difficult. I did hope to—”
Just then two of the men who had been standing watch came running into camp, yelling, “Injuns! Injuns!” All hell broke loose as men came running every which way, grabbing up guns and yelling for their wives and children to keep out of sight. One of the things we’d feared the most was about to happen. Or was it?
Chapter 6
Captain Baker, who had been leaning against a wagon chatting and drinking coffee with Reverend Sims, hurried over to speak to the
“You forget, I’ve nursed you while you were unconscious and unable to fend for yourself. There’s nothing I haven’t already seen,” I lied.
“Then you have me at a great disadvantage,” he replied as his eyes locked on my calico-covered breasts. His heated gaze lingered there until I turned and dropped down to the ground, my heart hammering against my ribs.
* * * *
As usual Mrs. Young came by that evening to check on Mr. O’Hara’s condition. And though I was afraid she might find something amiss, she was full of praise for my nursing skills. She had other patients and didn’t stay long; a woman was due to give birth to her first child, and one of the men had cut his hand. I was sorry to see Elizabeth go. I enjoyed talking to her, especially about doctoring.
That evening Papa and I ate supper with the others over at the big campfire. Afterward, still feeling embarrassed by our last encounter, I carried a bowl of venison stew and three biscuits to our wagon where I found Mr. O’Hara awake and seated on his bed, his back against the side slats of the wagon. He didn’t look happy.
“I’d rather eat outside. I ain’t used to being cooped up all the time,” he complained, so I set his food aside and helped him climb out of the wagon. With his arm over my shoulders, I was still a head shorter than him, and his size made me feel almost petite…a feeling I’d never experienced with any man before, and I liked it.
Once I got Mr. O’Hara settled on the ground beside our wagon, eating his stew and biscuits, I went back inside to put fresh linens on his bed. When I came out, he addressed me in a deep voice that seemed to rumble from his chest and into my body. “I’m sorry I put your father and you out of your wagon. There’s no reason I can’t sleep out here from now on.”
“Nonsense. My father prefers sleeping outside when the weather’s mild, and many nights he’s with the cattle. As for myself, I can sleep almost anywhere.” In truth had passed the last few nights tossing and turning on the ground beneath our wagon, listening for sounds that indicated my patient needed me. Not that I was willing to admit it.
“I’ve been a lot of trouble,” he began again.
“No, you have not.”
“Darn it, I’m tryin’ to say thank you, if you’ll just let me,” he complained.
“You’re very welcome, but I would have done the same for anyone.”
“Then I guess I should quit feelin’ flattered. I thought maybe you did it ’cause you like me,” he said with a wry smile, the dimples in his cheeks making him look like a little boy. “I thought maybe you wanted to get to know me better.”
He seemed to know what I was thinking, and I could feel the heat rising up my neck. I silently cursed my mother for giving me her fair complexion. But it wasn’t just her fault I was blushing. The man had a way of making my body react in the most embarrassing ways. And it wasn’t just the blushing. My palms were sweaty, and my legs suddenly felt like the starch had gone out of them. And what was that moisture I felt between my legs? Surely I hadn’t wet myself! What was wrong with me? I had wanted to get to know him better, and now I had my chance, so why was I hesitating? I steeled my will and looked directly into his eyes.
“I’m sorry for being so difficult. I did hope to—”
Just then two of the men who had been standing watch came running into camp, yelling, “Injuns! Injuns!” All hell broke loose as men came running every which way, grabbing up guns and yelling for their wives and children to keep out of sight. One of the things we’d feared the most was about to happen. Or was it?
Chapter 6
Captain Baker, who had been leaning against a wagon chatting and drinking coffee with Reverend Sims, hurried over to speak to the
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