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“I don’t need a nap Mr. Cooper. I just got out of that wagon a short while ago. What I want to do is to go back into that store and see about buying the supplies we need.” She tapped her foot.
God, she looked adorable. No, this was definitely not good. And he hated the fact that seeing Nate with his arms around his wife bothered him so much. Almost as if he were jealous. An impossible notion. He liked Emma, he liked her a lot in fact, but he was sure his feelings didn’t run any deeper. Still, he couldn’t shake the vision of Emma and Nate staring into each other’s eyes, beaming.
“We can get the supplies later. You may not have noticed, but that store is jammed right now. Let everyone get what they want, and you can shop later, or tomorrow, so it won’t be so hard on you, just recovering and all. And I have to check the wagon wheels and the rest of the wagon.” He slowly moved her way. “Also make sure we’re ready for that trip over the mountain.
“I’ll walk you over to Sarah’s wagon and you can spend some time with her. She still needs consoling, you know.” He rambled, but couldn’t help himself. He breathed a sigh of relief when Emma grudgingly followed along.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nathan Hale stood in the doorway of the supply store, hands on his hips, watching Emma and her husband. Frowning, he turned and walked over to the commanding officer’s room.
“Sir, request permission to speak.” Nate saluted Major Winslow Sanderson.
“Yes, soldier.” The major leaned back in his chair.
“Sir, I wish to volunteer to be with the detachment that will be traveling with this group of emigrants to Oregon.”
“Any particular reason for that, soldier?”
Nate hesitated. “No sir.”
Major Sanderson studied him for a minute. “Very well, give your name to the clerk. I’ll decide tomorrow on the two soldiers who will go.” He returned to the papers on his desk. “That’s all.”
Nate saluted smartly and left, a small smile tugging at his lips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Numerous campfires burned brightly around the wagons. The fort was quiet, and the Indians on the other side of the fort cooked meals over their fires. Emma sat and stared into the flames, talking quietly with Sarah. She listened as the woman spoke, but her mind drifted back to her meeting with Nate that afternoon.
It had indeed been good to see someone from home. At one time she thought she and Nate would marry, but Peter came along and the next thing she knew she was planning her wedding, and Nate had enlisted in the Army.
His handsome features, blond hair, and darker mustache gave him a rugged, masculine look. A stark contrast to Davis’s dark complexion, and curly brown hair that hung further over his collar than when they’d first met. While Nate was tall and slender, Davis matched him in height, but his broad shoulders that tapered to slim hips and long muscular legs, gave him a more powerful bearing. She flushed with thoughts of the one and only time she’d seen those muscular legs.
“Emma, you seem to be a million miles away tonight.” Sarah spoke softly.
Feeling guilty, since she had come to offer comfort to Sarah, Emma reached out and patted Sarah’s hand.
Emma nodded. “I am a bit distracted tonight. This afternoon I ran into a solider here at the fort from back home.”
“Oh, that must have been nice for you. I guess he was surprised to see you all the way out here.”
“Yes, surprised to see me here, and very surprised to find me married to Davis. I’m afraid Davis was a bit rude to him. I don’t understand that.” She shrugged and glanced at her friend.
Sarah gave Emma a soft smile. “Emma, dear, if you don’t know why it bothered Davis, then you haven’t seen the way he watches you. I think Davis must have been a bit jealous.”
“Jealous?” She shook her head furiously. “Oh, no, you’re mistaken. Davis and I married because I basically had no choice. He doesn’t feel anything for me but friendship.”
“Well, don’t be so sure of that. Just give it time. You’ve been sick almost since you got married.” Apparently remembering the illness that also took her young son’s life, Sarah sighed.
Emma reached over and hugged Sarah. “I’d best be going now. I still need to clean up from supper, and I think a good night’s sleep will feel good. I’ll see you tomorrow. Maybe we can go over to the supply store together. I didn’t get to see much today.”
As Emma entered her wagon area, she noticed the supper things had been cleaned and put away. She looked around, but didn’t see Davis anywhere. She took her nightly visit to one of the privies provided by the fort. Then she climbed into the wagon, brushed her hair out, and re-braided it for sleep. Splashing water on her face, she took off her dress and under things, then pulled her nightgown over her head. Just as she finished, she heard Davis calling goodbye to someone as he approached the wagon.
“Hi, sweetheart.” He stuck his head inside the wagon. “I have an idea. It’s so pretty out tonight, I thought we’d sleep under the wagon. I can drag the pallet out here if you fetch the blanket.” His eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Davis had apparently found a way to wash up, since his hair was still wet and slicked back. He had shaven his days-old beard off, too.
Emma felt a small prickling in her stomach when she regarded him. He looked so handsome. “Okay, that might be nice.” All of a sudden she felt lighthearted. She grabbed a blanket and moved to the back of the wagon. Davis reached in, put his hands around her waist and lifted her out. She put her hands on his shoulders and smiled down at him. There was that jittery feeling in her stomach again.
Davis had placed their wagon away from the others, near bushes and a few scraggly trees. The rest of the wagons had scattered around, the fort so close everyone shared a sense of security, not needing to form their usual circle.
