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But her eyes opened and that took care of that notion.
She got up quickly though and didn't even look at him. She made coffee and started breakfast. The men were pleased to have a cook along.
Matt watched the men stretch and yawn, one of them went to water the horses in the near-by spring.
"What is this Sutton's Place exactly, a village, a town, what?" Matt asked Ferg.
"It's just a hole in the wall place where a lot of fur trappers spend the hard winters. It's only a couple of three buildings, one for sleepin', one for tradin', one for eatin'. That's how they planned it, but most times everything is done in one cabin or another. But there's plenty of people there and usually it means more food for everyone and it's safe against the weather. They built this big log cabin, well, it's more than a cabin and everyone piles in there to sleep. We go out on hunting trips in groups, that way we have food all winter. And it's safer that way too. You and your squaw are welcome to come along and stay the winter, it's gonna be a rough one, I can tell you that. The snows are comin' any day now here and once it does, we need to be closed in."
"Snow Bird, what do you think?" Matt asked her when he joined her at the fire.
She shrugged, "You have already made your mind up to stay, we will stay." She wasn't friendly like before and he knew she wanted to go on up, still, it wasn't practical.
"Look, I know your anxious about your folks, but I'm not fond of getting killed just yet. These men have been there and if they say it's a blood bath, I reckon that's what it is. We need to wait this out. Spring is a better time to travel in the mountains anyway. About all we'd have to battle is overflowing springs and rivers."
"You will take me in the spring?" She looked hopeful.
"Yes, I promise, unless you want to wait until the baby comes. Then we'll go afterwards." He told her staring into her warm brown eyes.
"I will trust you to keep your word."
"I haven't done too bad for us so far, have I?"
She looked down at the ground, "No…"
He pulled her chin up with the crook of his finger, "We'll get there. Snow Bird, I promise you that."
"Very well." She went back to cooking and paid him no mind.
He wished she'd smile again, he thought of her as a friend and he knew that getting home was important to her. Although the chance of Too Tall shunning her didn't set well with him. She certainly wasn't at fault for it. Still, he figured these men knew a lot more than he did about the situation up there. There was plenty of time and he'd take care of her until
he got her home.
As they all sat down to eat, they were surprised at how well she managed on basics. The woman certainly knew how to cook.
"Good cooks are not easy to come by, she's really something. Interested in getting rid of her?" Ferg asked.
"No!" Matt responded a little too quickly.
"No use getting riled, son. Just askin'. I don't blame you a bit, she's pretty and she cooks good. But I noticed you didn't hump her last night. Young stud like you, I figured you'd be all over her."
Matt had to think quickly. "Little hard to do with so many around. Guess I'm spoiled to privacy."
"Better get used to it. Suttons' Place will be worse. How long you two been together?"
"Not long." Matt replied tightly.
"Well, if you don't claim her soon sonny, someone else might." Ferg warned him, his brow going up as he eyed him. "And then you'd lose your little squaw. And they wouldn't be apologizing for it, either."
Matt firmed his lips, "Look, that's my concern."
"Just giving you a friendly warning son. She's got eyes for you, that's for sure. And I'd hate to see someone's dirty hands on her as young and pretty as she is."
Matt glanced at her. He hadn't paid that much attention to her before. Or had he? He had to admit, she was easy to have around. But now that he'd woken with her in his arms, he realized just how pretty she was and how he'd hate to see anyone get their hands on her again, especially in her condition. Ferg was right, but dare he take her?
His religious upbringing told him no, but on the other hand, he had to protect her from others too. He'd brought her with him, that made her his responsibility. Somehow, he had to see things through.
But taking her, she'd probably fight him, since she was married and pregnant. Did pregnant women indulge in fleshly desires. He had no idea. And he scolded himself for thinking on it. And yet, the Indian husband hadn't claimed her. So, Matt was at a standstill on how to handle things. He had to admit, he was a greenhorn with women. However, it was time he learned that too.
