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He gave her a sympathetic smile as he straightened. “Nothing stopping you from turning in early.”
“Nothing but a bunch of cowboys who will think I’m just a weak female who can’t handle this sort of work.”
He shook his head, mumbling, “hard headed as the day is long,” under his breath as he turned.
She sighed and looked at her things under the wagon before sliding under to straighten out her bedroll. There was no harm in getting things ready. It was nearly dark, after all. She was almost finished when something behind her hit the ground and stirred up a puff of dust. She sputtered, sat up too quick and banged her head on the underside of the wagon. “Ouch!”
“Sorry.” The owner of that voice made the pain throb harder. She saw Jesse out of the corner of her eye a moment later. He stretched out his bedroll beside her own, smoothing out the edge across hers so the ground was completely covered.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Getting ready for those imaginary three days of sleep I was talking about earlier.” He met her gaze and fatigue lined every inch of his face. His eyes looked too large for his face, they were bloodshot, eyelids drooping. Red and brown whiskers covered his jaw, and small lines around his mouth screamed how bone-tired he was.
Telling him to find somewhere else to sleep had been her plan but he laid down and blew out a ragged breath, his body relaxing in small degrees. As much as she thought the situation was a bad idea, she didn’t have the heart to tell him to leave. Knowing him, he’d just roll over and ignore her anyway.
She sighed and grabbed the canvas she used to cover the side with and laid down. The other cowboys wouldn’t be able to give her a hard time for turning in early now that Jesse had done the same. Of course knowing those cowboys, they’d sit around waiting for something to happen like they had the night before.
Glancing at Jesse’s lax face, she knew that wouldn’t be happening. If she had to guess, she’d say he was already asleep. Laying down, she tried to ignore the fact he was there and almost succeeded until he rolled over, draped one arm around her and pulled her into his chest. She looked at his face, trying to determine if he was really asleep or faking it but couldn’t tell. Not that it mattered. She was too tired to argue with him tonight. She’d give him this one but tomorrow they’d have a long talk about this sleeping situation.
Jesse woke warm, rested, and surrounded by softness. He opened his eyes and blinked several times but wasn’t able to see anything until he lifted his head.
Alex was flush against him, her breasts pressed against his chest, one arm slung around his waist and her sweet breath warming the skin on his throat.
He wasn’t sure of the time, or what woke him for that matter, but moving to find out was the last thing on his mind. Besides, someone would come looking for him eventually.
Laying his head back down, he buried his nose in Alex’s hair. It smelled of sweat, leather from her hat, and dust. He could only imagine what he himself smelled like. They needed to find the river Holden had marked on the map. They could all use a bath and those cows needed the water as well.
Alex stirred just as he had settled in to try and go back to sleep. He waited for her cry of outrage but was surprised when she sighed and tucked her head further into the crook of his neck.
This was how he’d imagined spending his nights with her. Soft curves pressed tightly against him while wrapped in her scent, although he’d imagined her smelling of sweet flowers, not horse and leather.
He laid a kiss on her forehead, lingered for a few seconds then whispered, “What will it take to make you love me, Alex?”
He slept off and on after that until someone kicked his foot. He lifted his head to see Isaac peering at him from the side of the wagon.
“Time to rise and shine,” he said. “I’ve got fresh coffee brewing.”
He nodded, waiting until he’d dropped the canvas before looking back at Alex. Her eyes were open.
She pulled away, rolling to her bedroll as far from him as she could get.
“I don’t bite.”
“Never said you did.” She was staring at the underside of the wagon.
“Well, good morning to you, too.”
“The sun’s not up yet so it’s still technically night.”
“If you say so.” Sitting up, he ran a hand through his hair, then over his face. He needed a shave soon. He looked over at Alex. “Are you getting up or sleeping in?”
“I’m up. I just need time for my body to become aware of it.”
He nodded and grabbed his hat. “I’ll go saddle the horses.”
It tookthem two long days of hard riding to make it to the river. Alex wasn’t sure who was happier, the cowboys or the cattle.
She helped Isaac set up camp, listening to him mumble under his breath until her curiosity got the best of her. “What are you grumbling about, old man?”
