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Sam loaded the dead man on the wagon and took him out in the field. When he returned it was time for dinner. Shauna fed the baby and put him down to sleep. She and Haya put the meal out and waited for Sam.
He sauntered in through the front door, his tousled hair backlit by the sun as he filled the doorway. He had the jug that he and Shauna shared the night before.
“I realize it’s the middle of the day but if you don’t mind, I am indulging,” he announced.
Haya took her cup from her place and held it out for him to fill.
“Yes ma’am,” he smiled. “Shauna?”
She hesitated. She looked at him with a slight scold. She felt bad being contrary for that in light of what they just went through.
“It’s the middle of the day,” she said in a whisper.
“It’s okay you can trust me. There are plenty of things that can be done in the middle of the day and sometimes out in the open, like say by a creek or what have you,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.
Shauna giggled. Haya actually smiled. Which told Shauna that she knew. Shauna blushed. The heat burned her cheeks. Sam and Haya burst out laughing. It was the first time Shauna had ever known Haya to laugh. Haya took the jug and filled her cup.
The liquid was strangely delicious and calming.
“I could get used to this,” she remarked. She licked her lips.
“Hey now,” he said. “Just a little bit there. My mother said it’s good for mothers feeding babies.”
Shauna realized sitting at the table having a meal with her husband and her best friend, she was having fun. Not just for the first time she had been to Montana but maybe since she was grown.
“Do you reckon there will be others trying to get money from you?” said Shauna.
“There may or there may not,” said Sam.
“I don’t want my foolishness to –” she choked.
The full breadth of how she had been taken in was upon her in the forms of tears she had to choke back.
“How have you been foolish?” he asked her.
“Well I married a man who –” she stopped.
Haya nodded and left them alone.
“No wait,” Shauna said. “Finish your meal. Please. We have no secrets between us. I have a baby by a man –.”
“You were married to. He widowed you. Now you’re remarried,” said Sam. “I got nothing to be ashamed of. Neither does anyone in this house. That boy in there is my boy. I’ll be God damn if anyone takes him away or you. Just look what happened to the last person who tried.”
He took hold of her tenderly.
“Now, the only foolishness is this right here. As your husband I order you to knock it off,” he said affectionately.
“I will,” she said.
“There’s a lot to get used to around here, is there not? Let’s eat woman.”
Chapter Ten
After supper, Sam took Shauna aside.
“I am thinking you and I should take a ride and show Mrs. Bishop the bridge on the property,” he said with lazy affection.
“Bridge?” asked Shauna confusedly.
