Darkness fell before the wagon broke out onto the plains, so we marooned in the foothills. Cut and I slept in the Conestoga, but the others merely toppled over in place once their jug was empty. I reached for Cut as soon as everyone was settled. “I want you,” I whispered in his ear. “I had hoped we would be alone.”
“Why does that matter?” he asked, pulling me to him. Nonetheless, I noticed he sought to muffle his exclamation of release when I took what I wanted.
Happy, I lay back on my blanket and sighed as his hand set me afire. Afterward, Cut left the wagon to look for signs of danger. He was back within an hour, rolling himself into our blankets and settling his big form beside mine.
* * * *
My back was virtually broken before everything was unloaded back at the meadow with the holl
