Dawn peeked through the windows of the bedroom and Quinlan rolled over and hit a hard male chest. For a moment, panic rushed through her before she realized her husband slept beside her. The memory of sitting on the bed nervously awaiting him overcame her. 

They were married. She was his wife and it was her duty to submit to him, but last night exhaustion from the trip and the wedding overpowered her and she fell into a deep sleep. Maybe she should try to sneak out of bed before he woke. 

Glancing over to see if he was awake, the most stunning blue eyes stared at her, causing her heart to skip a beat. Last night, he'd been the one to put her in bed. A quick look confirmed she slept with her robe on. The man hadn't removed her clothing and that surprised her. 

"Good morning," he said, gazing at her as he hauled her against him. The touch of his hard-muscled chest against her was shocking as he pulled her in tightly. Fear spiraled through her, gripping her insides. This was it. Any minute, he would crawl on top of her and shove his man parts into her body. 

"Good morning," she said shyly.

"Last night, you were sound asleep when I came in from the barn. You must have been really tired from the train ride and the wedding."

"Yes, I didn't sleep well on the train."

"How about last night? How did you sleep?" he asked, his voice a deep rumble that sent tremors through her. 

All she remembered about last night was sitting down on the bed to wait for him to come in, anxiety making her tremble. The next thing she knew, it was morning and she had no recollection of him putting her to bed. 

"I'm sorry about falling asleep," she said, her voice low, wondering if he would begin to berate her for not having sex.

With a squeeze he held her. "You needed the rest. How about we get up and fix some breakfast. After that, we can make room for your clothes and things in the bedroom. And I wouldn't be a bit shocked if my mother and father don't drop in to check on us. Now that we're married, my mother is going to start counting the days until we announce you're expecting."

A gasp escaped from her lips as she gazed into his eyes that were understanding.

"I'm not being critical of Mother, but I'm trying to prepare you for what you can expect. It's never done with malicious intent, but rather because she cares about her family."

With no remembrances of her prior family except for the bad times, Quinlan didn't know what to foresee. Since a child, she had planned on being alone the rest of her life and now she was having to make some adjustments. 

"Yesterday, you promised me, we'd take it slow," she said against his chest. His skin felt smooth and warm and nice. Never before had she witnessed a man's naked body. Sometimes she hated her naiveté. It made her less than informed. But somehow she expected that would probably end very soon. 

"We will. Last night in all the wedding stuff, I was a little excited at the thought of us doing more. Let's wait until we're both ready."

How could she tell him she might not never be ready to experience her husband? 

"If we have time, could you take me to the schoolhouse? I'd like to see where I'll be teaching," she said, her hand on his chest, course dark hairs curled between her fingers. 

With a frown, he glanced away. Oh no, there was no building? She'd traveled all this way only to learn that there was no place for her to teach. The money Madam Wigg would donate to the school would be denied if she didn't have a dedicated place to educate the students. 

"The building needs some work and a thorough cleaning. Nothing that I can't repair."

What did that mean? From what she understood, it was nothing more than one room. 

"If possible, I'd like to start school the last of August," she said. "Do you think we can be ready by then?"

"We'll make it happen," he said. 

Leaning down, he kissed her on the lips and she gasped at the feel of his mouth on hers. A tremor of awareness rippled through her before he released her. 

"Come on, let's cook some eggs and do the chores before our company arrives."

When he climbed out of bed in his underwear, a hot flush spread across her cheeks. Never before had she witnessed a man undressed before. Swallowing, she quickly turned and looked away. How long would it take before they became comfortable with one another?

Will knew without a doubt his wife as an innocent. This morning in bed, she had blushed while he held her, and when he kissed her, she'd been tense as he moved his lips over hers. But then slowly, she responded and he realized it was going to take a while before he could bed Quinlan and for them both to enjoy the experience. 

Though he hadn't wanted or planned on this wedding, he wanted the marriage to work. 

So he left her in bed, leaving her alone to rise and prepare for the day. 

Fully dressed, she walked into the kitchen and watched him fry bacon. "You do realize I don't know how to cook."

"You're a teacher. I'm sure you'll be a fast learner."

Sitting across from him, she smiled. "How far did you go in school?"

Flipping the bacon in the pan, he said, "I finished all twelve years."

Actually, David pushed him to complete his education. Will would have quit and gone to work as a carpenter, but his brother encouraged, nagged, and even made a bet he couldn't finish his schooling. So he did.

"Good for you. What subject did you enjoy the most?"

A laugh escaped as he remembered his younger years. It all seemed so long ago. "Recess."

"Oh come on, there must have been something else?"

"Our teacher at the time was a man. Some of the older boys he took aside and taught us some analytical math skills and angles. Today, I use what he showed me doing my carpentry."

Nodding, she said, "Where are the plates? I'll get them."

As he pointed her to a cabinet, she hurried over and pulled the dishes out and set the plates next to the stove. Then she found the silverware and placed the utensils on the table. 

As she bustled around the kitchen, he watched her skirts swishing back and forth and thought he wanted to get use to this. Being together every day. 

After he drained the bacon, he broke a couple of eggs and fried them in the pan.

"Why didn't you continue your schooling?" she asked. 

Will wasn't ready to tell her about his brother David, the reason his life had been forever altered. Eventually, he would tell her. But not until he felt more confident his story wouldn't send her running out the door, catching the first train back to New York. 

"Life changed. I made the decision it would be better for me to stay here and help my parents," he said. 

Will only stayed through the funeral, making certain his mother was all right before he went in search of the men who had destroyed his security and killed his brother. Maybe the best thing would be to turn this around and ask her questions.

"How long did you live at the orphanage?"

A quick glance, her emerald eyes shining with anxiety before she stared at her eggs. "Since I was seven."

An uneasiness reflected in her gaze. What happened that even today caused fear to appear when asked about her past?

After sliding the eggs onto the plates, he carried them to the table. "What happened to your mother and father?"

"They died," she said, cutting up her eggs and diving into her food, not looking up at him. "This is good."

"Thank you," he said, wanting to ask her about their deaths, but feeling like he'd hit a wall. Why didn't she want to talk about the tragedy that had befallen her family? Twenty years had passed, and he thought she could speak about it by now. "Why didn't other family members take you in?"

Lifting her eyes, the look on her face was one of horror. "The best thing that ever happened to me was being taken to the orphanage. There was food to eat, other children, and so many books. Mother never kept enough books on hand for me."

Why did she circumvent his question? Unless no one wanted her. What happened to make someone not take this woman in as a child?

"What about your childhood? Have you always lived in Zenith," she asked and he recognized she was using the same diversion tactics. 

Leaning back in his chair, he grinned at the woman he married. No one could ever accuse her of being dumb. "No, we moved here from Pennsylvania when I was five. My father wanted to start someplace fresh. And here we are."

"Nice," she said. "Are there any local Indian tribes in the area? Have you ever seen an Indian?"

He almost spewed his coffee. Now why in the world would she ask about the tribes around here?

"Yes," he said. "Most of them now live on reservations, but a few still hang around."

Her face became animated. "I’ve been studying the Apache and Comanches. If possible, I would love to visit one of the villages or speak to someone about their tribe. Until we robbed them of their land, killed off their food, and infected them with our diseases, they appeared a peaceful band. How can you blame them for not liking us very much?"

Will didn't disagree with her, but there were two sides to every story. The last thing he wanted was for his wife to be out scouting for Indian tribes to study. Most of them wanted the white man to know very little about their way of life and he understood why. 

"The Indians also killed a lot of people for homesteading. Do you know the tale of Cynthia Ann Parker? Somewhere around here, I have a book on her life. I'll find it so you can read her true story."

Watching her, he could see the excitement building in her eyes. "Go find the book and I'll wash the dishes. While you're working outside, I will unpack and then I want to start reading."

When she became excited about something, she was adorable. At the thought of reading, her eyes had filled with warmth and already she was jumping up to do the dishes. Unfortunately, he heard a buggy rattle up the driveway and if he was a betting man, he’d bet it was his parents. 

"Well, honey, while you may want to read, I think you're going to need to put that off for a little while," he said, gazing out the window.

"Why?"

"Because my parents just drove up. A word of advice. When my mother asks you about the wedding night, tell her it was great. She wouldn't understand that I let you catch up on your rest last night."

A frown gathered between her eyes. "Really? That's an interfering mother. You think she would ask me about last night?” 

Oh, this innocent woman had no idea about his mother. "Yes, I do. I knew you were smart."

Just then his mother ran inside, not bothering to knock as she said to Quinlan. "Good morning, dear. How are you this fine morning? How was your wedding night?"

Will busted out laughing as his wife's mouth dropped open. Staring in shock, she gazed at him. "The best night of my life."

Shocked his wife would say that, he winked at her, pleased at her response. 

"The last time I slept so soundly, I can't remember," she said grinning at her husband.

Oh no, how would his mother take that information. 

For a moment, she frowned and looked confused and she glanced back at Will. "The two of you had a long day, and after being alone with my son, no wonder you were exhausted."

"Never slept better," Quinlan said smiling.

After Will's parents left, he went out to the barn to do some work. Afterward, they were going to the schoolhouse, if it wasn't too late. In the meantime, Quinlan had unpacked her trunk and now sat reading the book about Cynthia Parker's life. 

What a fascinating tale that had her deeply entrenched until someone knocked on the door. Glancing around, she was uncertain if she should answer the door, but realizing this was her home now, and as its mistress, she should be polite.

Rising, she went to the door and opened it. Four women stood outside smiling at her.

"Hello, we wanted to meet the new teacher, bring you food, and welcome you to the community," a pregnant woman with long red hair said as she strolled through the open door like she did this every day.

"Hi," Quinlan said stunned. "Thank you so much."

"Meg Gillespie," she said, holding out her hand. "This is my sister Annabelle Samuels, my youngest sister Ruby Culver, and her student, Dora Tennyson." The woman had to be in the later stages of her pregnancy, but Dora was a student? From her looks she appeared older than Quinlan. 

"Explain to me how you are still a pupil," she said, gazing at the woman confused. 

The other ladies all laughed. "I run a school for bounty hunters," Ruby said, placing a dish on a nearby table. "We teach men and women how to help law enforcement catch criminals. Only they get paid to do it."

"Even women? How interesting," Quinlan said. "Please sit down and tell me all about your bounty hunting academy."

"Oh, thank you," Meg said, dropping onto the sofa. "This is my third pregnancy and this baby feels like he's going to be a big one.” After a breath, she continued. “At one time, we all made a living as bounty hunters, but now Ruby and her husband have a school where people can learn the profession."

Quinlan had never heard of a school like this and she was intrigued. Women bounty hunters? 

Ruby sank down next to her sister. "Dora is learning how to accurately shoot a pistol, track, and get information about the criminal she's hunting. She's also being educated about the laws that prohibit her from using her knowledge for evil. Though I'm not so sure she's going to listen to me on that score."

All eyes turned to Dora. Why was this lovely woman interested in chasing outlaws?

"My money and my husband are gone. Not much worth keeping."

"Oh," Quinlan said, thinking she was new to marriage and hearing this story left her uneasy.

A frown scurried across Meg's face. "Now, Quinlan, you're a newlywed. Those first few months of marriage before the children start to arrive, they were so much fun."

The kind of fun the woman referred to, she had yet to experience. Could the marriage bed be a place of enjoyment?

Reaching over, Annabelle laid her hand on Quinlan's hand. "Tell us about yourself. My daughter will soon be school age and I've worried so much about her getting the right education. We're happy you're here."

"When I was seven, I was taken to the Wigg School and Foundling Home where I lived until last week. There I was given the best schooling available to young women," Quinlan said with pride.

If people would only focus on her education and not her background, her life would be so much simpler. Forget that she was an orphan and concentrate on her achievement. A certified teacher. 

"What made you decide to come out west," Meg said, leaning back trying to get comfortable. 

The woman's stomach protruded, making her look miserable. All that extra weight was centered right in her middle. 

"Well, the school is closing and Madam Wigg has offered to give all of us who start schools a stipend once our schools are established."

"That's wonderful," Dora said. "My parents sent me to one of those fancy all girl academies back east and look what that got me. A cheating husband who brought me out west and dumped me."

A tremor rattled through Quinlan as she thought of her childhood. Now she was married. How would she react if Will cheated on her? Like her father? And poor Dora, her husband had stolen her money and left her? No wonder the woman wanted revenge. 

"Do you ladies know how many students I can expect? Will is going to take me to the school building either later today or tomorrow."

Everyone but Dora grimaced and shook their heads. 

"Oh honey, if anyone can fix that shack, your new husband can. He's quite the carpenter."

To hear praise about her husband, Quinlan smiled as her insides warmed as she thought of Will. 

"Look at her, she's blushing," Ruby said. "Oh, remember those honeymoon days."

"Nope," Dora said. "Mine were never like what you're describing."

"At the most twenty kids, though many may live too far from town to come every day. Their ages will range from six years all the way to sixteen, and as always, at least one troublemaker in the group," Annabelle said. 

The woman laughed "In years past, I would say her name was Ruby McKenzie, but she's grown and is a mother now."

"Thanks, Annabelle," Ruby said exasperated. "The boys were willing to pay me coin to let them kiss me and I was happy to take their money."

Swallowing the gasp that threatened to escape, Quinlan coughed a little. "Every school has at least one child who acts out and I'm sure this one will be no different."

Even at the orphanage, there were students who had discipline problems that sometimes Madam Wigg needed to handle. But now Quinlan was prepared to deal with children who should be punished since she would be in charge of everything.

Their student, Dora, gazed at her. "What happened to your parents? Influenza, a small-pox epidemic?"

"Accident." There was no way she would tell these woman about her family. The shame, the sorrow, the unbelief, were still hard to fathom. Now with her own marriage, she prayed her new husband would never act like her father. 

The woman's mouth dropped open. "I'm so sorry."

"Actually, it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me, though I missed my mother something terrible. At the orphanage, there was food, shelter, other girls, books and education. Sometimes the worst things that happen turn out to be perfect for you." She paused. "Who knows, Dora, maybe discovering your husband is a thief will somehow work to your advantage."

"You may be right. Especially, after I find him. Don't worry, he won't be around for long," the woman said, pushing back her blonde hair. 

Ruby shook her head at her pupil. "Even as a bounty hunter, you can't take the law in your hands."

"Maybe not, but there are other ways," Dora said. 

"Ladies, we're overstaying our welcome. Time to take me and this baby home. Must be a girl because she's kicking like she's throwing a tantrum," Meg said standing.

The idea of a baby girl having a fit inside Meg's stomach made Quinlan smile. She knew nothing about expectant women and carrying a child. It was fascinating to hear Meg talk about her pregnancy. 

The other women stood as Quinlan rose, knowing she was sad to see these ladies leave. The women were amusing and she missed her sisters from the orphanage. She longed for female companionship. 

A loud curse filled the room and then the slamming of the door. Quinlan froze. Was it starting? Her father had loved to embarrass her mother in front of visitors. 

The memories overwhelmed her as Will came into the room limping, she moved behind Dora, hoping he would not hit her in front of her new friends.

Will stopped and glanced around at their guests, his eyes widening at the sight of the women. "Hello, ladies. Sorry, I stubbed my toe and I didn't know we had company."

"Congratulations," they all said laughing. 

"If that had been my husband, Beau, something worse would have slipped from between his lips."

Standing behind Dora, Quinlan noticed her hands were shaking as Will tilted his head to gaze at her, his eyes questioning. He seemed jovial, not hateful, not even upset. 

Annabelle stepped in front of Will. "Make certain that school building is in good condition before Quinlan starts teaching. Maybe it would be a good idea for her to take target lessons with Ruby."

With a nod, he replied, "I plan on watching very carefully over my wife. The target lessons are not a bad idea. Please come back to see us."

"You married the teacher and we have a whole passel of children. You're going to be seeing a lot of us," Meg said.

Will walked to her side, and her heart pounded in her chest as she expected a blow any moment. For a second, she closed her eyes and then felt his arm wrap around her as he pulled her against him. When she opened her eyes, she stared into the sparkling depth of his blue eyes as he smiled at her.

"Come visit us anytime and bring your husbands. My wife and I would enjoy the company."

Shocked, Quinlan forced a smile on her face as the women all walked out the door. "Bye."

Standing at the door with his arm around her, they waved goodbye.

"Soon, you could be looking like Meg," he said.

Terror gripped her chest. Yes, she wanted children, but before they could have children, they would need to have sex and that frightened her almost as much as she feared his fists.