Whatever the women found humorous made them laugh harder when they looked toward where he and Ryan sat. The peals of laughter continued while he watched Patricia and Mae stagger toward the campfire only to collapse onto the collapsed tree trunk.

Ryan shook his head. "Women! They cry one minute and laugh the next. Such emotional beautiful creatures are they not?"

With a smile, John nodded in agreement. "My sisters always kept me guessing. I have two, who seemed to hate and love each other from one moment to the next on a daily basis. My father always told me to just agree with them when they were in a state and leave from around them as quickly as possible."

"You're father is a wise man," Ryan replied eyeing the women who'd quieted and attempted to hide their smiles behind their hands. "Care to share what you find so funny?" Ryan asked, only to have the women to begin laughing anew. "Yes, best to leave them be."

John watched Mae wipe tears away as she attempted once more to stop giggling. He'd never heard her laughter. It was a sweet, musical tone. And he wasn't aware she had such deep dimples in her cheeks. If he thought her beautiful before, now flushed and eyes sparkling, she was breathtaking. The stubborn woman caught him looking at her and pressed her lips together, instantly sobering. Patricia looked to him as well, and she continued to smile. "I'm sorry, we can't share it's something only women would find funny." Mae nodded in agreement, although she no longer smiled.

Ryan cleared his throat and motioned to John with his head. "Go on now. Spend some time with your wife, talk to her. Show her some affection." The man was intent on giving him advice on how to make amends with Mae. He'd informed him he was not demonstrative enough and did not show Mae sufficiently how he felt about her. John almost told Ron the truth just to put a stop to the marriage advice. Not deterred, the clergyman insisted on using his experience of ten years of marriage to help.

John stood and went to Mae. "How about we go for a short walk dear?" He asked, half expecting her refusal. Instead she looked to Patricia as if for permission or advice.

Ryan's wife pursed her lips and gave Mae a soft nudge. "Go on Mae. Listen to what your husband has to say."

Mae stood and attempted to move ahead. John took her hand in his and held her back to walk beside him. Her eyes were full of questions when they lifted to his. It wasn't surprising to him when she remained quiet. She was still angry.

When they moved out of earshot, he stopped and turned to her. "I'm going to kiss you Mae."

"What?" She looked over to where the Jacobs sat and back to him. "Why?"

"Ryan is worried I'm neglecting my husbandly duties." Without preamble, not giving her an opportunity to protest, he leaned to her and pressed his lips against her. Her lips were soft against his. When he pulled back, she watched him with narrowed eyes. His heart quickened when her eyes flitted to his lips.

"I'm sorry Mae," he maintained eye contact with her. "I should have told you earlier about my situation. Explained it so there were no misunderstandings between us later. I was wrong not to be fully honest with you. Let's just get through these two weeks. We should be in Texas by then. By month's end, we will arrive where your father lives. Afterwards, we'll continue our separate ways."

"Stop apologizing John. We don't have to speak of it any longer," Mae told him flatly. "It doesn't matter. You didn't have to share anything with me. I have no right to be angry with you. Your private life is your own. And you are correct; after this week, we may never cross paths again, so let's forget about it."

The words should have made him feel better, but instead hollowness lodged in his chest and he couldn't think of an appropriate reply. She linked her hand through his arm. "Let's go back and eat. I'm tired and want to go to sleep early."

He didn't budge. "I'm glad you've become friends with Patricia Jacobs. Perhaps you two can remain friends in Texas."

Mae nodded. "Perhaps. They are not going to be living too far from my father's ranch. I haven't decided how much time I will remain there. I don't plan to stay long enough to make any friends. But I do feel a kinship with Patty and hope we will continue our friendship no matter if I return to Virginia."

He could only nod, not sure he could speak. That her words affected him so much surprised him. In a few days, they'd part ways and it should be a welcome relief. Instead he dreaded the day they went in separate directions. Her face was still flushed from laughing, a stunning sight, and he pulled her into his arms half expecting her to resist. With a soft sigh, she laid her cheek against his chest and slumped against him. It felt right, having her there and for a few moments they remained silent, the only sound the subtle breeze rustling the leaves overhead.

"If you need anything Mae, don't hesitate to send someone into town to find me. I will remain there for a few days until I take care of some business." His voice sounded husky in his ears, emotion filled.

She pulled back and arched a brow, the curve of her lips an enticing sight. "I won't John. You have to find your family and start your new life. My father is ill, and I don't foresee any problems. Just in case, if for whatever reason there is any kind of trouble, I will buy the stagecoach fare and return to Virginia."

They walked back to where the Jacobs sat, both sets of eyes locked to their hands which they held. Then Patricia gave them a wide smile and turned to Ryan who nodded approvingly at John. If they only knew. What he and Mae had just done was say good-bye.

"Is your father expecting you?" John asked Mae as they lay in the dark wagon the following night. "Is there someone there to greet you besides him? Ensure your safety?"

Mae sighed. "Yes, John. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you're worried about me with all the questions you're asking." She chuckled softly. "Miss Lady wrote them to tell them of my arrival. And yes, there is someone, a woman named Elma, who is taking care of him, his caretaker. Now let's sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day." Seeming more at ease now with his presence alongside her at night, she placed her hand on his shoulder. "Good night John."

He turned toward Mae and warm breath caressed his face. "I do worry about you. I care Mae."

The need to taste her became unbearable. John gave in, did not have the strength to resist the temptation. When he kissed her this time, it was impossible to stop. Yet reason left and all he knew was if he didn't hold her one last time to touch her and feel her softness against him, rest would not come on this night.

Mae must have felt the same way by the urgency by which she returned the kiss. The world could have gone up in flames and he would not have noticed. He wrapped his arms around her waist anchoring them against the too strong current.

Mae's hands slid over his shoulders to wrap around his neck and released a soft moan from deep in her throat. Any thought vacated, and all he knew was this woman represented everything he'd dreamed of since the day he'd first lay eyes on her. Mae felt exactly the way he'd known she would, fitting perfectly against him, her softness against his hardness, yielding and giving to his taking.

The heat in the small space became intense and their mouths refused to separate. The exploration of each other was far too enticing to draw back from.

The river of temptation began to pull him under until he couldn't breathe. John stopped kissing her, and closed his eyes holding Mae against him while he waiting for their breathing to stabilize. How could he ever let her go? This feeling with her was like no other he'd experienced. A loud sigh escaped him, and he began to trail kisses from her neck, to her throat, then back to her jawline only to stop when he tasted the salt of her tears on her face.

"Don't cry Mae, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…" She placed fingers over his mouth stopping his words.

"Please don't say this was a mistake. I don't want to hear any remorse. Not tonight."

She released a heavy sigh and pushed her face into the crook of his neck. While holding her against him, he urged her face up to his. "It's not a mistake Mae, and I'm not sorry this kiss happened. I will never forget how you make me feel tonight. Thank you." He kissed her again this time a soft kiss, which he hoped, conveyed all he felt.

He continued to hold her, her head on his chest until she fell asleep, while he stared up into the darkness.

In her sleep, a shaky exhalation sounded, and he soothed Mae again. His heart pitched in his chest when she wrapped her hand around his arm as if ensuring he remained there with her.

He would for this night. He would stay forever, If only he could get past knowing she'd slept with many faceless men, exchanging her enticing body for money. Not to mention, not only did he have the weight of having to find his child hanging over him, a feeling of foreboding he could not shake loomed over him. The pain in his leg was back, constant like before. For some reason, he felt as if his life would be affected by the injury, perhaps even killing him.

"You and the missus seem to be doing better," Ryan told John the next morning when they shared a cup of coffee. Dang if he didn't blush at the remark. John could only shake his head when the other man laughed at him. "We are."

"Good morning." Mae neared the coffee pot and poured a cup and then joined him on the log. Dressed in a simple blue muslin dress, with her hair in a braid down her back, she looked to be at ease, her face peaceful. She offered to refill their cups, and they held them out for her. For a moment, he allowed himself to believe she was in actuality his wife. His alluring partner.

When she blushed at his regard and smiled at him, his chest expanded with pride.

The next week passed easily. Each night they'd developed an easy routine of discussing different experiences in their lives. This evening John lay on his back with an arm under his head he looked to her. "Who's taking care of your business while you're away?" He asked.

"Miss Lady and her daughter Lucinda will take good care of it. James helps with the books, so I'm not worried. Thankful actually to have three people I trust inherently." She began to explain the logistics of her business and astounded him speechless. She was an acute businesswoman who kept a close eye on expenses, balanced her ledgers routinely and ensured the needs of every person who worked for her was taken care of.

"I'm impressed," he admitted. "I'd need years of training before I could take over my father's business. You could walk in and take over immediately."

Mae chuckled. "I doubt it would take you years. Many months maybe."

They laughed, and John wondered if this was how a husband and wife spent their nights. He'd overheard the Jacobs' laughter on occasion, and it assured him to see that he and Mae too seemed to enjoy their hours alone.

The routine suited him more than he expected, and John had to admit he cherished their nights alone and the closeness they shared. The only difference in the passing days was he never kissed Mae again, not since the night when things had almost gone too far. Once one of them became groggy with sleep, they'd say goodnight and he'd roll to sleep to his side, his back to her.

Days later when they crossed the Texas border, Mae become more withdrawn, and he gave her space. She needed to prepare herself for what was to come. She'd not mentioned her father again, which made him wonder if she would turn right around and return to Virginia once rested from her travels.

Dread loomed. Somehow he knew once separated from Mae, his life would change and not for the better.