Page 49 of Teton Sunrise

The most exhilarating feeling had swept through her after Alex told her he wanted her to share his blankets. She would truly be his wife in all ways now. He told her he loved her. His kisses and embrace spoke louder than his words. Evelyn was giddy with happiness up until they rode into camp, and Alex seemed to close up again. She wasn’t sure how she should react, or whether her forward behavior would be considered inappropriate. She had no experience in these matters. Everything she’d always heard was that in a marriage, the man was to be in charge and lead in the matters of intimacy.

Alex reappeared with a pile of furs and blankets, and laid them out on top of what was already there.

“I’ll be nearby. Don’t worry about anything.” He pulled her into his arms, and Evelyn melted against him.

“I told you already, I’m not afraid when you’re near,” she said huskily, and wrapped her arms around his middle. His chest heaved, then he lowered his mouth to hers. Evelyn parted her lips, hoping he’d kiss her again the way he’d done before they returned to camp.

“Ya sure ya don’t want Laurent or me to take first watch?” Jasper’s voice came out of the darkness. He chuckled loudly.

“Go,” Evelyn whispered, resigning herself to the fate of a cold bed. She didn’t want to appear as a wanton, although she would have much rather held Alex back and begged him to stay with her. Silently, she conceded that being in such close proximity of the other men would not be a good way to share intimate moments with her husband.

My husband! For the first time, Evelyn truly thought of Alex as her husband. Her heart swelled, and she couldn’t wait to begin the rest of her life with him. She had a lot to learn about living in the wilderness, but she had no doubt she would be happy. Just as Aimee Osborne was happy and raised a family alongside her husband, she could do the same. Aimee had even told her that she saw her as capable of living here.

Alex left her side in silence after his hands lingered at her waist. Evelyn sank to her knees on the pile of furs and untied the leather thong in her hair. A slight shiver ran down her spine, not from the cold, but from anticipation of Alex returning in a few hours. Her skin tingled from the memory of him holding her in a protective embrace while they rode back to camp.

After working her fingers through the knots in her hair, she quickly rebraided it and coiled the leather around the end. She crawled under the thick buffalo robe, and stared wide-eyed up at the stars twinkling high above. Minutes later, she rolled to her side and punched her hand against the blanket that served as her pillow.

Unable to sleep, she pulled her knees up to her belly and listened to the soft cracking and popping sounds of the fire. An owl hooted in a nearby tree, and the crickets and frogs kept up their loud cadenced chorus. The day’s events raced through her mind. Evelyn suddenly realized how close to death she had come not once, but twice in one day. And both times, Alex had been there to rescue her, just like he’d rescued her from a mob of eager trappers, and many years ago when he defended her against Charlie. Evelyn inhaled a deep breath, and blinked away the tears that pooled in her eyes. She couldn’t dwell on the past. Her family was gone, but she had a husband who loved her and protected her, and she had to move on.

Loud snores from the opposite side of the campfire mixed with the sounds of the night. Evelyn squeezed her eyes shut, and the more she wished for sleep to overtake her, the more awake she became. Memories of Alex kissing her, holding her, telling her that he loved her wouldn’t allow her mind any rest. When Laurent grunted and stirred under his blankets, and muffled voices reached her ear, her heart pounded in her chest. Had she lain awake for two hours already? Would Alex come to her now and expect his rights as her husband?

Evelyn bit her lower lip. It’s what you want. You want to be his wife in all ways. She wouldn’t refuse him. She was ready for him this time, unlike the previous night when he’d startled her awake. Her heart raced with anticipation of what was to come. She only hoped that she wouldn’t disappoint him.

The covers behind her lifted slightly, and Evelyn held her breath. She hadn’t even heard Alex approach. Every nerve ending on her skin snapped to awareness of the man who slid under the covers next to her. Perspiration beaded on her forehead, and she wished she wasn’t under the heavy buffalo robe. It had become much too hot all of a sudden.

Evelyn exhaled slowly. She scarcely dared to breathe. Nothing happened. Alex remained immobile a few inches from her. His body heat burned right into her. He rolled to his side, facing away from her, and sudden tears spilled from her eyes. Crying silently, she swallowed her disappointment, and stared into the darkness. As exhausted as she was from the day’s events, sleep would be a long time coming.

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