Page 137 of The Enchanted Land

At dinner, Morgan again refused to leave Adam. Seth saw the alarm and fear in her eyes and he agreed. He, too, was not completely satisfied that Adam was really well.

Seth and Lupita ate dinner alone and enjoyed talking about the Colter ranch. Seth was entertained by the stories of Morgan’s pregnancy.

As Seth led Lupita to her room, they stopped to look in on Adam. Morgan lay curled up on the cot.

“No, don’t wake her.” Seth put a restraining hand on Lupita’s arm. “Let her sleep.”

“She should sleep in her own bed. There is no need for her to stay in here all night. Her son is fine.”

“Let her stay. She needs the reassurance that he’s well. When she wakes, she’ll see him. Then she won’t worry.”

“Someday you will remember my words.”

“Lupita, did I ever tell you how pretty you are when your eyes flash like that?”

“You!” She couldn’t stop her giggle. How easy it was for this big handsome man to reduce her to an eighteen-year-oldseñorita!

Lupita fell asleep quickly, but Seth tossed about in his big empty bed for a long time.

The sun was barely up when Seth awoke. He pulled on some pants and padded towards Adam’s room. Morgan was asleep, one arm hanging off the side of the cot. He kissed her mouth. Her eyes fluttered open. Seeing Seth so close to her, she put her arms up to him, pulling him closer. As his lips fastened onto hers, she heard Adam’s plaintive voice: “Mama. Mama.”

Instantly, she was wide awake. She rolled quickly away from Seth to the other side of the cot and went to comfort her son.

Seth laughed. “I never thought my own son would become my enemy.”

Morgan’s face was serious. “He’s still a very sick child. He needs me.”

Seth turned away. “I need you, too,” he whispered. He looked back, chiding himself for his selfishness. “I’m going to take Lupita home. It’ll be a slower trip than before, so I’ll probably be gone for at least a week.”

Morgan was hardly listening. “You want something to eat, Adam? Lupita made some apple juice for you.”

“Morgan, did you hear what I said?”

“Something about a week?”

“I’m going to be gone a week, to take Lupita back to the ranch.”

“Yes. Well, don’t leave before I say goodbye to Lupita. I owe her a great deal.” She turned back to Adam.

Seth left the room angrily. Just when I thought things were going well, she doesn’t even seem to know I’m alive. I liked it better when my presence made her throw things.

Morgan ate breakfast with Adam while Lupita and Seth ate downstairs. Seth avoided all discussions about Morgan. One of the hands hitched a wagon while Lupita said her goodbyes. Morgan wanted the older woman to stay in case Adam’s fever returned, but this time Lupita didn’t even argue with her. She shrugged. Let the young ones solve their own problems, she thought.

“I am glad I do not have to ride a horse again.” She frowned, as though in pain.

“After two days on this thing, you’ll wish you had a soft saddle to sit on.”

They traveled for two days in the springless wagon, over hole-riddled roads. When they reached the ranch, at sunset on the second day, they were hot and dirty and tired.

Jake and Paul ran to meet them. Seth picked up the little man and whirled him around. His grip nearly crushed Jake’s frail body. “Just as skinny as he always was. When’s he gonna get some muscles? He looks like a girl.”

Paul shook the big man’s hand. “I reckon the boy’s all right.”

Seth beamed. “Thanks to Lupita here.” He put his arm around her ample shoulders.

Embarrassed, Lupita pushed his hand away. “You be careful or you might hurt yourself, trying to get your arms around me.”

“Hurt myself! Why, Lupita, you’re no bigger than a tadpole.”

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