Page 26 of The Enchanted Land

She took Joaquín’s arm and he escorted her back to the wagons.

The next day Frank took over Morgan’s shooting lessons. Seth avoided her.

One day as Joaquín and Morgan returned from a spring, both laughing, Seth met them on the pathway. His eyes showed amusement.

“My little wife seems to enjoy your company, Joaquín. She is usually not so friendly with men.”

Joaquín looked from one to another. “Morgan is an enjoyable person. I envy any man with such a wife. Excuse me, I have some things I need to do before our journey tomorrow.”

Silently, Morgan started down the path. Seth walked beside her.

“Look at that!” Seth pointed to the trees.

“I don’t see anything.”

Seth moved behind her, his hands on her shoulders, and turned her to see a brilliant, red cardinal sitting quietly on a branch. They both smiled.

“I was just going for a walk. After all day on a horse, it feels good to stretch my legs. Want to come?”

She smiled up at him. He stretched his hand to her and she took it.

“Come on, then.” They ran, Morgan stumbling along behind to keep up with him.

“This greenness reminds me of Kentucky. But we’ll leave it behind soon enough.”

“Tell me more about New Mexico. Is it really flat and barren?”

“It’s not flat at all. To some people it seems barren, but I don’t think of it that way. The deserts and the mountains have always seemed like enchanted places to me.”

They rounded a curve in the stream to a secluded area where the trees overhung the banks.

“That water looks good after the dust of the trail. I think I’ll take a swim. Like to join me?” His eyes twinkled.

Before she could answer, Seth had removed his boots and shirt. His muscles were enormous and stood out easily. Morgan watched, fascinated.

As he started to remove his pants, she gasped, “Seth…” He smiled, “Remember,mi querida, we are married. I see nothing wrong in undressing in front of one’s wife. Anyway, you could turn your head.”

She turned to stare at a tree trunk behind her until she heard a loud splash.

“The water’s so warm. Sure you won’t join me?”

She longed to get into the water, to get rid of the trail dust. Sponge baths in the wagon never got her really clean.

“No, I’ll just sit on the bank and put my feet in.” She watched as Seth swam a ways down the creek. His back and arms were powerful in the water. She could see him clearly as he glided across the water: his arms and back, and then tapering to his buttocks and the tops of his thighs. Morgan shivered as she watched. She did not go in. Seth returned a bit later, and she walked ahead as he dressed.

“It’s all right. You can come back now. I won’t shock you any longer.” His hand reached out for hers. “Sit down a minute—I’d like to dry off.” He had not put his shirt back on but was using it to towel his wet hair.

She sat down, leaning against a tree. Seth sat beside her, then turned and lay his head in her lap. He closed his eyes.

“Seth, talk to me about you. You know so much about me. Jake has told me about you, but I want you to tell me about yourself.”

His hands were crossed on his chest. She moved a hand to remove a leaf from his stomach and then left her hand there. His skin was so warm. Her other hand twisted a curl of his hair, now very gray in the sunlight.

“What did Jake tell you about me?” Seth was keenly aware of Morgan’s hands.

“He said he didn’t think you had ever been in love, that you only used women.” She paused. “And he said there were lots of women who wanted you to marry them.”

Seth smiled. “I guess that’s true. But I figure most women want to get married. I just happened to be single.” He snuggled his head deeper into her lap, and his hands covered hers, both pairs of hands lying on his chest.

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