Page 32 of The Enchanted Land

“Your husband is a man of many conflicts. I’m not sure he knows how to love.”

“Montoya!”

They both turned to see Seth standing a few feet away.

“If you want to keep that dapper little body of yours in one piece, then you’ll stay away from my wife!”

Joaquín’s eyes flashed hatred for an instant, and then they cleared to hold amusement. “Goodnight, señor, señora.” He smiled at Morgan and left.

Seth glared at Morgan. “It seems I can’t leave you alone even for seconds.” He extended a hand and caressed the back of her neck.

His touch made her skin come alive. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. Seth groaned softly and removed his hand. “Let’s eat. Tomorrow we come to the Arkansas River, and we’ll need plenty of rest before crossing it.”

Seth told her that there were beginning to be signs of Indians, and he thought she’d be safer in the wagon. They’d all start taking turns soon with night watches.

Morgan undressed hurriedly and slipped into the voluminous nightgown. Seth walked in and caught a glimpse of his wife in front of the lantern, the light from which made the gown transparent. He had a sight of slim legs and a small waist, and then she slipped beneath the covers. He frowned and looked away. “Someday I’m going to tear off her damn clothes and see what she looks like,” he muttered under his breath.

“Did you say something?” Morgan asked from under the quilt.

“Just go to sleep.” His voice was gruff.

The Arkansas River was wide and shallow with no trees on either side. Yet there was an island in the middle covered with cottonwood trees.

They stopped early that night, ready to cross the river the next morning. Morgan began to think of a bath and washing her hair. She visualized herself in the water, feeling thoroughly clean for once.

Seth and Frank had gone ahead to look for signs of Indians. Only Jake and Joaquín were left with the wagons. If she hurried, she could have her bath before Seth returned.

Quickly she got soap and a towel together and then told Jake where she was going. She saddled a horse and left.

Seth and Frank returned to the camp some time later.

“No sign of Indians, yet,” Frank said in answer to Jake’s question, “but a lot of buffalo trails. You’d better get your frying pan ready for some buffalo steaks.”

“Where’s Morgan?” Seth stepped from behind their wagon.

Jake looked up from his cup of coffee. “She went over to that little island to take a bath.” He returned to his conversation with Frank.

Seth quickly made sure that Joaquín was in the camp. He was sitting a little aside from the fire, polishing the silver on his ornate saddle. When their eyes met, Joaquín gave Seth a knowing look.

Quickly, Seth straddled his horse and started toward the island. He made his way across the water slowly. He knew there wasn’t any danger now, but the idea of his little wife being alone so far from camp made him uneasy.

He led his horse across the sandy island to the far side and tied him near a clump of sweet grass. Morgan’s horse was closer to the shoreline. He smiled as he looked down and saw her clothes in a heap on the shore. He saw her a few feet away, standing waist-deep in the water, her back to him. Her hair was full of soap suds. He stepped back into the trees, in a shadow of the fading sunlight.

The sunlight glowed on her skin. It was the color of pale honey. He could hear her humming as she lathered her hair. She turned quickly and extended her arms to the water, and then went below the surface. Seth jerked upright from leaning against the tree, and his breath caught at his first glimpse of Morgan’s nude body.

No clothes on earth could hide a body like that. It must be a trick of the setting sun. Morgan had said herself that she had a boy’s body. That’s just the way she looked sometimes, too, like a young boy in a woman’s clothes. How could this lovely creature be his plain Morgan?

Seth stopped thinking when he realized he had not seen Morgan surface. Quickly he ran into the water toward the spot where he had last seen her. He saw one small hand above the surface. He dived under the water and caught her small body in his arms. Her foot was entangled between two logs. He twisted it and it came free.

He carried her to the beach and stretched her out on the sand. As she coughed up the water she had swallowed, she lay in his arms with her eyes closed, half-conscious and breathing jerkily.

She began to awaken, and found herself lying in Seth’s arms. It seemed to her, in that moment, that every time she needed help, Seth was there. She smiled up at him and snuggled her head closer to his chest. Seth was too astonished to smile back.

Something in Seth’s manner made her realize her situation. She sat up, trying to cover her breasts with her arms. “What happened? Seth, go away!” Her voice was frantic.

“Little wife, you need not try to cover anything—there’s nothing I haven’t seen.” Then, releasing her, he said, “I think you had better get dressed now, because you are very close to losing something other than your life.”

They slept in the wagon again that night.

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