Page 31 of The Enchanted Land

He looked at her, his blue eyes clear in the lantern light. “Help me out of these wet clothes. I’m so tired I’m not sure I could get them off by myself.”

She was glad to be near him, glad to have him speaking to her again. As she removed his boots and then his wet socks, she kept asking herself where her pride was.

She dried his feet briskly, massaging the toes until some warmth returned to them. She unbuttoned his shirt.

Seth leaned back on his hands and suffered her ministrations as if he were a small boy. The front of the robe gaped open and he saw the rounding and the cleavage of her breasts. Her hair fell now, cascading around her shoulders and down her back. It glowed in the dim light.

As she finished unbuttoning his shirt, she put her arms around his waist so she could pull the shirt free of his pants. He looked down at the top of her head.

When she had removed his shirt, she began rubbing him with the towel, briskly so that he was warmed by the action.

Morgan was trying not to think of what she was doing, trying not to look at Seth’s massive arms and the mass of dark gold, curly hair on his chest. She rubbed the towel over his hard, flat, stomach muscles and on his back.

As she finished, Seth began unbuckling his belt to remove his pants.

“Seth,” she said hesitantly.

He grinned at her, knowing what she was about to say. “All right.” He took the towel from her.

Morgan sat on the bed as Seth removed his pants and began to dry off. His back was to her, and she tried not to look, but his body was beautiful, like the Greek statues of athletes she had seen in a Louisville museum. But Seth was about twice the size of the statues.

As she looked him over, he turned toward her, and she found herself staring at his manhood, something she had never seen before. She quickly looked away.

“My innocent little bride is quickly losing her innocence. Since you’ve told me whose kisses you like better, tell me—whose body do you like better?”

She had always tried to be friends with him. A few days ago she had thought maybe she could be in love with him. Now, because of one silly, accidental little kiss, he taunted her cruelly. All right, she could hate too.

“I like a gentleman better than an animal who can’t even be civil,” she spat.

“Well, the little girl drops her cloak of shyness. Tell me, miss, is there twenty-five thousand dollars to be collected for this marriage, or is that just another one of your stories? Possibly it was a ploy to get me to give a name to someone else’s bastard?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“It seems to me that ever since I met you, you have been teasing me, leading me slowly to your bed. You profess innocence, yet your kisses have a passion that belies innocence. It just occurred to me that maybe you are carrying a child, and that this little whore’s game of yours is a way to convince me that I am the father.”

Morgan listened in total astonishment. She said softly, “You have been around women like that too long. I will tell you this again, and if you do not believe me, then I cannot help it. I asked you to marry me so I could collect my inheritance, and for no other reason. I kissed you with such passion because, for a while, I thought I could love you. I am sorry I was such a fool. At the end of this year you will get your twenty-five thousand dollars, and I never want to see you again. Until that time, I suggest we stay away from one another as much as possible.” She turned from him.

“You are right. I don’t believe you. I think there is another reason why you trapped me into marrying you.” He took a step toward her, a towel about his hips. He grabbed her hair in his hand and jerked her head back. “From now on you will perform your wifely duties for me.”

She stared at him with hate and not a little fear. “Keep your hands off me.”

He laughed and released her head. “I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last woman on earth, but you are my property, and for the next year you will obey me. Now lie down.”

He laughed again at the fear in her eyes, but not as viciously as the last time. “Did you think I planned to sleep outside in this rain?”

She lay down, as far on the side of the cot as was possible. He removed his towel and stretched out beside her, naked. He pulled the blankets over them, and soon the rain lulled them to sleep.

Seth woke first in the morning. As he looked at her sleeping figure he smiled, and then remembered all he had said the night before. He wanted to kiss her, to hold her close, to make love to her. Then he remembered her with Joaquín. Feeling Morgan snuggle closer to him in her sleep, he slipped out of bed and dressed quickly.

Outside the air was wet and the ground muddy after the heavy rains. After a cold breakfast, they started the day’s miserable journey. Morgan gathered chips for the fire.

Joaquín met her in the twilight. “Ah, Morgan, I have been noticing that you look sadder than ever today. Is something wrong?”

Joaquín made her feel good. He noticed her, and cared about her moods.

“Here, let me help you with that.” He took the bucket of chips from her. “Remember, I am your friend.”

She looked at him and smiled. “Thank you. Everyone has been so kind, you and Jake and Frank and…” She finished uncertainly.

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