need to know how to shoot them for my protection.”
He relaxed his posture. “Bears are unlikely. Coyotes usually run when they catch wind of humans and I haven’t seen a mountain lion around here. But I’ll teach you how to use my shotgun, rifle and pistol, okay? Next time I go huntin’ you can come along.” He studied her. “Anything else I need to put in my teacher’s lessons?”
“How to rope?”
“Sure. But I don’t see that you’ll have much use for that.”
“How to cuss like a cowboy?”
“Yep.”
“How to brand and doctor calves and all the weird cow stuff?”
He snickered and kissed her nose. “You sayin’ cow stuff busts my gut every damn time.”
Dinah smirked at him. “I like that you’re not laughing at me, McKay.”
“Never.” He shifted on the bed, knocking into the bundle she’d tucked under the pillow. “What’s that?”
“My bedclothes.” Her cheeks warmed again. “I didn’t know what to do with them.”
“Don’t need to hide them from me, sweetheart. I’ll be seein’ them soon enough.”
Her heart hammered. No man had ever seen her bare. And she wasn’t sure if she was just supposed to get ready for bed while he watched or if it’d be better if she undressed privately.
“I see the questions in those pretty eyes. It’s about us sleepin’ together, ain’t it?
She nodded.
“I know you haven’t been with a man before. Showing me your body before sharin’ it with me is a big step. I told you we wouldn’t turn this into a marriage bed until you’re ready…even if that means I gotta wait until we’re actually hitched.” Silas pressed his mouth to the side of her neck, for more of those kisses and licks that caused her to wiggle like a worm on a hook. “But that don’t mean we can’t touch each other and learn how to be lovers.” He blew in her ear and gooseflesh erupted. “Let go of them nerves. You’re beautiful and I can’t wait to get my hands and mouth all over this body. But I’d never pressure you for it to happen before you’re ready. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Now, since I already took my boots off and I’m in for the night, I’ll crawl in bed while you head to the outhouse. I’ll keep my back turned until you tell me you’re ready. Sound fair?”
“Sounds more than fair, Silas. Thank you for being so patient with me.”
He sank his teeth into the spot where her neck met her shoulder and she moaned. “No need to thank me. I’ve no doubt you’re worth the wait.” He pushed back onto his knees. “That said, it gets mighty warm in this cabin in the summer. I’ll wear this union suit tonight, but there’ll come a night where I’ll come to you in just my skin.”
She bit back her response of hoping that was sooner rather than later.
Silas hopped off the bed. “Grab the lantern on the table before you head outside. Leave the cabin door open and holler really loud if you need something.”
“I will.”
After using the hand pump in the dim lamplight, Dinah decided to ask Silas to put a washstand inside the cabin too.
True to his word, he kept his back to her as she removed her day clothes.
Since her room at Doc’s was always cold, she’d brought her flannel nightgown. Standing in the stuffy cabin, she hesitated. If she put this on, even without lying next to another warm body, she’d roast.
In a bold move, she grabbed the shift she’d worn beneath her dress. The fact that the cotton was thin enough to read a newspaper through meant she’d stay cool. Especially without pantalets.
Forcing her hands to her sides and her chin up, she said, “You can turn around now.”
Silas flipped to his side so fast she feared he might’ve given himself whiplash.
His gaze moved from her bare toes, curling into the wood planked floor, up to the tops of her knees where the shift ended, over her legs—his gaze lingered on the vee of her thighs and the dark patch of hair visible through the flimsy white material. His perusal felt as intimate as a caress as it followed the curves of her hips and passed over the plane of her belly, coming to a dead stop at her full bosom. The cloth was tighter on top to control her breasts since she refused to wear a corset. With the way he studied her, with such hunger, her nipples tightened. After rubbing his hand over his mouth, his scrutiny shifted up