say, “Go along and get them out of the rain. We’ll be right behind you.”
He caught up with her just before she reached the wagon. Without a word, he lifted her into the back.
When she had the basket of biscuits in hand, she stood at the opening. “I can get down myself.”
“I know you can, but I like lifting you down, Emery.”
His hands gently circled her waist once more and slowly lowered her to the ground. “You’re so light, one might think you were a kid, but I know different.”
His words reached her like a thought he hadn’t realized he’d said out loud.
“What happened in the storm never happened, Trapper. Whatever you think you saw was simply shadows.”
He was so close she could feel the warmth of him. “I can’t unsee what I saw, Emery, even if I wanted to. Which I don’t.”
“Stop acting like you’ve never seen a woman in her underwear.”
“It’s no act. I never have. Not like that, with so little covering your skin you might have been bare. I saw the tips of your . . .”
“Forget that. If you were a gentleman, you’d forget.”
“I’m not sure if I died I could forget. The sight of you will probably follow me into heaven. I mean no disrespect, but you’re a hundred times prettier than a painting I saw in a saloon in New Orleans.”
Emery fought down a laugh. “The way you talk. You’d think you’ve never seen a nude woman in your life.”
“I’m telling the truth. I haven’t,” he whispered. “Not a live woman. Only paintings.”
She turned and faced him then. “Never?”
“Never.”
She laughed. “Well, I’ve never seen a nude man, but I doubt I’d just stand there and stare if I saw you.”
“If you want, I’ll strip, and that will make us even.”
“No. I’m fine. Keep your clothes on. We have a dinner to go to right now. I’ll ask later if I need a viewing.” They both laughed loving this new teasing. Laughter made her less shy and somehow what had happened made her more comfortable when they could joke.
He offered his hand. “Shall we go, Mrs. Adams?”
“Yes, Mr. Hawkins.”
As they walked, he asked, “Why did you take off your clothes in the cold rain?”
“This black dress is the only one I have. I didn’t want to get it muddy.”
He didn’t ask another question.
She finally added, “I didn’t realize how I’d look once the silk got wet.”
He held a tree branch out of her way. The night was dark, making all the world only shadows. “May I just say that you are beautiful with or without your clothes?”
“No. Forget what you saw.”
“Not a chance.”
Chapter 6
By the time Trapper and Emery got to the Millers’ campfire, the half-frozen kids had thawed out and were laughing and talking as if they’d known one another for years.
There was enough supper for everyone and the biscuits were all gone by the time the basket made the second circle around the fire.
Trapper sat next to Emery on a bench. The night was still stormy, with the roll of thunder far away and an occasional flash of lightning brightening the sky.
For some reason tonight he wanted to protect her. Not just because he’d seen her body, but because the lady only had one dress. She’d taken off her black dress so she could help him. She must have been freezing out there.
What woman doesn’t pack a change of clothes?
A very poor one, he decided, or one running with no time to pack. If that was the case, what was she running from?
She was a beautiful mystery. He’d never forget how she looked standing in the rain. She was a rare work of art now hidden away in mourning black.
He braced his arm behind her so she could lean back. Now and then their legs brushed. Nothing anyone would notice, but something both were very much aware of doing. For the first time, he’d found a woman who was as alone as he was.
During the war there was no time to court and when it was over no woman would have looked at him twice.
While trying to keep up with the conversation, Trapper attempted to understand what had happened between them in the storm. First, he’d seen her naked, or almost. He told himself that she shouldn’t be too upset. She was the one who took off her clothes.
When he was honest and told her she was beautiful, she got mad. Then she told him she’d never seen a naked man. How