Undesirable by Laura Stapleton

Author:Laura Stapleton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical fiction romance, romance 1800s, romance historical western, western and frontier fiction
Publisher: Laura Stapleton

She woke up warm and against Charles. Anger still clung to her like a thin sheet of frost on the prairie. Marie swallowed, wanting to be away from him, but not away from the blankets. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to dwell on conflict so early in the day. Last night’s argument had been nothing new; yet, Marie’s attitude had changed. When the dawn spread across the sky, she knew the day would start with or without her. She eased herself from under her husband’s arm, careful to bring the guidebook with her. After exchanging the book for the coffee pot in the back of the wagon, she made her way to the river.

Marie passed by Sam’s camp. She at first fought the urge to look for him. Her efforts lasted until seeing him asleep. She stopped, staring. He looked younger, almost like a little boy. Thinking of how it’d feel to wake up in his arms, she shuddered. Marie longed to kneel beside him, kissing his face. She smiled, not even minding if he had scratchy stubble. The desire to touch him compelled her a step forward. The movement shook her out her trance. She turned and continued on to the water, needing the coffee to clear her mind of all these daydreams.

By the time she returned to where Sam and his men slept, they were all awake. She nodded a greeting at Uncle Joe when he smiled at her. Once past Sam, Marie struggled to not look back at him. She hurried to camp. Careful to step around Hester and Charles, she stoked the embers, adding the dried brush stacked nearby. She exchanged the cook pot with the coffee pot and started the coffee brewing.

She peered inside the pan. No one had cleaned it. Last night’s sludge grayed the contents, and her stomach churned a little at the mess. She wanted to leave it for Hester. Unwilling to listen to the other woman’s complaints, Marie grabbed the handle, a spoon, and went to the river. Sam and his men had left their camp. She saw ahead how Arnold washed dishes, and Uncle Joe folded blankets with Lucky. Lefty and Sam weren’t in view. Not that she was hoping to see anyone in particular, Marie thought. She neared the bank, suppressing a smile at her foolishness.

Even from here, Marie could tell how Sam kneeled next to the river in among the tall grasses. She went to his right and scooped up some water so the pan could soak. Placing the pot down on the riverbank and settling in nearby, she began using a spoon to chisel off the food.

He paused in his shaving to say, “Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

He shaved for a while before adding, “There’s not a lot of people up and around just yet.”

“No, most are slow from the chill.” She stood up and poured the water away from where they sat. Not quite satisfied, Marie refilled the pot and sat.

“You seem fine.”

She paused in her work and smiled at him.

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