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Trailing Home

By: haremgirl



Note to Readers: Here is the third book I have written. I am posting all 13 chapters tonight, but I have no idea how quickly they will be released on the site. It is the story of how love bloomed along the historic Oregon Trail. I did lots of research while writing it, and as far as I know, the details of their journey are accurate. I hope you enjoy it!

St. Louis

April 14, 1855

Liam McKenzie took a long sip of ale while he casually wondered how the little wench was managing to fool the other patrons. He seemed to be the only one who had noticed that she was a fine bit of woman disguised as a run of the mill barmaid. There was nothing to give her away, if one looked only at her appearance. Her gown was nondescript grey calico, with no adorning lace or trim, and it was buttoned primly all the way to her throat and wrists. Because the dress appeared to be several sizes too large, it was difficult to determine what manner of figure the garment concealed.

She wore a large white apron over the dress that hung from her neck and was tied loosely at the waist, providing further camouflage for any feminine charms she might possess. Even her shoes were designed for functionality rather than fashion, and they made a strange clopping noise as she rushed around to serve the patrons their food and drink. Her black hair was pulled into a severe knot at the back of her head, but Liam noticed that several large strands had been pulled forward to fall over her brow and cheeks, and they provided a screen for her delicate features. He had yet to determine the color or shape of her eyes, because she never looked up. All he had been able to ascertain from her downcast gaze was that her eyelashes were exceptionally thick, long and sooty black.

In a subtle way, she made it obvious to the patrons that if they desired a quick romp with a well-curved woman, they would be advised to choose the red-headed barmaid. That one displayed her generous breasts and shapely legs for all to enjoy and exchanged bawdy jests with an apparent lack of shame. Liam had been at the pub less than an hour, but during that time, he had seen the red-head go upstairs with two separate men and return a short while later to drum up further business. It was obvious that the bulk of her income came from her upstairs activities rather than her tips as a waitress.

It looked as if no one but Liam was interested in the dark-haired one. His smile was wry as he noticed that there were rarely any groping hands or ogling stares directed at her, and the few that were came from patrons who were so intoxicated that they likely didn't know what they were doing. The girl had developed the ability to firmly rebuff any advances without drawing attention, and Liam's smile widened as he watched her employ the technique to good effect. It was obvious that she didn't like being pawed.

Liam might not have noticed her himself, if it hadn't been for the way she smelled. When she had served him his meal, she leaned over to set his food before him, and the most enticing scent of wildflowers, soap and clean woman had wafted up to Liam's nostrils. This was no sweaty, dirty barmaid, but a woman who recognized the advantages of good hygiene, and Liam had been intrigued. Without meeting his eye, she had inquired whether he needed a refill of his ale, and her voice had been low and sultry. Liam had accepted a refill just to have the opportunity to observe her at close range for a bit longer.

As he ate, he watched her movements around the room. She looked like she was accustomed to physical activity, but she carried herself like a lady. She moved with understated poise and confidence, smoothly negotiating her way between the crowded tables while managing not to spill a drop of the ale on her tray.

Liam blinked and straightened in his chair as the object of his interest approached his table. "Could I offer you anything else, sir?" she inquired while she gathered his empty plate and utensils.

Liam knew she was referring to food or drink and not herself, but he couldn't resist the temptation to flirt with her a bit just to see how she would respond. He hooked an arm around her waist and yanked her onto his lap, nearly causing her to drop the dishes.

"Well, that is a truly tempting offer, ma'am. I just might accept." He cupped one of her breasts in his palm and rubbed his thumb across her nipple. The fact that her firm breast more than filled his palm made his cock stiffen. He leaned close to whisper in her ear. "I'm sure you would be well worth the coin expended." His eyes twinkled with humor as he watched for her reaction, and he was intrigued when a glimmer of the girl's spirit showed.

She went totally still for a split second before she scrambled off his lap like a scalded cat and stepped back out of his reach. "I meant food or drink, sir," she stated evenly, her eyes piercing his for the briefest moment as twin spots of indignant color appeared in her cheeks. "I certainly wasn't offering anything else."

Liam didn't miss the fact that her nipples were straining against her bodice. He flashed a roguish grin as he heaved a regretful sigh.

"Now that is a shame, since I'm not likely to meet another girl as pretty as you for some time to come." He realized as he said the words that they were true. He was more than a little disappointed that he wouldn't have the opportunity to get to know this woman better.

The girl was momentarily flustered by the compliment, but then her shrug indicated her disbelief. "I doubt that, mister. There are plenty of ladies who are much prettier than me in this city." She surreptitiously scanned his features from beneath her brows, carefully concealing her reaction, for although she hated to admit it, he was a magnificent looking man. "I'm sure any number of them would be willing to...entertain you, if that's what you're looking for."

"Perhaps," he replied, as he counted out the necessary coin for the meal and added a generous tip. "But I will likely never know, since I'm leaving in the morning."

The girl scooped up the money, placing it in her pocket. Reluctant curiosity imbued her tone as she inquired, "So you are just passing through?"

"Yes, I'm one among many, heading for Oregon."

He was surprised when her gaze met his fully for the first time, keen interest in her eyes. His curiosity was finally appeased when he saw that her eyes were the deepest, clearest blue.

"Then you're getting ready to cross with the others on the Oregon Trail?" At his nod, her face turned thoughtful, obviously weighing what she would say next. "Will you be traveling with your family then?"

Liam noticed her knuckles turning white as she gripped the dirty plate she still held. "No, I'll be traveling alone," he stated carefully, wondering what had piqued her interest enough to make her so inquisitive. "Why do you ask?"

The girl bit her bottom lip between small white teeth and glanced around furtively before slipping into the chair opposite him. She remained mute for several moments before taking a deep steadying breath and meeting his eyes once more. When she spoke, her voice was low but there was an undercurrent of excitement.

"Would you be interested in letting me travel with you?" She didn't wait for his reaction before rushing on. "I could cook and clean during the trip, and I'm handy with a rifle. I wouldn't be a burden."

Liam's amazement was evident, and he gave a nervous laugh. "Ma'am, do you have any idea what you are asking?" As he voiced the question, he imagined the two of them traveling alone across two thousand miles of prairie and mountain and his astonishment grew. "You can't seriously be suggesting such a thing. You don't even know me!"

The girl's jaw set in an obstinate angle. "I assure you I am quite serious, sir."

Liam's grin vanished as he leaned back in his chair and subjected her to a thorough perusal. "Ma'am, don't you know that by your request, you are inviting danger?" He ignored her frown and continued. "By all appearances this evening, you are not some whore that sells herself casually to men, so why would you proposition a total stranger?"

"I am not propositioning you, mister!" She took another calming breath, obviously trying not to let her temper get the better of her. "Let me make myself abundantly clear on that point, I am not offering to warm your bed. I simply need to travel to Oregon, and I cannot get there entirely on my own." She assessed him through narrowed eyes. "Besides, I have good instincts about people, and I can tell you aren't the sort of man who has to take advantage of a woman."

Liam gave a warm chuckle. "Then you have either underestimated your appeal or overestimated my ability to resist your charms. It would be just about impossible for any man to travel alone for five or six months with a woman that he finds attractive and not attempt to seduce her."

The girl gritted her teeth to keep from venting an exasperated screech. "Why do all men have such a limited train of thought? I have absolutely no intention of being seduced, by you or anyone else. I assure you, I would have no difficulty dissuading you from any interest you might develop along those lines. So, unless you were willing to resort to rape, I would be perfectly safe." She took a deep breath and fiddled nervously with the edge of the soiled napkin. "Can't you see the advantage to traveling with another person rather than entirely on your own? Why anything could happen to you alone on the trail!"

"I've not been bothered by traveling alone," he said with a shrug. "This will be my third crossing between Oregon and Kentucky, and I have no doubt it will be just as tolerable as the previous ones."

He failed to mention that his brother Brian had broken an arm on their first crossing. If he had been on his own, he would have been in real trouble. Liam also neglected to tell her that he had made his most recent crossing by himself and while he hadn't worried about his safety, he had suffered from bouts of loneliness, with no one to talk with during the trip. The girl frowned, obviously weighing her options to convince him.

"I could pay you. I have some money saved up, and I could make it worth your while."

Liam had no need for the girl's money, but he was interested to see just how much it was worth to her. "How much are you talking about?" As soon as he voiced the question, he regretted it, as hope flared in the blue depths of her eyes.

She cast a cautious glance around to ensure no other nearby patrons were listening, and lowered her voice to an anxious whisper. "I could pay you two hundred and fifty dollars. That should more than compensate for the extra supplies you would need for me. I've already told you that I can help. I'm a good cook, so I could see that you enjoyed more than just bacon and burned bread during the trip. I'm also strong and a hard worker. I can chop firewood, help pitch and pack up camp, wash your clothes, whatever is needed just please say you'll let me come along." Her eyes pleaded desperately for him to agree.

"Why are you so anxious to get to Oregon?" he asked.

The girl shrugged her shoulders and looked down at her hands. "There's nothing for me here. My sister went to Oregon with her husband four years ago, and she has written several times telling me how happy she is there. They have a farm, and they're doing very well. She told me that I would be welcomed to come and live with them."

Liam frowned and looked away to avoid her gaze. How the hell had one flirtatious remark landed him in such a sticky situation? "Ma'am . . ." he stopped short and looked at her, "by the way, do you have a name?"

"Selena Darcy," she stated quietly.

"I assume that's Miss Darcy?" he asked.

Selena nodded her head. "Yes, I am not married."

Liam cleared his throat. "Miss Darcy, surely you know that if you were to travel alone with a man, your reputation would be ruined forever. Everyone would assume the worst about you."

Selena heaved an impatient sigh and met his eyes without flinching. "In case it has escaped your notice sir, I am working as a barmaid. Every night, I have to fight off advances and worse from men who assume I am a cheap little whore. You yourself tried to buy my services." She raised an accusing brow and was gratified to see him flush uncomfortably before she continued. "I don't have much of a reputation to protect anymore, and besides, if I stay around here much longer, I'll likely lose more than just my reputation."

Liam didn't miss the fearful glance she stole at the owner of the pub, and he scowled his displeasure. Was the man trying to pressure her into doing more than waiting tables? For some reason, the thought angered him, and Liam's frown deepened.

"Damn!" he swore under his breath.

He had always had a soft spot for anyone or anything that needed protection, and he somehow knew that this girl was in a vulnerable position. The very last thing he needed was to be saddled with an attractive female. She would be nothing but a source of frustration for him, but at least he knew that with him, she would be safe from rape. She had been right in her assumption that he had never forced a woman, and he wasn't about to start now.

Sensing that he was beginning to waver, Selena leaned eagerly forward. "Please, sir. I could travel as your sister. No one would have to know. When we get to Oregon, we can just go our separate ways, and no one would be the wiser."

The owner of the pub chose that moment to yell at her, causing Selena to jump like a frightened hare. "Selena! Get your lazy ass over here and serve these drinks! I'm not paying you to socialize."

Casting Liam a pleading look, she quickly rose. "Please don't go. I'll be right back." She paused long enough to see Liam nod hesitantly before she scooped up his dirty dishes and rushed back to her duties.

Liam sipped his ale and watched with heightened interest as Selena hurried to carry trays of drinks and plates of food to the other customers. The owner didn't seem to care that the red-head spent most of her time sitting on men's laps, flaunting her wares. The harlot no doubt gave a share of her earnings to pacify the owner, so he didn't mind that she barely lifted a finger to help Selena serve the tables. As a result, Selena was nearly run off her feet.

With a grim frown, Liam noted that each time Selena came within reach of the owner, that lout was inclined to handle her lewdly. His beefy hand was forever landing on her rump or brushing the side of her breast as he handed her a plate, and Liam seethed as he watched her having to dodge the man's unwanted advances. It was painfully obvious that she hadn't been lying when she implied that her virtue was in danger.

"Damn!" he swore again.

He felt the jaws of an unforeseen trap closing on him. He didn't want to take her with him, but he couldn't in good conscious leave her to her fate in this dump, and try as he might, he couldn't think of any other way of helping her. Liam didn't know a soul in St. Louis, and he doubted that the girl would accept money from him. She seemed too proud for that. No one who worked as hard as she did would want to be a charity case.

After several minutes, Selena was caught up with serving the other tables, and she returned to Liam's table with a large steaming serving of peach cobbler. She set the plate before him and gave him a tentative smile.

"Thanks for waiting. I brought you some dessert, it's on the house."

The smell of cinnamon and peaches wafted up to assail Liam's senses, and he took a deep breath of the steam before giving Selena a boyish grin. "Now how did you know that I have a sweet tooth? I never can resist dessert."

Selena shrugged, "I didn't. I just thought you might want some dessert after your meal. Try it."

Liam lifted a spoonful to his mouth. Selena watched as his eyes registered surprise and then closed to savor the rich, gooey sweetness of the treat as he rolled it around in his mouth with obvious enjoyment.

"Ummm," he moaned. "This cobbler is delicious. I haven't had any this good since my poor mother passed away." He made short work of polishing off the last of it.

Selena smiled with pleasure. "I'm glad you liked it. I made it." She grinned at his surprised look. "I told you I'm a good cook, and I could cook you lots of other things if you take me with you." Her eyes pleaded with him as she waited for his answer.

Liam groaned and rubbed his forehead as if a persistent ache had developed there. At length he gave her a pained grimace.

"Miss Darcy, I'm not sure how you've managed it, but I find myself contemplating taking you with me." He shook his head in self-disgust and refused to meet her excited gaze. "I'm planning to leave tomorrow afternoon. Would you be able to have your things ready by then? I really don't want to be delayed."

Selena nodded earnestly, "Oh, yes sir. I don't have much to pack, just a small bag. I promise you, you won't regret taking me with you. Where should I meet you, and when?"

Liam sighed with resignation. "Meet me at the docks at three o'clock tomorrow afternoon. I plan on taking the steamship Arabia as far as Independence and traveling overland from there." He pinned her with a glare. "The boat starts loading passengers at three thirty and leaves at four o'clock sharp. If you're late, I won't wait for you."

"I won't be late," she smiled. "I'll be there with bells on." She shocked him when she reached over the table to grasp one of his large hands in both of hers. "Thank you, sir. Thank you so much!" She gave his hand a squeeze and started to turn away. "Oh!" she said, stopping in her tracks. I don't know your name."

Liam stood, gave her a slight bow and stated simply, "Liam McKenzie."

Selena had to tilt her head well back to meet his eye, and she surmised that he was several inches over six feet tall. "Well, thank you Mr. McKenzie. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow afternoon then." Selena gave him another quick smile and then hurried back to her duties.

Liam watched her go, and he scowled sharply as he resumed his seat. His hand tingled from the soft touch of her fingers, and his imagination was inspired to wonder what the rest of her felt like. His practiced eye and his masculine instincts were enough to tell him that underneath her ugly clothes, she was pure, tempting woman! Even now, he felt a tightening in his breeches.

"Damn!" he swore for the third time that evening.

What the bloody hell was he thinking? He had spent only a few minutes in the girl's company, and already he was as randy as a tomcat in spring. How did he expect to travel with her for the next five or six months and not lose his mind? He quaffed the last of his ale, snatched his hat on and exited the establishment without a backward glance.

The hour was late, and a brisk evening breeze helped to cool Liam's blood somewhat as he walked the few blocks to where he was camped. He busied himself getting ready for bed, knowing that tomorrow he would have his hands full.

When he finally settled into his blanket on the ground, Liam stared for a long time up at the dark, star-filled sky. His mind was too busy for sleep, and his thoughts flitted back over the past several years. Along with his older brothers Aidan and Brian, Liam had set out for Oregon six years before. Their parents had stayed behind, content with their life in Louisville, Kentucky, but they had well understood their sons' desire for adventure. The young McKenzie men had felt a natural urge to prove their worth and carve out a destiny for themselves in the untamed west. They had said fond farewells and set out on the grueling cross-country trek.

While their trip had not been easy, the three brothers had enjoyed their time together, and they reached Oregon to find a wealth of land, theirs for the taking. They traveled until they reached Willamette Valley, an area of rich farming land nestled between the Coastal and Cascade mountain ranges. It was the promised-land they had envisioned, and the McKenzie brothers staked their claim. Between the three of them, they were able to claim almost a thousand acres. They worked diligently side by side, building a comfortable home, clearing the land, and planting crops, and Liam's heart swelled with pride as he thought about their success.


Trailing Home Ch. 02



Selena reached the docks the following afternoon to find them in a state of near pandemonium. It took her a while to locate the Arabia among the various craft that were anchored nearby. She was somewhat surprised that it wasn't a larger boat. The Arabia was twenty nine feet wide by one hundred and seventy feet long. She was built of wood and painted white, with two full decks and a pilot house perched on top. The lower deck accommodated the cargo, and there was a large paddle wheel at the rear that was powered by the wood burning engine. Black smoke from the engine was channeled through the two large smokestacks at the front of the craft. The upper deck was surrounded by a wooden rail, and the interior of that deck consisted of a kitchen, dining room and a number of small cabins for the few passengers that would travel onboard.

A throng of people and animals were crowded around the steamship, waiting for their turn to load themselves or their cargo on board. Priority was given to loading the precious goods that would be sold for profit in the various frontier towns such as Independence, Westport, St. Joseph, Omaha and Council Bluff.

In turn, the economies of the various towns depended on reselling the goods to the local residents and the multitude of emigrants who passed through their borders on their way to Oregon, Utah and California. During the few months of spring, when travelers were beginning their trek across the west, those towns, known as jumping off sites for the Oregon Trail, would make enough money to sustain them through the remainder of the year.

Selena had arrived early, and was glad she did, for she began to despair of ever finding Liam McKenzie among the crowd. She made her way through the noisy mob, jostling and stumbling as she was buffeted about by humans and beasts alike. She was barely five feet in height, and it was impossible for her to see very well over the broad shoulders and backs that seemed to pen her in on all sides. Out of desperation, she climbed onto a stack of wooden crates, finally managing to win a clearer view of the scene around her. She scanned the sea of faces, looking for the tawny head that was so fresh in her memory from the night before, but she couldn't see Liam McKenzie anywhere.

Unfortunately, her position provided more than just a vantage point for Selena. A group of rowdy youths nearby took notice of the dark haired beauty, and one of them elbowed his companions.

"Look at her!" His tone was full of awe, for he had never viewed a woman so fair of face or form. "She looks like she could use a little male assistance, and I'm just the man to offer it."

"Ha! You haven't got what the lady needs. She looks like she could use a real man." This bolder youth thrust his thumbs into his belt loops and puffed out his chest, making his friends laugh. "Stand aside boys."

"Now wait just a minute, I saw her first!"

"Yeah, well I'm going to get to her first!"

His buddies were not to be outdone, and as a group, they began to elbow their way through the crowd to get a closer look at the girl.

Liam McKenzie had been bent over near his trunks, examining a crack in the wood that needed sealing when he heard their exchanged comments. Curious as to what had drawn their attention, he stood and watched them making their way through the horde. When he spied Selena standing on some crates looking around, he gave an exasperated growl.

"Damn!"

For a man who was normally quite articulate, his vocabulary was quickly being reduced to that single word, and he knew the cause could be attributed to one Selena Darcy! Liam expelled a low growl of frustration and set out in pursuit of the disorderly youths.

Selena had been scanning the people around her for several minutes, but she hadn't spotted Liam McKenzie among them. She was about to climb down and move farther along when she felt a hand grip her calf and massage its length with bold familiarity. She gasped and looked down into the leering face of a dark-haired man.

"Hello there, little lady," he grinned. The man assessed her rudely with his eyes, making Selena inwardly cringe as he ogled her bosom. "Are you all alone here, 'cause I'd be glad to provide you with some company."

Selena raised a haughty brow and jerked her leg away from his offending hand. "No thank you," she replied coldly. "I am looking for someone, but I don't need any help from you."

Her rebuff caused several nearby men to chuckle, and Selena felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck. The last thing she wanted was to draw the attention of a bunch of men. The dark-haired man frowned sharply, not wanting to be embarrassed in front of his friends.

"Hey now, darling. There isn't any need to be rude." He reached up without warning and grasped Selena's hand, giving it a sharp yank. She squealed as she toppled and landed in the lout's outstretched arms. "That's better," he laughed, crushing her against his chest while his hand boldly cupped Selena's bottom. "Say, you're even softer than I thought you'd be." His friends roared with laughter.

"Take your hands off me!" Selena cried. The overwhelming smell of whiskey nearly made her gag, and she struggled against the stranger's arms as a familiar sense of panic began to rise within her. "Let me go!"

The randy youth was about to refuse when a steely voice intruded from behind him. "You heard the lady, let her go." The words were spoken softly, but their tone brooked no refusal.

Selena was relieved to find herself abruptly released, and she sidestepped her assailant to scramble behind Liam's broad back. Her relief was instant.

Recovering from his momentary surprise, the dark-haired man squared off to face Liam, and his friends rallied around him, boosting his confidence even more than the whiskey he had imbibed. "Mind your own business, mister. I was just talking with the lady."

"She is my business, she's my sister," Liam stated. "Now you boys go on about your business and leave us in peace."

It was obvious that the youth didn't appreciate being called a boy, especially in front of Selena, and he frowned as he drew himself up to his full height. He was almost as tall as Liam and a good deal heavier.

"I was just trying to get to know her better." He winked suggestively to his friends before continuing. "I think she likes me."

Liam was not amused. He gave the boy one last stern look before turning away and grasping Selena's elbow. "Come on," he growled near her ear.

They had only gone a few steps when Liam was tackled from behind. He landed on the ground with the dark-haired youth on top of his back, and Selena clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her scream. Liam rolled over and slammed a fist into the younger man's jaw. The scuffle was over in a matter of moments. The dark-haired youth was no match for Liam, and with a few well aimed punches, Liam had reduced him to an unconscious heap. The boy's friends stood slack-jawed. They had never seen their leader bested in a fistfight.

Liam pinned each one of them with a glare before asking quietly, "Anyone else want to try?" The boys were quick to give a negative shake of their heads but remained mute. "Good." Liam bent to retrieve his hat before taking Selena's suitcase from her hand. Once again, he grasped her elbow and turned her toward his trunks. "Come on."

As they were walking away, Selena leaned toward him anxiously asked, "Are you alright Mr. McKenzie?"

Liam gave her an irritated frown, but he bent to whisper in her ear. "If you are expecting other people to believe that you're my sister, you'd better start calling me Liam."

Selena swallowed hard. His husky voice and warm breath on her neck had caused a shiver to run up her spine, and it wasn't from dread. "Alright...Liam. Are you alright? Did that man hurt you?"

Liam looked even more annoyed, and he fixed her with a condescending glare. "I am the youngest of three brothers, Selena. I learned to defend myself in a fight at a very young age."

Selena bristled under his scorn, and she raised her chin to a lofty angle. "Well I was just concerned. How was I supposed to know you are such an experienced brawler?"

Liam stopped and glared down at her. "I'm not in the habit of getting into fights. I wouldn't have gotten into that one if not for you. I'm already beginning to wonder why I allowed you to come along."

"Are you blaming me for what happened?" Selena asked incredulously. "It certainly wasn't my fault that those men accosted me. I was minding my own business."

Liam's brows drew together over his nose in a disapproving frown as he scanned her face. "It looked to me like you were putting yourself on display, standing up on those crates like you were. It was only natural that you would draw men's attention, dressed like that." As he spoke, his eyes took in her appearance, and he realized that the dress she was wearing today was a vast improvement over the previous evening's apparel.

While this dress was modest, it fitted her frame to perfection. It was sewn from light blue cotton, and the high collar and long sleeves were trimmed at the edges with a delicate white lace. The dress was fitted superbly over Selena's bosom, waist and hips, and Liam was gratified to know that he hadn't been mistaken. She had a very shapely figure. It wasn't the cut of the gown that made it so alluring, it was what it contained. Selena's curves were ample but sleek, and her waist was tiny enough that Liam's hands fairly itched to span its circumference.

Irritated with himself for letting her comely form distract him from his topic, Liam frowned even harder. "From now on, don't flaunt yourself, and maybe I won't be forced to do battle with every man from here to Oregon to defend you." Liam turned and led her toward where his trunks were sitting on the dock.

"Flaunt myself? How dare you!" Selena had to trot to keep up with Liam's long strides. "I was merely trying to find you in this mob. I couldn't see you from where I was standing."

They reached his trunks, and Liam set her suitcase on top of the largest one. "Fine. Now that you have found me, please try your best to be inconspicuous from now on, alright?"

"Fine," Selena ground out.

Her anger mixed with self-reproach, and she looked away so that Liam wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. She had worn this dress hoping to make a better impression on him than she had the day before. She had taken special care to braid her long hair and swirl it into an attractive bun at the crown of her head, and for once she had let a few wisps escape to curl around her face and neck. The dress was her best, and she had hoped he would find her attractive in it. However, judging by his reaction, Liam wasn't impressed. In fact, he frowned with displeasure whenever he looked at her, and it had stung her pride.

A few moments later, they heard the call to load passengers onto the steamship, and Liam turned to Selena. "That's us."

He handed her suitcase to Selena and hefted the largest trunk onto his back. He lifted the smaller trunk into the crook of one arm, and without looking at Selena, he started toward the steamship. "Come on," he said gruffly.

Selena followed at his heels, noticing that he toted the two trunks seemingly without effort. They climbed the ramp to board, and Liam had to pause to show their tickets to the steward. He didn't realize that Selena stood so close beside him, and he nearly set the trunk on her feet. When she skittered back a step, he frowned at her.

"Well, watch yourself," he grumbled. "I'm not going to coddle you if one of these trunks lands on your feet and breaks your toes."

Selena gave him a narrow eyed glare. "Don't worry Mr. McKenzie. I told you I won't be a burden, and I meant it. Now that I know you don't pay attention to where you set these, I'll be more cautious. I know how to take care of myself."

"Liam," he said sharply, glancing toward the steward who stood nearby to make sure he hadn't overheard.

"What?" she hissed.

"You're supposed to call me Liam, remember?" he whispered impatiently.

Selena took a deep breath to cool her temper. "Fine...Liam. As I said, I can take care of myself."

"That remains doubtful, but I would appreciate it if you would try."

Without setting the other trunk down, Liam fished their papers out of his shirt pocket and held them ready. When the steward reached them, he examined the documents briefly and then directed Liam to the area where he could stow their trunks. Liam lifted the smaller trunk and headed in that direction without a backward glance.

Selena silently seethed as she watched him walking away. She took hold of her suitcase and followed in his wake, silently contemplating several unpleasant scenarios that she wished would descend on her escort at that moment. She doubted he would be so condescending if he were dealing with oozing boils, itchy underpants or a rapidly swelling nose, and had she been a sorceress, she would have been tempted to conjure such tortures just to gratify her sense of outrage. What had made her think that this man was charming? He was arrogant, egotistical, and rude, and she didn't appreciate him treating her like a child. She was beginning to feel that she had made a grievous mistake.

They stowed the two trunks, and Liam paused only long enough to remove a small suitcase from the smaller chest. He refastened the lid and turned to take her suitcase.

"Come on," he grumbled.

"Where are we going now," Selena asked, struggling once again to keep up with his long strides.

"We're going to find our room. I booked a cabin for the journey to Kansas City so I'd have a private place to sleep. You can share it with me."

Selena stopped dead in her tracks. Her voice came out as a nervous squeak. "No, that's alright. Perhaps I could book a separate room."

Liam rolled his eyes upward and gave a long-suffering sigh before glaring down at his charge. "Selena, there are no other rooms available. The ship is fully booked, and I'm certainly not going to allow you to sleep out on deck."

"I wasn't asking your permission," Selena stated. She wasn't about to let on that the idea of sharing a private cabin with this man made her stomach flutter. "I'll sleep wherever I see fit, and you don't have any say in the matter." As she said the last, she reached to pull her suitcase from his hand, but Liam refused to let it go.

Liam was normally a mild-tempered man, but this slip of a girl had a way of getting under his skin. He leaned closer, using his height to tower over her as he glared down his nose at her. "Let's get one thing straight. If I'm going to let you come along with me, you have to agree that I am in charge. I refuse to be saddled with a harebrained female who doesn't even know how to look after herself and refuses to follow the simplest of instructions. Now is that clear?"

"Harebrained! Why of all the nerve! Give me that," Selena yanked furiously on her suitcase, but was unable to pry it loose from Liam's strong fingers, and she stamped her foot with impotent rage. "Give me my suitcase this instant! I've changed my mind."

Liam looked amused and he needled her harshly, "Oh, and just where were you intending to go, back to the pub? You didn't get enough of your lusty boss yet?"

"Any place is better than here with you!"

Liam grabbed her arm none too gently and began towing her along in his wake, ignoring her struggles of protest. When several other passengers stopped to gape at them, Liam pulled her between some tall stacks of wooden crates and dropped the suitcases to take hold of both her shoulders. He gave her a light shake.

"Stop it now, you're making a spectacle of yourself," he said harshly.

Selena was too furious to listen to reason, and she pummeled him with her fists. Her frustration mounted when she saw she was having no effect at all. "Let go of me! I don't need you. I want to get off this boat."

Liam yanked her against his chest to subdue her flailing fists, and they both stilled instantly. Their bodies were in contact from knee to chest, and everywhere they touched was infused with heat. Slowly, almost reluctantly, Liam bent to kiss her. At first, Selena stood stiffly in his arms, but as Liam's warm lips explored hers with gentle coercion, she began to relax against him.

Selena held her breath as she waited for the familiar panic to start, but all she felt was warmth beginning to grow in the pit of her belly. His lips were firm and insistent on hers, and when his tongue flicked across her lips, it felt only natural to open for him. He surged in, letting his tongue explore the warm recesses of her mouth, and Selena sighed as she slid her arms up to wind them around his neck. The sensation of having her breasts pressed intimately against his solid chest was an unexpected thrill, and she moaned.

Liam felt a surge of possessive hunger when he heard her, and without conscious thought, he pressed her back against the crates as his mouth became even more demanding on hers. He was gratified by her eager response and his hand drifted down to cup her bottom, exploring the luscious flesh boldly. His mind reeled from the feeling of her soft body, and he could feel the blood pounding through his loins when a nearby whisper broke through his awareness.

"I thought he said she was his sister!"

"I never seen anybody kiss his sister like that!"

Liam looked up to see two of the young men they had encountered earlier gawking at them. When they saw Liam's heated glare, they took off at a run, disappearing from sight.

"Damn!"

Selena's eyes were just fluttering open, and she looked up at him with a dazed frown. Angered by the realization of how completely she had forgotten herself, she shoved against Liam's chest. "Let me go! I said I want to get off this boat."

No sooner had she said the words than they heard a load whistle, and the boat broke free from its moorings. There was a shudder as the engines fired up, and they were in motion, bound for Kansas City and beyond.

Liam raised a tawny brow and consented to release her from his arms. "Well, it looks like it's too late for you to leave. We seem to be stuck with each other, so come on."

He snatched up their suitcases and stalked away, leaving Selena to catch up. What the hell was the matter with him? If those two hadn't interrupted, he might have ravished the wench right there on deck. There was no way in hell this charade was going to work, and it would soon be clear to everyone that they were not siblings, at least not normal siblings!

Liam was a normal, red-blooded male, and he couldn't expect himself to travel two thousand miles with a beautiful woman and not take a few peeks at her or steal an occasional kiss. He didn't want to risk any other people thinking they were an incestuous couple. He was going to have to think of some other way they could travel together and still protect her reputation.

Selena trotted behind him, blinking back tears of frustration. What was the matter with her? She had thrown herself at Liam like some cheap slut, and while the experience of his kiss had left her feeling warm and giddy, it obviously had not had the same effect on him. He was frowning as if the kiss had been distasteful, and her cheeks flushed with shame. Well, that would be the last time she allowed him to kiss her!

Liam led the way down a narrow corridor and located their cabin. It was a tiny cubicle that barely had enough room for the two of them to stand side by side next to the narrow bed. There was a tiny window that let in enough light to see through the gloom and a shelf above the bed where suitcases could be stored. As soon as the door closed behind them, Liam felt desperate to get out of the cabin. He needed to put some distance between himself and Selena, and the thought of sleeping in this enclosed space with her would be too much for his self restraint.




Trailing Home Ch. 02



"You can sleep here, and I will sleep on deck," he muttered, trying to squeeze past her without touching her.

"I'm not going to accept your cabin," Selena protested. "You are the one who wanted to sleep in here, not me. I'll sleep outside."

Liam growled his impatience. "Selena, how long do you think it would be before somebody insisted on sharing your bed, if you were to sleep outside by yourself?" He saw her discomfort and forged on. "Now, I insist you take the cabin."

The stubborn set of Selena's jaw was becoming a familiar sight. "I will not sleep in your cabin while you sleep outside. Why don't you sleep on the bed, and I'll make a pallet here on the floor?"

"What kind of a cad do you take me for?" he asked, giving her an annoyed look. "You take the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor."

Selena placed slim fingers across her eyes and shook her head. Dealing with this man had already sapped most of her patience, and it was only the first day. "Fine. We'll take turns sleeping in the bed."

"Fine," he ground out. "Now, I'm going to look around for a bit. You stay here."

Before she had a chance to reply, Liam stalked out of the room and closed the door with a solid click. Selena released a sigh. "I hope every decision is not going to require so much effort," she muttered crossly.

She stowed the suitcases on the shelf and then slumped onto the bed. There was nothing to occupy her, so she stared out through the tiny window, watching the passing scenery but not really registering any of the things she was seeing. Her thoughts returned to that kiss. Selena had been worried that her experience with Jeb had turned her off from men forever, but she was swiftly discovering that was not the case.

She closed her eyes, and a clear image of Liam's face began to form, making her slightly breathless. She had noticed that after he kissed her, his hazel eyes had been flecked with bright green, and she wondered what that meant. She brushed her fingertips over her lips, remembering the feel of his mouth against hers. He embodied every girlish fantasy she had ever had, with his handsome face, broad shoulders, narrow hips and well-muscled thighs. She smiled as she thought of the next several months alone with him. He might be hard on her patience, but he was certainly easy on her eyes!

*********

Liam stood clenching the railing and took several deep breaths to release his tension. How was he going to get Selena to Oregon while protecting her reputation? The brother-sister thing was definitely not going to work.

Willamette Valley was a small community, and the women had forged a very tight knit society. Provided that a woman had a reputation as an honorable lady, she would be welcomed into the fold. Acceptance meant that she would have a network of support from other ladies and, even more important, she would have the opportunity to marry. However, if a woman's reputation was tarnished, those same doors would be closed to her.

Liam considered the possibility of trying to find another family who might let her travel with them. However, he quickly discarded that notion. He was the one who had assumed responsibility for her welfare. It wouldn't be right to try and pass that responsibility on to someone else. Plus, said a niggling voice in the back of his mind, if he was having a hard time resisting her, so would most other men.

"Damn!" How had he gotten himself into this mess? If only he had kept his mouth shut and hadn't had to flirt with her, he would have been able to merrily go on his way. He would have never known how desperate she was to get to Oregon, and he wouldn't have felt compelled to help her.

Liam heaved a resigned sigh. There was only one solution that he could think of. The only way to get Selena to Oregon while protecting her reputation would be to marry her. He grimaced at the thought. Still, the more he thought about it, he realized that the marriage wouldn't have to be permanent. What was to stop them from marrying so they could travel together? As long as they didn't consummate the vows, they could get the marriage quickly and quietly annulled. While an annulment wasn't the best thing to have in one's past, it was certainly not as devastating as having been someone's mistress. Surely with her looks, she would still be able to find some nice young man to marry her.

The problem was that Liam was already having trouble keeping his hands off her, and it was only their first day together. He couldn't dismiss the fear that, in a moment of weakness, he might make love to Selena and then he would be stuck with her for life. While she was certainly beautiful and desirable, he didn't know anything about her, and he definitely wasn't ready to commit to a lifetime of her irritating company. So far, she had shown herself to be willful, stubborn, rebellious and argumentative, certainly not the qualities he would want in a wife. He would have to make it clear to her that the vows were temporary. It would be a marriage in name only, nothing more.

Liam made his way back to their cabin. He didn't think to knock, but simply entered the small space and closed the door behind him. As he turned, he caught a glimpse of a very shapely thigh before Selena yanked her chemise down and turned her back to him. She was dressed in only a chemise and pantalets, and judging by the transparency of the fabric, they were well worn. And oh what a view they afforded! Liam's mouth began to water, and his breeches were suddenly too tight.

"Oooh!" she screeched, clutching her arms over her bosom even though her back was turned. The look she shot from over her shoulder was murderous. "Don't you have any manners at all? Why didn't you knock?"

Liam couldn't suppress a grin, as his eyes roamed over her back and perfectly curved bottom. "Well, how was I to know you would be changing clothes in the middle of the afternoon?"

"In case you haven't noticed," she gritted out while grabbing her gown off the bed, "it's almost time for dinner. I thought I would freshen up a bit beforehand."

Selena stepped into her gown, unwittingly providing Liam with a perfect silhouette of her breast through the clinging chemise. Her nipple stood proudly erect atop a deliciously rounded breast, and a tiny pained groan escaped from Liam's throat. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the direction of his gaze.

"Don't stand there gawking at me! You could at least have the decency to turn the other way, since you've already intruded on my privacy."

Liam reluctantly turned toward the door as he fought down his lust. "You've gotten awfully demanding for someone who was refusing to take the cabin a short while ago."

"Yes well, I'm learning from you. That's all you've been doing is ordering me around." She sighed with relief. "Alright, you can turn around, I'm decent."

She was more than decent in the blue dress. She looked feminine and pretty and oh so delectable, but Liam refrained from saying so. Instead, he cleared his throat and addressed the issue he had come to discuss.

"Listen, Selena. I've been thinking, and I've decided we should get married."

Selena sat down abruptly on the bed and stared at him in amazement. "What? Have you taken leave of your senses? You're the last man I would think of marrying."

Despite the fact that her statement corresponded with his earlier thoughts about her, Liam felt himself bristling. "Well, you're no peach yourself, Miss Darcy, and I certainly don't want to be married to you."

"Good, we're agreed then."

Liam took a calming breath to keep from throttling her. "No, we're not agreed. I've been thinking about it, and it's the only way we can travel together and protect your reputation without raising suspicions. Let's face it, no one is going to believe that you're my sister."

"So what you are saying is that I should give up my freedom just because you can't control your lust?"

"As I recall, you were kissing me back out there on the deck for anyone to see. Not exactly sisterly behavior was it?" he needled.

"Oooh!" she screeched again. "You are a cad after all. I might have known you would blame me for that kiss even though it was you who grabbed me."

"As a matter of fact . . ." Liam stopped midstream, realizing that they were getting more and more off topic. He took a calming breath and folded his hands behind his back to keep from giving her a good shake. "Please, just hear me out." He walked to the window and looked out at the late afternoon sun. "I think it would be best if we married, in name only. That way, we could travel together alone without damaging your reputation, and when we reach Oregon, we can have the vows annulled." He waited for her reaction and the moments ticked by in silence. When he couldn't stand the tension any longer, he turned to face her. Selena was frowning, apparently lost in thought. "Well, what do you think?"

Selena couldn't tell him what she thought, because her feelings made no sense, even to her. On the one hand, his suggestion to get married had made her heart leap with strange excitement. As much as she would like to deny it, she found Liam very attractive. On the other hand, he was the most infuriating man she had ever met. She settled on attack as the best form of defense.

"I think that you must think I'm an idiot. Do you actually expect me to believe that once I marry you, you won't try to sleep with me?" She raised a haughty brow to stare at him expectantly. "If I agreed to marry you, then technically, I become your property. You could force me to do something I don't want to do."

Her accusation stung Liam's pride. "I assure you, Selena, I don't want to be stuck with you for a wife, so I will make damned sure to avoid consummating the vows with you. It will be a relief to get to Oregon so that I can get rid of you." The words were said in anger, and Liam regretted them as soon as they were out of his mouth.

Selena rose and reached for her suitcase. "Don't bother Mr. McKenzie. I'll find some other way to get to Oregon."

Liam's hand was there to stop her. "No, wait. Selena, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I'm willing to escort you to Oregon. I'm just trying to say that the marriage will only be temporary."

"There isn't going to be a marriage, Mr. McKenzie. Not after you have stated so clearly how you feel about me."

"Dammit, I don't feel anything about you!" There he went again, putting his foot in his mouth. What was it about this woman that made him such a bumbling ass? "What I meant is that I don't dislike you."

Selena crossed her arms and faced him, raising that same haughty brow. "Well, that's certainly a good basis for a marriage," she drawled.

"Don't play coy. You know what I'm trying to say. Now unless you have a better suggestion, getting married seems to be our only way out of this mess." He waited for her reaction, but she just stood with lips pursed in displeasure. "Selena, with your permission, I will speak to the captain and arrange for him to marry us."

Selena didn't know what to say. She had been daydreaming about this man. Perhaps this would be her opportunity to test the waters. Her biggest fear was that she would find the swimming pleasant and he wouldn't. If she fell in love with him and then he insisted on an annulment...was she willing to take the chance?

"Well?" he prompted her. "Should I speak to the captain?"

"Alright, Mr. McKenzie, but just remember your promise. I don't intend to become your plaything once the vows are spoken."

"Good, we're agreed. I'll be back as soon as possible."

He left without another word, and Selena collapsed on the bed once more. She waited for a feeling of dread, but none came. Over the years, she had learned to trust her instincts about people, and for whatever reason, she trusted Liam. She felt certain he wouldn't take advantage of her.

The more she thought about it, she had nothing to lose. If affection started to grow between them, she would end up with the husband of her dreams. If love never blossomed, she would be free to go her own way once an annulment was granted. Either way, it would make for an interesting journey!

It seemed like hours before Liam returned to fetch Selena. "The captain has agreed to marry us right away. I convinced him that it was a matter of some urgency. Are you ready?"

Selena took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, we may as well get this over with."

Liam tamped down his irritation at the remark. She didn't have to make it sound as if marrying him would be so unpleasant! "Come on then."

He took her hand in his and led her to where the captain and his first mate were standing near the pilot house. Pulling Selena forward, Liam made the introductions. "Captain Harris, this is Selena Darcy."

The captain was an older man with gray hair, thick sideburns and a beard and mustache. His twinkling blue eyes took in Selena's lovely features, and he gave her a wink before turning back to Liam.

"Mr. McKenzie, I can certainly see why you are so anxious to marry the girl. I would find her too much of a temptation myself, if I were twenty years younger."

Liam flushed and refused to meet Selena's gaze as he cleared his throat nervously. "I knew you would understand, sir."

Captain Harris smiled down at Selena kindly. "And are you entering into this marriage willingly, my dear?"

"Yes, I am," Selena stated firmly.

"Fine then. Mr. Gibbons, would you please stand as witness?" When the first mate stepped forward, Captain Harris withdrew a small bible from his jacket and smiled at them both. "Join hands please."

Selena didn't notice anything other than Liam as the ceremony was performed. She heard the vows as if from a distance, and when it was her turn to answer, her voice was clear and unwavering. Her hand tingled from the contact of Liam's hand, and she was struck by how tiny and frail her hand appeared clasped in his. She noticed details of his appearance that she hadn't before, such as the tiny scar just below his left ear, the way his tawny hair appeared almost golden in the fading sunlight, and the translucence of his hazel eyes. It seemed like no time had passed before the ceremony was concluded.

"What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Mr. McKenzie, you may kiss your bride," the captain said with a grin.

Liam gave her only a brief kiss, and Selena was disappointed when he raised his head. She couldn't read the expression in his eyes before he turned away. Both Liam and Selena were called upon to sign the marriage certificate, and then Captain Harris sealed the document, completing the legalities. He rolled up the paper and handed it to Liam.

"There you are, son. You are officially man and wife."

"Thank you Captain Harris. You've done us a great service," Liam smiled.

"It was my pleasure. I hope you enjoy a long and happy marriage."

"Thank you, sir," Liam murmured as he shook hands with the captain and the first mate before leading Selena to the dining room. He tucked the certificate in the pocket of his jacket and then held her chair as she sat. Settling himself in the seat opposite, Liam sighed.

"Well, that's done. Now we can relax. No one will have any reason to criticize us for traveling together."

"Um hmm," Selena murmured. She knew that they would receive plenty of criticism if people knew the marriage was a sham, but she refrained from saying so.

They ordered dinner and were surprised when the waiter brought a bottle of champagne to their table. "Compliments of the Captain," he said, pouring them each a glass and leaving the bottle in a bucket of ice.

The waiter withdrew and Liam cleared his throat nervously before raising his glass. "What should we drink to?"

Selena frowned thoughtfully. "May we each find happiness when we reach Oregon, and may we have a pleasant journey getting there."

"Hear, hear," Liam laughingly agreed. They touched their glasses and he drank deeply as he watched her sip her wine.

Selena had never tasted champagne before, and it tickled her nose, causing her to cough. Color flooded her cheeks, as she laughed at herself. "My, that's nice." She took another sip, this time knowing what to expect, and laughed with pleasure.

Liam smiled at her, realizing that this was the first time he had heard her laugh. They both relaxed, and surprisingly, the dinner was passed in agreeable companionship.  They finished the champagne, and Liam was amused to see that Selena was quite tipsy. She obviously didn't have a head for spirits. By the time they returned to their cabin, she was giggling and leaning heavily against his side.

Liam hugged her against him so that she wouldn't fall down while he closed and bolted the door. He ignored the feeling of her body pressed against his and leaned over to strip the top blanket back from the bed. He laid her down and removed her shoes before lifting her feet onto the bed.

"Ahhh," she sighed, curling on her side in the bed. "That was a lovely dinner."

"Yes, it was," Liam replied with honesty. "It's the first time we've spent today that we weren't arguing, and I only had to get you drunk to accomplish it."

Selena giggled, and her eyes began to get droopy. "Goodnight, husband," she said with a yawn.

"Goodnight, wife."

Liam couldn't help but smile at her as she promptly fell asleep. She looked so vulnerable and charming that he was tempted to squeeze in bed beside her, but he knew that would only lead to disaster. Instead, he tucked a blanket around her and used the second blanket to make a pallet on the floor.

He lay there for a long time, listening to her breathing in the darkness. Her intoxicating scent hung in the air of the tiny cabin, and even in the darkness, he could clearly imagine her delicate features. His wicked imagination conjured the memory of other things, lithe thighs, a tempting bottom, and the most succulent breasts he had ever had the pleasure to see.

Trevor squirmed on his pallet, trying to ignore his painful erection. He wished he could leave the cabin and search out a game of cards or some other diversion, but he knew that would look mighty suspicious on his wedding night, so he stayed where he was. It was a long time before he was able to fall asleep.

**********

Selena awoke the following morning with a splitting headache. She groaned and closed her eyes against the bright morning sun, wishing she could just go back to sleep. Remembering the night before, she groaned again, this time from embarrassment. Her dress was crumpled and there was a stain on the bodice where she had spilled something on herself during dinner. She could only imagine what her hair looked like, since she didn't have a mirror. Reaching up, she groaned yet again, feeling strands of hair coming loose from the braids to fly in disarray around her head. She felt a definite need to clean herself up and change clothes before Liam saw her looking like this.

He had already risen and left the cabin, but Selena had no idea how long he had been gone or when he might return. She remembered to bolt the door to ensure her privacy, and she hurriedly washed herself with a small cloth and basin in the corner of the cabin. Feeling somewhat refreshed, she hurriedly dressed, trying not to aggravate her headache by any sudden movements. She unbraided her hair and began to brush it, enjoying the feel of the stiff bristles massaging her scalp. The doorknob jiggled and then there was a knock on the door that seemed too loud, and the voice even louder.

"Selena, it's Liam. Let me in."

Selena unbolted the door and sat back down on the edge of the bed as Liam entered the room. "Alright, alright," she grumbled testily. "You don't have to yell."

Liam eyed her with amusement when he saw her wince. It was clear that the effects of the champagne had left her a little worse for wear this morning. As she resumed brushing, he realized that he hadn't known how long her hair was, as he had only seen her wearing it up. He was fascinated by the way it shimmered as she brushed it into thick flowing waves that hung past her waist, and he wondered whether it would feel as soft as it looked. The dress she wore was plainer than the blue. There was no lace trim, but the garment fit her well. The fabric was light pink, printed with darker pink roses, and it looked like it would normally have complemented her fair complexion, but this morning, she looked pale, almost ashen.




Trailing Home Ch. 02



Clearing his throat, he tore his gaze from her hair and turned to look out the window. "I came to see if you wanted to eat some breakfast."

The thought of food made Selena shiver with disgust, and she grimaced as she answered. "No, thank you. I think I'll just walk outside a bit, get some fresh air."

Liam hid his grin. "Aren't you feeling well?" he asked politely.

Selena concentrated on braiding her hair. She was reluctant to admit the extent of her discomfort this morning, it was simply too humiliating. Their first night as man and wife, and she had gotten drunk. He must think her a silly child. "I feel fine. I'm just tired."

"That's good," Liam said, this time not trying to hide his amusement as he turned back to her with a grin. "For a moment there, I thought you had too much to drink last night."

Selena gave him a narrow eyed glare and then winced at the effort. "You don't have to be such a smart aleck about it," she ground out. "I've never drank wine before, much less champagne. I didn't realize it was so potent."

Liam's smile only broadened. "Well, let that be a lesson to you, take it easy on the spirits from now on."

"Thanks for the advice," she grumbled. Turning her back, she finished braiding the long strands and wound the braids on top of her head, deftly securing the ends. When she was finished, she faced him once again, looking pale but tidy once more.

Liam was somewhat relieved that she had finished with her hair. When it was unbound and shimmering around her, it gave him too many ideas. Gesturing toward the door, Liam gave her an expectant look. "Shall we?"

"Yes, but wait just a moment please." Selena rummaged around in her suitcase and withdrew a wad of money. She held it out to him, meeting his eyes. "Here is the money I owe you, two hundred and fifty dollars. I thought you should have it now so that you can buy any extra supplies we will need for the trip, now that I'm coming with you."

Liam shook his head, making no effort to take the money. "Selena, put that away. I'm not going to accept your money. You're my wife."

"In name only," she reminded him. "Now take the money."

For some reason, her reminder about the status of their marriage irritated him more than her persistence. "Put the money away, I don't need it. I would have let you come with me even if you didn't have any money."

Selena placed an annoyed hand on her hip while still holding the money out toward him with the other. "Look Mr. McKenzie. I'm not some charity case. I always pay my own way, and we had a deal. Now take the money."

Realizing that she wasn't going to take no for an answer, Liam accepted the money and stuffed it impatiently in his pocket. He would return the money to her eventually, but there was no sense in spoiling her mood with an argument this morning. "Now, can we get out of here?"

Selena nodded and led the way outside. She blinked again as they emerged onto the deck. The sun seemed too bright for her liking. Liam seemed to understand her hesitation, and he gently took her arm as they began to stroll along the rail. It didn't escape Liam's notice that the few crewmembers they encountered were inclined to stare at Selena with appreciative eyes. He could now comprehend why she had hidden her charms while she worked as a barmaid. If she had worn proper clothes and kept her hair brushed neatly back from her face, she would surely have been overridden by amorous swains. Thinking of the gown she had worn in the pub, he frowned down at her.

"What happened to the dress you were wearing the first night I saw you," he inquired.

Selena's grimace attested to her dislike of the garment. "I threw it away. I always hated wearing it, but it was a necessity."

"Well I'm relieved to know that the rest of your wardrobe is more suitable."

Selena's cheeks turned a delicate pink. It was nice to know that Liam had noticed the change in her appearance. She noticed everything about him, and it reassured her to realize that her interest was returned. He was looking exceptionally handsome this morning, in a clean white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and dark breeches that fit snugly over his lean hips and well-hewn thighs. His tanned skin contrasted with the shirt, and his hazel eyes sparkled in the sun. Realizing that he was speaking to her, she blinked rapidly.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I was asking whether you felt better in the fresh air."

Selena's cheeks turned a brighter pink, and she looked away. "Yes I do, thank you." Grasping for a way to shift his attention from her, she gestured lamely, "Surely you must have other things to do besides watch over me?"

"Not really," he smiled.

"Oh, well why don't you go and eat breakfast then?"

Liam grinned broadly, "I already did that too, while you were still sleeping. It's nearly ten o'clock."

By now, Selena's cheeks were burning with color. She was normally a very early riser, and hated for him to think she had been lazing around. She gestured dismissively as she looked out over the rail, avoiding his gaze. "Well, you don't need to hang around with me."

Selena looked particularly pretty with her flaming cheeks, and Liam felt the urge to hug her against him and soothe her embarrassment, but he thought better of it and gave a casual shrug. "I don't mind."

The morning was fine, and a cooling breeze drifted over them, causing Selena to sigh with relief. She stopped in a shaded spot and looked out toward the water behind them, unaware of how the wind plastered her skirts to her body, providing a clear outline of her buttocks, hips and thighs. Liam was not inclined to waste such a view, and he stood behind her, letting his eyes explore her very fetching backside. His enjoyment was interrupted by a throaty chuckle, and they both turned to see Captain Harris approaching.

"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie," he smiled. He gave Liam a wink. "I see that you are enjoying the sights."

Realizing that the Captain had caught him ogling his wife, Liam flushed and gave him a somewhat sheepish grin. "Indeed, sir. I've never before seen such lovely scenery. I find it hard to take my eyes off the view."

Liam and the Captain shared a laugh. Selena frowned as she looked between the two men and the river. While the surroundings were nice, she couldn't see anything spectacular about them, and she wondered what she was missing.

The Captain sobered, but there was still a twinkle in his eyes. "I trust the two of you enjoyed a pleasant evening."

Selena gave him a charming smile. "Yes, we did sir. We must thank you for the bottle of champagne. I had never tried it before and I quite enjoyed it."

Captain Harris gave her a slight bow. "It was my pleasure, my dear. Now, I must get back to my duties, so I will leave you two to enjoy the day." He touched his cap and made his departure.

Liam watched until the Captain had disappeared from view before he turned back to face Selena. He was relieved to notice that a healthy amount of color had returned to her ivory complexion. Liam brushed a stray lock of her hair behind one ear and saw a delicate flush rise in her cheeks. "You're looking better," he murmured huskily.

"Am I?"

Selena was mesmerized by the intent look in his eyes. Those flecks of green had returned to the hazel orbs, and they seemed to glow with warmth when they settled on her slightly parted lips. She stood still as he bent to kiss her. His lips were firm and warm, and she couldn't suppress a sigh.

Curious to see Liam's reaction, she stretched up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips more fully against his. She wasn't disappointed. Without pause, he wrapped his arms around her, bringing her body fully against his own, as his lips claimed hers with possessive fervor. Selena's knees wobbled, and she clung to him for support. She tangled her fingers in the slightly curled hair at the nape of his neck, and heard him groan when she lightly stroked him there.

Selena was intrigued and wanted to see whether Liam was just as susceptible to her as she was to him. She pressed herself even more intimately against him, letting her breasts rest against his chest. Liam's response was instant. He tightened his arms around her and one hand drifted down to the small of her back, fitting her against him from chest to knees. He released her lips to trail hot, open mouthed kisses down the side of her neck, and he released a growl of displeasure when his lips encountered her collar. They changed course and cruised to her earlobe, where he nibbled and licked until Selena felt weak.

"I want you," Liam growled, still kissing the sensitive flesh of her neck as he pressed his hips against her, insinuating one muscled thigh between her own. She could feel the hard ridge of his erection against her belly, and she gasped. "Let's go back to the cabin."

While Selena was tempted to satisfy his desires, she didn't want him to later blame her for seducing him. She wanted to win his affection and eventually his love, and she knew that wouldn't be possible if he felt trapped into a marriage that he didn't want. Selena frowned and pulled back, using her arms as a wedge to put some space between them.

"Ours is a marriage in name only, remember?"

Liam frowned at the reminder. He stared down into Selena's eyes, noticing how they looked more purplish than blue, and he thought absently that he could get lost in those eyes. He couldn't recall any of the reasons he had wanted to remain a bachelor, and he found it irritating that Selena could keep a cool head while his was spinning. His frown deepened as he reluctantly released her and stepped back. He needed to put some distance between them if he was going to be able to think straight.

Liam cleared his throat and looked away. "Perhaps I should go. I wanted to have a look around the ship."

Selena stifled a sigh of disappointment and gave him a nod. "Feel free. I'll just stay here for a while."

He hesitated a moment longer. "If you're sure you're alright then."

"Yes, of course. I'll be fine, just go and do . . ." she gave an airy wave of her hand, "whatever it is that you would normally do. Don't worry about me." Selena turned away and refused to meet his gaze. She eventually heard his retreating steps and she relaxed her rigid stance to lean against a post.

Her heart was still beating faster than normal as she thought about the last few moments. There was no doubt they were both attracted to each other, and Selena knew that for her to feel an attraction to a man was unique. Before meeting Liam, Selena had begun to wonder whether Jeb's attack had left her frigid, but that question had been firmly laid to rest. She trusted her intuition enough to realize that there was the potential for something special between her and Liam, but it would need time to grow. 


Releasing a sigh, Selena let the sights and sounds soothe her spirit, and her headache finally went away completely. At a loss as to how to occupy her time, Selena wandered along the railing, taking in the scenery. She would be stuck on board for the weeklong trip to Independence, and she wondered dismally how she would avoid going insane from boredom. She rounded a corner and froze in her tracks. Liam was standing only a few feet away, with his back to her, and he was not alone.

A gorgeous young woman stood before him, looking up at him coquettishly through her dark lashes. She had deep auburn hair and bright blue eyes, and she was smiling delightedly at something he had said. Selena noticed that the other woman's gown was of the latest design, and the fabric was fine quality muslin. It was white with tiny blue flowers printed on it, and a wide blue velvet sash spanned the woman's tiny waist. Her bosom was full, even generous, and just a hint of cleavage showed. Her matching bonnet was tied at a jaunty angle beneath her chin with the same blue velvet, and as she listened intently to Liam, she placed a gloved hand on his arm and laughed. She looked alluring and feminine and as fresh as spring. Selena hated her on sight. She strained to hear what the woman was saying.

"Oh, well then you must know the Boyd family?" she inquired in honeyed tones.

"Yes, of course. They're our neighbors in Oregon, and we helped Matthew to raise a new barn last spring."

"Oh, that's wonderful," she cooed, while a well manicured finger toyed with the neckline of her dress. "Well, I'm Natasha Boyd, Matthew's niece. My family and I are traveling out to Oregon to settle nearby. Uncle Matt said there is plenty of rich farmland near him that still hasn't been claimed. Is that true Mr. McKenzie?"

Liam nodded. "Yes, Miss Boyd. Oregon is truly a land of opportunity for anyone willing to put in some effort."

Natasha's smile was sugary sweet as she looked up at Liam. "Well, I'm delighted that we will soon be neighbors, Mr. McKenzie, and it's such a relief to know that we will have a strong, capable man such as yourself traveling with us if we should have a need for assistance."

Selena narrowed her eyes as she watched the other woman run her fingers suggestively along Liam's sun bronzed arm while looking up at him through her lashes. Selena felt a possessive urge to march up to them and stake her claim as Liam's wife, but she couldn't very well do that when she knew their marriage wasn't real. Liam hadn't pledged his loyalty to her, but it pricked Selena's pride to think how quickly he had found someone else to flirt with. She swung on her heel and stalked back to their cabin, her enjoyment of the morning completely destroyed.

She paced in the tiny confines of the cramped cabin, feeling caged and restless. She was going to have to tread more carefully if she wanted to guard against being hurt. While she wished that her relationship with Liam might blossom into a true marriage, it was far from certain. There was no sense in letting her hopes get too high.

Selena didn't see Liam again until lunchtime. He reappeared to see if she wanted to eat with him, but she declined the invitation. Her appetite had not returned since the previous evening.

"Are you alright?" he inquired with a frown.

"I'm quite alright, thank you. I just don't feel like eating anything right now." She refused to meet his eye, staring out the window instead.

"Would you like me to bring you back something then?"

"No, thank you."

"Well, you need to eat something," he insisted. "You're tiny as a mite as it is. If you don't eat something, you're likely to blow away on the first strong wind."

Wanting only to get rid of him, she flung up a hand. "Fine, bring me something if you want, and I'll eat here."

Wondering at her sour mood, Liam frowned. "Why don't you try to get some rest? It might make you feel better."

"Maybe I could if you would leave me alone," she snapped.

"Alright, alright, I'm going. There's no need to be so testy." Liam left and closed the door behind him. 

Selena released a deep sigh as she heard Liam's departing footsteps. She wasn't going to win his affections by behaving like a waspish shrew. She would have to get a hold on her temper and cultivate some patience if she were going to have any chance of making a go of their marriage.

Her abrupt change of mood had Liam shaking his head. "What's gotten into her?" he muttered as he made his way to the dining room. The small room was already crowded by the twenty or so passengers aboard, and Liam stood just inside the doorway, looking for an unoccupied table.

"Oh, Mr. McKenzie, please join us," Natasha Boyd called out from a corner table.

Liam made his way across to her, and Natasha made the introductions to her father Gerald, her mother Marcia and her sister Susan. It was clear to Liam that Natasha took after her mother, for the older woman had similar features, but her auburn hair was heavily streaked with grey. Still, the woman could have passed for much younger than her age. Gerald was slightly balding, with heavy patches of grey at his temples. He was dressed in a business suit, but it was evident from his physique that he had led an active life. Susan looked more like her father, with her light blue eyes and brown hair. She was pretty, but didn't have the dramatic beauty of her sister. Where Natasha was overtly flirtatious, Susan hung back, friendly but quiet as she gave Liam a shy smile.

Liam gave them each a nod of greeting. "Are you sure you don't mind if I join you?"

"Not at all, we were just sitting down to eat and there's plenty of room for one more." Natasha's eager comment was followed by assenting murmurs from the rest of her family and Natasha smiled as she patted an empty seat beside hers. Liam took the proffered chair.

The meal was passed pleasantly, with the Boyd family insisting that Liam tell them all about Oregon and the trip ahead of them. He was happy to satisfy their curiosity, and he had them all laughing as he told them about the trials that he and his brothers had faced when they made their crossing and were first getting established.

"So, Mr. McKenzie, your brothers are married?" Natasha inquired, batting her eyelashes at him.

"Yes they are," Liam smiled. This woman would fit in perfectly with the other young ladies in Oregon, he was sure. Her head was full of the same sort of nonsense. "They are both happily settled, and have been pestering me to take a wife."

Natasha gave a small laugh. "Well, I, for one, am certainly glad you've resisted them and remained single."

Liam's smile deepened, and he cleared his throat. "As a matter of fact, I have taken a wife. We were married just yesterday."

"What?" Natasha's normally soft voice suddenly sounded strident. "Why haven't you mentioned your wife before?"

Liam hated to admit that he wasn't used to being a married man, and he still thought of himself as a bachelor unless reminded otherwise. "I guess the subject just didn't come up until now." Natasha's parents were quick to offer their congratulations on the marriage, and their comments smoothed over the awkward moment.

"Did you come back east to get married, Mr. McKenzie?" Gerald asked.

"No, not exactly, sir. My wife and I just happened to meet, and we hit it off," Liam replied.

"How did you meet?" Susan asked, obviously hoping to hear a romantic tale of the event.

Liam shifted a bit uncomfortably in his chair, "Well, it was by accident really. I went to a restaurant where she happened to be a waitress, and we just sort of...well, you know...I liked her."

Natasha's shock was obvious, and she made no attempt to soften her remarks. "Do you mean to say that your wife was working as a waitress? That's dreadful!"

Mrs. Boyd gave her daughter a stern look. "Don't be rude, dear."

Liam's eyes had taken on a flinty hardness as he looked at Natasha. "I actually found it quite refreshing that she was such a hard worker. That's just the kind of woman I need for a wife, someone who can be a helper." As he said it, he realized the truth of the words.

Recognizing her blunder, Natasha hastened to smooth it over. "Well, I didn't mean there was anything wrong with working, it just took me by surprise, that's all." Natasha's voice trailed off.

"Where is your wife, Mr. McKenzie?" Mrs. Boyd inquired. "I should be pleased to make her acquaintance."

"She wasn't feeling that well, so she's resting in our cabin. I'm sure you will have an opportunity to meet her soon," Liam smiled.

"We shall all look forward to that," Mrs. Boyd stated kindly, though it was obvious from Natasha's mutinous pout that she didn't agree with her mother's statement.

Liam rose and gave them a slight bow. "It has been a pleasure dining with you folks. I should get back to my wife. I promised her I would bring her something to eat," he said, holding up a small tray of food the waiter had just delivered to their table.




Trailing Home Ch. 02



They wished him a pleasant afternoon, and Liam returned to the cabin, carefully balancing the tray. He found Selena just as he had left her, staring out the window.

"I brought you some lunch."

She turned and gave him a small smile. "Thank you. I am a bit hungry after all."

Selena sat on the edge of the bed, and Liam placed the tray beside her before sitting on the foot of the bed. She was uncomfortable beneath his unwavering regard, and she gave her attention to the food. The only sound in the cabin was her fork clinking on the plate, but it was a companionable silence. The awkwardness after their kiss had dissipated, and they were both relieved to find they could spend time with each other without arguing.

Selena polished off most of her lunch before she tasted the custard that he had brought her for dessert. It was creamy and luscious, and she sighed with pleasure. Remembering that he liked sweets, she smiled at him shyly.

"Would you like a taste?"

Liam watched as her tongue darted out to lick a speck of the custard from her bottom lip, and the meaning of his answer escaped her. "Yes, I would." He made no move to reach for the spoon she held out to him, and he noticed her cheeks turn a delicate shade of pink.

Selena scooped a spoonful of the custard and held it up to his lips. She felt her stomach flutter as she watched his mouth close around the spoon. Her gaze was captured by his, and her breath caught in her throat. Heat was glowing in his hazel eyes again, and she knew with sudden clarity that he wanted more than just custard. They were separated by the tray sitting between them, but she remembered what it felt like to be pressed against him, and she cleared her throat nervously as she looked back down at the dish. She shared the remainder of the custard with him, careful not to meet his eye.

When it was finished, Selena rose and picked up the tray. "Thank you for lunch. I'm going to return this to the kitchen." 

She left without another word, and when the door had closed behind her, she drew a deep breath for the first time in several minutes. Her husband was a handsome devil, and she was finding it more and more difficult to resist his charm. He had made no effort to hide his lust, and if she wasn't careful, she would soon find herself warming his bed! She smiled secretly to herself as she nibbled at her bottom lip. There were, after all, worse things that could happen.



Trailing Home Ch. 03



The remainder of the day passed without incident. Selena took a nap in the afternoon, more from boredom than from a need to rest. She awoke late in the evening, and was surprised to see Liam sitting on the foot of the bed, scribbling in a small notebook. She rose on one elbow and rubbed a bent finger over her eyes, frowning slightly.

"What time is it?" she asked, her voice still husky from sleep.

Liam smiled at her. He liked the way she looked when her hair was mussed. "It's almost eight o'clock."

"Eight o'clock?" she asked. She had slept for over three hours. "Why did you let me sleep so long? Did you have dinner?"

He merely shrugged. "Not yet. I figured you were tired, so I asked the cook to save us a tray. I preferred to dine with you."

Selena stood up, brushing her skirts down and running a hand over her hair. She turned away, self-conscious of how she must look. "The cook must think I'm terribly lazy."

Liam gave a warm chuckle and laid his book aside as he rose to stand just behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. His self control was sorely strained by the sight of her, looking so tempting.

"I doubt it, Selena. The crew is aware that we are newlyweds, so he probably thinks that fulfilling your wifely duties has left you more tired than usual." As he said the words, he traced the side of her neck with his fingers. She was warm and soft beneath his hand, and he felt his erection growing steadily harder.

Tiny shivers of excitement rippled through her, and when she spoke, Selena's voice came out as a breathless whisper. "Well, we should go and eat. You must be starving."

"Yes, I am," he murmured.

He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him as his lips began to explore the area beneath her ear. Sensing no resistance, he grew bolder and one hand slid up to cup her breast. He squeezed the tender flesh, drawing a sigh from Selena, and Liam growled with satisfaction when her nipple hardened beneath his questing hand.

When she turned her head to look at him from over her shoulder, he claimed her parted lips. The kiss was like setting sparks to dry tinder. Without really thinking, he began to unfasten the tiny buttons of her bodice, and he was surprised by the clumsiness of his fingers. He had undressed a fair number of women, but he had never been quite so anxious to accomplish the task. He finally managed to open her dress to the waist, and he reached inside the neckline of her chemise to cup her naked breast in his palm, marveling at the smooth perfection of it.

Selena gasped and drew back from the kiss to gaze up at him with wide eyes. Her entire awareness was riveted on his lean fingers that intimately massaged her. His gaze once again captured hers as he rolled her nipple between his thumb and fingers. Desire flared in the pit of her belly, and she arched her back, pressing her breast more firmly into his hand.

Liam felt his self control slip another notch, and he was suddenly desperate to view his wife without the benefit of her clothes. He devoured her lips once more, using the kiss and his fingers to distract her from his purpose as he slipped the dress off her shoulders and down her arms. She didn't protest as he pushed it off her hips and let it slither to the floor.

Breaking the kiss, Liam grasped her by the shoulders and turned her to face him, waiting until her eyes fluttered open to meet his. He was aching to have her, but he wouldn't proceed if she wasn't willing. He had to know before he went any further, or he might not be able to stop.

"I want you," he murmured, stealing her breath with the boldness of his gaze as it roamed over her meagerly clad breasts.

Selena could only manage a whisper. "What about our agreement? If we consummate the vows, there's no going back. Is that what you want?"

Liam was having a hard time concentrating on her words, watching in fascination as he ran a thumb over one pouting nipple and saw it harden into a tight bud. He gave her an honest answer.

"All I know is that I want you, and I can't see any way I'll be able to resist you for the next several months. You're desirable enough to tempt a veritable saint." His eyes pleaded with her to put him out of his misery.

"And that saint would be you I suppose?" she asked with a teasing smile and one raised eyebrow.

Liam released a tense laugh. "I'm no saint, Selena. I'm just a man, with a man's needs and desires." He claimed her mouth again, his lips soft and persuasive on hers as he tasted her.

Selena's thoughts were a confused jumble, and she wished that she had more time to make a rational decision. Her parents had shared a love that was strong and lasting. Selena wanted nothing less for herself, and she thought that there was the potential for that kind of love to grow between her and Liam. However, she didn't know the best way to encourage love to blossom.

If she refused Liam, would he be angry with her and possibly harden his heart against her? If she accepted him, would he resent her after the fact and blame her for trapping him into an unwanted marriage? It really came down to a leap of faith. If she took the next step, she had to trust that physical intimacy would lead to a deeper emotional bond between them.

Taking a deep breath for courage, Selena drew back from the kiss and met Liam's eyes. She reached up and untied the dainty ribbon that closed the neckline of her chemise and released the tiny buttons. She hesitated for a long moment before slipping the straps off her shoulders. Selena noticed that Liam's breath caught when the fabric hung suspended over her nipples before slipping free to reveal her breasts. She felt devoured by the hunger in his hazel eyes, but she stood before him without cringing. Only her pantalets impeded his roaming gaze, and taking her bottom lip between her teeth, Selena released the drawstring at her waist, allowing them to drop to the floor.

Liam's breath came out on a sigh. She was even more beautiful than he had imagined. The interior of the cabin was dim, with only one lantern casting some light, but her creamy skin glowed. Her breasts were full and firm, with delicate pink nipples perched at their tips that pouted and begged for his touch. Her stomach was flat and her waist was impossibly tiny before it flared into well-curved hips. Her bottom was smooth perfection, the globes sensuously full for one so slender, and her legs were long and wonderfully shaped. His eyes traversed their length and returned to settle on the triangular thatch of black hair at their apex. When he met her gaze again, raw desire smoldered in the depths of his eyes.

He gently pulled her against him once more and bent to savor her lips. Selena was keenly aware of her nakedness, having never exposed herself willingly to a man's gaze, and her skin tingled where it brushed against his cotton shirt and rough breeches. She felt tiny and fragile in his arms, but the contrast of her softness and his hardness thrilled her rather than frightening her. She wound her arms around his neck and returned his kiss eagerly, trusting that he wouldn't hurt her.

Her response ignited Liam's senses, and he devoured her soft lips, exploring them thoroughly before moving on to the delicate line of her jaw. His mouth traced the graceful column of her neck and nibbled on her shoulder then ventured further to her bosom. Selena sighed when his fingers returned to fondle her breast and she watched through half closed lids as he cupped the fullness and took her nipple into his mouth. The heat of his tongue rasping her breast was shockingly delightful. That heat was converted into molten hot desire that coursed through her to settle in the pit of her belly. She clutched his head against her and arched her back in a wordless plea for him to continue the caress.

Hot blood pounded through his cock, and Liam lifted her and laid her on the bed. He quickly removed his shirt, boots and socks before joining her on the mattress. Propping on one elbow, he skimmed his fingers almost reverently over her breast, feeling a primitive satisfaction when he circled the nipple that was still erect and wet from his kisses.

"You're beautiful," he breathed.

"So are you," Selena whispered. She tentatively traced the width of his shoulders and ran her fingers through the crinkly hairs on his chest before meeting his eyes. "Are you sure this is what you want? Just yesterday you said you didn't want to be stuck with me for a wife."

Embarrassed by how quickly he had changed his mind, Liam kissed her to avoid giving an answer. He trailed his strong fingers over her body, pausing to explore each luscious curve. As his kisses became more demanding, so did his fingers, and Selena was soon writhing beside him on the bed. When Liam reached her pussy, he groaned with delight.

Selena was swollen, throbbing and extremely wet. Her womanly scent wafted up to him as he stroked her softness. He was gratified when she opened her thighs wide, tilting her hips up to welcome his hand. His cock throbbed painfully, and he desperately wanted to plunge deep inside her.

While Selena loved the things Liam was doing to her body, she was also aware of a niggling voice in the back of her mind. Liam still hadn't answered her question, and she couldn't fully relax. She used her arms to brace against his chest and insisted that he meet her eye.

"Liam, please answer me. Once we do this, our marriage will become permanent. Are you sure you want that? Do you really want to have me as your wife?"

In his impatience to have her, Liam said the first thing that came to mind. "Yes I want you. Since we were forced to marry, we may as well enjoy each other. I wasn't planning to take a wife, but since the deed is done..."

Selena froze for a brief moment before she gave a small cry and shoved against him. She scrambled away and hopped off the bed to clutch her gown protectively in front of her. "Get out!" When he made no move to comply but lay staring at her with his mouth open, she stamped her foot in fury. "Get out so I can have some privacy to get dressed!"

"Selena, wait a minute. I didn't mean . . ."

"I know exactly what you meant." Selena's voice trembled with anger and hurt as she glared at him. "You were planning on amusing yourself with me since there's no one better around. You obviously think I'm just some cheap little strumpet you can use whenever you like. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush."

Liam's own anger was building, helped in large part by his frustration, and he stood up to place his hands on his hips as he scowled at her. "Now wait a damn minute. I'm willing to make a commitment, to be a true husband to you."

"Well excuse me for not having a lot of faith in your commitments, since they seem to change from day to day. Just yesterday, you were committed to not consummating our vows!"

"Why you little tease," Liam growled, taking a step closer to tower over her. "You never intended to go through with this. You just wanted to see my reaction. You flaunt yourself in front of me, doing your best to get my blood heated, and then you criticize me for having the desires of a normal man."

Selena gasped with indignation, and poked a finger repeatedly into his chest to emphasize her words. "I'm not the one who started this. You always manage to blame me for things that aren't my fault."

"Oh I don't think you have been blamed for nearly enough," Liam hissed as he bent to retrieve his shirt from the floor. "I was doing just fine until you came along. Since I met you, I haven't had a moment's peace."

"Oooh! I have no idea what made me think you were a decent, trustworthy man. I couldn't have found a more obnoxious, bad-mannered, selfish person to travel with if I had gone to the farthest corners of the earth!" Selena was grateful he had finally finished buttoning his shirt. His naked chest had been much too disconcerting.

"It feels like I've already traveled to the farthest corner of the earth with you," Liam ground out as he donned his socks and yanked his boots on. "By the time we get to Oregon, it will surely seem as if I've been to the farthest corners of hell with you."

Selena would have turned her back on him in a huff, but she wasn't inclined to expose her bare backside. Instead, she pinned him with a heated glare. "Then you should be grateful that I've just prevented you from having to spend the rest of your life with me in hell. Now get out!"

Liam slammed the door so hard the walls shook, and heedless of who might be watching, he stalked down the hall. His wife was the most infuriating woman he had ever had the misfortune to meet. His wife! The words were bitter gall. He must be some kind of fool to have landed in this mess.

The steamship was much too small to provide enough distance between him and Selena, and he soon found he had reached the end of his tether at the back of the boat. As he stared out into the darkness, his aggravation coiled and knotted in the pit of his belly. He hadn't experienced this kind of sexual frustration since he had been a blushing schoolboy. As the night aged an hour and then another, his resolve hardened into granite. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction of leading him around by the nose. If the temptation became too great, he would just have to look elsewhere for relief, but there would be a blizzard in Hades before he would try to bed his wife again!

He returned to the cabin, intent on giving Selena a piece of his mind, but when he opened the door and stalked inside, he nearly tripped over her. She had made a pallet on the floor and was lying on her side, fast asleep. He ground his teeth to keep from yelling at her and closed the door with a loud click. His boots landed in a corner where he kicked them and his shirt was flung onto the floor as he undressed for bed, making no attempt to be quiet. Giving her no heed, he stripped off the last of his clothes and turned off the lantern before plopping onto the bed, causing the small frame to creak in protest. He tossed and turned, finally facing the wall and punching the small pillow into a ball beneath his head.

Selena lay still, hoping he would think she was asleep, as she silently seethed. The inconsiderate oaf could rot before she would show him one bit of tenderness. The only feeling that rivaled her fury was the deep wound to her pride. When she thought about how she had almost given herself to him, she felt like she would shrivel up and die of shame. Well, so much for a deeper emotion growing between them! The only emotion she felt for him in that moment was supreme disgust. She wasn't some plaything, available to appease him whenever he felt an itch! She was a lady, someone to be cherished and loved, not a harlot, and starting tomorrow, she would see to it that he understood that!

Neither of them slept well that night, and they were both keenly aware of the other one tossing and turning. Exhaustion finally won out, and they succumbed to its effects. Selena was the first to wake the next morning, and she grimaced from the aches and pains that resulted from sleeping on the floor. She wished she hadn't been so adamant about taking turns on the hard surface. It would have served Liam right to give up his bed, the scoundrel! She folded up the blanket that she had slept in and laid it neatly on the shelf. The first rays of the rising sun were shining through the small window, casting a deep rose hue across the bed and its occupant.

Selena eyed him with contempt as he slept, but she reluctantly had to admire her husband's fine looks. His faced looked almost boyish in repose, and there was a thick growth of stubble starting along his jaw. He lay on his back with one arm flung over his head and the other draped across his thigh. The blanket covered him to the waist, but one calf and foot had been thrown from underneath the cloth. Selena took advantage of his slumber to look more closely at him.

She started at his foot that was visible, admiring the masculine grace of the appendage before her eyes skimmed up his strong calf covered with tawny hair. Her view ended at the knee, where the blanket hindered her, but she could make out the clear outline of his thighs, and she knew them to be well-formed by the way his breeches fit him. When her eyes moved to the bulge of his manhood beneath the blanket, Selena's cheeks burned, and she quickly moved her gaze upward. She was fascinated by the line of hair that trailed up from his waist to eventually join with the other springy hairs on his chest. She remembered the feeling of those hairs against her naked breasts, and she blushed even more. She couldn't help but admire the rippling muscles of his torso and arms, and she followed the sinews out to the tips of his lean fingers.

His dark tan and well-developed frame suggested that he was accustomed to a life of activity and hard work. His hands, while beautiful to her, had calluses from his labors, and Selena knew he wasn't lazy. Although she was loath to admit it, she thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen, but she would die before letting him know it.

She took special care to dress silently. Liam had seen quite enough of her nakedness, and Selena was determined not to give him any more glimpses. She slipped her pantalets on under her nightgown and turned her back to the bed to drop the gown and don her chemise. She hurriedly fastened the garment before stepping into her dress and buttoning up the front. She cast frequent glances over her shoulder to ensure that Liam wasn't spying on her, but he remained deeply asleep and facing toward the wall.

When she was once again fully clothed, she unbraided her hair and brushed it quickly into some semblance of order. She didn't bother with braiding it again, but instead wound it into a soft knot at her crown and secured the ends with the handful of pins she had. Without the benefit of a mirror, she had to assume that she looked presentable. Finally, she slipped on her stockings and scooped up her shoes before she tiptoed out of the cabin and closed the door behind her without a sound.

***********

Liam smiled in his sleep, enjoying his dream. Selena was there, naked and willing in his arms, and he was anxious to enjoy all she was offering him. He admired the creamy perfection of her skin as he nibbled at her throat and caressed her hip. She gave him a sultry smile and rubbed her breasts against his chest as she whispered a bold invitation in his ear. Liam groaned with pleasure and the sound woke him abruptly. He scowled fiercely down at his throbbing erection as if that part of his anatomy were a separate entity, and he judged it to be a traitor to his cause. He ground his teeth in frustration and tossed a glare at the floor, but Selena was gone.

"Damn!" he swore violently, scrambling up from the bed.

He quickly located her blanket folded neatly on the shelf and her suitcase still in its spot, so she couldn't have gone far. Frowning at his own stupidity, he remembered that there was nowhere for her to go even if she had wanted to. With that realization, he calmed somewhat and quickly washed and dressed, still anxious to know where she had gone.

"What is the little minx up to now?" he muttered as he yanked on his boots.

The ship wasn't that large, and he set out to look for Selena. However, he had searched both decks and was beginning to wonder whether he had somehow missed her when he heard her voice. It was coming from a small lounge near the back of the ship, and he could tell she was talking with someone. Not wanting to intrude, he approached the doorway and leaned against the outside wall as he stopped to listen. Who was she talking to?

"That's a good idea, Hank. I'll have to keep that suggestion in mind," she was saying.

Liam instantly bristled at the thought that Selena was on a first name basis with another man. And what was she simpering about? She sounded like one of those brainless twits that liked to flirt with him, pretending to be helpless and always needing advice.




Trailing Home Ch. 03



A deep masculine voice answered her with a chuckle. "Oh, it's nothing really ma'am. I'm just glad I could help you out. So, did you say you would be getting off at Independence?"

"That's right, what about you?" she asked sweetly.

"Yeah, I'll be leaving from there too, so it's quite possible that we will see each other again sometime on the trail, ma'am."

"Well, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for you," Selena gave him a throaty laugh, "but I insist that you call me Selena."

His deep rumbling laugh answered her, and Liam could just imagine what the man must be thinking and how he was ogling her. Liam was briefly surprised by the possessive jealousy that he felt, but he didn't have time just then to examine his emotions.

"Alright, Selena. Meeting a pretty lady like you has brightened my morning. I'll look forward to seeing you again. You take care now."

Liam heard Selena's heels clicking as she walked toward the door, and he pressed himself back into the shadows. He waited until she had walked past him to reach out from behind and snatch her back against his chest. He clamped one hand over her mouth.

"Eeek!" She struggled only a moment before realizing it was him, then she raised her brows at him, giving a haughty indication that he should release her at once. "What in blue blazes are you doing, trying to scare the wits out of me?"

Liam grabbed her by the elbow and led her to their cabin, waiting until they were inside with the door closed before he answered her. "Never mind what I was doing, what were you doing flirting with that man?"

"Flirting? What are you talking about?" She looked genuinely bemused.

Liam wasn't buying it. "You know perfectly well what I am talking about . . . Hank!" He ran a hand through his hair and went to look out the window. It irked him that she could so easily stir his jealousy. "You give me the cold shoulder but have no shame about throwing yourself at another man."

Selena kept her features carefully blank. She could have informed him that Hank was at least seventy years old if he was a day, but she thought it best to let him stew in his own juices for a while. Instead, Selena assumed a casual air.

"I just wanted some fresh air, and I decided to go for a walk."

"Well it didn't sound like you were looking for fresh air. If you care at all about your reputation, you'll stay away from Hank. It won't look very good if you are flirting with other men just days after your marriage, now will it?"

"Don't try to order me around Liam McKenzie! I'm your wife in name only, and I have no intention of being cooped up in this room for the next several days. I'll go wherever I like and talk with whomever I like."

She crossed her arms and presented her back to him. The nerve of the man! Especially after she had seen him flirting with Natasha!

Liam grabbed her elbow and swung her around to face him. The muscles in his cheek were twitching with his irritation, but his voice was low, almost smooth.

"We may have a marriage in name only, but as my wife, your behavior reflects on me. I expect you to behave with proper decorum, and that doesn't include gallivanting around and batting your eyes at every man this side of the Mississippi!"

"Don't you dare try to instruct me on proper behavior," she spat, her eyes violet pools of flashing anger. "You have the manners of a boorish oaf, and if I were to spend my time on this trip doing nothing else but trying to improve your conduct, I fear the best I could accomplish would be getting you to keep your hands to yourself!"

As she said the words, she yanked her arm free from his grasp. She smoothed her skirts and squared her shoulders before giving him a narrow-eyed glare.

"Now, I'm hungry, since I missed dinner because of you. I'm going to eat breakfast." She snatched open the door and strode down the hall without a backward glance.

Liam gave an ominous snarl and set out in her wake. His longer strides quickly caught up to her, and he would have stopped her again. However, just as she emerged onto the deck, she nearly bumped into the Captain.

"Oh!" she squeaked, quickly recovering enough to give the man a smile. "Good morning, Captain Harris."

He touched his fingers to the brim of his cap and returned her smile. "Good morning to you, Mrs. McKenzie." His gaze went past her to Liam and his smile broadened. "Mr. McKenzie."

Liam forced himself to smile, though his anger was still seething. "Captain," he nodded, "we were just going in search of breakfast."

"I won't keep you then," the Captain nodded once again. "Enjoy your day." He walked away, completely unaware of the tension between the newly wedded couple.

Liam waited until the man had rounded the corner before he grasped her elbow once more and leaned down to growl in her ear. "I wasn't finished talking with you."

"Oh, was that your idea of talking?" she inquired sweetly, giving him an exaggerated look of surprise. "It felt more like you were manhandling me, and I won't stand for that. Now kindly release my arm or I will be forced to scream." Her eyes conveyed her intent to follow through with the threat, and Liam promptly let go of her arm but remained scowling down at her.

"I can't believe I let myself be saddled with such a stubborn, senseless little twit," he snarled.

Selena gave him a spiteful smile before turning away. As she walked briskly toward the dining room, she flung a parting shot back over her shoulder. "Well, make sure you keep your hands off me from now on so you won't be saddled with me permanently."

The dining room was empty, and they settled at a table and ordered their food before lapsing into a stony silence. Selena refused to meet Liam's eye, though she was keenly aware of his brooding gaze on her. She raised her chin to a lofty angle and looked around as if she were unaware of his presence. She was looking toward the door, when the Boyd family entered the room.

Natasha's eye immediately settled on Liam, and she plastered on a glowing smile. "Oh, Mr. McKenzie, this is a pleasant surprise!" She hurried toward them, her family trailing behind her. "This must be your wife," she cooed, not really needing a confirmation. Her eyes chilled as she took in Selena's appearance. Natasha was disappointed to note her beautiful face and trim figure. She had been so hopeful that his wife would be a homely woman, but Natasha brightened somewhat when she saw Selena's dress. She knew that her chemise alone cost more than Selena's entire outfit, and she secretly gloated.

Liam politely rose from his chair and nodded a greeting to the other members of the Boyd family before making the introductions. He and Selena gave every appearance of being a happy couple.

Marcia Boyd gave Selena a warm smile and clutched her hand in greeting. "I'm so pleased to meet you, Mrs. McKenzie. I understand that we will be neighbors once we reach Oregon."

Selena returned her smile but didn't correct her. She had no choice but to maintain the charade as a happily married woman until the end of their trip when she and Liam could part ways. "The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Boyd." With a wave of her hand, Selena indicated the empty chairs at their table. "Won't you join us?"

As they accepted her offer, Selena noticed that Natasha opted to take the seat next to Liam. Selena surreptitiously took note of the other woman's appearance. She was wearing another stunning dress, this time of royal blue silk. The bodice was tailored to fit her curvaceous form sublimely and had a square neckline trimmed with exquisite white lace that provided the perfect showcase for Natasha's bountiful bosom. More lace had been used to adorn the multiple ruffles on the skirt and the dainty cuffs above her elbows. Selena felt dowdy and plain in her pink dress that she had worn the day before, but there was nothing to be done about it. Her wardrobe consisted of just four outfits, and one of those was homespun wool that she wore when she was doing chores. She couldn't hope to compete with the style of the other woman, so she might as well not dwell on the fact.

The meal was passed in cheerful companionship, and Selena was pleased to find that the Boyd family, with the exception of Natasha, was warm and friendly. Selena instantly liked them, and she and Marcia were soon on a first name basis and chatting like old friends. She learned that they were moving out west from Chicago, where Gerald had owned a very profitable manufacturing business.

"So, have you given up your business then, Mr. Boyd?" Selena inquired.

"No, luckily our son Charles is now running the company," Gerald smiled with obvious pride. "He's young and keen, and he has a very good head for business. I decided that I have had enough of city life. As a younger man, I enjoyed farming, and I've always missed working the land." He reached over to pat his wife's hand lovingly. "When my brother kept writing to us about how much opportunity there was in Oregon, Marcia was kind enough to agree to the move."

Selena's heart constricted as she watched the other couple. When their eyes met, they glowed with genuine affection, and Selena wished that she had that kind of relationship with Liam. Glancing in his direction, she stiffened as she noticed that Natasha had placed a hand on his arm and was laughing gaily at something he had said. Natasha must have sensed her regard, for she looked at Selena and gave her a superior smile.

"Mrs. McKenzie, your husband was telling us that he met you when you were working as a waitress."

Selena's smile was stiff as she managed to give a small nod. She was hurt that Liam would have told them. She wasn't proud of having worked in a bar, but she hadn't had any choice in the matter.

"Yes," she said evenly. "Liam came into the pub where I worked, and I waited on him."

Clear astonishment was written on Natasha's lovely features. "A pub? Do you mean to say that you were a common barmaid servicing the needs of the male customers?" As she voiced the question, her eyes raked dispassionately over Selena as if she were a repugnant creature.

"Natasha, that's enough!" Marcia gasped in outrage. She gave Selena a nervous smile of apology. "I'm sorry, Selena. My daughter obviously forgot her manners."

Liam placed a hand protectively over Selena's and gave her a brief smile before facing Natasha. "As a matter of fact, there was nothing the least bit common about my wife, Miss Boyd. The only things she served to the men were food and drink. If they desired anything else, she let them know in no uncertain terms that they would have to look elsewhere for that." He turned his gaze to Gerald and Marcia and smiled somewhat sheepishly. "It was her uncommon beauty that captured my attention. When I found out she wanted to go to Oregon, it just seemed to make sense for us to get married." He looked at Selena and grinned. "Isn't that right, sweetheart?"

Selena returned his smile, though there was no warmth in her eyes. It seemed to her that he was making fun of her, since they both knew she had looked her very worst when she first met him. She felt like scratching his eyes out. He was only trying to protect his own reputation, not hers, and she decided to do a little taunting of her own. Her voice took on a simpering sweetness.

"Now sugarplum, you know it was the other way around." She turned a bright smile toward Marcia, ignoring Liam's warning squeeze on her hand. "I must admit, my husband literally swept me off my feet. Why, I'd never seen such gallantry and charm. He was such a gentleman." Her eyes taunted Liam with the reminder of the pass he had made at her the first night they met. "Why, before I knew it, I was begging for him to let me come along."

Susan gave a dreamy sigh. "That's so lovely! It sounds like it was love at first sight!"

Natasha was quick to correct her younger sister. "Don't be ridiculous, Susan. There's no such thing." She ignored her father's warning glare and plunged on. "Why from what you're saying, it sounds as if the two of you haven't known each other for very long. Your marriage sounds more like a partnership than a love match. Is that right Mrs. McKenzie?"

"What's gotten into you, girl?" Gerald berated his daughter. "Apologize for your impertinence."

Selena was taken aback by the nerve of the other woman, but she managed a tight smile. "No, that's quite alright, sir. I'm sure your daughter is just curious, right Miss Boyd?" Without waiting for her reply, Selena went on. "I wouldn't describe our relationship as a mere partnership." Turning toward Liam, she flashed him a coquettish glance from beneath her lashes. "Why the two of us can hardly be in the same room together without sparks flying, isn't that right honey?"

Even though he knew Selena was flirting with him merely for the sake of their observant audience, Liam felt his cock beginning to grow. He could give as good as he got, and he reached up to cup her cheek, rubbing a thumb suggestively over her bottom lip. He was gratified to see a tiny shiver go through his wife. The simplicity of the caress made it appear even more intimate. "That's right, angel. I can honestly say that I've hardly gotten any sleep since we got married."

Gerald cleared his throat nervously, and ran a finger inside his collar is if it suddenly felt too tight. "Well, I'm relieved to hear that. I really must apologize for my daughter's behavior. Sometimes she lets her curiosity outpace her common sense." As he spoke, Gerald rose with an anxious smile and pulled his wife's chair out from the table. "We really must get along now. It was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. McKenzie."

"And you as well, Mr. Boyd," Selena replied with a smile, before she shook hands with Marcia. "I will look forward to seeing you again."

Marcia's smile was genuine and her eyes twinkled as she clasped Selena's hand. "I certainly will too." She murmured for Selena's ears alone, "That's the most fun I've had in a long time." As she straightened, she gave Selena a conspiratorial wink. "Come along girls." Marcia turned without another word and led her family from the room. For once, Natasha remained silent and followed her mother's direction, but the pinched look around her mouth gave evidence of her displeasure.

When they were once more alone at their table, Selena jerked her hand free as she hissed at her husband. "Did you have to make such a crude remark? You made it sound as if you've done nothing but bed me since we got married. You embarrassed poor Mr. Boyd."

"You started it, Selena. Let that be a lesson to you. I'm not some stripling lad that you can manipulate with your fluttering eyelashes and coy little smiles."

Selena gave him a narrow-eyed glare. "And I'm not some little strumpet to be fondled in front of others. Once more, I feel the need to remind you to keep your hands to yourself." She rose stiffly and exited the room.

Liam sat for a long time sipping his coffee and staring into space. He was completely at a loss about how to deal with his wife. He had never had a problem getting women to do what he wanted, but Selena was proving to be an enigma. His smile was wry as he rose from the table. At least the trip was promising not to be boring.

Selena and Liam managed to avoid each other for most of the day. She ate her lunch alone in their cabin, having fetched a tray for herself. There was very little to keep her occupied, but she managed to while away the hours by taking in the passing scenery, laundering her blue dress and napping for a while. She wasn't used to inactivity, and the hours seemed to drag by. Late in the afternoon, she was standing by the rail and looking out over the river when Marcia Boyd joined her.

"We're having fine weather so far, aren't we?" Marcia asked.

Selena gave her a warm smile of welcome. "Yes, but I fear we can't expect it to continue much longer. I'm not looking forward to being rained on while traveling in a covered wagon."

"Me neither." There was a moment of silence before Marcia continued. "Selena, I wanted to apologize for my daughter's behavior. I fear that growing up having everything her heart desires has made her quite spoiled. I had a stern talk with her after we left you this morning. I hope she gave some heed to my words and will stop flirting with your husband."

Selena placed an arm around the other woman and gave her a small hug. "Thank you, but there's really no need to apologize." Selena looked away, unable to meet Marcia's eye. Her instincts were telling her that Marcia could be trusted, and Selena decided to confide in her. "The truth of the matter is that Liam and I really don't have much of a marriage. Natasha had it right when she assumed that we have more of a...friendship." She gave a rueful laugh. "It's not even friendship, really. It's more like a business arrangement, and I can't really say what's to happen when we get to Oregon."

Marcia's laugh startled her, and Selena faced her with a questioning look. Marcia placed a comforting hand over hers. "My dear, you are young, so you still have a lot to learn about men and how they think. I saw the way your husband looks at you when you aren't watching, and the way he was quick to come to your defense bodes well for your future."

"But you don't understand," Selena frowned. "He hates me. We can barely exchange two words without getting into an argument."

Marcia nodded as her eyes took on a faraway look. "It was much the same with Gerald and me when we first married. He thought he would just lay down the law and I would agree to whatever he said, man of the house and all that nonsense." She laughed and raised a brow. "It took me almost a year to make him understand that I wasn't some spineless twit. Now, we've been happily married for twenty four years. You just have to stick to your guns and trust that everything will work out alright."

Selena was unconvinced, but she didn't want to argue. "Thank you, Marcia. That is very kind of you to say."

"Trust an old woman," she smiled as she turned to walk away. "Have a pleasant evening."

"You too." Selena watched her disappear around the corner, then she turned back to the rail. "I just wish you were right," she muttered.

That evening, she and Liam dined in solitude, seeing no sign of the Boyd family. They sat in silence, speaking only when absolutely necessary, and trying not to look at each other. Selena was vastly relieved when the meal was completed, and she excused herself to return to the cabin. She was surprised when Liam followed close on her heels, and when they reached their cabin door, she turned to him with an impatient brow raised.

"If you don't mind, I thought I would make an early night of it. I'm quite tired."

"I don't mind at all," Liam said, brushing past her to enter the cabin. "I had the same thought myself."

Selena crossed her arms over her bosom and glared at him as she remained in the doorway. "Well? Do you mind? I would like some privacy to change clothes."

Liam grasped her elbow and drew her into the cabin, as he shut the door and threw the bolt in place. When he faced her, he bore a scowl, but his voice held exaggerated patience, as if he were addressing a child.

"Selena, you'd better understand from now that you aren't going to have a whole lot of privacy on this trip. The two of us are going to be stuck in a tiny little tent in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes, there aren't even any woods around to give you privacy, so you'll have to get used to changing clothes with me in the room." He turned away and started to unbutton his shirt, but when Selena plopped down on the side of the bed and made no move to undress, he turned back toward her. "What?"

She lifted her chin to a lofty angle and refused to meet his questioning stare. "I will not dress and undress in your presence. I'm not some hussy available for your viewing pleasure."




Trailing Home Ch. 03



Liam made an ominous growling sound in the back of his throat and he bent over her to place one hand on either side of her on the bed. His nose was only inches from hers, and her startled eyes met his angry ones.

"I remind you Selena that I've already viewed everything you have to offer, and frankly, I'm not interested." He ignored her gasp of outrage and went on. "Now, I'm about to make out my pallet here on the floor, so the way I see it, you have two choices. You can pout and waste the time you have so that you will be forced to sleep in your clothes once again, or you can get up off your fanny and change into your nightgown while there is still space to move around in here." He turned away once again and continued to unbutton his shirt, giving her no further notice.

Selena glared at him for only a moment more, before she rose and retrieved her nightgown. She turned her back to Liam and unbuttoned her dress as quickly as she could. She slipped her sleeves and the straps of her chemise off her arms, baring her shoulders, but she kept the garments clutched over her bosom while she awkwardly struggled to pull her thick cotton nightgown down over her head and arms.

Liam witnessed her efforts and despite his anger, he couldn't suppress a grin as he watched her wiggling and squirming. He especially appreciated watching her bottom bounce from side to side, but he quickly turned away as her head emerged through the neckline of the gown. Selena gave a sigh of accomplishment as the nightgown dropped over her other clothes, and under its cover, she stepped out of her dress, pantalets and chemise. She folded them and laid them on top of her suitcase, then crossed her arms over her bosom before turning to face Liam.

He had removed his shirt, boots and socks, and he was busy making his pallet on the floor. Not wanting to come in contact with his muscular frame, Selena crawled across the bed and quickly slipped beneath the blanket, pulling it up to her chin. She watched Liam, reluctantly fascinated by the play of muscle and sinew in his arms, chest and back as he bent and stretched to smooth out his bed.

When he was satisfied, he straightened and began unbuttoning his trousers, making no effort to turn his back to her or extinguish the lantern. Selena's eyes opened to the size of saucers, and she stared at him in shock until he started to pull the pants down over his hips. She squealed and rolled toward the wall, squeezing her eyes tightly shut, but the glimpse she had caught of his emerging penis, standing proudly erect amid a bed of springy hairs, was burned indelibly on her brain. Her cheeks burned with heat when she heard his mocking laughter, and she seethed in silent fury. It seemed like an eternity passed as she heard him laying his clothes to one side and putting out the light before he finally took to his pallet.

Neither of them said a word. The darkness surrounded them, and only a faint bit of moonlight streamed through the tiny cabin to cast deep shadows in the room. As Selena lay awake, her eyes gradually adjusting to the dark, she continued to see Liam's naked form in her mind's eye. The more she tried to forget what she had seen, the clearer the details became. As if in slow motion, she repeatedly recalled him pulling his pants off. Her cheeks flamed again as she imagined the line where the brown of his torso abruptly changed to the pale whiteness of his untanned buttocks and hips. Even more disturbing was the size of his erection that she had so fleetingly glimpsed. Having grown up on a farm, she was well aware of how the physical act of intimacy was accomplished. Selena's heart thudded in her chest as she wondered how on earth she would have been able to accommodate him without experiencing pain, and she sighed with relief that they hadn't completed the act the day before.

Liam lay on his own pallet staring up at the ceiling. Selena's sigh in the darkness made him tense. He longed to join her on the bed and continue what they had started. He closed his eyes and almost groaned as he recalled the brief glimpse of her pale thighs he had gotten when she was scrambling into bed. His imagination supplied all the details of her naked form, and although it caused his cock to ache, he couldn't resist the urge to examine the memory in exquisite detail. Her skin had felt like the finest silk beneath his hands, and her proportions fulfilled his every fantasy. She was slender but womanly, and a fine film of sweat popped out on Liam's brow as he imagined what it would feel like to sink into her while her calves clutched his hips. He knew instinctively that she would be tight, wet and hot, and his penis throbbed at the thought of burying himself in her velvety sheath.

The night aged as the two of them lay silently thinking about each other. It was past midnight before they finally managed to find sleep, and neither of them knew that they were the focus of the other one's dreams.

The following morning, Liam was already dressed and gone when Selena awoke. She hastily rose and dressed and was busy brushing out her hair when he returned.

"Good morning," he said brusquely, turning away from the sight of her shining hair.

"Good morning," Selena replied. She hurriedly braided her hair and twined the mass into the usual knot at the back of her head. "Have you already eaten breakfast?"

"No, I just went for some fresh air, but I was waiting for you to rise before eating. If you're ready, we could go now."

Selena nodded and led the way out of the cabin. Once again, they dined alone, having the room to themselves due to the earliness of the hour. When the meal was finished, Liam rose and gave her a tight smile.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll see you later." He waited for her nod of acquiescence and then made his exit.

They settled into a routine over the next several days. They took most of their meals together for the sake of appearances, but other than that, they saw as little as possible of each other, and when they did, they were polite but reserved. Selena occupied herself as much as she could, though she had no idea what Liam did during the long hours on the ship. She spent time sewing, repairing a few small holes and tears on her garments. She strolled along the deck, taking in the changing scenery. She chatted with Marcia and the handful of other passengers on board, as well as making friends with the crewmen. When she was at a loss for anything else to do, she napped.

She saw Hank several more times, and she became especially fond of the old man. He had a wicked sense of humor, and his stories of his youth always had her laughing. He told her about his son and his family and how he was going to meet up with them and travel to Oregon to stake a claim there. Hank became a trusted friend, and he treated Selena like his granddaughter. His and Marcia's company provided the only relief to the monotony of the trip.

While the daytime hours were long and boring, the nighttime hours were pure torture. Selena would lay awake for hours listening to Liam's breathing and tossing upon her bed. Liam had put his foot down and refused to let her sleep on the floor. For once, Selena had agreed with his order. She much preferred the comfort of the mattress, but she felt slightly guilty knowing that he was making do on the hard pallet.

It was a relief when they finally heard the ship's whistle that signaled their arrival in Kansas City. The passengers gathered at the rail to watch as they approached the frontier port. Everyone bubbled with excitement, and the crewmen hurried to ready the vessel. Selena watched as buildings and houses came into view. Everywhere she looked, she could see new buildings being erected, and it was obvious that Kansas City was a growing metropolis. Selena could see people gathering on the dock, anxious to see what new commodities the ship was bringing to them.

"Well, the easy part of our trip is almost over," Liam murmured, appearing at her elbow.

Selena turned to him and gave him a small smile, as she thought that the past week had been far from easy. "Oh really? I was actually looking forward to getting off the boat."

He shrugged a broad shoulder and returned her smile as he quickly scanned her features. "Be careful what you wish for." He turned back toward the dock, and they stood watching for a few moments in silence. "The crew will unload some of the cargo here and take on other goods, then we will head on to Independence." He looked up to judge the time of day. "With any luck, we should be there late this evening."

Selena nodded. "So we'll leave from Independence tomorrow morning then?"

"No, not that soon. We can't leave too early or the prairie grasses won't be lush enough to sustain the oxen. Then we would be stranded out in the middle of nowhere, and that could prove fatal." Liam gave her a sidelong glance. "We'll know more once we get there. We've had good weather this spring, so we shouldn't have to wait very long, but we have to find a good wagon and team once we get there, and then it will take another day or two to make sure we have everything we need for the trip."

She nodded again and gave him another small smile. "Well, I'm relieved to know that you seem to know what you're doing. I shall count on your judgment."

Liam faced her again, and his own smile was mocking. "That will be a first! The day you truly listen to what I have to say, I might just fall over from shock."

Selena drew herself up and opened her mouth to give him a nasty retort when she noticed the corners of his mouth twitching with suppressed humor, and she realized he was teasing her. "Ooh! You're insufferable." Her own lips curved into a reluctant smile. "I always listen on the occasions when you actually have some meaningful information to impart. It's just that those instances are so few and far apart that I've grown accustomed to ignoring you."

"Hmmm, I see," Liam murmured. He liked the way a few strands of her hair had escaped to frame her jaw, and her cheeks were radiant in the afternoon sun. He wished he could ignore her, but that task was proving too difficult for him. He cleared his throat and looked down sheepishly at his boots. "I was going to propose that we agree to a truce."

Selena's heart was thudding heavily in her chest as she watched him. He was so handsome she found it hard to concentrate on his words, and her voice was somewhat breathless when she replied. "I didn't realize that we were at war."

"You know what I mean, Selena. The trip is going to be long enough without us constantly sniping at each other. I just thought that it would be more pleasant if we tried to be friendly."

Selena looked guilty, and she nervously fiddled with her fingers. "Alright," she said softly. "I'll try if you will. Should we shake on it?" She held out a hand as she met his eye.

Liam grasped her hand as he looked down at her, but instead of shaking it, he raised it to his mouth and planted a warm kiss on the backs of her fingers. "Deal," he murmured, holding her gaze over her knuckles.

Selena felt her stomach flutter and heat rose in her cheeks as she stared into his green flecked eyes. She finally withdrew her hand and rubbed it with her other one as she gave a small, nervous laugh. "Well, I'd better go and make sure everything is ready."

Liam watched her walk away, enjoying the gentle swaying of her slim hips. He didn't know which was worse, the chafing of her chilly anger or the temptation of her warm companionship. Either way, it seemed like he was destined to suffer in her presence, and he heaved a long sigh. "Damn!" he muttered under his breath.



Trailing Home Ch. 04



They reached Independence late that evening, just as Liam had predicted. It took another half hour to secure the boat to the dock before they were finally able to disembark from the ship. Selena made a point of seeking out the Captain before they left. She found him overseeing his crewmen, and she approached timidly from behind.

"Captain Harris," she smiled when he turned toward her, "I just wanted to thank you for everything."

He doffed his cap and gave her a small bow. "Mrs. McKenzie, it was my pleasure to make your acquaintance and to preside over your nuptials. I wish you Godspeed on your journey."

"And you as well, Captain." Selena surprised him when she rose on tiptoes to plant a kiss on his weathered cheek. "I will never forget you."

The Captain colored with pleasure and cleared his throat. "Thank you, ma'am. That's very kind of you."

It startled Selena when she heard Liam's deep voice from directly behind her. "I owe you a debt of gratitude too, Captain." The two men clasped hands cordially.

The Captain gave Liam a broad smile. "You take good care of your wife, Mr. McKenzie. She's a dandy."

Liam slipped an arm around Selena's waist and hugged her against him. "I will, Captain. You have my word on that." Liam looked at Selena, and she was surprised to see the serious expression in his eyes. "We'd better get going if we're going to find a place to sleep tonight."

They made their final farewells, and Liam led her off the ship. It wasn't far to a nearby hotel, but Selena was surprised to see how many people were bustling around in the tiny town. Everywhere she looked, folks seemed intent on accomplishing their errands, rushing here and there carrying packages.

"Everyone is doing the same thing we are," Liam murmured, seeing her interest. "It's Oregon fever."

Liam stood aside so that Selena could precede him into the lobby, and he left her near the door while he spoke with the desk clerk. She watched him count out money and within moments he returned with a key.

"I'm surprised there are any rooms available," she said.

"Most folks are already camped outside of town with their wagons. That's what we'll be doing by this time tomorrow." Liam hefted the trunks once more and led the way to the stairs. "Come on."

Selena followed him to the second floor and down a narrow hallway. Their room was small and sparsely furnished, but it was still quite a bit larger than their cabin had been aboard the ship. There was a large bed with a brass headboard and footboard, a small washstand with a pitcher and bowl, and a round table and two chairs in one corner. The only light in the room was streaming in from the dim hallway, and Selena hurried to light a lamp that sat on the bedside table.

Liam set the trunks in one corner and stretched to ease the kinks in his muscles. Selena turned away from the sight, feeling her cheeks turn warm. Her eyes lit on the bed, and her cheeks got even warmer. As if reading her thoughts, Liam came to stand beside her, looking down at the feather mattress.

"I don't see any reason to sleep on the floor. This bed is big enough for both of us."

He looked at her with a challenging brow raised, and Selena swallowed hard. She didn't want to shatter the fragile truce between them, and neither did she want to admit that she was afraid to share the bed with him. She wasn't frightened of him. She was scared of her own reaction to him. It was as if she had no willpower at all when he turned on the charm, and she didn't want to do anything that she might later regret. She raised her chin and met his stare.

"Fine. I'll sleep on that side." She dug her nightgown out of her suitcase and laid it on the foot of the bed. "It's late and I'm tired. I think I'll go to sleep."

"Yeah, we should make it an early night. We'll have a busy day tomorrow." He dragged his gaze away from her and began unbuttoning his shirt.

During their time on the ship, they had gotten used to undressing for bed in each other's presence. Selena had perfected the art of donning her nightgown without revealing anything other than her creamy shoulders and arms, but Liam never could resist the temptation to steal a few peeks. He was usually rewarded with at least a glimpse of a trim ankle and sometimes he got lucky and caught a flash of calf or thigh when she stepped out of her dress. Tonight he got lucky, however, his victory felt hollow since it only served to whet his appetite for more.

Selena climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin as she rolled on her side facing away from Liam. He finished undressing and climbed in beside her. Although Selena had been on the far edge, the feather mattress collapsed beneath their combined weight, and she tumbled against his side.

Selena scrambled to put some distance between them, and her hand brushed across his groin. The heat of his erection seemed to sear her fingers, and she gasped. Her eyes flew to his, and his face was frozen in a pained grimace.

"I'm sorry," she gasped.

Without waiting for his reply, she turned her back once more and scooted to the far edge of the mattress. Liam turned down the lamp, and moonlight streamed in through the small window. They both lay in the darkness, hearts thumping, breath shallow and eyes wide open. Selena felt confused and a bit frightened by her reaction. She felt a gnawing hunger in the pit of her belly that she didn't understand, but she knew Liam was at its source. She wondered what his reaction might be if she were to roll over and press against him once more. Would he welcome her or push her away? She squeezed her eyes tightly shut and tried desperately to slow her breathing.

Liam was going through a similar struggle, except he understood quite well what was required to satisfy his hunger. He fought a raging battle to keep from pulling Selena against him and exploring her silken curves. He dared not close his eyes because he knew his mind would instantly conjure visions of her without her clothes to torment him even further. Instead, he lay rigidly still beside her and listened as her breathing gradually became steady and even. It was a long time later before he found sleep.

They tossed and turned, and inevitably their limbs became intertwined. Liam awoke during the night to find Selena's arm flung across his chest and one of her lithe thighs lying across his loins. Her soft breasts were crushed against his arm and her nightgown had ridden up to her hip. Her skin was velvety soft and warm. He stifled a groan against the pain of his throbbing erection. Had he been condemned to hell, he was convinced that the devil himself would not have been able to devise a more grueling torture than Liam felt in that moment. He turned away from her only to feel her snuggle against him, her full breasts pressed intimately against his back and her thighs tucked beneath his. Despite his best efforts, a small groan escaped.

Sleep was impossible after that, and Liam was gone long before Selena woke the next morning. She sat up in the bed and yawned, noticing that it was barely daylight outside. She rose and quickly washed before changing into her clothes. She had no idea where Liam had gone, so she waited for him in their room.

Almost an hour had passed by the time he returned. He entered, and Selena took in his appearance. There were circles of fatigue beneath his eyes, and he had the thick stubble of beard starting along his jaw.

"Morning," he grumbled.

"Good morning," she replied with a hesitant smile. "Where did you go?"

Liam was tempted to tell her that he had gone to hell and back, but he tamped down the urge and the irritation that went along with it. After all, it wasn't Selena's fault if she was enticing enough to charm the warts off a toad!

"I went to check out the available wagons. I found a good one, but the store isn't open yet. We'll have breakfast and then go see about getting it."

Liam retrieved his shaving kit from the smaller trunk, and he began to unbutton his shirt. Selena turned away and went to stand by the window. It was still early, but she noticed that the streets were already beginning to fill with people. She could hear the sounds of Liam shaving, but she kept her eyes turned toward the street below, not willing to chance a glimpse of his fascinating chest.

Liam finished and washed the last of the soap from his face before donning his shirt once more. When he had it tucked neatly into his breeches, he crossed to stand behind Selena and looked over her shoulder at the scene below.

"It's going to be a hectic day," he said. "Try to say with me, because there are all sorts of people around. Most of them are honest, upstanding folks, but you never know. If we should get separated in the crowd, just come back here to the hotel and wait for me, alright?"

"Alright," Selena whispered.

For some reason, his concern for her welfare affected her profoundly. Was this what it might feel like to be his wife in truth? Would he always be protective and caring?

Liam grasped her elbow to turn her toward the door. "Come on. Let's go get some breakfast."

They ate in the dining room downstairs and then Liam led her to a nearby merchant that sold wagons. The man had just opened for the day, and Liam pointed out the wagon he wanted to buy. As they stood discussing the price, Selena inspected the wagon for the first time. Having grown up on a farm, she was familiar with buckboard wagons, but she had never seen one quite like this before. It had a four by twelve foot wagon bed that was coated on the inside with tar to make it watertight. There were brackets along the outsides where she knew that u-shaped wooden bows could be fitted to support a canvass top, but for now, they had been removed and stacked in the bed of the wagon. The canvass bonnet was folded neatly under the bench, and Selena could see that the bench was attached to sturdy springs to soften the bumps. The rear wheels were larger than the front ones, but all four were made of hardwood and wrapped with iron 'tires' to protect the wood.

Having agreed upon a price, Liam counted out the money and told the merchant that he would be back once he had purchased a team of oxen. Grasping Selena's arm, he led her down the street to a large enclosure near the edge of town. A good size herd of oxen were milling around in a sturdy corral, and Liam searched out the owner. Selena waited outside the fence while the two men entered the corral and Liam inspected the animals. After looking them over thoroughly, he carefully chose six oxen, and he and the man harnessed them and led them out of the pen. They tied them to the fence, and Liam counted out the necessary amount. The two men shook hands, and the merchant went back to his office.

Selena had wandered over to pet the oxen, and Liam watched her with some confusion as she smiled and cooed to them. She showed no signs of being skittish around the huge beasts, and he rested his arm on one of the ox's back and frowned at her.

"I thought you were a city girl," he said almost accusingly.

Selena met his eyes briefly but continued to stroke one animal's broad nose. "No, I grew up on a farm in eastern Illinois. I only came to St. Louis a few months ago."

He stowed that bit of information in his brain and untied the ropes. "Can you handle two of them then?" he asked, holding out two of the lead ropes.

"Certainly," she replied. She took the ropes and waited for Liam to lead the way before falling in behind him.

He cast a few glances back at her but was much assured when he saw that she seemed quite comfortable. The oxen were following her meekly, and Liam grunted his approval. They returned to the wagon merchant's establishment, and Liam made short work of harnessing four of the oxen to the wagon tongue. Selena assisted him, and it was clear that she knew how all the straps and leads worked.

"What are the other two oxen for?" she asked in some bemusement.

"It's good to have an extra pair, in case one dies or goes lame. Also, I'll trade them off during the trip to give them a rest."

Liam tied the last two oxen to the back of the wagon and smiled with satisfaction. "Good. Now let's go back to the hotel and collect our cases. Then, we can see about getting our supplies."

Without asking her permission, Liam grasped her waist and lifted her onto the seat as if she weighed no more than a feather. Selena was quick to move to the opposite side of the bench, making room for Liam to sit beside her. The bench was so narrow that it was impossible for them to sit side by side without their shoulders and legs touching. Selena tensed as she felt Liam settle beside her, and when his strong leg brushed against hers, she held her breath for a second or two. For months, Selena had been repulsed by the touch of any man, and she was a bit amazed that simple contact with Liam could make her so breathless and giddy. Something about him stirred her senses.

For his part, Liam clenched his jaw when his leg made contact with hers. The same smell of wildflowers and her own clean essence drifted up to him, and he inwardly groaned at the thought of sharing her company on the long trip to Oregon. If he was going to retain any of his sanity, he would do well to keep his attention firmly fixed on other things. With that in mind, he did his best to ignore her while he concentrated on steering the team of four oxen onto the street.

The rest of the day was spent visiting the various merchants who could supply them for the trip. Selena noted that Liam knew exactly what was needed, and many of the items he requested were things that she would never have thought to acquire, but she could readily see the need for. He had a keen sense of value, and each purchase met with her approval, though she didn't interfere with his shopping. They made good progress, and by late in the afternoon, they had purchased most of the supplies for their trip. The items had been loaded in the wagon, and Liam used the canvass bonnet as a tarp to protect the items from prying eyes.

"Let's call it a day," Liam suggested. "We'll eat a quick supper and then find a campsite and set up for the night."

Selena merely nodded her acquiescence, and they set off. By the time they cleared the town and plodded their way onto the open prairie west of Independence, it was getting dark. For as far as Selena could see, other families were camped with their wagons and livestock, their glowing campfires flickering in the dark night. They made slow progress as they picked their way in between the campsites and nodded to the people they passed. After a while, Selena turned to Liam and her face was wreathed with wonder.

"My goodness, there must be thousands of people here. Are they all going to Oregon?"

"Mostly. Some of them will branch off to California and Utah and some of them will settle closer, in Idaho or Montana territory." Liam looked down at her with a grimace. "Some of them won't make it. They'll perish from injury, illness or starvation."

Selena swallowed hard. She hadn't given much thought to the hardships they might face. She had only been focused on finding a way to get to her sister. Sensing her unease, Liam reached over and squeezed her hand.

"Don't worry, Selena. We'll be fine. Luckily, it's just the two of us, so we will have plenty of room in the wagon for sufficient food and supplies. We won't starve. Trust me."

Selena gave him a shy smile before turning away as she carefully removed her hand from his. "I do," she said softly. "That's why I asked you to take me along."

Her statement affected Liam more than he cared to admit. All his protective instincts rose up to combine with the attraction he was already feeling for Selena, and it was a heady mixture of emotions. He smiled ruefully as he thought that she wouldn't have to work very hard to have him wrapped around her finger.

When they finally found an unoccupied spot a short distance from the other emigrants, Liam set the brake and hopped down from the wagon. He set Selena on her feet, but kept his hands on her waist and pulled her gently against him. The night seemed to close in around them, and it felt as if it was only the two of them alone on the prairie.

"Tell me, Selena. Why do you want to go to Oregon so badly?"

Selena stared up into his darkly shadowed face, trying to make out his expression in the faint moonlight. "I promised my mother that I would join my sister and her husband there. It was my mother's dying wish." Her voice was so soft he had to strain to hear her words.

"And what do you wish for? What are you hoping to find there?"

Selena shrugged her shoulders, feeling shy beneath his steady regard. "The usual things I suppose. I wish for a home and a family of my own. I wish for a husband who will love me."

Liam was enjoying the feel of her in his arms, and he wasn't ready to release her just yet. He bent to claim her lips, gently savoring the soft warmth of her mouth as he pulled her even closer. Almost hesitantly, her arms slid up to encircle his neck, and Selena returned his kiss, tentatively at first, then with growing warmth. When he straightened, Liam's breathing was ragged and his voice had taken on a husky quality.

"I could give you a home and a family. I could be a husband to you," he whispered.

The deep tones of his voice triggered a longing in Selena's body, and she swallowed hard. "And will you love me?" she asked. She felt him tense beneath her hands. "I will settle for nothing less. If I can't have love, I would rather not be married at all."

Liam didn't know whether the emotions he was feeling were the beginnings of love. He wasn't yet ready to declare that they were, but neither did he want to return to the chilly hostility they had endured on the ship.

"I can't promise you love, Selena. But it's possible we could have a happy marriage anyway."

Selena stared up at him for a long time before she finally released a regretful sigh, as if she had weighed his answer and found it lacking. "We'd better make camp."

She pushed gently against his chest, and he consented to release her. As she hurried away, Liam stood still for several moments letting his blood cool. He wanted Selena physically, but in order to have her, he was going to have to make a commitment. Despite his body's urgings, he wasn't sure he was ready for that. What if they really weren't that compatible?

It was probably a good thing that she seemed able to reason logically despite the growing attraction between them. He would be wise to get to know her better before taking the irrevocable step of consummating their vows. The thought of wooing her seemed suddenly appealing. After all, they had five or six months before they reached Oregon. That would give him plenty of time to get to know her, and he could take it slow and see what happened. He could be charming when he wanted, and he definitely wanted to charm Selena.

They worked side by side to unhitch the oxen and see to their needs. Liam dug the tent that he had purchased out of the wagon and Selena helped him set it up. It was already late, so they decided not to build a fire, instead using several blankets to make a pair of warm pallets in the tent. Selena rushed to undress while Liam secured the wagon and relieved himself outside. She was already in bed when he entered the tent, and she turned her back to him while he undressed, even though she could only make out his silhouette against the glow coming from nearby fires. He settled in his pallet beside her and wriggled until he was comfortable.

"Goodnight Liam," she whispered softly in the darkness.

"Goodnight Selena."

For the first time since they had met, they both found sleep easily that night.

*********

Liam awoke the next morning to the smell of coffee and fresh bread. He rose and quickly dressed, peeking out through the flap to see Selena bustling around beside a neat fire that she had built. He wasn't used to being the last one to rise. Liam emerged from the tent and gave her a sheepish smile.




Trailing Home Ch. 04



"Good morning. How long have you been up?"

Selena returned his smile and shrugged. "Oh, just a little while. Do you want some coffee?"

"Yes, but let me see to the animals first." Liam gave them their morning rations and refilled their bucket of water before joining Selena. "Is that bread that I smell?" he asked, eying the iron pot that was partially buried in the coals.

"Yes, but it's not quite ready yet. I would have fried some bacon, but I couldn't find any."

She handed him a steaming cup of coffee and picked up her own tin mug before sitting beside him on a nearby log. Liam took several sips, slurping the hot liquid so he wouldn't burn his tongue. Realizing the coffee had sugar in it, he looked at her with a questioning brow raised.

"How did you know I like my coffee sweet?"

Selena looked down at her mug, but he saw her cheeks turning pink. "I noticed that you added sugar when we were on the ship."

Liam gave her a teasing grin. "I thought you were ignoring me the whole time."

"I noticed a few things," she mumbled, and her cheeks brightened even further.

Liam looked back at his cup, but his smile remained as he took a few more sips. Turning thoughtful, he looked at her. "We need to go into town today and get the last few supplies we will need. I wanted to buy the bacon as fresh as possible. I hate rancid bacon. We should also get some chickens for the trip, and we need to stock up on feed for the oxen. That should just about do it for supplies." Selena nodded. She refilled his coffee, but refused to meet his eye while she tossed a bit of sugar into his cup.

"The bread should be ready," she murmured and turned away to remove it from the fire.

The bread was a disappointment, burned on the outside and still doughy in the middle. When Selena cut into it, she bit her lip and groaned.

"Oh no! This is awful." When Liam started to laugh, she turned on him with a glare. "It's not funny."

Liam tried to subdue his humor but he couldn't suppress his smile. "I thought you said you were a good cook," he teased.

Selena's cheeks burned brighter than before. "I am. It's just that I'm not used to cooking over a fire."

"Well, I hope you're a fast learner or we're going to be awfully hungry on this trip." Liam took the knife from her hand and cut out the doughy center of the bread. He tossed it onto the fire, where it bubbled and hissed, sending up a noxious odor. "Here," he said, handing Selena a chunk of the burned edge.

They finished their breakfast in silence, Selena still smarting from his remarks. When they were done, she hurried to clean up the dishes and bank the fire while Liam hitched up the oxen.

"Are you ready?" Liam asked. At her nod, he lifted Selena onto the seat and climbed up beside her. They headed for town, leaving their tent to mark their spot.

The town of Independence was still teeming with people, and their numbers seemed to have increased even since the previous day. Liam managed to find a place to park the wagon not far from the general store, and he took her arm. Once inside, they had to wait their turn to be served. While Liam ordered the items they needed, Selena wandered around the store, looking at the various goods for sale. She picked out a few items that she wanted, including some needles and thread for her sewing kit, a small book of short stories, a journal and pencils so she could record the events during their journey, and a bag of hard candy. She carried them to the counter to stand beside Liam just as he was getting the last of their supplies.

He saw her holding the items, and he reached to take them. "Here, let me get those."

Selena resisted, hugging them to her. "No, that's not necessary. I'll pay for them."

Liam gave her an irritated frown. "Selena, don't be ridiculous. Put them up here." He tugged them loose from her grasp and added them to his pile. 

Selena stood silently fuming. Short of making a scene, there was no way to stop him from paying for the items she had picked out. She bit her tongue to keep from voicing her displeasure.

"I think that should do it for us," Liam said as he counted out the money and nodded his thanks to the merchant. Selena helped him gather up the goods he had purchased and followed him back to the wagon.

"Why did you do that?" she hissed in an angry whisper. "I'm quite capable of paying for my own things."

Liam loaded their goods into the wagon. "Selena, you've already paid me more than enough to cover your way." He raked her with a sidelong glance as he worked. "You hardly eat enough to keep a bird alive, so I think I can afford to buy you a few pennies worth of candy and some odds and ends."

Selena chewed her lip as she watched him. "Well, I don't want you to get into the habit of thinking you can boss me around. I am my own woman, you know?"

Liam finished securing the canvass and propped an elbow on the wagon as he looked down at her. "Selena, you are my wife. I am quite capable of buying anything you need, within reason of course."

"I'm your wife in name only," she ground out, giving a furtive glance around to make sure no one was listening to them. The folks around were too busy with their own errands to pay them any mind.

"That is another point entirely, but until we get the marriage dissolved, you are my wife." He bent his head down to catch her eye. "In case you've forgotten, you made a vow to obey me, remember?"

Selena gave him a narrow-eyed glare and raised her chin to a lofty height. "Yes, and you promised to love, honor, and cherish me, remember?"

Liam released a frustrated sigh. "You are the most infuriating, mule-headed, argumentative woman I've ever met."

"And you're the most arrogant, overbearing, bossy man I've ever met."

Selena turned away just as she heard her name being called. She looked up to see Marcia Boyd rushing toward them, her daughters not far behind. Selena struggled to subdue her anger and managed a smile of welcome for her friend.

"Oh Selena, I'm so glad to have found you in this crowd." Marcia gave Selena a hug and turned to Liam. "Hello, Liam," Marcia smiled.

"Hello ma'am, ladies." Liam returned her smile and nodded to Natasha and Susan. "Where's Gerald?"

"He's getting all our supplies. He bought us a wagon and a team of oxen this morning from the man you had recommended to him." She looked around at the people bustling past them. "I hope he finishes soon. I'm anxious to get away from here. All these people rushing around make me nervous."

Liam gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Mrs. Boyd. I understand the town is always like this in the spring. Everyone is anxious to stock up for the trip, and the merchants depend on their business. But don't worry. We'll be on our way in a few days."

Natasha sidled closer to Liam and looked up at him with a pretty pout from beneath her lashes. "I was so worried that we wouldn't find you in this crowd. We were counting on traveling with you, since you know the way and all."

Liam gave Natasha a tolerant smile. "We're all headed in the same direction, Miss Boyd. I'm sure you wouldn't have gotten lost."

"Nevertheless, I feel so much safer knowing that you are around to help us," she replied.

Liam looked at Marcia. "Well, we are almost finished in town. We just have to make one more stop before going over to the livery. I understand the owner has a side business selling feed and livestock. Why don't you find Gerald and meet us there, then you can follow us back to our campsite?"

"Oh, that would be wonderful," Marcia said with relief. "We'll try not to keep you waiting. Come along girls."

Selena watched them hurrying to cross the street in search of Gerald before she turned back to Liam. From his expression, it was obvious that he was still peeved with her. She much preferred the easy camaraderie they had enjoyed the previous evening, and she sought for a way to lighten the mood.

"You know, if you keep calling me names, I won't share any of my candy with you."

Caught off guard by her abrupt change of mood, Liam couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, so that's what this is about. You don't want to share your candy." As he said the words, he lifted her onto the seat.

"Well, it's awfully good candy," she said saucily. "But if you're really nice, I'll give you some."

"I'll keep that in mind," he grinned.

Liam steered the team out into the busy thoroughfare and they plodded their way to a clothing store. Once again, Liam lifted her down but kept his hands on her waist as he fixed her with a stern stare.

"We're going in here, and I'm going to buy you a coat. You'll need it when we get up into the mountains."

"No Liam, I'm quite capable of buying myself a coat," Selena replied stubbornly.

"That may be true, but if you'll remember, our agreement was that the money you gave me was to be used to buy the extra supplies we would need for you. A warm coat is just part of those supplies." Seeing the obstinate set of her jaw, he leaned closer and tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. There was a teasing light in his eyes. "Even if it costs me a taste of that candy, I'm going to buy you a coat."

She studied his face, seeing an equal amount of determination in the hazel eyes that held her gaze. Thrusting her bottom lip out, Selena blew her breath out with a frustrated sigh, ruffling her hair.

"Well, it looks like I have little choice in the matter. You've already made up your mind."

"That's right. Now be a good girl and come along."

Liam lightly took hold of her elbow to steer her into the store. They were relieved that the shop wasn't as busy as the other businesses they had visited, and it wasn't long before the shopkeeper turned to serve them.

"Could I help you?" she asked with a smile.

Liam drew Selena forward. "We need a warm winter coat for my wife. What do you have?"

"Not too expensive, just something serviceable," Selena murmured.

The shopkeeper led them to a corner near the back and pulled forth a heavy coat of dark grey wool. She held it up, and Selena slipped her arms into the sleeves. She snuggled the collar up around her neck, ignoring the prickling sensation of the wool against her skin as she stood for Liam's inspection. He frowned slightly then turned to the shopkeeper.

"Is this the only coat you have?"

The woman smiled and shook her head. "No sir. I have another coat that would probably fit her, but it's more expensive."

"Could we see it please?"

The shopkeeper helped Selena remove the grey coat, and she laid it aside. She pulled out another coat. This one was of finer wool that had been dyed a deep blue. She held it out, and as Selena slipped her arms into the sleeves, she noticed it was lined with a soft blue silk. The cut of the coat was finer too, hugging her womanly curves rather than hiding them beneath its bulk.

"Much better," Liam murmured, using the opportunity to run his eyes appreciatively down her length. The color of the coat accentuated her blue eyes and made her complexion glow. "We'll take this one."

Selena swallowed any protest about the cost. She would have liked to argue about the extravagance, since this coat cost more than twice what the other one did. However, she had to admit that it felt much better against her skin.

"She's also going to need some warm mittens, two pairs, and a hat," Liam said, as he helped her out of the coat and folded it over his arm, ignoring Selena's narrowed eyes.

The shopkeeper pulled out a tray of mittens and hats, and Liam quickly chose the ones he liked. Selena stood quietly beside him, biting her tongue.

"Will that be all for you sir?" the shopkeeper asked, returning the tray to its shelf.

"No, she's also going to need some warm winter underwear," Liam stated, with only a brief glance of warning in Selena's direction.

"I have just the thing," the shopkeeper stated, leading them to another area of the store. She shuffled through some garments, not noticing the battle of wills that was going on between Liam and Selena. "I think these would do nicely," the woman said, holding up a pair of sturdy quilted cotton pantalets and a matching chemise. Although the undergarments were thick enough to be warm and serviceable, they were trimmed with lace and had pink ribbon trim. She circled behind Selena and held them up in front of her to show Liam that they would fit.

Selena blushed hotly beneath Liam's regard. She could guess he was imagining her in the garments, and her pulse leaped at the thought. She forced herself to remain still as he studied her.

Little did Selena know that Liam's thoughts were much more scandalous than she imagined. He was remembering her with no clothes at all, and he absently nodded his head, cocking it slightly to the side as he considered his wife.

"Those will be fine," he said at length. "We'll take two pair plus these other things."

Liam handed all the items to the shopkeeper and followed her to the counter. Selena had little choice but to follow in his wake. She waited until they were once again outside before she turned to him with a glare.

"You said one coat, Liam. Now I insist that you let me pay for the other things."

"Selena, I only bought the things you are going to need," Liam said quietly, stowing their package in the back of the wagon.

"I can't let you pay for those things. It wouldn't be proper," Selena whispered, blushing hotly.

"It's perfectly proper for a man to buy underwear for his wife," Liam stated with a wolfish grin. When she opened her mouth to protest, he held up a hand to stop further argument. "Enough. If it makes you feel any better, you'll be working hard on this trip. You're going to more than earn your way, so there's no reason to refuse the clothes." She released another frustrated sigh, and his grin widened. "Good. Now let's go meet Gerald and Marcia."

He lifted her onto the bench before climbing up to join her, and they made their way to the livery. Liam led her inside the large barn, and they waited their turn. When the owner lent them his attention, Liam ordered several large bags of feed for the oxen.

"I also want to buy four laying hens," Liam said.

The owner led them to a chicken coop at the back of the barn. Liam selected the ones he wanted and the man put them into a long cage that could be secured onto the side of the wagon. As the owner completed the task, he gave Liam a wry grin.

"My wife ain't gonna be happy mister. You just picked out my best layin' hens."

Liam gave him a charming smile. "Well, tell her that you charged me more than a fair price for them. That should help to soothe her ruffled feathers." The two men laughed and then Liam indicated a small corral that held several cows. After looking them over for a few minutes, he pointed to one near the back and asked, "How much will you take for that cow?"

Selena eyed the pathetic looking creature. Her bony frame was almost gaunt, and her eyes looked lazy and mournful as she lay munching her cud. Selena turned with a worried frown and whispered to Liam.

"She doesn't look like she would give much milk, Liam. Are you sure?"

"Trust me," he whispered in her ear.

The owner looked a bit uncomfortable and tried to get Liam to select a different cow, but he was adamant that he wanted that one. They dickered for a few minutes and finally agreed upon a price. After adding some chicken feed to their order, Liam paid the man, and they loaded the feed and tied the animals to the wagon.

"Selena, would you like to get something to drink while we wait for the Boyds? It's pretty warm today," Liam offered.

The livery owner's interest perked up. "Selena? That's a kinda unusual name. Are you Selena Darcy?"

"Yes, I am. Why?"

"Selena McKenzie, actually," Liam said impatiently.

Selena smiled somewhat apologetically to them both. "We're just recently married, and I forget sometimes to use my married name. But why are you asking?"

The owner scratched his head and grinned. "Well, there was a man in here earlier today, name of Hank, I believe he said. He was askin' if I'd seen you. He said you were a right pretty little lady, and I can see he wasn't exaggeratin'."

"He would do well to remember that she's a married woman," Liam growled. The frown he pinned on Selena made it clear that he thought she should remember as well.

Sensing the tension, the owner nodded his head to them both. "I'd better see about these other customers who are waitin'. Hope you have a safe trip." He abruptly turned and went back into the barn.

Liam crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at her with a frown. "You must have made quite an impression on Hank for him to be asking around town for you."

Selena shrugged her shoulders and gave a small secretive smile. Liam's temper was not soothed by her flippant attitude, and his frown deepened into the blackest of scowls.

"Well, I'd appreciate it if you would stop flirting with other men."

"I wasn't flirting with Hank," she protested.

"I heard you on board the ship. What was it your were saying to him?" Liam raised the pitch of his voice to mock hers. "'That's a good idea, Hank. I would never have thought of that on my own.'" Liam's voice dropped back to an ominous growl. "You were simpering as if you were some brainless twit that needed his assistance. Believe me, I've had a number of women flirt with me and that's exactly how they do it. As my wife, I expect you to refrain from going around talking and flirting with every man you come in contact with."

"Would you keep your voice down," Selena murmured, glancing around. She frowned up at him with her hands on her hips. "I wasn't acting like a brainless twit and I wasn't flirting! It just so happens that Hank and I were carrying on an intelligent conversation, and he offered me some good advice. Obviously, you weren't eavesdropping long enough or you would know that."

Liam opened his mouth to reply, but just then, the Boyd family pulled up with their newly purchased wagon as well as a sturdy buggy that was hitched to a mule. Their arrival put an end to the conversation, but both Selena and Liam knew that the topic would be continued.

The Boyd family wagon was packed to the brim with supplies, so they had bought the buggy to keep Natasha and Susan from having to walk the entire way to Oregon, as so many other emigrants had to do. Liam took a look at the animals, inspecting their teeth and hooves, running a hand over their well muscled flanks. He assured Gerald that they looked hale and hearty.

Gerald took Liam's advice and also purchased a cow and some chickens. Marcia and Selena chatted while they waited for the men to conclude their business. Selena was more than a little peeved when she noted how Natasha kept sending flirtatious glances at Liam. Selena felt like giving the other woman a piece of her mind, but instead she pretended not to notice.

"We'd better get going. There is still a lot of work to do this afternoon," Liam said.

Everyone agreed, and Liam and Selena led the way back to their camp. Gerald and Susan followed in the second wagon, and Marcia and Natasha brought up the rear in the buggy. As they rode along, Selena cast a few glances back at the cow Liam had bought and finally couldn't resist voicing her concern.

"Liam, are you sure about that cow? She doesn't look like she could make it all the way to Oregon, much less put out any milk along the way."

Liam gave her an impatient frown. "Will you just drop it? Take my word for it, I've got an eye for animals. That cow, sad looking as she is, is going to give us more milk and cream than we can use."

Selena continued to eye him skeptically, but giving him the benefit of the doubt, she remained silent. They reached their campsite, and the Boyd family set up their own camp a short distance away. As she helped to unhitch the oxen, Selena couldn't help noticing that Natasha was the only one not helping. Everyone else was busy with the various tasks that needed attention, but Natasha was preoccupied with brushing the dust off her dress. Selena sighed as she noted that the other woman was impeccably garbed in yet another beautiful dress, while she was wearing the last of her own sparse wardrobe, a simple cotton dress of buttery yellow. She felt like a dowdy sparrow next to a swan.




Trailing Home Ch. 04



Liam made her jump when he appeared at her elbow. He was searching for a way to break the tension between them.

"Why don't you make us some lunch," Liam suggested with a smile, "while I get the wagon unpacked. We need to organize everything so we can get to it easily, and since you're going to be the cook, you can arrange the food the way you want it."

Selena agreed, and they both set to work. By the time she had a large pot of soup prepared Liam had spread most of their supplies out in the shade of the wagon. Selena dished up a large bowl for Liam and then one for herself. The soup was delicious, and Selena felt somewhat vindicated after the disastrous bread she had made that morning.

"Well, I'll be darned," Liam grinned. "You can cook after all."

Selena heaved an exasperated sigh, but the corners of her mouth twitched from his teasing. She was happy to serve him seconds when he finished off the last bite. They ate lunch in companionable silence, enjoying the cool spring afternoon, and when they were finished, they leaned back shoulder to shoulder against a log to relax for a few minutes. Selena realized with some surprise that she was enjoying her husband's company, and she gazed up at the fluffy clouds in the vast prairie sky.

"Liam," she said softly, "tell me about Oregon. What is it like?"

"Beautiful," he murmured.

She looked over to find his gaze on her, and her breath caught in her throat. His eyes were glowing orbs flecked with green, and as she watched, they dipped to her bosom. Selena felt almost as if he could see through her layers of clothes, and she felt her nipples crinkle beneath the fabric of her bodice. She glanced around to make sure no one nearby was observing them. Much to her relief, the wagon and the log they were leaning against afforded them some privacy.

"Well, tell me about it. What is the land like?"

Liam reached out a hand to run his fingers along the delicate line of her jaw and down her slender neck. "It's beautiful," he said again. Encouraged when she didn't pull away from his touch, his fingers trailed down to the curves of her breast. He brushed across her nipples and his gaze followed as if fascinated. "It's all hills and valleys. Everything's pure and untouched. It's the kind of place where a man wants to linger forever and can find true happiness."

Liam waited for Selena to look up at him, and he captured her mouth, using his hand to cradle the back of her head. As he deepened the kiss, he heard her moan and he reveled in the sound. He wanted her with a fierce intensity, but he reminded himself that he had decided to take it slowly. He reluctantly drew back from the kiss and watched as her eyelids fluttered open to reveal violet pools full of uncertainty. He battled with his lust for several moments before he wrestled it into submission. Assuming a casual air, he rose and reached a hand down to assist her.

"Come on," he smiled, "We'd better get to work if we're going to get the wagon repacked before sundown."

Selena felt as if her head was spinning as she let Liam help her up. She frowned and bit her lip as he turned away. What was he up to? For the most part, he had been charming ever since they had left the ship, and she wasn't used to dealing with that side of his personality.

Shaking her head in bemusement, Selena set to work. They spent the rest of the afternoon organizing the cargo in the wagon. Liam's experience on his previous trips enabled him to have a clear understanding of how items should be packed.

He was hauling two small chests of family heirlooms and keepsakes from his parents' home back to Oregon to share with his brothers. Those were loaded near the middle of the wagon, both to protect them from the elements, and because they didn't need to be accessed until they reached their destination.

The foodstuffs were loaded near the back and to one side so they would be handy. Flour, cornmeal, bacon, beans, coffee, sugar, lard, vinegar, salt, pepper, rice, yeast powder, hardtack, and baking soda were organized so that Selena knew where everything was. A few jars of pickles and a barrel with dried peaches, apples, onions, carrots and potatoes completed their larder. Pots, pans, cups, plates, and utensils were placed within easy reach, and a small butter churn was strapped to the outside of the wagon, along with a large wooden barrel for water. 

Liam's tools, rope, spare parts for the wagon, axle grease and an axe were placed near the front of the wagon. His shotgun, rifle and ammunition were placed within easy reach of the bench. A small medical kit that contained a bottle of whiskey, cloth bandages, tweezers, iodine, castor oil, liniment, witch hazel, hartshorn for snakebite, quinine for malaria and various ointments and home remedies was stowed to one side. They left a spot at the other side of the back where the tent and bedding could be added to a small chest that contained their clothes, candles, matches, towels and a tiny wash basin. Finally, the animal feed was stowed near the middle of the other side, so that it could be accessed by lifting the canvass.

Liam installed the wooden bows into their brackets on the sides of the wagon. These were used to support the canvass bonnet. While he did that, Selena spread the large canvass out on the ground and carefully applied another coat of linseed oil that he had purchased for that reason. Once the oil was applied, the canvass would be relatively waterproof.

Liam grinned when he looked down and saw Selena on hands and knees spreading the thick oil. Her back was to him, and her fanny looked quite enticing from his vantage point. His mind conjured an image of her without her clothes on positioned thusly before him, and he took several calming breaths to cool his blood.

"How goes it there?" he called. "Are you almost done?"

Selena sat back on her heels and used the back of her hand to brush a stray lock of hair out of her eyes as she looked up at Liam. He had removed his shirt in the late afternoon heat, and his chest, shoulders and arms were glistening with sweat. Her cheeks flooded with color as she wondered what it might feel like to run her fingers along the ridges of his muscular abdomen, and she shaded her face with her hand to hide her blush.

"Yes, I'm almost done. Are you waiting for me?"

If she only knew! "Yeah, but take your time." He dipped some cool water out of the barrel and drank his fill before dipping a cup for her. By the time he brought it over to her, she was finished, and he grasped her elbow to help her up.

"Oh, thank you," Selena murmured. She laughed nervously when he would have handed her the cup and held up her hands to show him that were coated in the smelly, amber colored oil. "I should wash my hands first."

"Don't bother. I'm going to get you to help hold the canvass while I stretch it over in a minute, so you'll just get them dirty again. Allow me." Liam stepped close beside her and held the cup to Selena's lips.

She drank deeply and sighed when the water was finished. "Thank you," she said again, smiling up at him.

"It was my pleasure." He wiped a dribble off her chin with the pad of his thumb, and grinned down at her. "Let's get the bonnet on, then we'll call it a day." Liam went to return the cup to the barrel, leaving Selena looking slightly flushed.

"Doesn't the oil have to dry?" Selena asked.

"It's going to take weeks to fully dry, but we can go ahead and put it on the frame."

Liam climbed onto the side of the wagon, and with Selena's help, he managed to get the canvass stretched over the wooden bows. When it was secured, the two of them stood admiring the fully outfitted wagon in the setting sun. Liam put an arm around her waist and grinned down at her. 

"Well, Mrs. McKenzie. That will be our home for the next few months. What do you think?"

Selena gave him a rueful smile. It was hard for her to imagine. "I think I was crazy to ever promise my mother that I would do this."

Liam threw back his head and laughed and Selena couldn't resist joining in. When their laughter subsided, she smiled at him. "Are you hungry? There's some soup left"

"That sounds good. You heat it up and I'll feed the animals and check on how the Boyds are getting along."

Liam was relieved to find that their neighbors were faring quite well. They had set up their own tent that was large enough for the four of them. Gerald had built a fire, and Marcia and Susan had prepared a simple meal for their supper. Natasha had retired to the tent to take a nap. Apparently, she was exhausted from the long day.

By the time the sun had set, Liam and Selena were relaxing by the fire with bowls of steaming soup. She had managed to bake a pan of biscuits, and they were fluffy and delicious.

"When do we leave?" Selena asked between bites.

Liam shrugged, giving his attention to the food. "Judging by the grass, I think we would be alright to leave in a day or two. I'll check the wagon over tomorrow and make sure the axles are well greased and everything is in good repair. Maybe you could do our laundry so we're set to go. We want to leave ahead of most of the crowd so we'll be able to find clean water and plenty of grass for the animals. Once folks start heading out, everyone wants to go at the same time and it gets pretty crazy around here, so we want to be among the first. Gerald said they'll be ready to go whenever we are."

They lapsed back into silence for a few moments, each one lost in their thoughts.

"So tell me about yourself," Liam said, watching her with interest as he ate his soup.

Selena gave a nervous laugh. She always felt self-conscious when he gazed at her so intently. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything." He gave her a rueful grin. "I don't even know how old you are. I didn't rob the cradle did I?"

"I turned nineteen in January," she said with a shy smile. "And you?"

"I'll be twenty six next month." He finished the last of his soup and set the dish aside. "Tell me about your childhood."

"Well, there's not much to tell really. I grew up on a farm in southeast Illinois with my parents and my older sister. I had a younger brother, but he died as a baby. My sister got married four years ago, and she and her husband moved to Oregon.

"What are their names? Maybe I know them," he said.

"Diana and Alex Winters. She said they live just a few miles south of Salem."

Liam looked thoughtful for a moment and then shook his head slowly. "I don't think I've met them before, but their farm must only be about a half day's drive from ours." He stretched back against the log. "So tell me more."

"Well, about six months after my sister and her husband left, my Pa got sick and died. It nearly broke my mother's heart, but she was a strong woman, and she managed to get through it. She and I had always been close, but we grew even closer after Pa passed away. We managed to keep the farm going, and we were doing fairly well for a while." Her face clouded over and she set her half-eaten soup aside, suddenly losing her appetite. "Then everything changed."

"What happened?" he asked quietly.

Selena was reluctant to talk about what had happened. In fact, she had never confided in anyone before, but somehow, she felt comfortable talking with Liam. She cleared her throat and continued.

"My mother remarried, to a man named Jeb Hawkins." Selena took a steadying breath and went on, but her voice was so soft that Liam had to strain to hear her. "He convinced her that he was a good man, and I guess she may have been thinking I needed a father." She laughed bitterly. "But after they married, he turned mean. All he wanted to do was drink and laze around. Then, the beatings started."

Liam felt his muscles tense, but he managed to keep his voice even. "Did he hurt you?"

Selena shook her head. "No, Mama always got the brunt of it. He made me nervous though. He was always watching me, his eyes following me everywhere I went, and I was afraid to be alone with him. I used to beg Mama to run away with me to Oregon, and she finally agreed. We were saving up money to go when . . ." her voice trailed off and she looked down at her lap.

Liam pulled her against him and was surprised to feel her trembling in his arms. "What happened, Selena?"

His tenderness touched something deep inside her, and Selena started to cry, the tears rolling unheeded down her cheeks. "He caught me alone, down by the creek. I tried to get away from him, but he grabbed me and started kissing me and touching me. I kept screaming for him to let me go, but he seemed to like it that I was fighting him. I bit him on the hand, and he hit me."

Selena's breath came in hiccupping sobs between her whispers. "I thought at first my jaw was broken...then he threw me on the ground and started...ripping my clothes off and...putting his filthy hands and mouth all over me...I thought I would die...and there was nothing I could do to stop him."

Selena collapsed against Liam's chest and sobbed in anguish. All the shame she had been carrying with her overflowed, and her slender frame shook with the force of her tears. "My mother showed up with a pistol and made him get off me. But then, he attacked her and beat her so badly...he broke her ribs and they must have punctured her lung...By the time I got to the gun and ran him off, it was too late. My mother died that very afternoon...and it was all because of me."

She clutched at Liam's shirtfront as she bitterly wept. He felt like his lungs were caught in a vise. He could have easily murdered her stepfather if he had been there at that moment. Instead, Liam pulled Selena onto his lap and rocked her like a child while she cried. He wanted to protect her, and he wished he could erase all her pain. He stroked her back and kissed her hair as he spoke soothingly.

"It's alright sweetheart. You're safe now. Just cry it out. It wasn't your fault, honey. You didn't do anything wrong."

Eventually her sobs subsided, and Selena fell into an exhausted sleep, snuggled on Liam's lap. He held her for a long time as he thought about what she had told him. She felt so small and helpless in his lap, but he knew that underneath she must have a backbone of steel. He could only wonder how she had found the courage to ask him to take her with him. After what she had been through, most women would have found it impossible to ever trust a man again.

Liam rose, being careful not to wake Selena. She took a deep, ragged breath and let it out on a sigh that fanned the side of his neck. Still sleeping soundly, she snuggled closer against his chest as he carried her to her pallet. He removed her shoes and tucked the blanket around her shoulders.

As he stood looking down at her face in the dim firelight, he felt a wave of tenderness wash over him. He longed to make love to her, to show her that it could be something beautiful between a man and a woman, a time of sharing rather than brutal taking. He wanted to lavish her with gentleness and replace her fear with pleasure. But he knew all that would have to wait. He would have to win her trust before anything else could develop between them.

Liam undressed and crawled between his own blankets, but he bent over to place a kiss on her brow as he whispered, "Goodnight, Selena. Sleep well."



Trailing Home Ch. 05



The next morning, Liam woke up first and quietly dressed before slipping out of the tent. When Selena woke up, she lay for several minutes, remembering what she had told him the previous night. She moaned and squeezed her eyes tightly shut, thinking of how she had clung to him and let him hold her so intimately on his lap. How humiliating! She could only hope he wouldn't think badly of her, and she dreaded having to face him.

Most men in her experience assumed when a girl was attacked or raped that she had done something by her actions or her style of dress to invite the unwanted attention. The last thing Selena wanted was for Liam to think she was a woman of loose morals. She was having a hard enough time winning his respect without him thinking she was 'easy'. Of course, the fact that she had nearly slept with him already would only add to that image. In addition, she wondered if Liam would now consider her to be 'damaged goods'.

Selena heaved a deep sigh and rose from her pallet, realizing that she had slept in her clothes once again. She had no idea whether there was time to change, so she did her best to smooth out her skirts and tidied her hair before emerging from the tent.

Selena could see Liam nearby, tending to the animals, and she hurried to splash water over her face and wash her hands. By the time she had the fire going and the coffee boiling, Liam was finished with his chores. Selena was busy making biscuits and frying bacon when Liam brought her four eggs and a large bucket of milk. She reluctantly faced him, relieved to find no trace of judgment or mockery in his expression. Liam gave her a boyish grin, indicating the bucket he held.

"What did I tell you? She's a dandy cow."

Selena was astonished when she saw not only the quantity of milk but the thick layer of cream rising to the top of the bucket, and she looked up at him with wonder. "How did you know?"

Liam lifted his broad shoulders in a casual shrug. "I can't explain it, I just did." He scanned her face, honest concern showing in the hazel depths of his eyes. He could still see the effects of her crying in her slightly swollen and reddened eyes. "Are you alright this morning?"

Selena turned away, not wanting to face him. "Yes, thank you. I'm...sorry about last night. I don't know what got into me, but I shouldn't have gone on like I did."

Liam grasped her shoulders and turned her gently around to face him. He lifted her chin until she looked at him, and his smile was tender and sincere. "Selena, you don't have anything to feel ashamed about, not about what happened to you or about telling me. I'm glad you confided in me."

As Selena stared up at him, she realized that she felt a tremendous relief. It was as if a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. "Thank you," she whispered, unable to look away from his compelling gaze.

Liam rubbed his thumb along her cheek, noticing how her skin turned a pretty shade of pink beneath his touch. He couldn't resist sampling the lushness of her lips, and he nibbled at the corners until she turned her head slightly to meet his kiss full on. He pulled her against him, feeling her arms steal around his waist as he bent her slightly over one arm and deepened the kiss.

Without thinking, he cupped her buttock in his palm and kneaded the soft flesh, eliciting a soft moan from Selena. Her eager response sent the blood pounding through his loins, and he was hard-pressed to end the embrace, but he realized the necessity of doing so. There were too many people nearby to have any degree of privacy in full daylight, and he reluctantly eased his hold on her and drew back from the kiss. Liam cleared his throat, but when he spoke his voice was still husky.

"You'd better finish making breakfast."

Selena jumped as she remembered the food, and quickly wriggled free to check on their breakfast. The bacon was nearly black, and the biscuits had burned a bit on the outside by the time she took them out of the pan. She let out a low moan of despair, but when Liam started to laugh, she turned on him with a glare.

"It's not funny, Liam. It's your fault that everything is burned."

"I'm sorry, my sweet. I had no idea my kisses would distract you so completely." His twinkling eyes and roguish grin only served to annoy her more.

Selena's cheeks burned and she felt tears threatening. She turned back to the fire so he wouldn't see. The familiarity with which he had handled her seemed to confirm her earlier fears. He probably thought she was fair game for his attentions, even though he hadn't made any kind of commitment to her. She maintained her silence as she finished making breakfast, but she quietly fumed. She was just as angry with herself as she was with him. What had happened to her strength of will? Every time Liam touched her, she felt her resistance melt away. It was no wonder that he had developed an unfavorable impression of her when she acted like some weak kneed schoolgirl.

She hardened her resolve, and by the time she served him breakfast, she had determined to remain aloof from his advances until she won the respect and loyalty she deserved. He was going to have to learn to treat her like a lady, not some strumpet that was available for his amusement whenever he felt an urge.

Once again, they ate in silence, but this time it was strained. Liam didn't understand what had caused Selena's mood to change so abruptly, and he was at a loss as to how to ease her irritation.

When they finished, Selena rose and started clearing away the dishes as she spoke to him over her shoulder. "If you will please give me your laundry, I'm going to go down to the creek and do the wash."

"Alright, just give me a minute." Liam retrieved a small bundle of his dirty clothes from the wagon and brought it back to her. "This is all I have that needs cleaning. There's a good spot down through there," he said, indicating a trail through the woods. "It's nice and private, so you could even bathe if you want to. You should have the place to yourself."

Selena nodded her head but refused to answer or meet his eye. Liam stood watching her for several moments before walking away. He was beginning to wonder if he would ever understand the woman he had married.

Selena finished cleaning up the dishes, and put on a pot of beans to simmer while she was gone. She gathered her own clothes along with Liam's, fetched the washboard, towel and soap out of the wagon and set off through the woods.

It took her a few minutes to reach the creek, and she set her bundles down near the bank. As she rolled up her sleeves, she took in the scenery around her. The small clearing was surrounded on all sides by dense forest, and just as Liam had said, there was no one around. The creek was narrow, but the water was clear and clean. The shallow water spilled over rocks and logs, making a pleasant burbling noise that soothed her anger. There was a shallow pool that had been formed by an outcropping of large boulders, and Selena chose that spot to wash the clothes.

All of her clothes were dirty except for her best blue dress, and she refused to spoil it by wearing it to do chores. However, she wanted to wash everything before they left on their trip, since she wasn't sure how long it might be before she had another chance to do laundry. She looked around once more to ensure that she was entirely alone and then removed her homespun skirt and blouse and her cotton stockings.

Dressed only in her chemise and pantalets, Selena set to work. She washed the skirt and blouse and wrung as much water out as she could before spreading them out on one of the boulders to dry in the sun. She did the same with Liam's shirts and breeches, carefully cleaning out all the grime and laying them over nearby rocks or bushes to dry. Her anger completely dissipated as she worked, and Selena began to enjoy the serenity of the secluded clearing. She worked diligently on the clothes, paying no heed to the time, and a pair of hours had passed by the time that she shook out her last dress that needed washing.

As she worked on the dress, Selena's thoughts returned to Liam and she released a deep sigh. She wasn't normally so moody, but he made her feel unsure of herself and that made her irritable. Perhaps she had been too quick to judge him. After all, he had been tender and compassionate when she confessed what had happened with Jeb. She bit her lip as she remembered the way Liam had looked at her this morning. His eyes had been full of concern before he kissed her. Maybe he did care about her after all?

Selena closed her eyes and remembered how it felt to be wrapped securely in his arms. The warmth that suffused her body could not be explained solely by the weak spring sunshine, and she sighed again. Without conscious direction, her mind conjured an image of Liam when she had seen him remove his breeches. Her wicked imagination was quick to fill in the details of his naked form, and her cheeks flamed from the wantonness of her thoughts. Still, she was reluctant to abandon the image, and she sat back on her heels for several moments replaying it in her mind. The perfection of his body more than surpassed her girlish fantasies, and with the curiosity of a mature woman, she longed to examine it more thoroughly. As was quickly becoming her habit since that night, she wondered what it might feel like to have him make love to her. If his kisses were any indication, she was inclined to think that she wouldn't mind fulfilling her wifely duties if the time ever came when she and Liam grew closer.

Selena was so caught up in her musings that she didn't hear Liam approaching from the woods, even though he made no effort to be quiet. By the time he spoke, he was standing directly behind her.

"How is it going?" he inquired.

Selena jumped up with a startled gasp, and took a step backward. Her foot caught on the washboard, and she toppled headlong into the pool. She surfaced, gasping for breath and from the shock of the cold water, still frigid from the spring thaw. She sputtered and pushed her dripping hair back from her face, ignoring the rivulets of water that streamed down her cheeks while she glared up at Liam through wet spiky lashes. He was standing on the bank, doubled over at the waist and laughing as if he had never seen anything so funny in his life.

Selena had never felt more humiliated, and when Liam sobered enough to offer her his hand to help her out of the creek, she coldly refused it, choosing instead to make her own way. However, just as she was almost to the bank, her foot slipped on a mossy rock, and her arms thrashed wildly in the air before she fell on her bottom again, sending up a geyser of water around her. Liam howled even louder, and Selena felt cold rage well up inside her.

"You braying ass! Don't you have anything better to do than to stand there laughing at me?"

As she said the words, Selena struggled to her feet and managed to scramble out of the creek. She was so incensed that she didn't think about her severely strained modesty as she faced him. Liam abruptly stopped laughing as he took in her appearance.

The wet chemise clung to her like a transparent veil, holding nothing from his regard. Her nipples were clearly visible standing proudly erect from the cold water. One of the lacy straps had fallen off her creamy shoulder, and he held his breath in anticipation of the garment loosing its tenuous hold on her curved form. The soaked pantalets were even more provocative, as they hugged her slender hips and buttocks. Liam couldn't help but notice the triangular patch of black hair that was visible at the juncture of her thighs. He swallowed against the sudden dryness in his throat as he fully appreciated the sights.

Selena stalked up to him and put her hands on her hips as she berated him. "What is the matter with you that you have to scare the living daylights out of me? I thought you had work to do, so why aren't you doing it?"

Liam gave a helpless shrug, "I just thought I would check on you and see if you needed anything."

"I was perfectly fine before you showed up. I'm more than capable of doing the laundry without any help from you!"

Selena's anger was out of all proportion to the incident, but it was fueled by her frustration over all the other incidents that had preceded it. Liam had a way of making her feel self-conscious and inadequate and she was tired of it.

"I'd be able to cook breakfast without burning it if you would just leave me alone! You must think I really am some brainless idiot who always needs you to tell me what to do and how to do it. Well for your information, I don't need you to pay for my candy and clothes or tell me where to sleep or who I can talk to!" She stamped her foot to emphasize the words and her breasts nearly bounced free of the sagging chemise.

Liam was so distracted by the sight of her perky breasts that he was having a hard time meeting her eyes. All at once, Selena noticed where his gaze was directed and she looked down in horror at her near nakedness. She whirled away from him, crossing her arms over her bosom and screeching in outrage, oblivious to the fact that she was presenting him with a perfectly delectable view of her well-formed backside.

Liam groped for a way to cool her anger, and he approached her from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I'm sorry, Selena. I honestly didn't mean to scare you."

Selena was in no mood to listen. The feeling of his muscular chest against her back was already affecting her senses, and she shrugged free of his embrace before her treacherous body could respond to his touch.

"Don't touch me! Just go away and leave me alone!"

Liam's own anger was starting to flare. "Selena, stop acting like a child and calm down."

"No I will not calm down!" She blinked back tears of humiliation and rage and refused to face him. "I'm tired of you bossing me around. Go away!"

"Fine," he growled, turning on his heel to stalk back through the woods.

Selena stole a glance at his retreating back, and her tears overflowed. When he disappeared from view, she collapsed on the grass and buried her face in her hands. What was the matter with her? She always ended up looking foolish one way or another with him. In the ten days she had known him, she had managed to get accosted by a gang of men, get drunk, be accused of flirting with Hank, confess her most private secret, burn not one but two meals, and fall into a creek. As if that weren't bad enough, she had allowed Liam to see her naked or nearly naked twice!

It was no wonder that he felt free to fondle her whenever he took a notion and thought she was a helpless ninny. How was she ever going to win his admiration if she kept playing the part of some incompetent idiot whenever she was with him?

After a long time, Selena rose and took another look around to make sure she was alone before she stripped off her soaked undergarments. She quickly washed them and hung them up to dry, giving furtive glances over her shoulder to make sure Liam hadn't returned. She took the soap and waded into the pool to have a bath and wash her hair. She was shivering from the cold water, but at least she felt refreshed. Selena dried off quickly with the towel and dressed in fresh clothes that were only slightly damp. She gathered up the clean laundry and trudged her way back to camp, dreading the need to face Liam.

He ignored her completely, giving no indication that he even noticed her return. Selena checked on the beans and found that they were nearly ready. She prepared a pan of cornbread and hung the iron pot over the fire to cook. While she was waiting, she brushed out her long hair and braided it neatly before wrapping the long braids into an intricate knot on top of her head. Satisfied that she looked presentable, she set out the dishes for lunch before approaching Liam. He was lying on his back beneath the wagon, and she had to bend over to see his face.

"Lunch is ready," she said quietly.

"I can't come right now," he said without looking at her. He continued to work as if she weren't there.

She knew he was angry with her, but she couldn't bring herself to apologize. "Do you want me to make a plate for you for when you finish?"

He shot her a brief glare but went back to greasing the axle. "I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do. I don't want to be accused of bossing you around."

"Liam, I didn't mean . . ."

"Save it, Selena. I'm not in the mood for another pointless argument." The coldness in his voice put a definite end to the conversation.

Selena stalked back to the camp fire and fixed herself a plate of beans and cornbread. She sat down with her back to Liam and started to eat, but the food tasted like sawdust in her mouth, and she set the dish aside. Apparently, their truce had come to an end.

Selena occupied herself with small tasks for a while, but eventually ran out of things to do. She stole frequent glances at Liam, but he was paying her no heed whatsoever. She felt miserable. Finally, she decided to check on Marcia to see how she was faring.

Marcia was busy organizing the wagon, much as Selena had done the previous day. However, without Liam's knowledgeable guidance, she was at a loss as to where everything should go. Selena pitched in, along with Susan, and within a short time, the three of them had the wagon packed so that everything was accessible and protected. Selena was amazed to find that two huge chests contained nothing but clothing for Natasha, while the rest of the family's garments were all contained in a third, smaller chest. Selena thought it was fortunate that the clothes could be hauled in the buggy, or else there wouldn't have been enough room in the wagon for their food and supplies. Realizing that she hadn't seen Natasha anywhere that afternoon, Selena turned to Marcia with raised brows.

"Where's Natasha?" she inquired.

Marcia and Susan exchanged a long-suffering glance before Marcia responded. "She said she had a headache from the heat. I swear, every time there's some work to be done, that girl develops a headache." She heaved a deep sigh and sat down on a stump, brushing her hair back off her sweaty brow. "Thank you so much for helping, Selena. We would have been lost without your help."

Selena colored briefly and fiddled with her hands as she sat down beside her. She was thinking that it had really been Liam's guidance that had been used, since he was the one who knew how to organize the wagons. Selena bit her lip, feeling guilty, and she blinked back tears.

Marcia noticed her discomfort and asked Susan to go and see whether she could help her father. When her daughter was out of earshot, she turned back to Selena. "What's the matter, Selena?"

Selena gave a small shrug. "It's just that I can't seem to do anything right. Liam and I had a fight, and I yelled at him and told him to just leave me alone. I accused him of always bossing me around, but I know that he only means to help. It's just that he makes me so nervous that I usually end up embarrassing myself in front of him and looking totally incompetent. Now, he's not even speaking to me."

Marcia startled her when she started to chuckle, and she reached over to pat Selena's hand. "Oh, my dear, don't worry. Liam only makes you nervous because he is constantly watching you, and he only does that because he's completely fascinated by you. You should take heart, knowing that you have his full and undivided attention."

Selena gave her a puzzled frown. "Marcia, I know you mean well, but Liam isn't fascinated by me. He thinks I'm a . . . to use his words, 'brainless twit'. He watches me because he thinks I'm incapable of doing anything for myself, and he's afraid I'll mess something up."

Marcia laughed at the thought and put a comforting arm around Selena's shoulders. "Selena, it's not concern that lights up his eyes whenever they turn in your direction. The poor man is totally infatuated with you."




Trailing Home Ch. 05



Selena's snort of disbelief was far from ladylike. "Right. That's why he won't even look at me or speak to me."

"Well what do you expect, dear? You've pointed out to him a chink in his armor, and it's bothering him. Men like to be in charge, and it irks them to think that we don't need their help for every little thing. The challenge for you is to stake out your territory where he knows you're in charge, but still leave him enough room to come to your aid and feel useful and manly. It's the same for all newlyweds. There's a period of adjustment."

Selena still didn't look convinced. "But Marcia, Liam doesn't really want me as his wife, he said so. He views our marriage as temporary. I'm sure when we get to Oregon he will want to get it annulled so he can have his freedom."

Marcia only laughed again, as if the idea were ludicrous. "Men can be so silly sometimes, thinking that they don't want to be tied down." Marcia leaned close to Selena and there was a twinkle in her eyes. "But I can guarantee you that he's not going to let you go. Mark my words, if you showed an interest in any other man, Liam would likely rip him apart."

Thinking of Liam's jealousy over Hank, Selena smiled. "You know, Liam has shown a tendency to get angry when I talk with other men."

"I'll just bet he has. Give him time to let his anger play out. He'll come around. But whatever you do, don't back down now or he'll think he can run all over you. Let him know you're capable of doing things for yourself, but ask for his help every now and then, just so he knows that you still need him." Giving Selena's shoulders one last squeeze, Marcia rose from the stump. "Now, I'd better see about supper."

Selena sat by herself for a while longer, as she began to see Liam's actions in an entirely different light. A small grin split her face. Perhaps there was hope for them yet.

For the rest of the day and evening, Liam refused to speak to Selena unless it was absolutely necessary, and then he did so in curt tones. Selena took heart from Marcia's words and decided to ride out the storm. By the time it was sundown, she knew that Liam must be famished, since he had skipped lunch entirely. The beans were cooked to perfection, having simmered slowly all day over the fire. Selena added slices of onion and bacon to the thick juices, and she warmed the cornbread over the fire until it was steaming hot, being especially careful not to burn it. She had churned a small crock of butter, and she sliced the cornbread and smeared it with the rich butter before handing a heaping plate to Liam.

"Thanks," he said, refusing to meet her eye.

Selena took her own plate and sat down beside him, seemingly oblivious to their close proximity. She stole glances at Liam from the corner of her eyes, and she noticed that he appeared to be enjoying his dinner, even though he offered no comment.

"Would you like some more?" she inquired sweetly, when he had cleaned every crumb from his dish. "Or would you prefer dessert? I made some peach cobbler."

Liam frowned. "No thanks, I'm full."

"Surely you could eat just a small helping," Selena said softly. Without asking for his permission, she took his plate and put a generous serving of cobbler on it before handing it back to him.

Liam looked as if he wanted to refuse, but the tantalizing smell got the better of him, and he reluctantly tasted the cobbler. His reaction was much the same as the first night they had met. "It's good," he grumbled, refusing to look at her as he ate every bite with obvious relish.

"Thank you," Selena smiled, sitting beside him once more. She hesitated for only a moment before turning toward him. "Liam, I'm sorry for yelling at you."

He frowned at her and looked away to set his empty plate aside. "I'm sorry for startling you. I didn't mean to."

"I know," Selena said softly. "I just felt so embarrassed after making a ninny of myself by falling in the creek. I guess I overreacted."

When Liam looked at her, his hazel eyes were warm, and he gave her a reluctant smile. He was remembering every detail of how she had looked in her wet clothes, and his eyes glowed even brighter.

"If it's any consolation, you didn't look like a ninny. You looked downright delectable."

Selena's cheeks flamed, but she nibbled her bottom lip between small white teeth as she grinned. "Come to think of it, you did look like you were ready to gobble me up."

"The thought definitely crossed my mind," he said with a widening grin. He made no move to touch her, but his gaze dropped to her lips.

Selena set her own plate down behind her without looking away from him, and her heart thumped heavily as he slowly leaned toward her until his lips touched hers. He tasted sweet from the cobbler, and she leaned closer, placing her palms on his chest as she kissed him back. She opened her mouth beneath his probing tongue, and he boldly surged in, deepening the kiss as he pulled her halfway across his lap. Several moments passed with them lost in their embrace, each one enjoying the intimate contact of their melding lips before Selena reluctantly drew back but remained in his arms.

She caressed Liam's cheek and smiled up at him with lustrous eyes. "I'd better clean up these dishes," she said softly. "Are you still planning for us to leave tomorrow?"

"Uh huh," he murmured, enjoying the feel of her against him. "I spoke to Gerald and several others today. I think we would be okay to head out in the morning."

"We should make it an early night then. We'll need a good night's sleep." Selena gave him one more caress before slipping out of his embrace.

Liam watched her bustling around to clean up, but he stayed where he was. It would have been too revealing to stand up, for there was a definite bulge in the front of his pants. He didn't see the need to tell her that he would find it hard to sleep at all with her presence beside him in the tent. After several minutes, Liam had regained enough composure to rise.

"I'm going to have a bath before bed," he said, gathering a towel and soap along with a clean change of clothes. "There's no need to wait up for me."

He gave her a quick smile before heading off through the woods toward the creek. He hoped that the water would be cold enough to cool his raging lusts. He doubted that Selena had any idea how strained his control had become, and he was beginning to wonder how long it would be before it snapped entirely and he made her his wife in truth.

**********

They got an early start the following day. After eating a quick breakfast of leftover beans and cornbread, Selena hurried to clean up the pots and dishes while Liam stowed the tent and bedding in the wagon. There was an atmosphere of excitement in the air, and just as Liam had predicted, Selena noticed that the other emigrants appeared to be intent on all trying to leave at the same time.

She couldn't help but giggle at the "greenhorns", as Liam had called them. They were the folks who had no experience dealing with a team of oxen or mules. Selena watched some of them struggling to even get their animals hitched properly, much less steer the teams in the right direction. One overly enthusiastic traveler even managed to tip his wagon over onto its side. Liam and several other men rushed over to help him and were relieved that no one had been hurt. They helped him right the wagon, but the poor man and his family had to resign themselves to spending the next several hours repacking their supplies.

The McKenzies and Boyds managed to get on the trail without mishap, and they were soon near the head of a long line of the covered wagons. By unspoken agreement, the travelers had spread out into several columns to cut down on the dust and congestion, but Selena still had to blink her eyes against the sting of sand in the air. She was just grateful that she would be able to ride, since she noticed that most other folks had to walk alongside their wagons. She didn't envy them having to trek two thousand miles on foot.

As the morning aged, the wagons that were hitched to mules pulled ahead, since the mules could travel faster than the plodding oxen. Liam explained that while the mules were faster, they were less hardy than oxen and less able to survive on prairie grass alone when food was scarce. Therefore, it was a tradeoff, and Liam preferred to take the trip a bit slower but with more confidence that his team could make the entire distance. Plus, he pointed out, oxen were much easier to deal with than mules. Mules had cantankerous dispositions, and he didn't want to have to fuss with them for the entire trip, risking injury just to hitch them up against their will.

Several miles outside of town, Selena shook her head in wonder. Many of the emigrants had realized that they had grossly overloaded their wagons, and there were all manner of things that had been discarded beside the trail. She saw food, clothes, tools, furniture, and even cast iron cook stoves that had been left behind. Residents from Independence were able to pick up entire wagonloads of goods to take back and resell.

"They call these things leverites," Liam explained. When he saw her puzzled expression, he grinned. "That stands for leave 'er right there."

Selena rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Oh Liam, you're joking again."

"No, I'm serious."

"I can't believe that people just threw this stuff out," she murmured, shaking her head.

He chuckled warmly and grinned at her. "They realized that they had to get rid of their excess baggage or they wouldn't be able to make the trip. Let that be a lesson to you. You'd better make yourself useful or I might leave you on the side of the trail."

"I'm sure I could get a ride with someone else," Selena replied with a saucy toss of her head. "No doubt they would be more appreciative of my talents." When a long silence greeted her statement, she looked at Liam and found him boldly assessing her bosom with a wolfish smile.

"Oh, I appreciate your talents. I'm just waiting for you to fall into a creek again so I can enjoy them more thoroughly."

When Selena's face turned bright red, Liam threw his head back and laughed. He placed a hand over her knee, giving it a squeeze, and they both lapsed back into silence.

They broke for lunch in a shaded area beside the trail. Selena had boiled the morning eggs, and they ate them cold along with the last of the cornbread, beans and cobbler. Selena sighed in annoyance as she heard Natasha whining nearby.

"Mama, just look at my dress, it's ruined!" Natasha brushed at her skirts, trying to rid them of the thick coat of dust.

Marcia answered in a tolerant murmur. "Natasha, I told you to save your nice gowns for when we get to Oregon. You have several simpler dresses for the trip, and if you know what's good for you, you'll wear them."

"But mama, I don't want to go for the next five months dressed in ugly rags like the rest of these women."

Although she was sitting some distance away, Selena could have sworn that Natasha looked straight at her when she made the remark. Selena looked over at Liam who was stretched out beside her on the grass to see if he had heard the comment, and she was surprised to find his gaze resting on her with unsettling intensity.

"Little does she know," he murmured softly, "that no matter what she wears, she couldn't possibly look as enticing as you do when you're dressed in nothing but a soaked chemise."

The rich timbre of his voice and the heat in his eyes caused Selena's stomach to flutter, and her breath caught in her throat. Their gazes remained locked for several long moments, and the people surrounding them seemed to fade into oblivion. Selena was convinced that if Liam had pressed her then and there, she would have found it difficult or impossible to resist his charm. She was relieved when he stood up and lifted her to her feet.

"We'd better get moving," he said hoarsely. "I want to try and make another few miles before we camp."

They were soon on their way once again, bouncing along the dusty route. The afternoon passed quickly while Liam entertained Selena with stories about him and his brothers growing up in Kentucky. She was particularly amused when he told her how his older brother, Brian had wanted to go fishing, but his mother had insisted that he watch over Liam while she went into town.

"So what happened?" Selena asked.

"He had his mind made up that he wanted to go fishing with his friends, and since I was only about five, he said I was too little to come along. Mama told him to make sure I didn't get into any mischief while she was away. So, as soon as she was gone, Brian took me outside and tied me to a big old oak tree in the front yard."

"He did not!" Selena thought for sure Liam was joking. "You're kidding."

Liam grinned down at her. "No, it's true. He left me there all afternoon, and he came back with a big stringer of catfish. Of course, when Mama got home, I cried and told her what he had done. She made Brian go out and cut a switch from a tree, and she whipped him so hard, he had trouble sitting down for a week." Liam chuckled at the memory. "She fried up the catfish he had caught for dinner that night, but Brian was so busy pouting, he hardly ate a bite. The next day, he gave me a sound thrashing for tattling on him, and Mama whipped him again for picking on his baby brother." Liam flashed her a wicked grin. "Mama always had a soft spot for me, being the youngest and all."

Selena had a hard time answering him through her laughter, but she finally managed. "It's a wonder there were any branches left on the trees with the way you boys behaved."

Liam shrugged his shoulders and grinned, obviously unrepentant. "Yeah, we kept my poor mother pretty busy, but bless her soul, she loved us." His smile faded to be replaced by a wistful expression.

"You must miss her terribly," Selena said softly, placing a hand on his thigh to give him a reassuring squeeze.

"Every day," Liam replied.

Liam wondered what his mother would have thought of Selena, and he somehow knew she would have liked her. The thought pleased him. Liam raised his brows as he looked at Selena.

"What about you? Surely you and your sister must have misbehaved from time to time."

"Diana and I got along pretty well most of the time," Selena said. "We had the usual arguments, but we didn't really get into very much mischief until I was thirteen. Diana was three years older, and she had her first real boyfriend, Caleb Martin. She invited him over for dinner one Sunday, and I was jealous. I had a crush on him, and I didn't like it at all when I saw him holding her hand while they were sitting out on the front porch." She paused with a wicked grin, remembering that day.

Seeing her devious expression, Liam grew suspicious. "What did you do?" he asked with a laugh.

"Well, I was quite the tomboy back then. I had caught a lizard, and I knew my sister was deathly afraid of them. So, I snuck up behind her, where she was sitting on the swing beside Caleb, and I dropped the lizard down the back of her dress." Selena giggled as she continued. "Diana jumped up from the swing and started dancing around. She was hopping and screaming. Before she even realized what she had done, she had her dress unbuttoned down the front and was trying to wriggle out of it. Caleb got so embarrassed that he jumped up and left, and he never asked her out again. I don't think he ever knew what had gotten into my sister. He just assumed she was some sort of lunatic."

Liam laughed along with her. "And what did your mother do to you?" he finally asked.

"Well," Selena said with a smile, "my Pa was the disciplinarian in our house, but he didn't like to spank his girls, especially after we got a bit older. So, instead, he made me do all of Diana's chores for a month after that. He said that he was going to make sure I didn't have any extra time on my hands so that I could get into trouble."

"And did it work?"

"Sort of," she replied. "I never bothered Diana again when she was courting, but I still found ways to misbehave, I was just more careful not to get caught."

"I'll have to bear that in mind," Liam said with a grin. "Now that I know how sneaky you can be, I'll keep my guard up."

Selena jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow, but her quirking lips told him she wasn't really annoyed by his teasing. The rest of the day passed quickly, and they stopped to make camp beside a shallow river. Everyone was tired from the long day. They had traveled sixteen miles since the morning, and felt that they were off to a good start. The men busied themselves with looking after the animals and rolling out pallets while the women cooked hasty meals. There wasn't much conversation around the campfires. Everyone was suffering from stiff muscles and achy joints.

Selena fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pallet, but Liam lay awake for some time, looking up into the night sky. Since the weather was fine, they had elected not to pitch the tent. As he listened to Selena's steady breathing, he smiled to himself. She was sneaky, he thought to himself. Selena had already snuck into his heart. His biggest challenge now would be finding a way to sneak into her bed, but he wasn't going to give up until they were sharing one pallet instead of two.

**********

The next several days ran together. Gradually, the travelers settled into a routine. They rose every day before dawn and hitched their teams. They ate a hurried breakfast, packed up their stuff and hit the trail again. Every morning, Selena would pour the cream from the cow into the butter churn that was strapped onto the wagon, and the bumpy ride would churn it into a small chunk of butter for their evening meal. They would take a lunch break wherever they found a decent spot. Usually, they ate just bread and whatever was leftover from breakfast or dinner the night before. After eating, they would rest for a brief period, but within an hour or so, they were back in motion.

In the evenings, they would make camp around six o'clock. They hobbled the animals so they could graze around close by, and they built fires to cook the evening meal. Sometimes, they were lucky enough to shoot a rabbit, turkey or quail, but they usually ate beans or bacon with some kind of bread. The few fresh vegetables that they had brought with them were gone quickly. Selena had to laugh when she heard one woman say that the only change they got from eating beans and bread was when they ate bread and beans.

Selena helped Marcia learn to cook over the camp fire. Marcia was a good cook, but she didn't have any experience without the use of a cook stove. Selena showed her how to bank the coals around the iron pots to form an oven of sorts, and Marcia was most appreciative of her assistance.

For her part, Selena was relieved that she was feeling more and more comfortable around her husband, and she hadn't burned a meal since the day before they left on the trip. She felt proud when Liam praised her cooking often and glowingly, and his healthy appetite attested to the truth of his words.

River crossings were the worst obstacle they faced, and there were plenty of rivers to be crossed. The Blue, Wakarusa, Kansas, Vermilion, Big Blue, and Little Blue were just a few of the first few rivers that stood between them and Oregon. Many of them had steep banks and high water during the spring, and if the water was too deep, they had to float the wagons across on canoes that had been lashed together. Sometimes, they had to wait several days for their turn to cross on one of these makeshift ferries.

At other river crossings, there were ferries, built by entrepreneurs hoping to cash in on the tide of emigrants crossing to Oregon. They charged steep fares, sometimes as high as sixteen dollars per wagon, and Selena began to wonder whether they would have enough money to make the trip. When she said as much to Liam, he just laughed, and his lack of concern was comforting. She had to admit that it was nice to have a husband who always seemed so confident in his ability to look after her.




Trailing Home Ch. 05



Out of necessity, the emigrants learned how to make the most of their privacy. They pitched their tents a respectful distance from one another so that not every little noise could be heard. If they lit their lanterns inside the tents, they learned to place them on the side nearest their neighbors to avoid displaying a rather graphic silhouette of naked bodies or amorous couples for everyone else to view.

The travelers got along well together for the most part. There were a few minor disagreements, but they all realized the necessity of cooperating with each other, and folks were always willing to help out their neighbors. They began to form a fairly close knit group as the days passed.

The only exception seemed to be Natasha. She whined incessantly about the dust, the bumpy trail, the monotony of the food, the damage to her clothes, and any other discomforts she had to endure. As Liam observed her, he mentally gave thanks that Selena was nothing like the other woman. Instead, Selena was easy to please, and she never complained about the trip. Liam had noticed that she worked diligently and efficiently, helping with whatever work was required until it was completed. The thought of her becoming a true wife to him, his helpmate and partner in life, began to settle comfortably into his mind.

Liam and Selena gradually got to know each other better, as they exchanged stories while they rode. They shared a lively sense of humor, and they laughed often at each other's antics. Selena grew more and more fond of her husband with each passing day, and she began to long for his smiles and the touch of his hand. He was forever teasing her or playing some practical joke or another, and she loved his joy for life. Liam hadn't kissed her for a long time, and she began to brood over the fact, unaware in her innocence that he was holding his desire sternly in check. Still, they forged a bond of friendship and easy camaraderie that made the days pass with very little boredom.

They traveled six days out of every seven, resting only on Sundays. Selena began to look forward to the Sabbath, when everyone took a well-deserved break from their travel to rest and recuperate. The women did the laundry and baking while the men hunted or repaired the wagons. Sunday meals were tastier, since they had a bit more time to find game or fish to add to their dinners. However, having a day off was a mixed blessing, since it only heightened the sexual tension that was gradually increasing between Selena and Liam. They were both aware of it, but neither of them acknowledged it.

Still, they grew more and more comfortable in each other's presence. They became accustomed to the feeling of their thighs and shoulders brushing while they rode on the wagon. Even so, Liam's arm would occasionally brush against Selena's breast if they hit a particularly deep rut, and she was inclined to blush while he squirmed beside her on the bench. Liam was finding it increasingly difficult to avoid touching Selena. It seemed that everything about her, the way she moved, the way she smelled, the way she looked at him, was designed to inflame his lust. He would often catch himself watching her with a bulge in his breeches, and he would shake his head in self-disgust. He was acting like a love-sick teenager, hoping for his first kiss.

Liam would have been surprised to know that Selena was equally distracted by him. Her fascination with her husband grew ever more compelling as the days went by. She caught glimpses of him when they were alone, and sometimes a hunger would sprout in the pit of her belly while she watched him. One morning in particular, she looked up to see him shaving, and her breath caught in her throat. He had removed his shirt to lather his face, and she stared at the rippling muscles on his back and arms, highlighted by the flickering firelight. She averted her gaze when he turned toward her, but her pulse was pounding and her throat was suddenly dry.

Some days were rainy, and Selena would huddle beneath the canvass as the rain came down in steady sheets. She was chilled and uncomfortable, but at least it wasn't so dusty. The rain made their progress slower, and on those days they usually managed to travel only a few miles before they stopped to make camp. They would pitch the tent on those nights, and Selena was grateful for the protection it gave them. Still, their blankets were damp and cold, and she would toss on her pallet, trying to stay warm.


Liam tossed for different reasons. He was finding it nearly impossible to sleep beside Selena and not make love to her. Many times he would wake up during the night, and his eyes would search her out in the darkness. He wondered how she would react if he were to wake her up with kisses, but he couldn't quite get up the nerve. He didn't want to do anything to disturb the closeness that was growing between them, and Selena hadn't given him any indication that she would welcome his advances. His body was strained to the limits. It was one thing to remain celibate for long periods of time when a man was alone, but when he was constantly faced with a tempting woman, ever at hand but always beyond his grasp, it became pure torture.

One evening during the third week, Liam was unhitching the oxen to turn them loose for the night. He was bent over unfastening one of the straps when one of the huge beasts jerked sideways, flinching from a particularly nasty bite from a fly. Liam was caught off balance, and he toppled back, landing on his rear. He jumped up nearly as fast as he had fallen and without thinking, brushed a hand across the stinging pain in his bottom.

"Damn!" he swore viciously, looking down to see several spines from a cactus lodged in his palm and fingers.

Selena had been building a camp fire, but when she heard the curse, she came running. "What's the matter?" she asked. Seeing Liam's pained grimace, she rushed forward with concern. "Are you hurt? What happened?" She took his hand in hers and anxiously examined it, biting her lip when she saw the wicked looking needles. "Come here and let me get those out." She tugged at his hand, but he made no move to follow her.

"Let me finish unhitching the team. You go get the medical kit, and I'll be there in a minute," he said.

"I can unhitch them," she offered, "you shouldn't be using this hand until I get these needles out."

"I said I'd do it," he growled. He realized his voice sounded rougher than he intended, and Selena gave him a frown. "Sorry," he said more gently. "I'll finish. I'm almost done."

Realizing there was no use arguing with him, Selena heaved an exasperated sigh and went to dig the medical kit out from the wagon. Liam finished unhitching the oxen, but he was reluctant to face Selena. He was embarrassed to admit that he had sat on a cactus. However, he knew he would have to tell her. He had to let her remove the spines or they would get infected. Cactus spines could cause a nasty sore even after they were removed, and he grimaced at the thought.

He joined Selena, but when she would have started on his hand, he delayed her further. "You'd better start the fire. It's already getting dark and you'll likely need the light to see what you're doing."

"But Liam, it will only take me a minute to get those out," she protested.

"Just do it," he snapped.

She frowned at him again, wondering why he was being so testy, but she quickly built a fire. When it was glowing brightly, she returned to his side.

"Now, sit down and let me tend to your hand."

"I'd prefer to stand, if you don't mind," he mumbled.

Selena sighed heavily and gave him a stern look. "Don't be such a baby. I'm not going to hurt you, now sit down."

She gave him a firm push and he landed on a nearby log. His yowl of pain took Selena completely off guard, and she stared at him in confusion as he scrambled up again.

"What on earth is the matter with you?" she asked, noticing his face turning a deep shade of red.

Liam refused to meet her eye and pointed to his back. "I've got more cactus needles in my rear."

Selena stood for a long moment as understanding dawned on her face. She struggled to contain her laughter, but it finally erupted in a series of small giggles that bloomed into full belly laughs that shook her slender frame. Liam glared down at her, not appreciating the humor of the situation one bit. He raised a disapproving brow and waited impatiently for her humor to subside.

When she finally calmed somewhat, he growled in a menacing tone, "If you've finished laughing at me, I would appreciate some assistance."

"Sorry," she said, but her twitching lips negated her apology.

She bent over his hand and used the tweezers to carefully pluck the spines from his skin. Despite his discomfort, Liam enjoyed the sight of her with brows knit in concentration as she focused on the task. When they were both satisfied that she had gotten all of them, Selena washed his hand and rubbed some ointment into his palm and fingers to take the sting out of his hand. Her gentle touch soothed the pain in his hand but not the sting to his pride.

"Now, you'd better let me see about your bottom. Lie on your stomach and unfasten your pants."

She motioned for him to stretch out close to the fire so she would have good light. However, when she knelt beside him and looked at his behind, she started to giggle again.

"What is it now?" he grumbled.

"You're going to need to change your pants entirely. A bunch of the stickers are in the cloth." She placed a hand on his shoulder when he started to rise. "Stay there. I'll get you a clean pair."

Liam watched as she stretched to reach his clothes in the back of the wagon. Despite his discomfort, he enjoyed the display of shapely ankles when she rose on tiptoes. In no time, she was back with a clean pair of his pants and a towel.

"Here," she said, handing him the towel. "You can use this for modesty, but you need to take your trousers off while I get the stickers out of your butt."

Liam couldn't remember ever feeling so embarrassed, but he kicked off his boots and glanced around to make sure there was no one close enough to witness his humiliation. Satisfied that their campsite was relatively private, he unbuttoned his trousers and carefully slipped them off his hips, keeping the towel in front of him. He wasn't sure why he suddenly felt so self-conscious in front of Selena. He had removed his clothes in front of her before without a second thought.

Selena turned away, more to hide her blush that because she didn't want to see him undress. She was reminded of another time he had whisked his trousers off, and she vividly remembered the incident down to the last, thoroughly masculine detail. When Liam was stretched out on his stomach, she knelt beside him. The sight of his naked behind was enough to set her hands to trembling, and she took a deep breath to steady her racing pulse.

She set to work, meticulously removing the tiny barbs. She was soon engrossed in the task, and forgot about his nakedness. Liam had no such respite. He hid his face in his folded arms and gritted his teeth to keep from moaning with frustration. Her warm, soft hands on his buttocks wreaked havoc on his already strained self-control, and it was only grim determination that kept him from sweeping her down on the grass beside him and having his way with her. By the time she had removed all the stickers, his brow was coated with a thin layer of perspiration and his jaw was rigid.

"There," she said at last, sitting back on her heels to admire her handiwork. She ran a hand over his buttocks to check for any remaining spikes and she was surprised to hear a muffled groan. "Did I miss one?" she asked anxiously, bending closer to look.

"No," he ground out. "Just hurry up and finish."

Selena frowned, confused by his irritated tone, but she took a clean cloth and washed his bottom with soap and warm water. "Let me put some ointment on here and you'll feel much better."

She gently smeared the cream on his buttocks and massaged it into the skin. She was reluctant to finish, enjoying the feel of his muscular bottom beneath her fingers, but at length, she stopped.

"Alright," she said, rising to her feet. "You can put your pants on now."

"Thanks," came his muffled reply.

Liam made sure she was turned away before he hastily rose and donned the clean pants. He mumbled an excuse and quickly walked away so she wouldn't see the telltale bulge in his breeches.

By the time he returned, she had dinner ready. Liam sat down gingerly, wincing as his bottom touched the ground and accepted a plate from her without meeting her eye. Selena sat beside him and they ate in silence. However, every once in a while, she was inclined to release a small giggle. Finally, she caught Liam's eye, and when she started to laugh, he joined her.

For the next few days, every time they hit a large bump, Liam would suck in his breath, and Selena would giggle. She insisted on applying more ointment each evening, and by the third day, Liam's discomfort was completely gone, at least from his butt.

**********

A few days later, Selena surprised Liam with a birthday cake that she made especially for him. They had finished their supper when she brought the cake to him, and she was beaming with pride. It was surprisingly light and moist, and she sat watching happily as he devoured a large slice while she ate a smaller piece.

"I'm glad you like it," she said. "I wasn't sure when your birthday is. You just said it was sometime in May, so I thought tonight would be as good a time as any."

Liam grinned, pleased that she had remembered. "It's actually tomorrow," he said, "the eighteenth of May."

"Oh good, so it's not late then." Selena leaned back against the rock Liam was leaning against, her shoulder brushing his as she stared up into the starry sky. "You should make a wish."

After a long silence, she turned to Liam and was surprised to see a serious expression in his eyes as he watched her. Her breath caught in her throat. His eyes held a strange yearning, and her heart leapt in her chest.

"And if I were to make a wish," he murmured, the huskiness of his tone sending shivers down her spine, "would you be willing to make it come true?"

Selena swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. "That depends." Her eyes searched his in the firelight. "What is it that you wish for?"

Liam's own heart was pounding. He hadn't been this nervous with a woman since he was fifteen. "What if I were to tell you that I wished for you to kiss me?" He raised one challenging brow, holding his breath to see her reaction.

A long moment passed, and just when Liam was certain that Selena would refuse, she leaned hesitantly toward him. Reaching up to cup his cheek, she touched her lips to his, softly at first, then with growing warmth. It was the first time that she had ever initiated a kiss, and Liam felt a heady sense of triumph. His arms encircled her waist, bringing her more fully around to face him. She tensed for a brief moment before relaxing into him, allowing him to pull her fully against him as he took control of the kiss.

He delved into the softness of her mouth, feeling her fingers threading through the hair at his nape. Her responsiveness gnawed at his senses, and he reached up to cup her breast. The soft flesh swelled into his hand, the nipple a gratifyingly hard nub against his palm. The blood was pounding through his loins by the time he raised his head.

"I want you," he breathed.

Selena stared up at him, seeing the burning desire in his hazel eyes, feeling the heat of his hand still cupping her breast. She was tempted to give him what she knew he wanted, but she needed more from Liam than just a sharing of their bodies. She wanted his love and tenderness. She wanted to share his life and grow old together. She released a shuddering sigh and rose to her feet.

"I'd better get these dishes washed up," she said softly. "We have a busy day tomorrow."

Without another word, she turned away, gathering the plates and pots. Liam glared at her back, furious with her that she could so easily dismiss him when she consumed all his thoughts. He knew she hadn't been unaffected by the kiss. He had felt her soften in his arms, and her sweet responsiveness had shaken him to his core.

Why was she so reluctant to let him make love to her? Was she still afraid because of her stepfather's abuse? Gradually, his anger dissipated, and he rose to retrieve his towel and soap from the wagon.

"Goodnight, Selena. I'm going to take a bath." Liam said over his shoulder, and he strode down toward the river.

Selena breathed a long sigh, watching his retreating back until it disappeared. Her breast still felt the imprint of his hand, and there was an aching hunger between her thighs, but she dared not call him back. It would have been so easy to yield to him, but she knew she would hate herself afterward. She wondered forlornly whether she was expecting too much from him. Maybe it would be better to take what he offered her now and hope for more in the future. Her mind stubbornly rejected that notion, and she concentrated on finishing the dishes, but her body didn't relent. That night, she found it nearly impossible to sleep, and she stifled a groan as she wondered how much longer she would be able to resist her body's own building hunger.



Trailing Home Ch. 06



A few mornings later, Liam awoke to find Selena snuggled close against his side. It had rained steadily the day before, but he noticed that the rain had stopped sometime during the night. There was still a damp chill in the air, and he could hear drops falling from the leaves.

Selena was obviously drawn to his warmth, and she had wrapped an arm around his waist while she slept. Her face was nuzzled in the crook of his arm, and her warm breath feathered the side of his neck. He took advantage of the moment to admire the way her lashes lay in thick velvety crescents against her cheeks, and her lips were slightly parted. He couldn't resist the urge to sample her mouth.

He rose on one elbow and kissed her, cradling her head on his arm. At first, she lay unresponsive, but as his kisses became more insistent, she roused from her sleep and sighed. She stole his breath when she began to respond. He tasted her with a leisured thoroughness, enjoying her softness even through the layers of blankets between them.

Wanting more, he worked at the buttons of her thick cotton nightgown until he had it opened to the waist. He rose up and watched as her eyes fluttered open. She stared up at him, and he wished he could make out the color of her eyes. When he pulled the blanket from between them, she made no move to stop him, and he felt the blood throbbing in his loins. He reached inside her gown to cup her naked breast, and Selena released a soft sigh.

The feeling of his hand on her breast was like heaven. His strong fingers kneaded the flesh, and when he squeezed her nipple between his thumb and fingers, she bit her lip to keep from moaning out loud. Shards of desire shot through her, and she felt an aching, empty hunger between her thighs. She couldn't resist the urge to close her eyes and arch her back, mutely offering her breast for more of his attention.

When Liam dipped his head to suckle her nipple, she released a strangled groan of pleasure. The heat of his mouth on her breast made her feel like her bones were melting, and she threaded her fingers through his hair, marveling at these new sensations. Of a sudden, she understood the soft sighs and moans that she had sometimes heard coming from her parents' bedroom. The effort it took for her to remain quiet beneath Liam's touch sapped her strength, but she didn't want to make any noise when nearby campers might hear her.

He nipped and sucked her nipple, taking his time to savor its softness before he moved to her other breast. The thick stubble on his jaw grazed her breasts, and despite her best efforts, Selena couldn't suppress another soft moan of delight. By the time Liam had paid homage to both of her breasts, Selena was writhing with need, and when he raised his head to look at her, they were both breathing hard. She could feel the insistent pressure of his erection against her hip, and she knew what he wanted, but she wasn't afraid. For some reason, she didn't feel the need for questions between them. Her mind was complacent, for once not demanding that she ask Liam to declare his love for her. She wanted this, and she would worry about love and commitment later.

Liam let his eyes drop to her naked breasts, rosy from his ministrations. He felt a primal satisfaction. Somehow he had stumbled on the one woman who could hold his fascination, and he wanted to discover all that she was, both physically and emotionally. Selena was his, and he was anxious to stake his claim. His hand drifted down over her hip and thigh to reach beneath the hem of her gown. His fingers trailed up the inside of her thigh, and she opened her legs for him, gasping when his hand reached her heat. His fingers stroked her moist folds, and their eyes met and held as he explored her with increasingly bold caresses, slipping one finger into her.

Nearby voices intruded on the moment, and Liam looked out the tent flap to see several nearby campers already up and moving around in the predawn darkness. Liam's frustration was supreme. He briefly considered completing his conquest, but he dismissed the idea just as quickly. He wanted their first time to be something more than just a hurried coupling during which they both felt self-conscious in case someone nearby might hear them. Yet, he knew that stopping now, he would be uncomfortable throughout the day.

"Damn!" The single word was full of aggravation.

Selena reached up and cupped his cheek in her palm, waiting until he met her eyes. She smiled at him, and her eyes were limpid pools full of promise.

"Shall we continue this tonight?" she whispered.

Her proposition did much to lessen his disappointment, and he gave her a lopsided grin. "Madam, that is my most sincere wish. I want you in the worst possible way, and if I don't have you soon, I fear that I'm going to go crazy."

"Well, I certainly wouldn't want to be responsible for that," she whispered with a grin, running a fingertip along his jaw. "We'd better get up." She moved to rise from the pallet.

Even though he knew it would increase his frustration, Liam forestalled her. "Just one more kiss to last me through the day?" he asked.

The raw need in his voice tugged at Selena's heartstrings. She pulled him down to her and kissed him, letting her own pent up longings overflow. In her innocence, she couldn't understand what a devastating effect she was having on Liam, but when he finally broke off the kiss on a groan, they were both breathing raggedly. Liam stroked his finger deep inside her as he met her gaze. The fire in his hazel eyes nearly stole her breath.

"Until tonight then." His voice held firm conviction, and Selena shivered with anticipation.

Liam rose in the dim light of dawn and stepped into his breeches, noticing that for the first time, his wife was watching him dress. Her close attention only served to further aggravate his lust, and his hands trembled as he fumbled with the buttons on his shirt. As soon as he was decent, he beat a hasty retreat from the tent. Selena waited until he left before she rose and hurriedly donned her own clothes. Her body was tingling from Liam's caresses, and she felt feminine and pretty knowing that he desired her. She went about her morning routine with a spring in her step and a smile on her face.

The day started out well. They got off to an early start and the weather was fine after the previous day's rain. However, the trail was muddy and deeply rutted, and they struggled throughout the day. They freed the wagon from one mud hole only to get mired in the next. Progress was achingly slow, and Liam and Gerald took turns lending assistance to each other as they plodded along. Several times they had to use all the extra oxen to pull the wagons out of the muck. By evening, they had only traveled a few miles, and they made camp near a creek that flowed through dense woods.

Liam was covered nearly head to toe with a liberal coating of mud. He should have been exhausted from the day, but he was too eager for the coming night. After wolfing down his supper, he retrieved clean clothes, soap and a towel from the wagon. He gave Selena a roguish grin.

"I'm going to take a bath in the creek." He came to tower over her and was careful not to get her dirty when he bent to press a quick kiss on her upturned lips. "Then I believe we have a date."

Selena blushed but met his eyes and gave him a sultry smile. "I'll be waiting. Hurry back."

She watched him disappear into the woods and quickly washed all the dishes. When they were put away, she went to the tent and made their pallet. She smiled to herself as she made one larger pallet rather than two, and her smile turned into a lustful grin. Closing her eyes, she remembered their morning interlude, and she was anxious to again feel Liam's strong arms around her. From habit, she went to retrieve her nightgown, but then she thought better of it. She was hoping not to need a nightgown tonight.

She puttered around, but after a while, she ran out of things to keep her occupied, and she wondered what was taking Liam so long to return. He bathed every evening, and she usually had barely enough time to make out their beds before he was back. Suddenly worried that something might have happened to him, she set out to look for him.

***********

Liam reached the creek and quickly doffed his muddy clothes beneath the light of the full moon. He grabbed the soap and waded into the creek, sucking in his breath from the coolness of the water. Although it was late May, the rivers and creeks were still cold enough to make bathing somewhat uncomfortable, but lately, he had come to welcome the chill since it cooled his ardor. Tonight, he barely noticed the cold water as he hurried to wash.

Standing thigh deep in the water, he lathered his body and hair, scrubbing away the sweat and grime from the day until he felt fresh and clean. He sank beneath the water and resurfaced, wiping his hair out of his eyes as he walked toward the bank. He was nearly to the edge when he glanced up and saw a woman standing nearby. At first, he thought it was Selena, but he quickly realized his error and took a few steps back until the water was above his waist.

"Natasha, how long have you been there?" he growled.

She came forward with a throaty laugh. "Long enough to thoroughly enjoy your bath. I always thought you would look magnificent without your clothes and I'm glad that I wasn't disappointed."

Liam placed his hands on his hips and glared at her. "Well now that you've enjoyed your little peep show, get lost so I can get out of here."

"Oh don't be such a spoiled sport," she simpered. "I thought I might join you." She began to unbutton her dress.

"Dammit, Natasha. Stop acting like a floozy and go back to your family."

"I don't think so," she said, shrugging out of her dress to let it fall at her feet. She started on the buttons of her chemise.

"Natasha, I'm a married man. I already have a wife to warm my bed, and I don't want you."

Liam was holding his temper firmly in check. Natasha's forwardness angered him but not nearly as much as the fact that she was delaying him from getting back to Selena.

"Ah, but that's the problem isn't it?" Natasha asked.

She dropped her chemise and quickly wriggled free of her pantalets. Her naked form was clearly lit by the moonlight, and she showed no shame as she waded into the water. Natasha had overheard Selena talking with her mother, and she knew that Liam's marriage was not what it seemed. She was determined to steal him away for herself, and she was willing to use all her feminine wiles to accomplish that goal.

"I know that Selena is not really a wife to you, Liam. I've noticed the two of you together. She doesn't want to please you, but I do."

Liam was taken aback by the woman's boldness. His eyes raked her naked body dispassionately, and he gave her a harsh frown. "Grow up, Natasha. I don't want you."

Before he could stop her, Natasha closed the distance between them and threw her arms around his neck. She pressed her breasts against him and kissed him full on the mouth. Liam reached to grab her arms and shove her away just as he heard a startled gasp. He saw Selena standing on the bank, and his heart sank to his toes. He knew quite well what conclusions she would draw. She whirled and fled back through the woods.

Liam cursed viciously and flung Natasha aside, heedless of the fact that she sank beneath the water and came up sputtering and coughing. He waded to the shore and wrapped the towel around his waist, not even bothering to dress. He stepped into his boots and scooped up his clothes before turning a heated glare on Natasha.

"Don't ever come near me again. You're lucky I'm not going to tell Gerald about this, because I have a feeling he would beat you senseless. However, if you so much as look at me the wrong way again, you can bet I will tell him."

Without another word, Liam hurried back to camp.

Selena raced back to camp, running so fast her side began to ache. She felt panicked tears welling and she angrily brushed at her cheeks. She felt like such a fool! Thank God she hadn't given herself to Liam. That would have been the crowning blow to her pride.

By the time she reached the tent, cold fury had began to blossom in her heart. She flung the flap aside and her eyes lit on the pallet she had carefully laid out. The covers were turned back invitingly, and they now seemed to mock her. In a temper, she stepped onto the blankets and kicked at them until they were a tangled heap. She snatched up two of them and went to the wagon, where she bent and made a pallet underneath it. Just as she was smoothing out the top blanket, she heard Liam returning.

At first, he didn't notice her beneath the wagon, and he went straight to the tent. Not seeing her inside, he glanced around and spotted her.

"Selena, listen. It's not what you think," he assured her, rushing to her side.

Selena threw him a glare from over her shoulder. When she saw that he was still wet and dressed only in a towel, she jerked back to face her pallet. "Leave me alone."

"Dammit, you don't know what happened." Liam grasped her arm to turn her around. "I can explain."

Selena was in no mood to hear his explanations and she yanked her arm loose from his grasp. "Let go of me!" Her eyes burned with fury as they raked his naked chest. "To think that I almost fell for your seduction, when all the time you've been enjoying Natasha on the side. Now I understand why you are so faithful about taking your evening baths."

Liam's temper began to flare at the unjustness of her accusations, but he was struggling to control it. Still, his voice was an ominous growl as he replied.

"Selena, it's not like that. I swear to you that I haven't been with Natasha before. She just showed up tonight, and before I could stop her she had stripped off her clothes."

Selena's mocking laughter made it clear that she didn't believe him. "Oh sure," she sneered. "Poor Liam. It's such a shame that beautiful women just throw themselves at you and you're helpless to defend yourself." Her eyes took on a feral gleam as she viciously poked a finger into his chest. "Well don't worry. I won't be one of them anymore. As soon as we get to Oregon, I'll be out of your life for good."

Liam grabbed her arm again when she went to turn away. "I know what it must have looked like, but Selena, you have to believe me. I wasn't making love to Natasha. I told her to go away and leave me alone."

Selena looked down at his hand on her arm before she fixed him with a steely eyed glare. "Take your hand off me," she gritted out. When he reluctantly complied, she continued. "Don't ever touch me again. I'm not one of your little trollops to be handled whenever you feel like it. From now on, I'm off limits to you."

Without another word, she brushed past him and stalked to the back of the wagon to retrieve her nightgown. Liam stood rigidly watching her go. He hated to admit it, but his reaction would have been even worse than hers if the situation had been reversed. He would likely have murdered any man that he saw holding his naked wife, and he knew there was no way to make her see reason until she had time to cool off. He ran a hand through his hair and walked to the tent.

He entered to find the heap of blankets on the ground and his heart constricted in his chest. This was supposed to be the night he and Selena would have shared their bodies and consummated their marriage vows. Instead, he was destined to spend another sleepless night alone. He tossed his clothes on the ground and smoothed the blankets into a pallet. He crawled between the covers and stared up at the tent.

He would speak to Selena tomorrow and explain what had happened. He could only hope and pray that she would be willing to believe him, because he didn't know how much longer he could stand this tension. He could hear her settling into her own bed, and he released a deep sigh of frustration. Liam had realized some time ago that he wanted Selena as his wife. He loved her, and he knew he could never be happy without her in his life. He would have to find some way to make her understand what she meant to him.

Selena lay on her pallet and tears rolled unheeded down her face. Over the last few weeks, she had begun to believe that she and Liam were building a future together. He had told her about his farm in Oregon, and she had envisioned herself there, as his wife and the mother of his children. Now, her entire future was up in the air. She knew she could still go to her sister's home, but the idea seemed suddenly unappealing. Selena had always wanted a home and a family of her own. She had thought Liam was the husband of her dreams. Now, she realized those dreams had been built on nothing but a fantasy.

She felt empty and hopeless. Nothing really mattered to her now. She closed her eyes to sleep, but she kept seeing visions of Liam and Natasha clasped together in the moonlight. Nothing had ever hurt Selena this much. Even when her mother died, Selena had felt the desire to go on with life. Now, she felt like there was nothing left to work for, nothing left to wish for.

She managed to doze fitfully, but when morning came, she was exhausted both physically and emotionally. She dragged herself up from her bed and went about stoking the fire out of habit. She put the coffee on to boil and had begun to make biscuits when Liam emerged from the tent. He gave her a long look, as if he were gauging her mood, before turning away to tend to the oxen. Selena ignored him and finished the biscuits.

Liam brought her the morning eggs and milk before he left to finish his chores. He gave her another questioning glance, but she refused to acknowledge him. By the time Liam returned, Selena had breakfast ready. She filled a plate for him and handed it to him without comment. She took a plate for herself, even though she didn't feel like eating.

Selena normally sat beside Liam to eat, but this morning, she elected to sit on a log, some distance from where he was. She pushed the food around, eating a few bites but not tasting them. When she couldn't eat any more, she started to gather the pans and dishes and turned to Liam to retrieve his plate. She noticed he hadn't been able to eat either. When she would have brushed past him, Liam snagged her hand and pulled her down beside him.

Selena started to struggle against him, but his fingers remained locked. His hold on her was gentle but firm, and he waited patiently until she met his eye.

"Are you ready to listen now, Selena?" he asked her quietly.

"We have nothing to talk about. Just let me go." Selena felt tears burning at the backs of her eyes and she was loath to cry in front of him.

"We have a great deal to talk about, but I need you to listen." Liam's voice remained calm. He reached out to lift her chin until she was looking at him. The tears that he saw swimming in her lovely eyes nearly broke his heart, but he ignored them for the moment. "Selena, if you think about it, you will realize that I have never lied to you."

"That's what I thought until last night," she cried. Her hurt and anguish caused her voice to crack.

"Selena, last night was a big misunderstanding. I swear to you, as God is my witness, that I did not betray you. I don't have the slightest interest in Natasha, or any other woman for that matter." Liam smiled ruefully, "I've been so obsessed with thoughts of you that there is no room in my tiny brain to think about anyone else."

His comment would normally have made Selena smile, but she jerked her chin free from his hand and looked away. "Liam, what do you expect me to believe? I saw you with my own eyes."

"I know what you saw, sweetheart. I thought about it last night and I would have jumped to the same conclusion you did, but that doesn't mean it's the right conclusion."




Trailing Home Ch. 06



Liam heaved a deep sigh and pulled her against his chest. Her head rested beneath his chin, and he stared up into the dawning sky, stroking her hair as he continued. It was easier to talk rationally when he didn't see her tear-streaked face.

"Selena, when I went to the creek last night, I was rushing to bathe so I could return to you. My God, I've been crazy with lust for you, and you had finally promised to be mine. I could think of nothing else but hurrying back. But when I was done and I started out of the creek, Natasha was there. She had come while I was bathing, and I didn't know. I asked her to leave so I could get out, but instead, she undressed and came to me. Selena, I know it sounds unbelievable. I could barely believe it myself, but she literally threw herself at me. Before I could peel her off, you came and saw us together." Liam grasped her shoulders and held her at arm's length to stare into her eyes. "Selena, I swear to you, that's what happened."

Selena stared back at him for a long time, wanting desperately to believe what he was saying. "I don't know, Liam. I just don't know what to believe."

"I can understand that," he whispered. His eyes pleaded with her. "All I'm asking is that you don't shut me out. I'm begging you to trust me and trust your own intuition. You've told me before that you have a knack for seeing how people really are. Don't you know me by now? Don't you know I would never do anything to hurt you?"

Selena's confusion was apparent, and she frowned up at him. "I don't know," she said again. She looked down at her lap. "I need some time to think."

"I'll give you whatever time you need," Liam's rueful snort surprised her and she looked at him to see a resigned smile on his face. "I pray that you don't take too long to decide, because I just might die from wanting you." He was gratified to see the barest hint of a smile on her lips. "Take your time and trust your heart. I hope you'll realize that you can trust me too."

Selena scanned his face seeing only honest sincerity in his eyes. Just moments before, she had felt dead inside, but now her heart was soaring with hope. Could it be possible that she was wrong? Her mind hung back, still doubtful. She didn't want to be a fool. She gave a small nod before looking back down at her lap.

"Alright, Liam. I'll think about everything."

"Thank you," he murmured. He lifted her hand to place a kiss on the backs of her fingers, and his eyes glowed with a strange light when they met hers. "I'll be waiting."

Selena rose from his lap and cleared the dishes. They had to hurry to pack up their gear, as most of the other families were already starting to leave. Liam lifted her to the seat, as he had done dozens of times in the past, and they started their daily journey. Sitting beside him, Selena was more keenly aware than usual of his leg brushing hers, his shoulder rubbing against her. She desperately wanted to believe him. Her entire happiness depended on it.

************

They reached a wide river around lunch time, and they stopped for the noon meal. They had already crossed a number of smaller rivers, but this one was swollen from the recent rains, and the fast moving current posed a problem. The men discussed the best place to cross, and lunch was rushed because everyone knew that getting across could take them a while.

The wagons crossed one at a time, and while the water was deep, the current didn't seem to cause too much difficulty for the teams. The beds of the wagons were watertight, so even though the water came up to the sides, it wasn't too deep for the oxen to swim to the other side.

Several wagons had already crossed, including the Boyds' by the time it was Liam and Selena's turn. The oxen waded into the water and began to swim. Selena clutched the side of the bench as the water level steadily rose, but since Liam showed no alarm, she trusted that they would be fine. It seemed to take forever, but the oxen eventually began to get their footing on the opposite bank. Liam and Selena heard shouts from the people who had already crossed, and they looked up just in time to see a dead tree come floating down the river to crash into the side of their wagon.

The impact was enough to knock Selena off the bench, and her arms flailed in the air as she tumbled into the river. She struggled against the current and the weight of her skirts, and she surfaced a good thirty feet away. She thrashed in the water and looked up in time to see Liam anxiously searching for her. He spotted her and dove in after her just as she was pulled under once more by the sucking currents. Selena kicked and paddled to break free of the water's grip. The tree that had struck them floated past the wagon, and just as Selena managed to break the surface, it slammed into her.

Liam watched in horror as she sank beneath the tree, and he frantically swam the last few feet to where he had seen her last. He dove under the water, groping through the murky depths until his lungs were burning for air. He kicked to the surface and grabbed another breath before diving again. His hand brushed something that felt like cloth, and he snatched it. To his immense relief, it was Selena's dress. He dragged her to the surface and held her in the crook of his arm, making sure her head was clear of the water as he battled against the current. His feet struck the bank, and he carried Selena onto the grass. He wasn't sure if she was alive or dead, for she was completely still. Blood was streaming down the side of her face from a deep gash near her temple, and her skin was deathly pale.

"Noo!" he screamed, feeling for a pulse. He felt a flutter of a heartbeat beneath her jaw, and he turned her on her stomach, massaging her back to force out the water she had swallowed.

Marcia and Gerald came running, and Marcia was sobbing as she knelt beside him. "Is she alive? Please God, let her be alright."

"I don't know," Liam moaned. "I can't tell if she's breathing."

As he said the words, Selena coughed up some water, but she remained unconscious.

"Bring her to our wagon," Marcia cried, hurrying to fetch their medical kit. "We've got to stop that bleeding."

Liam lifted Selena in his arms and ran to Marcia's wagon. She placed a blanket on the ground, and he gently laid Selena on it, drawing another blanket over her. Marcia frantically dug through the medical supplies.

"Gerald, quickly set up Liam's tent. We need some privacy to get her out of these wet clothes. Liam, give him the tent and fetch her something dry to wear."

Liam didn't want to leave Selena, but he knew they had to get her dry before she caught a chill that would further sap her strength. He hadn't given a thought to the wagon since he had jumped in the river to save Selena, but he was relieved that Gerald had grabbed the lead harness and led the oxen the rest of the way out. Liam gave Gerald the tent and snatched Selena's suitcase before running back to her side.

Liam knelt beside Selena, brushing her soaked hair back from her face. She was so still. He felt his heart tighten with dread, but he pushed back his fear and concentrated on trying to help. Marcia poured whiskey over the gash, and used a clean cloth to clean off the blood. She placed another cloth over the wound and asked Liam to keep pressure on it to stop the bleeding.

It seemed to take forever, but the bleeding finally stopped. By then, Marcia had a needle and a length of catgut ready, and she quickly and efficiently stitched up the jagged wound. Selena never stirred, and that scared Liam more than he cared to admit. He could feel a faint pulse and her breath was soft as butterfly wings on his hand. By the time Marcia was finished, Gerald had the tent erected, and Marcia went to make a dry pallet for Selena.

Liam carried her inside and cradled her on his own lap as he stripped off her wet clothes. He laid her on the blanket and dressed her in a clean nightgown, then covered her with two more warm blankets.

Marcia looked up at him, and her voice was gentle when she spoke. "Liam, you should go change into some dry clothes. I'll stay here until you get back."

"Will she be alright?" he asked.

Marcia could see the love and anguish in his face as he stared down at his wife. "I hope so, Liam. We'll do everything we can. Now go."

Liam rushed to change clothes, and Gerald helped him unhitch the team. Liam returned to the tent, but Selena was still unconscious. He brushed her wet hair back, and her skin was cold beneath his hand. "She's so cold," he whispered.

Marcia touched his arm as she rose. "Stay with her and try to keep her warm. I'm going to make some soup and I'll bring some for her. Hopefully by then, she will wake up."

Liam lifted the blankets and lay down beside Selena, gathering her against his chest. He tucked the blankets close around them both, using his own body heat to warm her. His throat felt sore as he choked back tears. He didn't know what he would do if she died. He squeezed his eyes shut against the thought.

He held her like that for most of the afternoon and into the evening. Although she gradually warmed, she didn't rouse, and his worry grew. When Marcia brought the soup, Liam couldn't eat any of it, and she said she would keep it warm in case Selena woke up. Liam sat with her throughout the night, but still, there was no change. In the morning, he rushed to tend to the animals before returning to her side.

"Can I come in?" Marcia called. Hearing his murmured reply, she entered with a cup of coffee and a plate of food. "I brought you some breakfast." Seeing that he didn't look interested in the food, she squeezed his shoulder. "Come on now, you have to eat. She's depending on you."

Liam heaved a sigh. "Thank you," he said, taking the plate. He choked down the food and washed it down with the coffee before handing the dishes back to her. "I'd give my right arm for a doctor right about now," he muttered.

"I know, but we just have to hope for the best. I just know in my heart that she'll come out of this. You have to believe that."

"I'm trying." Liam's voice sounded flat and defeated, but Marcia could find no other words to reassure him.

"I'll be back in a while," she said softly before leaving them alone once more.

Liam hung his head between his knees, running his hands through his hair. Why did this have to happen to her? If one of them had to be hurt, he wished it had been him. The faintest sound brought his head up with a jerk. He knelt to look closer and saw Selena's eyelashes flutter. Liam's heart leapt with joy, and he clasped her hand in his.

"Wake up, my love. Wake up," Liam whispered hoarsely.

Selena's lashes fluttered again, and he could just make out the tiny slits of her eyes. She moaned weakly and closed her eyes again, but his heart soared.

"Wake up, Selena. I need you, sweetheart. Please wake up."

Selena moaned again, and her eyes opened slowly. She tried to focus, but everything looked blurry and indistinct. She blinked several times and moaned against the throbbing pain in her head.

Liam squeezed her hand and gently stroked her brow. "Thank God. Can you hear me, Selena?"

Liam's face came into focus and Selena stared at him, her eyes full of confusion. She tried to speak, but her voice came out as a hoarse croak.

"Let me get you some water, love." Liam jumped up and ran to fetch a cup. He saw Marcia, and his smile was glorious. "She's awake."

"Thank the Lord," Marcia cried. "I'll be right there."

Liam carried the cup of cool water to Selena and lifted her gently while holding it to her lips. She drank several sips and then pushed it away, wincing in pain.

"What happened?" she whispered.

"You fell in the river and hit your head. You scared the daylights out of me," Liam said softly, still cradling her with his arm.

"My head hurts," she moaned. "I feel sick." The last was spoken as a plea, as she weakly groped for help.

Recognizing her need, Liam grabbed held her face down over his knee while she retched violently onto some nearby grass. There wasn't much in her stomach other than muddy water, but she heaved until she was weak and trembling. Selena groaned in misery, humiliated and aching. Her brow was cold and clammy, and the throbbing pain on the side of her head was growing steadily worse.

"My head hurts," she whispered again as Liam helped her lie back against his arm.

Marcia had come in, and she heard the last. "I'll get her something for the pain." She left again.

"It's alright, sweetheart. We'll take care of you, just rest." Liam pressed a kiss on her forehead and stroked her cheek as he cradled her.

Marcia returned with a cup of hot water laced heavily with whiskey and sugar. Liam held it to Selena's lips. "Drink this. It will ease the pain. Come on, that's right. Drink it all," he coaxed her.

Selena drank it down in tiny sips. She absolutely hated whiskey, but Liam wouldn't let her stop until the cup was drained, and she sighed with relief that it was finished. He laid her gently on the pallet, and she fell asleep almost at once.

Selena slept throughout the day and into the evening. Liam kept a close watch on her, but he was reassured that her breathing was regular, and her heartbeat was strong and steady. His exhaustion finally got the better of him, and he fell asleep on a pallet beside her.

Selena woke up during the night, and she blinked as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. There was a glow of firelight coming from outside, and she could hear the usual night sounds of crickets and other critters. She could also hear the sound of deep, steady breathing, and she turned her head slowly to see Liam sleeping beside her.

Her heart filled with joy. She loved him deeply and completely, and she knew in that moment that he loved her too. She remembered falling in the river and seeing him dive in to save her. The look on his face had been one of pure terror. He definitely wasn't anxious to get rid of her so that he could take up with another woman.

Selena smiled to herself, watching him sleep. She wanted to touch him, but her limbs felt weighted down. She would rest for now, but soon, very soon, she would have to let him know what she felt in her heart.

The next morning dawned, and Selena woke up to see the sky just beginning to turn pink. She rose on one elbow but moaned as the world seemed to spin around her.

Liam woke up instantly. "What is it, Selena? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she mumbled. "I'm just dizzy."

She didn't mention that the throbbing pain in her head was still there. She didn't want to be forced to drink another cup of that wretched whiskey mixture. At least the pain felt less severe than the day before.

"Lay down," he said, gently pulling her back down onto the pallet.

"I need to get up and start breakfast," she moaned.

Liam's laughter was soft and warm as he rose and donned his breeches. "Not this morning, my love. Just rest." He finished dressing and knelt to kiss her forehead, smiling down at her for a moment. "Relax. I'll be back soon."

Selena watched him leave the tent, and she could hear him moving around as he built a fire and put the coffee on to boil. He brought her some of the soup Marcia had made, and Selena assured him that she could eat it without his help. Liam left her once again to take care of the animals and then went to speak with Gerald and Marcia. The other families had gone on the day before, and they couldn't afford to stay any longer.

"We'd better get moving again today. We're getting left behind" Liam said. He frowned with concern as he thought about Selena. There was no way she would be able to sit up all day. "I'm going to make a pallet in the wagon, but I'll need to rearrange a few things to make room."

Gerald offered to help, and Marcia said she would make breakfast for all of them. Within a short time, everything was prepared.

Liam entered the tent and stopped in his tracks. Selena was staring up at him, her eyes were deep purple, and there was the slightest bit of color in her pale cheeks. She was looking up at him with love, not anger, and he dared to hope that maybe she believed in him. He smiled as he knelt on his haunches beside her.

"Good morning, my love," Liam whispered.

"Good morning." Selena's eyes glowed as she returned his smile. His words warmed her heart more than he knew.

"Much as I would prefer to stay and let you rest for another day, we have to get moving today. Would you allow me to help you get dressed?" He stroked her hair back from her brow as he waited for her reply.

Selena was tempted to tell him that she wanted his help getting undressed, but she decided that such an occasion would have to wait until she was feeling better. "Yes, please."

Liam retrieved her suitcase while Selena unbuttoned her nightgown. When he had a fresh chemise, pantalets and the pink gown lain out, he helped Selena to sit up. She clutched at his arm as her dizziness threatened to make her fall down again, and she took several deep breaths to fight off the nausea that washed over her. When the sensations lessened, she loosened her grip.

"Better?" Liam asked gently.

"Yes," she breathed. "Alright. Let's do this."

Selena reached to push her nightgown off her shoulders, letting it pool around her waist. For once, when Liam viewed her naked form, his lusts weren't raging. He was too concerned for her to feel aroused, and his touch was infinitely gentle as he helped her on with her chemise. With one arm around her waist, he lifted her and whisked her nightgown out from under her hips. Again, Selena clung to him, as another wave of dizziness swept over her. Neither of them cared that her lower body was unclothed.

"It's alright, sweetheart. Take your time," he soothed.

His rich, deep voice sounded divine to Selena, and she rubbed her cheek against his shoulder as she clung to him. His clean, masculine smell filled her nostrils and she took several more deep breaths. The wave of nausea finally passed, and Liam slipped the pantalets over her legs. Once again, he lifted her and with her help, they managed to get them over her hips. Liam sat down, straddling her hips from behind and let her lean back against his chest. With strong arms wrapped around her, he deftly tied the pantalets around her waist. When his fingers began nimbly working on the buttons of her chemise, he was surprised to hear a tiny giggle, and he peered askance at Selena.

"What's so funny?" he asked with a grin.

"I was just thinking that, as your wife, perhaps I should be suspicious of the fact that you seem to be so familiar with ladies undergarments. It could lead me to think the very worst." The smile she gave him over her shoulder told him she was teasing.

Still, Liam's grin faded as he replied. "I think we have had more than enough suspicion and doubt cast between us, Selena. I hope that it will soon be gone for good."

The vulnerability in his hazel eyes was too much to bear, and although it caused her discomfort, Selena managed to turn slightly to face him. She cupped his cheek in her palm and gave him a tender smile. "I believe in you, Liam. I have no further doubts."

Liam's heart was thudding heavily in his chest as he searched her eyes, seeing only honest commitment in their violet depths. Ever so gently, he bent to kiss her upturned lips. Their mouths blended and searched, each finding what they sought. When Liam ended the kiss, he smiled down at her. After several moments, he released a reluctant sigh and resumed buttoning her chemise.

"We'd better finish getting you dressed. The others will be waiting for us."

They didn't bother with shoes or stockings. Liam lifted her into his arms and Selena clutched her arms around his neck, waiting for the dizziness to subside once again. He carried her to their wagon and laid her on a small pallet that he had prepared just behind the bench. When he was assured that she was comfortable, he quickly packed up the tent and other bedding, and they got underway.




Trailing Home Ch. 06



That day seemed to be the longest of Selena's life. The bumping and rocking of the wagon caused her head to pound and her stomach to roil in protest. The wheels seemed to find every tiny rut and hole, and Selena clenched her teeth against the jarring pains. She didn't complain though, for she knew that they had no choice but to keep moving. It could be a fatal mistake to dally on the journey and be caught trying to cross the Rockies in the dead of winter.

The only comfort she could take was in watching Liam. Her position gave her the perfect vantage point from which she could observe her husband. He had placed her just behind him, and as he drove the wagon, he often reached to squeeze her hand or stroke her hair. Selena lay on her pallet and watched the fascinating play of muscle and sinew on Liam's arms and back as he handled the reins. She liked the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck, and his broad shoulders and strong arms were beautifully sculpted. When she sat next to him on the bench, Selena didn't have the chance to watch him without him knowing, so she enjoyed this rare opportunity and used the sight of him to distract her from her distress. Her smile was pure feminine smugness, as she thought that no other wife had such a magnificent husband to call her own.

The only other relief Selena found was when she slept, and she dozed often. Liam watched her, worry etched on his forehead as he noted the frown lines on her face that never disappeared even in sleep. He knew that she must be in pain, and he felt helpless that he couldn't offer her more comfort.

Despite their delayed start, they covered seventeen miles that day, and they camped in a lovely clearing that evening. Once again, Liam carried her to their tent and assisted her to undress for bed. He was considerate and tender as he fussed over her, and Selena did her best to reassure him. She knew that he had his hands full trying to do his own chores and hers as well. Marcia and Gerald did as much as possible to help, but Selena fretted at her own inability to assist them. She felt weak and tired, and despite her best efforts to wait up for Liam, she was soon fast asleep.

Liam's mind was busy as he finished washing the dishes from supper. He was plagued by worry about Selena. He hoped that having her jostling around in the wagon wouldn't make her recovery even more difficult, but there was no other choice. He, more than most, understood that they had to keep pressing on. To fall behind schedule could prove fatal. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't hear Natasha approaching from behind him.

"Liam?" Natasha said softly.

At the sound of her voice, he whirled to face her. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I just thought I would see if there was something I could do to help," she said with a smile. "Since Selena isn't able to do anything, I know you must be exhausted."

Liam raised a disbelieving brow. "Since when do you want to do some work? I never see you helping your mother to ease her load."

"Susan helps her," she said with a careless shrug. "They don't really need my help. I would just be in their way."

"Well, I don't need your help either. I told you to stay away from me, remember?" Liam turned his back to her and continued with washing the dishes.

Natasha was undeterred, and she sauntered closer to lay a hand on his shoulder. "Liam, please don't be angry with me. I really couldn't help myself the other night. Can't you understand? I love you."

Liam abruptly stood up and shook off her hand as he glared down at her. He took a deep breath to calm his rising temper.

"Natasha, I don't know what foolish notions you have in your head, but I am a married man. Selena is my wife, and I have no intention of straying with you or any other woman, so just forget it." He took another deep breath, reminding himself that she was very young. "Now go on back to your family before I change my mind and decide to tell Gerald about what you did."

Natasha's laugh made it clear that his threat had not had the desired effect. "Oh Liam, don't be absurd. Do you honestly think that Daddy would believe you? He thinks I'm as pure as the driven snow. He would surely believe that it was you, an older and much more experienced man, who seduced me."

Liam's eyes narrowed as he frowned at her. "You're even more wicked that I thought," he said, shaking his head in amazement.

Natasha gave a pretty pout and reached out to stroke his arm. "Now Liam, don't be nasty. I'm not wicked, I'm only determined. I knew from the first day I met you that you were the man for me. I could be a real wife to you. I've seen the way Selena turns you away, but I wouldn't be that way." She gave him a sultry smile as she leaned against him, letting her breasts brush his arm. "I could give you everything you want."

"What I want," Liam ground out through clenched teeth as he removed his arm from her grasp, "is for you to leave me alone. Now go before I lose patience entirely and give you the spanking you deserve."

Natasha heaved a regretful sigh. "Alright, I'll go. But just remember what I said. When you get tired of Selena's rejections, I'll be waiting." She turned and strolled back toward her camp with an exaggerated swing to her hips, throwing one more seductive glance over her shoulder.

Liam blew his breath out as he stood watching her in amazement. He couldn't believe the nerve of the woman. He knew Natasha had been gently reared in a respectable family, yet she behaved like a common whore. Some of the prostitutes he had bedded hadn't been as forward as she was. He had no doubt that if he were to give her the slightest encouragement Natasha would be more than willing to share his bed.

Liam couldn't help but compare her behavior with Selena's. Out of necessity, Selena had been forced to work in a pub for a sleazy boss, yet she had managed to keep her honor. He remembered the first night he had met her. She had steadfastly rebuffed a number of advances, and all with dignity and grace. He couldn't picture Selena throwing herself at any man, much less one that was married to someone else. Her natural integrity was one of the things he found the most attractive about his wife. She would strive to do the right thing even if it made her own life harder.

Thoughts about Selena cleansed the last of his anger from Liam's mind. Hopefully, Natasha would soon grow bored with her infatuation. He didn't want her to cause any more trouble between him and Selena. While he was reluctant to cause any pain or embarrassment to Gerald or Marcia, if needs be he would have to tell them about Natasha's behavior. He could only hope they would believe him, if it ever came to that.

Over the next several days, Selena gradually regained her strength, but Liam continued to hover, his worry evident in those fascinating hazel eyes. When Selena complained about it to Marcia, the older woman laughed.

"Selena, just enjoy it. It's rare enough when our men get to pamper us. Remember what I told you? Liam needs to feel like you need him."

"Yes, but I'm worried about him. He looks so tired and haggard. I know he's not getting enough rest," Selena mumbled dejectedly.

Marcia's eyes sparkled with humor. "He's a big, strong man. He'll survive. Besides," she said with a wink, "when you get better, you can make it up to him."

Her meaning didn't escape Selena, and her cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink as she grinned in response. "I hadn't thought about that."

The gash on Selena's temple healed nicely, and after a week, Marcia was able to remove the stitches. As she examined her handiwork, she smiled. "There's hardly going to be any scar at all. Most of it will be covered up in your hairline."

Although Selena was not a vain woman, she was relieved that she wouldn't be left with an ugly mark to mar her face. "Thank you, Marcia."

"How about your headaches? Are they getting better?" Marcia asked.

"Yes. It only hurts now if I make a sudden move. As long as I take things slow, I don't notice it much."

"Good. A few more days, and you should be good as new."

While Selena continued to improve, Liam worried and brooded. He lay awake for long periods at night, just listening to her soft breathing beside him. They had done away with separate pallets, and while he enjoyed the feel of her soft body beside him, it wasn't lust that kept him awake.

Liam was disturbed by how close he had come to losing her. For the first time in his life, he felt like he had no control over his destiny. His heart was so firmly entangled with Selena that if anything happened to her, he knew his life would be good for nothing. His days as a carefree bachelor were a distant memory, and he chafed under the realization that he needed Selena desperately.

By the time another week had passed, Selena was becoming restless and petulant. Liam refused to let her resume her activities, even though she felt more than able. Again, she confided in Marcia, as the other woman sat with her one afternoon.

"He won't let me do anything. Every time I stand up, he comes rushing over to help me. He refuses to let me cook or clean up. I'm at my wit's end."

Selena frowned as she watched Liam. He was nearby but out of earshot. Still, she noticed that his gaze kept returning to her, as if to reassure himself that she was alright.

Marcia merely chuckled. "It has been rather funny watching him these last few days. Gerald and I were laughing about it yesterday. Gerald said Liam is worse than a bear watching over her cubs. Heaven help the person who makes the mistake of coming between the two of you."

Selena had to smile at the thought. "Yes, but that's just it. He's treating me like a child instead of his wife."

Marcia laid a hand on her arm and her smile held a world of wisdom. "Then, I guess it's up to you to remind him that you're a woman and not a child."

Selena pondered those words of advice that evening. As she watched Liam cleaning up the dishes from dinner, she hid a smile. Little did he know that she was about to unleash all her feminine wiles on him, and she was determined that this time, they would finish what they had started.

When Liam was finished, he would have come to sit beside her, but instead, Selena rose and placed a hand on his arm. "I thought we would make an early night of it," she murmured, her voice husky and soft.

"You must be tired," he frowned. He hugged her against him.

Selena ran a hand over his chest, slipping her hand inside his shirt to run her fingers through the light furring of hair. "Will you take me to bed?"

"Of course, sweetheart." He lifted her and carried her to the tent, but he made no move to kiss her. Indeed, it seemed as if the thought didn't even cross his mind as he gently laid her on the blanket. "Let me get your nightgown," he murmured and hurried to the wagon.

Once outside the tent, Liam gulped huge breaths of cool air, hoping it would help to cool his lust. After all, his wife couldn't help it if she was the sexiest woman alive.

Meanwhile, Selena was getting increasingly frustrated. Liam had helped her dress many times over the past two weeks, and he had never even tried to sneak a caress. She was keenly aware of the attraction she felt whenever he was near, and she wanted to once again experience the feelings he had awakened in her body. She was anxious to learn more, for she knew there must be some way to appease her yearnings, if only she could regain his amorous attention.

Liam returned with her nightgown and sat beside her on the blanket. Selena had already unbuttoned her dress, and she tugged the sleeves off her arms. She pretended to have some difficulty getting the dress out from under her hips. Tugging at her bottom lip with her teeth, she looked up at Liam.

"Could you help me?"

"Certainly." He put an arm around her waist to lift her, and he deftly slipped the dress over her hips, trying his best to ignore the soft flesh beneath his palms.

Selena wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned against him, letting her breasts flatten against his chest. She toyed with the hair at his nape as she wriggled out of the dress. Liam showed no reaction as he turned away to fold her dress neatly and lay it aside. Selena suppressed a frustrated sigh and tugged at the ribbon that closed the neckline of her chemise. She purposefully pulled the ribbon into a knot.

"Oh, no. Can you get this undone?" she begged.

Selena noticed that Liam's fingers were warm and much too steady for her liking as they brushed against her breasts. In no time, he had the knot freed, and was working on the tiny buttons. Still, she didn't see the tiniest shred of desire on his face when he peeled the two halves apart, baring her breasts. Instead, he slipped the nightgown over her head with businesslike efficiency.

"There," he said, untying her pantalets and slipping them off her hips without even a glance at her naked form.

Liam quickly buttoned her nightgown, desperate to cover up her enticing breasts before he lost all control. When the gown was buttoned, he pressed her down on the pallet and tucked her in like a child with a kiss on the forehead. "Go to sleep," he smiled. "I'll be in after I finish a few more things." He quickly turned his back, careful to make sure she wouldn't see his obvious erection.

Selena watched him leave, and her frustration reached new heights. There was a throbbing ache between her thighs and an emptiness deep inside her belly. She longed for Liam to make love to her, but she lacked the knowledge or experience to know how to seduce him. Although she did her best to stay awake, she was asleep long before he joined her on the pallet.

The next day, Selena started her monthly, and she let out an impatient groan. She would have to wait a few more days, and she resigned herself to the fact. By the time her courses had stopped, nearly three weeks had passed since the accident. Still, Liam made no move to kiss her or touch her, and Selena racked her brain for a way to reclaim his interest.

***********

In the wee hours of the night, Liam struggled with a familiar nightmare. He could see Selena sinking beneath the surface of the muddy water, and she was crying out for him to help her. He struggled and kicked, but he couldn't quite reach her. As her head disappeared, he let out a choked sob. "No! Selena, don't leave me."

But unlike the previous times when he had had the same dream, Selena was suddenly there, rising from the water. She soothed his fears with a warm kiss on his brow and she gently caressed his face. He was able to breathe again, when she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek to his chest.

"Shh, my love. I'm here." Her soft voice soothed his spirit.

Liam released a deep sigh, as he wrapped his arms around her. She reached up to kiss him, and his breath caught in his throat once more, this time from desire. Her lips were warm and moist, luscious and inviting, and they teased him as she nibbled at his mouth. She trailed hot, open mouthed kisses along his jaw and neck, and Liam came awake with a jolt when her hand skimmed over his belly to tentatively stroke his manhood. This was no dream! It was Selena warm and willing in his arms, and the thudding beat of his heart in his chest was matched by the throbbing in his cock.

Liam started to rise, but Selena pressed firmly down against his shoulders. He frowned up at her, his eyes searching hers in the dim glow of firelight that filtered into the tent. "Selena, what are you doing?" he asked with a worried frown.

She gave him a throaty laugh and sat up on her knees beside him. As she quickly unbuttoned her nightgown, her eyes were glowing. "I'm making love to you, husband. Since you seem reluctant to seduce me, I've decided to take the initiative." She whisked the garment off over her head and tossed it aside.

Liam gave a strangled groan as he took in her appearance. Her breasts were full and proudly erect, and they glowed enticingly in the dimness. Some of her dark hair had escaped the braid to curl around her face and neck. She had never looked more beautiful or desirable, and Liam ached to have her. Still, he held back.

"Selena, you're not fully recovered. We shouldn't . . ."

She placed a finger over his lips. "We should, and we will." Her voice was soft but determined.

Selena stretched out within the crook of his arm, and she pressed her body full length against his. The effect of her soft curves against his naked chest shattered the last of his resolve, and Liam gave a small groan of capitulation as he pulled her down for a kiss. She was only too happy to comply, and she willingly yielded her mouth to his ravenous kiss. He devoured her lips like a starving man. Liam continued to kiss her as he fumbled with her braid until it loosened, and he raked his fingers through her long hair.

"I've wanted to do that since I met you," he murmured, nibbling along her neck as her silken tresses fell all around him like a shimmering black curtain. "I love your hair. I like it when it's loose."

"Then it shall be loose when we go to bed from now on," she whispered.

He lifted her on top of him, and his hands skimmed over her sides and down to fondle her buttocks as he once again claimed her mouth. Heat welled between them, and his hands became almost frantic, cruising over her skin as if he couldn't get enough of the feel of her. He moaned softly into her mouth as he kneaded her breasts, and Selena broke off from the kiss to rise on her arms, giving him better access.

Her breasts dangled above him, just as they had in so many of his fantasies. While his fingers explored one, his mouth tasted the other. He nipped and tugged at her nipple, intensifying the ache in her belly with every hot flick of his tongue until she moaned weakly.

A savage hunger flowed through Liam, and he quickly rolled to pin her beneath him as he moved to her other breast. Selena had awakened his desires that had been buried for too long, and he felt driven to consume her. He feasted on her sensitized nipple, and her sighs and moans of pleasure urged him on. She arched her back and clasped his head to her breast, as her own neediness made her writhe beneath him.

Finally, Liam raised his head to look down at her. His eyes raked over her breasts, rosy and firm from his attentions, and primal satisfaction flared in the hazel depths. His eyes delved into hers as his fingers cruised up her inner thighs and found their way unerringly into the thatch of hair where her legs joined.

Liam held his breath, hoping she wouldn't tense beneath his touch. He had intended to take this much more slowly. It was prominent in his mind that he didn't want to scare her after her experience with her stepfather, but he was finding it difficult to control himself when he wanted her so intensely. He watched her expression for any signs of fear, priming himself to stop even though he knew it would be painful for him.

To his immense relief, Selena pulled his head back down to her and kissed him. She sighed against his mouth as she opened her thighs to welcome his probing fingers. His long fingers were gentle and warm, and they explored her with intimate caresses until she was slick and throbbing. Liam slid one finger inside her, and Selena gasped. He froze, but when she tightened her woman's flesh around his finger and sighed, he swooped to devour her mouth again. He took his time, probing her with hypnotic repetition as he coaxed her to flower for him, and when he slipped a second finger in beside the first, Selena rewarded him with a soft moan of pleasure. She arched against his hand, her thighs opening wider of their own accord.

When he couldn't stand it any longer, Liam knelt between her thighs and guided himself to her entrance. He kissed her with ravenous hunger as he plunged into her tight sheath with one mighty stroke. His shock couldn't have been any greater when he felt her muscles lock beneath him, and he caught her scream in his mouth. He had felt the brief resistance of her maidenhead, and he knew with certainty what had just happened, but his mind was having trouble making the logical conclusions when he was buried to the hilt inside her and throbbing with need.




Trailing Home Ch. 06



"What the hell?" he gasped, rising up on his elbows to stare down at her. Tears were trickling down her cheeks, and her eyes were full of pain and alarm. "You're a virgin?"

Selena gave a small nod, afraid to move. The rending pain inside her was gradually fading to a dull, warm ache, and she was keenly aware of every inch of his fullness deeply seated within her. The feeling of being so filled when she had never felt empty before was entirely new and somewhat frightening. "Well, I was," she whispered, giving him a trembling smile.

Liam remained perfectly still as he gazed at her in amazement. "But I thought your stepfather raped you?"

Selena closed her eyes, realizing that he had misunderstood, and she shook her head. Opening her eyes, she looked at him once more. "He tried to, but my mother stopped him before he could finish the deed."

Liam stroked her face, tucking a stray curl behind one ear. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I didn't know or I would have been gentle with you. I should have taken more time." He wasn't sure what to do. He was afraid to withdraw, thinking it might cause her even more pain. Instead, he bent to kiss her, and this time, his lips were as light as thistledown on hers. "I promise it won't hurt any more. Trust me."

"I do," she sighed. Her eyes conveyed her faith as she stared up at him.

He groaned and kissed her again, using his lips to rekindle her desire until he felt her relax beneath him. He'd never made love to a virgin before, so he was working purely on instinct. He sensed that unless he went slowly, giving her time to stretch and adjust, he would ruin it for her. He battled against his own body's urgency as he took that time, stroking her hips with strong fingers and trailing hot kisses down her neck and along her shoulders. Holding himself rigidly immobile inside her, he kissed her breasts, laving their sensitive tips with his moist, hot tongue as she moaned softly beneath him.

When he felt her thighs fall open once more, he began to move cautiously within her. He drew back to gauge her reaction as his strokes began slowly and gradually grew stronger and deeper. He felt a profound sense of satisfaction as he watched her expression change from tense apprehension to glorious wonder. He closed his eyes, reveling in the slick, velvety heat of her as she answered his strokes with growing enthusiasm.

"Bend your knees, sweetheart," he whispered near her ear.

She eagerly complied, and he sank even deeper into her scalding sheath. She was so tight and hot that he almost lost control, but he was determined to bring her to fulfillment before he sought his own pleasure. He returned his attention to her breasts, lavishing them with moist kisses and using his whiskers to abrade their sensitive peaks. Selena moaned and clenched her pussy around him, using her legs to urge him even deeper.

She felt the tension in her belly winding tighter and tighter until she couldn't stand it. All at once, she buried her face against Liam's neck and raked her nails along his back, managing to muffle her scream.

For several moments, she floated, feeling weightless and boneless, and when she finally opened her eyes, she saw Liam watching her intently. He gave her a rakish grin full of masculine pride that he had managed to bring her pleasure even though it was her first time. He kissed her, savoring the feel of her breasts against his chest as he began to move once more. She had been so intently focused on her own pleasure that she was surprised to feel him still inside her and still fully engorged. Realizing that he had held off his own release, she began to answer his strokes, eager to appease his lust.

Selena was amazed to feel her body responding to his touch again when just moments before, she had felt so fully sated. Their coupling became almost frantic, as each of them struggled to get that last bit closer to the other. Ecstasy burst upon them in unison, and with one final stroke, they flung themselves over the brink, clinging to each other as they drifted into the void.

It seemed like a long time later before Liam roused enough to withdraw from her and roll onto his back. He drew her once more into the crook of his arm, and Selena sighed as she felt his racing heartbeat gradually slowing beneath her palm. He nuzzled her hair, breathing in her heady fragrance, and for the first time in weeks, he felt completely relaxed.

The novelty of having brought her sexual pleasure for the first time filled him with a possessive satisfaction. Always before, he had restricted himself to indulging with prostitutes, having no other acceptable outlet for his sexual appetites. An honorable man could never seduce a young, unmarried woman, and since Liam had never before been tempted to take a wife, he had had no other choice except for strict celibacy. Knowing that he was the first man, no the only man who would ever make love with Selena filled him with joy. He glanced out to see that the sky was not quite beginning to lighten on the horizon.

"Good morning," he murmured, kissing her hair.

His low voice rumbled in Selena's ear, and she smiled as she rose on an elbow to look down at him. "Good morning." She bent to kiss him on the lips, her hair falling down to brush his shoulders. "That was . . . unbelievable," she breathed. Her expression was one of amazement, a woman whose eyes were only now being opened to the possibilities.

Liam caressed her hip, giving her a wicked grin. "I hoped you would enjoy it." He gave a rueful laugh. "I don't think you can understand just what a relief it was for me. I've been dying to have you for weeks."

"Are you sorry?" she asked, smiling down at him.

Liam gave her a questioning frown. He was genuinely confused by the question. "Why would I be sorry?"

Selena's smile turned to a teasing grin. "Now you're stuck with me as your wife."

Liam felt his love for her well up inside, and he was aware of a sense of complete satisfaction with this most recent turn of events. He reached down to grasp her bottom and lifted her until she was lying atop him as he took in her appearance.

Her hair was like liquid silk falling softly around her face. Her lips were red and slightly swollen from his kisses, and her breasts were tinged with pink where he had scraped them with his whiskers. He had finally taken a wife, and he had done so knowingly, willingly, eagerly.

He grinned up at her. "Well, you are pretty hard to deal with, but I guess I'll just have to get used to the idea, Mrs. McKenzie."

Selena bent to kiss him, and her smile was full of feminine smugness when she rose up once more. "You surely will, husband, because now, you're all mine." The possessive gleam in her eyes took his breath away.

She started to rise from the bed, but Liam clasped his arms around her pulling her down against his side. "We still have an hour or so before we have to get up. Try to get some rest."

Selena snuggled her head on his shoulder, and within minutes, she was asleep. Liam smiled, loving the sense of contentment he felt as he held her. All the tensions and fears of the past weeks melted away, and he basked in peaceful relaxation.



Trailing Home Ch. 07



The day felt magical for Liam and Selena. They went about their usual routine, but there was a new connection between them. Every touch or glance, no matter how innocent, reminded them of the intimate time they had spent that morning, and they eagerly anticipated the end of the day, when they could be together again.

They traveled twenty four miles that day, about the best they could hope for with the oxen's plodding pace. However, Liam and Selena didn't suffer from the usual weariness when they reached their campsite. They were too full of expectancy. They hurried to complete their chores so they could relax together.

Selena noticed Liam rummaging through the wagon. "What are you looking for?" she inquired.

"Never mind," came his muffled reply.

"Well, if you tell me what it is, maybe I can help you find it," she insisted.

Liam's head poked out of the back of the wagon, and he gave her a boyish grin. "I know exactly where it is, I just have to dig it out. Now, you worry about supper."

With that he disappeared back into the wagon, and Selena frowned, wondering what he was up to. He emerged from the wagon a few minutes later, and she noticed he was empty handed, but she concentrated on cooking. If he needed her assistance, he had only to ask.

Selena heated a pot of beans from the day before over the fire. She and Liam were both getting sick of them, but they were a necessity on the trail. As a special treat, she made a pot of apple dumplings, having learned they were one of Liam's favorite desserts. She smiled to herself as she worked on the dish. His sweet tooth wasn't the only appetite she was anxious to satisfy.

It was mid June, and the sky was still light when they finally settled down for supper. Liam ate his dinner, and his face lit with an eager smile when Selena handed him a plate of the apple dumplings. He took a deep whiff of the steam and sighed. There was a twinkle in his eye when she sat beside him.

"These smell almost as appetizing as you, but not quite." He hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her close so he could bury his face in her hair.

Selena giggled and lifted his spoon to feed him a bite. She remembered the time she had shared her custard with him, and she was amazed by how much their relationship had changed since then. Liam closed his eyes and chewed. He let her feed him the rest, and as he ate, he gave exaggerated moans and sighs that caused Selena to giggle even more. When he had finished the last morsel, she set the plate aside and leaned against him, running her fingertip along his chin.

"How were they?" she whispered huskily.

Liam bent to capture her lips and he tasted of apples and cinnamon. He savored her softness, pulling her across his lap as he deepened the kiss. "Delicious," he murmured. A slow grin spread over his face and he stole another kiss.

When he looked down at Selena, her eyes were deepest amethyst, and they shone with love as she stared back at him. Liam fished in the pocket of his shirt and pulled out a gold band, which he slipped on her finger. The fit was perfect, and he smiled. It was a good omen. He raised her fingers and kissed them, as his gaze melded warmly with hers.

Selena's jaw had dropped open with wonder. She looked at the ring, and tears filled her eyes. "Where did you get this?"

"It was my mother's," he said softly. "She gave it to me to keep for my wife."

Selena knew by the things he had said just how deeply Liam had loved his mother, and the gesture touched her soul. She cupped his cheek in her palm and smiled up at him through trembling lips. "I shall treasure it, Liam. Thank you."

"And I shall treasure you. You're everything to me, Selena. My life would be nothing without you. I learned that when I almost lost you." He wiped away a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "I love you."

Selena's heart swelled with joy. "I love you too."

They shared another lengthy kiss, and when Selena looked up at him again, her eyes were full of sultry promise. She traced his jaw with a fingertip.

"Let me clean up these dishes, so we can go to bed," she whispered. "By the time you have your bath, I should be finished."

Giving him one more smile, she slipped off his lap and began gathering the plates and pots. Liam watched her for a few minutes before rising to complete the last of his own chores. When he finished, he collected his towel and soap and set off toward the creek. By the time he had stripped and washed, the moon was beginning to rise in the sky. He started toward the bank and froze. He was reminded of another night, but this time, he knew instantly that it was Selena who stood on the shore, silently removing her clothes. He watched, transfixed as her body was gradually revealed to him in all its naked glory.

The moon was nearly full, and by its bright glow Liam admired her fair skin that looked silvery in the moonlight. Without hesitation or shyness, she waded into the water and glided toward him. Her hair hung past her waist and floated briefly on the water as it rose around her hips. She came into his arms, and she shivered from both the coolness of the water and the excitement in her heart.

Liam stood perfectly still, only settling his hands on her hips. It was as if some woodland nymph had decided to grace his bath, and he was reluctant to move lest he frighten her away. She stretched up to thread her fingers through his hair, and he sucked in a breath when her breasts pressed against him, warm and quivering. Her nipples were like twin points of fire that seared his bare chest as she nuzzled his ear and ran her hot tongue around his earlobe. It was the most enticing siren's song he could imagine.

"Could I join you?" she sighed in a husky whisper.

Liam cupped her bottom in his palms and gave her a boyish grin, but his voice was hoarse when he replied. "It is my fondest wish."

As he said the words, he pulled her hips hard against him, and Selena could feel the solid length of his erection cradled against her belly. She kissed him wantonly, and counting on him to catch her, she wrapped her legs around his waist, impaling herself on his rigid cock with a sigh. They sank down into the water, their bodies and lips fused, and Liam groaned against her mouth.

"My God," he breathed, "you're beautiful."

Selena began to move on him, and her eyes were beguiling in the moonlight. Her hair streamed around them, and Liam clung to her as she wove her spell around him. She offered her breasts, and he was helpless to resist, devouring them with greedy hunger. She became an enchantress, stealing his will and making him her eager paramour. She gave her body freely, using it to appease his raging appetites, but in so doing, she captured his heart and took it firmly into her keeping.

************

The next few days were like heaven. Liam and Selena hardly noticed the rigors of the days as they concentrated on the pleasures of the night. They spent long hours, speaking in whispers of their hopes and dreams as they lay intertwined among the blankets. They used their bodies to convey their love and commitment, and vows spoken in words were sealed with kisses and heady caresses. Their sleepless nights took their toll, and Liam couldn't help but smile when Selena would doze on the bench of the wagon. More than once, he had to put an arm around her to keep her from toppling off the seat.

Selena took to the duties of a wife with zeal. She still performed her usual chores, but now, she also assumed responsibility for a multitude of other small tasks that added joy to Liam's life. She would often massage his shoulders in the evenings, using her fingers to knead out the tiny kinks and knots. Sometimes she would sit after supper with Liam's head cradled on her lap as she read to him from a book of short stories. She took possessive pride in her right to claim him as her husband, and time and again, Selena found small excuses to touch or caress him. She mended his clothes, smoothing the fabric dreamily as she worked. She even took the initiative to trim his tawny hair, and of course, it became her habit to share his evening bath. She wasn't going to give Natasha a chance to enjoy her husband's company again!

Liam returned her many favors. He was frequently on hand to lift a heavy pot or loosen a jar. He surprised her with a bouquet of wildflowers that he had picked, and he looked puzzled when they made her cry. Although he no longer hovered over her, Liam was always near at hand whenever Selena needed his assistance. His consideration for her could have been merely a product of his generous nature, but Selena always gave him a smile, kiss or caress, just to ensure he kept coming back.

By day, Selena was a prim and proper wife. Neither her dress nor her behavior gave any hint that by night, she became a seductress. With merely a smile or a look, she could start a fire in Liam's blood that she was only too happy to quench. She captured Liam's imagination so completely that his every fantasy, even in his dreams, centered on her. He knew her to be innocent and pure, but he might have denied that fact when she came to him in the darkness. She exhibited a natural curiosity and a boldness to learn new things that nearly took his breath away. However, Liam gently tutored her, taking special care not to frighten her. He didn't want any unpleasant memories of her earlier trauma with her stepfather to be associated with their lovemaking.

Selena sensed his caution, and it was the only thing that impinged on her complete contentment. She had the feeling that Liam never quite forgot about her stepfather's abuse, and thus, she could not banish it totally from her mind. While she knew Liam did not think badly of her for the attack, he always seemed to treat her with concern when they made love. Though Selena did her best to allay his fears, she had the feeling that Liam was afraid to press her beyond a certain point and that he was somehow holding back. She longed for a way to show him that she was not fragile or faint hearted, for she sensed that there were other sensual realms they might explore together, if Liam could only abandon his fear.

They continued to make good progress on their journey. Liam explained that they had to cross the South Platte River only to gain access to the North Platte River, which they would continue to follow nearly halfway across the Wyoming territory before they would have to cross it as well. The South Platte presented a major obstacle. In June, the water was so low that mud flats and sandbars were scattered throughout the middle. Many of them were unstable, and a wagon could easily get bogged down and hopelessly stuck. The main channel was only about three feet deep, and it traced a peculiar path, winding aimlessly from bank to bank. They had no choice but to cross the river because it was too wide for a bridge and too shallow for a ferry.

Liam and Gerald waded out with stout poles, probing the mud to see where it might be most favorable to cross. It took them several hours to find a good spot, and they had to travel a few miles downriver. They crossed one at a time, but luckily, neither the wagons nor the buggy got stranded in the middle. Both families breathed a sigh of relief and were glad to be on their way once again.

As they crossed the vast plains, food and water were scarce, and firewood was nonexistent. When they were lucky, they found dried buffalo chips to burn, and they stowed as many as they could in the wagon. When there were none to be found, they had to eat raw bacon and stale bread. Selena quickly learned to bake extra bread for the times when they had no fire, but since food didn't keep for long in the heat, she couldn't stock up on cooked beans or bacon.

Vast herds of buffalo roamed across the plains, and there were too many to be counted at times. Many of the emigrants seemed to see killing the great beasts as a way to prove their manhood. They would cut out only the choicest parts and take the pelts, leaving the rotting carcasses to dot the trail. The stench was sometimes overwhelming, and neither Liam nor Selena liked to see such waste. Liam would occasionally shoot a buffalo to supplement their food, but he took as much of the meat as possible, sharing it among the other families traveling with them. He showed Selena how to smoke long strips of it over their campfire until it was dried, and then she could add it to stews or use it to flavor their beans.

They saw more and more items that had been discarded by the side of the trail. Treasured family heirlooms and pieces of furniture had been left behind to make room for food and fuel. The emigrants had realized by that point that survival was more important than even their most cherished belongings. It made Selena sad to see such things, for she knew their previous owners must have grieved to leave them behind, and it seemed a shame to let them rot out on the prairie.

However, the worst thing Selena saw were the graves along the trail. There were hundreds of them, most marked only with a simple wooden cross or nothing at all. Sometimes there were several graves all together.

"What happened to these people?" Selena asked. "There are so many. Were they attacked by Indians?"

"I doubt it. A lot of these folks died from cholera," Liam explained. "When I made the crossing with my brothers, sometimes we'd see whole families dying. A person could be healthy in the morning and be dead by nightfall."

Selena shivered just thinking about it. She prayed fervently that they would not contract the dreaded disease. She couldn't imagine life without Liam, if anything were to happen to him.

Despite the hardships, Selena enjoyed the vast prairies. The grasses were taller than the front wheels of the wagon, and when the breeze blew, as it frequently did, the grass would dance in golden swirls all around them. The sky seemed endless, and Selena had never seen such magnificent sunrises or sunsets. It was a land so free and open, it captured her heart.

Rising up from the plains, they began to see massive outcroppings of sandstone. They could be seen from miles away, and they marked the beginning of the transition from prairies to mountains. One formation in particular had a singular spire that stuck straight up into the sky.

"I've never seen anything like that," Selena whispered in awe.

"That's Chimney Rock," Liam explained. "They say it's more than three hundred feet high. That means we're almost one third of the way."

Thus, it was cause for celebration when they passed Chimney Rock and later the landmark of Scotts Bluff. The trail was so hot and dusty that they took to parking the wagon in the river at night to soak the hard wooden wheels. If they didn't, the wood would shrink, and the iron rims would roll right off. Selena usually wore a bonnet to protect against the baking sun, but Liam often went without a hat, and his skin turned a dark bronze and his hair was liberally streaked with strands of gold.

Sandy dust was a constant nuisance. It got into everything and was an unending source of irritation for eyes, noses and throats. Selena tried to start each morning clean and fresh, but within an hour or two, she always ended up being coated in a thick layer of grime. She gave up worrying about how she must look, since all the other emigrants were equally dirty.

It took another week to reach Fort Laramie. The fort offered an opportunity to restock their supplies, have the oxen reshod and make minor repairs to the wagons. The McKenzies and Boyds decided to take an extra couple of days there to give the animals and themselves a much needed rest.

Fort Laramie was a large adobe structure, almost square and surrounded by a high fence. It sat at the foot of a range of mountains where the North Platte and Laramie rivers intersected. There was a lookout tower centered in front, with gates underneath giving access to the courtyard. The tower was equipped with a cannon, and there were two more blockhouses on opposite diagonal corners to defend against attack.

A multitude of shops and businesses were housed inside, including the only reliable post office within three hundred miles where emigrants could go to post a letter to relatives back east. Liam explained that the fort had once been used as an outpost for the fur trade, but several years earlier, it had been purchased by the army. They had expanded the fort, fortifying it against possible attack by the increasingly hostile Sioux Indians. Seeing Selena's alarm, Liam squeezed her knee.

"It's alright sweetheart. The Indians have more to fear from us than we do from them," he assured her. "When my brothers and I crossed several years ago, the Indians were quite friendly. We even traded with them a few times, but in recent years, there have been several skirmishes and massacres. Last year, Lieutenant Grattan and his men wiped out an entire village of Indians over a dispute about a cow." Liam shook his head in disgust. "There are many white men who would like to see the Indians eradicated entirely. I hate to say it, but I think things are only going to get worse for the Indians as more white men travel west."

They camped outside the fort, and Liam and Selena walked inside to restock a few of their supplies. They were lucky that it was just the two of them, so they had ample food, and they didn't need much. Selena was astounded to see the prices that were being charged. Sugar that cost ten cents per pound back in St. Louis was a dollar fifty per pint and flour was a dollar per pint. Tobacco that should have cost a nickel was a dollar at Fort Laramie. Her eyes were as round as saucers, and Liam couldn't help but laugh at her expression.

Soldiers dressed in dark blue were everywhere, and they eyed Selena like wolves stalking a lamb. However, the set of Liam's jaw and the hard glint in his eye was enough to keep them at bay. They appreciated the sights but didn't attempt to touch.

Marcia and Gerald joined them, along with Natasha and Susan. Selena noticed that Natasha kept a respectful distance from Liam and didn't try to catch his eye. Instead, Natasha seemed more interested in attracting the attention of the handsomely dressed soldiers. She cast many coquettish glances in their direction, and she was gratified to receive many leering smiles in return. Had her parents not been with her, Selena was left to wonder how far Natasha might have dared go to win the soldiers' interest.


Late in the afternoon, they were in a shop, and the men were anxious to hurry them along. Liam and Gerald needed to go in search of feed for the animals, and the ladies wanted to stay and look through some bolts of fabric they had found.

"Go on," Selena told Liam. "We'll be fine. We'll wait here for you until you come back."

Liam looked around the shop, seeing no sign of the leering soldiers, but his indecision was evident on his face. "Are you sure? I don't like leaving you ladies here on your own."

Marcia scoffed and pushed at Gerald's arm. "Go on with both of you, stop being silly. We want to take our time."

"We'll wait right here until you get back," Selena promised.

The men left and Selena, Marcia and the girls looked through the fabrics. Natasha begged to buy some.

"Please Mama! This blue would be perfect on me." Natasha held up a bolt of light blue muslin. Selena hated to admit it, but the cloth did look divine against Natasha's skin.

"Natasha, I said no," Marcia whispered. "These prices are exorbitant. I just wanted to look for fun. Besides, you already have two other dresses in that same color."

"But not in muslin," Natasha whined. "This would be so nice in the summer."

Selena wandered to the other side of the store to look at some other fabrics and give Marcia privacy to deal with her spoiled daughter. Selena was stroking a bolt of soft calico when she heard a dreadfully familiar voice from behind her.




Trailing Home Ch. 07



"Well, well, well. If it ain't little miss prissy pants herself."

Selena whirled to face her stepfather, and she felt the blood draining out of her face. It seemed as if the months that had passed since she last saw him just faded away, and she was filled with all the terror she had experienced that day beside the creek. Her lungs locked, feeling like someone had punched her in the gut with a hard fist, and she couldn't draw a breath.

"Jeb! What are you doing here?" Her voice came out as a trembling whisper.

Jeb's eyes raked her body, making her skin crawl. The light in his eyes told her that he clearly remembered what she looked like without her clothes. 

"Probably the same as you, just passin' through." He glanced around, not seeing anyone nearby. "Are you all by yourself, Selena?"

Selena shot a glance toward Marcia, but the other woman was busy arguing with Natasha. Selena turned back to him as she fought back her panic.

"No, I'm not." She jerked her head to indicate the other women. "Those are my friends. Just go away and leave me alone."

Jeb took a step toward her and Selena instinctively stepped backward, until she bumped into another table of fabric. Jeb was close enough for her to smell the sour whiskey on his breath.

"Don't go gettin' all uppity now, missy. I just wanted to talk with you." His eyes said something entirely different as they settled on her breasts, and Selena couldn't suppress a shudder of revulsion.

"Leave me alone or I'll scream," Selena warned, although her voice was so soft and shaky that he could barely hear her.

Jeb laughed, and the sound sent shivers of dread down her spine. "I don't think you've got enough breath to scream, missy. But don't worry. I'll be on my way. Just remember," Jeb leaned forward to whisper in her ear. His foul breath fanned the side of her face making her nauseous. "You and I still have some unfinished business to take care of, missy. I'll be seein' you around." He raked her with one more lecherous stare and then left the shop.

Selena collapsed back against the table, her knees nearly buckling beneath her. She still couldn't draw a deep enough breath, and her heart was thudding painfully in her chest. Marcia turned to ask her something, and when she saw the look on Selena's face, she came running with alarm.

"Selena, what's the matter? Are you alright?" When Selena didn't answer, Marcia tried again. "Selena! What is it?"

Selena finally looked at Marcia, and her eyes swam with tears. She opened her mouth but no sound came out. Marcia rubbed her trembling hand.

"Whatever happened? You look as if you've seen a ghost and your hands are as cold as death."

Just then Liam and Gerald came back, and when Liam glanced over at them, he came at a run. He hugged Selena against him, noticing her colorless cheeks. "What's wrong, honey?" When he got no response, he looked at Marcia. "What happened?"

Marcia could only shrug helplessly. "I don't know. One minute we were looking at fabrics and the next minute, she was like this."

Selena clutched at Liam's shirt front and buried her face against the base of his neck. "Take me back to camp, please," she whispered, her teeth chattering in her head.

Liam was quick to comply, lending her his support as they made their way through the crowded fort. The Boyds followed, but when they got back to their camp, Liam waved away their assistance, sensing that Selena needed to be alone. He led her to their tent, and she collapsed on their pallet. She was clearly in shock, not responding to his anxious questions.

"Selena," he said, giving her shoulders a shake. "Tell me what happened."

Selena started to cry, and she clutched at his shirt as if she were holding on for life. "He's here," she whispered miserably.

"Who's here?"

"Jeb. He was there in the store. He spoke to me and...looked at me." She shuddered violently at the memory. Selena sobbed against Liam's chest, all her buried fears and painful memories rising up to haunt her again.

"It's alright, sweetheart," he soothed, stroking her hair. "He can't hurt you anymore. I'll kill him if he comes near you again." Liam was tormented by guilt for leaving her alone in the store.

Selena finally calmed, but she remained snuggled against Liam's chest, her fingers clutching convulsively against his shirt front. His steady heartbeat was comforting, and she stroked his chest. When she looked up at him, her chin was still trembling.

"Can we leave here? I know you wanted to stay for a couple of days, but can we please just go? I don't want to stay here."

"Yes, sweetheart. We'll leave first thing in the morning." Liam kissed her gently, and when he raised his head, he was gratified to see a small smile on her face. "I love you."

His words comforted her like nothing else could have, and Selena's smile grew stronger. "I love you too."

Liam held her that night, listening to her soft breathing in the darkness. He hadn't made love to her, afraid that it might scare her again, but he felt closer to her than ever before. He wanted to protect her from everything and everyone that might hurt her, but he was only a man, after all. His inability to foresee the future gnawed at him, but he was going to do everything within his power to protect her. She was his life, his entire world.

Liam awoke during the night as Selena was in the throes of a nightmare. She was whimpering and pushing against him. He rose on one elbow and gently shook her to wake her up.

"It's alright, Selena. It's just a dream."

"Nooo! Get off me. Get your filthy hands off me," she moaned.

"Selena, wake up."

Liam shook her harder and Selena came awake with a gasp. She was still caught up in the dream, and she struggled against him for a moment before she realized it was him.

"Oh, Liam! Hold me," she clutched at him and started to cry. Her sobs wracked her whole body as she clung to him.

Liam held Selena and stroked her hair, kissing her brow and murmuring words of love and reassurance until she calmed. Her hands were curled against his chest, but she reached up to grasp his head and pulled it down for her kiss.

"Make love to me," she whispered, her brow against his.

"Selena, I don't think it's a good idea . . ."

"Shh," she said, placing a finger over his lips to stifle his words. "I need to feel you close to me. I can't explain it, but I need you."

Her words were spoken as a plea, and they went straight to Liam's heart. He pulled her against him and kissed her, letting his lips tell her how much he loved her. For once, she was a greedy lover and she let him lavish love on her. He gave and she took, and he gloried in his ability to comfort her. He pressed her down on the pallet, stroking her breasts and hips, as his kisses wandered down over the swelling curves of her bosom.

Liam let his adoration wash over her as he paid homage to her breasts. He took his time, coaxing tiny gasps of pleasure from her as she arched her back, giving him better access to the succulent flesh. He wandered further, along the undersides of her breasts and over the sleek planes of her waist and belly. His tongue delved into her naval, licking and suckling as she writhed beneath him.

Selena opened her thighs beneath his questing hand, and she stifled a moan as he explored her softness. His clever fingers found her clit, and they lingered there, stroking and probing until she was slick and swollen. When Liam slipped his shoulders between her thighs, Selena frowned and would have sat up, but he gently pressed her back with an outstretched arm across her belly.

"Shh, my love. Let me love you." His voice was a heady caress, and Selena surrendered to his direction.

Still, she couldn't keep from crying out when he kissed her. She would have snapped her thighs shut, but his broad shoulders held them wedged apart. She felt open and vulnerable, fully exposed but not afraid.

"Liam, what are you doing?" she moaned.

"Let me love you," he whispered again, in those same soothing tones.

Liam tasted her, using his tongue to trace her sensitive folds. She tasted tart and musky at the same time, and he was careful to capture every delicious drop of her moisture. His teeth nipped at her, sending hot shards of need into the pit of her belly, then his lips followed to suckle and soothe. Step by step, he pushed her up the mountain of pleasure, nudging her to the brink but always bringing her back.

Selena lost all sense of connection to the world, and his lips, teeth and tongue became her sole focus. All she could think about was what he was doing to her body, and her hips tilted toward him of their own volition, begging for his attentions. She grasped his head, clutching at his skull and biting her lip to keep from screaming from the sheer delight of his touch.

"Liam, please," she gasped, not really sure what she was asking for.

Liam knew what she was begging for, and he pushed her over the edge with one sharp suckle. The sweet sound of her fulfillment washed over him, and he rose above her to watch her beautiful face as spasms of pleasure wracked her body.

He waited until her breath returned to normal, then he stole it again by thrusting deeply into her, not stopping until he was buried fully inside her. Selena's eyes came open and locked with his. She answered his thrusts eagerly, wrapping her legs around him and greedily clutching his buttocks in her hands.

Selena watched Liam in the firelight. His face was etched with concentration as he made love to her. She knew that every kiss, every caress, every stroke of his body into hers was his way of erasing the traces of her earlier abuse. She traced the ridges of his abdomen and chest, threading her fingers through the sprinkling of coarse hairs and tweaking his flat nipples. Her fingers skimmed over his rippling arms and shoulders, and she drank in the sight of his masculine beauty.

When he swooped to claim her breast once more, she grasped him to her, desperate for his kisses. Their faces were close and their breaths mingled as they climbed the last stretch together. Liam snared her gaze and compelled her to stay with him, as they reached the summit and plunged over the top.

Selena felt Liam's seed spilling deep into her womb in pulsing waves, and her eyes filled with joyful tears. It was as if he were washing away all the horrible memories and replacing them with his love. She was his and he was hers, and nothing else mattered in that moment. She clung to him, reluctant to have him part from her as she kissed his sweaty brow, feeling his ragged breath against her neck.

"Thank you," she whispered, stroking his hair back from his sweaty forehead.

Liam rose up on his elbows, and his hazel eyes were glowing as he gave her a lopsided grin. "It was most definitely my pleasure, madam." He gave her a tender kiss. "I love you."

"I know," she said simply.

She slept peacefully for the rest of the night, snuggled in the arms of her husband.

************

They got an early start the next morning. Liam warned Selena that in most ways, the easiest part of their journey was behind them. They had only a few more days of prairie to cross. Ahead of them lay the formidable Rocky Mountains.

Every mile they traveled helped Selena leave her fears and pain further behind. Thoughts of Jeb faded once more into her murky past, and she began to enjoy the trip again. Selena realized that she and her mother had never talked about her sister in Oregon in front of her stepfather, and as a result, Jeb hopefully didn't know where she was headed. She remembered him talking about wanting to go to California some day. Although the height of the gold rush was over, there were still plenty of men like Jeb who thought they could go out west and make a quick buck by panning for gold. With any luck at all, Jeb was headed for California and she would never have to set eyes on him again. She felt helpless fury that he had murdered her mother and been left free to go his merry way, but there was nothing she could do to bring about justice.

Bouncing along next to her husband, Selena felt her fears and anger gradually recede. It was hard to stay depressed when she had Liam beside her. As the day aged, she felt a renewed sense of hope and happiness, and she once again began to focus on their future together.

One night, sitting beside Liam and staring up into the vast sky streaked with pink and purple, Selena heaved a deep sigh of contentment. "I've never seen anything so lovely," she breathed.

"Neither have I."

Selena looked over to find his gaze focused on her face and she couldn't help but giggle. "Liam, can you be serious for just one minute?"

"I am serious," he grinned. He lay back on the grass and pulled her down on top of him. He released her braid and ran his fingers through her hair. When he looked at her, the heat in his eyes warmed her woman's heart. "I'm seriously in love with you."


"Oh yeah?" she taunted. She rubbed her hips against his, laughing when he sucked in a breath. She leaned down and whispered in his ear. "Then prove it."

He carried her into their tent and did just that. When they collapsed on their pallet, they were completely spent, but there was no doubt in Selena's mind that Liam loved her completely.

Later that night, a violent thunderstorm descended on them. Rain came down so fast and hard that it threatened to wash them away, and lightning flashed all around them. Selena and Liam huddled in the tent, cold, wet and nervous. To protect against the chill, they donned their clothes, and it proved to be lucky that they had. Tiny chunks of hail started falling and Liam jumped up and grabbed Selena's hand.

"Come on," he yelled. "We have to get under the wagon."

He pulled her behind him and they raced toward the wagon, groping in the darkness. They managed to get underneath the wagon just as the skies seemed to open up above them. Hail as large as grapefruits pounded down all around them, and the noise was deafening. Selena clung to Liam, his arms wrapped protectively around her as the chunks of ice careened off the wagon. The hail seemed to last forever, but it finally gave way to rain once more.

The fire had long since been doused, and they huddled together in the pitch blackness. The sky was lit by occasional flashes of lightning, but otherwise, they couldn't see their hands in front of their faces. The downpour was so strong that water washed around them like a river, flowing up to their calves.

"Come on," Liam said again. "Let's climb in the wagon. At least we'll be above this water."

He clutched her hand and they groped their way to the back of the wagon. Liam lifted her up, and Selena crawled inside, being as careful as possible not to damage anything. She heard Liam grunting as he climbed in to join her. They dug dry blankets out of the trunk in the back, and huddled together to share their warmth. It was a long miserable night. Trickles of water came in through tiny holes in the canvass bonnet that had been caused by the hail, and there was no way to stay dry.

The heavy rain finally let up just before dawn, but a steady drizzle continued to fall. When the sky had lightened enough to see, Liam climbed out of the wagon and went to check on the Boyds. They had managed no better. In fact, Gerald had a nasty gash on his head from a piece of hail, but otherwise, they were unhurt.

The animals had fared the worst. The mule had run off, and the oxen and cow were battered, bruised and skittish. Two of their chickens had been crushed when the hail pounded their coop.

Their canvass bonnet was only minimally damaged, but their tent had collapsed and had several large tears from the hail. All their bedding was thoroughly soaked, and some of it had been washed away. In all, their campsite was a mess.

"Well, it will take us at least a day or two to get everything fixed up," Liam said, still surveying the damage. "Let's eat breakfast and then I'll see if I can help Gerald find that blasted mule."

Breakfast was a miserable affair. The drizzle continued to fall, and everyone was cold and wet. Getting a fire to burn was out of the question, even though they had a few dry buffalo chips in the wagon. The ground was too wet and the drizzle would put the flame out before it got started properly. Therefore, they huddled in the wagon and ate stale bread and raw bacon.

"I'll work on fixing the bonnet and the tent," Selena said, as she nibbled on her bread. "I'll try to spread out the bedding as much as I can, but I don't think there's any way it's going to dry with all this humidity."

Liam nodded. "We'll be alright." He squinted up at the sky, but there was not a single break in the thick grey clouds. "Doesn't look like it's going to clear up any time soon, so we might as well do the best we can. Come here," he said, pulling Selena down onto his lap.

He gave her a lengthy kiss that managed to warm her even though she was soaked. When he raised his head, his eyes were shining with love.

"I don't think I said good morning to you," he whispered huskily.

Selena leaned her head against his shoulder and smiled up at him. "Good morning, husband." She was struck by the notion that even though their circumstances were miserable, being in Liam's arms made her wonderfully happy. "Come on. Let's get to work."


Liam and Gerald went in search of the mule. The heavy rains had washed away any tracks they might have followed, so they decided to do a wide sweep around the camp and see if they could spot the animal. In the meantime, Selena tended to the oxen, cow and remaining chickens. She rubbed ointment into their scratches and nicks, talking to the animals to soothe their nerves. She fed them and milked the cow, although the poor thing was so upset from the storm that she had very little milk.

Selena got out her sewing kit and stitched up the small tears in the canvass bonnet. It was hard work, because she had to hold her arms overhead much of the time. However, there weren't very many rips, and they were small. In only a short time, she was finished.

Squinting up at her handiwork, she hoped it wouldn't leak. They had been lucky thus far, and their belongings and supplies had been kept nice and dry. They couldn't afford for their foodstuffs to get wet and moldy. With the price of supplies, they might not have enough money to replace them.

Selena gathered up the sopping blankets that were strewn over the ground. One blanket had washed away, but she found it a short distance from the camp. She wrung as much water as possible out of the muddy blankets, but there was no place to wash them and not much room to spread them out in the wagon. She did the best she could, hoping that they wouldn't mildew.

The tent had sustained heavy damage. There were multiple holes, and Selena shivered when she thought about the pounding it must have received. She was grateful for Liam's quick thinking that had ensured they were safe beneath the wooden wagon when the worst of the hail came down. Had they stayed in the tent, they could have been injured or even killed by the huge pieces of falling ice.

Selena worked diligently, repairing the tent with neat stitches. The drizzle finally stopped by midmorning, and she sighed with relief. She looked out at the sky, and the clouds were breaking up and blowing over. Encouraged that the rain was finally over, at least for today, she decided to try and get a fire going.

She dug through the wagon and fished out some empty canvass bags from the animal feed they had already used. She folded them into thick squares and placed them on the ground before piling some of the dried buffalo chips on top of them. The chips, when dried, burned for a long time without any smell, and they made an excellent source of fuel for the fire. Soon, she had a good fire burning, and she smiled.




Trailing Home Ch. 07



She had built the fire as close to the wagon as she dared, and she hung two of the soaked blankets on the side of the wagon to catch the heat from the fire. They might get smoky, but at least they would dry.

Selena sadly inspected the dead chickens. She didn't want to see them completely go to waste, so she hung a large pot of water over the fire to heat. When it was scalding hot, she dipped the chickens into it and set about plucking their feathers. Finally, she singed their carcasses to remove the last of the feathers and cleaned them for cooking. At least, she thought, they would enjoy something other than boring beans and bacon for their supper. She cut up the chickens, along with some dried potatoes, onions and carrots, and placed them into a pot of simmering water. She added a few spices, and soon the aroma of hearty chicken soup wafted up from the pot.

Taking up the tent once more, Selena continued to work on repairing it. When she finished, she erected the poles and stretched the canvass into place, securing the corners with stakes that wobbled in the muddy soil. She had to laugh at the results. Although her stitches were neat and well-applied, the canvass looked more like a patchwork quilt than a tent.

Having done all she could to restore order, Selena changed into some dry clothes and hung her wet ones near the fire to dry. Liam and Gerald still hadn't come back, and it was past lunch time. Selena began to fret, and rather than sit and worry, she walked the short distance to the Boyds' campsite to see if there was something she could do to help Marcia.

Susan and Natasha were busy repairing their own much larger tent. Selena smiled and nodded to them but otherwise directed her attention to Marcia. She had also managed to build a fire, and she turned to Selena with a smile.

"That was quite the storm last night wasn't it?" Marcia asked.

"Yes. I hope we don't have any more like that. I don't enjoy being scared out of my wits."

"Amen," Marcia agreed. "I hope the men are having some luck finding our mule. I don't relish the thought of having to try to hitch an ox to the buggy."

Selena gave her a comforting hug. "I'm sure they'll find him. By the way, I'm making some chicken soup, and there's more than enough for all of us, so don't bother with supper."

"You're an angel," Marcia beamed. "It's been so long since I had anything other than beans that I'm about to lose my appetite. I'll make some bread to go with it."

Selena nodded and looking around, she asked, "What can I do to help you, Marcia?"

Selena pitched in, and by late afternoon, the four women had the Boyds' campsite neat and tidy once more. Selena went back to her wagon, and finding the two blankets dry, she took them down and hung two other wet ones in their place. She folded the smoky smelling blankets and put them in the wagon, and checked on the soup, happy to find that it tasted delicious. Still, the men hadn't returned, and Selena was beginning to get seriously worried.

"What could have happened to them?" she mumbled, squinting as she searched the rolling plains all around them for any sign of Liam.

There were only a couple of hours of daylight left, and she nibbled at her lip in indecision. She wanted to go in search of Liam, but she had no idea where he was. She knew the direction he had taken when he left, but he had said they were going to circle around, so he could be anywhere by now. There was a large hill a little less than a mile away, and she wondered if she climbed up there whether she would be able to spot the men. As long as she kept the fire within view, there was no danger of getting lost. If she caught sight of Liam, she wouldn't have to worry so much.

Informing Marcia of her intention, Selena set off toward the hill. Trudging through the tall grass and sucking mud sapped her strength, and although the hill was not very far away, she was breathless and tired by the time she reached the top of it. She had slipped a couple of times, and her skirts were muddy and wet up to her thighs. She smiled ruefully, thinking that she should have waited to change into clean clothes.

Selena put a hand up to her brow and turned in a circle, squinting against the light of the setting sun as she looked for any sign of Liam and Gerald. They were nowhere to be seen, but her vantage point allowed her to see into a shallow valley that would not have been visible from the camp. In the distance, she spotted the mule. The cantankerous beast was grazing happily near the bottom of the hill.

Selena set out to catch the mule, being careful not to slip as she trudged down the embankment. She was almost to the bottom when her foot sank into a mud filled hole and she felt a wrenching pain in her ankle. She cried out, falling to her hands and knees as the pains shot up her leg. It was difficult to tell anything with her foot coated in muck, but her probing fingers could already detect swelling, and she sucked in her breath and grimaced.

Now what? She looked back in the direction she had come, and she realized that she was no longer within sight of the camp. It wouldn't do her any good to yell for help. There was no way anyone would hear her from this distance. She stood up, but she knew she wouldn't be able to walk on her ankle. When she tried to put any weight on that foot, her knees began to buckle beneath her. She let out a frustrated moan, feeling incredibly foolish for finding herself in this predicament. She estimated that she had one more hour of daylight, and then she would be stuck out here in the pitch black night.

***********

Liam and Gerald returned to camp, disgusted and tired. They hadn't had any success in finding Gerald's wayward mule, and their entire day had been wasted on an exercise in futility. Liam was irritated and hungry, looking forward to Selena's soothing presence as he approached their campsite.

To his surprise, Selena was nowhere to be seen. He checked the tent and called her name, but there was no response. All other thoughts fled his mind as worry blossomed. He glanced up at the sky, seeing that is was nearly dark, and his worry coalesced into real fear. Where the hell was Selena?

Liam hurried to find Marcia. "Have you seen Selena?" he asked anxiously.

Marcia frowned at him. "She's not back yet?" Seeing Liam's negative headshake, her eyes opened wide with worry as she pointed to a nearby hill. "She said she was going to go to the top of that hill and try to catch a glimpse of you and Gerald. I thought she had already come back."

Gerald wandered up to join them. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Selena's missing," Marcia said softly.

"When did she leave?" Liam asked.

"I'm not sure. It's been at least two hours or so."

They all peered into the gloom, trying to catch a glimpse of Selena. Liam was tortured by fears. As much as he had reassured Selena, it was always possible that there was a rogue band of Indians roaming around. It was not unheard of for a white woman to be taken hostage to be used as a slave or worse. Then again, he had seen several deep gullies that day. What if she had fallen into one and gotten injured? It got very cold at night, and with it being so wet, she could easily die from exposure before he found her.

"I'm going to look for her," Liam said. "If she comes back to camp, make sure she stays here."

"I'll help you," Gerald offered.

"No, you stay here. There's no sense in both of us taking chances. Your family needs you."

Gerald didn't look happy about it, but he reluctantly agreed. "Alright. If she comes back to camp, I'll fire the rifle so you know."

"Thanks." Liam hurried to the wagon and retrieved the lantern. He set out toward the hill Marcia had indicated. He fought against a sense of urgency and picked his way carefully through the tall grass. It wouldn't do either of them any good if he fell and hurt himself.

"Selena!" he called. "Selena, can you hear me?" Yelling her name in the darkness only served to increase his anxiety. However, he pushed steadily on, hoping and praying that he would find her, safe and sound.



Trailing Home Ch. 08



Taking a firm hold on herself, Selena quelled her panic and eyed the mule through the thick gloom of twilight. He was not far away, and she thought that she might be able to reach him. She sat on her bottom and slid down the rest of the hill. By then, the mule was only about fifty yards away, but she couldn't walk that distance with a twisted ankle through the deep mud. Tossing aside all dignity, she crawled on hands and knees toward the beast. He snorted and pawed at the ground as she approached, but Selena talked to him in a soothing voice. She hoped and prayed he wouldn't bolt, and she took her time. When she was within a few feet, she slowly stood up, so the mule could see her more clearly in the near darkness.

"Come here," she coaxed him. "Come on boy."

The mule fixed her with a baleful stare and refused to budge. Selena sighed. Of course it would be too much to hope that the wretched beast would make it easy for her.

"Come on," she cooed, hobbling her way over to him. She stretched out a hand, letting him smell her, and she managed to grab hold of his halter. "Thank God," she breathed.

No sooner had she said the words than the mule shied, yanking the halter loose from her hand before he ran a short distance away. Selena ground her teeth in frustration and began crawling toward him again. Each time she got within reach of him, the hateful mule would bolt a few feet further. Selena was beginning to despair. It was almost completely dark by the time she finally managed to grab his halter once more.

"Gotcha," she cried triumphantly.

The mule backed up a few steps, and Selena landed on her rear in the muck. This time, she stubbornly refused to release her hold on the halter, and the mule drug her a few feet, coating her entire lower half with oozing mud.

"Will you stop it, you stupid mule?" she railed at him. She heaved a frustrated sigh and struggled to her feet again, wincing at the pain in her ankle.

Glancing up at the sky, she noticed it was nearly fully dark. Selena was afraid to let go of the halter, so she had to stretch and grope to reach the length of rope that had been used to hobble the mule. He had kicked it loose from his back hooves, and it was trailing behind his front leg. Grunting with the effort, Selena managed to grasp the rope and slip it off from first one hoof and then the other. She leaned against him, panting from her exertion and the throbbing pain in her ankle. When she regained her breath, she tied the rope to the sides of the halter, fumbling in the darkness to tie the knots. When she was satisfied that they wouldn't slip loose, she looped the rope over the mule's head to form a makeshift bridle.

Hauling herself onto his back was no easy task, especially since it was now dark enough that she couldn't see what she was doing. The sucking mud and her heavy skirts combined to thwart her efforts, and the mule had a nasty habit of sidestepping just when she seemed to get a good hold on him. Still, Selena was determined, and by sheer dint of will, she finally managed to drag herself onto the beast's back. She sat for a moment, feeling relieved and exhausted before she realized that she had become completely disoriented in the darkness.

Hoping that the mule would know which way to go to get to camp, she gave him his head and prodded him forward. She could tell they were climbing a hill, and she prayed it was the right one. When they reached the top, she gave a frustrated groan. She could just make out the faint glow of their campfires, but she had gone the wrong way and was even further away than before. She fought back tears and took a few steadying breaths. She was cold and tired and oh so ready to be back at camp.

It took a lot of coaxing, but she managed to get the mule headed back in the right direction. Selena couldn't see her hand in front of her face, but she hoped the mule could see well enough to walk slowly along. They trudged down the hill, with Selena biting her lip and hoping the mule would keep going straight. They climbed back up a hill, and Selena released her pent up breath when she realized it was the hill she had originally been on. She had never been so happy to see the glow of a campfire getting nearer.

All of a sudden, she heard her name. "Selena! Selena, where are you?"

She recognized Liam's anxious voice and could see a lantern light weaving around as he carried it through the tall grass. He was clearly looking for her and couldn't see her in the dark, so she yelled in response.

"I'm here! Liam, I'm here!" she yelled.

He came toward her voice at a run. She kept calling and steered the mule toward him at the fastest pace she could, but it was still several minutes before she reached him.

"Oh Liam, thank goodness," she cried.

He set the lantern down, nearly tipping it over in his haste. "What the hell were you thinking?" he snarled, snatching her off the mule's back.

When he had returned to camp to find her gone, his mind had been consumed with fear. During the time he had been looking for her, his fear had turned to panic. Liam didn't appreciate being reminded once again of how devastated he would be if something happened to Selena. Now that he knew she was safe, his panic had congealed into cold hard fury, pushing aside all vestiges of common sense. He shook her roughly by the shoulders as he yelled at her, clearly enraged.

"Dammit, what possessed you to go wandering off by yourself in the dark? Don't you know you could have gotten lost or hurt? I ought to take you over my knee and tan your backside."

"Liam, please. You're hurting me," Selena cried. His fingers were biting into her shoulders, and he had set her roughly down on her ankle. She winced, leaning on him for support. "My ankle is hurt," she wailed.

For the first time, he really noticed her appearance, and a tiny bit of his anger dissipated to be replaced by concern. She was liberally coated in mud and muck. Her hair hung in filthy globs, where it had escaped from her bun, and she was soaking wet and shivering. She was uncomfortable beneath his regard. She didn't like for him to see her like this.

"Please Liam, let's just get back to camp," she implored him.

Liam lifted her back onto the mule and led them back to camp, his jaw rigidly locked. Marcia and Gerald came running, and when they saw Selena, Marcia put a hand over her throat, obviously distraught.

"What happened to you?" Marcia cried. "I thought you were just going to the top of the hill to look around."

Selena blinked back tears of humiliation. "I meant to, but then I saw your mule on the other side of the hill, and I wanted to catch him for you. I slipped and twisted my ankle. I'm sorry if I worried all of you." She noticed the glare Liam shot her, but she ignored it for the moment.

"You poor dear." Marcia patted her arm and looked at Liam, "You'd better get her washed up before she catches a chill."

"You must all be starving by now," Selena said. "Go ahead and eat, it might be a while before I can get washed up. Take the pot of soup, and we'll come and join you in a bit." She watched as Marcia lifted the pot off the fire and carried it back to their own campsite.

Without a word, Liam lifted her down and carried her to the wagon. He sat her inside with her legs dangling out the back and turned to get the dry blankets she had stashed inside the wagon earlier that day.

"Stay here," he growled.

He turned on his heel and stalked to the tent. After laying the blankets out into a fresh pallet, he returned to the wagon. He didn't look at Selena as he grabbed her suitcase, the wash basin, towels and soap from the small trunk. He disappeared once more to the tent, and Selena blinked back tears, realizing that he was still very angry with her. She could hear him filling the basin with water from the barrel, and he carried it to the tent before returning for her.

Without saying a word, he scooped her up and carried her into the tent. His body was rigid with anger, and she bit her bottom lip, feeling foolish and childish. He stood her on the ground next to the pallet and stripped off her filthy clothes, steadying her with his strong hands while she balanced on one foot. When she was naked, he picked her up and set her none too gently on her bottom in the middle of the pallet, leaving her muddy feet off the edge of the blankets.

"Here," he commanded, shoving a clean cloth into her hands. "Clean up your face and hair."

Selena flushed with chagrin, and she meekly complied as Liam took another cloth and began to wash her body. He handled her roughly, scrubbing at her skin until it was pink from the friction, but Selena didn't complain. She understood that he had to get his frustrations out somehow, and she would prefer this over him shouting at her.

He cleaned her entire body, even her private parts, with the same impersonal, rough strokes. Only when he washed her injured ankle did he soften his touch. When Selena was clean from top to toe, Liam handed her a clean chemise.

"Put this on and let me see your ankle," he growled.

While she meekly complied, he sat down and balanced her calf across his thigh. He gently probed her wounded extremity. Her ankle was swollen to nearly twice its normal size, and he grunted his displeasure, giving her another disapproving look. His fingers were infinitely gentle as they probed the swollen joint, but his brows were drawn together in a fierce scowl. When he was satisfied that nothing was broken, he laid her foot aside and rose.

"Don't move," he barked over his shoulder as he left the tent.

He came back in a few moments with the medical kit. Selena remained mute as he rubbed her ankle with liniment, his fingers gentle but firm as he massaged it into the skin. Finally, he wrapped her ankle tightly with long strips of cloth bandages and tied them neatly over her foot. He washed his hands and replaced everything carefully into the medical kit. He would have risen without a word, but Selena delayed him by grasping his arm and pulling him around to face her. Her eyes scanned his harsh features, and she reached up to caress his rigid jaw.

"I'm sorry, Liam," she whispered softly. "I should never have gone wandering off like that."

"It was a damned fool idea," he agreed, still glaring at her. "You could have been seriously hurt."

"I know. I wasn't thinking clearly and I should never have taken such a risk."

She scooted on her bottom until she could reach her arms around his neck. She trailed tiny apologetic kisses along his neck and up over his cheeks. When she finally reached his mouth, she pressed her brow to his and her eyes begged him for forgiveness.

"I'm truly sorry. Do you forgive me?"

As she watched, his eyes softened ever so slightly, but his fierce scowl remained. "You realize that you had me worried sick," he accused. He hated feeling so vulnerable, and he was furious with her for stirring up those feelings by taking foolish risks.

She bit her bottom lip. "Yes, just like I was worried sick about you. But we're both alright, so can't we just put this whole miserable day behind us?"

Searching for a way to divert him from his anger, she toyed with the hair at his nape, wrapping a tawny strand around her finger as she nibbled at his ear. She had seen his eyes flitting over her barely concealed bosom and knew he wasn't immune to her state of undress. Taking her lower lip between her teeth, she leaned against his chest, pressing the ripe mounds of her breasts up invitingly and smiling at Liam from beneath her lashes.

"I made you a lovely pot of chicken soup. You must be hungry after not eating since breakfast."

Liam's sharply raised brow indicated that he knew just what she was doing to try and soften his anger. His temper was still brewing, flayed by his fear and worry for her, but he was holding it sternly in check...for the moment.

"Alright," he growled, his eyes raking over her breasts as if evaluating her offering. "I'll eat your soup, but I still haven't forgiven you."

He skimmed a hand over her ribs to cup her breast. As he fondled her flesh with possessive familiarity, he set his lips to cruising along the ivory column of her throat. His fingers deftly plucked at her buttons until her chemise was open to the waist. Reaching inside the filmy garment, Liam gave her nipple a sharp tweak, eliciting a pained gasp of surprise. There were angry sparks in his hazel eyes.

"I still haven't given up the notion of spanking your backside," he growled, "and I might decide to do so yet. It's no more than what you deserve." His face was all hard planes as he gave her a threatening scowl.

Selena stared at him for one long moment as she realized that for the first time, Liam was so angry with her that he wasn't treating her with tender caution. Thrilled at the thought, she yanked his face to hers and gave him a devastatingly thorough kiss, purposefully taunting him with her mouth as she brazenly pressed her breast into his palm.

She knew she was playing with fire by inciting him in his current mood, but she deliberately did so, hoping to overcome the only remaining obstacle between them, his memories of her stepfather's abuse. She wasn't some fragile rose but a woman, strong and passionate, and she wanted Liam to realize it.

"Come to think of it," she whispered, raising a challenging brow as she brazenly stroked his erection through his breeches, "supper could wait just a bit longer."

His barely leashed temper snapped. If Selena thought she could torture him by foolishly endangering herself and then make him forget all about it by seducing him, she had another think coming. Liam crushed her lips with a punishing kiss as he impatiently yanked her chemise off her shoulders and then down over her hips before tossing it aside. Bending her backward over his arm, Liam crudely kneaded one breast, twisting Selena's already taut nipple between his thumb and fingers, squeezing progressively harder as she moaned softly and stroked the back of his hand in wordless encouragement.

His lips were hard and demanding on hers, swallowing her low moans as he continued to torture her breast. He broke off the kiss, unable to resist tasting her nipple. The fact that she threaded her fingers through his hair and arched her back to offer him better access to the tender flesh only served to heighten his irritation. Dammit, didn't she realize that he was serious?

He twisted both her arms up high behind her back and held her wrists securely in one of his hands. With his other hand, he cupped her trembling breast and pulled hard on her nipple, savaging the sensitive peak with his teeth even as he watched her bite down on her bottom lip to keep from crying out. When she was writhing in his arms, he switched to the other breast and repeated the torture, using his fingers to keep tormenting the first nipple as he worked on the second with his teeth.

Still, she did not protest his cruelty, and Liam became even more determined to teach her a lesson as he rubbed his rough whiskers back and forth across her nipples, knowing the coarse texture was cruelly abrading the sensitive flesh of her breasts. As he watched, the delicate, creamy skin of her breasts turned bright red beneath his mistreatment, and the nipples quivered. Selena finally released a muted sob, and Liam relented, suckling first one then the other abused nipple deep into the hot cavern of his mouth as he soothed them.

Just when Selena was beginning to regain her composure, Liam surprised her by abruptly setting her on her knees. He pushed her down onto all fours, baring her naked bottom to the cool evening air and his heated perusal. Liam cupped her buttocks and squeezed roughly on the soft globes as he eyed them with concentration. He moved to her side, placing one arm securely over Selena's waist to hold her still.

Selena's eyes opened wide, shocked that he meant to actually spank her. "Liam, if you think I'm going to let you . . .Oh!" She had to bite her lip to suppress a yelp as his palm connected on her naked bottom with a loud thwack. Liam continued to rain blows onto her buttocks to a steady rhythm, heedless of her pleas and promises that she had learned her lesson. He didn't stop until her entire bottom was bright red and hot, and he could clearly see the imprint of his hand in several places.

He took several deep breaths to calm his anger as he kneaded his wife's fleshy behind and listened to her shaky sobs. His erection was throbbing painfully, but he ignored it for the moment, gazing instead at Selena's exposed folds that were glistening and wet.

When her sobs finally subsided, Selena held her breath as the silence stretched out, wondering if he was finally finished punishing her. Her bottom felt like it was on fire, but the stinging pain gradually faded and warmth radiated through her. She bit her lip again, realizing that she was more aroused than before. She wondered if Liam could tell the effect he was having on her, and her face flamed.

Just when she thought she couldn't bear to remain still any longer, two broad fingers delved deep into her softness without warning, boldly invading her with angry, possessive strokes. Liam had never made love to her from this position before, and her sensibilities were equally shocked and pleased by the prospect.

Stark, searing pleasure shot through her to coalesce in her loins. Selena gasped as she realized that her body was illuminated by the light from the lantern sitting on the ground behind her. Liam could view her in intimate detail, but she felt no shame. The fact that she was displayed before him, completely naked while he remained fully clothed, served to underscore his dominance and heighten her pleasure.

For the first time, there was a dangerous undertone as he handled her, his anger investing his body with a hint of ruthlessness, but because she trusted Liam completely and knew he would never hurt her, she found it powerfully erotic rather than frightening. If she had to use Liam's rage to get even closer to him than before, she was glad to do so.

Selena held herself perfectly still while Liam took his time, staking his claim on her body. He explored her thoroughly exposed pussy at his leisure, drawing out the moments until she felt her vulnerability in every pore and fiber. Selena glanced over her shoulder and saw that Liam's gaze was firmly fixed between her thighs, scowling intently as he examined her shining folds, bared for his inspection. His features were hardened with anger and determination.

His fingers drew back as they taunted and tantalized, surging into her slick heat only far enough to make her want more. He used his other hand to part her swollen folds and locate the tiny nub of her arousal. He teased it, circling the throbbing flesh with the pad of his thumb as his other fingers continued to delve into her heat. As she grew more desperate, his strokes became even more bold and possessive, almost domineering. His message was clear. He was letting her know without words that she belonged to him. She was his and he wouldn't tolerate her taking foolish risks.

His fear for her had unmasked his primitive soul. Now that he knew she was safe, he needed to reassert his claim on her to ward off those fears. Selena understood his need; indeed she was eager to appease it. She focused on what he was doing, keenly aware of each quiver of his long fingers, each bold invasion, as she felt herself growing wetter, hotter, needier. He knew how desperate he was making her, but Liam kept her there, torturing her with his knowing fingers but not letting her reach completion until she was frantic and whimpering. Then, his fingers reached deep as he squeezed hard on her clit, and he sent her over the edge.

Selena stifled her scream when sweet release finally washed through her body, but when she would have collapsed in a boneless heap, his hands held her rigidly in place, digging into her hips and granting her no mercy. Liam kept his fingers buried deep within her until her contractions finally eased, crushing his own throbbing need beneath an iron will as he watched the pleasure wash over her in waves.




Trailing Home Ch. 08



Before she could completely relax, he resumed his stroking, forcing her onto a new plane of desire, where he knew her need would flay her even more fiercely until her emotions were as raw and exposed as his. When he felt her body start to respond, when she had flowered for him once again, when she was trembling as her body helplessly clenched around his fingers, he withdrew his hand but kept her anchored in place before him. He stroked her throbbing folds with just the pads of his fingers, gently blowing cool air across her heated, wet flesh as he let the moments stretch out, knowing that she was feeling exposed, uncertain, and utterly, achingly empty.

Selena choked back a sob, trembling with anticipation until at last he rose on his knees behind her. She waited breathlessly for him to unbutton his breeches, biting her bottom lip as the moments stretched out into an eternity. At last, she felt his erection hot and heavy against her buttocks, sliding and rubbing against her, but he made no move to enter her, and she tilted her hips backward in brazen invitation. She didn't care that she was humbling herself in this way before him. The emptiness he had created inside her was driving her mad. She needed him inside her. He seemed oblivious to her desires, and she released a heart-felt groan.

"Liam, please," she gasped, her voice trembling with her plea.

Liam grasped hold of her hips and plunged into her with one forceful stroke. He emitted a low growl of satisfaction when her scalding sheath clasped eagerly around him, clinging to hold him inside. Selena submitted completely to his possession, feeling as if her body had become more his than hers. He ruthlessly demanded that she yield, and she gladly did so, using her body to soothe his fury and provide reassurance for his vulnerable soul.

They had always made love in only the dimmest of firelight, and for the first time, Liam was able to fully appreciate Selena's beauty by the light of the lantern. Her skin glowed pale and lustrous beneath his darkly tanned fingers, and he kneaded the reddened globes of her bottom, watching her skin flush beneath his palms. His erection was slick and shiny from her wetness, and he watched in fascination as he penetrated her to a relentlessly slow, hypnotic rhythm. With every stroke, she grew increasingly desperate, and quivering sobs escaped as she tried to urge him to go faster.

Liam gripped her hips and stubbornly refused to speed up the pace. From his vantage point, he enjoyed her splayed bottom, her arched back, and her violently bobbing breasts, barely glimpsed from the sides. He kept up the leisurely torture, invading her with increasingly forceful strokes until she became keenly sensitized to how deeply he was plunging into her, how wantonly her body was receiving him. Even as his hands anchored her in place, each powerful thrust impaled her further onto his erection.

The more blatantly Liam demanded, the more willingly Selena flowered beneath him, opening her knees and bracing on her arms for his thrusts. He knew he was winding her tension ever tighter but not going fast enough for her to reach fulfillment. His own body was clamoring for release, but he fought back the urge with determination, intent on maintaining the maddeningly slow rhythm. He wouldn't be satisfied until she felt as helpless as he had felt when he was searching for her. Only then would she be able to understand the depth of the vulnerability he felt where she was concerned.

Liam released her hips and bent close over her back to seize her breasts, his clever fingers sending shards of pleasure straight to her loins as he kneaded the heavy globes, still aching and sore from his earlier attentions. He squeezed hard on her sore nipples, rolling them between his fingers until they were once again throbbing, aching buds. Selena moaned with delight, arching her back and pressing them more fully into his hands, wordlessly begging for more.

"Promise you won't ever do anything so foolish again," Liam growled in her ear as he continued to torment her nipples and thrust deep within her.

His voice was so low and savage, she barely recognized it as his. Selena couldn't think clearly enough to process his words much less summon enough breath to respond.

"Promise!" he demanded with an even sharper squeeze, a deeper thrust.

"I promise!" she gasped. She would have promised anything just to get him to go faster.

Selena's agreement soothed a bit more of Liam's fury, although he continued to torment her nipples. He consented to speed up his pace. She could feel his hot ragged breath along her neck, and his teeth nipped at her shoulder. His body seemed to surround hers as he thrust within her again and again, harder, faster, deeper.

This was no gentle lovemaking but possession, clear and simple. He demanded; she yielded. He ravished; she acquiesced. He conquered; she trembled with desire. With greedy hunger, he consumed her, and her body lovingly submitted to satisfy his craving. After an eternity, their coupling finally culminated. Selena buried her face in the blankets to muffle her scream, and Liam's fingers dug into her hips to hold her immobile as he spilled himself inside her, shuddering violently as he found release. She felt his seed pour into her in hot, pulsing waves as her own body welcomed it deep into her womb. Spasms of pleasure wracked her so intensely that Selena could barely breathe.

Liam enjoyed the contractions of her pussy, as he remained buried to the hilt inside her, panting just as heavily as she was while he stroked the dewy sweat from her back and buttocks. When the waves of their mutual fulfillment finally subsided, Liam held Selena motionless and delayed withdrawing from her for what seemed like an eon, long enough for her to know that he would release her only when it suited him.

When he finally withdrew, he kept one hand clamped on her hip, holding her still as he parted her folds and gave her yet another thoroughly intimate caress with two long, searching fingers. Selena bit her lip as her pussy tightened convulsively around his fingers and without conscious thought, she rocked her hips backward against his hand, wordlessly inviting his touch. She couldn't have denied him even if she had wanted to. They both knew at that moment that her body was his to command. Apparently, her acquiescence appeased him, for Liam grunted his approval and stood up without a word. Helping her to her feet, his eyes locked with hers, and the look he gave her as he fastened his breeches promised further retribution.

"The night is young, Selena."

The growling timbre of his voice sent another shiver of anticipation tickling through her belly and loins causing her to shudder lightly, and his eyes flared in response. He searched her face, seeing that her eyes were still limpid with desire as he pulled her, unresisting, into his embrace. She was still so warm and willing. Damn if he wasn't tempted to take her again, then and there! He stroked the backs of his knuckles over her abused nipples, gratified to see them crinkle into tightly furled buds. He claimed her lips in a demanding kiss, and she submitted willingly to his thorough exploration of her mouth. Apparently she had understood his message, she was his! When he finally raised his head, his eyes were full of possessive heat.

"Just remember, I'll eat the soup, but you're still not off the hook. You're going to spend the rest of the night convincing me that you've learned your lesson, so don't plan on getting any sleep." With one final slap on her sore bottom, Liam released her and stalked out of the tent.

Selena waited until he was gone before she collapsed onto the pallet and allowed a smug feminine smile to emerge. She knew their neighbors must have heard the spanking and the sounds of her submission afterward, and her cheeks flamed at the thought. However, the thought of them knowing did nothing to diminish the satisfaction she felt.

Selena stretched sensuously on the blanket, wincing as her bruised buttocks connected with the hard ground. She couldn't help feeling much like the proverbial cat with the cream as her hands skimmed over her sore, aching nipples and still throbbing womanhood. Her body felt like it was glowing, literally tingling from his touch, and she giggled softly as she felt the sticky heat of his seed flowing down her thigh. She felt both completely sated and hungry for more. The fact that she had been able to goad Liam into forgetting his usual reserve thrilled her.

She had finally breached the final barrier between them, and for the first time, painful memories had not intruded on their lovemaking. Liam had meant to teach her a lesson, but he had unconsciously bared his soul and had proven beyond a doubt that he belonged to her as much as she belonged to him. Selena's grin widened. For the first time in her life, she was eagerly anticipating receiving the rest of her punishment.

***********

They knew they were on schedule when they reached Independence Rock on the 2nd of July. It was a large, low granite structure that resembled a huge hulking turtle. It covered several acres of prairie, and since there was abundant grass and clean water, they decided to camp there for a couple of days to rest and celebrate the holiday. It was a popular stop for emigrants, and there were dozens of other families camped nearby.

"Folks are happy to get here before the fourth of July," Liam said, "so they know they can make it across the mountains before the first heavy snowfalls. Falling behind could leave you stranded in the mountains without food or shelter."

"So we're doing well," Selena smiled, hugging his arm.

"Yeah," Liam grinned, "I guess bringing you along wasn't such a bad idea after all." He yelped as she hit him, but he was laughing. "Come on. Let's take a look around."

They walked around the base of the rock, and Liam pointed out where countless emigrants and fur traders had carved their names into the granite. There were thousands of names, and Selena laughed at some of the inscriptions.

"I love L.M.," she quoted, raising a suspicious eyebrow at Liam. "Was that carved by some love-sick maiden that met you on your earlier crossing?" she asked.

"I'll never tell, my sweet," Liam laughed, putting his arms around her waist. "But if it makes you feel any better, you can carve your initials just below it, canceling out any earlier claims to my affections."

They enjoyed a lovely two days at Independence Rock. Pies were baked and fiddles were brought out. There was much singing, dancing, and revelry. As they sat around the campfires listening to stories, Selena was struck by the hearty spirit of the emigrants, and she felt proud to be one of them. She reached over and clasped Liam's hand, and when he looked at her and smiled, everything was right in her world. 

Their break from the endless traveling was short lived, and by the fifth of July, they were back on the trail. They covered increasingly rough terrain, and both the oxen and the wagons took a beating. Sometimes the wagon ruts were several feet deep where emigrants had passed before them, and the bumps became bone jarring. They reached another wide river, and since there was good grass and water, they decided to camp for a couple of days to rest the animals and overhaul the wagons. Their campsite was idyllic, but the heat and the mosquitoes kept it from being totally enjoyable.

Liam crawled beneath the wagon and inspected the axles and undercarriage. He greased the wheels and replaced some minor parts that were showing signs of wear. It was hot, difficult work, and he removed his shirt as sweat trickled over his back and chest. This only served as an invitation for the pesky mosquitoes, and Selena couldn't help but smile when she heard him mumbling curses as he swatted the bloodthirsty insects.

Recognizing his sour mood, Selena wisely gave him a wide berth, and she took the opportunity to launder all their blankets and clothes. She spread everything out to dry in the sun and warm breezes. There were some sparse trees lining the river banks, and she set out with the hatchet to collect firewood. She made several trips, stacking the wood in the back of the wagon for future use.

Selena had put a pot of beans on that morning, and she was just about to make some cornbread to go with them when she heard the sound of another wagon approaching. She turned to face the approaching vehicle, shading her eyes against the sun as she squinted to get a better look. When the wagon pulled up close by and she saw the driver, she let out a squeal of delight and ran to greet him.

Still on his back beneath the wagon, Liam craned his neck around and could see Selena's running feet. He heard the excitement in her voice, and he scowled in fierce jealousy when he saw a man's boots jump down from the wagon. It was obvious from the swirl of Selena's skirts that she had reached up to hug the man, and Liam growled as he scrambled out from under the wagon and stalked toward them.

"Oh Hank! It's so good to see you," she laughed, giving the man a fierce hug. "I had begun to think I would never see you again."

Hank laughed with pleasure at her exuberance. "Well, I've been keepin' my eye out for you, little lady." He gave her a wink as he held her at arm's length and gave her a thorough inspection. His smile grew even broader. "It sure looks like you been takin' my advice, 'cause you look even prettier than the last time I saw you."

"And what advice have you been giving my wife?" Liam demanded, approaching them with furious strides.

Hank spun around to face Liam as he came up behind him. Hank's expression registered surprise and then he turned back to Selena with a grin. "So this is your young man?"

"Yes," Selena laughed, hurrying to put her arm around Liam's waist. "Hank Roberts, I'd like you to meet my husband, Liam McKenzie. Liam, this is Hank."

As she made the introductions, Liam's face turned a bright red. Hank looked at least seventy five years old, and his face was weathered and wrinkled. He was missing some of his teeth, and when he grinned, there was a mischievous glint in his eyes. All in all, he had a thoroughly grizzled appearance, and it was instantly clear that there was no threat of the older man stealing Selena's affections.

"Nice to meet you, sonny," said Hank as he thrust out his hand and gave Liam a wink. "Did I make you jealous there, huggin' your missus?"

Liam shook his hand with a sheepish grin and his face turned even brighter. "Yes sir, I guess you did." Liam squeezed Selena to him and gave her a reproving look. "It kind of took me by surprise when I saw her hugging another man."

Hank hooted with laughter. "Well, I can't say I blame you. If I was forty years younger and married to a pretty young thing like Selena, I'd be a jealous husband too."

Selena squeezed Liam's waist and looked up at him with adoring eyes. "He has absolutely no reason to be jealous, Hank. Liam knows that I couldn't possibly even think about another man."

Hank nodded his approval. Turning to look at his companions who were approaching from behind him, he smiled at Selena again. "This is my son that I told you about. This is Matthew and his wife Cassie," he said as he pulled them forward for the introductions, "And these are my two grandsons, Adam and Peter." Hank indicated two handsome young men who were mounted on horseback.

Everyone exchanged greetings and it was quickly decided that they would make camp nearby and join their little traveling group. As the other family set up their camp, the two younger men had a hard time keeping their gazes from straying to Selena. Adam was twenty and Peter was eighteen, and it was clear that they were both smitten by her beauty. Perhaps it was because his jealousy had so recently been inflamed, but Liam scowled at the young men with uncharacteristic intensity when he noticed them staring at his wife. The fact that Selena didn't even seem to notice them did little to soothe his irritation.

Seeing his dark expression, Selena found a private moment with Liam and rubbed her hands along his arm as she smiled up at him. "What's the matter, Liam?"

"Nothing," he muttered, turning away from her probing gaze.

Selena pulled at his arm until he faced her, and the corners of her mouth quivered from suppressing a grin. "You're not still jealous about Hank are you?" she asked with a sweetly innocent expression.

Liam placed his hands on his hips and frowned down at her. "You could have mentioned the fact that Hank was old enough to be your grandfather," he pointed out. "I'm sure you knew even on board the ship that I was jealous of him."

Selena assumed a contrite look but there was still a twinkle in her eye. "Well, at the time, I thought it was fitting justice since I was eaten up with jealousy over Natasha." She wrapped her arms around his waist and waited until his gaze met hers. "But that's all behind me now. I know I have your love, and you know you have mine. There's nothing for you to be jealous about."

Liam consented to put his arms around her, but his lips were still petulant. "What kind of advice did you need from Hank, anyway? I'm not sure I like other men giving advice to my wife."

Selena gave a delighted laugh. "If you'll remember, the day I met Hank was the day after you and I had had a huge fight because I wouldn't sleep with you. I barely slept a wink that night, and the morning I met him, Hank was observant enough to notice how exhausted I was. I told him that I was newly married and that we'd had an argument." Selena traced Liam's lips with her fingers and smiled into his eyes. "His advice for a happy marriage was never to go to sleep angry."

"Hmmm," Liam said thoughtfully. "And how did he suggest that you avoid it?"

Selena gave a coquettish shrug, running her hands over his bare chest. "He didn't elaborate, but I took it to mean that I should do whatever was required to make my husband happy at bedtime."

"Hmmm," Liam grinned, warming to their topic. "Perhaps I should make it a habit to fight with you more often so that you'll have to do whatever I say at bedtime."

Selena stretched up to kiss him, heedless of any who might be watching. Her lips melded with his and she ended the kiss on a dreamy sigh. "Let's just skip the fighting and go straight to the making sure you are happy part."

After dinner that night, Hank pulled out a fiddle, and he entertained them all with his lively music. Adam and Peter took turns dancing with Natasha, Susan, Marcia, Cassie and Selena, and everyone's mood was light and happy. Selena's cheeks took on a rosy glow and her hair escaped in tiny wisps as she danced to a lively jig.

Lying on the grass, Liam leaned on an elbow and watched her, but he no longer brooded with jealousy. He simply enjoyed the sight of his young wife, her face wrought with enthusiasm and joy. Still, when Hank began to play a slow tune, Liam rose and claimed Selena for the dance. He didn't want any other man holding her in his arms. As they danced in the glow of firelight, their eyes met and held, and Selena's pulse quickened. No one was surprised when they made an early night of it.

************

Within a week, they were approaching the Continental Divide. They had climbed ever higher into the mountains, and although it was mid July, there was snow up to six feet deep in places. They collected buckets full of it, happy to have clean water to drink and bathe in. Selena giggled as she dropped a handful down the back of Liam's shirt, but he caught her around the waist when she would have scampered away.

"Still up to your sneaky tricks," he growled with a smile. "We'll just see how you like it."

Liam held her while he scooped up a handful of snow, but when he would have shoved it down her bodice, Selena pleaded for mercy with so much giggling charm that he had to relent. After all, there were other, more pleasurable ways he could think of to chastise her.




Trailing Home Ch. 08



"I'll make you pay for that tonight," he threatened, nuzzling beneath her ear.

Her breath caught in her throat as she smiled. "Do you promise?"

Their travel slowed considerably as they struggled up one mountain after another. In the distance ahead of and behind them, they could see other covered wagons picking their way along the rocky trail. Even though Selena's bottom had gotten used to the hard bench, she winced as they bounced over the jagged rocks.

Noticing her discomfort, Liam gave her a lecherous look. "Would you like me to rub some liniment on that tonight?"

Selena rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. "No doubt you would use the opportunity to take advantage of my person," she quipped pertly.

"No doubt," he replied with an unrepentant grin.

The next morning, Selena was surprised to find that he had made her a cushion of sorts out of an extra blanket. She spied it on the seat while she was waiting for him to lift her up, and she turned to him with a smile.

"Thank you, Liam. That was very thoughtful of you."

He wrapped his arms around her waist, giving a furtive glance around to make sure they weren't being observed before he clasped her buttocks in his palms. "My pleasure," he grinned. "I don't want any more bruises on my wife's pretty little behind."

"You are incorrigible," she scolded, but she stretched up to give him a kiss, just the same.

Selena was surprised by how much the temperature changed throughout the day. In the mornings, they had to wear overcoats and mittens. By noon, Liam had rolled up his shirtsleeves, and she had unfastened a few buttons on her bodice to let in a cool breeze. They sweated throughout the day, and then by nightfall, they were huddled under several blankets to sleep. By dawn, a thin layer of ice had formed over the water in their buckets.

Selena had never seen such beautiful country. Wildlife became plentiful. They spied elk, rabbits, coyotes, wolves, and even a grizzly bear as they plodded along. Thankfully, the bear was a good distance away from them, but Liam laughed when Selena slid closer to him on the seat. Liam shot a deer that they shared with the other families, and they enjoyed hearty venison stew for several days. They had long since run out of dried apples and peaches, but Selena made a pan of bread baked with butter, sugar and cinnamon to reward Liam for his efforts.

They occasionally saw Indian villages in the valleys far below. Despite what Liam had told her, Selena was still nervous about them. She had heard numerous stories about bloodthirsty savages, and she shivered at the thought of being scalped. However, as the days went on and the Indians showed no signs of aggression, she relaxed and even waved hesitantly when they saw two Indian braves watching them pass by.

They were camped near a cold, clear river one Sunday, when Selena went to catch up on their laundry. Marcia had gone before her and had found a good spot, where the water was clean and shallow. The river had cut a deep ravine between two steep, rocky cliffs, and Selena knelt beneath one of them as she worked. The two women worked side by side, enjoying the company while they completed the onerous chore.

"You seem awfully happy these days," Marcia commented, giving Selena a sidelong glance.

"Mmmm, I am," Selena smiled. "I never would have believed just a few short months ago that I would find everything my heart desired." She gave a sheepish smile. "There was a time I thought I never wanted a man, and I had all but given up on the idea of marriage. Then Liam showed up."

Marcia laughed at the thought. "So Liam's your knight in shining armor, so to speak?"

"No, he's much more than just some girlish fantasy. He not only makes me feel safe and protected, but he makes me laugh and makes me feel so alive. Every day, I learn something new about him, and I look forward to a lifetime of such discoveries." She laughed a bit self-consciously. "I'm sorry for going on and on. I must be boring you to tears."

"Not at all, Selena. I just hope that my two girls will find someone just as wonderful as your Liam." Marcia made a face as she scrubbed. "Sometimes I don't know about Natasha, though. I wonder if that girl will ever be completely happy."

"What do you mean?" Selena asked.

Marcia gave a weary sigh and eyed Selena ruefully. "She's nineteen, she's beautiful, she has all the clothes she could possibly ever wear. In fact, she has nearly everything she could want, but she always wants more. And what's worse, she always wants what she can't have."

"Such as Liam," Selena said, keeping her tone as neutral as possible. After all, it wasn't Marcia's fault that Natasha couldn't keep her eyes off Liam.

"I'm afraid so. I keep hoping that she'll meet some other young man who can sway her interest. Take young Adam. He's handsome and charming. He's completely smitten with her. He keeps bringing her flowers and mooning around, but she all but ignores him." Marcia shook her head. "I'm not sure where I went wrong with her. Natasha is so different from Susan and her brother. Those two are hard workers, and they appreciate everything they have. They bring joy to my life. Natasha never lifts a finger to help unless it directly benefits her, and she always seems to make things more difficult for Gerald and me, with her whining and complaining. And what I don't understand is that she used to be very different. When she was younger, she was sweet-tempered and thoughtful. It was only after she got into her teens that she started to change." She tossed Selena a quick glance. "You must think the very worst about us."

Selena reached out to squeeze Marcia's hand fondly. "Not at all, Marcia. You've become very dear to me. And don't worry about Natasha. I'm sure everything will work out. Surely, once we reach Oregon, she'll meet a nice young man. Liam told me that men outnumber the women by four or five to one, so she should have her pick of suitors."

"I hope so," Marcia laughed. "I hate to admit it, but I'm looking forward to the day I can marry her off. Then, it will be up to her husband to try and make her happy." Marcia finished her laundry and gathered up the damp clothes. "I'd better get back to camp. I've got to get supper going if we're going to eat before it gets too late."

"Alright, I'll be finished soon too." Selena waved to her and then resumed her own scrubbing. She only had one more of Liam's shirts and one chemise to wash and then she would be done.

As Selena worked, she replayed Marcia's words. She thought about what Natasha had done, trying to come between her and Liam, and Selena's jaw clenched with anger. She would never reveal the incident to Marcia, as she knew it would cause her too much shame and pain. However, Selena would be cautious not to let Natasha cause any further trouble for them. The selfish chit would just have to find her own husband and stop coveting Selena's.

Selena began to feel a prickling sensation, and an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach. She sat back on her heels, scanning the brush around the river for any signs of someone or something that might be lurking there, but everything was still. The birds were chirping in the trees, and everything seemed fine, but Selena couldn't shake a feeling that something wasn't quite right.

She had almost convinced herself that she was just being silly when a pebble bounced off the cliff above her and splashed into the water. Selena glanced up and saw several more rocks tumbling down, along with clumps of dirt. She jumped up and ran, getting out from under the sliding rocks in the nick of time. She had only taken a couple of steps when a huge rock, almost two feet across, crashed down in the spot where she had been sitting, crushing the washboard and Liam's shirt beneath it. The rock bounced and fell into the river, a geyser of water splashing around where it settled.

Selena screamed and clutched a hand to her throat as she stared in horror. If she had been just a second or two slower to move, she would have been crushed just like the washboard. She was shaking like a leaf, and it took several minutes for her heart to stop pounding and her breathing to return to normal. There was a small scrape and a couple of bruises on her arms from where the smaller rocks had hit her, and as she looked at them, she shivered.

She eyed the cliff warily, looking for any signs that more rocks were ready to fall. When she was finally satisfied that it was safe, she ran back to where she had been working. Casting frequent glances up at the cliff, she snatched up the washboard and Liam's shirt. She scooped up the rest of the laundry and headed back to camp. She had had enough of doing laundry for one day.

Liam was busy greasing the axles, but he turned to greet her when she returned. He took one look at her and scrambled to his feet.

"What happened to you?" he asked anxiously, scanning her frightened features.

"I'm alright. I just got a fright, that's all," Selena replied with a trembling smile. She set the clothes on the bench of the wagon. "I was doing the laundry and there was a rockslide from the cliff behind me. I almost got buried under a nasty rock. I got out of the way in time, but the washboard wasn't so lucky." She held it out to show him, and Liam blanched.

"My God, are you alright?" He hugged her to his chest, being careful not to get any grease on her.

"Yes really, I'm fine. Just a few scratches. But I have to tell you, I'm tempted to make you do the laundry from now on. Laundry always seems to get me into trouble, one way or another," Selena said wryly.

Liam straightened and gave her a dubious grin. "Now that's a lousy excuse to try to get out of your chores. You know, as I recall, that was part of our deal when I agreed to let you come with me on this trip. You said you would do the laundry."

"That's right," she said, with a saucy tilt of her head. "And as I recall, it was also part of our deal that you wouldn't be sharing my bed. Would you like to revert to the terms of that agreement, Mr. McKenzie?"

"Well ah . . . since you put it that way," Liam said, his grin growing wider as he leaned closer to peek down into her bodice, "I guess I'll be washing my own clothes from now on." He kissed her, his lips soft and searching on hers, reminding her of past delights and promising more to come. The kiss was more eloquent than words could have possibly been.

Selena gave a sigh when he raised his head, and she toyed with the buttons on his shirt. "Well ah . . . since you put it that way, perhaps I could keep doing the wash for a while yet." She stretched up for one more quick kiss before stepping away to retrieve the laundry. "I'd better spread these out to dry, then I'll start supper."

Selena was cooking dinner when she remembered the feeling she had felt just before the rockslide. Her brows furrowed in thought. Somehow, she had felt a presentiment of danger, and she was lucky she had or she would have been killed. The thought made her shiver. Pushing it to the back of her mind, she finished making the cornbread.



Trailing Home Ch. 09



The next day, they came to a creek with two bridges over it and paid a dollar per wagon to cross over. They camped that evening near Sulphur Springs. There was a picturesque meadow surrounded by snow capped mountains, but the mosquitoes were so bad, it was impossible to enjoy the beauty around them.

They crossed into Idaho territory, and the main trail continued on to Fort Hall. Once it reached the fort, the trail split into two main routes, one going to Oregon, and the other branching off to become the California Trail. Selena breathed a sigh of relief. It had always been in the back of her mind that she might run into Jeb again, and she was glad that they were passing the place where he would likely turn off.

Liam suggested they take a shortcut off the main trail that would bypass Fort Hall altogether and join up with it again past the cutoff to California. Since neither the Boyds nor the Robertses needed to replenish any supplies, they all agreed. Liam led them to Soda Springs, and there they found natural bubbling pools of carbonated water that were formed by ancient volcanoes. Liam explained to them that the local Indians and fur traders had visited the springs for hundreds of years to swim in the bubbling pools. The alkali water was considered to be good for one's health, but he cautioned them not to drink too much of it. Many emigrants and their livestock became sick from indulging too heavily.

Soda Springs was a popular stop for the emigrants, and there were a number of people already there. Although it was tempting to swim in the warm, bubbling water, Selena despaired of finding a private pool where she might indulge without either viewing or showing an indecent amount of naked skin.

It was past midnight when Liam shook her gently awake in their tent. Blinking her eyes in the dim firelight, she frowned at him.

"What's the matter?" she murmured, her voice still husky from sleep.

Liam grinned down at her and kissed her forehead. "Come on," he said. He helped her up from the pallet. She noticed that he was wearing his breeches and boots.

"What is it? Where are we going?"

"Trust me," he whispered.

He urged her to slip on her shoes and nightgown, and he led her out of the tent. Not sure what he was up to, Selena followed him without any further questions. He picked up a lantern and matches that he had dug out of the wagon, and he led her to the edge of the woods. Pausing to light the lantern, he lifted it and clasped her hand again before leading her down a dark trail through dense forest. Selena was still groggy, but she followed him without question.

He led her to a rock lined pool filled with clear, bubbling spring water and set the lantern down on a large boulder. Steam rose from the surface to wreathe in curling tendrils in the cool night air.

"Your bath awaits you, my lady." He grinned down at her as he shed his boots and breeches.

Understanding finally dawned, and with a squeal of joy, Selena quickly unbuttoned her nightgown and dropped it to the ground before grasping his hand to let him lead her into the pool. She gasped at the feeling of the warm spring water. Tiny bubbles tickled along her skin, and she giggled with delight.

The pool was large, over twenty feet in diameter and shaped like a large oval. It was lined all around by smooth boulders. There were tall evergreens and pine trees surrounding the spring, and their branches seemed to brush the sky as they closed like a cocoon around the pool. The dark night sky was lit by a million stars, and their sparkling reflections shone on the surface of the water. It seemed like an enchanted place.

"Liam, this is heavenly!" Selena sank into the water and sighed. "I might not go to Oregon after all. I think I will stay here forever."

Liam laughed, grasping her waist and bringing her against him. "I thought you would like it. Come on."

He pulled her to the center of the pool where the water was so deep they couldn't touch the bottom. They cavorted like children, splashing and dunking each other. They chased and teased, dove and resurfaced, and their laughter rank softly in the night, muffled by the woods around them.

At length, they tired and Liam retreated to the edge of the pool where large rocks jutted out beneath the water forming a bench of sorts. He pulled Selena across his lap and kissed her long and thoroughly, cradling her head on his arm as he caressed her inner thighs and her slick folds. Selena straddled his waist, impaling herself upon him as her eyelids dropped half closed.

Their upper bodies were above the water, and Liam leaned back against the rocks, thoroughly enjoying the view. By the light of the lantern, he skimmed his fingers down Selena's neck and out to her shoulders. He traced her delicate collar bones and explored the upper swells of her breasts. Watching her eyes, he set a leisured pace, avoiding the sensitive peaks to skim over her ribs and brush his knuckles along the undersides of her breasts. All the while, Selena made love to him, her breasts bouncing wantonly, and he steadfastly avoided touching her nipples. They were standing erect, practically begging for his touch, but he ignored them, letting his hands trace everywhere but over them. Selena grew increasingly frustrated.

"Please," she whispered, tension coiled in her belly. "Please, Liam."

Knowing what she wanted, he pulled her to him and ravished one nipple, suckling hard and rasping with his teeth until she clasped his head to her breast and cried out with delight. Her pussy clenched tightly around him as spasms wracked her body, and he followed her to his own fulfillment, his hoarse groan mingling with hers in the darkness.

Although it was early August, there was a chill in the night air, and Selena shivered, pressing closer to Liam. She lay panting on his chest for a long time, letting the waves of satisfaction slowly dissipate. He kissed her temple and rubbed his hands along her back to ward away the chill. She had never felt so safe or so adored.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too, Selena."

"And will you love our baby?" she asked, smiling against his chest.

He went very still, but then he held her at arms length to see her face. His own face was full of surprise and wonder. "Are you sure?"

Selena nodded her head, finding it hard to speak from the emotion welling inside her.

His eyes raked down her body, as if he were seeing her for the first time. He couldn't detect any changes, and he laughed. "But how can you tell? You don't look pregnant."

Selena's smile held a wealth of feminine smugness, and she snuggled against him once more. "Haven't you noticed that your pleasure hasn't been interrupted for two months now? If I were to venture a guess, I would say that the babe was conceived soon after the vows were first consummated."

Liam hugged her against him and his chuckle rumbled in her ear.

"So you're happy then?" she pressed him.

"My dearest love, of course I'm happy. I hope to keep your belly full with many more children in years to come. And they will all be born out of our love for one another."

He gave her a tender kiss before lifting her off his lap.

"Come on. You need to get back to bed. You're carrying my child. You shouldn't be staying awake all night playing. You need to rest."

************

In the following days, Selena couldn't help but roll her eyes at Liam. No mother hen had ever fussed over her chicks as much as Liam did over her. Everything she did came under his scrutiny, and the simplest chores were deemed too strenuous for her. He scolded her for lifting the iron cook pots over the fire. She wasn't supposed to stretch and reach to get things out of the wagon. Every time they went over a particularly jarring bump, Liam would give her a concerned look. On and on it went until Selena was ready to pull her hair out.

"Liam, I'm not an invalid," she protested one afternoon as they bounced along in the wagon. "I'm just pregnant."

He gave her an injured look. "I know. I just want you to take better care of yourself." He frowned as he looked back at the plodding oxen. "I wish we were already home. You aren't eating right or getting enough rest on this trip. It's not good for you or the baby."

Selena heaved a sigh. His concern was touching, but it was also getting annoying. She definitely wouldn't be able to endure another seven months of this.

"Liam, women have babies every day. I'll be fine. You're making me nervous with all this fussing." She threaded an arm through his and leaned over to kiss his ear, taking the sting out of her remarks. When she spoke, her voice was low and sultry. "And you haven't made love to me for nearly a week. I'm starting to feel neglected."

Liam gave her a sidelong glance and a rueful smile. "I have gone a little too far I guess."

"Um hum," she smiled.

"But it's only because I love you," he said defensively.

"I know," she said laughing, "and you can show me just how much tonight."

After that, Liam relaxed and began to enjoy his wife being pregnant. Still, she would often catch him keeping a close watch over her, and he would grin and shrug. He started making love to her again, and every night, she fell asleep with his arms wrapped securely around her and his hand lying protectively over her belly.

Selena found some blackberry bushes near one campsite, and she, Marcia, Susan and Cassie set out to collect some. They were each able to fill their bucket, and Selena carried hers back to camp to make rich blackberry cobbler. She delighted in watching Liam consume the dessert, and she giggled at his exaggerated moans and sighs of ecstasy.

Two days later, she chanced upon another berry patch. Remembering her husband's appreciation, Selena hastened back to camp to grab her bucket. The other ladies were too busy to join her, so she set out on her own to collect some. If she hurried, she would have time to make another cobbler for their dessert that night.

The early evening sun was sweltering, and she swatted at biting flies as she plucked the rich berries, being careful not to prick her fingers on the thorns. The time passed quickly, and soon, she had filled her bucket. She was halfway back to camp when she heard a thrashing and grunting in the bushes ahead of her.

Selena stopped, not sure what was making the noise. Her heart thudded in her chest, and she stood frozen in place as she saw a large black bear emerging from the brush not twenty yards away. The bear didn't seem to notice her, as it sniffed around, scrounging for food. The bear grunted and raised its nose into the air when it caught a whiff of her scent. It hesitated for a moment but lost interest and resumed its lumbering gait.

Selena unintentionally released a tiny squawk of relief from her constricted throat, and the bear's head snapped up once more to pin her with a menacing glare. The bear emitted a low growl, and that was enough to send Selena flying through the woods in panic. She screamed and took off at a run through the thick underbrush, heedless of the brambles and branches that scratched her arms and face. She chanced a glance over her shoulder and couldn't see any sign of the bear, but she was too frantic to slow her headlong pace. She ran until her sides were aching, and looking behind her once more, she failed to see the shallow drop off ahead of her. She stumbled over the edge and fell, screaming again as she rolled down a small hill.

Selena came to a jarring stop and blinked her eyes several times to clear her head. She felt dizzy and slightly nauseous, but she was able to sit up. She cautiously stretched her limbs, and detecting no broken bones or strained muscles, she stood up. She glanced all around and was relieved that there was no sign of the bear, but her heart sank when she spied the bucket. She had forgotten all about it, clutching it only from habit as she ran, but now her eyes filled up with tears. The berries were crushed all over her skirts and the ground, and for some reason, the sight made her angry. All that for nothing!

Selena's heart leapt into her throat once again when she heard a crashing through the trees. She turned toward the source, convinced that the bear was still after her. She collapsed in relief when she saw that it was Liam.

"Selena!" He ran to her, his face full of concern as he took in her appearance. Her hair was a mess, with leaves and bits of branches sticking out from the silky tresses, and her dress was covered with grass and berry stains. There were a few tiny scratches on her face and arms, and she was crying. He dropped his rifle on the ground and knelt to hug her against him. "What happened? Are you alright?" 

"Yes, I'm fine now. I saw a bear and it frightened me." Selena wiped at the tears that had started, and she laughed a bit self-consciously. "I was running through the woods and I fell.

Liam placed a hand over her belly and frowned. "Did you hurt yourself?"

"No. I'm fine, really." Selena placed a comforting hand over Liam's.

"Thank God. When I heard you scream, it frightened the life out of me."

"I'm sorry, Liam." She stood up with his help and wiped the last of her tears away. "I wanted to get some more berries to make a cobbler, but now they're all ruined."

Her chin trembled, and Liam pulled her against him once more. "Never mind that. Let's go back to camp and get you cleaned up."

Selena felt sore and bruised, and she gratefully accepted his help back to camp. She cleaned herself up while Liam fussed over her, and he rubbed a soothing ointment into the scratches on her face so they wouldn't pucker and scar.

That evening after dinner, Selena was shocked when Natasha appeared with two plates of blackberry cobbler. She gave Selena a brittle smile and Liam a more friendly one.

"Mama felt bad about your accident today, so she went and gathered some more berries and made a cobbler. She was going to bring it over to you herself, but I offered to save her the trouble."

"Thank you," Selena murmured, eying the other woman uncertainly.

Natasha handed her a plate and gave Liam the other plate with a larger serving. Natasha sat on a nearby rock and chatted cheerily as they ate the dessert. "Daddy says we're almost two thirds of the way to Oregon. Is that true Liam?"

Liam frowned but directed his attention to the cobbler as he answered her. "Yeah, almost. We've still got a long way to go, but I'm happy with our progress so far."

"I can't wait to get there," Natasha sighed. "It will be so nice to be able to wear my nice clothes again instead of these rags."

She plucked at her skirts with distaste. Since the dress Natasha was wearing was considerably better than Selena's very best, she kept quiet. Any enjoyment Selena might have gotten from the dessert was spoiled by Natasha's crassness, and Selena barely tasted the treat as she ate it. She and Liam finished their cobbler, and Selena handed both plates back to Natasha.

"Please give Marcia our thanks. That was very thoughtful," Selena said.

"I'm so glad you enjoyed it." Natasha was bold enough to give Liam a flirtatious smile. "I know how much Liam likes sweets."

When Natasha was out of earshot, Selena gave exasperated sigh. "That woman tries my patience. Everything she says manages to hurt someone's feelings."

"Don't worry about her. She's just a selfish child." Liam hugged Selena against his side, kissing her hair as he stared into the flickering fire.

"She's not a child, Liam. She's a beautiful woman, and she seems hell bent on trying to get your attention."

Liam pulled her onto his lap and kissed her. "Well, she can't have my attention, because every bit of it belongs to you." He touched her nose with his fingertip. "You looked more beautiful today, with your hair all mussed and your dress all dirty than she ever will in all her fancy finery."

Selena rewarded him with a smile. "Yes, but you might not think so in a few months, when I grow big and fat."

"Come to think of it, that was an awfully big helping of cobbler you just ate." He yelped when Selena punched his shoulder, and they both laughed. He nuzzled her neck, his hot breath sending shivers of delight through Selena. "I can't wait to see you grow fat with my child. You're going to be the prettiest little Mama ever."

***********

Selena came awake in the wee hours of the night with sharp cramps in her belly. The intensity made her gasp and writhe in agony.

"What is it?" Liam asked groggily.

"I don't know," she ground out. "My stomach hurts."

Liam sat up and groped for the lantern, which he lit. When he saw her, he was filled with dread. Selena moaned as another cramp went through her, and her eyes filled up with tears.

"Oh my God. I think I'm losing the baby," she cried.

Liam scrambled to don his breeches. "I'll get Marcia," he said before running out of the tent.

He returned with Marcia just moments later, but there was nothing that could be done. Selena had already started to bleed, and she was wracked by cramps and nausea. Marcia shook her head sadly in response to Liam's questioning look.

"I'm sorry, Liam. Just try to keep her comfortable. This happens to most women at least once in their lives. There's nothing we can do but let nature take its course." Marcia made a tactful departure, leaving Liam and Selena alone.

"It's all my fault," Selena said miserably. "I wasn't watching where I was going. It's all my fault." She started to cry as she clung to Liam.

"Shhh, sweetheart. It's not your fault. It was just an accident." Liam comforted her as he struggled with his own grief.

"I'm so sorry, Liam. I know how much you wanted the baby."

Liam forced her to meet his eye as he stroked her hair back. "Of course I did, but it wasn't meant to be. It was just an accident. It wasn't your fault." He kissed her brow and gave her a smile.

Selena didn't feel much better, despite his words, and she sobbed harshly in his arms. The next morning, Liam suggested they stay an extra day to give her time to rest, but Selena refused. Her face was drawn and pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes when she spoke to Liam.

"Let's just go. I want to get away from here," she whispered forlornly.

At a loss as to how he could comfort her, Liam agreed to her request. However, he insisted that she lay on a pallet in the wagon instead of sitting on the hard bench all day. Selena curled into a miserable ball and slept throughout most of the day. She refused to eat lunch, saying she had no appetite.

Over the next two weeks, Selena became more and more withdrawn. She went about her chores with lassitude, and there was no joy or laughter on her face. Liam grew increasingly concerned, and he confided in Marcia one evening after Selena had retired early to sleep.

"I don't know how to reach her," he said, running a hand through his hair. "She barely responds when I talk to her. She's not eating, and she sleeps all the time but always looks exhausted. I feel so helpless."

Marcia placed a comforting hand on his arm and gave him a sympathetic smile. "Liam, she has to grieve, and I know she feels guilty. It was the same for me when I lost a baby once. She has to reconcile herself to the loss and move on, but it will take time."

"So you think she'll be alright?"

Marcia nodded. "She'll be fine. Just keep letting her know that you love her. One of these days, she'll snap out of it, and she'll be right as rain again."

"I hope so," he sighed. He gave Marcia a smile. "Thank you. You've been a dear friend to both of us."

"Don't mention it, Liam. You know that you and Selena are like my own children." A sad, wistful look crept into her eyes as she thought about Natasha and wished her daughter were more like Selena. Shaking away her wistful thoughts, Marcia turned Liam by the shoulders and gave him a small shove toward his tent. "Now go to bed and hug that wife of yours. She needs to feel you close to her."




Trailing Home Ch. 09



Liam did just that. He slid in beside Selena and gave her a tender kiss on the brow as she slept. He lay watching her for a long time before falling asleep, and it was several hours later when he awoke, hearing her moans. She was thrashing around, obviously having a nightmare. Just like once before, Liam shook her gently awake.

Tears were streaming down her face, and she gave him a tormented look. "I'm so sorry, Liam. Please don't hate me. Please don't hate me."

She clutched at him, burying her face against his chest, and Liam felt his heart constrict. He hugged her as she cried, and when she began to calm, he lifted her chin so he could meet her eyes.

"Selena, I could never hate you. Don't you know that? I've never loved you more than I do at this moment." For the first time since the miscarriage, he saw that Selena was truly listening to him. "Losing the baby wasn't your fault, Selena. I don't blame you for falling any more than you should blame me for loving blackberry cobbler. If you hadn't gone to pick berries for me, you wouldn't have had the accident. But it's no one's fault. It just happened."

"But I know how much you wanted the baby." Her eyes were swimming with tears. "I didn't mean to lose it."

"I know, sweetheart. There will be other babies, I promise you." He stroked her cheek with the pad of his thumb and smiled. "The main thing is that you are safe beside me. You are the most important person in the world to me. I need you, Selena." His voice cracked, raw with emotion.

Selena stroked his jaw as she stared into his eyes. "I need you too, Liam. I love you."

She stretched up to kiss him, and a feeling of relief washed over them both. They slept peacefully through the rest of the night, and over the next few days, Selena gradually got better. Although her eyes still held traces of sadness, the pallor left her cheeks to be replaced by her usual healthy glow. Her appetite came back, and she began to be more like her old self.

*************

Late one afternoon, they reached a large hill, and Liam told her it was called Big Hill. It had a difficult ascent and a very steep descent on the other side, but it had to be crossed. Liam heaved a sigh and firmed his lips as he thought.

"It's only about seven miles to the other side, but it will probably take us most of the day. I think we should camp here and get an early start on the hill tomorrow."

They did just that, and the men spent most of the evening discussing logistics for the following day. Unfortunately, it rained heavily that night, soaking the ground until there was a thick layer of mud. The next morning, Liam shook his head in disgust as he inspected the ground.

"There's no way we will be able to get up that hill with this slippery mud. We're going to have to wait a day or two and hope it doesn't rain any more so the ground can dry up," he said grimly. "At least there's good grass for the animals. It's probably a good thing that they will have a day or two to rest."

They all agreed, and they used the next two days to catch up on their laundry and make repairs to the wagons. By the third morning, the ground was pronounced firm enough to proceed.

They had to double up the teams in order to haul the heavy wagons up the steep hill. Selena waited below with the women while Liam walked beside their wagon, urging the straining oxen to the top of the hill. Once there, they unhitched the oxen and led them back down the hill to the other waiting wagons. They did the same with the other wagons and even hitched two oxen to the buggy to haul it up the incline. Eventually all the vehicles were at the top of the hill. It was well past their usual lunchtime, and they stopped for a well earned respite.

"Now what?" Selena asked, as she nibbled on a piece of bread.

Liam's smile was almost boyish as he shrugged one broad shoulder. It was obvious that the challenge of scaling the hill appealed to his adventurous nature.

"Now the interesting part comes. We have to get the wagons down the other side without toppling them over or letting them roll out of control." He saw her worried frown, and he put an arm around her shoulders, giving her a comforting squeeze. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

After lunch, Liam and the other men worked to secure the wheels on the wagons so they wouldn't roll. They hitched only one team of oxen to pull each wagon down the steep hill, and they secured long ropes to the back of the wagon and wound them around stout trees. Then the men strained against the ropes helping to hold back the weight as the wagon slid down the slope. The ropes cut deep grooves into the trees, but they held, and Liam's wagon finally reached the bottom. The entire procedure was repeated until all the wagons and the buggy were safely down the hill.

They were all exhausted, but because they had lost two days waiting for the ground to dry, there was no time to take a much needed break. The next morning, they were back on the move.

Four days later, they were making their way at a snail's pace up another fairly steep incline when there was a loud cracking noise from behind them, and Liam and Selena heard a woman scream. Glancing behind, they could see Gerald struggling to control his team, as his wagon slipped several feet back down the hill. It finally came to a shuddering stop, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Liam halted his own team and set the break. He jumped down and ran back to Gerald's wagon. The front wheels were skewed at odd angles, and the front of Gerald's wagon had fallen to the ground, forcing Susan to grip the seat to keep from being toppled to the ground.

"Are you both alright?" Liam asked anxiously.

"Yes, we're fine, but what happened?" Gerald's face was pale with shock.

"It looks like the front axle may have snapped," Liam said, kneeling to peer under the wagon.

Gerald and Susan climbed down from the bench while Liam rushed to gather some large stones and pile them behind the back wheels to keep the wagon from slipping further down the hill. Once he was sure the wagon was stable, Liam crawled underneath to inspect the damage.

"Damn!" He scurried back out with a disgusted look. "It's the front axle. It snapped in two. Do you have a spare?"

"Yeah, but it's a heck of a place to try and change it," Gerald said as he looked around.

They were two thirds of the way up the hill, and all around were nothing but scraggly rocks. It was already early afternoon and would take several hours to dig the other axle out and change it, and this was no place to try and make camp. Marcia's buggy was already part of the way up the hill behind them and Hank's wagon was bringing up the rear of their small group.

"If the others swing around here, there should be enough room for them to get on around you and get up the hill," Liam said, indicating the area with a wave of his hand. He squinted as he looked up to the top of the ridge. "I'm hoping there will be a place to camp once we top the hill. It looks like it flattens out up there.

"Alright," Gerald agreed. "You get the other wagons and the buggy up the hill and make camp on top. Then I'd appreciate it if you could come and help me."

"Of course," Liam said.

Gerald went to tell the others, and Liam returned to his own wagon. He told Selena what had happened.

"I'm just glad no one was hurt," she said with relief.

"Yeah, they could have ended up toppling on their side or worse," Liam agreed.

He steered their oxen up the hill, parked their wagon and quickly unhitched the team, leaving Selena to set up camp on her own. Then, he took a few tools and ran back to help Gerald. Luckily, there was a small, flat meadow at the top of the summit where they could spend the night. Selena set up their tent and started supper. Hank, Matthew, Adam and Peter soon went to help, since it would likely take all their combined efforts to jack up the wagon so the axle could be changed.

The men labored through much of the afternoon. They had to remove quite a few things to get to the spare axle. Then, they piled flat rocks underneath the wagon bed and used logs to lever it even higher, until the front wheels were off the ground. Liam and Gerald crawled underneath and removed the shattered axle and placed the new one, then the wheels had to be affixed. The sun beat down on them, and they were all drenched with sweat by the time the repairs were completed.

They were lowering the wagon back down to the ground when one of the levering logs slipped. Liam had been leaning hard on the log, and he fell forward and cut a long gash on his forearm from the iron rim of the front wheel. He sucked in a sharp breath as blood began to gush from the deep cut.

Gerald grabbed a rag and wrapped his arm, putting pressure to stop the bleeding. "Come on," he said to Liam. "Let's get Selena to look at that cut."

"No, we're almost finished, and I want to get the wagon on up the hill."

"We'll do the rest. Come on." Gerald insisted, urging Liam up the hill.

When Selena saw them approaching, she came running. Concern was rampant on her face when she saw the blood dripping from Liam's arm.

"What happened?" she gasped.

Liam let her lead him to a spot in the shade of a large tree and he sat down to lean against it. "It's just a cut," he grumbled. "Don't get all worried."

"There's no such thing as just a cut. Let me see."

Selena pulled back the rag and stifled a gasp. There was a six inch long gash along the top of Liam's arm, and it was deep and still oozing blood.

"Keep the pressure on this, while I get stuff ready," she ordered him brusquely.

Gerald went to fetch the medical kit, and he set it down near Selena. "I'm so sorry about this Liam."

"It wasn't your fault," Liam said, shaking his head.

"Well, it never would have happened if you weren't helping me." Gerald looked shamefaced as he wiped an arm across his sweating brow.

"Honestly, it's nothing. Now, you should go get the wagon on up the hill," Liam said.

"Alright. Thanks for all your help," Gerald said, still feeling uneasy. He looked at Selena "Do you want me to ask Marcia to help with doctoring that?"

Selena gave him a brief smile. "I would appreciate it if she could bring me some soap, towels and hot water. Thanks Gerald."

Gerald merely nodded and left to find Marcia. He really didn't much care for the sight of blood, and he was relieved to let the ladies tend to Liam's wound. Selena's face was full of anxiety as she opened the kit and set out all the things she would need to stitch up the cut.

"Here," she said, handing Liam the bottle of whiskey. "You might want to drink some of this." Marcia appeared with the requested items, and Selena smiled her thanks. "I can stitch up the cut. I don't want to keep you from what you were doing," Selena said.

"Alright, but just call if you need anything else. I'm so sorry this happened."

"Don't worry about it. It's just a scratch." Liam smiled.

Marcia returned his smile and placed a comforting hand on Liam's shoulder before she went back to cooking. Selena peeled back the blood soaked rag and was relieved to see that the bleeding had stopped. She carefully washed the wound with soap and warm water, wincing when she noticed how Liam's arm tensed beneath her fingers. He made no protest, but she noticed he did take several long sips of whiskey. When the cut had been cleaned, Selena took the bottle from him and grimaced.

"Sorry, this is going to burn."

"I know, but it has to be done so go ahead." Liam gave her a tight smile.

Selena poured some of the whiskey over the wound, and Liam sucked in a breath but otherwise sat quietly. She poured more of the whiskey over the needle and catgut and then set to work stitching the arm. The muscles in Liam's arm twitched, but he sat still while Selena put in a neat row of stitches. Her face conveyed her distress, but she worked diligently with calm hands until the unpleasant task was completed. When she tied off the last stitch, she gave Liam a trembling smile.

"There. Now I just have to put some salve and a bandage and we'll be done."

Liam managed to give her a lopsided grin, although his brow was covered in sweat. "I'm at your mercy, madam. Do your worst."

Selena patted his arm dry with a clean cloth and smoothed a thick layer of ointment over the cut before wrapping the entire arm with a neat bandage. When she finished, she sat back on her heels and sighed.

"Thanks," Liam said quietly.

"I expect you to take better care of yourself from now on," she scolded him, but a moist kiss on his mouth softened the rebuke as she caressed his cheek. "I don't like having to put stitches in."

"Yes ma'am. I'll do my best." Liam brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Now, could I have another one of those kisses?" When Selena raised an eyebrow at him, he shrugged and grinned. "For the pain."

"Well, if it's for medicinal purposes," Selena smiled. She gave him another kiss and then drew back with a sigh. She carefully repacked the medical kit. "Come on," she said, giving him a hand up. "Let's go eat dinner, you must be starved."

Selena doctored his arm for the next several days, taking care to change the bandages often. The wound healed well, and she took the stitches out after six days. Liam went about his usual routine, although he had to be careful to keep his wound clean and dry to avoid infection. He didn't complain about his arm, but Selena noticed that he was quieter than usual, and his laughter and sense of humor were greatly subdued.

During that time, they passed a series of waterfalls that could be heard from miles around, as they wended along beside the Snake River. It took them several days to pass by the American Falls, Shoshone Falls, and Twin Falls, and Selena enjoyed the breathtaking scenery. The air was heavy with mist, and Selena could see magnificent rainbows as the sun sparkled off the rising moisture.

They arrived at Three Island Crossing, and were faced with the choice of crossing the Snake River to get to the lush Boise River Valley or staying on the dry south side that had only sparse vegetation. The crossing was thusly named because the river was wide at that point, and there were three distinct islands that had been formed in the center, almost like stepping stones across the wide body of water. Because the water was eight feet deep and the current was swift, this was considered by many to be the most treacherous river crossing on the Trail. Many chose not to make the crossing at all. However, since their oxen were looking lean and tired, Liam and the others decided to cross to access better grazing. Selena clutched the seat in white knuckled fear, but they crossed without incident.

Gerald began crossing with his wagon, Susan perched beside him on the narrow bench. They were crossing from the shore to the first island, when the wagon almost overturned in the water. Susan screamed as she was flung into the water. Everyone watched in horror, as she flailed helplessly, struggling against her skirts and the swift current. Both Liam and Selena relived the terror of her own near drowning, but they were too far away to lend any assistance.

Without pause, Peter ran along the bank to get ahead of Susan, and he dove into the water. With swift strokes, he swam toward her, and she slammed into him. Both of them went under but came up sputtering and coughing a few seconds later. Peter grasped her against him and swam to the center island, where they both collapsed, exhausted from their ordeal.

"Thank God," Selena breathed.

Her eyes were full of tears, and her face was pale with fright. She had become very fond of Susan, and Peter too for that matter. It would have broken her heart if anything had happened to either of them. They managed to get the other wagons and the buggy across the river, and they made camp for the night, everyone relieved that the trial was behind them.

The near brush with death frightened them all, and it brought home to them once more how tenuous their hold on life really was. That night, as Liam lay sleeping, Selena lay beside him, listening to his breath. Her throat constricted with unshed tears. She felt so blessed to have found a husband who loved her and who she adored. The pain over losing their baby was gradually diminishing to be replaced by a renewed sense of hope for the future.

This journey was difficult and sometimes scary, but because they had to depend on each other so much, she and Liam were forging a strong partnership. In the years to come, she hoped that partnership would grow ever stronger, as they raised a family together. With a deep sigh of contentment, she snuggled against Liam's shoulder and fell into a deep, untroubled sleep.

************

It had been eight days since Liam's accident when Selena noticed that he hadn't said a word for several hours and his expression looked rather pained as he drove the wagon. Attempting to draw him out, she leaned close.

"What's the matter, Liam? Is your arm hurting?"

"No, my head hurts," he muttered, rubbing a hand over his eyes.

"Should we stop for today? Maybe you should rest," Selena suggested.

"No, we need to make a few more miles today before we camp. I don't want us to get behind schedule."

Selena felt a sense of dread, though she wasn't sure why she was so uneasy. She had never known Liam to complain of any kind of ache, and it worried her.

"Are you sure you don't want to stop?"

"I'm fine," he said irritably. "It's just this heat. It's getting to me."

Selena frowned. It was late August, but it wasn't a particularly hot day. In fact, she felt more comfortable than usual. She placed a hand on Liam's brow.

"You're running a fever! We should definitely stop."

"I said I'm fine, alright?" he snapped, brushing her arm aside. "Just drop it."

Selena didn't argue, seeing that there was no point. She knew when Liam had his mind made up, there was no use wasting her breath. But that didn't make her any happier, and she watched him with growing concern for the rest of the day.

When they stopped to make camp, Liam had a hard time climbing down from the wagon, but he reached to help Selena down as usual. When he lifted her, he nearly dropped her and gave a grunt of pain as he set her to the ground.

"Liam!" Selena grasped his arm, noticing that his face seemed frozen in a rigid grimace. "My God, you're really sick!" She helped him to sit down and ran to get Marcia.

The two women came back to find Liam leaning against a large rock. His expression was still stiff, and he had begun to tremble and twitch. Marcia took one look at him and her face filled with concern.

"Selena, he's got lockjaw," she whispered. "He must have gotten it from the cut on his arm."

"Oh God, no!" Selena clasped a shaking hand over her mouth and her eyes filled with tears. The disease was enough to strike fear into anyone's heart, for they had no way to treat it, and it was often fatal. "Is there anything we can do to help him?" she asked weakly, putting an arm around Liam's shoulders.

"All we can do is make him as comfortable as possible and pray for the best."

They made camp, and Selena helped Liam to undress and climb in bed. By evening, he had started running a high fever, and he was twitching and grunting uncontrollably. He could no longer speak because his jaw was completely rigid, but he didn't appear to be alert enough for rational conversation anyway. He drifted in and out of awareness.

As usual, Marcia and Gerald were eager to help. Everyone except Natasha pitched in to help with chores so that Selena could nurse Liam. Gerald felt terribly guilty since Liam had cut himself while helping them, but Selena assured him that it wasn't his fault.

"Gerald, of course you're not to blame. No one is. Now let's just concentrate on trying to make Liam better." Selena hugged Gerald fondly and nothing more was said about blame or recrimination.




Trailing Home Ch. 09



Selena tried to get Liam to drink some broth, but he had a hard time swallowing, and most of the liquid just dribbled out of his mouth. She felt more and more afraid, as she nursed him through the night. He jerked violently on the pallet, his muscles locked in painful spasms, and helpless tears rolled down Selena's cheeks as she sat with him. His condition worsened over the next three days, and Selena met with the others to try and decide what to do.

"We're gonna have to make a pallet for Liam in the wagon and move on," Hank said gently. "He could be sick for a long time, and we can't stay here indefinitely waitin' for him to get better. As it is, we're running a week or two behind schedule." Everyone murmured their agreement, even Selena. Hank turned to his grandsons. "Can one of you drive Liam's team?"

Before they could answer, Selena spoke up. "No, I'll drive our wagon."

Gerald frowned at her. "Selena, this is rough country. It's not easy maneuvering up and down these hills. You'd better let one of the men drive."

"I know how to handle the team," Selena said stubbornly. She didn't think Liam would like her driving the wagon, but neither would he like having one of the men neglect their own family to help him. "I grew up driving a wagon for my Pa, and I've watched how Liam handles the oxen. If you'll lead the way, Gerald, I'll get our team to follow you. We'll be fine."

Gerald didn't look like he liked it, but he reluctantly agreed. "Alright. We should leave in the morning, then."

They made all the preparations, and by the next morning, they were back on the move. Gerald and Peter lifted Liam onto a pallet in the back of the wagon, and Selena drove their wagon. Everyone was surprised to see that she really did know how to handle the oxen, and they quickly relaxed.

Selena got no such respite during the next few days. Mile after mile, she mumbled fervent prayers for Liam to get better. He huddled on his pallet, jerking and twitching. Sometimes his breathing was labored, and the air made a terrible wheezing sound as he struggled to draw it into his lungs. Selena would choke back tears, feeling helpless and afraid as she remembered her mother's death. Then, his breathing would ease once more, but the spasms continued, giving him no relief.

There were a few brief periods where his eyes rested on her, and he seemed to understand what was going on, but most of the time, he appeared oblivious. Selena felt like she was in hell. Her beloved was nearby, she could see him and touch him, but she couldn't reach him, and she couldn't do a thing to make him better.

She gained a new respect for Liam, for she found that handling the oxen for ten or twelve hours a day was exhausting. Her shoulders were sore and stiff, and her palms were covered in blisters from handling the leather reins. Still, her physical discomforts were of little concern to her when she was so worried about Liam.

Every evening, Selena coaxed fluids down his throat, as she held him in her arms. He could barely swallow, so the best she could do for him was to ply him with rich broth. He lost weight, and he started to take on a gaunt expression as the days passed. His eyes looked dull and listless, and Selena began to despair.

"I'm losing him," she cried, sobbing while Marcia hugged her close. "I can't help him, and I'm losing him right before my eyes."

"Shh, darling. You mustn't think like that. He's strong, Selena. He's strong, and he has a lot to live for. He loves you. You have to have faith that he will fight to get through this."

"I'm trying, but I'm so frightened. I don't want to go on living if he dies," Selena whispered.

"I know. Have faith and pray that the Lord will help him through this."

Selena slept fitfully, when she managed any sleep at all. Although everyone pitched in to help with her chores, Selena didn't feel comfortable letting them do everything for her. She allowed the men to take turns hitching and unhitching the team of oxen, milking the cow and feeding the animals. However, she insisted on gathering her own firewood and cooking and cleaning for herself. She focused most of her attention on nursing Liam, but in a way, the time she spent at the other tasks was a relief because it was the only time she was distracted from her constant worry.

Five days after the onset of his illness, Liam's breathing became so labored that Selena thought he might suffocate. That evening, she held his head and shoulders cradled in her lap and stroked his chest. She could feel his heart racing beneath her palm as he struggled to draw each breath, and her mind was scourged by the cruel claws of fear. Selena's lips moved constantly while she repeated her prayers for Liam to get better. She was certain he wouldn't make it through the night, but his breathing finally eased. Although the wheezing continued, his heart finally calmed, and it seemed as if he were breathing deeper than before.

On the eighth night after Liam's illness had begun, Selena awoke with a start, and she heard Liam whispering in a hoarse croak. Whatever he was trying to say came out more as a garbled slur, but she was overjoyed that he was able to make the effort. Selena stroked his face and kissed his brow.

"I'm here darling. I'm right beside you," she said

He struggled to say something else, and Selena realized he was trying to ask for a drink. She rushed to get him a cup of water, and she helped him drink a few tiny sips. He was able to swallow it better than before, and her heart filled with fresh hope. He looked at her for a long time before he drifted off to sleep once more. Selena noticed that he was still twitching, but it seemed the spasms weren't as severe as they had been. She whispered another prayer and drifted into an exhausted sleep. 



Trailing Home Ch. 10



The next morning, Selena was busy packing things into the wagon when she heard Liam's voice from inside the tent. She rushed in and stopped in her tracks. Liam was struggling to rise up on one elbow, but he was wobbly and weak, and he wasn't having much success.

"Oh Liam, just lie down, sweetheart. You have to take it slowly," she soothed, as she gently pressed him down on the pallet. "You're looking much better today."

Liam's face had a slight frown, which she took as a good sign. At least he was regaining some control over his facial muscles. Selena smoothed his hair back and kissed his brow.

"Are you hungry? Could you eat something if I bring it for you?"

"Um hmm," he mumbled and managed to slightly nod his head.

Selena's eyes filled with happy tears. "I'll be right back."

She had cooked a pot of vegetable stew with bits of venison in it, and she brought back a bowl. Sitting beside the pallet, she mashed up the vegetables and meat until the soup was nice and smooth. Holding Liam's head in her lap, she managed to get a few spoonfuls of the soup down his throat, and she counted that as a victory. Realizing that the others were nearly ready to leave, Selena gave him a kiss on the brow.

"I have to finish packing up, Liam. Everyone will be waiting for us, but I'll be back very soon." Her eyes were shining and her smile was radiant as she looked down at him. "I love you, Liam."

She quickly packed up their gear, and once again the men lifted Liam onto a pallet in the wagon. Selena took heart that day, for although Liam was still twitching and couldn't talk, his fever was gone, and his eyes seemed lucid.

That evening, Selena coaxed more soup down his throat. After he had consumed nearly an entire bowl, he turned away from the spoon.

"No more," he managed to mutter.

Selena was ecstatic. She set the bowl aside and stretched out beside him on the pallet, gently combing his hair back off his brow. They lay like that for a long time, their eyes locked in unspoken communication, and it was the first time in over a week that Selena felt Liam was really with her.

September rolled around, and they passed the place where Fort Boise had previously been. The fort had been plagued by floods for several years, and had finally been deserted. However, it stood as a milestone to let them know that they still had another four hundred miles to travel.

The last leg of their journey would be the most treacherous. They had to pass over the dreaded Blue Mountains, with their steep grades and rough terrain. These were the highest mountains they would have to cross, and the threat of early snow was heavy in everyone's mind. Stories abounded about the fate of the Donner party, bound for California, who had been trapped in the Sierra Mountains by heavy snows in 1846. Stranded in the mountains without adequate shelter or food, they had been forced to resort to cannibalism to survive. Thirty eight of them had perished from starvation, illness, and hypothermia. Selena and the others knew they had to keep pressing on to avoid a similar fate.

Liam made small improvements each day, but progress was slow. He was able to talk again since the rigidity in his jaw was gone, but most of the time, he didn't feel inclined to do so. He sat for long periods, morosely silent and brooding. The twitching spasms gradually subsided, and over a period of three weeks, they stopped entirely. However, Liam was left weak and weary. He needed help to stand, and he could walk only a few steps before collapsing again. He didn't have the strength to sit on the wagon bench, and he had to be lifted onto his pallet each morning.

As Liam lay watching Selena drive the wagon, he lost a little more of his self esteem each day. She was managing quite well without any help from him. He wasn't even a real man anymore, having to be coddled like a baby. He wasn't strong enough to go to the river each night to bathe, and he refused to let Selena shave him. Every day, his appearance became more unkempt, but he showed no signs of caring.

There was an even deeper issue that gnawed at the very foundation of Liam's soul. It had been weeks since the onset of his illness. He was well acquainted with the disease lockjaw. Indeed, he had had a friend named Sam back in Kentucky, who had also suffered from a bout with the dreaded disease following an accident on his farm. Sam had been one of their neighbors, and he had been fifteen years older than Liam. Sam had taken Liam under his wing when he was just a small boy, and he had been like a second father to him.

Through his friend's illness, Liam had learned that lockjaw attacked the body in a way that destroyed one's ability to control the muscles and nerves. Many times, the victim never completely regained their functionality. Sam had recovered from lockjaw, but it had taken him several months to get his physical strength and coordination back. However, Sam had been forever changed, becoming moody and sullen, withdrawn from his wife and family. Sam had begun to drink heavily, where before he had hardly touched liquor except to have an occasional friendly drink. One night, when Sam was well into his cups, Liam had pressed him to find out what was wrong. Sam had bitterly confided that the disease had left him impotent. That memory haunted Liam, for he was convinced that he was destined to suffer the same fate.

As the weeks of his illness stretched out, Liam watched Selena moving around as she tended to both her own chores and his. As always, the sight of her stirred him. However, his body didn't respond. It was as if his manhood had been stripped from him, and he was left as an empty shell. Before, the merest brush of a breast against his arm or a glimpse of her well turned ankles would be enough to send hot blood pounding through his loins. Now, those same experiences left him cold, not emotionally but physically.

And what was worse, Selena seemed to sense the change in him. She no longer sent him those sultry smiles, and when he searched her eyes, he found no deep pools of promise. The entire flavor of their relationship had shifted, and because he was losing his identity not only as Selena's protector and provider but ultimately as her lover, Liam couldn't seem to muster any interest in increasing his strength. Each day, he sank a little deeper into his own personal well of misery.

Selena had no inkling about his depressive turn of mind. She and the others were so thankful Liam had survived that all their energies were devoted to encouraging him in his physical recovery. It simply never occurred to her that his emotions needed healing as well. She took it for granted that once he was healed physically, he would become his old self again, cheerful, confident and warm.

Of course, she missed his passion. Before his illness, they had reached heights of intimacy and physical fulfillment that she had never imagined could be possible between a woman and a man. Every barrier between them had been destroyed, and when they made love, Selena felt that Liam could see into her very soul. Without his lovemaking, she didn't feel entirely whole, but she was serenely confident that Liam would soon recover and they would resume that part of their relationship. She was waiting, as patiently as possible, for that day to arrive, and she never doubted that it would. The thought that Liam might be permanently impaired never entered her mind, so there was no way she could guess that he was tortured by such thoughts.

Every day, Selena talked with him as they rode along, chatting brightly about the passing scenery. It was difficult to remain cheerful when Liam didn't appear interested in the conversation, but Selena was nothing if not persistent. With determination and patience, she continued to try to draw him out of his shell.

"Oh Liam, just look at these trees! They must be hundreds of feet tall," Selena gasped.

"Mmmm," came his noncommittal response.

"Can you believe it? Isn't it amazing, darling?" She glanced back to see his reaction.

"Mmmm." Liam never lifted his eyes from the pallet.

"Liam, please look. They're beautiful! Don't you want to see?" Selena cajoled.

Liam rolled his eyes and gave a long suffering sigh, refusing to answer her.

"I just thought you might like to see, Liam." Selena bit her lip to stop it from trembling. She was doing her best to keep the conversation going, but it was taking a toll on her emotions.

"I've seen it all before, Selena. Twice in fact. You can spare me the running commentary." Liam hoped his icy tone would make her leave him in peace.

"You know," Selena said, ignoring his coldness and trying to focus on the positive, "you just said more words than you've had to say in weeks."

Liam mumbled a response that she couldn't quite hear.

"What was that, darling?" she asked brightly.

"I said, now if I could just get you to say fewer words we'd both be happy," Liam snapped impatiently.

Selena faced forward, blinking back tears. She drove for a while, not speaking to him. Her mood continued to plummet as she tried to think of some way to reach him. She missed him desperately, even though he was right behind her in the wagon. For all these months, the two of them had kept each other occupied while they plodded along, and now she felt very alone and lonely.

"Liam, tell me about your farm in Oregon. What's it like?" she coaxed.

"You'll see it soon enough," he said curtly.

"Yes, but I love to hear you talk about it. What are your brothers like?" she asked, smiling at him over her shoulder.

Liam pinned her with a glare and then looked away, sulking. Why couldn't she just leave him alone? Her continued cheerfulness only reinforced his opinion that she really didn't need him. She obviously didn't care that he was a useless invalid now, and it surely wouldn't be long before she lost interest in him entirely. Another mile went by in strained silence.

"Liam, please. Won't you just talk to me?" she pleaded.

"You don't need me to talk to you. You don't need me for anything anymore," he said flatly.

"What do you mean? Of course I need you." Selena looked at him in amazement that he would even think such a thing. "Liam, I love you."

"Mmmm," he grunted.

"Liam, darling . . ."

Liam gave a low growl of annoyance and shot her a venomous glare. "Will you just leave me alone?" he roared. "I don't want to talk. I don't want to look at trees. I don't want to tell you about Oregon. I just want to be left alone!"

Selena's mouth had dropped open from the viciousness of his outburst, but she snapped it closed and faced forward once again. Her whole body was trembling from hurt, embarrassment and roiling frustration. She couldn't bring herself to try again. It would be too humiliating to be rejected again, so she kept quiet.

Liam thought he saw a glimpse of hurt in her eyes before she had turned away, and his conscience pricked him. Surely he hadn't hurt her feelings? No, it was more likely annoyance he had seen flashing in those blue eyes. She was only trying to be polite to him, and she was angry that he had rejected her attempts at conversation. Well fine, let her be angry, so long as she left him alone.

That night, they ate dinner in silence. Liam was able to chew and swallow, but his appetite hadn't improved much, and he was still losing weight. Selena watched as he pushed his food around on his plate, barely touching the beans and cornbread, and she grew increasingly worried.

"I know you're sick of beans," she said softly. "Maybe tomorrow we'll see a rabbit, and I could make us a nice stew for dinner."

"Mmmm." Liam gave no other reaction.

Selena put her own plate of food down, her dinner only half eaten. She sidled closer to him and bent her head down trying to meet his eye. "Liam, please tell me what's wrong. You're getting better, sweetheart. If only you would talk with me. I don't know what you're thinking."

Liam maintained a stony silence. He was thinking that he didn't like being talked to like a child. He didn't like to have someone wait on him hand and foot. He didn't like feeling so goddamned helpless and useless, but he didn't say any of that. Instead, he gave her a cold stare and started to get to his feet.

"I'm going to bed."

Selena rose and reached to help steady him. "I'll help you, sweetheart."

Liam yanked his arm away from her grasp, nearly toppling over in the process. When he faced her, his face was contorted into an ugly sneer. "Dammit, don't touch me," he snarled. "I can stand up by myself, and get in bed by myself. Just leave me the hell alone, woman!"

Liam turned away, never seeing the tears spill over Selena's cheeks as he made his way into the tent. She sat frozen, not daring to move as she heard him getting into bed. For a long time, she sat staring into the flickering fire. When she finally rose, she moved about mechanically, washing the dishes and getting ready for bed, but her mind was busily churning. She went to the wagon and got two extra blankets and made a pallet underneath the wagon. It was the first time in months that she had slept without Liam by her side.

For a long time, Selena lay awake. She racked her brain for a way to get Liam to snap out of his gloomy attitude, and she finally reached a conclusion. She had tried being patient, nice and tolerant, and it hadn't worked. The fact was that Liam was acting like a naughty child, so she would treat him the same way his mother had treated him. Selena might not be able to make Liam cut his own switch, but if he didn't straighten up, she was going to give him a tongue lashing he might never forget!

She plotted and planned, thinking of how things were going to change the following day. She would have to take drastic action, and she didn't know if it would work or not, but she was willing to try just about anything. Having come up with a plan, she fell into an untroubled sleep.

Selena set her strategy in motion the next morning. Instead of checking on Liam first thing and inquiring whether she could get anything for him, she started making coffee. She fed the animals, milked the cow and collected the eggs, same as always. She made no effort to be especially quiet. All their neighbors were already up and bustling around, so there was no one to disturb but Liam. She clanged the pots as she cooked breakfast, and in a short time, she was sitting down to eat.

She was halfway through her meal when Liam shuffled out of the tent. He gave her a black scowl and sat down nearby. Selena ignored him completely, slurping her coffee to keep from burning her tongue. She knew he had to have his coffee in the morning, but she made no move to offer him any.

"Well? Can I have some coffee?" he asked testily.

"Mmmm," she said, still chewing her eggs.

After a few moments, his frown deepened. "Well?" he growled.

Selena motioned to the coffee pot with her plate and kept eating. When she was finished, she rose and set her plate aside to be washed. Without a glance at Liam, she went to start taking the tent down.

Liam glared at her and frowned. He struggled to his feet to get a cup and some coffee. He had already sat back down when he remembered that he hadn't added any sugar. Damn! It seemed like too much of an effort to get up again, so he took a few tentative sips of the black coffee and grimaced. He couldn't drink this stuff without sugar. A quick glance at Selena was enough to convince him that she was busy with other things and wouldn't help him. He got to his feet once more, realizing with some surprise that his legs didn't feel quite as shaky and weak as they had on previous days, and he retrieved the sugar. He tossed a pinch in his coffee and swirled it in his cup before drinking it.

Selena finished rolling up the tent and went to stow it in the wagon. She crawled under the wagon and folded up her own blankets. When those were neatly stowed, she started to wash up her breakfast dishes.

"Didn't you make me any breakfast?" Liam asked.

She didn't pause in her labor, nor did she look at him as she answered. "There's more in the pot there. Help yourself, not that you'll eat it anyway. Seems like a waste of good food." She went to put away some of the dishes in the wagon.

Liam glowered at her back, but he got up and helped himself to scrambled eggs, fried venison, cream gravy and biscuits. He ate as he sulked, and he was so busy glaring at Selena that he wasn't even paying much attention to the fact that he cleaned his plate for the first time in weeks.

Selena continued to ignore him. She wasn't hateful or cold, she just went about her business, as if nothing was wrong. Liam's frown deepened as he watched her hitching the team of oxen. Her hands moved with calm assurance, and she didn't have to fumble with any of the leads. In a jiffy, she had the team ready.

Without looking at Liam, Selena came to wash the last few dishes. "You'd better get your blankets and spread out your pallet in the wagon. We'll be ready to go soon."

Liam swiveled around and noticed that she had taken down the tent but left his blankets lying on the ground. Little minx! What had come over her this morning? With some effort, he shuffled over and retrieved his blankets and carried them to the wagon. It had been weeks since he had climbed up in the wagon by himself, and he eyed the seat warily. He wasn't at all sure that he was strong enough to climb up on his own, but he would be damned if he would ask her for any help! She obviously didn't care whether he needed her assistance or not, and despite the fact that he was a useless cripple, he still had enough pride to keep him from begging for help.

Selena watched surreptitiously as she finished the dishes, thrilled that Liam had eaten all his food. She carried the last few dishes and pots to the wagon and stowed them in the back. Meanwhile, she noticed that Liam had managed to haul himself up to the bench and was reaching over the back of it to spread out the pallet. He was panting with the effort, and his face looked slightly drawn, but he was managing. Selena hid her smile and finished getting the last few items packed away.

Gerald and Peter came over, as usual, to lift Liam up into the wagon, and they stopped in their tracks. Liam's back was turned to them, so he didn't see their approach. Selena shook her head at them and motioned with a finger across her lips for them to keep quiet. Gerald raised his eyebrows, but he slowly smiled as understanding began to dawn.

"Are you all ready?" Selena asked, looking at Gerald.

"Yep. We're ready to go when you are," he replied.

"As soon as Liam finishes making his pallet, we'll be ready to go. Say, I was going to ask if Susan would like to ride with me this morning," Selena asked, walking with Gerald and Peter back toward their wagons.

Liam turned around and sat on the bench, watching the three of them walk away. His expression turned even blacker, but he hauled himself over the bench and collapsed onto the pallet. He felt tired from his exertions, and he released a deep sigh of relief.

As soon as they were out of earshot from Liam, Selena stopped the two men and leaned close to whisper. "Listen, no matter what happens today, I need the two of you to leave Liam to make his own way. Don't offer to help him."

Gerald nodded but looked a little worried. "Are you sure he's up to it? He still looks weak to me."

"I'm not at all sure he's up to it, but there's only one way to find out," Selena said firmly. "As long as we all keep doing everything for him, he'll never start doing for himself again. I don't even think he's noticed how much he's actually improved, but I intend to show him. He's not helpless."

The two men exchanged glances and then looked back at her with matching grins. Gerald was the one who answered. "Alright, whatever you say. But if he does need help, just let us know."




Trailing Home Ch. 10



"There's one more thing," Selena said. Color flooded her cheeks, but she met their gazes steadily. "I intend to do whatever it takes to shake Liam up enough that he starts standing on his own two feet again." Selena looked at Peter and bit her lip. "But in order to do that, I might need your help."

Peter's brow furrowed in confusion, but he nodded. "Alright, but what can I do?"

Selena colored even more and fumbled for words. "Let's just say that Liam has always been rather . . . well, he never likes it when other men . . . that is to say. . ."

Gerald chuckled as he looked at Peter. "What she's trying to say is that Liam is possessive to the extreme when it comes to Selena. He gets jealous if she even looks at another man."

"Precisely," Selena said, relieved that Gerald had stated it so clearly. "It might be necessary for me to play on that to get him inspired. If so, could I count on you to play along?"

Peter and Gerald exchanged wary glances, and then Peter cleared his throat nervously. "What exactly did you have in mind?"

Selena gave them both an exasperated frown. "Nothing improper, if that's what you're thinking! In fact, you don't really have to do anything except play along, if the time comes. I just want you to know that if I happen to flirt with you, it's only in an effort to drag Liam out of his shell. I don't mean anything by it."

There was a long pause when the two men just stared at Selena, unable to believe what she had just said. Then, Gerald began to laugh, starting with a small series of snickers that erupted into full belly laughs. Selena and Peter both stood watching him, Selena with a bit of impatience and Peter with more than a little uncertainty.

When his mirth finally subsided, Gerald put an arm around Selena's shoulders and grinned down at her. "My dear, I never really knew that you women could be so devious."

Selena blushed even hotter than before and looked down at her shoes. "Well, I'm not usually devious, but this is an emergency. I don't know what else to do."

Gerald waited until she looked back up and then gave her a wink. "I know, I know. You have Liam's very best interests at heart. Don't you worry about a thing. I'm sure Peter will be willing to help out, right Peter?"

Seeing that Gerald didn't disapprove, Peter shrugged. "Sure, why not. Just don't do anything that's going to make Susan mad at me, alright?"

"That's a deal," Selena said. "Where is Susan, anyway? I want her to ride with me today. I need some company."

Selena found Susan, and the two of them returned to Selena's and Liam's wagon and climbed up onto the bench. Susan turned to Liam with a sunny smile. "Good morning, Liam."

"Mmmm," he grunted in response, not even bothering to open his eyes.

"Never mind him," Selena laughed, patting Susan's hand. "He's as grumpy as a hungry bear these days, but don't take it personally."

Selena continued to chat with Susan, and they seemed to have forgotten his presence. Liam glowered at Selena's back. He didn't like being ignored, and he didn't like being talked about as if he weren't there. His mood got progressively worse as the morning aged, and the two women droned on and on.

Susan was speaking with animated enthusiasm. ". . . so Papa and Mama said that Peter could have their permission to court me. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Oh Susan, I'm so happy for both of you. Peter is a fine young man and would be very lucky if he eventually gets to have you as his wife," Selena said with a smile.

"And isn't he just the most handsome man you've ever seen?" Susan asked with a dreamy sigh.

Selena thought Liam was much more handsome, but of course, she didn't say that. Instead, she nodded her head. "Peter is quite a handsome man. If I weren't a married woman, I might give you a run for your money." She looked at Susan and winked, and the two of them shared a giggle.

Liam's face took on a ruddy hue as he fumed. Selena pretended not to notice, as she kept up a steady stream of conversation with Susan. They eventually stopped for lunch, and Susan went to join her family, leaving Selena and Liam alone once more.

Selena didn't even acknowledge his presence as she took out some cold beans and bread for their lunch. She helped herself to a plate and sat down, leaning against a nearby tree. Liam managed to climb down on his own. He gripped the edge of the wagon to catch his breath and glared at Selena for a brief moment, but she was eating her lunch and didn't look up. When his legs steadied beneath him, he made his way behind some bushes to relieve himself, and by the time he returned, Selena was finished eating. 

"Aren't you even going to offer me any lunch?" he growled, leaning a shoulder against the same tree she was sitting under.

Selena tilted her head back and shaded her eyes as she looked up at him. "You know where everything is. Help yourself." She closed her eyes and leaned back against the tree, obviously dismissing him from her thoughts as she relaxed for a few minutes.

Liam was surprised that he actually felt hunger pangs, but it was obvious that Selena didn't care about his needs. He helped himself to a plate of food as he brooded about her callousness. Apparently, she had lost all feeling for him. Well, it was no matter. He knew it was just the first sign that her interest was waning, and he might as well get used to it. He sat and ate, as he brooded about how unjust this whole situation was. It wasn't his fault that he had gotten sick, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would just have to live with it.

Selena watched him from beneath her lowered eyelids. She suppressed a grin, pretending that she was napping. Her plan was actually working better than she had anticipated. Liam had been so preoccupied with the changes in the way she treated him, that he was now polishing off the second hearty meal of the day. With all her coaxing and hovering, she hadn't been able to get him to eat properly for weeks, and now he was. It was a small victory, but she knew the worst was still to come.

She still had to get him to climb out of his slump, and getting Liam to do anything against his will was nearly impossible. He was more stubborn than that mule of Marcia's, and Selena knew he didn't like to be manipulated, so she would have to proceed with caution. She was going to have to make it seem as if everything was his own idea, and that wouldn't be easy. However, his performance today gave her cause to take heart. Physically, Liam was strong enough to resume some of his normal activities. She just had to make him want to do so.

Seeing that the others were finished with their meals, Selena stood up. She didn't spare a glance for Liam as she walked toward where Peter sat nearby. "I'll be right back," she said over her shoulder, leaving Liam to scowl at her swaying hips.

Selena sat down next to Peter, a little closer than propriety dictated. She laughed and talked with him, giving him coy smiles and sidelong glances from beneath her lashes. Every so often as they talked, Selena laid a hand on Peter's arm, and her fingers caressed him fondly as she continued to chat. Peter was so young and inexperienced with women, that even though he knew her game, he couldn't suppress a blush from her forwardness. He glanced toward where Susan sat, a short distance away.

"Don't worry," Selena whispered in his ear. "I told Susan what was going on, and she won't be mad, I promise."

Peter relaxed and flashed Selena a broad grin. The two of them sat laughing and talking until it was time to move out once again. When Selena returned to her wagon, Liam had already climbed onto his pallet, without anyone's assistance. Selena hid her grin and climbed onto the seat.

Susan had stayed with Gerald for the afternoon, so once again, Selena was alone on the seat as they drove along. However, her mood was considerably lighter than before. She made no attempt to draw Liam into conversation. Instead, she rode along, humming to herself and enjoying the day. She was aware of Liam's steady regard. She could sense his unwavering stare focused between her shoulder blades, but she ignored him, as she busily plotted her next move.

They stopped to make camp in a lovely meadow, where the grass was lush and green. Selena purposefully pulled their wagon a little farther away from the others than usual to give them more privacy. She knew that Liam's anger was building, and if they were going to have an argument, she didn't want everyone else to overhear every word.

Selena left Liam to make his own way down from the wagon, and she went about unhitching the team. Liam found a comfortable spot under a tree and sat down, leaning back against it as he watched her. His displeasure was evident in every line of his face, but she blithely went about the business of setting up camp. It would be up to him to express his feelings. She wasn't going to probe and question anymore.

She carefully chose a spot and started erecting the tent, but found that the ground was fairly hard and rocky. Selena made quite a show of trying to get the stakes driven into the ground, but finally, she sat back on her heels and sighed.

"I'll just have to get Peter to help me," she said to herself, but loud enough for Liam to overhear. "He's so strong, I'm sure he'll have no trouble getting these stakes into the ground."

Selena stood up and smoothed her skirt, taking her time to pat her hair neatly into place before she turned to walk toward where Peter and his family were camped nearby. It was no accident that she had to pass by where Liam sat to get there. Liam reached up and grabbed her wrist in an iron grip, surprising a gasp from her as he stood up.

"I'll do it," he growled. Barely leashed fury shone in his eyes as he stalked toward the tent.

Selena smothered a grin, instead striving to look mildly disappointed. "Oh, well if you can, that would be good. But it's really no trouble for me to ask Peter. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

Liam paused to glare at her over his shoulder. "I'm sure he wouldn't, but I said I'll do it." He turned away again, intent on his task.

Selena watched him and wondered whether it was just a trick of her imagination. He seemed to be walking with more confidence, his shoulders once more square and proud, as they had always been in the past. His body was leaner than before, but otherwise, he was starting to look much like his former self, and pangs of desire started in the pit of Selena's belly as she took in the sight of him.

She turned away and busied herself making the fire and starting supper, but she continued to watch Liam from beneath her lashes. Sure enough, he had no trouble getting the stakes driven into the hard ground, and grunting in satisfaction, he finished setting up the tent on his own. When he was done, he returned to his spot by the tree and sat down again, watching her as she worked.

When Selena had their pot of beans warming over the fire, and a pan of cornbread cooking, she stood up and sighed. She placed both hands on the back of her waist and stretched to ease her tired muscles. She was aware of the picture she presented to Liam, with her breasts stretching the fabric taut across her bodice as she arched her spine, but she pretended to give him no notice. Instead, she turned and looked toward where Peter was camped and gave another long sigh.

"I wonder if Hank would bring out his fiddle tonight," she said softly, almost to herself. "I wouldn't mind some dancing."

Liam gave an angry snort but refused to rise to the bait. His wife knew good and well that he wasn't up to dancing, so that could only mean she wanted to dance with the other men. Selena pretended not to notice his displeasure, instead humming a lively tune that she had heard Hank play before. She puttered around, casting frequent glances toward where Peter was working in the distance. Turning back to Liam, she bit her lip in apparent indecision.

"Oh, but you probably don't feel up to any socializing do you?" Without waiting for his response, she looked back toward Peter and sighed. "Oh well."

Liam lost his grip on the last thread that had been holding his temper in check. "Go ahead, Selena. Go throw yourself at Peter. I'm sure he would be more than happy to catch you."

Selena raised a haughty brow as she faced him, crossing her arms over her chest. "I am not throwing myself at Peter. I just want someone to talk to, that's all."

Liam snorted again, "Oh is that what you call it, talking?"

"Yes, exactly," Selena retorted, lifting her chin to a lofty angle. "You certainly haven't made any effort to keep me company lately."

Liam looked away, grinding his teeth in frustrated anger. How could he tell her that even if he wanted to keep her company, he wasn't physically capable? It was too humiliating.

"You know better than anyone that I have been sick," he muttered bitterly. "I haven't exactly felt like keeping you company."

"Well that's fine, Liam. If you want to wallow around in self-pity, feeling sorry for yourself morning, noon and night, then go right ahead. I for one would rather not join you."

"I haven't been feeling sorry for myself," he growled.

Selena met his heated glare, and she was secretly glad to see so much emotion roiling around in his hazel eyes. "You could have fooled me. You refuse to eat, you don't want to work at getting better, and lately, you've refused to even talk to me. It's like you have just given up on living. You've completely shut me out and made it clear that you don't want me as your wife anymore. How did you expect me to react?"

"Dammit, you know that's not true!" he roared. "It's just that..." Liam stopped himself and looked away. His throat worked convulsively as he struggled with his emotions, and he finally took a deep, steadying breath before looking at her once more. His eyes were tormented, and she had to struggle to hear his next words, they were spoken so softly. "It's not that I don't want you as my wife. I'm just not sure I can be a husband to you anymore. You don't need some cripple like me."

Selena's breath caught in her throat, as she saw the raw pain in his eyes. She went to kneel beside him and gripped one of his large hands in both of hers. "What do you mean, Liam? Of course I need you, and you're not a cripple. If you would just realize it, you've become much stronger. You're almost fully recovered from your illness."

Liam grimaced, shaking his head. "I've recovered in some ways, but not in others." He stared at her for a long time and could tell she didn't understand his meaning. He looked away, feeling humiliated and small as he muttered, "I don't know if I will ever be able to make love to you again. Maybe we should get our marriage dissolved. You're better off being with someone else."

Selena gasped as understanding flooded her brain. Her shock was quickly replaced by fury, and before she even thought about what she was doing, she drew her arm back and slapped Liam hard across the face.

"How dare you!" she cried, suppressed rage making her voice quiver. "You think so little of me that you assume I would just dump you because you can't make love to me anymore? Do you honestly think I'm like that? The vows we spoke said 'for better or worse, in sickness and in health,' remember?"

"Yes but..."

"No buts, Liam McKenzie! After all we've been through together. To think that you believe that I'm so shallow that I would want out of our marriage just amazes me." Selena rose and paced back and forth in front of him as she raged on. "Remember when I told you about my stepfather's abuse? I was afraid to tell you, afraid you would think I was damaged goods, like so many other men would have. But you were so tender and loving, never once letting that stand between us, never believing that I had done anything to deserve being attacked. Do you have any idea how unusual that was? Most men assume it's always the woman's fault if a man attacks her. She must have been wearing clothes that were too revealing or her actions must have indicated that she secretly wanted the man's attentions. Even I was always ashamed, secretly wondering if I could have done something to prevent the attack. But you put an end to all that. You let me know that I wasn't at fault. And then when I lost the baby." Her voice cracked, but she went on. "You never once blamed me for it, even though I felt so guilty. You stood by me, letting me know by your every action that you forgave me and still wanted me."

"Of course I still wanted you, dammit! I love you," Liam yelled, feeling his own anger rise again. "There was nothing to forgive."

"Oh I see," Selena said, placing her hands on her hips as she glared down at him. "You love me. So of course you would be able to stand by me, no matter what." She stamped her foot in frustrated anger. "Why is it so hard for you to understand that I love you the same way?"

Liam emitted a low growl, getting to his feet to glare down at her. "Because this is different! I don't know if I'll ever be able to be a husband to you again."

Seeing the hurt beneath his anger, much of Selena's fury dissipated, and she released her breath on a sigh. "Liam, I don't care about that. I love you and want nothing more than to be your wife."

"That's why you've been throwing yourself at Peter," Liam ground out.

Selena's cheeks flushed a guilty red, but the corners of her mouth twitched with suppressed humor. "Well, actually no. I've been throwing myself at Peter just to get your attention." She noticed Liam's narrowed eyes, but she went on. "I don't have the slightest interest in Peter or any other man, for that matter. Peter's so smitten with Susan, he wouldn't normally have given me a second glance. The truth of the matter is that I asked him to play along so that I could make you jealous. I knew if I made you angry enough, your temper might just boil over and then we could see what was left in the bottom of the pot. It was the only way I could think of to get you to open up to me."

There was a long pause, during which Selena held her breath. She watched the muscles working in the side of Liam's cheek, as he struggled with his turbulent emotions. Anger, relief, confusion and self-doubt all flickered across his handsome features as he plumbed the depths of her eyes.

"So, you've been up to your sneaky tricks again," Liam said softly.

Selena put her arms around his waist and pushed him gently backward until they were leaning against the tree. When she looked up at him, her eyes were soft and full of love.

"I was willing to do whatever it takes to reach you, Liam. By hook or by crook, I was determined to get through that thick skull of yours." She reached up to cup his face in her palms. "Don't you understand that I love you, no matter what? I can't imagine my life without you in it. Before I met you, I was existing, nothing more. I was a shell, not a whole person. You came into my life and made me whole. I can't go back to the way I was before. I need you."

Liam pulled her against him, but although her words touched his heart, his body remained stubbornly unresponsive. "But Selena, you deserve children and..."

She cut off whatever he had been about to say by stretching up to kiss him. Her lips were warm and moist on his, calling to his soul as she conveyed all her own pent up longings. When she finally drew back from the kiss, her eyes were shining.

"Liam, you have to have faith. Give yourself time. You've only just begun to get your strength back. You're so much better than you were a few weeks ago. Your body just needs more time. I believe that everything else will work out as well, but just know this. Even if it doesn't, it will be enough for me to know that you love me and you haven't shut me out. I need you as surely as I need air to breathe and food to eat. I don't want anyone else but you, and I never will. I love you."




Trailing Home Ch. 10



For the first time in weeks, Liam felt as if a weight had been lifted off of him, and somewhere in the back of his mind, there was a small glimmer of hope. He pulled her more firmly against him and kissed her again, enjoying the feeling of having her in his arms. Even though there was no reaction in his loins, the rest of his body, and more importantly his soul could take pleasure in holding her.

"Alright," he said when he finally raised his head. "We'll give it time. But no more flirting with other men, or I might have to tan your backside again."

Selena's grin was positively wicked. "Is that a promise?"

Their dinner that evening was quiet but companionable. Each of them was focused on their own thoughts, and only occasional conversation was exchanged. However, as they lay side by side on their pallet later that night, they both felt more at peace than they had in several weeks.

The next morning, Selena was surprised when she woke up to find that Liam had already gotten dressed and left the tent. By the time she emerged, he had almost finished tending to the animals. She swallowed back tears of joy as she set the coffee on to boil.

Over the next several days, things gradually improved. Bit by bit, she began to see glimpses of the old Liam. He started bathing and shaving again, and as he resumed his chores and started eating properly again, his body began to fill out once more and grow stronger. He gave up his pallet in the wagon and rode with her on the bench once again. He took over driving part of the time, although he still wasn't up to driving the full day yet. Each day, he drove for longer periods, as his stamina gradually increased, and they began to converse like before, swapping stories and such to pass the time.

At night, they slept side by side. Selena was careful not to pressure Liam, but she always gave him a goodnight kiss. He held her in his arms but his body stubbornly refused to rouse, so he didn't attempt to do anything else. He was still plagued by doubts, but they didn't hold the same power over him when he held her in the darkness.

It had been a week since their argument when Selena was driving the team down a particularly nasty incline. The trail was steep and the wagons tilted precariously as they made the descent. Liam noticed that Selena was straining to hold the reins tight enough, and when she gave a small squeak of panic, he quickly grabbed them from her grasp, leaning back heavily against her as he hauled back on the leather straps. They both held their breath until the wagon had leveled out once again.

Of a sudden, Liam noticed his position, lying halfway across Selena's lap. Her breasts were flattened against his back and arm, and her breath tickled his cheek. He turned to meet her gaze, and when he saw a hot blush crawl up her cheeks, he felt the tiniest stirring in his loins. It was faint, but definitely there, and his heart pounded in his chest.

"Sorry," he mumbled as he straightened. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, of course not. I was glad you helped. I felt like I was losing control there for a minute," she replied breathlessly.

She didn't know if he realized it, but she had nearly lost control over more than just the team. Her senses were leaping out of control from his nearness, and she could feel a distinct wetness between her thighs. It had, after all, been weeks since they had been intimate, and her body's needs were becoming increasingly strong.

Liam kept hold of the reins. "You'd better let me drive. The ground is pretty rough right here."

He drove for the rest of the day, but while his hands were busy with guiding the oxen, his mind was busy processing this new development. Hope flared even brighter than before, but he made no mention of it to Selena. He was afraid to get ahead of himself and disappoint them both.

That evening, they had finished dinner and were sitting back against a log relaxing. Liam saw a shooting star and reached to point. He turned to find Selena's face very close to his, her lips slightly parted and her gaze riveted on his mouth. Once again, he felt a familiar stirring, this time stronger than before. They both froze and their gazes locked. It seemed like an eternity before Liam cleared his throat and rose to his feet.

"I'd better go take a bath, it's getting late." He walked away without another word, leaving Selena staring after him.

She hadn't imagined his reaction, and as she looked at him, she noticed the tightness across the front of his breeches. Maybe...just maybe, she thought hopefully. She didn't want to rush him, but she still remembered the first time they had made love. Even though he had desired her, Liam had been reluctant to press her. She had been the one to take the initiative, and maybe it was time that she did so again. Selena washed the dishes and made out their pallet for the night. When Liam returned, she was still bustling around, getting things ready for the morning.

"Go on to bed. I'll be there in a while," she murmured, without looking at him.

Selena waited until Liam had undressed and settled in bed before she entered the tent. The only light inside was a thin stream of flickering orange from their campfire. Seemingly without intent, Selena stood in that narrow shaft of light to undress. She took her time undoing the buttons on her bodice. As she slid her chemise down over her breasts, she paused briefly with the material barely caught over her nipples. When she finally revealed the taut peaks, she heard a strangled groan from Liam, and she cast a surreptitious glance at him from beneath her lashes. She could see that she had his full attention, and she inwardly smiled. She leaned over to roll her stockings off, providing a clear silhouette of her dangling breasts and hardened nipples. Liam cleared his throat and squirmed a little on the pallet. Finally, she freed her long hair before she slid between the blankets.

Selena waited for Liam to extend his arm, and she cuddled against his side, her head cradled on his shoulder. She could feel his heart thumping beneath her palm, and she wiggled to get even closer to him, bringing one knee up over his groin. She felt his manhood against her inner thigh, only partially engorged but definitely firmer than in recent days.

Rising up onto one elbow, she gave him a sultry smile. "What's that?" she questioned softly, sliding her hand slowly over his stomach, feeling the muscles of his abdomen twitch beneath her questing fingers. She grasped him in her palm, biting her bottom lip when she felt his flesh growing even firmer in her hand.

Liam sucked in a breath and his body tensed. "Selena, I don't know if I can...I mean I'm not sure if..." he broke off on a groan as she fondled him boldly.

Beneath her stroking fingers, he gradually grew firmer and hotter. Selena bent to kiss him, letting her breasts tease his chest. Her lips were moist and greedy, plucking at his senses as she explored his mouth. She trailed hot kisses down his neck, tracing his earlobe with her tongue before moving to his chest, where she suckled his flat nipples. She smiled against his chest when she heard his sharp intake of air.

Obviously, he enjoyed her attention to his nipples, so she kept it up, alternately licking and suckling the tiny buds. All the while, her hand continued to stroke his manhood, teasing and caressing, firmly enfolding him as he lengthened beneath her touch.

Liam felt as if his breath was locked in his chest as her kisses drifted even lower. She nipped at his well-muscled belly and explored his navel with her hot little tongue as she slid her body down between his legs. Liam watched in fascination as his throbbing penis slid between her pale breasts. Hearing his breath hitch, Selena squeezed her breasts together to cradle his penis more securely between them as she moved her breasts up and down along his rigid length. She smiled wickedly up at him as she used her breasts to massage him until he was as hard as oak, and the tiny slit was beginning to ooze.

Working entirely on instinct, Selena slid further down until her face was at his groin. She remembered the feelings he had evoked in her when he had kissed her so intimately, and she hoped he might have a similar reaction. Selena rubbed her cheek against his erection, which by now was twitching in her palm. She inhaled deeply, enjoying the musky smell of him as she trailed her fingers down his length. The skin was velvety smooth, surprisingly so since it encased such strength. Tentatively, she licked him, growing bolder with each stroke as she explored the ridges and folds with her tongue, enjoying the salty taste of him.

When she took him into the sweet, hot cavity of her mouth, Liam thought he might die. His hands clenched into the blanket as she loved him, using her lips and tongue to send wave after wave of mind numbing pleasure through his belly and chest. Her silky hair fell over his stomach and thighs, teasing him like feathers on his skin, but it did little to distract him from her mouth. Selena cradled his balls in one hand while using the other to pull back the delicate skin on his erection to bare the sensitive tip. Then she worshipped it.

His mind reeled as she used her delicious lips and tongue to circle and dip into every crevice as Liam fought to keep from crying out. Time and again she took him deep inside her mouth only to withdraw and tease, lap and suckle. It was the sweetest torture imaginable, and he couldn't resist the urge to grip the sides of her head and press even deeper into her velvety heat. She was enacting his most secret fantasies, the ones he had never dared to voice, the ones he had never imagined his wife might fulfill. He trembled beneath her, squeezing his eyes tightly shut to focus on the sensations.

When his tension was coiled so tight in his belly that he could barely keep from spilling himself into her mouth, he fisted his hands in her hair and tried to lift her head away from him. "No more," he managed to whisper hoarsely through gritted teeth.

Selena ignored him and kept sucking until he shot his seed down her throat. She swallowed convulsively as wave after wave of his hot juice flowed into her mouth. When she had gotten the last few drops, she slid upward, letting every inch of her heated skin brush over his softened erection until she was laying full length on top of him. She framed his face with her hands and gave him a scorching kiss.

Liam could taste his own musky flavor on her lips and tongue, and he groaned as he kissed her. She was temptation incarnate, calling forth his most primitive desires. He grasped her buttocks in his palms. He kneaded the smooth globes before sliding his hands further down to meet at the backs of her inner thighs. She opened her legs before his searching fingers and when he explored her folds, she moaned into his mouth.

Her flesh was hot and swollen, her curls dripping with her musky dew. If he hadn't already known how much she wanted him, her welcoming moisture would have told him. He fondled her boldly, feeling his cock beginning to harden again as he probed her pussy with his fingers. When he was once more throbbing, and she was panting and writhing on top of him, he grasped her hips and lifted her until she was sitting astride him.

Selena sat up and watched him from beneath heavy lids as she guided him to her entrance and sank down, impaling herself on his length with excruciating slowness. When he was finally seated deeply inside her, they both groaned and her eyes dropped fully closed. It had been much too long. Although the night air was frigid, neither of them felt the cold, as heat welled between them and around them.

Liam's eyes had become accustomed to the darkness, and he watched her as she rode him with sensuous, undulating strokes. She used her body to show her adoration, bracing her hands on his chest and rising on her knees only to sink down again, tilting her hips at the very last to take him that tiny bit deeper. She flowered for him so sweetly that he thought he might lose his mind, her softness opening to gladly receive his hard thrusts. Her breasts were heavy golden orbs in the firelight, wantonly bouncing with her movements, her nipples standing proudly erect. Liam reached up to cup their fullness, to squeeze and twist their tempting pink tips, and she arched her back, pressing them into his palms, wordlessly offering them for his enjoyment.

Her generosity slew him. Every slow, sinuous movement was designed to maximize his pleasure, increase his awareness, fan the flames of his passion. She seemed to know his every wish, his every desire, and without his asking, she granted them, eagerly, joyfully. Her movements were not those of a practiced courtesan but of a woman in love, intent on satisfying her lover's every wish.

She bent forward with one hand on either side of his head, dangling her breasts above him and he feasted, suckling so hard on her nipples that she cried out. She urged him on, grinding her loins against his and clutching his face closer against her breast as she stroked his hair. When he tugged her nipple sharply with his teeth, she opened her knees even wider, whispering encouragement in his ear and kissing his brow. He fed ravenously on her bounty until her breasts were aching, the nipples throbbing, but each time he would have stopped, she incited him to do more, take more, satisfy himself more, and in so doing, he knew he was satisfying her. Her ever increasing wetness was testimony to the effect he was having on her, and he wallowed in her slick heat.

Possessed by a sudden urgency, Liam rolled to pin Selena beneath him and plunged into her. Every male instinct he possessed cried out in triumph as he plundered her softness, exalting in her eager response as he felt her legs encircle his waist and her hips tilt to take him even deeper. With every stroke, she clasped lovingly around him, gasping as an overwhelming tide of intense pleasure pulsed through her body. At last, she cried out, raking his back with her nails, and his own hoarse cry blended with hers as he followed her over the edge, drifting with her through the mindless, weightless peace that only lovers know.

They lay still joined, his weight heavy but pleasurable on Selena for several minutes before Liam had the strength or inclination to lift onto his elbows. His eyes melded with hers, clinging, searching, reaffirming.

"Thank you," he said, bending to give her a tender kiss.

Selena smiled, tracing his lips with her finger, her eyes glowing with adoration. "That was most definitely my pleasure, Mr. McKenzie. I love you."

His heart swelled with joy, knowing that she had always had faith in him, in both of them as husband and wife. "I know," he whispered, reaching to kiss her once more. "I love you too."

Selena giggled and bit her bottom lip. She toyed with the hair at his temples, raising a teasing brow. "Aren't you glad now that I didn't decide to dump you and get a new husband?"

Scowling fiercely and giving a mock growl, Liam grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head, holding them down easily with one of his hands. In that position, her breasts pressed impudently toward him, and his gaze was drawn to their creamy perfection. Liam's voice was a husky whisper as he scanned her tempting nakedness.

"Suffice to say, Selena, that should you ever entertain the thought, I would be forced to take drastic measures."

"Really?" Selena asked, giggling again as she squirmed sensuously beneath him, causing her full breasts to bounce. "Like what?"

"Like this," he replied, running his fingers ever so slowly down her arm, his eyes alight with a wicked light.

Selena's eyes popped wide open, guessing his intent. She spoke sternly. "No, Liam. Don't you dare!" She struggled for all she was worth, but she couldn't budge him, and his hand continued its leisurely descent of her arm. "Liam McKenzie, don't you dare tickle me!"

His hand reached her armpit and she squealed. Luckily he was prepared for her reaction, and he caught the sound in his mouth as he kissed her. He tortured her for a few minutes, until she was breathless and weak with laughter, his own chuckles blending with hers in the kiss. He enjoyed the feel of her soft body beneath him, squirming and jiggling in all the right places, pure feminine enticement. By the time he relented, her bosom was heaving against his chest, and he rose up on his elbows once more to enjoy the sight. He still held her prisoner, her wrists pinned above her head, the weight of his body nestled between her outstretched thighs.

He traced the swells and valleys of her breasts, circling the nipples with lazy swirls as he watched how they tightened into firm buds in response to his touch. She shivered. He was still inside her, and he was delighted to feel his cock stiffening once more as he toyed with the luscious mounds. He fondled them boldly, feeling her woman's flesh tighten around him as he teased the impudent tips with the pad of his thumb and bent to nibble their softness. Her eyes were limpid pools of amethyst as she panted beneath him, her breasts quivering against his palm. 

"Liam!" she said breathlessly, giving him a deliciously flirtatious grin. "Again?"

"Um hum," he murmured, taking one nipple deep into his mouth, suckling hard and making her gasp as she arched beneath him. When he spoke, the words were muffled against her breast. "I'm making up for lost time."



Trailing Home Ch. 11



A light snow began to fall the following afternoon, as they wended their way through the mountains.  Liam eyed the grey sky nervously.  The snow wasn’t enough to impede them from traveling, but it was enough to raise worry in their minds.  They plodded through it for the rest of the day, and by the time they made camp, there was six inches accumulated on the ground.

Liam and the other men did their best to provide shelter for the animals.  They cut large branches and erected a lean to of sorts where the oxen, mule and cows could get out of the snow and wind.  The weather showed no sign of improving, but at least the snow wasn’t falling too heavily.

That night, Liam and Selena lay snuggled under their blankets, their limbs entwined in the afterglow of their lovemaking.  As Selena lay with her head on Liam’s shoulder, cuddled against his warmth, she knew his thoughts were troubled.

“Are you worried?” she asked softly, leaning her head back to see his face.

Liam gave her a tight smile and pulled her closer against him.  “A little.  Snow this early could be trouble.  Its only September 17th.”

“How much further do we have to go?” Selena asked, stroking his chest soothingly.

He shrugged.  “I’m not sure exactly, but I know we have a few more passes to get through.  Probably another week or ten days and we’ll be past the worst of it.”  He gave her a rueful smile, and there was a tinge of guilt in the hazel depths of his eyes.  “If I hadn’t gotten sick, we would have already been past the worst of it.”

Selena rose up on her elbow and stared down at him with amazement.  “Well, there wasn’t anything you could have done to avoid that, Liam.  It was an accident, plain and simple.”

“Hmmm,” he murmured.  “I know you’re right, but it doesn’t make me feel any better about it.  I’m just anxious to get home.”

“Home,” she whispered dreamily, resting her chin on his chest.  “Our home.  Sometimes I still have a hard time believing it.”

“Believing what?” he asked, tucking her hair back behind an ear.

“Believing that you’re really mine.  Believing that I found my heart’s true love and that you love me too.  Believing how incredibly blessed I am.”  Her eyes were shining with happy tears as she smiled at him.  “Sometimes I think it’s all too good to be true, and that I’ll lose you.”

Liam hooked his arm behind her neck to pull her down for his kiss.  He savored her lips, using his own to reassure her.  “Selena, short of God himself, no one could take me away from you.  I know as well as you that we’ve been blessed.”

He kissed her again, and the tenor quickly changed until they were both panting, hungry yet again for the feel of melding bodies.  He rolled her onto her back and rose on his elbow above her, one knee intruding between her thighs as he ogled her bosom.

“You know,” he said softly, reaching to cup her breast, “my dear mother always taught me to count my blessings.”  He watched her eyes turn soft and dark with desire as he firmly squeezed her nipple.  “I think I’ll start giving thanks with these.”

As he claimed her breast, Selena closed her eyes and luxuriated in his touch.  The world, the snow, the mountain passes, and everything else would simply have to wait.  She was in the arms of her beloved, and nothing else mattered at that moment.

The snow stopped during the night, but there was already ten inches of the white powder on the ground.  Their progress was slow that day, as they trudged along through the deep drifts, and they only covered six miles.  They all prayed that they wouldn’t get any more snow, and their luck held for the next three days, but it never got warm enough to melt the snow that had already fallen.

On the fourth day, a drizzling rain mixed with sleet started falling in the morning, and it got stronger throughout the day.  The rain turned the snow into icy slush, and the oxen had to struggle to keep their footing as they negotiated their way up and down the steep inclines.  By the time they camped that night, they were all shivering and miserable, wishing desperately to reach the end of their journey.  They pulled off the trail and camped in a dense forest, thankful for the tall trees that gave them some protection from the weather.

They woke up in the morning to find that nine of their oxen had disappeared during the night, three from each family’s team.  Liam squinted into the predawn darkness, as he felt icy fingers of dread settle into the pit of his belly.  Gerald and Matthew stood beside him, equally unsettled.

“You don’t think they just wandered off, do you?” Gerald asked, standing shoulder to shoulder with Liam.

“No.  It’s too neat, losing three from each team.  Someone took them,” Liam muttered.

“Maybe Indians stole them,” Matthew suggested.

Liam shook his head.  “It’s not unheard of for Indians to steal an ox for food, but I can’t see them taking nine.  They usually wouldn’t take more than they could use.”  Liam crouched down to examine the ground.  The rain combined with the slush had turned the surface into a sloppy mess, but he hoped there would be signs they could follow.  They needed those oxen back or they would have to abandon one of the wagons.  “There!”

They could just make out hoof prints leading into the forest, but it was evident that a branch had been used to erase much of the signs.  Whoever had taken the animals didn’t want it to be easy to follow them.  More searching revealed the partial imprint of a boot.

Liam stood up and frowned at Gerald and Matthew.  “Well, it’s definitely not Indians.  We’d better get the rifles and ask the other men to come with us.  If we follow this trail, there’s no telling what we’ll find.  We don’t know how many there may be, and we might need all the help we can get.”

The other men nodded their agreement, and they went to talk with the others.  They grabbed a quick breakfast and in a short time, the men were ready to go.  Armed with rifles and pistols, they set off to track the oxen.  Selena, Marcia, Cassie and Susan watched them go, worry etched on their faces.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Selena whispered.

Marcia nodded.  “Me too, but there’s nothing we can do but wait and hope for the best.”

“Well I, for one, am freezing,” Cassie said, rubbing her arms.  “I’m going to go sit by the fire where it’s a bit warmer.  Do you want to come with me?”  Her gaze encompassed them all.

“Sure, why not?” Marcia said, smiling.  She and Susan turned to follow, and only Selena remained standing where she was.

“I’ll join you in a little while.  I have a few more chores I need to take care of.”  Selena watched them walk away before returning to her own campsite.  She tidied everything she could but decided to leave the tent and pallet.  She didn’t know whether Liam and the others would find the oxen and return in time for them to move on today or whether they would stay an extra night here.  Selena went to see about the other animals.  She had told Liam not to bother with tending them, as he had been in a hurry to go and look for the oxen.

Glad for something to keep her occupied, Selena fed the animals and then fetched the bucket so she could milk the cow.  She smiled as she stroked the cow’s nose.  Selena remembered when Liam had chosen the animal, and she had been doubtful of his wisdom.  Sure enough, she had proven to be an excellent milk cow, and she routinely produced more milk than most cows.  In addition, she had a sweet temper and was easy to handle.  Liam’s instincts about animals never ceased to amaze her.

Selena ran her hands along the cow’s side, cooing to her softly as she settled the bucket beneath her udder.  Selena was about to settle down for the milking, when she was snatched backward against a hard male body.  She opened her mouth to scream, but a filthy hand clamped over her lips, and she felt the tip of a knife dig into the side of her neck.  She knew who held her before she even heard his hated voice.

“Easy there, missy,” Jeb hissed into her ear.  He could feel her heart pounding, and he relished the power he had over her.  “Now, nice and easy, you just come with me.”

He pulled her backward a few steps, and Selena’s eyes opened wild with panic.  She searched through the trees, trying to catch a glimpse of the other women.  Cassie’s campsite was at least fifty yards away.  The three families had a habit of camping a short distance apart for added privacy.  The other women were facing away from her, and they hadn’t noticed anything amiss.  Tears of fear welled in Selena’s eyes, but she blinked frantically to clear them.  It wouldn’t do her any good to give in to her terror.  She had to think.  If she could just struggle loose from Jeb’s hand, she could scream and draw the other women’s attention.

Jeb seemed to sense her train of thought.  He leaned close to whisper in her ear.  “I wouldn’t do that, if I were you, missy.  If you get them other women involved, I’d just have to kill ‘em.”  He pulled her face downward so she could see the pistol tucked into his waistband.  “Now, I really don’t want to have to do that.  After all, this is between me and you.  You understand?”

Selena gave a small nod of her head as she felt her hopes plummet.  She didn’t want to risk her friends getting hurt, and she didn’t doubt for a second that Jeb was evil enough to carry through with his threat.

“Good,” Jeb said softly.  “Now come on.”

He turned her and they walked deeper into the woods, away from their camp.  Jeb kept his hand clamped over her mouth and the knife pressed against her neck.  At one point, Selena tried to struggle against him, but he pressed the knife into her skin until a tiny trickle of blood dripped down her throat.

“Now, now.  Don’t make me cut you, missy.  You just do what I say, and I promise not to hurt you.”

Selena’s heated glare told him what she thought about his promise.  With each step, her fear increased, but she couldn’t think of any way of escaping.  Her only hope was to go along with him and stall for time.  She hoped that eventually, she would be able to find an opening to escape from him.  With that thought in mind, she paid careful attention to the direction they took.  She wanted to be able to find her way back to camp if she did manage to get free.  The sky was too overcast to see the sun, so she really didn’t know which direction they were going, but there was a light wind, and she noted its direction.

After what seemed like an eternity, they reached a small clearing, and Selena saw a horse tethered to a tree.  Jeb walked her to another large tree and pressed her face forward against the trunk, using the weight of his body to pin her against it.

“Now,” he said, grinning down at her, “I’m gonna take my hand off your mouth, but if you scream, I swear I’ll slit your throat.  Do you understand?”  At her nod, he removed his hand but kept the knife against her neck.  Using his free hand, he reached into his back pocket and withdrew a length of rope.  “Put your hands through here,” he ordered.

She moved her hands as if she would comply with his request, but instead, she jabbed her elbow into his ribs and tried to twist and wriggle out of his grasp.  Jeb swore and slapped her viciously across the face, splitting her bottom lip.  His fingers bit into her upper arm as he shoved her hard against the tree, knocking the wind out of her.

“Listen, you little bitch, you’ll do as I say or it’ll go even harder for you.  Do you understand?” Jeb hissed into her ear.

Selena gasped for breath but managed to nod her head.  She would have to wait for a better opportunity to get away from him.

“Now, put your hands through here,” he ordered, giving her a shake.

Selena looked down to see that he had already tied the rope into two loose loops.  She hesitated, loath to let him tie her hands.  She felt the knife dig into her neck once more and gasped.  Swallowing hard, she slipped her hands through the loops, and Jeb yanked the end, tightening the loops around her wrists until the rope bit into her skin.  Selena winced and shot him a venomous glare.

Jeb’s taunting grin told her that he knew just how tight he had made the loops.  He was enjoying her discomfort, and she had no intention of asking for him to loosen the bands.  She refused to give him the satisfaction.  Jeb wound the end of the rope around her waist and tied it in another knot over her wrists, securing her arms tightly against her belly.

“There,” he said with satisfaction.  “That should hold you nicely.”

He turned her to face him and gave her a taunting smile.  He leaned hard against her, pressing her back into the tree until its rough surface bit into her shoulders.  His foul breath nearly made her retch, making her wish she hadn’t gotten her breath back so quickly.  His eyes raked down her body, clothed in the thick wool coat.

“I’m gonna enjoy you, Selena.  I’ve been waitin’ a long time to have you beneath me again.”

Selena shivered with dread, but she glared up at him.  She refused to let him see just how terrified she felt.  “My husband will kill you for this.  You know that don’t you?”

Jeb laughed softly, obviously not frightened by her threat.  “It will take him most of the day to find those oxen I stole.  By the time he gets back to camp, it’ll be dark, and you and I will be long gone.”  Jeb forced her legs apart with one knee and reached a hand between to cup her crudely.  He lifted her skirt and reached into her pantalets to jab and prod her clenched pussy.  “You and me are gonna have a real good time this evenin’.  I’m gonna ride you ‘til I get my fill, then maybe, if you’re real good and behave yourself, I might let you go back to that husband of yours.”

Selena fought to quell her panic as she bucked and squirmed, trying to rid herself of his loathsome touch.  “You’ll have to kill me first!  And my husband will catch up with you sooner or later.  Then you’ll wish you were dead.”

Something in her tone made Jeb’s hackles rise, but he shook off his unease and grabbed her by the elbow.  “Come on,” he said, yanking her along as he stalked to the horse.

Selena struggled against him as he tried to lift her to the horse’s back.  Each time he came close to getting her mounted, she wriggled off.  After several attempts, Jeb lost his patience and punched her on the jaw, knocking her nearly senseless.

“Be still you little bitch,” he snarled.  He waved the knife in front of her face.  “You wouldn’t want me to carve up that pretty little face of yours now would you?”

Having no doubt that he meant every word, Selena ceased her struggles and held still as he lifted her astride the horse.  Jeb looped another piece of rope around one of her ankles and wound it beneath the horse before tying it to her other ankle.  She blinked back tears of pain and frustration, realizing that even if she could scramble off the horse’s back, she would be trampled or dragged helplessly beneath it.  She waited, powerless and full of dread, as Jeb untied the horse and swung up behind her.

Selena tried to straighten away from making contact with his body, but Jeb yanked her back against him.  He set the horse in motion.  With the density of the forest and the ground covered in slippery slush, they could only manage a brisk walk, but as each minute passed, Selena knew the chance of Liam catching them grew slimmer.  She couldn’t suppress the tears that slid down her cheeks.

************

Liam and the others followed the trail for almost an hour.  Whoever had taken the animals had been careful to cover their tracks, but the odd thing was that every time they had almost lost the trail, they would find another couple of prints a few yards away.  They occasionally found a boot print, always belonging to the same boot and obviously that of a white man.  Liam couldn’t shake a growing sense of unease.

It was almost as if the thief had wanted them to keep following the signs.  Liam opened his mouth to say as much and froze.  Sharp talons of fear dug into his mind, and he gasped.

“What is it?” Gerald asked, seeing Liam’s sudden pallor.

“It’s almost as if someone is trying to lure us away from camp,” Liam whispered, almost to himself.  “I’ve got to get back to camp!  Selena’s in danger.”

“We’ll all go,” Matthew said, turning to follow him.

“No, you stay on the trail and find the oxen.  I’ll go and make sure the women are all right,” Liam said.  He turned and started trotting back to camp at the fastest pace he could manage through the icy slush.  Hearing steps behind him, he turned and found Gerald following in his wake.  “I’m going with you,” Gerald said firmly.

Liam didn’t want to waste time arguing, so he nodded and led the way.  Before they even reached camp, they could hear the other women calling Selena’s name.

“Oh God, no!”  Liam located Marcia through the trees and ran straight to her.  “What happened?” he asked, clutching Marcia’s shoulders anxiously.

“Selena said she had a few more chores to do and then she was going to join us.  When she didn’t show up, I got worried.  I came to see if she needed any help, but she’s gone!”  Marcia’s eyes were full of concern as she stared up at Liam.

“Where was she the last time you saw her?” Liam asked.

“Over near your tent.”  Marcia put an arm around Gerald’s waist, hugging him for comfort as they both followed Liam to his campsite.

Liam noticed the milk bucket near where the cow was tied, and he searched around on the ground.  It wasn’t hard to pick up a trail of Selena’s small footprints and the same boot prints they had been following earlier.

“He’s taken her!  The bastard’s taken Selena!”  His voice sounded so primitive that Marcia shivered.

“You know who it is?” Gerald asked with surprise.

“I think so, but there’s no time to explain right now.  I have to catch them.”  Liam glanced at Marcia, “You women stick close together.  No one should stray from camp.  Do you have a pistol?”

“Yes, and a shotgun,” Marcia whispered.

“Good,” Liam said, nodding grimly.  “Keep them handy and use them if any strangers show up.  I’m going after Selena.”  He turned to follow her trail.

“I’m going with you,” Gerald said firmly.  “Why don’t we take Adam and Peter’s horses?  We don’t know how far we will have to travel, and we’ll have a better chance of catching them.”

Liam didn’t even pause, but yelled over his shoulder.  “You go saddle them, and catch up to me.  I’m going to stay on the trail.”

Liam followed the tracks for several hundred yards before coming to a small clearing.  He could see from the footprints where Selena had been forced against a tree and then lifted onto a horse.  Liam’s jaw hardened even further.  He turned as Gerald approached.  He was riding one horse and pulling the other behind him.  Liam quickly mounted and led the way as they picked up the trail once more.  At least this time, the bastard hadn’t taken the trouble of covering his tracks.

Liam suspected that Selena’s stepfather was the man who had kidnapped her.  Ever since Selena had encountered him at Fort Laramie, Liam had thought about the man and wondered if their paths were destined to cross again.  One way or another, he was going to find the bastard and kill him.  Liam could only hope and pray he found him before he was able to hurt Selena again.

************

With every minute that ticked by, Selena’s fears increased.  She hoped desperately that Liam would come after her and rescue her, but the more she thought about it, it could be hours before he even knew she was missing.  Although she racked her brain, she couldn’t think of any way to get free, the way she was tied to the horse.  She worked as inconspicuously as possible trying to free her hands from the loops, but she only succeeded in making the rope bite into her wrists.  Jeb’s laughter in her ear made her stiffen.

“Tryin’ to wiggle loose are you, missy?  Those knots are tied special.  The more you wiggle, the tighter they’ll get.”  Jeb laughed again at his own humor.  Realizing that Selena wasn’t going to answer him, Jeb searched for a way to ruffle her composure.  “You always thought you were too good for me, didn’t you?  Well, we’ll see how good you are when I get you beneath me again.”




Trailing Home Ch. 11



Selena gritted her teeth and focused on not letting her fears get the best of her.  She knew from prior experience that Jeb enjoyed seeing her frightened.  “You’ll never get away with this,” she hissed.

“Oh, I think I will,” Jeb sneered.  He unbuttoned her coat and reached inside, roughly assessing her curves through her dress.  “Just like I’ve done before.  It’s your fault I’m here, you know.  If you hadn’t told the sheriff about what happened with your Ma, I’d still be back East, but when he came nosin’ around, wantin’ to arrest me, I hid out.  When he finally gave up lookin’ for me, I decided it was time to head out west.”

“The sheriff tried to arrest you?” Selena asked, desperately trying to distract Jeb from unbuttoning her clothes.

“Yeah, but I was too fast for him.  Thanks to you, he was convinced I should be tried for murder,” Jeb said, jerking her harder against him to stop her from squirming.  His fingers never paused as he taunted her.  “I was hopin’ to be the first to have you, but I don’t really mind that you gave yourself to that husband of yours.  He just broke you in for me.  He just greased the way for me so to speak.”  Jeb cackled at his own humor.  “Besides, I’ll bet that asshole of yours hasn’t been touched yet.”

Selena squirmed against him, trying to keep his hands from making contact with her skin.  “Don’t touch me!”  Her voice rose with panic even though she tried to keep it calm.  “You’re nothing more than a filthy murderer.”

Jeb tightened his other arm around her, making her ribs creak beneath the pressure.  “That was your fault that your Ma died.  If you hadn’t been hollerin’, I coulda had myself a taste, and then everthing would have been fine.”

He had her dress opened to the waist.  Selena felt cold air streaming over her exposed skin, but her shiver was from pure dread rather than cold.  She watched in helpless horror as his grimy hand worked on opening her thick cotton chemise, and although she continued to squirm, he made steady progress on the buttons.  She couldn’t suppress a panicked sob when he pulled the two halves apart, baring her breasts so he could ogle her lewdly.

“You’re even prettier than I remember,” Jeb cackled.  He used the arm around her waist to press her bosom upward and hold her firmly against him while his free hand roughly kneaded her breasts.  “Your tits are fuller than your Ma’s were.  Does your husband ever bite you?” he asked.  He pinched her nipple so hard she cried out with pain.  “Does he ever bite you right there?”

“He’s not an animal like you,” Selena choked out, cringing from his hands.  “He doesn’t have to torture women to get his pleasure.”

That only made Jeb laugh more as he continued to torment her.  “Well, I’m gonna bite you hard enough to leave some marks you’ll remember me by.  Then every time your husband sees you naked, he’ll remember that I had some fun with his wife.”  Jeb cackled with glee.

Selena tried to block out everything as he groped her.  He took special delight in pinching and twisting her nipples, laughing when she flinched beneath his cruel fingers or whimpered in pain.  He whispered terrible things in her ear, just as he had done that day by the creek.  He told her how he was going to make her do all manner of degrading things.  Selena clenched her eyes tightly shut and tried to think about Liam.  She called to him in her mind, hoping against hope that he would catch up to them before Jeb had a chance to follow through with his threats.

Jeb finally realized that Selena wasn’t going to react to his abuse, and he concentrated on steering the horse over the uneven terrain.  He pulled her coat partially closed, but he left her clothes unbuttoned.  He took pleasure in reaching in to tweak her breasts from time to time, just to see her jump and squirm again.

As an hour passed and then another, Selena endured a private hell.  The more Jeb tormented her, the more aroused he got, until she could feel the hard length of him pressed against her bottom.  He waxed bolder with each passing mile.  He stroked her crotch through the layers of her skirt and pantalets, and Selena fought back waves of nausea.  Her resolve grew stronger with each vile caress, and she realized grimly that she would rather die than to let him rape her.

When Jeb leaned sideways to reach for the hem of her skirt, Selena saw an opening.  She leaned her upper body as far forward as his restraining arm would allow.  Jeb straightened when he felt her sudden movement just as Selena jerked her head back with all her might.  The back of her head hit Jeb’s face with a sickening thud, and Selena was gratified to hear Jeb yowl with pain.

She ignored the shooting pain in the back of her head, intent on wriggling free of his grasp.  She felt his arm loosen around her, and she squirmed frantically, clutching the horse’s mane and using her knees to keep from falling off while digging her heels into the animal’s sides.  The horse didn’t know what was going on, and it danced in a nervous circle as the two riders struggled on its back.

“You little bitch,” Jeb mewled, reaching up with both hands to touch his face.  “I think you broke my nose!”

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of him clutching his bloody nose.  Without pause, Selena leaned forward and jerked back against him once more, cracking her head onto his face for the second time.  The force of the blow combined with the pain of her slamming into his wounded nose was enough to unseat him.  Selena heard Jeb hit the ground with a thud and a loud curse, but she didn’t waste a glance on him.

Selena dug her heels into the horse’s sides, tugging on the reins with her bound hands and using her knees to turn the animal back in the direction they had come.  “Giddyup!” she screamed, clutching the horse’s mane to keep from falling off as he bounded forward.

The horse was thoroughly spooked, and it ran recklessly through the thick forest.  Heedless of the icy ground, Selena urged it on, wanting to put as much distance between her and Jeb as possible.  She heard a shot ring out, and she leaned even lower over the horse’s neck, praying that Jeb wouldn’t hit her or the horse.  She knew he was a good shot, so her only hope was to get out of range.  Using her knees to guide the horse, she managed to weave in and out through the trees as she heard another shot.  This time, she heard the bullet hit a nearby tree, and her heart leapt into her throat.

Selena prayed fervently as the horse continued to run, and finally glancing back, she realized they had left Jeb far behind.  She couldn’t see anything but dense forest around her.  After several more minutes, she spoke soothingly to the horse, getting it to gradually slow its frantic pace.  The last thing she needed was to have the horse fall on the ice, crushing her beneath it.  When she had the horse walking calmly once more, she clung to the reins, keeping her eye on the ground and following the tracks they had made in the snow.
Her wrists were still tied and secured around her waist with the rope, low enough that she couldn’t reach the knot.  Keeping her wrists still, Selena wriggled her body until she got the rope to slide upward from her waist.  She managed to get her hands high enough to reach the knot with her teeth, and she worked at loosening it.  She was shivering with shock and cold, and her hands felt numb.  She had just begun to feel the knot loosening when she heard the sound of someone approaching fast through the trees.  She glanced up, fearful that Jeb had somehow caught up to her, but her relief was instant when she spied her husband racing through the trees, Gerald not far behind him.

“Liam!” she cried.  “Thank God!”

He quickly closed the gap between them and jumped down from his horse.  “Are you alright?” he asked, his eyes scanning her.

He had been terrified when he heard gunshots, but he was relieved to see Selena was alive and apparently not wounded.  However, his eyes took on a murderous glow as he assessed her open bodice and coat that did little to protect her modesty.  He noted her swollen lip, a dark bruise on her jaw and a trickle of dried blood on her neck.

“That bastard!” he snarled.  “I’ll kill him.”

He retrieved a knife from his saddle and quickly cut through the ropes on her wrists and ankles and lifted her down from the horse.  He clutched her against his chest, stroking her hair as she sobbed against him.

“It’s alright, sweetheart.  You’re safe now.”  His eyes scanned the woods behind her, looking for any sign that she was being followed.  He looked at Gerald from over his shoulder.  “Keep an eye out.  The bastard might still be after her.”  He saw Gerald nod, and Liam turned back to Selena.  “Was it your stepfather?” he asked quietly.

Selena nodded, clutching at his coat front.  She finally calmed and managed to catch her breath, although she couldn’t stop trembling.  She rubbed her raw wrists, shaking her hands against the prickling sensation as her circulation returned.

“Thank God you found me,” she murmured as she looked up at Liam.  “I knew you would come.”

“It looks like you had matters pretty well in hand already,” Liam said as he searched her face, concern evident in his eyes.  “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”  His eyes dropped to her open bodice and he swallowed hard.  “Did he . . .”  Liam couldn’t bring himself to finish the question, but visions of his wife being raped clawed at his mind.

Selena shook her head, burying her face against his neck.  “No, he didn’t have time to follow through on his threats.  He knew you would be coming after us, so he was too concerned with getting far away.  He was planning to have me tonight though.”

Selena shivered against him.  She reached to button her clothes, but her hands were trembling so much, she could only fumble.

“Here, let me,” Liam said.  He quickly fastened her garments, doing his best to ignore the bruises he saw on her creamy skin.  When he had her fully clothed once more, he hugged her tightly against his chest, dropping a soothing kiss on the crown of her head.  “Can you tell me what happened?”

Selena did so, feeling Liam’s muscles go from tense to rigid as she described how Jeb had molested her.  She left out the details of the threats he had made, seeing no reason to further inflame Liam’s anger.  As it was, she sensed that he was burning with rage.  When she finished her tale, explaining how she had managed to escape, Liam nodded, a grim expression on his face.  He kept an arm around her shoulders while he grabbed the reins of Jeb’s horse.  He gave Selena a quick kiss on the forehead before lifting her onto the horse.  He turned to face Gerald.

“Take her back to camp.”

“Where are you going?” Selena and Gerald asked in unison.

Liam swung into the saddle of his own horse.  “I’m going after the bastard.”

“What are you planning to do?” Selena asked.  As much as she would like for him to kill Jeb, she didn’t want Liam to be hung for murder.  “You can’t just kill him, Liam.”

“Go back to camp, Selena.  I need to know you are safe, and I’ll take care of Jeb,” Liam said firmly.  Seeing that Selena wasn’t going to budge, he softened his stance a bit.  “Don’t worry.  I’m not going to kill him in cold blood, but neither am I going to let him run free so he can come back to haunt us later on.  He has a lot to answer for, including your mother’s death.”

“I’m coming with you,” Selena said.  “I know Jeb.  He’s a sneaky coward, and it would be just like him to set some kind of a trap for you.”  The obstinate set of her jaw was a familiar sight, and Liam could see there was no point in trying to dissuade her.

Liam glanced at Gerald for support, but the other man shook his head.  “She’s right, Liam.  You shouldn’t go after him on your own.  If you’re determined to do this, I’m going with you.”

Liam heaved a sigh.  “Alright, we’ll all go, but stay behind me and do as I say.  Do you promise to do that?”  He waited until Selena nodded her agreement, then he turned his horse around to follow the trail.

They rode in a single file, being as quiet as possible.  It took them a few minutes to reach the place where Selena had managed to escape.  Selena and Gerald kept careful watch as Liam dismounted and looked at the ground.  He found a trail of blood that led off into the woods.

“He’s gone that way,” Liam whispered.  “He can’t be far away though, so we’ll need to be quiet.”

He motioned for them to dismount, and they led the horses, keeping a careful eye on the surrounding woods as Liam followed the spatters of blood.  They came to the edge of the woods where the mountain sloped down into a deep ravine.  They paused there as they all scanned the surrounding trees and open area for signs of Jeb.

“There!” Selena said, tugging Liam’s sleeve and pointing to the opposite side of the ravine.

They could see Jeb on the opposite side of the gully.  He was clawing his way up the steep rocky incline, stumbling frequently on the icy surface as he went.  Liam pushed Selena behind some trees, motioning to Gerald to take cover as well.  When they were all in place, Liam drew his pistol.

“Jeb Hawkins!” he yelled.  “Stop where you are.”

Instead of stopping, Jeb scrambled behind a large boulder.  “I ain’t gonna let you take me,” he yelled back.  “They’d just hang me anyway.  You’ll have to kill me first.”

“That’s just what I intend to do if you don’t come out with your hands up,” Liam called back.  After a long pause, he continued.  “You can’t stay there indefinitely.”

“Neither can you,” Jeb taunted.

Liam looked at Gerald and whispered, “He’s right, you know.  We have to start back soon or it will get dark.”  Liam scanned the ravine and the woods that circled its edges.  “If I circle around through the woods, can you stay here and keep him covered?”

Gerald nodded.  “Yeah.  If he moves from behind that rock, I’ll have him in my sights.  I’ll shoot him if I have to, but I won’t let him get away.”

“Good,” Liam said, facing Selena.  “You stay put behind this tree.”  Seeing her nod, he kissed her briefly on the lips and then started to turn away.

Selena clutched at his sleeve.  “Be careful,” she whispered.

“I will,” he said, giving her a brief smile.  Then he was gone, moving like a shadow through the trees until he quickly disappeared from sight.

Selena and Gerald kept watch, tensely waiting as the minutes ticked by.  Although she peered intently into the trees, she couldn’t see even a glimpse of Liam, and she wondered where he was.  Her nerves were thoroughly frayed by the time she heard Liam’s voice coming from somewhere in the trees on the other side of the ravine.  She still couldn’t see him

“Jeb, you might as well give up.  We’ve got you surrounded,” Liam called.  He threw a small rock at the boulder behind which Jeb was crouching.  “I could shoot you right now if I wanted to.”

“Don’t shoot,” Jeb whined, standing up and holding his arms in the air.  Jeb’s face was a mess of dried blood, and his nose was swollen and bruised.  “I give up.”

“Take your gun out and toss it on the ground,” Liam ordered.  When Jeb had complied, Liam continued.  “Now lean over and put your hands on that rock.”

Liam waited until Jeb had done as ordered before emerging from the trees.  Selena’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched Liam pick his way carefully down the steep hill.  When Liam was only a few yards away, Jeb snatched a second pistol that he had hidden in his waistband and whirled to fire at Liam.  Selena’s scream was drowned out by the sound of two gunshots.  Jeb’s gun fell from his hand, and blood dripped from his fingers while he let out a yowl of pain.  Liam had shot Jeb in the hand, and Jeb’s shot had gone off harmlessly into the trees.

Liam launched himself at Jeb, and the two men fell to the ground, punching and wrestling on the icy slope.  Selena watched in horror, deathly afraid that Liam would go toppling over the edge.  Jeb was no match for Liam, and he took a severe beating as Liam’s fists pummeled him with punishing precision.

“Alright, I give up!  Please don’t hurt me,” Jeb whined, mewling like a pathetic kitten.

Some semblance of sanity gradually returned to Liam’s features, and he stood up and yanked Jeb to his feet, shaking him roughly by the collar of his jacket.  “Stand up, you miserable coward.  We’re going to turn you in so you can get the hanging you deserve.”

Jeb snatched free and began to back up, his eyes darting frantically around to look for an escape route.  He wasn’t watching his footing, and he slipped.  His arms flailed as he tried to catch his balance, but it was useless.  A split second seemed to stretch into eternity as they watched Jeb fall backward with a terrified scream.  His body went rolling and bouncing down the craggy canyon to land in a lifeless heap at the bottom.  Selena’s breath returned in a rush, and she and Gerald ran as quickly as safety would allow to where Liam stood at the edge of the cliff, and they all three peered down through the jagged rocks.  Jeb’s body was several hundred feet below them, his limbs twisted at unnatural angles.

“Good riddance,” Liam muttered.  He put an arm around Selena and could feel her trembling against him.  “He saved us a lot of trouble having to haul his sorry carcass to the nearest sheriff.”  Liam hugged Selena close against his chest, dropping a kiss onto the top of her head.  “I’m sorry you had to see that, sweetheart.  At least you won’t ever have to worry about him again.”

“I don’t give a damn about him,” Selena said with feeling.  “He deserved even worse than he got.  I was only afraid that you would be hurt.”

Liam hugged her even tighter against him and exchanged a look with Gerald over her head.  “I don’t know how we’re supposed to bury him.  We don’t even have a shovel with us.”

Gerald gave a disgusted snort and spat down the canyon.  “I say we should leave Jeb’s body to rot where it fell.  He doesn’t deserve a decent burial.”

After a moment of silence, they all agreed by unspoken consent.  “Come on then,” Liam said, turning Selena around to head back up the hill.  “Let’s get back to camp.  It’s going to get dark soon, and the others will be worried.”

They made it back to camp before nightfall, much to everyone’s relief.  Liam, Selena and Gerald were immensely grateful to learn that Matthew, Hank, Adam and Peter had found all the oxen, healthy and unharmed, and they had brought them all back to camp.

“But what happened to you?” Marcia asked, looking at Selena with deep concern etched on her face.

“I’m fine.  I’ll let Gerald fill you in on the details,” Selena said with a tired smile.  “Right now, I just want to bathe and change.”  She kept an arm around Liam’s waist and they made their way to their tent.

“You go inside,” he said, kissing her forehead.  “Let me take care of you for tonight, alright?”

Selena nodded and disappeared into the tent, a dazed expression on her face.  Liam built the fire up and hung a pot of water to heat over the flames.  By the time he had gotten clean clothes, a basin, soap, washcloths and towel out of the wagon, the water was ready, and he carried all the items into the tent.

Selena was sitting on their pallet, a glazed look in her eyes.  She had removed her shoes, and her legs were tucked to the side, but her eyes softened when she looked up at him.  Liam set everything down nearby, uncertain how he should proceed.

He cleared his throat nervously.  “Maybe I should leave and give you some privacy.”

Selena grasped his hand and tugged, urging him to sit beside her on the pallet.  “No, I want to be with you,” Selena whispered.  She reached up to unbutton her dress, but her hands were trembling from the shock of the day’s events.

“Can I help you?” Liam asked quietly.  He was afraid of doing anything that might remind her of what her stepfather had done to her.




Trailing Home Ch. 11



Selena merely nodded.  She sat still as Liam unbuttoned her dress and slid the sleeves down over her arms.  Selena shivered.

“Are you sure you want me to stay?” Liam asked, uncertainty showing on his face.

“I’m shivering from cold,” Selena said with a smile, “not because you’re undressing me.”

“I’ll hurry then,” Liam said, clearly relieved by her answer.

He quickly unbuttoned her chemise, peeling it down to her waist.  He lifted Selena onto his lap, slipping her garments off over her hips as he did so.  His jaw hardened as he took in the bruises on her breasts where Jeb had mauled her.  Misunderstanding his fierce expression, Selena hid her face against his neck in shame.

“Please don’t look at me like that?” she whispered.  “I can’t bear it.”

Liam hugged her close against him, lifting the blanket up to wrap around her forming a warm cocoon as he held her.

“Sweetheart, I’m not thinking anything bad about you.  I’m furious about what that bastard did to you.”  His voice dropped lower as he continued.  “And I’m angry with myself that I didn’t protect you from him.  I should have never let him get his hands on you again.”

Selena pulled slightly away so she could look up at his face.  She wore a puzzled frown.  “Liam, there’s no way you could have known what was going to happen.  I was just so relieved to see you.  I knew you would come for me.”

Liam hugged her tightly, his chuckle rumbling in her ear.  “Well, you didn’t need my help.  By the time we caught up to you, you had already broken his nose and escaped.”

Selena smiled too.  “Yes I did, didn’t I?”  She stroked Liam’s chest, enjoying the reassuring feeling of his arms surrounding her.  “I just couldn’t bear him touching me anymore, and I would rather have died than to let him carry out his threats.”  Selena couldn’t suppress a shiver as she remembered.

Pulling away from Liam’s chest once more, Selena reached for the washcloth and soap.  “I want to bathe.  I feel so dirty.”

Understanding her need, Liam helped her to wash until every inch of her skin had been thoroughly scrubbed.  He rubbed her dry with a towel and then pulled her once more onto his lap, tucking the blanket around them both.  Several long moments passed while Liam stroked her hair and held her as the gloom of late afternoon gave way to the darkness of night.

“Are you hungry?” Liam asked her softly, not wanting to disturb the peace that surrounded them.

“No, I don’t feel like eating.  What about you?”

“No, me neither.”  Liam continued to stroke her hair.

Selena reached up and drew his head down to her, offering her lips to him.  Liam kissed her tenderly, careful not to make any sexual overtures.  Selena could sense his hesitation, and she pulled back with a sigh.

“I don’t think I ever told you why I asked you to bring me with you on this trip,” Selena said softly, as she gave him a wry smile.  When Liam raised his brows in unspoken curiosity, she continued.  “After the first time Jeb attacked me, I couldn’t bear for any man to touch me.  The merest brush of a man’s hand made me cringe, and I started thinking that all men were animals.”  She snuggled against his chest.  “Then you came along.  That first night I met you, you grabbed me and pulled me down onto your lap and propositioned me.”

Liam squirmed with discomfort, embarrassed by his actions that night.  “Selena, I’m sorry about that.  If I had known . . .”

“Shh,” Selena said, reaching to put her finger over his lips.  Her smile was full of love as she gazed at him, leaning back against his arm so she could see his eyes.  “Don’t be sorry, Liam.  You changed my life in that moment.  Even though I didn’t know you, I reacted to your touch.  I knew instinctively that you were different.  Instead of cringing with dread, I felt alive.  I felt like a woman.”  She caressed his cheek and gave him a shy smile.  “I think I started falling in love with you that very night.”

Liam stared at her with wonder.  “I thank my lucky stars every day that you were brave enough to ask to come along with me.  I didn’t know that night that you were destined to be the love of my life.”  He gave her a teasing grin.  “I just knew I wanted to get inside your pantalets.”

Selena gave a humph, raising a haughty brow as she turned to straddle his hips and loop her arms around his neck.  “Well, you certainly managed to do that,” she murmured with a suggestive rock of her hips against his.  She saw the uncertainty in his face, and she placed her palms on his cheeks, forcing him to meet her eyes.

“That’s why I’m telling you this, Liam.  I want you to understand that when you touch me, when you make love to me without reservation, you erase all the terrible memories from my stepfather.  He can’t hurt me anymore when I know that you want me and you love me.”  Her eyes locked with his, willing him to understand.  “I don’t want you to handle me with caution, always remembering the past.  I want you to make love to me with abandon, to make my body sing with pleasure.  Only then can I forget all the hurt.”

Liam needed no further urging.  He took her lips in a kiss that was tender but quickly became scorching.  His hands explored her body, boldly and possessively with a hunger that made her skin burn.  Selena pressed her own kisses and caresses on him, her hands divesting him of his clothing until he was lying naked beside her under the blanket.  When he knelt between her thighs, she opened joyfully to receive him.

Their lovemaking was slow and sensuous as they took turns stoking each other’s passions.  They shared their bodies without hesitation, more keenly aware than ever before of just how much they needed each other.  When they finally lay sated, their limbs twined intimately under the tangled blankets, they had tasted the full measure of their love.  Their eyes melded in the glow of firelight, and no words were necessary between them.  The scars of the past had been healed and firmly laid to rest.  Jeb’s abuse could never come between them again.



Trailing Home Ch. 12



It was early October when they reached the cutoff where they could choose to continue on to the Dalles Mission or turn south onto the Barlow Road. They were only about a hundred and fifty miles from the Willamette Valley. With any luck, a couple of weeks more should see them to their destination. Selena could sense Liam's excitement. He, even more than the others, was relieved they were close to the end of their journey. As the unofficial leader of their traveling group, he felt a responsibility for all their safety.

They made camp that night and agreed to share a community dinner. Liam described what lay ahead of them in either direction.

"The Dalles Mission, or Fort Dalles as it has come to be known, is a collection of rundown buildings surrounded by a crude stockade fence. It is situated on the Columbia River, where large rocks confine the water and the river is forced from rapids into a slower moving, wide body of water. The river is over a mile wide in some areas, and the water is quite deep. There is a group of soldiers, both regulars and volunteers, to guard against hostile Indians in the area, since they've had some problems in recent years." Liam gave them a sheepish smile. "When my brothers and I crossed several years ago, we went through there, but now there's the cutoff that allows us to bypass it entirely if we decide to. I've heard supplies are limited there, so the town doesn't really offer much opportunity to restock. Everyone is anxious to move through the area as quickly as possible."

"What are our choices then, Liam?" Gerald asked quietly.

Liam chewed on a stalk of grass as he considered. "We can go on to Dalles. Once we get there, we have two choices. We could abandon the wagons and load our belongings onto rafts to float down the river. However, the river is treacherous and develops into another series of dangerous rapids further downstream. Many emigrants have died trying to navigate the river on their own. As a result, professional ferrymen have set up business, and emigrants can load their wagons onto flat bottomed boats to be floated down the river. They know how to negotiate the rapids, so it's a lot safer, but it's still risky. Then there's the cost. The ferrymen charge exorbitant rates for their services, sometimes over eighty dollars, and many people can't afford their prices. I don't think the cost would be a problem for any of us." He glanced up to see their agreement. They were fortunate that everyone in their traveling group had sufficient funds for whichever route they chose. "If we chose that route, we could save several days of travel time."

"And if we go the other way?" Matthew asked quietly.

"The other choice is to take the Barlow Road around the south side of Mount Hood. It's the tallest peak in the Cascade Mountains, and the Barlow Road is the only land route around it. The route is a toll road that was carved out of the dense woods around the mountain several years ago. It would allow us to avoid the Columbia River altogether, but it is not without challenges. That's the way I went when I was returning east, and as I remember it, it was the hardest stretch I faced. That's the way most people go though, because of the expense and danger of the river." When Liam lapsed into silence, a few thoughtful moments passed as the others considered what he had told them.

"What do you think is best, Liam?" Hank asked, taking a deep puff from his pipe and squinting through the smoke.

"Well, I think we should take the Barlow. The charge is five dollars per wagon and ten cents a head for the livestock." Liam stared into the flames, thinking back on his earlier experiences. "It's a rough trail, even when I came back east on horseback by myself. Sometimes it's so narrow and steep we'll barely get the wagons through. In fact, there's one hill, Laurel Hill, that is almost impassable." He thought for a moment, recalling his trip with his brothers. "But I still think it's safer than the river." He looked up to scan the group. "I'm worried about the weather though." Liam paused again, his hesitation palpable as he considered their options. "It would take us several extra days of hard travel, but if we all have sufficient supplies, I think we should go that route. Of course, if we go that way, we have to hope and pray that the weather will hold a few more days. It would be impossible to try and get the wagons over those steep hills in ice or deep snow. Luckily, all our oxen are in decent shape. They're tired and lean, but they're healthy and I think they would make it alright."

A few thoughtful moments passed, and Gerald was the first to break the silence. "I trust your judgment, Liam. You haven't steered us wrong before." He looked at the others, seeing their nods. "We're okay on supplies. We're running low on a few things, but we won't starve by any means."

"We should be alright too," Matthew said, looking at Cassie for confirmation. When she nodded, he looked back at Liam. "I'm fine with going that way."

Liam glanced over his shoulder at Selena. She was perched on a log behind him, and he was leaning back against her legs. "What about us? Will the foodstuffs hold out another week or two?"

"We're fine," she answered with a smile. "In fact, we might have some extra if anyone needs."

"Good," Liam sighed. "Well, if we're all agreed, let's head out first thing in the morning."

Everyone murmured their agreement, and the families headed to their respective tents. Liam and Selena undressed and settled into their pallet, snuggling under the blankets as they shared their warmth. Selena's head was cradled in the crook of Liam's arm, and her hand lay across his chest as she listened to his breathing in the flickering firelight that lit their tent. She could sense his tension.

"What's the matter, Liam?" she asked softly, turning her head so she could see his face.

He hugged her against him and sighed. "I just hope we made the right decision. The river route would be several days faster, but I can't justify the risk just to save time. I don't mind telling you though, I'll be glad when this trip is over. I'm ready to be home."

Selena gave him a reassuring smile. "We all trust you, Liam. There's no way to know for sure which way is better, so we'll just have to hope for the best. We're almost there." Seeing that he was still troubled, she sought for a way to distract him. Her smile turned mischievous as she rose on an elbow. "You should be worried about when we actually get to your farm. Then you'll have to explain me to your brothers. I'm sure they were expecting you to return as a carefree bachelor. They may not like it when you show up with me."

Liam's eyes took on a teasing glint as he smiled up at her. "Now you're just fishing for compliments. I guess you expect me to tell you how happy they'll be to meet you." His hand that held her against him wandered down to boldly knead her bottom. "I bet you think I'm going to admit that my brothers will realize instantly that you're just the woman for me. They'll see how good you are for me, that you're my every wish come true, and they will be anxious to welcome you to the family." His other hand reached to cup one breast with sensual familiarity as he gave her a devilish grin. "You probably think I'm going to say that when they see how beautiful you are, they'll understand why I couldn't help but fall hopelessly in love with you." As his hands continued to play, he pulled her down to receive a heated kiss. "But I'm not going to tell you any of those things."

"You're not?" Selena whispered, her lips parting on a gasp as his caresses grew increasingly possessive.

"Nope," Liam said, rolling to pin her beneath him. He parted her thighs and drove into her, sighing as she closed lovingly around him. He settled into a leisurely rhythm as he grinned down at her. "I wouldn't want you to grow conceited."

"Oh, you're insufferable," she accused, but she was smiling as she arched her hips to meet each thrust. "I shouldn't let you take such advantage of me."

Liam's face took on a look of wide-eyed innocence as he abruptly withdrew until the tip of his erection was barely parting her folds. "Do you want me to stop?" he asked with a teasing brow raised.

Selena gave a long suffering sigh as she reached to brazenly massage his buttocks. "Now who's fishing for compliments? I guess you expect me to tell you that my entire world revolves around you." She grinned as she slid her hands up his chest, threading her fingers through the sprinkling of tawny hairs to tease his flat nipples. "I bet you think I'm going to admit that you're so handsome that you take my breath away with the merest glance." She pulled him down to her and began trailing kisses along his jaw as she rubbed her breasts enticingly against his chest. "You probably think I'm going to say that you're the best thing that's ever happened in my life and that I'll die if you ever decide you don't want me." She flexed her hips, letting her wet pussy tease him further. "But I'm not going to tell you any of those things."

"You're not?" Liam asked through clenched teeth, stifling a groan as he resisted the nearly overwhelming urge to plunge into her welcoming softness.

"Nope," Selena said, wrapping her legs around his waist and pulling him deep inside her once more. She chuckled as he gave a sigh of satisfaction and took up his slow rhythm once more. "I wouldn't want your ego to grow even bigger than it already is."

**************

The next morning, they set out on the Barlow Road. They paid the toll at the first booth and before long, they all understood what Liam had been telling them. The trail was so rocky and passed through such dense woods, that they could barely get through in some areas. There were many times that they had to all walk in front of the teams, leading the oxen to urge them up the steep hills. Since it was a bit late in the year, they didn't have to wait behind slower moving wagons, and Liam told them that, at least, was a relief. For the most part, the weather was cooperative, with only light snow and some icy fog at times. There wasn't enough precipitation to impede their progress.

After a week, they reached Laurel Hill. It was the single most difficult obstacle they had faced, and crossing it was a monumental task. Every member of their group was called on to help, even Natasha. The hill was so steep, they had to triple team the oxen to get the wagons to the top. As they had done once before, they had to secure all the wagon wheels so they wouldn't turn when they reached the top of the hill. In addition to tying ropes around tree trunks, they had to cut hundred-foot-long trees and drag them behind them to keep the wagons from tipping over as they made the steep descent. By the time they had all descended safely, they were exhausted but exuberant. The worst was behind them.

They reached Oregon City, at the north end of the Willamette Valley on October 18th. By the time they had left their wagons and oxen at the livery and checked into a hotel, it was early evening. It was the first time any of them had slept in an actual bed or eaten dinner at a table in months. Everyone was elated as they sat around a large dining table, sharing a much deserved celebratory meal that night.

They were thrilled to be eating something other than beans and bacon, and the women were delighted not to have to cook. They offered prayers of thanks for their safe arrival, and the mood was light all around. They toasted numerous times to the future success and happiness of all their families, and the events of the trip were recalled with colorful humor. The hardships they had suffered were remembered but were overshadowed by their joy and optimism.

Near the end of the meal, Gerald stood up and raised his mug of beer to gain everyone's attention. "I'd like to propose a toast," he said smiling at each of them in turn. Finally, his eyes settled on Liam. "Here's to our wise, brave and faithful guide, Liam McKenzie. Liam, I count you a true friend. I'm not sure we would have made it without you. Thank you for everything."

Loud cheers, whistles and clapping accompanied the toast. Selena was surprised to see Liam blush as he smiled and inclined his head, looking uncomfortable beneath such praise. Her heart swelled with pride that she could claim him as her husband. For a brief moment, she remembered her fist days with him and how she had wondered how it might feel to be his wife in truth. Now she knew, and it was a heady experience.

They stayed an extra day in Oregon City to stake their claims, new ones for the Boyds and the Robertses, but just adding additional acreage for Liam's claim in the wake of his marriage to Selena. They were pleased to find that the land available to claim was very close to the McKenzie farm, and all three families would be close neighbors. By the time they had completed their business it was early afternoon. After a delicious lunch, Liam escorted Selena back to their hotel room.

"I need to get some supplies. Do you want to come along, or would you rather wait here while I'm gone?" he asked.

Selena yawned and stretched out on the feather mattress, enjoying its softness. "I'm quite happy to wait here. I think I will have a nap and then a nice hot bath before dinner."

Liam swatted her bottom playfully, dropping a kiss onto her hair when she squeaked with mock outrage. "Well enjoy doing nothing while you can. When we get home, I'm going to put you straight to work."

"You're a slave driver," Selena accused with a groan, stretching on the bed. "If I hadn't spent half the night appeasing your lustful appetites, I wouldn't be so tired now."

"I guess you have earned a rest," he said with a chuckle, remembering just how eagerly she had made love with him through the wee hours of the night. The feather mattress was indeed a luxury after months of sleeping on the ground, and they hadn't let it go to waste, trying out many new positions as they explored each other's bodies. He gave her one more kiss before turning to go. "I won't be gone long."

Selena watched him leave then she turned and snuggled deeper into the pillows, pulling a light quilt up over her shoulders. She lay for several minutes, enjoying the opportunity to relax completely. Her lips curved into a secretive smile as she hugged an arm across her belly. Her monthly was more than a week overdue, and she was fairly certain she was expecting again. She wouldn't tell Liam yet. There would be plenty of time once they got home and she was sure that this pregnancy would last, but somehow, she wasn't worried. Her keen intuition told her that come next summer, she would be having Liam's baby. Liam's baby! The thought thrilled her. She didn't know the exact time she had conceived, but it didn't really matter. Each and every time she and Liam had come together, it had been with an abundance of love. That love would soon blossom into a child they could both treasure. She fell asleep with a dreamy sigh.

It seemed like only moments later when she awoke, hearing the key in the door. She sat up in the bed just as Liam came in, carrying a large pile of packages wrapped in brown paper. She noticed that the sunlight coming in the window was tinged with the colors of late afternoon.

"What time is it?" she asked with a yawn.

"You're still asleep?" Liam teased. He crossed to drop the packages on the bed near her feet before sitting down beside her, wrapping one strong arm around her waist. He explored her lips with a thorough kiss before smiling down at her. "I should have known not to marry such a lazy woman."

"Mmm," she murmured as she sank against him. She eyed the packages. "What are those?"

"Why don't you open them and find out?" Liam said with a grin. "They're for you."

With the eagerness of a child, Selena gave a squeal of delight as she reached for the parcels and pulled them closer. She tore the paper back on the first one, and her eyes opened wide. A lovely dress of lavender silk lay nestled in the paper. The heart shaped neckline was trimmed with delicate matching lace, as were the cuffs and bodice. A multitude of tiny pearl buttons went down the center of the bodice and several more closed each sleeve. The quality of the garment rivaled any dress she had seen Natasha wear.

"Liam, it's beautiful," Selena breathed as she scrambled up from the bed. She lifted the dress and held it against her, turning this way and that to see how the skirt moved. "I've never owned such a lovely dress."

Liam's smile only widened. He indicated the other packages. "There's more."

Selena opened the other parcels and found a half dozen other dresses in various colors and styles, all equally beautiful. The fabrics and trimmings were the finest quality, and the garments were sewn with exquisite attention to detail. There were also three pretty, but much plainer dresses that were obviously to be worn for everyday chores. Liam had also purchased new chemises, pantalets and stockings made from soft silk trimmed with delicate lace, a luxury Selena had never had. There were frilly garters, ribbons for her hair, a beautiful comb and brush set and three pairs of fine leather shoes. Selena's eyes filled with tears as she looked over her shoulder at Liam.

"You shouldn't have. This is too much, Liam. I don't need so many new clothes, and such fine ones too!"

"Sure you do," he said, coming to stand behind her. He hugged her back against him as he looked at her reflection in a tall, standing mirror. His hands nearly spanned her tiny waist, and he had to fight the urge to cup her full breasts. "I've noticed that you've been mending your clothes much too often lately, with the wear and tear from the trip. It's time you had some new things. You deserve a treat."

"But Liam, you must have spent a small fortune. Can we afford these?" she worried, tugging at her bottom lip with her teeth.

Liam's smile was indulgent. "Selena, you're not married to a pauper. I'm not rich, but our farm is quite prosperous, and my share of the money we got from selling my parent's farm is quite a tidy sum. I can certainly afford to treat my wife to some new clothes. Now try them on. I want to see whether they fit well."

Liam pulled off his boots and stretched out on the mattress, lounging against the headboard of the bed to watch his wife. Selena eagerly shed her old clothes and changed into the new undergarments and gasped as she caught a glimpse of herself in the full length mirror. The silk was so fine it appeared almost transparent, and the effect was even more alluring than total nudity as she looked at her puckered nipples and the dark thatch of hair between her thighs.

"Liam," she whispered, turning to face him with a sultry smile, "do you really want your wife to dress in such wanton undergarments?" As she asked the question, she smoothed a hand slowly over her breast, noticing how his eyes followed her movements.

The lustful glow in Liam's eyes sent her pulse pounding. "Actually, I bought those as a treat for me," he said with a grin. "Now, try on one of the dresses."

Selena slipped into a dress of soft, mint green twill. She turned in a circle before him, showing him that the fit was perfect. That dress was followed by a dove grey one trimmed with wine colored piping, then a cornflower blue dress that was embroidered around the neckline and cuffs with darker blue stitching. Selena was astounded by the beauty of each garment, and she noticed that not only had Liam gotten the size right, but his choice of colors and fabrics was perfectly in line with her own taste. Each dress complimented her coloring and showed off her trim figure. The only alterations that would be needed were to shorten some of the hems since Selena was not very tall.

"Where did you manage to find all these clothes?" Selena asked as she doffed the blue dress and laid it neatly across a nearby chair before picking up a rose colored muslin dress. "They're beautiful."




Trailing Home Ch. 12



"My sisters come to town once a year or so to buy some new things. There's more selection here than in the small town near our farm." Liam replied.

His eyes never strayed from the fetching sight of Selena's meagerly clad form as she stepped into the dress and wiggled it up over her slim hips. The silk chemise she wore dipped low over her bosom, teasing him with glimpses of the dark shadowed valley between her breasts and the tempting pink buds at their peaks.

Selena was too busy to notice his lascivious interest as she buttoned the bodice and turned to the mirror, pleased to see the fit was perfect. "How did you know what size to get? Everything fits me just right."

Liam's smile was devilish as he held up his hands and indicated the shape of a highly exaggerated hourglass in the air. "I just told the shopkeeper that my wife's figure looked like this, and she knew just what size you were."

"You are positively wicked," Selena said with a roll of her eyes and a sigh.

At Liam's urging, she didn't stop until all of the gowns had been tried on and approved. She saved the lavender dress for last, since it was her favorite. When she donned the gown, she stared at her reflection with wonder. The bodice fit more snugly than the others, and her breasts were pressed up with a generous amount of cleavage showing where the neckline dipped coyly between her breasts. The dress flared over her hips to fall in graceful folds around her ankles. Selena had never felt so beautiful or feminine when she turned to face Liam.

"Do you like it?" she asked, crossing to stand beside the bed.

"Indeed," Liam said with a lecherous grin. His eyes settled on the bodice front, and he frowned. He reached out to snare her hand, and he pulled her down onto the side of the bed. "There's just one thing wrong with this dress."

"What?" Selena asked with dismay as she peered down looking for any flaw. She loved the gown and didn't want to think Liam might not like it as much.

"I think I saw a stray thread," Liam murmured, flipping the edge of her skirt up over her knees. Before she could think, his fingers had slipped under her skirt and were deftly plucking at the ties of her pantalets. "Ah yes, here's the loose thread," he said with a lopsided grin.

"Liam, you are insatiable!" Selena said with a laugh as he pulled her pantalets down over her hips and dropped them beside the bed. His fingers found their way unerringly between her thighs, and he found her already wet. "Liam, it's the middle of the day," she said, her voice growing increasingly breathless as he stroked her boldly and began to trail tantalizing kisses along the low neckline of her gown.

He rolled to bring her on top of him and used his other hand to work on the buttons of her bodice and chemise as her hands clenched around the headboard. "Liam, shouldn't we get dressed for dinner?" she gasped as he speared two fingers inside her and bared her breasts, letting them dangle above him like ripened fruit. He wasted no time in greedily devouring the sensitive flesh. She tried to cling to her wits, even as her body was eagerly responding to his caresses. "Liam, what are you doing?"

"You've had your treat. Now it's time for mine," he murmured with a grin. He effectively silenced any other protests she might have made by drawing her nipple into his mouth and suckling ravenously.

It was much, much later before they finally ate dinner. Even then, they had a tray delivered to their room since neither of them could summon the strength to go downstairs and dine with the others.

***********

Liam was more than anxious to get home, and they left early the next morning to complete the last leg of their journey. Traveling south through the Willamette Valley, Selena felt a sense of awe from the beauty of the land.

They were surrounded by lush green farmland. For as far as she could see in every direction verdant fields were filled with row upon row of all kinds of vegetables, fruits, flowers, nuts and herbs. In the distance, the mountains and thick forests provided the perfect backdrop. Even though the weather was cold and rainy, the beauty of the land could not be disguised.

"It's like paradise," she breathed, looking at Liam with wonder.

His smile held a mixture of pride and relief that she liked what she saw. "It even gets nicer. Wait until you see our home. The land is even richer and more beautiful than here."

"I'm surprised that crops are still growing. Hasn't the time for harvest already passed?" she asked.

"For some crops yes. But here in this part of Oregon, we are blessed with a long, mild growing season. We grow a variety of crops, some of which are not harvested until late fall." Liam grinned at her. "That's one of the reasons that farmers here can be so prosperous."

Selena digested that information as they rolled along. "How long will it take to get home?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder as she looped an arm through his.

"Two and a half, maybe three days. I'm sure Aidan and Brian are wondering what happened to me by now," Liam said with a sigh.

"You're a big boy," she teased. "I'm sure they know you can take care of yourself."

"You have to keep in mind that I'm the youngest. They still see me as their baby brother," Liam said, giving her a sidelong glance. "They tend to worry about me."

"Well, they will soon know that you're home safe and sound." Selena gave him a grin. "Then I'll let them know that you have a wife who can worry about you from now on."

The warmth in her eyes and her smile made Liam's heart do a back flip. He had never thought in his wildest imaginings that he would find a wife to love him so completely or make him feel so special. Life was very, very good.

Sure enough, they arrived at their farm around two o'clock on the third day. They had paused a short time earlier to part with the Boyds and the Robertses so the other two families could make their way to their own farms. Liam and Selena were alone when they topped a ridge, and a sprawling valley lay before them. Liam halted the wagon so Selena could appreciate the view.

Large mountains loomed in the distance, and a wide river snaked its way through the middle of a sweeping, lush vale that was bordered by thick woods along the edges. There were carefully tended fields with row upon row of crops, and to one side, a large orchard full of young fruit trees. Animals grazed in nearby pastures that were divided by well-built fences. Near the river, several sturdy cabins had been built and spaced a bit apart, close enough for a feeling of community but far enough apart for privacy. A huge barn was centrally located near all the cabins, with a smaller mill and several neat outbuildings scattered beneath large shade trees. Everything was tidy and well-kept, and there was pride evident in every structure and field.

"Welcome home, Mrs. McKenzie," Liam murmured, putting an arm around her shoulders. His throat constricted as he watched for her reaction. He wanted desperately for her to like their home, and he wasn't disappointed.

"Oh Liam, it's lovely!" Selena's eyes were brimming with unshed tears when she looked at him. "You told me about your home, but I never imagined it would be this beautiful."

Liam squeezed her shoulders. "Let's go. I'm anxious for you to meet the rest of my family."

He urged the team down the hill, and they were half-way down the slope when they heard a bell ringing from one of the buildings. People came running from every direction, and by the time Liam had pulled the wagon to a stop, they were surrounded by smiling faces. Liam jumped down and was instantly enfolded in one warm embrace after another. Selena had no difficulty determining the men were his brothers, for there was a close resemblance.

"Liam, you rascal, we were starting to worry about you. Did you run into some trouble?" The man smiled up at Selena. "And who's this?"

Liam swung Selena down with a laugh, and kept an arm around her waist as he pulled her forward to meet his brother. "This is my wife, Selena. Selena, meet Aidan."

Selena held out a hand to him and blinked as she scanned Aidan's smiling face and tawny hair. He looked so similar to Liam that her mouth dropped open in surprise. On closer inspection, she noted there were differences. Aidan's face was set in more serious lines than Liam's, and his eyes were darker brown rather than Liam's hazel. Still, there would never be a doubt they were siblings. "I'm so pleased to meet you," Selena murmured. "Liam has told me so much about you."

Aidan gave her a friendly wink as he clapped Liam on the shoulder. "Well, I hope you will consider the source and not take his stories too seriously." Aidan pulled forward a smiling woman with chestnut hair and twinkling blue eyes. She was holding the hand of a small boy, and he was clutching at her skirts as he peeked out from behind their bulk. "This is my wife Naomi and our son Ian. He's a bit shy, but he'll come around in a while."

"I can't believe how much he's grown," Liam said with a laugh. "I've been gone almost a year, and he was just a little mite when I left." Liam turned to his other brother with a raised brow. "And where's little Leslie? She was just a few weeks old when I left for Kentucky."

"She's asleep in the house," Brian said with a smile.

Naomi gave Selena a warm hug. Naomi stood several inches taller than Selena, and she smiled down at her with an arm around her shoulders. "Welcome to the family, Selena. It will be so nice to have another woman around the place. Isn't that right, Sarah?" She gestured for the other woman to come forward, and she did so smiling warmly. "This is Sarah, Brian's wife."

Sarah had honey gold hair and delicate features set in a charming oval face. Her eyes were chocolate brown, and she had deep dimples at the corners of her mouth. "Oh yes," she said, also giving Selena a hug. "We have been hoping Liam would marry, and we are so pleased to welcome you to the family."

Selena blinked back joyful tears that sprang from being greeted so warmly. "Thank you. I confess it is a relief to get here, and the place is so very beautiful. It's obvious that you've all worked very hard to make it so."

Sarah laughed brightly and hugged her husband's arm as he took a place beside her. She looked up at him with adoring eyes and smiled. "Well, most of the hard work was already done by the time we came along. Naomi and I mostly just have our hands full keeping these McKenzie boys in line, and with that, we will be glad to have your assistance." She smiled back at Selena. "This is Brian."

Brian had the same height and build as his brothers, but his features were somewhat different, and he had much darker hair, almost black. Selena held out a hand in greeting, but Brian brushed it aside and gave her a warm hug. "Welcome, Selena." When he smiled down at her, his green eyes were full of mischief. "I was wondering what kind of woman it would take to snare Liam. We had all begun to despair that he would ever find one that met his impossibly high standards, but I'm glad to be proven wrong."

Selena couldn't help but laugh, and she dipped her head in acknowledgement of the compliment. "Why thank you, Brian. I can see that you share my husband's gift for gab, for you seem intent on filling my head with flattery."

"No flattery needed in your case, my dear. You are obviously going to continue our fine family tradition." Brian pulled Sarah close against him and grinned down at his spouse. "We McKenzies always find the most beautiful wives."

Naomi took matters in hand. "Well there's no sense standing out here shivering. Let's get inside where it's warm." She grasped her son's small hand and led them inside.

"You women go ahead," Liam said. "I want to get the wagon unloaded and tend to the animals first."

His brothers were quick to pitch in, and they were busy with those tasks when the women disappeared into one of the cabins. Selena looked around at the tidy cabin with admiration. They entered to a large room that was dominated by a huge brick fireplace that ran almost full length along one wall. The kitchen was at one end of the fireplace, and it had a cast iron cook stove and an oven built into the end of the chimney. A large table was flanked by two sturdy benches and had two chairs, one at either end. It was there that Naomi led Selena and Sarah.

"Please sit down and relax while I get us some tea. Have you eaten lunch?" Naomi inquired, as she set out a plate of assorted cakes and breads.

"Yes, we ate while Liam drove. He was so anxious to get home, we didn't stop to eat since we were so close to making it here," Selena said with a small laugh.

"I'm so relieved you finally arrived today," Naomi said with a smile. "Aidan and Brian had just about decided to send a search party out for Liam. They were expecting him back a couple of weeks ago."

"How was your trip?" Sarah asked.

"Long! I can't tell you how glad I am that it's over," Selena said.

The conversation was friendly and warm as the two women asked questions and Selena answered, telling them about their trip and how she and Liam had met. She held nothing back, telling them the truth about how she had been working as a barmaid when Liam met her.

Sarah's eyes were twinkling when she smiled at Selena. "Well, it's obvious that you've been very good for Liam. I've never seen him looking so happy and settled." She glanced at Naomi who was nodding her head in agreement. "Before he left, Naomi and I were beginning to despair that Liam would ever find a wife. He certainly wasn't interested in any of the young ladies around here, though there were plenty who were interested in him. Quite frankly, we were getting tired of all the unmarried ladies in the area dropping by with one flimsy excuse after another, just so they could bat their eyelashes at Liam."

Selena gave an unladylike snort. "I can believe that. Even on the trip, there was one woman in particular that wouldn't leave Liam alone." She told them about Natasha, leaving out the most damaging details for the sake of Marcia and Gerald. "Hopefully, she will find some other young man to snare her interest now that we've arrived."

"I'm sure it will work out," Naomi assured her with a smile. "Sarah and I went through something similar, having to stake our claims with our husbands. The McKenzie men have been a hot commodity around here for years, but now we can give notice to everyone that they are all firmly off the market."

"Amen!" Sarah agreed with a grin.

The McKenzie brothers chose that moment to enter the cabin, and they joined their wives at the table. Liam sat down next to Selena, resting an arm behind her on the bench. The remainder of the afternoon passed in easy camaraderie, with everyone exchanging stories and news of the past few months. It wasn't long before Ian had sidled up to Liam, watching his uncle with the eager eyes of a two year old.

"Well hello, little bit," Liam said, tousling his hair. "You want to sit on my knee?" At the boy's eager nod, Liam lifted him onto his lap, holding him securely with one strong arm while he continued to talk.

Selena watched the pair, feeling a growing sense of warm contentment blossoming in her breast. Liam was a natural with children, and she eagerly anticipated the day she would see him bouncing their own offspring on his knee.

It was late afternoon when Naomi looked at Selena with a smile. "You must be exhausted after your trip. Liam, why don't you take Selena and show her your own home while Sarah and I cook dinner? Then we could all get together for supper tonight."

"That sounds like a plan," Liam agreed. He set Ian gently aside and rose to take Selena's hand. "We'll be back soon."

"Take your time," Sarah said. "I'm sure you and Selena will want to freshen up after that dusty ride. I remember those days."

Liam led Selena out and along a well-beaten path beneath the trees to another cabin. It was a handsome looking structure at the end of the row of cabins. The front of the cabin faced the river, and it backed up near the thick woods that bordered the valley. They climbed the two steps to a covered wooden porch that ran along the front of the house. There were several rocking chairs grouped along the porch, and two large windows with wooden shutters overlooked the front of the house.

Liam turned to her with a boyish grin. "This is our home, Selena. Would you like to see the inside?"

"Oh yes, indeed," she said with a laugh. Liam surprised her by scooping her up into his arms, and she squealed with surprise but was only too happy to loop her arms around his neck. "Liam! What are you up to?"

"Carrying my bride over the threshold of course," Liam replied with a chuckle. He carried her inside, pushing the door shut behind them with his booted heel, but he made no move to put her down. He watched her face as she took in her surroundings. "Well? What do you think?"

The interior of the cabin was similar to Aidan and Naomi's. A large room opened off the kitchen and served as both the dining area and family room. Light streamed in through the front windows and another huge window in the kitchen that looked toward the other cabins that could be seen through the trees. As in the other cabin, a massive stone fireplace dominated one wall, and as Selena looked up at it, she noticed a loft tucked under the high roof that could be reached by a set of narrow stairs. The loft was lit by two small windows in the back wall of the house.

"Liam, this is huge," Selena murmured in wonder. "It seems even bigger than the other cabins."

"It is a bit bigger. This was the original cabin we built, and we modeled it after our home back in Kentucky. The other two were built after my brothers married, and we were somewhat strapped for time, so we built them smaller. We can always add on to them as the need arises."

Selena continued to look around, held securely in Liam's arms. There was a large dining table with benches and chairs, as well as several other comfortable looking chairs grouped around the fireplace. A cheerful fire was burning, casting warmth and light into the spacious room. Obviously, Liam had thought ahead.

"Do you like it?" Liam asked.

Selena smiled at Liam, kissing him softly on the mouth as she murmured, "It's wonderful. I know I will be very happy here."

"There's more," Liam said.

He carried her down a corridor that led to the back of the house. He showed her two comfortably furnished bedrooms, a storeroom, and a small bathing chamber complete with a small brass bathtub before carrying her into a third bedroom. A large window was centered on one wall, and late afternoon light streamed in to fall on a handsome chest of drawers, a tall wardrobe, a standing mirror, and a comfortable looking four poster bed. There was a thick feather mattress on the bed, and a warm quilt had been folded down invitingly to show fresh, white sheets. Seeing that Selena had noticed, Liam gave her a lopsided grin.

"This is our bedroom. Naomi and Sarah put fresh sheets on the bed just the other day, thinking that I would be home soon."

Selena raised a haughty brow, but her lips were twitching as she met his eye. "I see you wasted no time turning down the sheets. I hope you aren't concocting any wicked ideas in that handsome head of yours, since the others will be waiting for us to join them for supper."

Liam's grin turned positively wicked as his eyes dropped to her bosom. "It will take them a while to get supper ready. Besides," he murmured, capturing her lips in a steamy kiss that stole her breath along with her wits and any will to resist him, "Sarah said I should get fresh, so that's what I'm doing."

Selena giggled and threaded her fingers through the hair at his nape as he trailed hot kisses down the side of her neck. Her voice came out a bit breathless as she felt Liam lowering her to her feet. "That's not exactly what she said, but close enough." 




Trailing Home Ch. 12



Liam turned her to face the bed and gently set her down on her knees on the edge of the mattress. Selena shivered as he lifted the back of her skirt up to her waist and a draft of cold air wafted across her buttocks. She dropped forward onto her arms, and when Liam released the drawstring of her pantalets, she raised first one knee and then the other to help him remove them. She trembled with desire as she felt his hands cruise up her legs, lingering where her stockings and garters hugged her thighs before continuing over her naked flesh to her throbbing, exposed pussy.

As Liam plunged two fingers into her wet opening, he leaned over her back and whispered near her ear. "Of course, if you are in a hurry to eat, I could just forget about this."

"No," Selena gasped. Her answer came so quickly, it caused him to chuckle. She didn't care, as long as his hands continued to do what they were doing between her thighs. "No, take your time, please."

Liam did just that, and it was much, much later before they joined the others for supper.

Just one more chapter to go... 



Trailing Home Ch. 13



Over the next several weeks, Selena settled into life on the McKenzie farm with joyous ease. She developed close relationships with hers, and her fondness for all of them increased with each passing day. Liam took her to visit her sister who lived about a half-day's drive from their farm. Selena was thrilled to be reunited with her sister and was pleased to see firsthand that Diana was so happy with her own husband that their two young sons.

It was nice for both sisters to be close enough that they would be able to visit whenever they wanted. Selena's days were filled with the tasks of being a farmer's wife, and she found contentment as she settled into the routine of chores. It was no hardship for her. She had been raised on a farm, and she knew the life well. Indeed, it was a welcome relief after the rigorous hardships of their journey.

With winter quickly approaching, there were numerous preparations to be made. Liam and his brothers harvested the crops, and sold their various products for a sizable profit. They turned fertilizer into the fields and prepared them to lay dormant for the next season's plantings. The women canned countless jars of vegetables and fruits and hung other vegetables and spices to dry in the root cellar. The men butchered several hogs and cattle, and the women carefully smoked their meat and packed it in salt.

Liam knew how to sugar cure the hams, and he prepared several for each of their families. Selena dipped dozens of candles by hand, while Liam chopped firewood and piled it high to last through the long winter months. Every member of the McKenzie clan worked hard to ensure the work was done so the family would be kept comfortable and well-fed over the next several months. By mid November, most of their tasks had been completed, and they were nearly prepared for winter.

Their neighbors were even busier during those same weeks. The Boyds and Robertses were occupied with building cabins for their families and winter shelters for their livestock. The Roberts family was lucky to have Hank, Matthew, Adam and Peter, all able bodied and hard workers. Their cabin progressed quickly. Gerald was not so lucky, being the only male in his family. He had to hire some men to help him, but luckily he could afford to do so. Liam and his brothers volunteered their help whenever they weren't too busy with their own chores. With the combination of hired and volunteer help, the Boyd home was also nearing completion.

Each Sunday, Selena would see her friends in church, and she was eager to exchange news with Marcia, Susan and Cassie. Susan and Peter announced their engagement, and Susan told her with excitement how they were planning a June wedding for the following summer. Everyone was overjoyed for the young couple, with the exception of Natasha. It was clear that Natasha was annoyed that her younger sister had gotten engaged before she had.

Being new to the area, Natasha drew the interest of every eligible young man in the district, with her striking beauty. She flirted with all of them, but she didn't seem inclined to settle on any one man in particular. Instead, she seemed to prefer having them all panting at her skirts like a pack of love-sick puppies. Selena listened with a sympathetic ear as Marcia told her of her growing anxiety concerning her eldest daughter.

"I simply don't know what to do with her," Marcia said with an exasperated sigh. "Ever since we arrived here, she's become more and more unruly. She behaves much too forwardly with the young men she meets, and she doesn't seem to care what folks think about her. She seems to enjoy leading her suitors on a merry chase, and I've begun to worry some of them are going to come to blows over her. I've tried to reason with her, I've tried scolding her, but she won't listen to a word I say. She throws one temper tantrum after another whenever she doesn't get her way. Gerald and I are at our wits end."

Selena bit her tongue to keep from suggesting a sound thrashing. After all, it wasn't her place to tell Marcia how to raise her daughter. Instead, Selena gave Marcia a hug.

"I'm sure everything will work out. Now that Susan is getting married, surely Natasha won't be far behind in choosing a young man for herself."

"I hope you're right," Marcia replied. Her expression brightened as a different thought occurred to her. "You and Liam will be coming to our barn-raising next Saturday won't you?"

"You know we wouldn't miss it. All the McKenzies will be there, and Liam says these things always bring out the entire community to help."

Sure enough, the following Saturday, the McKenzies pulled up at Gerald and Marcia's place early in the morning. They were among the first to arrive, but they were soon followed by a crowd of other neighbors from the surrounding area. The weather was fine, with the sun just beginning to dawn in a nearly cloudless sky. The men set to work, building a large barn while the women congregated beneath the nearby trees to exchange news and set out a feast.

They erected tables out of planks and barrels and covered them with tablecloths before loading them down with food. The women had brought roasted hams, chickens and lambs along with salads and breads of every description. Dozens of pies, cakes and cobblers were unwrapped, along with jugs of iced lemonade and tea.

While the other women worked diligently and tried to stay out of the men's way, Selena noticed Natasha lingering near where the men were working. She was decked out in a stunning low-cut dress that looked more suitable for a ball than a barn-raising, and she was chatting and flirting shamelessly with the hardworking men. Selena realized as she watched that Natasha was standing close enough to several of the men to allow them an unhindered view into her bodice, and being men, they were inclined to take advantage of the view.

Marcia was uncomfortable with her daughter's behavior and drew her to one side to reprimand her discreetly. However, Natasha shrugged off her mother's rebuke and did as she pleased. Marcia tried her best to keep Natasha occupied so she would stay out of the men's way, but Natasha kept going back to sashay past the worksite, drawing many a lustful glance. Selena noticed her trying to catch Liam's eye, but he paid her no notice at all, as he focused on his labors.

By noon, the men had already built a sturdy wooden floor and raised four framed sides on the barn. They joined them at the corners and across the top, they erected strong rafters. When they were satisfied the structure was stable enough, they broke for lunch, and bestowed hearty compliments on their women while they devoured the delicious foods. As usual, Liam indulged in several sweet treats to finish his meal.

Selena smiled fondly at him as she watched him polish off a piece of cherry pie with obvious relish. She leaned close to whisper in his ear. "You'd better be careful, eating so many sweets. I don't want a fat husband."

Liam gave her a lazy grin and nuzzled her ear as he responded in a purring growl. "If I get fat, it will be your fault. You're the tastiest little tart I've ever had."

Selena gasped in outrage. "Tart is it now? Humph." She thrust her nose into the air, but the twinkle in her eyes belied any real offense.

The rest of the afternoon, the men worked to nail planks onto the frame and affix a tin roof on top. By sunset, they had nearly finished building a large, solid barn that would stand for several generations. Gerald had only to add a few finishing touches, and he would be able to accomplish that long before the coldest winter months arrived.

The men cleaned themselves up, wiping their sweating arms, chests and backs before donning fresh shirts. The women set out another meal that was joyously shared by all. They lit lanterns and hung them from the rafters of the newly built barn, and several men brought out musical instruments. The late evening air was chilly, but few felt it as they crowded into the barn to dance and celebrate.

Knowing that Selena loved to dance, Liam partnered her for several songs. Many of the local men cast admiring glances at Selena, but they knew she was married, and they kept their distance. Natasha had no such qualms, for she soon appeared beside Liam, and she ignored Selena entirely as she hugged his arm to her breast.

"Oh Liam, would you dance with me?"

"No thank you, Natasha," Liam growled, pulling his arm loose from her grasp. "Go find someone else. I'm dancing with Selena."

Natasha was undaunted. "But Liam, you haven't danced with anyone but Selena the entire night. What will people think?"

Selena had had enough of the other woman's shenanigans, and she raised a brow at her adversary while putting her arms around Liam's waist, clearly staking her claim. "They will probably think the truth - that I'm such a demanding wife that Liam doesn't have enough energy leftover to pursue any other women." She leaned against Liam's chest, allowing her bodice to gap away from her breasts as they were pressed upwards. When she saw his gaze drop to her bosom, she gave him a sultry smile. "Isn't that right, husband?"

Liam tightened his arms around her and didn't look at all displeased by her statement or her actions. Instead, he made a show of ogling her bosom and gave her a lazy grin. "That's right, wife. You've kept me so busy trying to satisfy your appetites, that I'm plum tuckered out."

Witnessing their exchange, Natasha fairly trembled with rage. She wasn't used to having to settle for second best, and it rankled her that she couldn't seem to gain the upper hand where Selena was concerned. "What a disgusting display! You're making a spectacle of yourselves."

Selena gave her a haughty frown but was careful to keep her voice low so others wouldn't overhear. "Not nearly as much as you did when you stripped naked to try and seduce my husband!"

Natasha's mouth dropped open for one shocked moment before she snapped it closed. She drew herself up and shot a venomous glare at Selena before stalking off into the crowd.

Selena shuddered lightly and hugged Liam more tightly, laying her cheek against his chest. "She always manages to ruin my good mood. Why can't she get it through her stubborn head that you're married?"

"I don't know, sweetheart, but I always remember that I'm married." He tipped her chin up so he could meet her eyes. "You don't have to worry about her seducing me, because I'm too in love with you to even think about another woman." Seeing that his words had brought a small smile back to Selena's face, he tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. "Now come on, sweetheart. Let's don't let her spoil our fun. This is my dance, I believe."

Throughout the rest of the evening, Selena noticed Natasha literally throwing herself at the men who were present, as if to reassure herself that she could have any man she wanted. Natasha didn't seem to mind in the least that she was earning a scandalous reputation. As she became increasingly bold in encouraging the men's attentions, they responded in kind by taking increasing liberties. Selena notices that several young men were inclined to use the crowd for cover and touch Natasha more boldly than they would any decent young lady, and Natasha laughingly encouraged their lewd attentions. Gerald and Marcia were too busy entertaining their guests to notice their daughter's shameful behavior, but many other people did notice, and they frowned disapprovingly at Natasha. 

As long as Natasha stayed away from Liam, Selena didn't much care what Natasha did, although she hated to see Marcia and Gerald hurt by their daughter's actions. Thrusting the other woman from her thoughts, Selena danced and laughed, completely charming her husband. Liam was swinging her around in a lively jig when she laughingly pleaded for a rest.

"Oh Liam," Selena said, fanning her flushed cheeks, "I need some fresh air. I'm feeling a little light headed."

"Of course, my sweet. Let's take a walk." Liam retrieved her shawl and draped it over her shoulders before leading her through the crowd and out into the night. They strolled arm in arm until they were a short distance from the barn. They were the only ones outside. Everyone else was inside the barn, and they could hear the music and laughter filtering out through the open doors. The air was cold enough to make their breath come out in foggy puffs.

"Are you feeling better?" Liam asked softly.

"Yes, much better. I think it was just too hot and stuffy in there, and I'm not used to all that dancing."

Liam stopped beneath a large tree and leaned against the trunk as he pulled Selena back against him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rubbed a palm suggestively over her belly as he smiled at her from over her shoulder.

"Are the heat and the dancing the only things making you feel faint, or is there something else you would like to tell me?"

Selena stiffened against him and went completely still as her shocked eyes locked with his smiling ones. She turned in his arms to lean against him, and her face was etched with wondrous curiosity. "How did you know?" she breathed.

Liam chuckled warmly as he cupped her cheek in his palm. "I'm not a complete dolt, sweetheart. Though we have only been married a few months, I'm starting to catch on to this whole monthly thing. It hasn't escaped my notice that you haven't had one for nearly two months. Plus," he said with a mischievous grin, "with the regularity that I've been plowing your field, it only makes sense that a seed was going to take root sometime."

Even in the dark, Liam noted her blush, and he chuckled again. The sound was full of masculine pride. His voice dropped to a husky murmur as he traced the backs of his fingers over the peaks of her breasts, smiling when she gasped.

"And then, there are these. They've been a bit different lately – heavier, firmer, even more tantalizing, absolutely irresistible." As he said the last, Liam turned his hand over to cup her breast in his palm, kneading boldly then lightly squeezing her nipple between his fingers.

"Liam!" Selena cast a furtive glance around, but she felt reassured when she didn't see anyone besides them outside. Still, she felt obligated to protest. "Someone might see us."

"Do you want me to stop?" Liam said with a grin, never pausing in his ministrations.

"No," she moaned, helplessly needing his touch.

Her answer had come much too readily, and Liam laughed again, his caresses becoming even more insistent. Selena's eyes dropped partially closed as she leaned further into his embrace and moaned softly. It was a struggle to focus her thoughts when his hand was playing so knowingly on her breast.

"I've been meaning to tell you, but . . ." she broke off the statement as Liam's hand slipped inside the neckline of her bodice and chemise to cup her breast more intimately, skin against naked skin.

"Why didn't you, sweetheart?" His voice was a deep hypnotic rumble as he bent to nuzzle beneath her ear, his other hand drifting downward to knead the globes of her bottom. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

It was hard to concentrate on his question when Selena realized Liam was unbuttoning her bodice. She watched his fingers at work and answered in a breathless voice she hardly recognized as her own.

"I was, um...I was going to, but..."

Selena released another moan as Liam pulled the fabric down to bare her meagerly clad breasts. Her nipples were already straining against the fabric of her thin chemise. He bent his head and through the silk, he feasted on her nipple, using his tongue to rasp the pebbled hardness with the soft fabric that was stretched over it. The pleasurable moments stretched out until, hearing her breath growing increasingly ragged, Liam smiled to himself and moved to her other breast.

"You were saying," he teased.

The contrast of the cold night air flowing over one wet nipple while his hot mouth paid homage to the other was a heady combination. Selena fought valiantly against the distraction so she could answer his question.

"Oh yes, I, um...I was...oh my."

Liam suckled sharply, and Selena's knees would have buckled beneath her if he hadn't been holding her firmly against him with one hand clasped on her bottom. He gave a wicked chuckle and finally relented, planting a fond kiss between her breasts before straightening. He pulled her against his chest, using his body heat to warm her chilled nipples as he grinned down at her in the dim moonlight that filtered through the tree branches.

"You were about to explain why you haven't told me you're carrying my child," he reminded her.

Selena blinked several times to bring her thoughts into some semblance of order and then gave a sheepish shrug, catching her bottom lip between her teeth. "Well, it's just that I didn't want you to worry. After what happened last time..." her voice trailed off once more, and she looked down at her hands lying on Liam's chest.

Liam curled one hand behind her nape, pulling her head down onto his chest as he dropped a kiss on the top of her hair. He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent and releasing it on a sigh. 

"Sweetheart, I can't tell you I won't worry, because I always will, where you're concerned. However, after everything we've been through together, I've come to realize that we can't control everything. We just have to have faith that things will work out the way they should. That being said..." he lifted her chin until she met his eyes. His face was stern, but there was a definite twinkle in his eyes, and the corners of his lips twitched. "I will expect you to take better care of yourself from now on. Now that we are home, I want you to eat healthy meals and get a lot more rest."

Selena grinned up at him. "In that case, maybe you'd better take me to bed."

"Demanding wife," Liam teased. "You just can't get enough of me can you?"

Selena traced his lips with her finger. "You told Natasha you were 'plum tuckered out'. Are you sure you have the energy? I wouldn't want you to exhaust yourself."

Liam still had a hand on her bottom, and he pulled her hips firmly against him. She could feel his arousal even through the layers of her skirt. "Does that answer your question, madam? I'm willing to sacrifice myself for your pleasure. After all, since you're pregnant, it's my job to satisfy your cravings, so I'm willing to stay with you in bed for as long as it takes."

Selena giggled with delight. "Whatever you think is best, husband. Although, I must warn you, I don't think you'll ever completely satisfy my craving for your touch."

"Now there's a tempting thought. Let's go collect the rest of our gang and go home." Liam gave her one more kiss, brief but full of promise before holding her away with a sigh. He quickly did up her buttons, but Selena noticed his hands were not as steady as before. "Come on. I'm anxious to get you home and explore your cravings in greater detail." Selena giggled and took his arm as they walked back to the barn.

"I'll just wait outside while you find the others," Selena murmured. "I don't want to go back in there. It's too stuffy. Will you say my goodbyes to Marcia and Gerald?"

"Of course. I won't be long." Liam squeezed her hand and went back into the barn.

Selena watched him until he disappeared from sight and then leaned against the outside wall of the barn and released a dreamy sigh. She had only been waiting a few moments when she heard muffled moans and grunts coming from one of the wagons parked nearby. No sooner had she identified which wagon the noises were coming from, than the rocking motion stopped, and she saw a young man emerge from beneath the canvass covering the bed of the wagon. She didn't recognize him, and she could only surmise he must be a neighbor from farther afield. Selena shrank back into the shadows as she watched him button his breeches and tuck in his shirt. He didn't cast a second look back at the wagon as he swaggered back into the barn wearing a cocky, self-satisfied smirk on his face, obviously pleased with the conquest he had made.




Trailing Home Ch. 13



Wondering who his partner had been, Selena looked back toward the wagon. She clutched a hand over her mouth to stifle her gasp when she saw Natasha climb out of the wagon. Natasha cast furtive glances around as she pulled her pantalets up and tied them before dropping her skirts back into place. She quickly buttoned her chemise and bodice and ran a smoothing hand over her disheveled hair before she walked nonchalantly back into the barn as if nothing had happened. Like her lover, she didn't notice Selena in the shadows.

Selena shook her head in sad disbelief. Poor Marcia and Gerald would be heartbroken if they ever found out how their daughter was behaving. She felt deeply saddened for her friends. Selena was still trying to come to grips with this new development when Liam appeared along with the rest of the McKenzies.

Liam noticed her troubled expression right away. "What's the matter, Selena?"

"It's nothing," she said with a small smile. "I'm just tired. Let's go home."

************

Two days later, Selena was busy preparing blackberry jam. She had sterilized the jars and had just placed a large pot of the berries and sugar on the stove. She was waiting for them to boil when she heard a knock on the door. Selena wiped her hands on her apron and went to open the portal. Her shock couldn't have been any greater when she saw Natasha standing on the porch, a slight frown on her face.

"Natasha, what are you doing here?" Selena asked.

Ignoring her question, Natasha raised a haughty brow. She was carrying a deep wicker basket, and she indicated it with a wave of her hand. "Mama made some apple cake and I thought I would bring you some. May I come in?"

After only a slight hesitation, Selena stepped aside. "Certainly. I wasn't expecting you for a visit. I'm right in the middle of making jam."

Natasha breezed into the cabin and waited for Selena to close the door before turning to face her. She smirked at Selena, raking her eyes down over her simple gown and berry stained apron. "Quite the little housewife, aren't you? I'm surprised Liam hasn't already grown bored with you."

Selena tamped down her irritation. "Natasha, I'm not in the mood for your petty rudeness. I am quite busy. Now what is it that you want?"

"What I want is for you to drop dead, and I'm here to make sure that happens." As she said the words, Natasha pulled a revolver out of her basket and pointed it squarely at Selena. She set the basket down on the table and leaned one hip against its surface. "I'm sick of having you around."

Selena gasped before taking a deep breath to try and steady her nerves. She noticed with some chagrin that Natasha's hands were steady, and she held the pistol in a comfortable grip. Selena knew from previous experience that Natasha was cold-blooded and calculating, and her instincts told her without a doubt that this woman was capable of killing her. Selena fought against an initial wave of fear as she tried to think of a way out of her predicament.

"Natasha, don't be foolish. You can't just shoot me. Surely you must know that someone will have seen you coming here. You will be hanged for murder."

"I don't think so. I took great pains to slip away from home. Mama thinks I'm resting in my room, and I was careful to slip through the woods so no one would see me. I have a perfect alibi, so no one will suspect me when they find your body."

Seeing the sheer malice in the other woman's eyes, Selena shivered. "Natasha, Liam is due to come in for lunch any minute now. You won't get away with it."

Natasha laughed and shook her head. "Oh Selena, you know he won't be coming in for at least another hour or more, or you wouldn't be making jam."

"But he'll hear the gunshot and come running. He's sure to see you," Selena protested.

Natasha heaved a condescending sigh. "I'm not planning to shoot you here, you dolt. I'll take you into the woods, and by the time anyone is able to find you, I'll be long gone. Now come on." She waved the gun toward the back door, clearly expecting Selena to lead the way out.

Selena gave her a look of pure amazement. "Surely you don't think I'm going to go with you, knowing what you intend to do."

Natasha cocked her head to one side and gave her a considering glare. "Well, the way I see it, you can come with me quietly now, or we can just wait here for Liam to return. I really don't want to have to kill him too, but I will, if it's the only way I can get rid of you."

"You'd really do that?" Selena asked incredulously. "What could you possibly hope to gain by harming Liam?"

"Like I said, anything to get rid of you. You've been nothing but a source of irritation since the first day I met you." She raked Selena with a look of pure loathing. "I can't stand to even look at you. Now, I'm losing patience. Let's go." She jerked the pistol toward the back door once again.

Selena hesitated. She knew Liam was in the barn, and he would come running if she screamed or if he heard a shot. She desperately wanted his help, but she couldn't risk him getting hurt. His life was much more precious to her than her own. Hauling in a shaky breath, Selena reluctantly walked toward the back door with Natasha trailing a few feet behind her.

"Open the door and look out," Natasha ordered curtly. "Make sure no one is around to see us. You wouldn't want any of your dear relatives to get hurt."

Selena stepped out onto the back porch and looked around. The day was quite cold, and there was no one outside. "I don't see anyone," she stated quietly.

"Good," Natasha hissed. She prodded Selena in the back with the pistol. "Now move."

As Selena led the way across the small clearing and into the woods, her heart was pounding in her chest. She really didn't see any way to escape as long as Natasha kept the gun pointed at her. Her only hope was to keep Natasha talking and delay as much as possible. Hopefully, she could distract Natasha and somehow get away. It was a slim chance but the best she could think of at that moment.

***********

Liam was in the barn loft when he heard a wagon approaching. He opened the loft door and looked out just as Marcia pulled up. "Hello Marcia. What brings you out?"

Marcia gave him a tense smile as she set the brake and climbed down out of her wagon. "Hello Liam. I'm looking for Natasha."

"Natasha? Why would she be here?" Liam asked frowning.

"I'm not sure. She slipped out, and I saw her heading this way." Marcia gave a nervous shrug, and her smile turned apologetic. "I know she's always been a bit of a bother to you and Selena, and I was worried that she had come here making a nuisance of herself."

"Well I haven't seen her, but I've been busy here in the barn. She may have come and I wouldn't have known it." Liam felt uneasy as he glanced at their cabin. "Why don't you go check with Selena? I'll be right there."

"Thanks Liam." Marcia turned and walked toward the cabin.

Liam quickly climbed down the ladder and brushed most of the dust off his clothes before following in her wake. When he reached the cabin, Marcia was still standing on the porch. "Why didn't you go in?"

"Selena didn't answer the door. I knocked several times," Marcia said.

Liam reached around her to open the door and held it open for Marcia. "Selena, Marcia's here to see you. Selena?" His voice echoed in the cabin. As he glanced around, his uneasiness blossomed into full-blown worry.

The cabin was colder than usual, and Selena was nowhere in sight. However, a large pot of blackberry jam was bubbling and spurting on top of the stove. A fire was burning merrily in the fireplace, and everything appeared normal except for the fact that Selena was nowhere in sight.

"Selena, where are you?" Liam called, heading for their bedroom. He stopped in his tracks when he heard Marcia gasp.

"Liam, look!" He turned and saw Marcia holding up a straw basket. "This is Natasha's. She must be here."

Without pause, Liam headed for the bedroom and saw the back door standing open. In two quick strides, he reached it and looked outside, but neither Selena nor Natasha was anywhere around.

"Selena, Natasha, where are you?" Only silence greeted him. Liam closed the door and walked back to the living room. His brow was furrowed with worry. "Maybe they went to visit Naomi or Sarah. Come on, let's go see."

"Wait a minute, Liam." Marcia paused only long enough to remove the jam from the stove and set it aside. "It's not like Selena to leave something cooking like this."

"No, it's not," Liam said grimly. He wondered what Natasha might have said to upset Selena enough to make her forget her jam, but he didn't say that to Marcia. "Come on, they're probably next door."

Liam held the front door open once more and followed Marcia out. They walked quickly to Aidan and Naomi's cabin and knocked on the door. Naomi appeared at the door and smiled at them.

"Oh, hello Marcia, Liam," she said nodding to them. "Please come in."

Liam made no move to enter but glanced past Naomi into the cabin. "Is Selena here?"

"No. Isn't she at your house?" Naomi asked, looking puzzled.

"She was, but I think Natasha came to visit her. We thought maybe they were here with you." Liam turned to leave. "I'm going to check with Sarah."

He made his way to Brian and Sarah's cabin, this time at a trot. Sarah answered his impatient knock. "Is Selena here?" Liam asked before she had a chance to speak.

"No. What's the matter?" Sarah asked, instantly concerned by Liam's behavior. She looked past Liam to see Naomi and Marcia rushing up in his wake. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," Liam growled.

Without another word, he turned and ran back toward his own cabin. He burst through the front door and quickly scanned the room, looking for any sign that might tell him where Selena had gone. He remembered finding the back door open, and he ran to the back porch. He knelt on his haunches as he quickly scanned the ground. It had rained just the day before, and sure enough, he found two sets of ladies footprints in the soft soil, leading into the woods. As he straightened and made to follow the trail, Marcia, Naomi and Sarah caught up with him.

"What is it, Liam?" Marcia asked breathlessly.

"They've gone into the woods. I'm going to follow them," Liam said over his shoulder as he started running.

"I'm going with you," Marcia said, quiet determination ringing in her voice.

"Marcia, it's probably best if you stay here," Liam said stopping briefly. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew Natasha was up to no good. "I'll find them and bring them back home. You should wait here."

As if she sensed his thoughts, Marcia touched his arm and met his gaze squarely. "She's my daughter, Liam. I don't know what she's up to, but I need to be there when you find them."

Liam hesitated only a moment before nodding. "Alright, but we have to hurry."

"We'll get Brian and Aidan," Sarah called after him.

Liam merely nodded to show he had heard before rushing to follow the trail. Marcia was breathless keeping up with his long strides, but she didn't complain. They were possessed by an urgency to find Selena and Natasha, although they weren't sure what had happened to the two women. Somehow, they knew that whatever was happening, they wouldn't be happy with what they found.

**********

Selena walked as slowly as she dared, going ever deeper into the woods. She repeatedly pretended to trip over roots and logs to delay their progress even more. When her steps lagged too much, Natasha prodded her roughly in the back with the pistol.

"Hurry up, you clumsy fool. Walk faster."

"Why are you doing this?" Selena asked quietly. "What have I ever done to you to make you hate me so much?"

Natasha gave a snort. "Before you came along, I could have my pick of any man I wanted. But I never wanted a man for very long until I met Liam. I wanted him from the first day I met him, but he was already married to you. I've had to stand aside and watch him lusting after you for all these months. I'm tired of it. I'll get rid of you, and it won't be very long before I have Liam in my bed."

Selena risked a quick glance over her shoulder at Natasha. "Why Liam? Why not that man I saw you with the other night? You know, the one in the back of that wagon?"

Her words caught Natasha momentarily off guard, and she stopped abruptly. "You were spying on me?" she asked.

"I didn't have to, Natasha. The two of you were making so much noise that anyone could have heard you. It just happened to be me." Selena raked her with a cold glare. "I must say, you weren't very discreet." Selena thought she heard a faint rustling noise from the direction they had just come, and her heart leapt with hope. Was it possible Liam had seen them entering the woods and was coming for her?

Natasha apparently hadn't heard anything as she narrowed her eyes. "I've been discreet enough. I've had lovers for years, and Mama and Daddy haven't suspected a thing. They think I'm still a sweet, innocent virgin." She laughed at the thought.

It was Selena's turn to be shocked, and she abruptly stopped and pivoted to face Natasha. They were standing in a small clearing, surrounded by towering trees, and Selena cast surreptitious glances into the woods, trying to identify the source of the sounds she had heard as she voiced a question.

"Have you no shame? Don't you know your parents would be heartbroken if they knew how you were behaving?"

Natasha smirked at her. "Who cares? It's their fault I started sleeping with men in the first place."

"What do you mean? How can you possibly think that?" Selena asked, shaking her head in wonder.

Natasha raised her chin to a haughty angle. "When I was fourteen, Daddy had a business associate, Mr. Cooper. He had a daughter the same age as me. She wanted to be friends with me, but I didn't like her. However, Daddy and Mama were only too happy to send me over to the Cooper's home for extended visits. They were relieved to get rid of me. I knew even back then that they didn't want me around."

An expression of pain flitted briefly over Natasha's features before it was replaced by angry defiance. "Mr. Cooper certainly wanted me though. He made it a point to visit my room every night. The first few nights, I resisted and he raped me. He would slip into my room while I was asleep, stuff a rag into my mouth to stifle my screams and then he would hold me down by force and take what he wanted. I was too ashamed to tell anyone, and I thought no one would believe me anyway."

Selena thought she heard a muffled gasp nearby, but she ignored it. "Oh Natasha, how awful for you," Selena murmured with genuine feeling. She, more than anyone, knew what it felt like to have a man force himself on her.

Natasha laughed coldly and raised a disdainful brow. "Oh spare me your sympathy, Selena. I assure you that I don't want it. The first few times, he hurt me, but I soon realized that I was the one who held the power over him. He couldn't help himself. He kept coming back like a moth to a flame. I started to enjoy his attentions. He taught me everything about how to please a man, and I must have pleased him immensely because he couldn't get enough of me. He started inviting me for even lengthier visits, and my parents were only too happy to agree. When I was fifteen, I spent an entire summer warming his bed and learning how to use my body to get what I wanted. By the end of it, I was pregnant. Of course, he didn't want the baby, and neither did I. He was already married, so he paid to have the baby taken care of. Then he paid me handsomely to keep my mouth shut."

Natasha laughed as she gave a casual shrug. "The nice part of it was, by then I was tired of him. He had already taught me everything he knew, and I wanted to learn more. I found a new lover, then another. I liked the way I felt when men made love to me. They were so desperate for me, begging for my favors. I found that all I had to do was flash a little skin, and men would give me any amount of money I wanted. It was even better when they were married, because once I got them hooked, I made them pay to keep their wives from finding out. Men are such fools really, and so are my parents. They have no idea that I have a small fortune of my own. One day, I'll use it to leave here. I have no intention of ending up as a farmer's wife."

Selena realized her mouth was hanging open, and she closed it with a snap. "If that's the case then I don't understand. Why Liam? If you don't want to marry him, then why are you doing this?"

Natasha glared at her with seething hatred. "Of course I don't want to marry him. Do you think I want to end up living in some pathetic cabin for the rest of my life, raising some man's snot nosed little brats? It's just that Liam is different. He's a real challenge, although I could have had him long ago if not for you." Natasha reached up to smooth her hair as if she were unconsciously trying to smooth her own bruised ego. "You know, I wouldn't have had to kill you if you had just stuck to your word."

"What do you mean?" Selena asked with a puzzled frown.

"I overheard you talking with Mama. I knew your marriage to Liam was a sham. You weren't supposed to consummate your vows. When I found that out, I was so happy. I knew I would have no trouble seducing Liam since you weren't a real wife to him. But then, like the conniving little bitch you are, you had to sleep with him. I knew, once you had done that, I would have no choice but to get rid of you. I got the idea to do away with you when you nearly drowned in the river crossing. I was hoping and praying you would die, but of course you didn't. I hated watching Mama while she nursed you. She had never shown so much concern for me."

"Natasha, you are so wrong. Your mother loves you very much. She worries about you all the time," Selena assured her quietly.

"No she doesn't," Natasha spat with bitterness. "She's always been too busy with Susan, and now you. She dotes on you like a daughter. When you fell down that hill when you were pregnant, Mama felt so bad, she went rushing out to pick more blackberries to make you a cobbler. I fixed both of you though."

"What do you mean?" Selena asked cautiously, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck rise.

Natasha gave her an evil smile. "I mixed quinine into your cobbler before I brought it to you that night. I was worried you would taste the bitterness, but you were so anxious to get me away from Liam that you gobbled it right down. I was hoping it would be a large enough dose to kill you, but it only caused you to lose the baby."

"You killed my baby?" Selena asked in a weak whisper. "All this time I thought it was my fault, but it was you all along. You murderer!"

Selena would have launched herself at Natasha, but she was brought up short by the waving pistol that was still pointing at her chest. "Don't come any closer," Natasha ordered. She was obviously enjoying the pain she had inflicted on Selena. "Yes, I killed your little brat. Too bad Liam will never know. He would probably thank me for relieving him of that particular burden."

"You really don't know Liam at all, Natasha. He was deeply hurt when I lost the baby." Selena stopped and stared as another thought occurred to her. "You tried to kill me again, didn't you? That day when I was doing laundry, you caused the rocks to fall didn't you?"

Natasha dipped her head in mocking admiration. "That's very astute of you, Selena. I heard you and Mama talking about me. When Mama left and you were there all alone, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up." Natasha's eyes narrowed to tiny slits, and she gnashed her teeth in frustration. "It would have worked too, if you had been just a little slower."

Selena shook her head sadly. "Natasha, you really are quite pathetic. You won't gain anything by my death. Liam doesn't want you, and he never will."




Trailing Home Ch. 13



"She's right, Natasha." Liam's deep voice, firm with conviction, had them both whirling to face him. "Now, give me the gun."

For the first time, Natasha's hands were shaking as she held the pistol, and she waved it back and forth between Liam and Selena. Natasha saw Marcia standing just behind Liam, and her eyes flared. "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough, Natasha. We heard most of what you said." Liam's voice was deceptively calm. Without taking his eyes off Natasha, Liam held out an arm toward his wife. "Come here, Selena."

Selena started to run toward him, but Natasha stopped her with a scream.

"Stop! Don't move, you little bitch, or I'll shoot you, I swear it." Natasha's eyes were wide and crazed as she looked between the other three of them. She finally pinned her glare on Marcia. "How did you know I was here?"

Marcia took a few cautious steps forward to stand beside Liam. "I followed you, Natasha. I saw you slip out of the house, and I knew you were headed here, so I followed you. Please put the gun down, sweetheart."

"Don't call me sweetheart! You've never loved me, and neither has Daddy." Natasha's voice broke on the last.

Marcia took a few more steps toward her daughter, holding her hands out beseechingly. "We do love you dearly, Natasha. We always have. We just haven't been able to understand what you wanted sometimes. I'm so sorry if I've hurt you, baby."

Tears were streaming down Natasha's face as she faced her mother. "It's a little late for your motherly concern, Mama. All these years, you've always compared me to Susan. 'Why can't you be more like your little sister?' you would ask me. Well I hate her, and I hate you. From now on, I'm going to do whatever I like."

"Natasha, please give me the gun. I can't let you do this. I won't let you harm Selena or Liam," Marcia said as she ventured closer still.

Natasha noticed for the first time that Selena had gone to stand next to Liam, and he was about to pull her behind him. "No!" she screeched.

Natasha aimed her gun at Selena and fired, just as Marcia knocked her arm upward. The shot whizzed harmlessly into the air as mother and daughter wrestled for the gun. Liam ran to help, but just when he was a few feet away, the gun went off for a second time. Natasha's face froze in horror, and her knees buckled beneath her.

"Natasha! Oh my God, Natasha," Marcia wailed, trying to cushion her fall. "Oh baby, please be alright."

A large red stain was spreading rapidly across Natasha's chest, and she gasped for breath. She gripped her mother's hand as the color drained out of her cheeks. "Sorry Mama. Sorry."

"Oh sweetheart, I'm the one who's sorry. I love you, and I'm so sorry I hurt you." Marcia was sobbing quietly as she watched her daughter take her last breaths. "No!"

Selena knelt beside Marcia and hugged her tightly while she wept. Liam stood beside them feeling helpless. After a long time, Marcia managed to stop weeping, and she took a shaky breath before turning to Selena.

"I'm so sorry, Selena," Marcia said quietly. "I had no idea that Natasha was capable of something like this."

"None of us did, Marcia. But it's not your fault."

"Yes it is," Marcia stated. "I heard what she told you. We should have protected her. We should never have let her go to that man's house for visits, but we thought it was what she wanted." Marcia gave a short, slightly hysterical laugh. "She always seemed to enjoy her stays over there. We had no idea that evil man was hurting our daughter. She was only an innocent little girl."

Marcia began to sob once again, and Selena rocked her in her arms. Selena looked up at Liam and her eyes were full of tears. "Let's take her home," she said quietly.

"I can't leave my baby here," Marcia wailed.

"We won't," Liam assured her quietly, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. He turned to Selena. "Take Marcia back to the house, and I'll bring Natasha."

Selena rose to her feet and helped Marcia to stand. She put her arm around Marcia's shoulders and led her back to the house. Liam waited just a moment before he knelt and gently closed Natasha's eyes. He looked down at her with real sadness before lifting her body in his arms. They were halfway back to the house when Aidan and Brian came running to meet them.

"What happened?" Aidan gasped. "Naomi said there might be trouble. We heard shots." His eyes widened in horror as he saw Natasha's bloody form.

"Not now," Liam said quietly. "Let's get back to the house, and we'll explain later."

When they reached the house, Sarah ran to fetch a blanket. They laid it in the bed of Marcia's wagon and wrapped Natasha's body neatly. Marcia was clearly in shock, and she was trembling violently.

"Come inside, Marcia. Let me make you some tea," Selena murmured.

"No," Marcia whispered. "I need to get home and tell Gerald and Susan what happened."

"I'll go with you," Selena said quietly.

Liam grasped her elbow and drew her to one side to whisper quietly in her ear. "Selena, you should stay here and rest after what you've been through. Let Brian or Aidan take Marcia home."

Selena shook her head. "She needs me, Liam. I have to go."

Liam could see the determination in her face and he released a long sigh. "Alright, then I'll take you."

Selena and Liam did everything they could to help the Boyds deal with their loss. Gerald was just as distraught as his wife had been to lose Natasha, and Susan wept bitterly. They kept the details of what Natasha had told them from Susan, but when Gerald found out, he became almost violent. Liam took him outside to soothe him.

Neighbors learned quickly about Natasha's death, although no one told them about the circumstances. Everyone thought she had died from an accident, nothing more. Folks were quick to bring food and help with tending the family's needs. Due to her already frayed nerves, Selena left the washing of Natasha's body to other women, while she stayed with Marcia to lend what emotional support she could.

It was late evening by the time Selena and Liam returned to their home. They had left the Boyds in good hands, with several neighbors offering to stay with them through the night. Selena leaned against Liam as he led her up the stairs to their front door. They hadn't even entered when his brothers and their wives came running. Liam realized with a sigh that he had no choice but to fill them in on what had happened.

The entire family gathered around the table in their cabin, and Selena and Liam explained the events of the day. When the tale was completed, everyone sat in silence, thinking what a tragic figure Natasha had been.

"It's really a shame," Selena said softly. "Marcia told me once that Natasha had been a sweet young girl but she changed around the age of fourteen. Now we know why, but it was too late for anyone to help her."

Brian looked over at Sarah who was holding their tiny daughter. "I feel bad for Gerald. I swear I would kill any man who did something like that to my child."

"He's vowed to punish the man. Now that Natasha is dead, it would be impossible to have him tried for rape. He would just deny the whole thing. However, there are other ways to make him pay," Liam said with a grim frown.

"What is he going to do?" asked Naomi.

"His son is still back east. Gerald said Mr. Cooper's wife is the one who holds the purse strings. Her family has always been wealthy. Gerald, through his son, will make sure that Mrs. Cooper finds out about her husband's penchant for young girls. She will likely cut him off from her wealth and make sure he doesn't get any opportunities to hurt someone else's daughter. Also, Gerald said the man will be ruined in business. Once rumors of that sort begin to circulate, Mr. Cooper won't be able to get banks or other businessmen to give him the time of day." Liam looked around at each of them. "It's not the perfect solution, but it's the closest thing to justice that Gerald is likely to get for his daughter."

"What about Marcia?" Sarah asked. "How is she holding up?"

Selena cocked her head to one side and sighed. "Amazingly well. Marcia is a very strong woman, and she knows that Natasha's death wasn't her fault. Still, she has a lot of guilt over not protecting her daughter when she was a child and making her feel unloved. But at least Marcia still has Susan nearby and her son back east. I'm sure they will help her get through this."

"And she has you," Liam said quietly, laying an arm over Selena's shoulders. "She loves you like a daughter, you know."

Selena swallowed hard and nodded. "I know. I love her too. She and Gerald have been very dear friends to both of us."

Liam directed a look to each of his brothers, and Aidan was quick to rise. "We'd better go and let you two get some rest. You must be tired after everything that's happened."

They all filed out, giving Selena and Liam quick hugs as they went. Liam closed the door and turned toward the living room only to have Selena fling herself against him. She clung to him, and his arms closed tightly around her.

"It's alright, sweetheart," he soothed.

"Oh Liam, I feel terrible about what happened to Natasha, but I can't say I'm sorry she's gone. After what I found out, that she tried to kill me and killed our baby . . . I swear, I could have strangled her myself." Selena's slender frame was trembling with shock and suppressed fury.

"I know, Selena. I felt the same way. But she won't ever be able to hurt us again." Liam smoothed her hair and laid his cheek against the top of her head. "I just wish the rest of her family didn't have to be so hurt by what happened."

Selena released a shuddering sigh. "I can't help but feel sorry for Natasha. I can imagine what she must have gone through, having that man force himself on her." Selena squeezed Liam even tighter. "If it weren't for you, Jeb might have done the same thing to me." She was surprised to hear Liam chuckle, and she tipped her head back to see his face. "What's so funny?"

Liam gave her a lopsided grin. "As I recall, I didn't do anything to save you from Jeb. You had already beaten the man up by the time I caught up with you. In fact, you were so adept at escaping from him that I almost didn't follow you today. If we had left you on your own, you would have probably broken Natasha's nose too."

"I might have," Selena said with a small smile. "I certainly wanted to a few times."

Liam's expression abruptly changed to a disapproving look. "What I want to know is why you went with Natasha in the first place. Why didn't you call for me? I'm your husband. I'm supposed to protect you."

"I was afraid she would hurt you," Selena said, tracing his lips with her finger. "Natasha was obsessed with the notion of getting rid of me, and she would have hurt anyone who got in her way. I just couldn't risk losing you. You're more important to me than anything in the world."

"Well, I still am not happy that you went off with her like that," he grumbled. "If it weren't for your tender condition, I really would take you over my knee."

Selena bit her bottom lip while she smiled up at him through her lashes. "My condition's not that tender. And you remember what Hank said. I should do whatever it takes to make sure my husband isn't mad at me when we go to bed."

Their eyes locked in warm communication before Liam bent to kiss her. All their fears dissolved as their lips melded. Having their arms around each other reassured them like nothing else could have, and by the time Liam ended the kiss, their thoughts were already turned far away from the tragic events of the day and onto more pleasant paths.

Selena laid her cheek on his chest once more. "Take me to bed, Liam. All I want is to lie in your arms, with your baby growing inside me and know that we're safe and you're mine."

"I'll always be yours, Selena. God willing, we will grow old together and raise a dozen children."

"A dozen?" Selena said with a frown. "I was thinking of four or five."

Liam bent to nuzzle her neck. "Well, it's just that I know how fertile your field is. And with the way you're always trying to get me into bed, it just seems inevitable that we'll have lots of children." When Selena punched him on the shoulder, Liam opened his eyes wide as he gave her a helpless shrug. "Don't get mad at me. What's a man to do?"

"Oh Liam, you are impossible!" Selena sighed with a happy smile. "That's one of the reasons I love you so much."

Liam's expression was serious as he met her eyes. "I love you too, Selena, with all my heart."

When Liam scooped her into his arms, Selena wound her arms around his neck. Her heart was full to overflowing. The future still held many uncertainties. Crops could fail. The sorrows of life could still darken their door. But she felt confident they could face anything together. Selena had found her home, and it was in Liam's arms.



Trailing Home



Each of the three brothers brought their own set of specialized skills to their farm. Aidan had excellent instincts for farming, and he invariably knew which crops would do the best in which fields, and when and how to plant the seeds. His talents ensured that they were able to make a sizable profit that first year. Brian was the best builder of the three, and he designed their home and the large barn that they built. Because of him, they and their livestock were kept warm and snug through the long winters. He was also responsible for the construction of a small mill and smokehouse that had been added the following spring. Liam's talent was with animals. He had a knack for breeding and raising animals, and under his guidance, their livestock had grown to include fine horses, beef cattle, pigs, a few sheep and a barn full of excellent laying hens. They had more than enough food for themselves, and had begun to profit from selling their excess meat, milk and eggs. Liam had had so much success that they were now able to offer fine breeding stock, and demand was quickly growing among other local farmers to acquire animals from him.

After two years, Aidan had met and married Naomi Tisdale, a newcomer to the area. Brian had followed his brother's example, and six months later, he had taken Sarah Martin as his bride. A pleasant byproduct of them getting married was that they had expanded their farm by another six hundred and forty acres, since their wives were able to add to their claim. Together, they had one of the largest farms in the Willamette Valley.

While Liam had been happy for his brothers, he hadn't felt a similar urge to settle down into married life. He was content to stay single. The brothers had pitched in to build two more sturdy houses so that the newlyweds could each establish their own homes. Liam had remained in the original house, and though he sometimes felt lonely, he wasn't ready to take a wife.

When the McKenzie brothers received word that their father had passed away, they elected Liam to travel back to Kentucky to fetch their mother out to join them. However, when Liam had arrived at his childhood home, he had found his mother in very poor shape. She had been heartbroken over her dear husband's death, and her own health had quickly deteriorated. Bridget McKenzie had been happy to see her youngest son, but within a month, she had passed away. Liam oversaw her burial and the selling of their farm in Kentucky, but he had been forced to wait out the remainder of the winter before he could make the crossing back to Oregon. Now that spring had finally arrived, Liam was anxious to get home.

He sighed, thinking of what would await him back in Oregon. The McKenzie's success had made Liam a very eligible bachelor, but none of the local young ladies had sparked his interest. Several of them were pretty enough for his tastes, but their heads seemed to be filled with nonsense. Anytime he had tried to carry on an intelligent conversation with one of them, Liam found his mind wandering as he listened to their inane chatter. He had no interest in hearing about the latest styles of clothing to arrive from back east or being advised of all the latest local gossip.

Even worse were their attempts to seduce him, with simpering smiles and fluttering eyelashes. While Liam sometimes wished for a soft, feminine body beside him in the bed, he simply couldn't picture himself spending the rest of his days with any of those ladies. He was sure he would be bored to tears. He needed more, someone who would be not only a mate but a companion. Someone to share his joys and sorrows and who would have something intelligent to contribute to the relationship. His brothers had been fortunate enough to find someone like that, and they were both completely content with their spouses. Liam wondered it if were too much to expect that he might also be that lucky, but he wasn't yet ready to settle for something less. He was only twenty five, and there would be plenty of time to find a wife in a few years. Until then, he intended to enjoy the carefree life of a bachelor.

Without conscious effort, his thoughts returned to Selena Darcy, and he wondered whether she might be the woman he had been dreaming of finding. Even dressed as she had been tonight, she was one of the most beautiful women he had ever met. He wondered once more what she would look like in more suitable clothes, or better yet, in no clothes at all. Her breast had been so warm and full in his palm that he was getting hard just remembering it. Realizing where his thoughts had strayed, Liam wiped the leering grin off his face and gave himself a mental shake. He was getting way ahead of himself. He didn't know anything about Selena. She had proven herself intelligent, and she had certainly held his interest throughout the evening. However, for all he knew, she could be nothing but trouble. Just because he had agreed to escort her to Oregon didn't mean he was willing to be saddled with her forever. He wasn't going to let her waltz into his life and change his entire way of thinking.

Still, the thought of getting to know her better tantalized him, and he grinned again. What better way to see if they were compatible than having to travel together, alone for several months? Liam was not a man to carelessly waste an opportunity, and he decided to see what the next few months would reveal about Selena. If he still found her intriguing by the time they reached Oregon, he could propose to her then. If not, they could part ways, and he could feel good knowing that he had helped her out of a difficult situation.

Feeling a sense of peace from his resolution, Liam fell into restful sleep. However, his last thought before drifting off was that the part of the sky that was the deepest blue, the part where it was turning purple, reminded him of Selena Darcy's eyes.

**********

Selena could hardly contain her excitement as she worked to finish her shift. She was finally going to get out of this godforsaken place! It had been eight months since her mother had passed away, but she could still remember it like it was yesterday. Eleanor had lain on her deathbed and clutched her daughter's hand with surprising strength.

Eleanor had married Jeb Hawkins somewhat reluctantly after he had courted her for nearly a year. During that time, Jeb was unfailingly charming. Indeed, he had given all the appearances of a smitten suitor as he diligently wooed her. Selena had never liked him much, but she had dismissed her doubts, wanting desperately for her mother to be happy. Mostly out of loneliness, Eleanor had finally relented and agreed to become his wife. She hadn't loved him as she had her late husband, but Eleanor had felt some fondness for Jeb, and the thought of having a strong man around the house to help in the running of their small farm had swayed her to accept his repeated proposals.

However, as soon as the wedding vows had been spoken, Jeb began to reveal his true nature. He was worse that useless around the farm. He was far more interested in having a woman cook and clean for him than in contributing anything to the family's upkeep. The only useful thing he ever did to help was an occasional bit of hunting. He seemed to like being out in the woods, and he usually brought home a deer or some other small game to replenish their larder. But the majority of the time, he just drank, and his penchant for drink was astounding. He liked nothing better than to laze around, sipping from a bottle of whatever liquor was handy, though he showed a definite preference for whiskey. The more he drank, the meaner be became.

It was barely a week after their marriage that Jeb came home drunker than a skunk. Selena had been out for the evening visiting her friend Sarah, and when she returned, she found her mother, bruised and bleeding from a vicious beating. Selena's first reaction was to take a pitchfork to her stepfather who was passed out on the bed, but Eleanor pleaded with her not to do anything that might anger him.

After that, Jeb began to show an interest in Selena. She was often interrupted by him when she was carrying out her chores, and his lustful gaze made her skin crawl. Selena tried to hide her contempt, for any snide remarks she made usually resulted in her mother getting another beating. Selena took to barring her bedroom door out of fear of being raped, and she was careful not to be caught alone in the barn or the smokehouse. However, the more caution she used, the more Jeb's interest seemed to be heightened, and Selena would often feel his eyes roaming over her while she moved about the cabin.

Selena urged her mother to run away with her. Eleanor resisted at first, thinking that she could somehow change Jeb's behavior, but she finally accepted that he didn't have any redeeming features. The two women began to secretly make plans to travel to Oregon to join Selena's sister, Diana. They had no choice but to stay until they could save enough money, for the trip would cost them nearly a thousand dollars. As it happened, Eleanor's hopes for an escape from her miserable marriage were not to be realized.

They ended one fateful afternoon when Selena went down to the creek to do the laundry. Jeb had left to do some hunting two days earlier and had said he wouldn't be back for a week. In his absence, Selena relaxed her guard. She was bent over the scrubbing board, working on getting the stains out of one of Jeb's shirts when she heard his hated voice from directly behind her.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" he drawled.

Selena whipped around to see him standing only a few feet away. His beady eyes roamed her body, finally settling on her bodice where Selena had unbuttoned several buttons to combat the August heat. Jeb's grin grew wider still, and he greedily devoured her with his eyes. Selena looked down and saw that the bodice of her dress was thoroughly soaked and clung to her generous curves like a second skin. The outline of her nipples was clearly visible through the wet fabric, and she groaned and crossed an arm protectively over her bosom to shield herself from his probing gaze.

Selena flung her other arm out toward Jeb and pinned him with a heated glare. "Don't you dare come near me," she ground out through clenched teeth. She was inwardly trembling, but dared not show any weakness. She felt trapped and vulnerable, since he stood blocking her only means of escape from the clearing by the river. The woods were too dense to walk in except on the path, and Selena knew if she tried to run into them, Jeb would quickly catch her.

"You know, I'm getting mighty tired of you being so uppity, missy." Jeb began to stalk toward her, and Selena took several cautious steps backward, searching for a way around the man. Jeb gave a low laugh, seeing her predicament. "Now, now. There isn't any need to get all riled up. I'm just going to enjoy you for a little while and then I'll let you go. I'm not going to hurt you." As he said the last, he lunged toward Selena and caught her by the arm.

"Let me go, you filthy vermin!" she spat, as she yanked desperately on her arm.

Jeb was unconcerned, and he pulled her roughly against his chest, wrapping his arms around her and pinning her own arms against her sides. His chest was against Selena's back, and he laughed again as he began kissing the side of her neck.

"You always thought you were too good for me didn't you, missy? Well, I'm going to give you a taste of what a real man is. Don't you worry, you're going to love it, just like your Ma does." As he said the words, he began slobbering on her ear and neck, licking and kissing with his awful lips.

Selena struggled wildly, trying to win her release, but her strength was no match for his. The stench of stale whisky and foul breath almost made her vomit, and she tried desperately to keep his filthy mouth from touching her. The more she struggled, the more excited he got, and even through her skirts, Selena could feel the hard ridge of his arousal pressing intimately against her bottom.

"Take your hands off me," she cried. "I'll kill you for this, I swear it."

Jeb merely laughed again, as he tightened one arm around her until she could barely breathe and her ribs felt like they would crack beneath the pressure. With his free hand, he began to grope her breasts, roughly assessing her curves.

"You're a lot prettier than your Ma. Nobody has ever had you before huh? You're so tender and sweet, and ripe for the picking." As he said the last, he curved his fingers into the neckline of her dress and gave a vicious yank, rending the gown from neck to waist.

Selena screamed and redoubled her efforts, kicking and squirming to get free. Jeb's hand seemed to be everywhere, as it roamed over her breasts that were now clad only in a thin chemise. Selena stretched her head forward as far as she could and managed to bite his hand, breaking the skin and wringing a scream of pain from Jeb.

"You little bitch," he yelped, jerking his hand away from her. Selena's relief was short lived. "You'll pay for that!" Jeb curled his hand into a fist and punched Selena in the side of her jaw, making her knees buckle beneath her as she sagged in his arms. Her head was spinning, and before she could recover from her dizziness, he jerked her around and slapped her hard across the face with the back of his hand. "I'm going to teach you a lesson you little slut. Before I'm finished with you, you're going to be begging me for it."

Jeb threw Selena to the ground and fell on top of her. Through a haze of pain and nausea, Selena tried to fight him, but her efforts were pitifully weak. As if from a distance, she heard the sound of rending cloth again, as Jeb ripped her chemise down the front, baring her breasts entirely.

"Look at these pretty little titties," Jeb said with a grin. "I've been waiting a long time for a taste of these."

He seized one breast and thrust the nipple into his mouth, moaning as he suckled. He bit down hard on the tender flesh, causing her back to arch with shocked pain. Selena screamed and thrashed as Jeb mauled her, and she shuddered in revulsion as he licked, pinched and squeezed her tender nipples. When Jeb tried to kiss her on the mouth, Selena jerked her head to the side, trying to avoid his vile breath. This earned her another back handed slap that nearly knocked her senseless. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, trying to blot out the whole experience as he forced his tongue into her mouth.

Selena could feel her skirts being jerked up past her waist, and Jeb clawed at her pantalets until he managed to pull them down around her knees. She sobbed and thrashed helplessly under his grimy hand, as he roughly probed her softness. He shoved two fingers deep into her pussy and jabbed them in and out, moaning loudly. 

"What a nice, tight little pussy you have, missy." Jeb removed his fingers from her and spat on them for lubrication before jamming them back inside her. "Umm, umm you're going to feel good when I sink my cock into your tight little hole."

Jeb was obviously enjoying her torment, and he took his time telling her all the lewd, horrible things he was going to do to her. Her panic rose up in her throat, causing her to gasp for breath. Jeb forced her legs apart with his knee and knelt between them, using his body to keep her legs from closing.

Jeb began unbuttoning his breeches, and Selena sobbed even harder. She struggled desperately as he pulled his erect penis out of his pants and began to stroke it. However, he only laughed at her efforts and kept her pinned beneath him as he positioned himself to enter her. She was helpless to stop him, and she knew rape was imminent when Jeb suddenly froze. Selena opened her eyes and saw her mother standing nearby with a pistol pointed at Jeb.

"Get off her," Eleanor said in ominously low tones. She was normally a gentle woman, but there was a murderous light in her eyes.

Jeb tensed but didn't immediately comply, giving Eleanor a narrowed eyed glare. His voice, when he spoke, was cajoling.

"Now, Ellie, you and I both know you aren't capable of shooting me, so you might as well put that gun down."

Eleanor's response was to cock the pistol and place a trembling finger on the trigger. "Get off her this instant, or I'll shoot you dead."

Sensing that she meant business, Jeb slowly stood up, ignoring Selena as she scrambled away from him, clutching the tattered remains of her gown over her bosom. Jeb was focused only on Eleanor, and he began to walk slowly toward her, his eyes never leaving the bore of the pistol. "Ellie, give me the gun. I promise I won't hurt you."

Eleanor's hands were trembling, but she kept the pistol aimed at Jeb's chest. "Go away and leave us alone. I don't want to ever see you around here again."

"Ellie, you don't mean that. You know I love you." Jeb continued to step closer as he spoke in a low voice. "Come on now, give me the gun."

"Stop right there, don't come any closer," Eleanor whispered.

She was trembling violently from shock and anger. She had never pointed a gun at anyone before, but she was determined to defend herself and Selena.

Seeing her distress, Jeb took another cautious step toward Eleanor and lunged for the gun. The gun went off and both women screamed as Jeb jerked back, grunting with pain. A large red stain appeared near his shoulder and he roared with fury, lashing out with his arm to knock Eleanor to the ground. Her head struck a large stone with a sickening thud, and she lay dazed at his feet. Jeb began beating her, kicking her repeatedly in the ribs as he snarled his rage.

"Stop it!" Selena screamed. She had scrambled to get the gun where it had fallen, and she stood facing her stepfather. Tears and blood were dripping down her face, and her hands were trembling even more than her mother's had been as she clutched the gun in both outstretched hands. "You heard Mama. You get out of here!"

Jeb stood glaring at Selena for a few moments. He didn't bother to try and talk to her, he knew she had always hated him and wouldn't trust anything he said. He sneered and spat on the ground, narrowly missing her feet.

"I'll go, but don't you worry, I'll be coming back." His eyes raked her, seeing glimpses of naked flesh through the tatters of her gown. "And when I do, you can bet I'm going to finish what I started." He stumbled to his horse that was tied a short distance away, and scrambled into the saddle.

Selena stood with the pistol pointed at him until he had disappeared from sight, then she ran to kneel beside her mother. "Mama, are you alright? Mama!"

Eleanor's hair was matted with blood from a cut on her head, and her breathing was ragged and gurgling. She could only manage a whisper. "I think my ribs are broken, and I can't breathe. It feels like I'm drowning."

Selena's heart constricted with fear, and she cast a panicked look around. She was afraid to leave her mother to go for help, and she didn't know what to do to by herself. A small sob of despair escaped, and Selena's tears began to fall in earnest, dripping on her mother's face. Eleanor knew that she was likely dying, and her main concern was to try and protect her daughter.

"It's alright honey. Help me up, and let's try to get back to the house."

It took every ounce of Eleanor's strength combined with Selena's to get her on her feet. Selena supported her weight as much as she could, but she still had to practically drag her poor mother to the house. By the time, Selena laid Eleanor gently on the bed, her mother was coughing up blood, and her breath was making a horrible wheezing, sloshing sound. Eleanor clutched Selena's hand and begged her to promise to go to Oregon to live with her sister, where she would be safe.

Eleanor was growing weaker by the minute, but she was determined to help her daughter. "Selena, the money we saved up . . .," she had to stop to cough up more foamy blood. When she managed to catch a shallow breath, she went on in halting snatches, gasping in between. "Hid it from Jeb . . . money's in a jar . . . in the flour bin. You take it . . . get away from here . . . quick as you can."




Trailing Home



Selena could barely see through her tears, but she smoothed the hair lovingly back from her mother's brow. "I promise Mama. Don't worry, I'll be just fine."

Eleanor managed a weak smile. "I know you will . . . I love you . . . so proud of you."

"I love you too Mama! Oh, please don't leave me." Selena watched in horror, as her mother's eyes turned glassy, and her breathing stopped. "Nooo! God, no please!" Selena hugged her mother fiercely and sobbed out her despair, feeling very alone in the world.

Her tears finally stopped from pure exhaustion, and Selena sat back on her heels, staring at her poor mother. Selena's eyes traveled around the house, the origin of her happiest memories and the place where she had spent most of her eighteen years. In her mind's eye, Selena could picture her mother bustling around in the kitchen, humming a cheerful tune. She could visualize her father sitting at the table, exchanging laughing comments with his wife as he worked on cleaning his tools. Selena imagined herself and Diana, playing with their dolls, sitting at the table as they did their schoolwork, or begging for cookies fresh out of the oven. This had once been a happy, loving home, but now it was nothing but an empty shell.

Selena buried her mother that afternoon. She sat down and wrote a statement telling the events that had happened that day and accusing Jeb of her mother's murder. She signed it and folded it neatly, placing it in her suitcase. Then she packed up her belongings and some provisions and headed toward St. Louis. She stopped at the sheriff's office on her way through town and gave him her statement. It was the only thing she could think of to do that might bring some justice to her mother.

It took her two weeks to get to St. Louis and another week to find the job as a bar maid. She had been working there ever since, saving every penny she could. Her salary was meager, and some of her earnings had to be spent for room and board, but she had managed to save up almost four hundred dollars. She was desperate to get away from the pub, because the owner had begun to show an unhealthy amount of interest in her. Selena was beginning to have the same fears she had experienced with Jeb around, constantly feeling watched. She was as careful as she could be, but somehow, Sam always found some pretext or other to put his hands on her, and Selena was beginning to fear for her safety. She was determined to get away.

However, the main difficulty had been finding someone who would let her travel with them to Oregon. Selena wasn't foolish enough to attempt the trip on her own, and anytime she had encountered a family going that way, they didn't have room for another person. Their wagons were always packed to the brim with barely enough supplies to see them through the long journey without another mouth to feed. The only other travelers Selena had met had been men, either traveling singly or in a group. She was understandably nervous about approaching any of them and inviting possible rape. She hadn't forgotten her experience with Jeb.

Selena wasn't conceited, but her previous experience with men had taught her that they usually found her attractive. She had started to disguise her looks to ward off unwanted attentions, and she had been relatively successful. Still, it was fairly common for men to make advances toward her, and Selena would invariably cringe with dread whenever any of them tried to touch her. She had virtually given up any plans to marry, for she couldn't imagine ever trusting a man again after what Jeb had done to her. That was why she had been so surprised by her reaction to Liam McKenzie. When he had pulled her down onto his lap and cupped her breast, Selena hadn't cringed. In fact, her skin had fairly tingled with awareness.

For the first time since Jeb had attacked her, Selena had actually looked at a man with a woman's interest, and she had been far from disappointed. Liam McKenzie was a fine specimen of a man with his tawny hair and hazel eyes. His face was finely sculpted, with a broad forehead, high cheekbones and a firm jaw. There were laugh lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth, and it was apparent that he was a man who liked to have a good time. Selena had developed keen instincts about men, and she could sense which ones should be handled with caution. She hadn't felt any trepidation dealing with Liam McKenzie. That was the reason she had asked him to let her travel with him, she somehow knew she would be safe with him.

But there was more to it than that. She had actually felt attracted to Liam. When she realized that, Selena stilled, remembering the feeling of having his arms around her and his hand on her breast. Her pulse quickened, and she felt her nipples crinkling at the remembered sensation. What might it feel like to have him kiss her? Would it terrify her or thrill her? She smiled as she realized that the thought didn't provoke any fear. In fact, she found herself growing more and more imaginative. Could Liam be the one man capable of breaking through her reserve and igniting her womanly desires? Only time would tell.

As Selena snuggled into her bed that night, she smiled to herself. Her bag was packed and ready to go. She would leave tomorrow afternoon and start a new life. For the first time since her mother's death, she felt hopeful about her future.